No songs on the radio
I can’t stand to look away
I’m so mad at myself
for feeling so alone

I’ve made some big mistakes
I’ll just have to remember yesterday
Hope I can do better
Because sometimes its my job to stay
and just let you need me

What did i give to change my fate?
Turns out its the pain in my soul
One second, let me be
let me be free to let go
nothing’s broken but everything’s changed

Car trip
On county roads
maybe they’ll help me heal my soul

I don’t trust what some of you say to me
because i don’t agree with all that you believe
then again, sometimes it gets to me

No songs on the radio
describe what i need
Occasionally an amazing grace
will knock me back down on my knees

He’s got a couple cuts on his right arm
her heart’s a million miles away
Some of them, need Your attention
Some quick words to help them through the day

We all make some mistakes
but my regrets add up to nothing
if i really believe

I won’t forget
what You say to me
sometimes i’m a little tired
sometimes i’m just a little mean
but cruel words aren’t what you tell me

One day I’ll commit these words
to a memory
But right now, i’ll let you work on me

Nothings broken but everything’s changed
i’m not used to things going that way
You know what I need
So i’m going to let you work on me

Sometimes i only surive
on the promise that you’ll forgive
While that burning bush thrives
so don’t the words You strive to mend me with

You took the sharp pain
in my soul
and the silence on my radio
Made them both
go away

Joe Webb

Well, here we are at Creation 2010 (Creat10n, in case you didn’t get the title), and things are just as excellent as ever. We kicked things off last night with an amazing message from Reggie Dabbs, and two great shows (David Crowder Band and Switchfoot). Tonight, we’ll be seeing The Newsboys and Casting Crowns, and speaker Ron Luce.

Around the campsite, we’ve formed new bonds and rekindled old friendships. It’s been so wonderful to see all of my old friends, and to meet some new people.

This is my fifth year at Creation, and every year, it just gets better. There’s a new experience each time, and they are all incredibly moving and touching. I can’t wait to see what happens during the remainder of this week. God is going to do great things.

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us back home, and my apologies for the short length of this blog. More news will come soon, and I hope you enjoy hearing the stories of other students.

In His Grip,
Anna

By Joe Webb, IHS Youth Leader

It’s that time of year again for the youth of First United Methodist Church of Williamstown…time for our annual pilgrammage to Agape Farm, PA, for Creation Festival Northeast!

No doubt about it, Creation is a fun trip for our youth. What could NOT be fun about camping out with your friends and seeing amazing concerts every night for 4 nights in a row?!

But it is so much more than that. Creation Festival is a place where, every year, we see significant growth in the teenagers from our community who attend. Because it’s between the concerts–during seminars, break-out sessions, campsite devotionals, and real, sometimes gritty, conversations–that the growth really occurs and takes shape.

For some, it is a life-changing event. Creation awakens something within them that sets them on a path to seek to follow Jesus more and more closely for the rest of their lives. For others, the effect is more in the moment. A spark is lit that may not grow into a fire, at least not right away. But the spark is there. It may get hidden behind all of the junk life throws at teens in the world today. But I am convinced that it never gets snuffed out. Not completely.

I often say that one of the reasons I’m drawn to youth ministry is that, inevitably, some kids will not find that path right away. Many will stray far from it, and some will, in some way, hit rock-bottom at some point in their lives. And when they do, I want them to have something to reach out for. To remember from a time in their past when things, if only for a moment, were good and true and right. Then the spark can be re-ignited, and the powerful, healing work of Jesus can take place.

If you are a member of our church family at FUMC, or if you are just someone who cares about kids and life and Jesus, please keep our group of 13 students and 4 adults–as well as the 50+ attendees from our sister church, Harmony-Zelienople UMC–in your prayers this week. Pray for safe travels, for amazing experiences, and for new awakenings of God’s spirit within us.

I invite you to follow this blog over the next several days. Students will be invited to share their experiences on a day-to-day basis, and it is in their voices that you will hear the depth of the Creation experience. And for instant updates, log onto our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/ihsyouth or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ihsyouth.