What’s Up Blog

Aug 28 2023

Superpower Revealed

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Telekinesis? Invisibility? Shape shifting? Flight? Strength? Mind reading?

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. ¹¹Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.”

Peter 4:10 elicits the onomatopoeia “BOOM”, or metaphoric ‘drop the mic. ‘ Yes, I learned a new word during camp. Onomatopoeia is a noun and means the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named. WOW! WHAM! BOOM! SHAZAM! BAZINGA!

Throughout the week our Bible lessons highlighted Elisha, the powerful prophet. WOW! At the end of each message you could just feel the power of Holy Spirit working in the minds and hearts of the kids. BAM!

Each message was then followed up and reinforced in the War Room (Prayer room) where Pastors John and Melissa dug a little deeper and provided opportunity for the campers to receive the power that comes from God’s word and the working of Holy Spirt in their lives. BOOM!

The week brought many life changes including a number of first time salvations, rededications to follow Jesus and eight water baptisms. BAZINGA! Each powerful act was a personal win as each person made a decision to deepen their relationship with Jesus. When God is expected to show up, WHAM! He shows up in some extraordinary ways.

We can never underestimate the power of Jesus and the impact that He has on the lives of children. The same Holy Spirit that resides in an adult resides in a child. It’s our responsibility to pour into and raise up children that know and love Jesus.

Nov 03 2022

Unleashed Road Trip

PLANKS AND SLEDS AND BEARS, OH MY!

No, we were not heading to the Emerald City where we might have met the Great Wizard of Oz, instead we were heading to Crucible Performance gym where we met the man behind the business, Ryan Morse.

Come on team! 15 more seconds. Last set, best set!

For five weeks Coach Ryan has been training and coaching a group of kids physically, socially and spiritually through the use of fitness and his love for Christ.

Just like Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow were transformed through their journey to Oz with Dorothy these kids are being transformed in mind and body as they journey through Underdogs Unleashed with Ryan. Through the use of his gifts and talents, Ryan is sharing his knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus to help these kids discover how God created them and how they can have that same relationship with Jesus.

Ryan’s path to their hearts and minds might not be by following a yellow brick road although we did see a lot of yellow when we arrived at Crucible Performance. Ryan took the kids through high knees, planks, sleds, bear crawls and endless ropes with the hopes that they would be worn out for the trip home. Sadly for me they weren’t worn out and instead were famished on the return trip. Good thing we had a picnic basket that would have rivaled Dorothy’s. And no, we did not have a dog inside but we did have some healthy snacks.

There are many journeys that lead to a personal relationship with Jesus and each person’s journey is going to be different. Each will have its own set of trials, challenges, successes and questions. The important thing about every journey is that you keep putting one foot in front of the other and know that the journey brings growth that will help you be ready for anything.

Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.
James 1:2-4

Oct 07 2022

Underdogs Unleashed

Lightning and Leslie, two characters from the Alps of Chicago, kicked off the evening by getting the students pumped up and ready to face some physical and spiritual challenges. I’m not sure how you can turn mowing the grass into a workout routine but these two had all the moves. Luckily for the students, Ryan showed up just as they were finishing a workout that could only be described as questionable and quite odd .

Ryan Morse, Christian and Crucible Performance owner

Ryan, our guest professional and owner of Crucible Performance, was invited to come and share with the students what he does in his business and share how Jesus is part of his fitness center.

This first session of an 8-week course called “Underdogs Unleashed” focused on being prepared for what God has planned for our lives. Ryan was an underdog growing up and could relate to David, a true underdog in scripture. Both learned to see the challenges in their lives as opportunities to grow in their faith, which prepared them for something bigger. James 1:2 says “Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort.” Ryan encouraged the students to ‘Cherish the Challenge’ that they face each and every day.

David faced some incredibly big challenges in his life. Did he always get it right? No, but he learned to trust God through them and became known as a man after God’s own heart. What are some of the biggest challenges that you’re facing right now? Why do you think you’re going through those challenges? What bigger purpose do you think these challenges could be preparing you for?

You can find the joy in those challenges when you look to the one who is preparing you for something greater. Don’t give up. Keep preparing. Persevere. God will give you the courage and the strength you need to prepare and have the confidence to be everything God has made you to be.