OSM Trip Blog

UMARMY UPDATE

2011-06-02T04:20:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY AT 10 AM WE WILL LOAD ALL OF OUR STUFF FOR UMARMY THAT MEANS EVERYTHING EXCEPT WHAT YOU NEED ON SUNDAY. BRING YOUR BAGS, TOOLS, SLEEPING STUFF…..EVERYTHING. WE’LL LOAD IT ALL IN CHRIS'S STOCK TRAILER FOR THE TRIP DOWN ON SUNDAY. WE’LL LOAD ALL OF OUR TOOLS ON THE TOOL TRAILER AS WELL. WE’LL HAVE A SHORT MEETING AFTER IT’S ALL LOADED TO GO OVER ANY LAST MINUTE DETAILS. IT SHOULDN’T TAKE TOO LONG. MAY GOD BLESS AND ENJOY YOUR WEEK.

UMARMY Update

2009-06-24T11:07:00.001-07:00

UMARMY is going great! We've been busy enough that there hasn't been time to keep you updated.

Groups arrived Sunday late afternoon. There are 115 people in camp from Allen, Angelton, Bridge City, Diboll and Lufkin. We have 52 participating from from Lufkin FUMC.

We were blessed by FUMC Lufkin and Angelton donating $3800 in food and supplies for camp. This has allowed us to increase spending on materials and supplies to benefit clients directly. Thank you for all of those who contributed!

The students from all churches are connecting and forming one group amazingly well. Our theme "First Love" is challenging them to see the love of God and share the love of God. We have been using clips from the movie "Radio" to illustrate and connect with the theme.

We will update again when possible. Thanks again for your prayers and support!

Wednesday

2009-06-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

Wednesday is full of pick me ups: ice cold watermelon, visit to Bucees, & free float at Sonic!

Tuesday's Lessons

2009-06-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Morning: The Communicating Leader Exodus 4:11-12

We are all communicators. We are constantly communicating. Communication is one of the most importantskills of a leader. To develop, like all skills, it takes lots of intentional practice.

God is the Great Communicator.The Story of God thoroughout the Bible models communication:

It's about relationship- God totally loves people! When He created people he said it was "very good". He spoke to Moses, wrestled with Jacob and sent Jesus to convey his love for us.

Communication is less about transmitting information and and more about sharing with other humans beings. When we interact being fully present with people we reflect the character of God.

God communicates with Excellence in a variety of ways. He speaks through visions and dreams, through nature and people. He speaks corporately through the church. He speaks intimately to our hearts through thoughts and impressions. God also speaks through Scripture. We too need to find many ways to communicate.

God is a great storyteller. God's story has it all and is no doubt the greatest story ever told. Leaders use stories because they move us, engage us and change us.

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. God's character is such that he can only speak the truth. When he communicates he does it in an authentic way. He doesn't reveal everything but what he reveals is always true.

God doesn't skip the hard stuff. Confrontation is one of the hardest things a leader must do. Confrontation done properly can bring people closer and make them feel loved and safe. Psalm 51:6

Tuesday night: The Praying Leader 1 Chronicles 17:25

The conversation is the relationship

Prayer is a pride buster.

Nehemiah fasted, prayed and confessed not only his own sins but also the sins of his entire nation. God heard his prayers and rebuilt the temple and restored fellowship with Israel.

In 2 Chronicles 30 we see King Hezekiah cry out in prayer on behalf the Lord heard him and healed the people.

Acts 10 and 11 shows us how important leaders, Peter and Cornelius, a Jew and a Gentile, are praying leaders who hear things from God, obediently act on them, setting the stage for the birth of the church and acceptance of Gentiles into the kingdom of God.

Jesus is the ultimate model for prayer: Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12-16, Mark 1:35-38, Mark 6:9-13, John 5:19.

The most dangerous thing a leader can do is try to make plans apart from God's direction. 1 Samuel 12:623 and 1 Chronicles 10:13-14

We can posses every gift necessary to be a great leader but unless we allow God to shape the integrity of our hearts it will all come to nothing.

Tuesday Worship: Matthew 10:42

Where have you been hurt today? What would have been a "cup of cold water" to you? How can you be a cup of cold water to someone else?

Tuesday Night & Wednesday Morning Pictures

2009-06-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

OSM Photobucket site has pictures from Tuesday night and Wednesday Morning.

Tuesday Morning Pictures

2009-06-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

OSM Photobucket site has pictures from Tuesday morning.

Addititional Monday Pictures

2009-06-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

OSM Photobucket site has pictures of Monday afternoon.

Monday's Lessons

2009-06-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Morning: The Listening Leader – Proverbs 1:5 “Let the wise listen and add to their learning.”

The steps for listening well: Quieting, Presence, Content, Understanding, Interpretation and Response.

Listening to others is a critical skill for leaders, but we must not neglect putting effort forward to listening to God. You Samuel is lying in bed and thinks he is hearing his name spoken over and over. He thinks it’s his guardian, Eli. Eli advises to return to bed and when he hears his name spoken he should say, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”

Night: What sort of Leader am I?

One of the perks of following Christ is that we get gifts. The Holy Spirit gives us gifts to be used for the benefit of others and the church. We looked at the spiritual gifts and helped students discern what gifts they have been given or gifts that God may be cultivating in their lives.

Worship:

James3- It doesn’t matter how much talent, ability or intelligence a leader has. If a leader is unable to control his tongue it is for nothing. Do we use our tongue to build people up or tear them down?

Micah 6:8- God requires leaders to be just, merciful and humble.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6- Here is a reminder of where your strengths really come from. We need to confess that we have wrongly relied on our own strengths.

Monday pictures

2009-06-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

OSM Photobucket site has pictures of this mornings work.

Sunday Night

2009-06-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

We arrived shortly before 6:30pm. Our hosts served us a great meal.
After settling in we started our study for the week. Our key scripture is Psalm 78:72 "And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them."
Wifi is not available to us currently. I'll be seeking out today do pictures and video can be posted.

PET Project (Middle School)

2009-05-31T06:02:00.001-07:00

Participants for the Middle School Leadership PET Project are:

Ann
Beth
Corinne
David
Hunter
Josh
Karen
Matt
Samantha
Scott
Ryan

Tanner
Ty

Please remember them in prayer as travel, serve and learn about Christian leadership.

Please check back for updates!

Copper Mountain Day 1

2009-03-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

We arrived safely and ahead of schedule at the Ski Village. Folks are all checked in to rooms, rental equipment fitted and ready for skiing tomorrow.
During our time we will be talking about change. Tonight we talked about and studied David. David was marvelous and marvelously flawed. Despite David's failings he was a man after God's own heart because he did what God asked of him. Change begins with the individual. We have to be the change in our own lives first.

OSM Updates

2008-09-04T13:14:00.001-07:00

For updates on programs and events have a look at the OSM update blog.

http://osmupdate.blogspot.com

UMARMY Scavenger Hunt

2008-06-26T03:56:00.001-07:00

Great scavenger hunt tonight...who knew Rod Stewart was a dentist.

After the second day sites are starting to be completed. We have completed five sites ans a dangerously close to finishing at least five more.

The best part is watching teams gel and students find joy in work. We are living examples of grace giving clients what they need regardless of what they deserve.

Looks like we won't be able to post pictures until we return. We'll keep looking for a fast enough internet conection.

UMARMY Monday

2008-06-23T12:19:00.001-07:00

We are well into our first full day. Teams got out in great form for a Monday. Students are on a variety of projects, from ramps to lawn clean up. The camp was written up in the Conroe Courier in today's addition. Read it here.

UMARMY primer

2008-06-23T12:14:00.001-07:00

Want to know more about UMARMY follow the link:

http://www.umarmy.org

INSOMNIAC Recap

2008-06-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

We had a great trip! An amazing time was had by all (the pictures tell the story).

Our next post will be last week of June for UMARMY.

Sunday Morning Update

2008-06-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day! We are headed home to Lufkin. FUMC Arlington was an amazing host. I sometimes forget what a power ministry we can have when we simply open our doors.
I'm cerain you will hear some great stories when you get your child back after church this morning. If you kiddo says anything about a restraunt that specializes in chicken wings and caters to men by exploiting their waitresses attire, I can explain, really.
See you after church!

Saturday night update

2008-06-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

After Kung Fu Panda, a very funny film. We went to have dinner at the Magic Time Machine. Our waiter was Robin Hood. We had many visits from the Joker and other asorted characters. Always an amazing experience...always an exercise in excess.
We are back and in for the night. Wii and sardines (the game are in the cards).
We'll be up and out by 7 am and home before noon tomorrow.

Saturday Afternoon Update

2008-06-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

We woke late this morning, had breakfask and headed to Celebration Station.
We arrived and as we started our our second ride on the go-karts the rain began. Fortunately, video games, lunch and lazer tag held us over until the karts were running again.
It's now a gorgeous day.
We are currently sitting in an IMAX theater watching Kung Fu Panda on the big screen.
We will finish here and head to dinner.

Friday recap

2008-06-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

12:15pm left church
12:18 arrived at McDonalds
12:30 on the road
2:30 pit stop at Love's...one child tries to use all their money on a slinky, etcha-sketch and yoyo combo pack, another learns that a bathroom vending machines come in many flavors including one that dispenses colgne for 25 cents. Save that quarter.
4:00 pm pit stop no known stupidity
5:00 arrive at destination
6:00 dinner at Chipotle's
7:00 planetarium
9:00 back at base camp
10:00 lights out (hopefully)

trip video

2008-06-13T18:56:00.001-07:00

I tried to share a video from the second show at the planetarium.
The first was a show called "Astronaut" and detailed the demands placed on astronauts. This was followed by a woman who called herself a "physicist (sort of)". She seemed to be making most of her facts up, as she often changed answers and said things like; I want to say and I'm guessing.
The final show was the rock n' roll hall of fame. Literal visual overload set to tunes by The Who, Doors, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, Midnight Oil and U2. Very cool. We all left feeling a little dizzy or car sick. If I get the video to load, you'll see the wonder that was Led Zepplin.

We're headed to DFW!

2008-06-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

We're packed and rockin' along in the "bread box" headed to DFW for the weekend.

We'll update the blog as we move from location to location. If we can grab ourselves a wireless internet signal we'll update photos to our photobucket account.

INSOMNIAC

2008-06-13T06:13:00.001-07:00

INSOMNIAC leaves at noon.
A weekend of fun and fellowship for our Middle Schoolers.
This year we moved the trip from the Memorial Day Weekend.
We speculated that placing the trip at the end of VBS would be an incenotve to participate in VBS and be a nice reward.
Next year we will make sure we take Father's Day in account...

It's traditionl that students don't find out what they are doing until we are actually doing it.
Parents will get a full itenerary just before we pull out.

The blog will be updated nightly!

PET recap

2008-06-13T05:50:00.001-07:00

Well, all of the pictures I have are up at photobucket. I've had a week to digest my thoughts about the trip. I returned excited and enthusiastic about the trip. Those feelings haven't waned. But in the context of VBS this week and leaving today of INSOMNIAC (a fun fellowship trip...yeah the name says it all) I've realised that the ideas and challenges of justice and oppression seem pretty daunting. How easy it is to let the big picture quickly leave our thoughts. Please join me as I continue to talk about justice.

On the road again...

2008-06-06T05:15:00.001-07:00

We had a great day at Schlitterbahn yesterday. We arrived at 10am and closed the park down at 8pm. We'll be leaving New Braunsfels this morning and headed home. Our ETA is 3pm at the church. We will call from 45 mins out to let you know we are within striking distance. Please make sure you son or daughter helps to unload and clean up the bus(anticlimatic, but important).
It's been a joy to be with this group for the past five days.

note: there will be one last post with some final thoughts on the trip. Any remaining pictures will also get posted. I think there are few pictures from Schlitterbahn...cameras and water; bad mix.

Wednesday afternoon update

2008-06-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

Well, after 3 great days of work we headed to Luling High School and showered and then headed to Bucees. If you haven't experienced Bucees, shame on you. Bucees is the ultimate travel stop. It is a Mecca. It also happens to be located at the Luling exit on I-10.

What was purchased there:

7 frozen Dr. Peppers

3 lbs of fudge

Jerky, Jerky, Jerky

Candy

Texas themed items

and a Flamingo walking stick. One lucky family (actually two) will get to enjoy a 4 ft tall walking stick shaped like a flamingo. Two youth pitched in to buy this utilitarian master piece. There is a custody agreement in place.

We leave tomorrow in the a.m. for our fun day. Details later.

Ending Oppression

2008-06-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

5 things people are already doing to challenge oppression around the world:

1. Paying attention- They watch reliable national and international news media and web sites for clues bout what's happening in the world and how they can act for justice.

2. Praying- They talk to God about justice specifically and relentlessly.

3. Giving- They fund justice work of organizations.
They give to justice missions of their church.

4. Telling Stories- Whatever they learn about justice, they teach to anyone willing to learn
They talk to church leaders about supporting justice missions
They talk with law enforcement professionals, officers of the court and
diplomats about justice-making activities of agencies.

5. Crossing Borders- They choose careers that cross borders to challenge injustice and oppression.

How can I pay more attention?
How can I pray?
What ca I give?
How can I become a justice storyteller?
Can I prepare to fight injustice across borders? (Are there borders in your own community you need to cross first?)

First Amendment Right to Assembly

2008-06-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

We have had an outbreak of clubs, associations, and societies this week. It all started when the girls seemed to have pieced together that they all own "tankinis". The Tankini Club was formed.
The discovery of a half dozen lawn flamingos led the boys to form the People's Flamingo Liberation Front (or something along those lines). Meetings on Tuesday and Friday. Free Donuts.
The women of course had already moved along to forming the Pudding Society. I don't know how the bylaws read for the Pudding Society, but the girls all laugh with no control if you say the word "pudding".
On a tangential note, today Luling was the birth place of the World Cross Classification Insect Bottle Battle to the Death. The boys happened to find an empty water bottle (okay it was mine), a small cockroach (the Texas Water Beetle variety) and what was clearly misidentified as a "Pine Beetle", managed to get them in the same bottle. Both bugs sat there doing really nothing, but the legend lives on!

Quote of the day...

2008-06-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

It's easy to get overtired on a mission trip (heck, any youth trip). I sat down for a moment to share with you a great thing that was said today. I couldn't remember it. I said to Karen, my wife, I wish I could remember that great quote.

"Was it something somebody said?"

I give you your quote of the day!

Photobucket account or yay pictures!

2008-06-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

We have started uploading pictures from the trip to our photobucket account:
http://photobucket.com/osmtrip

We will continue to add photos daily. Enjoy!

Thoughts from the day

2008-06-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Justice: working to see that every person has what is rightfully hers
Oppression: using force and lies to deprive others o what is rightfully theirs

Isaiah was a giant in his day. He was respected in royal circles despite his unpopular message.

Isaiah 1:10-17
Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom!
Listen to the teaching of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
11What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the Lord;
I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams
and the fat of fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.
12When you come to appear before me,
who asked this from your hand?
Trample my courts no more;
13bringing offerings is futile;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—
I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
14Your new moons and your appointed festivals
my soul hates;they have become a burden to me,
I am weary of bearing them.
15When you stretch out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
16Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your doings
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil, 17
learn to do good;
seek justice,
rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.

We tend as a church to talk mostly about what God loves. Based on the Isaiah passage what does God want more; worship or doing right? Push come to shove, what does God ask from us here? Which is easier acts of worship or seeking justice? Which do we see more in the modern church?

Todd did an amazing job bringing the message yesterday in the Contemporary Service. If we are to be like Jesus we are going to revere how people get to God. His message set this group in the right direction. "Trampling of my courts" sound familiar?

God commands 7 things from us:

wash yourselves; make yourselves clean
remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes
cease to do evil
learn to do good
seek justice
rescue the oppressed
defend the orphan
plead for the widow

We've been talking about all 7, but we keep coming back to 2 of the 7; learn to do good and seek justice. Isaiah was talking to people who walked, talked, acted, appeared, performed rituals, showed up like God's people. These people were off-based and off track. What did God tell them to do? God told them to do 7 things. Don't you think when God says, "Okay, you've really gone and messed things up. So much, I can't bear to even look at you. So do these things" we might want to pay attention?

Learn to do good: Why do we have to learn? You mean it doesn't come natural to us? Of course not. By nature we are self focused. Learning is a mind set, an openness, a willingness to set aside our selfishness.

Seek justice: If we get real with ourselves and allow ourselves to really take a look around, injustice is easy to see. We now have to hunt out opportunities to make sure that people have what is rightly theirs. Next thing you know he'll want us to rescue the oppressed (your Bible might say "encourage the oppressed" I like the NRSV's rescue. Encourage the oppressed? Hang in there oppressed! Some translations read rebuke the oppressor. Bad oppressor! Rescue rings true to me.

It's clear that God hates injustice. God calls every Christian to join the fight against it. Christians have a decent track record at fighting injustice (we are responsible for our fair share too). So what are you doing about it?

Today, I saw 17 people change the lives of two people, maybe two families. As I saw our youth get to try out the PETs today, I saw the joy and the happiness in their faces and voices. I couldn't help but think how much more joy will the man or woman that gets the PET experience. Our team stood up and walked away. The future owner will not be able to do the same. We shouldn't take that for granted.

All work and no play

2008-06-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

Ty and Katie show us how it's done.

Monday pictures

2008-06-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the day:

Assembeling the PET

Painting the PET

The paint dries

Put together and taken apart to make sure everything works

Packed in a box with other goodies for shipping

Boxed and ready to go

Monday afternoon update

2008-06-02T14:40:00.001-07:00

Our first day in the workshop seemed more fun than work. The PET is a great device. Throughout the day several people stopped wanting to buy a PET. The answer was always the same. "They are sent to a third world country. Would you like a brochure?"

Highlights from the day...

7 PETs painted

3 PETs boxed to ship

3 PETs fully assembled

2 PETs being assembled

Quote of the day:

Can I just be a girly-man and go and paint? - Ty

Sunday Night Update

2008-06-01T20:47:00.001-07:00

We made it safely. The 5 hour drive was made bearable by Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and Meet the Robinsons.

The church greeted us with a delicious dinner casserole (ground meat, mushrooms and crescent rolls on top.

We've learned that girls will form any club possible in order to bond and that Tanner LOVES MadGab.

Tonight we talked about light. God created the light, his word is light on our path, Jesus is the light, we are children of the light and we are to reflect God's light.

We are setting out to create over the next few days. This is one of the ways we know that we are created in his image. We are creating more than a cart to help someone without mobility. We are also creating opportunity in oppressed areas. The places carts have been sent have children sold into bonded servant hood and prostitution. Most of these were forced into work because a parent couldn't pay a debt. Will one of the carts we build mean that a parent will not wind up at the mercy of a money lender and so they child will be able to stay in school?

This mission trip is about more than building carts. It is about justice and our part in seeing justice done and oppression ended.

Begin to pray for those who will receive the carts we will make this week. We will have our first day in the workshop tomorrow at 8:30 am.

OSM trip log created...

2008-05-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the OSM trip blog. You'll be able to check in and get updates. The next update will June 1 for the middle school mission trip.