Fall Fest '07

Fall Fest was a big success! Thanks to everyone who showed up and helped. We had hundreds of people from the community, lots of games and prizes, and no problems that I know of. My personal favorite costume was Megen's Clifford outfit. She was a big hit with the little ones. Chet also makes a good clown.

SNACRIFFIC!

Many thanks to the Olivers and the Postons for hosting SNAC this week! We had a great time with pumpkin carving and Bible pictionary!

This was a rare privilege, because it's not very often that for youth activities, we encourage our kids to wield large sharp knives. (If we started doing that at camp, it could add a whole new dimension to "messy day".) Fortunately, no one lost any appendages.

College Tour Trip Coming Up!

November 1-4th, the Juniors and Seniors who have signed up will be going to tour some Christian colleges! I've been looking forward to this trip, and I hope it will be both fun and beneficial for you guys in deciding where you want to continue your education.

It really makes a difference knowing that your professors and most of your fellow students are truly committed to Jesus Christ. I loved my experience at Harding, and I made lots of memories and friendships that will last the rest of my life. I know that any of these Universities can provide you with an experience that you just can't get at a state school.

How about you guys? Is there anything you're especially wanting to accomplish with this trip?

Grace in the Old Testament

When God was giving the Israelites some instruction about how to give certain offerings, he included some things they were supposed to say:

5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labor. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. - Deuteronomy 26:5-10

I think we tend to view Grace as a New Testament idea, but we've got to remember that God hasn't changed! If we really look at all that God has done, we can see that all along, he is the one who gives us good gifts and goes out of his way to care for us. The Israelites were helpless to save themselves, and God could have forgotten about them and picked a new people. But as they say in this passage, he heard them, so he stretched out his hand and rescued them, then even gave them their own land!

I think we should view the Exodus as one of the first great acts of Grace in the Bible. Just like what God did for Israel, he saw us in our sin, he reached out through his Son to rescue us. And now, he's promised us a great inheritance in both this life and the world to come.

What do you think? Would that qualify as a good example of Grace?

Some good things to think about...

I got this list in an e-mail from Mr. Poppy. Thought you might like them.

1. The best way to get even is to forget...
2. Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death...
3. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts...
4. Some folks wear their halos much too tight...
5. Some marriages are made in heaven, but they ALL have to be maintained on earth....
6. Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 days, Then perhaps giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea!
7. Sorrow looks back, wor ry looks around, and faith looks up...
8. Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways.
9. Words are windows to the heart.
10. A skeptic is a person who when he sees the handwriting on the wall, claims it's a forgery.
11. It isn't difficult to make a mountain out of a molehill, just add a little dirt.
12. A successful marriage isn't finding the right person; it's being the right person.
13. The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.
14. Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over them.
15. The tongue must be heavy, indeed, because so few people can hold it.
16. To forgive is to set the prisoner free and then discover the prisoner was you.
17. You have to wonder about humans, they think God is dead and Elvis is alive!
18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
19. You'll notice that a turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck...
20. If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.