The Beast has been Unleashed June 3, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Everyone take a breather. After this past Sunday with the four videos and grand opening of Narrow Gate, I need to take a power nap. Make that a power nap times two. Speaking of napping, don’t blink an eye because Narrow Gate’s website is heading towards a change of astronomic proportions.
Its been rumored that the Uber-tern and John are now in cahoots with a web graphic designer, computer programmer, AND a top-notch web developer. The show has just started my fellow adventurers, and with friends on our side that rivals the Care Bears stare, the sky is the limit.
Oh and before you head out to tackle the rest of your day: we’re getting a new Narrow Gate staffer within the week!! Krysta E. is jumping on the band wagon of all band wagons. She’ll be posting on the blog as soon as her immigration papers go through and the INS clears her for residency.
More this summer starting up once class is out, including a weekly Bible study for guys and girls. If you play your cards right, there might even be a video or two about it. In the mean time, check out the current videos on youtube!
Top Burrito places… May 31, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in Uncategorized.9 comments
I’m not sure when Zagat’s is going to start rating “Burrito places,” but they need to. I could not agree more with their Burger joint places… but all this is really in response to the fact that I am sick of people asking me to go to Moe’s. Seriously, their Burritos are not good. Which is why I have decided to make public the Fontanella Five of Burrito places.
1.Chipotle – Has phenomenal Guacamole, but is seriously behind Baja in their Salsa department. Which totally makes no sense. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you have to pay like $1.50 to get a scoop on your burrito, heaven forbid if you want to get chips with a side of Guac.
2.Baja Fresh – Their meat is definitely not as good as Chipotle, but is cost efficient and has legit chips a plenty.
Seriously, past # 3 there is no reason to even suggest that we go to one of these burrito places. I’m going to leave #3 blank for the places like Don Pablo’s and On The Border and Rio Grande where ya gots ta pay $10 bucks for the same burrito
5. So why even go to California Tortilla, which is really just California Burrito. There “we can put anything in to a tortilla” attitude scares me because the stuff comes out not tasting like anything which is why they offer so many hot sauces… Swing and a miss, I hate hot sauce.
5. In conclusion, I’d like to thank Moe’s for making the most bland cheese queso ever invented, the always stale tasting chips (even straight out of the oven) and the least amount of avocados that could fit in to a serving a guacamole, which sucks because if you are not a guac fan, the basic recipe for GOOD GUAC is to slam as much avocado in a blender as you can. OH I forgot, the burritos are just ok.
Peace n00bs
Super Studly Stupendous Sunday May 29, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
This is it, the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The highly anticipated, critically acclaimed, and prophesied grand opening of the Narrow Gate! Can you believe it? Just a few days ago Narrow Gate was a sesame size child in its mother’s womb. Too graphic? I digress….
This Sunday you can expect TONS of videos. The two primary ingredients for this Sunday’s feast: Compassion International and Narrow Gate. We’ll be introducing the two children that Narrow Gate is sponsoring through Compassion. Their pictures and profiles will be available shortly on this website. You’ll also be able to contribute here, letters that will be sent monthly to the children.
The scriptural basis and vision behind Narrow Gate will be introduced through various videos that you can be sure will roxxor. The videos will also include a recap of the successful laser tag adventure at Crash this past Wednesday. It was sweeeeet.
A.K.A , don’t miss out on this monster event. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might even wet your pants, so bring your Huggies with you! This site is about to change pretty soon too. There are things in motion that cannot be described with mere words. New this, new that, improved everything. For real, expect an overhaul of this blog and much much more in the next week (or two).
See you all soon!
Tag, you’re it! May 28, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in Uncategorized.Tags: crash, dwight shrute, fact, laser, lazer, Narrow Gate
add a comment
Tonight, tonight, wont’ be just any night! Narrow Gate is hosting its last mid-week meeting of “Crash”. We are meeting at Shadowland in Chantilly for a fun time of laser tag. The full details can be found on this website under the “events” tab seen at the top of your screen. Now if you could please fasten your seat-belts and note the nearest exit to you, we’ll go over some laser tag facts.
Courtesy of Dwight Shrute:
FACT! – Laser is an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
FACT! – Laser tag does not actually involve the use of real lasers, rather infrared light is used.
FACT! – The first known toy to use infrared light and a corresponding sensor was manufactured and marketed in 1979 as the Star Trek Electronic Phaser Guns set.
FACT! – In November 1999, the world’s current largest indoor laser tag arena was built in Mesa, Arizona.
FACT! – A visible laser combined with theatrical fog typically provide the visual effect of firing, while having no actual role in transmitting the fire signal.
Calling all Soulja’s of Christ May 28, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in Uncategorized.Tags: bueller, civilian affairs, commanding officer, mad-lib, mad-libs, madlibs, memorial day, paul, shout out, soldier, soulja, timothy, uber
1 comment so far
“Sir, yes sir!” Oorah! It’s the Uber-tern back again for another exciting episode of “Enter by the Narrow Gate.” This being the day (after the day) after Memorial Day, and its better late than never. We wanted to send a big shout out to all the past, present, and future servicemen of our country. The country is indebted to you all and appreciates the service you’ve graciously given us.
I can’t help but be reminded every year of Paul’s words in his second letter to Timothy on this day set aside for soldiers of our country. Paul writes, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.” (2 Tim 2:3-4 NIV)
“Fire in the hole!” Well not quite like that I suppose, but do you get Paul’s point? What is he saying? Paul is relating us as Christ followers, to soldiers in an army. He first says not to get involved with civilian affairs. Civilian affairs? Whosy whatsy? Think of it this way, if you’re a solider in a foreign land and you have been assigned to stay at watch on a post, would you head over to the local Starbucks and pick up a grande chai latte extra foam? I think not! Not only would you not be doing your duty and discharged, but also you should have gone with the caramel frappuccino.
Soldiers are focused on the goal and aren’t being sidetracked by the world around them. So what is the goal then? Funny you should ask, Paul goes on to make his second point that the soldier’s goal is to please his commanding officer. As Christ followers who is our commanding officer? Anyone…anyone? Bueller? Well, here is the perfect time for your Sunday school answer that can be used to fit nearly any question posed. Jesus! Yayyy kids, its like one of those mad-libs where you fill in Jesus for every blank. Super job class, A+ for the day.
Well, what about it? Have you enlisted yet? What civilian affairs are you being involved in that is keeping you from pleasing our commanding officer? Maybe its that late night show which bogs your brain down with sexual innuendos, or maybe its going to a party and just “socially” drinking so you can fit in, or maybe its that unhealthy experimenting relationship with your boy toy/ girlfriend. Its not easy to resist those things, by no means! But, we are called to enter by the narrow gate. God’s way or the world’s way, there is no in between. Fall in solider!
I Rebuke My Dog << Jesus Rebukes the Wind May 25, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in In the beginning.Tags: Criss Angel, drunken men, fishermen, Jesus, John, Mark, Matthew, Psalm, rebuke, Wind
add a comment
WOW, count your lucky stars: TWO posts in one day?! I know I know, the world is truly blessed.
John today taught us from Mark 4:35-41. He gave us insight into the situation and really pushed the audience to put themselves in the scene. How would you react in the disciples’ shoes? Were you impressed or not impressed with their actions?
It is indeed a fantastic miracle that we see in Mark’s account. These undoubtedly veteran fishermen of grown age were scared out of their pants. Its described in such a way in Psalm 107:27 — “They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end.” The main point: what a storm!? Actually, a storm so great and made them fear so much for their lives, that they woke a Carpenter to help them out. Help them out He did, “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:39 ESV)
At this point, take a step back from the scene. Picture this like a movie and pause the dvd here. What do you think happens next? The disciples were just miraculously saved from imminent death in their eyes by a Carpenter of all people. The dude just woke up from a nap and verbally rebukes the wind. He speaks, the storm listens. Can you say pWnage!? I would be jumpin’ around, high five’n my buddies, chest bump to my neighbor, broad smiles all ’round cause we were still breathing. Is that what we see? Roll the clip……..”And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” (Mark 4:41 ESV)
Whoa, they were filled with great fear? Why? Christ displays His divine power so openly and powerfully in this situation that it scares them. The disciples are probably looking at Jesus like He isn’t even from this planet. Think Close Encounters of the Third Kind or E.T. on steroids. In a parallel account of the scene we get more insight. “And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” (Matthew 8:27 ESV). Criss Angel ain’t got nothing on Jesus.
The cool part is they’re not too far off. Christ was 100% God and 100% man. In this instance we see Him obviously more God than man. In a later blog we’ll discuss the reasons, implications, and necessity of Jesus being God and man at the same time. What do you think about the whole situation? Please leave some comments or discussion about this awesome display of divinity by Jesus.
-Narrow Gate: Transforming students’ lives and fueling True community.
Let’s kick start this thing like we mean it! May 25, 2008
Posted by gccyouth in In the beginning.Tags: Church, first, Gateway, John, Matthew 7, Narrow Gate, Spencer, Sunday services, Uber-tern
1 comment so far
As this infant-blog opens it’s eyes for the first time, the world wonders: what will be it’s first words? what will it be like when it grows old? who will be impacted?
Let me introduce myself and in doing so, give you the 4-1-1 on “Narrow Gate”. My name is Spencer a.k.a The Uber-tern. I’m working with the youth ministry of Gateway Community Church for the summer under the guidance of the full staff, but most immediately some n00b guy who happens to be the youth pastor named John. I mean its not like he wrote a gospel or the like, some people just let it go to their heads I guess.
“Narrow Gate” is the newly created identity of the youth group at the church. This thing is straight out of the bag and still under warranty, unless of course you took that little sticker off the one screw and then your warranty is as useless as an icepick in a Jell-o world. It is in fact so spankin new, the youth group doesn’t even know about it yet.
Well I want to give you well informed people (I mean you found this blog didn’t you?), the down low on Narrow Gate even before its unveiled next Sunday (the 1st of June). SPOILER ALERT: Narrow Gate comes from the Bible of all places. Imagine that?! Its in reference to Matthew 7:13-14, don’t worry here it is just in case you don’t know it by heart: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (ESV)
Please tune in next week at our weekly meeting during Sunday morning for an exegesis of this passage and a full fledged kick start to Narrow Gate. OH and its also Compassion Sunday! Can you say big times?
Gateway Community Church and Narrow Gate meet every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM EST (sharp of course). The address is 13618 McLearen Road, Herndon, VA 20171 which is home to the great facilities of Rachel Carson Middle School. A great time of worship and teaching are sure to be had, please please come out and join us. If you don’t know anyone, you’re more than welcome to sit next to me, Spencer. I’ll save you a seat.
Our church offices are located at 24796 Gum Spring Road, South Riding, VA 20152. You can reach us at 703.327.2700.
Thanks for reading over the first post! Leave a comment or two about the new blog and name of the youth ministry.
-Narrow Gate: Transforming students’ lives and fueling True community.
P.S. This is a work in progress and suggestions are welcomed along side grace/patience. (insert thumbs up)
