Speedy and Zippo made another appearance as they 'Walked It Out!' Zippo led a game that involved 3 guys, 3 candles, matches and 3 cups of water. The object of the game was to drink your cup of water! Sounds simple. The kids had to light their own candle and drink the cup of water before someone else blew their candle out! It was great. I had never heard nor seen the game and it turned out wonderful.
Speedy & Zippo --- 'The Speed Walking Sensation that's Sweeping the Nation!'
JT laughs at the thought of this game while Alex & Jerry ponder their plans of Success...
Alex & JT blow out Jerry's candle!
I got to speak again this week. I LOVE speaking to these high schoolers! I wish you could be there one week. It is amazing how quiet and engaged the kids get. You can physically see them 'leaning in' toward hear the Talk. I spoke about something that I have never spoke on in front of YL kids in my 9 years on staff. Last week I spoke about the Heart of God and how / why Jesus turned the Water into Wine. This week, I also spoke about the Heart of God and how / why Jesus cleared the temple. This passage follows last weeks in John 2.
It was almost time for Passover and Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem for this Feast. While he is there, he runs across some Priests who have booths in the temple selling animals for sacrifice and / or who are exchanging money. They are ripping the Pilgrims off and making a profit ... all in the name of Religion! And not only are they ripping off the Pilgrims, but they have turned God's House of Prayer / Worship into a Market Place! They are desecrating the Temple. Do you remember that saying from the early nineties, 'Homey Don't Play That!'? Well, Jesus Don't Play That! He pours out the wrath of God on these folks. He over turns their tables. He runs the animals out of the Temple.
Basically, I think Jesus was so upset because the Religious People had missed the boat once again. The Passover Feast was a time of Celebration, Prayer, Reflection and Rememberance of what God has done and how he rescued the Israelites out of Slavery in Egypt. They missed the boat. They took their eye off the ball. They were Commercializing this HOLYday and turning it into a Holiday. Does this happen today? You Betcha! And I think God's heart STILL breaks when we miss the boat today. When we take our eyes off the ball. If during Thanksgiving, you focus on the turkey, yams, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and the Cowboys, rather then on Thanking Jesus for everything, then you have missed the boat. If you focus on the presents, flash and flare of Christmas, rather than on the birth of our Savior, then you have missed the boat. If you worry more about decorating your home for Easter, getting Easter baskets ready for the Grandkids than on our Resurrected Christ, then you have taken your eye off the ball. And I will go out on a limb and say that Jesus responds the same way today as he did then. It breaks his heart!
May today be the day you get back in the boat.
May today be the day you put your eyes back on the ball.
The Main Thing is to keep The Main Thing the Main Thing...
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