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The Alpha Blog is back up after a bit of a break! School is in and summer is officially over. Well, the break is over. The heat is HERE. Many times I have heard people say that worship is practice for Heaven. That is Heaven all we will be doing is worshiping and they love worship because it gives them a feel of Heaven. That's a nice thought, but I realized the other day in worship that it simply isn't true. Worship isn't practice. It's for real. Either you're in the presence of God worshiping or you aren't.

Am I really worth it?

"Am I really worth it?" "Did Jesus really mean to die for me?" "Can His blood really heal my infirmities and cleanse me from all of my sins?"

These are all questions which have plagued us all at one time or other, whether now or in the past. The truth is not what you feel or what I can convince you of, but what the Word of God has to say. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." That "we" includes everyone, not just those who have read their Bibles

Michael's Moving to Colombia!

Just in case you haven't heard, one of our own is being sent out as a missionary! Michael Conway leaves March 13 for Medellin (Me-de-yeen), Colombia. Colombia, as in South America, NOT South Carolina.

I had the opportunity to interview Michael on Tuesday and find out some of what he's going to be doing in Medellin. So here's a look:

Love is in the air!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Just in case you were wondering if there's anybody who loves you - we do!! And more importantly, Jesus does!

For many people this can be a depressing day. Maybe some of you are single and disappointed that you don't have someone special to give you a valentine. Others of you may have a valentine but are comparing them to others and they just don't measure up.

10, 9, 8, 7 ...

For some people, those numbers are sheer joy when heard on New Year's Eve. Others shrink back and wish that they could rewind the hands of time; that they could either relive or redo the past year.

2011 was not a year I was anticipating, and that countdown on the last day of 2010 made me want to cry. I saw where my life was going and didn't think

What are you Christmas?

by: Abi Rivera

What are you Christmas? Where did you come from? Are you the hot coacoa that I drink with the company of a fireplace? Are you the cheesy music that invades my ears singing about Santa and how he owns reindeers? Are you the snow we all wait so patiently to fall in December? Or are you the gifts that we anxiously open on the 25th of December?

The traditional Christmas is all of the above. But what we do not realize is that

Christmas time is here!!

by: Jessie Hurlbut, Jessie Arnold, Rafael

Christmas to me means to be with family and love one another and be greatful for being alive, because Jesus died on the cross for our sins. We shouldn't just celebrate it just on Christmas we need to celebrate it everyday all day because you wake up everyday and live and breathe because of Him. So Christmas to me means to love and live on this day. It doesn't matter how many presents or what you get that matter, it's love and life. So enjoy Christmas because that's what it means to me. -Jessie Hurlbut

The center of Christmas for my family has always been food. Not so much the eating part but the making of too much food, everybody bringing to-go boxes, and the kitchen being the one room that EVERYBODY is. If you want some quiet you go to the living room because every other room is filled with people, food, and stories from the past year. I am so happy I am finally of the age I am able to learn all of my grandma's recipes. Before I would come in to the kitchen and just walk right back out because I didn't have a reason to be in there and I had no idea what anyone was talking about. It is true that Christ is the center of Christmas but the food is a close second in my family. Always has been and always will be. - Jessie Arnold

Christmas is special to me for lots of reasons. I get to give and receive gifts, go to Christmas events, and spend time with my friends and family. But most of all, I get to celebrate Jesus' birthday! - Rafael

SKINNY Jeans and V-NECK shirts: The essence of cool.

COOL.  After 2 years of youth ministry… probably to some. After 5 years… maybe. After 10 years, I don’t know. After 15 years… probably not. After 20 years… definitely not. The essence of cool. It is something that I probably lost grasp on many years ago. I realized this summer at the Motion youth conference that I did not look like a lot of the “youth speakers” that were on the stage. Skinny jeans and v-neck shirts… hmm. Should I really be wearing those?

Separate Faith

by Charis Hope Franklin

When I was in fourth grade, I was faced with a teacher who was an evolutionist. She had us watch videos on evolution, and she put questions on the tests about evolution. I walked up to her desk after class one day, and I explained to her that I understood that she believed in evolution but that was not what I believed as a Christian.

What, When, Where, Why, How

When I was 5 or 6 years old, I was in a tambourine class at the Bible College my dad was attending. I vaguely remember sitting on one of the steps of the room (because it was built for lectures, not for little people) next to my friend and messing with my tambourine. Then, at some point, the teacher presented the gospel and I went forward to pray and be saved. What day was it? I have no idea. I don't even know exactly how old I was.

My mom told me recently that every Sunday school teacher I had would come tell her that I accepted Christ into my heart that day. She would say "Thanks! That makes number 5." 

Got some wart remover?

Ok, prepare yourself. This is a pretty gross analogy (as suggested by the title)

I have discovered over the past few weeks that sin is like a wart. How did I discover that? Well, I have one on my hand. Yeah, I know. It's gross. But hey, I think I finally killed it. And NO you may not see it if it grows back. This is taking vulnerability, people. That and the fact that I'm sitting behind a computer and know you can't see me while I write this.
So the question: How did I come to that conclusion? How did I look at this little patch of nastiness on my hand and think "Hey, it's sin!" Well I'll tell you. (Didn't see that one coming, did you?)

Summer playlist

by: Abi Rivera

Music, man oh man where to begin:

What is music?
-mu·sic/ˈmyoozik/Noun
· The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
· an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.
-This is how it is defined according to an online dictionary (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/music). But what is music to you, and how would you define it?

That's All, Folks!

You know that moment at the end of a Looney Tunes Cartoon when Porky the Pig sticks his head out of a circle and shouts "That's all, folks!" Or when the lion sticks his head out and roars? That moment when you're sitting there watching the credits at the end of the movie, hoping there's a tag at the end, waiting to see if the story continues? That's exactly how I felt the week after graduation. I felt as if someone should have stood up at the end of commencement, the credits of my college career, and said "Well, that's all she wrote, folks. Let's have a moment of silence as we mourn the ending of 1,500 lives." It took my some time to realize that life is not about who you are in college, what horribly awful

For the Girls:)! An Alabaster Summer

Hey Girls! Classes are over and final exams are finished! Summer is HERE, and I am so excited! Check out the following blog. It's based on a lesson we did with the post-high girls' small groups, but we wanted to invite all of the girls in Alpha to be a part. It's unlike any other summer challenge we've done. I am so thankful for each one of you and pray that this summer is unforgettable because of the presence of the Lord in your life!
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Free Hugs!

I like hugs. I mean I really, really like hugs. And I really think that everyone else should like hugs, too. There have been many times when I have been made fun of because I said “She just looks like she needs a hug.” You know that person who needs a hug; it’s the old man eating his breakfast by himself at McDonald’s, it’s the grumpy guitar player who would much rather be sleeping than having a sound check at that moment. Those people who really look like a hug would make their day better are really difficult for me to ignore. Every once in a while, I don’t; there have been occasions where I walk up to a random stranger, strike up a conversation, and eventually hug them. They’re usually incredibly freaked out, but I like to think that when they get over the awkwardness they will feel better for having been hugged.

It’s sort of like that time in college when I was taking a self-defense class and we were having our “final” exam. What we had to do was attack the person in the middle when our number was called and they had to escape. I waited around and I finally heard my number called. I look in the middle and the girl is at least six inches taller than me. I rush to the middle to try and grab her around the back, only she turns and I am giving her the most awkward embrace of my entire life. I’m telling you, my chin only came to her mid-chest. There I am, wrapped around this girl I really don’t know,

"Who's Your Daddy?"... A Call to Youth Ministry

This phrase is often reduced to a phrase communicating dominance. However, I want to seriously ask you this question, "Who is YOUR Daddy?"

Mal 4:5-6 MKJV Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah. (6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, that I not come and strike the earth with utter destruction.

These are the last words recorded in the Old Testament. Final words are always vital. Many people believe that they are the most important words. Jesus' words ended with the Great Commission. The Old Testament ends with Malachi's final words. Unfortunately, most believers are unfamiliar with the words of Malachi. Ultimately spoken to encourage, these words give a firm warning. If the hearts of father's and mother's are not returned to their children, we will be cursed. Let's see how we measure up. The statistics are not promising...

Taking It To the Streets....

      This past week of Embrace projects have been so awesome to say the very least.  We've been doing things all around the CSRA, practically showing the love of God and meeting practical needs!!!  This week, let's take it to the streets and see what you guys did....  From Facebook to Twitter...  You guys were buzzing about EMBRACE....  We've even got some emails...  Let's take take it to the streets....

Can't wait for tomorrow's Embrace Project! @KatieKinson

Feeling informed and empowered! What an amazing night doing our embrace project! @MeaghanPafford

EMBRACE... a lifestyle

"...EMBRACE, it works!"

This week has been so exciting and awesome to say the very least!  The Alpha Net has been mobilized all over the CSRA, reaching out and practically showing love to others in the community!  There has been so much buzz surrounding the Embrace Projects...  While this week has been so awesome and exciting, we hope that we continue to Embrace and see the needs around us.  Giving back is not contained in one week a year, it is a heart.  It is our goal, that through Embrace Projects, we are fostering an environment and a heart that is consistently seeing others and reaching beyond our own comforts to meet needs.  With all that said, here are some links to organizations and campaigns so that you can continuously live LOVE!!!  Take a look at these and let's (TOGETHER) be people of action!!!

Living LOVE...

"let's not just talk about love;

let's practice real love.

This is the only way we'll know

we're living truly, living in God's reality."

1 John 3:18 The Message

I love mango. Its true and it’s a well known fact to those who know me. I also love coffee, birds, sunshine and my car. We all know how flippantly the word “love” is used to describe any and everything we have the slightest affection for. In the midst of loving this and loving that, and it changing so easily, let’s not lose the heart of love- the purpose of love and the One who is Love.


Our world can be so consumed with the desire to be in love that the thought of being love is rare and fleeting. In order for us to truly be love to others, we have to go back to the basics of how extravagantly loved we are. Our Lord is in love with each and every one of us- as is- no conditions required! Jesus showed His love for us by completely surrendering himself to die on the cross. He exemplified love not only with his words, but with His actions. His act of love, the cross, was and is and will always be the greatest expression of Love ever known to humanity. And though we fail Him, and though a vast sea of people has yet to come to the saving knowledge of Him, He doesn’t regret His love-action one ounce! In fact, He’s consistently drawing us with His loving-kindness. Likewise, are we drawing others to Him through loving-kindness? Is the God we profess being made a reality to those around us through our actions- not just our words?

It's all about the L-O-V-E...

"I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love. It's time that I realize...."

-Michael Jackson-

     Welcome to the month loooooveee. The places my mind often wonders when thinking about February is visions of cupids, conversation hearts, kisses, date nights, chocolate and roses, etc....and many of you are gagging as you are reading already! Yes, our society has driven into our minds these thoughts about February because it holds that special little day known as "Valentine's". I'm actually not a Valentine's hater at all! I know many people will give you their spills about how it only adds to our culture of consumerism, or how it creates an unwelcome awareness of singlehood for those who are flyin' solo on that day. But, I think as believers in the God who says that he is the very essence and being of love, we can respond with a message that's a whole lot deeper than what's in Hallmark's 99 cent V-day cards. (what?! at least that's where I buy mine!)