This morning we finished up our work projects, and then headed over to the high ropes course at camp for a little adventure. Then we had our big Summerfest event at Bastrop Bible Church. Kids came in the Camp Wilderness Ridge bus from the Boys and Girls Club, and families from the other neighborhood BYBC clubs in Cedar Creek and Bastrop also came. So did families from our work project sites. We had lots of food, fun, music, dance, and fellowship.
Tonight we are closing out our week with a final worship around the campfire. Doug encouraged us to give thanks to God for his indescribable gifts. We partnered with 3 churches and welcomed their teens into our teams as if we had always know them. We had more kids in 5 clubs this year than in 9 clubs last year. Praise God!
Thanks for sharing in our journey of service and evangelism for the Lord in Bastrop this week. Here are some pictures from this our last day:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153058786260613.1073741831.695475612&type=1&l=d02800a051
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Thursday - a new work project and last day of Bible clubs
Today we had one new work project in a nice neighborhood where neighbors didn't know each other before the fires. With fewer trees, they discovered beautiful panoramic views, sunny areas for butterfly gardens, and the joy of neighbors - "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:3) We also rejoiced that Bill only cut up his jeans with his chain saw and not his leg!
Tonight was our last night of Bible clubs. Attendance was down to 68, but God is good, all the time. 4 more decisions for Christ which are being celebrated in heaven tonight, for a total of 21 decisions so far this week. Today the teens focused more on helping the kids truly understand the gospel and why Jesus died on the cross for us. The kids and their families will join us tomorrow night for Summerfest at Bastrop Bible Church.
In worship tonight, Sarah talked to us about God's amazing love. To better understand who God is, we need to understand how he loves us. Hosea exemplifies this. God told Hosea to choose Gomer the prostitute for his wife. God uses Hosea's relationship with and love for his wife to illustrate His own unconditional love for His chosen people the Israelites. Gomer is unfaithful to the one who has given her everything in life, just like the Israelites are unfaithful to God who who has given them everything. Like Gomer strayed away from her life with Hosea, we too often stray away from God's way of life he has planned for us. God's love is passionate for us, but requires discipline that can lead to his wrath against our sin, and yet it is faithful and relentless in his pursuit of us. Even though Hosea's wife was unfaithful, he was told to return to his wife and love her and her illegitimate children, just as God continually returns to the unfaithful Israelites with unconditional love.
More pictures of our work projects and last Bible clubs:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153055780785613.1073741830.695475612&type=1&l=26ecd5aa2c
Tonight was our last night of Bible clubs. Attendance was down to 68, but God is good, all the time. 4 more decisions for Christ which are being celebrated in heaven tonight, for a total of 21 decisions so far this week. Today the teens focused more on helping the kids truly understand the gospel and why Jesus died on the cross for us. The kids and their families will join us tomorrow night for Summerfest at Bastrop Bible Church.
In worship tonight, Sarah talked to us about God's amazing love. To better understand who God is, we need to understand how he loves us. Hosea exemplifies this. God told Hosea to choose Gomer the prostitute for his wife. God uses Hosea's relationship with and love for his wife to illustrate His own unconditional love for His chosen people the Israelites. Gomer is unfaithful to the one who has given her everything in life, just like the Israelites are unfaithful to God who who has given them everything. Like Gomer strayed away from her life with Hosea, we too often stray away from God's way of life he has planned for us. God's love is passionate for us, but requires discipline that can lead to his wrath against our sin, and yet it is faithful and relentless in his pursuit of us. Even though Hosea's wife was unfaithful, he was told to return to his wife and love her and her illegitimate children, just as God continually returns to the unfaithful Israelites with unconditional love.
More pictures of our work projects and last Bible clubs:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153055780785613.1073741830.695475612&type=1&l=26ecd5aa2c
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Wednesday - Wet n Wild Day
Today we continued pulling weeds and clearing brush in our work projects, including one new one. Tonight we had even more kids (93) in the clubs with 4 decisions to follow Christ. The angels are celebrating with us tonight!
In worship, Austin talked about living a life of right relationships - with Christ. As he went out on his own to college for the first time, Austin was priviledged to join a group of 5 guys who became his accountability partners. High school D-groups can be that kind of group, so Austin encouraged the students to join one. Then he talked about how Paul in the New Testament was encouraging and not condescending as he taught those he discipled. 1 Peter 2:17 says to show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, and fear God. He encouraged the students to show justice - God's love - to those in need, but also to those you see everyday. Austin shared how he was timid with those on the lacrosse team, but we need to be bold and get out there as our theme verse says - ask, seek, and knock on the door of opportunities for serving God and others.
More pictures depicting our work projects and our fun, wet and wild activities in our Bible clubs today:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153051703715613.1073741829.695475612&type=1&l=b663d2f6e5
In worship, Austin talked about living a life of right relationships - with Christ. As he went out on his own to college for the first time, Austin was priviledged to join a group of 5 guys who became his accountability partners. High school D-groups can be that kind of group, so Austin encouraged the students to join one. Then he talked about how Paul in the New Testament was encouraging and not condescending as he taught those he discipled. 1 Peter 2:17 says to show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, and fear God. He encouraged the students to show justice - God's love - to those in need, but also to those you see everyday. Austin shared how he was timid with those on the lacrosse team, but we need to be bold and get out there as our theme verse says - ask, seek, and knock on the door of opportunities for serving God and others.
More pictures depicting our work projects and our fun, wet and wild activities in our Bible clubs today:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153051703715613.1073741829.695475612&type=1&l=b663d2f6e5
Tuesday - New work projects and more kids in clubs
Tuesday we had some new and pretty cool work projects and locations. The camp team got to take canoes into the Wilderness Ridge lake and pull up lily pads. Other teams continued to pull weeds and clear brush on homesites where owners are rebuilding. One owner had a litter of puppies the kids enjoyed playing with.
On Tuesday night we had even more kids in clubs (81) and more decisions for Christ (9). One club from Grace Bible Church, is in Cedar Creek, 45 minutes from the camp. They had 28 little kids in the club. The host's son, Noah Garcia, told the story of how Jesus washed the dirty feet of his disciples to serve them, and then Noah washed each of the kids' feet. So awesome!
In worship, Kelsey talked to us about how we think of justice versus how God defines it. We think if someone does wrong to us then we can do wrong to them. Kelsey related this to how she felt about her parents' divorce as a young child. She also shared the story from Luke 19 about how Jesus showed Zaccheus merciful love even though everyone else hated him because of how he treated them as a tax collector. In closing, she shared the story of a little 9 year old girl she got to know this summer, developing a relationship with her and finding out about her broken family life. She learned to show her merciful love, even when the little girl refused to obey.
Here are some pictures of our day's activities:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153046473245613.1073741828.695475612&type=1&l=71742a2597
On Tuesday night we had even more kids in clubs (81) and more decisions for Christ (9). One club from Grace Bible Church, is in Cedar Creek, 45 minutes from the camp. They had 28 little kids in the club. The host's son, Noah Garcia, told the story of how Jesus washed the dirty feet of his disciples to serve them, and then Noah washed each of the kids' feet. So awesome!
In worship, Kelsey talked to us about how we think of justice versus how God defines it. We think if someone does wrong to us then we can do wrong to them. Kelsey related this to how she felt about her parents' divorce as a young child. She also shared the story from Luke 19 about how Jesus showed Zaccheus merciful love even though everyone else hated him because of how he treated them as a tax collector. In closing, she shared the story of a little 9 year old girl she got to know this summer, developing a relationship with her and finding out about her broken family life. She learned to show her merciful love, even when the little girl refused to obey.
Here are some pictures of our day's activities:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153046473245613.1073741828.695475612&type=1&l=71742a2597
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monday - Starting work projects and clubs
Monday morning bright and early we went to 3 different locations for work projects. We cleared land of burnt dead trees and prepped it for future construction. At the camp we cleaned tents and worked on the trails. After cooling off at the YMCA pool in Bastrop State Park in the afternoon, we headed back to camp for dinner and prep to go out to our BYBCs.In the early evening we led 5 different Bible clubs hosted by families from Grace Bible Church, Bastrop Bible Church, and River Valley Christian Fellowship. 68 kids attended our clubs and 4 prayed to receive Christ! A great turnout and response to the gospel for the first night, praise God!
After clubs, we enjoyed a wonderful time of worship outside by a campfire. Sarah Fountain led us in worship songs and Laura Combs encouraged us to do justice out of merciful love (Micah 6:8). This summer the Community Impact interns are reading and studying Generous Justice by Timothy Keller, so this week in our devos and worship, they are sharing what God has been teaching them through this study. Laura shared examples of how people in the Bible like Job made generous justice their lifestyle - providing for and serving others, not looking for recognition from the world, but working to praise God.
Here are some pictures which capture some of the moments of our day:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153044507075613.1073741827.695475612&type=1&l=d85f363bad
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sunday - Our first day!
We had a great first day at Go Bastrop. We started off decorating our vans and praying for our trip. Our first stop was at the Church Under the Bridge where we spent time with people from the Austin homeless community, listening to their stories and worshiping God together with songs, words of praise and encouragement, and dance. Then we had lunch at Festival Beach and snocones before we arrived at Camp Wilderness Ridge, along with a wonderful downpour of rain, which Bastrop needs so much. We spent the afternoon inside doing some team building games as well as doing BYBC training for 12 teens from Bastrop Bible Church and River Valley who are joining us for the week!The rain let up just in time for dinner and our trip out to the Bastrop overlook for a time of worship and prayer for our work projects and Bible clubs in the homes of people in Bastrop and Paige this week. Katy Paty, our Community Impact Emerging Leader, shared a message from Phillipians 2:1-11, and Sarah Fountain led us in songs of praise and worship.
After worship, we headed back to camp to finish off the evening dancing with Dorothy Cielonko. Such a fun and blessed day!
Here are some pictures to capture our moments:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153041786265613.1073741826.695475612&type=1&l=ed367dfcff
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phillipians 2:3-4
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Go Bastrop 2013 is just 5 days away!
Theme this year: EXPLORE GOD
Only few days left until we leave to go to Bastrop! Remember to arrive at 8:00 AM in front of the church offices of HCBC Austin Lakeline campus this coming Sunday, July 21. Bring one suitcase and a backpack with your BYBC materials, water bottle, sunscreen, insect repellent, closed-toe shoes, work clothes, gloves, towels, sleeping bag, swimsuit, etc - and food donations for the Back Pack program.
Verse for Go Bastrop: Ask, Seek, Knock
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7Parent Opportunities:
Bring 8 sandwich bags with 4-6 cookies, brownies, or rice krispie treats to Summerfest at Bastrop Bible Church, 602 Pecan Street on Friday, July 26. Arrive by 5:30 PM. Or you can drop off your cookies at HCBC NW at the front desk by noon on Friday. Lots of volunteer opportunities at Summerfest with food and at the game booths.
Contact information:
To volunteer, contact Cathy Laws at claws310@gmail.com, or call 512-630-5511 or 512-769-4429 (Tom Laws).
Pick up students on Saturday, July 27th, at 10:30 AM at HCBC.
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