COGSCARS 2009

With the big day just over 11 days away, you can almost taste the hype in the air. So just in case you missed the voting on Friday night, if you want to change your mind or if you just want to get ready for what's coming up, here are some of the categories for COGSCARS 2009:

*W.I.T.K (Woman in the kitchen)
-past winners=
2008 Steph Dungan/Nikki Rich
2007 Nikki Rich
2006 Jen Collier
2005 Nikki Rich
2004 Kerry Cilliers

*Camel Man
-New award but David Smith assures me that this one's in the bag...but I suspect Ben "Bear Grylls" Van Wyk won't lie down easily!

*Male model
-top contenders include=
James Robertson
James Groom
James Page
Matt Blackburn
Matt Wilkes
(notice that what they all have in common is flawless hair)

*Most likely to be married at 18

*Cutest grade 8

*Tightest pants

And a whole lot more

If you haven't bought a ticket yet, make sure you bring your money this coming Friday to book your place.
Only the first 110 people get a spot.
It's only R20, but as Mastercard would say, the memories will be priceless!

Now I'm off to Cape Town

Gabe

Youth Blog Facelift!

If you've been here before, you may have noticed that the blog is looking a little bit different.

Ok. A lot different.

Cogs Youth is charging head first into the blogosphere, and we needed a bit of a cosmetic boost. But its not only the look of the site that's changed. There are a whole lot of exciting new features too, so why not browse the site for a bit, you can start by:


Following us on twitter!

Yes, Cogs Youth is now on Twitter. Network, receive updates, see what we're up to. All on Twitter!


Becoming a "fan"!

There is a new COGS YOUTH Facebook fanpage. Follow the link, or click the button in the right hand collumn. (Also, if you haven't joined the group, now is the time!)


Leaving a comment!

You can now comment on the blog using your Disqus, Facebook, Twitter or Open ID log in details, or as a guest. Please leave us comments! We want to hear from YOU!


Checking out the links!

Click the buttons at the top of the page for more information on what COGS is all about. We're more than a youth!

Expect big things from the COGS Youth blog! More stirring, leather clad words from our chief, Paul; solid theology from Bradlows; the piercing wit of the ginger; and more! Maybe one day we'll even see the elders venture into the terrifying world of the internet to write us a few words.

2 days 'till FIREDAY!

Why the Gospel?

We all know the great commission found at the end of Matthew in chapter 28 - the passage most people can recite in a cliche way during preaches and services! The passage calls us to the nations, to reach them with the Gospel... But why the Gospel?

Aren't Muslims, Jews Hindus and other religious groups all trying to win converts to their religions everyday as well? Why the Gospel and not Islam? Why the Gospel and not Hinduism?

Colossians 1:6... "...All over the world this Gospel is bearing fruit and growing." Aren't all the other religions of the world also growing? Yes they are... so what sets the Gospel apart?

The above scripture not only speaks of the Gospel growing but it speaks of it bearing fruit, this is what sets it apart - it is the only faith that produces true fruit in the lives of people! Fruit is a sign of birth, a sign of life, a sign of abundance!

The Gospel, unlike all other religions, invites us in to intimate relationship and fellowship with our creator God through the blood of Jesus, it is the bread of life that sustains eternally, it conforms us into the likeness of Jesus ( the perfect man ) as we are transformed from glory to glory - we are a people set apart and being made holy!

This is the fruit of the Gospel, it changes our lives - brings new birth, life and abundance! And here's the cool thing about fruit on a tree... its for others as well! The fruit God puts on your tree, in your life, is for others to recieve as you go to the nations because of the commission and annointing upon your life - so that others might freely recieve what we have recieved - the fruit of the Gospel!

big love... the bradlows

Events events events...read all about it!

It's a monday morning and I find myself at the church picking up everything that I forgot to take home from church last night...my guitar, my bag of clothes, my bowling ball, my flashdrive from Paul's office..and while in Paul's office I've just caught myself gazing at the wall above his computer which is littered with fliers from past events we have done over the years at COGS youth. There's the infamous retro's valentines, Punks and Nerds from 2005, the Survivor finale night from 2006 when Carrington beat Tyler McConnell to the prize by a 7 to 6 vote from the jury, and the Brawl in the hall when Paul almost died at the hands of Fanie "the beast" Stolz in a final round punch up. But all this reminiscing got me pretty excited for what's just on the horizon for us until the end of the term...hell it's going to be explosive. Here's what we've got in store:

20th November: COwboys and Indians (live band, dancing, dress-up, shoot-outs, good times will be provided)

27th November: FIREDAY (voting for Cogscars, huge worship, killball match of death versus the young adults)

4th December: Grade seven disco (old school, dancing, disco ball etc)

11th December: COGSCARS (need I say more?)

Make sure you don't miss a moment of the next four weekends at COGS youth cause I promise you, they will be Friday nights that you will never forget.

COGS youth: "we won't stop the magic"

Elaine's come to chat...I better go

The SAXON Files!

With our first ever "The Sex Files" coming up this Friday (13th November, mark it down in your diary's people!), I thought I'd quickly compile a short list of some of the contenders of the "raunchiest and most saxon" moments ever to happen at COGS youth over the last 5 years or so that I have been here. So here goes:

1. The 2.Samuel.6:14 moment
Number one HAS to be the blindest moment of my life, but probably the most significant. This one particular Friday evening (possibly +-2 years ago?), I felt the Spirit move so I went up to bring a song. Unfortunately for me and the entire front row, the Spirit wasn't the only thing that moved that night...as I finished my prophetic song ("Now is the time"???), I leaped off the stage only to remember that I hadn't worn a belt that night...you can guess the rest of the story.
Let's just say that pride was never an issue in my life again after this night as I had literally danced my pants off! You may now understand why Richard has had a permanent nervous twitch for the last couple of years.
(Tip #1: Always, ALWAYS wear a belt to youth)

2. The emergence of "Tracey"
In the latter half of 2008, during a typical youth gameshow of "win a date with Matt WIlkes" (the handsome twin), COGS youth was introduced to "girl number 3", Tracey, a combination of everything you've ever wanted in a "woman". Defined features, husky voice, an extremely tight fitting skirt coupled with most sultry calf muscles ever. Mmmm...
(Tip #2: Always go with girl number 3)

3. "we're gonna wlatz like a child in your presence"
Worship was pumping, James Page had just finished a heaven opening solo and the glory cloud was making it's way from the coffee counter to the front, when I opened my eyes and spotted the funniest occurence during worship that I had EVER seen! Lo and behold, in the back corner by the sliding glass door, an unnamed couple were hand in hand, gazing deeply into each others eyes and doing the most seductive version of the "waltz/samba/shuffle" in the history of youth worship! Needless to say, I couldn't help but laughing, but because the glory was so thick everyone assumed it was just the Holy Spirit...
(Tip #3: When we sing "we're going to dance in your presence", it doesn't mean with the hot girl next to you!)

4. Michael Cilliers
3 or 4 years ago Mike Cilliers was on youth leadership. At every single youth leaders meeting without fail, when Paul (or Mike Gooch) would ask how we could spice up youth a little bit, Michael would pipe up with his suggestion: "Girls in bikinis". Needless to say he never got his way.
(Suggestion #1: Bring Mike back onto team?)

5. Every canoodling "couple"
Over the years we have seen coutless incidents of a guy and a girl who started worship eyeing each other out, go through the stages of digging to liking to going out by the time Paul has finished his preach for the evening. It is impossible to count the amounts of couples that have been spotted cuddling at the back by the sound desk, but in we honour them all in this blog! Hell, it's actually an impressive achievement as all I've got in 5 years is a far too intimate confession of love from "Jamie Lynn" two weeks ago at the Sleepover!
(Tip #4: If you secretly like someone at youth, make sure you're ready to "pray" for them the moment you see them start crying in worship)
(Suggestion #2: Follow Tip #4 at your peril. Brad and his security team have eyes everywhere!)

So there you have it...my Top 5 saxon moments at COGS youth...feel free to add to the list.

PS, I'm pretty sure we'll be adding to it this Fireday!

*Vintage Phillips

Jalaps' questions to Pautro...

I recently sat down with our commander and Chief, Paul Edy (otherwise known as "Roy" or "Kaizer") and asked him a few questions about life, youth and his leather jacket. Here are a few of the highlights from that chat...

Gabe: "Paul, when did you first come to COGS youth? Was it really at a similar time as Nelson Mandela's release from prison?"

Paul: It was back in '96. Nelson Mandela had been leading our country into a colourful democracy for two years already. Francois Pienaar had lifted up the William Webb Ellis trophy at an exhuberant Ellis Park Stadium on 24 June the previous year. Soundgarden released their last album, as did Stone Temple Pilots, and the grunge era started to wane, with the exception of the birth of Foo Fighters. These are some significant things that occurred in and around 1996. The most significant occurrence, however, being that I, Paul Edy, a shy little 8th grader, joined COGS YOUTH.


Gabe: "Did you meet Evie at youth? Did she like you from the very beginning?"

Paul: Yes, I did meet Evie at youth. No she didn't like me from the beginning. She had her eyes fixed on older guys (no names mentioned - G_ _ TH). But for all you groms, hang in there, because in due time you'll begin filling your T - shirts. It was when i got to matric that not only Evie, but I can confidently say that every heterosexual girl at COGS YOUTH, quote unquote, "has had a crush on Paul". I don't mean to come across as arrogant, it just happens naturally.


Gabe: "Interesting. Speaking of that, why do you despise the ancient art of Killball so much?"

Paul: Speaking of what? Filling your T - shirt? Well believe it or not, back in the day I would actually look forward to the killball game. Not because of the game itself, but because it meant i could take off my T- shirt.Back then we had a strong culture of girls perving over boys during the game, those were the glory days. We seem to have lost that. But I found that it didn't take long after working full time at COGS for me to start filling my T - shirt excessively, and the novelty of the game swiftly wore off. And also, I don't enjoy pain.


Gabe: "Obviously I don't totally agree but I suppose that is why you're in charge. On another note, what is your favourite youth event each year?"

Paul: That would be between Retros Valentines and COGSCARS. i SMAAK to cut rug.


Gabe: "Mine too. Looking back a few years now, would you say that the year I spent in the office with you (2006) was one of your favourite memories ever?"

Paul: 2006 was my 10 year anniversary of being at COGS YOUTH. It was the year I officially took over the leadership and the year I married Evie. Having you and the dirty champion with me through all those events, who could ask for more? My favourite memories, by far, take me back to the Dbn North swimming pool, bad breathing techniques and vomit.

Gabe: "Looking forward to next year already, everyone's talking about the explosive youth launch at the start of 2010. Can you tell us more?"

Paul: Aah Gabe, so naive, so young in this ministry. You will come to learn one thing about youth. I, as a seasoned campaigner in this ministry, can tell you, that the youth of today love two things... surprises and explosions. The launch will deliver.


Gabe: "I'm already pumped! Finally, would you ever let me borrow your leather jacket?"

Paul: Hell no! My Tele, my Line 6, my pedals AND MY LEATHERS?!




So as you can see, Paul and I do talk to each other besides a Friday night! Keep an eye out on this blog for many more insightful future interviews.