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We Are So Back: Here We Go Again

Alive Youth Church Weekly, We are so back. Every Tuesday, we put out a short post for you to read, think about, and carry with you throughout the week. This isn’t just another post to scroll past. Real thought and real prayer go into these words. This is written just for you, with the hope that God might use something here to encourage you, challenge you, or remind you of what matters. So stay tuned each Tuesday, take a few minutes to give it a read, and let’s see what God has for us each week.  Please never hesitate to reach out. You can always contact a leader, contact youth pastor Isaac through email (Isaac.Fehlen@wsfc.org), through social media (@alivewsfc), or find us Sunday nights at 6:30 PM at Alive Youth Church (3094 Gehlar Rd). We love to see you and hear from you throughout the week! Keep reading for this weeks thoughts: Here We Go Again School season is officially upon us. For parents, that can often feel like a blessing as schedules return to some sense of normality. ...
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Why So Serious?

Alive Youth Church Weekly, Why So Serious? No i'm not just quoting the second-best trilogy of all time.  And yes, The Lord of the Rings is better than The Dark Knight. But those are the top two... if you disagree, argue with a wall.  But what are the things we should take seriously? And what are the things that as a christian shoudnt take our attention? There are plenty of things in life that don't need to be taken too seriously. Whether your favorite sports team wins or loses, what shoes you're wearing, or whether someone liked your post. Those things don't define your life, and I think we all need to take them a little less seriously. But there is one thing that should never be treated casually: your faith. And yet I've found in my own life, and in the lives of many close to me, there are moments where it is convenient to take your faith less seriously.  We've all been there... When it's easier to let your standards drop to fit in, or whenever it benefits ...
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How to: Bible Edition

Alive Youth Church Weekly, Sometimes church can feel like a broken record.  Same format. Same songs. Same scriptures. And you may think that this is a bad thing but in reality there is something to be learned from it.  The God we read about in scripture is the same God that’s alive and moving today. And the truths that were true 1000 years ago, were true 500 years ago, and were true last week, today, and for many years to come. They warrant being repeated. The songs of worship we sing, are so much more about your heart than it is the words you actually sing. And a heart of worship never gets old and can never be overdone. It warrants being repeated.  And one thing I’ll never feel bad about being a broken record about is that we all need to be in our bibles. You can’t be in it enough. Truly.  So I’ll say it again and again. Read your bibles! Now it can seem like I’ve got this figured out because I’m the one saying it…  Let me stop that thought before it begins. I...
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My Big Prayer For Camp 26

Alive Youth Church Weekly What have you been praying for lately? What has been occupying your prayers? And maybe an even better question: Do you sometimes undervalue the power of prayer? I want to share two quotes from the book "Draw the Circle" that have radically changed the way I view and practice prayer. "God won't answer 100 percent of the prayers we don't pray." And: "Why do we mistakenly think that God is offended by our prayers for the impossible? The truth is that God is offended by anything less! God is offended when we ask Him to do things we can do ourselves. It's the impossible prayers that honor God because they reveal our faith and allow God to reveal His glory." - Mark Batterson Those words challenge me every time I read them. How often do we pray safe prayers? Manageable prayers? Comfortable prayers? Prayers that don't really require God to show up? Yet throughout Scripture, we see a God who specializes in the impossible. T...
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Loving Love

Alive Youth Church Weekly, What does it really look like to love our neighbor? Should I knock on doors on my street? "Hello, sir, how can I love you today?" I can confidently tell you I will not be doing that. So what then? Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It's one of the most quoted commands of Jesus and most well-known even outside of church circles, and yet it might be one of the most misunderstood. When most people hear “love your neighbor,” they think of being nice, polite, or helping someone in need every now and then. Those things matter, but Jesus had something much deeper in mind. When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He responded with the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). In the story, a man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead on the side of the road. Several religious people pass by without helping. Then a Samaritan, a person who would have been viewed as an outsider and even an enemy by many of Jesus’ listeners, stops, cares for ...
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What About Psalm 24?!

Alive Youth Church Weekly, I sat down to read Psalm 23 today. You know, the Psalm. The one everybody knows. The one on coffee mugs, wall art, t-shirts, and church merch. I decided to read it because it was popping up everywhere. Conversations throughout the week, our church's women's conference made it their theme, a prayer Sunday night with a student, I even flipped open my bible the other day to find it randomly on the exact page of Psalm 23. Sounds like I'm making this up just for the purposes of this blog, but it's true. You'll just have to take my word for it.  I decided to take the hint and give it a read once again.  Psalm 23 is popular for a reason. It's so good.  But then I kept reading. And honestly? Psalm 24 grabbed my attention even more. Everyone talks about Psalm 23 What About Psalm 24?! Read the first 6 verses with me. Psalm 24 A Psalm of David.  1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he foun...
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The Moments That Sneak Up On Me

Alive Youth Church Weekly, Are you: Tired? Worn out? Feeling the weight of it all? Overworked? Stressed? About to give up? Confused? Don't know what to do next? Trying your hardest but not getting there? Weakened?  “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10 Not: The emotional worship moment is your strength The conference you attended The camp you loved Or the perfect life circumstance you manufacture The joy of the Lord is not the absence of pain, loss, fear, or any of the things we normally try to avoid.  The joy of the Lord is our strength . I have been thinking back on the moments in my life where I experienced the deepest joy. I encourage you to take a few moments with a pen and paper and write down the moments you can remember where joy felt real. Not happiness. Not excitement. Joy.  Seriously, do it now if you can. Make a list. Take the time. When I did this, I started looking for the common denominator. Why were these moments marked with joy? What was...
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