Monday, December 15, 2008

Here We Go

Hey Everyone,

We got lots going on! I just added some new vids!

This week at Decision we have our Christmas Party, so come ready to have FUN! We will also be announcing our Big 8 Challenge winner.

Also we have a serving event coming up! Check out the details in our announcement area. I'd like to bring as many of you as possible. It's gonna be a blast and it will count as community service if you need it. You won't want to miss this either.

Lastly we have Winter Weekend 09. This is going to be a great time. Sign up!

Here we go. It's almost next year

Video Time

Here are some videos from the past couple weeks in Decision!











Serving Event - Senior Center

Hey Guys! We've talked about serving for this whole school year, so now it's time to put our money where our mouth is.

We've got an opportunity to go to the Barber Center Senior Center and hang out with some senior citizens. Some are physically disabled and some have mental retardation, but all of them love guests. On Dec 29th we will be going and playing games with them. It could be Wii or karaoke or some other game they have scheduled. Whatever it is, it will be fun and a chance for us to begin impacting our community.

We will be leaving the church on Monday, Dec 29th @ 12:30 and will return by approximately 3PM. Please plan on coming. There's no school, so it should work with most schedules.

Sign up at Decision or send a comment saying you will come. I Can't wait!!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas Party

Wed, Dec 17th we will be having our Decision Christmas Party! Come for a night of Christmas games and fun. We will have cookies to frost too! You won't want to miss it. We will also be seeing who will win the free Winter Weekend trip for completing the Big Eight Challenge. It all starts at 7PM

Amazing Bible Race Is Under Way

Hey ABR Teams,

The Race is on! It's gonna be great!

Here's the info to utilize the website
1. Go to www.amazingbiblerace.com
2. Click Login
3. Enter your user name and password
4. Click: Run the Race, the current book, the current week, and then the current quiz
5. You can also blog on the site

If you change your user name or password, please let your leader know.

The official last day for our race is Wed, Feb 25, 09 @ 4PM. We will announce the winner for the first leg this night as well. I encourage everyone to make up any lost days on weekends and try to finish on Fri, Feb 20th. This way you can stay consistent each week reading and quizzing.

Any questions contact me.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Amazing Bible Race

Ok we are just about ready to start! For everyone doing the Amazing Bible Race, please see me (Andy) on Sunday. I need to give you information on how to use the website as well as get information from you so I can set your account up on the site. Also if you need a book they are at the church. You can get one Sunday!

On Wednesday, Dec 3 we will get each team together so we can really get things rolling.

We will start our reading on Monday, Dec 1st! It's gonna be Amazing!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

All I Want For Christmas


I love Christmas!!! Always have and always will. I love the snow, the lights, the atmosphere, the Christmas movies, and the music. This is the time when people actually care about other people. The one thing I don't like about this time of the month though is the attitude that can come if we're not careful; "All I want want want for Christmas is..." It's attitude of selfishness and even pride. Satan fell from Heaven because he said, "I want to rise above the throne of God."

This month we are going to look at how to keep ourselves humble and in an attitude of giving; making this the best Christmas you've ever had!!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Sign up!!!

Hey all my friends! Hope you are all having a great first day of the week. I'm loving all this snow!

Just wanted to put up a quick reminder to SIGN UP for Winter Weekend 09. It's going to be amazing! You don't want to miss this and don't wait to sign up. If your worried about money, don't be. God will provide. This is your chance to engage your heart with God in a way that you've not and have a blast doing it! You will build strong relationships with friends and never be the same.

SIGN UP!!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Video Time

What If Starbucks Marketed Like The Church


Frozen Grand Central


Satan on the Economy


I know a place - crazy kid

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Walking Revolution

Hey Guys and Gals!!! Tonight is all about being a walking revolution! I know many of you have asked me, "How do I witness to my friends?" or " What do I say when I don't know what to say?" Well you're going to find out this month. You won't want to miss it.

Also sign up for Winter Weekend! It's going to be amazing! We've got a guest speaker coming in, amazing times with God, awesome games, prizes, a T-Shirt, and a ton of fun. There is a $25 deposit due on Wed, Nov 19th. So get signed up quick! It will be well worth it!

Lastly our Amazing Bible Race will officially start on Monday, Dec 1st. We will have your books next week. We are waiting for them to come in.

See ya tonight!!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Revolution Night

Revolution Night went Great!!! Thanks everyone for coming. We had 5 salvations which is awesome!

I want to remind everyone of all that's going on. Get in on the Amazing Bible Race NOW! It's going to be great. You'll be reading through the entire Bible as a team, doing challenges, and earning points for a sweet prize at the end.

Also get in on the Big 8 Challenge. I know that most of you are out of the running, but God's word will change your life. Memorize this weeks verse and there will be a prize for that too. I'm not telling what it is...

Lastly, be sure to check out all the great music, games, and videos on the site. It will have everything that's going on. Talk to ya soon!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

All Updated

Hey Everybody! Great Night last night. I encourage you to take to heart the commitments you made to God, just as those two girls who were martyred for their faith. God is looking for teenagers who are serious about Him. Who won't be afraid to pursue Him with all they've got. he has great plans for you.

Next week is our Revolution Night. It's gonna be Revolutionizing lol. No seriously invite a friend. It will be great!

I've updated a bunch of stuff. I've added new music under our music section. I've also added the online radio player and the playlist now has music from new artists or albums. Hahahah at least what I could find. Some of it is music from previous records but you can get a taste of what they sound like. Videos have been updated. Be sure to check them out.

Please don't forget about the online devo we have and all the things going on at Decision.

New Videos

Wii Fit Parody



Reliant K - The Best Thing



Britt Nicole - Believe




Planetshakers - Drum Solo




Planetshakers - Running After You


Arist Review















Artist: Brooke Barrettsmith

Album: Brooke Barrettsmith

Web: www.brookerocks.com/

Video: Click Here

Description:
On her self-titled debut, American Idol contestant Brooke Barrettsmith crafts a style uniquely her own, melding her love of Jeremy Camp, Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson with passionate lyrics that reflect her own life and experiences. Though only in her mid-twenties, Brooke has already dealt with her share of life challenges and experiences.



Artist: Planetshakers

Album: All For Love

Web: Click Here

Video: Click Here

Description:
On a quest to see everyone on the planet living in the freedom that only Jesus Christ can bring, the Planetshakers Band is passionate. Under the leadership of Senior Pastors Russell & Sam Evans, the band is devoted to seeing God’s presence revolutionise this generation. Living by the Planetshakers mandate "to empower a generation to win a generation", the band travels internationally bringing God's breakthrough anointing to conferences and churches worldwide.

Team members include worship leaders Sam Evans, Henry Seeley, Mike “Rudy” Nikkerud, Joth Hunt and Matt Garner. Other band members include Mike Webber, Mark Peric, Natalie Ruiz, Nath Whitton & Nicole Monteduro.







New Music

Here's a list of new artists or albums. You can also click also find them in our music library.

Krystal Meyers - Make Some Noise
Casting Crowns - The Altar and The Door
David Crowder Band - Remedy Club Tour Edition
Decemberadio - Satisfied
Family Force 5 - Dance or Die
Norma Jean - The Anti Mother
Charlie Hall - The Bright Sadness
Brooke Barrettsmith - Brooke Barrettsmith
Amy Courts - These Cold and Rusted Lungs
The Myriad - With Arrows, with Poise
Underoath - Survive, Kaleidescope
Run Kid Run - Love at the Core
Chasen - Shine Through the Stars
Dave Barnes - Me and You and the World
Braille - The IV Edition
Passion Worship - God of This City
Since October - This is my heart
Josh Wilson - Trying to Fit The Ocean in a Cup
The Rubyz - The Rubyz


Wednesday, October 29, 2008

What's up?!

What's up everybody?!

Tonight is going to be a great night! We'll be wrapping up The Great Gamble and taking time to pray for our friends, Revolution Night, and the Election. Come ready to experience God!

I'm working on adding some new media stuff. I'm also changing the playlist and the way it works. The playlist which is being reworked will now have new music on it from new artists and/or new albums. To take the place of the hundred songs I had on there, I've added Hope In Anguish Radio. It is an online streaming Christian Radio Station with all the best music. You'll like it.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Tomorrow Night

Hey Everybody! Just wanted to let you all know I'm thinking about you and keep you in my prayers. God has amazing plans for you. This is something we must never forget. The moment we do is when our hope begins to fade.

Tomorrow Night is going to be great. We are going to talk about Betting it All - Following God for the long hall. Following God isn't easy and times get tough. Sometimes so tough you want to compromise or even quit on God. How do you stay the course. You're going to find out tomorrow. To get a head start read Hebrews 12:1-4. Be ready to engage yourselves with God.

Also be sure to check out our announcements. We have a lot going on and believe me when I say more is on the way. We've got some amazing things in store to propel you in your relationship with God and help you reach your friends.

Lastly don't forget Winter Weekend or The Big 8 Challenge.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Problem with Games

Hey guys! Just a quick note about the games. If you are only seeing half the game it most likely has to do with your web browser. Internet Explorer is the worst for this. I use Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. These have worked well.



Thursday, October 16, 2008

Facing The Giants




Drive - In Purpose

Last Night

Hey everyone! Great night last night. Congrats to all of you who were able to quote back to me the first verse of the Big 8 Challenge. Don't forget the verses are above under "MY Verse" if you forget it.

Also I want to encourage everyone to get involved with this Amazing Bible Race. If you still want to do it, just leave me a comment. This is a great chance to read through the entire Bible and do it with a team. Having a team will keep you motivated especially as you do the challenges and quizzes. After the two year marathon we will have a sweet prize for the team who has the most points.

This is one thing you should do because everyone else is!

Lastly don't forget that God has a good plan for you and you can complete it. Give God your very best!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Games aaaaahhhhh

Ok so I posted some sweet games for you to play.  The front page is might move slow until they get booted from new posts, so bare with me.  If you click on Game Time on the right and click just the game you shouldn't have a problem with the screen freezing for download time.



Game Time

Below is a list of games.  Click the game link and play!  Post your scores.

Sonic The Hedgehog



Battle Pong



Pac-Man



Reminder

Hey crew.  Just a reminder to memorize Jeremiah 29:11 for the Big Eight Challenge.  Click the announcement for all details.


Can't wait to see you all tomorrow!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Game Time

Chris found this game created by Mars Hill Church to promote a series they were doing. Check it out. Have fun!

O and if you get some amazing score, leave a comment with the score. No lying please.





Lots Goin On

There is a ton going on! We've got Revolution Night and contest, The Amazing Bible Race, The Big 8 challenge, and Winter Weekend. Don't miss out and stay connected. I believe this could be the best year of your lives coming up. We've got a lot of great things we're planning for the New Year 2009 so get ready!

I've added a "Ur Verse" Section at the top. It will feature the verse of the week from our previous Decision service. Take time and memorize it. It will help you stay positive in a negative world as well as change your life. God's word always does.

We'll have some new music as well coming soon. O and I added a game section on the right. Check it out!!!


Ur Verse

Below you will find the key verse from the previous Decision Service. Study these verses and memorize them. They will change your life.

1. Wed, October 8th:

Jeremiah 29:11
- "...For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

2. Wed, October 15th:

2 Peter 1:5-8 - But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Wed, October 22nd:

Hebrews 12:3 -
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

4. Wed, October 29th:

2 Timothy 2:3-4 -
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

5. Wed, November 5th:

Luke 4:18-19 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord's favor has come.

6. Wed, November 12th:

John 13:34-35
- A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another: as I have loved you, that ou also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

7. Wed, November 19th:

John 3:16 -
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

8. Wed, December 3rd:

Luke 6:38 - Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure withal it shall be measured to you again.

The Big 8 Challenge



The Bible is God's word to us. Therefore it is vital that we get God's word in our minds and hearts so we can think like Him, act like Him, and see ourselves like He sees us.

Here's the challenge. For 8 weeks we will have a scripture verse for you to memorize. Any student who can memorize The Big 8 Verses and quote it to a leader the following week, as well as quote all 8 verses the day of Wed, December 17, you will be placed in a drawing to win a FREE Winter Weekend 09. We will cover your $95.

So for instance October 8ths verse was Jeremiah 29:11. You will have to memorize it and quote it to myself or a leader on Wed, October 15th, the following week. Once again we will draw for the winner Wed, Dec 17.

To remember the verse each week click "Ur Verse " at the top.


Get involved! It will change your life.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Revolution Contest


Wednesday, November 5th is Revolution Night! The whole goal is to reach your friends and show you how to be a walking Revolution.

Here's the contest rules:

1. Girls vs. Guys

2. Whichever gender can bring the most 1st time guests will win free Ice Cream Sundays and a beverage of their choice for them and their guests.

3. The losing gender will not win anything. Not even be able to purchase it.

4. You don not have to bring only your gender. Girls can bring guys and guys can bring girls.

That's it. Pretty easy. Remember they have to be 1st time guests.
We have mini brochures for you to hand out as well.

So who will win? The girls or the guys?



Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Amazing Bible Race

www.amazingbiblerace.com


What is it?
It's a nationwide race through the Bible over a two year time frame. Any Youth Ministry can join.

How does it work?
Any student who would like to participate will be placed on a team of 4-7 teenagers including an adult team leader. The Bible has been separated into 6 sections, so the race will consist of 6, 12 week legs. Each team member will purchase the field guide for the current leg of the race. Each day the team members will read the chapter(s) for the day and then follow up with the devotion for that chapter in the field.

After completing the reading for that day there are challenges, quizzes, and hurdles that must be completed to earn points for the team. some things will need to be completed as a team. Other challenges will be completed on your own time on www.amazingbiblerace.com. You will have a personal log-in to use the website.

Each week the team leader will contact each team member to follow up with them on their reading. Throughout the race the team will meet together to complete challenges.

The top 10 teams who have read the entire Bible and earned the most points based on quiz scores and completed challenges will win $500 for the mission trip of their choice or for a missions organization.

How much does it cost?
It costs $6 for each field guide. So $6 every 12 weeks.

What do I have to do?
Simply sign up to join a team, pay us $6 for the field guide, and commit to reading your Bible and completing tasks. This is no small thing. It's a real challenge.


When should I sign up by?
Now!!! We will start this race no later than the first week of November. Once we have everyone signed up we will contact you and make teams. Leave a comment with your name, # and email. I will not post it on the blog.

For more info check out www.amazingbiblerace.com


Nov Series Revolution

Want to start a Revolution?  It starts this November at Decision.


Wherever Jesus walked He revolutionized people's lives. There was no question of the impact He had.  His revolution is still changing the world.  

As Christians He's given us the same ability revolutionize the people around us with His love, but have you ever gone to school and wondered, "how do I do it?" or "What do I say to my friends? How do I witness to them?"  

This month is about how you can be a walking revolution. How you can be a witness for Jesus to your friends, without being weird.  And how you can make an impact wherever you go!

We will kick this Revolution off November 5th with an amazing Decision Service.  You'll want to invite a friend! 

Winter Weekend 09

Winter Weekend 09 is on it's way!  It's gonna be amazing.  


The theme for this year is Engage - Engaging our hearts with God.  It sounds cool, but how many people really do it?  This weekend your going to find out what it means and how to do it.  And if you already do, then your going to go deeper with God than you've ever been.  Are you ready to Engage?

As always there will be some sweet prizes and amazing games and contests.
This years Guest Speaker is a friend of mine named Lorin Foster.  

WW09 INFO

When: January 9-11, 2009
Where: Mission Meadows
Cost: $95 (Fundraiser candy is available to sell)
Pick up a Brochure and permission slip at Decision.

Sign-ups start Oct 8th, 2008
1st deposit of $25 due  Wed, Nov 19
All Money due Sun, Dec 28



Saturday, October 4, 2008

Check It!

Tim HAWK-ins




Deaf Girl Learns To Play Violin



Wii - Wario Land - This is pretty cool.  Watch the whole screen.




Awesome Guitar Tapping - Real life August Rush



I Think I Fixed It

OK folks, I think I finally fixed the videos.  When you click on the "Need Something to Watch" section you will notice all the videos are seperated by month.  I went through them and they all worked.  More updates coming.


Enjoy the rest of the weekend.  I'll be posting soon!

Need Something To Watch

Below is all our videos organized by the month they were added. Simply click on a month and watch. If at any time videos are not working please let me know so I can fix it or remove it. Have fun!!!







Friday, October 3, 2008

Updates

Hey everybody! The Great Gamble went Great. I hope you all had fun! We had a salvation and four rededications to live for God! That is awesome! Also whenever you see our drama team, give it up for them. They did Amazing.

I will be updating the blog shortly with new announcements and videos. Hopefully with some videos from the night. Announcements to look for are Winter Weekend 09, The Amazing Bible Race, November's Theme, and a day at the Common Ground Youth Center.

Decision is gonna keep getting better and better, so keep serving and loving your friends. Don't feel bad if you invite them and they don't come yet. God is proud of each of you for taking the time to care about people.

I'll be writing soon!

Andy

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Tonight - The Great Gamble

Tonight is the night! The Great Gamble! What is it? Come find out tonight. We will be giving away 2 boxes of 52count Wonka candy and 50$ cash. Our new drama team will also be doing their first drama. It's gonna be a blast, so don't forget to invite a friend.

See ya all there!

Monday, September 29, 2008

Never Quit

What's up guys. I'm praying you all have a great week at school!

There are two things I wanted to mention. First, if you want to watch videos and click on the "Need something to watch video?" link you probably won't be able to. I think I have too many on there and they won't load right. They pause and have no sound. If you go directly to past posts with videos you won't have a problem. I'm working on getting it fixed.

The second is this. Never Quit in life! I woke up this morning and was just pretty discouraged. Everyone has those days. You might wake up tired, wondering about life. You could care less about school. Maybe your having family problems or friend problems. Or maybe you sinned and just don't know if you can ever change. Whatever it is, it can make you want to stop serving God or at least just for a little while.

My words to you if you ever feel that way are, "Don't Quit!" I opened my Bible and read Romans 6-8. These passages of scripture are amazing. Paul in chapter 7 talks about how he feels just like us sometimes. He just keeps messing up, not moving forward. He sees what he wants his life to be and can't seem to acquire it.

He goes on to talk about how we are dead to sin, and alive in Christ. In Romans 8:28 Paul says, "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." That's you! Then in verse 31 he says, "What shall we say to these things. If God is for us, who can be against us." Paul wraps it all up with these words, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." -vs 37-39

No matter what, God will always love us. He knows exactly what we are going through and feeling. He knows the temptations and struggles of this life. Satan wants us to forget that God loves us. When we forget, we fall farther. Don't forget and don't quit on God ever. Draw closer to Him. God allows these tough days to come for a couple reasons. It causes us to draw closer to Him, it allows us to see our need for a Him, and we get to see what we're made of. Are we really who we say we are? Christians!

For those of you who are doing awesome with your walk with God, look around and serve someone. Find someone who is down and encourage them. Help them. Be a friend. It can change a life forever. If you're having a rough day, be encouraged and draw near to God's love.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Check It Out

Hey Guys! Hope you had a good week. The weekend is one day away!


We had a great night this past Wednesday. I'm really stoked about the Great Gamble. God has great plans for each of you. One of them is to be a light to your friends. So once again, serve the people around you and invite someone to the Great Gamble. Until we love someone like Jesus, they won't be able to receive Him.

I've got some new videos below. New music will be coming shortly

Anberlin - Godspeed




Tree 63 - King




Krystal Meyers - Make Some Noise





Krystal Meyers - Anticonformity




Number One Gun - Starting Line



Trumpet of Jesus

The Great Gamble


Ever been Gambling?  


Maybe your thinking "No.  I've never been to a casino," or I've never made a bet for money."  Well that's good.  I don't want you to lose money, but the truth is we all make a Great Gamble everyday.

One definition on Dictionary.com says gambling means - to take a chance; venture; risk.  Gambling doesn't just have to do with money.  It has to do with Risk.  Risk with what?  Another definition says to risk something of value for the chance of winning a prize.  For instance something of value would be your life.  

God says your life is valuable and He has an awesome purpose for it.  The world promises the same thing.  Each morning we make a Great Gamble by deciding to follow God or to follow the world.  The reason it's a Gamble is because God says doing things the worlds way will destroy you, but following the His purpose for your life will give you eternal life.

Sounds like a no brainer right?  Well it is, but it's not always easy to make the right choice.  The Bible says sin is fun for a season.  Many people choose sin over God and wind up gambling their life away.  This month we are going to talk about God's purpose for your life and how to win this Great Gamble everyday.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

See You At The Pole

Hey Everyone! Thanks for those of you who have joined the contest by leaving a comment. I'm stoked about the upcoming event Oct 1.

I wanted to remind everybody that See You At The Pole is tomorrow morning, Wed, Sept 24th @ 6:30 AM. I encourage everyone to go to your school flag pole and pray. Even if no one is there or your school doesn't do it. Prayer is key if any good change is to occur in your friends, teachers, or principals lives. This is one of the first steps to an amazing school year. You each have the opportunity to impact your world. If you can't get there that early, pray at home. Prayer works everywhere.

We will have a leader from Decision at Fairview High School. I will be at McDowell. There will be donuts and juice at McDowell at 7am. Hope to see you fellow McDowellnites there.


Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Last Night

Hey Guys!!! Last night went great! Our announcements are on the right! Oct 1st is going to be amazing! This is your chance to bring a friend.


Remember to look for needs the rest of this week. Serving is the DNA of a Christian. It's the key to life, peace, joy, and to changing this world. It's what Jesus did, so it's what me must do as His hands and feet on this earth.

Below is my first random video from last night. Bare with me as I figure this out. I told everyone I was videoing a bazillion times, hahahaha! If any of you are good with video, then I am requesting your help.




Monday, September 15, 2008

What is up?

What is up everyone? I know it's been like a week since I posted. It will never happen again. Hope your all having a good week at school. We're moving closer to our Great Gamble Oct 1st Event. I'm stoked cuz we're gonna have our first drama. WooHoooo!

I'm working on some updates in music and vids for the blog. Here's a couple vids I found.

Talk to ya tomorrow


Michael JR.




Thousand Foot Krutch - Rawk Fist



Manafest - Runaway



Mae - Suspension

Friday, September 5, 2008

Coming Up!

I hope you all have a great weekend. Next week at Decision we'll be talking about our role as a church. We each are the church and there are reasons to gather as the church, but the church (You and Me) have a job to do. What could it be? I'm super stoked about this week.

Lastly we mentioned our Great Gamble Big Event on Oct 1st. This is going to be a blast. We've been talking about reaching our friends and what it's going to take. Well the Great Gamble is going to be your chance to bring a friend so they can have a chance to know the God that changed your life. We've made some awesome invites for you to hand out to your friends. We'll talk about it all on Wed. Don't Miss!

Remember Summer Getaway 08?


Remember Summer Getaway 08 at Impact? Well they've updated their site with pics and vids from camp. Check it out. I saw some of you on the site. Pretty sweet.

Click Here


Thursday, September 4, 2008

Very Cool Stuff

The Greatest Paint Ball Gun Ever



The Future of Computers


Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Here We Go

Here we go! Everyone is officially back in school. It's gonna be a good school year.

Tonight we start our "Church" series. It's gonna be great. Did you know the church is supposed to be the most wonderful place on earth. Not Disney World. Don't miss one service. This month is going to propel us into the most amazing year we've ever had at Decision! WoooHoooo!

I've posted some new announcements, which we'll talk about tonight. I will have a new vid and some other things hopefully tomorrow.

See ya tonight!

See You At The Pole 08


See You At The Pole!!!

I've been saying it all of August and I will say it all year. This is going to be a great school year for you. God has good plans for you and wants to help you change your schools. He wants to see your friends, teachers, and principals saved. It can happen!

"How?" you say. It starts with Prayer at See You At The Pole.

On Wed, Sept 24th, 2008 at 6:30AM Christian teenagers around the country are going to pray around their school flagpoles for friends, teachers, etc.

We will have someone from Decision at McDowell and Fairview High Schools. I encourage everyone, even if a Decision Leader isn't at your school to go and pray. Prayer is the beginning to great change in your life and your school.

Great Gamble Big Event

On Wed, Oct 1st we are having a big event to kick off our new school year!

The Great Gamble is all about your purpose and your decisions. God has a purpose for our lives right now, but serving God is not always easy. Sometimes it can seem like a Great Gamble (i.e. saying no to friends). The Gamble doesn't just end there though. Not following God is a Gamble too (just watch all the terrible stuff on the news). So what do you do? This event will show you the truth and help you make the right Decision. Take another gamble and bring a friend too. This event is for your friends!

We'll have games and prizes as always.

We'll be giving away $25 to a first time guest, $25 to someone who brought the guest, and a 52 count box of candy for our Blog contest.

Don't miss this!

Blog Contest


This contest is to help get everyone aware that there is a Decision Blog. Haha yeah there really is! This blog is to be a help to you. It's another way for us to stay connected to you in your everyday life.

So here's how you play...

Simply leave a comment on any post you'd like. When you leave your comment choose name/URL as your identity and then leave your first name and first letter of your last name.

When I post the comments I will mark your name down to be put in a hat to win a 52 count box of Wonka Candy. Who can't use one of those? We will draw a name on Oct 1st @ our Great Gamble Big Event.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Ruminating Raymond's New Blog

Hey our very own Ray has his own blog now. Check it out. It's in our links list on the right as Ruminating Rays Blog.

He's done with Decision for a while cuz of school, so be sure to show him some love and leave him some comments.

Question of the Weekend:

What has Ray just seen that has caused him to make this face?

Leave a comment!

The Weekend

Hello Friends!!! Well it's the weekend. Wooohoooo!!! I hope all of you that started school had a good week. I keep saying this, but it's going to be a good year. Good things are going to happen in your life and school. And if it turns out that your going through a rough time in your life this year, don't worry. If you're going through it, then that means you're going to come out of it. David says in Psalm 37:25 says that He's never seen the righteous forsaken. God never forsakes us and will always pull us through. If any forsaking happens it only on our part.

So spend some quality time with Jesus. Don't leave Him behind. To push Him off. Engage your heart with Him. Rely on Him when you feel hopeless or tired. When things get rough at home, don't quit. Go in your room and start talking to Him. He will never turn away those who are desperate for Him. He's a God of response, He's relational. He will never let you go.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Wazzup

Hey all. Our Parent Night was a great success. Thanks for everyone who brought a parent. For those that couldn't, No Worries. There will be more.

Below is the Wazzup Video from last night. I love this video!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Tonight

Hey Guys!

Hope you all had a great day at school! For those of you who started today. It's gonna be a good year. Trust me.

Tonight is our Parent Night as well as the first night for our new 6th graders. So make sure you bring a parent as well as welcome our new Decisionites. Great Word huh?

Lastly I want this site to be a blessing to. I want to help you find answers to questions. With that said please feel free to ask me questions. Even if their hard. If you want information on something, let me know. I'll find it and post it. If there is something you want me to add to the blog, let me know.

Can't wait to see ya tonight!

Andy

New Vids

Flyleaf Interview - Click Here for more Sweet Flyleaf Videos





One of our own videos from Julia





Tim Hawkins - MOMS


Tuesday, August 26, 2008

It's School Time

What's up everybody!? So school starts this week. Today for some, Wed for others, and some get to start after Labor Day! Woohoo!

Whatever the case, I wanted to encourage all of you about this year. When I was in school (hahhaha funny to say that) I usually wasn't all that excited. School sometimes (most times) felt like drudgery. I used to get nervous and hope my homeroom teacher wasn't crazy. It wasn't till my 11th grade year things really changed.

As I got older I and began to draw closer to God, I realized my life had more purpose than I ever expected. I was made for a reason. God gave me gifts and talents to be a blessing to me and others. You all should read Jeremiah 1:1-10 and 29:11. God is purposeful in everything He does and He's created things in such a way that we have the power to influence people's lives for good or evil. As Christians we have the power to literally save a person from Hell simply by loving them and letting God begin to work on their heart. That's no small thing!

So i began to think differently. Instead of school being something I have to go to. School is something I get to go to, to change lives. I get to learn and advance my knowledge so I can glorify God with my life, and I have the opportunity to change peoples lives. Awesome!

I really believe God wants to do some awesome things in your life. He wants to use you to revolutionize your schools with His power. It's gonna happen and can happen this year all by your choice to look at things differently. Thats not to say you won't go rough days, but it sure will change your life.

This school year make a decision to be a life changer. Do something amazing in your own world of school. Never quit. Trust God. He has good things for you!


Monday, August 25, 2008

Going Back to School? Here's Some Advice!

Here's a few things (some spiritual, some practical, some just fun) to consider as you head into a new school year. Keep in mind, most of this is just my opinion, so you can take it or leave it.

  • Put Jesus first every day. Keeping your priorities straight can be very difficult. I wasn't as disciplined as I could have been when I was in high school, and I know how early they make you get to school, so this might be difficult. But I believe that if you offer God the first-fruits of your day by spending some time alone with Him in the morning (just 10 or 15 minutes, if that's all you have), you will see great things happen. Doing this will help you focus throughout the day, and it will be a great way to get your heart right and hear God's direction for you. Most of the time, the way God leads us is through the little things we do every day, and it's so important that we stay close enough to Him that we can hear His voice throughout the noise of the day.
  • Be Open to the Holy Spirit. It's easy to get stuck in a routine. You follow your schedule, go to class, go to lunch and sit at the same table every day, and go home at a certain time. This is how high school typically works. But be open to the Holy Spirit, and listen for anything that He might show you. You may be on your way to class, and a thought comes in your head, "maybe I should go this way today." You follow that little prompting, and run into somebody that needs some encouragement. Through little things like this, God can use us to be His hands and feet everywhere we go, even when we think we're just going about our routine. It's amazing what God will do when we just obey Him in everything!
  • Gaurd your thoughts. Everything we do begins with what we choose to dwell on. Gaurd your mind like you'd gaurd the most valuable possession you own. There are so many distractions, and they come at us so fast, and from so many difficult angles, that it can be very difficult to stay focused on God. But if you will surrender to Him and ask, "Lord, help me gaurd my thoughts today," He will. And for a good guide on what you should be dwelling on, read Phillipians 4:8.
  • Take a "Spiritual Bath." - I always found that, whenever I'd come home from high school, no matter how much I tried to keep my focus on God, I would still collect alot of junk as the day wore on. Sometimes it's a good idea to come home, get alone with God before doing anything else, and do a little bit of fine tuning. This way the crap that tried to latch onto you during the day won't be dragging you down that evening.
  • Learn to love everybody. We live in a culture that only values people for selfish reasons. The nature of our flesh is to only befriend those whose fellowship can improve our social standing. Why? Because when we aren't confident in who we are in Christ, we are all insecure, whining babies, and we are looking for someone or something else to redeem us and give us value. Get over that as fast as you can. Learn to trust God with your identity. You are who He says you are, and He loves you. What else could you possibly need? When you learn to let God fill you with His love, you will be able to pass that love on to others. It will change the way you do everything. Every time to talk to someone, ask God to show you how He feels about that person, and to help you feel the same way. If we are going to be Christlike, we are going to have to be compassionate.
  • Screw your reputation. Was that a bit forward? Sorry. No one cares. It's about you and Jesus. That's it. If you spend all your time manipulating people so they will like you, you're just going to make a mess of things. Do things because you love to do them, not because you think they will impress someone else.
  • When all else fails, stare at the ceiling. Gentlemen, you know of what I speak.
  • Set an example. When the people you're with are acting like idiots, you don't have to join in. If you think you can keep your friends by badmouthing your teachers, talking dirty in the locker room, and insulting everyone who's not part of your clique, you are wrong. Even worse, you are publically disgracing Jesus. Does that sound a bit strong? Well, if you claim to follow Jesus, then people are going to be watching you. And everything you do will be a reflection of His character.
  • Want better grades? Be interested! I know, this can be really difficult with some classes and some teachers. But if you complain about a class and focus on how dull it is, or if you look for something about it that interests you, you're going to be doing the same amount of work. You have to be there regardless, so it's better to just let yourself enjoy what you can. Who knows? Mayble you'll find something you like enough to major in when you go to college. Oh, and you can be interested in a subject you're learning with school without being a nerd. Studying for classes and being competent do not necessarily require duct-tape glasses and pocket protectors. You can get an A without being the goofy, gangly kid who takes naps underneath the drinking fountain. Really! It's true!
  • Do everything to God's glory. Want a good way to make sure you give your best in everything you do? Imagine that you are doing it for Jesus. Because, ultimately, everything that we do is for Him--even the most mundane, trivial, stupid piece of busy work. Why? Because every trivial little decision we make today is shaping us into the people that we will be tomorrow. We want to be people who God can use to glorify His name. It starts with being dilligent and faithful where you are right now.
  • Make the most of everything. You only have these years once. Don't give yourself any reason to think "I wish I would have..." when you are older.
  • Love reading good books! Then you can be a literary critic or a philosopher when you grow up!!! What, no? No? No literature for you? OK, whatever. To each his own...
  • X-Box is for dumples. Video games are what people do when they have nothing better to do with their lives. Sure, they're a fun diversion once in a while, but if you spend more time playing Halo or some other game than you do having conversations with real people, you should probably ask yourself, "Am I really happy with this?" Please, do me a favor, and don't waste your life away in front of a screen.
  • Tanning is ugly, and it gives you cancer. Sorry, I just had to go there. Girls--a guy with any sense will not find the "burnt toast" look to be even remotely attractive. Plus, they don't want you to die at 35. Guys--if you are tanning, or even thinking about tanning, you should think of as many derogatory terms as you can, and glue them to your forehead. I really shouldn't have to spell that out.
  • Don't act like a jock, even if you are good at sports. You're just being a butt. You'll make more real friends, and avoid all kinds of drama, if you just treat everyone with respect.

That's all I can think of for now. I started out with some good ideas, then I digressed into whining about all the things I didn't like about high school... so I should probably just stop for now. I'll add more tidbits of advice as I think of them!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Pennie Pranks - Office Max

Check out these funny Office Max commercials. They are hilarious and they are real!!!


Penny Evangelist in NYC



Penny Prank at Used Car Lot





Penny Prank at Restaurant




Penny Prank at Hot Dog Vendor




Penny Prank at Key Store

It's a good day

Hey Friends! God is good! I woke up this morning and wasn't all that excited about today. No real reason. We've all been there. But I opened my window and looked outside. It was sunny, cool, and from my window I have a great landscape to look at. All the sudden I was reminded that God created this day and I get to live it. God has all things in His hands.

Then I was reminded of a verse I read from psalms 37:25... God never forsakes the righteous. If your a Christian your righteous and God will never forsake you. When you fall He'll pick you up. When trouble comes He will lift you above it. God is good. I began to sing a song I learned as a kid... "This is the day the Lord has made" Hahahaha I know pretty kiddish. Well my whole attitude has changed.

I'm not guaranteed tomorrow. Today is all I got. So I'm going to make the most of it and use it to change people's lives. Love people. When you wake up in the morning take time and realize that God gave you life. And He gave it to you not to be troublesome, but to bless you, so you can bless others. He's with you and if you'll trust Him, you'll do greater works than He did bringing Glory to God - John 14:12.


Thursday, August 21, 2008

WooHoo!!!

WooHoo!!! We got a couple comments. I'm stoked. Just so everyone knows, you don't have to have an account to leave a comment. Just click the word comments underneath a post, write your comment, and scroll down. You can pick anonymous or name/ URL and leave a name.

Also I want to remind everyone of the online devotional. Click "Devos" above and you can get a dose of the Word everyday! God has great plans for you, but as Ray's post said today, you must make God the Lord of your today. We all need to take time and get close to God daily. So do it and you'll see God's Power rise up in you.

Ok, so I found a couple sweet animal videos. Checkem out and let me know what you think.


The Smartest Bird Ever






Dramatic Lemur


Make Him Lord of Today

How would you like to be able to say, honestly, that you are living your life completely for God? Wouldn't it be great to know that you are wholeheartedly pursuing God's plan for your life? Imagine what it must be like to know that you are in the very center of His will, and that you can wake up every morning with a keen sense of purpose, knowing that you are living out your calling. For many of us, this sounds like a dream come true. For most of us, it doesn't even seem possible, because we are still so focused on pursuing our own dreams and building our own kingdom, that we go days, weeks, and months at a time totally neglecting the work that God is trying to do in us.

"Then He said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." - Luke 9:23-24

Let's talk straight. God wants all of us--every single part. He's not satisfied with half measures; He expects our complete and total surrender to Him. Why would He ask so much of us? Because he loves us. Because He has so much more in mind for us than we could ever have for ourselves. Because when we yield ourselves completely to His will, our lives begin to take on the character, power, and splendor of Jesus. When we give ourselves completely to God, He gives Himself completely to us. That is why Jesus says that "whoever loses his life for me will save it," because our salvation--not just "being saved," but truly living on a higher plane, where we are walking with God Himself day in and day out--can only be found in Him. And we can only be full of Him when we are empty of ourselves.

It's pretty obvious, then, that living 100% for Jesus is the only way to be fulfilled in life. He is our Source for every good thing. So why, if we know this, is it still so hard for us to give up ourselves? God asks us to yield to Him, and every day we still hang on to these little pieces of ourselves that we just don't want to give up. By neglecting to surrender our wills to God, we tie His hands, essentially telling Him that we'd rather live our way instead of His. Why do we make it so difficult?

Too many times, we ask, "How can I be in the center of God's will? How can I know what to do with this huge decision that I have to make? How can I know God's plan for my life?" and we panic when the answers don't come to us right away. Sure, there are a few people who recognize God's call on their lives at a very young age, and know what it will look like with absolute certainty, but this is the exception, rather than the rule. Most Christians hardly know what God has in store for them tomorrow, much less 30 years down the road. And this is no fault of their own. It seems that God just likes to work that way. Maybe He wants us to lean on Him a little bit more? Regardless, there's no reason to feel bad if you're 15 years old and you don't have your entire life mapped out. God's not going to map out your entire future in front of you--you'd just be overwhelmed. Dont' try to do it for Him, either, or you'd just be selling yourself short.

The point I'm getting at is this: We live in a very goal-driven society. We are always told to ask ourselves "Where do I want to be in 5 years?" or "What do you really want to get out of life?" We even ask little kids, sometimes before they're old enough to have a clue what life really looks like, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" So it makes sense that we would be so paranoid about our future, because we all tend to adopt the attitudes and assumptions of our culture as our own.

But what if I told you that God is bigger than our culture? What if I told you that the attitudes and assumptions of our society, though useful in certain aspects (you shouldn't just drift through life aimlessly, for instance), can really hinder our walk with God? We get so focused on the future, and we get so freaked out about finding out "God's plan for our lives," that we forget what life is really about: daily fellowship with Jesus.

How do you make sure that you live out God's perfect plan for your life? It's not about finding out everything He wants you to do, and making it happen in your own strength. No, it's about finding out what He wants you to do every single day, and watching as He takes your daily obedience and crafts it into something beautiful and significant.

We cannot make Jesus the Lord of our life until we make Him Lord of today, because we live our lives in the present, not in the future. God wants to use us to do great things for His Kingdom, but more importantly, He wants us to know Him personally. Our lives are not to be built on rolling up our sleeves and getting to work; our lives are to be built on intimacy with Him. It's only in the secret place of His presence that we can find the direction and the guidance we need. It's only in the safety of His glory that we find the rest, peace, and joy that we need to make it through this crazy world we live in. And the only way we will ever look back on our lives with satisfaction, knowing that we lived our lives to the glory of God, will be to wake up every single morning with one thing in mind: "Jesus, be Lord of this day. I'm not worried about tomorrow. I'm not worried about next year. Just be Lord in my life today, because You are all I want."

Take a moment right now and ask Him to show you how you can surrender to Him today, and whatever He shows you to do, do it right away. If you will do this simple thing every day, you will be amazed at the incredible things He will do with your life.