Contact Mary & Emmanuel Agbovi to learn about participating as a Host Family with IFC for an international student at Kent State. For the international student, it's an opportunity to build a friendship far away from home... for you, it's an opportunity to be a Christian to someone who doesn't know Jesus.
Continue to hold each other up in prayer as we move through our How to Study the Bible series.
Pray for the folks who share needs via this form. Some don't want to be identified, but the LORD knows what they need.
From The Book of Common Prayer Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Voluteers are needed in the Early Childhood area on Sunday mornings at HCC. If you're not already serving in some capacity at HCC, consider making this your area. E-mail Stacey DiNardo with questions or to sign your name up as a helper.
I've got a few thoughts to open us this week. First of all, for everyone, take advantage of the Google calendar to your left. This will keep you up to speed on the events on the way. The Christian life was not meant to be lived alone. It is impossible to have all of your "connection" needs met on Sunday morning, so we've desinged events around the idea of promoting community: guys football party, Ladies' Night w/ Robin (Wednesday, September 23, 7pm, Galieti Home!), Family Days, picnics, etc. Stay in the loop!
Secodly, this information is best viewed with your internet browser (Safari & FireFox are best, though others should read it just fine), so if you're
reading this through your e-mail, download the attachment and open it with your browser.
Thirdly, I'd like to promote an opportunity for you to help out with Edge, HCC's middle school ministry. Their big outreach event, Late Night, is THIS Saturday evening, and lots of help is needed (supervising games, checking students in, policing boundaries, etc.). Hundreds of kids will be there, and it's a great time for them to have fun and hear the message of Jesus. Visit the Edge blog and contact Todd Ianetta or Jonathan Claytor about helping out.(rg)
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding,
and if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5
THIS WEEK!
Guys & Football
Ohio State has a noon kickoff on Saturday, September 19, and Kevin Keller is hosting the guys of Life Answers ABF.
Guys, you deserve to have some guy-time. Especially if your wife is going to Mary's baby shower that morning, you've got the perfect opportunity to watch college football in a testosterone-filled room while the ladies are out.
Kevin is providing the chips & pretzels, etc., and will be grilling for us. Bring your own meat to grill. If you can, bring something to share, as well.
Where were you when these happened?
Picnic in the National Park
Does it seem like the social and chat time gets cut short in ABF? Do you miss out on catching up with friends because you've got to get your kid(s) upstairs? Then mark September 20th, at 1:00 pm, on your calendar and come spend some time with friends. Bring a picnic meal, and enough dessert to share, and enjoy some time with new and old friends at Virginia Kendall Park.
After covering the "why study the Bible?" over the last two weeks, three strategies for the "how?" were covered.
Read Thoughtfully
Tony told the story of a man who swam against the scientific current of the day (late 1800s and the rise of Darwinism) and undertook a careful, deliberate study of the Bible to determine its credibility. Similar experiences have been lived out by Josh McDowell (Evidence That Demands A Verdict) and Lee Strobel (The Case For Christ). All of these guys were skeptics who took an in-depth, honest look at the scriptures.
None of these stories could be told if these men didn't read the sciptures thoughtfully.
Read Patiently
This is so difficult to do in an era of instant gratification: Drive-Thrus, Netflix... on your computer!,
iTunes, 10 minute oil changes, Road Runner hi-speed, etc.
"If we take an instant pudding approach to the Bible, we will get frustrated," said Tony.
So instead of setting goals that will promote impatience or will get us frustrated, why not set realistic goals: 1 Month, 1 Book. This will allow us to dig into the book. By taking both a wide angle and a zoom lens picture of the book, we'll understand the book in its context. Tony and Robin each stressed the importance of being patient with the text and with ourselves.
Read Repeatedly
By using multiple translations, listening on CD or MP3 when we're in the car, reading to ourselves out loud and setting up a schedule that promotes repetition, the scriptures can have the opportunity to work their way into the depths of our lives. Bible reading tip-of-the-week: e-Sword.
"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:18-19).
Something new.
In regards to the Book of Ruth,
"a true story, a thin slice of real history," Pastor Jack Hayford says, "The Lord is calling each of us to a new time and a new place. And how we respond to His call will not only determine the character of our days here on Earth, it will determine our very destiny. Before the rewards, however, was the commitment. Before the blessings and bounty was the naked decision to follow the God of Israel. No matter where. No matter what."
God has made a roadway in the midst of my wilderness. He's led me to a river deep in the heart of the desert. Walk beside me for awhile. Together, we'll look up:
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
Lord, release my faith today and open my heart so that I can see more of you.
*Em
Enjoy your week. Send an encouraging e-mail to a friend.
RG
Life Answers Adult Bible Fellowship meets at The Hudson Community Chapel on Sunday mornings at 10:00am in Room 10.
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