HEY! Quit frontin’…
by Jason Gosselin on Jul.20, 2010, under Uncategorized, Whaddya think?
hmmmmm
During my devotions today, I was reading 2 Kings chapter 17. The whole chapter was about the people of Israel, and how they had been ignoring God and worshiping other “gods.” God would send people to warn Israel, but they wouldn’t listen and they’d continue with their way of life that God was displeased with. So, God exiled Israel to a foreign land as punishment for ignoring Him and His warnings, and choosing to worship other “gods.” As a result, people from all over began to move into the land that was vacated by the Israelites, and what was reportedof the new kids in town, really caught my attention…
“They honored and worshiped God, but not exclusively — They honored and worshiped God, but they also kept up their devotions to the old gods of the places they had come from…
And they’re still doing it, still worshiping any old god that has nostalgic appeal to them. They don’t really worship God—they don’t take seriously what he says regarding how to behave and what to believe, what he revealed to the children of Jacob whom he named Israel. God made a covenant with his people and ordered them, “Don’t honor other gods: Don’t worship them, don’t serve them, don’t offer sacrifices to them. Worship God, the God who delivered you from Egypt in great and personal power. Reverence and fear him. Worship him. Sacrifice to him. And only him! All the things he had written down for you, directing you in what to believe and how to behave — well, do them for as long as you live. And whatever you do, don’t worship other gods! And the covenant he made with you, don’t forget your part in that. And don’t worship other gods! Worship God, and God only — he’s the one who will save you from enemy oppression.”
But they didn’t pay any attention. They kept doing what they’d always done. As it turned out, all the time these people were putting on a front of worshiping God, they were at the same time involved with their local idols. And they’re still doing it. 2 Kings 17:32-40 msg
We’re back!
by Jason Gosselin on Jul.07, 2010, under Retreats, Whaddya think?
Hey everybody! In case you hadn’t noticed, Lilia, myself, and 14 of our AYM youth went to the Dominican Republic for a week long mission trip. Our team consisted of 7 teens going for their 1st year, and 7 teens going for their 2nd year. Operation Domincan Republic 2010 was from June 27 – July 4th. Our AYM missions team has returned from ODR 2010 safe and sound, and what a trip it was!
AYM ODR 2010 team
I think it’s fair to say that none of us will ever be the same again after being available to be used by, and hear from God throughout our week long stay in the Dominican Republic. The trip was an enormous success! So much happened, that me trying to sum it all up in a blog entry would be foolish. Instead, here’s what we did each day, and I would encourage each of you to talk to one of our team members ASAP and give them an opportunity to share with you what God was able to show them, and do through them during their mission in the Dominican Republic!
New AYM series, “Refuel” start tonight 6.16.10
by Jason Gosselin on Jun.16, 2010, under New Series
6.16.10 - 7.7.10
This 4 week series will focus on not living life on “E.” Most of us drivers know, that more often than not, we’ll drive until our gas light pops on before we even think about stopping to refuel. After all, we’ve got so much to do, and don’t have time to stop! That mindset has even caused some of us have to walk to the “nearest” gas station with a red gas can that assures every car that passes by us that we ignored our gas light for too long :’(
Isn’t that how we view our spiritual tank too sometimes? Are we trying to go as far as we can, before we stop and refuel spiritually, ignoring all of the spiritual “gas lights” that may be going off along the way? Why is that?!
That’s where this series, “Refuel” comes in. Over the next 4 weeks, we’re going to look at why we wait so long sometimes to refuel spiritually, and why we allow ourselves to run on “E” when it comes to our spiritual life. We’ll look at some spiritual “gas lights” that may be on in our lives trying to tell us we need to stop and refuel. We’re also going to look at God’s word for some direction about connecting with God. When we’re living on “E,” as alot of us tend to do sometimes, connecting with God isn’t always easy because of our perspective!
Throughought this series we’ll see that connecting with God is not what we think it is, it’s easier than we think it is, and it’s potential impact is so much bigger than we think it is!
Make a pit stop at AYM Wednesday nights at 7pm, and “Refuel.” It’s never too early for a fill up!
Thoughts after today’s devotions…
by Jason Gosselin on Jun.04, 2010, under Whaddya think?
"Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." 2 Timothy 3:17
One of the scriptures I read this morning was Proverbs 29:9, “A sage trying to work things out with a fool gets only scorn and sarcasm for his trouble.”
I looked up the word “sage” and found this…
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A profoundly wise person; a person famed for wisdom.
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Someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience.
Ok, so if a sage is all of those things, it’s fair to assume their approach in “working things out” with someone would be near flawless. Probably calm, well thought out, communicated in love, and above all else, right on the money. So why in the world would this other person, this fool, respond with scorn and sarcasm?! I mean who does that?! Who freaks out on a sage?! Who is scornful and sarcastic with someone who is known for their wisdom, experience, and judgement? What a perfect word for a person lik that. A fool!
My brain was flooded with names of people who were fools according to this definition. People who scorned me and my correction/advice. How underappreciated I am sometimes. Table for self-pity, party of 1 
Then my brain shifted gears, thankfully, and I had to admit, I play the fool quite a bit to when it comes to people trying to”work things out” with me. I respond with scorn, and sarcasm at times. However I instantly begin to defend myself and say think that when I play the “fool” I’m justified and it’s warranted because the person “working things out” with me isn’t exactly a sage, and their approach is all wrong, so my scorn and sarcasm should be easily overlooked and almost allowed or expected by them. Sound familiar? (continue reading…)
Thank You!
by Jason Gosselin on May.25, 2010, under Uncategorized
Hey everyone,
This past Saturday night, 5/22/10, AYM hosted their 2nd annual Missions Banquet & Silent Auction in support of our upcoming AYM missions trip to the Dominican Republic. It was a huge success, and a great night! Before I share with you just how huge a success, let me get you up to speed…
For the past few months, our team of 14 students, and 2 leaders had been sending support letters to friends and family, and selling tickets to our banquet. The cost of the trip is about $1200 per person, and that covers the airline ticket, transportation while in the DR, food, lodging, supplies, etc. Multiply that by 16 and you get a grand total of $19,200. Through our support letters, and banquet tickets, we were able to raise $12,000 towards our goal, and were praying that our silent auction would yield $7,200 in order to cover the remaining funds we needed. Last year our banquet raised $3,500, so quick math says we were in prayer for double last years funds, and I admit, at the beginning of the night I was in prayer, but can’t say I was 100% confident.
Enter, our very big, and able God, working through the many generous people in attendance that evening. At the end of the evening, our silent auction had raised $5,200! I was in awe of God,s provision, but he wasn’t done! As I was thanking our guests for their generosity and sharing with them what we raised, God spoke to one of our guests, and they listened, by writing a $2,000 check! That brought our total to exactly what we needed! Wow, I was floored, and hugged and thanked this couple with unspoken words, and lots of tears…
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 says, “God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.”
Does He ever!! I look forward to God continuing to bless the generous guests we had at our banquet so they can continue to be a blessing to others in a way that causes many to be in awe of God! Our team’s goal, is to now respond to what God has given us, by in turn giving it away, and hoping that it results in full lives full of praise towards God not just in the people we serve in the Dominican, but in us as well!
Thank you for making this trip possible. You are making a huge difference in our world!
-J-
