Salvia

Hey peeps!

When I teach about drugs, I have been asked more than once, about a drug known as salvia. This is a hardy plant that is grown all over the world (including Alberta). It produces a drug that can be smoked, drank, injected, etc. and is yet to have legal consequences surrounding it. I have read some info on it and will put together more for your viewing pleasure, but let me say this much - just because it is not illegal does not make it any less stupid! You can attain a high much the same as it you were on LSD (a big drug in the 60's - a chemical that causes hallucinations and altered reality and has it's users having bad trips more than 10 years after ever touching the stuff. Drugs mess up your brain FOREVER people!!). Anything that gives you a high is altering brain functioning whether illegal or not. Sniffing glue is also legal and one of the stupidest things you can do.

Use your heads when it comes to what you put in your body. Ask these questions: do I want to do something that could kill me? Do I want to do something that can make me stupider for the rest of my life? I hope and pray that the answer to both of those questions is a very large NO! If it is not, drop me a line and we will have coffee and chat for a bit!!

Also, my dear ladies and gentlemen, I have gathered more information from AADAC and Health Canada on different drugs, smoking (and quitting smoking) and parent resources regarding helping their young people who are using. Let me know if you are need of any of this information!

Blessings all!

-shelley

Happy Bithday Jesus!!

Hey all my little ones! I hope this Christmas is one filled with joy and wonder! Have a great day! Here is my favorite Christmas song for you today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLShxhQwwwA Love and blessings to you all! -shelley

Silliness

Today's silliness comes from youtube! Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR0c8RBfyiU&feature=related

Kelley Shares...

Hey ya'll,

Kelley wanted to share something she heard while attending First Assembly today with a friend:

" Today at First Assembly, the pastor was speaking about how Jesus comes at the darkest hours of the night. (midnight, far from sunset and far from sunrise). How when we feel like darkness has been here for so long and light is so far away. Jesus is sitting right there with us when our life is at our 'midnight' hours.(and as well all the time)

I hope that makes sense to you haha! I thought it was a really cool way for putting it and just wanted to share! always remember there is hope.. even when the clock strikes midnight. "

Got something to share? Drop me (Shelley) a line and let me know!

When life sucks...

Hello friends!

Sorry for the long pause before writing again. I am sure you are all busy with Christmasy stuff anyways! Phil and I were off to Vancouver last weekend for a Canadian Youth Workers Conference. It was great! The worship was awesome, the speakers genuine and the weather fab! Not a cloud in the sky the whole time while the blizzard blew back here! Phil stayed with some friends of mine from Rosebud and it was great to see them again. We also has dinner one night with Melissa (Hugo) whom I adore! So it was good all 'round!

Today there are a few things on my mind, but mostly it has been you guys. It has been a hard season for many of you and my heart goes out to you all. I had been writing to one of you who asked a commonly asked question, "Where is God when it sucks?"

How does one answer this? I, too, have asked this question several times over the years. There are times when we are traveling through the valley; the dark night of the soul, if you will, and feel like we are all alone and that God has left us high and dry. Is He there? Has He abandoned us? Everything people have taught us suggests that, no, He has not left. So why do we feel so alone?

First, I would like to remind you that God is not a feeling. If He is just a feeling you are counting on then He exists only when you are having certain emotions and I am sorry, but God's existence is not something you can create! You are powerful and awesome but you are not THAT good!! God is not dependent on you but you are dependent on you (whether you wanna believe it or not!).

So? Where is He? Well... He's everywhere ;)

I remember something a guy I met said. He was directing a show I was stage managing. A nice guy - he was living in Rosebud and had recently going through rehabilitation after falling off a roof and landing on his head! The show was two about teenagers who were dating. It ends up that between acts the female character was raped by some boys who had been harassing the guy over the years. As we dealt with the tough subject matter, the director shared with us his own case of abuse. He was molested by his piano teacher when he was just a child. When he was dealing with the matter in therapy he was reminded that God is always with us. He is holding our hand when others misuse His freewill and do things that can hurt us deeply. He is crying with us. He is hurting over it even more than we do ourselves. He is breaking over His child hurting - He feels everything we do. He is also crying over His child who is doing the hurting.

Bad things do happen, but we have to remember that it is not God who is doing the hurting. He granted his people free choice and loved us enough not to make those choices for us. Sadly, we humans are sinful and abuse our right to choose. We make mistakes and we hurt each other.

Sometimes the things that hurt are not someone else's actions. When people get sick or pass away before we think they should it can hurt for a long time. In these cases I try to remember that God's plans are not our plans and although it sucks, can be used for good. For example my Grandfather's first wife died very suddenly from a brain aneurysm shortly after my aunt was born. As tragic as this was, it was necessary for me to be able to be born who I am! My Grandfather's second wife had three more children, the third being my Mom. I keep that in mind when I lose someone I love.

I have a theory as to why God feels far away when we are hurting. I find when I am upset about something I tend to push people away somewhat. I do it for various reasons I can think of (which is a topic for another day). In our sorrow and sadness we feel like everyone is distant and could never relate to what we are going through. We feel alienated from those around us, even if they are reaching out to us more than normal as they know we are hurting. If we are pushing ourselves from our other relationships, why would we not do the same to our most important relationship? As we hide from others, I think we also hide from God.

I want to encourage you to do a few things as life is hard currently:

1. Remember that God is not a feeling and He is here with us as we laugh and as we cry and He wants to support, love and encourage us.

2. God often uses other people to be His hands and heart. We need to let other people be there for us.

3. God often uses other people to be His hands and heart. We need to be there for each other! We need to pray for each other, encourage each other and be willing to be a shoulder to cry on and a person to turn to!

Keep praying, keep dreaming, remember that you are amazing, beautiful and utterly loved! Stay strong, keep that faith and don't do drugs! Most importantly, keep in mind: Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

A video for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM&feature=related

Or try this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHNbvIplvVQ&feature=related

Or this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGUb8G0H-7I&feature=related

Erwin

My friends!

For those 29 of you who were out at camp this past weekend, thank you for the great weekend! I don't know about you, but if flew past for me!!

Keep seeking God and holding each other up in prayer. There is a lot of hurt and brokenness right now in our group and we need each other for support, love and sometimes just to laugh until it hurts (Marie and Kelley are good for this one!!)

I know sometimes it is hard to sit down and do devos. It can be hard to get into that habit. One thing that I like to do is download podcasts to my ipod and listen to them either while I drive or work out at the gym. I have also downloaded 'The Message' onto my ipod, which is a translation of the Bible that I love and will listen to God's Word. Sometimes I will also turn one on while I am working on the computer playing with photos or goofing around. For those of you who take the bus to school this might be a good time to skip the music and pop on a sermon. Perhaps there is another place in your life where this might work. Who said devotional time just has to be reading? It is a good thing, don't get me wrong and I try to get in some Bible reading and responding before I go to bed, but these sermons and such do help me to turn to God and grow in my faith life. I especially recommend this to those of you who are not plugged into a church or youth group.

The 2 that I like the most at this point in time are Mosaic, which is a church in LA and Westside Kings, which the church that I call home. You can find these churches online and listen to sermons at these locations: http://mosaic.org/podcast/ and http://www.wkc.org/podcast. Both of these churches can also be found on itunes.

Erwin McMannus has been one of my favorite communicators since I read one of his books years ago. He is filled with a passion that is contagious! (If you are a Mentorship participant you saw a video of him in the summer about 'Barbarian Faith'.) I hear him speak for the first time live at a conference in Red Deer about 6 or 7 years ago. Here is a small clip of him on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuMeHcEC8o4

Have a great week all!!

-shelley

PS. After you all left, all of Bosco's hair fell out!!

Beauty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fULtU2NfPQA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=321Kb8pBu5s&feature=PlayList&p=CFC49AEE1788C943&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=39

Pot Use

Hey friends,

When I sit down to have a meal I often jump on youtube and have a wander around. Today I was looking up marijuana. I found that more than half the clips were screaming for the legalization of weed, suggesting that all the reasons for it to be illegal are all a load of bull and that it can not harm you. They were suggesting that the government will spout lies about the dangers of pot to protect revenues from alcohol sales. These are some of the things I heard today:

- Pot is not dangerous to the body or mind. LIE!

o The truth: smoking 5 joints is equal to smoking a pack of cigarettes. It is more cancerous that smoking tobacco.

o When you get a high off of anything it is because you are reworking the chemical wiring in your brain. Every time you alter your brain chemicals with one drug you need a stronger dosage the next time to recreate the high. You body can only produce so much of any of the chemicals that help you feel happy or content at a time. If you deplete too much at once your body can actually lose the ability to feel happy on its own and drugs will become a necessity.

o Marijuana will stay in your system for days, which means that you are stupider for a week after you smoke it!

o Trying to get off of any drug (yes, even tobacco) your body will go through withdrawal. Imagine feeling like complete hell for a month. Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, headaches, sinus problems, headaches, achiness, chills, sleep issues, tremors… the list goes on.

o Possible long term effects: Lung damage (chronic coughing and lung infections), cancer (lung, neck and head), decreased blood flow in the brain effecting memory, learning, understanding of language and temper control, extreme mood shifts and feelings of being out of control, unmotivated, physically unbalanced and confused, problems with concentration and abstract thinking, feelings of anxiety, depression, irritability and suicide

- Weed is not dangerous. LIE!

o Even it it’s most pure forms, this plant has been tampered with so much that the part of the plant that gives you the high is way stronger than it was 25 years ago, it is more addictive and more likely to get you out of control.

o Unless you are growing your own marijuana the weed you will get from friends or on the street is most likely laced with some sort of hard drugs. Once you even start using hard drugs (whether on purpose or by accident) the more damage is done to your system and the greater the chance of becoming a junkie and throwing your life away.

o When people are high that make choices that they wouldn’t when they are high. Babies have been conceived, diseases have been spread, friendships have been broken while people where stones, drunk or high.

o Weed is primary addiction of sixty percent of the young people in detoxification

- Weed does not pose a threat to the public. LIE!

o When you are not thinking straight (ie. You are drunk or high) you think you are capable of things that you are not. People driving while under the influence of any drug are putting the lives of everyone around them in danger. People have actually murdered other people while high and made decisions that put the lives of both friends and strangers in danger.

o Think of the influence you can have on others. There are people who look up to you. If you are using drugs you are telling them it is okay. Think of siblings, family members, campers, your closest friends and the rest of the CLTDs.

o When you are doing drugs, you are condoning drugs. You are saying it is okay. I am not okay with that. How dare you be an advertisement to others that drugs are okay!! Jesus said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6 NLT)

o Think of how broken your parents would be knowing you are putting yourself in life threatening situations (which is what you are doing every time you use drugs). Think of how much it kills all the people who care about you – your friends, your teachers, your CLTD leaders. I guarantee that you are breaking my heart and causing me to lose sleep knowing that there are kids I love using drugs!!

I promise you, I will not lie to you. I would do anything to keep you safe and will give you the straight answers. I would fight for you and the life you deserve. PLEASE do not buy into the lies that you can find out there. Yes, marijuana is a plant – so is bushman’s poison, wintersweet, angel’s trumpet, water hemlock, castor bean, rosary pea, monkshood and english yew. All of these plants will kill you if you consume them. Just because something is natural does not mean it isn’t deadly!!

The majority of videos on youtube tell you that weed is cool and there is nothing wrong with it. You get to choose who you are going to believe: me or them. Who do you think is going to really give it to you straight? I have no reason to lie to you and the best reason in the world to beg you to stay clean: I love you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UZwB-DWseM&feature=related

More backpack stuff

I got a text from Triscuit (who used to work at camp and is doing up a backpack for Streetlight) and she told me that Superstore is giving out little first aid kits at their pharmacy for free if you still need one for your packs.

I also got an email from a CLTD Mom who found backpacks at Bently's for buy one get one free if you are still looking for a pack!

Remember to get yourself a med form if you need to be taking ANY medication while at camp!!

- shelley

Backpacks!

Hey all! We are getting close to the deadline for the Streetlight back packs! Please remember to be getting your packs together and bring them to camp if you are coming. If you are not going to be at Nov. camp, let Shelley know and she will work out how to get your pack picked up. Don't forget to do all the steps involved in getting a pack ready. See http://www.yfccalgary.org/pop-ups/streetlight/operation_backpack.html for assistance. Remember to download a form to put with it! Eldon adds this: Hey Sucka! if you guys have been picking up some stuff for the backpack ministry deal, but don't have a backpack, please let me know. if you guys have all the stuff needed for a backpack, i'll talk to my manager and see if they will hook me up with some sweet ones at a good price. if not, i'll go and get a bunch of backpacks from somewhere else, but i'm really hoping that my work will sort me out. i hope i'm broke by the end of this, you guys. i'm gonna be disappointed if i don't end up buying any backpacks for you.

November Camp

Hey ya'll!

Our next camp is coming up fast!! As of this moment we have 28(!) CLTDs who are coming out!! We are going to be having a Bible based weekend.

If you are in Sojourn (that would be 1st year) you will be learning about the Old Testament, the Book of Acts and Jesus (shocking, I know! Learning about Jesus?!)

Mentorships will be learning from Frank this weekend, who will be teaching on the Sermon on the Mount and looking at the joys and challenges of Discipleship. YOU HAVE HOMEWORK: read Matthew 5, 6 and 7 as many times as you can before camp. Try to have it read 2-3 times. My recommendation is to take notes - write down anything that catches your attention or any questions you might have. Get saturated in it and consider what Jesus is saying.

REMEMBER that backpacks are also due this weekend for Streetlight!

I hope November is treating you all well!! Keep you chins up, keep the faith, stay in touch and don't do drugs!

Blessings all!

- shelley

Christmas Banquet

Hey all!

It's getting close to Christmas and that means it's time for the annual Camp Chestermere Christmas Banquet! Now that you are CLTDs you are invited to join the staff and alumni for dinner and Christmas merriment! Last year we had to cancel the event due to a blizzard that was on the verge of blowing in so this year it is extra special!

Here is the info as it is posted on facebook (which if you are not a member of Camp Chestermere or on the Camp Chestermere Group page you did not receive):

Come home to Camp Chestermere for Christmas! Join your camp family for an evening holiday food and fun! This year's Christmas Banquet is a down home evening together at the lodge. Grab that cozy Christmas reindeer sweater, fuzzy slippers and silly socks and come ready for hot chocolate and Ruth's holiday dinner! The when: December 18th 2009. Punch: 6:00 pm Dinner: 7:00 pm The sad departure: 10pm The where: Camp Chestermere, of course! The why: Because family needs to be together at Christmas! The how: Share the blessing by bringing an item from the following list for one of the organizations we support: - Chestermere food bank: Any non-perishable food items - Streetlight: Blankets, coats, diapers and baby needs, socks, gloves, toques - The Mustard Seed: New items such as socks, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. The who: Any CLTD, staff, volunteer or alumni and the quests they wish to bring. Please pass this invite along to anyone you think might want to come! Hey CLTDs - here's an idea: connect with other CLTDs who live near you and car pool. Perhaps your parents will be more willing to drive one way if they know that someone else will drive you home? ***PLEASE RSVP before December 9th either by responding to this invitation on facebook or emailing Dianne at campoffice@chestermere.com. We can't wait to see you here!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to be in touch!

The Heroes!

Okay, so I was wondering around on the web and googled 'Camp Chestermere'. There were some interesting things I found: Jenny's Bebo account, Casi's facebook group for the camp and my favorite was this: http://www.myspace.com/thedimwittedheroes. For long-time-ago memories check it out and listen to a few of the golden oldies of camp!! (There has to be a few of you who are old enough to remember some of these songs!!)

Today's Verse

My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

- Philippians 4:1

Today's thoughts

Hey all!

First, I would like to thank those of you who were willing to get some of the seaweed raked last weekend. It was greatly appreciated!

It was a great weekend!! Unfortunately several CLTDs have fallen sick this week. I hope you guys are all feeling better soon!

In my quiet time the other day I found this quote in a book I 'borrowed' from Phil awhile ago. I thought I'd share:

"The man to whom little is not enough will not benefit from more." - Columbanus

YouTube

So, I was checking a few things out this morning on YouTube while I ate my oatmeal and found this little video, Jenny ;)

It's October?!

Hi all!!

Here we are in October ALREADY! How in the world did that happen?!

Sorry that this blog has not been updated in awhile! The fall is always a time of change and this year I (Shelley) headed off three days after camp was finished for a month in Ireland. It was a great trip and I loved (almost) everything about it. I could talk for days about all that I did and experienced so if you ever need help getting to sleep check out my personal blog! Also I posted tons of photos (only about 350 – I took 1330!) on facebook so if you like castles and green landscapes (or just Shelley photography in general) check it out!!

SO! Being October, School Year Camps start this month! YAY! So far 22 of you have applied for October camp – that is more than we have EVER had before! There are only three spaces left for this month so if you want to come you need to get your registration in NOW! If you did not get a CLTD brochure mailed to you feel free to get in touch with Dianne at 403-272-6030 or campoffice@chestermere.com. If you are coming remember your winter wear (including your coat, people!) and Bible. Come sign in with Shelley in the lodge and then you can connect with Phil, Eldon, your school year leaders and the rest of the CLTDs in the tube. Drop off is 7 on Friday and pick up is 2 on Sunday. 

I would also like to share with you a ministry we try to support at Christmas: Operation Backpack (http://www.yfccalgary.org/pop-ups/streetlight/operation_backpack.html)

During the summer the Mentorship participants spent the afternoon scrubbing down the Streetlight trailer in NE Calgary. Streetlight is a mobile drop-in center that ministers to street kids in Calgary’s downtown. According to Streetlight’s webpage “Most of (these) street kids are “throw-a- ways” and are deeply hurt. They are struggling to survive. Sadly, 98% of the street kids who enter our doors come from abusive homes.” http://www.yfccalgary.org/streetlight.html

At Christmas the Streetlight team collects backpacks filled with the necessary goods that street kids struggle to provide themselves to give out to youth in need. Last year the backpacks donated were given out at an outdoor barbeque during a blizzard! (You can see the video at www.streetlightcalgary.blogspot.com). The number of donations was way down last year and with the recession it could be lower. I would like to challenge all of you to pray about getting involved this year. Perhaps a few of you might like to get together as it can be a little pricey (but totally worth it!). Speak to your families and get involved. Your donations can make a winter bearable for someone your age that is struggling to get by without a home! I will have pamphlets available at camp or you can download one at Streetlight’s webpage. If you bring the backpacks to camp in October I will make sure they are dropped off at Streetlight before the deadline or I could even come pick it up from your house – it means that much!!

I hope that everyone is doing well! I miss having you here and can’t wait to see you!!

Blessings all!

- shelley

School year Camps!

My Friends!

The moment you all are waiting for:

INFO ON SCHOOL YEAR CAMPS

Brochures will be mailed to you in September with costs and application forms. Because you have already been a CLTD the application is just to let us know you are coming out for the weekend! They can be filled out and mailed or faxed back in to the camp. Camp weekends are as follows:

October 23-25

November 27-29

January 29-31

February 26-28

March 26-28

April 30-May 2

Here We Go!!

Alright all! Here we are! The dawn of a new blog page for CLTD!! The dream for this is to offer a place to check on info, read about upcoming events and read thoughts from your fellow CLTDs and updates on leaders. If you would like to put something up on this blog just mail it to me and I will get it on here.

Check this blog regularly and we will do our best to keep it updated!

I hope the rest of you summer is going well!

Blessings all!

- shelley