Here's the promo video for next week. Ryan Miller and Caleb Moyer worked their magic once again, with a little help from Tim Ross.

Today's chapel dealt with dating, and a special thanks go out to Prentice Park and Danielle Lopez for their contributions as speakers. If you'd like to see a list of the student questions submitted during the Q&A time, check this out.

See you next week...

For this week, we'll take a look at the Biblical view of dating. Below is a sneak preview. Thanks to Ryan Miller, Caleb Moyer, and Zahara Williams for their work.

On Thursday, the dating portion of chapel will feature a slightly different format, seating arrangement, and speakers from last week. Additionally, we will have a longer Q&A segment, given the number of potential questions that await our speakers.

See you there...

This week, Lance Watson from Timberlake Church in Redmond will speak to the JH kids about the Bible's view on dating.

One feature of this chapel series that is new for the JH will be the final ten minutes of live Q&A, through texting a dedicated number through Google Voice.

Here's how the Google Voice feature will work:

1. Students will text their questions to a number, which will be posted on the PowerPoint slides throughout the chapel.

2. Questions will come to my phone (Mike's), and will show up simply as a phone number (which I won't recognize, meaning these questions are anonymous).

3. I will sort through the questions as best I can, and will relay them to our speakers, who will answer them on-the-fly.

Students will have additional opportunities to reflect on the toics during the Friday Reflections time in their Friday Bible classes (N.T. and iGen).

Should be good!

This week we will launch a three-week series titled "Tell Me More About..." which will address three relational topics, all chosen by student voting. This week, two guest speakers will address specific questions (again, asked by students) related to Biblical friendship.

Here's how the series will work:

1. Each chapel will hav a unique seating arrangement and multiple speakers (male and female). 

2. Questions will be posted on the screen, and will be timed so as to keep things moving.

3. The final ten minutes will be live Q&A via texting (through a dedicated Google Voice number; see below).

The Q&A/Google voice process will work like this:

1. Students will text their questions to a number posted on every slide during the chapel.

2. Their questions will come to my phone (Mike's) and will show up only as their phone number (which I don't know, meaning the questions are anonymous).

3. I will sort through the questions as best I can and offer up as many of them as possible to our speakers, who will be answering them on-the-fly (with a countdown timer on the screen).

I'm very excited to see how this all unfolds. Thanks to our speakers (kept a secret until chapel time), and Ryan Miller and Caleb Moyer for making the videos.

See you there...

Following the talent portion of chapel/assembly, I will be introducing a new three-week series titled "What Does the Bible Say About..." which will feature Biblical responses and perspectives to three topics, all chosen (via survey) by the JH students. Each chapel will feature a special guest-speaker and an opportunity for live Q & A via a Google Voice phone number, which will provide a quick and anonymous way to interact with the speaker and content. What will the first topic be next week? You'll have to show up to find out...(cue devious, clever theme music here). The series will occur on May 9th, 23rd, and 31st.

See you there...

First, we welcome to chapel Mr. Todd Green, who is the Director of Student Ministries and Athletic Director at Eastside Christian School, as well as the new football coach at BCS. We're excited to hear from Todd for what will hopefully be the first of many chapel talks as time goes one (Todd, that was a not-so-subtle idea being thrown out there...). Todd will be running through his coaching playbook with us, examining both his offensive and defensive schemes. Video highlights will also be included. (NOTE: he's actually speaking on living all-out for Christ, which has a different playbook).

Following Todd's time with us, I will be previewing the next three weeks of chapel content, which will be a series titled "Tell Me More About..." which is a continuation of the relationship series we ran in February and March. Students were surveyed about what else they'd like to know about regarding Biblical relationships, and on May 9th, the first topic will unpacked. Each chapel will involve unique speakers and seating arrangements, as well as an opportunity for live Q & A via a Google Voice phone number (creating a quick and anonymous way to ask questions of the speakers at the end of each chapel). The series is set to run on May 9th, 16th, and 23rd. Should be good...

When your time on earth is up, what will be your legacy?

At 42 years of age, I have not attended a tremendous amount of funerals, but I have been to enough of them to know the importance of creating a meaningful legacy. I have been to two separate funerals where the deceased left a legacy of pain and regret, particularly for those who survived them.

Not a pleasant experience.

On Friday, Mr. Ezechiel Bambolo, Jr. will join us to speak to both the HS and JH (NOTE: Chapel is not combined this week; he will be speaking to both groups during their regularly-scheduled times). "Zeke" runs a ministry called The Firstborn Son, which deals with spiritual leadership and legacy.

Zeke has written a book on family legacy, titled The Firstborn Son: A Curse, A Gift, or a Calling?

 Here's Zeke talking abou the book...

For the Post-Chapel Question (for HS), and Monday Reflections (for JH), we'll take a closer look at the idea of legacy. Students will get a chance to reflect on the following questions:

1. Who do you say you are?

2. What can or should the concept of legacy look at while you're a student at BCS?

3. What should a Christian's legacy look like during their lifetime?

4. What do you need to do now in order to leave a meaningful legacy wherever you are in life?

Zeke will be speaking to both JH and HS, and all are welcome to attend (parents, grandparents, anyone in the BCS community). He will also be selling copies of his book after both chapels for those who are interested.

See you there...

We'll start with a moment of silence and prayer for the people of Boston and those involved in the tragedy earlier this week.

Following that, our usual array of annoucements, including try-oyuts for the JH Talent Show! Try-outs will take place during long lunch on April 26th, and the talent show itself will occur during the May 2nd JH chapel (11:20 - Noon). For tomorrow, we will need to avoid the Gym and MPR areas during long lunch due the presence of the East Shore Middle School Band Festival, which will be on-going throughout the day.

For our main event, we'll hone-in on the the topic of service. We will take three looks at what BCS JH'ers have been doing in this area, starting with a review of We Day Seattle, which was a first for the U.S. Next, 8th grader Sammie Kimmel will tell us about her trip to Africa this past December, and we'll end our time with a review of the Student Council's carnival at Jubilee Reach a few weeks ago. The JH'ers have been doing some great things in the area of service lately, and we'll be celebrating those things tomorrow.

See you there...

We'll start with a moment of silence and prayer for the people involved in the Boston tragedy earlier this week.

Following that, our usual array of announcements, including the need to stay away from the Gym and MPR during long lunch, so as to avoid disturbing the East Shore Band Festival, which will be on-going all day in those areas.

For our speaker, we welcome back Mr. Dave Westburg, who will take over for the rest of our time together. Many thanks to Dave for his time and energy to speak to us. A Post-Chapel Question will follow during 4th period as usual.

See you there...

Here's Barrett...

You can see last week's chapel here if you'd like...

At the end of chapel last week, we had the students compile lists of how to make a difference at BCS. Here is what they came up with, which will be part of our on-going look at H.E.A.D. (JH theme this year).

We'll also take a more personal look at this topic through the person of BCS junior Barrett Wuerch, who will share his experiences in this area (and others) in the past year or so.

Behold...(watch this as you would an old-school Kung-Fu movie, as the audio and video got off-track somehow)

Should be great. We'll tape it and get it posted as soon as we can.

 1. Godly women worship FIRST (PPT)

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

                                                                                      Luke 7:37,38

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.                     

Romans 12:1-2

Challenge: Begin each day with a prayer of worship- dedicating the day and all that you do in each day as an act of worship that is opposed to the world’s way.

2. Godly women LEARN to discern the truth from the lies

…But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning… 

2 Corinthians 11:3

Challenge: Evaluate your life- ask what lies have I believed about being a girl?

 3. Godly women realize their appearance doesn’t define who they are

‘“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

                                                                                        Esther 4:16

Challenge: Time how much time you focus each day on your appearance- consider giving equal or more time to your character development.

 4. Godly women build authentic relationships with other women (PPT)

“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. 

Ruth 1:17,18

Challenge: Seek forgiveness for hurt in broken friends. Break the cycle of pain.

 5. Godly women know they are GIFTED for work in God’s kingdom (PPT)

 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
 your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.

Acts 2:17,18

Challenge: Begin a journey of discovering your unique gifts and what role they may play in the kingdom of God.

Here is a PDF version of this outline...

Here are my notes on her talk...

Here is part I of her talk...

 Here is part II...

If you want the male-counterpart of this talk, go here...and here.

More news on the conclusion of this four-part chapel series coming very soon. Stay tuned...

Neely McQueen's "Woman chapel" will be posted as soon as possible after she speaks on Thursday.

Here's part one of Jesse's talk...

Here's part two...

Here were the responses, taken from the post-chapel discussions in 4th period.

This week, the focus will be on the girls and, at least for some, there is a bit of nervousness afoot. Witness this little note added to one of the 4th period responses:

Relax girls...you'll be in good hands.

P.S. Thanks for artwork on the bottom right corner.

Jesse gave the fellas (and girls, who flanked the boys on three sides) five points and challenges in the area of Biblical masculinity. The points are below, and I've included a PDF version as well.

  1. Godly men love, serve, and obey God first and foremost (God's kingdom over building our own kingdom); Matthew 6:33

Action: Be in the Word

Challenge: Give up one thing to make time to pray and read scripture

 2. Godly men love and respect others (Matthew 22:36-40)

Action: Analyze your media intake ("but it just a movie/song/show..."); how is it influencing you (not is it); do not objectify women

Objectification of women: pornography - affects how we view the opposite sex (and ourselves);

Challenge: Eliminate the influences that compel you to objectify women

 3. Godly men serve and lead (Philippians 2:3)

What example are you setting? What are you modeling? Consciously setting a godly example is attractive!

Challenge: Take a good hard look at who you're looking up to. Who is looking up to you, and are you taking that seriously?

 4. Godly men protect and provide

Hyper-masculinity (particularly that which hurts or exploits others is a hyper example of a deep brokenness and insecurity

It's not just withholding negative actions--it's proactive

Challenge: View women and others as people to provide for and protect

5. Godly men work hard to achieve (Gen. 2)

Our work should bless and benefit others and promote God's kingdom

Challenge: Take responsibility and work for what you get

Final action: pick one of the five challenges to work on (prioritize them and work on them)

Our speaker will be Neely McQueen, who currently works at Overlake Christian Church. She has a clear heart and passion for working with teenage girls. Neely will speaking to the girls about "being a woman of God...with men in mind." She is the author of "99 things every girl should know," which she talks about here...

 Here is her blog, which also has a girl-focus...

I'll follow up Neely's chapel with notes and action-steps after her chapel this Thursday. Should be time well-spent...

We're always pondering this question, but particularly so during the junior high years.

Last week we started a series on three big life questions, the first dealing with identity. We'll take a deeper look at this topic this week, focusing on two people who are dealing with it from very different perspectives.

Our first "guest" will be none other than Michael Jordan. On February 17th, Jordan turned 50, and with his birthday came lots of reflection and "where is he now?" coverage. ESPN put out an article which gave a very insightful look at "His Airness," painting a complicated picture of a fairly tortured soul (in my opinion). You can read the article here (Jordan has somewhat of a potty-mouth at times, so just be prepared; the article is excellent overall, however). As the article clearly attests to, MJ is still grappling with the "who am I?" question. I'll be using several quotes and anecdotes from the article as an introduction to our second guest.

To offer a different view of the identity issue, our second guest will actually be with us in the person of BCS sophomore Kim Williams. Kim is an Olympic-hopeful swimmer, who competed in the Olympic Trials last June in two events. Earlier this year, Kim spoke to the HS about this issue, and we're offering an expanded version for the JH. If you'd like a look at Kim's HS chapel, check this out.

Many thanks to Kim for giving up her time to speak with the JH, as well as Sheri Nansen for letting her out of 4th period Spanish.

On Friday, our topic will be "Being a Man of God...with Women in Mind." Our speaker will speak directly to the boys about Biblical masculinity--literally speaking directly in front of them (seating-wise), while the girls flank the boys, hearing the same message, hopefully reinforcing and affirming the truth about men. This means a different seating arrangement, just to shake things up.

Who is the speaker? Well, I'll just say he's been here before...

I asked the question before this series began: "What is most confusing about male-female relationships?" How did the students respond? Read here...

Here is the highlight video from yesterday's chapel, hitting on the big ideas and key thoughts for the series:

This week's Post-Chapel Question (PCQ): "What gets in the way of men and women honoring each other and just being friends?" Here were the students' responses...

Part II of the series will address "being a man of God...with women in mind," featuring a special guest-speaker.

Stay tuned...

Starting this Thursday, we will be looking at three of these "life questions," starting with "who am I?" and following up with "can I make a difference?" and "does anybody care?"

Each week, students will have a chance to personally reflect on what they're learning, both in chapel, as well as in their Friday Bible classes  during the new "Friday Reflections" segment (N.T. for 7th graders, iGen for 8th graders). I'll be using clips from the show Freaks and Geeks, which will illustrate the big idea for that week's question. Lots of scripture and practical applications for all.