Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Why I'm Glad That Money Doesn't Grow On Trees



If money grew on trees – or LOGs – we wouldn’t have to try to sell programs at Notre Dame - - or hustle BBQ ribs tickets.  We wouldn’t have to ask for donations or team fees.  And we wouldn’t have to worry if MYM will be able to make its annual budget each year.

If money only grew on trees…

What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?  Mark 8:36 (MSG)

So what’s the soul of our program?  What’s at the heart of MYM and LOG? 

Sharing.

Sharing the love of God.  Sharing what we’ve found.

Sharing our talent by writing talks, practicing skits, and creating beautiful project work to make the love of God visible and tangible.

Sharing our time by making team meetings a priority in our busy schedules, coming out to serve a meal or clean up from “chicken dinner” as a gift for people we have never met and even standing in the rain with game day programs in hand.

Sharing our treasure – our hard earned cash – to help cover the cost of the LOG team process and LOG weekends - - and to help make sure that MYM can continue offer the youth of Michiana our weekends that can last a lifetime.

As much as I dislike having to focus on money and fundraising as much as I do, I guess I’m glad that money doesn’t grow on trees. 

Because – I like our soul!

Ps – thanks to Lindsey & Neil – and Anna, Bennett, Clay, Elaine, Margo, Marte, Meghan, Rachel, Terrell and Fred Kantner for serving at last Saturday’s rainy game.  There are three more ND games:  this Saturday, 10/20 – plus 11/3 and 11/17.  Please offer to share your time if you are able.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Hopefully Devoted to You



Most every L.O.G. Team meeting has time set aside for a “devo” – a time for devotions. 

We begin by singing – fun songs that bring us together and then worship songs that lead us closer to God.  Then someone shares some Scripture or a few thoughts about the L.O.G. theme or about life. 

Sometimes we all go off by ourselves for some “vertical” time.  Sometimes we break out into small groups to share with each other and listen to each other as we dig a little deeper into the ideas shared in the devo.

Although I know the value of alone time, I like it best when we break into small groups.  Doing so helps us to grow closer to each other as we share and pray together.  It also helps us to process what we heard in the devo by discussing it with others.  Often someone catches something that someone else missed or God speaks to one person though the thoughts expressed by another.

Please leave a comment and tell us something that you remember from one of the devos you’ve heard or one of the small groups in which you’ve participated.  It doesn’t have to be big or long – just share something that stuck with you or meant something to you. 

Bueller?  Bueller?

ps - if you don't see a comments box in which to type, click on the word "comments" near the bottom of this page to rad what others have written and add your own contribution.  You need to "identify" yourself using the drop down menu below the comment box.






Friday, October 5, 2012

We Love Our CoLeaders!


Please note - you are invited and encouraged to leave a comment of affirmation and blessing for the Co's who have been a part of your L.O.G. experience ...



L.O.G. CoLeaders do many things. 

Some of them are pretty easy to imagine:  planning team meetings; deciding who should give talks, etc.  Some of them are less so:  figuring out what to do when they arrive at the church to find that the room they were supposed to use is already set up for another activity and calling people to find out why they missed a team meeting.

In the photo above (thanks, Cody!), Alex Jones (Coleader with Bethany Van Alstine for L.O.G. #64) could be …

1 – beseeching God that the people who were supposed to bring the snacks to the team meeting didn’t forget.
2 – posing while team members sketched his image onto the banner.
3 – begging Seth Proctor for just a few more minutes of project work time.
4 – playing a game of catch the M&M’s with your mouth.  (a game we NEVER play at Agape, by the way!)
5 – crumpling over in laughter because the team member behind him was lying on top of a cat.

L.O.G. is a peer-led program.  Youth team members prepare for and then present a weekend spiritual growth retreat for their friends.  Of course there are adult advisors to inspire, guide and support – but the whole program is built around youth leadership.

Our CoLeaders are called to lead the leaders – to plan and direct the team process that includes 8-10 weekly meetings for 25-40 youth and adult team members.  Most of the time, this is fun – sometimes it is quite frustrating.  Usually it is time consuming and often it’s tiring.  Hopefully, it is growth-producing.  And always, it’s a privilege.

Most years we have about 30-40 active 12th graders in L.O.G. – and we can only call 12-14 of them to serve as Co’s.  We look for youth who …

• live out their personal faith in God and are devoted to Jesus as Lord and Savior
• demonstrate leadership and organizational skills
• have earned the respect of their peers and the L.O.G. adult advisors
• are dedicated to the L.O.G. program and to the mission and ministry of MYM

We all love our CoLeaders.  We love them because their service has made it possible for us to share in the love of God in this unique way we call L.O.G. and because they are our friends.

I encourage you to leave a comment below that is an affirmation and blessing for the CoLeaders who have been a part of your L.O.G. experience.  We’ve had 122 CoLeaders since 1997 – plus the six who are serving right now.

I hope there is no limit on the number of comments that can be left on this blog!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fun in Abundance





 
I don’t know what they were doing – I was in another room at the time.  But there was a lot of laughter!  And how does that old saying go, “a picture’s worth a thousand words”?







 



Actually, I do know what they were doing.  They were having fun!  In a city where teenagers often complain that they are bored.







There were lots of smiles tonight – along with a few funny faces. We also sang some songs, celebrated a birthday with cupcakes and candles and hugged a lot. 

It was fun indeed.





And then we worked.   

And listened to someone teach from the Bible.

But you know what – that was fun too! 

We were growing and serving and sharing the love of God.







“I have come that you may have life, and have it in abundance.”  John 10:10


Don’t ever let anyone tell you that Christians never have any fun.


(Thanks to Jordan and Lindsey for the photos from the L.O.G. #62 team meeting.)

Monday, October 1, 2012

What's in a name?


L.O.G. teams always close with a prayer circle.  Sometimes we pray in smaller groups or with just one other. And I bet many if not most of these prayers end with the words, “In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen”.

At my church yesterday, the pastor reminded us what it means to pray in Jesus’ name.  They are not some magic words that we throw in for good measure.  They are not a hash tag! 

To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray as Jesus would pray – for the things Jesus would pray about.  These prayers should reflect Jesus’ values and purpose. 

Dr. Mark D. Roberts writes, “So, when I say that I always pray “in Jesus’ name,” I am saying, first of all, that I approach the Father only through Jesus, only through what he has done for me on the cross. I hope that my prayers are also consistent with his will, though I recognize that my own agenda can intrude into my prayers fairly easily. Yet my desire is to bring my prayers more and more in line with what Jesus desires.” http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/ 

Please be praying for our LOG teams – our CoLeaders, Spirit Leaders and team members – that we would bring glory to God as we serve him in this season of preparing for our LOG weekends. 

Please be praying that God will be working in the lives of the participants – those already signed up and those still to come. 

And please be praying for me and for M.Y.M – that our ministry will be pleasing to God and that God will bless us so we can continue to reach the youth of Michiana with the love of God through weekends that can last a lifetime.

We are certain that God will hear our prayers when we ask for what pleases him.  (1 John 5:14 CEV) 


Thanks to Alex for for both photos from the L.O.G. #63 team meeting!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Who Am I?


Some of the L.O.G. #64 team members – who’s that squashed in the very middle??  Thanks to Cody for sharing this photo!

Mary Kate led us in our devotional time at the LOG #64 team meeting tonight.  She talked about self worth – referring to one of the lines in our theme song “Who Am I?” 

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name, would care to feel my hurt?
(Who Am I as recorded by Casting Crowns)

Mary Kate shared how if a younger sibling was to give one of us a piece of their artwork, most of us would make a big deal over it and tell the child how much we loved it even if it were rough and not perfect or pretty.  We’d do that because we loved them and they created the artwork – so we’d love the artwork.

She then reminded us that God loves us because he created us – and what’s more, loves us just the way we are – even as rough and imperfect as we might be.  God loves us and because of that we should love ourselves and stop trying to be something or someone else.

When I got home, Cody sent me the following Facebook message:

After tonight’s devotional, I began to think, what would life be like without me? (I don’t mean to sound suicidal).  But if I hadn’t come to LOG, I wouldn’t have met these people, and they wouldn't have met me. If I hadn’t been there for some of my friends today, they would be different. I just got to thinking how much someone’s life is really worth, not only to themselves, but to other people. If school bullies at school weren't there, the bullied would be a lot happier and not let down. idk its something i thought about the entire drive home.

God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.  1 John 4: 9-11 CEV

And maybe we should add:  Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love ourselves.


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Where Are You Hiding?



When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God. God called to the Man: “Where are
you?”  He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.”  Genesis 3: 8-10 (MSG)

First of all, don’t you love the imagery of God “strolling … in the evening breeze”?  During the cooler season of Fall, I like to take walks around my neighborhood.  Sometimes I just walk and try to appreciate the smell of cut grass or burning leaves or how the lighted windows cast a warm glow into the darkening night.  Sometimes I think and reflect and sometimes I talk to God – out loud – almost as if he was strolling right along beside me.  Try it sometime before the snow flies …

“Where are you?” God is still asking us. 

Some of us hide intentionally.  We hide behind masks and excuses.  We don’t want to feel exposed.  We try not to let anyone, much less God, know who we really are. 

One of the things I value about L.O.G. weekends is the way we offer welcome and acceptance so we can slowly but surely allow ourselves to come out and be known to each other.  This certainly is reflective of the Love Of God.

But then, the other way we often hide from God isn’t an active, intentional thing as much as a passive, sorta-unintentional thing – a prodigal thing – – we just forget God is right there strolling in the evening breeze with us.

When life gets overwhelming, or becomes too much fun, remember that you are never alone.  There’s someone who loves you within arm’s reach.



Ps – thanks to Maia for this photo of Kayla at the last L.O.G. #62 team meeting

Monday, September 24, 2012

Shhh ... it's not a secret, it's a ______




Throughout the years, one of the best, and yet also most problematic parts of L.O.G. is the element of surprise.

We love to hear the participants draw in their collective breath as they open their eyes to the joy of agape.  We work hard on palanca and we can't wait to "clap, elbow, elbow, gentle tap" for the first time.

But this wonderful aspect of a L.O.G. weekend has filled some participants with great anxiety and made some parents wonder what kind of a group we really are.

Many of you have heard me say that I refused to attend my first Cursillo weekend until the person who invited me could explain to me why she "couldn't tell me anything except that I would have  great time".  Afterwards, I understood better what she was trying to do, but I think it wouldn't have made much of a difference if I had known "everything" or not.

My children have grown up hearing me talk about L.O.G. and explain many things as I call parents of participants from my desk at home.  Tyler attended L.O.G. #34 but has told me that even though he already knew about many of the surprises, it was meaningful to him because it was "his" weekend.  He had some idea of what was coming, but it wasn't real until he experienced it himself.  Alyssa will be a participant at L.O.G. #64.  I hope and pray the same for her.

Every time we begin a team process, I tell team members that they should be sure to tell their potential participants a few important things:

1 - that L.O.G. is an experience of God's love in Christian community
2 - that L.O.G. is open to anyone who wants to explore their relationship to God
3 - that we sing, laugh, share, listen and love one another and the fun is in the relationships

I also tell team members that they can talk as much they want to about the weekend - often the more the better - and that there are only a few things better left untold - the surprises.  But I also say that if it takes telling their potential participants about the surprises so they are comfortable attending L.O.G. then by all means tell them.  Better to have them come and participate in L.O.G. than stay home and miss it all just so we don't have to give away a surprise!

What I'm not sure we are very good at explaining to participants or team is that the surprises are really just a way of incarnating - putting flesh on - grace.  The weekend is designed to be an experience of God's love.  God's love is given to us without regard to our having earned or deserved it, because, in fact, we can't and don't. It's only by God's grace that we can be in relationship with our God who loves us so much.

In order to give our participants an experience of God's abundant and gracious love, we design parts of the weekend to be surprises - unmerited and unexpected.  Every time we surprise the participants, we are trying to make real and tangible for them how much God loves them. 

One of my favorite authors, Frederick Buechner, has written:

 "Grace is something you can never get but only be given. There's no way to earn it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth. A good sleep is grace and so are good dreams. Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace. Loving somebody is grace. Have you ever tried to love somebody?

A crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is the assertion that people are saved by grace. There's nothing you have to do. There's nothing you have to do. There's nothing you have to do.

The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't be complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you.

There's only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you'll reach out and take it.”  (Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC (c) 1973 Harper Rowe)


May it be our prayer that L.O.G. will help all of us, participants and team, to reach out and accept this gift from God.

 


 

  
ps - thanks to Marissa for the photo of Cody at the last L.O.G. #64 team meeting!



Friday, August 31, 2012

Moving Toward the Fall L.O.G.s – Part #2: Teams

In March of 1997, Stephanie King, Brad Voth and I went to Santa Barbara, CA to participate in L.O.G. #15 sponsored by Goleta Presbyterian Church. A few months later, in August, eighteen youth and three adults flew all the way from California to plant L.O.G. #1 at First Presbyterian Church in South Bend.

Since that time, we have had 60 more L.O.G. weekends in the Michiana area and planted L.O.G. #1 at Lawrence Road Presbyterian Church near Trenton, New Jersey this past month.

Our first L.O.G. weekend had only 12 participants. Our church’s youth group was so small that we had to reach out beyond our group to get enough participants to make the weekend go.  So from the very beginning we’ve been ecumenical – open to people from any church or denomination as well as to those who were not connected to any church at all.  Although we didn’t recognize it then, we had already embraced that which is now a hallmark of L.O.G. and M.Y.M - - many youth from many churches, many schools and many communities.

We continued having two L.O.G.s each year – by the time we reached L.O.G. #13 in the spring of 2003, we had 58 youth serving on the team and they had invited 33 participants to come to the weekend.  That meant nearly 100 people (including adult advisors) out at Camp Ray Bird – it was pretty crazy!

When Michiana Youth Ministries was formed in 2005, we made the decision to offer two fall L.O.G. weekends: #19 and #20.  We did this so we could offer L.O.G. to more of the youth of Michiana – and because so many team and participants on a single weekend seemed to greatly reduce the intimacy of the retreat and make it less likely that first-time participants would come back to serve on a team.

It turned out that this was a controversial decision – one full of angst and anguish as the team members had to make hard choices about on which team they would serve.  Who would the CoLeaders be? Who else would be on which team? On what night would the team meetings take place and what weekend fit the schedule better? 

Two and a half years later, we scheduled three spring weekends: #29, #30 and #31.  You’d think that this might have ratcheted up the angst even higher, but by then we were all pretty used to the idea that not everyone could be on a team with all their best friends.  In fact, smaller communities had formed within our larger L.O.G. community.  We encouraged all LOGgers to try different smaller teams and then come together for special events and vertical worship nights so new friendships could be established and old friendships could be nurtured.

Through the years, we have come to the belief that the ideal size for a team is somewhere between 20-30 – big enough but not too big.  Any smaller and we wouldn’t have enough people for all the skits, talks, table groups etc.  Any bigger and we tend toward more cliquishness and not really knowing everyone on the team.

Our Summer 2012 Team had 54 youth serving on it.  But with summer camps, mission trips and vacations, we usually ended up with 35-45 at any one meeting.  This was bigger than ideal but, remarkably, this team had a strong sense of unity and love for one another.  And it helped that only 38 youth served at either Bsahor or New Jersey – much closer to that ideal number.

Sometimes a team ends up being too small, as is the case right now with L.O.G. #62 that currently only has 15 team members.  In cases like this, we rely on those daring souls that are willing to serve by going beyond their comfort zone and joining a team that wasn’t their first choice. 

It seems that some people are inclined to seek the comfort of being on a team with their friends and really want to support their friends who are serving as Co’s.  We have also seen some youth who are willing to step out in faith and join a team where they may not already know everyone – and really benefit by doing so as they build new friendships and stretch themselves in new ways.

Many of us really believe that as powerful and fun one’s participant L.O.G. may be, it is in coming back to serve on a team that one grows closer to the community and deeper in faith – and are better prepared to serve on and in a much bigger team: the family of God.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Moving Toward the Fall L.O.G.s – Teams (part #1)

Now that the summer season is over, we’ve begun moving toward the fall L.O.G.s - #62, #63 and #64.

The first step was to call CoLeaders.  The adult advisors were in conversation on and off all summer, seeking to discern which of our students God was leading us to ask to serve as the CoLeaders for the three Teams.  The qualities we always look for in Co’s include a personal faith in God that is lived out in the student’s life beyond L.O.G., a commitment to our program that includes a minimum of one time serving on a L.O.G. Team as well as the ability to lead and the respect of one’s peers. This is not easy because there are many more candidates than we can use - even in a whole year of L.O.G.s!

After much deliberation and prayer, we called six seniors to serve for the fall season:  Neil Infalt and Claire Soisson for L.O.G. #62; Gabby Marzke and Shea Slayter for L.O.G. #63 and Alex Jones and Bethany Van Alstine for L.O.G. #64.  Thanks be to God that each one of them said “yes”!

Then we opened up the sign ups for L.O.G. Team.

L.O.G. #63 filled up first, in part because some of the youth from New Jersey will be coming out to share in that weekend with us.  When we reached 25 members we began a waiting list, which now has three names on it.  L.O.G. #64 filled up a week or so later – no waiting list at this time.  As I write this, L.O.G. #62 has not filled up yet.

The reason we had to cap the two Teams at 25 is because it usually takes a minimum of 16-18 Team members to successfully prepare and present a L.O.G. weekend.  We cannot move forward with the fall L.O.G.s until we have enough Team members signed up for each L.O.G. Team.

Check back here tomorrow for part #2 of this blog Moving Toward the Fall L.O.G.s - Teams in which I’ll reflect on some or all of these questions:
-       what are the pro’s and con’s of small or large Teams?
-       why do we even do Teams?
-       What will we have to do to balance out the three Teams?

Teams begin next week!

In the love of God,

ter

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Of Bus Rides and Hot Tubs ...

Some reflections while riding home from New Jersey …
-       I am so glad I didn’t have to do the driving.
-       Our Team really enjoyed being together and worked well together.
-       What was with all the medical issues: poison ivy, sunburn, sprained ankle, migraines, upset stomach, mild concussion?
-       I am so thankful for Seth, Laura, Nan, Bryce and Morgan – couldn’t have done it without them. 
-       The Lawrence Road Church was so welcoming and supportive.
-       Clay and Anna were fantastic Coleaders and both Molly and Sharon were great Spirit Leaders.
-       Now it’s time to gear up for fall L.O.G.s.
-       We’re all looking forward to Katie bringing some NJ youth to L.O.G. #63 in November.


Some more reflections while soaking in my hot tub …
-       We planted the seed and now we trust God to make it grow.
-       I’m glad to be home with Debbie and Alyssa – and missing Tyler.
-       Also thankful for Sarah, Chris, Judy, Jenifer and Alanna who served at LOG #61 at Bashor and the other adults who will be back in the fall.
-       I am so grateful to be able to follow God’s call on my life – and especially to all those who make it possible.

I'd welcome other Team members to comment and add your reflections now that this journey and mission are over ...

Last Day - by Maia & Charlotte

Maia here! So it’s really the end of our journey now. We got on the bus earlier than anyone would have liked to get up and headed back home to Indiana. We’re all kind of in disbelief that it’s coming to an end, though pretty much everyone’s looking forward to our own beds again. It’s been about a week since we left on this incredible journey and everyone’s become so connected in those days. Things are going to be so different when we get back. No more team meetings with this same group, no more crazy bus rides or random dance parties. It’s a big change.

But I guess that’s the beautiful thing. Now we get to bring everything we’ve learned to the rest of our lives. I’m pretty sure no team will ever be the same as everyone from LOG #1 New Jersey spreads out to different weekends in the fall. We definitely learned how to bond more than ever and it really changes the whole feel of the weekend. Now that we’ve done it on this team process, why shouldn’t it continue on? You know, even if we don’t have the same things forcing (in the good way!) us into it all.

Charlotte speaking. We’ve learned so much about ourselves and about each other. We may have come as a team, but we definitely left as a family. When emotions got high and we were all exhausted, and there was always someone to pick us up, and make us smile. God was so evident in this week, in the smiles, tears, and cuddle puddles. There were definitely some high nerves going into this week, would the New Jersey kids enjoy it all? Thank God they did! They’re all proud little lumberjacks now!

I’ve always been the kind of person who thought that my relationship with God was fine just the way it was, but as I sit on this bus on the last leg of the trip I realize, that it had so much more room for improvement, and LOG #1 New Jersey blessed me with just that. I cannot put into words how much I have grown to love each and every one of the members of this team, or should I say family. I’ll leave you with this last thing. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for the support and prayers. We couldn’t have done it without each of you. <3

Lots of love from the whole team (family)!
Maia and Charlotte

Monday, August 13, 2012

Sunday Night by Cara Mastic

Hey blog reading individuals, nice to be conversing with you! So this morning we turned a new corner of being way more rested than we have been all week, and that combined with a very light schedule equaled much happier loggers. We started our day with some nummy pancakes and bacon (that I didn’t eat). Next, we cleaned quickly as to impress (and not freak out) the church going folk. The church service at Lawrence Road Presbyterian was completely taken over with LOG songs, children’s activities, Log people, small groups with the congregation during the service, and a pieced together sermon with Log kids and adults, and a benediction in song holding hands around the sanctuary. I think we may have rocked their world a little, and gotten them out of their comfort zone, and hopefully made a lasting impression. The Log team was able to see a good number of participants at church, and it was great to get a little more time with those lovely kiddos.  After worship we had fellowship time with the congregation which all of the team loved because we were fed yummy snacks and WE GOT COFFEE!! When the church congregation had cleared out, we hopped in our charter bus with a few extra participants and adults and road tripped to a Chinese buffet for lunch. I think we all ate a little too much there, and many of us got very fitting fortunes out of our fortune cookies. With our bellies full we loaded the bus and headed to the church again to spend an afternoon relaxing with few structured things to do. Dinner was chicken alfrado, using Seth Proctor’s recipe, fried potatoes, using Nan Noecker’s recipe, and other yummy items. When dinner was eaten, we tore down our tabernacle. We cleaned up, cleaned up, everybody, everywhere until all of the things on Terry’s list were completed. We got a little bit of down time before we gathered for a closing (much like everyone also did at the Olympics today) to our weekend. The closing had care-o-cell questions, singing, sharing, and thanking, and was a fantastic way to wrap things up. Our night ended with time to chill, cuddle, play cards, sing, and dance together. PS Kim loves her mommy, so do I, and so do all of us here on team. To all you parents…we miss you.
Accomplishments of the day:
#11 Twenty one people got their hairs washed in the sink
#47 Anna Polovick (Our dearest co leader) got 18 kisses…and counting… from different people on the forehead
#25 Seth Proctor (an adult advisor from South Bend) got his hair washed by Kim Beck in the sink and braided afterwards by me
#63 We took a walking road trip to Baskin Robbins and freaked out the cashiers
#209 We had a giant cuddle puddle
#8 Witnessed a street performer playing the bagpipes, kilt and all!
            #97 Managed to not lose our Log #1 shirts between breakfast and worship            
            #165 Convinced Terry to let us stay up until 1am
            #1250 Anna Polovick and Clay Sibilla managed to gather enough marbles to get in front of team one last time as co leaders

           

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Saturday Night by Lauren Stonehill

 Hello everybody back home! It’s been another rainy day in New Jersey, but still an amazing one. We woke the participants up with songs and Terry’s guitar (payback time!). We had amazing talks today from some super special loggers. The participants learned from talks about living in the love of God, prayer, gifts and responsibilities, Christian community and worship. Also an awesome “Keeping What You’ve Found” talk presented by our wonderful co leaders, Clay and Anna. Lots of table times meant bonding with the all the new lumberjacks. The participants also got to experience zapping (talk about powerful), which is always fun and amazing. We wrote letters to our future selves and did all those energizer dances (interlude anybody?)
            And then came the closing, we got to show the parents just how special L.O.G. is to all of us. It got a bit emotional. This was especially because of all those seniors who will be graduating out and heading to college in a few weeks. The tears started with Terry’s rendition of the Ragman and it went on from there. One participant said, “We came in like strangers, but we left like family.” (which made my day). New crosses, bibles, and collages were handed out to each participants. We are already talking about having some New Jersians head out for one of our Indiana L.O.G.s this fall!!!!!!!!! I’m so excited! And then we had to say goodbye but not to everyone. Three participants got permission to stay another night with us!!!!!!!! It’s been an amazing day but it’s sad that the “weekend” is over.
            It’s so different being on team compared to being a participant. For one, I know everything that’s going on (most of the time anyway). It’s a lot more work, and a lot more tiring. I never realized just how much work these teenagers put into my participant weekend, but now I do. It’s crazy! We go to bed so much later, and have so much more to do, but it’s still such a powerful experience. This time I get to be the one saying this is my favorite spot and annoy the participants by splitting them up from their friends. I know the songs and am not just mumbling along. I’ve also got to see just how this weekend affects the participants. I’m so blessed to experience seeing how we can pass on the love of God to the new lumberjacks. We had multiple kids who said they didn’t sing in public, or didn’t want to, but by today almost everybody was (there’s no such thing as a bad singer). I think the participants realized that we aren’t just a group of teens stealing a weekend from their lives, but people who accept them for who they are ( an angel of music or otherwise) because we are the family of God.

Friday Night by Clay Sibilla …

Friday Night by Clay Sibilla …

Hey to all of you reading this blog! J Terrell says hi. There’s no other way to describe today then an adventure. First of all, everyone called today Saturday about a thousand times, even though it was Friday and that got confusing really really really fast. We got to have some fun times today swimming, listening to talks, playing with play-doh, feeding each other during the Agape feast , and yes having the typical L.O.G weekend swag. Also I really enjoy having access to caffeine all the time J. But we also had some more serious time, sharing about our obstacles during the obstacle circle, or O.C., and sharing prayers with each other during our vertical worship time, watching as our friends acted in our “turn around” skit, and basically our entire Saturday night. The participants all really opened up and shared during the O.C. and during vertical time and everyone has grown so close through all of this.

Today there had been many chances to both laugh and cry. And let me tell you there were a lot of both. I can honestly say that my heart was touched by the participants and by the team. There was so much sharing in the O.C. and we all grew so close during that. But we didn’t just sit around and cry all day, we had fun and we laughed and had an awesome time. There was a lot of emotion. Also, let me just say Anna and I have perfected the art of reading each other’s minds. That creates a lot of interesting situations, and then people think we’re crazy because we’ll both be crying from laughter and everyone else will look at us like we’re insane.
Charlotte says hi and she loves you very much! <3

Basically I’m so glad to be on this trip, and I’m very excited about the future of L.O.G. in New Jersey! They have fantastic participants, and I know one day they will all make amazing team members! I mean, they have to, because they dealt with all of us these past few days. Things got crazy let me say. After Agape, I feel felt that L.O.G. is something that the participants can now call their own. J Too geeked that they’re part of our family. I can’t wait to get up in now less than six hours to finish the weekend with a BANG!
                                                                        Much love,
                                                                        Clay Sibilla
P.S. HI MOM!
P.P.S. Mary Kate says hi!
P.P.P.S. I think just about everyone on team has dropped by and told me hi to the folks back home.
P.P.P.P.S. Charlotte typed the last paragraph(guess who’s lazy)
P.P.P.P.P.S. Lauren Strzelecki had an amazing obstacle talk that had laughs and tears in all the right places J. And Molly lovesss you! And Lauren too!
Goodnight from New Jersey J

Friday, August 10, 2012

Friday morning by Michael Malone

Hey all. The participants are all at their second table time right now. Yesterday was a whirlwind of different emotions. We set up for the weekend after breakfast, which got the excitement mounting for all of the lovely new lumberjacks to arrive. Soon after that we went to an incredible thrift store to find things we could use to decorate tables during meals. Naturally I got distracted and started looking at clothes…

When we got back we had little time to prepare for participants, as they started to trickle in immediately. In typical LOG fashion we immediately bombarded them with hugs, sang obnoxiously (at least I did) and immediately tried to make them feel at home. We took their shoes and their luggage and put it in some unknown space. Arriving can be a little freaky to first time participants.

Despite the confusion, some participants started breaking down their barriers and opening up to everybody, and some God will need to chisel down their walls a bit. One participant in particular reminds me a lot of myself four or five years ago: closed off, guarded, and extremely bratty. I’m incredibly excited to see the way God works in him and through him this weekend, and see how God reaches out to him. Not only him, but all of the participants. It’s amazing watching people transform just over a few days.

Peace and Love,
Michael Malone

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Wednesday - by Shea Slayter

Yesterday was our first day waking up in New Jersey. It was our beach day, and we were all excited for a little rest and relaxation after a tiring day of traveling. I was surprised to know that some of the participants would be coming on our bus with us, and joining us at the beach. It was a little intimidating because there were a couple kids that came to the beach day that had decided to not be participants at this weekend, so it put a big pressure on all the team members’ shoulders to make them feel as welcome as possible and give them a really good time to maybe change their minds on coming to our weekend. When they got on the bus, they were obviously nervous about walking on a bus full of 38 people they had never seen before, and they all sat together towards the front of the bus. A couple of us at the front decided to start a game of mafia to break the ice with the potential participants, and although mafia is a really silly game, it got rid of a lot of the awkwardness and it was a really fun time.

At the beach, everybody had such a great time. I think I swam for about two hours straight, and it was really cool to get to know the participants and bond with the team members more. The best part was, after we got back to the church after the beach, Katie, our New Jersey leader, told us that the students that had decided to not come to the weekend had changed their minds, and they committed to coming. It was a really good feeling knowing that we had done our job and we had made such a good impression that they were willing to trust us and spend an entire weekend with us without knowing what’s in store for them.

Later that night, we had our dedication ceremony, where our CoLeaders wash our hands and pray for us, and then we knead bread that will later be used for communion on Friday night, and we pray for our participants individually. As we are doing all of this, we are also singing some of my favorite worship songs. When we were done praying for each participant and kneading the bread, we sang our theme song for the weekend, which is Light the Fire. Singing that song was probably my favorite part of the day because it felt really powerful to me. It was the song we sang the loudest and with the most confidence and it sent chills down my back. And I know that I wasn’t cold because it was really hot in that room last night, so I knew it was God showing his presence. As we started to sing, I looked back at the New Jersey adults and saw the looks on their faces, especially Katie who remembers that song from when she went to LOG when she was in high school, and they all looked like they were feeling the same chills I was. Afterwards, I talked to Bennett, who was sitting by me in the circle and he said he felt the chills too, so I am confident that God was in the room to bless the participants and the bread, and focus our hearts to the weekend we have ahead of us.

Shea Slayter

Wednesday Night / Thursday Morning

We had a great day at the beach followed by a wonderful taco supper and our dedication later in the evening.

But I forgot to remind one of our Team members to write the blog.

So we'll publish in the morning (well, could be as late as noon!)

terry

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Tuesday Night by Anna Polovick


This morning we arrived at EHUM at 7 am to get on the bus to head to New Jersey. (Finally!) We knew it was going to be a long trip when approximately a minute into the trip Clay announced that “Mary Kate is bored.” However, 13 hours of driving, 4 stops (including one for dinner), 5 movies (Lauren would like to emphasize that we watched Captain America), many naps and games and chats later, we have arrived!

It seems a bit unreal that the trip we’ve been talking about since the first week of April is actually here. The whole team has been working for about 3 months for this one trip, and the final step in our journey has finally begun. We’re really excited for the whole weekend, but also for tomorrow to head to the shore! Spending so much time sitting on the bus has us all looking forward to spending some time outside on the beach.

One thing that has really hit me this past week preparing to come to New Jersey is how many people are behind us and support us. This includes team members and adults for L.O.G. #61 at Bashor to current students and adults who participate in L.O.G. to L.O.G. alumni to family and friends. Today on the bus some of us even video chatted with a friend in Germany who attended L.O.G. #60 as a foreign exchange student. It means the world to me that so many people support us, and I feel that love surrounding us. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers, and please keep them coming! There’s still a lot to be done here, especially with the actual weekend beginning Thursday!

Love, Anna Polovick

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

T-minus Seven Hours

12:32am and I think I am ready - better be, we leave in seven hours.

Thanks be to God - and to all who have helped make this become reality.

We will update this blog a lot - check it everyday ...

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Next Step: Love•4•God

The Next Step: Love•4•God


L.O.G. weekends are peer-led.  Twenty to thirty youth serve on a Team to prepare and present a L.O.G. weekend retreat.

Of course, there are adults who serve as advisors, mentors and are, as one of our adult leaders always puts it, “cool adults who care about the kids”.  Understandably, most parents might be concerned about allowing their daughter or son to attend a weekend with no adult supervision.

But, most of the leadership comes from the youth themselves.   They plan the event, invite their friends and then give talks, lead discussions and serve in many other ways all around the theme of what it means to be in a relationship with God and how that makes a difference in their life.

I believe that the peer leadership is part of what makes L.O.G. uniquely effective.  Kids listen to kids differently than they listen to adults.  There’s real power in hearing someone your own age sharing his or her story – the highs and the lows, the joys and the struggles and where God fits into that story.

But on our journey of faith and life, along with someone to walk beside us, we also need someone to go before us – to lead and guide and teach and inspire.

If L.O.G is about discovering God’s love for us, The Next Step: L•4•G is about how to love God back by living in relationship to God in our day-to-day lives.  L•4•G focuses on how to deepen our relationship to and understanding of God. 

There’s plenty of time for conversation and sharing with friends, but L•4•G is always led by an adult – someone who has been on the journey a little longer than the youth – someone who’s spiritual maturity and wisdom can encourage, challenge and motivate us to take the next step – and then the next and the next.

Sometimes we focus on the spiritual disciplines.  Sometimes we dig into Scripture.  We’re just back from L•4•G #15 where Sheila Auter led us as we considered “The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive”.  In group discussions and personal vertical time we sought to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit about what it means to be alive in Christ.

There's an old Chinese proverb, “A journey of a lifetime begins with a single step” or maybe more accurately “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.  It is my prayer that the steps we take in L.O.G. and L•4•G last thousands of miles in our lifetimes.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Packing Up: Nine Days – Ninety Names

 Packing Up: Nine Days – Ninety Names

With only nine days before we head to New Jersey, I’ve got packing lists and piles of stuff accumulating in a number of locations: my home, Evangel Heights UMC, the storage facility.  I sure hope it all fits on the bus!

I always say that I can’t travel (to LOG events) lightly.  I tend to want to take everything that we might possibly need – – thank God for Bryce’s trailer!

And even so, there always seems to be the inevitable trip to pick up something I forgot.  Not this time – it’ll be a 1380 mile round-trip!

This morning, I was going through all our placemats to be sure I have one for each of our Team members.  In doing so, I began to set aside the placemats of those LOGgers that have graduated out this past June.

There are 90 of them!

As I sorted through the pile, I was moved by the names:  some as familiar as family (one is family) and some that I remember, although barely, because I haven’t seen them since their participant weekend.  They go back as far as L.O.G. #34 (three-fo’).

I remembered shining faces, wonderful harmonies, deep conversations and great hugs.  I remembered moments of prayer after the death of a loved one; because of difficult situations or relationships and in thankful realization of the deep joy and love we share.

Ninety names!  Faithful friends. Servant leaders.  Young people growing in the love of God and their love for God.

Soon - their placemats will hang with those of the over 1000 others who have shared this experience called L.O.G.

I entrust them to God’s care.

I miss them already!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The History of the Love Of God Program

The History of the Love Of God Program

L.O.G. is one of many adaptations of the Roman Catholic Cursillo (pronounced cur-SEE-o) Movement which originated in Spain in 1949.  Cursillo de Christiandad means "little course in Christianity."

Cursillo crossed the ocean to American Catholics in the 1950's and since that time, many different expressions of the program have been established in Protestant churches around the country.  These programs include Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis (Methodist); Great Banquet and Awakening (Presbyterian) and many more.  Visit www.3dayol.org for more information.

In the mid 1980's, the senior high youth group of Novato Presbyterian Church in Novato, California attended a "Search" retreat sponsored by a Cursillo community in the Reno, Nevada area.  They returned home with the intention of starting a similar program only to find that a local Catholic church was already using "Search" as the name for one of their programs.  The Novato group decided to call their new program "Love Of God."

In 1988, while I was serving as associate pastor of the Goleta Presbyterian Church in Goleta, California, we were invited to send a team of four youth and an adult leader to experience the Novato group's L.O.G. #5.  The following spring, Novato sent a team to give the gift of L.O.G. to the Goleta church.

Since 1989, L.O.G. communities have been planted in Carpinteria, CA; Bellevue, WA; Los Gatos, CA.  The Novato L.O.G. is now based in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Walnut Creek, CA and they planted a L.O.G. in a church in Gig Harbor, WA in 2010.

In 1997, the Goleta Church planted L.O.G. at First Presbyterian Church in South Bend where I was serving as associate pastor. For the first eight years, we had two L.O.G. weekends each year.

Michiana Youth Ministries was formed in 2005 and immediately began sponsoring two L.O.G. weekends each fall and two more in the spring.  That has now increased to three weekends in the fall and spring with one or two more weekends in the summer.  

Over 1000 youth have participated in L.O.G. weekends here in Michiana.