Register Now for 2011 Studies!

After much prayer and consideration, the Illinois study and Indiana study have agreed to come together for a joint study!  We anticipate this to be a beneficial decision for everyone.  It will allow us to keep costs lower, interact with brothers from different parts of the country, and edify one another with a larger group.

So, join us September 16-17, 2011 as we study “Blessed Are The Peacemakers: Challenging Us To Resolve Conflict Through Christ” at Ross Camp in Lafayette, IN. Online registration and payment can be made through our website using credit card/PayPal.

> Learn more about this weekend and register.

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE!

For those who wish, we now have secure, online registration available!  You can pay with Paypal or any major credit card. Simply click the link for online registration, fill in the form with your selections and click “submit.”  Once you have sent us your registration form, use the “payment” tab to make one online payment for every person in your household who plans to attend.  The online registration process is quick and secure.

How is your foundation?

1 Cor. 3:11 – “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (ESV).

Foundations are critical to any building project. A while back I was preparing material for a study on Evidences, and I came across some information on the ancient Egyptians’ method for preparing a foundation for a pyramid. They had devised a brilliant process where they would dig a trench along the four sides of the proposed base, then they would fill the trench with water and place lengths of wood on top of the water. As the water stopped moving the floating wood would allow them to accurately determine level, after which they would begin construction of the pyramids foundation.
Multiple times in the opening of 1 Corinthians, Paul told them that the foundation their new lives were built on was the crucified Jesus.
1 Cor. 1:23 – “…but we preach Christ crucified,“
1 Cor. 2:2 – “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.“
1 Cor. 3:11 – “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.“
If we attempt to build our spiritual lives upon something other than Jesus, we are going to turn ourselves into something other than Christians. Ultimately, a life built on something other than Jesus will not stand.
What kind of foundation have you been building on lately? Is it time to start fresh by removing faulty edifices, tearing out an inferior foundation and beginning anew with Jesus? And what have you been preaching to people? Are you trying to attract them with something other than the crucified Christ? If so you they are building on a foundation that will not be able to withstand much here on earth and definitely won’t pass God’s final inspection.
Let’s all give ourselves a close inspection and see if our personal foundations pass Paul’s test.
Jeremy Dehut
Avon, IN

Consequence Free Living?

Pro. 3:21-24 – “My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.  Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.  If you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” - ESV

I remember how old I was when my parents taught the valuable lesson that I was always free. That’s right, always!  I had disobeyed them, been corrected and then had some privileges removed.  As I struggled with whether I would obey, my parents said something that worked on my heart over the following weeks and months.  Basically they said, “You are always free to make your own choices.  You always have the choice to obey or disobey.  God has given all of us free will and we can never take that away from you.  What you are asking from us is the ability to make choices free of consequences and no one is able to do that.”
What Proverbs does is teach us that we must choose one of two ways of living, the way of wisdom or the way of folly.  To help us make our decision, Solomon spelled out the blessings that come to those who choose wisdom as well as the consequences that fall on those who choose folly.
The truth is we really don’t want consequence-free living.  As much as we dislike the consequences of folly, we like receiving the blessings of wisdom!  We can’t have one without the other.  When we realize this we begin to see God’s purpose in consequences.  He built consequences into life to motivate us to choose the blessings!  God uses both of these tools to help us choose what is ultimately best for us and in his wisdom leaves us free to choose either one.
One application to make of this is in the area of parenting.  As parents we need to help our children learn that there are natural consequences to choosing folly and allow them to experience those consequences.  The temptation is to protect them from experiencing anything unpleasant, but in the end that will keep them from learning the lesson God meant for them to learn.  We also need to make sure that there are times when they experience the natural blessings of choosing to obey and make wise decisions.
As God’s children and as we parent’s of children, may we all learn to choose wisdom and the blessings that come with it!
Jeremy Dehut
Avon, IN

Free Audio Bible!

From time to time as we come across tools we find useful in our daily readings, we will pass them along to you.

This last week I was searching for an audio Bible that I could use with my iPod while traveling and listening to the dock we have in the kitchen.  I came across this great site and wanted to share it with you.
www.faithcomesbyhearing.com
From this site you can purchase entire Bible versions, dramatized and non-dramatized.  However, one of the neatest features of the site is that you can initially download one version of the NT for free!  After registering an account with them, you can receive credits for up to 4 more NT versions for free!  If you’re looking for a quality NT audio Bible, I would encourage you to look at this site.
They also have a podcast you can get for free that will take you through Proverbs in 31 separate files.  The podcast is called “31 Days of Wisdom and Inspiration.”
I pray your Bible reading this year has helped you grow closer to God and stronger in the faith!
Your friend and brother,
Jeremy Dehut