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What if God asked you to give away every gift you've ever been given? What would this include? iPod? Car? A favorite pair of jeans? What about gifts that aren't things, like your good health, your musical abilities, your close-knit family? What would it look like to give these "things" away? How can you "pay it forward" on a day to day basis and what would your life look like if you did?

We want to know what you think! Talk about it with other SpringHill campers, staff and counselors on the SpringHill MySpace page. Or, if you have another question you'd like to discuss, email us.

say something

1. Have you ever given away a beloved gift that was given to you?
Yes
No
Not sure

2. Have you ever shared a non-material gift with someone?
Yes
No
Not sure

3. What is more difficult to give away, a thing that you really like or a non-material thing (like your time, your talent or your friendship)?
A material thing that I really like
A non-material thing

4. Why would it be hard to part with the best gift you've ever received?
I might not get it back
I'd feel lost without it
It's part of my identity
Friends think I'm cool because I have it
Because it's mine
I don't know

5. What would make it easier to give a beloved gift away?
Knowing that someone else really needed it
Believing that it made God happy
Knowing that I'd get a similar gift again someday
Seeing the joy on the other person's face when I gave the gift
Nothing would make it easy

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now playing

The Revolution from Inhabited
If you are a Superchick, BarlowGirl, or Sixpence None the Richer fan, or if you just need a wake-up call, check out the wonders of Inhabited's The Revolution. Founded by sister and brother duo Sara and Marcus Acker, Inhabited emerges with this awesome national debut, featuring a collection of rock songs that are written to lead teens of this generation to Jesus Christ through strong and meaningful lyrics, amazing guitar riffs and an extremely catchy sound. The best part of all, you can hear them live at a SpringHill Winter Teen Retreat! Get more on the Inhabited website or t he band's myspace page.

This Is Me: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Becoming the Real You by Jeffrey Dean
Want to know who you really are? Want the amazing life God promised? This honest book written especially for girls will help you begin a personal journey from here to extraordinary. It's an awesome book that every girl can use.

Watch This: A Getting There Guide to Manhood for Teen Guys by Jeffrey Dean
Trying to figure out who you are? Wish you knew how the Bible could help you get where you want to go? If your life is full of pressures and fears, this book can help. Don't miss the chance to live a huge life! To learn more about the author and his books, visit the Jeffrey Dean website.

what's your gift?

82_Fuchsia_SH_icon What would your life be like if you held every gift you received with a totally open hand? What if you woke up one morning and said what gift can I give away today? Be it friendship or a talent for guitar playing or your favorite hoodie, God loves it when we show our gratitude for every gift by freely sharing what we've been given. In this issue of Bounce, we'll take look at what it really means to be an Indian giver, and we'll hear from a surprising guy who has taken his artistic gifts and made a real gift of them. Plus, you'll get the scoop on one of our favorite bands from the SpringHill Music Festival and so much more!

news @ springhill michigan

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Who are you? Get IDed at a SpringHill Winter Retreat. Peel away the layers and find out who you really are and why God loves the real you so much! Bring your youth group to SpringHill for a weekend in February or March 2008. Experience live music from well-known bands, powerful words from hard-hitting speakers and the usual parade of extreme SpringHill activities. Check out the Winter Retreats web page for more information!

Thinking about some TST action next summer? It's time to start planning because registration for g2g Summer 2008 is almost here! Start thinking about summer now and start registering January 21. Don't miss the greatest summer yet. You've got to go!

Love SpringHill? Like to give your opinion about stuff? Join our SWISH team and tell us what you think about everything SpringHill. (Follow the link, click next to "SWISH" on the subscription page and then click the "update" button. We'll start sending you emails to ask your opinion about all kinds of SpringHill stuff.) With your help we can make this place the best camp on earth!

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be an indian giver

Freely you have received; freely give. —Matthew 10:8b

If you’ve ever heard someone called an Indian giver, it was probably not in a very positive context. Although, today, the name refers to someone who gives something and then takes it back, a real Indian giver was someone who received a gift and then passed the gift on to someone else. This attitude of openhandedness is the kind of attitude God wants us to adopt. We have freely received an over-abundance of gifts, both material things and non-material things, like shelter, love and specific talents and abilities. God desires for us to freely give these gifts away and be an Indian giver.

Think about this: Think of all the gifts you have received, which ones do you hold with an open hand? Which ones do you refuse to part with? What is a non-material gift you’ve been given? How could you “give” this gift to someone else?

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eric timm unplugged

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Eric Timm doesn’t look like your typical preacher, he doesn’t speak like your typical preacher and he doesn’t paint like your typical preacher. Paint? Yeah, this artist-turn-preacher uses a brush to paint the big picture of what God’s love is all about. Whether you’ve been to church all your life or you hardly know a thing about Jesus, Eric grabs your attention in a unique, visually stimulating way with his ‘unchurchy’ art and his passion for speaking God’s Truth. Here, Eric chats with Bounce about his ministry No One Underground and why he does what he does.

Bounce: What’s the story behind your ministry No One Underground?
Eric: Creating art has always been a way to communicate with God and to convey truth. But I don’t feel like there are Christian artists from previous generations whose work is inspiring fine artists in this generation. No One Underground provides a forum for challenging and inspiring the next generation in art.

Bounce: How did your ministry style evolve?
Eric: Doing art in ministry was kind of an accident. I painted in a service once and it all kind of snowballed from there.

Bounce: What has it been like to preach out of the box like that?
Eric: It’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I had to step out and seriously pray, “Okay, God, whatever you want to happen. I want to do what you want me to do.” But it can be painful. God’s way of getting us ready is not what we’re expecting.

Bounce: What do you think about when you speak and do your art?
Eric: I try to present the Gospel and the things of God without using religious imagery. I ask, “Would someone who didn’t have a relationship with Christ be drawn to this?”

Bounce: If you could only say one thing to a teen, what would you say?
Eric: There are a lot of people who have painted Jesus incorrectly — literally and figuratively — and may have left a bad image in your mind. But that’s not Jesus. That’s man screwing it up.