Happy Memorial Day

Thanks to all who served or are serving.  Our freedoms have been kept because of those who sacrificed.

On a slightly different note...the blogmeister will be gone for the next two weeks.  I will be in Wisconsin starting tomorrow to be present for a nieces graduation....then the SPOT camping trip.  We will still, however, be monitoring both the blog and the email at spotspot@gmx.com.  Prayer requests will still be posted, and emails answered!


For those still needing info on the SPOT camping trip, please email.  We still are looking for final info on the number canoeing, so if those canoeing (even those we know about!) could email spotspot@gmx.com, I sure would appreciate it.  We are getting ready to make full reservations...so this info is handy!


See you in a couple of weeks!

The Sunday Update on Tuesday!!!

Lesson Recap

Last week we talked a bit about lukewarmness.  In this lesson we looked at a few topics on fear and guilt and how they motivate us to keep from living lukewarm, and what love means!

We have to learn to not try so hard.  Through Galatians 5:13-14 we find what it means to be free in Christ.  As Chan says "When we love, we're free....when we are loving we can't sin."  In Gal 5:6 we read that "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."  Paul is telling us that we love others because of our love for God.

We know that God wants us to experience salvation.  After all, " He gave us life so that we might seek and know him."  We also need God's help to love God!  Something mysterious, even supernatural must happen for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts.  That would be the work of the Holy Spirit! 

We then read Jn 16:33 were we saw the following:

1) The Assurance of Hard Times.

2) An Example of Hard Times.

3) Explanation of Hard Times.

4) and the Conclusion of Hard Times.

We also saw Jesus as a servant...not a beggar.  So now we see someone we can be real with! As Chan states "If you merely pretend that you enjoy God or love Him, He knows.  You can't fool him; don't even try."

Browniepalooza

On June 27th we will have our first ever browniepalooza.  See the full details in last weeks post, but just get your favorite brownie recipe ready!

Camping Trip

...is getting close!  If you haven't gotten your packet or map you need to email spotspot@gmx.com, so they can be sent to you!

The Blogmeister

...will be absent on June 6th and 13th.  Any prayer requests can be emailed to spotspot@gmx.com.  The blog will be abbreviated during this time, but will march on with info!

Prayer Requests

-Phil and Ginger's sister is still suffering in the hospital.  The doctor's are having difficulty coming up with a cause.  Pray for God's guidance and healing hand.      

 

CSM News and Notes!!!

1. We have our CSM guys lock-in this Saturday night from 7pm until church on Sunday morning. It is for all guys 6-12th grades, and all they have to bring is their favorite snack to get in. This is their reward for raising more money than the girls for our two kids we adopted as a youth ministry through Compassion International a few years ago.

2. Registration forms and deposits for our Middle School Mission Trip are due this Sunday!

3. Don’t forget- there is only one service this Sunday at 10:30 which means no Connection Classes.

4. Also, we have a mandatory High School Mission Trip Meeting Sunday, June 6th after church from 12-1:30pm. Students should bring $3 for pizza and soda. :)

SPOTmail!!!

Finally Crazy Love

By now, we have all come to realize that Francis Chan is a "hard hitter."  He's truthful, but to the point of hitting where it hurts.  Well, we've made it through Chapter 5, which is supposed to be the book's toughest.  This week's topic is that fuzzy little word -- love.  

How would you answer this question: "Who in the Bible demonstrated a great love for God?"  Would you choose someone from the Old Testament, like David or Samuel?  Or perhaps John or Paul, if you're looking to the New Testament.  Why would these names come to mind?  What puts them above other greats like Moses, Elijah, and Peter?  If one of your teen's friends asked, "Do your parents love each other?", how would your teen answer?  What would their answer be based upon?  

Love is interesting and complex.  For example; how do we know when we are in love?  How does the other person know they are loved?  Why do we choose to love one person instead of another?  

I'll see you Sunday, where we'll try to better grasp this concept.

Don

SPOTlunch

This Sunday is SPOTlunch at the IHOP in Gravois Bluffs!  To avoid the wait (we didn't wait last time), we're going to reserve a few tables in advance!  Please RSVP by Saturday!  Email spotspot@gmx.com with your reservation so that we can get the proper head count. 

Strawberry Festival

The Missouri Baptist Children's Home is holding its annual Strawberry Festival June 5.  If you can help, we're looking for folks to work in Concord's Milkshake Booth.  If you can't be there in person, you can donate chocolate syrup, canned pineapple, whipped cream, even a blender!For more info, call Bill McKee at 314-894-2545.

Senior Sunday

This Sunday, we'll celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating high school and college seniors (not our parents -- different kind of seniors).  In addition to a photo tribute during the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services, our seniors will be going to a mystery lunch location and then on to the Valley Park Brunswick Zone for an afternoon of fun.  Please be sure to congratulate these young men and women at this special milestone in their lives!

Camping Trip

If you are going on the SPOT camping trip and haven't picked up your information packet, email Kevin Hurt at spotspot@gmx.com right away.  There's a $5 per person charge for the barbecue, so please get your money in as soon as possible.

Cardinal Baseball

Once again, Brad Slinkard has discount tickets for the Cardinals' game against  the Oakland As on Saturday night, June 19.  Get a great seat for only $13 and enjoy the game with your SPOT friends.  See Brad Slinkard for details (636-717-1008).

Prayer Requests

• Lori Robbins asks for prayers that her Dad stays well all week.  She will be going to get him today (Thursday) and will bring him back to St. Louis on Friday.  Pray also for a safe drive.
• Rich Conrad left for his four-month assignment on Wednesday.  Pray for a safe arrival at his final destination and for his safety throughout his stay.

Browniepalooza!!

It's a special snack week in the SPOTclass Sunday June 27-- the first ever Browniepalooza.  Everyone's responsible for snacks that week!  Make your favorite brownie (box or from scratch).  Keep half to share with your family at home and bring the rest to trade and share in class!  Cold milk will be provided (also coffee)!

You may even want to bring a few copies of your recipe (or an empty box),  just in case others want to duplicate your treat!  It will be a fudgy day!

Sunday Update!!!

Wow. This weeks Sunday Update is actually here on Sunday!!!!

Lesson Update

The title of today's study on the book "Crazy Love" was titled "Leftovers"!  This is one of the hardest chapters of the book...even Chan says so!

Chan speaks of reading the Bible as if one has never read it before.  What if we only had the Bible to read?   Would we see the message of commitment differently than we currently practice?  It is an all or nothing experience!

We looked up Matthew 16:24-25 and Luke 14:33 and then worked on combining them into our own contemporary version.  Again we see the commitment that we need to make as a total one!

God wants our best, deserves our best, and demands our best.  Not our leftovers!!  Read Gen 4:5, Hosea 13:6 and Malachi 1:8.

What is love?  How do we do love?  Try taking 1 Cor 13:4-7 and personalize it.  Put your name where "It" appears!

Conclusion: Choose to answer one of the following:

      Why I choose to give God my leftovers?

      Why I desire to give God all that I am!

Strawberry Festival

As mentioned last week, the Missouri Baptist Children's Home is holding it's annual Strawberry Festival and they need our help in our Concord Milkshake Booth!   Supplies are needed, as well as bodies to man the booth on 6/12.  See last weeks update for details and contact info!

Camping Trip

It's getting close!!!  If you are going on the camping trip and haven't gotten a copy of the small info packet, email the blog here at spotspot@gmx.com and I will get one out to you quickly. Also, the $5 per person for the barbecue is needed within the next week or so.

Browniepalooza!!

OK.  Here's how Browniepalooza is going to work.  On 6/27 instead of a single class snack, we are asking everyone to make their favorite brownie recipe (box or from scratch!).  Keep half to share with your family at home, and bring the rest to trade and share at class!  Cold milk will be provided!  You may even want to bring a few copies of your recipe in case other want it!  It will be a fudgy day!

Special Day!!

It was brought to the blogmeister's attention that we didn't have some information.  As a result we failed to wish Don and Kay Massey a happy anniversary last Friday!

SPOT Lunch

SPOTlunch will be next week after class at the IHOP in Gravois Bluff!!  To avoid the wait we had last time, we are going to reserve a few tables for class.  What we need for you to do is to RSVP by Saturday!  Email spotspot@gmx.com with your RSVP so that we can get the proper head count!  (You can also just respond to any blog update email!)

Baseball, anyone???

Brad Slinkard has many Cardinal tickets for the evening game on Saturday, June 19th!!  These tickets are 1/2 price, to boot.  So get a great seat for only $13!!!!  See Brad Slinkard for details!

Prayer Requests  

-Lori asked for prayers that her Dad stays well all week.  She will be going to get him on Thursday, and will bring him back to Saint Louis on Friday.

Bonus

...just for making the reading this far...a bonus video just for you!

  

SPOTmail!!!

An admittedly lukewarm effort at SPOTmail again this week.  Is there life after graduation?

Lesson Leftovers

Last week our discussion was about lukewarmness.  We all agreed no one likes lukewarm anything.  But what about leftovers?  I, for one, like them. 

I think there are certain dishes that actually get better with each warm up.  However, I have met some people who will not eat leftover anything! 

If you have not yet read chapter 5, I encourage you to do so prior to our discussion Sunday morning.  You guessed it - it's about leftovers.  Though the discussion will be about leftovers - the discussion will not be a leftover.

See you Sunday.
Don

SNACKS

May 16 - Sanftners

May 23 - LaRowes - seeking to trade with someone - will not be in class 5/23 or 5/30

It's about that time!!!!!

Graduation: Your Story « Videos « The Skit Guys

CSM Quick Notes!!!!!!

1. There is a mandatory High School Mission Trip Meeting this Sunday after church from 12-1:30 in the Rafters. Students should bring $3 for pizza and soda, and a willingness to get geared up for our trip coming up in 6 weeks!!

2. Parents of graduating seniors should turn in a baby picture and a senior picture of their graduate this Sunday in order for them to be showcased in a slideshow during both services Sunday, May 23rd. Also, if their graduate is planning on coming to the Graduation PARTY we’re hosting in their honor May 23rd at Brunswick, please have them RSVP to the church office. :)

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to Mike Conrad!!!  Have a blessed day!

The Sunday Update on Tuesday!!!

Lesson Recap

This lesson was titled "The Spew Factor"!  We looked at the profiles of the lukewarm Christian.  Lukewarm beverages have no value compared to their cold or hot counterparts.

We looked again at soil conditions in Matthew 13:3-8

Seed sown on:

Path) The Word is heard but quickly stolen away.  Thanks to traffic it is easily trampled.

Rocks)   Here the Word can gain no roots!

Thorns)  The Word is received, but then suffocated.

So the best place to sow the Word is....good soil!!!

We covered the lukewarm attributes from the book. Lukewarm people:

1....Attend church regularly.  It's what's expected!

2....give money to charity and the church as long as their needs are safe.

3....tend to choose what's popular over what us right when conflict is present.

4....don't really want to be saved from their sin...just the penalty of it!

5....rarely share their faith with others.

6....gauge their "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world.

7....say they love Jesus and that He's a pat of their life...But only a part.

8....love God, but not with all their heart,soul, and strength.

9....love others, but do not seek to love others as much as themselves.

10....will serve God and others...with limits.

11....think of life on earth much more than eternity in heaven.

12....are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider giving as much as possible to the poor.

13....do what is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty.

14....are continually concerned with playing it safe.

15...do not live by faith.

16...probably dirnk and swear less than average.

The conclusion to this lesson will be different for everyone as we examine our lives.  Take time and record what YOU need the conclusion of this lesson to be for you!

Strawberry Festival

The Missouri Baptist Children's Home is having it's annual Strawberry Festival on June 5th from 98AM to 3 PM.  Concord will once again have a milkshake booth and we need supplies.  You can donate chocolate syrup, canned pineapple, whipped cream, etc....even a blended or blender parts.  You can even volunteer to help in the booth!  For more info call Bill McKee at 314-894-2545.

Camping Info

Next week we'll have camping info packet containing maps, a loose schedule, and further details.  We will also begin collecting $5 per person for meat and plates for the big bar-b-que!

Rich Conrad Potluck!!

Next Sunday will be the potluck for Rich Conrad before he begins his assignment abroad.  See earlier in the blog for full details!

Some Courtesy

Sorry if I sounded like a principal when discussing kids and the snacks.  This week we had about ten kids hit our snacks before our class even began, and class members had to wait until they finished.  I am hoping that we can have the kids wait and see if there are leftovers just to make sure that the class needs are taken care of!

Prayer Requests

There were no listed prayer requests this week!   

SPOTmail Update!

SPOTmail

Lesson Prep - Crazy Love 4

Let's get together and have a lukewarm cup of tea.  Now, doesn't that sound delicious?

OK, so you prefer coffee -- room temperature doesn't work for that beverage, either!  What is it about lukewarm that's so distasteful?  We like our drinks ice-cold or scalding hot.  No one orders lukewarm anything.  Heck, even Jesus revealed his dislike for lukewarm.  Basically he said, "I like it hot or cold, but lukewarm I will spew out of my mouth."  You know, of course, he was not talking about food or drinks -- he was talking to you and me.

What does it look like to be a lukewarm Christian?  In chapter 4 of Crazy Love, author Francis Chan answers that question.  We will discuss it Sunday.

By the way, the reason we all have microwaves in our kitchens is because we do not like anything lukewarm!

See you Sunday,
Don

SNACKS

May 9 -- Meinhardts

May 16 -- Sanftners

Editors' Disclaimer

Unfortunately, SPOTmail was a casualty of the editors' schedule this week.  The last month of the last kid's last year in high school is proving to be a little hectic.  Hopefully, the schedule is more manageable next week.

Get Together for Rich Conrad!!!

You are all invited to a get together to visit with Rich, pray for him and encourage him before he leaves on his long deployment overseas.

Date:  Sunday, May 16, 2010

Time:  5:30 p.m.

What:  potluck

(bring anything you want for all to eat; Yousef's are providing paper goods, utensils and drinks; and Rickman's are providing a special cake)

Where:  Safwat and Mary Yousef's house

Address:  2963 Marchbanks Place, St. Louis, MO 63129  (their house is in Oakville)

Phone:  (314) 293-1499--Yousef;  (314) 221-2036--Linda

RSVP:  to Linda at richlindacx@sbcglobal.net by Saturday, May 15

Hope to see some of you there!

The Sunday Update on Tuesday!!!

Due to some technical difficulties, this Sunday update is now appearing on Tuesday. Apologies to all!

Lesson Recap

Wow.  Was this ever a tough lesson to recap!  But here goes...

"Love is the Theme" was the subject for this lesson.

dad and DAD- We looked at how author Chan's view of his father as he grew up really affected his view of God once he had accepted Christ.  He transferred a lot of his feelings from his father toward his relationship with his Father, meaning he did his best not to annoy or upset Him.  Once that all changed for him he was...

In Love With the One I Fear-  What does this statement make you think of?  It comes down to the massiveness of God, and our love for him.

Wanted-  God wants us.  Simple as that.  Sometimes it can be hard for us to accept.  Jeremiah1:6-10 shows how we need not fear failure.  Remember that God knew us before he made us!  God really longs for us!

A strange Inheritance-  We are Jesus' inheritance.  Read Ephesians 1:18.  God treasures us!  God doesn't need us...but he wants us.

Conclusion: Our love for God always comes out of His love for us.

Up Our Alley

The SPOT bowling party was a pin-dropping success! Over 20 of us lit up the scoreboard with fun and fellowship. Keep your eyes peeled for the next exciting SPOT adventure in July!!  Speaking of SPOT activities...

Footloose at the Muny

SPOT will be going to the Muny to see Footloose from the free seats.  We will also be having a light picnic lunch before we line up!  The date will be Saturday, August 7th.  Watch this space...or at least the blog...for further details!

 

Some Camping Trip Details

With out SPOT camping trip rapidly approaching, a few more details have seen the light of day...

1)  We will be floating the Niangua River on Saturday morning.  This will be about a 5 hour float.  The cost is $35 per canoe.  This includes pickup service.

2) Saturday evening will be a bar-b-que meal.  We will provide the meat, all you need is your drinks and chips or side dish.  We will have the cost for the meat next week, and will send the envelope around so that the cost gets covered.

3) Remember that there is only one shower...so some folks may want to either swim or shower at the state park!

4) No matter where you want to fish (Trout at the park, or pan-fish at the pond)  a Missouri fishing license is required!

More details are sure to follow as the trip edges closer.  Just over 35 days!

CSM Nuggets

No relation what soever to the Denver Nuggets...but I digress.  Don't forget the 6th-12th grade boys will have a lock-in on May 29th.  This starts at 7 and ends before services the following morn!

Prayer Requests

-Kevin is dealing with pneumonia, along with a couple of other related issues.

-Eric's grandmother, Phyllis Sanftner, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.