FLAPJACK FEST 2012! + CAMPOUT!

Our 4th annual FLAPJACK FEST date has been set....Friday August 31-Saturday Sep 1.

The actual morning of September 1st will be the time for the Flapjack Fest. 

Camping + Bicycles + Flapjacks + Fellowship = FUN! 

1) If you want to join us Group Campsite #3 Cades Cove Camp Ground GSMNP, come along on Friday evening.  I can taste the S'mores already!
We have already reserved a Tent Only site Group Site #3 for 30 people.( no water/ no power).   For those with campers ("Lucky!") Feel free to make your a reservation for your own individual campsite so you can bring your family's camper.  Of course, I assume you will  want to join us around the campfire in the Group Site.    
Please let me know via email if you are attending .

2) Saturday Morning we will ride bicycles around the Cades Cove Loop, leaving from the front gate of Cades Cove at 7:30.  It generally takes 2 hours to get around the 11 mile hilly loop.  Cades Cove is breath taking and we almost always see a bear or two early in the morning.  

Plan to arrive early if you are driving up in the morning...it is bit chaotic with all sorts of other groups trying to get organized for the trip. Chaos at the gate is the best word for it.

? Don't have bikes? You can rent bicycles from the camp store if you wish for around $12-18 each.  (rate is $6/Hour)   http://www.explorecadescove.com/hours-rates.shtml   

3) The 4th Annual Flapjack Fest 2012
For riders or non-riders....the FlapJacks (pancakes) and Fix'ns will be served at 10:00am Saturday Sep. 1st at  Group Campsite #3 Cades Cove Camp Ground GSMNP.  You will need to park at the campstore or perhaps along the road leading to the group site.  
The group site itself has only 4 spaces.  
CHEFS are WELCOME (come early at 7:30)....Gary Douglas is our Master Chef and he is always apprenticing those who wish to learn the "culinary woodsman arts". 
NEW this YEAR....We will have a large covered pavilion, so even if it rains, we will be covered.  We had over 60 people last year!  I think we can break the record.   
It would be so helpful if you can help us with planning by giving us a headcount....
Please attend, even if you decide to attend a the last moment...but letting us know ahead is so helpful.
Please Plan for $4.00 each if you are financially able and feel free to give more to the fund if feel like you can do so.

The GOSPEL of MARK

The GOSPEL of MARK....a power packed - 16 chapter book. 
Did you know that missionaries, when working with remote new people groups, first translate the book of Mark into the new language? So often new believers in a remote people group are given for their first glimpse of the bible, the book of Mark.  Isn't that interesting?  
They are only given one book to read and the Holy Spirit works in their lives because they read and meditate on it, put into practice the teaching and make it part of their life.

I want us to ask the following question:
What if I had never been in church or ever heard teaching or preaching on the book of Mark or the bible in general, how would I read the Gospel of Mark?  
What would jump out at me? 


An example :  When you read Mark chapter 1 you will be hit with supernatural events almost immediately.  Jesus is baptized and the heavens open! Not something any of us have ever witnessed, yet the scripture describes it.   Next we see demons cast out and Peter's mother in law healed by Jesus merely taking her by the hand....this is AMAZING stuff.

My point is consider the power Jesus possess....his compassion....how accessible he is to the people.  
You could also consider how the people reacted....how amazed they were...how the crowds gathered....how they wanted to be near Jesus.

I hope you see the treasure of God's word.

Ken 
 









The rest of this blog is from a earlier post back in August of 2008....further explaining the formal inductive method.  This is for you to read if you want more information of bible study...but for our study, the approach listed above is great.

Why an Inductive Bible Study?
A Chinese proverb says "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime."
My wish for you is for you to learn how to "fish" - how to study God's word in your own quiet time. In this way the Holy Spirit will be your teacher - He is a perfect teacher and I know you will grow in Christ.

As a testimony - I grew up trying to be a "daily bible reader" out of sense of Southern Baptist Duty...not love for God or His word, but because you could raise your hand in Sunday School if you were a daily bible reader. Just before I dozed off to sleep I would flip open the bible and try to read something to say I had at least read the bible that day. I would read the bible ONLY if i was involved a formal book study...but it still was "How much do I HAVE to read to get through this?" I thought people who liked to read the bible also liked to read fine print on contracts and the phone book for fun. (maybe you have been there or you are there today...there is much better way to live in Christ.)
 

About 15 years ago I learned much better how to study the bible. It was over a period of time, but God began to call me to read his word. I was not satisfied with my walk with Christ and knew that God's word had to be part of becoming His disciple. I asked God in very simple prayers to understand the bible before I began to read each time. God answered those prayers and I received the Holy Spirit's guidance in understanding God's word. I may have heard but didn't fully understand  at the time, but John 16:8 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth..." - it clearly says one of the main purposes of the Holy Spirit is to help us to understand the bible. My walk with Christ began to grow and I gained a sincere desire to learn more and a love for God's amazing bible.

You can't learn all the Bible in a single day (I warn you because overreaching goals trip up so many). Pray asking for God's help and take small steps - His word will be come Fresh and Alive and Active. With God's help, the words will begin to almost leap off the page. By God's grace, you will become one of those "Jesus Freaks" who say..."I was reading this scripture the other day and WOW...God just showed me this!"

How do I begin?
First if you don't have a quiet time...Begin a quiet time today...God will honor your efforts.
Second - If you have a quiet time - Begin with PRAYER FIRST...then read smaller passages of the Bible, but study deeper.... ask questions.
For example:
What is the “big idea” of the passage?
Who is writing or speaking and to whom?
Click the link for a download of a PDF guide to the Inductive Bible Study Method.
Some people will ask every question and be very formal...while some will use 4-5 main questions to look at the text. Both are fine. The main point of the inductive method to bible study is to first seek God in prayer, read a small passage and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you God's word.

One word of caution - an attempt to find "hidden things" not present in the scripture is sometimes a fault of students using this bible study method. God's word is powerful as it is written ...just ask the questions and see what is written in God's word.

Also to add further depth to your study.... invest a few minutes to read the Book introduction and try studying the maps for the highlights will add a whole new element to bible study.

Call or email me if you have a question during the week.. I want to help you and see you grow in Christ.

In Him,

Ken

The SHEMA....overflowing to our children

Lately I have been reminded of The Shema is this passage in Deuteronomy 6

⁴ “ Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! ⁵  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. ⁸  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as ^[b]frontals ^[c]on your forehead. ⁹  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

  

Shema is the Hebrew word for "hear", the first word in verse 4.

The Gospel message of Jesus is consistent and fully entwined with this old testament command.  When Jesus was asked in Mark 12:29 which of the commandments was the greatest, Jesus recited the Shema.  

Our love for God must always be the priority of our lives.  

From our love for God flows our love for others.   

1 John 4:7-8

 ⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Things to do today

       1) Love God

       2) Love Others

 Okay what is next....

The SHEMA reminds us....we must love God in such a way and have his word and teaching in us so that it overflows to our children.  

I must admit that the outpouring of God's love is not always the first thing that leaks out when I am squeezed daily by the world.    

Here is a question...

What overflows from my life that my children would believe is my main interest?

Would it be my job/career?

Would it be my concern for finances and how "We really don't have money for this or that."

Would it be my aspirations for new gatchet or gizmo? Just one more thing to really make me happy.

Would it be my disgust for reckless drivers and other people I pronounce as "idiots" in front of my kids?

Would it be that my children have replaced God as the most important thing in the world?

It can be overwhelming...but the Father knows our frame and that we are but dust....so He breaks it down for me "Big Bird style".  (small bites so I can grasp it.)

Concentrate on  loving the Lord (Yehwah) your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

When we love....the rest of the details work out.        Ken