Hey Guys! Just a reminder to join us this weekend for Loaves and Fishes. Those of you familiar with the project, just be there by 9am. Those of you who are not, here are the details...

Each month (the second Saturday of the month specifically), Frontline partners with Loaves and Fishes Christian Ministry in downtown Burlington. This August, we will celebrate 4 years of our service relationship with them. We simply do what they need us to in a couple hours. Sometimes it is delivering food while other times we are breaking down boxes and cleaning.

Will you give up your Saturday morning this month and join Frontline at Loaves and Fishes?

Who: Teens, Parents, and other Adults
When: This Saturday
Time: 9am - 11am
Where: Loaves and Fishes, Downtown Burlington (Map)

See ya there!

Welcome to Frontline Student Ministries. My name is Cody Mummau. I serve as the director of Frontline Student Ministries. As a youth pastor and a parent, I am deeply concerned with the issues facing students in our area. One of the most important areas I believe that we can help our teens grow and maintain a healthy lifestyle is in the area of developing relationships with the opposite sex. That is why I am so excited to share about the incredible event coming right here to our area called "Song of Solomon for Students."

This conference is not new to this area. Two years ago we were fortunate enough to host it at Brookwood Church in Burlington. This year, as interest has grown, the team has moved it to a larger facility. We will be in Mebane, NC at the Mebane Rec Center.

I could recreate a bunch of information regarding the conference itself right here and then send you to the site to register (where you'd find the same info) or I could just send you to the site.

JUST REMEMBER - This is the last week to buy your tickets online and receive a discount.

To learn more info and to purchase discounted tickets, Click Here -> Song of Solomon for Students in Mebane, NC

For two verses now we have been realizing our position in comparison with God. Most importantly, Jesus tells us through this prayer that we are to have a proper view of God and just how great He is. There is no one like Him anywhere. We've honored His name and we've shared our heart about how we see Him as the only One we serve. We've renewed our commitment to Him as king of our lives, our heart, and our mind.

Now Jesus changes gear slightly and makes a request of the Father:

"Give us this day our daily bread"

So we've been dealing with things like majesty, glory, honor, kingdoms, etc. and suddenly, Jesus turns the discussion to bread? What is that all about.

Not much has changed in the bread world lately. The texture is much the same as it always has been. It has a variety of tastes according to what is added to it. However, the basics of bread making haven't changed much. Bread has been one of the staples in human diet for most all of recorded history. Think of the movies you watch when you see someone who has been starving...what is the thing they grab and eat when they get to food. If it is on the table, they reach for the bread and chomp away (a little too dramatically at times I must say).

All of this is important because that is precisely why Jesus uses images of bread throughout His ministry. (I am the bread of life -John 6:35). Here He instructs us to ask for what it will take to get us through the day. This is an act of submission once more because it causes us to realize that everything it takes to make it through the day is a gift of God. From the breath that fills our lungs, the food that gives us energy, the water that fuels us, the relationships that fulfill us, the work that provides for us, the shelter that covers us, the leaders that lead us, EVERYTHING that allows us to go on is a direct result of His provision. Psalm 3:5 says it very simply:

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

Understand that Jesus is not saying we can't think or pray about the future. However, it is important that we not take fore granted the tremendous gifts we've been given simply to make it through this day. Daily we should acknowledge with gratefulness the life and time He has given us to serve Him here! When we realize this. I mean REALLY realize that nothing we have is of our own doing, we can't help but live gratefully day to day for all we've been given.

Today, make a list of everything you can think of it takes to make it through a day. I mean GET SPECIFIC. List all of them out (i.e. Sun, breathe, food...) Fill up a page. Maybe carry the page with you and write everything down throughout the day. Tomorrow, ask God (instead of expecting) for what it takes to make it through the day. Careful though, it is humbling!

Share your thoughts on what most people, maybe even you, take fore granted without thinking that it is only through God's provision we have it.

I can't bring myself to change the name of this post. Originally, the post had to do with asking for more than we needed and comparing it to trying to drink from a fire hose. It was actually a clever illustration that was not at all my own. However, it would up being left out and I forgot to change the name. It was a day later before I saw it. So...whatever ;-)

I sit and watch the History Channel just about every night. Once a basketball game bores me, I just need to watch something with substance. What does this have to do with Matthew 6:10 you say? I'm glad you asked. As we said before, Jesus is talking here and when He is telling us how to do something, we had better listen. I promise I'll bring in how my TV watching helped my thought on this matter but for now let's listen to Him...

"your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"

No $2.00 Bible words to look up today but again, we often read over this and do not give it the attention it deserves. What does Jesus mean when He tells us that this is what we should pray? The key to this phrase is the word "kingdom." During His time here on earth, Jesus preached over and over that the kingdom is at hand. Here we align ourselves in agreement with Him in saying that it is our desire as well. We are also in acknowledgment of Him as King.

Now enters the History channel. So much of this world's history is centered around kings and kingdoms. From the ancient civilizations we read about to modern day empires. One in particular made me think of something similar to what Christ was speaking about here. Late in the 18th century, there were 13 established colonies here where we now call the United States. Though the people who lived here did not physically reside in England, they were citizens of that land. Those who lived there lives as loyal subjects to the king of England lived in such a way to make this land as much like England as possible. They lived by the laws of the king, they acknowledged him as their leader. They did his will here as it was done in England. Of course as an imperfect ruler, the King abused his power and some of the loyal subjects rebelled...and the United States were formed.

Jesus here says that we are to admit to God that He is in charge of our lives. We are asking that God's will would be done here on earth just as much as it is in heaven. God has absolute reign in the heavenly realms. Here on earth, we are all subject to His authority even though he gives us free choice. We are saying with this statement that we want to see His will accomplished here just as much as it is in heaven. This begins with us. This should not be a burden to us! Rather it should be the desire of our heart. (Psalm 1:2)

So the question today is this. Is God completely "in charge." Don't give "the right" answer. Instead truly evaluate your own personal life and answer that for yourself. Take a second and share one way in which we live like citizens of heaven while still on earth. In serving the King, what do you do that might be different if you weren't serving Him?

Since we are changing our form of communication somewhat (OK a bunch), I now have the opportunity to share my heart with students, parents, and pretty much anyone who happens upon the site. I'll try and post the "Mind of the Moose" a couple times a week intermixed with devotionals and the FSM Weekly Update. But this one is unique in that it is the first. So I thought I would lay the basics down about where my heart is at right now in reaching the youth of our community.

I spent the morning reading through some of The Barna Group's research (www.barna.org). I found it staggering to learn the number of people who don't believe in the authenticity of God's Word. 88% of those considered to be "Born-Again" Christians believe that the Bible is accurate in what it says. The number drops sharply when we look at this generation to well below 50%. In fact, the number of people age 12-22 that are classified as evangelical Christians is around 5%. The article is fairly long but describes how this generation is continuing to disassociate itself with Christianity and in doing so with Christ Himself. (Read the Article)

So what's the point of youth ministry? Jesus Christ. There is nothing more. Nothing greater. The point is not music (though music is a powerful tool to lead us before His throne). The point is not games (though some powerful illustrations can be made through a good one). The point is not social time (though the fellowship of the body of Christ is critical). The point is not to have the largest group (though a living vibrant group will grow as people are drawn to Christ. You get my point? It is Jesus Christ alone and the Word of God which leads us to understanding our relationship with Him.

The statistics and my experience show that we have done a poor job teaching the Word of God to our youth. Maybe because it hasn't been important enough in our own lives. Maybe it's because we are unsure of our own commitment to his Word. Whatever the case is...we've done poorly. So I move to this...

Before Frontline emphasizes music, we will become excellent at studying His Word. Before Frontline becomes a social draw, we will become excellent at studying His Word. Before Frontline becomes a great family, we will become excellent at studying His Word. As our students grow in His Word...they will express themselves through music, drama, the arts, etc. As they grow in His Word, they will have an inexpressable desire to share it with everyone. As they grow in His Word, they will live it out.

So tonight...we study the Word. Maybe tomorrow we'll do more but we have to get this ONE thing right!

Let's Communicate!
Communication with you the students and parents of Frontline Student Ministries is a key element to our success. However in this day and age of SPAM, FWD:'s, and just worthless junk, we hardly read anything we receive. We view thousands of billboards, commercials, emails, websites, banner ads, flyers, etc. that all beg for our attention. We inadvertantly begin to dismiss everything into our virtual "junkmail" folder in our brain. Yet the need to get you information about Frontline has only increased! So here is a solution...

We are moving frontlinestudent.com over to this blog. Here we will post the weekly update for you to visit whenever you need. You can still access the pictures...over there on the right. There will be plenty of FSM videos (on the FSMtv channel on YouTube). The Frontline Calendar is located on the bottom of the blog (and through the link over on the right). So 24/7 you will be able to access information about Frontline. You can also communicate with FSM leadership through the site by commenting on the posts (such as this one) or by emailing us.

We need you to...

• Visit the site on at least a weekly basis (Mark it in your favorites)
• Try and visit us on a daily basis (Make it your homepage!)
• We will try and have new articles, photos, and videos daily
• You will always be up to date with FSM info!
• Send FSM info to parents, students, and friends who aren't in the loop.
• Be proactive: We need your help getting the word out! Ask others from FSM if they are getting the news!
• Email friends the links to new posts to be sure they are getting the info. At the bottom of each post is a small envelope icon. Use this to send the info out!
• COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT: Part of communication is hearing back from you! Comment on the articles so we know you are there and what your thoughts are!

EVENTS: Look @ JUST THIS WEEK!

Tonight (Wed. 5/14/08): TruFocus:Wednesday Nites - While teaching His disciples, Jesus gave them a model prayer to guide them in communicating with God. Tonight we will learn the basic elements of prayer that Christ has given us!

Tonight (Wed. 5/14/08): Meetup@ Moby's - Following TruFocus we will head down to Moby's (1353 S Church St., Burlington) for some coffee, pastries, games, and hang out time. We usually hang out there until about 8:45pm.

Friday Night (5/16/08): Indiana Jones Trilogy - 6pm until ??? all 3 movies in one night so that you can be caught up for when the new movie comes out. Plus it'll be fun!!! BRING YOUR OWN SNACKS!!! Location is to be decided by how many are coming. Please RSVP to yodacroz@hotmail.com if you plan on coming!

Saturday Afternoon (5/17/08): Narnia - 2pm - 4pmish -Join up with the group headed to this movie @ West End Cinema. RSVP to wi11iamvan@aol.com if you plan on coming so the group will know how many to expect!

Saturday Evening (5/17/08): Breakaway '08 - 5pm - 11pmish - We will be leaving from Integrity's parking lot @ 3:30pm for Hines Chapel (McLeansville, NC). Mike Minter (Carolina Panthers) will be speaking. Four great bands will be playing. This event is free and the first round of concessions will be free too! Please RSVP to info@brookwoodchurch.com if you plan to attend so we can have the right transportation available!

Saturday Evening (5/17/08): Frontline Show! 6pm - 11pmish- for those looking for something more edgy, Frontline has partnered with First Platoon Industries to put on a concert @ ICC! Bands include My Epic, Sophia and 3 other great bands. Cost is $7 at the door.