Mark Knight

Learning Rarely Changes

2010-04-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

From the moment of birth to our passing on, learning rarely changes.

Babies are notorious for testing things out by sticking them in their mouth because at that age everything is learned about and discovered by placing in their mouth. The good things didn't taste bad and the bad things did. The good things didn't hurt and the bad things did.

Toddlers then begin to discover and journey through life judging good and bad by pain. If something hurts, then they probably shouldn't try that again. If it doesn't hurt than it was safe and therefore should definitely be re-done.

Little Kids then begin to do a combo of; pain and/or discipline to tell them if something is good or bad. If they get yelled at then its probably not a smart idea but they are usually willing to try again later when that person is not looking.

Tweens and Teens begin to then discover the good and bad of life based around pain both physically and this weird new thing called emotional pain. If it hurts physically its not a good idea (they learned that years ago) but now if it hurts on the inside it is terrible and is even worse than the pain on the outside.

And this is where a Parents/Leaders/Youth Pastors and others come in, we can and should help teenagers to discover life in spite and in the midst of pain whether it be emotional or physical pain. We need to help them navigate the torrents of life to avoid the most pain but to realize sometimes pain happens. To discover Jesus who bore ultimate pain so we could have life. Teenagers will almost always revert back to trying things out on their own rather than listen to advice, its almost as if they trust their own experiences the most.

Thus, I believe that learning rarely changes, we often go through our whole life doing trial and error. Teenagers are still doing this method and often I find myself doing this method. I look up to the older generation and while they have it almost figured out they are still doing many things based on trial and error.

There is a lot to learn in just a few short years of life as a teenager and often it is learned through trial and error. But one thing I learned as a teenager and I hope to share with my teens is that Jesus loves you in spite of the errors! He loves you regardless and wants a relationship with you that will withstand time! I learned pain comes and goes and the only source of unlimited strength is in Jesus!

Hallelujah!

Mark

Be Challenged

2010-03-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

I got the opportunity to speak at the main church service yesterday and I loved it. At the beginning I mentioned how as a pastor I want to see people become more dependent on God and grow closer to God.

I said, "If you want to be challenged- Repeat after me, 'I Want To Be Challenged'" The response was evident that most people want to be challenged or at least fake that they want to be challenged. As an optimist I will assume the first one.

How do you get challenged?

1. Look For God- God is naturally going to challenge you if you begin to listen to his voice and find where he wants you to move.
2. Get plugged in- get more involved with ministry in your church, find an arena that pushes you to work at something.
3. Grab Take-aways- Listen for at least one thing in a sermon or podcast that you can apply to your life.
4. Read- The Bible, Books, Blogs, anything that is written towards and for challenging Christians. I am reading a book right now called "Jesus Loves You This I know" and its all about a couple of pastors literally living at Jesus' lifestyle. Dining with sinners, speaking with prostitutes, helping the poor, etc.

Those are 4 but there are also other ways in which you can stay challenged! Become more dependent on God, become closer to God and we can never stop learning and never stop growing!

God is moving.

2010-02-19T13:03:00.001-08:00

Get on the bus.

Running at God

2010-01-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

One thing I have been struggling with is this idea of running at God. Most of the time in church and from Christians you hear the idea of walking with God, and hand in hand you are walking through life. Which is fine in some aspects but is lacking in others.

This idea, of running at God, hit me when I was reading Genesis 32 when Jacob wrestled with God all night. He wouldn't let go until he got blessed by God. He wanted so much for God to gain God's blessing.

Jacob was a scoundrel, he was a liar and a cheat. But when he wanted something he went for it, and not all his methods were ideal, you can't say the man didn't pursue what he wanted. Its debated at what point did Jacob begin his pursuit of God and his running at God but I think the switch happened after he left his homeland and began a new life with his Uncle Laban. He begin to run at God, not with God, not from God, but at God.

I was thinking to myself, what am I missing, I am so used to waiting for God's plan in my life. Waiting to see what God says to me, praying for God's guidance, which mind you are wonderful things and should be part of your life. But here is Jacob who gets God's blessing even those his tactics for receiving it weren't considered ideal and borderline Christian.

Sometimes waiting for God is the best thing to do but often we need to be seeking God, pursuing God, running at God to be able to receive his blessing.

Do you think God was upset that Jacob wrestled with Him all night? I doubt it I bet God was smiling the whole time because he knew that Jacob was so hungry for God and for God's blessing that he wouldn't let go and wouldn't give up.

One of the closest things you can do is wrestle another person, and I believe God loves it when you are so close to him that you are wrestling over His blessing.

Jacob was hungry for God and the things of God, I desire to be too, and I hope and pray you also are that hungry for what God is doing in your life and in the world. Run at God.

-Mark

Our Hidden Secret

2010-01-07T11:53:00.000-08:00

Christians act like they have this hidden secret they don't want anyone to know about. Its not just the fact of knowing Jesus or even letting people know about Jesus, that blog and book and article and blah blah blah has been picked clean.

I am talking about the confidence or the way we act around people that don't know we are a Christian.

For example, when meeting a new person a Christian is highly likely to act completely unconfident and a little timid because they act like they have this hidden secret that if the person only knew about them they would immediately not like them as much or judge them.

We meet people and are hoping we can really get to know them before we accidentally let it slip that we have a savior that died for our sins. They may think I am weird or I am crazy or that I have a crutch!!

Some of the most confident Christians when meeting a new person have this timidness of "oh I hope they don't find out too quickly I love God."

I don't think this is a trait that is particular to only youth because I know plenty of adults that act the same way. However, I would say its stronger among youth but that may be due to the fact that the peer influence and relationships are also stronger for youth.

Christians all over the america and I am sure even the world act like this. I tend to notice when I am doing it too.

Why? Is it because we want to be accepted as a person before they know we have a closet obsession? Is it like the hidden passion people that are obsessed with something so much so that they don't want people to know right off the bat? Its like the 25 year old that still collects pokemon cards or plays pokemon on his gameboy...they don't want people to know that about them right of the bat, they want to be accepted first and then maybe they might let it gradually flow into conversation that they secretly dream about catching them all.

But thats not the way it should be, we have a tendency to be Peter in the Bible and deny Jesus so we aren't put in the same boat as the radicals or the crazies or even the goody two-shoes. But yet, something happened to Peter in Acts, when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he began to not only announce, without being ashamed, Jesus but to heal people not only of physical issues but of emotional pain and a spiritual hunger.

As Christians we need to learn to be confident in Jesus not scared we might be looked at differently...

How? It starts with knowing who we are in Christ and knowing who we are becoming in Christ. We need to know that God is working in us and through us and in that knowledge we can proudly exclaim the joy that Jesus has brought us.

Its not a confidence that pushes people away or that stands on the street corner and yells at people. Its a confidence that is brought forth in love for others. Its a confidence that is brought forth in a way because we know that we needed a Savior, we needed grace, we needed unconditional love, we needed Jesus. It is brought forth in knowing there are millions of people destined to spend an eternity away from love and away from hope a place where there is only utter despair and yet we are scared to even mention we know how to spend eternity in paradise?

When Jesus becomes so much a part of your life, he pours out of you, it no longer is a conversation that goes, "so you go to church?"--- "yeah on sundays, so how about them mariners?"

It becomes a conversation of "so you go to church?"---"its not about church for me its about what Jesus has done through me and in the church."---- "what do you mean?"----"there is so much pain in the world but so much joy in Jesus. You should come check it out."

This is something I have been thinking about for awhile and something I am still working through myself.

I hope it encourages you to be bold for the Spirit of God is living inside of you.

-Mark

God's Love

2009-12-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

God's love is one of those things thats hard for people to grasp. Many people wonder if God existed why would he let bad things happen? Or they wonder if God wants us to love him why doesn't he just tell us to love him? or make us love him? or show himself so we can believe and then in turn love him?

Those are some deep theological questions that many theologians still debate today. I am not saying I have the answer to all these questions but I do know that God wants us to choose to love him and others. God doesn't want to force us into loving him or pop up in the sky one day and boldly tell the entire world of his existence (he has given us many other ways of knowing he exists and shown himself to us in many other ways).

I am sure the analogy is much stronger if you have a child but since I don't I will give from my own experience. My wife and I recently got a puppy and we love the dog to death. He is awesome and fun and amazing to be around. Why did we get a puppy though? Why does anyone get a puppy? Most people just want puppies so they can have something that loves them and shows them affection, cuddles with them on the couch, hangs out with them, goes hunting with them, whatever. They purchase a friend/companion/son/daughter, but yet the puppy doesn't always do the right thing, sometimes he pees in the house or he chews up something he shouldn't, and he gets into trouble. The puppy is not perfect but yet we still love him.

However, if we were to use the logic of the above questions on the puppy analogy, why does God let bad things happen? Why does bad things happen to our puppy? Most of the time we try to prevent the bad things from happening to our dog but he often creates them or others create them, etc. Its a pattern of events that we can't control. If God began to keep bad things from happening that would create a world in which only good could happen thus destroying all semblance of free-will and the choice of good vs bad.

Why doesn't he force us to love him? Or make us love him? etc. That's like saying to us proud puppy owners why we didn't just go out and by a teddy bear. That teddy bear is never going to make a mistake and it is always going to cuddle with us when we want it to. It can hang out with us in the car or at home. It seemingly perfect but yet its a relationship in which is forced and not real because they teddy has no choice in the matter. The ones that willingly choose to love us like the puppy or friends or significant others mean the most to us because those are the ones that love us for who we are and in spite of our faults.

God does love you and wants you to love him back. Its your choice and your chance. He could pop up in a cloud and in a way force you to love him but he doesn't want that and I am sure you don't either. Its your choice.

Have a good Holiday season!

Mark

Traditions

2009-12-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter what age you are or what stage you are at in life, everyone has traditions and most people want to hold onto their traditions and not give them up. Christmas reminds us of traditions because every year we pull out our favorite holiday traditions and we follow them by the book. Whether it is putting up the tree in a certain way on a certain day, or opening your presents in a certain order, or even just having certain family members come over on Christmas. Traditions mean something to us because they are personal and they are sentimental.

Everyone has different traditions and different ways they like to do things. Your tradition may seem silly to someone else but it works the other way around because you wouldn't trade your tradition for theirs.

However, we need to remember traditions mean nothing to outsiders! People that aren't part of your tradition don't care about your traditions, they don't mean anything to them and regardless of how much you want them to like your traditions, they just don't seem to care.

This is what we have run into in our youth group and a little in our church. We are called by Jesus to bring in the outsiders but instead of getting rid of the traditions that are only sentimental traditions we hope that the outsiders somehow attach themselves with our traditions. And I am not talking about taboo traditions like Jesus is God or Salvation is through Jesus, not those type of traditions because those obviously we can't let go of. I am talking about traditions like, "we always go to this place for camp!" or "we have to sing this song on christmas eve" or "I always sit in this spot."

Those are the types of traditions that we need to wary of, they are not always bad but they mean nothing to outsiders. They aren't concerned with what camp we go to or what song we sing or what spot they sit in, what they want to know is how Jesus can change their life and we can't let our traditions get in the way of Jesus!

Sometimes we need to do whats best to win the lost, do whats best to train those won, and do whats best to send the trained into the world; which means our traditions aren't always the best way of accomplishing that, and therefore we need to throw off those things that can entangle us and put on Jesus who should be our main goal and our main purpose in everything we do.

Merry Christmas!

Mark

Speaking to Those Who Don't Come

2009-12-10T20:03:00.000-08:00

One of the things I learned while in school to become a youth pastor was "speaking to those not there". It wasn't a main topic and it wasn't thoroughly preached, in fact, it was just something that my brain grabbed and kept.

It also helped that my mentor and the youth pastor I was working under at the time talked about the same concept and the concept is this:

Whether you are delivering the message, doing the announcements, leading worship, or whatever, speak to the friends that didn't come. Speak to the people you want to see at your youth group. It works like a youtube video. When someone sees a youtube video they immediately think, "you know who would like this---Mark would like this" and then they post it on my facebook. They do this with all their friends, when they read an article/watch a movie/ even eat a restaurant they think, so-and-so would love this! And that is how our youth ministry should be.

So and So would love this! I have been trying to do this ever since I became the youth pastor at BFM and I have seen people bring friends simply because they think, "you know who would like this, so-and-so would like this".

Speak to the students that aren't there and guess what they may start coming!

Till next time

-Mark

Corny Youth Group Games

2009-08-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

I just had a revelation while sitting at my desk planning youth group. I used to think when I was in youth group that since the games were so corny and dumb that is why kids didn't want to invite their friends and why I didn't want to invite my friends.

However, I just remembered and realized that I as long with everyone else had a lot of fun with those corny and cheesy youth group games. I think the real issue was we didn't want to invite friends not because of the games but because of our pride, we didn't want others to look at us as stupid or childish for liking certain games.

I can even remember a time in which someone did have a friend come and a game they had liked just weeks before now all the sudden they didn't like it because their friend was there and they didn't want to show that it was a fun game for the friend.

The sad reality is our friends are just like us, I am pretty sure they will like the game if you do.

And now as a youth pastor I am trying to think of "cool" games even though the old cheesy ones are still just as good....

maybe instead i should work on pride.

Ready for School

2009-08-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

There are times in my life that I never thought I would say that I am just ready to get school started. But, now that I am a youth pastor I cannot wait for the school year to begin. Because with the school year arriving it also brings:

1. A regular routine
2. Less twitters from youth saying "I'm bored" (but more saying "School sucks")
3. A new vision in our youth ministry
4. Weekly meetings with my favorite youth pastors in the area
5. Ten months without hearing the words "wild waves"

Now, granted our summer wasn't all bad...in fact it was awesome and inspiring. A lot of our students took huge steps this summer in their walk with God. But summer is tiring and crazy for youth pastors. And I am ready to take the momentum we created from summer into the school year.

What's Next?

2009-08-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

I realized something the other day, I tend to read a book always looking at the next couple pages. Just glancing to see how close I am to the end of the chapter. I am not even sure why I do because I know I am going to keep reading even past the next chapter. Why does it matter that I know the next chapter is 2 pages away?

I think it is because most of us are always asking "What's Next?" So consumed with everything being quick and coming to us fast. Brian Aaby always says we live in a time of "microwave mentality" in which we want things done now, and done for us. Would it be easier for someone to just tell me what the book I am reading about is about. Even maybe list out the good points for me? HECK YEAH! That would save me about 2-3 hours of reading the book.

I also realized that when I am playing a video game, especially sports based games, I am always wanting to be at a different spot in the season than the one I am at right now. I just did it this morning. I simmed through half the season because I wanted to be in the playoffs. Now that I am in the playoffs I want to be in the offseason so I can work on next season. But I already know that when I get to the offseason I will want to just get my team good so I can be in the season, just to sim most of the season so I can get to the playoffs again.

ITS A RIDICULOUS CYCLE! We all do it though, we all look for "whats next" and forget about the "whats now." I am not getting much out of my book if I am always anticipating whats next! I am not getting my moneys worth of my video game if I am letting the computer do all the work.

This doesn't just happen in reading or in video games but happens everywhere in life. When we are going on a trip we are forgetting about the today and living for the day we leave on that trip. When you are engaged you are counting down the days/hours/minutes/seconds to when you are married. Life becomes lived in the future instead of the present and we miss out.

When I flip ahead in the book I am not focused on the paragraph i am reading then and I don't get anything from it. When I am simming the season in my video game I am missing the fun from each of those games. When we count down the days to our trip or our wedding we are not focused on the beauty of that day!

We as people need to be focused on the NOW and not the THEN! When we focus on whats now, we will get more out of life, we will get more out of what is our every second.

Maybe I should write a book on this but then again I am just going to focus on writing this note. For now lets think about how much we can get out of each second and not what the next second is bringing.

How Youth STAY Christian

2009-08-05T14:15:00.000-07:00

One of the main worries of youth pastors and Christian parents is that their youth will run away from God shortly after high school. This topic has been touched on a lot and mentioned even more. However, lately I have been really thinking over why some Christian kids, stay Christian and why others decide Christ was just something from their childhood.

As youth pastors it’s a huge deal that we all have to face and that I think can be prevented. While most people that have written or talked on this topic took the angle of why students LEAVE but I am going to relate reasons why I think they will STAY.

Students who stay Christians are:
1. Involved in Ministry
2. Have Strong Spiritual Leaders
3. Have experienced God
a. And hold on to their experience of God (remember/cherish it)
4. Receiving Positive Messages
a. In and out of sermons
5. Are Seeing God Work

Now, I know this list isn’t a comprehensive list nor do I claim that it is the only reasons, but from my life experiences and from the life of youth I have seen grow up in the church and either STAY or LEAVE. This seems to be a fair list.

Then, the question becomes, as a youth pastor how are you doing on this? Are your youth involved with ministry in your church AND in your youth ministry?

Do your youth have strong spiritual leaders that can help them push themselves and grow?

Have your youth had the chance to experience God on their own or do they just hear about it from you? Do they hold on to that experience, remembering it and cherishing it?

Are they receiving positive messages? Both from sermons and from 1 on 1 time with them?

Are they seeing God work in your life? In the church? In the world?

I am going to admit I am not perfect at this in fact I am developing ways right now that I can involve my youth more. I am trying to create places and ways for them to see and feel the experience of God.

Join with me as we help youth become Christians and STAY Christians.

Youth Ministry Website

2009-08-05T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

We finally have a youth ministry link on our main church webpage so this blog is no longer necessary. This will now be hijacked and become my own personal blog. Look forward to seeing more updates and hopefully something thought provoking.

-Mark

look up the website http://www.burienfm.org/#ministries-Youth

When God is Hidden....

2009-04-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

Alright I have really been mulling over this and really going through it. Thanks to lots of thought, books, prayer, etc. I am ready to write this. I basically have gone through my own spiritual journey the last few days. It was crazy just pondering the hidden aspect of God or the disappearance of God. How most of the stuff that we say is from God can be explained in other ways and by other means.

As I thought through the Bible story, I found that God at one time was always active and was always talking directly to people. If we look back on early Israel we see a picture of God who directly spoke to Moses who hovered in over the camp in clouds and in fire and when the fire or cloud moved the people knew to follow. That I think is what we often want from God. Clear direction, CLEAR communication. However, the world in which the Israelites lived in required no faith. None for God was always there and God was present. There was no need for discernment in situations and no need for clear thought of the spiritual journey of their lives. And this lead to even more rebellion than we see today from the hidden God. The one that is to be sought out and behind the scenes seeks us out. The Israelites were not content with a God that was always there in fact they were quite the opposite.

Since then God has given us Jesus in which Jesus was the embodiment of God in which basically God was walking around earth and with people again. He placed himself inside of time and inside of this world to show us love and to give us life. Yet the most religious people of that day rebelled against this view of God and against Jesus. They crucified him and then Jesus came back to life and conquered the grave.

This is when something dramatic happened in the way God communicates with us. For Jesus when he left the world gave us the Holy Spirit in which now we basically are God's vessels, we are supposed to represent God and be God to the world. We know have God living in us. If we chose to commit ourselves to him.

Ok you may be wondering what that has to do with the lack of God's communication in your life and in many others. Well first, let's say that God is using a different way of communicating with people now days. Most is through dreams/visions/subtle pushes/through others/ through emotions/through the Bible and sometimes however rarely through direct encounters or audible voices. However, we cannot put God in a box on how he communicates with people for he is in fact God.

But there have been times in my life where God has seemed gone where it felt like I was just going through the motions but getting nothing in return. And I think that this is why it was hard for me to really come at you with this topic because there were times in my life where God felt gone. I knew he was real like you do but that he didn't feel present in my life. And people would say things like, "well if God feels distant it is you who moved!" but if you read Job it proves the opposite. The fog rolled in around Job and God was gone for a time. And that is when faith was to come to the fore-front in Job's life. Why were all those crappy things happening to Job, to his family, he obviously didn't deserve it and he at least deserved and answer from God. Yet till the very end of the book Job hears nothing from God no matter how much Job cries out for it.

There are times in every Christians life where God seems to dissapear or we think we deserve or need a blatant sign from God like the burning bush. But in these times is when our faith should kick into high gear.

Many people use the excuse that they are waiting for God to tell them where to go or what to do. However, God did not tell you to watch TV today or to eat a ham sandwich for lunch or go to sleep at 11:30pm. Sometimes we just need to do what God commanded without God saying anything. And if all else fails go back to the basics, love God and love others. As Phillip Yancey said do now what would make sense in reverse.

Christian Hip-Hop

2009-03-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

Most things that Christians put out or at least are called Christian are low budget and not as good as anything the world has to put out. The movies are volunteer actors and you can tell. The knock-off music sounds trashy compared to what it is knocking off. However, I stumbled across a group called 116 Clique in the Christian Hip-Hop scene. This Group is composed of some of the more popular Christian rappers such as Lecrae and Trip Lee. Not only is the music quality but the lyrics are inspirational and spiritual. Here is one of their more popular songs called "Send Me/Represent".

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!
(repeat x4)

i seen it with my own two,
there's no way i can show you
a perfectly poverty stricken people with no view.
And i bet you can't believe this,
they never heard of Jesus.
Heard young butler, lil wayne, and young jeezy.

No one's signing up to go on missions this summa.
Rather sit at home and watch exibit pimp in a humma
while a nine year old is shot down.
No one's screaming 'stop now!'
no bridge illustrations for criminals who on lock down.

People deep in africa
looking for an answer bra'.
In china man,
they're dieing man,
until they know who died for sins.
So look what grace did.
Not for us to stay here
inside our comfort zones
at home in mama's basement.

Get out on the grind y'all.
Ain't no better time doll.
I know y'all read the great commission.
Let me just remind y'all:
make disciples of the nations.
Teach'm to obey the lord.
Have to lead someone to christ before i face the lord.

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!
(repeat x4)

hey! After, 1,000 years in the west and the churches
get'n bigger daily without understand'n worship. (say what?)
Some regenerate but a lot ain't saved.
You walk outside and be surprised cuz the block ain't changed.
And the numbers they be get'n me.
Something just ain't hit'n them.
America ain't christian they practice'n the ritual.
That's why we should be mission though.
Hey, what you think i'm spit'n for?
The united states is die'n
and in the east is looking pitiful.

Some places if they catch you
they'll arrest you.
They'll serve you,
but they still need the word too.
The gospel should be heard too.
We claim we ain't ashamed,
but we ain't hit the block up.
Were in our christian bubble,
while our brotha's get'n locked up.
Lord i wanna stock up,
pack a bag and walk up
in a country where my faith may get me shot up
anywhere i go, whether my city or far abroad,
i just wanna show' christ the risen holy god.

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!
(repeat x4)

i know they're die'n in the streets over in the middle east.
Some kids sink in piece
others hold'n up a piece.
If the violence doesn't cease,
then at least the deceased
might know jesus as their savior as their bodies hit the streets.
And i know this is a graphic view.
And i pray that it's attack'n you.
Track'n you to act and do
what you see in the back illusion.
Mathew twenty-four and fourteen.
We should read it twice
before we think that life is just a battle
see we free in christ!
Look dawg! Life is more than church work and football!
What if you were dead and seen that christians overlooked y'all!
This is why we leave the couch
and leave the comforts of our house
to show a die'n world a god they'll probably never read about.

The great commission says make disciples of all nations.
Have we even made them in our own nation?
Come on christians!
Missions exist because worship doesn't.
People don't worship the god who made them.
We're ambassadors.
Let's go!

Send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
send me I'll go,
lemme go lemme go!
(repeat x4)

Pretty great stuff. :)

Time to start posting again

2009-02-03T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well, its been a crazy November-January but hey when is youth ministry not crazy. As you can tell from my post below. Anyways, now is the time to start up the posting again so that as my 2 1/2 readers can read exactly what is happening in the youth room of BFM. So just for your own and my own boost of confidence and awareness you will soon be seeing once again an update every so often.

Keep up the checking (preaching to the choir)

Mark

Well October was Crazy

2008-11-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

If you can't tell from the last posting...then you probably aren't reading these anyways but as you can tell October was nuts. And unlike the last month of blog posting the youth group is not dead in fact it is starting to boom and take off. We are having a lot of fun and great things happening down in that multi-colored youth room.

To keep you updated on what you missed in the world of BFM youth over the last month. We painted our youth room a variety of awesome looking colors and as my wife says, "it looks like a video game!" The youth love it and are actually excited to bring friends to show them.

We also went to the pumpkin patch and had a blast wandering through a corn maze.

We then had a harvest party or if you are not overly conservative (a halloween) party the following Wednesday. In which we had a couple friends of students come and we had a blast carving pumpkins, eating candy, and launching pumpkins from a home-made pumpkin launcher.

Lastly, we just had a fundraiser for our mission trip this summer, it was the annual thanksgiving dinner! We raised over 600 dollars! Thanks for the support and prayers

Mark

THE POLE!

2008-09-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Remember see you at the pole is tomorrow and the after the pole rally will be taking place at Highline Christian Church.

Go to the pole! Pray, go to the event on Saturday.

SEE YA THERE,

Mark

Knocking Over Trash Cans...

2008-09-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

This week... on living a NON-SUCKY LIFE...we will be talking about pushing away the garbage. For a sneak peek on what we will be talking about read below \/

Garbage, there is garbage everywhere. We can choose to tap into this garbage or we can choose to make our own destiny and be our own person. We don't have to just continue to roll around in the garbage that others have left for us. Instead we can find our own life that is not garbage and is in fact rewarding....

Read Mt. 17:17-20.

Pushing away garbage,

Mark

The NON-SUCKY Life

2008-09-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Next week is our kickoff series about how to live a life that doesn't suck. We will be talking about really getting to the core of yourself and looking to Jesus to find a life that is full of hope and joy.

This first week we will be talking about "Fighting off Zues and the other greek gods". Make sure you come to this, and send your youth. Every Wednesday night this is what we will be talking about.
Sunday mornings will still be our apologetics class. And Sunday nights are still boy and girl small groups. However, wednesday nights will be a great place for someone who doesn't come to church or doesn't really have a relationship with God to come and feel comfortable.

Fighting Off Zues,

Mark

it sure has been awhile since...

2008-09-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

I posted my last blog. So, to keep my 2 readers up to date on what all is happening at BFM youth. I just thought I would say that the small groups are going great.

The girls have successfully made brownies and painted their nails. (real exciting)

While the guys almost tripled their group in one week. The first week we had three guys...the next week we had 8 guys. Which enabled us to play a 4 on 4 football game in which Joe stepped into the blackberry bush barefooted and Josh stubbed his wrist. (which I didn't know was possible until I saw Josh do it)

But all in all, two very fun weeks in small groups...and not only are we having fun but we are actually talking about God and having fun. Because God is fun! :)

Keep it real

Mark

Wild Waves

2008-08-12T16:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow 8/13 we will be taking a trip to Federal Way WA to have some fun in the sun (hopefully) at Wild Waves. We need all the students to be at the church by 9am so we can experience the whole day of fun at Wild Waves. Make sure you bring a little extra cash for lunch...we will be back by 8pm if not before as the park closes at 7pm.

Thanks

Mark

Daryl Jones and the Temptation Bird

2008-08-07T09:41:00.000-07:00

For all the parents that read this blog, make sure you ask your students about Daryl Jones and the Temptation Bird. And if your not a parent and you still wanna know ask a student in church on Sunday. Have them explain to you what that means. :)

Later Gaters

Mark

Success!

2008-08-04T15:27:00.001-07:00

Warm Beach this year was a lot of fun and very inspirational for both the students and the youth pastor. :) We got to hang out with each other for the majority of the day and we heard a couple good speakers and a great worship band!

Now we are gearing up for Wild Waves which happens in a little over a week. Aug 13! We will be leaving at 9am and we will be spending the whole day in the park. This event only costs 20 bucks so get your money in as early as possible so I can go ahead and buy the group tickets!

Thanks

Mark

Warm Beach!!!

2008-07-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

Well its that time again for another road trip and I think this one's destination ends at Warm Beach for a day of hanging out with Christ and Christians. :) We will be leaving at 8am tomorrow the 30th. Remember to be there sharp so we can get to Warm Beach in time for games.

Don't forget your swim suit otherwise you are hanging out next to the pool all day instead of in the pool where all your friends are. :)

See ya tomorrow
Mark

No Youth Group TONIGHT!

2008-07-23T08:02:00.001-07:00

Hey,

Just a reminder for everyone who does not get my emails, there is no youth group tonight due to the fact that VBS is going on at the same time and almost all of the youth group is involved in some way in that.

Sunday is the last day to get the 30 dollar deal on Warm Beach Camp Day Trip! So make sure you get the money in by either Sunday morning or Sunday Night. :) Thanks

Mark

VBS Sneak Peek

2008-07-16T11:54:00.000-07:00

Tonight it happens...the day when BFM becomes infested with kids of all ages wanting to make crafts and to sing and dance. These kids come from all over the neighborhood and are just eager for someone to help them come to know Jesus or to get to know Jesus better. As a Youth Group we will be fostering these feelings of Jesus and harvesting them into all of the children that walk through the doors of BFM.

So tonight if you are a youth or a parent of a youth make sure you lace up your shoes and walk through our doors around 5 to help set-up for this marvelous evening. If you can't get there that early, come at 6:30 because that is when all the oompa-loompas arrive.

Mark

July 13- PARENTS MEETING

2008-07-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

Calling ALL Parents of YOUTH!

I need you to come to the 6pm informational/get to know you meeting on July 13. I will be talking about this summer and this coming up school year. I would love to get know you better and I hope you might want to meet me.

Bring your youth to hang out while we are in the meeting and the meeting should go no longer than 30 minutes. Thanks

Can't wait to see you.

Mark

Day Trip to Warm Beach

2008-07-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

Check it out... on July 30th we will taking a day trip up to Warm Beach Camp! Here's the deal though we need to be leaving the church by about 8am so everyone needs to arrive at or before 8am. We will be spending the whole day up at the camp and will be having so much fun it will be ridiculous.

I will be finding out what time we get back later this week but it might be a late one depending on what the Camp offers us to do after dinner.

See ya there!

New Address

2008-07-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hey,

You found it the new web address for BFM Youth. Here you will find and locate Event Info and where you can help create the youth community on the internet.

You can also access our myspace page at myspace.com/bfmyouth....

please discard all adds that myspace puts up on their website these are not for and are not designed to be adjacent with the youth group myspace page.

Thanks

Mark