...it's coming!

...it's coming...in just a few 2 short weeks school is going to be out, and craziness is going to happen. Many call summer a time to relax, unwind, rest. However, in Youth Ministry it is the exact opposite! That's when things start to speed up.  Many things are going to happen this summer and the questions that we need to ask ourselves is...

• Are we ready? 
• Am I going to get wet? 
• Are we ready to meet new people? 
• lastly, do I want to be the same going into summer vacation or do I want to be different?

Tough questions, now it's all up to you!

We'll see you there!

Doing Ministry....

Doing Ministry is the toughest thing that God has called me to do. In my life, I have done so much work in many different fields. However, in ministry it seems I'm in a constant emotional roller coaster. Many wonderful things happen, but also there are times where I just don't want to do it anymore. It seems that God stretches me almost to the point of breaking and saying I'm done! I quit! I've had it! I been hurt to many times!

But, when I get to that point God is always there with me. You know, Codi is also there encouraging me. I often have ideas, and I would bounce them off of her, some might be ridiculous, but other ideas are just right on.

Many people might not know who my wife is, perhaps because, she is at home with our 5 Children taking care of them. Other times she is in the church nursery seeing if anybody is needing help, but a lot of her time, when the kids aren't hanging off her legs, she is in the word always preparing for the upcoming small group, or working on the up and coming MOPS group.

God has blessed me with such a wonderful woman, that in the midst of everything that goes on with our life...she is always there to support me in everything that I do. Yes, God has given me the passion to minister to students and young adults, but it's Codi who pushes me along when I feel bogged down.

Yes, I am married to the most wonderful woman that God created and she is my Hot Wife!! I will always lover her and cherish everything about her, Codi Marie Dunlap completes me. I finally started to live life when I met her.

Doing Ministry is what God has called me to do...with my wife, Codi. Honey, I love You!!

Ice Sk8ing

On February 20th we went Ice Skating in Vegas. It was a blast, we had to take 2 twelve passenger vans, and a parents vehicle plus some staff to drive there own vehicle. We had a blast, not many got hurt, but many did fall. (NOT ME) Thanks again for everyone who helped and continues to help in ministry.

GoodBye 2009

Well, we are only 3 days away until 2010.

This Past year God has done so much with the ministry of Fusion. It seems we

have just brought in 2009, but now looking back it's done with...here is a quick recap of

the blessing that God has done:

- February Planet Wisdom

- In March we went to Dare 2 Share

Ski trip to Brianhead Resort in Utah

- June Mission Trip with Vertical to Prescott Pines

- July Mission trip with Fusion to Prescott Pines

- July Fuze: outreach event 2 students gave their lives to Christ and 4 students

were baptized.

- August Hurricane Harbor trip to California

- October students helped run our CandyLand for Halloween night

- December we decorated our float for the Boom Box Parade

Ended the Year by adopting a local family in the church.

In everything that went on, we have seen God work so much in the ministry.

We started the year with about 10 students in Teen Bible Fellowship

and 25 Students for our mid-week gathering.

The cool thing is that we can not wrap our minds around what God has done since

Fuze. We have seen the ministry grow in Teen Bible Fellowship to an

average of 21,

and during our mid-week lets just say that we have out grown the youth room, now we

meet in the sanctuary.

I am so thrilled that God has allowed me to minister to so many students, We look foward

to what He is going to do in 2010.

In Lamentations 3:22-24 says...

Because of the Lord's faithful love

we do not perish, for His mercies never end.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope

in Him.

Is Jesus really the reason for the season?

In these past couple of weeks, I've really try to look at Christmas in a different light. Yes, I know that Christmas is about the birth of our Savior, but isn't it more? I see Christmas time is here, meaning that toy commercials, and jewelry commercials are becoming more prevalent now, than earlier in the year, realizing that Christmas has become so commercialized. But again, we know that Christmas is about Jesus' Birth...sad thing is that Jesus was born to die.

I love what Bebo Norman rights in his song "Born to Die"

And the angels filled the sky/All of heaven wondered why/Why their King would choose to be/Be a baby born to die

So, the question is...Is Jesus really the reason for the season? 

We celebrate Jesus' birth, but what we really should celebrate is that Jesus came to die for us, God intended for us to be with him, and in order 

to be with him, God gave us his one and only son.  So here we are celebrating Christmas...Because

We are the reason for the season. 

To Date or Not to Date?

Almost every week I talk to a guy or girl who is upset or frustrated at their boyfriend or girlfriend. The story that I am told is different almost every time, but the source by which this story has developed is almost always the same. One of the main problems, besides our sinful nature, with high school relationships is found in the way students are raised.

I have talked with several girls bawling their eyes out because their boyfriend broke up with them or cheated on them, and they don’t know why. The ironic thing about them being confused about this is just two months earlier I told them it would happen. I find it very interesting that parents are encouraging their students to date when they put no other responsibility on them in any other area of life, and then they think that their student can handle the responsibility of a relationship. When most of our guys are raised in an atmosphere where they get everything they want and have to do nothing in return, it’s no surprise to me that these relationships end with wounded hearts and purity taken. By doing this we are raising boys who do not know how to cultivate anything and want everything given to them. And when they stop getting what they want, they simply move on to the next best thing.

Our girls are raised in an equally dangerous atmosphere where fathers are not present or active in their life. Because of this missing father figure, our girls are out on a search to feel loved by any male figure they can find, and they will give anything to get that love and attention. Having our students raised with this mindset is a disaster waiting to happen. We have guys running around who can’t cultivate anything and all they want is for girls to fulfill their physical desires, and we have girls running around who want any form of male affection they can find, and we get lots of hurt students and angry parents who don’t know why this is happening.

My hope in writing this is that parents would see where they are failing their students and students would stop looking to each other to fulfill these desires. I understand that everyone’s situation is different and that there are lots of other reasons why high school relationships don’t work, but for the sake of not writing a 10 page blog, this is all I want to focus on for now. My encouragement to our students is to take this time in life to focus on God and their relationship with him. Most of the time your relationship with that guy or girl is going to mean the end of your relationship with God. I know this is not what you want to hear but, if you will hear me then you will most like save yourself a lot of pain and regret.

To our parents out there, I don’t know if I could ever beg you enough to love your students well. Don’t let your sons just sit on their butts and do nothing but play Xbox. Make them get a job or have responsibilities at home. Don’t just let them be consumers who never work for anything, because they will become lazy and cultivate things that are destructive. Fathers please spend time with your daughters, show them that you care, and don’t let a little boy come into their life and replace you!

Address: http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvhs/?p=474

The Space Between

Parents,

Walt Mueller is a cognoscente when it comes to youth culture. If teens are buying it, reading it, watching it or saying it, he knows about it and has done his research to discover the effects it’s having on their world. Like a spy behind enemy lines, Dr. Mueller has his ear to the ground and his body in harm’s way deep inside youth subculture. And he’s just come out with a new book that I picked up last week and have begun reading. It’s titled, The Space Between: A Parent’s Guide to Teenage Development. The premise is spelled out in the subtitle; no need to elaborate there. I highly recommend it to you for a few reasons:

1. It’s short and to the point. At a little over 100 pages it shouldn’t take long to finish.
2. Walt knows his stuff. He’s not just an academic. He has four kids, three of whom have graduated out of adolescence. The man has firsthand experience with parenting teens.
3. It doesn’t just present information and pose questions. Dr. Mueller gives practical parenting advice throughout the book.
4. It’s biblical. Dr. Mueller is a God-loving man who knows that what teens need the most is Jesus, not morality.

To get you started, here are some takeaways from the first two chapters.

When addressing any subject it’s always important to really understand what we’re dealing with. While we’ve come up with some nice labels for this stage of life, (teenager, adolescent) what exactly defines it? When does it start? WHEN DOES IT END?!

What is it?

Mueller gives a lot of definitions, my favorite of which is one by Earl Wilson who says adolescence is “an adult trying to happen.” It’s a transition, an in-between stage. Teens are making an exodus from childhood trying to enter the Promised Land and freedom of adulthood with you as their Moses. You’re the guide, the leader, the one in charge.

When does it start?

Most experts argue that it begins at the onset of puberty. One day a gland wakes up and starts releasing hormones and with it the start of a child’s journey towards adulthood. On average girls get a head start and begin at age 10 ½. Boys are a few years behind, beginning on average at age 12.

One thing to note is that within the last 100 years, the average age (especially for girls) for this has been decreasing. Many attribute this trend to the fact that are kids are eating more than ever before. Research has shown that there is a connection with the onset of puberty and weight, specifically to body mass index.

Mueller is quick to add that this decrease in age coupled with the reality that kids are dealing with cultural pressures at earlier ages can cause them to “grow up too fast.”

When does it end?

This is a tough question to answer because our culture has no clear cut definition or right-of-passage for adulthood. Graduation, marriage, or moving out of your mom’s house? No one really knows. David Walsh defines adolescence by saying “it begins at puberty and ends…sometime.”

What this means for you as parents is that this period of “storm and stress”¹ could last for 15 years. But, be encouraged! God has put this growing, complicated, unpredictable and fascinating creature under your roof and care so that both of you might be sanctified and grow in godliness. What a responsibility and privilege!

http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvms/

Kachina Trail Hike

Just this past Tuesday we ventured out from the 90 degree weather in Bullhead City, to the mid 50's in Flagstaff. We had such a great time, of hiking and bonding with the students.

The leaves changing was gorgeous, and just being in the outdoors is

something to praise our almighty Creator!

Got Questions?

August 12th was fantastic. So many of you asked so many great questions! Here are a few that were answered...

1. Where did Satan come from?
2. How do I share my Faith with a Muslim?
3. If we didn't sin, would we still be here?
4. Where does it talk about Dinosaurs in the Bible?
5. Would you smell Melissa's lip gloss?
6. Do you go to Hell if you committ suicide?
7. Does the Bible talk about Hell? Where can I find it?
8. Does God hate gay people?
9. Is there such things as ghosts?
10. Do we become angels when we get to Heaven?
11. Do we have to tithe?

Fuze

Fuze is to ignite a life changing movement among our Generation!

This Past Summer we unpacked the series History

(His Story)

The Series began with...

Week 1 - Who God is

Week 2 - Garden

Week 3 - Fallen to the Cross

Week 4 - Identity & Choices

Week 5 - Eternity

In our final night, God led 4 students to be baptized.

Youth Mission Trip

Youth Mission Trip July 5th - 10th: AAR (After Action Review)

We had such a great time at Prescott Pines. We began the week with team building and getting to know each other better. The next day began our week of hard labor, such as clean the forest with all down trees, debris, trash etc. Other groups worked on Painting the main chapel, hauling rock for drainage, cleaned off all roofs with debris.

We ended the week, with the ropes course, many students and adults did a great job with this task, as for me not so well.

It was a great feeling to see the students come together as one team. The head maintainance man told everyone that "this would have taken us years to get everything done...you all did it in a week"

Thank you God for giving us the ability to serve!

Just a Reminder

Just a quick reminder:

Bowling is Monday June 8th.  We leave at 10am to head up to Kingman.

Also Money is due for those who are wanting to go to Six Flag's Hurricane Harbor on June 9th.

Please see me if you have any other questions.

Xtreme Week

We are excited to be doing Xtreme week again this year.  We will be going bowling June 8th @ 11am. Cost is $2 games, $1 shoe rental. On June 9th we will head to Hurricane Harbor in California. Cost is $25 plus money for food, and we bring your own lunch. If you would like more information, contact Pastor Kevin.

Raise The Risk

Raise the Risk, is an opportunity for students to help give back to the community by going door to door with our adult staff. We also invite the resident to partner with our Emergency Assistance Window by donating non-perishable items.  We also invite them to have a relationship with us, by coming to Riviera.

All New

I was finally done, with the other blog...it just wasn't hip enough.  I hope this new blog "My World" might help you understand what is going on with in Fusion ministries.  We will keep everyone informed on what is happening.  So just continue to check back when you get a shot.  And if you have not seen our Church websight, than you are in for a real treat.  you can find us at www.rivierabaptistchurch.com look forward to hearing from you.