Ohhhh Baby

Well, as much as it hurts to say, school is coming up. Ehh.
But on the bright side, a new school year means a new season for Discussion.
I know what you're thinking: a new season for Discussion? I thought that ended when Chase graduated...

Well, let's hope not.

At the last meeting of the year, about 30 members responded with a resounding "yes" when asked if they wanted to continue Discussion into the 10-11 year. Sooo, plans are in the works to make that happen.
Be on the lookout for a Facebook message sometime in the near future, and get frickin excited!

Love Your Enemies

We've heard it. Yup. All the time.

BUT, are we living it? Think of the three people you can't stand the most.

And ask, "do I treat them the same way I do my three best friends?"

Even if we think they don't deserve it, remember...do we deserve the price paid for our lives?

Love your enemies, it doesn't go unnoticed. Change somebody's life.

Midweek Inspiration

I don't know how you feel, but school needs to end.

Freedom, fun and sunshine is so close!

BUT...we are called to live one day at a time. While the future may look bright, we live in the present, and can't forget or ignore the opportunities it presents.

So here are some videos to help stay focused, and maybe even get you pumped a little : )

If White British people speaking does it for you:



If Southern Baptist speaking does it for you (hallelujah!)

Indescribable

If you saw the movie, do these images mean anything different to you now?

Movie Day Food Template (updated regularily)

Hot meal (meatballs, pizza, cheesy potatoes, crockpot meals, etc.)

Sloppy Joes – Chase Pritchett

Pizza Hut – Discussion

Meatballs – Tim Franklin

Meal –

Cold meal (pasta meal, sandwiches, any type of salad, etc.)

Bread for sandwiches – Emily Sinisalo

Sandwich Meat -- Tim Franklin

Sandwich Meat --

Peanut Butter – Haley Sobczak

Jelly and Mayonnaise –

Lettuce – Josiah Peterson

Meal – Casey Nelson (cheese ball)

Meal –

Dessert –

Item 1 – Casey Nelson

Item 2 – Trenton Moe (brownies)

Item 3 – Blythe Abrahamson (cookies)

Item 4 –

Accessory Items

Cups – Kirstie Lambert

Cups – Thomas Rogers

Utensils – Kirstie Lambert

Utensils –

Plates -- Kirstie Lambert

Napkins –

Movie Day

Discussion Movie Day is just around the corner!

We're watching "Indescribable" and stuffing our faces with food.

The goal is to fill out the Auditorium, so bring ampap.

Also, if you can bring a food, dessert, or drink item, leave a comment and it will be noted and greatly appreciated : )

Can't wait!

Speaking of God's Hands...

Last week, the topic was "God's Hands".
It was about how He holds us no matter what. A lot more too, but it came down to that.
This song seemed appropriate:




I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands

Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands

In Control

This Wednesday, we talked about God's Hands.
Instead of a summary, here's a video.
It sums up the gist of what we talked about pretty well.
Enjoy Discussioners:

Try Praying This

Praying can be hard.

Not knowing what to say, not knowing what to sacrifice, frustration is easy to come by.

Often times though, we just have to stop being comfortable, and start letting God chisel away at us.

Hide and Seek

Sometimes, we honestly can't hear from God.
And it's not because He's not trying to reach out, it's our mindset that often separates us.

We have the tendency to think God is some elusive, abstract god up in heaven trying to hide from us. Trying to make sure we only find Him at church, YL, our small groups, or Discussion.

So when we don't know what to do with the pain, when we don't know which college to pick, when all we need is someone to understand, we feel...alone.

Truth is, God isn't like that at all.

Ever played hide-and-go-seek with your dad, mom, or babysitter when you were younger? Did they go running up to the attic, to the deepest darkest corner, and say "Ha! Stupid 3-year-old, you couldn't find me"?
NO. They did not.

And sometimes, it's easy to think of God like that. Like He's TRYING to stay hidden. Like He delights in watching us struggle to find Him. But really, when you were a kid, did your dad stay hidden, or did he stick out a foot from behind the curtain so you could find him easier?

And if the foot didn't work, maybe a leg, then an arm, then his head, then a "psssst". Because he wanted to be found. It was more fun for him to be found, to laugh and giggle, because he loves you.
God loves you.

Keep your eyes open, and your heart perceptive for an arm, a leg, a whisper of God.

Cassidy's In On It Too

Cassidy freestylin' about God.

Suprised?





Let us know what you think...any lines that stick out?

Hearing God Week: The Still Small Voice

The following is an excerpt read last Wednesday from Donald Miller's fantastic book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years"

Read it. Think about it.

"...You can call it God or a conscience, or you can dismiss it as that intuitive knowing we all have as humans beings, as living storytellers; but there is a knowing i feel that guides me toward better stories, toward being a better character. I believe there is a writer outside ourselves, plotting a better story for us, interacting with us, even, and whispering a better story into our consciousness.

As a kid, the only sense I got from God was guilt, something I dismissed as a hypersensitive conscience I got from having a controlling pastor. But that isn't the voice I'm talking about. That voice really was the leftover hypersensitive conscience I got from being raised in a church with a controlling pastor.

The real Voice is stiller and smaller and seems to know, without confusion, the difference between right and wrong and the subtle delineation between the beautiful and profane. It's not an agitated Voice, but ever patient as though it approves a million false starts. The Voice I am talking about is a deep water of calming wisdom that says, Hold your tongue; don't talk about that person that way; don't look at that woman as a possession; I want to show you the sunset; look and see how short life is and how your troubles are not worth worrying about; but that bottle of wine and call your friend and see if he can get together, because, remember, he was supposed to have that conversation with his daughter, and you should talk to him about it.

So as I was writing my novel, and as my character did what he wanted, I became more and more aware that somebody was writing me. So I started listening to the Voice, or rather, I started calling it the Voice and admitting there was a Writer. I admitted something other thatn me was showing a better way. And when I did this, I realized the Voice, the Writer who was not me, was trying to make a better story, a more meaningful series of experiences I could live through..."

Hearing God: The Challenge

Yesterday (wednesday) we talked about hearing God.

Because while all the stuff we talk about at Discussion, at church, with friends may SOUND exciting or intriguing, if we miss the personal experience with Big Guns Himself, we've missed the point.

So we're trying something new.

We got into small groups and selected one of three strategies to hear God this week. If you don't have a group, get one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So here's what you do:

1) Pick a strat

2) Find out what your fellow group members are doing

3) Do it to it

4) Talk with your group members throughout the week. Ask them how their experience is going, tell them about yours, you know, keep 'em posted.

5) Be prepared to share your experience next Wednesday

Good luck! If you have the time, tell us what you're doing by commenting on this post.

Balancing

Discussion is booming right now. Our Facebook Group has grown by 30 members in the past 24 hours alone!
You guys are really making this group something special, and different. Keep it up!

This week we're doing a team/small group activity (that will be explained on tomorrow's post) and the video below seemed appropriate. Because this week, it's gonna be different.
It's gonna be awesome.

In the video, Francis Chan (bald guy) talks about our daily routine. Since this week, we're gonna be giving our "normal day" a wake-up call, BE ENCOURAGED by this video.
We have so much to learn.



So this week, take a chance on your balance beam. If you haven't tried it before, get ready for some seriously life-changing stuff to happen.

What Can Jesus Do...For Me?

It's Easter.
Jesus rose from the dead.
Like, He was a real guy, that rose from the dead.
With that same power, he can flip your life upside down.
Just like He did for these people...

Discuss This

Church is something that came up quite a bit during the "stereotype" talk, so it's probably a good thing to continue the dialogue...even if we're not face-to-face on here.

For your thought-provocation check out these two questions, but feel free to take a different angle, or ask your own...

I go to church because...
I don't go to church because...

Answer This Question

On Wednesday, we talked (among many things) about Christian Stereotypes. And it was awesome.

We actually made a small list of some of the things we've heard through the years.

Then we ripped up our lists.

Because Christianity isn't about a list of do's and dont's. It's not about acting perfect and saying the right things. And it's certainly not about judging others. That's human corruption and dead religion.

It's an invitation more than anything...to a life filled with meaning, love, acceptance, and purpose. It's like nothing this world has to offer.

IT'S A RELATIONSHIP.

The most rewarding, difficult, understanding, relationship you can ever be a part of.

All you have to do is accept the invitation.


Does this change your thoughts on personal faith at all?
Does this make sense?

Lyricism

Ever heard a good song lyric?
It's amazing what one person/group/band's collection of words put to a tune can do.
Sometimes a catchy tune isn't even necessary.

This song hits me because it implores questions we think and maybe even ask God, but tend to never be said out loud, and often remain unanswered if we don't do some searching. Hello run-on sentence. The lyrics are here if you want to read while listening, otherwise I recommend just hitting play and poking around the site to some sonic goodness.



So, in response, what are some of your favorite lyrics? Doesn't matter if it's Fergie or Tom Petty, you gotta have at least one song that hits home. Don't you?

Question of the Day - Sunday, March 21st

If you had to pick,
the one thing that you've learned the most from
in life is...

Update-opotamus

Alright this is the lowdown. Discussion is only 3 weeks old, going on 4. I'm not sure if you realize it, but that's actually amazing. Like, amazing and a half.

Not only because of the sheer number of people (even though Discussion would still meet if 2 people showed up each Week, averaging around 60 people each week is ridiculously exciting), but also because of the response. People are sending in emails, FB messages, notes in the dropbox, just to say how pumped they are to learn and grow with this group!

To get to the POINT, this post's purpose is to update those who have missed any of the three (3) meetings:

(the top Google images when "1,2,3" was searched)

Numero Uno: Pizza Day
Just under 100 people showed up to find out what Discussion was all about and score some pizza-goodness on the side (or maybe the other way around, haha). We had to sit around and listen to me nervously crack my fingers while trying to explain what the heck we do at Discussion.

Week 2: Nemo
There are things that separate us from God, straight-up. Finding Nemo metaphorically shows us some of these things, and also teaches us one undeniable truth: God will never stop chasing us, no matter what. He's always there with open arms, waiting. Especially if you've never accepted that love before. If you're there, listen--God's trying to tell you that IT DOESN'T MATTER. Anything you've done wrong that you hold against yourself, He doesn't hold on to that. Because He loves you in ways you cannot comprehend.
That's kinda sorta what we talked about. We also looked at these verses: click

The 3rd Meeting: Identity
We get a lot of crap from a lot of sources, telling us who we are. Magazines, T.V., boyfriends/girlfriends are only some of the things telling us. Who we should be, what is funny, what is right/wrong, what love looks like, gets pumped into us everyday.
It becomes suffocating at times. Have you ever asked, "who am i?"
That's what we did in small groups during week 3.
Then we looked at the ONE source that never fails, tears down, or manipulates.
We read these

Any questions?
Was anything missed?

RuhruhruhRepost

Although this was posted on the site a couple weeks ago, it went so well with this week's discussion, a repost seemed necessary.

No preface this time though (except this sentence); just watch it on full screen with the volume WAY up, then post a comment in response, and respond to other people's responses, and so on.

Finding

This Wednesday at Discussion we'll be getting right into it by talking about the central message of Christ in a way you probably haven't seen or though of before. Questions of different kinds have come in, and in all of them there is one underlying theme to be addressed:

Our God, is a RELENTLESS God.

We're going to take a quick look at the traditional meaning behind this, then bring it full circle with a comparison to...as you probably guessed from the picture...Finding Nemo.

But if you want to know the surprise ending, you have to be there Wednesday to find out!

Don't forget to PACK A LUNCH (pb&j's will be provided if that's an issue, or if you simply forget. But don't, por favor?)

Thoughts?
Who's your favorite Finding Nemo character and why?

Let's Get This Started

First meeting...check : )

The amount of people was mind-blowing, apologies for the lack of pizza.

I feel like this is an appropriate verse for the beginning of something that is new, could face some opposition, and involves a whole lot of teenagers getting together at one time:

Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. -- Isaiah 41:10

Let's get this community started! Keep up the COMMENTS, we have a lot to learn from each other.

How'd it go for you?

It's Moving Here, It's Moving There, It's Moving All Over The Atmosphere

So here's the gist of this video. The bald guy (Carlos Whittaker) was shooting a video thing for a worship album EP. While doing so, a homeless man walked in out of nowhere, kneeled down, crying, and begin to worship with him.



This is our God.

The God who transcends understanding. HOW could that man have sang so perfectly with a song he never heard before? WHAT are the chances Carlos would be there, at the exact same time he was passing by. There's a million questions to ask. Yet, one answer covers about all of them:

"And most certainly, the mystery of Godliness is great..." 1 Timothy 3:16

Our God truly works in mysterious and pretty dang awesome ways at times. Our eyes just have to be open.

In response, what's YOUR story about His glory?


p.s.
(if you want the full description on the video, or want to know what was said near the end, click on the blue title, and it will link you to the original vid)

Definition

1.) An act or instance of discussing; consideration or examination by argument, comment, etc., esp. to explore solutions; informal debate.

2.) Consideration of a subject by a group; an earnest conversation.

3.) A formal discourse on a topic; an exposition.

Dictionary.com defines the word "discussion" in three ways.
I like number 2 the best...mostly because i tend to be anti-conflictual (word check?) so number 1 was, eh. And when i said number 3 with a British accent i felt a little pretentious. But that's just me, being honest.

Definitions aside, the idea of "discussion" is one that excites me. Especially "discussion" on topics rarely "discussed".

Things like rejection, confusion, hopelessness, the need to impress, the things WE ALL DEAL WITH, but never really...talk about.

My prayer is that those who are wondering, would find.
My hope is that a community would be instigated in the Cloquet High School; Upper-classmen, lower-classmen, together searching for answers, in the ONE place that will never fail.

Which definition do you like best?

Turning Point -- Everything

I remember this video being a turning point in my life.
I guess it just, made God more personal.
I hope you enjoy the video, watch it in large-screen if possible, and turn the volume WAY up.

After watching, POST a once sentence comment in reaction. If you need more, go ahead.
It'll be interesting to see other people's comments.

If you're hurting, i hope this helps. If you're questioning, i hope this answers. If you're curious, i hope this instigates something NEW in your heart that hasn't been there before.

Small Beginnings

Today, Discussion took its first baby steps.

Administrative approval............check
Date.....................................check
Time........................................check
Place...........................................checkamonga.

Humble, yes, but it's still something.

This is really happening, huh. I know not many know of it yet, but they will. Expectancy...expectancy.

MUCH more info to come. Let's do it to it baby : )