Seven™ Blog

Pastor Scott Wilson delivered a powerful message on the last night of camp instructing on how to take the “camp experience” and turn it into a life change. Here are the 7 practical steps that he gave

• Make God a priority: Don’t put your spiritual growth on the backburner. Make sure that serving and growing in Christ is not a negotiable
• Get rid of the junk in your life: Garbage in, garbage out. Remove the junk in your life that is hindering your relationship with God
• Spend time with God every day: Being with God on Wednesday s and Sundays isn’t enough. Just like all relationships you need to continuously build your relationship with God.
• Surround yourself with Godly people: To keep you accountable and build you up, not tear you down
• Choose a Godly mentor: Someone who you will take guidance and correction from. Choose someone that will keep you on course.
• Be quick to respond: Everyone makes mistakes but be quick to correct them and refocus. Be big enough to admit when you are in the wrong and change it
• Stay focused on God all day: Keep God and his will in mind throughout your day and decisions.

Seven really knows how to end a year with a bang.  In December we had our Holiday in the Seven.  Our Outreach Night was a success, with students bringing tons of clothes to donate, as well as bringing their best.  Our Christmas Production, A Charlie Brown Christmas, was a hit!  It was awesome seeing the students put in so much time and effort into making it happen.  Then, Awards Night was so much fun (and the Seven logo didn’t fall this year, haha).  Student and leaders alike were honored for their service and involvement in Seven.

We have already had two services in 2009 and Seven is going strong.  Pastor Shayne preached an amazing message about having the freedom to move forward in our first service of the year.  There was life and excitement in Seven.  We are looking forward to what this new year will bring.  We are so glad that Pastor Shayne is here (even though he is not a Longhorn’s fan).

I am dreaming for something new this year in my life and the lives of students in Seven.  Our theme for Camp 08 was “The Best is Yet to Come” and I am believing for that now more than ever.  God’s called Seven to an amazing place.  It has been encouraging to see where we have been, and it is exciting to see where we will be.  Its time for us to go to the next level.  Whoo who!

And I don’t mean Christmas. There is no season that even compares with the fall. Let’s face it, winter is pretty lame for a Texan. I do love Christmas time, but I can’t help but think about what I’m missing out on since there will never be the slightest chance for a white Christmas. All we get is the possibility of ice in February, but when that happens, the whole metroplex shuts down, as if 10 ft of snow had actually fallen. Let’s get real, people.   

And spring is just summer’s way of flirting with us, taunting us as we realize that it isn’t actually warm enough to go swimming. And when we think it is warm enough to enjoy the outdoors, it never stops raining. Then, summer arrives. I used to like summer when I was still in school, but have now realized it was only because it signaled a much needed extended break from classes. In all actuality, summers can be miserable in Texas. I’m just not okay with it being 100 degrees for consecutive days and weeks at a time. Maybe summer would be sweet if I lived by a beach where I could enjoy the sand, sun, and waves. But there isn’t a beach within 5 hours of us, and even that one’s not that great. Yes, there are a few lakes that you can go to, but I cannot talk myself into dropping some bank and buying a boat or jet ski. Preston can;  I can’t. And the pool just gets old, IF you even have one.  

But, praise God for the fall. Maybe it’s just nostalgic for me. Fall always marked the start of a new school year, with new classes, new friends, football games on Fridays, and happiness that I was one year closer to graduating. But even now that I’m done with high school and college, the fall arrives in all its glory; the color-changing leaves and crisp winds, with so much to look forward to. And I don’t just mean finally being able to drive again without the back of your shirt getting a little damp with sweat because of the heat, even though you have air conditioning in your car. I mean the excitement and anticipation of football season. There’s nothing like a lazy Saturday at home with the windows open and the cool breeze blowing in as you’re watching your favorite college team fight for their ranks. And nothing beats Sunday afternoons after church, piled around the television, watching the Cowboys, believing that THIS year really is their year. Fall marks the end of reruns on TV and the premiers of my favorite shows like The Office, Prison Break, and SNL. The fall also brings Thanksgiving, which means we’re, oh, so close to Christmas. 

This fall in particular is so exciting to me for many reasons. It all started with The New Seven. The new look, schedule, and systems far exceeded my expectations. I’m excited to see students on Wednesdays and at homegroup on Sundays as they tell me about their first weeks at school, hearing about all the same things I was excited about when I was in school. I’m excited that in October, Preston and I are going to New York to celebrate our 2^nd anniversary. I’m excited that this year really is THE year for the Cowboys. (please God!) And I’m excited that this year at Thanksgiving, I’m going to have so much to be thankful for: my husband, my family, my friends, and the wonderful job and ministry that God has allowed me to be a part of. Nothing beats that. Nothing beats the fall.

Camp08 was amazing!  I know God did so much in each one of us who went.  We spiced things up this year with some new competitions and some new twists on our camp staples.  Powerball was as insane as ever resulting in a broken wrist (sorry Cody), and Soccer was more exhausting with the added three balls.  Warball had a few casualities, but overall each team held their own and found some way to dominate throughout the week.  Robert Madu made us all “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” while at the same time really challenging our spiritual journeys.  The Giraffe proved to be King of the Jungle but the Orange Silly Gooses left with bragging rights until next year.  All in all, it was a great camp and it really brought us all together and helped us realize the best is yet to come! 

After 5 crazy but incredible days at Camp, 77 of us headed off to Charlotte, North Carolina for the National Fine Arts Festival.  We left in two coach buses excited for the week ahead, but already tired from the week before. :)  19 hours later, we pulled up to our hotel in Charlotte just wanting to eat, shower and go to sleep.  Not so fast though, after two Wal-mart runs, meeting, devos and practice we finally got some much needed sleep…in beds!  The week went great; all of the students performed so good.  Our small and large drama groups won 1st place, Keylee Koop’s drama solo won 2nd, Poor Man, one of our large human videos placed 4th, higher than we’ve ever done before and many others did exceptional as well.  We are all so proud of every student that particpated in Fine Arts.  Well done Seven! 

This week I filled up my car with gas. I paid $50. Those of you Hummerers out there are probably wishing you had my car about now (especially if I were to tell you I’m ridin’ in a 2000 green Mercury Sable), but for me – I’m thinking of going the way of all the world and buying a motorbike. I hear they get a cool 70 mpg. Only problem is, my wife is one of quite a few people that think I would look funny on a motorbike. Little Clayton, riding up to the church on his little Harley Davidson… Truston, hook me up dawg, I got something to prove. 

I remember a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away when I had just started driving in high school. I pulled up to a gas station where the sign read: “Regular Unleaded: $.79.” And, no, it was no typo. A full tank was maybe $10, if that! And now, I have to deal with $50 gas payouts every week, and I’m forced to drive like my grandma with no AC just to save as much of this precious, pricey fuel that I can. Do you realize what I can do with $50?! 

• 20 Wendy’s Texas Double Cheeseburgers with 10 orders of fries and 10 small drinks
• 50 items of your choice at Dollar General
• 50 of those dollar dvds in the Walmart bins
• …and a sturdy pair of Fossil denim jeans

Though I sound it, I’m not worried or frustrated – maybe a little frustrated. But, I still have more wealth than 97% of people on earth, or whatever the statistic is. And there are many people in places like Africa that can only afford 5 gallons of water a week… Water. Last time I checked water is a pretty important commodity. That really brings things back to the right perspective. My word of encouragement for today: stay focused on the needs of others, and let God take care of your own. If you do that – you’ll always have what you need. And, in the words of my 3 year old niece, Ellie: “Peace to all people!”

I’m a huge fan of going to the movies, so as you’d expect, over the weekend I saw the latest installment of the Indiana Jones series. I grew up watching Indy whip (sorry, I couldn’t resist) up on bad guys, and having been alive for every single theatrical release, I was pretty excited to see him at it again. A lot of people, though, have been telling me how they were disappointed with it. I have to say - I was not disappointed at all. I will admit there were a few minutes at the beginning that I was thinking “man, Han Solo is lookin pretty old” or “really, with the CG groundhogs?”, but overall I was super satisfied and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. In my opinion, it held true to the style and feel of the previous three, while still modernizing the pace and making for a very entertaining action/adventure experience.

Of course, this opinion comes after having seen two pretty lame movies (Speed Racer, Narnia 2) the previous two weekends, so maybe I was just really wanting to like it. I’m a big proponent of the “who you see the movie with determines your movie experience” theory, so thanks guys for making mine awesome (you know who you are). Either way, I left the theater satisfied and honestly, wanting to see it again. Thank you Steven Spielberg, you rarely (War of the Worlds) fail to deliver. And thank you George Lucas, you needed this one (Star Wars prequels). Also, thanks to the guy who yelled “clap, you punks” when the Lucasfilm logo appeared. So clever. Until, next time (The Dark Knight), that’s a wrap.

I remember as a child standing at the edge of a diving board afraid to jump in. I knew how to swim, I wasn’t afraid to put my head under water, and when I jumped in from the side of the pool I didn’t even need to plug my nose. But, for some reason, jumping off the diving board gripped me with a paralyzing fear. After a few minutes of waiting, and after the lifeguard threatened to push me in, I took the plunge. It was scary, exhilarating and fun all at the same time. After my head bobbed above the water I laughed out loud and swam towards the ladder only to get out and jump again.

Throughout life I have faced a lot of these moments. Sometimes I jump and sometimes I take the walk of shame in defeat. But I have realized every time I swallow my fear and go for it I find myself swimming to the ladder to try it again. I was afraid to eat sushi, but now I would consider myself an addict. I was afraid to ask my best friend to go on a date with me, but now I’m beyond happily married. I was afraid to drive my brand new jeep down a simple dirt trail, but now I can’t find a hill too steep enough or a hole too deep enough to scare me.

My whole life I have had an underlying fear. It was created by my parents love and concern for my safety. It was fed by horror stories I would hear. It was given credibility by a seaming endless number of negative statistics. They have been called coffins on two wheels, donor mobiles, idiot machines, and rebel transporters. Simply put, I have been told that motorcycles are dangerous. Because of this foundation of fear I would never consider riding a motorcycle. But yet other things in my life I have been the most fearful of are now the things I enjoy the most.

So I jumped off the diving board. I crunched some numbers, took a class, got my license and bought a bike. I’m not saying I’ll keep it. I’m not even sure it’s for me. But all I know is it feels better in the water than it did standing on the edge of the diving board thinking about jumping.

Everyone has pet peeves. Recently, I have been thinking about mine.  A lot. I was out of town and hanging out with a bunch of guys when one of them asked, “what’s your biggest pet peeve?” I really didn’t know what to say. Oh, I got pet peeves, but I didn’t know what would be my biggest. That was tough. Thus, I have been thinking about mine. I still don’t know what would be my biggest, but i definitely got a top 5.

Here are my top 5 pet peeves, in no particular order:

1. Driving slow in the fast lane. (Really!?!)
2. A dirty car. (Ugh)
3. A cluttered room. (UGH)
4. Depressing movies. (Hello, its called ‘a happy ending’)
5. Socially unaware comments. (Dude, you’re below the clouds)

Some of my runners up are when people are unwilling to try something new, smacking your food while eating and uncommited people.

As I think about it more, my top 5 may change. I may even find the biggest. In the meantime, what about you? What’s your biggest pet peeves? Maybe we can change the world together, one pet peeve at a time.

March is here and the eyes of the sports world are on college basketball. Even if you’re not a sports fan, you can get caught up in this madness. We’re talking ‘the big dance’, ‘the field of 64′, or ‘the ncaa tournament’. It’s here and it’s the greatest days of sports. Men will take vacation days, women will get babysitters, students will skip school and the whole nation will watch. The first 4 days of this madness should be a national holiday. So get ready to cheer for your favorite team.  And if you don’t have one, there’s 64 to choose from.

Bring on the upsets. Bring on the last second shots. Bring on the miracles. Bring on the underdogs. Bring on the goliaths. Memories will be shared. Heroes will be made. Legends will be told. Cinderella has her ticket and always shows up. Let the Madness begin.

Last weekend was sweet for so many reasons. And not just for the nuggling. One, it was our first retreat in like six years. Two, I had the best time hanging out with some awesome new friends I made. And three, having a weekend to refresh and relax truly rocked! Massive bonfire anyone?

Now, I did get schooled a bit by Annalise, Caleb and Cooper on the basketball court, but I think I at least got an ”E” for effort.  Saturday, eating a half gallon of butter pecan ice cream with Refuge and XS7 was fun, but nasty at the same time. Then having to run everywhere, do a walking pyramid and then do 300 push-ups as a team; we were kinda dying. All was okay afterwards, though, since Dillon and Zach did the “Beyonce” on stage. Not to be out-done, of course, was Will and Hunter lip-syncing to the Backstreet Boys.

For those of you who missed it, sorry, you better come next year. For those of you who were there, you know what I’m talking about when I say: “Wow!” God showed up and definitely helped refresh and “reseven” us. Is that even a word? I say yes, and you know what that means: “Done!”