Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:S

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Download:

Its time to get fired up about Board Out of Your Mind 2008! Get ready to tear it up on some of the greatest trails in the northwest as RIOT invades Timberline Ski Resort. Two days of boarding/skiing with your best friends are in store, and a camp atmosphere of fun and personal growth awaits you. This event will make your winter! You don’t want to miss out on BOOYM 2008!

Got to the Board Out event page at the Morning Star website to download the flyer and permission form

BIG CHILL IS FUN! Everyone has been asking about it for months and now its time. You are invited to the absolute coolest winter camp around! Timberline ski area has one of the most exciting terrain parks in all of Oregon. Highlife ministries wants to take YOU there. Tear up the snow at Timberline Ski Area with Big Chill. Enjoy being up on the mountain with your friends and all the youth staff. No matter if you ski, snowboard or want to learn. Don�??t miss out on this fun filled opportunity to enjoy one of the best weekends you will have all winter. If you don�??t ride, don�??t worry. For all of you who want some different excitement on the mountain, you can fly down the slopes on HUGE inner tubes. That�??s right, we�??ll also be going to Sno Bunny snow park. Feel free to throw all the snowballs you want and be crazy as you speed down the hill with your friends. The best part about it is that the tubing is absolutely free!

Go to the Big Chill event at the Morning Star website to download and print the flyer and permission form!

Confessions of a Naked Christian
Dinesh D’Souza
December 16, 2007
Download:

Most places can be excluded from afar, like drive-thru shop or signs that misspell their product EXpresso, and the ones that need to be approached by foot. Typically, the more they have on their menu, the worse the coffee is, as if they’re trying to make up for a bad roast with sandwiches and sundaes. I luckily avoided one shop boasting the arrival of elephant ears on a multi-colored sign. Sometimes a name will give a small hint. Avoid places like cowboy coffee or Christian sounding names like �??Holy Grounds�??. Like most rules, this one has its exclusions. Perhaps the owner just wasn’t very good with names. For two years I didn’t go to a shop in my wife’s hometown because it was called �??Jolts N Juice�??. Nowadays, it�??s the only place I go.
I�??ve tried to set up a series of tests to assure my satisfaction with my choice but most of the time, you actually have to enter the place. Typically the moment I walk in, I know if it is going to be a good or bad experience. The music choice, barista, the roaster, presence or absence of demitasse cups. Then when you order, your suspicions are confirmed. Order a shot of espresso. Do they look at you funny asking a serious of ridiculous questions like: �??Do you want milk with it, sugar, syrup, chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon? You mean you just want the espresso? What should i put it in? An eight ounce cup? This little sample cup?�?? and so on and so on.

I know it before I sit down, yet there is nothing that I can do. I am stuck sipping bad espresso, in an inspirational-less atmosphere, listening to new country. What was supposed to be an escape, a time of focus, has become torment, yet there is hope. I am here for a couple hours and then i will NEVER come back.
A good friend is getting married today. I think a lot of people view marriage like I do coffee shops. If you get into it and then realize that it isn’t what you wanted at all, you just make a quick escape, run around the corner, and find someplace better. People will even tell you that you can’t really know someone until you get married. Others will say that people change over the years–the person you marry today will be different in five, ten years. And how much does a twenty minute personality test really tell you about your compatibility?

So then what are we left with? Blind chance, a crap shoot, trying your best to read the signs, peer into the window, smell the roast? In a sense this is true as it applies to discovering GOD’s will for your life. Wisdom, council, and scripture should all be used to weigh every possible option. But then there is the leap. I think about all those couples throughout the ages who were arranged to be married. How did that work? Probably much of the same way that couples beat the daunting odds and that remain together for their whole lives (as most vows state); commitment mixed with an understanding that no person is perfect and happiness will not be found on the other side of a divorce.

In a completely, off the analogy but on the subject insert, all this thinking came about because I asked my friend about the best coffee shop in Yakima. He told me and I�??ve been sitting at a table, sipping espresso, writing much of this note on my laptop (although the battery died mid-sentence and there was only one outlet in the whole place, and that was monopolized by a man who kept talking to himself). My friend’s recommendation saved my afternoon.

Why can’t GOD be so direct with us? Or is it me who is not listening?

A mix of excitement and dread, wonderment and fear, expectations on both extremes shot out at me. This was to be my longest run since the injury. The most up until this point was seven miles. All the books will tell you to increase your long run by no more than ten percent.

It was a beautifully bleak morning, something right out of a Dostoyevsky novel. The sun, big, bright, trying with all it could to melt the thin layer of frost blanketing the landscape.

Anything over eight miles is ideal. The first couple of miles your muscles are warming up. Your mind focused not on what you are doing, but how much farther you have to go. the end perfectly mirrors the beginning. Your legs cry out to stop the madness and your entire mind is fixated on home, rest, food.

The middle miles are poetic. Your body moves almost of its own accord. Your breathing rhythmic. Your mind is free to wander where it will. This is what i have missed more than anything in my running. Three miles simply cannot bring you to this point of peace in exercise.

It is in these miles that I pray that GOD reveals Himself to me through His Word or His creation speeding past me, that problems are seen in a different light. That I wrestle with GOD and my own humanity, that choruses are written and melodies are sung for the first time. Those commitments are made. That I feel whole, at peace in body, mind, and soul. It is my quiet time.

Last May, as my dad drove me and Nolan to the Baltimore Airport at 4 am, I found myself in another one of those conversations. This time, it was my dad reminding me of how essential it is as a ministry leader to remain teachable. I was sleepy, so I didn’t put too much thought into the subject. But lately, his words have played through my mind with sparkling clarity.

Things have been going well lately in our Children’s Ministry, and it would be so easy to just sit back and enjoy the goodness of it. To become confident in my own abilities and embrace the mentality that I have arrived. But the reality is that while an element of smoothness has been achieved on Sunday mornings, I still have so much more to learn. Being teachable means looking for ways to grow, areas to improve, and new ideas to implement.

Being teachable doesn’t happen without looking inwardly. My job can’t be soley about taking care of the needs of others. I need to carefully evaluate my own skills and take time for personal leadership development. So today, in an effort to keep growing, I took some time to myself. A few months ago I purchased the book, “Lead the Way God Made You” by Larry Shallenberger. Since then, I’ve carried it in my laptop bag every day, but haven’t made the time to get past page 4. Today, I dove in at a coffee shop. Already, it’s proving to be a worthwhile, educational and profitable read. And after a delicious time of reading and eating, I met with our Senior Pastor’s wife for our weekly Bible study. As I drove home, I felt refreshed. Today was about me–about growing and learning–and I loved it. Imaging how much more God could use me if I took more days like this to let Him reveal Himself to me, teach me and challenge me. I love it when my dad is right.

So how about you? What do you do to make sure you keep growing? To keep being teachable, whether it’s in your ministry, your parenting, your work?

We had a great vacation with my parents in Orlando, Fl. I�??d be ok with not seeing another theme park for a while, but it was so fun to experience that with the fam. The girls loved the time with Grandpa and Grandma, especially being out of school and having private tutors to go through the schoolwork. We took lots of great pics and have many memories stored on the hard-drive of our minds.

My dad and I were able to go to the Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Monday night football game. It was a great experience in spite of the Jags getting spanked.

We covet your prayers during this time. The girls are starting to feel the tension and know something is coming. Karis understands deployment as many of her classmates and current teacher have had loved ones deployed. Please pray for them to know and experience God�??s love and that he would fill in the gaps for all the girls (including Sandy). Sandy will remain at Fort Polk for the deployment except for a trip to Oregon next summer �?? May-July. I�??m sure she�??d welcome anyone who would want to take a vacation to the Deep South �??.

If you would like to write during the next 15 months, our addresses are jonathan.knoedler@us.army.mil and knoedlers@bellsouth.net. We will try to get back to you in a timely manner. I probably won�??t be able to write until mid to late December, but can be reached until deployment at the knoedlers@bellsouth.net address.

Leaning into HIS strong arms,

Jon (and Sandy, Karis �?? 7, Faith �?? 6, Necia - 3)

Phillip Pullman, a talented and gifted British author, is a an agnostic. Pullman explains that his book �??depicts the Temptation and Fall not as the source of all woe and misery, as in traditional Christian teaching, but as the beginning of true human freedom something to be celebrated, not lamented. And the Tempter is not an evil being like Satan, prompted by malice and envy, but a figure who might stand for Wisdom.�??1 The characters in The Golden Compass discover that life is about living for yourself and your own desires. The conclusion in the third book, The Amber Spyglass, reveals that everyone came from Dust instead of a Creator, therefore everything the church had sought to serve never existed. While the first movie of the trilogy is based on the books, the strong anti-religion themes won�??t be as obvious. �??Several key themes of the novels�?�are to be diluted in the adaptation.�??2

So how do we, as Christians, respond to The Golden Compass? 1 Peter 3:15-16 instructs us to �??in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.�?? We need to remember that no matter how we respond to this movie, God must receive glory.

In an interview, Pullman was asked, �??Do you believe in God?�?? His response was, �??I don�??t know whether there�??s a god or not�?� there may well be a god somewhere, hiding away. Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it�??s because he�??s ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they�??re responsible for promoting in his name.�??3 Pullman doesn�??t recognize the Truth. As believers, we need to be careful in our reaction and not prove Pullman�??s point about the church. Instead, we should be like the compass in the books, and point toward Truth. Only the Truth we know comes from God, while the truth in Pullman�??s books is found in man.

The Golden Compass isn�??t the first book or movie to have anti-Christian themes, and neither is Pullman the last agnostic author. I hope that we can sift through the onslaught of media we face each day, and stand in love for God�??s truth. �??Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…�?? (Ephesians 6:13).

As Christian parents, take a stand for the truth. Know what movies your children are watching. Know what books they�??re reading. Use God�??s Word as the compass of gold for your family, and remember Philippians 4:8, �??Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable�??if anything is excellent or praiseworthy�??think about such things.�??

Some links to check out:

• Question and Answer Session with Philip Pullman
• The Golden Compass (film) at Wikipedia
• Philip Pullman Q&A

As I was thinking about it this morning, I realized that the church works the same way. Each ministry is working within itself, using people in their strengths and gifting in order to achieve what we call Children�??s Ministries, Student Ministries, Credo, etc. For the most part, we do it really well. We complete our tasks. But it seems so easy to forget the second part of the challenge�??working as different ministries toward one big goal, the big prize. We keep ourselves separated, forgetting that we belong to the church as a whole.

So how do we unify? How do we continue to make our individual ministries happen without ignoring the greater needs of the church? It takes unity and support. It takes an understanding that while your ministry is valuable and important, it shouldn�??t be a priority over any other ministry. It takes recognizing that God has gifted you in one area but not necessarily another. Appreciate those who are gifted differently. I�??m so thankful for our middle school pastor! If I had to do his job, we�??d have a lot of dead kids on our hands. While my ministry to children greatly differs from Pattie�??s ministry to women, we still need to recognize the importance of both while respecting the varied methods. It warms my heart when our college pastor says there�??s no way he could ever do what I do. In the same way, I could never do his job.

With mutual respect comes support. Stepping out of my ministry box and understanding that it might be insulting to the other ministries to have a kids�?? kitchen against the wall in the auditorium while they try to present themselves as relevant to a critical culture and therefore storing it away midweek shows support. Sure it takes extra effort to pull the large piece of plastic out and put it away each week, but being able to support my fellow ministers is worth the work. In the same way I love their support in respecting the items in our Sunday school classrooms throughout the week.

When we all work hard within our specific areas, we can do great things for God. But when we all join together as a church, amazing things can be accomplished. While the ministry I do with the children, their parents, and the volunteers doesn�??t give me social standing as it does on Kid Nation, something is achieved. But just like the kids in Bonanza City, the best reward doesn�??t happen until the ministries I work alongside accomplish their goals as well. Do I want to see our church grow spiritually? Would I like to see new families join our fellowship? Am I overjoyed by commitments to Christ? Yes! But can I do it by myself, on an island, without the support of those I work with? No. True church takes unity and support. It happens when the body of believers, gifted in a variety of ways, join together united to serve our God as one.

It was God’s dreams that showed me that I can be a Children’s Ministries Director, even though I’m young and don’t have children of my own. It was God’s dreams that made it possible for me to be at a church that was willing to invest nine months of training into me in order to prepare me to lead this ministry. It was God’s dreams that allowed my Executive Pastor to recognize that I am a dreamer and give me the freedom to do so.
For the last month I’ve felt like my dreams were slowing down. Life became full of the day to day without a passion and excitement for what could be. While that meant a lot of needed business was accomplished, there was so much desire for the future that lacked. But the dreams have once again started to spark! I’ve found how essential it is to have conversations with other dreamers. To be reminded that so often what could be should be. To see that excellence requires endurance–a willingness to tread through the challenges that come with making a dream a reality. But above all that, to be who God has created me to be–the dreamer He has created me to be, and to lead this ministry in that way.
I feel like God has Morning Star on the cusp of something great. For some reason, my mind went to the scene at the end of Mary Poppins when the winds change, signaling that it’s time for Mary to move on; signaling a time of transition. The winds of dreams are starting to pick up, and oh how that excites me!

Click the thumbnails to see larger pictures.

We would like to thank you for praying for the teachers conference that we successfully held on October 13-14, 2007. Once again we were reminded of God’s love and mercy to His children. This jubilee conference was a celebration of His life and Gospel that is being spread here in Latvia.
We already have requests from teachers for thousands of Bibles for their schools and students. We are starting to give away Bibles now and we are very excited about the opportunity to reach local families though this. lease, continue to pray for the success of this Bible ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

May the Lord richly bless you

Peter Samoylich and team

In this week�??s episode, the issue of religion was brought up. While I�??m sure quite a few conversations hit the editing floor, I was sad to see how Christianity was represented by some of the children. Some said they were Christians and used that as license to mock the Jews. Other said they were Christians yet struggled when asked to explain it. And some claimed Christianity yet were eager to participate in ceremonies worshiping other gods.

If we are properly equipping our Children to be life-long followers of Christ, we need to be giving them the tools to not only understand their faith, but defend their faith at a young age. 1 Peter 3:15, 16 says, �??But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.�??

We need to be helping our children discover the answers about their faith so that when asked to defend it, their answer is personal. They know what they believe because they�??ve discovered it (with help and guidance) for themselves. And not only do we need to be giving them the tools to answer, but the instruction to do so with respect. A respectful defense of your faith doesn�??t mean not allowing the other to speak. It doesn�??t mean cruel words. It doesn�??t mean maliciousness. It�??s gentle.

I would hope that if a kid from my program went on Kid Nation, they�??d be a strong witness. And that hope serves as a challenge for me and the parents in my church. Our kids could change a nation.

Since we’re only through the first two chapters of the book, our focus was on simple and unexpected. Parents in our ministry (as I’m sure in all Children’s Ministries) are bombarded with paperwork each week from school newsletters to advertisements in the mail box. How can we make it so that what we send home doesn’t get classified as another piece of paper? We need to keep it simple and to the point. “Compact ideas help people learn and remember a core message” (Made to Stick pg 48).

I love to talk, write, read–anything dealing with words. I wish I could write a long, newsy note to parents each week and have it actually be effective! So while the temptation for me would be to give every parent the long version of what our ministry stands for, it wouldn’t stick with them. It needs to stay simple. In the same way a catchy, repetitive song sticks in your head, a simple message will carry with a parent despite a paper overload in all other areas of their life.

“The first problem of communication is getting people’s attention” (pg. 64). It doesn’t matter how wonderful my simple message is unless I communicate it in a way that catches someone’s eye. The unexpected message doesn’t blend in. Whether it’s a flier of a different shape, a video instead of a spoken announcement, or a child wearing a sandwich board instead of a sign on the wall, it stands out. A sticky idea not only gets attention, it holds attention; it’s valuable. The Heath brothers explain that surprise gets attention and interest keeps attention.

My message to families needs to be worth their time. My unexpected message gets me a listening ear (or a watchful eye). My simple message gets them to pay attention to the point of understanding. Say I want a family to attend an upcoming event. In our world of electronic communication, a hand written note is unexpected. And not only that, a personalized note is endearing. Keeping it short and to the point not only saves me from a lot of writer’s cramp, it leaves my main message in their minds.

I’m looking forward to next week as we look at the concrete side of sticky ideas and making sure people get what I’m talking about. I hope to see a transformation in the way our communication sticks to those in the church. This book is sticking with me What sticks with you?

A year ago we started doing a family service six times a year called FX (Family Experience). I’d LOVE to see it become a must-schedule for all the families of Morning Star. Last year our highest attended FX was in January with 95 people. It was amazing because it was only our second FX, and had doubled the first one’s attendance. Friday we had our first FX of the year and 40 people attended. It was the most enthusiastic crowd we’ve had yet. They kids participated passionately, the parents joined me enthusiastically with motions for worship. Each family acknowledged to how much they love coming to FX. And if you were to ask me what kind of families need FX the most, three of the perfect candidates were there. Sounds like a success, doesn’t it?
Then why do I look at the number 40 as a flop? Why do I keep measuring the success in numbers rather than family growth? When I start looking at the number, I don’t think about the family that desperately needed encouragement and felt called to come join us for pizza and a program. When I start looking at the number, I don’t recognize the father who doesn’t join his family on Sunday but came for FX. When I start looking at the number, I don’t remember the sweetness of two little boys making an invitation to give their father for the next FX. When I start looking at the number, I forget about the family that supports me and encourages me through everything I do. And, when I focus on the number 40, I loose sight of the fact that that 40 was more enthusiastic than our crowd of 95 ever was.
While numbers can make a good gauge for tracking what works and what doesn’t, and they help watch for patterns, the true evaluation should come from the stories seen and heard as a result of our efforts. And if I’m evaluating off of those stories–FX was a HUGE success.

We are going to hold our 30th Jubilee Teachers Conference on October 13-14, 2007. We are very excited and grateful to the Lord for blessing us for the last 10 years with this ministry to Latvian public school teachers. We would like to thank all of you who prayed for us and supported us for all these years. You have helped us to influence many lives and they will never be the same! Thank you.

We plan to have at least 400 teachers to participate. This conference’s theme will be “Power of the Word of God“. There are 32000 Bibles printed due to our 10^th anniversary of ministry to Latvian schools and we are going to start their distribution at this conference.

We would like to encourage you to pray with us for the upcoming teachers conference in October. Here is what we ask you to pray about:

Prayer topics:

• Safe journeys for speakers and teachers.
• For teachers who will come to the conference for the first time: open minds and hearts to the Word of God.
• For teachers to open their hearts and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
• Good teamwork and organization.
• Finances for the conference.
• Unity between participants and organizers.
• Successful Bible distribution

Thank you and may God richly bless you,

Peter Samoylich and team

In Children�??s Ministries we�??re also aiming at a ministry target�??the target of equipping children and families to become complete in Christ and love Him for a lifetime. So we integrate bb gun wisdom in hitting the target. We use tools to help us send the can flying. Just as I needed a lawn chair to help steady my hand, we have four key values to guide each ministry decision�??teaching the Bible creatively in a child targeted manner, building relationships, providing family resource tools, and safety. In in the end, the bead that we line the target with is the children.
Staying on target in ministry is essential. Because we want each shot to be dead on, we carefully reevaluate, looking for effectiveness. From our current way of doing Sunday mornings to communication with parents to extra events, we analyze what is the best use of the time, energy and resources God has given us. How can we be better stewards? A year ago we began looking at Fall Fun Fest. While it was fun and exciting and loaded with candy, we asked if it lined up with our ministry target? We found that we were actually hitting the stump instead of the target in view of our values.
This year, we will not be having Fall Fun Fest. Instead, we are excitedly planning a fun, high energy Family Experience where parents and kids can learn and worship together. Family Experience (FX) happens 6 times a year and each one focuses on a different key concept or virtue. The October FX will be looking at Outreach, specifically to your neighborhood. FX is a lot of fun and we hope you�??ll join us. While it�??s geared toward elementary aged kids and their parents, it is entertaining enough for a preschool aged child to have fun, deep enough for a middle school student to enjoy and relaxed so you don�??t have to worry if your baby cries.
We�??re working hard to keep our ministry on target. Just the phrase �??stay on target�?? reminds me of a scene from Star Wars where the pilots are aiming for the Death Star, and one of the them keeps reminding in his monotone voice, �??Stay on target, stay on target.�?? Without great focus, we�??re going to miss our target.

After several attempts followed by screams and tears, my husband and I realized there was no way to get me out of bed, therefore, there was no way I’d be going to church. But of course, the show must still go on. My husband delivered the few items that were still in my car, and my team took over. They did great! While yes, quite a few things went wrong like the computer crashing right before worship, some volunteers didn’t show up, and parents failed to read some of the signs and became confused. But the kids still learned and had a great experience.
All this just reminded me how important it is not to hold too tightly to control. That no matter how well organized you may be, others need to be invited into that creative zone deep within you. Jared, our Grow Zone Director, asked one of the best questions he could have thought of on Saturday before our open house. He said, “Could we go through exactly everything that’s going to happen tomorrow so I can be sure that I understand all that you’ve been thinking?” Our conversation revealed we were on the same page. But had we not gone through it, I’m sure his confidence level when pushed into leading on his own would have been much lower.
Amy, my Early Childhood Director, thinks much differently than I do. While I’m completely global, she’s completely analytical. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from working with her is that no matter how lined out an event or a project is in my mind, it does no good to our group as a whole unless I put it on paper.
While I would have LOVED to have woken up without a pain in my neck, I am thankful that things still happened. Our executive pastor has reminded me that the true test of an effective team is to have the leader gone and see if things still function. I’d say we have a great team!

I think it started a couple of weeks ago during Austin City Limits. Some random band I�??ve never seen before was performing and they totally were not my style at all, but what kept me focused in through the whole show was their complete passion for their music. It was seen on their faces, their hands, their feet; their entire bodies were taken up.

I have often believed the current thought on worship. That it is all about the heart. That it is all about GOD working in the believer. I have even encouraged a worship band with the words “it’s not about how they respond, worship is all about the heart.” and naturally, I still have to believe at least part of this. JESUS criticized the Pharisees more than any other group for their outward appearance devoid of any inward change. This is hypocrisy. This is wrong, especially so in our worship of GOD–musical or otherwise. I can’t imagine a bigger slap in HIS face than to sing with an unmatched exuberance yet remain untouched in the inward being.

This being said, I think another teaching has been overlooked. I think we have become so spiritual about spirituality that we have abandoned an important part of it. I have yet to name this, so let me just lay out the idea.

Recently, I officiated Lyndsey Filer’s wedding and I had the best seat in the house–a few steps from the couple. It was a fun, joking, carrot eating ceremony. However, I wish that I could describe her countenance as she repeated her vows to Steve. I have never seen that quality in her face, her eyes. Her entire being was expressing these words to the one she loved. Now naturally, she could have said these words nonchalantly, passionless, unmoved eyes, closed body. Steve might even argue that since she meant it with her heart, which is all that mattered.

But that can’t be all that matters. We are physically beings just as much as we are spiritually beings, and our worship must be expressed both ways, the entire summation of what makes us human. There is no reason why some random band on Austin City Limits singing about the sun should be more physically passionate than my singing to the ONE who is infinitely more worthy of such a display.

I want my worship to be complete. I want it to flow seamlessly from the inward to the outward. I want to break into spontaneous dancing. HE is worthy.