A to Z Challenge Day 2, the letter "B"

The Bible Tells Me So!

By Shelly Burke

How often have you heard someone say, “The Bible says…” or, “Jesus would {or wouldn’t}…”

                                                    

Do you take these statements at their word, or do you seek The Word to find out if they are true?

Unfortunately, many of the people who say “The Bible says…” or profess to know what Jesus would do, do not. Recently I’ve read several articles critical of well-known Christian authors who are distorting God’s Truth. Even pastors, priests, and other religious leaders can mislead, whether intentionally or not.

Last fall I realized that although I’ve read through the whole Bible several times, I’d never taken the time to really study and take notes on what it says. I decided that this year (and probably next year as well) my Bible study time is going to focus on the Bible, and only the Bible.

Every day I am awed, surprised, or  shocked (sometimes all three) at what I learn. Many times I find that the Bible narratives that (I thought) I knew from childhood have a very different lesson than what I learned in Sunday School. For example, the narrative of Jonah and the Whale has very little to do with a whale (or “large fish” as it’s referred to in most translations).

I’ve been amazed at the ancient people and how they truly put God at the center of their lives.

I’ve discovered words to live by in every area of my life.

The Bible is full of great narratives, mysteries, advice, reassurance, encouragement, and instruction. The more I read and learn, the more I want to read and learn!

I challenge and encourage you to learn what the Bible says—not what other people say it says--but what you yourself see that it says.  

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that they man (and woman!) of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Every single word is written for a reason. 

There are no “rules” to reading the Bible! You can start with Genesis and read a chapter every day or you can skip around between the Old and New Testament. Make a goal of reading the Bible in a year (type “read the Bible in a year” into your search engine for a plan to do so). Consider reading the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the date (today is April 2, so you’d read Proverbs 2). Next time you’re at a bookstore, check out the different versions of the Bible and reading plans.

Remember to write down what you’ve learned, questions you have, or insights you gain from every reading. You can journal in full sentences and paragraphs, or just jot down a few words, in a special notebook or right in your Bible.

Below are several links to suggested study methods.

The important thing is to, as the Nike ad says, “Just do it!” You will be rewarded with understanding, knowledge, and leading that you need to live every day…and discern the Truth whenever you hear or read, “The Bible says…”

Bible Study Resources

Inductive Bible Study – this is a method of marking key words and thoughts in your Bible. “Inductive” means that the Bible is the main source of learning about God and what the Bible teaches. http://www.precept.org/about_inductive_bible_study

Simple Steps to Bible Study http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/simple-steps-to-solid-scripture-study-1295702.html  —I’m using the guidelines in this article. 

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Check out my other blog, www.homeiswherethemomis.blogspot.com, where I'm also taking part in the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Today's post will give you techniques for Getting Through a Bad Day. 

Blogging from A to Z April Challenge

When I saw this challenge (http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/) I immediately knew I wanted to join!

I will be blogging every day – except Sunday (with the exception of today, since it’s April 1^st) – throughout April. I will be posting on both of my blogs—Nebraska Family Times – www.nebraskafamilytimes.blogspot.com and Home is Where the Mom Is – www.achristianmomsguide.blogspot.com.

Each day’s theme will correspond to the letter of that day; today, April 1^st, the letter is “A” and the theme is “About the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.”

Tomorrow is “B” and the theme on the Nebraska Family Times blog will be “The Bible—My Favorite  Book.” The theme on the Home is Where the Mom Is blog will be “Bad Days—Surviving Them”.

Other days will feature devotions I’ve written, devotions by other authors, excerpts from my book Home is Where the Mom Is; A Christian Mom’s Guide to Caring for Herself, Her Family, and Her Home, links to my favorite websites and blogs, and more! Be sure to check in on “Freebie Fridays” where your comments might get you—you guessed it!—a freebie!

“Like” the Nebraska Family Times and Home is Where the Mom Is Facebook pages, or sign up to “follow” each blog and you’ll receive notification when the blog entries are posted!

Part 2 of the “A” theme: “A few of my favorite blogs—check them out!”

• “Fragrant Offerings” by Deb Burma at www.debburma.blogspot.com (my FAVORITE Christian author and speaker—and I get to sit by her in church and Bible class too!)
• Proverbs 31 www.proverbs31.org (many Christian writers and books)
• “The Happiness Project” www.happiness-project.com (I loved the book too!)
• “168 Hours; You have more Time than You Think” (a great book as well!)     http://lauravanderkam.com/
• http://www.nebfc.org --the Nebraska Family Council—keep up-to-date on issues important to Nebraska Families, including legislation to watch

See you tomorrow! 

His Kids Camp

“To share the love of Christ with all of His children”

By Shelly Burke, Editor

Leila and Dave Rehbein, His Kids Camp Co-Directors, were in the midst of adopting two of their special-needs foster children (they have five biological children and 4 adopted children) when Leila realized that God did not want her to only care for a few foster kids in her own home, He wanted her to take on a whole camp full of His kids!

Leila and Dave had been volunteering at Camp Luther for several years (and Dave is on the Board of Directors) when the pastor who was running the Handicamp program took a call out of state. When Leila and Dave were asked to take over the program, Leila said she was “Giddy with excitement at the prospect of leading this ministry!“ That summer she and her husband took over Camp Luther’s Handicamp and later changed the name to His Kids Camp, which grew into His Kids Camp Ministry.

 

As described on the His Kids Camp website (www.hiskidscamp.org) His Kids Camp is a Christian residential camp (at Camp Luther near Schuyler) for developmentally challenged individuals age 13 through older adults.

The His Kids Camp Ministry has evolved into a variety of camps and retreats for campers and campers and their families. As parents of several special needs children, Leila and Dave know how important it is for parents to have a temporary break from the often exhausting challenges they face. His Kids Camp provides respite for those parents.

“Buddy” Volunteers

 Every His Kids camper is paired with a “buddy” volunteer. That “buddy” stays with the camper during the time he or she is at camp. The “buddy” volunteers don’t need to have any experience with special needs people, just a desire to share the love of Jesus. Each volunteer is trained before the campers arrive; volunteers have access to all the information about their camper, including a form filled out by previous year’s buddy. This way the volunteer knows of the camper’s special needs, behaviors, preferences, etc.

Volunteers assist during the week as the campers enjoy indoor and outdoor Christ-centered activities, including a talent show. Leila says, “All of the activities are specifically geared to help each camper be successful. We boost self-esteem and build confidence!”

Volunteers entering 9^th grade and up—including college students and adults—are welcomed. Leila reports that this year a grant will cover all of the expenses of volunteers, who, as a result, will be able to attend camp for free! Training, room and board, and programming is provided.

Leila says “Being a “buddy” to a special needs camper is a rewarding experience. It isn’t always easy, but every day they learn more and more of what it means to be a servant of Christ, to show God’s love to and for their camper. Volunteer buddies go home with a confidence that they have made a difference in the life of their camper!”

                                                                                                               

His Kids Campers

The special-needs campers are changed as well. Some of them have a hard time fitting in with other campers at first, and some have behavior problems that have prevented them from attending other camps. Leila and her staff make an effort to accommodate and work with these campers, sometimes assigning the camper an extra buddy for the week. The application form asks parents/guardians to list the camper’s abilities, challenges, needs, behaviors and how they are handled, activities the camper enjoys, and so on, enabling the staff and volunteers to have a detailed picture of how they can assure the camper enjoys camp.

His Kids Camp Needs…

Volunteers! For more details and application forms go to www.hiskidscamp.org. At least 15 volunteers are needed for each camp in June.

Nurses! Leila is a nurse but as the camp has grown, she needs other nurses to give medications during camp. The nurse (Leila would prefer to have two nurses for weekly camps) needs to be at camp from 4PM Wednesday-11AM on Saturday. For weekend camps one nurse is needed from Saturday at 8AM-Sunday at 4PM.

Financial Support for Campers! Many campers and their families are not able to afford camp. His Kids Camp is a unique opportunity for special needs campers to share the love of Jesus and feel accepted and welcome. Leila says “My goal is to have a LOW or NO COST camp for our special needs campers.” Please contact her for more information.

Supplies! Supplies needed include; legal size paper (to print Bible stories and activity booklets), construction paper, Christian word search or crossword puzzle books (easy to medium levels), graham crackers, marshmallows, and ready made chocolate frosting, white t-shirts size large and extra large (about 100 t-shirts are needed for a craft project), bingo prizes, 6 adult large-size life vests, old-fashioned round wooden clothes pins, and special products for weed clean up; please contact Camp Luther for the specific products needed.

Please prayerfully consider the above needs and be part of sharing the love of Christ with His Kids!

For more information please contact Leila Rehbein, His Kids Camp Director at Camp Luther of Ne, Inc. at (402) 981-5732 or e-mail leilahkcdirector@aol.com or go to www.hiskidscamp.org.

His Kids Camp Dates 2012:

His Kids Retreat Weekend (ages 13 and over) April 20-22

His Kids Camp Family Retreat Weekend (ages 5 and older) April 27-29

His Kids Camp (age 35 and over) June 6-9

His Kids Camps (age 13 and over) June 13-16; June 20-23; June 27-30

His Kids Camp Retreat Weekend (ages 13 and over) October 6-7; October 13-14

($20 discount on all camp registrations received and paid in full before April 15, 2012!)

Prayer Lists and Promises

As I read through my prayer list this morning, I prayed for healing for more than a few people. My prayers are for a wide variety of people—some I’ve known for years and some I have never met but know of their need for healing through others. They include:

An 11 month-old with leukemia who just had a stem-cell transplant.

A 7^th grader, diagnosed in November with bone cancer, who is facing an extensive surgery to remove the tumor from his leg, and then a long recovery.

The brother of a friend, who, after four years fighting cancer, recently had a stem-cell transplant.

One of our pastors who has been unable to work for several months due to various health issues.

A friend’s daughter, whose progressive disease is taking more and more of her abilities from her.

A lady who is facing the death of her mother, and a couple facing the loss of their son.

Another friend whose father is experiencing many health problems.

My elderly grandparents, who, after many years of good health, have experienced broken bones, surgeries, and other serious health issues in the last year.

And then I looked at my list of those for whom I pray God’s peace and comfort. Their situations are all very different…yet they are all grieving.

A friend whose daughter was killed in an accident just a few months after her mother died.

Another friend whose husband was killed in an accident.  

Two more friends whose husbands died very unexpectedly.

A friend whose sister and grandmother died within just a few months of each other.

The families of my private-duty nursing patients. My patients were both very disabled and died within days of each other a year ago this month.

Several families who experienced the death of a loved one recently, after long battles with various diseases.

My list of those who need God’s healing and comfort seems to have gotten much longer over the last few months. It’s just one of those times in life where it seems I know a lot of people who are experiencing heartache, stress, or sorrow of one kind or another. Whether I know them personally or not, I feel sadness for their circumstances and what they are experiencing.  

Some on my list will experience the full restoration of their health, through God’s grace and healing. Although I am confident God can provide full healing to anyone, according to His will, it seems that some I pray for are nearing the end of their earthly lives, and will not be healed.

Several of those who have experienced the death of a loved one have shared how God has comforted them; some are comforted in knowing that their loved ones are out of pain and in the presence of God now. But the loss of a loved one leaves a hole in many lives no matter what the circumstances.

I have been praying with a feeling of sadness for those on my list who are facing long recoveries or will not be healed and for those who are learning to live without a loved one and facing other challenges and heartaches.  

This morning, though, I realized that none of us will ever experience full health, or total happiness, while here on earth. From the moment sin entered the world, the perfection of God’s creation was gone. As Romans 6:23 tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” As sad and hopeless as that sounds, the verse goes on to say, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What a blessing! What reassurance! Anyone who accepts God’s offer of eternal life—including every single person on my prayer list who has accepted His offer of forgiveness—will experience full healing, complete health, and total comfort from every heartache when they get to heaven!

In Philippians, Paul tells us, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (Phil. 3:20-21). So even if the ones we pray for are not healed on earth, they will be transformed in heaven!

And Revelation tells us that in heaven, God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…” (Rev. 21:4) With our glorious, perfect bodies, we will also be completely filled with joy!

What wonderful reassurance that is, to all of us—especially those who are sick, or mourning, or crying, or in pain. Here on earth we will never be free of all illness or sorrow…but we know that in heaven each and every one of us will be free from all illness, pain and sorrow.

Lord, I continue to pray for healing and comfort for those I know who are sick or suffering in body, mind, or spirit. I thank You so much for Your reassurance of the joy and perfection that awaits us in heaven, and pray that You will remind everyone – on my prayer list, and on every prayer list! – of Your love and promises! 

Book Review "His Revolutionary Love"

His Revolutionary Love

By Lynn Cowell

Review by Shelly Burke, Editor

Like all of us, author Lynn Cowell experienced the ups and downs and anxieties of having crushes as a teen. However, during a nine-month Bible school training program she discovered the revolutionary love of Jesus. As she learned she realized that His love is the opposite of everything she had been pressured to believe about love.

His Revolutionary Love is written for teenagers who are facing pressures from friends, books, magazines, popular culture, and “what everyone else is doing” regarding relationships with boys.  

Cowell’s book is divided into three parts. Part 1, His Heart Toward Me, outlines how and what God is communicating to the reader. Part 2, His Path For Me, shows what our behavior should be to show our love to God. Part 3, His Hopes for Me, explains what we can do when we know about God’s revolutionary love.

The message throughout the book is that nothing—not boys, sex, drugs, sports, friends—can truly fill our hearts; only the revolutionary love of Jesus can. And Cowell reassures readers that Jesus loves us no matter what we are like inside and no matter what we have done. There are consequences for our actions, but God shows us His mercy when we ask for forgiveness. Cowell truly relates to teen emotions and “real life.”

Cowell is realistic in saying that some days we’ll feel closer to Jesus than other days, and that friends might not share in the readers’ passion for Him. She encourages readers to continue spending time with Him anyway.

Cowell recognizes the difficulty of remaining sexually pure and in no uncertain terms warns teens of the dangers of not doing so. She encourages readers to play out situations in their mind so they’ll be prepared to deal with those situations in “real life.”

His Revolutionary Love is a must-read for teenage girls; it will give them the confidence to make good decisions about setting boundaries and protecting themselves. Moms who read the book will find natural lead-ins to discussion with their daughters. (Hint to moms: download the FREE Leader’s Guide at www.lynncowell.com. Many of the suggestions and questions would be perfect for a one-to-one discussion with your daughter.)

Lynn Cowell is a youth worker and the mother of three teenagers. She is a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ speaking team and works with teens one-on-one mentoring, leading small groups, and teaching at conferences. To read more go to www.lynncowell.com.  At the site you’ll also find a FREE Leadership Guide for those who feel moved to lead a group through the study of His Revolutionary Love. 

CHOCOLATE!

CHOCOLATE! It's on my mind today as I read Deb Burma's new devotion book, "A Chocolate Life." 

Deb is a good friend of mine and I'm blessed to know her--as a writer and as a friend. She has a way of applying Biblical principles to "real life" lessons. I'm just starting to read "A Chocolate Life" and am excited to read more--AND to try the delicious-sounding recipes she's included in the book.

Go to her blog at http://debburma.blogspot.com/ and read a sample devotion. You'll be back for more! "A Chocolate Life" would make the PERFECT Valentine's Day gift--the price is right and the book will fit in an envelope with a card. ENJOY!

Columbus Medical Mission Team Returning to Nicaragua

(for more information go to www.columbusmedicalmission.blogspot.com) 

By Shelly Burke, Editor

The Columbus Medical Mission team is partnering with Valley Christian Fellowship of Shasta through Global Passion Ministries of Redding, CA, to team up with a group of surgeons and staff to provide surgical and medical services to people who have minimal or no access to healthcare. The team will be treating people in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. The trip will take place February 9-23, 2012. (For more information about conditions in Nicaragua, see the December issue of the Nebraska Family Times.)

Members of the Columbus team include Dean & Carolyn Athey, Karl & Sue Tillinghast, Jody Dreifurst, Sherilyn Haswell, and Melissa Shemek. Team members will assist with surgeries and trouble-shoot and repair equipment in and around the hospital. Several members of the team have been on mission trips before. The Columbus team will be working side by side with the California team, which  includes two surgeons and an anesthesiologist as well as recovery room nurses and children’s ministry staff.

The ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeons will be performing tonsillectomies, ear, thyroid, and nasal surgeries, and repairing cleft lips. General surgeons will be repairing hernias and doing abdominal surgeries.

During the trip in 2011 more than 300 local people were seen in the clinic; since the trip is longer this year, more people will be seen and treated and over 100 surgeries will be performed.

Supplies are very limited in Puerto Cabezas, so the team must take surgical gloves, medications, surgical supplies, and so on. They must also buy gasoline for generators that provide power when the electricity goes out, which can happen several times every day. The team also pays local people to act as interpreters, nurses, surgical techs, and a nurse anesthetist.  

Dean and Carolyn Athey have been on two previous trips to Nicaragua and look forward to their third trip. According to Carolyn, “We have received so much more from these trips than what we have given. It is a rewarding and life-changing experience to serve people who have nothing and where health care is almost non-existent. We are so lucky to live where we do!”

Carolyn anticipates seeing people they’ve met on previous trips. “When we returned for our second trip, it was fun to recognize people and see how they looked forward to our trip and appreciate that we cared enough to come back.”

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Please keep the Columbus Medical Mission Team in your prayers as they prepare to leave next week!  The Mission Team is almost completely packed for their trip, which begins Feb. 9^th. Monetary donations are needed; the team will need to buy fuel for generators that provide power to the operating rooms when the electricity goes out, which can happen several times a day. The team also pays local nurses, surgical techs, and a nurse anesthetist and local people also act as interpreters.

To make a donation, make your check out to the Columbus Medical Mission Team and mail it to Atheys, 3471 E. 14^th Ave., Columbus, NE 68601. For more information about the trip, call (402) 276-0638 or (402) 276-0640 or go to the blog at www.columbusmedicalmission.blogspot.com. The team will update the blog while they’re in Nicaragua, and the Nebraska Family Times will print a follow-up article in the April issue of the paper. Please keep the Medical Mission Team in your prayers as they travel, treat people, and spread God’s love and His Word!