Jr Hi Trip & Sr Hi Trip

The data is in......your Jr Higher and Sr Higher want their own conferences....

No seriously, we are so excited to announce that Forward will be taking two trips this spring/summer geared just for your Jr hi student and a separate one for your Sr Hi student.  Here are the details:

 Jr Hi Believe in Kissimmee FL. - Feb. 23-26 - $295 (All Inclusive):

 Believe is a great conference geared JUST for that amazing age of Jr Hi students.  We will leave Thursday February 23rd after the cutoff for a student to be counted for the day and travel down to Kissimmee.  Friday we will relax at a theme park near by and then attend the conference on Friday night and all day Saturday.  We will split the drive back between Saturday evening and Sunday morning to arrive in time for Church to let out.  This conference will have Jeff Walling speaking who is an amazing communicator that truly relates to a Jr Hi student.  Couple him with amazing worship, wacky activities and just great fellowship, it will be a trip they will love to attend year after year.  We are asking for a $50 deposit and then $122 on Feb.1 and then $123 on Mar. 1.  This cost is all inclusive, so that covers everything but spending money which is always optional.  And of course, you know I never accept a lack of funds as a legitimate excuse for a student not to attend.  Sign up TODAY by going to our page and registering.

Sr Hi Bigstuf Camp in Panama City Beach FL. - Jun. 23-26 - $270 (All Inclusive):

So Bigstuf......how can you put into words what Bigstuf is all about?  This is the best place on earth for any high schooler.  The topics covered hit them right in the forehead of where they are in life right now.  The fact that you go away to the beach and encounter God in such a raw way is truly amazing.  Fabulous speakers that bring God's word to life, heart-felt worship, quiet time on the beach staring out into God's vast ocean....this is what make Bigstuf amazing.  We will leave the morning of the 23rd and return the night of the 26th.  We are asking for a $70 deposit to hold their spot and then $100 on April 1 and the last payment of $100 on June 1.  This cost is all inclusive, so that covers everything but spending money which is always optional.  And of course, you know I never accept a lack of funds as a legitimate excuse for a student not to attend.  Sign up TODAY by going to our page and registering.

What's Happenin' @ Forward Mid-Week

Below is a brief summary of what talked about tonight. Most of the time we teach through a series for several weeks at a time that way students that miss can get caught back up quickly, and so we can dissect a topic more fully than just a one night deal. Use the overview and questions for both you and your teen to answer and have a dialog that continues outside the church walls and into your homes. Use this opportunity to see what God is teaching your student and also allow your student to see what God is teaching/taught you.

Current Series:

“Are you in?” It’s a question we all answer over and over again. When there’s a party, when our coach says it’s time for tryouts, when we’re offered a summer job, when our friends go to the movies, or when someone invites us to church, we all have the chance to decide if we’re “in” or “out” for that particular activity. Sometimes the answer is an easy, “Count me in!” Other times it’s tougher. There are good reasons on both sides. Some of Jesus’ friends were faced with the same decision of whether they were “in” or “out.” They had good reasons to join the Jesus movement, but they also had some pretty compelling reasons to step out—things like doubt, guilt, pride, and the fear of what they might miss. As we get to know these sometimes famous and devoted followers, we’ll talk about the decision they faced, why they could have walked away, and what led them to say, “I’m in.”

This Week's Recap:

Week #4 (01.25.2017):

Bottom Line: Following Jesus starts with a step

What we talked about:

When faced with a decision in your life, have you ever stopped to ask yourself this question: is it worth it or not? Maybe for you it was something simple, like trying to decide if you wanted that second helping of dessert or if you should purchase an expensive pair of shoes. Or maybe it was a bigger decision in your life, like whether or not you should end a friendship or make a choice in a relationship that you can’t take back. Though we typically know what the right or smart choice might be, sometimes we wonder if making that decision will really be worth it in the end. Sometimes a relationship with Jesus feels just like this, too. We know what God says about following Him—what choices we’ll have to make, habits we might have to change, things we might have to give—and we find ourselves wondering if it will be worth it in the end. The good news is that asking this question doesn’t make you any less in with God. In fact, some of Jesus’ own disciples probably asked themselves the very same thing before they followed Jesus! As we wrap up this series we’ll learn from Matthew, a tax collector that had a lot to lose, that taking that first step to follow God is always worth it in the end.

Just for Parents:

Because when you find yourself the villain,
In the story you have written
It’s plain to see
That sometimes the best intentions
Are in need of redemption
Would you agree?

– Death Cab for Cutie, “You Are a Tourist”

So Death Cab for Cutie is a band – just to be clear – one that’s on my playlist a lot these days. As that song played through my earbuds, it hit me that it describes how I sometimes feel about my parenting.

No new parent begins by saying, “I hope I mess up my child’s life.” Whoever sets out to be the villain in the story? But at one point or another, we end up there, don’t we?
•You leave for vacation but are yelling at the kids before you’re even out of town.
•You’re at home most nights, but you’re far too tired to engage.
•Your kids repeated patterns of behavior drive you crazy, and you end up resenting them.
•Your date night to nurture your marriage starts with an argument and ends with a meltdown.
•You make empty threats to your kids that would make you wince if you heard other parents make them. But you are all out of tricks, so you threaten anyway.

And sometimes the temptation is to think that our failures should disqualify us as a parent. At least as a good parent. It must certainly disqualify us from being a godly parent.

But when you think that, you would be wrong.

What if that actually puts you in line with a great list of characters God used in significant ways? What if that actually qualifies you?

Peter was Jesus’ best friend, but he betrayed Jesus–badly. You would think that would put you out of the running to be a New Testament hero. But Jesus built the church on
Peter anyway.

Moses seemed like a fine fellow until he murdered someone. Shouldn’t that push Moses off God’s short list? Apparently not. God made him into one of the greatest leaders in the Old Testament.

Why? Why does God use people as flawed as that?

I think weakness puts us in touch with our need for God. It reminds us that God is God, and we are not. That we need help. That there is a power greater than our natural brilliance (or lack of it) at work in the world. And that grace flows between the cracks in our lives.

God’s strength is most evident when the people He’s working with are weak.

What if the very thing you think is disqualifying you right now is actually qualifying you for a new chapter in your life
in Christ?

What if your weakness was a portal to new strength?

What if you are a parent turning in a brand new way to Christ’s love and you were able to give your son and daughter a front row seat to the grace of God?

I bet your kids would never forget the change they see in you. And you could one day tell them how it happened.

Try This...

Every parent wants to be a better parent, but as our kids get older it can be tough to know what we should do at this phase of development. This week, try taking one small step to sharpen your parenting skills. Maybe for you that means…

•Reading one chapter of a book about parenting teenagers.
•Finding and subscribing to a parenting blog or podcast.
•Calling a parent with kids a little older than yours and scheduling coffee.
•Making an appointment with a counselor to focus on a specific issue.

As your kid progresses through middle and high school, he or she is going to change a lot. You’ve probably already seen some of that. So, it’s a great time to invest in learning how to love them and lead them best at this phase and the next one.

What's Happenin' @ Forward Mid-Week

Below is a brief summary of what talked about tonight. Most of the time we teach through a series for several weeks at a time that way students that miss can get caught back up quickly, and so we can dissect a topic more fully than just a one night deal. Use the overview and questions for both you and your teen to answer and have a dialog that continues outside the church walls and into your homes. Use this opportunity to see what God is teaching your student and also allow your student to see what God is teaching/taught you.

Current Series:

“Are you in?” It’s a question we all answer over and over again. When there’s a party, when our coach says it’s time for tryouts, when we’re offered a summer job, when our friends go to the movies, or when someone invites us to church, we all have the chance to decide if we’re “in” or “out” for that particular activity. Sometimes the answer is an easy, “Count me in!” Other times it’s tougher. There are good reasons on both sides. Some of Jesus’ friends were faced with the same decision of whether they were “in” or “out.” They had good reasons to join the Jesus movement, but they also had some pretty compelling reasons to step out—things like doubt, guilt, pride, and the fear of what they might miss. As we get to know these sometimes famous and devoted followers, we’ll talk about the decision they faced, why they could have walked away, and what led them to say, “I’m in.”

This Week's Recap:

Week #3 (01.18.2017):

Bottom Line: Don't let Doubt Keep You Out

What we talked about:

Have you ever known someone who tells the truth no matter what? One of those people who can’t help but be honest even when the outcome might not be great? We all probably know someone whose honesty has gotten them (and maybe even us) in trouble. And when that happens, we find ourselves thinking that things probably would’ve been better if they’d not been as open and honest. In other words, we think sometimes honesty isn’t the best policy. And for a lot of us, this is the way we approach our relationship with God. There are some things we talk about openly and honestly and other things we think we shouldn’t talk about at all. And one of the biggest things we tend not to be honest about is our doubt. When we question if God’s real, when we wonder if He’s going to do what He promised, when we don’t know if He’s good—those are doubts. And believe it or not, they aren’t always bad things to have! The problem with our doubts isn’t that we have them, but rather that we don’t do anything about them. How can we truly be in with God if we’re not being honest with Him? This week we’ll look at the story of Thomas, a guy who struggled with doubt throughout His walk with God. And we’ll see that when Thomas was honest about his doubts, Jesus was able to meet him and invite him in.

Just for Parents:

Jr Hi Trip & Sr Hi Trip

The data is in......your Jr Higher and Sr Higher want their own conferences....

No seriously, we are so excited to announce that Forward will be taking two trips this spring/summer geared just for your Jr hi student and a separate one for your Sr Hi student.  Here are the details:

 Jr Hi Believe in Kissimmee FL. - Feb. 23-26 - $295 (All Inclusive):

 Believe is a great conference geared JUST for that amazing age of Jr Hi students.  We will leave Thursday February 23rd after the cutoff for a student to be counted for the day and travel down to Kissimmee.  Friday we will relax at a theme park near by and then attend the conference on Friday night and all day Saturday.  We will split the drive back between Saturday evening and Sunday morning to arrive in time for Church to let out.  This conference will have Jeff Walling speaking who is an amazing communicator that truly relates to a Jr Hi student.  Couple him with amazing worship, wacky activities and just great fellowship, it will be a trip they will love to attend year after year.  We are asking for a $50 deposit and then $122 on Feb.1 and then $123 on Mar. 1.  This cost is all inclusive, so that covers everything but spending money which is always optional.  And of course, you know I never accept a lack of funds as a legitimate excuse for a student not to attend.  Sign up TODAY by going to our page and registering.

 

Sr Hi Bigstuf Camp in Panama City Beach FL. - Jun. 23-26 - $270 (All Inclusive):

So Bigstuf......how can you put into words what Bigstuf is all about?  This is the best place on earth for any high schooler.  The topics covered hit them right in the forehead of where they are in life right now.  The fact that you go away to the beach and encounter God in such a raw way is truly amazing.  Fabulous speakers that bring God's word to life, heart-felt worship, quiet time on the beach staring out into God's vast ocean....this is what make Bigstuf amazing.  We will leave the morning of the 23rd and return the night of the 26th.  We are asking for a $70 deposit to hold their spot and then $100 on April 1 and the last payment of $100 on June 1.  This cost is all inclusive, so that covers everything but spending money which is always optional.  And of course, you know I never accept a lack of funds as a legitimate excuse for a student not to attend.  Sign up TODAY by going to our page and registering.

What's Happenin' @ Forward Mid-Week

Below is a brief summary of what talked about tonight. Most of the time we teach through a series for several weeks at a time that way students that miss can get caught back up quickly, and so we can dissect a topic more fully than just a one night deal. Use the overview and questions for both you and your teen to answer and have a dialog that continues outside the church walls and into your homes. Use this opportunity to see what God is teaching your student and also allow your student to see what God is teaching/taught you.

Current Series:

“Are you in?” It’s a question we all answer over and over again. When there’s a party, when our coach says it’s time for tryouts, when we’re offered a summer job, when our friends go to the movies, or when someone invites us to church, we all have the chance to decide if we’re “in” or “out” for that particular activity. Sometimes the answer is an easy, “Count me in!” Other times it’s tougher. There are good reasons on both sides. Some of Jesus’ friends were faced with the same decision of whether they were “in” or “out.” They had good reasons to join the Jesus movement, but they also had some pretty compelling reasons to step out—things like doubt, guilt, pride, and the fear of what they might miss. As we get to know these sometimes famous and devoted followers, we’ll talk about the decision they faced, why they could have walked away, and what led them to say, “I’m in.”

This Week's Recap:

Week #2 (01.11.2017):

Bottom Line: Relationship > Rules

What we talked about:

When it comes to rules, most people fall into one of two categories: rule-keepers or rule-breakers. Think about it! There are those who are bound to following even the simplest of rules no matter what, while others are just as bound to breaking them. It seems like the two couldn’t be more different, but, believe it or not, there’s one thing both types of people have in common: they’re always focused on the rules. And sometimes there’s no place we see this more than at church. Whether you’re a rule breaker or a rule keeper, it’s easy to become so concerned with what you’re doing right­—or not doing right—that the rules become the point. But when we make the rules our primary focus in our faith, we tend to lose sight of what’s most important: a relationship. When God invites us to be in with Him, He’s not inviting us to live a rules-focused life, but rather a relationship-focused life with Him. And as we look this week at how that truth impacted someone close to Him, we’ll see that when we shift our focus from rules to relationship we’ll begin to truly step into the life Jesus called us to live.

Just for Parents: