God-Filtered

James 1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We spoke with the kids tonight about trials and the perseverance they produce.  We shared examples of what some of those trials might look like for each of us...struggles in school, learning disabilities, strained relationships with parents, difficulty with siblings, parent out of work, being bullied at school, missing mom or dad from the family, money struggles, etc...

We gave the kids a bar of Ivory soap then and some tools and asked them to think of a sculpture they would like to make.  After drawing their designs on their bars of soap, we gave them the tools to start carving and sculpting.  While they worked, we talked about how God is our Master Sculptor...how we are like those bars of soap in His hands.  He uses many different tools to shape our character, our souls, our personalities into the very individuals He designed each of us to be.  Sometimes, it feels as though He's using his hands to make us and mold us, caressing us and holding us.  Other times, it feels as though he's using a chisel and hammer and not being very gentle at all.  Still, every stroke of his hand, every angle of his chisel, every painstaking line or feature drawn into our character is for our own good, for a purpose, and to shape us into who He planned for us to be long before we were ever born.

We spoke to the kids about their responses to God's instruments He uses to mold us into His image.  Do we respond with tears and proclamations of giving up?  Some of the kids witnessed this as the soap crumbled in their hands.  Do we harden our hearts and resolve to solve our own problems?  Or do we faithfully persevere, knowing that whatever is going on in our lives is for a reason and for God's ultimate glory?  We reminded the kids of the other people all around watching them and their reactions to trials.  Is the way they react under pressure in such a way that God is glorified and their faith is evident?  Or is it hard to tell them apart from the rest of the world when the going gets tough?

We used a colander and a clear bowl then to show them God's will for their lives.  In the colander we put some sand, sticks, dirt, and other debris.  We called these things the trials of life.  Pouring water through the colander then, the kids saw how God (the colander) protects us from some of those trials while allowing others to pass through His filter...all to test us, melt us, and mold us into His unique creations.

Lastly, we showed the kids a clip from the movie Cool Runnings, based on the 1988 Jamaican Olympic bobsled team.  They were a tropical country competing in a cold-weather sport.  They had very little practice and they had to borrow spare sleds from other countries to compete.  They definitely stood out from the rest of the teams competing.  Still, they persevered.  And everyone was watching.  In their final race at the Calgary games, disaster struck as they lost control of their sled.  As rescue teams approached to help them, they determined to finish the race they'd started.  They ended the race walking across the finish line carrying their sled on their shoulders.  They didn't win the race, but they finished the race.

Finishing our race as believers is the most important aspect of our lives. This race that we're on as believers in Jesus is a symbolic way of understanding our relationship with Him. We don’t have to be the next Joah, Miss Kim, Mr. Wes, Pastor Mike or whichever Christian we look up to. We just have to finish the race. We can come in 2nd, 17th or dead last, but we have to finish!  It's called remaining faithful.

The course isn’t an easy one. There are bumps and hurdles along the way. There will be suffering and heartache along the way. But we have to do what Paul did when he faced the many trials he faced...or what Derice, the captain of the Jamaican bobsled team in Cool Runnings did.  Get up and finish the race. That’s the only way to get the crown Jesus has in store for us. And that crown is worth everything negative we face here.

We ended with one of the greatest promises in Scripture.

1 Peter 5:10 - And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

We gave the kids homework tonight.  We asked them to read Hebrews 11 and then write down who in this "Hall of Faith" is the greatest example to them, why, and what they can learn from their example.

The Neverending Story

Since Pastor Mike finished the book of Acts last Sunday, we talked today about how the story was not really finished for Paul.  Paul persevered in telling everyone he came into contact with about the gospel, even if they were people who Paul knew would persecute him.  We looked at some of the things Paul suffered during his lifetime as one of Christ's disciples as well.

2 Cor. 11:24-28 - Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones ,three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

All of the youth are now back in school.  School is a battleground, as most of us witnessed in the "To Save A Life" movie.  Though none of the youth will ever likely suffer the things Paul did, they will have other things they'll face and choices they'll have to make while in school.  There's peer pressure, dealing with friends, gossiping, trouble with parents, worrying about grades, bullies, materialism, vanity.  And the list goes on.

Paul was armed with the truth and that's what kept him going.  We have that same truth.  To make sure we have our artillery ever at the ready, we made Scripture card packets tonight with lots of Scriptures covering all of the topics listed above.  The packets are small enough to be kept inside bookbags, lockers, or even pockets and will hopefully be a constant reminder for the kids to look to the One who has all of the answers when they are faced with the daily challenges that go along with school.

Paul has been an awesome example to us throughout our study of the book of Acts.  Let us all practice what he preached, walk the walk, and be CONTRANORMAL!

Out of the Slimy Pit of Self Pity

Acts 28:7-8 - 7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.

First of all, it felt soooooooo good to be back to teaching lessons again this evening!  It's been a while with the missions trip and the summer fun activities and all.

We talked tonight about Publius, the chief official on the island Paul was shipwrecked on.  He welcomed Paul and the others into his home and showed them generous hospitality for three days.  That may not seem all that special until you read in the next verse that Publius' father was sick in bed with a fever and dysentery. And in case you didn't know, dysentery is a disease of the colon that causes severe abdominal pain and diahrrea!  Now how awesome is it that Publius welcomed Paul and his friends into his home and was generous towards them for three days?

I tried to imagine myself in Publius' situation.  I'm a chief official on an island, which means I have tons of things to do, places to go, people to oversee, documents to read and sign, etc...  My elderly dad is in a bedroom down the hall moaning with severe abdominal pain.  Tylenol or Pepto Bismol are not options yet, as they have not yet been invented.  And neither have Depends, which makes the fact that he has severe diahrrea also very inconvenient for everyone in my household!  And did I mention that dysentery is contagious?  And no hand sanitizer!  Yup!

Now these men who have been shipwrecked on my island show up.  What would I do?  Well, I'd like to think WWJD, but if I'm being honest, I would probably NOT do what Jesus would do.  I would likely point them to the nearest inn, barn, vacant field, or neighbor's house and do so without much guilt due to my current predicament.  I mean, come on people!  I've got a contagious, moaning relative in my house and I'm up to my elbows in poop!

But no!  Publius invites Paul and his friends in and shows them generous hospitality...for three days.  I'll give myself some credit and say I may have conceded to allowing the visitors one night in my home.  I may have even ordered a few pizzas on me or bought some slice 'n bake cookie dough or something.  But three days?!  Hospitality?  Not likely!  Not Publius though.  It doesn't say he thought about it for a while before agreeing to let them stay.  It doesn't say he sighed and threw his hands up in the air when they arrived.  It says he WELCOMED them and showed them GENEROUS hospitality.  He's my new hero...really.

So what can we learn from Publius?  Besides incredible selflessness, he was not decorating his dining room and inviting all of his friends over for a pity party in his honor.  Publius knew something few of us do.  It's hard to be self-focused on your own problems and circumstances when you are ministering to others.  In fact, ministering to others actually rejuvenates you and strengthens you to face your own problems again with a whole new perspective...an eternal perspective.  Ministering to others in their time of need is the best medicine for your own set of problems and your attitude towards them.

And what was Publius' reward for his selflessness and hospitality?  Read the second part of verse 8 again!  Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.  God rewarded Publius for his faithfulness to Paul and his friends by working through Paul to heal his father.  How awesome is that?

So how can we keep that same eternal perspective when things around us seem to fall apart and are so difficult?  We keep that eternal perspective.  We don't look at the here and now of our circumstances.  We get into and stay in God's Word.  His promises to never leave or forsake us...to prosper us and not to harm us...to give us a hope and a future...and so many others will rejuvenate us and give us the strength we need to minister to others when we feel like we can't even take the next breath in our own lives.  Trust God!

Psalm 40:2 - 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Amen!!

For an example, we looked to Peter's experience walking on the water out to Jesus (Matthew 14:22-31).  As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was fine.  As soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus and fixed them on his own scary circumstances and surroundings, down he went.

And you know....that required a science experiment!  Did you know that you can run across a mixture of cornstarch and water without sinking?  You can if you don't stop...if you keep your focus on what lies ahead and not on what's under your feet or behind you!  Hmmm?  Doesn't that sound familiar?  Pressing on to what lies ahead and forgetting what lies behind...ahhh...another of Paul's gold nuggets of truth! 

We ended the night doing our accountability notebooks because...you focus less on your own circumstances when you put your attention on someone else's and how you can help them.

Did I already mention how good it was to be back to lessons again tonight?  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I am so blessed to be your kids' teacher!

Cherokee, NC

Here are the details and some pics of our recent missions trip to NC.  We had no idea until we arrived that we'd be replacing a roof on someone's house!  What a week!  Nine ZG members joined us!!

Monday - we got here about 5 yesterday and got settled into our rooms and had dinner. We went to our first chapel which was very motivating. We met the team leaders, had a time of praise and worship, and heard a great message on getting rid of the material baggage we carry around. After a very warm night's sleep, we were up early as we are one of the first team's out for breakfast at 7. Then to work!

All of the guys except John, Matthew, Sam, and the two Brandon's worked at one home on building an awning off the side of the house. The rest of us went to a home to give it a new roof. We worked until 4 taking off the old shingles, tar paper, and pulling up the roof nails. After cleaning the roof of all debris, we nailed down the Tyvek paper. Tomorrow we shingle the roof. We actually only got one side of it done today and so we start on the other side of the roof tomorrow. Some of the boys from the other site will come to help as they'd like us to have the entire roof done by week's end. The leaders are awesome teachers. Teaching a bunch of women and kids how to replace a roof has been nothing short of a miracle. And everyone worked so hard and did everything that was asked of them. What a blessing to see Karen McLeod up on that roof hammering away! And Patti who's so afraid of heights.

There are 3 kids who live at the house and they finally all came out at the end of the day. We gave them books, the bunnies we made, and the soap and wash cloths. The kids took a break from roofing and played with the kids some too. The homeowner was sweet, despite their distrust of white Christians. We're off to a cookout at a nearby park with the other teams for dinner. We are all exhausted and sore, but God was glorified in each of us today. When the going got tough, we sang praise songs.

Tuesday - only 5 guys went to the awning site today. They ran out of materials and so went back to the campus early. 15 of us continued work on the roof! The other side has been stripped and the Tyvek paper put down. Shingles are going on in an assembly line fashion and we really found our groove by the end of the day. Wes caulked and we put tar down where needed. We have some sore fingertips from the hot shingles and tar and fiberglass knees and hands,  but our hearts are happy and our attitudes great. Our devotion this morning was from Ephesians and we know without a doubt that we were created to do this good work long before the creation of the world.

Miss Jessica, the lady of the house we're roofing, brought us out homemade cupcakes today. They also provided a cooler of water bottles and chips for our lunch. Some of us met the husband today and they are very appreciative for our help. David, one of our crew leaders said teams are usually not treated so well and generously by the families they serve. So we've made some new friends! Today is taco Tuesday and so we're headed to a Mexican restaurant after showers. Another long, hot, but God glorifying day!

Wednesday - Still shingling today. The 5 guys at the other site finished the awning they were working on and arrived at our site to a standing ovation.

We were so thankful to have all 25 of us working together on one project. The roof is about three quarters of the way shingled, but it's been slow going as  shingles need to be cut in certain areas because the roof is not an exact rectangle. Tomorrow is supposed to be our half day, but we've been told we may  have to work later if we don't finish.

The other campers here are all great too. There are 2 other Florida groups here. One of them goes to Pastor Rick Cabot's church. Small world.

Last night's chapel message was on how our words hurt other people as much as physical abuse and turn into baggage for the offended person. A few of the kids with heavy hearts asked others for their forgiveness for past hurts. It was awesome. We ended last night in the common area they call the wigwam with Josh leading us in praise and worship songs.

Tonight for dinner is Indian tacos at a park.  Then to Unto These Hills, an outside theater show where we will get a better understanding of the history of the Cherokee Indians in these parts.

Only injury to report is Ben who stepped on a roof nail that went through his shoe and into the bottom of his foot.

Thursday - Another a long, but gratifying day,  we finished all but the peak of our roof, which requires more skill and time than we had.  We learned that Gojo is your best friend when you are covered in tar.  It was a half work day today.  For lunch, we went to a park where the kids ate and swam in a creek.  Then we went shopping in the Indian Village.  Then it was back to the college for showers and pizza and some down time before chapel.  We were surprised by  a visit from Pastor Billy and Mrs. Donna who are visiting friends and relatives in the area this week.

During chapel, we met Miss Cherokee and she shred some of their culture with us and even taught us a dance and invited Sam, Matthew, and Kirsten to perform it with her.  The kids were reminded then of this week's theme from Hebrews12:1-2 and we saw a powerful drama and heard a great closing message on leaving baggage at the cross so we can run the race God has for us.  We were led outside then and up in the hills where tiki torches lit places we could sit and pray about our individual baggage.  We were given luggage tags to write our baggage on and then, after praying, we nailed them to a wooden cross set up nearby.  It was a very powerful.  A great way to end our time here as missionaries.

Oh yeah, we also celebrated a birthday today!  Chris Toro turned 16 today and we surprised him with a cookie cake, gifts and singing.  I'm pretty sure with all that's happened this week, this is one birthday Chris will not soon forget!

We get to sleep in tomorrow until 7 as it is our free day.  Pray for safety as we go Whitewater rafting and tubing, enjoying some much anticipated and needed fun and fellowship after all our hard work this week.  Also pray for Jason's finger that he cut while roofing today and for Wes.  Wes sprained his ankle after breakfast this morning and had to supervise our roofing from the yard below as a result.  He also turned in before the end of chapel tonight because he was not feeling well.  Pray he is better for our fun day tomorrow.

Friday - Today we slept in til 7 and then after breakfast headed to the NOC for Whitewater rafting. We were in 4 different boats and had such a good time. There were two noteworthy highlights. One was when Jonathan, who was in the back of his boat, wouldn't stop splashing Mrs. Amber in one of the other boats. Finally, the guide behind Jo grabbed him up by his life jacket and threw him overboard into the icy cold water. His eyes were the size of golf balls when he came back up. Then Dustin fell overboard, snagged his bottom on some rocks and came up with about 6 inches of his bathing suit shredded. Let's just say there were a lot of jokes about Dustin being cheeky after that! Mr. Wes saved the day with a spare pair of shorts.

After lunch we went to Deep Creek for tubing and the kids had so much fun climbing nearly a mile up the mountain and then tubing back down over the rapids.

After changing back at the college, we went to Ryan's steakhouse for dinner. We reserved the banquet room and had a great time of reflection over our week here. We shared what we felt God did in our lives and hearts. It was a special time for all.

Friday nights in the wigwam then are a time for the kids to hang out, spend some time getting to know our week's team leaders and more about their lives and vice versa. We rewarded the kids with a night of choosing their own roommates too. We assigned rooms for the work part of our week to ensure kids were getting enough sleep so they could do the job God had for them here. Good thing too. Tired kids on a roof? No! It's been a memorable week here for all of us. The kids bonded and taught so many of us adults through their great attitudes, hard work, and willingness to do whatever God asked of them. Please pray for safe travels home tomorrow as we close out the TPCC Cherokee, NC missions trip.