never the same missions devo 2010 by sally dunn

the Same Guatemala 2010

Never

Magazine

Written by Susie Shellenberger Designed by Sally Dunn Prayed for by Marti Pieper

Peter Bruner Jeremy Mudd

Andrew Youngquist

Glenn Hartranft

Tyler Marshall

Chris Rathnam Jed Johnson

Jens Boyum

Sam Mahaney

Samuel GoodmanLoftus Ben Bob Kirkpatrick

Rob Bob Kirkpatrick

Chase Olsen

Find an Alumni, Part 1 2

Find one of these guys who have been on the trip before and ask him to sign their photo for you.

How To Understand This Book Five Out = Five team members share briefly (in one minute or less!) what God is teaching them. This will happen during Game Plan time with your team.

TLB = The Living Bible NIV = New International Version Message = The Message

Soul Strategy = Nighttime devotions before you go to sleep.

Game Plan = Morning devotions with your team. 1 on 1 = You and Jesus. (Whenever a devotional page is labeled 1 on 1, you don’t do it with another person. It’s to be completed by you and God.) Huddle = You and a few others. (Whenever a devotional page is labeled Huddle, you complete it with a small group of two to four people.)

FUAGNEM = Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! (This is our evening youth rally. An outline is provided for you to take notes so you’ll remember what each FUAGNEM was about after you return home.) Journal = An opportunity to record your thoughts, feelings and events from each day. (You may think you’ll remember everything about the trip, but you really won’t. Trust us! By making time to jot a few things down each day, you’ll be more prepared to share your experience when you return home.) Big Birtha Invitation = An opportunity to celebrate your spiritual birthday. (Sign it, but keep it attached. Use this extended page as a bookmark to help you find the daily devotion during the trip. After you return home, you may want to detach the invitation and put it inside your Bible.)

Wacky Hair Nigh Thursday July 8! t,

What Does Not Belong in This Photo? 4

Schedule 6/28 Monday Dinner 5:30 p.m. FUAGNEM 7 p.m. Drama Beginnings 9 p.m. 6/29 Tuesday Breakfast Teams 1, 2, 3 at 7 a.m. Teams 4, 5, 6 at 7:30 a.m. Team Time 8 a.m. Drama Rehearsal 8:30 a.m. Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Cultural & Language 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Drama Rehearsal 1:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m. FUAGNEM 7 p.m.

6/30 Wednesday Breakfast Teams 4, 5, 6 at 7 a.m. Teams 1, 2, 3 at 7:30 a.m. Team Time 8 a.m. Drama Rehearsal 8:30 a.m. Lunch 11:45 a.m. to 12:35 p.m. Cultural & Language 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Drama Rehearsal 1:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m. FUAGNEM 7 p.m. 7/1 Thursday Fly to Antigua, Guatemala Lunch PBJ with your team Dinner 5:30 p.m. FUAGNEM 7 p.m.

7/2â&#x20AC;&#x201D;7/10 Antigua, Guatemala Breakfast 7 a.m. Team Time 8 a.m. Depart for Ministry 8:45 a.m. Dinner 5:30 p.m. FUAGNEM 7 p.m. 5

wednesday Monday pm pm june June 28 29

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: Skip the Process and Forfeit the Gift Speaker: Susie Shellenberger What does the Bible have to say about this man? “By him, God had given victory unto Syria.” He was God-blessed, God-_________________ and God-used—as well as ________________ and honorable. Scripture also says that he was a ________________ man of valor. Our story takes place in 2 Kings 5:1-14. After Scripture has said all these wonderful things about Naaman, there’s a comma—not a period—and then five words: “So he was a great hero, _______ _____ _____ _____ ___________” (2 Kings 5:1 The Living Bible). Let’s find out what happens next in our story. [Sally, please put all bolded words in a different font.] “Bands of Syrians had invaded the land of Israel and among their captives was a little girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy!” (2 Kings 5:2-3 The Living Bible)

She came from a home that believed in _________. She was living out her __________________ ___________________. Here’s the deal: Naaman wanted to skip the _________________ but still receive the gift of ________________. And this is the bottom line: WE CAN’T _____________ GOD’S PROCESS AND GET HIS ____________! Skip the _____________ and _____________ the gift. Skip the process and forfeit the gift! Skip the process and forfeit the gift! Nathan’s __________________ almost cost him his life! Humble yourself to God’s __________________, and you get ____________________ wholeness!

Har! Har! Har! Dog Property Rules 1. If I like it, it’s mine. 2. If it’s in my mouth, it’s mine. 3. If I can take it from you, it’s mine. 4. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine. 5. If I’m chewing something up, all the pieces are mine. 6. If it’s mine, it must have never been yours. 7. If it just looks like mine, it’s mine. 8. If I saw it first, it’s mine. 9. If you’re playing with something and put it down, it automatically becomes mine. 10. If it’s broken, it’s yours.

Obie Shellenberger

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.

If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” —Habakkuk 2:3 The Living Bible

Tuesday pm June 29 10

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: I found Jesus in Miami Speaker: Shari Braendel

Someone in this photo plays the bass guitar in our â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never the Sameâ&#x20AC;? praise band. Find him and ask him to sign his name on this page. 11

wednesday pm June 29 12

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: Youth Revival Speaker: Glenn Hartranft & Brooke Pryor

Think back.

On the plane . . .

What was your life like before you allowed Christ to take charge?

Describe when or how you became a Christian (It was at church camp when I was 10. . . . It was last night at Big Birtha. . . . It was at a Christian concert. . . .) and what you did (I went forward and stood at the front of a

church. . . . I knelt by my bed. . . . I asked my mom to pray with me. . . .).

Describe the difference Christ has made—and is still making—in your life.

Stuff To Do On The Plane To Guatemala

Thursday a.m. July 1

Guess what! You’ve just written your testimony! Each person’s testimony is made up of three important parts: (1) My Life Before I Knew Christ (2) How and When I Gave My Life to Christ (2) The Difference He’s Making in My Life. Be willing to share your testimony through an interpreter in Guatemala following the drama. (Also be willing to share it with your non-Christian friends when you return home!) It’s YOUR STORY. And that makes it very important! 13

Stuff To Do On The Plane To Guatemala 14

How many words can you make from

AIR SICKNESS BAG?

Complete this word association test. On reading each word or phrase, write down the first word that comes to your mind. 1. Hijack

_________________________

2. Occupado

_________________________

3. Passport

_________________________

4. Propeller

_________________________

5. Seat-belt

_________________________

6. Oxygen mask

_________________________

7. Insurance

_________________________

8. Air sickness bag _________________________

Stuff To Do On The Plane To Guatemala

Psychoanalyze yourself in flight.

Stuff To Do On The Plane To Guatemala 16

Art Fun Draw a picture of your least favorite airline attendant on this flight. (But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let anyone see you doing it!)

(pix of airplane) (pix of airplane) (pix of airplane exploding or crashing)

(pix of nice man) (pix of man with gun) (pix of nice man)

(pix of Guatemalan flag) (pix of Canadian flag) (pix of Canadian flag)

(Pix of suitcase) (pix of suitcase) (pix of pile of clothes)

Stuff To Do On The Plane To Guatemala

turns drawing a straight line between any two dots to make a square. When you make a square, put your initials in the box and take another turn. The Dot Game Take When all the dots have been connected, the player with the most points wins! Which one is not like the other?

Stuff To Do On The Plane To Guatemala

Actual Holidays

Weird . . . But Here’s what’s actually happening during your time on the “Never the Same” missions trip! June 28: National Prevention of Eye Injury Awareness June 29: Fish Are Friends, Not Food week June 30: We couldn’t find a weird holiday today, so just smile at your elbows. July 1:

Canadian Independence Day! (Learn to sing “Oh Canada!”)

July 2:

I Forgot Day (Seriously. We kid you not.)

July 3:

Compliment Your Mirror Day (Go ahead. Do it out loud.)

July 4:

U.S.A. Independence Day (Pretend you’re shooting a firecracker. ONLY pretend. If you really shoot one, we’ll shoot you home.)

July 5:

Be Nice To Jersey Week (Ray Desiderio and Vera Amaral are both from Jersey. Be very very kind to them today.)

July 6:

International Chicken Wing Day (Don’t get your hopes up. You’re still eating PBJ for lunch.)

July 7:

National Tell the Truth Day (So how much money did you really bring to Guatemala?)

July 8:

Pray for Susie Shellenberger Day (OK. This isn’t a real holiday. But I love it when you pray for me!)

July 9:

Martyrdom of The Bab Day (We have no clue what this means, so fold a banana in half instead of celebrating The Bab.)

July 10: Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day (We personally think this is stupid.) July 11: Who cares what holiday it is? You’re going HOME! You get to sleep in your own bed. And you get Mom’s cooking. And you get to wear clean clothes. And you get to start making plans to come to Quito, Ecuador with us next June 27 to July 10, 2011. YAHOO! 18

Moriah Mason

Zoe Newcomb

Holly Tarbell Molly Shriver

Find an Alumni, Part 2 Find one of these girls who have been on the trip before and ask them to sign their photo for you.

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • A scallop has 35 eyes and they’re all blue. Their eyes can’t see shapes but can detect light and motion. • It takes 20,000 light bulbs to make the Eiffel

Tower sparkle at night.

• In ancient China, criminals who attacked travelers had their noses cut off. • Hyperpolysyllabicomania is a fondness for big

words.

• The life of an eyelash is about six weeks. • The tongue of a mature Blue

Whale has approximately the same mass as that of an entire adult elephant.

•Y ou use an average of 43 muscles for a frown, and you use an average of 17 muscles for a smile. It’s said that every 2,000 frowns creates one wrinkle. • A greenfly born on a Tuesday can be a grandparent by Friday.  • Termites are affected by music. They’lll eat your house twice as fast if you play them loud music.  • Paraskavedekatriaphobia is the extreme fear of Friday

the 13th.

Game Plan There are 12 minor prophets in the Old Testament. Circle all the minor prophets:

Friday a.m. July 2 There are five major prophets in the Old Testament. They are: 1. ____________________ 2. ____________________ 3. ____________________ 4. ____________________ 5. ____________________

Hosea

Benjamin Abraham Joel Lady Gaga

Mdonna Sarah Palin

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah Jaime Jam

Jonas Brother

Micah David Joshua Nahum,

Habakkuk Jesus TobyMac Zephaniah Haggai Lewis Zechariah Malachi Steven

Little Bit o’ Background: Edom was a mountainous nation, occupying the region S.E. of the Dead Sea—including Petra, the spectacular city discovered by archaeologists a few decades ago. The Edomites were descendants of Esau (Genesis 25:19‑17:45), and they were rugged, fierce and proud warriors with homes in the mountains that seemed invincible. Of all people, they should have rushed to the aid of their northern brothers. Instead, they played the “Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah, Nyah” game and gloated over Israel’s problems. They captured and delivered fugitives to the enemy and even looted Israel’s countryside. Obadiah—the prophet—gives God’s message to the people of Edom. But because of their indifference and defiance of God, their cowardice and pride, and their treachery toward their brothers in Judah, they stand condemned and will be destroyed. 21

The book of Obadiah begins with the announcement that disaster is coming to Edom (1:1-9). The city of Edom had some major cliffs and mountains that made them feel no one could get to them. But God can get to anyone He wants, and Edom will not be able to escape God’s judgment. Obadiah then gives the reasons for their destruction (1:10-14)—their blatant arrogance toward God and their persecution of his children. This prophecy ends with a description of the Day of the Lord, when judgment will fall on all who have harmed God’s people (1:15-21). As we study Obadiah (and as you read it on your own), catch a glimpse of what it means to be God’s child, under His love and protection. See how the heavenly Father responds to all who would attack those whom He loves! Obadiah 1:1 (The Living Bible) “A report has come from the Lord,” he said, “that God has sent an ambassador to the nations with his message: ‘Attention! You are to send your armies against Edom and destroy her!’ ” Edomites are descendents of (circle the correct answer): Eyeore Esau Esau is _________________ and Edom is ________________. Edomites were those who were descended from . . . a. Ethiopia b. Egypt c. Elephants d. Egg plants e. Esau

Israelites are those who are descended from . . . a. Johnny Depp b. Jacob c. Jaguars d. Julia Roberts e. Jelly Refresher: Jacob and Esau were (circle the correct answer): angry band mates gang members cousins a cat and dog twins the name of a Hebrew clothing line What did Jacob trick Esau out of? a. family sports car b. family inheritance c. family vacation Discernment is: __________________________________________ Jacob was a deceiver, but he also had a spiritual discernment that Esau didn’t have. Esau was a man of the flesh and didn’t care for spiritual things. You probably have friends who couldn’t care less about spiritual things. Why are some people like this?____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Esau so discounted his birthright (and his spiritual heritage) that he traded it to Jacob for a bowl of soup! Of course, Esau had just returned from a hunting trip, so we know he was hungry . . . and we tend to think, WOW! He was so hungry, he gave away his entire birth right so he could have some soup?!? Here’s the truth: Esau didn’t trade his birthright because he was so hungry that he was about to die, or because there wasn’t anything else to eat in the house. He traded it because he wanted to fulfill the desires of the flesh. 23

He was willing to trade all of his spiritual heritage for a whim of the moment. He wanted immediate gratification! List some specific things that you see people seeking immediate gratification for. In other words, they don’t want to wait, so they compromise and grab what they desire right now! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What is DELAYED GRATIFICATION? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What are some areas in life in which we need to practice delayed gratification? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Here’s the scoop about the birthright: The man who had the birthright was in contact with God, and he was priest of the family. He was the man who had a covenant from God. He had a relationship with God. So in effect, Esau said, “I’d rather have a bowl of soup than have a relationship with God.” Esau didn’t want this spiritual responsibility that the birthright carried. How is this relevant to us? As Christians, we have two natures within us, and they’re struggling against each other. Let’s take a look at what the apostle Paul says about these two natures: Paul says “For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. 24

“These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures.

“When you follow your own wrong inclinations your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in our own little group—and there will be wrong doctrine, envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:17-23 TLB). Can you relate to these two parts of our humanness—our fleshly desires versus the fruit that the Holy Spirit wants to produce in us? As Christians, we want to please God. We desire to do what’s right. But as humans, sometimes our desires of the flesh get in the way. Which fruit of the spirit do you most want? ___ Love ___ Joy ___ Patience ___Kindness ___ Goodness ___Faithfulness ___Gentleness

___ Goodness ___ Self-Control

Guess what—you can have all of the above! God wants to produce each one of these fruits in your life. He produces them through His Holy Spirit working within you. And that means as you surrender more and more to His authority, He’s able to produce more and more fruit in your life. As you close in prayer, choose one fruit and ask God to produce that fruit in you today! Tell your group which fruit you’ve chosen, and have them pray for you as well.

er. Find This man is an alumni lead this page. him and ask him to sign ers.) otograph (Hint: Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the ph

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • One gallon of used motor

oil can ruin approximately one million gallons of fresh water!

• Thomas Edison got patents for a method of making concrete to burn forever.

furniture and a cigar which was supposed

• A cubic mile of ordinary fog contains less than a gallon of water.  • If you think of the Milky a penny.

Way as being the size of the continent of Asia, our solar system would be the size of

• The average driver will be locked out of their car nine times during his lifetime. • A Boeing 767 airliner contains 3,100,000 parts.  • Belief in the existence of vacuums used to be punishable under Church law.  • Your

skin weighs twice as much as your brain.

• An owl can see a mouse moving from over 150 feet away by a light no brighter than candlelight.  • The average

person has walked 100,000 miles by the time he reaches the age of 85. 27

“After you have suffered a little while,

our God,

who is full of kindness through Christ,

will give you his eternal glory.

He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place,

and make you stronger than ever.”

—1

Peter 5:10 The Living Bible

Har Har Har A frog telephoned the Psychic hotline and was told that he would meet a beautiful young girl who would want to know everything about him. “This is fantastic!” the frog said. “Will I meet her at a party?” “No,” the psychic responded. “You’ll meet her next semester in her biology class.”

A minister announced to his congregation, “Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17.” The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, “The book of Mark only has 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”

It was the beginning of term at a primary school in Brooklyn. The teacher asked the children their names one at a time, and four each to spell their name out loud. When she came to a young Pakistani boy and asked his name, he replied, “Ravashanka Vankatarataam Bannerjee.” “How do you spell that?” the teacher asked. “My mother helps me,” he said.

Friday pm July 2

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: Who Am I? (Part 1) Your I.D. Profile Speaker: Susie Shellenberger Social networking has exploded in the last five years. But no matter how much you put on your profile . . . at the very core . . . even a great ___________ and lots of ____________ don’t begin to describe who you ________________ are. Each one of us has the __________________ to be known. When we open up Genesis 1-3, we start treading stories about people communing with God. God created _________________ for______________________ with Him. How you pursue ______________ ______________ is the most important thing about you! There’s only ONE who knows you ____________________. • Psalm 100 . . . we are His. We’re the _________________ of His pasture. • Psalm 139: He ___________ you together in your mom’s womb. • Psalm 56: Every ____________ you cry, He collects in a bottle. #1 lie of the enemy: This is about your ____________________ not the Cross.

Who am I? Let God tell you! Matthew 16:17 (The Message): Jesus says to Peter, “And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that . . .”If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away” (NIV). We’ll talk more about this on Sunday morning. Did you know that Jesus prayed for you . . . even before you were born? His prayer for you is in John 17. And it’s an amazing prayer! Note two things about this prayer: 1. We see the _______________ of Jesus. 2. We’re ________________________ that Jesus answers His own prayers! If you’re asking, “Who am I? What’s my identity? Here is it: YOU are the __________________ whom Jesus loves! And how does He love you? He loves you ___________________ like __________ _______ ______________ loves Him! This is who I am. This is the very fiber of my being. This is the core of who I am. (Write it down): ________________________________________________

Now live like it!

Friday p.m. July 2 Soul Strategy (Nighttime devotions before you go to sleep.) 1 on 1 (Just between you and God.) This morning you asked God to produce a specific fruit of His Spirit in your life. Which one did you ask Him to produce? How did you see Him working in this specific area of your life today? Was there anytime today you got in the way of Him producing this fruit in your life? If so, describe.

You began studying the book of Obadiah from the Old Testament this morning. We talked briefly about Esau. We’re introduced to Esau in the very first book of the Old Testament (Genesis). Now take a peek at the very last book of the Old Testament and read this strange language: “God said, ‘I love you.’ You replied, ‘Really? How have you loved us?’ “ ‘Look at history’ (this is God’s answer). ‘Look at how differently I’ve treated you, Jacob, from Esau: I loved Jacob and hated Esau. I reduced pretentious Esau to a molehill, turned his whole country into a ghost town’ ” (Malachi 1:2-3 The Message). Imagine that the prophet Obadiah is putting a microscope on Esau. When you look through the eyepiece . . . you see the city of Edom. Obadiah has sort of become God’s microscope! He’s magnifying the problems in the city of Edom for the people to see. Sometimes we can’t see what’s wrong in our own lives because we become accustomed to it. But if we could be placed under a huge life size microscope, we’d see everything clearly, wouldn’t we! 32

So under the microscope, one Esau is now 250,000 little Esaus, and they make up the city of Edom. In what he’s writing, Obadiah is showing us a “blown up “ picture of Esau. You inflate a tire tube to find a tiny leak in it. And Obadiah presents Esau inflated so we can see where the flaw is in his life, and we can see why God said he hated him. What was small in Esau is now magnified 100,000 times in the nation of Edom. God didn’t say at the beginning that He hated Esau; He had to wait until Esau became a nation (Edom) and revealed the thing that caused God to hate him. God never said that He hated Esau or loved Jacob until He came to the last book in the Old Testament. Both men have become nations: Edom and Israel. Israel has been mightily used of God thru the centuries. Israel produced men like: Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Ezra. (What a great lineup, huh!) But the nation that came from Esau became a godless nation. Edom turned its back upon God . . . just like Esau turned his back on God when he gave up his birthright—his spiritual responsibilities. If your roommates were able to put you under a life size microscope and highlight a “flaw” or something you really struggle with, what would they see?

Imagine that “flaw” being magnified and growing so big that it defines you. Ugh! Don’t let that happen. That’s exactly what happened with Esau. He let his flaws shape an entire nation. Ugh! It was so ugly and sinful, that God said He hated it and would destroy it. Will you spend some time in prayer giving your flaws and your weak areas to God? Give Him complete control so your flaw won’t multiply and define you! 33

Har Har Har The little church in the suburbs suddenly stopped buying from its regular office supply dealer. So the dealer telephoned Pastor Brown to ask why. “I’ll tell you why,” Pastor Brown said. “Our church ordered some pencils from you to be used in the pews for visitors to register.” “Well,” interrupted the dealer, “haven’t you received them yet?” “Oh, we received them all right,” Pastor Brown said. “But you sent us some golf pencils . . . each stamped with the words, ‘Play Golf Next Sunday.’ ”

E= mc2

When Albert Einstein was making the round of the speaker’s circuit, he usually found himself eagerly longing to get back to his laboratory work. One night as they were driving to another formal dinner, Einstein mentioned to his chauffeur (a man who resembled Einstein in looks and manner), that he was tired of speechmaking. “I have an idea, Boss,” his chauffeur said. “I’ve heard you give this speech so many times, I’ll bet I could give it for you.”

Einstein laughed loudly and said, “Why not? Let’s do it!” When they arrived at the dinner, Einstein donned the chauffeur’s cap and jacket and sat in the back of the room. The chauffeur gave a beautiful rendition of Einstein’s speech and even answered a few questions expertly. Then a supremely pompous professor asked an extremely esoteric question about anti-matter formation, digressing here and there to let everyone in the audience know he was nobody’s fool. Without missing a beat, the chauffeur fixed the professor with a steely stare and said, “Sir, the answer to that question is so simple that I will let my chauffeur, who is sitting in the back, answer it for me.” 34

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken.

We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit.

We are hunted down, but God never abandons us.

We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.”

—2 Corinthians 4:8-9 The Living Bible 35

Game Plan

Saturday a.m. July 3

Five Out (Five team members share briefly what God is teaching you in one minute or less!)

Yesterday we began our study of Obadiah. Let’s dive in again this morning! HUDDLE (You and a few others.) “I will cut you down to size among the nations, Edom, making you small and despised” (Obadiah 1:2 TLB). This great people—they WERE a great people—as we’re going to see in this book . . . are now going to be brought down. Obadiah gives this as a prophecy which looks to the future, but from where we stand today, we see that it has been fulfilled. The nation of Edom no longer exists! What was the great sin of Edom which brought about God’s judgment upon her? The next verse gives us the answer. “You are proud because you live in those high, inaccessible cliffs. ‘Who can ever reach us way up here!’ you boast. Don’t fool yourselves!” (Obadiah 1:3 TLB). What was it that made God hate the nation of Edom? (Circle the ONE right answer.)

• Why is pride such a big deal to God? 36

• God truly HATES pride. How does this affect you? Realize that pride is the root of all other sins. If we allow pride to have any foothold in our lives, we’re guilty of wanting to be like God—just as Lucifer (or Satan) did. Pride of heart is the attitude of a life that declares its ability to live without God. 1 on 1 (Do this next part by yourself. Well . . . you and God.) “Though you soar as high as eagles, and build your nest among the stars, I will bring you plummeting down, says the Lord” (Obadiah 1:4 TLB). The EAGLE is used in scripture as a symbol of deity. The Edomites were going to try and overthrow God as Satan had attempted to do. There was another group in history who tried to overthrow God . . . remember who they were? a. b. c. d.

The guys who discovered the wheel and turned it into a tire and then invented the car? The people who created the first built-in swimming pool . . . you know . . . girls in bikinis, shirtless guys . . . hey! The people who built the Tower of Babel. Thomas Edison.

The Edomites were trying to become their own deity (their own god). They were going to handle the business that God was supposed to handle. Read that scripture again: “Though you soar as high as eagles, and BUILD YOUR NEST AMONG THE STARS, I will bring you plummeting down, says the Lord” (Obadiah 1:4 TLB).

Your nest among the stars. What in the world does that mean? 37

This was the sin of Satan, for he sought to exalt his throne above the stars. God says, “I’ll bring you down.”

Again, the nation of Edom was fortified among high cliffs. It seemed invincible. The were very proud about that. Will you search your life—right now—and ask God if there’s any area of pride in anything that’s keeping you from becoming all He wants you to be? It could even be a spiritual pride. Do you ever think you’re more spiritual than others? Could it be pride in the talents God has given you? Ask Him to help you see it, and don’t be defensive when He brings it to your attention.

GAME PLAN

(Do this next part with your group.)

Someone read this verse out loud: “Far better it would be for you if thieves had come at night to plunder you—for they would not take everything! Or if your vineyards were robbed of all their fruit—for at least the gleaning would be left! (Obadiah 1:5 TLB).

What’s the deal about a thief? Obadiah is saying that if a thief came to rob the Edomites, he’d take only what he wanted—he wouldn’t take everything. We see this today, too, don’t we? When someone breaks into a home, he usually takes the valuables: Computer, TV, jewelry. He doesn’t take socks, pencils, candles. But God said to Edom, “When I judge you, the destruction will be complete.” Someone read this next verse out loud: “Every nook and cranny will be searched and robbed, and every treasure found and taken (Obadiah 1:6 TLB). If we don’t understand the story of Esau trading his birthright in Genesis, we can’t miss it here. We can now take the 38

microscope and go back and look at Esau and see why he wanted to trade his birthright for a bowl of soup. It was for the very simple reason that the birthright meant he would be the priest in the family, and that meant a relationship with God. Esau would rather have had a bowl of soup than to have had a relationship with God. When you reach that place, you’ve sunk to the level of a pig in the gutter. God hates that pride! What are some things your non-Christian friends have chosen to have rather than a relationship with God? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Read this verse again: “Every nook and cranny will be searched and robbed, and every treasure found and taken (Obadiah 1:6 TLB). This reminds us of Hebrews 4:12-13. (Someone read it out loud.) “For whatever God says to us is full of living power: it is sharper than the sharpest dagger, cutting swift and deep into our innermost thoughts and desires with all their parts, exposing us for what we really are. He knows about everyone, everywhere. Everything abut us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from him to whom we must explain all that we have done” (TLB). God says He’ll search “every nook and cranny” in our lives. Is there anything in your life that you’ve been hiding? Close in prayer.

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • Your

hearing is less sharp after eating too much.

• Beethoven was extremely particular about his coffee. He always counted 60 beans per cup. • In 1943, Navy officer Grace Hopper had to fix a computer ‘computer bug.’

glitch caused by a moth, hence the term

• Jupiter is large enough to contain the other major seven planets in our solar system.  • Film stars originally wore sunglasses, not to look mysterious, but to relieve their eyes from the dazzling glare of the early studio lights. • If you take any number, double it, add 10, divide by 2, and subtract your original number, the answer will always be 5.   • Over a 12 day period your body generates a whole new set of taste you are in your 70s.

buds. This process continues until

• Greyhounds can reach their top speed of 45 mph in just three strides . • American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class . • Disney World generates about 120,000 lbs. of garbage every day. 40

Which One Is Not Like the Other?

Guess which one youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having for lunch . . . again?

Saturday pm July 3 42

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: Stumbling Toward the Light Speaker: Ray Desiderio

“Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”

—Ephesians 3:20 The Living Bible

Saturday p.m. July 3 Soul Strategy (Nighttime devotions before you go to sleep.) 1 on 1 (Just between you and God.) QUICK RECAP: Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament—only 21 verses. But just because it’s short, doesn’t mean it’s less important or less significant. Like the other Minor Prophets, the message is pertinent and practical. It’s certainly relevant for us today! The Edomites (people who lived in the nation of Edom) were descendants of Esau (Genesis 25:19‑17:45), and they were rugged, fierce and proud warriors with a seemingly invincible mountain home. Obadiah gives God’s message to the nation of Edom. And it’s not pretty. He warns them that disaster is coming—God is going to destroy them. Then he gives the reasons for their destruction—their blatant arrogance toward God and their persecution of His children. That’s bad news for those who aren’t Christians. But as a believer, you can catch a glimpse of what it means to be God’s child, under His love and protection, as you read this short little one-chapter book. You’ll also see how the heavenly Father responds to all who would attack those whom He loves! Pretty cool, huh? “All your allies will turn against you and help to push you out of your land. They will promise peace while plotting your destruction. Your trusted friends will set traps for you and all your counterstrategy will fail” (Obadiah 1:7 The Living Bible). All the enemies of the day just passed by the nation of Edom. No one bothered it because it was safely holed up in the rockhewn city of Petra. BUT . . . there was ONE GUY who was able to get to the city of Edom. Wanna guess who it was? a. Hitler b. George Washington c. Steve Goley d. Nebuchadnezzar 44

Yep. Nebuchadnezzar was able to attack the city. Just as God used Neb to destroy Jerusalem—the city of Jacob’s sons who had turned from God—He also used Neb to reach in and take Edom—the nation of Esau’s sons. Weird, huh . . . that sometimes God will use evil people to accomplish His plan. Something to think about. (God is ALWAYS in control!) “ ‘In that day not one wise man will be left in all of Edom!’ says the Lord. ‘For I will fill the wise men of Edom with stupidity’ ” (Obadiah 1:8 TLB). Not only was Edom known for the fact that they were well-protected, but they had also developed a reputation for wisdom and learning and superstition. Remember Job from the Old Testament? The guy who suffered so much? OK. And remember his three friends who tried to comfort him—but did a lousy job? Well, one of those friends, Eliphaz, was from this area. (Job 4:1). (Use that little piece of info to impress your youth leader when you get home!) Petra—sort of a little city inside of Edom—was a pagan center where there were many cults. And get this: Expeditions have excavated the great high place on top of the mountains around Petra and have discovered remains and evidence of bloody human sacrifices that had been offered. Gross. According to Jeremiah 49:1, people traveled from afar to hear the wisdom of men in Edom. God says He’s destroying it all. ANYTHING we have can be taken in a second from the all-powerful God we serve. That’s why it’s important to make sure we’re not holding anything too tightly. So what about it? Anything you’re holding onto that you need to place in God’s hands? Spend some time prayer before you bring in the Zzzzzzzzs tonight. 45

Can You Guess What Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Having for Lunch?

“I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him.

It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.” —Ephesians 1:19 The

Living Bible 47

Game Plan

Sunday a.m. July 4

Someone who actually DID the devotion last night before you went to sleep, give a quick recap to the rest of the group.

Huddle (You and a few others.) Take turns reading the following paragraphs. “The mightiest soldiers of Teman will be confused, and helpless to prevent the slaughter” (Obadiah 1:9 TLB).

What or who is Teman? The name comes from a grandson of Esau. Teman was an area located in the southern portion of Edom. The Temanites were known for their courage. In verses 10-14, Obadiah gives a list of the reasons God is going to destroy Edom. The PRIDE of life, we’ve said, was their great sin, but THAT led to committing other sins. Pride is an attitude, but it’s an attitude that you can’t conceal very long. It will eventually break out like a running cancer because it’s such a tremendous driving force in humanity. Your philosophy of life will gradually work its way down into your fingers, your feet, your eyes—all your senses. You’re going to express that philosophy in some way. If you’re godless, you’re going to lead a godless life. If you’re godly, you’re going to lead a godly life. Therefore, Obadiah is now going to spell out the terrible sins that came from Edom’s pride of life. Remember: Esau and Jacob were twin brothers. But they weren’t identical in appearance OR in personality. In fact, they were exact opposites. From the very beginning, there was a struggle between them. They came out of the womb fighting! And their hatred and bitterness never healed—it simply grew and festered. Even when Jacob became the 48

nation of Israel and Esau became the nation of Edom, the hatred and bitterness continued between the two nations! Talk about it: Do you anyone who’s allowing his/her hatred and bitterness toward another person to ruin everything? What’s the answer? There are five specific actions mentioned here which are derived from pride—from their attitude that they could live without God. Five icky actions that came out of their PRIDE: #1 icky action: Violence.

“And why? Because of what you did to your brother Israel. Now your sins will be exposed for all to see; ashamed and defenseless, you will be cut off forever” (Obadiah 10:1 TLB). Two things were to happen to the people of Edom: 1. Shame will cover them. Finally, Babylon was able to capture the city of Petra (inside Edom) and take the inhabitants into captivity. 2. They would be cut off forever. Edom as a nation would be utterly destroyed. It’s interesting that in our day we hear a great deal about Israel but nothing about Edom. Edom was a nation that attempted to live without God, and they were a violent, warlike people. Violence isn’t God’s method. Though He has used it . . . it doesn’t FINALLY settle things once and for all— ever! Talk about it: Why do you suppose God is so against violence? #2 icky action: Befriending the enemy. Edom joined the enemies of Israel. (Remember, Israel is God’s people—so they’re joining against Him!) Huuuuuge mistake! “For you deserted Israel in his time of need. You stood aloof, refusing to lift a finger to help him when invaders carried off 49

his wealth and divided Jerusalem among them by lot; you were as one of his enemies” (Obadiah 1:11 TLB). SO . . . Instead of attempting to befriend and help the people of Israel—to whom they were related by blood—they joined the side of the brutal enemy that had invaded the land! They were traitors to their own people. And they became friends with the enemy. Talk about it: What usually happens when we become really really really close friends with those who are against God? #3 icky action: Happy about other people’s trouble. “You should not have done it. You should not have gloated when they took him far away to foreign lands; you should not have rejoiced in the day of his misfortune; you should not have mocked in his time of need” (Obadiah 1:12 TLB). They rejoiced over the calamity that had come to Judah. That’s always an action of pride. When you hear someone rejoicing over the trouble that another individual is having, you can be sure that you’re listening to someone who’s very proud. Pride is something that God says He HATES! Talk about it: Can you describe a situation in which someone gloated over your misfortune? How did you deal with it? Talk about it: Has there ever been a time when you’ve rejoiced in the misfortune of another? Be careful! You enter dangerous territory when you’re happy because of someone else’s trouble! 1 on 1 (Do this next part alone . . . well, you and God.) #4 icky action: Looting. “You yourselves went into the land of Israel in the day of his calamity and looted him. You made yourselves rich at his expense” (Obadiah 1:13 TLB). 50

Not only did they join with the enemy against Israel, but they actually moved in to loot and plunder after the enemy had taken Israel away into captivity. Good grief! They ransacked these people’s homes! And again . . . these were their blood relatives!

PRIDE will lead a person to do terrible things, and one of them is to steal. How many people resort to a bit of dishonesty to get ahead in business? Almost all non-Christians are dishonest in some way. And the root problem? PRIDE. Think about it: Has pride ever led you to do something you’ve regretted? Will you ask God to forgive you right now? Bookshelves are packed with tons of books on human behavior and psychology. But you know what? The Bible is still the best book in the world on psychology. It gets right down to the root of the problem in the human heart. Do we really need all the self-help books and courses on how to improve ourselves? Why not just get back to the Word of God! Think about it: On this trip, you’re having a daily devotional time with God. (You’re reading the Bible and talking to God about it—like right now!) But when you’re home . . . how consistent is your devotional life? Stop right now and ask God to help you become more consistent in meeting with Him. Maybe you didn’t realize that in this tiny little book of Obadiah, you’d find the root of the thing that’s leading our own nation to self-destruction: PRIDE: The attitude of life that declares its ability to live without God. Close in prayer, and tomorrow we’ll cover the #5 icky action that developed from pride.

“Don’t let anyone think little of you because you are young.

Be their ideal; Let them follow the way you teach and live; be a pattern for them in your love, your faith, and your clean thoughts.” —1

Timothy 4:12 The Living Bible

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • Turtles can breathe through their bottoms. • Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.  • The buzz generated by an electric

razor in America is in the key of B flat. In the UK, it’s in the key of G.

• Some of the most popular lipstick shades in Renaissance England were named, Rat, Horseflesh, Turkey, Blood and Puke.  • When Thomas Edison died in 1941, Henry Ford captured his dying breath in a bottle.  • The dinosaur noises in Jurassic Park came from slowing down the sounds of elephants, geese and horses. • The chances of hitting two holes-in-one during the same round of golf is one in 8 million. • Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair. • Disney World is bigger than the world’s five smallest countries. • A house fly

hums in the middle octave key of F.

sunday pm July 4

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: Who Am I? Part 2 Speaker: Susie Shellenberger

Luke 15:11-31 Matthew 16:17 (The Message) Jesus says to Peter, “And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are.”

Who loves you? Ask God to: ______________ _________ __________ _______ ____________ __________. If you can find your ___________________ in the love of God, it WILL ________________ you!

Sons and daughters know who they are based on their _____________ NOT based on their ________________________. 54

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 New Living Translation)

You are a __________ of the King! Everything He has is ___________! THIS is who you are: __________ __________________

Now live like it!

E.I.E.I.O.K. Seminars

(Everything I Ever Intended On Knowing!) • First round of seminars is at 4 p.m. • Dinner is at 5 p.m. • Second round of seminars is at 6 p.m. • FUAGNEM (Jaime Jamgochian in Concert!) is at 7 p.m.

Tommy Bailey. . . . . . . . . . “Creating Stunning Media for Worship”

2 Choose

you want to attend.

Wendy Bruce. . . . . . . . . . “A Shoebox Ministry: Operation Christmas Child” Molly Gerdes and Allie Robinson. . . . . . . . . . “Crazy Love” Rex Hanson. . . . . . . . . . “How to Make Balloon Animals” Lindsay Humphrey. . . . . . . . . . “What Are My Spiritual Gifts?” Elaine Humphries. . . . . . . . . . “Living Large: Knowing & Telling Your Story” Jed Johnson. . . . . . . . . . “Releasing Royalty” Dominique Koukol. . . . . .“How to Create an Incredible Resume and Give an Impressive Interview!” Molly Lewis. . . . . . . . . . “When God Ran” Marti Pieper. . . . . . . . . . “Dangerous Prayer”

“Oh, Timothy, (insert your own name here instead of Timothy) you are God’s man (woman.) Run from all these evil things and work instead at what is right and good, learning to trust him and love others, and to be patient and gentle.

Fight on for God. Hold tightly to the eternal life which God has given you, and which you have confessed with such a ringing confession before many witnesses.” —1 Timothy 6:11-12 The Living Bible

go Jaime Jam

Sunday pm july 4

tep down 1/2 s D

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FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute!

Jamie Jamgochian in Concert!

C ul o ow w nderf h d n a d o g of our G D lous m m and iracu h rt a e e th C e on d death s conquere a h d n a e m ercy that ca D d g of our go m in s e w , d o g ing of our D Em

isdom end, â&#x20AC;Ś s in your w gdom 2 u e g out end, no n h a it h c w in d n k n a io e s s th rd pa to us Lo our light un rehend; com can58shine y we could ever comp n re more tha

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • About 10 million bacteria live in one gram of soil. • A single ounce of gold can be beaten into a thin film covering 100 square feet. •  Before 1800, there were no separately designed shoes for left and right feet . • There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball . • Wilma Flintstone’s maiden name was Shaghoopal. • The longest one-syllable word in the English language is screeched. • Four out of every ten people who come to a party in your home will look in your bathroom cabinet. • Beethoven dipped his head in cold

water

before he composed.

• American car horns beep in the tone of F. • The only food cockroaches won’t eat are cucumbers.

Game Plan

Monday a.m. July 5

Five Out (Five students share briefly—what God is teaching you.)

Recap: Pride is the essence of all sin. It was PRIDE that caused Satan to fall from heaven. It was PRIDE that led Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. And it was PRIDE that destroyed the entire nation of Edom. Anyone remember from whom the descendants of Edom came? (His name starts with an “E” and he was a twin bro.) From PRIDE came five other icky things out of the people of Edom: #1 icky thing: Violence #2 icky thing: Befriending the enemy #3 icky thing: Happy about other people’s trouble #4 icky thing: Looting Now let’s take a quick peek at the fifth action that springs from pride. #5 icky thing: Betrayal. (A different person should read each of the following paragraphs.) “You stood at the crossroads and killed those trying to escape; you captured the survivors and returned them to their enemies in that terrible time of his distress” (Obadiah 1:14 TLB). They hit bottom when they did this. They revealed their animal philosophy of the survival of the fittest. They betrayed their brothers. You see, when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem, the inhabitants scattered and many of them fled to the rugged country of Edom where they could hide. The Edomites, standing at the crossroads, would betray their hiding places. When the Babylonian soldiers were hot on their trail, the Edomites would say, “Yeah, we saw a bunch of Israelites come by here. They went that way. They’re up there hiding in that canyon.” They betrayed their brothers. 60

Again . . . PRIDE is the attitude of living life without God. It leads men to betray others. It will cause people to betray fellow workers in order to climb up the business ladder. PRIDE will cause girls to betray one another to get the guy. PRIDE will lead guys to betray one another to get the trophy. Talk about it: In what other areas do you see people betraying each other? And sadly, PRIDE also exists in the church. A staff member turns against the pastor. Cruel things are said. Someone wants to get ahead. Or a musician gets jealous of someone else who’s always asked to sing. Rumors are launched. Feelings are hurt. See why God hates pride? It leads people to act like animals—in fact, the horrible truth is that when we attempt to live without God, we’re actually lower than animals! Talk about it: When has someone else’s pride hurt you? Talk about it: Identify a time when you’ve allowed your pride to hurt someone else. Think about the following . . . • Are there any areas in my life that I haven’t dealt with due to the fact that I feel I can keep them shoved inside? If so, that’s pride.

• Are there times I’m willing to step on someone’s toes to get ahead? If so, that’s pride.

• Are there times I’m secretly a little happy when something unfortunate happens to someone else? If so, that’s pride.

• Let’s confess any area of pride in our lives and seek God’s forgiveness so that we truly CAN become all He desires!

Several people close in prayer.

“But God’s truth stands firm like a great rock, and nothing can shake it” —2 Timothy 2:19 TLB “A person who calls himself a Christian should not be doing things that are wrong” —2 Timothy 2:19 TLB

“Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts that young men and women often have, but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right” —2 Timothy 2:22 TLB

Monday pm july 5

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: Beauty from Ashes Speaker: Brenda Pryor

Game Plan

Tuesday a.m. July 6 Huddle (Yourself and a few others.)

OK, yesterday morning we finished the five icky sins that resulted from the sin of pride. Today we’re diving inside the catastrophe to the nation of Edom. Ready? Let’s go! (Take turns reading aloud the paragraphs below.) “The Lord’s vengeance will soon fall upon all Gentile nations. As you have done to Israel, so will it be done to you. Your acts will boomerang upon your heads” (Obadiah 1:15 The Living Bible). The Lord’s vengeance (in the King James version is stated: “The day of the Lord is near”): It’s a technical expression that covers a period of time beginning with the Great Tribulation perid. We’re living in the day of grace right now. The emphasis in our day is on the Holy Spirit who takes the things of Christ and shows them to us. After the removal of Christians (the Rapture), the Day of the Lord will begin, and it will begin with the darkness and judgment of the Great Tribulation period. Following that terrible time, Christ will return with healing to establish His kingdom here. “The day of the Lord is near upon all the nations.” Some Bible scholars believe that this means Edom will again become a nation during the end times. Impossible? Look at Israel. For 2,500 years Israel wasn’t a nation; but in 1948 she again became a nation. So when Obadiah says the day of the Lord is near upon ALL nations, we can interpret that as meaning ALL the nations, including the ancient nations which will come back into existence and will be judged.

Some Bible scholars believe that Edom will experience the full wrath of God when Jesus Himself executes the judgment of God upon Edom and her allies (see Isaiah 63:1-6). You see, a nation is responsible to God! The Bible makes that very clear. Deuteronomy 21:1-3 tells us that when a man was found slain out on the highway, they were to measure to determine which city was closest to that slain man, and that city was responsible for taking over the case and attempting to find out who killed that man. What a great principle that God put down. We Christians talk about our citizenship being in heaven; that’s true; but the feet of the church are on earth. Christians have a responsibility as citizens of the nation of which they belong to, to exert an influence for God as much as possible. Talk about it: What are you personally doing to exert an influence for God in your city, your school, your family, with your part-time job? Whether or not Edom will live again as a nation is debatable and makes no real difference to us. If Edom is around during the Millennium, OK. If not, it’s still OK, because we know God is still working out His plan. “You drank my cup of punishment upon my holy mountain, and the nations round about will drink it, too; yes, drink and stagger back and disappear from history, no longer nations any more” (Obadiah 1:16 TLB). In other words, God says to Edom: “As you have done, it’s going to be done to you. You’ll be rewarded in the same way.” This is what we call poetic justice. It’s the law of retaliation. Look at what Jesus Himself had to say about this: (Matthew 7:1) “As you judge, so shall you be judged.” OR “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7). We also know this principle as the Golden Rule. 65

Let’s take a look at it from different versions of the Bible as recorded in Matthew 7:1.

• “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging” (The Message).

• “Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves” (Amplified Bible).

• “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (New American Standard).

In other words . . . treat others as you want them to treat you! Edom will suffer in the same ways that she caused others to suffer. Talk about it: Share a time when reaped what you sowed. In other words . . . what you dished out came back to hurt you. Close in prayer.

What is faith? It is the confident assurance That something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Hebrews 11:1 The Living Bible

tuesday pm july 6

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: A Holy Destruction Speaker: Susie Shellenberger

Fill in the blanks: (Philippians 3:7-10 NIV): â&#x20AC;&#x153;I once thought these things were ___________________, but now I consider them ____________________ because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else in worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded _____________________ _________, counting it all as _______________________, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. . . . I want to _____________ ______________ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to ____________________with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!â&#x20AC;? [Sally, you can box the above Scripture if you want.]

The apostle Paul is speaking from a ________________ prison. Notice that Paul wrote this in _______________ ______________. This moment, right ___________, right ___________, I want to know Christ in all His _____________________!

Your internal calling is to: ______________ ______________ Paul says all else is ___________________. Everything else in my life is _______________ compared to knowing Christ. Question: Are there some things in your life that’s _________________ this kind of fervent, passionate resolution? If so, maybe it’s time to _______________ them. Luke 12:51: “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to _____________ people against each other!” (New Living Translation)

Take a look at Matthew 12:20 from The Message: “This is ___________, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the _________________; if you’re not ______________, you’re making things _______________.”

Luke 12:51 from the Message: “I’ve come to start a _____________ on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to ______________ everything, turn everything right side up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to ___________________ _________________ and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront!” 69

Two questions: 1.What things in your life need to be smashed? 2.Are you willing to smash them? A holy destruction is mentioned in the Bible. • Deuteronomy 3:1-12 Deuteronomy 3:11 (NIV): “his bed was made of ____________ and was more than _________ feet long and ________ feet wide.” Deuteronomy 12:2-4 (NIV): “Destroy _______________________ all the places on the high mountain and under every spreading tree where the nations worship their gods. Break down their altars, ____________ their sacred stones and ______________ their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the _____________ of their gods and wipe out their names from those places. You must not worship the LORD [SALLY: put “LORD” in all small caps.] your God in ____________ ______________.”

Are you getting this? Ephesians 3:16 (NIV): “I pray that our of his glorious riches he may ______________________ you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that ________________ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how _____________ and ____________ and high and ____________ is the love of Christ, and to ____________ This love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of __________ the _____________________ of God.” 70

YOU decide the ____________ which you will know Him. Only you! Philippians 3:12-15 (NIV) Paul says . . . â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I __________ _____ to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do _________ consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But _________ ____________ I do: Forgetting what is behind and _____________________ toward what is ahead, I ___________ ______ toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are __________________ should take such a view of things.â&#x20AC;?

Jesus has already been praying for you: John 17.

Game Plan

Wednesday a.m. July 7

We’re taking a break this morning in our study of Obadiah, so your team members can simply share what’s on their hearts and pray together. If you feel like singing, go ahead! This is what the Body of Christ is all about! If you know this song, give it a try as a group!

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • The words silent and

listen have the same letters.

• You can tell the sex of a turtle by the sound it makes. A male grunts, and a female hises. • Dreamt is the only word in the English language to end in mt. • Cinderella’s slippers were originally made out of fur. The story was changed in the 1600s by a translator. • More redheads are born in Scotland than in any other part of the world . • The average bed has more than 5 billion dust mites. • Your fingernails grow 4 times faster than your toe nails. • Pain travels faster than 3,000 feet per second. • A cow produces 200 times more gas daily than a person. • All major league baseball umpires must wear black underwear while on the job (in case their pants split).

Magazine Get your subscription at:

susiemag.com Only $23 a year for 12 issues! Join our Online Global Sister-hood!

“So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong” —Hebrews

12:12-13 The Living Bible

wednesday pm july 7

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute!

Girls Only

“Fashion Meets Faith” by Shari Braendel

Guys Only

Guys Night Out with Mark Hill

Betcha Didn’t Know . . . • You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath. • Armadillos are the only animal besides humans that can get leprosy. • The world’s longest name is Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Shermasn Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorft, Sr. • Americans on the average eat 18 acres of

pizza every day.

• The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in jelly. • In ancient China, people committed suicide by eating a pound of salt. • In 1784 the U.S. had a state called Franklin, named after Benjamin Franklin. But four years later, it was incorporated into Tennessee.  • “The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language. • No piece of paper can be folded more than seven times. • Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes.

Game Plan

Thursday a.m. July 8

Wow. We only have five verses left in our study of Obadiah. So far we’ve been talking a lot about the nation of Edom (which doesn’t exist today), but now in verses 18-21 we read stuff concerning the nation of Israel. For the nation of Edom, the message was DESTRUCTION. For the nation of Israel, the message is RESTORATION. Talk about it: • What does it mean to restore something? • Have you ever had something restored (furniture, car, home, etc?) • What does it mean when God brings restoration to a life? • Describe a way in which you’ve been restored during this trip.

Announcement: TO NIGHT is “Wacky Hair Nig ht” at FUAGNEM!

(Take turns reading the following paragraphs out loud.) The little nation of Israel fits into the program of Almighty God. Everything fits into the program of Almighty God. God is concerned about everyone, everywhere. God is thinking about you! Psalm 139 tells us He thinks about us all the time and knows everything about us! He knows when we sit and when we stand. And Matthew tells us He even knows the exact number of hairs on our head! The great question is: Are you going to be in step with Him? Are you going to move into eternity with Him or against Him? 79

His plan and program WILL be carried out, and we need to be on His side! CONDITION OF ISRAEL Although God judged Israel, they were not to be destroyed as a nation— “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions” (Obadiah 1:17 King James Version). OK. What’s this mean? But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance. Salvation is to be offered upon Mount Zion for the world. That’s where it’s offered to you and me today. Jesus came and died on Golgotha for us. He IS coming back to this earth again. We’re told at that particular time His feel shall stand on the Mount of Olives, but He’ll be coming into Jerusalem, and He’ll rule from the top of Mount Zion. OK. But what does this part of the scripture we just read mean? And there shall be holiness. There’s no holiness on Mount Zion today. But there WILL be holiness when Jesus reigns!

And the last part of that scripture . . . what’s that mean? And the house of Jacob shall possess their possession. There’s a big difference between HAVING a possession and POSSESSING it. Talk about it: • What’s the difference in HAVING a possession and POSSESSING it? • Do you have a possession that you don’t possess? God not only wants to make us a holy people; He wants us to possess holiness! 80

What does the above mean to you?

“Israel will be a fire that sets the dry fields of Edom aflame. There will be no survivors, for the Lord has spoken” (Obadiah 1:18 TLB). There will be ultimate, final judgment of Esau.

What’s this part of the Scripture mean? The dry fields of Edom. Let’s take a look at that same verse in the King James Version: “The house of Esau.” God is talking about a nation (Edom) that won’t enter into the eternal kingdom of Christ. Why? What keeps it from being there? Pride of heart: That attitude of a life that declares its ability to live without God. If it’s your decision to live without God, you’re going to live without Him not only now but throughout eternity! Wow. God is full of grace, but He’s also full of justice. He’s a Father. But He’s also a Righteous Judge. And He will judge sin. Close in prayer. Pray for those close to you who don’t have a relationship with Christ.

“These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it— And your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold;

So if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.” —1 Peter 1:7 The Living Bible 82

thursday pm july 8

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute! Message: My Testimony Speaker: Steve Goley, President of Big World Ventures

Game Plan

Friday a.m. July 9

Five Out (Five students share briefly what God is teaching them.

OK. Let’s jump back inside the book of Obadiah. Let’s look at the 19th verse in the King James Version and then The Living Bible paraphrase. “And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead” (Obadiah 1:19 KJV). “Then my people who live in the Negeb shall occupy the hill country of Edom; those living in Judean lowlands shall possess the Philistine plains, and repossess the fields of Ephraim and Samaria. And the people of Benjamin shall possess Gilead” (Obadiah 1:19 TLB). In the above scripture, we see Edom being destroyed. God’s people get to take over.

Oftentimes, we can’t see God working, and we tend to think things are completely out of control, or that He’s turned His back or forgotten to make things right. But sometimes God works behind the scenes. When He chooses to do that, we won’t see His hand . . . but we can always trust His character. We know the character of God to be TRUE, right, pure, honest, fair, holy and good. [Sally: Please put “true, right, pure, honest, fair, holy and good in different fonts.] God will win. God will always win. And if we have surrendered to God, we’ll eventually win as well! “The Israeli exiles shall return and occupy the Phoenician coastal strip as far north as Zarephath. Those exiled in Asia Minor shall return to their homeland and conquer the Negeb’s outlying villages” (Obadiah 1:20 TLB). 84

Where in the world is Zarephath? No place we’ll be going on a missions trip anytime soon, but it’s way up north between Tyre and Sidon in Lebanon. Israel will occupy all the land that God promised them. You see, God had promised to Abraham a land that contains about 300,000 square miles. Even during their most successful days, Israel occupied only about 30,000 square miles. But God is going to bring complete restoration to Israel! He always keeps His promises. “And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s” (Obadiah 1:21 KJV). “For deliverers will come to Jerusalem and rule all Edom. And the Lord shall be King!” (Obadiah 1:21 TLB).

What does this mean? The kingdom shall be the Lord’s. It means that God is moving forward undeviatingly, unhesitatingly toward the accomplishment of His purpose—that is, of putting His King on Mount Zion. He says that He will turn and turn and overturn the nations until He comes whose right it is to rule (see Ezekiel 21:27). NOTHING can stop God in His plan and in His program. No son of Esau can stop Him! No proud man walking this earth can cause God to relinquish or retreat one inch. He is moving today to victory. The Kingdom is the Lord’s! We who were made in the likeness of God can be restored. We’ll have to lay aside our pride and come in helplessness to Him as our Savior. And when we do, He’ll lift us up! God LOVES His children. He jealously and protectively keeps close to Himself those who love Him and obey Him. As we’ve seen through the book of Obadiah, He’ll go to great lengths to keep His promises and to love His chosen ones. Aren’t you glad you’re loved by God and are a child of His? Close in prayer thanking God for keeping His promises and bringing complete restoration to YOU! (And major congratulations! You have finished your study on the Old Testament Book of Obadiah. Way to go!) 85

How NOT to Order a Pizza!

Push random numbers on your phone while talking and ask the person on the other end to stop it. Use CB lingo.

Terminate the call with, “Remember, we never had this conversation.”

Tell them to put the crust on top this time.

Instead of naming the toppings, spell them out.

Use these bonus words in the conversation: ROBUST, FREE-SPIRITED, COST-EFFICIENT, UKRAINIAN and PUKE.

If someone repeats your order to make sure he or she has it right, say, “OK, that’ll be $10.99. Please pull to the next window.

Try to rent a pizza.

Have your pizza “shaken, not stirred.”

Move the mouthpiece farther and farther away as you speak. When the call ends, jerk it back and scream goodbye at the top of your lungs.

Eliminate verbs from your speech. 86

12 Ask to see a menu.

Report a petty theft.

If they suggest something, adamantly declare, “I will not be swayed by your sweet words.”

Start your conversation with, “My call to Pizza Hut, Take one . . . and . . . ACTION!”

Act nervous and press 9-1-1 every five seconds throughout the order.

After ordering, say, “I wonder what this button does” and simulate a cut-off.

18 Start your conversation by reciting the day’s date and saying, “This may be my last entry.”

Say, “Bzzzzzzzzzzzt” rather loudly and ask if they felt that.

Teach the order-taker a secret code and use it on all subsequent orders.

When the price is quoted, say, “Oooooooo, that sounds complicated. I hate math.”

If he suggests a side order, ask, “Why are you punishing me?”

Have a movie with a car chase scene playing loudly in the background. Yell “OW!” when a bullet is fired.

24 Dance around the word “pizza” and avoid it at all costs. If they say it, say, “Please don’t mention that word!” 87

friday pm july 9 88

FUAGNEM Fired Up And Going Nuts Every Minute!

Testimonies

Game Plan

Saturday a.m. July 10

You’ll be heading home tomorrow. It’s time to debrief on the past two weeks. List your answers and be ready to share with your group.

How are you different now than when you arrived in Miami on Monday, June 28? What was tougher about this trip than you anticipated?

What was easier about this trip than you anticipated?

What surprised you—something you didn’t expect?

How will you share what God has done in your life with friends and family back home?

What specifically will you do to continue your spiritual growth back home?

Once you’re home . . . throughout the next year . . . when you feel weak, tempted, confused . . . first talk with God. Then contact some of your team members or your team leaders. This is called accountability. Describe how this can help keep you spiritually strong. 89

Get professional, high quality photos of your trip by ordering our “Never the Same” photo CD!

r u o y Lost camera

You’ll get HUNDREDS of quality photos to show your family and friends. These are terrific in helping you create a missions presentation for your youth group or church. Make sure you place your order

BEFORE you leave!

We’ll mail you the CD documenting your Guatemalan adventure.

If you get home, and your photos got destroyed . . . you can order a CD from Big World Ventures at this address: Big World Ventures P.O. Box 703203 Tulsa, OK 74170 Make sure you place your check for $40 in the envelope when you order your photo CD if you’re ordering after you get home!

Jamie Jamgochian Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve enjoyed the amazing ministry of Jaime Jamgochian for two weeks. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to take her home with you! Be sure and purchase her CDs and shirts before you leave. And talk with your pastor or youth leader about bringing her to your church for a concert!

jaimejam.com Also find her on Facebook.

susiemag.com