YEM - Youth and Education Ministry - Blog
Jason Groth, Director of Youth and Education
These are the thoughts and musings as they come to me during reflections on the Bible, life, youth, family, poetry, media, et al.
I invite respectful feedback, discussion, and conversation as this is meant to be enriching for the youth & families of Peace Lutheran in Sparta, MI.
Above all else, know that you are loved, my dear friends. You are a child of God, this status even if you deny it cannot be recinded once he has claimed you. Take joy in every trial, respond to hatred with love, persecution with prayer, and adversity with prayer and grace.
May the Spirit of the Lord come upon you as a great rushing wind and give you the peace of God which surpasses all human comprehension.
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- Published on Tuesday, 08 May 2012 12:06
"I know little of obedience
Bowing and acquiescing
belongs to servants,
children.
I'm an adult.
I make my own judgements.
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- Published on Saturday, 28 April 2012 10:46
Will you ever stop being your parent's child? What if when you grow old and they have passed away, will you cease to be their child? What if you make choices or assimilate an identity with which your parent's disagree...will you cease to be their child? What if you outright disown them as parents and wish them dead, will you cease to be their child? I believe the answer to all of these is "No." You were born in their likeness, their image, their blood runs through your veins. You will always have them in you, and you will always be in them, no matter what we do or say.
Now, a rather more challenging question...
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- Published on Thursday, 12 April 2012 11:34
It was interesting, when I was searching for a photo to depict fear I came upon numerous other blogs on the same topic. Some from Christian sources, and others from non-Christian sources. But in all of them that I read, everyone reached a common conclusion, "fear can be conquered."
In my years of working with people of all ages in both official and unofficial capacities, it has been a great deal of fun to observe and learn about what makes people do the things they do. What I've found is that what compels us do what we do is what also keeps us from doing what we aught...
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- Published on Thursday, 15 March 2012 16:24
In listening to this song, I hear a great deal of pride in the artist's words regarding his city. I believe an air of "accept it as it is, and love it in spite of all its faults" is evident throughout. He doesn't expect it to be perfect, he doesn't gloss over the sin, racism, violence, and hypocrisy present in his city, but he chooses to stay anyway, just as it is. He also highlights what he loves about the city, and for him its best outweighs its worst. The capacity in which he will remain is not determined, of course, and whether he will contribute positively or negatively isn't clearly stated.
Using this song as our example, let's take a look at our selves, homes, families, places of worship, and the *Church.
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- Published on Sunday, 04 March 2012 11:12
SHOES IN CHURCH
I showered and shaved
I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat
in a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer
as I closed my eyes..
I saw the shoe of the man next to me
touching my own. I sighed.
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- Published on Sunday, 26 February 2012 12:17
Passion, one word which means so many different things. Passionate love, pleasure, play, thought, music, pain, worship.
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- Published on Thursday, 09 February 2012 11:03
I suspended Senior High Youth Group last Sunday night and instead opted to have a party at someone's house with no discussion. My justification: "no one would come or pay attention anyway. And, because I'm having the party at someone's house it is a 'relationship-building event'". I'm not entirely convinced I made the right choice...
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- Published on Sunday, 19 February 2012 17:43
I am responsible for my nieces, Olivia & Rachel Monday and Thursday mornings. I see they awake and are all ready for the day and get to school safely and on time. I never knew how gracious children are until I agreed to this arrangement with their parents!
This morning I tried the grace of Olivia, the 8 year old. You never know how deeply words can affect someone, and how quickly sin can multiply and spread then when you drop your guard against it and fail to keep your emotions in check.
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- Published on Thursday, 02 February 2012 14:22
"I know active listeners
not by their ears
but by their eyes.
They are the ones who
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