Skylar's Blog & Podcast

How are we supposed to do this church thing? I look at the original church and then I take a gander at the church today and I see so many differences. One thing that always catches my eye is the first church had no youth ministry. I am always trying to look to the Bible as my guide in trying to form some sort of big picture for the Rock, but it's hard when the Bible has no specific advice about how to run a youth ministry. As I have thought about the big picture of The Rock, and as I have talked to Pete, the Andy's, Tyler, and Crystal one verse keeps popping up in my head. It's 1 John 4:12, "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." This verse is one of my favorite. Why you ask (because I know you are just loving this right now haha)...this is my favorite because of the great job God has given all of us according to this verse. It says, "...no one has EVER seen God..." however, when we love one another God shows up. Have any of you ever been told you look like a certain movie star? For a while people would tell me I look like Joaquin (weird first name huh?) Phoenix. I would always laugh and slowly walk away cause I think he's ugly, but that's another blog. I can't imagine if someone came up to me and said...you know what, you look like God! What a compliment! Paul says if we love one another that is exactly what happens! No matter what we do as a youth group, this should be one of the attitudes that is at the center of what we do. We must always love one another even if it is hard. What an amazing blessing from God though...to be given the ability to look like him...to represent him!Praise him!

Watch Captain Anonymous (John Jackson) pulverize Vyler Vakin (Tyler Akin)!!!

The Devil is persistent in trying to make us useless. He blasts us with reasons why we will never deserve God's love and he tries to convince us we shouldn't try to make a difference because we'll never be good enough. What we must do is not trust in our own abilities but instead in Jesus' sacrifice. This may sound like an excuse to mess up...I mean if God wants to give us this unending grace why shouldn't we take advantage of it. The reason not to comes in Romans 6:1-2. Come hang out with us as we walk through all of this.

Listen Here!

I have a story for you...there was once this strapping high school student who was celebrating his seventeenth birthday. The party was a blast, and after this young lad went around dropping his amigos and amigas off. He arrived at the girls house, and everyone went in to talk for a minute. After a bit the gang left except for one gentleman who couldn't stop flirting...so this birthday boy decided it would be funny to hide from the flirt. So he began to pull away from the house, but as he began to pull away the boy inside saw him and took off after the car. He caught up to the car and jumped onto the trunk...this was an opportunity the birthday boy could not and would not pass up, so he swung the car around going 25 and threw the other lad off the back. Everyone got out of the car to find the trunk jumper banged up pretty badly...at that same time the driver and the faller both realized they were going to get into some serious trouble...so they came up with a lie. They decided they would both tell their parents they were chasing each other and the other boy tripped and fell over a garden gnome (if you're thinking...LAME...then you're correct). The story was told, but the bruised and battered boy's parents did not believe him...so they eventually cracked him, and soon after his parents called the birthday boy to let him know he had 15 minutes to tell his parents the truth before she did...BUSTED!!!
In this story, the birthday boy was me and the bruised friend still has a scar on his face to this day (funny...but not so funny). I tell this because isn't this how we are at so many points in our lives...i know this is long but stick with me...we mess up, and just like I tried to cover up my mistake from my parents we try to cover up our junk from God. We talked about truth this week...and another truth is God forgives. I know this is my second time writing on this...but this is so important to me...

Hey everyone,

I bet you're asking yourself...what on earth does the title of this blog mean...and I have to admit, it's completely random. I'm listening to Jerry Seinfield right now and he just said that and it made me chuckle so I figured I'd share. How is everyone doing? Good...bad...well you can't really tell me but I thought I'd ask. I am really excited about what's been going on as I've been working with the Rock. All that aside, I want you guys to think about how the devil has tried to get to you in your lifetime. I'm not going to call you out on Sunday about it, but I do want you to honestly think about this. I told you how he uses relationships with the opposite sex, but he also uses my insecurities. I have always really enjoyed making people like me, which is not a bad thing, but it becomes an idol at times. In fact, I sometimes spend so much time and effort trying to make people happy with me that I lose my ability to be honest with them. Think about it...and if you ever feel like talking I would love to sit down over coffee and chat. Have a great day!

Skylar