The Champions Spirit
Volume 68, Issue 21
May 31, 2009
“Keeping YOUR Flame Lit”
This past weekend was a blessing to all who attended the Spring Youth Retreat. After arriving Friday evening, we quickly set up our tents and camping gear. I was already developing friendships on the short bus ride to our park but was eager to build a deeper relationship with all who attended over the course of the weekend. After setting up our tents, and laying out our sleeping bags, we gathered around the campfire for our first period of devotion.
After a period of singing and praying together, Luke Sandhop and Tyler Jones spoke on the importance of the fire we were sitting around and how it represented our “spiritual flame.” Both presented an activity for us that evening. Our goal was to not let the fire go out throughout the entire weekend. They posted a signup sheet for one-hour shifts around the fire. I remember thinking to myself, “surely no one will want to sit around the fire all night, especially if they have to wake up in the middle of the night.” However, within the first few minutes of the sheet being posted, all the slots were FULL. My spiritual fire needed a spark before it could develop into a flame and I believe this was it. Throughout the weekend I saw God working in the lives of teens, in the leadership of C.J., Tyler, and Luke, and in the work of our chaperones. This helped my spark ignite into a flame that is still burning today!
We serve a God who is working in the lives of others even when we are not aware of it. One of my favorite stories replicating this is in the life of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. We all know the story well but notice verse 29 - “The Spirit told Philip, Go to that chariot and stay near it.” We know after this, Philip heard the Eunuch reading from Isaiah, and because of his understanding he was able to share and baptize the Eunuch. Do you think Philip had his “spiritual flame” lit because of this? I would say yes! God is constantly working in people’s lives in ways that we may not understand. The teens this past weekend were a great example of this and one I am so grateful for. Allow your flame to be lit so that you can encourage others to do the same! (Hebrews 3:13) Pray for your flame to be lit, burning bright, and ALLOW your flame to be seen to all so that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven! (Matthew 5:16)
Love all of you!
—Benjamin Treme
FAMILY MATTERS...
We consider each of our guests today as very special! Please come again as opportunity allows.
Our hearts rejoiced with the coming of Ramy In and Ryan Smith to be baptized into Christ last Sunday. Ramy studied with Charles and Lois Boyd and has been attending regularly. Ryan has been taught by his parents, grandparents and family (Wes, his father, baptized him.) He also has been involved in Bible classes and other activities at Champions. God bless both Ramy and Ryan in their decision. Joshua Freeman asked for prayers in his behalf as he goes through a time of life-transition. Also, Wendy Dickenson (John and Theresa Dickenson’s daughter) placed her membership with us! Wendy has a three-year-old daughter Caroline. What a great day!
Senior Sunday, in honor of our High School seniors, is next Sunday! We will be on our “Fifth Sunday schedule.” Jeremy Geurin, our youth minister will preach. After lunch, there will be a short devo and the showing of the student videos. (A money bowl will be in the foyer. This money is divided equally and given to the seniors.) There will be no evening services.
TNT is Tuesday. One of the main services will be helping prepare for our VBS (June 8-12!). We will eat at 6 p.m. and work until 8 p.m. See you!
Parting Thought: Words are best kept sweet—someday you might have to eat them!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!
Jeremy's Junction
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in the pew on a Sunday night, as it was singing night at Champions. Tyler Jones came to me and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. He said, "Hey dude, I'll lead a song if you will." I shook my head and said I would. Immediately, Tyler went to a couple of the other boys and asked them to lead a song. As we continued singing, more and more of our teenage boys (of all ages) proceeded to the front row to lead songs.
I had the best seat in the house! Anyone who could see what was going on in the front row knows what I am talking about. The guys were excited to be there! They were high-fiving and fist bumping all who either sat down beside them intent on leading a song, or had just finished leading a song. They encouraged each other in their own way to inspire each other to lead singing.
1 Corinthians 11
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
This is a passage that I like to talk on often. The story I just shared is a great illustration on how to properly execute this command. Tyler Jones goes to a couple of other teens and asked if they would lead songs with him. They agree and upon seeing a couple of fellow teens leading singing, several others joined the cause.
When people watch us, particular our Christian family, are they watching someone who is following Christ? If they follow our lead, where do they follow us to? You never know what the influence you have on someone's life will be. Be someone who decides to lead and inspire others to follow you, as you follow Christ.
I would like to thank the teens at Champions, especially Tyler who started this movement, for showing us such a great example on singing night.
On a different note, I want to encourage the parents and our teens, who have just finished 5th grade, to join us tonight immediately following services for an “Intro to Champions Youth Group Meeting” in the teen room upstairs. Feel free to bring snacks!
Along that same line, there will be a special "Intro to the Youth Group Party” for all incoming and present youth group girls, mentors, and female youth chaperones on Saturday, June 9 at the home of Laura Mize, from 5-10 p.m. The night will include dinner, goofy games, time for our older girls to impart some wisdom to the younger girls, and a question and answer time! Plan on a great evening of fun and fellowship!
—Jeremy Geurin
John's Jogs
I almost messed up thinking that this was the Memorial Day weekend. I guess it’s engrained in my head of it being the last weekend in May and it usually does fall that way. Well this sent me to the books to learn more about the history of the Day. My source is the Encyclopedia Britannica and The Folklore of American Holidays.
By federal law, Memorial Day is designated as a federal holiday and is observed the last Monday in May. This was established by congress in 1971. The origins of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was first known, are remote and mixed. In rural America, the custom of cleaning the cemeteries and decorating the graves, usually in late summer, was an occasion for reunions, revivals and picnics. Many cities and/or states claim to be the first like Boalsburg, Pa., Jackson and Columbus, Miss. and Arlington Heights, Va.
Memorial Day as a holiday was originally observed in the North on May 30 in honor of the soldiers who died in the Civil War. Before the close of the Civil War, May 30 was also observed in many of the southern states. There was no fixed celebration until May 5, 1868, when Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order Eleven designating May 30, 1868, “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion”; Logan did this, “with the hope that it will be kept from year to year.” May 30 was made legal in Rhode Island in 1874, Vermont in 1876 and New Hampshire in 1877.
By the second half of the 20th century it was recognized in all the states except Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. The May 30 celebration in Virginia was regarded as a Confederate Memorial Day. As late as 1967 when my Britannica was published, Confederate Memorial Days were celebrated in Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas on June 3, (Birthday of Jefferson Davis.); in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi on April 26, and South Carolina May 10. Later the Memorial Day was to remember all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in all wars and is commemorated by programs at national cemeteries across the nation as well as presidential appearance at Arlington Cemetery and placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Arlington National Cemetery received its first Union soldier for burial in May 1864.
Growing up in Tennessee I don’t remember anything about Memorial Day but I do remember Decoration Day. I especially remember going to church on Decoration Day and people wore lapel flowers – red if your mother was living and white if she was deceased. I remember wearing that white flower. Just last week I received a letter from the trustees of the cemetery where my parents and one brother are buried inviting me to the annual homecoming and decoration on June 7.
—John Qualls