The Update

Well we lied. Yesterday we said we’d be bringing you the latest episode of the Video Update today. Due to some technical problems we’re going to for-go the old school method of bullet points. Here we go:

• 9th Graders – Be sure to sign up for the “9th Grade Night Out” (click for details)
• Red Lake Team – Hopefully you’ve sent out your support letters, if not.. get on it!
• Seniors – Remember that June 7 is Senior Recognition Day in big church, so plan on being there for both services so we can tell the whole church how much you rock.
• Everyone – Considering getting baptized? The next baptism service is June 21.
• Everyone again – The NSL Worship band is leading worship in big church this Sunday, come worship with us!

That’s all the updates, so now for some Video of the Week goodness. This week it is a silly action sequence that asks which came first, the chicken or the egg gun.

THE LAST EGGTION HERO from ulteriorproductions.com on Vimeo.

[RSS & Email Readers will have to visit the NSL Blog to listen to the song]
This Week’s Song comes from rockers Thousand Foot Krutch (TFK). Perhaps the greatest comfort we can have in our relationship with Jesus is that we are always free to call out. Even if we don’t feel like God is near (like last week’s song of the week), we have the privilege of being able to ask Him for help, comfort, and peace. And usually, God helps us gain perspective and see what life is really all about. Enjoy.

She fooled all of her friends into thinking she's so strong
But she still sleeps with the light on
And she acts like it's all right on, as she smiles again
And her mother lies there sick with cancer
And her friends don't understand her
She's a question without answers
Who feels like falling apart.
She knows, she's so much more than worthless
She needs to find a purpose,
She wonders what she did to deserve this

CHORUS
She's calling out to you
This is a call, this is a call out
Cause everytime I fall down, I reach out to you
And I'm losing all control now
And my hazard signs are all out
I'm asking you to show me what this life is all about

And he tells everyone a story,
Cause he thinks his life is boring
And he fights so you won't ignore him,
Cause that's his biggest fear
And he cries, but you'll rarely see him do it
And he loves but he's scared to use it
So he hides behind the music
Cause he likes it that way
And he knows, he's so much more than worthless
He needs to find the surface
Cause he's starting to get nervous

CHORUS

Have you ever felt this way before
Cause I don't wanna hide here anymore
Take me to a place where nothing's wrong
And thanks for coming, shut the door
And they say some one out there sees us,
Well if you're real, then save me Jesus
Cause I've been this way for far too long
I wasn't meant to feel alone

CHORUS

Show me what this life is all about
Show me what this life is all about

Like the song? Get “This is a Call” by Thousand Foot Krutch from AmazonMP3

[have a song that you’d like to see as a Song of the Week? send the artist and title to Luke along with a paragraph or two about why it helps in your relationship with God. Sweetness!]

We need to stop the panic. I know some of you are terrified and worried about the impending Armageddon, certain the the world is finally drawing to a close and all hope is lost. What other reason could there be for the Song of the Week and Video Update not arriving and their normal days? Surely, this is the end.

But have no fear, they are not gone but simply delayed. With the Memorial Day weekend everything has been pushed back one day. So this Tuesday you will have a new Song of the Week and Wednesday (tomorrow) you will have a new episode of the Video Update.

Next week we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming. You may now go about your lives.

Hey NSL, just a quick note to let you know that you should be prepared to be outside this Sunday for youth group. We will be outside rain or shine, so be dressed accordingly!

[RSS & Email readers have to visit the NSL Blog to play the song]
There are times when it feels like God is far away. That is a hard thing to deal with, because God promises to never leave us. So why, in the midst of difficult things, do we so often think he’s gone away?
Faith is described in the Bible as “…being sure of things unseen.” It’s choosing to trust that God is being honest when he says he won’t leave our side. We can’t always feel our heart beating in our chest, but we trust it is still there. We can’t always feel our brain processing thoughts, but we are still sure it’s there. Just because we can’t feel God sometimes, doesn’t mean he has left us.
This week’s song by BarlowGirl speaks to that exact feeling…

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no.
I needed you today
So where did you go?
You told me to call
Said you'd be there
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?

Chorus
I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel you by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone

And though I cannot see you
And I can't explain why
Such a deep reassurance
You've placed in my life.
We cannot separate
'Cause you're part of me.
And though you're invisible
I'll trust the unseen.

Chorus

Like the song? Get “Never Alone” by BarlowGirl on AmazonMP3.

A feature we’ve started up here on the ol’ NSL Blog is the “Song of the Week” where we post a song and the lyrics along with a mini-Jesus Stuff blurb about what the song can teach us about having a relationship with God. We’ve gotten some pretty sweet responses and we’re looking forward to posting more, but we need your help!

The NSL Blog is your place to share what is happening in your relationship with God, so we’re calling all readers to submit “Song of the Week” articles. It’s super easy, all you need to do is email studentlife@northwoodcc.org with the following:

• Band Name
• Track/Song Title
• Lyrics to the Song
• A quick paragraph or two about why it is important to you/what it teaches you about God!

It’s that easy! For an idea of what we’re looking for you can check out the previous Song of the Week posts. We look forward to seeing what you share!

As we come to the end of the school year we prepare for the transition of our 9th grade students into the NSL Senior High. But let’s not forget the fact that many great things happened during their time with NSL:jh!

To us, that’s reason to celebrate. So we are pleased to cordially invite all our current 9th grade students to the first annual 9th Grade Night Out!

We will grab some dinner in Minneapolis before heading to Uptown for some improv comedy at Comedy Sportz! It’s going to be a night full of fun, laughter, and celebration of your time in the NSL Junior High 

Information and sign-up is at www.northwoodcc.org/9

[RSS & Email readers have to visit the NSL Blog to play the song]
Hot on the heels of last weeks song about letting go, we’re serving up a new one by Tenth Avenue North. When we follow God, there is a lot of stuff we have to let go. We hang on to all kinds of false securities (good grades, sports and activities, money and possessions, certain social groups, etc.) that can (and do) get in the way of finding out who God really wants us to be. The truth is that we are more likely to find what makes us happy when we forget all that stuff and leave it behind. God says, “Let It Go!”

I've been holding on so tight
Look at these knuckles
They've gone white
I'm fighting for who I wanna be
I'm just trying to find security

But You say let it go, You say let it go
You say life is waiting for the one's who lose control
You say you will be, everything I need
You said if I lose my life it's then I'll find my soul
You say let it go.

Well it's hard enough to hear
Harder still, to move beyond this fear
We know there's nothing I can bring,
So tell me what do you want from me?

But You say let it go, You say let it go
You say life is waiting for the one's who lose control
You say You will be, everything I need
You said if I lose my life it's then I'll find my soul
You say let it go, You say let it go

What do I love?
What do I hate?
What will I lose?
What will I gain?
How do I save my soul?
What if I bend?
What if I break?
What will it cost?
What will it take?
For you to save my soul.

You say let it go, You say let it go
You say life is waiting for the one's who lose control
You say You will be, everything I need
You said if I lose my life it's then I'll find my soul

Like the song? Get “Let It Go” by Tenth Avenue North at AmazonMP3!

Hey everyone, just a reminder that there will be no Video Update today because Luke is on vacation. We’ll catch you next Tuesday for a brand new episode.

In the meanwhile you can check out past episodes here.

[RSS & Email readers have to visit the NSL Blog to play the song]
We’re control freaks. Most people have a really hard time when they aren’t in control of what’s happening, they start to worry. Turns out, that’s not how we’re supposed to live. The Bible couldn’t be any clearer, it says “Do Not Worry about anything, instead pray about everything…” God says not to worry, period. That’s right, worrying = disobeying God. Ouch!

The song of the week this week comes from Francesca Battistelli, a young up-and-comer in the Christian music biz. The track “I’m Letting Go talks about the feeling when we just need to quit worrying and jump into what God has for us! Enjoy.

My heart beats, standing on the edge
But my feet have finally left the ledge
Like an acrobat
There’s no turning back

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe

So I’m letting go
This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace
The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
Losing control
Of my destiny
Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go
Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I’m not afraid

Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
Feels like I’m falling and this is the life for me

  Like the song? Get the whole album is just 5 bucks at AmazonMP3!

Over the last weekend I went to a conference called Spring Blitz with the youth group. At this conference a man named Craig Sanborn was speaking on the subject of the media. He talked about how the media has more effect on us than we think. He said that right now it's thought to be ok to swear and put sexual things in music and magazines or on tv. Notice the key word in that sentence. It's THOUGHT to be ok. It's not ok. In fact, it's far from it.

Philippians 4:8 says 'Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.'

This verse pretty much says ' Are the things you listen to, watch, and read pleasing to God?'
I felt like a hypocrite. I was shocked at all the stuff in the media but when I took a look at the things I watch, read, and listen to, I noticed that I had been dragged in by it all. I COULD have said to myself  "The stuff I listen to isn't as bad as all that other stuff" but it's all the same. Swearing is swearing. Sexuality is sexuality. I felt I had to stop listening, watching and reading these things that are evil in the sight of God.

I got rid of half of all my music and posters. I got rid of anything with swearing or bad messages. I paid for those things and it made it hard to let it go, but I knew it was something I had to do. It was something that would help me take care of my soul, which is something that is way better than all the music, tv shows and books in the whole world. As a teen, the media bombards me everyday and it's a lot of negative things. I want to be filled with positive thoughts and actions and I feel this way with a passion. 

It's only been a few days but I can feel the change it's made in my life. I think better thoughts about things and other people and I feel closer to God. It's my hope that this message will touch you like it's touched me and that you will fight with me to get closer to God. It is important to me and I hope to make it important to others. Join me in The Rage Against the Media.

Kaycee Clark is part of the NSL:jh, a singer in the NSL Band, and an all around awesome gal!

If you were at Blitz this weekend, or if you checked out this week’s “Song of the Week” then you are familiar with Remedy Drive. Their new album is fantastic, and NSL highly recommends that you pick it up.

But what’s even better is you can score the whole album for less than a Big Mac meal! AmazonMP3 has ‘Daylight is Coming’ for only $5! That is sweet indeed.

So head on over there and get the Remedy Drive album for $5! [just click the pic]