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HSM Christmas Recap 2018

12/18/2018

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This past Sunday evening, our High School Ministry gathered for our year end Christmas Party. We host our annual Christmas party on our last Sunday before going on Christmas break. It's relaxed, laid back, and fun! Our primary goal for the Christmas party is social and relational. We want our students to hang out with each other while our leaders mingle and build relationships with our students.

I try to not over program our Christmas party. In our church, December is a busy month with various activities and programed events that keep folks jumping. Outside of the church families, students, and our staff are very busy with school, jobs, Christmas shopping, sports, and seasonal concerts. So to counteract the busyness of the season, I purposely leave our Christmas party as something that is as un-programed as possible.
​
So what does a Christmas party at HSM look like? Well, here's the plan.

Our party is two hours long. We held this years party from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday evening. Because it started at 6:00 p.m. we decided we would feed our students and ordered Pizza. We have only a couple pizza options with only one pizza shop that delivers to the church. So we went with Fox's Pizza. We ordered 
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3 Big Daddy pizzas. These large rectangular pizzas offer a larger quantity of slices than regular round pizzas. To keep everyone happy, we ordered one plain cheese, one pepperoni, and one sausage.

Pizza, carbonated beverages and bottled water, along with chips and snacks, a cookie cake, and a few Christmas cookies, filled our table and the first 15  to 20 minutes of our time together. We set up round tables in our student space for the students to gather around while they ate and socialize.

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After some pizza and drinks, it was time to get rolling with our party activities. Like I said, I don't program a lot of games or activities so for this years party I decided to use a downloadable resource from Download Youth Ministry. It was the perfect crowd breaker game to prime our students for the parties main event, The Great Gift Exchange!
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Download Youth Ministry (DYM) is the brainchild of Doug Fields and Josh Griffin. With the help of youth workers turn authors and creators, DYM offers ministry resources that can be downloaded and used by youth workers all over.

​I love the downloadable games. Easy to use, you shop for a game with the theme that fits 
your activity, purchase, download, then load it into your presentation software and you're ready to go! I've already downloaded and used four different games for the month of December, including Dollar Store Or So Much More? Christmas Edition, which we played as our ice breaker at the party. It was perfect! Be sure to check out tomorrows blog for a list of all the games we've played this month.
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The highlight of the evening was our favorite Christmas game, The Great Gift Exchange! Similar to the White Elephant game, students bring wrapped gifts that are opened according to a sequential order. The fun comes when the students discover they can steal gifts that have already been opened. Some gifts are "stolen" multiple times leaving the final winner a mystery until the end of the game.

We set a $10 limit on the gift and encouraged our students to think creatively. We're always a 
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little surprised and amazed by the gifts that are opened and by what gifts become the hot items that are stolen over and over again. Bags of various candies are always a favorite. But the top gifts for our students include a grow-it yourself Bonsai Tree Kit, a box of Utz Chocolate Covered Pretzels, and a Christmas box full of candy.​

Some gifts are "stolen" multiple times leaving the final winner a mystery until the end of the game.


It was a great night of relaxing fun, food, and friends. We laughed a lot. Got some great gifts. And we enjoyed time with our students. Now we're ready for a little break and some time with our families!

What do you do at your ministry Christmas party? Share your activities and program ideas in the comment section below!

​- jay

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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the student ministry director at a church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for over 21 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Lead Me To The Cross Part 1

4/11/2017

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God So Loved...

This weekend I started a new preaching series that will run through the Easter holiday. I titled the series, Lead Me To The Cross, An Untraditional Easter Series. The series looks at 3 conversation, 2 with Jesus and 1 with the deacon Philip. In each conversation, the discussion points the listener towards the cross, and the world of Christ on the cross. Here is the first part of of the series.

I've also included a copy of the study noted that we shared on on Sunday. You are free to download the study guide and use it for your personal study. But please, do not sell or redistribute the guide without permission.

I hope this message encourages you!


Thanks.

Part 1 Study Guide

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Listen to the Message...

Lead Me To The Cross, Part 1
God So Loved..., Jay Higham

Recorded on Sunday, April 09th, 2017
​At Hickory United E.P. Church
Here are two books that are super helpful. They are available as a free download on Kindle.
Each is a short, easy to read book that helps explain the topic of being Born Again.
Can I Be Sure I'm Saved? & What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?
Both are by written by R.C. Sproul.
​
Simply click, download and start reading!

Introduction

Week Two

Week Three


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His Father the Carpenter

12/15/2016

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introduction  | day one  | day two  | day three

His Father the Carpenter
Awe & Wonder - A Christmas Series

I remember the day my oldest Son was born. I remember the day my second son was born. I remember the days when number there and number 4 were born. And I will never forget the day when my little girl, number 5 was born.
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I cried. Not ashamed to say it. I cried for each one. heck, I’m getting a little emotional just think about them. It was a moment of exhilaration and celebration. For nine longs months, Amy and I waited for their arrivals. We wondered what they would look like, what their personalities would be like, and who they would grow up to be. They were sweet moments, that I hope I will never, ever forget.

​I often think about Joseph, and wonder what he was thinking during those nine months. Here is a guy, a tradesman. looking forward to his wedding date and a new life with his wife. He works hard to prepare and provide. In the eyes of the villagers and friends, he’s a righteous man, perhaps with a good reputation, that’s way Mary’s father has consented to the marriage. Things are looking pretty good for Joseph.
Then the news. Mary is pregnant.

​It comes like an out of control ox cart and plows him over. His mind fills with thoughts. His heart explodes with emotion. How? How could she? What will people think? What will people say?

The embarrassment. The shame.


But then again, Joseph is a good man. Right? So he decides to divorce her, quietly, so not to make Mary out to be something she’s not.
Then comes the angel. More news. This time the news is from God.
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The Perfect Stocking Stuffer!
Discover why Christmas is the BEST
​time of the year!
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV)

How does a guy respond to something like that? This was huge. A baby. A son. Made possible by the Holy Spirit. And he would save his people from their sins… If I am Joseph, I think I would have a lot of question. But like Mary, we’re not told anything accept the choice to be obedient.

Joseph, like Mary, trusted God. He said say to what God was asking. Though it turned his world upside down, Joseph chose to be obedient. Matthew 1:24-25 say, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 
But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.”

Joseph, like Mary, trusted God.


The next time we hear about Joseph, or Mary for that matter is in Luke 2. They arrive in Bethlehem and the city is packed. The only space for Joseph and his young wife is in a stable. It’s not ideal, but Mary is ready to give birth so it’ll have to do.

Then it happens. Mary gives birth and now Joseph must become the father of this little life.

I love the scene the the movie, The Nativity Story, where Mary and Joseph, are in the stable and Jesus arrives. Joseph waits to receive this new life. Then it comes. He lifts it up, with a smile and laughter. For any other father this would be a moment of great pride.

Mary hands him something to wrap the baby with then hands him to her. They share glances and smiles. The camera bounces from Mary to Joseph, then both of them together. They look at each other, then we see Joseph. Emotion floods his face and he begins to cry.

​It’s in that moment that the carpenter becomes a father.
We know nothing beyond that moment except that Joseph takes full responsibility to raise and protect Jesus as he grows. But I often find myself wondering about Joseph; his willingness to say yes, his commitment to raise the Son of God, and to be present as a father but relatively absent in terms of history and storytelling. Maybe it’s because I’m a father, and I too, watched as my children were born. Maybe it’s the emotion of the moment, the surreal realization that I was now responsible for this new life. Maybe it’s because I’m raising my own quiver, thus I’m sensitive to Joseph and his story.

Or maybe it’s because in God’s great plan of redemption, he chose someone as simple and as humble as a carpenter. A good man, who worked hard, who loved and cared for his wife, and was willing to trust God beyond what he could see.

Every thing about the Christmas story is filled with awe and wonder. We just need to look. God does something truly miraculous with ordinary, every day people. From the teenage virgin to a young carpenter, to you and me. And it does it all, because He loves us. He loves us!

​Today, consider the awe and wonder of the simple things, the humble things. Reflect on Joseph and his willingness to trust God with something he has absolutely no say in. And ask yourself, would you, could you do the same?
Consider these questions today.

​1. Remember back to the birth of your first child. Wives, do you remember your husbands reaction when your child was born? Husbands, do you remember you reaction when your child was born? Take a moment and be in that memory. Allow yourself to relive that time. It’s okay if you get emotional.

2. Joseph chose to trust God with something that he really had no part in. How has God asked you to trust him in a similar situation?

​
3. In what ways has God left you in awe and wonder as you chase after him with your life?
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Did you miss the first three days?
Don't worry. Just click here and you can start at the beginning and catch up!
AWE & WONDER - A CHRISTMAS SERIES
introduction  | day one  | day two  | day three

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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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A Teenage Girl and the Son of God

12/14/2016

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<< DAY ONE
INTRODUCTION
DAY TWO >>

A Teenage Girl and the Son of God
Awe & Wonder - A Christmas Series

Have you ever stopped to look back to your teenage years? What were those years like for you? Awkward? Difficult? Rebellious?

​Were you the popular one, who everybody flocked to be around? Or were you the quiet one, more comfortable on you own? Maybe you felt more like the outsider, never quite feeling like  you fit in.
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For many of us, our teenage years were more like riding a roller coaster of ups, downs and loop d’loops. Looking back, like the roller coast, those years seemed to go by too fast. In many case, we might say that we weren't really ready for those years. But we did our best and struggled through them, celebrating our wins and dealing with our mistakes.

Have you ever thought about how Mary felt about her teenage years? While we don’t know exactly how old Mary was, most traditions put her in her teenage years, those awkward and turbulent years.

​We know little of Mary’s life prior to Luke chapter 1. And what we do know is even more limiting. We know that she is living in Nazareth. We know she is a virgin. (That helps with the age thing.) We know she is betrothed (or committed to be married to) a man named Joseph. And we know that she is has found favor with God.
CLICK TO READ LUKE 1:26-38
The angel comes and drops this life changing information on Mary, not yet married, and having never been with a man, she was about to be pregnant. Not only will she be pregnant, but the life she will carry will be from God. But this isn’t like, oh, I’ve been blessed with a baby… No, this is the Son of God. Consider what the angels says.

“You will conceive in your womb and  bear a son… He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31a, 32 & 33 ESV)

​Now I don't know about you, but these aren’t the dreams and life goals of normal teenagers. I have worked with teenagers for years. I have a couple teenagers of my own. And I can tell you, none of them have ever said to me, boy, I sure hope I get pregnant and give birth to a son who rules over the world for ever and ever.
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And yet, here we are. Mary, perhaps just an ordinary teenager girl, is suddenly thrust into a life altering event that will not only impact her, but will change everything for everyone!

Mary asks one question. “How? How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

It's an odd question. We’d expect something a little more objecting. Maybe we would expect Mary to slam on the brakes, looking around for the hidden, you’ve just be pranked, cameras. But  no, she simply asks, How?

​Now I know that we can’t read the emotions that she might have been feeling in that moment. We really have no way of knowing how she may have looked, responded, or what she did. But as I read her ultimate response in verse 38, I have to wonder, what was going on in her heart? Because in the black and white of print and page she seems so calm.
She has just been told that she will carry and give birth to the Son of God, the King of kings, the Holy of holies, and here response is, I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” Wow! Really? I mean, even Moses, didn’t give in this easily. And yet, here is this teenage girl, and on the surface she seems to be saying, “Okay, God. I trust you. I will do as you say.”

But then I think, “and why not?”

Why not trust?

Why not believe?

Why not say yes?

Why not obey?

Maybe this is why God chose Mary in the first place. Maybe the reason he so highly favors her is because he knows that she will say YES!

​And maybe that’s the point?

Maybe the reason he so highly favors her is because
​he knows that she will say YES!


When was the last time God asked you to do something and you said, yes?

​No hesitation. No thinking. No weighing out the options. No considering how it will impact your retirement plans? Just a simply answer, Yes?

Awe and wonder is more than just being speechless in the midst of God doing something in your life. Awe and wonder is also found in the ask. At 16, I know without doubt, that God spoke a purpose into my life. 25 years later I am still doing what he called me to do. There have been times when I wanted to say no, and times when I wish I did say no. But I am always in awe and wonder as I think about just how faithful and amazing God is. 

So as Christmas approaches, I think with awe at how Mary was so quick to say yes. And while I can’t even begin to know or understand what the following nine months may have been like for her, I wonder, what did her relationship with look like during that time? 

Take a few minutes to consider these questions.
1. What do you remember during those teenager years? How have they shaped who you are today?

2. What can you learn from Mary’s obedience to God’s plan?

3. When was the last time God asked you to do something that required you to step out in faith? What was it, and what did you do?

​4. The Nativity story is filled with moments of Awe & Wonder. How are you in awe of God right now?


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CLICK TO VISIT THE AWE & WONDER PAGE

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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Learning to Follow the Instructions

12/13/2016

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<< DAY ONE - The Beginning of a Love Story
Awe & Wonder - INTRO >>

Learning to Follow the Instructions
Awe & Wonder - A Christmas Series

Were you ever so excited to receive a gift that you just could wait to get it opened and begin using? You tear into it as fast as you can. You pull and shred, rip and strip. Then you hold it in your hands. But without taking any time to understand how to use the gift, you start using it, only to find out that had you taken the time to read the instruction you get more out of your gift...
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I remember the Christmas I opened the Star Wars, Ewok Village. It was one of those gifts that I just had to have. Being a big Star Wars fan, the Ewok Village was the perfect playset. 
I remember tearing into the box, ripping it open and yanking everything out. The problem was, some assembly required. Parts of the village had to be put together. Knots needed to be tied, stickers needed to be applied, elevators needed to be built, and instructions to be read.
The problem was, I didn't have time for the instructions. I wanted to play. So I assembled the playset as quickly as I could. A couple stickers here, a little knot there, and well, it's looks the picture on the box, so it must be right. Well, that what I thought.

Turns out, I wasn't so right. While most of the Ewok village "looked" like the picture on the box, it wasn't right. I had put some of the stickers in the wrongs spots. I couldn't get the net to work properly. And I actually broke one of the pieces trying to assemble it incorrectly. For as much as I was excited to have the Ewok playset, every time I played with it I was reminded of how I didn't take the time to follow the instructions.
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Sadly, I didn't learn. Over the years there have been plenty of opportunities to slow down and follow the instructions. But my impatience, and more often stubbornness, led me to the familiar territory of regret and disappointment. If only I had followed the instructions, I would think, maybe some of this could have been avoided.

Have you ever felt that way?

If only I had followed the instruction,
​
maybe some of this could have been avoided.


I wonder if Adam ever thought that way. While plowing the rocky fields, pulling weeds, or digging up thorns, did Adam ever say to himself, If I had only followed God's instructions, maybe...

You see, in Genesis 2, God gives the man, Adam, the instructions. Having placed Adam inthe Garden, God says, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." ( Genesis 2:16&17 NIV) Adam was given the opportunity to eat freely from all that the Garden had to offer. Every plant, bush and tree, if it was edible or grew something edible, he could eat it. All of it was his. All of it, except for this one unique tree; the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  This tree was off limits.

Unfortunately it was simply a matter of time. The evil one came along and tricked the man and he ate the fruit from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And from that moment on, we have been living in regret because we have chosen to not follow the instructions.

Our hope is found in Jesus!


But it doesn't have to be that way.

We celebrate Christmas because of what Christmas means for us; HOPE! Our hope is found in Jesus! Why? Because he does for us what we can't do for ourselves! He follows the instructions, that we can't follow on our own. Jesus was perfectly obedient to his Father, right up to the end. And because he did, our mistakes that come because we have failed to follow the instruction are set right.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19 NIV) 
CLICK HERE TO READ ROMANS 5:12-21
These verses aren't the easiest to read. Frankly, they can be a bit confusing. But when we slow down and read them carefully, we find the incredible gift of God's forgiveness and grace! Basicly Paul's saying, Adam, when he chose to be disobedient, messed things up for everyone. Sin became a reality. That sin, which we all carry, leads to death. But Jesus, chose to be obedient. That obedience led him to willingly lie down his life, covering over the disobedience, bringing righteousness back to men.

So now when we say, I believe that Jesus died for our my sins, and I accept him into my life as my Lord and Savior, his perfect obedience makes us right in the sight of God and brings us into eternal life.

On that first Christmas morn, God gave us a gift. That gift grew up to died to give us life. Not just life for the here and now, but life that  goes on for ever and ever and ever. And now, when we find ourselves rushing into circumstances without slowing down to follow the instructions, it's not death, but forgiveness and grace we meet on the other side.

As you prepare your heart this Christmas, slow down and remember. Look for times when following the instructions seemed like a waste of time and you ventured out on your own only to find that you put the stickers in the wrong spot. Remind yourself, God's grace is big enough for even that! Because that kind of grace leaves me in awe and wonder. How about you?
Questions:

1. When was a time when you didn't
follow the instructions?


2. What lesson(s) did you learn?
And how have those lessons changed you?


3. Jesus lived and died for you, to give you
hope and life. What does that mean for you?


4. How does it leave you in AWE & WONDER?
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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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The Beginning of a Love Story

12/11/2016

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<< Awe & Wonder - Intro

The Beginning of a Love Story
Awe & Wonder - A Christmas Series

Do you remember falling in love for the first time? Do you remember how all you wanted was to be with that person? To be close to them? To spend time with them? To get to know as much about them as possible?
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I remember my first love. All I wanted was to see her all the time. And so I tried to spend as much time as possible with her. The problem was, I was young and immature. I didn't fully understand what love was. Looking back, there was less love and more infatuation. But now I am older. I am married. I have a family. And while I'm still learning, I have a better understanding of what real love is, what true love is all about. Love is unconditional. Love is commitment. Love is relentless. Love is sacrifice. Love is...LOVE. ​
I have always been enemored by the Creation story found in Genesis 1, even when I was younger. But when I was younger, I often wondered why we see two "different" Creation accounts? Genesis paints a picture of order and power; God spoke and it happened. There was day one, day two, day three, and on. And it all made sense.

But then you come to Genesis chapter 2 and a slightly different Creation story. This one doesn't go day by day. The order seems wrong, very wrong. How can there be TWO Creation stories?
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Go back and read the introduction of the
Awe & Wonder, A Christmas Series!
​[ READ MORE ]
So a number of years ago, I started a personal study through the book of Genesis. I spent a significant amount of time working my way through the first couple chapters, reading commentaries, talking with other pastors, listening to what others had to say. And what I found was not a conflict in the story, but a change in the perspective. Genesis 2 isn't a story of what was created, but who was created. Genesis chapter 2 is the beginning of an incredible love story. A love story between the Creator and His creation.

Genesis 2 isn't a story of what was created,
but who was created.


God created man. He reached down with his hands, sculpted his form out of the dirt, and breathed life deep into his lungs. The man filled with life and became the greatest of God's creation. And God loved him.

He loved him so much that he made a place just for him. It was a place of great delight. All of the man's needs were met. Shelter, food, companionship, even regular visits with the Creator. Man wanted for nothing. That is, until he believed a lie.

The creation got selfish, wanted to do things it’s own way. That broke the relationship between the Creator and the creation. Destroyed it. Sin was born and a chasm created. The Holy Creator on one side, and the rebellious created on the other.

But the Creator, because of His love for His creation, chose to redeem what He loved. And in Genesis 3:15, God declares war. It’s a promise. A promise to restore what the creation broke, to bridge the chasm, to renew love.

For the rest of the Old Testament, God’s love for His creation is demonstrated over and over again. And all along the way, we are reminded of this promise of restoration!
CLICK HERE AND READ GENESIS 2 & 3
When we read Genesis 2 & 3, what we find is the beginning of God's love story. It's a love story that encompasses God's people throughout the scriptures. But more than a love story found in a book, this is your love story, a living breathing love story. This is the story of God, demonstrating His immeasurable love for you! Just drop your name into the story. God created you, breathed life into you. He cared and provided for you. But you messed it up. You chose your way over His way. But because He loves you, He made a way to be with you.

In Genesis 3:15, God says to the serpent, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This was God's holy war cry! That when the time was right, One would come to stand in the gap and do what we cannot do. His life was to be the bridge over the chasm. Jesus is the promise.

As of today, we are 24 days away from Christmas, when we celebrate Jesus' first coming. 1 Timothy 1:15, tells us exactly why Jesus came; "...Jesus Christ came into the world to save siners..." For me, that revelation is life changing.

Today, meditate on that truth, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. That's you and me! And He did it because He loved us.
Questions:

1. How do those word effect you?

2. Do they change how you look at the Nativity?

3. How do you WANT to respond to that truth?

4. How does it leave you in AWE & WONDER?
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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, a YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Awe & Wonder, A Christmas Series

12/8/2016

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Have you seen the movie, The Santa Clause, starring Tim Allen. The Santa Clause is one of my favorite Christmas movies. One of the things I love about the movie is the way they bring the Santa character to life. Tim Allen plays the role of Scott Calvin, a marketing executive for a toy company. Through a series of events on Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin becomes the new Santa. Of course, Scott, being an adult and a parent, has lost his belief in the jolly old elf, so the events of the night are dismissed as a series of ironic happening that lead to an incredible dream.
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However, it wasn’t a dream. We follow Scott through the year as he tries to figure out why he keeps gaining weight, growing abundant amounts of wintry white hair, and seems to be developing quite a following of children and animals, all while denying the idea and his newly found career. In the end Scott Calvin becomes Santa Claus. But what makes this movie a Christmas favorite for me is the question, “What if it were all true?”

The Santa Clause is a movie about the magic of Christmas. And I wonder, “What if it were all true?”

​
It’s takes me back to when I was a kid, and a time when Christmas was filled with awe and wonder.
It’s takes me back to when I was a kid, and a time when Christmas was filled with awe and wonder.

Do you remember those days?

The lights. The trees. Pictures with Santa. The malls filled with Christmas music. There was an excitement, an anticipation, as we got ready for the big day.
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I remember, as a kid, we had to wait till Christmas Eve to decorate our tree. We would go to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at church.  It was a beautiful service with Joy to the World and Silent Night. We would light the candles and sing. The sanctuary was darkened, as the glow of candles and the smell of fresh cut greens filled the air. Then home to our awaiting tree.

Do You Remember Those Days?


There were four of us, and each would hang our ornaments on the tree, while filling our belly with mom's homemade Christmas cookies. When we were done, it was off to bed, wondering and hoping that Santa got our lists. It felt like forever till we fell asleep. Running high on cookies and excitement, we laid in our beds, talking and giggling. 

Then morning came. Usually early. The house would be quiet. Christmas morning was one of few times we would be awake before mom was. Now, we weren’t allowed down stairs without our parents, but we learned that if you laid down on your belly, and carefully stretched our neck out you could catch a peek of the Christmas tree, all lit up, sparkling in the morning sun, with a sea of presents floating on the floor.

​It was a moment filled with awe and wonder.

Today, Christmas is a little different. I’m an adult. A parent. I have 5 kids. The awe and wonder doesn’t come along quite as easily. In fact, I think sometimes, if we’re not careful, we miss a lot more than awe and wonder at Christmas. We miss the gift that makes Christmas what it is.


Every year, we gather in our churches and read through the Christmas story, sing the carols, light the candles, open the presents, and I have to stop my self and ask, “Whatever happened to the awe and wonder?”

I want to take some time over the next couple of days, I want us to return to the story and rediscover the awe and wonder of Christmas. I invite you to join me. Starting Monday, December 12th, we will begin a short series that I hope will help us rediscover the awe and wonder.

​Come along as we think through the impact of that night. As Luke says, "born to you in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Let's rediscover, together, the awe and wonder.

​- jay

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Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 25 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Student Ministry Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 20 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, an avid YouTuber/vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.
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Reindeer Games - Santa Beards

12/9/2015

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Welcome to week two of our Christmas series, Reindeer Games! Last we I shared the game Rudolph's Wreath Toss. This week, it's Santa Beards!

We played this game last night with our high school ministry students and it was a blast! I'm always wondering how our students will take to games that involve a little bit of a mess, this one went over huge! So here's what I did.

Materials:
Here's what you will need, in some shape or fashion...
  • Cans of shaving (one for each team.)
  • Santa hats (one for each team.)
  • Some kind of covering to protect clothing. (I used inexpensive plastic table covers that could be disposed of when we were finished.
  • A prize of reward for the winning team.

I picked up everything I needed for this game at our local dollar store. I played with 2 teams so my total cost for this game, including prizes, came to $8.00.
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This is another simple game to play. With two teams, a guy team and a girl team, the object is to create a Santa beard out of the shaving cream. The bigger, longer, fluffier, the better! With the plastic table cloth, the pallet of possibilities is quite large. Students can create as long and as big a beard as they can! You can also have as many teams as your group can handle without taking too many students out of the crowd.

I gave the instructions, set the time limit to 1 minute, and they were off! Watch the video below!
Along with video, you will definitely want to get some still images that you can post and share later! I try to post photos on Instagram as soon as our student gathering is over, so students can see themselves.
I was super excited that our student had fun with this one! The laughter that filled the room was pretty cool! And surprisingly, the aftermath wasn't too bad. The shaving cream stayed in our area and not throughout the church! That's a bonus.

You will want to have a few items on hand to help with the clean up. Paper towels, hand towels, and a bathroom in close proximity are things to think about.

One more thought. This is not a game to play with whipped cream. Most whipped creams are oil based and might stain certain fabrics. And no one wants to send students home with stains on their cloths. Stick to shaving cream because it is a water based product and washing out well, even if you get on the carpet.

There you are, another simple, low cost game to add to your Christmas Game Collection!  Thanks for reading!

​- jay

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Jay Higham is a 24 year veteran of student ministry; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Youth Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 19 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, 4 boys and 1 little girl. Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and caring for the hearts of husbands. You can learn more about their ministry to the family and husband by visiting their family blog at, www.TheHighamFamily.com and www.TheGoodHusbandBlog.com!


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Reindeer Games - Rudolph's Wreath Toss

12/3/2015

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Tis the season for colored lights, pine trees, candy canes, and so good fun Christmas-themed ice breakers! That's right, youth worker friends, Christmas is here, and that means we have a chance to bring out some of our favorite Christmas-themed games!

This week I had the time to run out to our local dollar stores and wander through the holiday aisles looking for game ideas. Fortunately I hit gold! I found everything I needed for three of my favorite Christmas Ice Breakers! So over the next couple of weeks, I want to share the ice breakers we are doing as part of our weekly student gatherings!

We're calling them Reindeer Games, with the spin that these are the games Rudolph and his buddies might play way up north! Each week we will unveil another game that we have played, complete with material lists and instructions so you can grab the gear and play it with your students!

So let's kick off our Reindeer Games with our first game, Rudolph's Wreath Toss! We played this game just this week, and it was a huge success! Based on the tradition Ring Toss game we all played as kids at our birthday parties, this is a super easy, super low cost game to play.

Here's what you will need.

At least 6 - 6" Christmas wreath's with wire frame to hold it's shape.

A set of of headband reindeer antlers.
And a marked distance where the actual game will be played. (No more than 10' between tosser and receiver. I set up 2 chairs, 1 the tosser had to stand behind, and 1 the receiver sat in. You can see that in the pictures.)

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I was able to all of these items at our local Dollar Tree. Cost: $7.00 plus tax.
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So the game itself is pretty simple. Like the party game, the object is to toss the ring wreaths and land them on the antler or antlers atop the receivers head. Here's what I did.

With the tosser standing behind a chair and a receiver sitting in a chair about 10' away, the team was given 2 minutes to toss the rings. The receive was allowed to move but they could not leave or move the chair. If the wreaths hit the floor instead of their mark, the tosser could run up and grab the rings, return to their hair position and toss again. After the 2 minutes, 1 point was given for each ring that found it's spot around the antler.

Since we have an on-going Girl vs. Guy challenge, I brought up 2 teams of 2; 2 guys and 2 girls. The girls went first and landed 5 out of the 6 wreaths. The Guys followed and also landed five rings. It was totally crazy!

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Since both teams landed 5 rings we had an "all or nothing" tie-breaker. Each team was given 3, and only 3, rings which they were to toss one at a time. After they tossed their rings, it was over. No re-do's or second chances. If a ring hit it's mark, a point was given. If all three missed, that meant the end of their game.

Once again the girls went first, and unfortunately missed with all three rings. The guys followed. The first toss was a miss. The second almost landed, but fell off. The third...A RINGER!!!! The guys went nuts!!
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​Simple. Easy. Low cost. Yet Rudolph's Wreath Toss was a huge hit!

Be sure to check in next week for our second in the Reindeer Games series.

Thanks for reading. Please feel free to share the article with your friends, but please include a link back to this post in your shares.
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​Merry Christmas, friends!

​- jay

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Jay Higham is a 24 year veteran of student ministry; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Youth Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 19 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, 4 boys and 1 little girl. Jay is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and caring for the hearts of husbands. You can learn more about their ministry to the family and husband by visiting their family blog at, www.TheHighamFamily.com and www.TheGoodHusbandBlog.com!
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The Pumpkin Party - Holiday Activity

11/2/2015

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There's nothing like the holiday party. Games, food, fun, and a ton of students!

As we roll into the holiday season of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, we as youth workers will be pressed for creative and fun ideas that help students celebrate the holidays! This past week, we kicked off our holiday season with a Pumpkin Party!

Now I will say, I don't mind Halloween. The dressing up, the candy, the trick-or-treating, it's all just a lot of fun in my mind. But I do know that Halloween is one of those holidays that can come with a lot of controversy. So as a youth worker, I try to respect the many opinions on the holiday, and choose carefully what we do as a ministry.

For the last couple of years I have hosted a pumpkin themed party for students in both the high school and junior high ministries. This year, as this was my first year at our new and current church, I decided to host the pumpkin party with our middle school students.

So here the concept, host a safe, fun, alternative event without causing an issue or debate as to whether the student ministry should sponsor a Halloween event. Here enters the Pumpkin Party.

The pumpkin party is an evening of pumpkin themed games and activities, foods, and fun. Students are invited to dress up in a costume if they'd like. It's not required or mandated. We leave it up to the students. We do, however, state a few guidelines,
   1. Nothing creepy, scary, or gross and,
   2. Nothing in appropriate, sexy or sexual, or in poor taste.

For those who do choose to dress up in a costume, we hold a simple costume contest with prizes for the following three categories;
   1. Best Overall Costume,
   2. The Funniest Costume and,
   3. The Most Creative-Out-of-the-Box-Homemade Costume.
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Things get started with the students being randomly divided into teams. We try to make it as numerically even as possible. And by random, we mean lining them up and counting them off in some way.

Once the students are separated into teams, we take a few minutes for each team to come up with a team name and a team cheer. This only takes a few minutes. With team names and team cheers complete, we move into playing the games.

​This year we played four games, with two of the four relating to the pumpkin theme. I had actually planned to play 6 games, but we ran out of time for 2 of the games.

THE GAMES...

The Mummy Wrap

It's an oldie but goodie, the Mummy Wrap. We gave each team two rolls of toilet paper and told them to have at it. We wanted to see the volunteer mummy totally wrapped and covered in toilet paper.

The winning team was the first team to use up all of their toilet paper while completely wrapping their mummy.

As you can see, this team had no problems wrapping their mummy. By the time they were done, every inch of the student was covered, including the sneakers!

Simple. Easy. Inexpensive. And it's a game that everyone can play!
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Jack-O-Jigsaw

The Jack-O-Jigsaw is a game I started playing a couple of years ago. I honestly can't remember if this was a game that a read about somewhere or if I dreamed it up. Either way, it's a great game.

Start with a medium sized pumpkin, something large enough to cut up. Cut the pumpkin into irregular pieces. Think puzzle pieces as you're cutting.

Have the students reassemble the pumpkin, using toothpicks or something similar to hold it together. The first team that reassembles the pumpkin wins!

Now this game takes some time. And you will want to encourage the students to keep at it, or they might get discouraged. But when they get the pumpkin together, it's quite an accomplishment!
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Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest

Our last event of the evening with a Pumpkin Pie Eating contest! A couple of years ago, I did this game with little personal sized pies and high school students. Always a hit, but only takes like a minute to play.

Last year, I found  6" pies and we tried to have one high school student eat the whole pie. I was shocked when they couldn't do it.

This year, I tried some different. I found 8" pies that we cut into 8 slices. On 'Go,' the students ran up and ate a slice of pie, ran back to their team, tagged the next person in line, and so on and so forth. It was a Pumpkin Pie Eating 'Relay' Contest! First team to eat all of their pumpkin pie wins!
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We played one other game that I do not have a picture for. It was a Marshmallow Toss. Students, in relay format, would toss miniature marshmallows to a teammate seated on a chair with a cup. After two minutes, the team with the most miniature marshmallows in their team cup won. We actually had a tie with two teams so we quickly reset and held a one minute tie-breaker!
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When it was all said and done, we all had a great time. We awarded the winners of our costume contest a family movie night (a plastic pumpkin that contained a DVD, popcorn and candy). We heard great feedback from both parents and students, even though we went 15 minutes over and didn't play two of the planned games.

I also wanted to let you know that we had a bunch of parents helping. Each team had a parent cheerleader, someone to help organize and corral the students. We also had some parents helping in the kitchen getting snacks ready and helping with clean up.

We were also gifted a ton of pumpkins that we used as decorations, take home gifts, games, and as give-aways for various church groups all week long.

So there you have it, a quick run down of our pumpkin party. Nothing fancy or over the top. Just simple, creative games, costumes, and a lot of fun.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about our Pumpkin Party, please feel free to comment below, or contact me via the contact page!

- jay
See the Printed Plans for the Pumpkin Party

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Jay Higham is a 24 year veteran of student ministry; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently the Youth Director at Hickory Church, located in Western PA. Jay has been married to Amy for 19 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, 4 boys and 1 little girl. You can learn more about their ministry to the family by visiting their family blog at, www.TheHighamFamily.com!

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    Jay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 28 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the director of family ministry at a church, located in West Virginia. Jay has been married to Amy for over 23 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence.

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