YAM eNews Week of August 17, 2003
If you would like to contribute to the YAM eNews, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.
=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
SUMMER EVENTS
EXPERIENCE: WORSHIP SPACE—HOLY WIND
FREE STUFF—Online Bible Software Sites
STUDYING ROMANS WITH PASTOR CHARLIE
STUFF FROM THE WEB—Cheap Ways to Decorate Your Dorm Room
[YOUR CONTRIBUTION COULD BE HERE]
THE GATHERING—The Ultimate Story
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY-- The book of Beginnings: Genesis 1-11
=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center
EATING TOGETHER, 4th Sunday @ 11:45 am
Next EATING TOGETHER is August 24
SDGs (SPIRITUAL DISCUSSION GROUPS)
The Gathering @ 10 am—YAM room
Current Study: "Seeing God in The Matrix" taught by Tom
An online summary is available weekly at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/
Communal Discovery @ 8 pm on Tuesdays—YAM room
Current Study: How it all began... Genesis 1-11
An online version is available weekly at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/
=============================
SUMMER EVENTS
Getty Museum
http://www.getty.edu/museum/
Saturday, August 23 @ 11 am to 7:00 pm (max ending time)
Meet at Aviation Station (Aviation and Imperial) at 11 am.
Bring $3 for transportation and money for lunch.
COLLEGE BRIEFING
August 29 to September 1
Forest Home
…CHRIST IS ALL THAT MATTERS… Colossians 3:11 NLT
Cost: $145 due now!
Scholarships available, ask Laura or Tom
Visit http://www.gospelcom.net/foresthome/collegebriefing2003.htm for info
Dodger Baseball—early September
=============================
EXPERIENCE: WORSHIP SPACE—HOLY WIND
Check out the fotolog for pictures from Experience. The next Experience will be in a couple months. More info later.
=============================
FREE STUFF—Online Bible Software Sites
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library provides—free of charge—downloadable bible software. It includes “official” components and “user-made” components. Some useful stuff. Remember, use the web with wisdom. Check it out.
There are also a number of use-it-online bible took sites:
Bible Gateway gives you access to lots of translations—newer ones like NIV, NLT, and NASB and older ones like Young’s Literal and King James.
Bible Tools at Crosswalk has translations, commentaries, dictionaries, and more.
Dr. Constable —a Seminary prof—has put all his notes on the internet. I have used these, and he gives a balanced opinion.
Knowing God Through the Whole Bible gives an overview of the Bible courtesy of the Radio Bible Class.
The Biblical Studies Foundation provides tons of articles, introductions, outlines, and more on biblical and theological subjects.
Bible History online has lots of stuff on history and archeology.
Finally, Resource Pages for Biblical Studies has links to tons more stuff.
Surf away, maties.
=============================
STUDYING ROMANS WITH PASTOR CHARLIE
The Christian View of Life, Part 19
LIVING WITHOUT CONDEMNATION
Romans 8:1-2
HOW GOD RESPONDS TO ME WHEN I SIN
GOD DOES NOT REJECT ME WHEN I SIN.
John 6:37
1) God’s love is unconditional.
Romans 9:15
2) My acceptance is not based on my performance.
Romans 9:16
3) My acceptance is based on my position in Christ.
Romans 3:21-22
GOD IS PATIENT WITH ME WHEN I AM INCONSISTENT.
Psalm 103:13-14
Hebrews 4:15,16
GOD DOES NOT PUNISH ME WHEN I SIN.
Punishment is payment for past sin.
Romans 5:18
1 Peter 3:18
Psalm 103:9-12
WHAT DOES HAPPEN WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS?
SIN BRINGS CONVICTION FROM GOD.
Conviction means God is making me aware of my sin.
Acts 2:37
SIN’S CONSEQUENCES HURT US AND OTHERS.
Galatians 6:7
OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD IS BROKEN.
1 John 1:6, 7
OUR USEFULNESS TO GOD IS LIMITED.
John 15:4
SIN BRINGS LOVING DISCIPLINE FROM GOD.
Hebrews 12:5-11
WE EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF REWARDS IN HEAVEN.
2 John 8, 9
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN DO WHEN HE SINS?
REMIND MYSELF THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY PAID FOR MY SIN AND IS RIGHT NOW UP IN HEAVEN PLEADING MY CASE BEFORE GOD.
1 John 2:1, 2
CONFESS MY SIN TO GOD.
1 John 1:9
ACCEPT FORGIVENESS AND FORGIVE MYSELF.
1 John 3:19, 20
Hebrews 9:14
=============================
STUFF FROM THE WEB—Cheap Ways to Decorate Your Dorm Room
An excerpt from “Cheap Ways To ...” ($8.99 from Relevant Books). Hope it helps you bring a little warmth to the tiny cube you'll be living in for the next nine months.
Adding your own personal style to your dorm room doesn't have to cost a fortune. A little time and creativity can do wonders for any room. Remember to build upon your existing decor (if you have any) rather than try to remodel everything. Try not to go overboard with trends; they become dated far too quickly. Televisions shows such as Trading Spaces are packed with budget ideas and worth a few afternoons or evenings of viewing time.
A TOUCH OF ART
Art comes in all forms, and it's important to keep an open mind.
…
JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH
It's usually the little things that make the biggest difference. Look for ways to add your own creative touch to the details of a room. Use inexpensive accessories such as pillows, plants, vases, plates, or lamps to brighten up a room and create atmosphere. Remember that you can always upgrade an old accessory with a new coat of paint.
…
CURTAINS
When it comes to curtains, it's time to get creative. If you can't find a set on sale, then visit the linen department of the store.
…
LIGHTEN UP
You can change the atmosphere of a room by changing the lighting. What kinds of lamps are you using? Could any of them be repainted? How would a different shaped shade or light bulb wattage affect them? Can dimmer switches be added to any of your lighting? Consider buying a new shade rather than replacing an entire lamp. Visit mass merchants such as Target and Wal-Mart for great prices. Make sure you unplug all lamps before painting or rewiring.
GET CREATIVE
Wonderful decor can be found at rummage and garage sales. Look for great prices, but also look for a product's potential. Which items can be given a new coat of paint and a new purpose? Old planters can be painted and rolled in the sand to add texture and a new look. Flower vases can be turned into fish bowls. An old chair can become a plant stand. Jewelry can be used to decorate or accentuate picture frames and lampshades. A mirror can be framed. An old paint roller pan can be painted, decorated and used to hold newspapers and magazines. Old windows can be used as frames for artwork. Add little quotes, pieces of wisdom, and Scripture to your creations to make them truly unique.
Adapted from Cheap Ways To ... available nationwide in and online at the RELEVANT Store for only $8.99.
=============================
[YOUR CONTRIBUTION COULD BE HERE]
=============================
THE GATHERING—The Ultimate Story
[also available at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/]
Well, for you all that missed it, we created the unofficial yam “mascots” today—Mr. Yam and Ms. Yam—and no, they’re not married; they’re just yams. Check out the yam fotolog on Monday for a picture.
Why it the world did we make people out of yams and what does that have to do with anything? Well, first off, it was funny. I mean, the guy is wearing a tuxedo! How cool is that?! Secondly, they’re a symbol of our story. Our story as individuals. Our story as YAM. Our story as the people of God.
More than that, they’re a symbol of the Ultimate Story. The Ultimate Story started when, in the beginning of everything, God created the heavens and the earth. When Eve was tricked into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God was not shocked. When Adam listened to the voice of another human—his wife—rather than listen to God, God was not shocked. God already had a plan. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians says that God chose us—before the beginning of everything—to be holy and without blame—to be adopted into his family (Ephesians 1).
So what is the Ultimate Story? Get your bible and turn to the last book—Revelation. Flip over to chapter 21. The first five verses of this chapter give us the subtitle of the Ultimate Story: God is making everything NEW. All of history—from the earliest cave paintings to the Mars orbiter, and all the stuff in between—from Genesis 1 clear through to today, August 17, 2003, in all of it God is working to make all things new.
Good news is, he has called us—chosen us—to join him in his recreation—in his making all things new.
So, back to the yam people—the symbols of our story. Let’s spin a tale. Imagine it is August 17, 2004. What will your life be like? What has changed? What has stayed the same? What has your life in 2003-2004 added to the Ultimate Story? How has YAM—as in Young Adult Ministry—been part of that story?
It is time to dream. It is time to spin a tale. It is time to change the world.
- Laura
=============================
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY-- The book of Beginnings: Genesis 1-11
[available—with more stuff—at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/]
Last week we looked at Genesis 3 (focusing on verses 1-7, the rejection of God’s rule).
Things to notice in the text:
- The serpent lives up to his “crafty” designation: in three simple steps, he raises doubts about God’s command, doubts about God’s truth-telling, and doubts about God’s motivation (vv. 1-4).
- The woman participated in her own deception, by understating and overstating the case (vv. 1-4; compare 2:16-17)
- Humanity was tempted to use God’s original design in an incorrect way. Compare v. 6 with 2:9.
Here are some thought questions:
- Did all the animals talk? some? just the serpent?
- Was the serpent able to talk because he was possessed by Satan, or was speech a natural ability?
- Had the woman been thinking about the Tree of Knowledge, or was this new?
- Was the man present during the woman’s discussion with the serpent, or did he arrive later? How does the text help you answer? What difference does it make?
- Read 1:26-27. Given the information in chapter 3 and in 1:26-27, are humans essentially good or essentially evil? Why? What difference does it make?
- If God knew humans would sin, why did he create us? A couple of options come to mind (there may be more): 1- God is mean. 2- Humans—beings made in God’s image—are valuable to God. Which option best fits with God’s revealed character?
Next week we’ll look at Genesis 4 (focusing on verses 1-15)
Get a headstart. Spend one of your personal worship times reading over Genesis 4.
--Laura
