The NSL Junior High is heading back to Bemidji, MN for some crazy camp fun.
This summer, 7-9 graders will head north for a great week of camp complete with fun activities, sweet music, challenging speakers and a great time with a bunch of other junior high Jesus lovin' people. Join us!
The web page is up for the Minneapolis Mission Trip [click here]. So you can sign up, get the skinny on the schedule, and print out a packing list.
While you're over there cruise around and check out the other website stuff like the forums, jukebox, NSLtv, or some of the other fun stuff going on over there.
This Sunday is Promotion Sunday for Northwood Student Life!
Now, I'm sure you have many questions about this magical day, but since you are there and I am here I will have to simply imagine what our little Q&A might sound like... I think it would sound like this:
You: Hey Luke! Man, that is a nice outfit. You are such a snazzy dresser.
Me: What, this old thing, I picked it up at a garage sale, but thanks for noticing.
You: So I hear that Sunday is Promotion Sunday, what does that mean?
Me: I'm glad you asked. It's the day that everybody in Northwood Student Life moves up a grade.
You: But the school year hasn't even finished yet. Isn't that illegal.
Me: Um... I don't think so...
You: You better watch yourself, if the 5-0 show up, run.
Me: Yeah, I'm not too worried, but thanks for lookin' out for me.
You: No problem. So what happens on Sunday to celebrate the moves?
Me: Well, the Senior High will greet the new 10th graders and welcome them to the group. The junior high will say goodbye to the current 9th graders (who are going to Senior High) and welcoming the new 7th grade students who are entering youth group for the first time. It's a big day of showing each other that we look out for one another here. I love it!
You: What about the graduating seniors? Don't they get a goodbye?
Me: Sure do. Next week, June 8th, we are honoring them during big church.
You: Wow. That's fantastic! So what can I do?
Me: The best thing is to introduce yourself to some of the new faces in your age group and remind them that they are part of our community now, they are one of the family. And help explain what that means!
You: Coolio. I can do that! I'll see you on Sunday!
I think that's exactly how our conversation would have sounded if you were sitting right here. So hopefully I've answered all your questions about Sunday, it's an exciting day for NSL!
Coop' accepted a job to work at Timber Line as a cook and maintenance guy. As a former camp staffer, I think he'll have a blast!
We'll miss you this summer Cooper, and look forward to hearing about the crazy adventures you have in the Rockies.
Remember to pray for Cooper as he is traveling and starting out this weekend!
Tonight is the last Wednesday night meeting for the Junior High until the fall! It’s been a great year and we look forward to celebrating that tonight.
Today is Memorial Day, a holiday set aside to remember the men and women who have lost their lives in military service to the country. It's been observed for almost 150 years, with its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War.
A lot of people don't spend today remembering, for many it is trips to the cabin and a sign that summer has finally arrived. Barbecues and picnics. Time spent with family, relaxing from the daily stress of life.
People died so that we could enjoy all these things and yet today, a day set aside specially to remember their sacrifice, many of us still fail at really honoring that memory and gift.
I think Jesus knows exactly how they feel. I know that too often I take for granted the fact that Jesus suffered an immense amount so that I could enjoy the absolutely breathtaking freedoms in life that He provided. And while I don't think he wants me to focus on his suffering every day (because Jesus isn't emo), I do think that there are times and places where I should remember what was done for my benefit, not His.
Times like communion, which is a whole ceremony focused on remembering Jesus' death. It isn't a mid-service snack, it's a bold and tangible symbol of the great lengths Jesus went to in making sure I could be free from my own mistakes. For me to not take even 30 seconds and remember that an innocent life was ended (however temporarily) on my behalf is an incredible insult to the memory of that act.
Going to the cabin, eating some hot dogs off the grill, and all the other things we do today aren't bad. I don't think any soldier who died would wish that we spend all of our time moping. They died protecting our ability to really enjoy life. But while you are doing whatever you are doing today, please stop, even if it is for just 30 seconds, and thank God for the people who have given their life up for us. Peace and blessings to all of you this Memorial Day.
[If any of you know someone who is currently serving in the military, or someone who lost their life in the service, tell us about them by leaving a comment (just click the place where it says the number of comments below) so that we can join you in praying for them]/
The reason is that NSL adopted this park, meaning it is ours to keep up. The hard working and servant-hearted students that were with this morning picked up a whopping 6 bags of (rather nasty looking) garbage.
So Kudos to the wonderful help from our faithful crew this morning. You made Maple Grove a little better this morning, and made me very proud.
It might just be that I spent to much time watching those home improvement shows this weekend, but I decided that The Update could use a new design. So here it is, a labor of love, complete with a few great additions.
Less Clutter
The new design has nothing but the posts up top, meaning less to distract the readers. There is still some handy stuff down below, but the new look is more streamlined. There wasn't anything before that wasn't already on the NSL site.
Cohesive Design
The old design didn't look much like the NSL website. The colors, design, everything really, didn't match. This brings a more universal approach.
Easier Commenting
Did you know that you can add comments to posts on The Update? Probably not. The old design made it pretty hard to do. Now you just click where it says the number of comments below each post, and share your thoughts!
Convenient Links
Once you are at the Update it is now easier than ever to get to other places you might want to go like the NSL website, the Northwood Church site, or the NSL photos page.
So that's some of the benefits. That, and it gave me something fun to work on during the weekend. I hope you enjoy the look, but more importantly, I hope it makes it easier to keep coming back and keep up with all that's happening with NSL.
For those of you who are helping with the water stop on Saturday morning, here is the information you’ll need.
The water stop is at Lakeview Knolls Park, down the road from Maple Grove High School and behind the Maple Grove Christian Center.
View it on a map by clicking here
You can park at the Maple Grove Christian Center if you need.
We will set up and serve water from 8am – 11am. We are the last water stop and that means we will have the longest stream of people coming through (and the most thirsty!)
There is a contest for “Best Water Stop” which the runners vote on. If you have any ideas or suggestions for making the NSL water stop the one to beat then e-mail or call me.
Also call if you have any questions. Otherwise we will see you all on Saturday morning.
Kaycee Clark
Rachel Knopik
Joe Kraemer
Spencer VanWalbeek
Andrew Moore
(let me know if you aren’t on the list but plan on coming, thanks!)
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Jonah 4
NT - Matthew 7
The Maple Grove Half Marathon is next Saturday (May 17) and NSL is running a Water Stop along the way. That means we hand out water to runners as they go by, and cheer them on. We're the last stop of the race so we'll have to be ready for a whole lot of thirsty people!
Also, the POTS [Parents Of TeenagerS] group is running another stop, with a competition for best water stop as chosen by the runners. So come relieve the runners, hang out with friends, and see if you can't top your folks with a stylish stop.
We've got a good group signed up already but we need your help. Please e-mail Luke [click here] if you can help out.
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Jonah 3
NT - Matthew 6
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Jonah 2
NT - Matthew 5
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Jonah 1
NT - Philippians 4
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Isaiah 35
NT - Philippians 3
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Isaiah 24
NT - Philippians 2
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Daniel 6
NT - Philippians 1
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Daniel 5
NT - James 5
There is something to be said for the weirdness of needing to pick a day for millions to come together in prayer, because most people would agree that should happen daily anyway.
But just as we have a President year-round, but only one President's Day, and Independence year-round, but only one Independence Day, so too can we pray year-round, and set apart one day to nationally recognize the power that prayer has played in our lives, our country, and our world
Here are the 40DC Chapters for today:
OT - Genesis 44
NT - James 4