Time of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

The long wait has begun...

Not knowing how many people still visit our website, this is the beginning update once a month until the 2008 season begins! With the 2007 season still fresh in our minds, and with the 2007 MLB post-season winding down to a close (Sorry Giants), I am sure to see many of our student players head to college with great memories in their minds with many of our younger players in high school and lower going back to school as well. As we now look to the future, one has to look back at the great things that have happened over the course of the year. One thing that stood out to me was there were no major injuries this year! Thank God that He was able to keep an eye on all of us to keep us safe. Second off it is always nice to see new interest with churches that do not participate in softball right now. It's always good to have new teams ask to join our league for '08. As we are all locked in on the current Football (49ers) and the upcoming Basketball season(Warriors), I encourage everyone to keep their skills up. Play a pickup game of softball here and there. Contact teams who practice year round. It will go a long way to help develop skills, and it doesn't hurt to get better in hitting and fielding. Even though the season is over, this website will keep you up to date with any new information that comes along the way, so hopefully you can get your fill on everything softball day or night. As the year progresses there may be a couple of special updates, so add this site to your favorites, comment often, and I'll see you all next year!

End of an Amazing Year

So as we came to a close of the 2007 Softball season it's time for me to take a look back to reflect on everything that has happened over the course of the summer. Now, for the most part I think this season was very good for everyone who participated. As we saw a lot of new people come out to play and support out teams, we also had a very successful showing at the end of the year BBQ in which we actually ran out of food this year! But in all seriousness it was nice to see other teams win their respected divisions this year. It showed that any team on any given Sunday could go out and compete with the best. Even though 2008 is a whole year away, we can all start looking forward to the future and what the next season may bring. New teams, more participation, and an exciting new committee will surely bring another great year.

Being the second webmaster, the main job for me is to post my opinions on the occurrences of what is happening around CCU and what's going on in the world today. My hope is to let you, the viewers, get a taste of what goes on in CCU and what goes on outside of CCU as well. As you have read from previous entries most new posts are updates on the previous week of scores and a paragraph or so on certain games. Then there are posts where there is some thought-provoking thought. It is not my intention to show anyone up, it is my intention however to get people to start thinking. Most of the posts that I do are mainly based on personal experience rather than a general response.

For example a couple of weeks ago I was blessed with the chance to take some Young Life high school kids to a camp in New York called Saranac. It was the first time any of us went to the Big Apple and the experience was simply amazing. We were able to go to a New York Mets baseball game, and see what life was like on the East Coast for a change. Being able to ride the famous subway system was something I will never forget and seeing some sights like the World Trade Center, Time Square, Empire State Building, and Chinatown was something everyone should do one day. Seeing the rich history of New York was just simply amazing as we traveled to Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, and seeing Yankee Stadium in the distance just showed us how there is another part of the country that is outside of our lives.

After our three day encounter with the city we all headed up to Lake Saranac where the camp was located. For those familiar with YL, this is a National Camp where clubs from all over the nation come to, compared to a regional camp like Woodleaf, or Wildhorse Canyon where clubs from the area go to. 8 hours north of NYC and past Albany, we finally arrived at our destination in the mid afternoon. There began the craziest wildest ride most of us have ever experienced so far in life. It really got me thinking that as much as I love Softball, I was being called to something much bigger than myself. Some of the activities included were things like Water Skiing, Inner Tubing, and my favorite Para Sailing. Other things included was a massive ropes course, a grueling, intense mountain hike not meant for the weary, kayaking, boating, and a huge water slide just to name a few. Kids were treated to awesome meals everyday with fun activities setup through out the week. A message came daily, along with good cabin time to help them understand who God is and how much He loves us. Being able to see a few of our kids commit their lives to Christ has to be the most humbling, rewarding moment of my life. As I formally worked with Young Life in San Francisco, it was just nice to be part of a new area such as South Bay Metro who was able to allow me to continue doing ministry with an organization I love so much. A couple of those same kids came to the decision to get baptized as well, as it was a huge step in dedicating their lives to God.

I encourage you all to get involved. Whether it is with CCU, Young Life, The Salvation Army or any other organization, let us live our lives for Christ. As the months come about, hopefully updates will come monthly but as the close of 2007 approaches, let us realize that this is just the beginning. 2008 may be just around the corner, but we all can do so much until then.

Here are some pics from New York...

That's A Wrap!

Hello to all you softballers!

As this season has come to a close, let us remember all the good times we've had during this short summer league. I hope all of you have played hard and did your best to be good examples on and off the field. Not only so, but I hope all of you have had your fill during the BBQ =).

Well, if you've missed the BBQ/Awards Ceremony, don't fret! The following are the teams and individuals recognized during the past Sunday:

A-Divison

Team MIP's (Most Inspirational Player[s]): Steve Matsumoto (CEBC Sunset), Anna Lam (FCBC), Wesley Wong (FCSBC), Christina Wong (SA)

Division MIP(s): Anna Lam, Christina Wong

Team Fellowship Award: CEBC Sunset A

Championship: FCSBC Agape

BB-Division

Team MIP's: Peony Cheung & Bernard Huang (CBF), Leslie Chin (CEBC Silver), Chris Lee (FCBC), Wai Tang (FCBSC), Derek Chin & Donald Akimoto (FLCC), Alan Gin (Cumberland)

Division MIP: Peony Cheung, Leslie Chin

Team Fellowship Award: FLCC Autobots

Championship: FLCC Autobots

B-Division

Team MIP's: Timothy Lee (FCBC), Phil Yee (SCBC 1), David Quan (Young Life), Mary Choy (SCBC 2), Tony Chan (Sunset Ministry)

Division MIP's: Timothy Lee, Tony Chan

Team Fellowship Award: Young Life P-F-M

Championship: SCBC Legends

C-Division

Team MIP's: Jennifer Chin (CEBC Silver), Neilson Chan (Cumberland), Rachel Liang (FCSBC), Annie Won (New Start Ministries), Danny Tam (SBCC)

Division MIP's: Rachel Liang, Danny Tam

Team Fellowship Award: SBCC Good News Bears

Championship: Cumberland Blaze

I, the webmaster, just wanted to recognize all first-time teams and players who participated in the league. I hope you all had a lot of fun playing softball and enjoying yourselves amongst others who enjoy the sport just as much as you do. If you had a lot of this year, I do encourage all of you to come back play some more summer softball.

For all of us, just as much I hope you all have enjoyed playing some casual, yet competitive (for some, maybe not as competitive) softball, I strongly hope that all of you have taken something more than just the fun memories, that you all have been encouraged by at least someone or one of the fellowship topics throughout the 9 or 10 weeks of CCU softball; that in some way, somehow you will hopefully apply or take into some deep consideration, the points that stood out to you.

This is a the webmaster saying having a wonderful rest of the year & see you next summer! Now that's a wrap!

6 More Days and Counting...

Just a few more days 'til championship and bbq! But this also means Sunday will be the last day of CCU softball 'til the next year. Don't be sad; have a hopeful attitude that we have something to look forward to next summer. But as the bbq is around the corner, I hope that all of you have had a lot of fun meeting new people and being reacquainted with familiar faces. Our theme this year is Unity and I hope you all have been able to "unify" with your teammates, as well as friends from other teams. All of you don't have to wait 'til next year to talk to each other; exchange some sort of contact info to keep in touch. If you find out you go to the same school, or work near each other, take the initiative to converse with each other.

Congratulations to those who made championships! I'm sure all of you played competitively to place into championships! And if you didn't make it, come on out and show support for other teams! The league highly encourages that you come out for great food fun! Not only do we have competitive games happening, we also have a yummy bbq going on and an awards ceremony following the games! Please come out and support your friends and family!

The following teams made it to championships:

A-Division: FCSBC Agape (A) & FCBC Fins (H) (Gellert Field 1)

BB Division: FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25 (A) & FLCC Autobots (H) (Gellert Field 3)

C-Division: CEBC Silver 2 (A) & Cumberland Blaze (H) (Gellert Field 2)

All teams will be playing at 2:30 pm @ Gellert. Refs will be announced soon. Please check the CCU sports website for updates.

Alrighty!

Playoffs and championships are right around the corner...4 more days for playoffs (excluding Sunday) and one more week for championships! There's still plenty of time to mentally & physically prepare for these important games. We play, not to merely receive recognition or a prize, but for only one person; and that person is God. Whether on or off the field, playing or reffing, we are living examples of God and let's continue to be those examples! And as this season of CCU softball is coming to an end, always remember the friendships and the great bonding made with other teams as well as your own teammates! Continue to work hard and give your 100% into the game!

CCU Softball Week 8

Hey there folks!

Well, we're just around the corner from playoffs--two more weeks to be exact. There's plenty of time left to sharpen up those skills and be placed in the top 4 teams; and if you don't place, don't fret, for CCU softball is not all about being the top four teams. Your team may be rewarded for having such great attitudes. But remember, don't just have a winning attitude because of a physical award; have a winning attitude of the mental and spiritual rewards. Your attitude/spirit, on and off the field, may make a big difference for either your teammates or your opponents, and that's a very vital factor of this softball league. Nothing matters unless you play with the right mind and heart. When God sees a winning attitude, long-term results will follow. Here are a couple of Bible verses that will hopefully encourage you:

2 Timothy 2:5-"Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he [or she] does not receive the victor's crown unless he [or she] competes according to the rules."

1 Corinthians 9:24-25- "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

Philippians 3:13b-14-..."But one things I do: Forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

A sum-up of Sunday's scores:

This week has had quite some high-scoring games:

CEBC Sunset (A) vs. FCSBC Agape (H)

This game was favorable towards FCBSC. During the first two innings, everything was going fine, defensively, for both teams 'til the 3rd inning. At the bottom of the 3rd, FCSBC scores a 7-run mercy to break the 0-0 tie. But CEBC Sunset was not able to let those 7-runs get the best of them, for they too were able to get a 1-2-3 shutout inning, at the top of the 4th, to slow down their opponents. Even though they slowed down their opponents, they came very close to shutting them down-ending the game at 9-5 in favor of FCSBC.

FCBC Fins (A) vs. SA (H)

Seemed to start out as a "defensive" game and SA led off the game with 1 run in the first inning. They were doing well as they scored another run in the 2nd inning, and three more in the 3rd, and FCBC scoring their first run in the 2nd. But tables started to turn as FCBC scored four in the 4th inning, then 7 in the 5th. This slowed down SA but they also did their best to slow down their high-scoring opponent from racking any more scores. The total for this game: 12-5, in favor of FCBC.

FLCC Autobots (A) vs. FCSBC We Be Clubbin'

This game was quite a high-scoring game, specifically for FLCC; for they scored almost every inning. FCSBC worked their hardest to catch up to their opponents but came up short. With the position that they're in, FLCC's looking like a potential A-team for the next summer season. Final score: 16-4, FLCC.

FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25 (A) vs. CEBC Silver 1 (H)

From what I observed, this was an intense game. Both teams were tied 7-7 during the first three innings, and it seemed like anyone can win. But FCBC saw the opportunity and pulled ahead with 6 runs in the top of the 4th. Luckily, CEBC was able to stop them from scoring anymore. A great game to both teams! Final score: 13-7, FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25

CCU Softball Week #6

Cornerstone Softball: A Reunion

Did a reunion just occur? Are we seeing both Cornerstone teams coming together to play a fun round softball? In fact, yes...both Cornerstone teams, Silver BB and Sunset, have just come together not to battle out for the better Cornerstone team, but to hang out and play some summertime softball. Two things that this game brought out: high spirits and lots of supporters. What a performance by both team! The game was intense, but it was a good kind of intensity; for both teams performed well both on the bats and on the field. CEBC Silver started off well with 2 runs in the top of 1st inning, then scoring 2 homeruns in the top of the 2nd and 4th innings, both by Rob Lem (2nd) and Colin (4th), and then ending with 3 runs in the 6th and 7th innings. But not only did they perform well on the sticks, their defense showed that they were not about to be shutout. Great job Silver!

Sunset also played solid defense and offense! They scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st, 7 in the bottom of the 2nd, then 6 in the bottom of the 5th. Even though they scored this many runs, Silver showed that they were able to play an A-level game!

Here are some pics from the fellowship and game (taken by Stanley Ching of CEBC Sunset):


















CEBC Silver vs. Cumberland Blaze

What a game! Though this game was played by the Cornerstone Silver C-team, both teams displayed great performance! Although scoreless in the first three innings, Cumberland was not gonig to go down silently, for they came back with a total of 8 runs, in the 4th, 5th, & 6th innings. Silver also showed that they were just as good, for though they scored a total of 8 in the first two innings, they pulled another run, in the 5th, to make it a victory game! Way to go Cumberland and Silver!

Cumberland vs. CBF

Another very close game! Cumberland pull ahead with 8 runs total in the first 4 innings, but CBF did not give up and were able to tie the game with 1 run in the 2nd and a 7-run mercy inning in the bottom of the 4th. Then towards the middle innings, both teams were able to score another 2 runs, yet CBF squeezed just one more than Cumberland to make the game 11-10 CBF Mo' Yeah! A great game indeed! Great work to both teams!

FCSBC vs. FCBC

A defensive game played by the top two teams in the A-division. While both teams were scoreless in the first two innings, FCBC managed to pull ahead 3 runs, in the 3rd inning; but that didn't stop FCSBC from trying score more in the same inning, for although they didn't not tie the inning, they still scored a run in the same inning. Now with the score being 3-1, FCBC managed to pull another 3 runs towards the end, and FCSBC slowed their opponents down from doing any more damage! Great game!

A nice break in the action.

So far this has been a very interesting year to say the least. It's exciting to see so many new people participate in our leagues today. At the same time though I have to admit that it has been a difficult year for me personally. After coming back from Southern California I was filled with excitement and giddy with joy that I couldn't see past CCU Sports. Softball and Basketball in my mind was life itself. Sometimes I forgot that I needed to give glory to God. I look back at the games we've played so far and I feel disappointed in myself. There are no excuses on how I acted or how I played so far but I have to remember that I am playing for God. Not for the game, not for the competition but to help witness to not only the believers but the non believers as well. It was a difficult adjustment learning the new rules, and mixing the A division with the BB division threw me off completely as well but at the same time I'm still adjusting. Maybe I was thinking so much about my Basketball team that it seemed like everything is Softball took a back seat. I remember a verse that I had one of my devotions on which helped me remember why I am here.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Run the race for God

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

At times I look ahead to the future. Like going to New York with Young Life later this summer should be an amazing time of fellowship and leading kids to a possible relationship with Christ. Then I take a moment to realize that I need to take care of the here and now first. My commitment is too important just to skip and no matter what I should do work for God with 100%. I know it's difficult to grasp this concept at times but trust me when I say trust in God. Another thing I will always remember is this past week my pastor was talking about how America these days are trying to take out God's name from the pledge of allegiance, how they are trying to take out His name from national anthem, and how they are trying to take out God's name from our currency. Even with all this happening, one thing still remains. God will always be there for us no matter what. No matter what men try to do to cover God up, he will always be the shining beacon of hope for us. Hope that you all were able to gain something this week. Take care and remember to be safe.

Pics from last week's CCU game between SA and FCSBC.

CCU Softball: Week #4

Hey there softballers..hehe

Mid-season is almost here (this Sunday would be the middle) and that means a mid-season report is approaching. But before that, let's look back at this past Sunday's games:

Gellert Fields

FCBC Fins (A) 11 vs. CEBC Sunset (H) 9

What a battle! From the start 'til the end, both teams performed well on the field as well as on the sticks. In the beginning innings, CEBC Sunset led off a great start with Marc Bartolome & Karson Louie ( correct me if I'm wrong) hitting a couple of home runs to spark the spirits! Not only that, but the team supported each other by hitting base hits to boost up the score. At the same time, FCBC showed that they were not about to give up, for they too showed great defense on the field! And when it was their time to perform on the sticks, they too had a few home runs, bringing the score to a tie (9-9). Though, in extra innings, FCBC was able to pull two more runs ahead of their opponents, CEBC Sunset stopped FCBC from scoring any more runs and showed that they were not about to go down quietly! Awesome game to both teams!

Cumberland (A) 2 vs. CEBC Silver 1 (H) 10

A great performance by both teams! CEBC Silver, coming back from a shut out, two weeks ago, against FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25, came back to a victory against Cumberland.

SA (A) 6 vs. FCSBC Agape (H) 9

Another tough defeat for SA who's record now drops to 0-4. Even the return of Pin Lin could not stop FCSBC from scoring 7 runs in the 5th inning to close the game out. Without key contributors such as Lin, Chris Lee, and former coach John Tam, SA looks for a rebound next week.

Here are the scores for the rest of the games

FCSBC We Be Clubbin' (A): 1
vs.
FLCC Autobots (H): 7

FCBC Ducks (A): 11
vs.
SCBC Legends: 4

Sunset Ministry (A): 8
vs.
FCBC Ducks (H): 14

Young Life P-F-M (A): 15
vs.
Sunset Ministry (H): 7

SCBC Legends (A): 21
vs.
Young Life P-F-M (H): 12

FCSBC Joy (A): 6
vs.
CEBC Silver 2 (H): 11

SBCC Good News Bears (A): 9
vs.
Cumberland Blaze (H): 13

Here are the current standings:

A-Division

1. FCSBC Agape: 3-0-0
2. FCBC Fins: 2-0-0
3.CEBC Sunset: 1-2-0
4. Salvation Arm4: 0-4-0

BB-Division

1. FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25: 3-1-0 (tied for 1st)
2. FLCC Autobots: 3-1-0 (tied for 1st)
3. Cumberland: 2-1-0
4. FCSBC We Be Clubbin': 2-2-0
5. CEBC Silver 1: 1-1-0
6. CBF Mo' Yeah: 0-3-0

B-Division

1. FCBC Ducks: 2-1-0 (tied for 1st)
2. SCBC Genesis: 2-1-0 (tied for 1st)
3. Young life P-F-M: 1-1-0
4, SCBC Legends: 1-2-0
5. Sunset Ministry: 1-3-0

C-Division

1. Cumberland Blaze: 3-0-0
2.CEBC Silver 2: 1-0-0
3. New Start Crosstrainers: 1-1-0
4. FCSBC Joy: 1-2-0
5. SBCC Good News Bears: 0-3-0

There are still a lot of games left! Anyone can still build & improve their game!

Some photos from CEBC Sunset vs. FCBC Fins game:

CCU Softball Week #3: A Recap

Double Games at Double Fields

Gellert Fields

FLCC Autobots vs. FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25: A Musical Game @ Gellert 3

This game was the most musical game observed. FLCC, with their song-spired spirits, came into the game, playing music every half inning they were up at bat--kind of like how pro baseball players have a selected song. But not only did they bring their songs, they also brought their game, for this game did not continue quietly.

This game was played quite defensively from both teams. FCBC took an early lead, taking 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning, yet FLCC came back and pulled ahead with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th. FCBC, in the outfield, defensively prevented their opponents from earning any more runs, especially towards the end of the game when a FCBC 2nd baseman made a spectacualr flyball catch. The final score: 4-3 Autobots.

FCBC 1 Cor. 9:25 vs. FCSBC We Be Clubbin: Coming Back from the Bottom @ Gellert 3

FCBC, playing a double-header that day, ended their day on a very positive note. From a 4-3 loss against FLCC, FCBC pulled a victory over their opponents. In the beginning of this game, both team were playing well defensively, but FCSBC could not pull in a run. Final score: 12-0 FCBC 1 Cor 9:25.

CBF Mo' Yeah vs. FCSBC We Be Clubbin': A Close Game at Gellert 1

This game was another close game played. FCSBC, in an earlier game (2:00), earned a hard victory. CBF, with 9 runs, was on the verge of coming back to tie FCSBC, who earned 10 runs. But though they played hard, FCSBC held on to the victory. Final score: 10-9 FCSBC

FLCC Autobots vs. CBF Mo' Yeah

What a game! FLCC takes a strong defense play with a great double play in the bottom of the first. According to Clifford Chin of FLCC, "With a runner on 1st, CBF hits a single to the right. John David makes an incredible from right center to third base, throwing out the runner. The ball is then relyed to 2nd to catch the hitter trying to advance." All throughout, the Autbots used that momentum to spur themselves to a victory. CBF made a late rally, scoring 3 more runs in the 6th inning, but fell a little short, resulting in a 13-7 Autobots game.

**An injury occurred here in aforementioned game. Jason Quintal, CBF's captain, was hit, by a ball, in the face. Please keep him in your prayers that he was not seriously injured and that he has a speedy recovery.

Westlake Games

FCSBC Joy vs. New Start P-F-M

"This game was a see-saw battle the whole way. FCSBC broke out in the 1st inning with 5 runs and it seemed like it would be a long game for New Start Ministry (NSM)," quotes Nelson Vasquez whose team, FCSBC Agape, umped this game. In the first inning, NSM scored 1 run; however, that changed when they scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd and tried to come back, but fell short of 2 runs. But throughout the rest of the game, FCSBC scored 1-2 runs, while New Start kept persistent and scored 4 more runs in the bottom of the 4th, and added 4 more in the bottom of the 6th, resulting in a victory for New Start. FCSBC never gave up, scored a few more, but ended up short of 2 runs. Final score: 13-11 New Start.

FCBC Fins vs. Salvation Army: Fins Opening Day

The Fins finally open their season with an exciting game against Salvation Army. "Brothers Matt & Mike Ng tried a few time to connect on a 4-6-3 double play[, yet] hard as they tried SA ran down the line harder and faster," states Nelson Vasquez, whose team also reffed this intense game. It seems that both teams had opportunities to grab this game. FCBC looked like they were going to take a giant lead, heading into the 7th, with no hope for their opponents to come back. However, SA, with great determination, fought their way back 'til the end. FCBC was leading 20-11, heading into the bottom of the 7th but SA battled and gained an exiciting 5 runs! Great game to both teams! Final score: 20-16, FCBC Fins

** Injury report: According to Nelson Vasquez, Gordon Lee, of SA, who had surgically repaired his ankle, re-injured it, while attempting to make a play up the middle, midway through the game. Please continue to pray for his safe and quick recovery.

Well, that does it for the updates. Please check the CCU sports site for your upcoming games's location and time. 'Til next time, this is your CCU Softball blogger signing out!

Fellowship Guidelines for the Month of July

For those interested in looking into next month's fellowship topics, scroll down:

July: God’s Glorious Grace

July 1 – Obedience – (Romans 1:5; Romans 5:19; Job 36:11-12; Psalm 119:11; 1 Samuel 15:22; Revelation 3:2-3; John 14:15)

^{Rom 1:5} Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. ⁶ And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

^{Rom 5:19} For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

^{JOB 36:11}If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. ¹² But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.

Pslam 119:11 – I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

^{1SA 15:22} But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

^{Rev 3:2} Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. ³Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

^{JN 14:15} "If you love me, you will obey what I command.

a. Why do you think it is difficult for people to obey authorities?

b. What or who do you think is the highest authority to obey?

July 8 – Salvation/Redemption (Hebrews 2:3-4; 2 Corinthian 6:1-2; Hebrews 9:27-28; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 10:12; Acts 4:12; Luke 2:11-14)

^{Heb 2:3-4} how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

^{2CO 6:1}As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. ² For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

^{Heb 9:27}Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

^{Rom 10:9-10} That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

^{Rom 10:12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

^{AC 4:12} Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name (Jesus Christ) under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

^{Lk 2:11}Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ^{LK 2:13} Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ^{LK 2:14} "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

a. What do you think of when you hear the word salvation?

b. What or who do you consider salvation to be in your life?

July 15 –Forgiveness – (Hebrews 9:22; Matthew 18:21-22; Psalm 51:2-14; Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38-39; Ephesians 1:7-10)

^{Heb 9:22} In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

^{MT 18:21} Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" ²² Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

^{PS 51:2} Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

^{PS 51:3} For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

^{PS 51:4} Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

^{PS 51:5} Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

^{PS 51:6} Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

^{PS 51:7} Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

^{PS 51:8} Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

^{PS 51:9} Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

^{PS 51:10} Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

^{PS 51:11} Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

^{PS 51:12} Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

^{PS 51:13} Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

^{PS 51:14} Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

^{MT 26:28} This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

^{AC 2:38} Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

^{Eph 1:7} In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸ that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹ And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

a. How easy is it for you to forgive someone?

b. How many times do you believe you should forgive someone before you stop forgiving them?

c. What do you believe God can not forgive?

July 22 – Knowledge & Wisdom (Proverbs 9:10; Romans 1:28-32; Romans 1:18-20; Romans 11:33-36; Colossians 2:2-4; James 3:17)

^{PR 9:10} "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

^{RO 1:28} Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

^{RO 1:18} The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

^{RO 11:33} Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

^{RO 11:34} "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

^{RO 11:35} "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"

^{RO 11:36} For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

^{Col 2:2-4} My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

^{JAS 3:17} But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

a. How does the world view knowledge and wisdom?

b. How do you view knowledge and wisdom?

c. How does God view knowledge and wisdom?

July 29 – Love (1 Corinthians 13:3-7; Ephesians 3:14-20; Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:38-39; Romans 5:6-8)

^{1 Cor 13:2}If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

^{EPH 3:14} For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

^{RO 8:38}For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

^{RO 5:6} You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

a. What is your definition of love?

b. Why do you think love is so powerful?

c. How has love compelled you to act for God and others?

Leader's notes:

Obedience – If we consider the conquest of Jericho in the Bible, the preparation of the people for the conquest of Jericho was obedience. Obedience is an essential part of true faith, which is why, I suppose, the actions of the people are cited in Hebrews as a demonstration of faith. Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.” What is it that most honors God and which God most delights to honor? Is it eloquent profession of faith? No. Many have called Jesus “Lord, Lord” but have later fallen away and ceased to serve him. Is it the exercise of great ability or talents? No. There are many who have had great abilities but have squandered them on worthless ends. The true answer to the question is found in 1 Samuel 15:22, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. The thing that most honors God and that God most delight’s to honor is obedience. Even Jesus was honored and given a name above every name because he was obedient: “...obedient to death-even death on a cross!” (Phil 2:8).

Obedience to the very end – This is involved in the previous point because obedience that is not total is not real obedience; it is disobedience, as in the story of Saul’s failure to fully obey God (1 Samuel 15:14-23). Yet, it is only necessary to highlight Saul’s disobedience as a separate point because of our frequent failure to continue on this path. The conquest of Jericho emphasizes obedience to the very end by the Jewish invaders. Careful reading of the story shows the Joshua did not tell the people how many times they were going to be require to circle the city or precisely what was going to happen at the end of their seven days’ marching. The people were given their instructions one day at a time, and at the end of their assignment for that day, they were directed back to their camp, and nothing happened. The walls were still standing, no one had surrendered, and the Jewish armies seemed no closer to the final conquest of Canaan than they did the day before. We need to learn the lesson the Jewish learned before Jericho: that there is no substitute when it comes to obeying God. This is something in the Bible a man named Naaman learned in the muddy waters of the Jordan River (Read 2 Kings 5:13-14); that there is no substitute for obedience to God, there is no substitute for obedience in all particulars-to the very end. And when God does not act as quickly as we thing he should or in precisely the way we are convinced he should act, we are still not justified in pulling back or adopting an alternative procedure.

Demolition Strongholds

There are two applications for us:

• First – if you are a Christian, you are a soldier in God’s army and are engaged in a war where many enemy strongholds need to be conquered and we see them everywhere. There are fortresses of evil in our land, in the church, and we must confess, in ourselves. They are surrounded by high walls, the gates are sealed, and they are manned by strong and experienced defenders. What are we to do against such ancient outposts of God and our enemy? The answer is that we are to assault them in the way God has told us to wage warfare: 1. Prayer; 2. by the Word of God; 3. and by our testimony. When we look at evil’s forces we may think the ancient weapons of the church are inadequate, and we may be greatly tempted to abandon them and use the world’s tools. This is a mistake; we need to listen to God and obey faithfully to the very end. When we do, then in God’s own time, the walls of Satan’s strongholds will tumble. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the Contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” The book of Revelation says the saints battle against Satan, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony Revelation 12:11.
• Second – if you are not a Christian, if you are still in arms against the Lord Jesus Christ, the rightful ruler of this world and all in it, you must remember that Christ rose from the dead and will appear again to bring God’s Judgment or His salvation. If you have shut your heart against God, and if you refuse to repent of your sin and turn to God for his cleansing, you are fighting a losing battle. How can you hope to stand against the only Sovereign God of this universe because there is no other god? If you do not come to terms with God now, if you continue to hold out, you will perish in the final judgment and your doom will be just. The Bible says, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way” (Psalm 2:12). Why should you not escape wrath (judgment, punishment) through faith in the God of Israel?

Salvation/Redemption – (Lesson 6, page 4) How then can salvation be possible? It is possible only if God is willing to do the work for us. Salvation and Redemption are used here together to describe that salvation had a price and we were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (do you not know…You were bought at a price). Salvation is a term we are familiar with. It is the state of being saved or protected from harm, risk, loss, or destruction. In biblical terms it is being saved and delivered from the power and penalty of sin: past, present and future. The word redemption also means salvation but may be a word we are not familiar with or use very much in our daily life. In Romans 3:24 it says, “and [we] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Redemption is a commercial term. It comes from the marketplace (when at one time people were sold and bought) and refers to buying a slave in order to set the slave free. Its theological meaning is that Jesus has freed us from the slavery of sin by his death on our behalf. So the word redemption is a wonderful word to those accepting Jesus Christ as their savior.

Forgiveness – In Hebrews 9:22, we read, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In the Old Testament Moses took the blood of animals and sprinkled the scroll of the law, the people, and everything connected with the service of the Tabernacle (Leviticus 8:10, 19, 30). God indicated through Moses that the old covenant was based upon death – the death of animals. Without such a death, even the limited forgiveness provided for in the first covenant could not take effect, for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. A striking scene is described in Exodus 24:8 when Moses sprinkled the blood upon the people. It was meant to impress on them that sin cannot be set aside, even by a loving God, without a death occurring. Moses was showing the people that God would accept that substitution as a temporary forgiveness until the true substitute should come. As we learned in week one leader’s notes, this blood of animals did not take away sin (see Hebrews 10:1-6). However, the sacrifice pointed forward to the only sufficient sacrifice, that of Jesus Christ who by His atoning death became our true substitute to satisfy sins penalty that brings us peace with God. As we read in Hebrews 9:15, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. The people then, as well as the people today must realize that sin is serious and only death can relieve it. Some people may think they don’t have to worry about sin because:

(1) It’s God’s job to forgive.

(2) God is so loving that he won’t judge us

(3) Sin isn’t so bad, it teaches us valuable lessons

(4) We need to stay in touch with the culture around us

It is far too easy to take God’s grace for granted, but God cannot overlook sin. It is unfortunate but people who refuse to admit they are sinners will always have excuses, but no matter how many excuse they make, they will have to answer to God for their sin. Yet, it doesn’t have to be like that because all people have the same free access to God because of Christ for the forgiveness of sin. This was made clear when the curtain in the tabernacle that separate the Holy place from the Most Holy Place (God Himself), was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38) to provide all people with access to God’s grace for the forgiveness of sin. God’s word is being preached so that people can “draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). Forgiveness is not based on the magnitude of the sin, but the magnitude of the forgiver’s love. No sin is too great for God’s complete and unconditional love. The Bible does actually mention one unforgivable sin and that is an attitude of defiant hostility toward God that prevents us from accepting his forgiveness. Those who don’t want his forgiveness are out of its reach.

Knowledge & Wisdom – The Perfect Knowledge and wisdom of God is something no human being can obtain. God is not like us. In fact, God is not like anything we can actually experience or know. There is much about God that is indescribable; it is difficult to think about Him. When we talk about God we have to use similes. That is, we compare God to someone or something else, saying, God is like… But the closer we get to God and the better we understand Him, the less those comparisons work and we find ourselves saying what is in Romans 11:33-34, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?

This is the reason God prohibited the use of images to worship Him in the second of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4-6). At first glance people may take this as strange and say, “What harm can it do?” How can we answer that? The answer is that images dishonor God because they are always less then He is, and therefore any kind of images obscure rather than reveal His glory. They inevitably mislead the worshipper, for they suggest false ideas by the comparison. Even though God revealed Himself to us personally in Jesus Christ, it is no accident that Jesus came before the age of photography or television. Instead of revealing Himself by pictures, God reveals Himself by words, specifically by the words of Scripture.

It is helpful to distinguish between what could be called God’s incommunicable attribute and communicable attributes:

· Incommunicable – Are characteristics of God that he does not share with us because he cannot share them, since they are elements of God’s uniqueness. They involve such things as: Self-existence, self-sufficiency, and eternality (without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing).

· Communicable – Are characteristics that God shares with us in some measure, since we are made in His image - things like: knowledge, wisdom, love, and mercy. These are the attributes Paul mentions in (Romans 11:33-36). But even these are infinitely above us and call us to be in amazement of God.

The unique quality of God’s knowledge is its perfection. God know all things, and he knows them exhaustively. We also know things, but our knowledge is partial and imperfect.

• Complete Knowledge – How can we describe God’s knowledge? God is omniscient (all knowing). He knows everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen whether in heaven, earth, or hell. He knows every person (good or evil), every circumstance, and every event. We are reminded in 2 Chronicles 16:9 that, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth… so there are no secrets from Him. Also consider Hebrews 4:12-13, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. God forgets nothing. When we begin to think and believe along these lines, we begin to understand why Paul describes God in great amazement in Romans 11:33-36.

• Responses to God’s knowledge – The perfection of God’s knowledge is disturbing, if we think deeply about it. As long as we are thinking about God knowing things or other people, the idea of God’s knowledge is somewhat removed from us. But what about the fact that God know us personally? He knows all our desires and our life is an open book to him. What are we to do with the God before whom all hearts are open and all desires are known? Such a God is immensely threatening. One of the greatest chapters in the Bible about the perfect knowledge of God is in Psalm 139. David was not terrified by God’s knowledge, instead he responds with humility, comfort, and determination to live for God. At the end of Psalm 139:23-24 he asks God to help him lead a godly life because God knows him so well.

• The Perfect Wisdom of God – What do we mean when we say that God is all-wise? We mean that God is all-knowing. God could not be all-wise if he were not all knowing. But wisdom is more than mere knowledge, more even than total or perfect knowledge. A person can have a great accumulation of knowledge – some call it “Head Knowledge” and not know what to do with it. He can know much about many things and still be a “Great fool.” Also, there is the matter of goodness. Without morality or goodness, wisdom is not wisdom but “cunning.” Wisdom consists in knowing what to do with the knowledge one has and in directing that knowledge to the highest and most moral ends. Paul is letting us know that God’s wisdom is perfect. Only a God with perfect knowledge and wisdom could have worked out the great matter of salvation for the entire human race.

• The Unsearchable Judgments of God – Humanly impossible to trace. Yet, we should do our best to try to understand what God is doing in history, and even in our own lives. In fact, we should try to understand it. But when we have done our best, we must confess our utter inability to probe (look into, explore, investigate) the depths of God’s infinitely wise determinations. When science can’t do it they just come to the conclusion that there is no God.

• Our Smallness before God – When compared to God we have a minuscule knowledge. So Romans 11:34-35 are verses quoted from the Old Testament: Isaiah 40:13; Job 15:8; and Jeremiah 23:18. It means that no human being, however wise, has anything to offer to God in the area of personal knowledge and wisdom. Consider this from 1 Corinthian 2:14, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” When we close our minds and hearts to God’s word we remain in darkness because we reject the knowledge and wisdom that leads us to the light of life.

• Lessons to be learned – So where does this question leave us? It suggests a response from each reader and hearer. We are not to be either ignorant or foolish. We are to trust God, work to develop our minds, live obediently, and seek true wisdom and understanding from Him:

1. There is no true wisdom except in God (Psalm 9:10). We can know because God knows, and we can acquire wisdom because God is a God of wisdom. But we will achieve neither one unless we begin with Jesus Christ.
2. Even though we begin with God, we will never fully understand God and His ways – We learn in Isaiah 55:8, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.
3. We must learn to trust God and follow after Him – Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” If we do that, we will find that God will give us all the wisdom we need, just as he has promised (James 1:5).

Love – In Romans 8:35 it says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The Answer is no one or anything in all creation. This is a bold statement and only a statement that can be made by God. God is abounding in love and this never changes. Nothing can be more positive or more edifying than to know that God’s love will remain and never change. Yet, God’s love is full of action. In Romans 5:6-8 we see God’s love for sinners, which includes all people of the world, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There are three words in these verses that should impact our lives with the love of God:

· Powerless – This word is translated in different ways depending on the Bible’s version. It could mean weak, helpless, without strength, feeble, or sluggish in doing right. These words may be strong and not desired to be claimed by people in our society, but they indicate our state because left to ourselves none of us is able to do even one small thing to achieve his or her salvation.

· Ungodly – This word is used to indicate the sad state people are in because of their fierce opposition towards God. God is Sovereign but they oppose him. They don’t want God to rule over them, they want to do what they want to do. They do not accept his holiness or righteousness.

· Sinners – This word describes those who have fallen short of God’s standard as indicated in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As sinners we are enemies of God and are in a battle with him over who is going to rule in our life. If we are not for God, we are against him and if we are against him we are in the same category as Satan when he said in his heart, “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:14)." Being like Satan in his desires, we would drag God from his throne, and banish him from our universe, and taking his place as ruler – if that was possible. Unconverted people do that in a limited way already when they ignore God and will not consider his rightful claim upon their lives.

But in the midst of willful rebellion we see in the background the brightness of God’s love, as he took the powerless, the ungodly, and the sinner and gave them the chance to be his children through Jesus Christ. If God’s love has done this for us while we were sinners or his enemies, we must seriously consider what his love is doing and will do for us as he continues his work in those who have been reconciled to him because of Jesus Christ. Consider this then, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9).

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