fbc yam

Fall Famous Fabulous Fantastilicious Festivus

2010-10-18T14:00:00.001-04:00

This Saturday is our young adult Fantastic Fall Festivus from 630 to 930 at Jen Roberts Grandpa's barn. Grandpa's address is 1668 Church RD, Southampton.

Everyone invited! Be ye married, single, dating your cousin (wait ... what?!) please feel free to join us on Saturday for some good autumn fun featuring ...

- Pumpkin Carving contest
- Hay ride
- Pitch black obstacle maze
- Toran complaining about how much he was beat earlier that day in soccer
- Games on tables
- Very yummy snacks and desserts
- Music

Please bring $5. We would love to see you there!

peace.

September 1

2010-09-01T16:23:00.004-04:00

Hey All Stars!

Many of us are still recovering from pool basketball on Sunday. I know DB’s nose still is. We had a bar-b-q and time of worship and hanging.

We discussed 2 core convictions.

1. God changes lives.
Not ideas, programs or people. He uses them, but He must be at the center of everything we do because it is ojavascript:void(0)nly He who can bring Revelation to anyone.

2. Where we are going can be seen in the ones God has taking us there.
Woah, that’s a brain full. Basically, we are called to work, to serve, in order to fully elevate and demonstrate Jesus to each other and to the world. We are the actual body of Jesus and should together be an image of Him in South Jersey.

From those, we talked about the following ideas …

1. Incorporating worship into our time on Tuesday night. Yesterday we worshiped by reading the ancient/contemporary text of Scripture as we shared verses that have meant something to us over the course of our lives.

2. A gathering of young adults for a worship service to elevate Jesus with the voice of our generation. What will that look like? We don’t know yet. This will be something larger than YAM, and will incorporate expressions from many gifts in the body. High on meaning. High on Jesus. Low on specific form. We are in shaping process. Let us know what you think!

Hope you are doing well. Let us know how we can pray.

Just some stuff we've been up to

2010-02-12T11:18:00.002-05:00

Hey hey hey!
Thanks to everyone who joined us at Buca di Bepo on Sunday! It was super fun and the food was delicious. We missed all the rest of you who didn't join us =(. Sometimes snow just wrecks the fun.

Tuesday night we were hit with even MORE snow. Ridiculous. Apparently there was a blizzard warning or something that night. So naturally, we still met for Bible Study. We will not be defeated! It was a great time as we worked through the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus walking on water.

Mark your calendar! In a couple weeks (February 27&28) we are taking another trip to Camden to hand out sandwiches. On Saturday, we will be making a bunch of sandwiches and then Sunday morning going over to Camden and serving them with other food and talking with the people there. Email us at fbcyam@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out!

Coming This Sunday

2010-02-05T09:44:00.002-05:00

This Sunday, February 7th, we are headed to Buca Di Bepo for lunch after the 11 o'clock service (weather permitting). This is family style dining, so if you are planning on coming or there is at least a 5% chance you are coming, it would be fantastic if you could bring cash with you. Meet around the YAM table in the lobby of the church after the 11am service and then we'll head out!

Yay Italian food!

Strike, Double, TURKEY!

2010-02-02T12:41:00.002-05:00

The young adults ministry strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and we really enjoy doing this in creative ways (remember the dance marathon?) so...

We held, for the first time ever, a YAM sponsored bowling benefit. And it was fantastic! Approximately 80 bowlers joined our efforts to help those in our church who have been hit hard by these economic times. I'm not sure how much we raised exactly (another leader has those figures), but we raised a lot. Seeing so many people come out to support our efforts was very encouraging! I'm amazed over and over how generous those in our church are.

So THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

COOKIES!!! Nom nom nom nom nom.

2009-12-16T08:45:00.002-05:00

The Second Annual Christmas Cookie Cookoff was great! There were so many entries - lots and lots of really good cookies.

So naturally, we need to announce the winners. That way you know which people to see to order cookies :).

First Day of School Classic (chocolate chip cookies) - Jen
Italian Bakery Knockoff - Rachel G. (red velvet creme filled cookie yumminess)
Hey, That's Not a Cookie - Bekki (tiny cupcakes - they were gluten free too!)
Best Overall - Taron (lemon delish cookies. I don't know what they are officially called, but they were lemon. And they were delicious)

Thank you all of you who made cookies. And thanks to everyone who didn't but did a great job of judging and eating. Seriously, I had a great time!

The extra cookies (and there were a LOT of extra cookies) will be going to the Nativity. So, naturally, I'm going to include a Nativity plug. This weekend, Dec 18, 19 & 20, is the LAST weekend of the Nativity for 2009. The next one won't be for another whole year! So come join us 5-8pm. Or better yet, you can come help out and be in a scene.

~Jen

College Christmas Bash - More Info!

2009-12-11T10:24:00.002-05:00

December 22, 8pm
1640 Church Road
Southampton, NJ 08088

The bulletin said it's at the church. ITS NOT! There is Celebrate Recovery that night, so we aren't using the church building. We'll be at the Roberts'.

There will be Christmas-themed food, activities, and other fun stuff.

This event is to welcome home all the college students. All of YAM is invited to help welcome them! We love our college students!

College Christmas Bash!

2009-12-08T15:04:00.002-05:00

2nd Annual Christmas Cookie Cookoff

2009-11-20T09:44:00.003-05:00

Are you ready to RUMBLLLLLLLEEEEE!!!

2009-11-13T09:47:00.002-05:00

Okay, so we have this really nice, concise upcoming events section on this page. But what DO these events entail?!?! I will tell you.

November 11 - SUNDAY LUNCH (at the church). You may be thinking "Jen, this is totally self-explanatory." And you are mostly right. However! Make sure that if you have any friends that are around that don't know about it, you let them know. Because seriously, free food pretty much rocks socks. And it's in the Common Grounds cafe at church (the triple room beyond the nursery).

December 13 - SUNDAY LUNCH (at a restaurant). I think we may be going to Applebee's, but who knows for sure. It's a way to get together and get to know each other over a nice plate of your choosing. It's nativity time, so off-site works way better. Join us, and bring some moolah, as YAM can't cover everything.

December 15 - CHRISTMAS COOKIE COOK-OFF!! This was so much fun last year. It'll be in place of our normal Bible Study, so it's at the Candys and at 7:30pm (and it's a Tuesday night). Bring your favorite cookie - or at least the one you are the greatest at making. The categories are chocolate chip cookies, Italian bakery knock-off, and not-technically a cookie (or something along those lines). Prizes for the winners.

December 22 - COLLEGE CHRISTMAS BASH! Every year, college students migrate back home for the holidays. And since we only see them occasionally, we might as well celebrate when we do! So, this party is primarily for the college kids, because we love them! If you don't fit into the description of "college student" but still want to come, you can, but remember! Our purpose is to make the college students feel welcome and loved. Because really, we love them.

January 3 (2010 - eek!) - ICESKATING IN PHILADELPHIA - We'll be going over to a rink in Philly to enjoy some ice skating. We'll have more details later - time, cost, etc - so look for those to come. And after skating, we'll find a nice place to eat something warm and yummy.

Back to Marlton!

2009-11-09T13:39:00.002-05:00

The Candys are officially ready to have us back for Tuesday Night Bible Study! We've been other various places while they've been renovating their house. So, if you are interested in joining us for a time of fellowship and learning more about who Jesus is (as we study the Gospel of Mark), we'll be at
105 Evans Road
Marlton, NJ 08053

And please park at the school a couple spots down from the Candys. Otherwise, things get a little congested.

Thanks! and hope to see you there!

Because a real update is necessary now and then

2009-09-23T09:12:00.002-04:00

As far as specifically YAM activities, September has been reasonably quiet. However, with other various ministries and school (for some) starting back up and people getting married (congrats Mike and Jo!) it has been pretty busy. But enough about that.

We've started a new study on the book of Mark. Personally, I'm super excited about it. It's amazing to me how I've read Mark multiple times, but it's really coming alive now. Mark doesn't spend a lot of time on what Jesus said, but rather what he did. It's action-packed. So, all that was to say, if you haven't come out to Bible study in a while, or at all, I strongly encourage you to come. It's going to be a sweet ride!

Temporary Change of Location

2009-09-19T00:44:00.001-04:00

We've been temporarily displaced for Bible Study while the Candys do some renovations on their home.

For the next few weeks, we'll be meeting Tuesdays at 7:30pm for Bible Study at

1640 Church Rd
Southampton, NJ 08088

Feel free to park on the grass!

Jump, Jive, and a Big High Five!

2009-08-18T11:07:00.003-04:00

I do believe my body had finally recovered from the Dance Marathon! For those of you who weren't able to make it, this is quite the accomplishment.

But it was worth it! We were able to raise around $2,500 for people in the church who are in need of a little financial assistance.

The dancing adventure began at the church outside under the big white tent. Here's the thing about the tent, though. It is up for the entire summer, which means grass does a fairly lousy job of growing for a few months because of two things: lack of sunlight and lack of rain. The former - no biggy. The latter - not so much. Dust. There was lots and lots of dust.

And it was humid (summer in Jersey - no surprise there). So shortly after we began our super fun dancing adventure, we were sweaty (ew) and covered in dust (or more like mud - double ew). My feet were super dirty, and I was not the only one.
I was impressed by the enthusiasm of all the participants. Mike and Joanna had pretty spectacular outfits (I'll post pictures later this week), and Lizette and Erik definitely held their own in that department.
At 10:30pm we moved inside to the air-conditioned gym and danced under the disco ball. Or, I guess to be technically correct, the mirror ball (but that really doesn't sound as cool). We lasted until about 2am. At that point, most of us were pretty much dead on our feet, although the couple that won looked like they could go for hours. All the young people though - not so much. We had one person already sound asleep on the couch and it appeared as though more were to follow.

It was a fantastic time, though. And special thanks to Linda (for food) and Mr. Candy (yay DJ!). And thanks to all of you who participated or sponsored!

Upcoming Activities!

2009-07-29T14:47:00.003-04:00

Let us keep you up to date!!!

This FRIDAY!! July 31st, there is a Riversharks game. If you are interested in going, just email us at fbcyam@gmail.com. It's $12 and we'll be leaving the church at 6:15pm.

August 5th (next Wednesday) is the Phillies game! Again, email us if you want to go. The cost is $18. Should be a good time!

August 14th. Okay, this one I'm really excited about. It's the first ever fbc yam sponsored (or fbc anything) DANCE MARATHON! Email us or visit us at the table on Sunday for more information and to sign up. It's going to be sweet, and all the proceeds will go to families in need at Fellowship. Even if you aren't a fan of dancing, there will be other ways to get involved, so come see us!

So, two months isn't that long, is it?

2009-07-29T14:38:00.002-04:00

Oops. Things have been a little hectic around here, so the blog has been lacking update. So, here it goes.

June:
We had out luau! It was super fun and the weather was beautiful! Which wouldn't be that impressive, except the rest of June was pretty lousy and we have a lot of other events get rained on. We did some limbo and volleyball and ate some great Hawaiian themed food.

VBS happened at Fellowship, and the animals looked awesome! Thanks again to all the young adult women that came out and helped work on them.

July:
Sunday Lunch! We enjoyed this one under the super spectacular tent in the backyard of the church. Again, it was a beautiful day! (because God is very gracious like that). We ate some Wawa hoagies (yum) and other various foods.

Frisbee/Disc Golf. There is nothing quite like going into a sports game knowing full well that you are going to be bad at it. BUT! It was a lot of fun and I didn't do nearly as badly as I thought. Actually, I did pretty good (for me at least). We are definitely going to have to go more often. Fairmont Park is a lot nicer than I ever thought it would be.

Overall, it hasn't been a super busy 2 months for YAM activities, although it seems that everyone is always busy doing something. I guess that's what summers are for...I guess.

We've switched locations for a little while for Bible study. The Candys are doing some renovations so we are meeting at the Lindows (1104 Warren Ave, Cherry Hill). We've been able to meet outside for a lot of it, which has been interesting (I want to take this time to thank the inventor of citronella candles), but very enjoyable. Some of us have even taken advantage of the pool they have.

Saf-ar-eeee

2009-05-20T11:33:00.003-04:00

Okay, so the giraffe is still lacking a head, but is coming along nicely. However, since a safari isn't made up of just giraffes, the women of yam banded together to paint more creatures. This time our task included a zebra and gazelle.

We quickly realized that zebras' stripes are more intense and difficult to paint that a giraffe's spots. A lot more. But we managed, and it was fun.

No safari is complete without some gracefully gallivanting gazelles, so that was another task on our plate. It's amazing what one (or three in this case) can do with a few different paints and a target deer.

Overall, it was a lot of fun. It's been great to be able to help out with VBS prep and fellowship together at the same time.

Herdy Gerdy Gerdy

2009-05-13T10:01:00.002-04:00

It's definitely been a while. April was a fairly quiet month as far as YAM activities. We did, however, have another Girls Night Out, which included a giraffe named Gerdy.

So, here's a little back story:

This year, our church is doing a Safari-themed Vacation Bible School. And since Safaris are in the Serengeti, and the Serengeti has many awesome animals, a Safari VBS wouldn't be complete without awesome animals.

Oh, and my mother (who is in charge of VBS) absolutely loves giraffes.

The plan was to build a 14-foot giraffe in our barn. Some 2x4s, 1x3s, chicken wire, and about a gazillion and a half screws and staples later, the frame of a giraffe stood in the middle of the barn...headless. Then the whole thing was covered in an off-white canvas, which doesn't sound weird, but the thing looked downright freaky.

End of backstory.

The lovely ladies of YAM were then commissioned to paint the spots on it. So, we set up some scaffolding and poured some paint, and were on our way to making the most beautiful fake giraffe you've ever seen. We could immediately (immediately meaning after about 10 minutes) tell that Gerdy (the affectionately named giraffe) was going to be pretty much awesome. Four hours after that, our job was done. She was a thing of beauty - I'll post pictures once I get them.

The turnout was small, but those that did join in had a great time. We'll be doing another VBS help night on May 18th (this upcoming Monday). Not sure exactly what we'll be doing this next time, but it's always a good time.

Staring contests and lighter fluid

2009-03-09T13:47:00.002-04:00

Last Thursday night, a group of us went to Buca di Bepo in Cherry Hill for some marvelous Italian dining. It was quite the experience, and I had never realized how educational getting Italian could really be. I've compiled a list of a few of my learnings.

1. You will lose a staring contest with the Pope if you try. He never blinks.
2. Some jobs should require a singing audition when you apply.
3. It's very hard to sing a (very) familiar song when ther person leading is incredibly tone deaf
4. You can you get lasagna in the form of a log
5. Lasagna in the form of a log is delicious
6. Sitting the "Queen's Chair" provides an incredible feeling of power
7. Feeling powerful and actualling being powerful are two different things
8. When one says, "If I were a nun, I'd be like that", one needs to be very clear on what piece of art you are pointing at.

That's it for that. It was a great time of just chilling and chatting it up. Speaking of things like that:

Saturday night we had a bonfire. It was a time to just sit around and catch up with each other. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to just "stop" and connect with friends, some of which I don't get to see very often. And once I got over Deb not wanting to douse the wood with lighter fluid, I enjoyed the fire too. Seriously, lighter fluid is a lot of fun...

The Hands and Feet of Jesus

2009-03-09T13:26:00.004-04:00

On February 28th, a group of yam members went over to Camden to help out with a ministry there. They passed out clothes and food to those in need, and were able to talk with some of the people there. Deb wrote a bit about it in her monthly newsletter, and this is an excerpt from that:

"This weekend I was able to deliver the quilts (from Quilts of Love) to Brenda and had the opportunity to meet two of the prostitutes she is working hard to get off the streets. As I sat talking with them, my spirit ached for them. They were both coming down off crack and were in desperate need of a long sleep and hot shower. The described the place where they live: a drug house that just got hit by some 'stick-em-up boys' (thugs that hold up drug houses to steal all the cash). One of the girls had been raped the night before, and the other hasn't seen her 4-year-old twin boys in over 2 years. Both had been disowned by their respective families.

"After they ate breakfast, one of them said to me, 'Why would you come down here and do this for us?' I told her that it was only by God's grace I wasn't in her shoes and that I wanted her to know how much He loves her. That she matters to Him. She let me paint her fingernails and pray for her."As we were leaving, I stood on the curb with them as Brenda had to physically hold one of the girls upright. I began to wonder if Jesus did that for Mary Magdalene. I am so thankful to serve a Master who made friends with prostitutes and touched lepers. The religious elite were not for Him....He had very little time for their rubbish. But the sinners...that's where His heart was! What a joy to know we have a God who doesn't just love the pretty ones!

"In my version of the story, when all those little children came running toward Jesus, He spotted the most un-cute of them all and hugged that one first. So if you get the chance, find a way to put your faith into action. Remember, you don't have to go to Africa to find yourself a leper to love!"

Pass the gluestick

2009-02-13T12:05:00.003-05:00

Last night was the third Girls Night Out. Our assignment: make encouragement cards for the Ladies Retreat. We didn't need to write out encouragements, but rather make cards that the ladies would use to encourage each other.

Our tools: fancy shmancy scissors, stamps, paper, and glue.

Doesn't sound too complicated. And really, it wasn't, although the first card a little rough. I learned a quick lesson. Stamp last. Otherwise, in the gluing process one can end up with an awful lot of ink on one's hand. I also discovered that I love the combination of blue and white. Simple, yet sophisticated. Most of the cards I made consisted of those colors. And it was so fun to see each person's individual style. Such creative people!

It was a really great time to get together, fellowship, and help out a fellow ministry in the church. Between the 6 or 7 of us, we made 170 cards. Other people are making more cards, but I thought that was a great amount for the number of people and hours involved.

If you are of the female persuasion and a young adult, please come to our next Girls Night Out. It is a fantastic time! The next one is March 11 (Wednesday, not Thursday). We would love to see you there!

~Jen

PHANTOM'S GAME!!

2009-02-10T11:58:00.002-05:00

Tonight is the last night to sign up for the Phantom's game!

Monday, February 16 (President's Day)

If you want to carpool, meet at the church at 4pm.

$25 - includes a meal option

Watching the tube....

2009-02-03T10:19:00.004-05:00

The last couple weeks have been reasonably quiet as far as yam events go. The LOST premiere party was on Jan 21st, and man! It was crazy! I really don't know what I would do if every few minutes I jumped in time - backwards or forwards. I'm thinking I would rather go backwards, because at least that way you know what's coming.

Anyway, January ended and February came in (and although it's snowing now, the first two days of the month were rather spring-like). We watched Groundhog Day at Lee's last night. I think that was the first time I'd ever seen it all the way through. When I was younger, I would watch movies on tv on Sunday afternoons. Unfortunately, I would either miss the beginning and only see the end, or watch the beginning and miss the end because of Awana (I've watched the middle of Dances with Wolves innumerable times). All that's to say, Groundhog Day was one of those movies. It was nice to see the whole thing through, and without any commercials!

Sunday (Feb 8th) is our next Sunday Lunch. Remember: 12:30-2:30 in the Common Grounds!

~Jen

Who woulda thunk...

2009-01-19T15:46:00.004-05:00

The Girls Night out was a ton of fun on the 15th. Thirteen of us worked together to cut about 200 squares for making quilts for My Father's Hands ministry in Camden. Being raised in between two boys and prone to tomboyish behavior, quilting was not really up my alley.

But it was really fun! Of course, there wasn't any sewing involved, which is probably a good thing considering my sewing skills (or lack thereof). And the rotary cutters are sweet! It's like a glorified pizza cutter, only waaaaaaaay sharper. Perhaps lethally sharp. Fortunately, no one was injured, and I was only concerned for the safety of a few girls a couple times throughout the evening. Usually the risk was due to high levels of laughter and thus a slight loss of control over one's appendages.

It was nice to be able to get together with friends (and meet some new people to) and serve in such a tangible way. Looking at the example of Christ, we see that he didn't just go into ministry and meet people's spiritual needs. He also met their physical needs (feeding the 5000, healing people). Quilts will meet a physical need and open the door for addressing the spiritual. I'm very excited to see how God uses this for His kingdom and thankful for how He has already used it to teach us.

~Jen

Oh, and the apples and caramel dip were delightful.

Rest in Peace, Mexicana Rose...

2009-01-13T10:52:00.003-05:00

On Friday, Deb, Mike and I went to lunch after running some errands. We drove by this little Mexican restaurant. Having previously gone to said restaurant, I blurted out (in a very excited manner), "They have all-you-can-eat tacos on Mondays!" Which got us thinking, wouldn't it be great to go there for YAM? Because seriously, young adults tend to like things like all-you-can-eat Mexican food.

Then I went on a retreat.

I returned and watched the end of the Eagles game at a friends house (yay Eagles!), and lo and behold, Deb was there! And she had made some fabulous little flyers about our forthcoming taco adventures. I asked her a simple question, "Did anyone check to see if they do in fact serve all-you-can-eat tacos on Mondays still?" No. No one had. The nasty monster we call doubt barged into the room.

Hmm...investigation into the taco situation would be necessary. And then the Eagles won, Rock Band ensued, and the potential taco predicament was nearly forgotten.

There was no further investigation until the following afternoon. I was in the area, so I drove by the place. Few signs are dreaded more than the one I saw in the restaurant window. "Space Available."

No. It couldn't be. We drove by it on Friday. This was MONDAY! How, how could this happen?!?

Unlit cactus and sombrero lights still hung from the overhang and posts. Salt and pepper shakers could still be seen waiting patiently for the next customer.

But the next customer would never come. The Mexicana Rose Cantina was no more.

Well, this called for a backup plan. We didn't know who all was planning on attending the dinner, so there was little choice but to meet up there and then head somewhere else. Not too bad of a plan, except it was like 2 degrees outside (at least it felt like that. I think the actual temperature was 26 degrees warmer). We waited and waited. Three people came and went ahead to plan B- the wings place down the street. A few more minutes pasted.

Deb's phone rang.

The wings place - closed. I haven't done any further investigation into that situation, but I sincerely hope it was just closed for the night (although it was only 6:15ish), because I really like that place.

Plan C - The Rustic Grill.

We piled into the car and headed across the street. As we passed the front of the Grill, I breathed a sigh of relief. The sign was lit up. The lights were on inside. And people were there! Now, we did realize the possibility of people only being there because it was the only thing open in the area. But finally, a place to eat (we were all very hungry by this time).

I tried their Smoked Capri Panini. It was deeee-lish.

And it ended up being about the same price as the all-you-can-eat tacos that we didn't get to have.

Moral of the Story? If you are going to plan a spontaneous eating-out experience, try to do it when it is warm, because waiting in the cold in front of a closed restaurant isn't as much fun as you might think. And you look kind of shady just standing there, waiting.

~Jen

"Check out my triple salchow!"

2009-01-02T13:25:00.004-05:00

Anyone who knows anything about ice skating would know that my "triple salchow" was no where near the real thing. And to include that quote, I had to look up how to spell it, and found out what it actually was by doing so. My "salchow" was missing the jump, triple spin, and anything else that would make it resemble what the pros do. But I had a blast skating on New Years Day. We went to the River Rink in Philly at Penns landing. Was it cold? Yes. What is worth it? Definitely.

About 24ish people went, which was a great turn-out. Thanks to everyone who came! And I'm almost positive that no one was seriously injured. There were, however, a few bruised knees. I guess they have that "no playing tag" rule for a reason....

It was awesome to see some new faces there and to spend time with people that are home for break! We also have Sunday lunch this weekend, so join us in the Common Grounds Cafe after the 11 o'clock service. Yay lasagna time!

~Jen

The Triple Salchow:

Yummm...cookies!

2008-12-19T10:43:00.003-05:00

the Christmas Cookie Cookout was super fun. The turnout was great, with many new faces and some returning from college for break! All the cookies were really tasty, but there were some that shined above the rest.

The First-Day-of-School classic (chocolate chip) - Chrissy
The Italian Bakery knockoff (non-chocolate chip cookies) - Deb
Hey! That's not a cookie! - Rachel S
Best Over-all - Katie

Thanks for coming out and joining us! And congrats to the winners - your cookies were super yummy.

-jen

Faith in Practice

2008-12-08T12:58:00.003-05:00

If a brother or sister is without clothing or in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled' and do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so, faith if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. James 2:15-17

On Saturday, November 29, eleven of us from YAM went down to Camden for the morning to serve a hot breakfast to those in need. We also handed out coats, blankets, and warm clothes, painted ladies fingernails, and had the opportunity to talk and pray with many of those who came through the doors. What joy to be able to serve together.

2008-12-02T14:46:00.003-05:00

What's a Christmas season without cookies?

The First Annual Christmas Cookie Cook-off is an opportunity to show off your mad baking skills. On December 16, 2008, at 7:30 pm, bring your cookies to 105 Evans Rd, Marlton. We'll have a contest to judge who really makes the best cookies. If you don't bake, don't worry! It's a great time to learn, or to come and fellowship with other young adults and sample some of the greatest treats from around the Mt. Laurel/Marlton area.

2008-12-02T11:28:00.002-05:00

I woke up yesterday morning to find myself in December. How did this happen? I cannot be sure. November could not have possibly been a full 30 days in length. Yet, as I glance at my calendar, I can't deny the facts. Turkey month is over.

The After-Turkey After-Party was super fun. And super relaxing. After desperately trying to win while playing a little Wii (and failing at my attempt), I joined in on the movie-watching fun. Elf was first on the agenda. I've decided that no matter how festive I feel, I don't think I could ever bring myself to eat spaghetti, syrup, and M&Ms at the same time.

We then watched Polar Express. It's weird. I realize you all might not agree, but it is. The elves...they are creepy. But it was entertaining.

It was fun to have some of the college kids that are normally away there to join us. As a recent graduate, it's strange (not bad, just strange) being on this end of things - getting excited about people coming home instead of being the one waiting for break to come so I can come back to NJ. Eventually I'll get used to it.

I enjoyed November. It went by way too fast, but life tends to do that. Perhaps December will go by a little more slowly. One can only hope, because I need time to do some shopping...

jen

Flying Closer to the Flame

2008-11-17T09:17:00.004-05:00

For those of you that are away for the semester, in class/working on Tuesday nights, or are new to our group (as well as for those of you who tend to doze off during Bible Study) we thought we'd post a general outline of the study we just completed. For the past several weeks we have waded through an abridged version of Charles Swindoll's Flying Closer to the Flame.

Chapter 1
Three contributions the Spirit makes without which life is dull and gray
1) His Permanent Presence Within Us
2) His Unparalleled Dynamic Among Us
3) His Affirming Will For Us

Three forces of resistance that must be removed [as we study the Personhood of the Holy Spirit]
1) The Barrier of the Fearful Unknown
2) The Wall of Traditional Limitations
3) The Obstacle Course of Personal Excuses

Chapter 2
Four transforming changes amongst those who have received the Spirit
1) Their human frailties were transformed into supernatural gifts and abilities
2) Their fearful reluctance was transformed into bold confidence
3) Their fears and intimidation were transformed into a sense of invincibility
4) Their lonely, grim feelings of abandonment were transformed into joyful
perseverance

Chapter 3
Four “things of the Spirit” reproduced in us and through us
1) Life and peace
2) Absence of fear and closeness to God
3) Inner assurance … doubts gone!
4) Inner awareness that “all things” are working together for the good of God’s
glory

Chapter 4
Four results in the Christian’s life when filled with the Holy Spirit
1) His filling affects our speaking
2) His filling leads us to melodious hearts
3) His filling makes us thankful people
4) His filling leads us to submit to each other

Three important reminders to believers regarding the Spirit-filled life
1) Abnormal experiences are not necessary to Christian maturity
2) The fullness of the Spirit is for all of us, as believers, to enjoy, but how it
works its way out in each person’s life is another matter
3) Let us seek to enjoy our vast common ground, rather than establish and
defend our own theological turf

Chapter 5
The Spirit’s sovereign working is far beyond what the human mind can ever imagine
o Isaiah 55:8-9
An Often-Overlooked Ministry of the Spirit -- John 16:7-13
Demonstrating God’s Unique Power -- 1 Corinthians 2:2-3

Paul uses three words to describe himself…
1. Weakness

2. Fear

3. Trembling
The Spirit does not always lead us into places of comfort
We must look at life in light of eternity

Chapter 6
The “Anointing” of the Spirit -- 2 Corinthians 2:12-13
Why we have received the Spirit ??
o That we might “speak” the thoughts given to us by God
o That we might “appraise all things”

A Few Words of Warning
Balance is always preferred to extremes
Stay with the scriptures

Chapter 7 – Those Unidentified Inner Promptings
Four biblical examples of the work of the Spirit
1) In times of loneliness and desperation, the Spirit prompts hope and encouragement.
2) In times of threatening fears, the Spirit prompts calm determination and courage.
3) In times of potential danger and disaster, the Spirit prompts inner reassurance.
4) In times of great sorrow and pain, the Spirit ministers grace to us.

Two Practical Suggestions
1) When you are not sure that something is from the Spirit, tread softly.
2) When you are confident that it’s of God, stand firm, even against other people’s doubts.

Chapter 8 – The Spirit and Our Emotions
Expressing one’s emotions is not a sign of immaturity. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
Normal Feelings
o Joy & Cheer – 2 Corinthians 9:7
o Love – 2 Timothy 1:7 1 John 4:19 Romans 12:9-10
o Fear – Proverbs 1:7

Three Basic Warnings
1) Intellectualism – When we refuse to allow our emotions to serve their proper function.
2) Emotionalism – When we go to the other extreme, making emotions the heart and center of life.
3) Fanaticism – It occurs in a context of excessive and intense devotion to information that lacks
balance, discernment and wisdom.

Chapter 9 – Thinking Theologically About Sickness & Healing
Possible sources of “Phenomenal Events”
1) The manifestation could be self induced.
2) The source of the manifestation could be highly charged, emotional meetings.
3) The source could be satanic.
4) The source could, in fact, be God.
Sometimes it is not God’s will that we be healed. James 5:13-16

Chapter 10 – A Biblical Case for Healing
Four practical principles to claim
1) Confession of sin is healthy – employ it.
2) Praying for one another is essential – practice it.
3) Medical assistance is imperative – obey it.
4) When healing comes from God – claim it.

Chapter 11 – When the Spirit brings a Slow Recovery
For most people, healing is a slow, arduous process. It takes time.
3 Possible Responses

2008-11-13T14:30:00.003-05:00

Pumpkin month at a glance

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Well, it's official: October is over. And for many of us, it went by quickly and with little rest.

The month started with a great weekend at the Harvest Crusade. Greg Laurie is an exremely gifted speaker with a way of putting the cookies on the bottom shelf and not beating around the bush. And the worship time was awesome!

October 10th was the church-wide trip to West Africa. Sort of. It was the West Africa Market Night. And I got to dress up and act like a flight attendant. Now, this might not seem like a big deal to most, but I've always thought it would be super fun to be a flight attendant. And I was right - it was fun! Throughout the night, I came to many different conclusions regarding West Africa.

1) They make some super awesome juice. Pineapple/lemon/ginger juice. "ginger?" you ask. Yes, and it was so good.

2) I do not look good in a head wrap. And i was not alone in this.

3) Americans are missing out by not painting our faces with cool designs.

4) Be thankful for your bed and the lack of malaria here.
5) Praying for those serving in West Africa is important. Vitally important. So do it.

Overall, I thought the night was quite the success, fun, and educational.

creation fall flood nation 4000 years ur persian gulf salt sarah abraham lot tara tigris euphratis haran tara dies sea of galilee jordan river dead sea mediterranean ....and that's all I got for now.

Walk thru the Old Testament = good times

The Fantastic Fall Festivus!! Again, the weather really didn't want to cooperate, but once again, we were stubborn. And it was a great time! The pumpkin carving was super entertaining. Congrats to everyone who won!

The Phillie's pumpkin won best overall. It was a sign.

Speaking of the Phillies, many of us didn't get much sleep throughout the month due to October baseball. It is a rare occasion that most of us in the Philadelphia area pay attention to the postseason, but this year we paid very very close attention.

So congrats, Phillies. We were watching all the way.

In case there are drought conditions

2008-10-30T14:21:00.003-04:00

A quick overview of the lovely month of September.

Have you ever wondered what the perfect cure for a drought is? Well, we've figured it out.

Plan a YAM event.

In September we had great plans to go to Six Flags Great Adventure and Wild Safari. It was September 6th, to be precise. Well, Tropical Storm Hannah was not in favor of that idea. The weather station mentioned that the rain was going to be rather enthusiastic, so we scratched the Six Flags plans. They were right. It rained....really...hard. BUT we are not so easily discouraged.

The perfect cure for ruined Six Flags plans? Bowling. Whoever thought to throw a really heavy ball at a bunch of pins was brilliant. I'm completely serious. And only slightly less brilliant (but still rather genius-like) is the person who thought up adding pizza and soda into the mix. Needless to say, we had a good time.

Sept 27th was our next date for Six Flags awesomeness. The forecast - lots of rain. All day. The weekends between the 6th and 27th? Beautiful. Bother all. But wait! Since it wasn't supposed to be any lightning, we proceeded with our plans, and God was incredibly gracious and held off the rain. I think it only rained (which was more of a mist) for about 15 minutes in the afternoon. The rest of the day was clear.

It's a general misconception that giraffes are herbivores. I say misconception because under further investigation, we found they do indeed like plants, but they also are quite fond of metal. I have no idea how they feel about meat, but metal? Huge fans. They tried to eat our cars while we drove through the safari. There's nothing quite like huge giraffe lip marks on your window.

Another misconception - not having to wait in line at all for rollercoasters in the ideal situation. Well, maybe not being forced to wait is great, but not waiting can be argued against. The park was pretty much empty - fantastic. We went on a bunch of coasters more than once in a row, and it was fun...until we realized that one's brain is not accustomed to handling such G-forces without having time to regain equilibrium between coasters. I was not the only queezy one.

But it was so much fun! So many coasters, and we were back by 5pm! We hit every coaster (including the runaway train - not meant for people with long legs) except the scream machine. Because honestly - our heads and stomachs did not need that many flips and shakes as the Scream Machine would provide. The whole day was sweet.

And that's September

Lets start at the very beginning...

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Fellowship Baptist Church began their newly redesigned Young Adults Ministry at the end of May 2008. Under the leadership of seven individuals, YAM set out to provide an avenue for the young adults to connect with each other, grow in their relationship with Christ, and serve the church and community.

Much has happened in the past five months. Detailing everything would take way too much space and time, but here's a quick overview.

Bible Study on Tuesday nights has been such a blessing from God. Recently Lee's been leading because Javan's been overseas and we've been learning about the Holy Spirit and Charle Swindoll's book Flying Closer to the Flame.

About every month, we have a cookout on Sunday afternoon. These are mainly a time to connect and socialize with each other - and get a free lunch!

We've also been having big activities every month or so. I'll write more about that later.

Overall, it's been so much fun to be a part of this ministry. Everyone is so fun! And it's been awesome to grow in the Lord and watch people around me grow too.