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Day Four:
Wednesday, August 1 st
Today's Blog Posted By: Chuck Tyson
As a 40-something old parent and group leader on the Summer ’07 trip, I really did not quite know what to expect or how to prepare, other than to take my vitamins every day! The up at dawn and down at midnight pace of the week can be very tiring. But in so many other ways it has been a joy and an inspiration.
Each day, all of our 6 small groups travel to a site to do some work. As my group was cleaning our paint brushes after putting a fresh coat of paint on the interior walls of a homeless shelter in West L.A., one of our young ladies commented to me that she would like to build a homeless shelter someday. I was blown away by her comment and, and I realized that back at home in Encinitas in our everyday lives, I probably would have never heard her say such a thing.
That really shows the beauty of this trip – to introduce our young folks to the challenges of the homeless, the hungry and the needy, and to witness the love and compassion growing in the hearts of our young Bethlehem Church members. And for us adult leaders, on this trip we really get to know our youth in a way we couldn’t back at home in the couple minutes after church service on the patio. At a local shelter here in Santa Monica, our kids worked hard in a variety of tasks, and in each one they treated those in need with dignity and compassion.
We take time out for fun too. On Wednesday we did a photo scavenger hunt down Hollywood Boulevard. We took pictures of our favorite actors’ stars on the sidewalk, and we put our hands in the handprints of famous movie stars in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. I got to learn about “my kids” and their favorite actors and rock bands, and they got to hear about some of this old man’s favorite rock and rollers from the 60’s and 70’s!
But more than all this, the time we spend together in our evening small group devotionals is a rare and priceless experience. Our small group of 8 has really bonded, and all of us have shared mountaintop experiences, as well as honest doubts and anxieties about our lives and our faith. The friendships formed this week between your children I am sure will last many years. After the small group sessions, all 50 of us gathered together in the sanctuary for a worship service filled with the beautiful music of the J-Unit (a student-led worship team), as well as the inspiring words of Jonathan Garman.
As many of us pass middle age, maybe you, like me, begin to think of what our world will be like as younger generations step into adulthood and take over leadership. I can tell you that after spending an incredible week with your sons and daughters, I for one have nothing to fear – our world is going to be in very good hands!
Prayers: For Jim and his family in their difficult time, for a fun day on Friday, for health for the individuals that participated in the pasta eating contest, and for safe travels
Feel God's Love
To begin, prepare yourself for your time with God by shutting out all disrtractions. Close your eyes and spend a couple minutes asking the Holy Spirit to begin to break through the barriers of your heart and to fill it this day with everything that is Him...
Read John 15:1-11
During the Last Supper with his disciples, just before He was arrested, Jesus used a grape vine to help the disciples understand what it meant to be rooted and dependant upon Him. What "fruit" is He talking about in verse 5?
How do we "remain in" Jesus' love?
Verse 7 can be difficult because it sounds as though Jesus is promising us a wishing well for our prayers when He says "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." How does this work with your idea of prayer?
In verse 11, Jesus mentions a joy that is being made "complete" in not only Him, but us, as well. What could he be referring to here?
Read John 15:12-17.
Jesus stretched out our understanding of "love" in verse 13. Is He telling us we should all die for our friends? What does He mean by this statement?
How did Jesus demonstrate this love for us?
What might have the disciples been thinking at the Last Supper?
Look at verses 15 and 16. How would you respond to these words if Jesus spoke them to you?
Which phrase in these verses stands out most to you? What about those words draws you in?
God has claimed us over and over, from our baptism to these words of Jesus.
Christ assured his disciples (and us) of His love and His presence in the lives of His people. After studying God's Word this week, what questions do you have for Jesus and His love for you?
What, in your life, helps you to feel God's presence and love?
What gets in the way of that? Are they outside distractions (noise, friends, activities)? Or are they ones coming from the inside (image, fear, arrogance)?
What changes might you have to make in your life so that you can feel God's love every day?
At the beginning of the week, you spent some time thinking about what you wanted from this trip? Where are you with that right now?
Take the rest of the time to pray and share with God your fears and struggels, your joys and praise. Allow yourself to open to the Creator and Savior so that you might be truly honest in your conversation. Ask Him where He needs you to be for Him. Call out for the Holy Spirit to bring peace to your heart as you seek out a strong, lasting relationship with your Father. Release yourself from any walls that have been created to "protect" you from others and be real with Him...
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