THURSDAY, May 8th, 2008

Hey everyone! Thanks for coming last night! We had almost 40 teenagers in youth group! Think about it, If we would have had Cary, Tyler, Jill, Kacey, Kervin, Marvin, Ashley, Cheyanne, Tres, Scott, and Courtney then we would have had 50 teenagers in youth group last night! Lets be faithful! Lets hit the 50 mark before July. Can you do it?

A Few Thoughts From Yesterday:
Jill: Where did you get a job?
Tyler: We missed you in church! Next time you need a free physical, DONT SKIP CHURCH! I will pay for it if I have to. AND BESIDES, you said you were done at 6:45, well the YMCA is 20 minutes from church, and YOU WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN 5 MINUTES LATE! We would have been over 40 if you were here. :(... Love You! :)
Gaby: AP EXAM... Woo Hoo... Are'nt we smart. We will pray for you!
Jon: You are the Man! Thanks for the youth group name: you were the only teen to come up with a youth group name. Although we wont use it, I appreciate it! :)
Kacey: Come to church! We miss You! I would have picked you up!


Philippians 2:19-30

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.


Ok, so this passage talks about two men, Timothy and Ephroditus, I think it is amazing to see the value that Paul has on placing good, Godly men around him in his life. It is clear that Paul had a great relationship with these two men. What kind of people do you have around you? What kind of people are in your life influencing you? Godly friends are hard to find, as Paul explains in verse 21, when he said, I have no man, because ALL SEEK THEIR OWN. In other words, they are all living for themselves, instead of living for God. Paul influenced Timothy as we see in verse 22. So my question is, Who are you sharpening? Who are you positively influencing? And Ephroditus was a FELLOW worker, and a FELLOW servant. In other words Paul looked at Him as if they were side by side going into battle for the Gospel. Who do you have in your life by your side that you can grow spiritually with and hold each other accountable? AND LIFT each other up, when they fall. WE MUST HAVE GODLY FRIENDS IN OUR LIFE! Who are yours?