"Crazy Hat Night" Encourages Youth to Resist Labeling Others
West Shore's Jr. High Youth Group learned about the detrimental effects of labeling at this year's Crazy Hat Day, held June 30 at the church. The fun yet purposeful event used silly-styled hats, custom designed by the youth, and related activities to demonstrate how God has created each one of us for a specific purpose, with unique identities that should be celebrated rather than put into a box of labels. Here's an excerpt of what Pastor Daniel had to share with the group.
Hats can be a form of identification—such as a golf hat that lends people to think that person is a golfer. However, just because a person wears a golf hat it does not capture the whole person. Sometimes people just like the hat and other times the person plays golf, but that's not all they do. Labels do the same thing. They can give people the wrong idea about someone and can actually be destructive. No one wants to be labeled, especially by something that isn't true. To overcome labels we must put our identity in God and not what the world says.
“Labels don’t determine our destiny.” Labels are things that the world wants to put on us like "kiss-up, teacher's pet, jock...... Yet we should not let the world tell us who we are. We do not belong to the world but to God. Colossians 3:1-3 talks about how we have died to the world and are alive in Christ. We must keep our minds and hearts on the things from above, not earthly things. These labels that we often have put on us or put on others are earthly labels. They destroy relationships and do not capture who we truly are.
"All who receive God have been given the right to be called children of God."
—John 1:12.
"We are children of an amazing God and we are "fearfully and wonderfully made."
—Psalm 139:14
Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda, we are here at . . .Harvey Cedars! PART III
Tuesday's Highlights: Water Ballons, Soccer, More Shaving Cream, and Commitments to Christ!
All had a great time at today's water balloon launch. The object of the game is to launch the water balloon across the soccer field to hit members of the other team to get them out. During free time there was an optional soccer game which a lot of students enjoyed. Then it was on to the shaving cream extravaganza. Students bought a can of shaving cream for a dollar and then completely smathered one another. Later, the Harvey Cedars Fire Department came to hose everyone off. Evening session on Tuesday was about introducing Christ to non-belivers and some people recommitted their lives to Christ.
Wednesday's Highlights: Huge Beach Balls, Ron Jon's Surf Shop, Talent Show, and Worship
Imagine playing crab soccer with eight foot beach balls? We can ... and did! Students had fun pushing and kicking the balls around the soccer field. After lunch we went to Ron Jon's Surf Shop and many students purchased items. The talent show was in the afternoon and everyone had fun watching the funny acts (and the really good ones too!). Also each day before dinner there is an optional prayer and worship session in the chapel. During evening session Gary encouraged us to share Christ with others and during our breakouts we prayed for non-believers. A great day ended with a walk to the Lighthouse and pier where students explored the rocks. Later, many of the youth bought ice cream at Dairy Queen.
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