PEAK NOTES

Worth

The heart of a father is an amazing thing.  I know because I'm the father of four children that I would do anything in the world for.  This is a video from ESPN that they showed us at the Leadership Summit.  Check out this example of a father's heart for his son...

What an amazing example for us who are parents.  I wonder if you asked this dad if it is worth it what his response would be?  Is it worth it to work the grave yard shift for his son?  Is it worth it to be a middle aged man running around a football field dressed in band clothes?  Is it worth it to sit in class in school with his son every day?  Is it worth it.  I guarantee you this dad would say it is worth every moment. 

As a ministry we are asking a lot of parents.  September 8-15th we will have our DRIVEN CONFERENCE.  We are asking parents to come with their middle school children to just one of the five options over these two weeks.  At this conference, we'll be asking a lot of parents.  The entire event will be challenging parents (and their children) to begin driving faith at home.  We'll be offering many tools and opportunities to do this that will challenge priorities and schedules.  Is it worth it? 

Is it worth it to see a vibrant faith infect your family?  Is it worth it to see a deepened relationship between father and son, mother and daughter, parent and child?  Is it worth it to step up and begin functioning in the home environment as God intended?  I guarantee every parent and child who step up and respond will say it was worth every moment. 

Third

This past Saturday night we launched our THIRD Campaign.  THIRD is our strategic response as a student ministry to the AIDS Pandemic going on in Africa.  Our strategy is very simple to understand--It focuses on the truth that "I'm Third--God is first, others are second, I'm third." 

What is going on in Africa in regards to the AIDS Pandemic is overwhelming.  This truly is the single biggest humanitarian crisis of our age, according to the numbers it is the biggest humanitarian crisis in this history of the world.  The continent of Africa is being devastated by this disease, and by the effect of loosing generations. 

Our focus will be upon the victims of the disorder--those children left parent-less due to the disease.  Our strategy is very simple: 

1. THIRD Moment--Every week we are taking 3-5 minuets during our regular SouledOut service to focus upon the AIDS Pandemic.  This will involve a video, testimonies, stories, and stats.  This will also include our "Face of the Month"--a child we will encourage someone to sponsor through Children's Hope Chest.  Our goal is that by the end of this year 25% of our students will be sponsoring a child. 
2. THIRD Focus--Twice a year, once in the fall, and once in the spring we will have a "Third Focus" service.  A service dedicated to the AIDS Pandemic.  This past Saturday night was our first Third Focus service in which our guest speaker was Bono from U2 through a video interview with Bill Hybles. 
3. THIRD Project--The Third Project is a major financial project we are challenging our middle school students with.  This is a $5000-$10,000 students will fund that will range from building an orphanage, to a orphan care-point, to building a water-well. 

The response to launching the THIRD campaign has been overwhelming.  I know of two girls who went immediately home from SouledOut and began making bead bracelets to sell.  In 24 hours they had already raised $125 towards our THIRD project.  Other students have shared how they are going to get their friends at school involved.  Another student had an amazing idea of having an offering contest at Gender Wars be a part of the competition (seeing which gender can raise the most money towards our project).  I've even heard about one student who has felt called by God to be a missionary since he was 4 years old.  On Saturday, during SouledOut, God told this boy that he would be a missionary to Africa. 

God is good and I feel so privileged to be used by Him in this ministry.  What a grand adventure this is!

Princess

Wow, it has been awhile.  Where do I start?  Well, I was in Mexico for two weeks on our missions trip.  We were able to build two houses for a multi-generational family living in a one room home made of pallets.  Pretty incredible. 

Then, we went on vacation to God's country (Oregon).  We had a great time together enjoying incredible mountains and an incredible beach. 

Then I get back to my desk and check my email and see this video from my friend Chris Abeyta.  This is the power of a dad teaching his daughter to follow after the heart of God: