To Phoenix friends near and far,
Come, come, in van or car!
Laugh and sing, praise and clap.
To find all the fun, click here for a map.
YOU are invited to Aim Right's first ever
Back-2-School Talent Bash!
When: This Sunday, August 2nd, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: First Baptist Church of Tempe (4525 S. McClintock Drive)
What: Worship, Drama, Comedy, Dance, and More!
Join our Back 2 School backpack drive by bringing a backpack with school supplies, or just make a donation to support the ministry.
A concession stand will be available, including wonderful iced coffee made with fresh espresso.
Oh, and one more thing--rest assured that corny poetry will be pleasantly absent from this fun-filled evening!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Uncommon Living
A few times a year, my non-techie self has to design or edit a slide show for Aim Right for promotional purposes. Thus begins the quest to find an appropriate song to correspond with the photos.
I have noticed something. While I usually settle on a song I personally like, that affection is barely there after numerous editings and viewings. All listening pleasure has vanished. Since I recently completed a slide show, I am mourning the loss of another good song -- at least to my ears.
That song is "Uncommon," sung by Greg Long and Kristy Starling, and you can view the accompanying slide show here.
The lyrics to the chorus of the song read:
I want to finally take the road less traveled,
I want to run away from anything typical,
I want the world to see the life I'm living,
And call it uncommon.
The final words of the song are:
I'm done with the easy way out.
That sentence challenges me and reminds me of a magazine clipping I posted above my computer a few years ago:
What am I going to say? Father, get me out of this? No, this is why I came in the first place.
It was some time before I realized that those sentences are actually a paraphrase of John 12:27-28 (The Message), and it is Jesus speaking. The cross was His mission, and the Father's glory His purpose. He expects the same of His followers:
"Whoever loves His life loses it...if anyone serves Me, he must follow Me...if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." John 12:25-26 ESV
Uncommon living.
When you die to your goals, ambitions, wants, desires.
When you live for Someone besides yourself.
That is taking the road less traveled, and that makes all the difference.
What if I made it the end of my days here
Only to find that my legacy was nowhere to be found?
I don't want to waste another second.
Give me the strength to start right now!
I have noticed something. While I usually settle on a song I personally like, that affection is barely there after numerous editings and viewings. All listening pleasure has vanished. Since I recently completed a slide show, I am mourning the loss of another good song -- at least to my ears.
That song is "Uncommon," sung by Greg Long and Kristy Starling, and you can view the accompanying slide show here.
The lyrics to the chorus of the song read:
I want to finally take the road less traveled,
I want to run away from anything typical,
I want the world to see the life I'm living,
And call it uncommon.
The final words of the song are:
I'm done with the easy way out.
That sentence challenges me and reminds me of a magazine clipping I posted above my computer a few years ago:
What am I going to say? Father, get me out of this? No, this is why I came in the first place.
It was some time before I realized that those sentences are actually a paraphrase of John 12:27-28 (The Message), and it is Jesus speaking. The cross was His mission, and the Father's glory His purpose. He expects the same of His followers:
"Whoever loves His life loses it...if anyone serves Me, he must follow Me...if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." John 12:25-26 ESV
Uncommon living.
When you die to your goals, ambitions, wants, desires.
When you live for Someone besides yourself.
That is taking the road less traveled, and that makes all the difference.
What if I made it the end of my days here
Only to find that my legacy was nowhere to be found?
I don't want to waste another second.
Give me the strength to start right now!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Day of Hope
Family Life Radio declared today "A Day of Hope" and has been encouraging listeners today to support the ministry of Youth Haven Ranch. Aim Right has had a long-standing relationship with YHR. In fact, as I was listening to the radio this morning, two of our interns were enroute to Picacho, AZ, to gather "our" campers who were there enjoying a 3-day camp.
Youth Haven truly is a place of hope. Just lask week, I visited with a teenager who told me that she accepted Christ as her Savior when she attended YHR as a child.
By special request of one of the YHR staff members, we will be returning to Picacho next week, taking two teens who will attend a Teen Retreat and then serve (for the second time this summer!) as LIT's (leaders-in-training) for a Children's Retreat.
Youth Haven truly is a place of hope. Just lask week, I visited with a teenager who told me that she accepted Christ as her Savior when she attended YHR as a child.
By special request of one of the YHR staff members, we will be returning to Picacho next week, taking two teens who will attend a Teen Retreat and then serve (for the second time this summer!) as LIT's (leaders-in-training) for a Children's Retreat.
Our most recent group of happy campers:
Monday, July 13, 2009
Teen Camp Choir
At the daily choir session at camp, Keith took a ragamuffin group of squawkers and made them sound like angels.
Or something like that.
You can take a listen for yourself, here, as they sing "Fill Up My Cup."
Or something like that.
You can take a listen for yourself, here, as they sing "Fill Up My Cup."
Teen Camp 2009
It's difficult to sit down and process 6 days' worth of activities. I could write about the plumbing mishap in the boys' cabin, the shockingly cold innertube upset in the river, the unintended discharge of Hot Cheetos in the van on the trip home, the pick-on-your-counselor game involving shaving cream and cheese puffs. I could tell you about the vibrant worship times, the scenic view that graced our outdoor meals, the tears that fell as broken teenagers knelt at the cross, the crazy trail-less hike down the mountain, the heartfelt sharing around the campfire.
Or--I suppose I could save us all a lot of time and just share what a camper wrote about the week:
Camp was SO FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!
Amen, brother. Amen.
_________________
Or--I suppose I could save us all a lot of time and just share what a camper wrote about the week:
Camp was SO FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!
Amen, brother. Amen.
_________________
Campers painted masks during craft time.
The meal spot -- picnic tables
The amazing Activities/Choir/Worship leading duo. Can you tell they worked hard?
My group of campers
Darrell led the chapel times and spoke on knowing your identity in Christ.
Worship in the chapel
Ropes course
Horseback rides -- these brave souls went on a 2-hour ride.
Group games.
Have you seen a hat like this before?
I didn't think so.
Have tubes, will float!
Group games.
Have you seen a hat like this before?
I didn't think so.
Have tubes, will float!
___________________________
In their own words, this is what happened at Teen Camp 2009:
He renewed me and helped me take my blame away.
He impacts my life by the ultimate act of love, when He gave up His one and only Son for hopeless humans.
I did lots of bad things in the past. God is changing my life. He cleaned my past.
I'm a follower of Christ and fully loved, forgiven in God's eyes.
He gots me thinking so far.
I am God's son. My identity is found in Jesus Christ.
God is changing my life by showing me who I am, and I don't have to hide who I am.
He is changing my life to better by backing me up from the bad things I used to do.
God is changing my life because now I know I don't have to worry about my sins I did. I know He forgives me no matter what.
Some of my friends came to camp, and I got to see them close to God and accept Jesus as their Savior. That was [a] pretty happy moment for me.
Camp was really fun this week. I really feel like everything bad is gone. After camp I feel like a new person, a good person, clean.
He impacts my life by the ultimate act of love, when He gave up His one and only Son for hopeless humans.
I did lots of bad things in the past. God is changing my life. He cleaned my past.
I'm a follower of Christ and fully loved, forgiven in God's eyes.
He gots me thinking so far.
I am God's son. My identity is found in Jesus Christ.
God is changing my life by showing me who I am, and I don't have to hide who I am.
He is changing my life to better by backing me up from the bad things I used to do.
God is changing my life because now I know I don't have to worry about my sins I did. I know He forgives me no matter what.
Some of my friends came to camp, and I got to see them close to God and accept Jesus as their Savior. That was [a] pretty happy moment for me.
Camp was really fun this week. I really feel like everything bad is gone. After camp I feel like a new person, a good person, clean.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
What is it?
Bunk bed sleeping
Chilly morning waking
Horseback riding
Picnic table eating
Choir singing
Group bonding
Prank planning
Campfire S'moring
Bible teaching
Life changing
Good-bye, Phoenix
Hello, Southwest Colorado
The annual Teen Camp adventure begins today.
Pray for us!
Chilly morning waking
Horseback riding
Picnic table eating
Choir singing
Group bonding
Prank planning
Campfire S'moring
Bible teaching
Life changing
Good-bye, Phoenix
Hello, Southwest Colorado
The annual Teen Camp adventure begins today.
Pray for us!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Godspell
It's drama show-time!
Performers include:
Performers include:
Aim Right's inaugural drama class is presenting their final production of Godspell Jr. this evening. I attended their delightful first performance yesterday evening. Their six-plus months of weekly practice paid off, and it was a treat to watch. We are especially grateful to MoezArt Productions for donating their expertise to make this experience possible for the participating teens.
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