IRONMAN OF LOUISVILLE

Wally, Elliott, Max and I spent the afternoon cheering Kelli Miller on at the Ironman here in Louisville. Kelli did a great job! Racing encourages all of us to "press on toward the goal." Seeing women and men of various ages cross the finish line with their hands raised and tears rolling down their face is pure inspiration.

Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Who Stole My Church? Interesting Article

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/winter/21.88.html?start=6

AN INVESTMENT

I'm thrilled that SMBC invest in their young people. Teenagers are realistic, global, technological, transparent and visionaries. They also want to change the world and find solutions to injustice. I love our teenagers at St. Matthews!

HAVING FUN AT THE STATE FAIR!

HANGING OUT AT THE STATE FAIR!

A random teenage boy kindly gave Max a University of Kentucky basketball and he was so excited! Elliott had fun riding the rollercoasters!

“If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-4

Tomara’s Commentary: The April 27, 2009 Newsweek magazine has a very intriguing article entitled Generation Me – A new book says we’re in a narcissism epidemic. Why you’re not so special. The article raises the following questions: Why is it that wide receiver Terrell Owens declares at a press conference that being labeled selfish is fine with him? Why is it that a college student would say – “If I show up to every class then I deserve at least a B”? Why is it that Donald Trump names everything he owns after himself and calls his detractors “losers?” Why is it that society encourages everyone to be a star – even if it is only on YouTube? Why is it that students hate to be told what to do? Why is it that young people feel that they need to have a supersized ego?

After reading this article I thought to myself, “I realize that not every young person is like this, but I have met a lot of young people who fit this narcissism epidemic.” What happened to young people being generous and thoughtful? What happened to young people being filled with compassion? Do young people really know what humility is? What happened to respect and being courteous and being helpful? What happened to putting others first?

Who of us adults have sat down recently with our children and discussed how we can really put others first? Are we instilling the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) within each other and within our children? Or are we too concerned that our own children will feel like failures if they don’t get what they want and in the process fail to teach them the resiliency skills they need when Mommy and Daddy can’t fix something?

Will you focus this week on the following words of Paul found in Philippians chapter 2: (The Message) If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Leadership

Every leader has burdens and difficulties and complaints, but nobody forces you into leadership. It is your choice and if you are given it--it is a privilege and a gift. And if you don't feel that way you should step down. Rabbi David Wolpe

Tonight during Student Impact, the high schoolers looked at the text from Hebrews 6:1-12. The author of Hebrews instructed the audience to leave the elementary teachings and move onto maturity. In our society today, what should maturity look like? Should all church leaders possess Spiritual maturity? Again, what does that look like? Are you maturing in your faith?

The Brown Vacation to Cumberland Lake

Brief update from our vacation...

We met some new friends from H5 in Apple Valley.
Skipped rocks.
Visited the Fish Hatchery.
Played Disc Golf.
Played Mini Golf.
Rode Horses.
Swam.
Went water skiing and tubing on the lake with our new friends.
Played a lot of Uno. (Max loves this game.)
Wally and Elliott played 18 holes on the big golf course in Russell Springs.
Max and I played tennis.
Ate good food.
We all slept in twin beds.
Learned new prayers.

All in all, we had a wonderful time together! Praise be to God!

STUDENT IMPACT BEGINS WEDNESDAY, August 19th at 6:30 pm

Please be in prayer as final preparations are being made for the 2009-2010 school year for our SMBC students in grades 7-12th! I am contemplating a few themes for the new school year. Our Youth motto is CONNECTGROWGO. We desire to connect students to Jesus (John 15:5) and to each other (1 Corinthians 12). As students journey through their youth ministry years, we desire that each student grows in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Once basic growth has taken place, we want students to go out into the world and be the hands and feet of Jesus.

If you have a few themes that you think might work for our student ministry this year, please send them to me at tbrown@smbclouisville.org!