Were taking 2 weeks to talk about money and try to make sense of what God is asking of us when it comes to it. Because in this day in age we have it completely backwards when it comes to money, possessions and want. Through this series, my hope is that students get a clear sense of what God wants from them when it comes to there life and their money.

2012 and some goals

Every year we all try and set goals that we all want to achieve by end of the year. So, I thought I would include you in on some of my goals so you could see what I aiming for. Possibly, you can hold me accountable to them as well.

- Read through the Bible on one of those year plans
- Read 15 books. Here's the list I have so far:
- Finish Doctrine by Mark Driscoll
- Hunger Games books
- Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson
- 99 things every girl should know by Neely Mcqueen
- Soul School by Jeanne Stevens
- Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
- Vintage Church by Mark Driscoll
- Parenting a new generation by Chap Clark
- Erasing Hell by Francis Chan
- Love Wins by Rob Bell
- Desiring God by John Piper
- Re- Read Chasing Daylight by Erwin McManus
I know I have more then 15 books here but I would imagine that some of these will be replaced

- Become more healthy
- By eating better and becoming a better cook
- Continue to Work out and get down to 200 pounds (I am at 235 now)

- Become a more disciplined Leader and Teacher
- Do something adventurous that I have never done
- Play some golf
- Look into getting my master's
- Date my wife more
- Love on my kids more
- Hike Maryland's portion of the Appalachian Trail
- Travel a little
- Spend more one on one with some students

Christmas and VERB

This time of year is always crazy and VERB is no different! So I wanted to give you the inside scope on what all is happening with VERB through the holidays. So here it goes:

December 7th: Small groups 7pm (Band Practice at 6pm)

December 11th: Kids play 6pm no VERB service. The reason were not having a service is we have several students in the play along with several of my leadership teams kids (including mine) in the play. So we didn't want to battle with the show or miss it. Plus, we want to be supportive of future students of VERB. So, on this night we will have band pratice at 4pm and then open our doors for games and snacks at the bar at 5:30 and then close it all down at 5:55 to go over the the sanctuary. After the show we will open the VERB Lounge back up.

December 14th: Small groups 7pm (Band Pratice at 6pm)

December 18th: VERB Christmas Party (Band pratice at 4pm)
The party will consist of food (that we are hoping you can help bring...you know, some of the best Christmas food ever!!), Ugly Christmas Sweater contest, and Christmas games. Doors open at 5:30.

This is also an excellent opportunity for Students to bring non-persihable food items to help feed local Hungry children through Harmon's, Woodbridge and Hilltop Elementary Schools. (Check out the list of potential food items at the end of this blog)

December 21st: Small groups 7pm (Band pratice at 6pm)

December 25th: NO VERB: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

December 28th: NO VERB (Church closed)

January 1st: NO VERB

January 8th: VERB Moves to SUNDAY AM's!! (9am serivce in Grand Hall 1) Today will be the big switch from Sunday night to Sunday morning. We will no longer be offering anything on Sunday nights. Our full services will be from 9:00am to 10:15am with the VERB Lounge open for games and snacks till 11am.

Food to Feed Hungry Children

New Series "Welcome to the Movies"

We all love movies. I find it rare to find someone who does not like movies. Now the reasons on why someone likes them vary; but I love movies because I love stories and it's easy to get caught up in a story. It's easy to recognize different elements in a story, and it's easy to get involved in a story.

God is writing a bigger story then we or hollywood could imgiane and He is inviting us to be apart that story. Over the next couple of weeks were going to discuss God's invite into that story, the reasons that stop us from accepting His invite and to close out the series is the how to accept His invite into our bigger story.

Hopefully will see you over the next couple of weeks.

Hope to see you Sunday night....doors open at 5:30

VERB IBS...

No...we don't have Irritable Bowel Syndrome; but we do have our very own In- Between Scene this Sunday morning!! If your a middle or high school student or a parent of one. Or, if you have no earthy idea what VERB Student Ministries is...come by The VERB Lounge this Sunday morning at 10:30 - 11:00 and check us out or just come and hang out with us and drink some coffee and eat some doughnuts. Hope to see you there.

Facebook without ceasing

Have you ever read this passage before: "Never stop praying." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and thought "There is no way that can happen". I know I have before and felt as if it was an impossible task.

The other day I noticed that I kept looking at my phone and refreshing my facebook page and realized with office computer, home computer, phone, Ipod that I am always connected to facebook. Always connected to my 500 something friends (I know I should downsize). Probably the longest I go without checking facebook is while I am sleeping (I know, another thing I should downsize).

But it got me thinking about this 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and our students at VERB. We have taught on this passage before and taught that prayer is not about always having to be in a quiet place, you don't have to be kneeling down, you don't have to close your eyes. Prayer could happen anywhere (just like facebook can happen anywhere). Yes, there are times....many times; daily even, that we should slow down, be quiet, kneel, close our eyes.

I don't know if Paul, the writer of 1 Thessalonians is implying that never stop praying means to always be in your prayer closet or always on your knee with your eyes closed. I believe that he was telling us to have more of the facebook style of prayer; that you are always connected to God, your never too far from Him in your thoughts or words. You are always hitting the refresh button making sure you and God are up to date on everything.

Never Stop Praying becomes attainable when we are checking into God as you would be checking up on a friend.

Paul is not trying to make our life harder, but easier. If you go a couple of hours or a couple of days not connecting on facebook and you log in and want to read all that you missed it will take some time (or if you’re like me, you give up). But if your always connected like I know most of us are it only takes a few minutes. The same is true with Paul's thinking, if you never stop praying it’s easier to stay up to date and connected to Him. And not feel like you have to play catch up and often feel like you want to give up.

So today, every time you check facebook first say a little something to God and check in with Him and see how your life might change throughout the day.