By Vertical Blogger on
4/9/2008 10:06 AM
Teaching Video 4.6.08 (Sam) from Verticallife.tv on Vimeo.
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By Vertical Blogger on
4/8/2008 6:58 AM
Teaching Video 3.30.08 (Ben) from Verticallife.tv on Vimeo.
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By Vertical Blogger on
3/16/2008 1:05 PM
I was amazed at the number of students who engaged in the 21st century version of fasting.
They all admitted it was tougher than they thought.
Music was probably the hardest thing to unplug from - consensus = it is a blessing that we take for granted
Here were a few of the comments that I found profound:
1. One girl said her self esteem was higher because she didn't spend her time looking at other girls "pretty pictures" on myspace.
2. Many students realized they had much more time than they ever thought because they spend so much time just doing random things on the web/tv
3. A few families actually had conversations and interacted instead of sitting watching TV or in various rooms of the house "together" but not together.
4. One girl spent time reading each night - instead of myspace - and felt that it helped her stay grounded in Truth the next day instead of the lies that easily swept her away about her identity.
One of our students spent time reading this past week - and here was his summary of what he read.
Justin Walkup
Ephesians Summary
Paul is writing a letter to the Ephesians checking up on them but also giving them some much needed direction. In the beginning of the letter Paul reassures The Ephesians that God has saved them and not the other way around I think this is key. I believe early Christians have a tendency to give themselves credit for things. After Paul feels he has properly conveyed them enough about Gods grace and how God has saved them he gives them some much needed advice. I know when I was in the stage of immature Christianity I had a willing heart for God but didn’t really know what it entailed to live a life for Christ. I feel Paul wrote them to answer those questions like mine with things like obeying our parents, how to raise your children, wearing the full armor of God, sexual impurity, greed, and lust. These are all solid truths that we can find easily just by opening the bible and all Christians must daily strive to do. Paul was very strategic in writing this letter, by building a strong foundation of God and providing biblical truths I feel the Ephesians were effectively ministered to. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like without the bible to turn to whenever I have doubts, questions, or hardships. How much do we take the bible for granted? I think to truly appreciate the bible we must first put ourselves in the shoes of the Ephesians living in a very unaccepting pagan society with a desire to love God but not knowing how to live for him to be a servant, to not have all the answers right in front of you. I think until we can truly shift our paradigm to that of the Ephesians we cant truly appreciate the bible for what it is, Hope, Truth, Guidance, and Encouragement, the living word of God always relevant and always true. Then finally we can all become servants to the gospel and truly understand what it is to be a Christian.
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By Vertical Blogger on
3/12/2008 3:20 PM
Have you ever tried to start the wave at a game? The first few attempts seldom work. It takes a few goes to get it going. But, for those who have helped start one, it is a cool thing to see people you never met join with you in this silly hand-in-the-air gesture.
A few weeks ago at the MudHen's game Vertical attended - we met a young man who sold "schnacks" - that is what he called his various concessions he carried down each inning. His nickname is "Schnack Pack". Around the seventh inning he tried to get the wave going - and…well, the heat must have kept the fans from participating because it never made it around. A bit disappointing for Schnack Pack that night.
Last week we talked about the Cross. So many times we see them on necklaces, written on peoples notebooks, tattooed on backs and arms - and we asked the question: has it lost its meaning? The cross is THE event that separates Christianity from all other religions. It is the cross that moves Christianity out of the religious category and into a genre all its own. In the cross, God chose you significant enough to die for. It is the greatest act of love, surrender, and sacrifice that has ever been recorded - and the amazing thing is that you've done nothing. It was God's mission of rescue for our broken world.
If the action of the cross is true - it has great implication for our lives. If God himself chose us significant enough to send His only Son to forgive and rescue us from death and sin = we owe him! Big time! Most people respond one of two ways with the cross: Reject or Repay (aka religion). And that is their way of trying to "get off the hook".
Something powerful happens in our life the moment we realize the implication of God's great rescue mission. The moment we realize the depth and the significance of Jesus story - it overwhelms our heart…that God himself would go to such lengths to rescue us. There is only one suitable response: stop resisting him…and join His rescue team.
There are parts of Christianity that have long dark shadows that are often used to debunk the significance of the story. The truth is christians are the chosen people of God to bring faith, hope, love to a broken, fighting, selfish world. The cross represents the beginning of a wave of humanity sent and empowered by God to point to the greatest love story ever lived.
The wave is going - the question is will you join in?
- Ben
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By Vertical Blogger on
3/12/2008 3:20 PM
From the first day we are born, we all develop relationships with other people. We were made so complex that we even have the ability to form relationships with animals. You might not realize it, but we all develop our own way of interacting with other people. Some of our relationships are stronger, and more meaningful then others. My question is……why? We all have those times when we see someone, and we think, “I hope they don’t notice I’m here.” We don’t really take the time to stop and think about how we would feel if someone thought those same thoughts about us. All of us want to feel loved, and we are called to always show love to everyone. Then, there are other times when we see a close friend, or someone we love, and think, “I can’t wait to go talk to them!” Jesus said to shine the light of Christ to everyone, yet sometimes as Christians, we seem to get caught up in the way the world says we should treat others, even myself. Jesus was never afraid to go up to someone who was considered “un-cool”, in the same way, we shouldn’t be afraid to. What is something that as students we could do to keep from dimming the light of Christ to everyone around us? I know it can be complicated for those, like me, who are quiet and uncomfortable with going out and talking to people we don’t know, but maybe we can think of a great way to help us open up to others. ~Judy Burkhart - Sohpmore - A.Wayne
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By Vertical Blogger on
3/12/2008 3:20 PM
TOMS new and improved shoe has been greatly honored with a nomination for the Cooper-Hewitt People's Design award.
(And we're currently in the top spot!)
We're up against some amazing Design innovations, among them Steve Jobs' Apple iPhone. Help us beat out the iPhone! VOTE NOW!
Click here to vote!
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