Happy Birthday Carly!

Today is Carly Holloway's birthday!

Happy Birthday Carly!

Jesus bless you with more of Himself!

The most important person in 2008

I recently read another pastor's blog. It was interesting. I am posting his thought here but adapting just a little bit for our purposes. You can read his blog by clicking this word: click here!

Time Magazine is starting their search for the MOST IMPORTANT PERSON in 2008.
Here are some of the people in the race and where they rank:

1. Barack Obama
4. Michael Phelps
5. Hilary Clinton
7. Sarah Palin
10.Usain Bolt (100 meter gold medalist)

Who were the most important people in your life this past year? Who's in your top 5 and why?

• A family member?

• A D-group member?

• Houston Nutt (Ole Miss football coach!)

Who has brought you closer to Jesus? Who have you brought closer to Jesus? Would you and I make someone's top 5 for bringing them closer to Jesus? What makes a person "important" and why?

'Til we're all one with God (John 17:21)
Jeff

Beauty and the Beast

HEY FUSION!

I wanted to write about what the GUYS and I talked about last night!

We talked about how "REAL MEN who FOLLOW JESUS" defend girls at all times, protect them at all costs, and honor/cherish them in all ways!

We discussed that all females are "BEAUTIFUL" to the core! That's how God sees them!

We hit two points concerning their BEAUTY:
Girls are made in the:
(1) IMAGE of GOD and they are
(2) DAUGHTERS of GOD!

GOD is "enthralled", "captivated" by His daughter's beauty:

10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your father's house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

With prayer, the 6th and 7th grade guys will begin to see girls as God sees them!
No one treated woman better than Jesus did! John 4 is a great story to find out how He treated a woman who felt ugly and unwanted. He spoke to her and offered her His life. She received Him and her entire town received Jesus as well.

That's what can happen when "REAL MEN who FOLLOW JESUS" respect woman and see the beauty within them all!

Thank God for females! You are beautiful people!

Halloween Corny Joke

Question: Why did the mummy have trouble keeping friends?

Answer: Because he was all wrapped up in himself! Ha!

Decision 2008

Hey Fusion!

Tomorrow we are beginning our NEW SERIES called, "DECISION 2008!" See the graphic done by the amazing Steve Potter!

The series is based off of the coming Presidential election...topics from a biblical perspective!

• Our topic tomorrow night will be: "GREED"...thinking about the big word in politics: "economics"

• Our bible passage will be Proverbs 30:7-9 (look it up)!

Next week we will be talking about ETHICS....

The week AFTER THAT we want YOU to give us some TOPICS to discuss...

• What topics do you want to discuss???
  
• Hit the "COMMENT" button below and let me know OR email me at jeff@christunitedjxn.org

To live is Christ, to die is more of Christ (Philippians 1:21)!

7th Grade Fellowship at the Fuller's House

Hey 7th graders and 7th grade leaders!

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, October 15th...MEET at the FULLER'S HOUSE for 7th grade FUSION fellowship!

Be there at REGULAR FUSION TIME: 5:40PM-7:10PM

CAN YOU SAY CHICK FILE SANDWICHES? If you can, YOU WILL be STUFFING YOUR MOUTH with them tomorrow night at the Fuller's!

*jamie will have a van at the church in case some one does not get the note...

See ya' there!
Love you all and pray for you weekly!

Lord Jesus...make us ONE with You and Your Father through Your Holy and Blessed Spirit! (John 17:23)!

Ways to Pray!

We've looked at some ways to study Scripture...

Here are some ways to PRAY!

1. The A.C.T.S. Prayer:

Adoration- start out your prayer by PRAISING GOD...a sentence or two about how good God is
Confession- confess the Lord as your God. Confess your sins (specifically) and repent.
Thanksgiving- thank God for as much as you can think of!
Supplication- ASK God for what you need in accordance to His will

Do this with your D-group...have one person take each letter and pray a sentence prayer for each one.

2. The P.R.A.Y. Prayer:

Much like the A.C.T.S. Prayer:

Praise: praise God
Repent: repent and believe the gospel
Ask: ask God for your needs in line with His will
Yield: yield to living God's way no matter the cost!

3. Pray the Scriptures:

Read a book of the bible...pray to God exactly what you read!

Movie Method

Here's one more way to look at the Bible!

It's called the MOVIE METHOD!

Here's what you do: JUMP into the Scripture you are reading. ACT as if you are one of the CHARACTERS on the MOVIE SET...

When you read the passage, let yourself:

• SEE what they SEE (if they are by a mountain or a lake; write that down in your prayer journal...describe every detail).

• HEAR what they HERE (Did someone shout? Describe how loud it was, etc).
  

• TASTE what they TASTE (if they are eating fish and bread, write down in your prayer journal what that taste like)

• FEEL what they FEEL ( are they on a boat in a storm? Write down and describe what the water feels like, the wind, the boat rocking, etc. What are the people's emotions? What are your emotions while being scared on a boat in a huge storm? Describe it...get involved in the MOVIE SCENE).

WRITE DOWN everything...what did Jesus look like? What did the dirt of the road feel like? Was it dark outside? Windy? What did you think about when you saw the miracle?

Let the Bible passage be like a MOVIE SCENE and you are one of the ACTORS...really get involved in the story...

7 times 3 times. The Crucified Life of Loving and Giving

Hey

One short break in the Bible study and prayer devotional methods.

Last Wednesday we talked about "How do we live"? The answer: We live a crucified life!

We ended by talking about "loving" and "giving" just as Christ "loved" us and "gave" Himself for us (Galatians 2:20)!

Here's how we can love others and give ourselves to them. It's called the 7 times 3 times rule. It is not a magic formula. However, it will help us become "INTENTIONAL" about loving others and sharing the life of Jesus with them. Remember, if we aim for nothing, we hit nothing...let's aim for love with the 7 x 3 x rule...

Love someone 7 times.

Tell them the Gospel of Jesus 3 times:

PRACTICAL
Here is how you can LOVE someone. It's not a "magical formula" but it is designed to make us "intentional" about loving someone...remember, if you aim for nothing, you will hit nothing! Here is--> it's called the "7 times 3 times" rule (7x3x).

Love someone 7 times.

Tell them the Gospel of Jesus 3 times.

There is no telling how the Spirit of the Holy Christ will work on someone with the 7 times 3 times rule...remember, every time we love someone and witness to them about Jesus, we are the 2nd witness. The Holy Spirit is the 1st Witness in their lives...whispering to them about the Lord and Savior...then you come in and "incarnate--(flesh out)" what the Spirit has been telling them.

How do you love someone 7 times?
1. Invite them to lunch and pay for it
2. Invite them to church
3. Take them to a movie
4. Text them (if you/they have cell phones)....Write them an encouraging letter
5. Tell them something you like about them
6. Pray for them
7. Play video games if you are a guy; go shopping with them if you a girl!
* Think of some more ways you can love them!

How do I tell them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ 3 times?
When you are loving them in one of the 7 ways, ask them if they worry about stuff. First, find a point of connection. While you are pigging out on Chick file, ask them if they worry about stuff. Tell them you do and then tell them how Jesus helps you overcome your worries. Let that be a bridge to begin talking about Christ. Another way is this: ask them what they get most excited about...tell them how Jesus loves when we live life abundantly and how we can use our talents for His glory...find out if they have received Christ as their Lord and Savior...tell them what it means to live with Jesus as Lord and with Jesus as Savior...it's a "Come, Follow Me" relationship. Pray with them...God save you and the people you love 7x3x!

7 times through

Here's another way to meditate/read the bible:

Pick One Book. Read it 7 times before you choose another book.

What happens when you watch Spiderman Three 7 times? You know every line and every move...you know it by "heart" right?

Here's the deal: the goal is NOT to "get through" the Bible...it's to let the Bible "get through you...to your heart"!

So many times we read a book having NO IDEA what it was about...our behavior does not change...

Read a book 7 times. Suggestion. Start with 2 John. It's only 1 chapter; 13 verses! How about Philemon. It's only 1 chapter; 25 verses. Jonah is cool...only 4 chapters and an intriguing story...very short books.

Here are 7 things you do each time you read:

(1) First reading: read through, as if you were reading a novel...get a good understanding...look at the whole and not the details...

(2) Second reading: read through zoning in on people and places...begin to think details

(3) Third reading: read through zoning in on events taking place

(4) Fourth reading: look for major themes of each chapter. Write them down. Look for the major theme of the book. Write it down...memorize the themes...even some verses...

(5) Fifth reading: Look for and take notes on: (a) God' s relationship with humans (b) humans relationship with God (c) humans relationship with other humans

(6) Sixth reading: Take notes on God's grace: creation, redemption, forgiveness, salvation, holiness, crucifixion, resurrection...in other words...how is God shown to be the "hero" of each chapter? Of the book?

(7) Seventh reading: write down all the commands that you find. Then, practice one command a week...practice doing all the commands for a week...even a month...until the bible "gets through you" enough to change you...

Then and only then have you "read" the bible because it has now "read you"!

S.O..A.P. with an I

HEY!

Hope you liked S.P.A.C.E. P.E.T.S. yesterday!

Here's another tool to help you when you read/meditate on the Bible. It's called S.O.A.P.! However, I want to add an "I" to it, which makes it S.O.I.A.P. Print this blog out and go through as a "help guide" next time you open the bible!

Scripture
Observation
Interpretation
Application
Prayer

SCRIPTURE
the "S" simply means Scripture. Pray about and choose which Scripture you will read

OBSERVATION
The "O" means Observation- observe what is going on in the text. This when you become a detective! Act like you are the TV program, C.S.I. Good detectives ask 5 questions, and so will you in the Observation stage of bible study:

1. What?- what is being said? What is happening?
2. Where?- where is this taking place? Where have the characters been? Where are they going?
3. Why? Why is the event happening? Why are the characters saying what they are saying? Why did the author write this book? Why is God telling the people to do these things?
4. When? When did this take place?
5. How? How did God do what He did? How did the people respond?

INTERPRETATION
The "I" means Interpretation. Ask/answer 3 questions here:

1. What did this bible passage mean to the people in that day?
2. What does this bible passage mean to the church today?
3. What does this bible passage mean to my family and me today?

APPLICATION
The "A" means Application.
This is where you take what the Bible says...everything you just learned in "S", "O", "I" and plan to put it into action. Make a goal, for example:

Because the bible passage talked about being joyful always, I plan to not complain and smile when my mom and dad ask me to clean my room.

PRAYER
The "P" means Prayer. Praise God for His living and active word (Hebrews 4) and ask Him to help you live what you just meditated on.

Test Drive
Test S.O.I.A.P. out with one paragraph in Philippians and see if it helps you as you read, meditate, and pray through the bible!

Devotional TIME!

Hey Fusion! You guys and gals are some of my favorite people on earth! Just lettin' ya know!

Since we are in our "Word of God Speak" series, over the next week, I will be sharing some things you can do to help you as the Word of God speaks to you...specifically, as you read/meditate on the Bible and PRAY.

Today you will learn a simple acrostic to help you with the Bible.

Here we go.

As you read/meditate (meaning reading the bible as if you were eating a nice juicy steak and buttered up potato! You chew slowly, taking it all in, and let it digest...of course, some of you probably dig your fork in and pig out like there is no tomorrow...especially if you just downed an energy drink!)...but as you read/meditate on a bible passage, ask yourself these questions...it is easy to remember, so you can do it where ever you are...It's called: S.P.A.C.E P.E.T.S

***You could even use these in D-GROUPS!

Read a chapter, for example, John 3, and ask:

Is there a:

Sin to confess?
Promise to claim?
Attitude to change? Am I willing to work on a negative attitude and begin a positive one?
Command to obey? Am I willing to obey no matter how I feel?
Example to follow? Is it a positive example for me to copy? A negative one to avoid?

Prayer to pray? Can I pray this exact scripture BACK to God for me or others?
Error to avoid? Is there a problem that I should be alert to or beware of?
Truth to believe? What does the passage say about God the Father? God the Son? God the Holy Spirit? What does it say about how God relates to humans?
Something to praise God for?

S.P.A.C.E P.E.T.S----try to memorize it and then you will be able to ask yourself these questions to help the Word of God speak to you where ever you are!

GOD the SPIRIT

Hey!

Last night we talked about GOD the SPIRIT! Here's one more characteristic about God the Spirit:

THE SPIRIT of COUNSEL

SOME say "The COUNSELOR" was JESUS’ FAVORITE NAME for HIS SPIRIT. WHEN you think about it, it makes sense…Jesus SPOKE about the “COUNSELOR” during the MOST INTENSE TIME of HIS LIFE. He spoke about HIM hours before He would suffer and die on the Cross. Take a look at JOHN 14:25-26:

25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

PARA-WHO???

THE WORD “COUNSELOR” here can also be translated as “HELPER”, “ADVOCATE”, “ENCOURAGER”, or “FRIEND.” It comes from the Greek Word, “paraklētos”. It is normally describe as a “Person who comes along side of you” to help you out when you are in trouble, kind of like a teacher helping out a student who is failing, a doctor rushing to help his patient, or A FRIEND MAKING SURE YOUR BACK DID NOT GET too WELPED UP playing “STING PONG”!

I'VE GOT YOUR BACK!

I like what I have recently heard about the word, “paraklētos.” It is the idea of two Roman soldiers standing together in BATTLE FORMATION. These 2 would have EACH others BACK. I LIKE THAT. The SPIRIT as our COUNSELOR has our BACK…DO YOU KNOW what He is ATTRACTED TO? Not our STRENGTHS, but our WEAKNESS. When we GET to a POINT in our LIVES where we CAN CONFESS our WEAKNESS to GOD and our UTTER DEPENDENCE on HIM for LIFE, we are in a GOOD PLACE.

HOWEVER, the PLACE where we mostly live is a FAKE REALITY. We are NOT KEEPING it REAL with GOD. We either ACT like we’ve got it all together or we depend on someone else to be God for us or something else to be God for us. Listen, your friends are great, but never let them take the PLACE of the SPIRIT of COUNSEL in your life. Never drown your weakness’ and problems in drugs, alcohol, hurting others feelings, lustful acts, or whatever. This life can be a battle and God the Father has sent His Spirit of Counsel to have our backs. He even prays for us in our WEAKNESS. ROMANS 8:26. I love what one preacher says about this. The groans the SPIRIT of GOD are praying in are “GUT WRENCHING PRAYERS.” Before you WAKE UP in the MORNING and BEFORE you GO TO BED at NIGHT, the SPIRIT of COUNSEL is CRYING OUT to GOD DESPERATELY for your life. Man I hope that changes the way you wake up tomorrow morning and go to be at tonight……

PRAYER

Holy Counselor, You are awesome for having our back! I need You desperately. Counsel me in the Word of God in order to live the Word of God! In Jesus my Friend. Amen!

Announcements!

Late Night:
Auguts 29-->9:30pm-11:30pm
$5 buck-a-roos to get in!
Ping Pong, Pool, DODGE BALL in the Gym, and chillin' out!

First Fusion!

Rock on people!

Praise Jesus Christ for our FIRST FALL FUSION last night! The house was rockin'! Wall to wall 6th and 7th graders who were bouncing off the walls! Ha!

We had D-groups and games! Amazing! I pray the fire will keep building!

Our 6th and 7th grade adult and student leaders are da' bomb!

Thank you all for being a part of it!

May Christ rock your world!

May we all be one with Him and the Father through the Spirit!

Corny Joke of the Day

PATIENT: Doctor, I think I'm shrinking.
DOCTOR: Calm down. Be a little patient.

Jesus at the Oscars

Hey!

Check out a Fusion student video message from last Spring...staring Ms. Alexis "Paris" Brantley and Will "Bling Bling" Kennedy! It is based off of Romans 14:13 which says,

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

We talked about different ways we "clothe" ourselves with Jesus! Here's the link to the video: Jesus at the Oscars Video

*The idea of "how" we wear Jesus actually comes from a pastor in Texas. However, Alexis and Will came up with their own script! Giving credit where credit is due!

Nashville Night...this Wednesday

Hey!

Wanted to remind everyone about NASHVILLE NIGHT this coming Wednesday, August 13th! We are going to hear about this past summer's mission trip to NASHVILLE! Video testimony, music, and food! Great time to be with Jesus and one another!

You will have the opportunity to SIGN UP early if you would like!

6th Graders...you are INVITED TOO! You will be able to GO to NASHVILLE NEXT SUMMER! WOO HOO!

Here is what the schedule for Wednesday night will look like:

4:45pm – Youth Center & Café are open. Pizza, drinks, candy,etc. are for sale. Little Caesar’s Pizza: $1.00 a slice, Drinks: $1.00 each, Candy $1.00

5:40pm – Meet in worship room to hear about Nashville mission trip (Grades 6th-9th) and sign up for next year!!!

6:30pm- 6th Grade – meet in the Fusion room!!!

7th-9th Grade meet in D-groups!!!

7:10pm- Go home

Hope to see ya' there!

Jesus bless you!

17 days until Fusion!

17 days until the first Fusion of the school year!

That makes me think of Jesus' prayer in John 17! That is the prayer and the Bible passage Fusion is built on: John 17:21!

Our Friend and Brother, God's Son, prayed that we would be ONE with He and His Father! "ONE"way we can be an "ANSWER" to the prayer of Christ is this:

Pray this simple, yet incredibly passionate and eternal prayer for the NEXT 17 DAYS:

"Lord Jesus, make FUSION "ONE" with You and Your Father!"

Let's go into FUSION with that mindset...think about...17 times you and hopefully everyone in Fusion will have prayed that prayer! When was the last time any of us prayed for "ONE" thing 17 different times!

I can't wait to see everyONE!

Countdown to Fusion!

21 days until the FIRST official FUSION of the YEAR!

AUGUST 27TH...BE THERE!

Summer Olympics: Let the Games (and the Prayers) Begin!

The Summer Olympics begin next Friday (August 8) and end on August 24th! I love the Summer Olympics. Track and Field is my favorite but I also love watching soccer and gymnastics!

Suffering for Jesus
The Olympic games will be held in CHINA this year. Many Christians are persecuted in China (tortured, put in prison, etc) because they love Jesus and are not afraid to let people know they love Jesus.

One in suffering
I want to encourage us, as FUSION ministry, to join in the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in China during the days of AUGUST 8-AUGUST 24th . Let's be ONE with them and PRAY for them each day.

Pray for specific Chinese Christians
Click here to pray for Chinese Christians by name!

Prayer Wristband for China!
Here is a cool way to remember to pray for CHRISTIANS in CHINA during the SUMMER OLYMPICS: Order a "PRAY FOR CHINA" WRISTBAND!!!
click here to order the wrist bands!

Corny Joke of the Day

Q: What did the right shoe say to the left shoe?

A: I think we must be sole mates.

Deeper! Luke 5:1-11

We just got back from the SUMMER RETREAT '08! The theme was "DEEPER"...BASED on LUKE 5:1-11 (key verse is verse 4--see below)!

Steve, Sallie, and I talked about going "DEEPER" with JESUS CHRIST...

What areas in your life is CHRIST CALLING YOU to go "DEEPER" in WITH HIM?

*Scripture Meditation?
*Praying for the church and the world?
*Loving your family members?
*Obeying your parents?
*Witnessing; not being afraid to speak the Name of Jesus and letting others know you love Christ?
*Calling on God to help you put an end to a sin you are having trouble with?

*What areas in your life is CHRIST CALLING YOU to go "DEEPER" in with HIM?

LUKE 5:4-->

PUT OUT INTO DEEP WATER, AND LET DOWN THE NETS FOR A CATCH.

---Jesus

*THANKS to my twin BRO, BRAD, for the "DEEPER" GRAPHIC in this blog!

Corny Joke of the Day

You can tune a piano, and you can tune a guitar, but you can't tuna fish.

I want Jesus!

Can you make this your prayer today?

I want Jesus! I want all of my Savior! Jesus Christ is worth it! I want Him for my family! I want Him for my church. I want Him for my classmates. I want Him for my teachers and for my friends. I want Jesus for those who don't like me and for those I have trouble getting along with. I want Him for those I minister to. I want Him for the people of Peru. I want Jesus for the people of Nashville. I want Him for the people of Fusion and for the whole youth ministry! I want Him for the hungry and for the thirsty; the prisoners, the sick, the naked, and the stranger. I want all of my Savior Jesus Christ!

I want His humility. I want His obedience. I want His vision from the Cross. I want His courage. I want His integrity...His heart for His Father and His Spirit...His intense and extravagant love for His creation...for His people...for the lost...for His disciples...for His nations. I want His prayers and His actions! I want His anger and His joys!

I want His foot-washing towel and His cheek that He turned. I want His sermons that He preached and the lessons that He taught. I want His creativity and His humor. I want His eternal life giving words. I want His forgiveness and His grace! I want His church. I want His mission! I want His servant attitude! I want His love!

I want my Friend who laid down His life for you and me. I want His mind. I want His compassion, His mercy, His peace, His attack mindset, His eyes, His mouth, His boldness. I want my Lord who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...obeying His Father unto death on a cross. I want to know Christ and the power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

I want to "live" like Jesus "died"...strong...faithful...trusting...forgiving...loving...obeying...understanding...persevering...
non-comprimising...recklessing committed to His Father and our Father...even while He was suffering on that piece of wood!

I want to give myself, not save myself. I want Christ face-to-face, hand-to-hand. I want to deny myself, pick up my cross, and follow my shepherd so closely that I get covered in all of His dust. I want to touch His cloak, hear the leather of His sandals as He walks me to people who need Him. I want to smell His breath and feel His grip.

I want Jesus! Not some of Jesus, but all of Him! I want His smile. I want His whisper. I want His rest. I want to be crucified with Him. I want to be resurrected with Him. I want to be glorified with Him! I want to eat with Him! I want to talk to the Father with Him! I want to laugh with Him! I want the day with Him. I want forever with Him! I want Jesus! I want JESUS for YOU!

Where are you hiding?

This devo is based off my talk from last weeks Pusion (Power Surge/Fusion combo on Wednesday night)!

In Genesis 3:-10, God asked Adam: "Where are you?" In other words, "Where are you hiding dude?" We are all hiding behind, in, or with something. So I want to ask us: where are we hiding? Where are we in our relationship with Jesus Christ?

Here are a couple things NOT good to hide in or behind:

1. A Tree: the tree symbolizes the tree Adam and Eve hid behind in Genesis 3:8-10 once they disobeyed God's command. Are you hiding behind a sin?

2. A Mask: the greek word for hypocrite means "an actor"...being someone we are NOT. Are any of us "acting" like a Christian but "re-acting" like a non-Christian. How do you "re-act" when someone is mean to you? With love and prayer for them, or gossip and hatred? It is "easy" to "act" like a Christian...harder to "re-act" like a Christian!

3. Your "to-do" list: Are you hiding behind your "to-do" list. Some of us are so "busy" getting things done that we are NOT "getting things done!" You know what I mean? We are busy doing "our" things. What about God's things?

4. OUR "buts"...Excuses: what excuses are we hiding behind? I would pray, but I got homework and practice. I would go to church, my American Idol is on. I would clean my room, "BUT...BUT...BUT!!!"

HERE IS WHERE WE WANT TO "HIDE"!-->

With Jesus in God: any of us hiding with Jesus Christ in God? Colossians 3:3 says, "For you died, and your life is hiden with Christ in God." This is where we WANT TO HIDE! "WITH CHRIST IN GOD!" TO "HIDE" in this verse means to be "WRAPPED UP" in Jesus! Are you so "WRAPPED UP" in Jesus that you are praying "gut wrenching" prayers like He did in the Garden of Gethsemene (Luke 22:39-46)? Are you "feeling" the burden of the cross you are carrying? Are you loving God the Father and your neighbor with passion?

May you find yourself "HIDDEN" in Jesus...SO "WRAPPED UP" in His LIFE that you WRAP yourself around His Cross and find the heartbeat of Jesus to be your own! AMEN in Christ our Life (Colossians 3:4)!

Corny Joke of the Day

My dad has two pairs of golf pants.

I'll bet he got a hole in one