The Update

There is some Splash-Camp inspired new music is available on the NSL Jukebox!

United We Stand is gives the rockstar treatment to worship music from the leading worship leaders at Hillsong United. Stunning instrumentals, progressive beats, and some serious ruckus of worship is all there for you to enjoy! This is some great praise music (seriously, you need to listen to it to understand).

And for those of you who were at Splash Camps, you’ll recognize a lot of the songs and style as what the Splash Band played while we were at camp!

So crank up the speakers and head over to check it out!

Need a refresher? Get directions for the NSL Jukebox here.

by Kirsten Stillman (Grade 12)
(Click here to read Part One)

How do we take the mask off? It's a terrifying thing. For many of us, it is something we have hidden behind for as long as we can remember… It is so easy to slip behind the mask, that we don't even realize that we are doing it.

We must face our fears.

For many of us, showing our imperfections seems absolutely terrifying. We are afraid of being judged, not only by the world, but also by God. Satan wants us to hide behind a mask of perfection, because if we hide behind it, we aren't admitting to our own sins and struggles. Satan wants that, he wants us to push away from God.

It’s only when we admit that we are not perfect that our masks begin to slide off our faces. God wants to see the real you. He loves us so much that He sent his one and only son to die so that we could be forgiven.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

In order to get rid of our masks, we have to get to know God. We have to believe in Him and spend time with him. Holding onto the mask through that is, ultimately, a struggle with surrender. The fear of not being in control of our lives keeps us from letting go of the mask. Trusting God requires that we take a great leap of faith and agree to let Him use us, even if it doesn’t all make sense.

It may be as big as going to a non-believing country as a missionary, or by simply sharing how God has affected your life with someone who doesn’t know God. He will use us, imperfections and all, to do something great and amazing.

The question is: are you ready?

Are you ready to really live life as God intended it to be? Are you tired of the charade we live every day? Moving through the motions as though we are puppets. Are you tired of simply conforming? Are you at the point where you want to stand up and scream at the frustration that the mask of perfection places on your heart?

Are you tired of behaving perfectly in the midst of chaos and confusion?

There is a war raging all around us, a spiritual war that convicts us to be more than this. More than the lie of this world, more than a simple illusion that causes more pain than peace of mind.

Are we so afraid of change and being different that we hold on to the mask no matter how much it hurts us? Behind every mask is a bleeding heart, filled with the pain and loneliness of this world.

From all sides, we are assaulted by a raging war for our souls.

We have been deceived.

We feel and think that our mask of perfection protects us.

Do you feel protected? The world lashes at you from every possible angle no matter how much you hide. By hiding behind the mask, you are allowing assault within you. Tearing and snapping at your heart and playing exhausting games in your head.

Only by turning to God can we really be at peace. Do you feel a calming peace settling over you as you pray or read your bible? This is only a glimpse of the everlasting peace we can feel with God as our Savior.

By allowing the mask to drop to the ground for good, we invite Christ into our hearts as our true King.

Tired of living in a masquerade?

He's ready for you, imperfections and all.

You've heard about it. You've read about it. But now you get to see it. Here's a few pictures from the Minneapolis Mission Trip pictures:

It was a great time and we look forward to returning soon!

Our final day at Urban Ventures was also our busiest. After fighting the rush hour traffic and making are way back to South Minneapolis, we got right to work helping to paint some soccer fields on a parking lot. The soccer program is so popular that they were making new fields on pavement just to have enough space!

From there it was hauling 900 lbs. of aluminum to the scrap yard (which involved flying sparks as we cut it in half) which will help fun the organization. A quick lunch and then off to run the “Olympics” with some of 1-7th grade kids in the area, it was chaotic but fun.

Finally we went and picked up some more lumber for the skate park and haul it back to the Hub. In between, Brian spent some time learning how to drop-in on a quarter pipe. He did really well. He also did the splits a lot and spent a fair amount of time on the ground.

After we left Urban Ventures we walked around Downtown for a while and talked about the pulse of the city and how odd it is that we were within a couple miles of a half million people, yet it still felt calm and relaxed. We watched a band in the park, saw some ladies performing Norse dances on the Stone Arch Bridge, walked the SkyWay through the tallest buildings, and checked out various sculptures and landmarks.

The day was long and full, but one lesson seemed to stand out. In those last few hours, as we wandered around the metropolis, we saw almost every kind of person you could think of. We passed a multi-million dollar penthouse and a homeless man on the same street. We saw people of every color. It was a giant mix of culture, perspective, and lifestyle… all in this same giant space called Minneapolis. It was a far cry from the row after row of beige houses and giant malls we are used to in our little corner of the Twin Cities. Our status as ‘outsiders’ was pretty obvious.

But the lesson was this. As Christians we are supposed to go out and effect every people group on the planet with the love of God, and invite them into the relationship that we have with Him (I just paraphrased Matthew 28:19). It turns out that we can effect most of these groups and still be back in time for dinner. The Bible says ‘Go and make disciples,’  but that doesn’t mean you have to go very far.

We will certainly be back to Urban Ventures. I can only hope that this was the beginning to a long partnership between NSL and the inner-city. There is a GREAT work to be done… and the three of us who went invite you to come with when we return!

We had another amazing day today on the Minneapolis Mission Trip. We fought through traffic to be downtown by 8am, it was neat to see the city slowly coming to life as a million people moved around the urban area.

Today we started hearing stories about the students that Urban Ventures serve. We started the day painting some more lumber for the skate park, when along came Melvin.

Melvin is a 16 year-old who lives in a foster home in Brooklyn Park, but how he got there is an amazing and heart-wrenching story.

The incredibly short version is that Melvin was born in The Ivory Coast (Africa) and kidnapped before he was a teenager. He was held with 6 other kids who had been kidnapped. Five of those six were killed by the kidnappers. Eventually he was sold as a slave and mistreated even more. Through all of this he ended up in the united states and a “ward of the state” which is a fancy way to say ‘orphan.’ His goal? To go to college so he can go back to his home country and become president.

Melvin was, to say the least, not what we were expecting when we arrived this morning. There were plenty of other stories, gang members and drug dealers, a student whose mother was murdered just months ago.

All of this just a few miles from where you are sitting right now.

Something in us changed today. We still don’t feel like we “belong” or even that we really know what we are doing. We are uncomfortable. But we’ve moved beyond the point of wanting it to be over so we can go back to ‘comfortable.’ Today we realized that there is something unsettling about doing what we’re doing this week, but instead of making us want to quit, we want to work through it. We want to understand. We want to learn. We want to help.

And as we painted over fresh graffiti that gang members had painted the night before, and laughed, and sang, and talked about the cultural differences… something changed. At least I know it did for me (Luke) and I hope for Jess and Brian too. We developed a heart for this community we barely know and culture we don’t understand. That’s a good thing… and a God thing.

*Some pictures of graffiti clean-up

 

The Children’s Ministry needs some extra help on Wednesday, July 16. 3-4 students are needed to watch some young children from 5:30pm – 8:00pm. This is a paid gig, even though you guys are pretty good at doing stuff like this just for the warm fuzzies of helpfulness.

If you can help out please contact Northwood’s Children’s Pastor, Leslee Sherk, at leslee.sherk@northwoodcc.org or 763.437.7515.

*Note: If you are attending SonShine MusicFest you will not be able to help with this event, we will be leaving that afternoon.

We’re having a great time on the Minneapolis Mission Trip. Today we painted lumber that will be used to expand the skate park that Urban Ventures uses to reach out to neighborhood teens.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and it was amazing to see such a bright place full of life amid what seemed to be a messy and hurting part of the city. A couple of kids showed up with their boards an hour early because they just couldn’t wait.

Perhaps the neatest part of the day was learning about the history of the urban poor in South Minneapolis. Why the community is the way it is and the effect that has on efforts to help. I think we all had our eyes opened and our perspective expanded.

Part of our conversation was about the “eco-system of Christianity,” a phrase I’m pretty sure we made up today. We were talking about how we drove down from Maple Grove to paint boards that someone else would use to build a skate park that someone else would invite people to that would put them somewhere to hear about Jesus Christ. So even though we weren’t directly telling that person about Jesus, we were offering our gifts to free up others so they could get the chance to share some Good News. God is clever, and it is fun to be used in such a neat way.

Tomorrow is hip-hop camp, and 3 white people from the ‘burbs are going to try and give a hand while a bunch of kids are learning to breakdance and freestyle… talk about being out of your comfort zone! Please keep praying for us that we can help this ministry succeed in every way possible! Peace.

It’s summer, and aside from the occasional sky-shattering thunderstorm, it is B-E-A-UTIFUL out. So it’s time to get out for some fun in the sun. We’ve got 2 shin-digs (one for each age group) coming up this weekend.

Junior High Pool Party -TOMORROW!

Friday, June 20, 1pm-5pm
Pool Party at the Stillman’s home in Rogers! Bring your swimsuit and a snack to share!

Map to Stillman’s Home.

Senior High Party @ the Park- THIS WEEKEND!

Saturday, June 21, 1pm-5pm
Volleyball, basketball, ultimate frisbee, and more at Weaver Lake Park in Maple Grove.
Bring your swimsuit and a snack to share!

Map to Weaver Lake Park

If you have any questions feel free to contact Luke!
*No, I don't know what the deal is with the picture.

The Update has a new Facebook app! Jason Dyer Snowflake has spent a good chunk of time working out the kinks and we’re happy to announce the app is up and running!

 

The new app will deliver all the up-to-date info of The Update to your Facebook profile. Now you can check in without having to leave your main online location!

Here it is in all its delicious apptacular goodness:

Thanks to Jason for all his work, add the app today!

And for those that didn’t know, we have a Facebook group… of course!

It isn’t summer without Vacation Bible School (VBS), and it isn’t VBS without you helping!

The Children’s Ministry is looking for some extra help to make VBS a success this year. Helping out involves working with K-6 grade students by serving snacks, playing games, helping with crafts and, most importantly, making a huge impact on a child’s life. Now who doesn’t like that?

Helpers are needed from 9:00am – 11:30am on August 11-14 (Monday-Thursday).

If you can help, please contact the Children’s Pastor, Leslee Sherk, at 763.497.7515 or
e-mail leslee.sherk@northwoodcc.org. Thanks!

This Sunday, June 22, is one of this year’s Believer’s Baptism days. Baptism is an important part of someone’s journey with God. It is a symbol of commitment in their spiritual relationship, and a way to publicly demonstrate that they have new life through Jesus Christ. It is an awesome day in many ways, and we’d love to have you there!

This Sunday four students from the NSL family will be baptized! They are:

• Tyler Cromer
• Maddy Bland
• Spenser Bland
• Kayla Gilbert

We would love to have you come and celebrate this great day with us. Hope to see you there!
Here are the details:

Northwood Believer’s Baptism
Sunday, June 22
7pm
Weaver Lake Park in Maple Grove
[click here for a map]

There is a new CD over at the NSL Jukebox!

It’s the latest offering from Stellar Kart, a playful punk-pop quartet. From bouncy tunes like ‘Automatic’ to pleading singles like ‘Jesus loves you’ this album delivers a good groove for fans of the post-punk styling of Relient K, Good Charlotte, Boys Like Girls, and the like.

For the basics on how to use the NSL Jukebox, check out the introductory post by clicking here.

by Kirsten Stillman (Grade 12)
Masquerade/Stop and stare/At the sea of smiles around you/Masquerade/Seething shadows/Breathing lies/Masquerade/You can fool any friend who ever knew you/Masquerade/Paper faces on parade/Masquerade/Hide your face so the world will never find you
The world we live in today is very different than the way our grandparents remember it. Many things have changed since then; music, technology, television, even clothing styles have changed. But for all that has changed, some things have not changed, the way we want to be seen for example. Remember the Brady Bunch? The perfection of that family has mutated over the years to the more modern Stepford Wives movie. The two similar messages of those are that, though things have changed, one thing has not. Perfection. We want to be seen with smiles on our faces and have the illusion that our lives are in perfect order. We want to be perceived as perfect.
Perfection. It is a mask that many of us wear every day. We wear it in the fear of showing our true selves. It is only when we are truly alone that we let the hated and revered mask of perfection slide off our faces. Why do we wear this mask? The mask that is loathed and loved all at the same time; we wear it to hide what the world has brain-washed us into thinking is weakness… We fear that our own struggles and rough times will be laid out as if on display, with the world to judge us. We fear that our imperfection somehow invalidates us, that we are not useful or worth anything unless we are perfect. We believe the lie that we cannot be used for wonderful and glorious purposes unless we are perfect.
What would happen if we let go of our masks? What if we threw them aside and said “here I am world! Hit me with your best shot!” What would happen? “The world might laugh at me,” you may reply. But is that really what you are afraid of? Are you so afraid of words? Or of what others think of you?
What if you put the mask aside and closed your ears and hearts to the world? Do it, just close your eyes, right now. What do you feel? Not what do you hear, or what do you think, stop thinking. Just sit still and listen to your heart. Do you feel a tugging? It may be small, or it may be big. It may be the same tugging sensation that you experience when you feel you need to speak up and say something to correct a serious wrong. It may be the tugging sensation that makes you stick up for a friend, or a classmate.
What do you feel? Concentrate on it. Does it feel as if warm, strong arms are wrapping around you in a comforting hug? Do you hear the whisper in your soul? You are loved. You are loved. Do you hear it? Do you feel it?
Only the One can hold you like that. And if you tear the mask off and scream “I’m here! I’m ready!!” He is there to help you along.
So here is the truth: we are not perfect.
But if we trust Him, we don’t need perfection.
We don’t need the world.
We don’t need the mask.
We need Him.
With His help, even a worm can do big things. (Jonah 4:6-7) Even a shepherd boy can do what an army does not dare to do (1 Samuel 17:11-58). God does not look at our outward appearance. He does not look at our clothes or our lives. He looks at our hearts.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7)
He doesn’t care that we aren’t perfect, He knows that. But that is exactly what He uses: our imperfections. He uses us. Even though we are less than perfect, He uses that to do great things.
Didn’t the shepherd boy David slay the giant Goliath? Didn’t Esther save her people from certain destruction? Didn’t Noah save the world as we know it in his ark?
Great things can come from the imperfect…
…but only if we are ready to let go of the mask.
[Click here to read Part Two]

The Update is an important part of the NSL community. It holds the latest information for what happens or is going to happen with Northwood Student Life. Not only event information, but updates on students (like Cooper’s trip to Colorado), articles about living life, results from surveys, and random things like “reader rewards" and “Hidden Hangouts.” Basically, The Update keeps the pulse of NSL.

Currently, there are two different versions of The Update and a little confusion about which is which and what the differences are, so we’ve put together a little chart to help you understand why the two exist.

Quality	The Update Online	The Update:Inbox Edition
Timeliness How long until the information is available and how often is it updated	Instant Posts are available immediately online. New posts 2-3 times a week on average	Monthly Email version is sent out once a month and contains the “greatest hits” from the online version.
Interaction How much can you do with the information provided	Direct You can comment on each post and share your own feedback.	Indirect You can respond via e-mail and share thoughts to be included in the future.
Availability How easy is it to re-access the information provided.	Perpetual It’s the Internet, things never go away!	Limited As long as you keep the e-mail.
Search How easy is it to locate specific information that was provided	Integrated At the bottom of each page is a search bar that lets you rediscover anything from any post.	Unavailable There is no search for the Inbox Edition of The Update
Delivery How does it get to you	Multiple Systems You can be alerted to new posts immediately by subscribing via RSS Reader or E-mail.	Single We don’t call it the Inbox Edition for nothing, this version is only available through e-mail.

So there you have it. The differences between the two versions of The Update. The blog is obviously the most in-depth and up-to-date way to keep up with what’s happening in the NSL universe, but the monthly Inbox Edition is a handy way to highlight some of the key ideas and themes.

If you’ve got any feedback on ways to change or improve The Update please contact Luke or leave a comment below.

The day has finally come, and for most of you, SCHOOL'S OUT!
It's time to take a break for pop quizzes and big tests, to not worry about homework or group projects, to get away from the amazingly complex social structure of junior high and high school. It's time to rest up and refresh so you'll be ready in the fall.
Missionaries do this from time to time, it's called a furlough [fur-low]. The point is to offer a break from the intense demands of working in an stressful environment. Basically, your soul needs a nap every now and then.
So well you are celebrating the end of the school year and setting your science books on fire with glee, remember that this is a great chance for you to rest up, replenish your soul, and get ready for the fall, when God will have new ways that he wants you to share your relationship with him.

*For those of you who did not end school today, a moment of silence..............................................

Our prayers are with you.

It's sign up time for SonShine, the massive Christian music festival in Willmar, MN. Multiple stages, multiple days, TONS of concerts. Head on over and see some of the bands that will be playing, and check out the departure times, packing list, cost, etc.

If you need proof that Jesus Rocks, this is it!

[click here to visit the SonShine page on the NSL website]

The entire Starfield catalog is now available at the NSL Jukebox. All 3 albums are there for you to stream and listen to while you are doing homework, cruising MySpace or Facebook, or just chilling.

Starfield is the perfect blend of worship and rock music, with some deliciously insightful lyrics and some great riffs, they are great for kickin' back or thinkin' hard about God's role in our lives. Each album has a decent mix of loud 'n' proud music with some quieter reflective stuff, and ever since some NSL groupies went to their concert a couple years ago they've been a Northwood favorite.

So had on over to the NSL Jukebox and check it out!

[Reminder: The username is: students@northwoodcc.org | The password is: BeMore]

This summer the NSL team has a special member. Megan Doten starts this week as the Junior High Summer Intern, an unpaid position that will let her gain experience in running a youth group.

Megan will spend the summer planning some events for the Junior High, hanging out with students, and learning some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that happens in student ministry.

We're excited to have her aboard and are looking forward to helping her learn and seeing her shine as a member of the team.

This morning was Promotion Sunday, a day of many transitions. This time of year is also when we tend to have some changes in our Youth Leader Team. We are saying goodbye to a couple and hello to a few as well.

Goodbye

Heidi Hartman has been checking out the youth group and testing if it was a good fit. Unfortunately there is just too much going on in life and being a youth leader wasn't a good option now. We're grateful for her willingness to hang out and her short time with us.

Steph Pederson is also ending a long time with us as a Junior High leader. A new job, a new home in St. Paul, and other stuff has made it impossible for Steph to continue giving the time to her role as a youth leader. We are sad to see her go, and incredibly blessed by the relationships and impact she has in her time as a leader. Fortunately she'll still be around at Northwood, and we can look forward to seeing her often. Thanks Steph for your solid commitment to all of us and the wonderful way you showed God's compassion through your time as a youth leader. We hope to have you back on the team some day!

Hello

Teresa Mickelson is back from having her third child (Finnian) and has re-joined the NSL Leader Team as a Senior High Leader. We missed her a great deal, and are really excited to have her back.