One thing that was brought several times yesterday is that it's important to be kind and loving with one another and those we come in contact with. Well, the Bible has a lot to say about love, what love looks like, and what love does.
Take a moment to read through Romans 12:9-21. If you are able to, print out that passage (click here if you're not sure where to look it up). Now, either in your Bible or printed copy of the Scripture, go back and underline every description of what love is or what it does (e.g. love must be sincere; honor one another). Seriously, go do that right now before you move on...I'll wait.
OK, now read through once more, but this time put your initials over the things that are easy for you, and circle those that are more challenging. Again, do that right now...I'll wait.
Now, think through some of the questions:
- What are some things those who love should do?
- What are some things those who love should not do?
- How will this help us in having a no trace mission trip?
- How might forgetting what Paul (the author of this part of the Bible) writes affect our trip negatively?
Take a minute to think through those questions, then follow the two steps listed below.
- In the comments below, tell about at least one of the things you underlined, circled, or initialed. Why did you put that mark there? (e.g. I circled, "be patient in affliction" because when I'm going through a hard time I tend to lose patience and want easy answers).
- In the same comment, write out your answer for one of the questions above.
Remember, completing these are required to go on the mission trip. If you fail to complete these exercises you may jeopardize your chances for going on this mission trip. I look forward to seeing your responses soon.
Oh, on last thing, don't forget to include your name somewhere in the comment. I'm not sure if you can type your name as the person commenting, so you may have to respond as a "guest" and write your name in the comments. Have fun!
Joshua Basham
ReplyDelete1. I circled live in hgarmony with one another because i need work living in peace with some people.
2. My answer to those who love should not is those who love should not repay evil with evil, do not take revenge, and do not flood evil with evil but flood evil with good.
Great observations Josh! Thanks for responding. You are officially the first person to respond. Maybe I'll get you a treat!
Delete1. I circled honor one another above yourself because it is hard for me sometimes to think of others as better than me. Even though I know I have my own strengths and weaknesses just like everybody else.
ReplyDelete2. How could forgetting what Paul wrote effect our mission trip in a negative way?
I think one of the main reasons we are doing the mission trip is to show love. If we don't show love we aren't shining Gods light like he wants us to. We need to be able to be together and show love in everything we do.
1. One thing that I circled was chapter 17, "Do not repay anyone vil for evil. Be careful to do what's right in the eyes of everyone." A lot of people try to get under my skin purposely because they know that I'm passive. I've learned to have "duck feathers" in demanding situations where my patience is tried to its limit. However, the next verse (18) goes on to say, " If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." This is the very thing I have a hard time dealing with. When someone loses my trust, it's very easy for me to hold a grudge. Though I won't act upon them, these grudges lead me down a road of hard-heartedness. And like you Norm, I have a short patience, however, not with people but myself. I'm trying very hard to learn to be more even tempered with myself and to show mercy.
ReplyDelete2. The application of a Christly love during this trip with allow us to stand out from other restoration groups because the way we interact with each other and with others can have a positive influence on others and hopefully have enough impact to lead people to Christ.
One thing I underlined was sincere. I think that's so important! If we do everything on this trip without really meaning it, it's just hollow actions. Love won't show through our actions and it will definitely leave a negative mark.
ReplyDelete3. We will make sure we only show God's love and try to leave no negatives behind when we leave.
Selfish. I am selfish. I am also quick to anger. And it talks about love being shown by putting others before ourselves. Most days that is a big fat fail for me. The verses also speak of having patience in anguish. My head translates that to patience in stressful or anxiety filled situations. I know that it is going to be important for me to have a selfless attitude on the trip and to also be patient when things are stressful. I am praying that we will all live out these verses of love, not only on our mission trip, but everyday.
ReplyDelete1. I circled “patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” being patient in rough times is hard and then praying continually is not my first course of action. Often I try to take care of the problem without the Lords help, which does not help the situation.
ReplyDelete2. How will this help us on our no trace mission trip? In order to have a positive impact on the people around us we must show them love, which means we must be sincere in our actions and honoring to the Lord. Also there is bound to be some kind of challenge that we will face and we will have to be persistent in order to complete our task, which is to help others. To have a positive impact we will have to show the traits of love that are described in this passage.
Nicely put!!
DeleteI circled "bless those who persecute you". There are a lot of people that have made fun of me or caused problems in my life and I don't want anything to do with those people. And I definitely don't want to wish them well or for God to bless those people.
ReplyDeleteIf we forget what Paul tells us, then we will have a very hard time sharing Jesus with the people we come into contact with. As Christians, we are viewed as hypocrites and a lot of people question our faith. The one thing that we boast on is our God and his love. We are supposed to reflect Him and His love, but if we forget what love is supposed to do and look like then how can we?
1. I circled "Live in harmony with others." I chose this because when I am away from home I tend to get a little homesick. When this happens I have to try extra hard to be friendly and fun to be around, especially with people I might now always associate myself with.
ReplyDelete2. I will help in having a No Trace Mission by not letting my home sickness get the best of me. I will over come this in prayer and joy on the trip. I will also be slow to anger and quick to cheer. I want to take from this trip as much as possible. And I can only take out of it as much as I put into it,
1. I initialed cling to what is good. I initialed this because I tend to cling very hard to those things that I believe is good. I usually put all my faith in one thing, because its good.
ReplyDelete2. How will this help in having a no trace mission?
I believe that this passage should be words to live by on our mission. If we practice the things that were written we will be joyful in hope, share with the Lords people in need, practice hospitality, and many more wonderful things!
Wow, there are so many to coose from. Most of them staring me right in the eyes and covicting me of how I need to change. I circled 14, 17, & 21, because when I am persecuted my mind IMMEDIATELY goes to how I would like to repay evil for evil, then becomes overcome by those evil thoughts.
ReplyDeleteIf I forget these words of Paul on our trip, my focus will not be where it needs to be, which is helping those in need and being a light.
1) I circled "Be patient in affliction". I can be really impatient even when things are going well, so when things start getting tough I tend to rush things and get extremely impatient.
ReplyDelete2) I'll help this be a no trace mission trip by being patient when things are going slow.
This is Jada Moore. I had to use my mom's account.
ReplyDelete1. I circled share with the lord's people who are in need. because we are going to help the people who are in need,
2. I can help this become a no trace mission trip by picking up the people who are down,
1. Honor one another as yourself was one thing that I circled. It's very hard for me to put others higher in my priorities than myself and that's something I need to work on.
ReplyDelete2. How might forgetting what Paul writes affect our trip negatively?
We won't be able to be the loving people God wants us to be.
1. I circled ''Bless those who persecute you, because it is hard to be nice to people that miss treat you and you want to do something back or at least say something
ReplyDelete2. My answer to those who love was that people should be nice to people that are lower than them and pray for there forgivness from god
1. I circled "faithful in prayer" because I have a hard time praying consistently.
ReplyDelete2. Those who love should pray for others faithfully.
1. I circled "honor one another" because I have a had time working with others.
ReplyDelete2. People who love should live in harmony.