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Articles from this month's issue of the Berean News |
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Q:The Chilvers family: |
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Emma I've enjoyed making lots of new friends here in America. I've enjoyed going to the different churches and learning new songs. This trip has been a very enjoyable one and I hope to come back again. I've told mum and dad that if they don't come back in the next few years, I'll apply to be an intern when I'm old enough! |
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Matthew I've enjoyed meeting lots of new friends. I loved sleeping in the cabins at Kids' Camps. I enjoyed playing sport, learning new songs and doing crafts. I want to come back. |
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Cathy God has really blessed our time in the USA. I came here feeling God wanted me to serve, but I've received much more than I've given. The whole experience has given me a spiritual nudge. We have met some wonderful people and I thank God for His goodness. |
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Peter To unwittingly contribute to the harmony of conference sermons, to have worship leaders select identical hymns without knowing the sermon themes, to see material needs being met in exact measure, has been a direct experience of the spirit and love of God over these four weeks. Our time in America has been truly blessed and we are so thankful to all those who have made this visit possible. |
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Perspective by Larry Urbaniak When a person accepts Jesus Christ as his savior, he acknowledges that he is a sinner and recognizes that only in Christ can his sins be forgiven. Though the sacrifice of his perfect and obedient self, Jesus made it possible for you and me to be free from the consequences of sin. The final consequence of sin is of course death itself. And though we must all die because of father Adam's sin, we escape death as a permanent penalty through the resurrection. Jesus' own resurrection is the promise and proof of our resurrection. However, just because we have escaped from the ultimate curse of sin and death does not mean that we no longer sin. The Bible tells us that any person who claims to be without sin is a liar. A Christian still struggles with sin. Even knowing that any and all sins we commit are under the blood of Christ, we still struggles with this problem of sin in our lives. But the Christian's attitude towards sin should be different than it was before becoming a Christian. I remember a story about a young woman who wished to join a church. The minister of the church talked to her and asked if she had accepted Christ. She replied in the affirmative. "Were you a sinner before you became a Christian?" asked the minister. "Yes, of course." she replied. "Are you a sinner now?" the minister then asked. "Yes, I am." she replied. "Then what is the difference that becoming a Christian made.?" he asked. she replied, "Before I was converted, I was a sinner who ran after sin; now I'm a sinner who runs away from sin!" This young Christian had insight into an important point. A follower of Christ should avoid sin, avoid situations in which there is the temptation to sin, and attempt to lead a holy and pure life. Sometimes we do not give the importance of purity in our lives enough emphasis. But even when we are trying our best to lead sinless and pure lives, we will still fail at times and commit sin. Sometimes it is not even what we do, but what we fail to do that is a sin. James 4:17 says, "So then, the person who does not do the good he knows he should do is guilty of sin." This verse warns me that I can be a sinner by doing nothing. Dick Van Dyke tells the story about a young Presbyterian boy. On the way to church with his family, he looked out the car window and exclaimed, "Look, Dad, there's a special sign for us. It say's "Presbyterian Crossing.'" Prayer is like that for you and me. It is the special means of crossing the road for us. Through prayer, we can get over the guilt and be released from the grip of our sins. Both the sins we actively commit and those charged to us because of what we fail to do can be and are forgiven when we repent and confess them in prayer. That is a guarantee that we have in Christ. Prayer is the "Christian grossing" that allows us to moves on from carnal sin to a spiritual life. Prayer enables us to move on in our spiritual life. The grip of sin is broken when we repent and confess our sins in prayer and accept the forgiveness of God through Christ. Even in this miraculous process, however, there is a danger. Prayer should lead us to the power to change our lives. It should not allow us to continue to sin in secret, pray about it, and then sin some more. Prayer should never become part of a sin cycle in which we continually sin the same sin and never move on in our growth and development. Our hearts can be deceitful. Sometimes, even when we confess sin and ask for and receive forgiveness, we still do not really want to give up the sin. Along with confession and prayer, we need accountability. The woman caught in sin, and then forgiven by Jesus was told by him to "Go and sin no more." Sinful habits in our lives should not be rationalized; "That's just the way I am." Well, it isn't the way I should be. Sin and prayer should not become part of a habit. Prayer should become the means by which I ask God to change me. I want to be like Christ. I can only do that if I allow God's power to change me form within. Yes, that can be scary, but it is also very exciting. It's the way of the cross. |
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Viewpoints by David Elliott Camp Blessing is such a wonderful experience for campers, but it is also a powerful experience for the staff. I directed the Teen Camp in Wausau from July 22nd to July 28th. Our theme for the week was Treasures in Heaven. We focused on the dangers of accumulating treasures on earth, and then talked about ways to focus on storing up treasures in heaven. We had 22 campers (15 boys and 7 girls), 3 cooks, 8 counselors (5 male and 3 female), and we had the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Many of the campers and staff really struggled with the information presented during the week. I thought these struggles were great moments of learning. Moments of learning do not come along all of the time. Sometimes individuals question decisions they have made or try to defend them. These are the times when serious learning can take place and new lifestyle choices can be made. As we talked during the week a two topics came up at various times during studies. 1). Where is the fun in being a Christian? 2). What do you gain in heaven by storing up more treasures than another? The first question takes care of itself over the course of a week at camp. As an individual arrives to Camp Blessing for the first time, they have no idea of what they will experience. Rules are stated and expectations are high. For many they view the week as being an entire week of church and many teenagers do not view church as being a fun activity. As the week progresses, the campers grow closer and closer to one another and even activities that aren't that much fun (KP, cleaning bathrooms) all of a sudden becomes more fun because of the people they are working with. The fun of being a Christian is not a type of fun that those that are not Christians will understand. Maybe it is a peace that can allow us to enjoy even tough parts of our lives. Christians can have fun and most campers have fun by the end of the week. The second question has a multitude of answers that at a Teen Camp with campers from a variety of church backgrounds makes difficult to answer. Basically here was our response without getting into any heavy doctrine with the campers. The treasures in heaven are permanent and are part of your earthly life. If you are always looking out for others and going out of your way to assist them, then you will be blessed. These heavenly treasures become part of who you are on earth and therefore effects how God will use you. By focusing on what God wants of you rather that what the world wants of you, you will live a more peaceful live on earth. Teenagers want a benefit to occur immediately but that will not be the case when it comes to treasures in heaven. We are aiming for an eternal reward and not an immediate reward. On Friday evening, I closed with this thought: my son Mark is three and will be attending teen camp in 10 years. I asked the campers to add 10 years to their ages and made them realize that they would be the same age as some of their counselors. They would be in the position of counselor and even director for my son and daughter. I encouraged them to look to serve God through Camp Blessing as they get older. I would also like to encourage you to get involved in Camp Blessing in some way, shape or form. Camp has blessed the lives of campers for 38 years and will continue through those who love Camp Blessing. Plan now on spending a week next summer at a camp. In most cases, the staff are the individuals that leave the camp having received the most. Camp Blessing is truly a heavenly treasure on earth. |
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Roy's Reflections by Roy Boswell He was not my drill instructor. In fact, he wasn't in the military at all. He was the toughest 10th grade algebra teacher in any Christian Brother High School anywhere, or so I thought along with most of my fellow students. With a wry sense of humor and scant patience for foolishness, his image was made complete with the addition of bulky orthopedic shoes. Hence the name: Sergeant Richard. And while we laughed and joked about him all the way to and from class, I only slipped once and called him Sergeant in class. Believe me with him you only made that mistake once. In a way, I was acting like two different people, one in class and another outside. So which was the real me: the one who smiled and said "Yes Sir, Brother Richard" or the one who when away from the school would make fun of his army boots? Sixteen times in the gospels Jesus called someone a "hypocrite." The word literally means "an actor," one who plays for the crowd. The theatrical hypocrite dons a mask, disguises his voice, and pretends to be someone who he is not; all to impress a cheering crowd. Likewise, the spiritual hypocrite selects his words and actions to please an earthly audience. He labors to impress the crowd, more concerned with his outward appearance than his inner motivation. In Matthew 6, Jesus says, "The hypocrite checks to be sure others see his monetary gifts. The hypocrite chooses his location to be sure people hear him praying to God. The hypocrite subtly advertises his fasting to others." To the actor, appearance is everything. "But you don't do that," Jesus continues. Instead... -Give secretly: While the hypocrite works to advertise his gifts, you work to conceal yours, knowing that your Father already knows the amount. Remember that your gift is between you and God. -Pray privately: Keep your focus on our Father above, not those around. -Fast joyfully: If your fasting makes everyone around you miserable, what good is it? Besides, if everyone else knows you are fasting, it gains you nothing in God's sight. Tragically, the actor who performs for an earthly audience loses the very reward he seeks, for God rewards those who give, pray, and fast for Him alone, rather than to impress others. He is the ultimate audience; He is the one who sees past the mask into the heart of the wearer. You must choose only one audience, and examine the real reason for your actions, for God is unwilling to share His front-row seat at your life's performance. The lights will dim, the curtain will open, and you will perform today. But remember to ask yourself each morning, just who are you really trying to impress? |
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