This week in the Cave, we began working out of our new Sunday School books. For the next few weeks, we'll be learning how to Dare To Be A Daniel. Dare To Be A Daniel is a program sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and it's designed to teach kids how to stand up for what's right.
This week, we followed the beginning of Daniel's journey and learned about the Babylonian takeover of Israel. After conquering the Israelites, the Babylonians wanted to make a show of their power by kidnapping young men from powerful families and raising them to be Chaldeans. Chaldeans were the sorcerers or wise men of the Babylonian nation. King Nebuchadnezzar gave the boys Babylonian names, instructed his servants to give them Babylonian food, and taught them the Babylonian language and culture.
The Hebrew culture and the Babylonian customs were completely different. The Babylonians didn't worship God; instead, they worshipped Baal and their king. The Babylonians didn't consider certain animals to be unclean the way the Hebrews did, and they also ate foods that had been used as sacrifices to idols.
Yet Daniel and his three friends were brave. Their faith in God was stronger than their pressure to conform to the ways of their captors. Daniel and his friends stayed true to their ways and did what God wanted them to do despite the wishes of King Nebuchadnezzar, and because of their strength, they earned his respect and survived their years in captivity under God's protection.
Sometimes, the modern world is not a Christian place. People, especially teenagers, are under pressure to conform to a certain image. Girls are expected to be "sexy," and boys are expected to be "strong." People are expected to be competitive and to be the best at everything they do. They're expected to chase "the almighty dollar," and they're expected to live the fast-paced lifestyle that's the hallmark of the world today. There's pressure to do drugs and alcohol, pressure to dress and act certain ways, pressure to support certain causes while denouncing others, and pressure to make poor choices. Many people today don't live a godly lifestyle---and they don't expect or teach others to as well.
Yet as Christians, it's our responsibility---our duty---to live the life that God wants us to lead. Sometimes this means denying peer pressure and ignoring harmful influences. Sometimes it's scary or even dangerous. Often, it will take us down a path that we view with uncertainty. We'll face the risk of being criticized by others. But all of the obstacles and all of the risk will be rewarded in the end, because leading a Christian life is more important and more fulfilling than any worldly praise.
Have a great week!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Stronger By Fire
This Saturday, July 19th, is an important milestone in the life of our church. Two years ago this Saturday, our little church encountered a big fire. During a storm, lightning struck the steeple and set it ablaze. The firefighters did all they could to rescue it, but the fire was too intense for it to be stopped; it could only be controlled. In the weeks to come, many members of our church family searched the wreckage for anything, any part of our spiritual home that we could save. Many of us cried and we felt that the loss was as profound as losing a part of our families.
For many of us, it was losing a part of our families. Most of our members have attended our church for many years. Many, like me, were raised in the church and have never truly known any other. Many of our members remembered the construction of the building we lost; they raised tobacco and saved their money to pay for windows, pews, and other necessities. Their children were raised in the church and they saw dozens saved during the Great Revivals. My brother and I have attended this church our entire lives. My parents and grandparents attend this church. Generations of my ancestors before me have attended this church, people whose names I hear and respect, but never had the chance to know. When the fire took our building, it seemed like I had lost the last remaining physical tie I had to them.
Yet our church lived on. We saved whole windows and broken glass; we saved stained hymnals and burnt pages of the Bible; we saved the bell and the cornerstone.
And most importantly, we saved each other.
Two years later, our church family is still together, back on the same ground, with a new building to call our spiritual home. The windows are back, the love is back, and the people are back.
With a little help from the Lord, we are made stronger by fire.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Worship by the Water
The picnic was a great event for our church. It was a chance to meet up with the members of the other church on our charge, it was a chance to get to know our new pastor better, and it was a chance to enjoy God's creation together.
Brother Ken told the Parable of the Sower and encouraged us to continue working with the good soil as we watched the waves and geese on the lake. It was a truly a blessing to be there with everyone from both churches.
Thanks to all who attended with us!
Monday, July 14, 2014
VBS 2014
Last Friday and Saturday, our church hosted its second successful Vacation Bible School in the new building. Last year, we focused on being Fishers of Men, but this year, we chose a different topic: the Prodigal Son.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about love, love that's not just for the people who always treat us right and not just for the people who are always with us, but love for all people. The Prodigal Son made mistakes, like leaving home and squandering his inheritance. But when he returned to his father, his father welcomed him with open arms and an open door. Even though his son had been living in poverty and tending to pigs, the father rejoiced at his son's return. When the elder son was jealous of his wayward brother, the father said, "We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead and now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found." (Luke 15:32)
We, as Christians, must not be like the elder brother. We must strive to be more like the father in the story, who symbolizes our Heavenly Father, and always welcome our fellow man to our door, especially the doors of the church, just as God forgives us for our mistakes.
It's important for children to learn the story of the Prodigal Son because they need to know three things: 1. that no matter how lost they get, they can be redeemed by God; 2. that they are called to love one another; and 3., that the doors of the church will always be open to welcome them.
Our topic was the Prodigal Son, but our theme was music, because what better way can we express our love and rejoicing in God's grace than by singing and dancing to praise Him?
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about love, love that's not just for the people who always treat us right and not just for the people who are always with us, but love for all people. The Prodigal Son made mistakes, like leaving home and squandering his inheritance. But when he returned to his father, his father welcomed him with open arms and an open door. Even though his son had been living in poverty and tending to pigs, the father rejoiced at his son's return. When the elder son was jealous of his wayward brother, the father said, "We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead and now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found." (Luke 15:32)
We, as Christians, must not be like the elder brother. We must strive to be more like the father in the story, who symbolizes our Heavenly Father, and always welcome our fellow man to our door, especially the doors of the church, just as God forgives us for our mistakes. It's important for children to learn the story of the Prodigal Son because they need to know three things: 1. that no matter how lost they get, they can be redeemed by God; 2. that they are called to love one another; and 3., that the doors of the church will always be open to welcome them.
Our topic was the Prodigal Son, but our theme was music, because what better way can we express our love and rejoicing in God's grace than by singing and dancing to praise Him?
Friday, July 4, 2014
Clips from the Cave
This week in the Cave, Pat P., our wonderful substitute Sunday school teacher, asked us a hard question about faith.
How do we know that God exists?
Most of us would answer that we just do. We don't know how we know. We just feel it.
A large part of our faith is feeling the Holy Spirit as it moves through our lives. There are events in our lives that we can't explain except through faith. Most of us believe in miracles, and these miracles, both big and small, are some of the ways we recognize God as He works through us.
The most common way to explain God's presence to children is to ask them who made the trees, the sky, and the other wonders of the Earth. Life on Earth and all our world's scenery is so vast and beautiful that it only makes sense that someone had to create it, like a talented artist painting a canvas.
Another way to explain how we know God exists is to think about the complexity of the world God created. Think about DNA and the individual molecules that make up all things. Think about the way each being on Earth is perfectly made and suited to its environment and the way Earth is tilted at a perfect angle and spins at the perfect distance from the Sun. The universe may have been created by the Big Bang, but who set the ball in motion? The universe is too complicated to have come into existence on its own. God had to have created it. No other explanation makes as much sense.
And finally, there's the anthropological perspective on how we know God exists. Every group and nationality of people, every culture and civilization on Earth, has a creation tale and a higher being that they worship. This proves that humans have a "prayer drive," the instinctive knowledge that there is indeed a presence in the world that is greater than us. Even if they didn't have the knowledge that we do, that the higher presence is God, they know that they do have a need to worship. We know that God exists because humanity feels His presence.
How do we know that God exists?
A lot of it depends on personal experience. We can all recall a time when we knew God was in our lives; we've all had a "God moment." Most of us have also had a conversion experience. Every single one of us has a story to share with those who have questions for us about The Lord.
It's important to remember that those who want to believe will believe, and those who don't want to believe will have their eyes shut and may even have their hearts hardened against us. But it's vital that we continue to answer questions and share our stories, because we are disciples, and our task is to bring people to The Lord.
What's your story?
Have a great week!
How do we know that God exists?
Most of us would answer that we just do. We don't know how we know. We just feel it.
A large part of our faith is feeling the Holy Spirit as it moves through our lives. There are events in our lives that we can't explain except through faith. Most of us believe in miracles, and these miracles, both big and small, are some of the ways we recognize God as He works through us.
The most common way to explain God's presence to children is to ask them who made the trees, the sky, and the other wonders of the Earth. Life on Earth and all our world's scenery is so vast and beautiful that it only makes sense that someone had to create it, like a talented artist painting a canvas.
Another way to explain how we know God exists is to think about the complexity of the world God created. Think about DNA and the individual molecules that make up all things. Think about the way each being on Earth is perfectly made and suited to its environment and the way Earth is tilted at a perfect angle and spins at the perfect distance from the Sun. The universe may have been created by the Big Bang, but who set the ball in motion? The universe is too complicated to have come into existence on its own. God had to have created it. No other explanation makes as much sense.
And finally, there's the anthropological perspective on how we know God exists. Every group and nationality of people, every culture and civilization on Earth, has a creation tale and a higher being that they worship. This proves that humans have a "prayer drive," the instinctive knowledge that there is indeed a presence in the world that is greater than us. Even if they didn't have the knowledge that we do, that the higher presence is God, they know that they do have a need to worship. We know that God exists because humanity feels His presence.
How do we know that God exists?
A lot of it depends on personal experience. We can all recall a time when we knew God was in our lives; we've all had a "God moment." Most of us have also had a conversion experience. Every single one of us has a story to share with those who have questions for us about The Lord.
It's important to remember that those who want to believe will believe, and those who don't want to believe will have their eyes shut and may even have their hearts hardened against us. But it's vital that we continue to answer questions and share our stories, because we are disciples, and our task is to bring people to The Lord.
What's your story?
Have a great week!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Save the Date
Don't forget to join us for VBS! This year's theme is the Prodigal Son, but with a twist! Come check it out for music, snacks, activities, and celebrating God's good news: that even though all of us have gone astray, we'll always be welcomed in the house of the Lord!
Join us at Summit UMC
July 11, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
July 12, 9 am-1 pm
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