Odd Facts Known By Few

Humans have about 1.4 million hairs on their body.

Odd Facts Known By Few

American soldiers in Vietnam sometimes used a Slinky as a radio antenna.

On This Day in History...

Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most famous speeches in history, The Gettysburg Address. (The real question is...can you read it here?)

Phil Stacey

Compared to the groups and musicians from the last few weeks, Phil Stacey is a relative newcomer to the world of Christian music. Best known for his appearance on Season 6 of American Idol, he signed with Christian recording label Reunion Records in January of this year.

Stacey's song "You're Not Shaken," this week's Song of the Week, caught my ear recently on one of the local Christian radio stations. All throughout the song, the lyrics speak of the troubles that come up in a Christian's life. He finished off the chorus with the words, "I won’t let go of You now because I know You’re not shaken." How true it is that in our stuggles, God is not thrown off or surprised by the circumstances that have taken place. He is fully aware of our trials, what we have faced and what we will soon face. What a great feeling it is to serve a God who never gets caught off guard, but has a plan for everything and everyone even in the times when it all seems so dark.

In addition to "You're Not Shaken," I've included a few other songs with Christian themes from several former American Idol contestants down in the playlist in the sidebar.

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For the complete lyrics to "You're Not Shaken," click here.

Odd Facts Known By Few

Before 1920, it was technically legal to send children through the mail.

Veteran's Day

To all of the brave men and women who have risked their lives for our freedom, we say, "Thank You." Words can never express the gratitude we have for the sacrifices you have made for your country.

Kutless

Many Christian music groups have unique reasons for choosing the band name they record under. Kutless is an obvious example. Based on Romans 3:23 (For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord), the band members say that "He took our cuts for us...leaving us Kutless."

The Portland-based rock group has released our current Song of the Week, "Strong Tower." Every time I hear the song, I think of two things: Nahum 1:7 and The Wizard of Oz. Strange, I know, but hear me out.

In Nahum 1:7, the prophet writes, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him." God is the one we run to in times of trouble; we can always find safety in Him. And who can forget one of the opening scenes in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy's family and friends all spot the tornado approaching and rush to the storm cellar for safety. They trust that shelter to withstand the violent impending storm.

In much the same way, the Lord desires for us to have faith in Him so much that we take shelter in Him during the tough trials of life. Rather than trusting in ourselves or someone or something else to get us through the hard times, we must consciously decide to run only to the Lord, for He is the only one in whom we can safely take refuge.

I hope you enjoy "Strong Tower," plus a couple of other songs from Kutless in the playlist down in the sidebar.

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For the complete lyrics to "Strong Tower," click here.

Odd Facts Known By Few

Japanese apple farmers use turkeys to guard against monkeys.

Happy Anniversary...

to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln! On this date in 1842, old Abe married his sweetheart, Mary Todd. He may have been given the name "old Abe" because he was a good bit older than Mary, ten years to be exact. The couple went on to have four sons, and they spent a little over four years serving as President and First Lady of our country. Today, if they could, they would celebrate 167 years of wedded bliss!

November Newsletter

What an exciting day High Attendance Sunday was for the youth group! We had the highest number of students that day in the two years that I have been here, eighteen in all. The next evening was the Youth Emphasis night at the revival, and around a dozen students came to enjoy the pizza prior to the service and the worship and preaching by Doug Stroup. God is really using each of the students to share about the church and invite their friends to Bible study. We have had several new faces that have begun to attend fairly regularly on either Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings.

I wanted to share with all the youth parents about the Winter Retreat at the end of the year. We will be heading to Macon, GA, to take part in the 2009 Youth Evangelism Conference. Ed Newton, the speaker from our camp in 2008, will be teaching during the conference, along with Anson McMahon. The teaching points will be illustrated by the Skit Guys, two men whose presentations are as spiritually challenging as they are funny. Christian music artist Todd Agnew will lead the worship segments of each meeting, and the David Crowder Band will be in concert during the evening session.

Our group will be leaving the church during the early afternoon on Monday, December 28, and we will return the following afternoon. I realize this falls right into the middle of the holiday season; however, I feel it is a tremendous opportunity for growth in our group, one that we cannot pass up. I will be sending out a letter to parents in the next week or so giving information on cost and more specific details about the trip. Should you have any questions about the conference, please don’t hesitate to ask. Please be sure to see if there’s any possible way that your student can join us for the Youth Evangelism Conference, even in the busiest time of the year.