UMARMY UPDATE

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

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

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

Tuesday's Lessons

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

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

Tuesday Morning Pictures

OSM Photobucket site has pictures from Tuesday morning.

Addititional Monday Pictures

OSM Photobucket site has pictures of Monday afternoon.

Monday's Lessons

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

OSM Photobucket site has pictures of this mornings work.

Sunday Night

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)

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

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

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

http://osmupdate.blogspot.com

UMARMY Scavenger Hunt

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

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

Want to know more about UMARMY follow the link:

http://www.umarmy.org

INSOMNIAC Recap

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

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

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

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.