Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
We've Moved! (our website that is)
Hey all - just wanted to make sure you knew that we moved our website to a new location. Please click on the photo above to be directed to our new SixTen website! Special thanks to Sean and Krista for all their hard work in helping us migrate! You can still come here for a while to read some of our older articles. And just in case the link above doesn't work for you, the new address is http://www.westshoresixten.com/ You can also join us on facebook to learn more about what the Lord has been teaching us lately and hear from some of our fellow classmates - the facebook group is open and you should be able to find it by searching for the SixTen Fellowship Group in Mechanicsburg, PA. Blessings!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Hiding Place
Dear SixTen classmates - just wanted to share this article from a dear friend of ours at his blog located here. Our family stands amazed at our great God - if you haven't gotten a copy of the Hiding Place to read aloud with your loved ones yet - I hope this article inspires you to do so! Love to you in Christ - the Winters family
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Collision - The Movie
Remember how we mentioned the movie Collision on Sunday morning? The documentary features pastor Doug Wilson facing off against publicly-known atheist Christopher Hitchens. Check out the movie's website here. Please comment below to let us know if you are interested in viewing this together as a class. Thanks SixTen!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Death to Self Interest - by Erwin Lutzer
I just listened to this sermon this morning, and wanted to share it with you. If you click here, you will be brought to the sermon "Death to Self Interest" by Pastor Erwin Lutzer. Since this link brings you to the Moody Church hour (the entire church hour at Moody Church), once you click on the link, you may want to fast forward your player to the 19 minute mark (19:22 actually) and enjoy the song that precedes this amazing message. I usually just fast forward to the sermon, but today I listened to the song first, which the Lord used to prepare my heart for the message that followed. I share this with you because I was just so challenged and encouraged by this message - I just had to share it! It is very challenging, but also inspiring and full of hope. Hope it blesses you as you pursue Christ, no matter what the cost. Love in Christ, Kim
What's The Cost? by Dan Kern
In short, the question posed this past Sunday came down to “What does it cost to follow Jesus”? As explained in Luke 9:57-62, there are three characteristics that shape a disciple of Christ: homelessness (in the sense of worldly neglect), laying down all priorities that fall in the way of proclaiming the kingdom of God, and forsaking the comfort of the home for the cause of Christ.
So, the answer to the question is…“everything.”
Now, think about that idea. As rational beings being ruled in an intellectual America, what about that offer is so appealing? Jesus is not shy about telling us what it takes to be his disciple. But, to be so radical to tell us that it takes everything, is not an appeal usually made in our society. Today, it’s all about 74 steps to effective living, or something of the sort. In the world’s view, the more we try with what we have, the farther we will get. For the Christian, you’d have to turn that argument upside down: to get more satisfaction, joy, and peace in this life, we must stop trying altogether. In fact, the more we give up, the more God is able to reveal himself to us. Paul says this in Philippians 3,
So, the answer to the question is…“everything.”
Now, think about that idea. As rational beings being ruled in an intellectual America, what about that offer is so appealing? Jesus is not shy about telling us what it takes to be his disciple. But, to be so radical to tell us that it takes everything, is not an appeal usually made in our society. Today, it’s all about 74 steps to effective living, or something of the sort. In the world’s view, the more we try with what we have, the farther we will get. For the Christian, you’d have to turn that argument upside down: to get more satisfaction, joy, and peace in this life, we must stop trying altogether. In fact, the more we give up, the more God is able to reveal himself to us. Paul says this in Philippians 3,
“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”
But a God of love doesn’t just tell us these things to frustrate us. Yes, the Christian life is an upward, pressing battle of sanctification. We are sinners, so the battle will inevitably be painful, like a mother in childbirth. The point is that God is a God who wants us to be eternally satisfied in what we were created for – Him. Paul understood this. Christ was his first and his last. It’s that prize that we should be pursuing. Any other pursuit is just a chasing after the wind. It’s pure futility.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
From Dan Kern
"The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted.”
There is much truth in these words uttered by Jonathan Edwards more than 200 years ago – that we are supremely satisfied when God is supremely exalted. I thought about these concepts this past weekend as the SixTen leadership team held its first retreat in the Adirondack State Park in upstate New York.
The weekend was really an experience for me, as I had never slept in a lean-to before, nor had I lived completely out of my backpack for more than a day. We really had to work as a team to supply the group’s needs. Some people would prepare dinner, while others would gather wood for the fire, while others would fill water bottles from the lake (which really was a tedious job since the water had to be purified through a filter). Nate guided us in performing the tasks, but by the end of the weekend, we really had a nice system down. It was kind of like the scene in Acts 2, where the followers of the gospel naturally (and gladly) provided for one another.
For me, though, one of the best moments was Saturday morning when Nate asked us to find a spot where we could meditate on God’s Word by ourselves. So I wandered into the forest to find a seat up against a tree, facing the water. It was fairly early, so midst was still rising off the water. Since fall begins early in upstate New York, the rolling hills that lined the backdrop were colored with all different shades of orange, red, and yellow. A clear, blue sky made this morning almost perfect! As I was taking this in, Job 38 came to mind – a passage where God responds to Job’s questions about suffering. God begins by asking Job in verse 4, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements – surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone?” Continuing onto verse 12, God asks, “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place?”
Everything we see in creation has come from the hand of God. He wants us to understand this, which is why he goes into such detail in chapter 38. He even makes it a point to tell Job that he provides the raven with food and monitors the calving of the does. Sometimes, we can forget the order and plan that is creation. We may begin to attribute the beauty to some act of randomness called Mother Nature. But God is good, and he allows us to see that this beauty is his handiwork. Next time you’re up early to see the sun rise, I urge you to mediate on the fact that God is lifting it with his pinky finger and that it goes where God tells it to go. Or, when you see a robin feeding its young, know that God provided that worm and that God is sustaining the life of the birds.
If I think about the intricacies of a steam engine, I can say of the engineer who designed it, what a great mind! Well the same can be thought of creation. When we take in the fullness and greatness of its beauty, we can praise God for being that big and that great and that wonderful. “The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted.”
The weekend was really an experience for me, as I had never slept in a lean-to before, nor had I lived completely out of my backpack for more than a day. We really had to work as a team to supply the group’s needs. Some people would prepare dinner, while others would gather wood for the fire, while others would fill water bottles from the lake (which really was a tedious job since the water had to be purified through a filter). Nate guided us in performing the tasks, but by the end of the weekend, we really had a nice system down. It was kind of like the scene in Acts 2, where the followers of the gospel naturally (and gladly) provided for one another.
For me, though, one of the best moments was Saturday morning when Nate asked us to find a spot where we could meditate on God’s Word by ourselves. So I wandered into the forest to find a seat up against a tree, facing the water. It was fairly early, so midst was still rising off the water. Since fall begins early in upstate New York, the rolling hills that lined the backdrop were colored with all different shades of orange, red, and yellow. A clear, blue sky made this morning almost perfect! As I was taking this in, Job 38 came to mind – a passage where God responds to Job’s questions about suffering. God begins by asking Job in verse 4, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements – surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone?” Continuing onto verse 12, God asks, “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place?”
Everything we see in creation has come from the hand of God. He wants us to understand this, which is why he goes into such detail in chapter 38. He even makes it a point to tell Job that he provides the raven with food and monitors the calving of the does. Sometimes, we can forget the order and plan that is creation. We may begin to attribute the beauty to some act of randomness called Mother Nature. But God is good, and he allows us to see that this beauty is his handiwork. Next time you’re up early to see the sun rise, I urge you to mediate on the fact that God is lifting it with his pinky finger and that it goes where God tells it to go. Or, when you see a robin feeding its young, know that God provided that worm and that God is sustaining the life of the birds.
If I think about the intricacies of a steam engine, I can say of the engineer who designed it, what a great mind! Well the same can be thought of creation. When we take in the fullness and greatness of its beauty, we can praise God for being that big and that great and that wonderful. “The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted.”
Thursday, September 17, 2009
SixTen Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Discussion Part 4
Our latest SixTen Manhood and Womanhood discussion included covering the following massive topics...
Redeeming our Evangelical Dating Culture
Recovering Well from Relationship Losses
Pre-marital basics
and an overview of mature femininity, masculinity - and in particular what submission and leadership look like in the real world. (thought we'd throw that last one in there just in case we didn't already have seven hours worth of material!)
We heard from various authors including Elisabeth Elliot, Carolyn McCulley, Wayne Grudem, Lydia Brownback, John Piper, Alex Chediak and more. We considered ways to redeem our dating culture (including an explanation of the non-exclusive dating philosophy still in development), and discussed the importance of engaging, enriching and shaping whatever biblical culture we find ourselves in (as opposed to just showing up). We discussed the role forgiveness plays in developing healthy current and future relationships and how difficult true forgiveness is (and how it can only be done in Christ). (With that in mind, some of you requested a link to the articles on forgiveness we mentioned - so here it is. Click here to read Forgiving Like Jesus Part One on Kim's blog - (there is also a part two and three!) These articles are based on years of helping people to recover from relationship losses, plus Kim's own journey of forgiveness. We truly pray these will be a blessing to some of you - and keep in mind that our SixTen leaders are here to offer help as you press on to truly forgive. ) We wrapped up the evening with some real life examples of submission and leadership, and how important it is to have our hope in God, not in men or women. Many of us were challenged and encouraged as we heard from one another and sensed a desire in the group to grow in ways that please Christ.
As we press on to find God's best inside (and outside) our SixTen community, keep praying that each one of us would be seeking Christ and finding His strength sufficient for our individual and corporate development of spiritually mature manhood and womanhood. Blessings!
SixTen Views The Big Country
We had a wonderful time together at the SixTen movie night, where over 40 people showed up to watch a movie that was promoted as..."A movie none of you have ever seen, and all of you will love." Pretty high standards to live up to, and even though the movie was long, almost all of us stayed conscious (and even engaged!) throughout the entire thing! Nate gave a great intro before the movie started, helping us to be on the lookout for themes of loyalty, biblical manhood and biblical womanhood. With those themes in mind we were able to discover and discuss things we might have missed otherwise. Favorite lines included: "Well isn't this a Frosty Friday" and more importantly: "I am not responsible for what people think of me, I am only responsible for who I am." Thanks to all who attended and brought snacks - we so enjoyed having you over to our home (we watched the film in the garage to fit everyone) and look forward to our next gathering! And if you missed it, we hope you'll be there for our next SixTen movie night where we view a movie and discuss it from a Christ-centered perspective. Blessings!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
SixTen Reads Through the New Testament in 90 days!
We are thrilled to have SEVEN groups of people from our class who want to help one another to read through the New Testament in the next 90 days! Our reading begins on Monday, September 14 and ends on Saturday, December 12. If you want to be a part of an accountability group, but have not gotten your link to begin reading - it's not too late to sign up! Just send Kim Winters an email or facebook message and she will place you in a group. Most of our groups are through facebook, but if you don't have a facebook account, we also have a group staying connected through email. Even if you don't find out about this opportunity until we are partway through the plan, you can still join and just start reading on the day you join. If you fall behind in the reading, just start again on the day when you decide you want to start again. : ) We are so blessed by how many people in our class are interested in doing this! Please pray for us as we dig into God's Word together, and visit your accountability group to encourage one another to press on in our pursuit of Christ.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Welcome!
We are so glad you have decided to learn more about the SixTen class at West Shore. We are a group of young adults, between the ages of 20-30, (or thereabouts), who are seeking to know Christ better in order to love Him more.
Why SixTen?
The name of our group is based on Hebrews 6:10 - "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." As we look to the character of Christ in class, we hope to help one another glorify Him and find Him sufficient.
When and Where
Join us each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. in "the Blue Room" - which is the room just across from the book store near the main lobby. After class our members are able to attend the all-church worship service in the main sanctuary which begins at 10:45 a.m.
Outside Activities
In addition to our class time, SixTen members get together outside of class for fellowship, service and training (see google calendar to right for more details). We also have a facebook group we invite you to join (it is an open group - just search for SixTen) and there you can find out what we are currently discussing. To get the most up to the date info on what is going on at SixTen, please let us know to add you to our email distribution list (send a message through the facebook group to any one of our group leaders).
About Our Teacher
Our teacher is Dr. Nathan Winters, who received his MDiv and his Dmin from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Most recently Nathan spent 10 years in the Adirondacks as a leader of a discipleship program and an associate pastor. Nate's wife Kim is a bible study teacher at West Shore and they have two children. We are also blessed with a wonderful leadership team who you can read about below. Hope to see you this Sunday!
Why SixTen?
The name of our group is based on Hebrews 6:10 - "God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." As we look to the character of Christ in class, we hope to help one another glorify Him and find Him sufficient.
When and Where
Join us each Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. in "the Blue Room" - which is the room just across from the book store near the main lobby. After class our members are able to attend the all-church worship service in the main sanctuary which begins at 10:45 a.m.
Outside Activities
In addition to our class time, SixTen members get together outside of class for fellowship, service and training (see google calendar to right for more details). We also have a facebook group we invite you to join (it is an open group - just search for SixTen) and there you can find out what we are currently discussing. To get the most up to the date info on what is going on at SixTen, please let us know to add you to our email distribution list (send a message through the facebook group to any one of our group leaders).
About Our Teacher
Our teacher is Dr. Nathan Winters, who received his MDiv and his Dmin from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Most recently Nathan spent 10 years in the Adirondacks as a leader of a discipleship program and an associate pastor. Nate's wife Kim is a bible study teacher at West Shore and they have two children. We are also blessed with a wonderful leadership team who you can read about below. Hope to see you this Sunday!
Our SixTen Leadership Team
We are blessed to have a team of leaders who love Jesus Christ and young adult ministry. Our leadership team is pictured below. Together we pray that you will find our class welcoming and helpful to your walk with Christ. Approach any of us today to find out more.
Nate and Kim Winters
Rich and Heidi Biggs
Nate and Kim Winters
Rich and Heidi Biggs
Sean and Krista Cochran
Dan Kern
Dan and Erin Rohrer
Connie Wheeler (on right)
Thank you for praying for us!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Annie Update
Dear SixTen: The following update is from our fellow classmate Annie. Please remember to pray for Annie as she is on the mission field in Costa Rica. If you think of it, visit her blog here and let her know you are praying by leaving her a comment. She so appreciates keeping in touch with you! Here is the latest that she asked to share with you...
This past week our team took a break from classes and headed to Tabarcia, a small town an hour outside of San Jose. The pastor of one of the staff members here in San Jose invited us for the week and organized different ministries for us to take part in. On Tuesday and Wednesday we helped at the home of an older couple who attend the church. They have facilities for church groups to come stay and have camps. We helped with cleaning and disassembling one of the cabins and moving it so it could be reconstructed closer to the others. Thursday we presented a children’s program at the local daycare. I had a part in the drama we put on for them, which taught about what sin is and asking forgiveness. It had all the kids (and adults too) laughing. Friday we helped a missionary family who are starting a Christian conference center and camp. They have the property and an unfinished building. I spent the day painting the railings of the staircase when I wasn’t enjoying the good home cooked food they gave us- hamburgers and scalloped potatoes! It was a treat to have some American food. We also helped them clear some land for a garden and dig the footers for a kitchen. The group that was outside had an unexpected run-in with a poisonous snake, but it didn’t bite anyone. Saturday we broke into groups to pray for and serve the community. I joined the group that picked up trash. In the evenings and on Sunday we had several chances to be part of the church services. We presented several dramas in church, had team members share their testimonies, and taught the Sunday school class. I really enjoyed the chance to serve God in this community and I’m looking forward to our longer outreach coming up in October!
Prayer Requests and Praises
Thank God with us for the relationships we were able to build with some of the youth in Tabarcia. Pray for seeds that were planted throughout the week in the lives of some of the people. Pray particularly for Gabriel and Berto, two high school students we hung out with over the week who came to the Saturday night church service.
Praise God for the new property and the chance for YWAM San Jose to move forward with their dreams for a larger campus where they can offer more University of the Nations classes. Pray that God would continue to bring in the money needed for remodeling and for the safety of the staff as they work on the place.
This week we’re back in class learning about how the way God has designed us (our personalities, dreams, and identity) can help us discover God’s plans for our lives. Pray that God would guide each of us as we pursue his dreams for our future.
It looks like our outreach, which starts in October will likely remain in Costa Rica. Pray that we would be able to identify needs that we can meet and that God will guide us as we decide where exactly to go and what to do. God has put on our hearts the importance of building relationships as we minister, so pray that we would have opportunities to do that.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Baptism Photos
Just wanted to share a few photos from the baptism last week in case you were not able to attend. Please remember to pray for each person that was baptized, and also for those in our group still considering baptism.
This year's baptism was such a special time of fellowship with the body of Christ. The music, the testimonies, and then seeing each person taking that bold step of wanting to proclaim publicly that they belong to Christ - amazing. The Holy Spirit was so evident - I felt like I sat on the edge of my seat for each testimony, and just didn't want that time to be over, even after several hours! If you have never attended a West Shore baptism service, mark it down for next year - you definitely want to be there for this important family event.
Please leave your comments below to share your own response to our time together on August 16th at the Yellow Breeches. Thank you!
This year's baptism was such a special time of fellowship with the body of Christ. The music, the testimonies, and then seeing each person taking that bold step of wanting to proclaim publicly that they belong to Christ - amazing. The Holy Spirit was so evident - I felt like I sat on the edge of my seat for each testimony, and just didn't want that time to be over, even after several hours! If you have never attended a West Shore baptism service, mark it down for next year - you definitely want to be there for this important family event.
Please leave your comments below to share your own response to our time together on August 16th at the Yellow Breeches. Thank you!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
SixTen Drama Troupe
Dear SixTen Classmates - just wanted to remind you to pray for our SixTen drama troupe doing a dramatic interpretation of James 4:13-5:11 on Sunday, September 7th. We have six of our classmates participating, (photo shows our last rendition of Psalm 139 with just four of us). We would so appreciate knowing you are praying for us, so if you could leave your comment below to let us know - that would be wonderful. Please pray that each of us would be living these verses as we memorize and share them with our church body, and that each of us would be depending on the Lord for all that we need. Thank you so much SixTen family! See you this Sunday!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Learning from $20 and a Ride to Carlisle
The following post was sent in by one of our classmates who wanted to stay anonymous. Enjoy!
I had the opportunity yesterday to pick-up a homeless man looking for a ride. My first inclination was to drive by and not even stop. Then I reasoned with myself, well if I have any money in my wallet I will just give him the money and be on my way (by the way I was 99% sure I didn't have anything in my wallet). By the time I had gotten out of my car (turns out I had $20 in my wallet) and given him the money, I didn't have any reason not to give him a ride.
I took William who was in his 40s-50s and gave him a ride to a truck stop in Carlisle. William was not in good shape, he was breathing pretty heavily, and looked like he hadn't had a good shower in about two weeks, but his heart was in shape. He told me about how good God was and how God provides for his every need. William said this while being homeless, not having eaten more than one meal in the last 24 hours, and not having any real direction in his life other than that he was going to go to Detroit and find a job. William taught me more about faithfulness and what it looks like to trust in God than anyone I have ever met. He told me that God would take care of him and nothing anyone can do would ever stop that.
It saddens me when I step back and look at all that God has blessed me with and I don't praise God for all that he is doing in my life. I know that one day I will see William in heaven and it is going to be a joyous occasion. I can't wait to hear whether he was able to find a job, but more importantly I can wait to talk with him a bit more and hear about how good God truly is. Hopefully all of us can take a step back and praise God for his faithfulness, I know I am going to try to.
Friday, August 7, 2009
On Repentance and Sin - by Dan Kern
The following article is written by on of our SixTen Leaders - Dan Kern. Read his sports blog by clicking here. Thanks for writing Dan!
Last week, as Nate preached, we visited Revelation 3 to discuss the church in Laodicea. Jesus speaks differently about this church, labeling the people as being “lukewarm, neither hot nor cold”, and for that reason will be “spit out of His mouth.” He does not leave them in the dark, but tells them that “those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
Repentance is a gift from God. It allows us, as Christians, to become humbled before the throne of God, taking in the full measure of our sin against His holiness, and recognizing our need for a Savior. My question is; how often do we find ourselves doing this? How often do we contemplate the ugliness of our sin? David is one who comes to mind – a man who felt utterly separated from God because of the sin in his life. In Psalm 38, he cries out,
“There is no soundness in my flesh, because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
all the day I go about mourning.
For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.”
David’s sins were great, yes, but God sought him because “he was a man after My own heart.” David understood that God does not delight in our righteous acts; in fact, He despises them as “filthy rags” (Is. 64:6). Later, after he has committed adultery with Bathsheba and has murdered Uriah, David again cries out to the Lord in prayer. Here, in Psalm 51, David explains what God has revealed to him.
You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God,
you will not despise.
Again, repentance is a gift from God. If we were never shown our sin – our pride, jealousy, envy, lust, anxiety, laziness, hate, stubbornness – how would we ever know our deep need for Christ? That’s what we should long for. We, as sinners, should want God to “examine us” (Ps. 139), so that we can see our helpless state before Him. When we are left there, with a greater knowledge of our sin, we can increasingly know the worth of Jesus on the cross.
I found this to be true in my life, especially when dealing with the issue of pride. God has been so faithful, even lately, with showing me the pride that I store up in my life. Like David, I find myself frustrated because of my foolishness. However, He is able to correct in a way that is gentle and caring, but still is able to show me my constant need for a Savior.
Since our need for Jesus will never cease, it’s so important that we remember to spend time in repentance daily. Jesus teaches us to repent of our sins in the Lord’s Prayer. The word “repent/repentance” is mentioned 75 times in the Bible. Not only does it purify us from our sin, but it makes Christ look great, since He is the only one who can restore. His name is exulted when we humbly profess that we no longer can stand on our own.
Let’s encourage one another to reflect on the sin in our lives. We can do this by having a quiet time of confession during Bible studies, or saying a simple prayer before getting out of bed in the morning: “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.” In doing this, God will be glorified and we will be blessed.
Last week, as Nate preached, we visited Revelation 3 to discuss the church in Laodicea. Jesus speaks differently about this church, labeling the people as being “lukewarm, neither hot nor cold”, and for that reason will be “spit out of His mouth.” He does not leave them in the dark, but tells them that “those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
Repentance is a gift from God. It allows us, as Christians, to become humbled before the throne of God, taking in the full measure of our sin against His holiness, and recognizing our need for a Savior. My question is; how often do we find ourselves doing this? How often do we contemplate the ugliness of our sin? David is one who comes to mind – a man who felt utterly separated from God because of the sin in his life. In Psalm 38, he cries out,
“There is no soundness in my flesh, because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,
I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
all the day I go about mourning.
For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.”
David’s sins were great, yes, but God sought him because “he was a man after My own heart.” David understood that God does not delight in our righteous acts; in fact, He despises them as “filthy rags” (Is. 64:6). Later, after he has committed adultery with Bathsheba and has murdered Uriah, David again cries out to the Lord in prayer. Here, in Psalm 51, David explains what God has revealed to him.
You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God,
you will not despise.
Again, repentance is a gift from God. If we were never shown our sin – our pride, jealousy, envy, lust, anxiety, laziness, hate, stubbornness – how would we ever know our deep need for Christ? That’s what we should long for. We, as sinners, should want God to “examine us” (Ps. 139), so that we can see our helpless state before Him. When we are left there, with a greater knowledge of our sin, we can increasingly know the worth of Jesus on the cross.
I found this to be true in my life, especially when dealing with the issue of pride. God has been so faithful, even lately, with showing me the pride that I store up in my life. Like David, I find myself frustrated because of my foolishness. However, He is able to correct in a way that is gentle and caring, but still is able to show me my constant need for a Savior.
Since our need for Jesus will never cease, it’s so important that we remember to spend time in repentance daily. Jesus teaches us to repent of our sins in the Lord’s Prayer. The word “repent/repentance” is mentioned 75 times in the Bible. Not only does it purify us from our sin, but it makes Christ look great, since He is the only one who can restore. His name is exulted when we humbly profess that we no longer can stand on our own.
Let’s encourage one another to reflect on the sin in our lives. We can do this by having a quiet time of confession during Bible studies, or saying a simple prayer before getting out of bed in the morning: “Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.” In doing this, God will be glorified and we will be blessed.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Angel Tree Needs You!
Hey all - wanted to share this need with you just in case it has your name on it. The following message comes to us from Angel Tree Camp Director, Lena Plunk...
Angel Tree Camp: Cabin Staff Needed!!!
4 men and 2-3 women are needed to help with Angel Tree Camp.
Dates of camp: August 13-16, 2009.
Cabin Staff will be placed in a cabin with at least one other leader and 5-7 campers. Cabin leaders are responsible for campers while they are at camp. They will make sure campers are at assigned activities and will assist activity leaders with activities. Cabin staff will also lead their cabin in morning/evening devotions and a Bible Study on Saturday. Materials for these will be provided.
About Angel Tree:
Angel Tree Camp is a ministry for children who have/have had a parent in prison. Each year we provide an overnight camping experience for these children. We typically have around 30-40 campers involved in camp. This provides an opportunity for children to hear about God in an environment different than normal. We have seen many of the children become Christians over the past five years, and now are seeing them grow in their Christian walk. Most of our children have been to camp consecutively throughout the last few years, and relationships with them and their families are key. The desire at camp is for the campers to experience God’s love and to see examples of Godly men and women who are living their lives for Christ. Most of the participating children are from inner-city Harrisburg.
Your Time Commitment:
Pre-Camp Training: Thursday, August 13-14 (begins with dinner at 6:00 on Thursday.)
Camp: August 14-16. We will go directly from pre-camp training to camp. Camp will be over Sunday at 4:00 in the afternoon.
Where:
Camp Conquest: Denver, PA
For More Information: Contact Lena Plunk, Camp Director at 717-497-8172 or lplunk@brnonline.org
Angel Tree Camp: Cabin Staff Needed!!!
4 men and 2-3 women are needed to help with Angel Tree Camp.
Dates of camp: August 13-16, 2009.
Cabin Staff will be placed in a cabin with at least one other leader and 5-7 campers. Cabin leaders are responsible for campers while they are at camp. They will make sure campers are at assigned activities and will assist activity leaders with activities. Cabin staff will also lead their cabin in morning/evening devotions and a Bible Study on Saturday. Materials for these will be provided.
About Angel Tree:
Angel Tree Camp is a ministry for children who have/have had a parent in prison. Each year we provide an overnight camping experience for these children. We typically have around 30-40 campers involved in camp. This provides an opportunity for children to hear about God in an environment different than normal. We have seen many of the children become Christians over the past five years, and now are seeing them grow in their Christian walk. Most of our children have been to camp consecutively throughout the last few years, and relationships with them and their families are key. The desire at camp is for the campers to experience God’s love and to see examples of Godly men and women who are living their lives for Christ. Most of the participating children are from inner-city Harrisburg.
Your Time Commitment:
Pre-Camp Training: Thursday, August 13-14 (begins with dinner at 6:00 on Thursday.)
Camp: August 14-16. We will go directly from pre-camp training to camp. Camp will be over Sunday at 4:00 in the afternoon.
Where:
Camp Conquest: Denver, PA
For More Information: Contact Lena Plunk, Camp Director at 717-497-8172 or lplunk@brnonline.org
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Update on Annie
Dear SixTen - the following update is from our fellow classmate - Annie B. Enjoy!
From Annie...
I've been in Costa Rica for just over 2 weeks now and I wanted to share a little bit about what I've been up to and what I've been learning. Click here to read about my latest adventures. For even more pictures, you can click here.
If you drop by my blog, leave me a comment! I love knowing people read what I wrote. I'd love to hear from you! Let me know how I can pray for you as well.
Blessings,
~Annie
From Annie...
I've been in Costa Rica for just over 2 weeks now and I wanted to share a little bit about what I've been up to and what I've been learning. Click here to read about my latest adventures. For even more pictures, you can click here.
If you drop by my blog, leave me a comment! I love knowing people read what I wrote. I'd love to hear from you! Let me know how I can pray for you as well.
Blessings,
~Annie
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Next Facebook Group Drawing
Visit our SixTen Facebook group this week and be entered into a drawing to win a dinner out with Nate and Kim (our treat!) We will love a chance to take one of you (and a friend you invite) to our favorite restaurant, El Rodeo. Just post something on the wall this week, or add to one of the discussion threads, and your name will be entered. Congratulations to Erin L. who won our drawing last week and is now the proud owner of the book: The Bondage Breaker. See you there!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thoughts About Jesus - by Nate
The Gospel of Luke has been my help lately as I’ve been trying to get a better handle on the person –and personality- of Jesus. At about the age of 30 He was quite a man.
Luke (Chapter 4) tells us that when Jesus returned from the Jordan, having been baptized when and where everyone else was being baptized, He went directly into the desert where He was subsequently tempted by the Devil. This wasn’t Jesus’ whim. He was “full of the Holy Spirit” and the Holy Spirit was the One who led Him into the wasteland. Jesus was the kind of man who was “full enough” of God to be aware of God, to understand God, and to follow God anywhere at any time.
Therefore, He went into the wilderness: Satan tempted Him for forty days (Luke 4:2a), not just at the end of 40 days; and when the 40 days were up Satan left Him “until an opportune time (v13).” The Devil wasn’t done with Jesus. (And the Devil isn’t done with us unless we pose him no threat whatsoever!) Jesus, though terribly worn, stood strong. He fought with the Word of God and knew how to use it even when it was ironically and deceitfully used against Him.
Therefore, He went to Galilee: having resisted temptation His ministry commenced. News of Him spread quickly throughout the region. He preached…and was praised. Yet He remained undeterred by fame. Jesus loved the people in myriad ways but they never controlled His agenda –even when they applauded Him.
Therefore, He went home: the one place that guaranteed disrespect was the place He no less shunned -Nazareth. In fact, Jesus announced His identity as Messiah to those He grew up with; the audacity to read Isaiah 61:1-2 in your “home church,” the first line of which confirms the presence of the Holy Spirit upon you, and then sit down with a one-line sermon, essentially, “I am the One I just read of!” The “me” in the text is Me! But they didn’t want to believe that. Indeed, the idea angered them so greatly they thought to kill Him by throwing Him over the cliff outside of town. (Why not just expel Him from the synagogue?) But Jesus, though kidnapped by them was never really in their possession…and “walked right through them” as soon as the Holy Spirit was ready (v30).
Therefore, He went to Capernaum: His authority amazed them there. His sheer confidence, His down to earth “tradesman” style, and His disregard for contemporary scholarship amounted to the fascination of the people around Him. But it was the Holy Spirit upon Him and before Him! And one day, in the Capernaum synagogue, a demon saw it for what it was –saw Jesus for who He was: “I know who you are –the Holy One of God!”
Do we know what the demon knew?
Do we know what the demon did NOT know –what Jesus wanted with the demons and whether or not He was about to destroy them all (v34)?
The demon’s answer turned out to be “No, not yet anyway.” But we are at peace: no matter what Jesus chose to do He was “in the power of the Spirit.” Are we?
Luke (Chapter 4) tells us that when Jesus returned from the Jordan, having been baptized when and where everyone else was being baptized, He went directly into the desert where He was subsequently tempted by the Devil. This wasn’t Jesus’ whim. He was “full of the Holy Spirit” and the Holy Spirit was the One who led Him into the wasteland. Jesus was the kind of man who was “full enough” of God to be aware of God, to understand God, and to follow God anywhere at any time.
Therefore, He went into the wilderness: Satan tempted Him for forty days (Luke 4:2a), not just at the end of 40 days; and when the 40 days were up Satan left Him “until an opportune time (v13).” The Devil wasn’t done with Jesus. (And the Devil isn’t done with us unless we pose him no threat whatsoever!) Jesus, though terribly worn, stood strong. He fought with the Word of God and knew how to use it even when it was ironically and deceitfully used against Him.
Therefore, He went to Galilee: having resisted temptation His ministry commenced. News of Him spread quickly throughout the region. He preached…and was praised. Yet He remained undeterred by fame. Jesus loved the people in myriad ways but they never controlled His agenda –even when they applauded Him.
Therefore, He went home: the one place that guaranteed disrespect was the place He no less shunned -Nazareth. In fact, Jesus announced His identity as Messiah to those He grew up with; the audacity to read Isaiah 61:1-2 in your “home church,” the first line of which confirms the presence of the Holy Spirit upon you, and then sit down with a one-line sermon, essentially, “I am the One I just read of!” The “me” in the text is Me! But they didn’t want to believe that. Indeed, the idea angered them so greatly they thought to kill Him by throwing Him over the cliff outside of town. (Why not just expel Him from the synagogue?) But Jesus, though kidnapped by them was never really in their possession…and “walked right through them” as soon as the Holy Spirit was ready (v30).
Therefore, He went to Capernaum: His authority amazed them there. His sheer confidence, His down to earth “tradesman” style, and His disregard for contemporary scholarship amounted to the fascination of the people around Him. But it was the Holy Spirit upon Him and before Him! And one day, in the Capernaum synagogue, a demon saw it for what it was –saw Jesus for who He was: “I know who you are –the Holy One of God!”
Do we know what the demon knew?
Do we know what the demon did NOT know –what Jesus wanted with the demons and whether or not He was about to destroy them all (v34)?
The demon’s answer turned out to be “No, not yet anyway.” But we are at peace: no matter what Jesus chose to do He was “in the power of the Spirit.” Are we?
(picture above is from Kim's recent boat trip out to Tapawingo)
Spiritual Warfare Bonfire
We had a wonderful time at the bonfire on spiritual warfare. Thanks to all of you who participated! The notes from that time will be posted here soon - and also don't forget to visit our facebook group and leave evidence of your visit (write on the wall or participate in one of our discussions) so that your name can be entered in the drawing this coming Sunday (7/19) for the book we mentioned at the bonfire: The Bondage Breaker. Our facebook group is called SixTen (all one word) and if you have trouble finding it - just leave a comment here and we'll try to help get you connected. See you there! -SixTen Leaders (here are a few more photos)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Baptism and Communion
Dear All - Here is a sermon on baptism and communion that encouraged me today (I Believe in the Ordinances - by Erwin Lutzer), and I thought someone out there might like it as well, especially as we move toward August 16 and the creekside baptism service here at West Shore. This sermon might also help you with praying for the people of our body who will be getting baptized on that day. The link brings you to the entire Moody Church Hour - so you need to fast forward to about the 17:00 minute mark to start with the sermon (although the music is pretty great too). The picture above is from last year's baptism service in the river near Messiah College - did you attend? It was my first, and I was so blessed. If you were there - please take a minute to leave your comments below. Thank you! - Kim
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Everything By Prayer
I just listened to this incredible sermon by A.W. Tozer that I wanted to share. The audio quality is not that good because it was recorded back in the day - but well worth your time, and definitely how the Lord has been convicting me lately. Hope it encourages you. Click here to be directed to sermonaudio.com for the sermon: Everything By Prayer.
Love Kim
Love Kim
New Dates!
Just wanted to alert you to the new location of our calendar (right side). It is much smaller, so you will have to click on each item to see the details, and please save the date! We are busy planning these events and want you to be able to attend. Keep checking back as new events (and details) are added. Thank you! - Your SixTen Leadership Team
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Man of God
Dan Kern wanted to share this with everyone:
Adoniram Judson was a Baptist missionary during the early 19th century. God had called him to preach the gospel in Burma, and he did for almost 40 years - even establishing a number of churches there. His influence in Burma is even evident today: Burma has the 3rd most Baptists worldwide! But, more than that, was his ability to rely on God when devastating things happened in his life. This video shows a man (and woman, his wife) who had such a knowledge of who God truly is, that it carried him through the toughest trials in his life.
Adoniram Judson was a Baptist missionary during the early 19th century. God had called him to preach the gospel in Burma, and he did for almost 40 years - even establishing a number of churches there. His influence in Burma is even evident today: Burma has the 3rd most Baptists worldwide! But, more than that, was his ability to rely on God when devastating things happened in his life. This video shows a man (and woman, his wife) who had such a knowledge of who God truly is, that it carried him through the toughest trials in his life.
Monday, June 15, 2009
God's Sovereignty (6/14)
Class,
Here are the verses and the definition that Dan and I used this past Sunday. Enjoy!
Definition of Sovereignty:
God is King of all and his supremacy is absolute over all things. Nothing occurs outside of his control. He not only foresees events and circumstances in the future, but he has planned them from eternity past. None can stay his hand nor does he answer to anyone or anything. God works all things together in conformity with the purpose of his perfect will.
Verses:
Deuteronomy 4:39; 32:39
Job 12:9-10
1 Chronicles 29:11
Psalm 115:3
Jeremiah 18:6
Isaiah 44:6
Daniel 4:35
Nahum 1:3
Colossians 1:16-17
Acts 17:25; 28
Here are the verses and the definition that Dan and I used this past Sunday. Enjoy!
Definition of Sovereignty:
God is King of all and his supremacy is absolute over all things. Nothing occurs outside of his control. He not only foresees events and circumstances in the future, but he has planned them from eternity past. None can stay his hand nor does he answer to anyone or anything. God works all things together in conformity with the purpose of his perfect will.
Verses:
Deuteronomy 4:39; 32:39
Job 12:9-10
1 Chronicles 29:11
Psalm 115:3
Jeremiah 18:6
Isaiah 44:6
Daniel 4:35
Nahum 1:3
Colossians 1:16-17
Acts 17:25; 28
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Bekah and Josh's Trip to the Dominican Republic
This is an update on Bekah and Josh and their missions trip to the Dominican Republic. Thank you so much to all of you who prayed for and supported them before, during and after this exciting adventure!
They are now home safe and sound! Their trip was (in Bekah's words) AMAZING! Their team of 12 served at several different ministry sites in the Jarabacoa area of the Dominican Republic. They were involved with women's sports ministry (volleyball with school girls), men's sports ministry (baseball with local communityboys), dentistry, health care, construction, art ministry, special education, and preschool. Each day everyone was dropped off at their ministry site by a big truck (they rode around in the back) and spent from 9am - 4pm there. Bekah was a team leader, so she would go to different ministry sites each day to see what was going on and help out where she could. She and Josh had a chance to work with an incredible woman of God (dentist) who really encouraged them by her work. She sets up a portable clinic in the classrooms of the schools in order to clean teeth, do extractions, fill cavities, etc. for 20 pesos (about 75 cents U.S.). Her ministry is based out of Students International and she is sponsored as a missionary in her own country. It was an awesome 2 weeks of learning, growing, and serving for everyone involved. Josh and Bekah made some new friendships, played with a lot of Dominican kids, and had many adventures. There is much more to share, and they are looking forward to sharing with you through email. For now - please know how thankful they are for your prayers for them. God really blessed their trip. Please continue to remember them as they spend their summer away. We look forward to seeing them again soon!
SixTen Picnic in the Park!
About 50 of us showed up for our picnic last week, and here are the first few pictures I've received. We laughed, ate, and some of us even got injured! (That's what happens when you keep score I guess : ) Please send me more of your photos, especially if anyone got a group shot. Thanks to everyone who organized, brought food, and made this a special time of fellowship for everyone involved.
Blessings!
With love,Your SixTen Leaders
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Ebed-Melech
Read: Jeremiah 38:1-13
Jeremiah had fallen into great disfavor among the officials of Judah for having faithfully communicated God’s word to them: Jerusalem will be Babylon’s; remain in it and you will die! Those officials, conscious or not of having already rejected God, then ascribed to Jeremiah a motive: the destruction of their community.
Once again, God’s messenger had been labeled a discourager of the people, a detriment to community. The feelings of the people, according to the perceptions and intentions of their leaders, took precedence over the will of God. Better to leave the people with an upbeat attitude than offend them with notions of judgment. Morale trumped Truth. To our peril we prefer self-deception -and sometimes we will kill to maintain it.
The king, negligent and cowardly, claims impotence and hands Jeremiah over. So the officials took Jeremiah and lowered him by ropes into a fat well -a “cistern”: “It had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud (6b).”
Jeremiah was sunk. “But Ebed-Melech…”
There are at least 5 phrases (NIV) that reveal the activity and so disclose the character of this man:
He “heard that they had… (v7)”: Ebed-Melech was a listening man. As an official in the royal palace he possessed some level of authority –he had a “voice.” But he did not use that voice until he had listened closely. I imagine him as a man “quick to listen and slow to speak.”
He “went out of the palace (v8)”: Ebed-Melech was a determined man. As a Cushite and possible eunuch his sphere of service and clout may have stopped at the palace walls. There is seemingly nothing that mandated he ever exit the palace grounds and with the king away laziness could perhaps have been excused. Maybe he could have caught up on sleep or invested in some of his own personal interests? But the king was outside the walls and Jeremiah was dying.
He “said to (the King) (v8)”: Ebed-Melech was a brave man. “My Lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet (9a)”: this was more than an earnest report to the king; Ebed-Melech went to the king and made a moral judgment upon his peers. “He will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city (9b)”: here is the foresight of a wise man, concerned enough to look into another’s future and spot consequences in advance; as well as implicit warning: if Jeremiah dies, YOU are responsible (whether you gave him away or not).
He “took the men… (11a)”: Ebed-Melech was a humble man. Remember Daniel 6? It takes something for a man willing to stand alone -risking ostracism or worse- to receive the means of deliverance from an insecure superior. But Ebed-Melech did.
He “took some old rags (11b)”: Ebed-Melech was a gentle, considerate man. Who would have thought of rags to cushion Jeremiah’s arms? I wouldn’t have. Just get him out of the muck! It doesn’t matter if he’s bruised –just save his life! But Ebed-Melech understood that a quality of deliverance was called for. It wasn’t just about the goal of Jeremiah’s release. Care was to be communicated in the means of deliverance.
Anyway, God is so good to give us these mostly forgotten, minor Biblical characters with weird names, tucked away in remote passages. I wonder about this man’s story, and I wonder if this one act was what this one man was born to do (39:15-18)? I read a text like this and walk away asking myself, “Am I like that…at all?” - Nate
Jeremiah had fallen into great disfavor among the officials of Judah for having faithfully communicated God’s word to them: Jerusalem will be Babylon’s; remain in it and you will die! Those officials, conscious or not of having already rejected God, then ascribed to Jeremiah a motive: the destruction of their community.
Once again, God’s messenger had been labeled a discourager of the people, a detriment to community. The feelings of the people, according to the perceptions and intentions of their leaders, took precedence over the will of God. Better to leave the people with an upbeat attitude than offend them with notions of judgment. Morale trumped Truth. To our peril we prefer self-deception -and sometimes we will kill to maintain it.
The king, negligent and cowardly, claims impotence and hands Jeremiah over. So the officials took Jeremiah and lowered him by ropes into a fat well -a “cistern”: “It had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud (6b).”
Jeremiah was sunk. “But Ebed-Melech…”
There are at least 5 phrases (NIV) that reveal the activity and so disclose the character of this man:
He “heard that they had… (v7)”: Ebed-Melech was a listening man. As an official in the royal palace he possessed some level of authority –he had a “voice.” But he did not use that voice until he had listened closely. I imagine him as a man “quick to listen and slow to speak.”
He “went out of the palace (v8)”: Ebed-Melech was a determined man. As a Cushite and possible eunuch his sphere of service and clout may have stopped at the palace walls. There is seemingly nothing that mandated he ever exit the palace grounds and with the king away laziness could perhaps have been excused. Maybe he could have caught up on sleep or invested in some of his own personal interests? But the king was outside the walls and Jeremiah was dying.
He “said to (the King) (v8)”: Ebed-Melech was a brave man. “My Lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet (9a)”: this was more than an earnest report to the king; Ebed-Melech went to the king and made a moral judgment upon his peers. “He will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city (9b)”: here is the foresight of a wise man, concerned enough to look into another’s future and spot consequences in advance; as well as implicit warning: if Jeremiah dies, YOU are responsible (whether you gave him away or not).
He “took the men… (11a)”: Ebed-Melech was a humble man. Remember Daniel 6? It takes something for a man willing to stand alone -risking ostracism or worse- to receive the means of deliverance from an insecure superior. But Ebed-Melech did.
He “took some old rags (11b)”: Ebed-Melech was a gentle, considerate man. Who would have thought of rags to cushion Jeremiah’s arms? I wouldn’t have. Just get him out of the muck! It doesn’t matter if he’s bruised –just save his life! But Ebed-Melech understood that a quality of deliverance was called for. It wasn’t just about the goal of Jeremiah’s release. Care was to be communicated in the means of deliverance.
Anyway, God is so good to give us these mostly forgotten, minor Biblical characters with weird names, tucked away in remote passages. I wonder about this man’s story, and I wonder if this one act was what this one man was born to do (39:15-18)? I read a text like this and walk away asking myself, “Am I like that…at all?” - Nate
Saturday, May 9, 2009
C.S. Lewis Quotes
Craig Y. went to the trouble of finding the parts of the books a couple of you quoted in class last week. He actually typed up a lot more for us than I have here, but if you’d like to read more, click on the covers in the side column of this site. Thanks Craig!CS Lewis in Mere Christianity
“...Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call "humble" nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” (page 128, Mere Christianity)
The next part is by C.S. Lewis also (in Screwtape Letters XIV - recall that this is written from the perspective of a high level demon to his understudy)
"...The most alarming thing in your last account of the patient is that he is making none of those confident resolutions which marked his original conversion....I see only one thing to do at the moment. Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is specially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, "By jove! I'm being humble", and almost immediately pride—pride at his own humility—will appear. If he awakes to the danger and tries to smother this new form of pride, make him proud of his attempt—and so on, through as many stages as you please. But don't try this too long, for fear you awake his sense of humor and proportion, in which case he will merely laugh at you and go to bed...
...You must therefore conceal from the patient the true end of Humility. Let him think of it not as self-forgetfulness but as a certain kind of opinion (namely, a low opinion) of his own talents and character....By this method thousands of humans have been brought to think that humility means pretty women trying to believe they are ugly and clever men trying to believe they are fools…and we have the chance of keeping their minds endlessly revolving on themselves in an effort to achieve the impossible." (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
SixTen LGS Project
Thanks to all who helped with the gift basket project for our neighbors at Cumberland Pointe! There were so many encouraging stories of God's grace throughout - thank you for your prayers, your hard work, and your endless giving of items for the baskets! 
Please remember to pray for the people we had a chance to meet and serve that day, and also that the Lord would open doors for future ministry to our neighbors.
Thank you also to Sean for organizing Castle Ball on Friday! No one was hurt, (probably because he told us not to aim for each other) and many of us realized a need for more arm workouts as a result. And also the team that won (I think that was the team I was on?) did a really humble job of winning, while the team that lost (I'm pretty sure that was Nate's team) did a really good job of not losing hope. : ) Inspiration abounded, and also fun! Thanks to all who participated! 
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