On June 21st Flip will be going on it's second annual trip to Big Kahuna's waterpark in Destin, FL. The cost per student is $45 which includes the charter bus that we will ride over there and back; the park pass for the entire day; and lunch as well. Flip has done a few fundraisers to try and help students raise money towards the cost of their trip. So for a student to go on this trip, they will need three things: First, they will need to have their money paid in full ($45) by the day of the trip (June 21st); Second, they will need to have a permission form signed and turned in by the day of our trip (Some students who went on our trip to Winter Jam in March, had a permission form signed for that trip; those permission forms are still valid and will be until December 31st of 2012 so no new permission form is needed). Permission forms have been available to students for the past couple of months at our Wednesday night services but, if you need one, it can be downloaded here for the Microsoft Word ™ version, or here for the PDF version; Third, you will need to be informed about this trip so we have provided a Facts Sheet with everything that you need to know about this trip for parents and students to sign. You can get one here for the Microsoft Word ™ version or here for th PDF version. We are looking forward to this trip and it is going to be awesome!

Wow, last night was incredible! Part 2 of "I'm So Emo" is definitely one to remember. No matter what we face, no matter how other people label us or how we label ourselves, we must remember that we are created in God's image and we are HIS masterpeice; if God is an artist, we are His canvas; He is the creator and we are His creation. God doesn't see us as we see ourselves, and He doesn't see us how others see us. God sees past the labels and He sees us how He created us to be. God made me and you exactly how He wanted and He loves every single thing about us. When we look in the mirror, we need to look past the labels and see ourself for what we truly are, God's masterpiece. To help remind you of this truth, here is a simple picture, perfectly sized for your iPhone or iPod lockscreen that simply says, "I am created in God's image. Genesis 1:27." Here is another on with Psalms 139:13-14.

We all deal with emotions and the overwhelming affects that they have on us sometimes. Whether it's anger, low self-esteem, jealousy, or bitterness, our emotions play a big role in how we live our lives. We also tend to label people based on their emotions but what we don't see is that we deal with the same things as the people that we label. In this series we will address how to deal with, embrace, and leverage our emotions for the good as we take a look at what The Bible says about emotions and how we should use them.

If you've been in a relationship, you know it requires sacrifice. In order to grow in closeness with someone else, we're always checking our selfish impulses against what's best for the relationship. It's just part of the deal.
This concept couldn't be clearer than in our relationship with Christ. God, in His omniscience, knows exactly what the perfect relationship looks like. He designed it from day one with Adam and Eve, but mankind chose a different path. So in order to restore that relationship, God made the ultimate sacrifice - Jesus on the cross.
Every day, we're faced with challenges to our relationship with God and choices we must make. And every time we choose a path away from Him, we weaken our relationship, rendering us unable to live a powerful Christian life. In John 10:10, Christ said, "I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." I believe He means it for our life here as well as our eternity in heaven. But we have to be willing to die to self so that we can live with the power He promises.

This Wednesday, March 28th, Flip will be having it's annual Spring Break BBQ! We will have food, drinks, sports, games, and more! We will be outside so be sure to wear tennis shoes and summer clothes because we are going to have a blast!