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Seeing With New Eyes
Every year it’s the same thing. Some
cool gadget or fun party or shopping marathon to pull our eyes off the
wonder and true focus of the season. Or, maybe it’s just that
we’ve heard it so many times, for so many years, the Christmas
Story just doesn’t do it for us anymore. Wherever you’re at
in your search for the Christ child, The Well wants to offer
some encouragement on how to keep your eyes on Jesus this Christmas.
Plus, this issue has some great reviews and the inside scoop on how to
play the coolest online game (and have a chance to win some awesome
prizes, including a free week of summer camp!). You’ll also get
your first look at how you can register for Summer 2007!! Don’t
miss this issue!
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News
@ SpringHill Indiana
It’s time!! Time to start thinking
about Summer 2007 at SpringHill! Starting Friday, December 15, you can
see the whole summer schedule online at www.springhillcamps.com and start
planning the week you’ll be talking about for the rest of the year.
Be sure to check your mail after the first of the year for the Summer
2007 brochure; then go online to register. You or your parents can
go to the SpringHill website starting January 2 to create an online account
to be ready when registration opens January 22 at 6 p.m.!
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Open the Eyes of Your Heart
I pray that the
eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope
to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his
people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
—Ephesians 1:18-19a
Some of us pass through the Christmas season
in a haze. The endless decorating, shopping, family gatherings, church
services, and so on… it’s easy to get to January and not have
spent much, if any, time reflecting on why we’re even celebrating.
Whether it’s because we get jaded or overwhelmed or simply deadened
to the awesome miracle of God’s incarnation — his actual
putting on human flesh to come and live among us — it’s easy
to lose sight the significance of Christmas. In this passage in
Ephesians, Paul prays that Christ’s followers will be able to see
with new eyes, with eyes that come from the heart rather than the head.
Jesus’ birth was more than just a miracle, more than just a reason
to celebrate; it is our very hope. Nothing compares.
Think about this: What
could you do to see Christ’s birth with new eyes this Christmas?
Are you regularly awed by what God has done for you? What keeps you from
experiencing the awesome reality of Jesus' birth?
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A TST
Crew Chief Talks to The Well
If you were on TST this summer, you may
remember crew chief Tre Foley. A senior majoring in history education at Lee University, Tre
talks to The Well
about how he celebrates Christmas and remembers to put Jesus first.
The Well: How
will you celebrate Christmas this year?
Tre:
I’ll be home with my family in Virginia. On
Saturday we’ll celebrate at my grandmother’s house with all
my extended family.
The Well:
Is there anything special you do or your family does to keep the true
meaning of Christmas your focus?
Tre:
We read the Christmas Story every Christmas Eve. For the past couple
years I’ve been the one to read it.
The Well:
What’s one of your favorite Christmas memories?
Tre: One
Christmas when I was in high school, it snowed. That is a really big deal
in Virginia!
The Well:
Who do you most admire in the Christmas story?
Tre:
Probably the wise men because they traveled so far for a baby.
The Well:
What advice do you have for campers on how to keep their eyes focused on
what really matters this Christmas?
Tre:
Presents that are new this month won’t even matter in six months.
Being around the people you love and remembering that love comes from God
is what matters most.
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Now Playing
Every Young Man’s Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real
World of Sexual Tempatation by Stephen Arterburn:Although,
primarily written for guys, SpringHill counselor Hannah Streeval is
reading this important book to get some insight into the lives of the
guys she knows. As Hannah puts it, “There is so much I never
realized that guys deal with. The book has really had an impact on the
way I dress and carry myself. I think every guy and girl should read
it!” Read more reviews here.
Captivating:
Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John & Stasi Eldridge:
TST Crew Chief Christie Liversedge read a chapter of this book to her
TSTers every week. “Better than any book I’ve ever
read,” she tell us, “Captivating gets at the way the devil is
trying to destroy our beauty by telling us everything that is not true
about ourselves. Women have so much to offer and Satan wants to destroy
this.” Because the book also offers some good insights into how
women view relationships, Christie recommends that guys read this
important book, too. Find out more about the book here.
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Chasing Mississippi by Dave
Barnes: Recommended by TST Crew Chief Tre
Foley for its down to earth, acoustic sound and thoughtful lyrics, this
album would be a great gift for any mellow music lover on your Christmas
list. Check out Dave’s website for a preview.
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The world will
never starve for want of wonders, but for want of wonder.
—GK Chesterton
Christmas gift
suggestions:
To your enemy,
forgiveness.
To an opponent,
tolerance.
To a friend,
your heart.
To a customer,
service.
To all,
charity.
To every child,
a good example.
To yourself,
respect.
—Owen
Arnold
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In the Real
World
Sometimes we can become bored with the
holidays or get focused on what’s not essential. Then, Christmas
becomes more about “what’s in it for me” than about the
coming of the Savior. How do you keep your eyes focused on what really
matters at Christmas? Is there anything special you do (yourself or as a
family) to make Christ’s birth the focus of your celebration?
For ideas, check out this article, Ways to Keep Christ in
Christmas. Then go to myspace.com/springhillcamps to
share your
ideas and stories with other SpringHill campers and counselors. Or, if
you have another question you'd like to discuss, email us.
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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!)
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What You Said
When you serve, 39% say
you focus more on what you're doing for others; 22% focus more on what you're doing for God.
More than 60% of you expect to see someone’s life improved or changed when you serve.
33% of you find it most difficult to serve at home; another 33 %
find it most difficult to serve others at school.
When you think about Christmas,
39% of you are in awe of what God did for us.
What gets the
most attention in your home at Christmas? 61% say family time; 22% say presents.
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