Club Beyond Round 1

I had the chance to finally experience MCYM Club Beyond the last two nights. Every monday night we have High School Club and the Middle Schoolers gather every Tuesday night. It was quite an eye opening experience for me because up to this point I still hadn't been to a Club night and couldn't really put the puzzle together in my mind.

Monday was kind of a tough day for me because I failed my German driver's test for the second time and I was struggling to find a costume for our dance party that night. I tell you the truth when I say that I've never been quite as humbled as I have since I arrived here. I've seen the truth with my own two eyes that I have nothing to offer, yet the living Spirit of God within me continues to minister grace and mercy through me, mostly in the small moments. Well anyways, I finally found an old suit to wear to the event since this club was themed our dance party. Club moved very swiftly through a barrage of games and dance breaks. There was food, smiles, music and truth in the air that night. I cased the room with my eyes and every person in every direction seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Laura gave the Club talk from the creation story in Genesis 1. She utilized a video clip from the Bourne Identity and also a pad lock with a key. She explained how we were created for a purpose to know and have a reltionship with Jesus Christ, while also defending the truth of the Bible and refuting the evolution theory. I was blown away to see the Lord using my good friend in such a beautiful moment.

Tuesday I began the day meeting Austin at the gym for a good workout and raquetball match. Raquetball is totally boss, we have a rematch today (he beat me twice yesturday). After the gym we went to the middle school for some contact work to meet middle schoolers where they are, right at lunch. We walk around and hang out with them while they eat, just trying to be a friend... but we also get to go to recess between lunches and play basketball, soccer, football. Its awkward at times to be "on their turf" but I see the potential to really cultivate friendships in this time. After lunch I had a Gyro Salad for lunch (the food is amazing here, way better than America... so fresh) and then headed back to the office. Club last night was cool... We started the night off bumpin some Lecrae, playing some games and eating some tacos. The night then made its way toward a discussion on "How to spend time in God's Word" focusing on...

1. Preparing your heart in Prayer
2. Studying the Scriptures (looking for promises, commandments, sins to avoid, prayers to pray and questions to ask)
3. Application and Thanksgiving.

...we then broke up into small groups to discuss the lesson and everybody was so wound up it was really hard to settle things down and really get deep but I know the Lord planted many seeds last night.

-I realized last night that I may never see the fruit of this ministry while I am here but He is at work stirring student's hearts on the inside, in the places I can't see. I prayed after Club just broken for the students in my small group. I prayed that the seed will fall on good soil, be watered and grow with the hope that one day (even when I'm gone) that the fruit will be evident... that then their light will shine in the dark parts of this world as well.

The Lord is my strength

I wanted to write today to share an experience with you that I believe many of us have and will feel during our journey following Jesus. My first week was great in Germany yet filled with unknowns. Even the simple task of ordering food becomes a complex process of me trying to translate German in my mind to get something that I may be able to eat. Then there's the process of meeting new people, trying to establish a sense of direction and all the while still cultivating a relationship with the Lord. And to be honest, I'm relying heavily on the Lord right now just to make it through one day. One day at a time I am crying out to the Lord to hold me, nurture me, guide me and protect me. Its been fun so far, but not easy. I'm so used to my comfort zone and now its gone. Everything seems raw to the touch, the cold wraps itself around me... and I still see people hurting in every direction. They've got no way unless they hear the Gospel. Imagine a life with no direction home...

So I write to convey that I have felt a bit under spiritual attack the last 24 hours. And I'm not trying to hang out all my laundry I'm just writing because maybe you can relate. The closer you get to the Lord I think the opposition increases. There are many lessons we learn on the road of sanctification and I know the Lord has a few for me over the next 10 months. One that I probably really need to and will learn is commitment. I have a tendancy to bail when things dont go smoothly... Thats just part of who I've been. But now today, my knees hit the floor and my heart is open to hear from the Lord. My soul is willing to be changed.

This is the verse I just read after all these emotions have been rushing in:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3: 14-19

Paul prayed this for us and I now pray this for you.

New Mailing Address

If you need to contact me by mail I have a new address:

Robert Scott
CMR 419 Box 1763
APO AE 09102

back from Escape 2009

I'm sitting in my current residence for the first time... still trying to just take it all in. I confess: I am very disoriented with directions, names of places and posts, what I'm eating (in regards to the Yang Yangs we had for lunch) and feeling forgetful but I guess we are getting stuff done.

We are home from Escape 2009 in Bitburg, Germany. My second day in Heidelberg started by meeting the energy-packed middle schoolers at the Heidelberg Chapel and loading up the buses. We had a two-three hour drive north to Bitburg and along the way Laura led the trip with raffles and corny jokes. There was quite a line for people to step up to the mic and tell a joke... This was a great time for me to get to know some of the students and try to start building some solid relationships.

The first day started with a massive snowball fight in the parking lot (I had a blast), a nice German dinner and the first session complete with worship and text from the book of Esther. We had a nice small group discussion and then met at about 10pm for a game of Mission Impossible X. The game was designed by the some students and a professor from a bible college in Portland, Oregon who came to help run the camp.

Day two kicked off with a message on the life of Jonah... we looked at the story through a unique perspective and discussed how God wants His message of love to be preached to all people groups. That afternoon for freetime me and another leader named Austin took 11 guys on a 2.5 km walk through Bitburg to the iceskating rink. I've never iceskated before but I had a great time. I love walking on water! Day two was Valentines and that night we dove into the Word to talk about Samson and the mistakes he made in the purity department. We also discussed how we can learn from his mistakes and really get serious about living pure and waiting for the "right one" in our own lives.

Day three after lunch we went go carting on some sweet go carts. Germans take their go carting seriously... That night the message was "the weirdest love story" in the book of Hosea. With a focus on the Gospel we also presented the message of Christ's death, burial and ressurection with a response time after. Many students stayed after for about an hour praying for their friends, doing business with God, drawing nearer to Him. It was such an encouragment to see middle schoolers responding to the Gospel. We ended the night with a sweet game of dodgeball.

We ended camp day four with a message of faith and hope. We studied Abraham and his calling... It was a really encouraging message to follow and respond in obedience when God calls you. It encouraged me to know that He will provide and work through us.

I've met many new faces and made some new friends this last week. I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit that dwells within me even in this moment and continues to comfort me and guide me as I seek to bring glory to Jesus. This is no joke, His love endures forever!!!

Best First Day Ever!!!

I'm in Deutschland! I've only gotten 3 hours sleep since I left Jax but God has really comforted me upon arrival with His Holy Spirit.

I met my MCYM Regional/Community Director Phil at the Frankfurt airport this morning... and immediately started to feel a little culture shock. Everything is so different here but very good to my senses at this point. We met and started to travel to Heidelberg where I will be helping with Club Beyond. On the ride I got to share my full testimony with Phil and it was amazing the way I could sense the Lord knitting our spirits together. It's gonna be great to do ministry with a great Director. I then met a few of the other staff including Laura who is one of my best friends from Florida who leads High School Club, and Olivia who leads Middle School Club. Laura showed me around a few of the bases and then we got to eat lunch. Later in the afternoon we met up with more of the staff after getting a coffee and filling out some paperwork.

My favorite part of the day was attending a home group of Christian fellowship. This the ACTS CHAPTER 2 kinda home group where a family just opens up their home, cooks a home cooked meal and invites you in to commune with them. There was a special guest musician tonight who played some intense acoustic worship named Dan Meyers. I felt the love of Christ in that room tonight in Spirit and in Truth. And then on the way home we got to drive at over 100 mph on the autobahn! And it was snowing off and on all day, the snowflakes fell as if they were coreagraphed to a beautiful symphony.

I know that there is much more to come but the Lord couldn't have given me a better first day! Tomorrow we head of to a camp called ESCAPE with a bunch of Middle School students to study a few heros of the Bible.

Moving Forward...

Well,

I'm moving to Germany today. Taking a jet plane east to the snowy tundra... New Language... New Customs... New sights, sounds, smells and sermons but the same Jesus in control of all things. He is preeminent and before all things. Supreme! I read this verse this morning that penetrated directly to my heart:

May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:11-12

I have no power of my own and need Jesus because He is glorious and mighty to save. Why? To run this race and serve Him with endurance and patience overflowing with JOY... always giving thanks for what He has done. If you know me at all you know that I am totally unqualified for this task but get this: I have been qualified because of His faithfulness to endure the cross and I now rejoice and share the inheritance, I GET JESUS, who is the LIGHT!

Fly Date!

welp, my bags are getting packed and i'm almost ready to go. 2 more days in JAX!!! i fly on Wednesday at 5pm to Frankfurt with one stop in Charlotte. (wish i could stop by elevation church during my layover, but that seems impossible) i definetly feel the presence of God working in my life and i'm just stoked that:

1. my sin problem has been paid for!
2. God is giving me the desires of my heart!
3. i have a testimony to share!

waking this morning i had this thought:

God has never asked us to do anything He hasn't already done. He gave all of Himself for us; we should give all of ourselves to HIM! The finished work of the cross speaks through the Gospel which He pleads through us...

Pray for us and the students... there is work to be done. Greater Things!!!

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ONE thing

What's the one thing about you?

What's the one thing that fuels your passion?
What's the one thing that you have the potential to be the best at?
What's the one thing that God has given you, to set you apart?

Answer for me: I don't know.

Yet I desperately want to know. I've spent much of my life serving two masters, going two directions, chasing the wind and being average in many things. I have a desire to be the man I was created to be and in my heart I know that God hasn't created us to be average. I'm really tired of just letting the years pass me by without holding on to that one thing.

Where do I go from here?

Answer for me: Turn to God.

That's the only place I know to go. I believe that only in Him will I ever find true north. He is my compass, my dream installer, passion breather and life giver.

Heavenly Father, please create in me a new heart... fix my eyes on Jesus, show me my "one thing", use me to light the dark... forgive me, stretch me, break me, heal me... it is in you that I find my purpose, it is in you that I find grace... move in me Lord toward that one thing that you've created me for. Amen.

A few life principles from Dale Carnegie

Principals in Handling People

1. Don't Criticize, Condemn or Complain.
2. Give honest and sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.

Six Ways to make People Like You

1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Smile.
3. Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in terms of the other person's interests.
6. Make the other person feel important- and do it sincerely.

Win People to Your Way of Thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
2. Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, "You're Wrong."
3. If you are wrong admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Get the other person saying, "Yes, Yes" immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view.
9. Be sympathetic to the other person's ideas and desires.
10. Appeal to nobler motives.
11. Dramatize your ideas.
12. Throw down a challenge.

I wanted to list these principles as sort of a quick reference guide to "How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. It may be useful to review these principles from time to time. Maybe you've noticed that they really help in putting others first which is kind of a theme that runs through the Bible as well.

Final FundRaising

I'm writing to update everyone on the status of my trip to Germany. The Lord has provided $11,000 so far for the trip and I've been so amazed at His faithfulness to provide for His children. And I am so thankful for all those who have prayed and given to help support this trip to share Jesus with military teens.

After figuring the budget I still need to get to the $12,000 mark before I can buy my plane ticket to Germany. I'm still praying to leave February 11th but that all depends on the last thousand dollars.

I just wanted to write this and share with you where I am in regards to the fund raising. Please pray that the final funds will come in so that I can go and start building relationships with these students. Thank you so much!

If you are able to give and support this mission please call me at (904)338-2187 or

make checks payable to: Young Life Account X998
and mail them to:

Young Life
PO Box 520
Colorado Springs, CO 80901

-Rob