Westheights Student Ministries

CHALLENGE 40:: You've Made It!

Way to go! You've reached 40 days!  *pats back*  Your challenge today is simple, but not easy.  Your to look back over the last 40 days and think of how God has shaped your heart, challenged your thinking and ignited (be happy not to hear that word for a while lol) your passion.  Write down how you can continue to grow in the future, maybe repeating or reusing some of the challenges you've tried over the last 40 Days.

What a long, strange trip its been eh?  Keep up the good work and live like you mean it!

CHALLENGE 39:: Random Generosity

How tightly do you hold on to your money?  Do you save it relentless for college or a car?  Or are you a spender?  Do you love to get the latest gadget, clothes or music?

CHALLENGE 38:: Guerrilla Gardening

 Let's be honest, modern cities aren't the prettiest places on Earth.  I love living in Kitchener, but the beauty of our city isn't in its concrete.  I've always loved Kitchener because of the great art we make, the people and the feeling of simplicity this city has.  But on the downside, some parts are just plain UG-LY.

CHALLENGE 37:: I Surrender!

I've come to realize that giving up is undervalued.  I'm not talking about quitting on your homework or giving up playing piano.  I meaning REALLY give up.  I think we value fighting too much in our society.  We fight for our "rights", our need to be heard and often too much so for our opinion on things that just don't matter.  Do you hold grudges?  Do you stay "quietly mad" at someone after they've wronged you?  Are you just really sure your right all the time?

CHALLANGE 36:: Let's Play A Game

Everyone knows that board games are awesome.  Yes, even this one.  Yet, we don't often play them these days.  Your challenge for today is play a game (hopefully a new one or an old classic) with your friends or family.  Some of my best memories growing up have been from playing games with my family and catching my brother cheating (Mark knows what he did).  Playing together is great way to experience community and embrace the joy of being with other people Jesus called the church to embrace.

Have fun, and remember: you can't win Risk without Australia.

CHALLENGE 35:: Something To Think About

Ever heard of Penn and Teller?  They are a comedy duo who do a lot of stuff with illusions... maybe you have seen them on TV somewhere.  Wikipedia notes that they are often associated with atheistim (basically the belief that God does not exist).

CHALLENGE 34:: Dear Diary...

Have you ever tried to start keeping a diary or a journal?  Every spiritual disciplines book I have ever read has stressed the importance of "journalling" (that's one of those words... who took that noun and said it could become a verb?!  "Journalling" doesn't really offend me... but the word "dialoguing"? Oh brother...  I admittedly say stuff like that trying to be quirky, but once it becomes commonplace, or worse... "Christianese"... blah!  Maybe it just bugs me when it's used super casually?  Like, "Well Bob, that's an interesting question.  Why don't we get together and dialogue about that over coffee?"  Okay, rant over.)

CHALLENGE 33:: Puts a new spin on "you are what you eat"

Check out this blog:  30on30challenge.blogspot.com

I feel so humbled by this guy's amazing dedication!

CHALLENGE 32:: Saturday Stroll

Go for a walk in the rain.  Wear a raincoat or bring an umbrella if you want... or just get wet!  Think about the renewing power rain has.  Why did God design the world the way he did?

CHALLENGES 27-31:: Playing Catch-Up

CHALLENGE 27:: Pray for your family.  Think about each member of your immediate (and if you have time, your extended) family, one at a time.  Think about the things you are thankful for about them and thank God.  Think about the things you know they struggle with and ask God to help them through those struggles.  Think about what you know about what each family member hopes for and dreams about and pray that they have the courage to act on those things.

CHALLENGE 28::  Pray for your friends the same way as above. 

CHALLENGE 29::  Pray for people in our church the same way as above.

CHALLENGE 30::  Pray for your neighbours the same way as above.

CHALLENGE 31::  Pray for people in your school the same way as above.

CHALLENGE 26:: Be a Care Bear

Often people can go through life going weeks without hearing that someone cares about them.  They can think they're worthless, unneeded or just plain stupid.  If you've ever felt that way, you know how powerful it can be for someone to genuinely tell you how awesome they think you are.

CHALLENGE 25:: Dream A Little Dream of Me

To dream about the future seems dorky.  But our dreams can motivate us, challenge us and keep us from accepting things for just being the way they are.  Your challange for today is to write down 5 things that would describe your life in the future.  Try and think not only of what you want, but who you think God wants you to be.  Try and be as specific as possible.

Once your done, take your list and put it somewhere you'll see it regularly.  That way, you'll keep in front of you the things you are dreaming of.

CHALLENGE 24:: Learn From Someone with Life Experience

It's important to have the humility to recognize that we have a lot to learn.  The more time I spend with people who are older than me, the more I realize how much there is left for me to see and do in my life.  It's inspiring!

CHALLENGE 23:: Are You Ready to Rock?

One of the best ways to experience God is through music.  Today's challenge is a simple one:  pick your favorite song (as long as its not this) and rock out in private.  That way you won't have to worry about anyone looking.  Think about what it's like to enjoy just letting loose and remember that God wants you to enjoy life to the fullest.  My favorite song right now is Magnificent off of U2's latest CD, No Line On the Horizon.   It's the best non-worship worship song I've heard in years.

CHALLENGE 20:: Shhhh...

Silence is golden.  For centuries, Christians of all backgrounds and creeds have known that God isn't often in the crazy noise or loud moments, but in the whisper of a quiet moment. 

CHALLENGE 19:: Brothers of Mine

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"
Matthew 25:40

CHALLENGE 18:: I Heart Me

As it says in Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

You are amazing and wonderful and fantastic and beautiful!  You are made in the image of a wonderful God!  Everyone has areas where we can grow, everyone has faults... but God has great love for you because you are lovable.  Make a list of ten things you like about yourself.

CHALLENGE 17:: Forgiveness

Is there someone you have had a falling out with?  Someone you used to be friends with, but something got in the way?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18: 21-35

Jesus calls us to forgive people even if we think they don't deserve it.  See if you can reconcile a lost friendship!

CHALLENGE 16:: Prayer For the Hurting

There are a lot of people out there who are in a lot of pain.  Take some time today to pray for those who are hurting.  Pray that they would not feel abandoned by God in their time of need, but that they would instead feel comforted by his love.

CHALLENGE 15:: HELP!

This one pretty simple to understand but hard to do.  Find someone (anyone) who could use a hand and ask them if you can help them.  Help an old-lady/gent cross the road.  Ask someone randomly at the grocery store to carry their food to the car.  Stop one in the hallway and ask to carry their backpack to class.

CHALLENGE 14:: You Are What You Buy?

What would Jesus buy?  Would he buy an American Eagle hoodie that was made in a sweatshop? Would he buy a squash from Honduras with a massive carbon footprint?  What about Tim Hortons coffee? Would he say it's okay to spend money on a Playstation or an iPod when there are so many of our neighbours across the world and in our own backyards with so little?

These are very complicated questions without easy answers.  Without beating yourself up for every purchase you have ever made (it becomes a slippery slope of self-loathing... something which God doesn't want!) promise yourself to REALLY THINK about everything you buy from now on.  

Ask yourself these questions:

Do I need this?

Why is this important to me?  Does it in any way help to build the Kingdom of God?  Does it help build relationships?

What impact does this have on the environment?

Is what I'm buying supporting a system that oppresses people?  Is what I'm buying helping to liberate people from negative systems?

CHALLENGE 13:: Art Attack

You guys are probably way too young to remember the show that inspired the subject line of this challenge, but that doesn't mean you can't learn from it.  People of my generation (i.e. only several years older than you) were often inspired by Neil, the host of Art Attack, as we'd watch him make a kid-size briefcase out of a kleenex box or a puppet out of a "loo roll" (he's British...).

While Nel's show might just as well have been called Craft Attack (at what point does a loo roll puppet become art?  That's another discussion for another day) and whether he knew it or not, he was plugging kids all over the globe into the creative urges that come from being made in the image of a creative God.

Your challenge for today is to have your own art attack!  Create something... anything!  Embrace your inner kid and put together a craft to do with your little sister, or get out the paints and create a scene where you have seen God at work to remind and inspire you.  Not big into crafts?  Be creative in the kitchen and use your culinary skills to wow your parents! 

Need more inspiration?  CLICK HERE to help you get those creative juices flowing (and relive my childhood along with me).

CHALLENGE 12:: HAPPY EASTER!

We've been talking a lot on Wednesdays about "living the resurrection life". Today is a great day to make a plan:  how will you be a part of God's Creation being redeemed?  Make a list.  Think about the three categories we discussed from N. T. Wright's book:  beauty, justice and truth (evangelism).

Be excited!  Our Redeemer lives!

CHALLENGE 11:: Just Dance

Maybe you say you like to dance, maybe you don't.  If you say you don't.... I don't believe you.  What you mean is you don't like to dance when people are watching.

Take some time and read 2 Samuel 6 which includes David dancing before the Lord.  Then crank up some music (if you prefer, when you are alone) and dance before the Lord yourself!

One of my favourite ways to dance is to dance along with Paul Eugene and his Gospel Praise Aerobics! Shake it along with Paul and bask in the cheesy glory of it all... 

As DJ Kubiks would say, "Let's get sweaty for Jesus!"

CHALLENGE 10:: Good Good Friday

Devon asked a good question during his sermon on Good Friday... "Why do they call it GOOD Friday?"  For a day where we reflect (in understandably somber ways) on the death and sacrifice of Christ it seems odd to call it 'good'.  What happened on that day seems hardly Good, yet when we reflect on it's meaning, the goodness shines through the darkness of it.