Today’s “Beyond the 21 Day Challenge” passage is Psalm 119:57-112. Click here to read it online.
Beyond the 21 Day Challenge :: September 1
September 1st, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
September 1st, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
the Beyond the 21 Day Challenge passage for today is Psalm 119:1-56. Click here to read it online.
Don’t forget the 4 steps of journaling and processing God’s Word that we talked through this summer:
- READ :: Read through the entire passage for the day and pay attention to what moves you as you read. Choose 1-3 verses that move you to focus on for the next step.
- WRITE :: Write those 1-3 verses out in a journal (either electronic or handwritten). You can write the verse(s) in your own words or you can just write it out as it is written in your Bible. The goal is to begin moving this passage from your head to your heart.
- PRAY :: In response to those 1-3 verses you have focused on, write out a short prayer to God. It could be a prayer of praise, confession, thankfulness, repentance or even of frustration. Just be honest before God.
- DO :: write out 1 action step that you are going to take today in response to what God has taught you in these 1-3 verses.
Feel free to share what God is teaching you in the comment section on this blog each day!
Beyond the “21 Day Challenge” Bible Plan
September 1st, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
September 1st, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
So many of you who attended Ponderosa Lodge this summer have been asking for a Bible reading plan to follow up with the 21 Day Challenge. You asked and we’ve got it!
Each day, we will post the daily passage here on the blog. We encourage you to read each day and share your thoughts in the comments section on this blog. We will also tweet the daily passage through @MH_Youth and do a facebook fan page status update each day (see www.facebook.com/mounthermonyouth). There will be 6 readings each week with one day being a reflection day. If you get behind, don’t worry about trying to catch up-just pick up at that day’s reading.
Today, we will start in Psalm 119 and then read through the book of James. On September 12th, we are going to start a 3 month journey of reading through some key stories in the Bible.
Please share what God is teaching you. Let’s be people who sharpen one another as we read God’s Word together!
May God bless you and transform you as you read His Word.
Together for One Night Only: Noel Paul Stookey & John Fischer
August 27th, 2010 by Debbie Franck
August 27th, 2010 by Debbie Franck
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| Noel Paul Stookey | |
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| John Fischer |
Sunday, September 12, 2010
7:00 p.m. / Main Auditorium
Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center
Near Felton, California
FREE ADMISSION
Voluntary offering received
Dress warmly for indoor-outdoor venue
Singer/songwriter Noel Paul Stookey has been altering both the musical and ethical landscape of this country for decades—both as the “Paul” of the legendary Peter, Paul and Mary, and as an independent musician who passionately believes in bringing the spiritual into the practice of daily life. He has recorded over 45 albums, both as part of the trio and as a soloist.
John Fischer is also known as a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and also an author, magazine writer, and public speaker. He composed some of his most famous songs while on staff at Mount Hermon in the 1960s and 70s, and is widely known as the “grandfather of contemporary Christian music.”
Join us for this one-time special concert in the redwoods.
For more information, call 831.335.4466, or toll-free to 1-888-MH-CAMPS.
Once U-Ponderosa
August 22nd, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
August 22nd, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
One of our Ponderosa summer counselors, Hannah Barbarskis, posted this to her personal blog. We are re-posting it with permission. In it she shares what God taught her this summer. Enjoy!
It’s crazy to me that I just had my last week counseling for the summer. Ponderosa has truly become a second home to me. (more like 3rd or 4th home, ha)
I love it.
I love the camp, I love the people, I love the campers, I love the smell of the pines, waking up early to the morning mists, feeling the afternoon heat, I love Santa Cruz, and most significantly, this place has made my love for God grow incredibly. I can’t even express to you fully how much being a counselor has stretched me and caused me to grow.
Two main things I’ve learned:
1. How to truly love people… by loving God.
At camp I am given a group of girls that are mine for a week. Obviously, I never knew any of them before that week. My job is to love them, be Jesus to them. When a person is given a group of girls with different personalities, passions, and views (along with maturity levels) it’s easy to look at the group and think to oneself, “Well, these girls aren’t my type of people so I don’t need to hang out or love on them that much,” but as a camp counselor it is my job to love themfully, no matter what they are like or who they are. I’ve discovered that the only way I can do this and have the patience and a heart full for each and every one of them is by learning to love God more. By loving God more, I am able be filled with His pure love, which in turn causes me to have a huge heart for my girls and other campers. I’m amazed at the moments where I look at a camper that I usually would think, “Why the heck would I want to be around this person,” but I’ll be thinking to myself, “Wow, I LOVE this girl. I want to love on this girl”.
2. How to truly trust God for strength and taking care of my issues and struggles.
Camp is not a place where I’ve gotten a lot of alone time, if that at all. My thoughts are consumed with those around me. Don’t get me wrong, being a selfish human being, I definitely thought about myself a lot, but at camp I have other people to worry about too. As each week went by my physical energy decreased and my issues started coming out. It was hard for me to just fully give it all up to God for strength. Not just strength to counsel with energy and focus, but strength to deal with my issues and struggles. At camp, whatever weakness or problem a person has comes out. In an environment of ministry, where people are serving, it’s hard to hide those issues and not deal with them. I learned though, that God is so incredibly faithful to give me that strength and endurance I needed both physically and emotionally.
I feel so rewarded to have been a camp counselor at Ponderosa Lodge. All summer, I was blessed with support from my fellow staff (family). The community here truly feels like heaven! I felt so blessed that every day, whether I wanted it or not, Jesus was smack dab in my face.
Search me, O God, and know my heart!Try me and know my thoughts!And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 139:23-24
Revolution :: A High School Student Leader Retreat
August 16th, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
August 16th, 2010 by Charlie Broxton
The church is in need of a revolution.
In the 15 years that I have been doing youth ministry I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say, “Today’s youth are the future of the church.” I disagree with this statement. I believe that today’s youth are the church.
Just take a moment and read through stories in the Bible of the people who were the same age as today’s high school students. Mary, young King David, Esther, Josiah, and Daniel are just a few examples. Many of these people did great things for God and His Kingdom. Why would it be any different today?!
One of the best ways that we can contribute to this revolution is by raising up student leaders who are equipped and empowered to be lovers of Jesus and ministers of the Gospel.
John Wesely once said,
Give me one-hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon earth.
I would add one small clause to this quote:
Give me one-hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, 30 years old or 15 years old, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon earth.
Let’s be people who lead the church in this revolution!
If you are interested in Revolution, please call/email me with any questions or you can register by calling 1.888.MH.CAMPS. We are here to serve you!
-Charlie Broxton :: Director of Youth and Young Adults
