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posted by Robert on 07/14/07

Imagine getting together with a small team of other like-minded fellows, heading out into God’s creation, and spending an entire week with God! That’s what Donald, James, and Jonathan are doing this week on a Journey to the Heart.

Last Monday, three teams of fellows and two teams of girls headed up to the beautiful Northwoods of Michigan with Pastor Ken Pierpont. They will return tonight and share what the Lord did in their lives throughout the week.

After the previous Journey, a one-hour meeting turned into over three hours of spontaneous testimonies as person after person shared how God had made himself known to them. A friend of mine, Jared Mosher, had a particularly remarkable testimony.

We’re looking forward to hearing the good reports of what happened on this remarkable expedition!

5 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Esther on 07/11/07

We have just concluded a wonderful ten days with the seven youngest of the Potter family. During this time Mr. and Mrs. Potter were in Sacramento for the ATI Regional Training Conference. Their son and daughters demonstrated a tremendous willingness to work around here.Their assistance was much appreciated from house cleaning to nailing shingles on the new shed. But much of the time was spent just getting to know each other as we went on a scavenger hunt, picked blackberries, visited the lake, played board games and croquet, and celebrated birthdays with ice cream and the 4th of July with sparklers an fireworks! One thing that especially encouraged me was the children’s desire to get up early enough to read the Bible with our family. Even when we were getting to bed late I was asked more than once to wake them up by 6:00 a.m. This hunger and thirst for righteousness is a quality I have always wanted to encourage in children and here they were motivating me!

In more ways than one our summer guests blessed us as they looked not only on their own things, but also on the things of others. (Phil. 2:4)

7 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 07/6/07

Washington is one of the few presidents that have become well-known and remained well-known in schoolrooms across the world. So impecable was his character that not even his enemies could find an occaision to speak evil of him. The foundation for this tremendous accomplishment is explored in a book I have just finished reading: George Washington the Christian.

George Washington the Christian was given to me as a birthday present from my family this year. It was published in 1919 and provides a stepping stone as it were between the past and the present with direct quotations from Washington and those who knew him. Included among others are the testimonies of his relatives, those who fought with him during the war and those who found him at prayer. While a man of few and carefully-chosen words, his life spoke volumes.

In the back of the book is a list of some of the many names that Washington used to describe his Heavenly Father, including Providence. What may seem to us an indirect or impersonal title was, to Washington, a very dear term. After seeing the providential hand of God in saving his life, guiding his battle plans and founding his country, Washington was deeply aware that God worked, and loved to work, providentially in the lives of those who trust Him.

When I finished reading this book, I realized how well Washington could exhort the Christians of today with the apostle Paul: “Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for you sake” (I Thessalonians 1:5). I would recommend it for anyone who wants to know George Washington.

4 Comments » | posted in Book Reports

posted by Daniel on 07/4/07

Ever since I sent in my application for Sound Foundations back in January, I had been earnestly looking forward to and preparing for my time there. However, a month or so before it started I was notified that they were having a severe shortage of applicants, even to the point that it could have possibly been cancelled! After getting a confirmation from the Lord that it was His will for me to go, I began praying that He would provide enough attendees for Sound Foundations to be hosted this year. I was so relieved when I received the confirmation reply that announced it would be held and that I had been accepted!

However, I was aware that my roommate and team mates would play a major role in my time and experience there, and all the teaching and planning could be for naught if God did not prepare our hearts to be an encouragement to each other. Therefore I was praying that God would go ahead of me and put just the right people on our team. Once again he blessed me with a clear answer to prayer! My roommate, Kenton Lanier, was a very Godly, mature young man. We had some great evening discussions (he had won a prize of Reesee’s Cups and Kit Kats that didn’t stay in their bag long - ) and we were able to work together on assignments really well which made things a lot easier. I was also grateful to the Lord for our mature team–things went so much better without a lot of foolish distractions.

Many classes were held throughout the three weeks, including music theory, music history, music evaluation, learning the basics of orchestration and conducting, and a special class by Loren Elms on how to write lyrics and a cooresponding melody. Many of the students said their favorite class was Choral Training, probably because of the fabulous conductor we had: Mr. Clark. He knew how to make singing fun! He even worked it out so that the choir was able to sing a few of our numbers at Colonial Hills Baptist Church.

Even though I enjoyed all of these different topics, I think my two favorite classes were the one on Hymn Improvisation and the Master Class. They both inspired me to greater heights of achievement on the piano as well as providing insights and tips on how to do so. I look forward to applying what I learned in these classes!

I am so grateful I was able to attend Sound Foundations this year. I learned a great deal, but most importantly a sound foundation in the Biblical principles of music was layed from which I will be free to launch future musical adventures!

8 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by James on 07/2/07

We have now made our way back to the Indianapolis Training Center. While we still have chores and dish cleanup, we have now focused our attention on learning the seven life principles as taught in the Basic Seminar. Even by the end of the week, we have seen some evidences of how these life changing truths have benefited the spiritual walk of many students.

One of the challenges in FOCUS is to memorize the entire book of James. With 108 verses in 5 chapters to memorize in six weeks, Seth began memorizing as a requirement. However, after hearing that the prerequisite for Success was meditation on Scripture, he now looks at this challenge as an opportunity to gain spiritual success and a deeper love and knowledge of Christ.

Much is explained on how to become free from bitterness. Another student sincerely confessed how he would often forgive on the surface but still inwardly harbor bitterness toward an offender. It is encouraging to see him diligently search his heart and attentively listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Andrew has applied self-control in watching his words. Another student is learning the freedom of taking into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Joshua has demonstrated how he has given God ownership of his life by yielding his rights to participate in many activities because of sickness.

God is at work. Please continue to pray for openness and brokenness among both students and leaders. As we launch into this fourth week, there will be plenty of opportunities to apply and share what God has shown us this week.

6 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports