SHINE 2011

**Note: The videos and reading will take about 30 minutes. BUT they are 30 minutes you WILL NOT want to miss. My JD wrote a large majority of the script for the first video. He did a bang up job. I am super proud of him and the team of ministers we have at our church. They work so well together and do it ALL for the GLORY OF GOD!!

This past weekend, our church's student ministry held it's 2011 DNow (Disciple Now--a weekend retreat in town for the students). The theme of this year's event was SHINE 2011. The verse they reflected on all weekend was Philippians 2:14-16--"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. "

The focus being to shine, this years weekend event began with the 2011 Shine Awards. The hosts of the show were the first "boy band" from the 80s--Wee. They hit it big before NKOTB, Backstreet Boys, and Boyz to Men.

You can learn more about them by watching VH1's Wee Behind the Music. (It is not publically posted, so you will have to click the LINK. You won't want to miss this--hilarious!)

After Behind the Music, Wee was reunited for the first time in 15 years with a live on stage performance which kicked off the weekend.

Saturday between all the sessions, the students headed downtown to do a little flash mob action. It. was. awesome.

But there was more to the weekend than Beiber fever. The students were challenged to "not be held down" by the ways of the world, but to SHINE in a crooked and depraved generation. They/we are to be a LIGHT to the world--to SHINE for JESUS!

As a public committment to themselves and others, each student was given a balloon with an LED light inside. They released them--not being held down by the world, but shining for Jesus!

Commitments made over the weekend:

10 commitments to follow Jesus

101 commitments to SHINE for Jesus

8 commitments to full-time ministry

Here's a challenge to you and me--are you shining for Jesus or being held down by the ways of the world? I know I am praying and challending myself to SHINE for Him. Putting away the things that trap me into thinking only of myself and focusing on the ONE who created me to bring glory to Him.