The Oil City Pictures are up, on the Photos page now.

Well the scores are:
The Flying Guinea-pigs of Wrath = 345 points
The Tall Dark and Hansom Romeos = 317 points
The Godly Gorgeous Girls = 316 points
Next week on the 21st we will be having a game night, bring some games or cards.
On the 28th we will be having the Group project.
And then on the 7th we will be having the Pizza Party.

This Sunday will proceed as normal with Youth Group continuing the L vs I. We will be announcing what the reward will be for the winning team also.
The following week we will be having a group project competition, the last opportunity for your team to surge ahead in the L vs. I series. As usual there will be a twist so be prepared, even bringing some supplies of your own for your team. More details to come.
And the third week will be the announcement of the winning team, as well as reward night. Look forward to seeing you there!!!!!!

The Scores as of now stand at =
The Flying Guinea-pigs of Wrath = 264 points
The Tall Dark and Hansom Romeos = 234 points
The Godly Gorgeous Girls = 214 points
The (pick your own color) Dogfins = 192 points

Love from a Pure Heart

Real love doesn't always feel good. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Sometimes love says no. That doesn't feel good.

Love often has to allow people to bear the responsibility of their own actions. Love many times has to relinquish, to let go (even the thing they love). Love doesn't overwhelm the other person that is loved -- it doesn't smother, or control.

The bottom line for real love is that it desires what is best for the one loved, many times at the expense of self. Some important questions to ask:

• Do you know what is best for the person you "love"?
• Who does know?
• Is it possible that YOU are not best for the other person?
• Is encouraging a person to go beyond their convictions, or to be in a place of temptation, is this best for them?

The Opposite of Love
The opposite of the FEELING of love is hate. But the opposite of genuine love is SELFISHNESS. So many romantic relationships are built on each persons "neediness" or wants or selfishness. This leads to a very shaky relationship.

"Love does not seek its own" 1 Corinthians 13

Many times love is demonstrated through selfless acts, sacrificial acts. The true measure of true love is NOT how strong the feelings are, but how great a sacrifice is willing to be endured for the other person.

I'm posting here the main points from week 2 in our series.

We compared romantic relationships to a camera on a tripod, the camera representing one of the most valuable relationships you might have in your life. In order for the camera to remain balanced on the tripod, you needed all three legs in place. One leg or two would not support, nor balance the camera. If left on one or two legs, the camera would come crashing to the ground, the expensive piece of equipment damaged.

The three legs of the tripod three components of love mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:5:

1. Love from a Pure Heart
2. Love from a Good Conscience
3. Love from a Sincere Faith

Each of these parts of love must exist, or else your relationship will crash to the ground causing irreparable damage.