Wednesday, November 24, 2010

November Example: Oh, Give Thanks


The November Example activity was, of course, a lot of fun with a couple of twists added. Some may remember the innate dangers of last year's blind-man dodgeball. When Rebecca Trosper took a dodgeball off the face, while wearing vision-distorting goggles, I thought Sam Bernstein and his legal crew would be knocking down my door the next morning. We replaced blind-man dodgeball with blind-man scooter racing. Fear not parents, the carnage was kept to a minimum. Check the video for proof.

We also had several guests at this Example Activity. If you listened to Our World His View on November 13, you heard Example hosting the radio show and you heard from several students from Denby High School. They are involved in a group with Pastor Benjamin from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Detroit. We invited Benjie, Kevin, and three girls from Chandler Park Academy to join us for Example. It's interesting to hear about the different and similar pressures, challenges and temptation all teens face no matter where they live. The solution is even more similar: Christ. Geographical location never limits our source of true strength and confidence.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

The evening ended with an excellent presentation by Dr. Charlene Irvin. Dr. Irvin, a parent of four Lutheran North graduated, worked in the Emergency room at St. Johns Hospital in Detroit and has seen lives destroyed through drug and alcohol. She shared the very real and very tragic consequences of drug use. Her encouragement to Example was to be informed about what will happen if she or another doctor sees you in the Emergency room, make God-pleasing decisions that don't involve alcohol and drugs and remain strong in your faith in Christ.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and Example has been such a blessing. Last Saturday there were nearly 80 students who enjoyed each others' company, enjoyed blind-man scooter and found comfort in knowing there are plenty of high school students who choose not to drink and use drugs. Oh, give thanks.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." I Peter 1:3