Bears vs Packers Game

Watching the bears vs packers game I the newly renovated Neale lodge!

Sunday @ Wintertainment

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we have reached the halfway point of our trip. Students could be found (yesterday & today) skiing, snowboarding, tubing, cross country skiing, ice skating, & playing games in the newly renovated neale lodge! I'll post some pics of the beautifully updated lodge tonight. 

Our speaker, Norm Hubbard, continues to challenge us with evidences of faith in Jesus from 1 John. Norm has told us, "these exams are not pass or fail in the sense that I am not saved if I do not show these evidences in my life, but rather a person who has truly been brought by God the Father to salvation should exude these characteristics." He has described these evidences as both sides of a coin. It would not be natural for someone to claim a quarter as only the "head" side or the "tails" side. Rather, a quarter has both tails and heads together. Our faith in Jesus is similar. Faith in Christ and obedience to Him should go hand in hand and not be separate or optional. It has been thought provoking and challenging for us all. 

Temperatures are scheduled to dip into the negative degrees tonight and into Monday morning. Please pray for the attitudes of the students as we plan and adjust the schedule for their safety.  

Razzleblast

Razzleblast = a mix between soccer and football! 

Wintertainment 2013 Session #1

The first session at Wintertainment 2013 is in the books! 

Our speaker for the week, Norm Hubbard, is on staff with the Navigators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He proudly displayed his love for the Green Bay Packers. Our group booed him like the proud Bears fans they are. Ok, maybe not, but you get the point! We decided not to hold it against him. ;) 

Regardless of his nfl fandom, God has brought Norm here to Wintertainment 2013 for a specific reason. He will be sharing with us this week from 1 John & answering a question that many people, especially students, struggle with. How do I know without any doubt that I am truly saved? How can I tell if I'm a true follower of Jesus if I don't "feel" like it sometimes?

 He introduced the topic tonight by asking whether people would know if we are followers of Jesus by looking at our everyday lives (our actions) the last few weeks. Would the evidence stacked up be able to convince ourselves? He encouraged the group by telling them that they can know for sure whether or not they are a true follower of Christ. 

1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the Son of God so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life."

Would you continue to pray for each of us, including Norm? Pray that we would be encouraged yet challenged in our relationship with Jesus. 

Here are a few pics from our session!

Wintertainment 2013

We arrived safely at camp forest springs around 3:30 this afternoon. The students settled into their cabins, ate dinner, & are enjoying various free time activities before our first session later tonight. Pictures to follow tonight's session!

Please continue to pray for the heart of each student to be touched by God in a special way this week.  Thanks for praying for us as we traveled today!