Hello, world.
Here is an update on my life:
I'm in my 2nd year of the Outfitter program at Bair Lake Bible Camp.
We're currently studying the book of Proverbs in the Bible, guided by a study made by Navigators.
We're learning Life Skills from the Sandbergs.
We're hosting many groups, working in experiential education, Bair Lake's ACE program. (Adventure Challenge Education), working in housekeeping, and etc.
I'm also working at 5 Star on Wednesdays, an after-school program for middle school age kids. The program has a Biblical base to it. I'm warming up to it more and more.
I don't get to church as often as I used to, but I'm usually there on Sunday nights. Some Sunday mornings (kind of on an every other weekend basis) I'm able to be there.
My good friend Mindy Hamilton is now my girlfriend :) Official as of August 21st, though since we're not "facebook official," not a lot of people know about us dating. It's a long distance relationship, since I'm in Michigan and she's in greater Chicago area, but we get to see each other about every month, or a couple times a month. God seems to be blessing the relationship. :)
I have been given the opportunity to work with Marketing a little bit at the camp. I've taken pictures of ACE groups, found pictures on the MAC for Nanci to send to the graphic designer and organized some other photos on the Mac. It's fun for various reasons. I am interested in Graphic Design, photography and marketing. This is the job that Mindy used to do too. .. :) So, it is fun to be able to work on this stuff on some Thursdays.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:16
-Stephen
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Short Note - Where I am.
My, it has been quite a summer and beginning of fall. I'm up in my apartment at camp thinking over the day and writing to different people. Some wonderful piano music is playing on the instramental station my brother made, and shared with me, on Pandora.
Mindy was here for Women's Retreat weekend, running the audio/video equipment and taking photos. The retreat seemed to run very smoothly. Nearly ten ladies still did the high ropes course Saturday, even though it was a little rainy up until we went up onto the course.
I joined in with the youth group from Community Baptist Church for a 'Destination Unknown' that was at the Kanaby's house. Then I came back to camp and Aaron G. and I had a guys' night, watched a video, ate ice cream mixed with all sorts of goodies, which he got for a really good deal at Meijer. It was a good time.
The new Outfitter(the discipleship/internship program I'm a part of here at Bair Lake Bible Camp) year has officially started and we are back to Bible studies, meetings, assignments, guest groups, and Retreat Season schedule. The new season has started off wonderfully. We are heading on a semi-mysterious trip this coming weekend, probably with the Reid family.
I am in a new phase in my life. I look forward to seeing what God does with it. I am feeling like God is bringing growth and fruit in my life.
-Stephen
Mindy was here for Women's Retreat weekend, running the audio/video equipment and taking photos. The retreat seemed to run very smoothly. Nearly ten ladies still did the high ropes course Saturday, even though it was a little rainy up until we went up onto the course.
I joined in with the youth group from Community Baptist Church for a 'Destination Unknown' that was at the Kanaby's house. Then I came back to camp and Aaron G. and I had a guys' night, watched a video, ate ice cream mixed with all sorts of goodies, which he got for a really good deal at Meijer. It was a good time.
The new Outfitter(the discipleship/internship program I'm a part of here at Bair Lake Bible Camp) year has officially started and we are back to Bible studies, meetings, assignments, guest groups, and Retreat Season schedule. The new season has started off wonderfully. We are heading on a semi-mysterious trip this coming weekend, probably with the Reid family.
I am in a new phase in my life. I look forward to seeing what God does with it. I am feeling like God is bringing growth and fruit in my life.
-Stephen
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Post Again
Still, having trouble with the "listening to the Spirit" stuff. .. :/ ... it drags me down badly when I feel like I'm wrestling through stuff with God's Spirit.
I recently basically got saved. ... I got up on April 21st, before heading to morning current events and ACE training, and I prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart. ... Long have I focused on God and on improving and growing.. and in sophomore year of Highschool I got saved or rededicated my life to God, at least I thought so. Still, it wasn't about Jesus and accepting His free gift, it was "God I want to live for you, I'm tired of living for me." .. So, he has indeed used me, and I have done much in His service it would seem, over the last 5 years. .. He has guided and provided for me as he does for His children. However, my esteem, value, and focus/attention to Christ Jesus and his role, which only He could fill, have been so.. so small.
For some time now I have recognized doubts of my salvation and faith, and I realized that the value I placed on Jesus as well as my perception of Him were frighteningly low.
I don't know what all of this necessarily says about my life up to this point. I know this though: God is who He says He is. Jesus Christ is the one and only mediator of the saving covenant that brings me into a relationship with God. I believe and have received Jesus Christ and His Spirit, so I am His and He is mine, and I will live for him and someday live with him in Heaven.
Feel free to ask questions. .. I hope I will have adequate and honest answers for you.
-Stephen
I recently basically got saved. ... I got up on April 21st, before heading to morning current events and ACE training, and I prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart. ... Long have I focused on God and on improving and growing.. and in sophomore year of Highschool I got saved or rededicated my life to God, at least I thought so. Still, it wasn't about Jesus and accepting His free gift, it was "God I want to live for you, I'm tired of living for me." .. So, he has indeed used me, and I have done much in His service it would seem, over the last 5 years. .. He has guided and provided for me as he does for His children. However, my esteem, value, and focus/attention to Christ Jesus and his role, which only He could fill, have been so.. so small.
For some time now I have recognized doubts of my salvation and faith, and I realized that the value I placed on Jesus as well as my perception of Him were frighteningly low.
I don't know what all of this necessarily says about my life up to this point. I know this though: God is who He says He is. Jesus Christ is the one and only mediator of the saving covenant that brings me into a relationship with God. I believe and have received Jesus Christ and His Spirit, so I am His and He is mine, and I will live for him and someday live with him in Heaven.
Feel free to ask questions. .. I hope I will have adequate and honest answers for you.
-Stephen
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Relationship
It is certainly comforting to be reminded that I am in a relationship with God. ... It's not just him cracking a whip and standing by ready to crack down on every move I make. ... He wants me to spend time with him, and he wants me to want to spend time with him.
Face2face: Researching the topic of face to face has proven to be a challenge. We spoke at a little school in Valparaiso, IN, Wednesday morning, and we tried to incorporate our summer theme (Face to face) and verse (Psalm 27:8). Studying and trying to think about what it means to seek the face of God is a challenge.
I hope to learn and grow a lot as I seek God and his face, his will and personality.
God is Who he says he is. He is God.
His Son is Christ Jesus, my Savior and best friend.
Face2face: Researching the topic of face to face has proven to be a challenge. We spoke at a little school in Valparaiso, IN, Wednesday morning, and we tried to incorporate our summer theme (Face to face) and verse (Psalm 27:8). Studying and trying to think about what it means to seek the face of God is a challenge.
I hope to learn and grow a lot as I seek God and his face, his will and personality.
God is Who he says he is. He is God.
His Son is Christ Jesus, my Savior and best friend.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Full Journal
The journal I received at the beginning of Outfitters is now full (give or take a few pages that are being reserved for special entries).
I'm glad it's full. It is fun to start in on a new journal and to look back at what I wrote in the now full one.
The very first page in it had notes from our first Apologetics class, with L. T. Jeyachandran. He taught about the importance of the Trinity of God. The fact that God is one God yet three persons is foundational for the rest of our faith. Relationship and holiness go hand in hand because of the relationship of the Three Persons of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God, and He is good.
He is King over everything.
-Stephen B. Mechling
I'm glad it's full. It is fun to start in on a new journal and to look back at what I wrote in the now full one.
The very first page in it had notes from our first Apologetics class, with L. T. Jeyachandran. He taught about the importance of the Trinity of God. The fact that God is one God yet three persons is foundational for the rest of our faith. Relationship and holiness go hand in hand because of the relationship of the Three Persons of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God, and He is good.
He is King over everything.
-Stephen B. Mechling
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thoughts and Lessons
Listening to the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of our God. That is one thing I am working on and having difficulty with lately.
How do you listen to or listen for the Holy Spirit? My initial answer would be in quiet and stillness, meditating on God. Does that mean sitting in silence thinking about who God is? Or is that meditating/mulling over passages of scripture and focusing on them, thinking about what they mean, how they apply to me, and leaving room for God to point out in some thought or way how I can apply the truths of scripture to my life?
Lately I've spent not enough time in meditating on scripture while listening for thoughts or ideas or directions that the Spirit might be directing me toward.
I have been cautioned by two men, whom I consider wiser and much older than I, in regards to listening to feelings and acting on feelings that come into my mind/heart. Yet, just as they also advised, if God is saying to do something, I must do it. If it is indeed God urging me through a thought or a person or a circumstance or especially His word, I am obliged to do it.
So, in times of worship and prayer I have wrestled with God and in times where I have fought against His Spirit I have sunk lower in my spirit than I can ever remember. But when I follow and obey the direction in my heart, given by God, I stand tall and am emboldened.
God says not to quench the Holy Spirit. I do hope not to.
1 Timothy 5:2 [Treat]"Older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
God is always right. It goes without saying. So, it makes perfect sense, knowing that He loves us, wants what's best for us, and commands us to do things that are right (and in the end are for our best and His best anyway). It is fitting then, that "treating older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity" turns out to be the most amazing way to treat women.
Truth. Honesty. Impartial Judgment. I've long thought that this was an area I was perfectly fine in. False. I am often tempted to be what we would call a "people pleaser." I like to give people the answers they would like to hear and not make people uncomfortable or upset. ... This is fearing people more than God. God has been working me over with this one. It is sin. It is crippling. It is a deadly trap to fear man.
Jesus Christ. Center and focus. John 15:4 -"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
I'll try to share more soon. Thank you for taking time to read this.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God.
-Stephen Bradshaw Mechling
How do you listen to or listen for the Holy Spirit? My initial answer would be in quiet and stillness, meditating on God. Does that mean sitting in silence thinking about who God is? Or is that meditating/mulling over passages of scripture and focusing on them, thinking about what they mean, how they apply to me, and leaving room for God to point out in some thought or way how I can apply the truths of scripture to my life?
Lately I've spent not enough time in meditating on scripture while listening for thoughts or ideas or directions that the Spirit might be directing me toward.
I have been cautioned by two men, whom I consider wiser and much older than I, in regards to listening to feelings and acting on feelings that come into my mind/heart. Yet, just as they also advised, if God is saying to do something, I must do it. If it is indeed God urging me through a thought or a person or a circumstance or especially His word, I am obliged to do it.
So, in times of worship and prayer I have wrestled with God and in times where I have fought against His Spirit I have sunk lower in my spirit than I can ever remember. But when I follow and obey the direction in my heart, given by God, I stand tall and am emboldened.
God says not to quench the Holy Spirit. I do hope not to.
1 Timothy 5:2 [Treat]"Older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
God is always right. It goes without saying. So, it makes perfect sense, knowing that He loves us, wants what's best for us, and commands us to do things that are right (and in the end are for our best and His best anyway). It is fitting then, that "treating older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity" turns out to be the most amazing way to treat women.
Truth. Honesty. Impartial Judgment. I've long thought that this was an area I was perfectly fine in. False. I am often tempted to be what we would call a "people pleaser." I like to give people the answers they would like to hear and not make people uncomfortable or upset. ... This is fearing people more than God. God has been working me over with this one. It is sin. It is crippling. It is a deadly trap to fear man.
Jesus Christ. Center and focus. John 15:4 -"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
John 15:7 - "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
I'll try to share more soon. Thank you for taking time to read this.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God.
-Stephen Bradshaw Mechling
Monday, January 24, 2011
1 Corinthians 13
Love is patient.
Love does not envy.
Love is not proud.
Love always perseveres.
Love always protects.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil.
Love is not easily angered.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Love is kind.
Love always hopes.
Love does not boast.
Love is not rude.
Love always trusts.
Love never fails.
The ones in bold are the ones I think I struggle the most with.
It sure is hard to love. By the strength of the Holy Spirit though, I believe mankind can love.
Love: to me that looks like doing my part despite the effort it takes, putting effort and intention into my work, so that others don't have to pick up my slack. .. I don't mean that I would no longer need other people. .. just that if I'm truly serving others and giving myself sacrificially, others shouldn't have to pick up after me and do my work for me.
Also... killing my pride.. . that's love. Man, it's hard to give up pride.
Love does not envy.
Love is not proud.
Love always perseveres.
Love always protects.
Love is not self-seeking.
Love keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil.
Love is not easily angered.
Love rejoices with the truth.
Love is kind.
Love always hopes.
Love does not boast.
Love is not rude.
Love always trusts.
Love never fails.
The ones in bold are the ones I think I struggle the most with.
It sure is hard to love. By the strength of the Holy Spirit though, I believe mankind can love.
Love: to me that looks like doing my part despite the effort it takes, putting effort and intention into my work, so that others don't have to pick up my slack. .. I don't mean that I would no longer need other people. .. just that if I'm truly serving others and giving myself sacrificially, others shouldn't have to pick up after me and do my work for me.
Also... killing my pride.. . that's love. Man, it's hard to give up pride.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Self - Discipline
My spiritual goal for this upcoming year is Self-Control/Self-Discipline.
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."- 2 Timothy 1:7
My physical goal, scheduled to be reached by march, is to be able to do 100 pushups, a couple hundred crunches, and a 3 mile run in one day.
My mental/emotional goal is to be more confident [see 2 Tim. 1:7 again]. Taking on more leadership opportunities will probably be a big part in building toward that. Jesus made me. He made my physique, my strengths and weaknesses, my family, my upbringing, my personality, and He saved me. I want to be confident in Him and who He has formed me into.
My project, which will be primarily complete on January 29th, 2011, will be to help create a refreshing, encouraging, enjoyable evening for the volunteer workers at Community Baptist Church of Edwardsburg. It has been a lot of work so far, and much still needs to be done. Mindy, Carissa, and Elaine have helped me a lot already, and Hannah and a few others are planning to help cover for us at camp while we're gone that evening.
Coming up: Tomorrow evening, after "The Feast" Bible study, Nic, Eric, and us Outfitters are leaving for Program Advance. We return sometime, I believe late afternoon, the next day.
I'm thankful for the many great gifts I have received recently, ranging from the customized cooking apron that Carissa gave me to the work and parts that Dad provided for me in fixing my car up and loaning me the other car in the process.
God takes perfect care of His own. I could not be where I am or who I am without Him.
May God bless you and keep you in His word, growing your faith.
-Stephen
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."- 2 Timothy 1:7
My physical goal, scheduled to be reached by march, is to be able to do 100 pushups, a couple hundred crunches, and a 3 mile run in one day.
My mental/emotional goal is to be more confident [see 2 Tim. 1:7 again]. Taking on more leadership opportunities will probably be a big part in building toward that. Jesus made me. He made my physique, my strengths and weaknesses, my family, my upbringing, my personality, and He saved me. I want to be confident in Him and who He has formed me into.
My project, which will be primarily complete on January 29th, 2011, will be to help create a refreshing, encouraging, enjoyable evening for the volunteer workers at Community Baptist Church of Edwardsburg. It has been a lot of work so far, and much still needs to be done. Mindy, Carissa, and Elaine have helped me a lot already, and Hannah and a few others are planning to help cover for us at camp while we're gone that evening.
Coming up: Tomorrow evening, after "The Feast" Bible study, Nic, Eric, and us Outfitters are leaving for Program Advance. We return sometime, I believe late afternoon, the next day.
I'm thankful for the many great gifts I have received recently, ranging from the customized cooking apron that Carissa gave me to the work and parts that Dad provided for me in fixing my car up and loaning me the other car in the process.
God takes perfect care of His own. I could not be where I am or who I am without Him.
May God bless you and keep you in His word, growing your faith.
-Stephen
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