If you have it [Love], you don't need to have anything else, and if you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have.
—Sir James M. Barrie

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.
—Henry Ward Beecher

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 (new and improved) game and be entered in the drawing! (Plus, we’ll be giving away an iTunes gift card every month!)

talk about it

Okay, admit it. Loving people who love you back is pretty easy. But loving those who won’t give you the time of day or who are downright mean can be difficult at best. Jesus was all about love and he never hesitated to share his love, especially with the most unlikely people. We know that following Jesus means that we should offer this same kind of unconditional, impartial love to others. So, what holds you back? Why do you have a difficult time loving certain people?

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

say something

1. Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt unlovable?
Yes
No

2. Who makes you feel most loved?
Family
Friends
God
People at SpringHill
Other

3. What keeps you from loving someone?
A bad experience
My own prejudice
Selfishness
Seeing something I don't like in myself
The way they treat me
Other

4. If you heard something juicy about a friend, would you tell someone else (even if you knew it would hurt your friend)?
Yes
No

5. Have you ever gossiped?
Yes
No

If you do not receive a confirmation page after clicking submit, please click here.

what you said

· More than 90% of you say that God is the one you ask forgiveness from most.

· More than half of you ask for forgiveness because you are truly sorry; 23% say you ask because it makes you feel better; and 15% do it because you're supposed to. 

· 40% of you agree that it doesn't matter what you've done when it comes to forgiveness; another 40% aren't sure. 

· A small majority say you handle conflict by arguing to get your way; the rest of you are split between avoiding conflict, trying to make the other person happy and listening and talking it out.

· Is there someone in your life who's really difficult to love? More than 75% say "yes."

they'll know we are christians by our love

How do people know you? Are you known for your impartial love of others? For your kindness toward people who don’t seem to deserve it? Most of us wouldn’t be able to say, “that’s me,” because loving those outside our circles is tough. In fact, in our last survey, more than 75 percent of The Well readers said that there is someone in their life who is really difficult to love. With Valentine’s Day, hearts and signs of “love” are everywhere this month, making it a good time to think about how we show our love and who we show it to and who we leave out. In this issue of The Well, we’ll take a deeper look at Jesus’ command to love our neighbor and explore about why it’s so difficult to love certain people. We’ll also give you all the latest SpringHill news, link you to our new-and-improved online game and share some music we think you’ll dig. Read on. We think you’ll love it!

news @ 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 register!

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! 

loving every image bearer

So God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. —Genesis 1:27

The rude, loud-mouthed classmate who makes fun of your non-partying lifestyle. The relative who has put you down your whole life. The annoying neighbor who never goes out of his way for your family even when you do so much for him. There is someone in all of our lives who is difficult to love.

Jesus commanded us to love others, but did he really mean those who don’t show us any love in return? Why make the effort? Right here in Genesis God tells us why — we are all, every one of us, created in God’s image. We all have indescribable value and are all worthy of love.

Think about this: Do you believe that everyone is worthy of love? Do you believe they are worthy of your love? What holds you back from loving someone? Does knowing that every person is created in the image of God change your perspective on loving the “unlovable”?

tst crew chief speaks out

If you were on TST this summer, you may remember crew chief Ryan Ernst. Now a senior majoring in youth ministry at Cedarville University, Ryan will be InPursuit lead counselor next summer. Here, Ryan talks to The Well about the big "l-o-v-e."

The Well: Was there a time in your life when you felt unlovable?
Ryan: Before I became a Christian in my freshman year of high school I was hanging out with a group of friends who didn’t really love me. We had the mentality that the more people we could dislike, the better we could feel about ourselves. But it ultimately made me feel lower and unlovable.

The Well: Do you remember a time when you felt really loved?
Ryan: Right now. I have developed deep relationships where I can be open to people. I feel very loved through that.

The Well: Is there someone in your life who’s been difficult to love?
Ryan: I have a coworker that I go out of my way for but she never reciprocates. Sometimes it feels like I’m going out of my way for nothing.

The Well: What keeps you from loving someone?
Ryan: Initial impressions and bad experiences can hold me back. Also, when I clash with someone it can be difficult to show that person love.

The Well: What advice do you have for students about how to follow Jesus’ command to love God and love others?
Ryan: Love a person for who he is and what God made him to be. We are all image bearers of Christ and we need to see people this way. God knows us by name and that’s how we should love others.

now playing

Brother, Sister from Me Without You: A cross between indie rock and punk, the music produced by this Pennsylvania-based band can’t be easily categorized says SpringHill Crew Chief Ryan Ernst. “They make music the way they think it should be made,” says Ryan. “Plus, they write lyrics that are honest about the struggles of life. They have a real heart for the downtrodden.” Check out the band’s website for more information on their music and to read some deep thoughts in their journal.

These Friends of Mine from Rosie Thomas: A digitally released album, this recent venture from singer/songwriter Rosie Thomas is really an indie/folk collaboration recorded in a Brooklyn apartment with friends Denison Witmer and Sufjan Stevens (who is building an incredible following of his own). SpringHill counselor Karlee Kage likes the mellow, near lullaby-like sound and how Rosie integrates her faith into her lyrics. Visit Rosie’s website to listen to a couple tracks.