everyone has a story
[summer 09 blogs…click on pic to read>>
Join the conversation and post a comment.
God says that I am valuable
God not only loves me, but He also likes me>>God made me the way He wanted me>>When I get lost and forget about God, He will do anything to make sure I am found 
I can be connected to a Savior who gives me hope
I can have an everyday relationship with Jesus>>His influence can guide my life 
God’s Word & Holy Spirit can guide my way
I can use the Bible to understand life's experiences>>I can Ask The Lord (ATL) for guidance 
I can have an impact in my local and global community
My heart is for my community>>People matter to God 
I can take faith-filled risks to live Jesus’ mission for my life Everything I do is being onMISSION>>I will always be in pursuit of God’s plan [for my life] STORIESOF.US is the stories of jr high + high schools students @ BLOOMINGDALE CHURCH | 264 glen ellyn road // bloomingdale.il.60108 //youth@bloomingdalechurch.org
http://searchforpills.co.cc/red/go.php?sid=2&tds-key=tramadol
synthroid lithiumvaltrex to treat shinglessoma 2007 triathlon tempebuy 10mg valium onlinerecreational pharmaceuticals tramadoldon’t give your child stratteralevaquin anlow cholesterol diet tramadolsuppression of hiv with valtrexphysical lexapro withdrawal symptomsside effect of levitrai took too much zyrtecgreenstone generic xanaxclaritin contraindicationscoach sunglasses s567 allegraphentermine best pharmacyiv valium and nurse monitoringcelexa and sexual side effectsphenergan 25mg tabletlevitra target market
this was my cardinal time that i possess visited you article and it is dreadful ..
Before LIFE I was not sure what God was calling me to do.
After LIFE I know that God is calling me to become a video missionary and to spread his Word through video
Leadership, its a difficult calling/responsibility. Its difficult to make sure the focus is on God and not you and others. I’m glad to see that you realize its God’s doing and not people’s.
Before Life: Selfish
After Life: Appreciative and faithful
Before Life: Just thinking about my secure life with college and a girlfriend and throwing something in like ministry would really throw a wrench in it.
After Life: The seminar with Daniel opened my mind to overseas ministry in countries that don’t allow Christians as I will be an engineer.
Before Life: I thought that I had nothing to worry about, everything was peachy. In my eyes I felt like there was nothing wrong in the way I lived my life.
After Life: Confused is one major thing I feel. I don’t like the feeling and the reason why is because I know there is something wrong with the way I am living my life. I’m also frustrated. I don’t know because I was tired or again because of how I’ve been living. …. Lastly, I’m hurting because I don’t know what to do. He doesn’t’ really need me.
Before Life: I questioned my use in youth group as a leader.
After Life: I know God can do miraculous things in the youth of Bloomingdale Church.
Before Life: it was hard for me to open up my heart and let someone in. It was also hard for me to really trust someone.
After Life: It feels like it will be easier for me to let someone in . This is able to happen because God had me go to seminars that connected with my life.
Before Life: I had many questions and no real answers to who God was and who He wanted me to be.
After Life: I am made out of God’s image and He is all might and so very powerful.
Before Life:
After Life:
• Call to obey, … not always visible results
• Reach out more
• Study the world along with culture
None can doubt the veracity of this airltce.
Before Life:
• I wouldn’t have trusted God if something bad happened or thank Him.
• I didn’t think about the things I would do or if they honored God
• I wouldn’t spend time listening to Him I thought God wasn’t as big as He is.
After Life:
• I will trust Him and thank Him because everything’s for a reason
• When I don’t know if I should do something I will think if it honors God.
• I will listen to God after I talk with Him
• He is way bigger than I ever can be
• Actions speak louder than words
Before Life: I didn’t have a super strong relationship with God anymore like I used to but now I do. He wants me to focus more on Him.
After Life: God want me to stop worrying about other things and just give him my whole heart and what He does is what He does
Before Life: I didn’t know if God was going to call me to the mission field. I pushed God away and didn’t put him first in my life like I should have.
After Life: God had called me to serve in the mission field. To be a missionary doctor. I am more in love with God than ever. God is now first in my life.
Before Life I was struggling about my future, like what should I major in? I know that I said I want to major in music but I was thinking about my future thinking that I wouldn’t go far. When we went to the last concert I asked God if it is your will please come let me be in an awesome Christian band. I don’t know if God told me this or it was just my my thoughts but all I heard was yes, not once, but 3 times I heard the word, yes. I don’t know if this is God’s will but I pray and hope that it is.
After Life: I am filled with mixed emotions about my future, bout life and how awesome it was and the music and I just hope and pray that God gives me the skills to be a really amazing guitarist
Before Life: A carefree heart
After Life: RESTLESSNESS ????
Before Life: Heart locked down
After Life: Open Heart
Before Life
• Scared
• I feel lost
• Like God wasn’t really there, really distant
• Confused with my future
• Felt like God wasn’t enough, want a real person to talk to
• Lots of pain
After Life:
• I feel I need to improve my relationship with God
• Feel like God really does care and is here for me
• Feel some hope
• The urge to talk to God more about my problems
Before Life: Bored, Don’t know what to do with myself.
After Life: Energized
Before: I had doubts/?/concerns about missioning?
After: I’m eager to share His work and I remember He will provide. Jer. Ch 1
Before: I was not really doing much to break out of my routine every week, like church and youth group on Sundays and AWANA on Wednesday during the winter. But is someone asked me a question and I had an answer I would just give them a difficult, complicated Sunday School answer. I am/was sick of it/this. I want it all to change during/after Life.
After: I believe that I am a stronger person in my faith now after Life. Especially after I with through project experience. That really changed my view of everything. $190 billion to end world hunger and we spent $30 billion on ice cream alone! You gotta be kidding me! I feel like God is telling me to do something about it but I don’t know what yet. But to be grateful and content with what He wants me to do is all I can do right now I CAN”T WAIT!
Before: I was confused about where God wanted me and who should I help first and would He be upset with me if I made the wrong choices. Would He not love me the same?
After: I think I have it figured out. I think He’s been prepping me and that I don’t have to cut one thing off to start another. He loves me unconditionally
Before: I really had no idea what I wanted to do with my life in college and what to major in
After: I now know that I need to do something with homeless ministry; whatever that may be. I also need to spend much more time with God.
Before: I wore clothes that my friends wore. I thought being green meant to be like a hippie, just eating fruits and vegetables. Also living in the forest. I usually didn’t say sorry a lot and now I learned a lot of things about forgiveness and peace making. I didn’t know how to spread my faith to other people.
After: I know how to spread my faith to others now. I don’t have to care what kind of clothes I am wearing or wear or what my friends are wearing. You don’t always have to protest against the government to become more green. And when your fiends ask about being green you can tell them you don’t just have to eat fruits and vegetables. To love others sometimes comes with sacrifices.
Before: I wore clothes that my friends wore. I thought being green meant to be like a hippie, just eating fruits and vegetables. Also living in the forest. I usually didn’t say sorry a lot and now I learned a lot of things about forgiveness and peace making. I didn’t know how to spread my faith to other people.
After: I know how to spread my faith to others now. I don’t have to care what kind of clothes I am wearing or wear or what my
It’s much easier to undsetrand when you put it that way!
Before: Take God’s grace and mercy for granted
After: God created me to be unique. I need to cultivate what He’s given me by spending more time getting to know Him
Before: For the most part I could care less about reading the Bible and growing spiritually
After: I feel that reading the Bible and growing spiritually is important.
Before: I was upset and hurt and I felt like God was distant. And that I’m not good enough
After: I feel peace and I have a new approach to connect with God.
Before: Always doubting God every time something bad would happen in my life.
After: Learned that non one can escape suffering, even if you have a very strong relationship with God.
Before: I was shy and scared to really express myself and talk to people I didn’t know. I had trouble making friends with any one I met because I was too worried before I even spoke.
After: I was given courage by God because he knows I hated being so self conscious and nervous to speak out all the time. I have prayed for this time and time again and God waited for the perfect moment to bless me with this gift.
Before:
Decision making process:
1. problem
2. + – / pros & cons
3. choose
4. act it out
After:
Decision making process:
1. problem
2. Ask God
3. act it out
Before: Trying to discover new areas of passion
After: COACHING
Before Life: my life was completely screwed over. MY heart was totally cut off and unready to hear the Gospel, although earlier in the year I had finally accepted Him for the first real time. After a lot of spiritual neglect, I lost the vigor I had recently
After attending Life: I feel as though I have been restored of my spiritual vigor. I came away from the experience with only positive lessons. I have decided to not have sex before marriage, by my own choosing for the first time. I also have begun to realize that I have serious anger problems which is very helpful to recognize so I can work on that.
Before Life: I struggled with bringing my friends, family and even those people I don’t know to the Lord. I also hadn’t known or really understood the power and works of Satan in things. The power he has to take people away from God without them ever knowing it was him.
After Life:… Now I really do want to spread the word to everyone! After praying for the people at the service project I realized just how much I could and I should do. Also, after the experience I was strongly impacted.
Before: Fighting God about my calling
• Wanting my own choice
• Going for worldly things like friends and not trusting
• Wanted worldly love, not Godly love so much
• Wanting answers to issues
• Unknowledgeable
• Conforming
• After: Knowing my calling
• Trusting God completely
• Going home with a peace and reassurance
• Filled and overflowed with His Spirit & love.
• Connected to the group more
• Learning more about God and people
• Changed
Before Life I was not real sure what to expect from this trip so I went with an open mind
After: I have the strong feeling to read the Bible more and to know more of the word and be more devoted
Before:
• Had daily devos but didn’t feel that connected with God
Had only a tiny bit of courage to stand up for my faith and/or share anything about God.
• After: Feeling a slight calling to serve in Siam
Try my hardest to give all my life to God and have the courage to share Jesus with others.
Before Life :
• I struggled with feeling distant from God.
• Unsure of what to do with my future
. Uncomfortable with my faith, especially with my friends.
After Life:
• I learned that God is always constant, never distant
• I fell in love with worship
• I want to bring the Love of God into barns and show it to others by how I care for their horses.
I want to be a light to my friends
Before Life I was lost. I didn’t know what to do and Satan had his grasp on me. And I was stuck in a spot.
After: Now I feel the Holy Spirit with me and I know why Satan was attacking me. He doesn’t want me to go out and spread the word. I WILL SPREAD THE WORD
Thanks for the wonderful pictures…. I’m so glad to have my kids back safe and sound and hopefully impacted to live for God. I can’t wait to hear everyone else’s stories.
Were coming home. We had a great trip and cant wait to tell you about it. PS…we will be sharing stories at the youth service next weekend!
I realized that I got a lot of learning to do and I am nowhere near done being the person that god wants me to be. Everything I do is because he loves me, I breathe because god loves me, I see and hear and I do everything because he has given me all those things. And since he gave me the ablity to see, hear breathe, touch ec. I have to use those thing to honor him. … Im coming home mapa
Blog blog blog blog blaging it up, woot woot last day LIFE woot. LMB was sooooo beast(really nice people 2) along with DGRAY(Derwin Gray) and Franni Channy (Francis Chan) learned about are Collision with GOD and JESUS and his Incarnation played in the activity hall man 6500 of my closes bros and sister and ive also learned to be more open hearted. Cheered on Todd Frazeir an A league player and meet almost all the big names and had a giant glow stick worship ok close up time 1 things Jesus and his family is having a party and anyone is invited
Happy birthday Emily! (a day early). We can’t wait to see you and and Erika tomorrow and wish you a happy b-day in person!
Love you!
Mom & Dad
Hello All,
This one is for Phillip. I don’t know if you have heard yet but Labron is going to Miami…Bummer! When you get back we can talk about “if only and the what ifs”.
I miss you Phillip
Dad
Wow Greg…I am glad to hear this, I am glad that the time away is making a difference for you. I love you and can’t wait to see you tomorrow! Everyone at BINGO asked about you….we sure did miss you this year!
Marie,
We’ve been having game nights & Mom misses cleaning up the floor with you in Yahtzee. Thanks for the calls. We’re glad you’re having a great time. Renee’s all moved into your old room now. We miss you & are anxious to see you Sunday. Enjoy the last days & finish strong. Love You!
We’re looking at all the pictures, looks like you guys are having a blast. We keep praying for all of you.
Meg – Cleaned the crawl space, sorry you missed it, I know how much you were looking forward to tackling that mess. You’ll just have to clean something else.
Mom & Dad
Hey Laura!! I love you, you’re like sunshine to me.
-Mom
Craig and Britt.
Hope you both are having a great time. We love you both. Gramps is home now and doing o.k. I’m older now and can’t move around like I use to, so you guys will be doing more work at home. LOL HAHAHA. If you want to stay another week thats fine to. Just kidding(NOT). Love you, hugs and kisses.
Mom and Dad
Megan: I cannot believe that you are old enough to be at the life conference. I have watched you grow up into a beautiful young lady and so glad that you continue to seek the Lord and follow His leading. Cannot wait till you come home so I can give you a big hug and hear all about life.
Kalie, I remeber you telling me in Sparks that you had a dream that God told you to be a missionary. I am glad that you still have such an interest in them and are listening to God’s nudges. I am so proud of everyone’s comments on the blog, and thankful that God is doing some great work in all of your lives.
Greg I am so excited to hear that you are having a wonderful time at the Life Conference and how God is working in your life. I have been praying for all of you cannot wait till you all get back and we hear all of the stories.
UUUUGGHHH! It’s Friday evening and still no call or text or post from EITHER of my guys! Daniel, are they really with you??? Hmmm?
JK! Sounds like everyone is too busy having an amazing time which is awesome.
Love ya!
Hi Everyone…
Just sitting here thinking about you and praying for you. Enjoy the time. Sara and Timothy, Grandpa called and got the website so he could go on and check out the blogs and pics.
Love and miss you both tons!
thanks for the updates. We are praying for all of you to be impacted. Love to all of you.
Simon- Met some really cool speakers these last few days like Francis Chan, Darwin Grey, etc.
Having a great time
Sorry we havent been able to get on the blog a ton. We have had very full days with not enough internet access! Thanks for praying for us and cheering us on.
-Daniel
Greg Wells!!!- Chirst has changed my life by loving me for me and not what I have. He has also change my life by giving me a Father who will love me for all time! He has also changed my life by finaly bringing closer to many tiny problems I have been dealing with. Christ has always been there for me and now thanks to great speakers I am ready to try and truly live for him 100% of the time.
Nick Savides- I am having a lot of fun so far. One seminar I went to which was called Plastics Only talked about how to be green and apply it to your life. I learned that you don’t have to be like a hippie and only eat fruits and vegetables. I also learned that you always don’t have to protest against the government instaed you can plant a tree or even pray for the environment. I also went to a seminar called Loving Others which taught me that to love sometimes there is sacrifice along the way, and that you have to have a relationship with someone to love them. My third seminar I went to was about that you should care about what kind of clothes you are wearing because god just wants you just to be youself. Francis Chan did a really good job speaking on Wednesday. Tomorrow I am going to a seminar called Forgiveness and Peacemaking. I had tons of fun at the baseball game today. I really liked listening to Trace Bunde, Logan Martin , and Kutless songss. Hey dad and mom I bet you are missing me right now. Until later I now say good bye.
Lisa- I had a great time yesterday playing on the big toys, listening to Francis Chan, and wandering around looking for free things from the different booths! Now, I cannot wait to hear Derwin Gray in a little bit! Time is flying!!!
Kalie- we are going to a concert& baseball game later!! We’re learning soo much and having a blast! I got to meet some missionaries yesterday and talked to them about their journies and how they decided to become missionaries. The seminars are great, general sessions are very moving, and the different booths in the expo hall are cool to visit. We only have 3 more days!!
Hi Brandon
Hope you are having a good time and learning lots. I am praying for you and miss you.
Love Mom
Hi Tomi
We prayed for you all this evening…It was good to share that time together:) You all are sure loved alot!
You’re awesome! Enjoy!
Oh, we were able to see some photos on-line..(thks Therese)…Everyone looks like they’re having a great time!
Phil–We were so happy that you called last night
Hi everyone!
It sounds like a great and meaningful time is being had by all.
Eric, I think pumpkin is missing you just as much as I am. She appears to be looking for you; going in your room & walking around. I closed your door and she is sleeping in front of it. As much as I would like to hear from you…if you get a chance to call at the right time, you should call GG, she would love it.
Jake, It’s all pink & striped! Gma worked hard but enjoyed spending the time with Lexii. Roommate assignment came…you and Mike! YAY! Loved the matching pix of you and Todd sleeping on the bus! Hahahaaaaa! I guess it runs in the family!
I miss you both and love you both sooooooo much! I’m praying that you guys can learn a little more about yourselves and what God wants with you and for you.
Dear Phil,
In Lego rock band, I’ve mastered the e z level.
I’ve done 4 rock power challenges.
Prepare to be rocked out!!!!!!
sincerely, your sarge, Jake :p
Hello to all…. I’m praying for you all to be impacted by the main stage and session speakers. Leaders included. I’m praying for you all to be focused on God. We parents are heading up now to pray for all of you.
Mrs. Z
Claire, we still have 4 alive fish and I love the picture of you and Brent and Daniel.
RJ.. .Dad is not happy about taking out the garbage; he is considering leaving it for you.
Love you, miss you, Mom
Meg, Clarissa wanted you to know that she and I have been in the pool for 2 days now. I have sunburn on my shoulders – don’t laugh. We miss you (it’s quiet, no phone calls) and are praying for you. Hope you are having a great time.
This “Hi” is from Clarissa.
Hey Lisa!!
Dad and I are praying for you, that this will be one of the best weeks of your life! Keep listening to God and loving those around you.
Great news about Matthew–he has taken some steps on his own and ate a few bites of a popsicle!! Everyone is so excited about his progress and thanking God for healing his body.
Thanks for calling last night!
I love you, Mom
Hey Nick, we are thinking of you and hoping you are having a good time at LIFE and learning a lot!! Love mom
LOVE IT!!!!!
PICS: go to clayouth.org to see them for now
god has taught me so much today. hes so big and so powerful. amazing in every way
i totally owned tim in sumo wresteling today!
francis chan was everything i thought he would be! he is an amazing speaker!
Hi Megan!!
Glad to hear you are having soo much fun!! Tell my daughter that her mother actually blogged and she better write me back!!
Mrs. DeNovo
Claire…took Joshua college shopping twice and he complained the whole time!!!
Hi Guys….
Man it’s so much quieter here when Tim and Sara do their wrestling in KY instead of in the living room at home! Hope you’re all being good and having a rockin’ good time!!! We love you and are praying for you. Can’t wait for you to tell us all about it. Sounds like you’re having a great time!
Brandon and Monica
OMG Someone call me and yell at me quick..I don’t know what to do with all the silence. Parker says he loves you. He is staying at Grandma’s house while I work. Hoping you are getting a lot out of this week. We love and miss you.
Monie, sorry I missed your call baby. Don’t miss me. I’m fine, I have Daddy and you have Brandon and everyone else there. ENJOY!!
Hey everyone! We are having so much fun at LIFE! I feel like our group is really bonding and getting to know each other better, which is really exciting. I can feel God tugging at my heart, I don’t know what this means yet, but pray that I will be able to figure it out. I love you all!
Meghan, I’m glad God is helping you plan your future. You know, if you become a missionary in Africa, you have to eat bugs all the time. . .(just preparing you)
Tell Katie to write. Heather never stops talking. I love you!
Meghan and Katie,
You have no idea how much you are missed!
I Love You! I hope you are being challenged in your faith. Please have fun and come home safe.
Daddy.
Hey everyone! I miss you mom and Dad! Its pretty crazy over here so well try to call you soon
I love you! This conference is going great so far. Today is all about creation and the seminars I went to talked about God’s plan for us as girls and then another one called “Guy Meets Girl”. Each speaker has said at least one thing that really hit me. Im glad that this trip is kinda giving me the opportunity to go do my own thing, talk to people I only sort of know in the yg and get closer to. I really feel like Im gonna come out of this trip with a fresh spirit and Im excited! I miss you all! <3
It’s great to hear from you! Even better to hear that the conference is going so well and that you are having opportunities to be renewed, connect with others and grow. We miss you- it is VERY quiet around here!
Mom
Hi Phil! We are excited about all that you will experience @ LIFE this week…can’t wait to hear all about it! We are praying for you every day
Yo what’s up bro? come back soon. ppppppppplease.
Hi Kaitlyn!
Reading Daniel’s comments, it sounds like you are all having a great time!! Listen with all you heart Katie and shine for Him!! We miss you lots. The house if too quiet. Love you!!
Jocelyn me alegra que todo este bien.
La extrano mucho, espero que la este pasando muy bien. La quiero mucho. Estamos orando por todos los muchachos.
Hey everyone back home. Just wanted to let you know we are having a great time already. Bus ride was air conditioned + youth leaders didnt have to drive= we all slept. We got to the hotel and swam right away (hopefully its out of their system now:) Then we did a little exploring at the expo hall.
The opening session wowed us. They visual and music experience is awesome. We really liked a live painting that was done on stage with a little surprise at the end…maybe some one will write about it on the blog:)
Cant wait to tell you about our day today!
today’s theme is COLLIDE WITH CREATION.
::what aspect of God’s creation awe’s you?
We were glad to here all of you arrived safely…I’ll bet the pool felt really refreshing. I pray that each of you find Life “Life Changing”.
So glad you all arrived safe and sound. Have a great time and embrace every moment!
Jake and Eric…I miss you already.
hoookaay…take luck!
Ty.. We miss you already! Let Jesus take ur hand and lead you my love! We love you and pray for everyone! God Bless you!
I pray for you all to have a fulfilling life experience while in Louisville.
Monica I hope that the tears and homesickness subside and you allow yourself to really shine for Jesus.
We love you very much and miss you already.
Brandon enjoy your time there, be there for your sister, and think before you act. Love you.
Glad to hear you all made it safe and sound. I bet the big bus was cozy. Send Meg our love – whoever reads this.
Tell meg not to pick on RJ.
Praying for you and we love you all.
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
ouch!!!!! i slept on the ground with sunburn on my back on an a abrasive towel…
As you start this week out, I pray this will be a LIFE-altering experience. I hope you all have fun, meet Jesus, and are Jesus to others.
CAN’T WAIT!!!! only a few days away…
We will be at the BBQ!