SEX by the Numbers

Slightly less than half of 8-12th grade students have had sexual intercourse (CDC survey 2007)

55% of students ages 15-19 have had heterosexual oral sex (Guttmacher Institute 2008)

35% of 9-12 grade students are sexually active (have had sex in the last 3 months) CDC, National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2007

50% of students who take virginity pledges deny it a year later/ American Journal of Public Health, June 2006

Revolutionary Growth

Did you ever have a Chia Pet? Wouldn’t it be cool if all we had to do was water our heads and we would automatically grow like a Chia Pet? Man, I would have camped out under a water hose if that were true!

Unfortunately growth doesn't work that way. Growth, no matter what kind - physical, spiritual, mental or intellectual, emotional, relational, numerical – takes time and effort.

Granted, some growth does come natural and is predestined by genetics…some folks are taller, some are more intellectually adept. Personally, I think I got the short end of the stick on both those counts (no pun intended).

Did you know that the Bible says that even Jesus GREW?

“And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40)

“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52)

REVOLUTIONARY GROWTH, however, isn’t as simple. We’re talking about growth that challenges the common idea of growth. It’s growth that makes people look twice and causes them to ask in amazement, “How did they do that?”

Revolutionary growth is EXPONENTIAL!

In microbiology exponential growth is the period of bacterial growth during which cells divide at a constant rate. Also known as logarithmic growth. One cell splits and becomes two, the two become four, four become eight, and so the cycle grows.

As young people we want to grow physically…I know I did…taller & stronger.

We want our relationships to grow…sometimes too quickly, skipping steps…

We want our money and possessions to grow…

So how do we GROW? How can we see exponential growth in our personal lives as well as within our church, and here at Altared?

Revolutionaries are more concerned about spiritual growth and building the church! Revolutionaries understand that when they focus their lives on the principle of “less of me God, and more of you” (John 3:30), everything else falls into place.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

Acts 2:42-47

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 4:1-4 says that because Peter and John were teaching and proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection, “But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

Acts 9: 31, just after Saul’s conversion says, “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

Here’s what we do…

1. Be discipled

- Get educated!

o Life Change, Wednesdays after service, 15 minutes!

o Sunday School, 9:30am

o PM edition, The Circuit

2. Fellowship

- Koinonia - shared common life and intimate participation

3. Pray

- NOTHING happens without prayer!

- Wednesdays @ 5pm

- Sundays @ 4pm

4. Be Generous

- Not just our tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8)

- Sharing your "bounty", your blessing, possesions

5. Praise God

- Thanking God, acknowleding his work in our life and our need of Him

6. Come to church

- To grow and become more like Christ we must learn about Him, His life, His teachings, from spiritual leaders (pastors, teachers, evangelist ect.)

Making History

Have you ever wanted to make history? Whether you realize it or not, you make history everyday. Check out this link and read how the students of Jersey Village High School made history @ the 2008 SYATP.

Click here to read the article!

A revolution is birthed in DOING!

Every revolution starts with someone who simply rises to the occasion to blaze a trail in leading others in change, progress, a better way. They are the ones who simply get fed up with compromise and hypocrisy. They no longer accept mediocrity as the expected norm for their generation. They have a Popeye moment as Bill Hybels puts it in his book Holy Discontent.

These revolutionaries then purposefully step in the middle of a rock and a hard place and go public with their values, their ideals, and their message, so that others can see that there is a better way.

It’s not rebellion against the established government for power or position. It’s not an arbitrary fight for the sake of selfish gain or pleasure. It’s about the pursuit of spiritual freedom and independence from the tyranny of sin. It’s about having more of an impact on the world than the world is having on you.

Moses had his staff, Martin Luther had his 95 Theses, Joan of Arc had her sword, Dr. King had his “dream”. What do you have? Be a revolutionary!

Hard Things Are Sometimes Small

Do you remember that awesome cartoon from the WB called Pinky and the Brain...it was a spin off from the Animaniacs? They were two lab rats, Pinky was the idiot and Brain, well, he was considered the smart one. Everyday they had crazy adventures based on one single pursuit that is stated at the beginning of each episode.

Pinky: "Gee, Brain, what are we going to do tonight?"
Brain: "The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world."

We all have BIG dreams...or at least we should. Now I have no intention of taking over the world, but I definitely want to make a mark and leave a legacy. I think we all do deep inside. We want to be somebody and do something that others will notice and benefit from.

Unfortunately, not everybody reaches those BIG dreams. Many fall short, sometimes only inches from obtaining their goals leaving them disappointed and even angry. They blame others or circumstances and more than likely give up dreaming all together.

Why? Why do we get so close and then miss our mark? What keeps us from taking those last few critical steps to obtaining our goal? Are we destined to fail? Did others fail us?

Many times it is for no other reason than the brutal truth that we didn't take care of the little things that lead to the BIG dream. Besides the fact that Brain and Pinky were lab rats, they never succeeded at taking over the world because they didn't prepare. They didn't think things through and take care of the little things that would have built into the opportunity of the BIG things.

Do you want to be the next Miley Cyrus or Joe Jonas? Then you have to take care of the little things like personal hygiene (brushing your teeth, showering, fixing your hair), taking music (instrument or voice) lessons as well as practicing, learn how to get along with and work together with family and others...the list is huge! If you can't handle the little things, how do expect to accomplish the BIG things?

Check out Matthew 25:14-30, it a story about 3 guys who wanted to impress their boss and make a lot of money. That sounds like a pretty good idea right? As you read the story you'll see that two of them did great and their boss said "You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much." They got promoted and one even got a bonus! The other, however, pretty much sat on his hands and did nothing. The result, he got fired and was thrown into the street as a bum.

Little thing are important! Little things when done faithfully, lead to bigger things, which will lead you to your BIG dream. I challenge you to dream BIG - shoot for the moon! Just remember to pay real close attention to all the little details of that rocket ship or you might explode a few moments after take-off.

Check out "Do Hard Things" by Alex & Brett Harris.

The Dirty Dozen

Accountability is your willingness to give an account of your life to another. It's giving someone permision to tell us how we really look. Within that relationship you can be open and honest about your weaknesses and strengths in an atmosphere of love and trust.

Check out these scriptures! Ephesians 5:21, Galatians 6:2, 2 Timothy 2:2 & Romans 14:12

Here are twelve questions that you can give your accountability partner permision to ask you.

1. Are You actively pursuing on ongoing relationship with God?
2. Are your priorities in check?
3. Are you living pure...sexuality, addictions, respect etc.?
4. Are you accountable to someone in authority?
5. Are your hearing and obeying God’s direction for your life?
6. Are you more concerned about how God looks or how you look?
7. Do you have a passion for those who don’t know Christ?
8. Are you seeking to use your gifts and talents for God in the church and community?
9. Are you open and honest about your weaknesses?
10. Do you give opportunity for others to speak into your life?
11. Do you seek Godly counsel and receive correction?
12. Are you measurably growing and moving forward in your life habits?

Jersey Village SYATP

Why the Campus is a Mission Field

Reaching the campus is a mission – possibly the American church's most strategic mission field! Why must the Church embrace the campus? What is the potential local, national and global impact of doing so? Consider the following reasons.

The Cry: America’s youth culture is crying for hope. Of 29 million teenagers in public and private secondary U.S. schools1, nearly 75% of them do not have their hope in Jesus Christ.2 Today’s student is searching for relevant life. Today’s educators also need support. Even the U.S. Department of Education has publicly clarified and affirmed the vital role that “faith-based” organizations play in meeting the needs of today's students.3 The Church must present the relevant hope of Jesus Christ to the campus community. Why? Because Jesus said, "Go"4 to everyone, everywhere.

The Prospect: Because of attendance guidelines in America, elementary and secondary schools are the one portal through which virtually all members of our society pass. God is funneling His field of harvest through these schools, providing a rich mission field just outside the front door of churches in every community.

As a result, “harvesting” in this secondary schools “field” builds the Kingdom of God and local
congregations, by building redemptive relationships with students and adults. Here’s how:
􀂾 Students pay attention to the love demonstrated when youth workers, parents, educators,
coaches and mentors, care for them and their campus.
􀂾 The Church is called to “go” to the need, not wait for it to come to us. By going to the local
school, the need is encountered, not merely acknowledged.
􀂾 By embracing the campus, church leaders model for their youth and adults the practical
lifestyle of “salt and light” outreach demonstrated by Jesus and taught in Scripture.

The Opportunity: God commands His Church to love people – and that includes the local campus community. The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of free speech to student citizens. In the providence of God, the campus community has opened the door for Christian students and the Church to be an active part of impacting students’ lives on campus. The Church has a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to call and equip its teenagers and adults as missionaries to one of the most needy and reachable mission fields in the world today.

The Hope: Most Christians make their initial faith commitment to Jesus Christ before high school graduation, through the influence of a friend or relative. When the Church engages this mission field, real needs are met, relationships grow, souls embrace Christ and God is glorified. This is the purpose of the Church and the hope for millions of America’s youth.

The Mission: The campus represents a vast, responsive mission field in our nation today! Let the Church realize the need, opportunity and responsibility to deliver hope to teenagers in our
communities. Why? Because God expects His Church to fulfill His mission – and has opened doors to reach the campus community!

1 United States Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kprof00-us.pdf
2 Teenagers Embrace Religion but Are Not Excited About Christianity. Barna Research, January 10, 2000, www.barna.org.
3 U.S. Department of Education. www.ed.gov/inits/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html
4 Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 9:36-38

Did you know that 99% of your community will pass through the public schools system? Currently, only about 13% of them would consider themselves committed Christ followers. Those who do not become Christ followers before they graduate high school have only a 75%-80% chance of doing so after high school. What are going to do about that?

Check out Youth Alive's national web site and see how you can become part of something bigger than yourself, something that can potentially change the course of history! God has called us ALL to GO and TELL everyone everywhere about the life changing power of Jesus. You have personally been commissioned to your school to be a "missionary" - to represent Christ to your peers and teachers. Register online TODAY with thousands of other students and receive all the tools you'll need to effectively reach your campus! http://www.yausa.org/

New T-Shirts!

Our new Reality Check t's are here! The new design just pops out at you and the super soft athletic fit makes it enjoyable to wear. You can pick yours up at the church for $15 or order via PayPal with a small added S&H fee. Get it while it's hot and available.

Speed The Light Night

Altared Youth will have a special twist Wednesday night, August 27. In addition to regular crazy games, give-a-ways, awesome music, and friends, we will take some extra time to focus on Speed The Light (STL). STL is the youth missions giving organization that our church supports. Check it out at http://www.stl.ag.org/. We will update you concerning STL with some cool videos from missionaries on the field all around the world.

We will also receive a challenging offering where we are asking everyone to generously give $0.10 for every text message received and sent on their July cell phone bill. I know, I know, that could be a ton of money. Chrissy and I together had over 1300 text! Together, I believe that we can raise over $1,000.00 for STL on Wednesday.

So far this year we've raised of $16,000.00 toward our $35,000.00 goal! Keep up the good work and be faithful.

Incredible Interns Over the past 12 weeks of summer break, I have had the privilege of working with twelve incredible high school students in our internship program. These twelve individuals sacrificed their time and talents to share in the pursuit of our church mission, to lead people into thriving relationships with Jesus Christ.

These unique students from left to right are:
Fabian, Anthony, Valerie, Briana, Chad, Lauren, Dakota, Jonathan, Colton, (the old guy is me), Odus, and Karina. (Megan is missing from the picture.)

These students have experienced so much together this summer. They’ve had peaks and valleys, but they persevered. They served, they learned, they overcame.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (v12)

It Must Be The Shoes

What an awesome night! Over 160 students, 16 recommitments to Christ and 9 first time salvations! I'm so proud of our student leaders and alll their hard work for this event.

Houston Space Center

Identity Theft

Check out Matthew 12:33-37

"A tree is identified by it's fruit." (v33)

If you could be any type of tree in the world, what tree would you choose to be and why? I know that it's an odd question, but indulge me for a moment. Which would you choose?

Cedar - durable wood & fragrant oders
Sycamore - massive size and rugged endurance
Palm - beautiful, warm & inviting
Pine - ever green, never dies through the seasons
Oak - long life, provides shade

If you really were a tree, would people know what type you were? Would they know your identity...able to pick you out in a tree line-up?According to Jesus' words here in Matthew, our fruit is put on display by our words. Doctors tell us that we are what we eat. Jesus tells us that we are what we speak.

Don't let your words steal your identity.

DREAMERS & DOERS

We all have dreams…making money, falling in love, getting married, successful career…

What about more specific dreams? What is your dream? Not a “I hope” or “wish list”, but what is your dream – that “out there” thing that you’re striving to obtain?

In my early teen years I wanted to be a helicopter pilot, basketball player, and then police man like my dad.

When I was about 15 my dream changed – I dreamed of becoming a youth pastor. That dream began shaping the rest of my decisions in life. That’s the ultimate difference between doers and dreamers.

Dreamers imagine themselves accomplishing things that are beyond themselves.
Doers sacrifice and invest their lives to see their dreams become a reality! You see dreaming without follow through is just fantasy.

Genesis 37-50 tells the story of Joseph. I know it's 13 chapters, but go ahead a read it!
Joseph’s family was a bit like mine…mixed…12 kids with four different wives. Then v3 tells us that Joseph was his father’s favorite. Remeber the story of his special coat - the coat of many colors. Yeah, he was dad's favorite, the son that would one day take over the family business.

Even though he was his dad's favorite, things didn't work out the way he had thought. Sold into slavery by his brothers, falsly accused and imprisoned, and forgotten by those he helped. The average man would have given up and let go of his dreams long ago. Not Joseph.

Ephesians 3:20-21
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV)

20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (TM)

YOU CAN NOT MEASURE WHAT GOD CAN DO THROUGH YOU!

POWER – dunamis, mighty power, explosive,

Some power is dormant; available, but not being used, kind of like a battery.

POTENTIAL!!!! – stored energy! What potential is there within you? How about within your youth group group?

The DREAM is just the BEGINNING.

Joseph’s dream was a God dream, but it was just the beginning.

You need Faith
- A true dream is something you can’t accomplish without God’s help.
- Remember, it’s “His power @ work within us.”

You need Resolve
- Joseph’s brothers resented his dream, betrayed and deserted
- exposed to sexual temptation (Potiphar’s wife)
- Punished for doing what was right
- Endured long imprisonment
- Forgotten by those he helped
- The enemy will try and kill your dream
- HE NEVER LOST SIGHT OF HIS DREAM!
- “in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Romans 8:28
- Don’t listen to the “you can’t”, focus on the “Why not?”

What’s Our DREAM?
Our church’s dream, it’s mission, is…
“to have a GLOBAL influence in leading people into a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ.”

HOW do we accomplish that?
We provide pathways for people to know, serve and be more like Christ by empowering, equipping and engaging them in strategic environments.

What’s MY Dream?
- 300 in youth by next May
- Launching “The Circuit” Discipleship
- 100 salvations before Jan. 2009
- Operation of the gifts of the Spirit in our services
- Monthly BIG event outreach
- Interactive & updated web
- Campus Missionaries on every campus
- Giving $100,000 to STL
- Our own youth facility
- School of Ministry (high school grads & young adults)

What’s Your DREAM?
- Pray for a God dream.
- Write it down.
- Go out on a limb…that’s where the fruit is. (risk)
- Believe in what God CAN and WILL do in and through your life.
- Don’t listen to the “You can’ts”, look for the “Why nots.”

That’s Incredible

I remember the show “That’s Incredible” with my dad and brothers growing up. It was hosted by former NFL great, Fran Tarkenton. The show told amazing true stories of the miraculous nature and even demonstrated some of them on live television. A number of the stunts performed were quite dangerous, including juggling knives, staying inside a small box for hours, and one involving a man catching a bullet between his teeth (at least seven people have lost their lives attempting that stunt). We looked forward to that show every week.

Elisha and Elijah were both used by God in some pretty incredible ways. In 2 Kings chapter two we see Elijah taken up into heaven by a fiery horse and chariot, but not before Elisha received a double portion of his blessing and anointing. (You don’t see that everyday.)

Elisha continued as prophet and miracle worker parting the Jordan river and walking on dry ground, healing a body of diseased water, rebuking a ban of disrespectful teens (he cursed them and they were mauled by bears), calling down fire TWICE to kill soldiers that were after him, raising a boy from the dead, feeding 100 people with 20 dinner rolls… The list continues of miracles – physical, material, and spiritual showing the incredible power of God.

One incredible story that really peaks my curiosity is found in 2 Kings 4:1-7. It speaks of a woman whose husband had died leaving her this dept that she couldn’t pay. Her debtor came to collect, and since she had nothing, he threatened to take her two sons as slaves. Now what?

Elisha once again comes to the rescue. First he asks her, “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” All she had was a flask of olive oil – not much of anything. God like to take what we already have and show us how He can make it more than we can ever imagine.

Then he gives her instructions to “Borrow as many empty jars as you can…then go into your house…pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting the jars aside as they are filled.” The oil didn’t run out until there were no more jars left to fill. I wonder how many more jars could have been filled had they gathered more?

What’s in your house? Is what you have small, meaningless, insignificant - just a flask of olive oil? Whose economy are you measuring it by, the worlds, or God’s? Gather some containers. God is ready to pour out his blessing. Your faith is measured not by how many jars are filled but by how many jars are gathered to be filled. Now that's incredible!

Donkey's Head & Bird Crap

Maybe we're just overdramatic. Maybe we're just spoiled. No. We're arrogant and more than that, ungreatful people with an unfounded sense of entitlememt. Like we deserve anything!

When money gets tight or worse, when we don't get what we want, we stomp out feet and question God. People who have more needs and who have a lot less than us are all around us. Yet we can win an Oscar with our dramatized pitty party.

Check out 2 Kings 6:24-29. Yeah, yeah, just click on the link and read it.

The famine was so bad that they were eating donkey heads and bird crap! It was so severe that two mothers even agreed to boil their sons and eat them! Maybe we should count our blessing before we whine about something we don't have.

HEROES

Do you have a favorite hero?

What super power do you wish you had? Why?

Most people wouldn't consider themselves heroes. In fact, most heroes don't consider themselves to be heroes. Heroes are usually surprised by their gifts. Take the Fantastic Four for example. Nobody was more surprised than Ben Grimm when he turned into The Thing shortly after returning from outer space where he was exposed to cosmic rays. The same could be said of Spider Man or Iron Man.

What about you? What super power do you possess? None? Look again, dude. “I CAN do everything through HIM who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

Have you ever noticed that some heroes’ super powers aren’t always sensational? At times they might even seem ordinary. How about Aqua Man? He can swim real well and he talks to fish. I guess that could come in handy. What about Cat Woman? She has reflexes like a cat and can scratch your eyes out. Hmm, that doesn't seem to be very appealing compared to being able to fly or walk through walls.

However, in God's economy, there are NO insignificant people or gifts! Maybe you're a good listener like my friend Rachel. Maybe you're a decent runner or an average singer. If God is big enough to take an average Joe like me to help shape the lives of young people, he can surely use you to be a hero.

YOU can be a HERO! You may consider yourself ordinary and average but when touched by the hand of God you can accomplish the impossible through the supernatural. The impossible will end when you allow faith to begin.