Day Seven 7/22/25

The day started out with everyone stopping by my room for breakfast items, then going to the  third floor area where we were last night to eat. Pastor bought beignets (both powdered sugar like last time and praline type) and we ate there 

(until we were told we couldn't meet there, at which point we relocated to the 3rd floor "food court area" where there were tables). Kaja briefed us that there were going to be protesters this morning at the convention center when we got there. They are from Westboro Baptist Church and are known to target large scale Christian events.

The initial part of he walk was like any other day -sunny and humid as we followed our frog.

 

Just outside the convention center, we saw the protesters with their signs. It was unclear to me what exactly they were protesting specifically with regard to the Youth Gathering, but they peacefully held their signs. One group walking next to us sang "Jesus loves you" as they passed by the protesters.

Additional YAVs had been called out to be a presence in the area, and they were cheering and high-fiving the Gathering participants like usual.

We went to the Bible Study, where the message was from Colossians 4:5-6:

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

How timely, thinking about the protesters. May our speech be gracious. If directly confronted by anyone with regard to our faith, may we know what to say...

They also talked about the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), depicted in the painting below. The disciples were out of hope. Jesus had died. Whatever hope they had that he might be the Messiah had died with him. But their hearts burned within them when Jesus talked with them about the Scriptures. Finally, they recognize him when he breaks the bread (as he had done at the Passover with them). Suddenly they went from no hope to full of hope. Jesus had risen. They had seen him with their own eyes! They could endure anything now because God was present with them. We endure because we have the presence of God with us and we know that the kingdom of God endures for all time, even after this world passes away. There is a new heaven and new earth coming, and in this new place there will be no more tears or sorrow...In the painting, there is a glorious light  building behind them on the road. God is with them clearly on the road, even before they encounter him, even when they had no hope.  

So let us run with endurance the race that is set before us... (Hebrews 12:1). 

Everyone took up running poses

After the Bible Study, I went to the session called Truth AND Dare: Following Jesus on a Wild Ride, presented by Rev. Bill Yonker. Pastor went up to talk with him before the session and received an invitation to  present on hospitality at Immanuel in East Dundee, IL He was not expecting that! 

The session started with a quote from Henry David Thoreau: "Most people live lives of quiet desperation. " Not really satisfied, Asking themselves  "is this all there is?" Pretty sure the answer is yes, so not even asking anyone the question.  

But Jesus has another idea. He wants us to live life to the full There are three superlatives Jesus talks about:

1. Abundant life (John 10:10)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

2. Complete joy (John 15:11) 

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

3. True freedom (John 8:36) 

 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This includes being free from other people's opinions. (Jesus' opinion is the only one that matters)

So let's live by truth AND take the D.A.R.E. -

Defy society's pressures (Romans 12:12)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Apply your faith (z1 Timothy 6:12)

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Rely on Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Electrify others (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

He told the story of a man who got onto a crowded bus, and stood, holding onto a pole at the side reading something on his tablet. The  man began to chuckle, read further, then began to laugh, and the the intensity of the laughter grew the longer he read. This continued for 5, then 10 minutes. At first, the people on the bus ignored the chuckle. Then they heard it and glanced at him. But when the man just didn't stop laughing for a long time, they smiled and eventually began to laugh themselves. Meanwhile the man reading was oblivious to what was going on around him. He just kept on reading and laughing. So it should be with us. We have joy and we should not be embarrassed to live lives expressing that joy, regardless of what other people think. The joy will be infectious, however, and others will naturally be drawn to and share in the joy.

Lunch was at the Convention Center using the pre-paid debit cards pastor provided to each of us to use (Convention Center is cashless).

Others from the Our Redeemer group encountered the "celebrities" who had presented at the mass events : Shelly Schwalm, Director of the DCE program at Concordia St Paul. She had shared a powerful message about each of us being a child of God. Each of us having value. Each of us being loved by the Creator of the universe. Each of us unique with a unique purpose. Each of us necessary for God's plan.

Tanner Olson, author, poet and speaker. Each night at the mass events, he shared a poem imparting grace and hope, blending faith, humor, and curiosity, 

He was also selling and signing books.

And marathon guy, aka Jim 

(not sure what his real name is)

We were supposed to meet by door D (by the Mississippi River Heritage Park) to board the bus at 3:40, but the group I was with got there early and spent some time out by the fountains...

Pretty soon, another group joined us with their whirligigs 

We all stepped back inside the convention center to count off before boarding the bus.

We drove to Hansen's Sno-Bliz, a family owned business for several generations on the outskirts of New Orleans. They sell sno-balls, a customizable treat made of a mound of fluffy shaved ice, flavored with sweet syrups, and topped or stuffed with a number of mix-ins and add-ons, some giving a creamy consistency. I had satsuma, cream of nectar and crushed strawberries. It was excellent!

I couldn't help but include this picture of the fence across the street from Hansen's with its distinctive New Orleans look.

I thought it was just because we had 33 people on our bus that there was a long line outside the store, but the line was just as long (wrapping around the corner) when the last of our group came out and boarded the bus  

We drove to the SuperDome for the Iowa Distrct East/West combined event, where we had dinner (if anyone happened to be hungry still, after consuming the sno-galls!) There was a buffet of street tacos available at the district event.

The mixer game was that everyone got a New Orleans bead necklace when they came in. You could walk around and rock-paper-scissors to try to get additional necklaces from people.

There was also a jazz band.

Then we went to the mass event. Our seats were on the floor (for the first time) 

Mom's row

We were in four rows.

Since we arrived to our seats about an hour early, there was time for some volleyball.

Ava (our YAV) came over for a group photo.

One of the opening games was duck duck goose. This time we were on the floor and part of the action in passing the large inflatable duck to the back of the stadium, then back to the front by batting it along. (our duck won the competition!) 

We opened with some worship music

You spoke, and the chaos fell in line
Oh, I know 'cause I've seen it in my life
It's a narrow road that leads to life
But I wanna be on it (yeah)
It's a narrow road and the tide is high
But You parted the water

I'll take You at Your word
If You said it, I'll believe it
I've seen how good it works
If You start it, You'll complete it

(How important it is for us to be in his Word, to know his Word and to simply take him at his word...)

The message highlighted four important qualities to consider in our lives

1. Appreciation. (We are so grateful to our creator to be alive)

2. Direction. (We get our direction from the Bible)

3. Associations (Show me your friends/ your social media and I will show you your future. Do your friends/posts reflect your identity in Christ?)

4. Perseverance (The Christian life is not a sprint. It is a marathon....Blessed is the one who perseveres to the end - he will receive the crown of life.)

Then Bethany Hamilton made an appearance and talked about her life story of perseverance/endurance. (see 7/16/25 post when we watched the movie Soul Surfer about Bethany's life story)

As is tradition at NYG, we remembered with a video/song presentation those who had gone on previous Youth Gatherings who are now part of the glorious company of heaven. Some of us knew them personally. Others undoubtedly remembered those in their own lives /families who have died in Christ and await the resurrection of the dead. It is an emotional time (the girl in front of me from another group was crying and  and being consoled by others  in her group). Yet look around at the great cloud of witnesses in the stadium - 20,000 people singing of the hope we have in Jesus - a hope that does not change or go away because our God does not change or go away. 

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you're walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you've walked out all alone
Troubled soul don't lose your heart
'Cause joy and peace He brings
And the beauty that's in store
Outweighs the hurt of life's sting

But I hold on to this hope
And the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain and no more fears
There will be a day
When the burdens of this place
Will be no more
We'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day
We'll hold on to you always

Revelation 7:14-17:

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Lord, as we mourn the losses of this life, the loss of a friend, a parent, a child, a loved one, be with us. Give us a vision of heaven where there are no tears. Fill us with your peace, that peace that You so freely give but that the world will never give. Amen.