DIVORCE

Last year in the US, there were 3 divorces for every 7 marriages.
Does that seem high or low to you?
What would you guess are the greatest causes of divorce?

What would it take to lower the divorce rate in our country?

I have heard it said that "the most dangerous thing happening in our society today is the "weakening" of the family unit."
what do you think about all these questions?

FourSquare LAW

A Shane Claiborne Clip

Here's a quick snipit of Shane Claiborne,who wrote Irresistable Revolution. His actions and writings have really helped me to expand my understanding of Christ and his teachings.

Another World is Possible

Here are some cool websites that go along with our current topic of "The Simple Life". The book above is incredible for High School students and above. Shane's website is www.thesimpleway.org or www.awip.us is the "Another World is Possible" site.

Billy

The first time I saw him he was breaking into a locked dumpster at the Methadone clinic to drink the last few drops of methadone because he couldn’t afford anymore heroine. I walked closer to him and he begged me not to call the cops. I sat down behind the dumpster and listened to Billy’s story. He told me that he was 51 years old and he has been addicted to drugs and alcohol since he was 16 years old. I listened and tried to encourage my tired friend. He was sick of being addicted and he promised me that he was going to get clean….I didn’t believe him. So fast-forward 3 months. I’m in the public Library downtown and I hear this man yelling my name and walking towards me. I got nervous. It was Billy. He looked so much better than the times I had seen him in the dumpster. He proceeded to tell me that God had sent him angels to help him get clean and the I was one of them. I was confused. Someone scholarshipped Billy $12,000 to go to a really nice re-hab clinic and Billy has been clean and sober for over 90 days. Billy told me that he hasn’t been clean that long in 35 years. He thanks me for not calling the cops on him and listening to him instead. Billy is a new man.
I thank you God that you make us all new!!!!I praise you for sending Billy as my angel to remind me of your incredible power and love.
God is Good, Nate

DONT HATE APPRECIATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would just like to say that this was for our love and appreciation for everything Nate and Kim do. You peeps are awesome and I pray every night for meeting you both. Also Ms. Nancy we all appreciate what you do and love you so much, and I especially thank you for asking me to help out with the youth activities (that really means a lot to me) and YOU BETTER WATCH OUT B/C WE ARE GOING TO GET YOU TOO!!!!!!!!!!!


DONT HATE APPRECIATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now here is another thing for all the foldiers. I am asking everyone if you would like to say something that you appreciate Nancy, Nate, Kim, and ALL THE OTHER LEADERS doing for you or something you appreciate about Nancy, Nate, Kim, and ALL THE OTHER LEADERS. I think this would be a great way of showing our appreciation and saying thanks for all they do and especially for all the other leaders that help out. YOU CAN NEVER SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!

GOD BLESS!!!

Trent Stephen Matthews

Winter Retreat

click me to get the rental forms for the winter retreat!

or...click ME for the ski resort and snow report.

The Light of the World

I took this picture of a lightbulb on my parents porch the other day. It's been good to be away from Wilmington for a short period because it has allowed me to reflect on the youth ministry at SACPC.
This little bulb by itself gives off a little bit of light, but the entire strand together lights up my parents driveway. It has been a blessing for Kim and I to see the "strand" of young peope and youth leaders shine for Christ.

My prayer for you and me this Christmas is that we CELEBRATE the fact that the LIGHT has come into this world........and his name is EMMANUEL (God with us)



He gave us MINDS to Know Him.
He gave us Hearts to Feel.
He gave us Hands to serve
and He gave us Feet to Follow.


Contine to Shine for Christ!
I love each of you......nate

The Death Penalty

1) What are your thoughts on Capital Punishment?
2) Do the scriptures have anything to say about this?

Nate's Nateless BDAY Celebration

On Dec. 20th (my bday) there will be a bday celebration for MS and HS students to come to the HUB and watch sports or a movie on the big screen, play on the video games or computers, eat some grub and hang out with the FOLD FAM. Bring some friends.

Here's the rub......I won't be there....i'll be in Hollywood...but how joyful is it to know that you little chillin's are celebrating my bday (a national holiday) in my absence.

God is Good
nate

GRACIAS

..ok sports fans, we are going to take a small break from the highly controversial weekly bloggings. So here's the deal:
* make a comment with 10 things you are thankful for.
My goal is to get 20 thankful bloggings.

TRASHY

Is pollution that big of a problem?
Will your children be effected by pollution in their lifetime?
What does God's word say about it? (look in Genesis)
What is our role as humans as it pertains to the earth?

(Marie V. gets the credit for this question)

Do Christians in our community play well together?

Why is Sunday morning in Wilmington the most
segregated time of the week?

Should this change? How?

Would JC live behind a gate?

I could catch some heat from this one......
but the purpose of this blog is to
ask the hard questions and think
"theologically" about them. If this
ruffles your feathers...good!!
All the blogs have ruffled my little feathers.
Ruffling is Good!

Here it is:

What do you think God thinks about
living in "gated communities" or belonging
to "Country Clubs"?

Hath God prepared a place for Fido?

ok..this is a classic question I get asked
by my younger friends.......
"Do dogs go to heaven?"

have fun......
nate

Suffering

If God is so good,
why is there so much suffering in our world?

Does God want you to be rich?

This Time mag. came out a few weeks ago and it asks
a great question, does God want you to be rich?
This is similar to the post I made about WWJD or What
would Jesus Drive?
Have we as American Christans gone too far on the spending?
What does scripture have to say about money?

James 1.19-27 by Trent (Sr. at Topsail)

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it---he will be blessed in what he does.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

I just thought that i would share this with you guys b/c I believe that it is so true. For example when it says "do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. do what it says." and it goes on about looking in the mirror. I think that alot of times some of us when we go to church or to youth group and we listen to the teachings and we learn. That alot of times we remember it for that short of time and forget about when really we should be taking that lesson that we learned and using it to bring others to Christ, and also we sometimes do not take that lesson and apply it in our life. It also says "but doing it---he will be blessed in what he does." You learn so much from this that little piece that just makes you think. I thought that I would just share that with you guys and feel free to make a comment. I would love to hear what you would have to say.


"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

Doozie #3 "W.hat W.ould J.esus D.rive?"

Here are some thoughts to get the ball rollin' on a new issue:
What Would Jesus Drive?
If JC came to Wilmington today, where would he live? what job would He have? what would He wear? and what would he drive?


**You can still comment on the 2 topics below; War and Worry.
You all have done great...spread the word and keep the comments coming!

Help me answer this question!!!

There are about 10 "doozies" or hard questions that I frequently get asked. I will post one below and I want you to give HONEST feedback....don't tell me what I want to here. Here we go:

Should Christians fight in war?

ooooooooo this should get interesting!!!


( click on the "comment" thingy below to respond and make sure and put your first name down so we know who made the comment)

if you don't like this topic or Rob Bryan's intimidates you with his big words (:
please comment on the topic below called "worry". Trent made a good comment last week on it.

God is Good,
Nate