New Youth Department Website

As of last weekend, the General Conference Youth Department has a new website with a new design. See for yourself at http://gcyouthministries.org

Adventist president holiday message

The Adventist world church president's annual holiday message will be broadcast starting today. Catch it tonight at 7:30pm on the Hope Channel. Read more...

Video Copyright ©2008 Seventh-day Adventist Church. 
Source: www.adventist.org/specials/2008_holiday_message/

Free GYC audio downloads

AudioVerse is a website that provides sermon and devotional downloads free of cost for private, non-commercial usage. These downloads are usually from events such youth rallies and conferences.

If you missed last night's keynote speaker, Justin McNeilus, at the 2008 Generation of Youth for Christ conference, you can hear it online at www.audioverse.org. The website also provides it as a free, legal download.

GYC 2008 Wednesday night keynote:
Listen/Download

Other seminar and devotional speakers downloads: www.audioverse.org/displayconference/17/GYC2008ForThisPurpose


Copyright ©2008 Generation of Youth for Christ.
Free sharing permitted under the Creative Commons
BY-NC-ND 3.0 (US) license.

Live Video: GYC 2008

Watch GYC 2008 live on these online video feeds. To watch the GYC programming LIVE you must tune in from 10PM to 12AM EST, 7PM to 10PM PST on Dec 17-21, 2009.

http://www.3abntv.org/player.cfm
http://endavo.total-stream.net/Endavo3abn

Related posts: GYC

GYC 2008 begins this Wednesday

The Generation of Youth for Christ 2008 conference begins tomorrow (12/17/08) in San Jose, California. The event will run until the 21st of December and will feature speakers such as Randy Skeete, Justin Kim, Shawn Boonstra, Mark Finley and more. 3ABN (TV channel) will be broadcasting GYC Wednesday through Sunday at 10pm EST and on Saturday at 1pm EST.

Tentative schedule for Wednesday:

10:00 am - 6:45 pm ....... Arrive and Register
7:00 - 9:00 pm ............... Keynote: Justin McNeilus
9:00 - 10:30 pm ............. Exhibits Open

For more info, please visit www.gycweb.org

Related posts:
GYC 2008: For This Purpose | Generation of Youth for Christ 2007

We Care Mission Trips

If you're wanting to get your classmates or youth group involved on a mission trip, We Care may be your answer. A ministry of the Center for Youth Evangelism, We Care Mission Trips is a service that offers mission trips to youth groups. They take care of all the logistics of a mission trip such as food, lodging, and local transportation. ¹

So what kind of projects do they provide? Well, it depends on hat your group would like to do. Vacation Bible Schools, construction, renovation, urban ministries, Week of Prayer, other community service projects, and more. ²

Promotional video from We Care:

For more information visit www.wecaremissions.org

¹ www.wecaremissions.org/index.php
² www.wecaremissions.org/view.php?content_id=2

ANN Photo Contest

Source: Adventist News Network

Attention all photographers, photojournalists, and random people reading this website:

Adventist News Network is holding a contest for youth ages 14-17. You can submit photos for the "ANN 2009 Best Youth Photos Contest" by April 1, 2009. The "winning submissions will be published the week before the Adventist Church's International Youth Sabbath on April 11." ¹

Additionally, ANN will be holding a photo contest for adults in which the deadline is the end of 2009.

You can also expect to see changes at Adventist News Network's website starting after the year-end holiday break. ANN is redesigning their website, encouraging "readers to share their comments and become participants in news, photos, comments and opinions," and include a new news layout. ²

For contest rules and more details, click here.

¹ http://news.adventist.org/aboutann/ann_2009_photo_contest.pdf
² http://news.adventist.org/aboutann/redesign.html

The One-Day Church

Source: Adventist News Network

The are many areas of the world where church members don't have church service in a regular church building. Many gather in small groups at other members' homes because they don't have their own church building. Groups in these areas tend to grow very quickly and outgrow their current location, so they have to relocate. The problem is that every time a church relocates, you usually "lose about 30 percent of the original membership."¹ So how do we fix this problem?

Maranatha and ASI² have come up with a solution: the "One-Day Chruch."

For more information on the One-Day Church, please visit www.onedaychurch.com

¹ According to Maranatha President Don Noble
² Adventist-laymen's Services and Industries

Most - The Bridge

Amazing video. How much more must God love you and me!

Video is based on an award-winning Czech short film called "Most."

The Bible, now featuring teen celebrities. Hmm...

A new audiobook series of the New Testament has been released called, "The Word of Promise Next Generation." Like other audiobooks, it's like listening to a dramatized story from a CD or MP3 player. The twist in this recording of the Bible is that it features the voices of several well-known celebrities.* These actors and singers provide the voices to Bible characters such as Jesus, Peter, John, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, and so on...

Some of the actors include Cody Linley (Hannah Montana, Dancing with the Stars) who plays Jesus, Jordin Sparks (American Idol 2007 winner) provides the voice of Elizabeth, Corbin Bleu (High School Musical) plays Peter, Emily Osment (Hannah Montana, Spy Kids) acts as Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen, Camp Rock) plays Martha. Of course, more celebrities are involved in the production than those mentioned above.

This article continues. Keep reading »

Amazing Grace

At A Sabbath Blog, we love to share how people are creative in sharing Jesus. Below is an awesome video of Dr. Wintley Phipps at Carnegie Hall singing "Amazing Grace." He explains the fascinating history behind one of the best-known hymns of all time. Almost 5 million people have viewed the YouTube videos of Wintley Phipps' rendition on Amazing Grace.*

Dr. Wintley Phipps is a pastor at Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in Palm Bay, Florida. He is the founder of the US Dream Academy, Songs of Freedom Publishing Company, and Coral Records Recording Company.

Dr. Phipps is also an internationally known speaker and performer. He has sang for 5 United States Presidents, Mother Tereasa, Nelson Mandela, and has conducted lectures in Africa, Asia, North and South America, Austrailia, and Europe. He has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, Saturday Night Live, and Billy Graham Crusades.

To learn more about Wintley Phipps and how he tells people about Jesus, click here. You can also learn more about the hymn, "Amazing Grace," by clicking here.

*Combined total hits from all YouTube-hosted videos of Wintley Phipps singing Amazing Grace. (As of 10/31/08)

Brand New Desmond Doss Movie, and other updates

New Desmond Doss Theatrical Movie
A new Desmond Doss Feature Film is in the works! And no, we're not talking about the 2004 documentary, "The Contentious Objector." Adventist filmmaker Terry Benedict (writer and director for "The Contentious Objector") will be working with Bristol Bay Productions and Walden Media to create the new movie. Walden Media co-produced "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."

Desmond Doss was an Adventist medic in the US Army during World War II. He saved the lives of more than 75 soldiers by lowering them over a 400 foot cliff in the midst of extremely heavy fire. Despite being ridiculed by his fellow soldiers, Doss refused to carry a gun. He received the United States' highest military award, Congressional Medal of Honor.

This article continues. Keep reading »

New Multilingual Bible Begins Journey Around the World

¹As of December 31, 2006 (www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/index.html.en)

What language is your Bible in? Perhaps you have an English or Spanish translation. Maybe you read your Bible in French or Swahili... You may even have a copy of the Bible written in more than one language. The Adventist Church truly is a world church. With over 15 million members in more than 200 countries, you will find over 800 languages being used to spread God's Word.¹

Only "about half of Seventh-day Adventists have a daily Bible study program." This is really something... If we're gonna be telling people that Jesus is coming back, we really need to be studying God's Word! Today the Adventist Church leaders and members from around the world met in Manila, Philippines for the Annual Council, the church's fall business session. During the Sabbath worship service at Araneta Coliseum, a new program was launched to help address this.

This article continues. Keep reading »

The Ultimate Workout 2008

"The Ultimate Workout is an annual two-week mission trip for teenagers, ages 14-18. Projects typically take place in Latin America and India. Volunteers work together to construct churches or schools, teach Vacation Bible School, and coordinate community service activities."

-UW website

Below is a video about Ultimate Workout 18 which took place this past summer in Chile.


You can learn more about these unique mission trips and how you can go on one by visiting the Ultimate Workout website.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

One day, a lawyer comes up and asks Jesus a question:

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" Matthew 22:36-39 (NKJV)

The following is a great video by youth pastor Josue Sanchez out in Maryland as posted on YouTube and theFlow.

(Used with permission)

Amazing Adventure - Final Night

(Image credit: Amazing Facts)

Amazing Adventure, the nightly Bible seminar made just for kids, will air its last episode tonight. The series has been running live from Richardson, Texas since September 12.

The presenter, Pastor Doug Batchelor has covered various topics such as, The Bible, Jesus' Second Coming, Salvation, the Sabbath, Health, and more. And as for tonight's topic? Heaven!

A Christian parenting seminar, "Raising Kids for Heaven," follows every episode. It has featured speakers such as Neil Nedley, M.D., Cinda Osterman, Donna J. Habenicht, Ed.D. and more.

You can catch the last episode of both seminars tonight at 8PM (EST) on 3ABN and on the Amazing Adventure website. You can also watch previous episodes on that same website.

GYC 2008: For This Purpose

The seventh annual Generation of Youth for Christ conference will be held in San Jose, California on December 17-21, 2008. This years theme is, "For This Purpose."

Speakers include Doug Batchelor, Shawn Boonstra, Alistair Huong, Chelsy Jourdain, Justin Kim, Radim Passer, Randy Skeete, and more. Registration is already open.

These are the same people who brought you the Army of Youth social networking website. Check it out!

For more information, visit www.gycweb.org.

This Pathfinder's the Prime Minister of Antigua

Source: Adventist News Network

Imagine this: As you sit down for church service during a Pathfinder camporee, you find the president or prime minister of your country in a Pathfinder uniform!

This was the reality for Pathfinders attending a camporee in Antigua last week. Antigua Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer is now a second-year honorary Pathfinder. The prime minister stayed throughout the 5-day event, as well as through the entire church service.

3,000 Pathfinders attended the event from around the Caribbean from August 14-18, 2008. The camporee included a parade of over 8,000 people on Saturday. They marched through St. John's calling for people to rejecting drugs and violence, while asking people to commit to Christ.

You can read more about the camporee and of the prime minister's visit, at Adventist News Network.

With nearly 2 million members around the world, Pathfinders is a coed service organization for youth ages 10-16 by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Sacramento Adventist Academy Graduate wins Gold at the Olympics

Sacramento Adventist Academy graduate Mary Whipple won Gold with her team last Sunday at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Mary is the coxswain on the women's eight rowing team for the United States. The coxswain is the person who sits in the back of the boat, facing the rowers. As coxswain, Mary steers the boat, coordinates the tempo and energy of the rowers, and motivates the team all at the same time. [More...]

Have you noticed that the people rowing seem to be sitting backwards? If something were to block the path, the rowers wouldn't know about it unless the coxswain tells them. Good thing there's a Coxswain* in life Who'll always guide you in the right direction if you'll let Him!

*PS It's Jesus! :-D

The G5 Video Contest by Insight Magazine

Insight Magazine's all new video competition, G5, has arrived!

Send in either an animation or live-action video referencing 1 or more of the Fruits of Spirit, and you could win an iPod Touch (or $300)! Be sure to send in your video before midnight of October 15, 2008 for your video to be accepted into the contest. If you need to freshen up on your Fruits of the Spirit, turn in the Bible to Galatians 5:22-23.

So grab a video camera, and start yelling "Action!"

For more details click here.

Squeaky Clean

So we were playing with my favorite soccer ball in a nearby parking lot. We were running and scoring, having a great time! But with every bounce, roll, and kick, my soccer ball naturally got really dirty. Soon, black streaks covered the ball thanks to the fact we were playing on asphalt. No longer did the ball look squeaky clean and brand new. In fact, it looked more like it had survived some sort of war! After a while, the black streaks started bothering me, so I decided it needed to be cleaned.

This reminded me of God and His awesome grace. We all tend to stain ourselves with sin. Unfortunately, that's our sinful nature. But the good news is that we can always go to Jesus, asking Him to forgive us for our sins.

Here's the most important part: There's no way my soccer ball can clean itself and neither can we. Thankfully, God can make us like new again. He's the only One that makes us clean.... all we have to do is be willing.

It's Never Too Early

It's never to early to let God use you.

The Amazing Adventure

Every year, many churches hold evangelistic meetings geared for adults, leaving kids both squirming and bored to death. Amazing Adventure attempts to change that by holding a set of Bible study meetings made especially for kids ages 8 to 12.

"Amazing Adventure will be enjoyable for both kids and parents. There will be exciting illustrations, interactive Bible questions, stirring music, and then a gospel message aimed at their hearts that is both intriguing and inspirational," says the event's website.

According to the site, the program will help kids learn more about young Bible heroes (David, Samuel, Daniel, Josiah, and others...) while highlighting a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Topics include: God's Word, the devil and the origin of evil, the second coming of Jesus, law and the Christian lifestyle, salvation, the Sabbath, health, the truth about death and ***, baptism and the church, and heaven and commitment.


The series will run from Friday, September 12 to Saturday, September 20, 2008. Each nightly program will run about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The first hour will be for children and their families, while the last half hour is a parenting seminar for the attendees' parents. You can watch each broadcast live on 3ABN and on the event's website.

Amazing Adventure Parenting Seminar promo. (Video)

• Broadcast times
• Find a local event site

Click image to enlarge poster

My Place with Jesus (.com)

UPDATE (7/17/08): Myplacewithjesus.com is now up and running, ready for kids to learn more about God.

-----------------------------

It Is Written is launching an interactive online Bible studies website for kids ages 7-12, called My Place With Jesus. The Bible studies are hosted by Jean Boonstra, author of the Adventist Girl series (sets 1 and 3).

My Place With Jesus will be up this month (July 2008), ready for kids to learn more about Jesus in a safe, Christian (and digital) environment. You can visit the site at myplacewithjesus.com

Adventist neurosurgeon receives top award; Cuba Gooding Jr. to portray him in new movie

Source: Adventist News Network

A Seventh-day Adventist pioneer in pediatric neurosurgery who overcame childhood poverty and achieved worldwide renown received the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States government on June 19.

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson Sr. was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his outstanding contributions to medicine and his motivating influence on America's young people, U.S. President George W. Bush said during a morning ceremony in the East Room of the White House.

Perhaps best known for his successful efforts in separating conjoined twins and controlling brain seizures in children, Carson is chief of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

Carson, an inner city Detroit, Michigan native, overcame a "grim future" of poverty, crime and violence to become "a scholar, a healer and a leader," Bush told the audience of cabinet members, Congressional representatives and medal recipients and their families.

"For his skills as a surgeon, his high moral standards and his dedication to helping others, I am proud to bestow this honor," Bush said. [click here to read more]

Dr. Carson has also authored 4 books, his latest one on "learning to identify, choose and live with acceptable risk." You can listen Ground 7 News' interview with him by clicking here.

The Adventist neurosurgeon will be played by Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. in an upcoming movie based on his autobiography, "Gifted Hands."

Who is Jesus?

I've been seeing this in emails and all over the web.... So in case you haven't read it already, I thought I'd share it with you!

• In chemistry, He turned water to wine
  
• In biology, He was born without the normal conception
  
• In physics, He disapproved the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven
  
• In economics, He disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 men with two fishes & 5 loaves of bread
  
• In medicine, He cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs
  
• In history, He is The Beginning and The End
  
• In government, He said that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace
  
• In religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him
  
  
• Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master
  
• Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher
  
• Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer
  
• He had no army, yet kings feared Him
  
• He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world
  
• He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him
  
• He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today!

Jesus is my best Friend, and I hope you get to know Him, too! =)

Adventist YouTube

Being the 3rd most visited site in the world,¹ YouTube.com is the most popular of the video sharing sites out there. But there are also a lot Christian video sharing sites such as GodTube.com that have large audiences and help let thousands of people learn about God's love. Which brings us to SpiritFlash.org.

Sponsored by the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, SpirtFlash "serves a networking tool to assist Seventh-day Adventist members involved in ministry."

It's nice to know there's another Christian video website out there without the nasty ads or perverse videos that appear on most websites!

_________________
¹ As of June 2008, according to Alexa.com

As the SpiritFlash disclaimer states, the videos on its website don't necessarily reflect the opinions or official stand of the Adventist church and is not guaranteed to be correct, accurate, complete, or up to date.

The Cosmic Conflict Project

*
The Cosmic Conflict Project concept art (letterboxes added)
Amazing Facts is producing a new, high-definition documentary series on the great controversy between Jesus and Satan. According to the website, 10 different chapters will make up the DVDs:

DVD 1 - Release: Fall 2008
The Fall of Satan, The Fall of Man

Disk 2 - Release: Late 2009
The Flood, The Children of Israel, The Life of Christ

Disk 3 - Release to be announced
The Dark Ages/Reformation, The Last Days, The Second Coming

Disk 4 - Release to be announced
The Judgment, The New Earth


* *
(left) Doug Batchelor prepares to tape the narration for the Cosmic Conflict. Adam and Eve stand in garden set (right).
For more information visit http://www.cosmicconflictproject.com/

*All images from Cosmic Conflict's website. Copyright 2008 Amazing Facts, Inc.

List of Summer Camps

Ah, summer! For those of us living in North America, the time of year has finally returned to be filled with water sports and bright, sunny days! With school now extinct from kids' minds, many will flock toward nearby summer camps.

So if you are one of the many that will be attending a summer camp this year, here's a list of all the Adventist summer camps in North America:

http://www.plusline.org/article.php?id=4691

Adventist Lifestyle, a Fountain of Youth According to National Geographic Researcher

Source: Adventist News Network

New York Times best-selling author and researcher, Dan Buettner has found 5 pockets around the world where people live longer, healthier, and happier lives than the surrounding population. He calls these pockets, the Blue Zones, and has authored a National Geographic book, called "The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest" (National Geographic Books, 2008).

According to Buettner, Loma Linda, California is America's Blue Zone. The researcher found that the Adventist lifestyle in the southern California Adventist community is shown to increase longevity. He cited habits common among Adventists, such as the Sabbath rest and a plant-based diet.

Also finding a connection between healthier lives and God, Buettner states: "I can tell you that of the 200 plus centenarians I interviewed [for the book], 99 percent believed in God, so faith seems to factor fairly prominently."

Would you look at that! Turns out that our parents have been right when they've taught us about God, and made us to eat our veggies!

Learn more about the Loma Linda Blue Zone.

To learn more about Buettner's research and to take a life expectancy test visit www.bluezones.com.
You can also learn about the Adventist Health Studies by clicking here.

Adventist Review: The Role of MySpace

Adventist Review's¹ cover story recently featured MySpace and other social networking. Stephanie Kinsey and Tyler Kraft² try answering questions such as: "What roles do social networks play in the lives of Adventsts?" Are these interactive sites really witnessing tools? With many users living different lives online than the ones they portay in real life, how should Christians be like on these sites?

If you don't get Adventist Review, or can't find one lying around at your church, you can read the article online: Click here.

Also, according to Ground 7 News, the General Conference expects to have its own MySpace-like website by this summer.

_________________
¹The Adventist Review is the Flagship journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

²Stephanie Kinsey is the communication director at the Northern California Conference Tyler Kraft is the communication assistant there.

Final "Let's Talk" Episode

Source: Adventist News Network

The 19th and final episode of "Let's Talk" will be airing live on the the church's Hope Channel and it's website at 5 p.m. local (10 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time). In this last episode of the series, the president Jan Paulsen will be in Bucharest, Romania taking questions directly from Adventist youth.

"Let's Talk" is a live, unscripted broadcast of dialogues between the Adventist world church president and Adventist youth. Over the course of five years, the church leader has met young Adventists from 30 countries in live forums in Africa, South America, Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.

Even though the TV series is ending, you can still ask the president questions and make comments at the "Let's Talk" website.

Paulsen is also scheduled to host a live, unscripted dialogue with pastors in Europe in the second installment of "Pastors: In Conversation." The broadcast is set for May 28 in London at 7 p.m. local time (2 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time).

You can read more about "Let's Talk" at their official website and at the Adventist News Network.

(More: "Let's Talk")

Army of Youth

Army of Youth is a new Adventist online community and resource website from Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC). According to their website, AOY provides "networking, resources, training, and ministry opportunities for young people who are serious about taking the three angels’ messages to the entire world."

Even though the website has been up for only a few months, it already has over 2,264 users from 70 countries around the world (as of May 2008).

We spoke with Joe Reeves, who is part of the team at Army of Youth on the success of the website and what it hopes to accomplish:

---------------------
A Sabbath Blog: Tell me a bit about Army of Youth. What are it's missions, it's goals. What do you hope to accomplish with AOY?

Joe Reeves: I, along with the others on this team, pray that this site will help bring Adventist youth together throughout the year from around the world, not based on entertainment, but based on a united interest of pleasing God in all things and working tirelessly to share the good news of Jesus Christ and His soon advent with this generation.

The Army of Youth website is designed to meet the needs of God fearing, mission driven Seventh-day Adventist young people. AOY seeks to enlist, connect, equip and deploy a movement of Adventist young people who will fully embrace the responsibility of carrying the three angels' messages to the world in this generation.

Thus the website is broken into four sections: enlist, connect, equip, and deploy. Young people must first enlist as a member of AOY before gaining access to all of the features of the website.

A Sabbath Blog: So why create a website specifically for youth?

Joe Reeves: That is an interesting question, and a good one. "Why have youth rallies? Why have youth Sabbath Schools? Why have youth summer camps?" Everyone doing youth programs has reasons why it's important.

Army of Youth has created this website because this is what our youth are looking for and need. And youth will be the quickest to use our services. We do not want to exclude any age group from this website. In fact, we welcome anybody regardless of age to join who thinks they can use the services of AOY or contribute to the purpose of AOY. Even the most popular social networking sites on the internet are open to all ages, but young people dominate these sites because they are more inclined to use this new technological method of socializing.

Typically, younger people are seeking a challenge, a mission; and they're also looking for identity and belonging. Army of Youth wants to give our youth the gospel commission and Godly living as a 21st century challenge, and give these youth identity and belonging as part of God's people within the Seventh-day Adventist church.


A Sabbath Blog: Who should join, or "enlist," in Army of Youth?

Joes Reeves: Anybody who accepts the Army of Youth challenge and agrees to the rules of engagement is welcome to enlist. The website was primarily designed to serve Seventh-day Adventist young people who take their beliefs and mission seriously. But we hope that all who could use the services of AOY or contribute to the purpose of AOY will join, including pastors, ministry representatives, speakers, and parents.

A Sabbath Blog: Why should someone switch from their MySpace or Facebook sites and join AOY?

Joes Reeves: MySpace and Facebook promote a worldly culture that revolves around self. You will never see nasty banner ads on AOY. These other sites are a good place to meet worldly friends, but AOY is a good place to meet the Christian friends you're looking for. AOY is a safe place where you are encouraged to express your faith, your struggles, your victories, and your dreams without feeling out of place or fighting peer pressure. The ungodly atmosphere of these other sites makes most users timid with their faith and bold in their display of doubtful content. AOY tends towards an opposite effect to that of Myspace or Facebook.

A Sabbath Blog: There has been talk about the need for an Adventist MySpace by the Youth Department at the General Conference. Is this that website?

Joe Reeves: I first heard about what the Youth Department of the General Conference is planning after we were nearing the public release of our site. Youth workers everywhere are recognizing the need for these types of services.

---------------------
You can learn more about Army of Youth and join at http://www.armyofyouth.org/. You can also add us to your platoon.

American Idol and Jesus

Here in the US, popular TV contest/reality show American Idol, had a special episode a few weeks ago. It was called "Idol Gives Back," in which the show raised funds to help certain people in need. Towards the end of the show, the contestants sang, "Shout to the Lord," which pleasantly surprised me, for this is more of a secular TV show.

American Idol has a viewing audience of somewhere over 30 million viewers. I don't expect someone out there to be impacted by singing a simple song we as Christians are so used to singing in church services and youth camps, but perhaps it did impacted someone out there. Maybe, maybe not.... we may find out one day! :)

- More Christian videos -

2009 Courage to Stand Camporee Promo

The 2009 Courage to Stand International Pathfinder Camporee. August 11-15, 2009

http://www.camporee.org/

- More Christian videos -

Flowers and Sparrows

A few days ago, I saw a group of little purple dots, scattered over a little patch of grass. I bent over to get a closer look, and discovered that those dots were actually really small flowers!

Seeing the small flowers reminded me of something comforting that Jesus said many years ago. Jesus was telling His people about God's love and how He will provide for our needs:

"Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don't work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?" Matthew 6:28-30 (CEV)

And here's what Jesus had to say about those birds that fly over my head and land those really thin power lines:

"Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?" Matthew 6:26 (CEV)

I have absolutely no idea what kind of flower I almost stepped on, but I can count that not only does my Heavenly Father know but He cares for me too!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Sabbath Tip #0005: "Lights, Camera, Action!"
by A Sabbath Blog

This week's idea is on making a Christian movie. Simply grab a video camera and start filming!

You can be as creative and as elaborate as you want. You could make a nature video, a Christian music video, a documentary on how your parents became Christians, a tour of your church, a Biblical reenactment, etc.....

Making a movie is a great way to get your message a cross to a large audience. After you've saved your movie, share your movie with your friends, neighborhood, Sabbath school, whoever! You might also want to upload it to the Internet. You can upload for free to websites such as YouTube, Guide Magazine, Insight Magazine, or A Sabbath Blog and have your film seen by people from around the world!*

________________
*Have your parents review your video for your safety. Obtain their permission and anyone in the video's permission before you upload it to the Internet!

Beanie Tunes

Beanie Tunes is a Christian comic strip series that can be found online at the Beanie Tunes website. It follows the adventures of characters at Beanston Junior High and Pike Elementary. These comics have Christian morals, having Bible verses through out the episodes. Though the editors of Beanie Tunes aren't payed to make the comics and do it on their free time, you can help them in their cause by purchasing special editions that aren't available on their website.

We wanted to learn more about the comics, so we chatted with the Beanie Tunes editors. Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

A Sabbath Blog: So, first off, tell me a little bit about these comics that you guys create...

Beanie Tunes: We lived most of our life in California, and it was there that the comics began. We had and still have a large collection of Beanie Babies, and the origins of Beanie Tunes lie in comics written about a core group of Beanies (Ty Beanie Babies) that we did every Sabbath at church or slightly afterward. They became quite popular and eventually were published in a local newspaper. Eventually, the comic expanded with new characters such as Scaly, a few more sharks, and many others, in addition to the creation of Season 2.

ASB: You have quite a few characters in your comics. Is there one main character, or are there a group of characters that are, indeed, the main characters?

BT: To answer your question, probably Hornsly, Mooch Junior, Rainbow, Inky, and Crunch are the main characters. There are [also] three central groups of characters at Beanston Junior High. One group is ‘Rainbow and Friends’, comprising of Rainbow, She-Rainbow, Iggy, and She-Iggy (Rainbow and She-Rainbow are not related; Iggy is She-Iggy’s older brother). ‘Hornsly and the Gang’ is another group, consisting of Hornsly, Tornsly, and Warnsly. ‘The Mooch Group’ stands in the middle of the conflict between Hornsly and Rainbow. We won’t mention the Pike Elementary groups yet because they haven’t been featured in the episodes. -- [ASB Note: You can read more about the characters here]

ASB: What do you hope to accomplish by having Beanie Tunes on the web?

BT: We hope to make them available to people through the Internet. By exposing the world to Christian values, we hope these comics will lead people accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

ASB: So, what's in store for Beanie Tunes (in the future)?

BT: It has been said that Beanie Tunes has seven seasons planned, although we will not confirm this. Odd seasons take place during the school year (in the comic), whereas even seasons happen in the summertime. Season Three will feature more underwater action at Pike Elementary (Inky and Crunch’s school).

--------------------

Here's an exclusive look at one of the special edition episodes of Beanie Tunes from the upcoming Season 3 (not yet released). Click on the image to enlarge. Enjoy!

"Crunch and Da' Bunch"

"Teacher Scaly's Bible Remedies: 'Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.' Mark 5:19 (NKJV)"

Click here to visit the Beanie Tunes Website

__________________

If you or someone you know make comics or kinds of artwork to let others know more about God, let us know about it at asabbathblog@gmail.com

Prayer Chain

Sabbath Tip #0004: "Prayer Chain"
by A Sabbath Blog

There's nothing like finding out that there's someone out there praying for you, especially when like gets tough. Here's an idea:

Pray for someone you know that may be going through something difficult. You can ask God to be with them, and to give them the strength and peace they may need. Be sure to also pray that they may know that God loves them and is with them "through thick and thin."

Send them a nice card or ecard anonymously, telling them that they are on your mind and that you are praying for them. Make sure they don't know who sent it to them. :)

Tragic California Pathfinder Outing

Mark Darrough drowned last Sunday near a California beach, while trying to save a drowning girl. His daughter, Jessica, died last Tuesday morning after being on life support.

The Ceres Seventh-day Adventist Church Pathfinder club was on a field trip to visit the tide pools at Point Lobos State Reserve. Afterwards, they had stopped at Monastery Beach, which is part of Carmel River State Beach, because the kids wanted to "visit a beach with sand."

The group had just arrived at the beach and was rethinking whether it was safe to be there when a 13-year-old member of the group was swept into the water. Several people went into the water to try to rescue the girl, including the Darroughs. Noe Gomez was finally able to pull the 13-year old out of the water, but the Darroughs were "overwhelmed by the waves and undertow."

Jessica, 23, was pulled out of the water first. Mark, 47, was later pulled out; he was in the water for nearly 40 minutes.

Please keep their family and friends in your prayers.

Ceres Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Modesto Bee (newspaper article)

theFlow

A few months ago, we were seeing talks about the need for Adventist social networking websites. Well, Insight Magazine has just recently released it's own social networking website for youth. They're calling it, "theFlow, where people talk about the Water of Life." You can create your own page like on Facebook or MySpace and add videos, pictures, and blogs. You can join groups and jump into discussions in theFlow's forums.

Nick Bejarano is the marketing manager for Insight Magazine. When we asked what theFlow's purpose and missions were, this was his take:

"We wanted to connect with youth more on their level and interact with them in a way they feel comfortable with (social networking). Secondly we want to create a place where youth of all faiths can come and learn about ours. Our website receives a lot of traffic from non-SDA's, so this site is open to anyone looking for answers not just SDA youth. And thirdly, we're hoping to create relationships and not just network. Relationships is the key to discipleship and ministering to the most basic need for companionship and friendship."

The new site is hosted by Ning.com, a website that allows anyone to create their own "myspace-like" websites. To join theFlow, you need to create an account with Ning.com, which is easy since you can register without leaving theFlow's website.

Check 'em out: http://www.insightmagazine.ning.com/

The Wet Pants Parable

Circulating throughout the Internet, this story has a deep meaning.

A nine-year-old was kid sitting at his desk when suddenly there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat"

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!"

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym short to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else..... Susie.

She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. "You've done enough, you klutz!"

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too."

Baby Steps and God

A few weeks ago, I watched as a baby girl slowly took a small step. A few seconds later, she took another step. She would glance up at her mom, holding her own little hands in her mom's larger hands. As her mom slowly stepped backwards, the baby girl took another step forwards.

Thinking back, I start to realize it's the same with my heavenly father. He's not going to allow me to go through something that I can't handle. And even when I get myself into a tough situation, I know that I can trust my heavenly Dad to help me through.

That baby girl trusted her mom, she knew she wasn't going to drop her to do something else. Her mom was there for her baby. She helped her little girl to walk towards her. I believe the more we put our trust in God, the closer we are able to walk towards our heavenly Father.

1 Corinthians 10:13, Phillipians 4:13

Standing at the Cross

Here's a song written by Adventist musician Peter Dixon. His song, "Standing at the Cross" was featured on the 2nd Quarter 2006 Adventist Mission DVD. Here, it's performed by Justin Michael.

"Standing at the Cross"
Written by Peter Dixon
Copyright 2004

To learn more about Adventist musicians' exposure on the quarterly Adventist Mission DVDs, click here.

- More Christian videos -

Hangin' Out

When Jesus came to Earth, what did He do? OK well, He did a lot of teaching, healing, performing tons of miracles..... Sure, He did plenty of amazing things, but all of these things have something in common. Everything He did showed that He cared about the people he spent time with and eventually died for. With every miracle, and every new insight that He showed us, He was always with people, and did things for people.

But what if Jesus had decided to perform miracles from a distance? Would it have had a difference? What if Jesus had set up a chair under a shady tree, where it's nice and cool, and had the sick walk to Him from all over the area? How would we have perceived Him? Would we still think of Him as the kind and loving God we know Him to be?

Fortunately Jesus was and is close to people. He spent time with people. He went over for dinner in their homes. He let kids come to him even when his own disciples rejected them. He went and healed lepers while others ran away from them. Jesus is very person-oriented. His love for us is indescribable.

Which bring us to this week's Sabbath Tip which was sent to us by "forevertrusting." It's all about being people-oriented. When you spend time with people you really show that you care about them. More importantly, you're reflecting what Jesus did.


Sabbath Tip #0003: "Hangin' Out"
by "forevertrusting"

We have several people in our church struggling with cancer. We asked them if we could just come over and hang out with them and sing. We brought little kids with us and several folks who can play the guitar and sang a few hours away. Any and every song that came up that we could think of was sung. Hymns and kiddie songs with motions. "I Just Want to be a Sheep" and "Twelve Men Went to Spy on Canaan" got us all smiling. :) Somehow we were all blessed and we all felt loved and cared about.

Visit someone lonely or sick. Bring a crowd if you can.... its awesome! Once, our whole church left the sanctuary to visit a sick member. Great for your soul!!

__________________________

Tell us what you like to do most on Saturday afternoons! Email us your name, and your idea to asabbathblog@gmail.com. Be sure to read the Guidelines first.

Adventist Church president on Bloomberg TV

Source: Adventist News Network

If you wanna catch the president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church on TV, February 11th's your chance. It is the first time the president of the Adventist Church has granted an interview to a major international television network.

"We've never, as a church, had the opportunity to present our face to the public in this manner," said Pastor Jan Paulsen. He later told Adventist News Network, "We have something to say to the public, not only when we run the evangelistic campaigns or when we preach Sabbath morning. We represent a community of so many values. People will know about us in the most unbiased, informed way if we tell them ourselves."

Night Talk's Mike Schneider asked questions about the church's history, growth and diversity, as well as its relation to contemporary issues.

The president's interview with Night Talk will air on Bloomberg TV in the United States, Europe and Asia on February 11, 2007 at 10 PM EST (UST-5).

Update: Video

The List

Sabbath Tip #0002: "The List"
by A Sabbath Blog

People are always making lists for everything: grocieries, expenses, favorite things, Christmas presents, resolutions, packing for a trip, homework, agendas, etc...

Just like some people make a list of the things they would like to do in their lifetime, make a Sabbath idea list. Write down ideas, as simple or wild as they may be, that you'd like to do on Saturdays with your friends, or family.

There you go! Just select an idea or activity that would fit in to your current situation! Now you can spend less time moping, and more time enjoying your Sabbaths!

P.S. Tell us what you like to do on Sabbath afternoons at asabbathblog@gmail.com

Young Adult Summit: IGNITION

The 2008 NAD Youth Ministries/Young Adult Leadership Summit: "IGNITION" starts in a little over 2 weeks. The bi-annual event held in Dallas, Texas will six general sessions, seminars and workshops, forums, and lots more! The meetings are all young adults and those who minister with them.

Featured speakers for the summit include: George Barna, Benjamin Lundquist, Ann Roda, Elden Ramirez and Eddie Hypolite. Special guests and musical groups will also be there including: Vocal Union, The Dynamic Praise Gospel Choir, Lance Mishleau, Willy Ramos, True!mprov, SONscreen, and Steve Case.

“It is our hope that every church will send their young adults and leaders to IGNITION,” shared Elder James Black, director for North American Division Youth/Young Adult Ministries. This is one event those involved with youth/young adult ministries don't want to miss!

For more information on the meetings click here. To register for this event click here or call 800-732-7587

IGNITION is February 14-17, 2008 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Dallas, TX.

Adventist University in Kenya Evacuated

Source: Adventist News Network - (1/3/08) (1/7/08)

Church leaders evacuated 286 students, staff and international workers from Seventh-day Adventist-owned University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB) to Nairobi on January 6.

Earlier, church leaders in Kenya reported that about 200 students, staff and faculty at the UEAB are taking refuge at a nearby police station after officers escorted them on December 31 from the campus, which was surrounded by a mob.

Pr. Ceaser Wamalika, who is a chaplain at the University, shared his eyewitness account of the Decmeber 31st incident on the Ground 7 News podcast. The following is a direct transcript from the podcast:

"Shortly after the Kenyan national elections had been announced and there was a dispute, and the people had been watching it through the television. We heard noises, people shouting in the market nearby, and as we looked we saw crowds of people and they were singing war songs in their local language. And they came, they went round, and they came to the campus, to the gate-- the main entrance to the campus and we could tell that there was some, eh, something going on with the security people at gate."

UEAB, aeriel view

"And then when we moved there they were demanding to storm the University. Their demand was that all the faculty and the staff who belong to the Kikuyu community, where the President comes from, together with the Kamba and the Kisii, who did not vote for the opposition, they wanted them out of the campus.

So we tried to talk to the crowd [-indiscernible-] which was about a thousand people, we tried to talk to them, pleading with them, that this [is] a Christian institution. They could not listen. So, lucky enough and maybe to God's providence, a police vehicle came and two police men came out-- they were armed and they came, talked to the crowd. They took about an hour, talking to them, and the crowd became a bit calm because they were having their machetes, their clubs ready for war.

And then the police called us aside and said, 'The only way you save this university from being stormed is by releasing these people. Take them out, let us escort them for their safety to the police station.' So we informed our faculty who come from those ethnic groups and the students. We gave them about half minutes to pack up and they leave. And we put them in our University vehicles, three of them, and the police escorted..."

→ You can hear the podcast in its entirety here.

According to the UEAB website, the university is planning on reopening this Monday, January 14th.

Screenshot of the UEAB website notifying students and faculty about the university's reopening

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Kenya is providing emergency food assistance and medical supplies for displaced and affected families in coordination with other humanitarian agencies in the country.

In a January 3 statement, Adventist world church Executive Secretary Matthew A. Bediako appealed to the people Kenya "to come together and find ways to promote reconciliation." The video was aired on the Hope Channel.

There are more than 560,000 Adventists worshiping in some 3,500 congregations in Kenya.

Bible Illustrations

Unfortunately, lots of people feel that they need a survival handbook to get through every Sabbath. Here at A Sabbath Blog, we've compiled ideas and activities that have helped us in the past. We'll be posting tips and ideas here and there throughout the new year that you might like to try!

Remember, it all starts with a positive mental attitude. If you go home thinking of all the special opportunities for that Sabbath instead of all the things that you can't do, then you'll enjoy your weekly holiday a lot more! Enjoy!

Sabbath Tip #0001: "Bible Illustrations"
by A Sabbath Blog

Create a Biblical cartoon strip about your favorite Bible story.

Materials:
Pen or pencil
Blank sheet of paper

Here's how:
1.) Read about your favorite biblical story in, of course, the Bible
2.) Create frames such as those found in comics strips
3.) Draw out the characters found in the story and write out speech bubbles
4.) Share with your friends and family

Optional:
Color in your cartoon strip if you'd like. You can also create your cartoon strip on the computer with the proper software. Post it online if you'd like and witness to millions!