Embrace NYC: How Can I Help as a Parent?

+ Thank you for allowing us to play a role in your child's life. We do not take that lightly. We will do all we can to make sure your child is safe...that includes how we drive! If you need to get in contact with me please don't hesitate to call.

+ I wanted to let you know how you can help your students "Embrace" NYC:

1. Pray for them: pray for their safe travel and good health, pray that God would use them and challenge them and that they would return home a little more like Jesus. (remember just because they served for a week won't make them Jesus! You will probably still have some issues with them when they get home)

2. Be prepared to not hear from them every day. We will be busy from 7 am to 10 pm almost everyday. Trust that they are ok unless you hear from us. They will have some opportunities to call you but it may only be a few times. However, you can stay updated by visiting this blog or following me on twitter at:www.twitter.com/kbolt

3. Be Patient with your student when they return. We will be coming home after a long week of little sleep and a lot of walking and working. We will have been driving for two days and they will be tired. Don't expect them to come home and want to talk all night...some of them might, but I would guess many of them will need a few days to recover. Allow them to! Don't get frustrated or feel like nothing happened. They will have experienced life changing sights, sounds, smells and stories. Let them process and then share when they are ready. When they are ready...be there to listen and help them talk about it.

+ I will be trying to post to the blog daily, as long as the housing site has wireless Internet. And I will try and twitter several times during the day. You can check the twitter Saturday evening and find out if we have made it to PA. and then on Sunday around 5:00 to find out we made it to NYC.

Thanks again and see you on the 26th!

Flashback to Embrace Nashville

This is a video from our experience last year at "Embrace" Nashville (make sure and watch until 3:17). We leave tomorrow morning to head to New York City. We will be updated our blog daily! You can also follow Kyle on twitter at twitter.com/kbolt

The King of Pop....

I sat in my office yesterday and watched the end of the Michael Jackson Memorial....along with over 1 BILLION others! On the right of the page was a spot for people to chat about what was taking place. As I read I got frustrated by those who were using Jesus' name and slamming MJ. Here is part of what Carlos Whittaker from Ragamuffinsoul.com wrote,

"I found it quite nauseating that I kept seeing “Christians” shouting that it was a shame that a child molester was getting such a grand exit, ect.
All I kept thinking was, “Dang. I sure hope these tweets don’t show up at my memorial service. Because if anyone does not deserve a good memorial service, it’s me.”
See here’s the deal.
Not one of us deserves any good and perfect thing we have been given.
Not one.
The second we as Christ followers begin to label “good” and “bad” then God help us all."

I am so thankful that in my messed-up-ness, that God still loves me and forgives me. I am in no place to judge Michael and his life. All I know is there are little kids with no dad now and that hurts me.

How do you feel about Michael?

Showing Love with a little FRUIT!

Join us next Thursday as we head to Soulard's Farmers Market to load up on fruit and flowers to pass out to those we meet on the streets downtown.  We will meet at 9:30 am at Trinity and return around 11:3o am.  Bring around $5 to buy stuff!  You will be amazed at how a piece of fruit and a smile can brighten someone's day.  

Tonight Game

Join us tonight as we head to the River City Rascals game. Cost is only $5 and hotdogs are on sale for $1. (You don't even have to like baseball to go!) Meet at Trinity at 6 pm and we will return to trinity around 10:30 pm.

"float in" Movie

Summer Camp 09 Recap

Summer Camp Equals:

great camp food (seriously)

whiffle ball in the amphitheater

7th graders being launched off the blog

Late Nights and Early Mornings

Trinity dominating in the tournaments! (volleyball, dodgeball and ping pong winners)

Slowing down enough to recognize God speaking to us

sitting in a circle and boosting one another

Students submitting their entire lives to Jesus

Worshipping with a great leader and experiencing God

Summer camp is an unbelievable opportunity to spend time together and to refocus on God.  Already looking forward to camp next summer!

Congratulations Seniors

We celebrated in our morning worship service those who were graduating this year.  We have an unbelievable group of seniors this year.  Many of them understand what it means to be a servant leader and I am looking forward to what God has in store for each of them.  From left to right are: Michelle Hall, Stephanie Meinert, Sarah Billington, Aaron Wood, Leah Romine, Kelsey Wright, Justin Bronder, Justin Workman, Travis Mayes and Shea Powers.  Not pictured: Jordan Mills, Shelby Moss, Morgan Mueller, Mike Bierce, Donald Gibson, Derrick Marrs and Kelsey Brocaille.  Congrats to all of them!

Does your actions reflect your words

This weekend I went to the Kimmswick Strawberry Festival with my family and some friends.  We were anticipating everything strawberry: strawberry tea, strawberry shortcake, strawberry cheesecake, etc.  We arrive at the festival and are greeted by 40 - 50 tents...with only one having anything strawberry related!  A restaurant had a few strawberry desserts, but that is it.  Kinda of disappointing.  

In transforming churches, by Kevin Ford, he says this,

"Incongruence-the disconnection between what we say and what we do-is commonplace, almost expected, in our culture."

I wonder if we say we offer something as a church...but then don't come through on it.

I wonder if I say one thing about life...but then live my life another way.

Scott made the statement today in the morning service, that we are "Practical Atheist." We say we believe in God but then our lives do not reflect it.  

I am evaluating my life and making sure that my actions match my words...I don't want there to ever be a disconnection between the two.  

Do you?

If you want to be challenged, check out this message.

Trinity Medical Release Form...You must have one!

I want to remind you all that you must have a Trinity medical release forms to attend any of our off campus trips. If you don't know if you need a new form please email me at: stlstudents@sbcglobal.net

Graduate Cookout

Come and join us on June 20th at 5:30 pm on the field at Trinity Church. This is a free event for all seniors and their family. If you are not a senior but would like to attend there will be a small charge for food. We will have a BBQ and then the seniors will compete against the Adult Leadership Team in a game of Volleyball. Come and celebrate with us! Please RSVP to Kyle at
stlstudents@sbcglobal.net

We will also be recognizing all the seniors during the worship service on June 7th and taking a group picture immediately following the service. Please be there!

Summer 09 Schedule

click on the picture for the calendar to become clearer.

Also...the float in movie is on July 11th, not the 10th

You Have to Be Rich to Be Poor

Do you make judgements about people who are poor?

Do you make assumptions about those who use food stamps?

Do you think you understand what it's like to be poor?

I would encourage you to go and read this story that the Washington Post released on Monday. I think it may radically change your views...and may even cause you to make a difference!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051702053.html

Phil Wickham Sing Along

Phil Wickham is an unbelievable singer songwriter.  We do several of his songs at theGathering on Wednesday nights.  He just recorded a live album in Oregon and is giving it away free!  Go here and get it.

Unbelievable

Sorry that I am posting another Invisible Children video...but it is amazing what is happening! Young people....listen to the end of this video and understand that you are not to young to make a difference!