Soul in the City News…

This marked the first ever AMiA youth ministry camp, and it was nothing short of amazing. We began every day with worship and devotions. From there we began to grow God’s kingdom throughout the city of Orlando.

The kids were divided into teams of various sizes depending on the location of travel, and began transforming the lives of others as well as their own. From seeing a 4 year old’s expression as they looked at the youth assisting their VBS, to an 87 year old man named Eddie, at the Salvation Army, who desperately wants to know Jesus, and had nearly a dozen youth read the bible to him (he cannot do this himself) and then pray with him. The youth were able to assist at the Harvest International warehouse in Sanford where thousands upon thousands of boxes were being sorted through and prepped for shipment to aid in international relief from Tsunamis, to Earthquakes and famine. A middle school in Parramore was in desperate need of paint and grounds care. They were only able to afford to paint 1 wall per classroom (21 in all) and were unable to give the kids in that community a school that was comfortable and fresh, due to finances. Well, there will be teachers and children coming to school in August with fresh paint, clean and landscaped grounds, and renewed spirits by the administration. Praise God!! On Thursday afternoon we sent each group out with $100 cash and they had to be creative with how to show God’s love. From buying gas, to helping someone push their car into a parking lot, pleading with the police to visiting an Oncology unit, the stories were incredible.

In the evening we returned to New Covenant for dinner, incredible worship led by Mike’s Chair, and several teachings from Matthew 13. We began with the parable of the hidden treasure and the understanding that God pursues you, relentlessly. From there we discussed the parable of the mustard seed. This kingdom we are establishing here on Earth starts small and explodes into a great multitude (See St Francis of Assisi). Then it was on to exploring the soil of your heart, and whether seeds are able to grow and be fruitful or is your heart hard! Wednesday evening we joined with 100+ youth also doing similar work and discussed the parable of the weeds. There is a spiritual battle that we are engaged in and there are two forces at work, one with full power, and one who cannot do anything about it! We closed the teachings on Thursday evening with the last parable found in Matthew 13. We commissioned the youth to “cast a wide net” have open eyes and open hearts and go fishing!! Do not worry about who you catch, but rather just go! God will sort out the lot in the end time, we just have to fish!

Wrapping up the week, we went to Daytona Beach and Mike’s Chair performed at an outdoor amphitheater, aka “the bandshell,” where several hundred people were able to hear inspiring music and a word from Mike Grayson himself. Even a flock of geese flying overhead lingered to hear the glorious sound of people worshiping the Lord.

So as you can see the kids were very busy showing God’s love and advancing his Kingdom, as well as growing in his word and understanding. Praise be to God for this week. I cannot wait for Soul in the City 2009 and where the youth ministry in the AMiA is heading.

So I am a little tired today. Why you ask? Because the MLB All Star game ended at 2am. Yes 2am. But it was all worth it, because my beloved AL clinched home field for the Red Sox in the World Series (yes I said Red Sox), and they did it at Yankee Stadium!! Not only did this occur in "the house that Ruth built" but JD Drew, Red Sox right fielder, was named MVP! Wahoo!

OK so I used this space for a little glee, but come now, you know deep down there is a little Red Sox nation in all of us!

Well I just returned from South Carolina, Pawleys Island actually, on a family vacation. This was an incredible week of actually taking a vacation. I was inspired by Rob Bell's comments (in Everything is Spiritual) about the Exodus scripture in which God is telling Moses to go up on the mountain and be there... He goes on to say that many Rabbis will attest that God is telling Moses to BE on the mountain. Not get to the top and begin planning a descent or deal with other thoughts and issues. (See Exodus 24:12)

So I went on a vacation with my wife and children and I practiced this. BEING there was awesome. I left my lap top at home, my phone was off limits unless an emergency arose (a real emergency), it was very liberating. I say this because I have a large event ahead as some of you are aware, and are participating in as well, called Soul in the City. Kids are trying to register last minute, plans for transportation await in the wings, and I am offline!!! Not to mention a large Camp trip to Mentone, Alabama with two other churches just 2 weeks away! So you see, I really had to BE with my family on vacation.

As I close, I would like to say that if you get an opportunity for time away with your family, BE there. If it is not feasible financially to get away, plan a week at home with them, and BE there.

I recently posted regarding the fact that Father's (or Mom's if Dad is not there) are to be Priests of their homes. It was suggested to me that the Priestly Blessing found in Numbers 6 should be given to your children on a daily basis. I began this practice and have blogged about it! However recently I have discovered that my brother has been doing this for his 1 year old daughter (my God-Daughter!!) after I suggested the same to him. I received a video this week that I will not display here, however it showed my brother giving his little girl the Priestly Blessing while lacing her to bed at night, at the end, she removes her pacifier and says "AMEN." This is a 13 month old girl mind you. Powerful stuff! So please consider doing this with your children. It does make a difference in their lives, no matter how young.

As we prepare for the July 4th celebrations I would like to leave you all with a few quotes from some of the men who were instrumental in forming our freedoms we hold so dear. Most of our culture today either refuses to believe these quotes or just turns a blind eye to them. Does your youth?

I am off to Pawleys Island for a vacation with the "fam" and will return in the 11th. May God bless each of you this week and please stay safe!
____________________________________________________________________


"We Recognize No Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus!" -John Adams and
John Hancock

“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern which have come under my observation, none appears to me so pure as that of Jesus.” -Thomas Jefferson

“All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible.”
-Noah Webster

“ It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible.” -George Washington


AND MY FAVORITE!!

"We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come."
- Samuel Adams, 1776 (at the signing of the Declaration of Independence)

God Bless all of you,

Bo Bartlett