The Spur Issue III

ISSUE #

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Encourage your youth to help their mom clean the house this weekend, to be a positive influence at school, to bring a neighbor to church.

Find one of the million ways to Live Love(d) and come to San Antonio to tell us all about them.”

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D E R A P E R P BE

by LAURA NEL

Well, that doesn’t sound so bad. I could use a vacation and San Antonio sounds like a fine destination, but I am still suspicious. All I can tell you is to stay tuned to the Spur for more information and hopefully we will get to the bottom of all of this soon.

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It cannot be denied. You have heard it repeatedly from Spur reporters. All of our intelligence indicates that this national Gathering will focus on, of all things, love. All that I can say to you readers out there is be prepared to hear about love, see love, talk about love, and love love. But be cautious. We are still largely unsure about what all this “love” means.

Based on all my information on the Gathering thus far, It seems as though they are preparing young people to Live Love(d) (To be honest, we are still trying to figure out what the “d” thing is all about). However, it has been confirmed by our own research on the Pre-Gathering Bible studies and a number of my own personal private investigators that youth will be challenged to love in a new and different way. “In what new and different way?” We thought you might ask…. It apparently has a lot to do with Jesus. This Jesus, reportedly, loved the unloved, fed the hungry and healed the sick. My question is how they expect youth to do all this.

DIGITAL ESPIONAGE

We have just learned that the people behind this mass gathering have released an app for mobile users! It can be found at www.lcmsgathering.com/app. It contains I hunted down a Gathering representative to answer this very information about the event as well as question. He responded, “There are no small ways to Live important details about San Antonio. Make Love(d). Whether you hold the door for the person behind sure to download it as soon as possible you or volunteer at a food pantry, every day you can find and begin exploring whatever information ways to Live Love(d). Living this way involves words, but they are providing. You can spy at home! actions are just as important. Showing respect and courtesy It’s like they want us to know what’s going to others are simple ways to show that you have been loved on. THIS IS TOO EASY! and that you will share this love with others. Don’t wait until San Antonio to Live Love(d).

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by Anthon

A Call to Action!

Ask the pastor if you c an do a send of f or commissioning. What you do can vary and we know this concept is probably foreign to some of our readers so we have done the research and will provide you with some options.

The time has come. We here at the Spur are becoming overwhelmed by the intel we are gathering about this undertaking in San Antonio, Texas. Our desks are covered with papers and half eaten boxes of Chinese food all in an effort to make sure you get the latest in speculative information. But in recent days, we have come to a startling realization…we don’t know as much as we think we know. We are starting to wonder if we are missing something. This may come as a shock to you. And that is why we need your help.

1. If you decide to leave on a Sunday, June 30, have the pastor say some words and follow them with a sendoff service for you and the young people you have recruited. Get the students to dress for travel and then walk straight out the door onto the bus/cars to leave.

You may even have this done with the congregation outside so that they can wave good-bye as you go. And even if you’re not leaving on a Sunday, a small service of sending might work well, too. High exposure means lots of alibis.

Here is what we want you to do: Go to San Antonio during this Gathering from July 1–5 as a spy. Scour the area, collect secrets, eat a giant burrito, whatever you need to do in order to get the inside scoop on what is really going on down there. We understand we are asking a lot and that you likely hadn’t planned on making such a trip. But we are asking you to take time off from your usual summer routine of running marathons, rescuing puppies and being fantastic in order to give us a hand. Of course, you will need to blend in with those traveling to San Antonio. Fear not, we have developed the perfect cover. Attending a Christian Youth Gathering as an adult leader of a local congregation.

2. Another possibility is to have a Texas-themed dinner (these people love food). Invite those who have supported the young people through prayer and financial support. Maybe even have the dinner the evening before you leave. Give the families a chance to talk with each other and have the pastor say a blessing over the students at the end of the evening. And if you can get the families talking you might pick up some valuable information.

3. A third option is to hold an event around the services on Sunday morning where they talk a little about the Gathering and what they expect. Give the congregation a chance to ask questions and hear what the students are looking forward to. (This way you have tricked the congregation into doing an interrogation for you!) Maybe show some pictures that you can grab from the internet of the hotel you are staying at and the places you are going to visit. You can also sell it as an opportunity to connect an event like this to a planned post-gathering event where you talk about how your experiences matched your expectations.

Tell people that you are attending a large youth conference about Christian faith and love. Mention Jesus and tell them that it is an “event that will grow you spiritually and relationally.” People eat that stuff up.

But you will have to go farther. They will be expecting details, travel arrangements, and wonder where your students are. Our suggested solution? Stage an informational meeting. Get in good with these people.

Ask them if you can go and then add the icing to the cake…a send off.

These are just three ideas that we can offer as a chance to throw people off the scent as to your true intentions. We are sure there are more out there. So beg, borrow and steal ideas; anything to keep them from recognizing you as a spy. And if you want ideas straight from the source, a commissioning service will be available at www.lcmsgathering.com/communitylife in June.

This is an extremely important task and we know that as faithful readers of the Spur you will do us proud in Texas. So prepare yourselves to go deep undercover.

Until then, keep your spurs on and your ears open.

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by JAMIE BA

BREAK THROUGH!

The message INSIDE the message

We recently got our hands on a suggested packing list‌ or so we thought. Upon further scrutiny we discovered what we believe to be a coded message inside the list. Once you have read the document in its entirety, go back and read the parts we highlighted in order and you will see what we mean. We aren’t sure about the last part, but we definitely think it is important. Maybe.

by JAMIE BASS

JUST IN CASE...

The more we learn about this Gathering, the more we realize how much pressure is on you as you pretend to be a Primary Adult Leader (PAL), not to mention lead several young people and other adult leaders to the Alamo-city without them realizing your ulterior motives. And remember, along with making sure you have enough clean underwear and caffeine to last the whole trip (big jobs in and of themselves), you are also responsible for the safety and well being of others. Yikes! Sounds like a job for someone pretty phenomenal, right? Based on the things we’ve heard, it seems that YOU fit the profile perfectly. That is why you have been chosen for this important task and, as usual, we are here to help.

Even though the Gathering is still a few months away, there is work to be done now. It would be wise to start thinking through some of the “what ifs” and emergency situations you might encounter. For example, you really should obtain cell phone numbers for all of your youth and adults now. You could start sending (texting) them weekly (or twice a month) Bible verses or thought provoking statements/questions/ quotes. This will hopefully ensure they didn’t give you a 1-800-get-lost number. Just like any trip, you want to carry all of your confirmation numbers with you (hotel, airport, bus, shuttle, printed directions/maps in case your smart-phone fails you, etc.). As the “PAL”, you should also have “I.C.E.” (In Case of Emergency) and Medical Forms for all of your youth and adults in a binder of some kind and keep it with you, maybe in your lovely, brightly-colored, in-no-way-inconspicuous backpack. We recommend gathering these things now, so that you are not running around last minute trying to assemble things of such importance. You’ll be in the Lone Star State before you know it and we will need you to be focused on the mission.

BEWARE! WATCH YOUR POCKETS

Lots of people means opportunities for thieves and pickpockets. Carry wallets in your front pocket and bring with you only what you need. That or consider bringing obscure items and make an attempt at bartering.

TO Dear Ray, As the Gathering grows closer and closer, I get more and more nervous about a 27 hour bus ride with 52 youth participants. I’m not sure if I will make it. What can I do to help pass the time?

Sincerely, Anxious Adult Dear Anxious, Break up the trip with games. Scavenger hunts can encourage youth to get out of their comfort zone and meet other youth. Group games like bingo and 20 questions lead to group bonding and interaction.

Challenge the youth to organize group activities on the bus. In my experience on the road, there is always a need for some downtime and a movie. You can always make your own “Stuck on a Bus” video and then watch it on the way home!

Your Connoisseur of the Cab,

Just make sure to stay connected to the Spur for the latest information and tips. We promise, we will find Ray is a long-time San Antonio, TX taxi driver with a wealth out what is really going on here, and as soon as we do, of information on the city and much, much more. we will be sure to uncover one of the greatest stories Maybe too much... of all time.