It is easier to forgive an enemy than it is to forgive a friend. —William Blake You can’t undo anything you’ve already done, but you can face up to it. You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness. And then let God do the rest. —Anonymous play the game Want to win a free week at SpringHill AND a great waterproof digital camera to record all the fun? Go to the SpringHill Game website to play the game and be entered in the drawing! (Plus, we’ll be giving away an iTunes gift card every month!) talk about it Conflict is a huge part of life. Hardly a day goes by when we don’t experience it. In fact, a lot of our need to forgive and be forgiven comes out of the way that we (and others) handle conflict. How do you respond when a conflict arises at home or with a friend? Do you shut down, avoid the situation completely, shout it out or go to any end to argue your point? Is there an issue that seems to regularly resurface to cause friction with you and your parents or your friends? Could changing the way you handle conflict have an impact on your relationships and the issues that trip you up? Share your experience and opinions! Talk about it with other SpringHill campers and counselors at myspace.com/springhillcamps. Or, if you have another question you'd like to discuss, email us. say something 1. Who do you have to ask forgiveness from most often? Parents Brother or sister Friends Teachers Boyfriend or girlfriend God 2. What's the main reason you ask for forgiveness? I feel better I'm supposed to Jesus forgave me I am truly sorry Other 3. Some people say it doesn't matter what you've done when it comes to forgiveness. Do you agree or disagree? Agree Disagree Not sure 4. How do you normally handle conflict? Avoid it Try to make the other person happy Argue and try to get my way Get really angry Listen and calmly talk it out 5. Is there anyone in your life that you have a really hard time loving? Yes No If you do not receive a confirmation page after clicking submit, please click here. what you said · Only one third of your families volunteer or do things for others during the holidays. · More than half of you agree that being with family is your favorite holiday tradition. · The vast majority say that the Christmas story makes you feel grateful, overjoyed or in awe. A couple of you are confused by it. · Nearly 90% of you agree that it’s easy to forgive someone who hurts your feelings when they say, “I’m sorry.” · Who is most difficult to forgive? Nearly 70% say it’s yourselves. Siblings come in second.
a fresh start for a new year The Well has a whole new look this year. And so does the SpringHill website — check it out! The new website design makes it easier to find out what’s happening at your camp, as well as important news, like all the details on Summer 2007, and fun stuff, too, like our hot, new online game. As for The Well, we haven't changed what really matters. We're still bringing you important real-life issues to contemplate (including a look at God’s view of things and interviews with your favorite TST crew chiefs) and all the latest news about what’s coming up at SpringHill. This month you’ll find out a lot about forgiveness as well as when to register for Summer 2007! So look around, click on stuff and let us know what you think! what's happening at springhill indiana Are you ready for Summer 2007? Check out the SpringHill summer schedule and all the details about TST.  Then, start planning the best week (or weeks) of your summer! Go to the SpringHill website NOW (or remind your parents to go) to create an online account to be ready when registration opens January 22 at 6 p.m.!! Want to help SpringHill get ready for an awesome summer? Bring your family or your youth group to SpringHill for a volunteer day or weekend: Saturday, March 2; Saturday, May 12; or Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 25 - Monday, May 28. It’s a great opportunity to serve at SpringHill and have a blast doing it! For more information, visit our website. Then, have your parents or your youth group leader call Pam Wilkerson at 812-479-0008, ext. 102,  to register. Don't wait — space is limited!  our sin in the face of forgiveness Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. —Psalm 51:2-3 If you’ve ever wondered how to ask God for forgiveness, David’s words in Psalm 51 provide a good example. David did some appalling things — he looked at a woman lustfully; then, he had an affair with her; and then, he put her husband on the front lines during a major battle so he would be killed. That’s some serious sinning. And David knew it. David’s prayer to God in this Psalm clearly shows that his heart was broken over what he’d done. He was a man humbled and sorry. And we know that because of who God is and because of his great love for his children, David was forgiven. But does God’s forgiveness change the fact of what David had done? No way. David was released from debt, he was forgiven, but he still suffered the consequences of his sin. In the end, when we sin, it does matter what we’ve done. But with God’s forgiveness, mercifully, our sins are not held against us. Think about this: Have you ever heard someone say, “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done,” when talking about forgiveness? Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Have you ever asked God’s forgiveness for sins you’ve committed? How did you feel afterward? Did you still suffer consequences for your actions? tst crew chief speaks out If you were on TST this summer, you may remember crew chief Elise Sterrett. Formerly a SpringHill wrangler who also worked in the kitchen, Elise is now a junior majoring in history at Olivet Nazarene University and hopes to do mission work in Europe when she graduates. Here, Elise talks to The Well about forgiveness and how she handles conflict. The Well: Can you remember a time when you had to forgive someone or be forgiven for something big? Elise: I wasn’t a Christian until my senior year of high school, so my biggest need for forgiveness came when I accepted Christ. The Well: What did you experience as a result of seeking forgiveness? Elise: It was a huge relief. I felt that God’s forgiveness was all that I needed at that time. It was ultimate for me. The Well: What seemed big to you as a kid that now looks small? Elise: Seeking acceptance from people whose opinions didn’t ultimately matter. Now I know that I don’t need other people’s approval but it’s still hard not to fall back into the pattern. I still want to make people happy and be liked, but I try not to spend a lot of thought and effort on something that doesn’t have eternal value. The Well: How did you handle conflict as a kid? Have you made any changes as you’ve grown up? Elise: I avoided it and tried my best to make people happy. I am very anti-conflict, even as an adult. Since working at SpringHill, though, I have learned that this approach is not healthy. I have been working on addressing issues head on and talking things through. The Well: What advice do you have for students about forgiveness or handling conflict? Elise: Whether you need to ask for forgiveness or give it, think carefully about what went on and how to address it. Pray before you talk to the other person to be sure you have the right motives. now playing 5 Score and 7 Years Ago from Relient K: Okay, so this album hasn’t released yet (March 6). But the single “Must Have Done Something Right” is out, and according to SpringHill counselor Scott Michener, if it’s any indication of what’s to come, fans will not be disappointed. “Forgiven,” another track from the new album, can be previewed on the band’s myspace page, along with video podcasts. A track that didn’t make the album, “Fallen Man,” is also on the CD with the single. Says Scott, “It’s a great bonus — definitely worth a listen.” Visit the Relient K website to download the single and learn more about the band. Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller: If you’re seeking something deeper in your walk with God, SpringHill counselor Elise Sterrett recommends this book. “It helped me rediscover who Jesus is and what a relationship with him should really look like,” says Elise. Miller’s wit and transparent, comfortable style makes this a great read for anyone who not only wants a book they can’t put down but who also wants to take the next step in a relationship with God. Learn more about the book on Donald Miller's website.