This article makes a provocative statement: "Christianity isn’t just a system of belief. It isn’t a lifestyle. It’s a life transformed by Jesus." 

Dear fellow laborers,

We are very impressed with a 9 week series produced by OneHope. (The "Book of Hope" Cru Inner City Jacksonville Ministry uses for Boxes of Love, Easter Bags, Power Packs are produced by them).

This series is directed toward at-risk youth, using high quality video, rap, spoken word and lesson plans. Here is the video promo:  

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5i1vfFzOX2vUENMNEVYY3ZaQVlOTzJVaUhxbG1ZZ2JvbjRR/edit

Rebranded uses Bible and personal storytelling to tell truth in a non-confrontational way.

Cru is partnering with OneHope to get the word out to people who have a heart for the youth. Not only is this series powerful, but it is FREE. OneHope only asks that your ministry follow the link below to give basic information on yourself and your ministry. Once you follow the link you'll be given a passcode to download the videos, audios, PDFs and lesson plans. (A word of advice: you will need a good amount of disc space so have your Dropbox, external hard drive or hard drive ready!)

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1847392/ReBranded-Facilitator-Info
You may forward this link to others but please ask each person to download their own copy via the link.

Transformation is about waking up. Jesus came to help people awaken, but awakening is not that easy, and even Jesus had mixed success. As the four Gospels all record, some people glimpsed what he was saying while others missed it altogether. Some people got it part of the time and missed it the rest. Some people woke up and others remained asleep. But nonetheless there is an awakening taking place outside the walls of the church house that is about to change the way we live life. 

We all believe in a foundational awakening which can move us from sin to salvation. But the initial awakening is also an indication of how God intends to work in our lives from now on. God intends that there will be many more “awakenings”—little Epiphanies (light-giving moments of insight), and that just as we responded in the confession of our sins, we will continue to respond in the consecration of our lives as we walk and work in confidence that what we do will make an eternal difference. That is what we need to awaken to.

It is our hope and prayer that you will realize that you are a discipler of nations, and a model for people. And that you are equipped by God with unique gifts and talents designed to shine light where there has been darkness. You are called to do things in a way that will bring the will of God in heaven to your earth every day as you seek to dislodge systems within your sphere of influence that keep you and others poor, spiritually, relationally, materially and motivationally.

In his book Nehemiah People, Paul Cuny shares how men and women are beginning to recognize their sacred responsibilities to serve God’s purposes without reservation, in business government, medicine or military, education or the media, and all the spheres of society. Paul, says, "This is a clarion call going out to those who desire a deeper life of relevance, greater effectiveness, and a more active engagement in our respective national cultures." And Paul is not alone in his thinking, Christian writers, thinkers, and practitioners are all weighing in on the false dichotomy between the “Sacred” and the “Secular.” We believe labor is the premier expression of worship on Earth, and every believer is a minister. Check out the below link and tell us what you think.

http://blog.tifwe.org/the-sacred-secular-distinction/

Much of our lives is flying. It is wonderful to fly in the air free as a bird, but when God isn't there, all our flying comes to nothing. We must figure out how to return to honoring God. This video might help.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWIwIXJd7W0&app=desktop

I almost wanted to retaliate against this article, but began seeing the deeper issue the article points out. The church is one of the only places that people go where we arrive and separate; yet say we're building families!

But it's not that grouping ages in stages is inherently ineffective in the church; it's our neglecting of the opportunities to connect, pursue and go together while we are separated.  What do you think?

http://www.charismanews.com/us/41465-youth-groups-driving-christian-teens-to-abandon-faith