I agree with some of the comments, especially the last one, that it is the heart and lifestyle that is important. I live in Colorado. I can’t morally support the me-me-me hedonistic lifestyle of the skiing industry! That view is spreading to include summer Adventure Camps.

But is your point to cancel a youth even because it cost to much or youth events altogether?

I do not think it is a “ski trip” that is the problem or issue. It is the heart and lifestyle of the people behind the ski trip.

I do not think that it is the cost “$300″ that is the issue. It is the heart and lifestyle of the people behind the cost or use of the money.

The Lord has created this world for us to give Him glory, praise, and thankfulness because of it. It pleases Him when we do enjoy it.

BUT, if we are enjoying it selfishly or treating it like an idol…this becomes the issue.

Because, when you speak of certain events and cost only as the target for criticism, then we need to look at each of our lifestyle’s throughout the year.

We can be materialistic even if we do not go on a ski trip. We can be materialistic even if I am poor.

Materialism is not the possession of the wealth, but the wealth is in possession of you and I. It is when it becomes a god. When we pursue it, rather than God.

You may personally by a cup of coffee, soda, or even bottled water throughout the year and that could easily come out to be well over $1,000.

While we must guard against materialism, I don’t see the guilt in enjoying the bounty of God’s blessings, building relationships, and nurturing and discipling each other in the context of a ski trip. Are you sure that the youth group in question doesn’t have one or more mission opportunities woven into their schedule as well as a ski trip and discipleship time?

Yes there are wealthy churches out there. The exceptions do not make the rule. They can send their kids to a retreat and still give thousands of dollars to missions, support the local food pantry, donate the crisis pregnancy center and still send their kids and others on a retreat. Personally our church only has 5 jr high students and we are from a small poor rural area. Every christian needs to make decisions on how money is spent, and careful consideration has to be made on decisions. Some of you do sound snarky. (Notice the emphasis on “rich suburban white kids”.)

On a different tack, when has “whack job” been considered polite language? As a HS teacher in a secular school whack job is sexual self stimulation

For Brian, to borrow a popular advertising phrase… just do it. It does take discipline… but how can we be disciples with out it? We find ourselves distracted by too much. The early church met together daily for study, prayer and fellowship. The church is not just the congregation of one building. Look at your sphere of influence. Where are the believers? Are there co-workers who share common issues that can pray together during a lunch hour? Have you scheduled a family night to allow your inner circle to pray and study together? (The kids are never too old to start) Are there little league Dad’s (Soccer Mom’s) who can meet together to disciple one another? I would love to tell you about our cell (accountability) group, but won’t take up valuable space here. Let it suffice to say that Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 4: A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
PEACE!
MR

When I was in high school, we went every year to Mexico to participate in Azusa Pacific University’s Mexicali outreach mission. We’d pack up all the kids from our Evangelical Free Church, plus a few kids from the Assemblies church across the street, and go to Mexico.

Supposedly we were going to tell the Mexicans about Jesus. What we actually did was spend an hour each morning making VBS crafts with the local kids, an hour each afternoon playing soccer with the same kids, and evenings sitting on our behinds watching Spanish-language revival service that we had no part of putting together. The rest of the time was spent hanging out with one another, being the Christians-in-name-only that we were. There were some exceptions, but very few.

Once or twice, on the way back, we stopped at Disneyland.

Did we make an impact in anyone’s lives? It’s entirely possible; God is after all in the redeeming business, and He likely did something positive with someone in spite of our sloppy, barely obedient witness. But honestly, few of us went because we gave a rip for the Mexicans. We went because it was a week in Mexico during Spring Break, where we could get away from the parents and hang out with our buds. We slapped a thin Christian veneer on it with some spiritual songs and pep rallies and prayer, and when the youth pastor’s back was turned we bought beer and enough Chiclets to hide the beer breath.

A ski trip might have been better for us, spiritually. Maybe not. I dunno.