Day 6 - 2nd Day of HBC

Mark 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

1Corinthians 3:5-9

5 - Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 - I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 - So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 - Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 - For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, [ye are] God's building.

2nd Day of Holiday Bible Club
Day two was much better than day one, and we again had some great opportunities to deliver the words of God to each and every child that we came in contact with. One of the things that we assumed as we prepared for HBC was that the children would be able to quickly relate to Joseph's brothers rather than to Joseph. After defining what sin is from God's perspective the children are very quick to admit that they are sinners. Many would like to be a "Joseph" because of the favor Joseph has with his father, but their lifestyle proves that they would rather have the temporary pleasure of their sin. The children know what is right, but most of their choices do not line up with what is right; and even though they willingly admit their sinful state before God, many of them do not fully understand that the wrath of God abideth upon (Jn 3:36; Eph 5:6) them until they repent and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Rom 3:21-26; 5:9; Acts 20:21).

Not only did the day go pretty smooth, but there happened to be a catholic day camp going on at the same time in the facilities we were using. This gave is great opportunities to be a testimony of what a bible club/camp really is! We also had a chance to witness to the guy that helped run the camp for the kids... It was another divine appointment!

As God continues to work, we must remain faithful to keep being flexible to plow, plow, and plow... Please keep praying for us!


Evening Devotions: Compassion - Part 5 (Matthew 26:36-41)
Jesus, in the garden of Gesthemane, was at a point where he was the most compassionate, for he was going to the cross to pay the price for the sin of all mankind. At a time of his greatest need, those that loved him most fell asleep when he asked them to watch and pray. They were a disappointment. Jesus could have rebuked them, and they deserved it, but instead he admonishes them and encourages them to watch and pray. Even when they were weak Jesus remained compassionate towards them. There may be times when we are disappointed in people for the ways they may have let us down, but we still need to have true compassion towards them. That doesn't mean that we cannot rebuke and admonish when necessary, but it needs to be from a heart full of God's compassion.

Day 5 - 1st Day of HBC

Luke 19:41 - And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Psalm 119:136 - Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

1st Day of Holiday Bible Club
Due to the last minute location change and the subsequent transportation logistics for the children, we got started 1 hour late than what we originally scheduled, but being delayed didn't impact much. The team quickly and seamlessly switched gears and were able to be quick on their feet with anything that came their way. God's grace and mercy were definitely abounding over each and every minute.

Approximately 80+ children came for the first day, even with the last minute logistical changes! Close to 40%-50% of the kids attended last year's bible club, so many more could come in the next few days. Other than some miscommunication at the end during dismissal, everything seemed to go very smooth for a first day with all the changes.

It was great to see many familiar and new faces. Most of the returning kids were very excited that we were back, and they immediately picked up where we left off from last year. In fact, some of the more difficult ones we had last year were so excited this year that they were an asset to the class! When presented with the gospel, the overwhelming response was, "So, all these things [communion, mass, confirmation, etc] don't get you closer to God?" They just don't seem to understand the simplicity of the gospel. Catholic religious traditions have been so engrained in the culture that the concept of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ by faith alone, not by works, is a totally foreign concept. Even though the gospel found in the bible is very foreign, there were some "lightbulbs" that went off as we focused on sin and what it is according to the scriptures. We're excited to see what God will continue to do!!


Evening Devotions: Compassion - Part 4
Carrying over from Psalm 103, we focused on 17 about the Lord's mercy being from everlasting to everlasting... which means that true compassion is constant. Often times in order for us to have compassion on a person it is because we have had the chance to get to know them, that other person has not done anything to break our trust, or anything else that would make us think they would be undeserving. Thank the Lord that God is not that way. Even before we were ever born God made the decision to bestow compassion upon mankind; and despite all that we would do in rebellion to God, his mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. When we have the heart of God towards others, we will be compassionate regardless of anything that may get in the way. Do you have that kind of compassion?

Day 4 - Cliffs of Moher, Ennis, and Finding a New HBC Location

Matthew 18:11-14

11 - For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

12 - How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 - And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that [sheep], than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 - Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Cliffs of Moher (http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/)
How magnificent it was to see the majesty of God's creative handiwork! Words cannot express and pictures cannot fully represent the unbelievable sight of the cliffs. The highest point is approximately 702 feet and 5 miles long. There's are a few pictures at the bottom of this entry...

Ennis (http://www.ennis.ie/)
The town of Ennis is a neat and unique town. It is one of the few towns/cities that haven't widened some of the main roads, so the shops still have an old-style look and feel. It was very neat to take in the rich culture.

Finding a New HBC Place
Most of the content of the blog today I thought it would be best to devote to how we were able to secure a new location for the Holiday Bible Club.

• Miracle #1 - On the way to the Cliffs I received a call from Bob Hutton that we will now be having the HBC at the Mallow Youth Centre, which is the same location where Bob hosts all of his Sunday morning services (the Mallow Youth Centre is under the responsibility of one of the local Catholic churches). In the past this location was never available, but for some reason God had miraculously opened the door this year. Moreover, this may continue to open the door for us to host HBC there in the future! We will have a full-size gym, a small gym, and 3-4 rooms that we will be able to use... which for those that helped with the HBC last year will completely understand how much of a blessing it is to have SO much more room!

• Miracle #2 - Typically the Mallow Youth Centre rents just the small gym room for approximately 40 euros per hour, but they are allowing us to use the whole place for 4 days for only 50 euro a day!! The reason why we were given such a great rental cost is because of Bob's great reputation with them and, most importantly, that we are not charging the children to come to HBC (As a side note, Bob just so happened to include the fact we do not charge the children as the last sentence to his email to the people that run the Youth Centre... Wow! Imagine if Bob left out that unknowingly important detail!). 

• Miracle #3 - Now that we are changing locations, no one knows but us and a few of the other workers from Bob's church. How will we redirect the potential 70+ kids to a new location? It just so happens that Michael, a good friend of Bob's that was hired to drive from/to Dublin and to/from some of the sightseeing places we've visited, checked to see if he could help transport the children when/if needed. Michael got the okay, and it will only cost 50 euro a day!

Talk about God taking care of all the details! (Psalm 103) ...Moreover, there were several other blessings throughout the day on top of all these things. God is good!

Oh, and Ray's jacket and camera was found... :)

Evening Devotions: Compassion - Part 3
After reading through Psalm 103, we were challenged tonight to reflect on the fact that true compassion  is not with restraint (and remember the definition of "compassion" - it goes much deeper than just a feeling; compassion has the intent of being with someone in their suffering). At times, whether because of our own bias, preferences, or other feelings, we can hold back our ability to be compassionate towards anyone and everyone that may cross our path. We must always remember that even though we did not deserve it, God didn't withhold compassion towards us when he purchased our redemption and made a way of escape from the wrath we deserve (Jn 3:36)... So we ought to follow in the steps of our Saviour and have compassion on all

Day 3 - Passing Out Flyers (cont'd), HBC Location, Blarney Castle | Blarney Woolen Mills

Passing Out Flyers
This morning we finished passing out the rest of the flyers, and many people had great opportunities to get into spiritual conversations with adults and many children. It has been great to see the excitement stirring among the kids! We cannot wait to see what God has planned... :)


HBC Location
We certainly know that the enemy is at work! Today we found out that the community center that we planned on using is now not available. This threw a huge wrench in our plans that could easily be discouraging... but rather, we are encouraged! The fact that this happened now, so close to Holiday Bible Club, means that the enemy is very threatened by what God is trying to accompish. No other words can best suit this situation than a verse that is found in the Bible lessons we have planned for Bible Club:

Genesis 50:20
"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Please pray! God is at work, and so is the enemy... but we serve the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the God of all gods.

1John 4:4
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

Lamentations 3:25
"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."

Blarney Castle | Blarney Woolen Mills
Since we were able to finish passing out all the flyers ahead of schedule, today ended up being the day we could do some souvenir shopping and see Blarney castle. We had a great time of fellowship and team bonding.


Evening Devotion: Compassion - Part 2
Continuing the discussion on true compassion, we took a look at Philippians 2:8, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Seeing by the example of Christ, having compassion doesn't necessarily assume convenience. In fact, most of the time it means that we will be inconvenienced in order to have true compassion. It was not convenient for Jesus to leave the glory of heaven at the right hand of God; it was not convenient for Christ to humble himself and become a human and like unto a servant; it was not convenient for the Son of God to become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; it was not convenient to bear the sins of the whole world and therefore be rejected by the Father, breaking his fellowship with the Trinity for the first and only time in all of eternity. True compassion takes someone beyond feelings, for it's sure Jesus didn't feel like going to the cross to die as an innocent man for the sins of the whole world (Matthew 26:39, 42). Our feelings will limit us, but true compassion will take us to the ends of the earth. Do you truly have compassion? This kind of compassion can only come from the One that exemplified it... This kind of compassion is what is needed to glorify God.

Location:Mallow, Ireland