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Share It
God gave us each an awesome body. If
you were a camper at SpringHill this summer, you used it to do some
amazing things (fly off the blob, run through the paintball field, hold
on for dear life to that zipline cable). Although we often think and
act otherwise, our bodies don't really belong to us. When we choose to
follow Jesus, we do it with more than just our minds or even our
hearts; we do it with our whole self. For instance, do you know that
you are loved unconditionally by the God of the universe? If so, do you
find opportunities to share this great hope with others? God wants us
to share his love and the story of what he's done in our lives with
everyone we meet. We can do it with our lives and the way we act, but
we can also use our mouths to tell people about the hope that we have.
This issue of Bounce
is full of encouragement for ways to share your faith and to claim your
testimony - the story of your experience with God. In other words,
we'll give you some God-honoring ways to use your mouth. Read on!
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News @
SpringHill Michigan
Now that there's a winter chill in the
air, it's time to tell your youth leader about our awesome 2007 Winter
Retreats. Get your group to SpringHill Michigan for heart-thumping live
music, captivating speakers and wild and crazy snowy fun: February
23-25 and March 2-4, 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25. Ask your youth leader
to visit the Winter
Retreats page on the
SpringHill website to get your group on board!
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Love Is the
Reason
Jesus replied,
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the
Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." -Matthew
22:37-40
Have you ever been in a situation
where you had the perfect opportunity to share your faith with someone
and you let it pass? Maybe a friend asked about your summer and you
could have told him about SpringHill and how you experienced God there
but, instead, you just told him you spent a week playing paintball. Or
maybe a group you were with started saying some negative things about
Christians or discounting Jesus but you just couldn't find the courage
to speak up. Sharing our faith, especially when we have a fear of
looking weird or offending someone, can be difficult. So why do it at
all? These verses in Matthew give us the most important reason - out of
our love for God and our love for others. Jesus says that these are the
greatest commandments in the Bible. They show us the ultimate way to
live our lives. Love is definitely shown through action, but it can involve
words, too. So, the next time you have an opportunity to share the
change that Jesus has made in your life and the unconditional love that
God has shown you, remember these words from Jesus and share the love.
Think about
this: When are times that it's
difficult to share your faith? What keeps you from doing it? What
should compel us to love God and to love others? Why would love make
you want to share Christ?
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 A
SpringHill Counselor Speaks Out
This summer's New Frontiers campers may remember counselor Tim
VanDerBilt. Well, he's still here! A church and ministry leadership major
in his junior year at Trinity Christian College
in Palos Heights, Illinois, Tim is currently doing an
internship at SpringHill. (Lucky guy!) He talked to Bounce about
the difference Jesus has made in his life and how he shares this Good
News with others.
Bounce:
Why do you have a relationship with Jesus?
Tim:
I was raised in a Christian home but I fell away in junior high. I
decided that if I didn't believe in God, I wouldn't have to follow all
the rules. Before high school, I went to an Acquire the Fire youth rally
and I really felt God there. I decided that life was better with God than
without him.
Bounce:
How have you shared Jesus with people since then?
Tim: I
led a 7th and 8th grade guys small group for a while and it was open to
anyone. A lot of kids showed up who didn't know Jesus and I had the
chance to talk about him with them. Also, in high school, I worked at a video
store and my life was pretty clearly a lot different than the other
employees. I didn't watch certain movies or go to certain parties. I was
able to share my faith in the way I acted.
Bounce:
In general, do you find it easy or difficult to share your faith? What
helps you?
Tim: It's
easy now because I've done it so much, but in high school it was kind of
scary. But when I see the kind of impact a life lived with Jesus can have
on people, how lives can be changed around, it makes me want to tell more
people about him.
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SpringHill
Stunts
If you're up for a challenge and a way
to stump your friends, we'll be giving you a new stunt to pull off each
issue of Bounce.
One month we'll give you the challenge and the next month we'll show
you how to conquer it! Are you ready? Here's the first SpringHill Stunt
(watch
the video to see what to do or read the
directions below):
1. Get a rope or long piece of thick
string and hold it with both hands.
2. Without removing either hand from
the rope (even for a second), tie an overhand knot in the rope.
Look for the solution in next month's
issue of Bounce.
Good luck!
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 Now Playing
X2007:
New Frontiers counselor Tim VanDerBilt likes the variety of familiar and
up-and-coming Christian rock artists on this compilation CD. From
straight-up rock to punk to grunge, this hot new release will give you an
overview of what Christian music has to offer and an easy opportunity to
find some favorites. Check out previous year's LPs as well: X2006, X2005,
X2004...you get the picture. Visit the X website to see the playlist.
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 Battlecry.com: Okay,
so you think you can't tear yourself away from MySpace, but this online
community for Christian teens is worth a look. A wake-up call to the
potentially harmful effects of getting immersed in popular culture, this
site encourages you to create a "battle plan" (basically, a
commitment) for how you will step up and make a difference in your world.
Read some featured Battle Plans to get the idea; then, consider logging
in to add your own and start some conversations with other Christian peers.
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Evangelism is
just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
-D. T. Niles
Words which do not give the light
of Christ increase the darkness.
-Mother Theresa
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Talk About It
Have
you ever heard the testimony of someone who had been delivered from
some really serious trouble and thought, "I wish my testimony was
more exciting?" What testimony have you been blessed with? Or do
you even think of it that way? Do you think your spiritual journey is
less important or less interesting than others if it isn't a crazy
story? Or, is your testimony such a painful or difficult story that you
feel awkward or embarrassed about sharing it?
We want to know what you think! Talk about it (and share your own
testimony) with other SpringHill campers and counselors at myspace.com/springhillcamps.
Or, if you have another question you'd like to discuss, email us.
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What You Said
59% of you say that you think about God more than once a day.
29% feel closest to God when you pray; 24% say going to youth group helps give you that
connection.
More than half of Bounce readers give into
temptation most often because of peer pressure; 18% say its because it's just too hard
to do the right thing.
If you could focus on one thing to get
closer to God, 35% say it would be to read the Bible and 35% say that talking to someone about your faith and questions would do it.
As for whether or not it's important to
have Christian friends, 88%
of you say yes; the rest aren't
sure.
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