e pluribus unum

It is amazing to behold, an act of beauty, a sight as priceless as any masterpiece gracing a museum wall. I have had the distinct pleasure this past week or so of watching our little group of random individuals from all over the world gradually coalescing into One Body. I watch old friendships graciously turn outwards in order to invite new friendships. I am welcomed by the warm embrace of growing love as I observe authentic concern for each other developing throughout our group. I hear stories, listen to laughter, open up myself, and have even already hugged those who needed a hug, mourned with those who are mourning. How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity!

It's been an incredible week. We've enjoyed the wonderful teaching of Michael Craven, who spent the week teaching us through cultural apologetics, otherwise called a biblical worldview. He led us through a biblical, compassionate approach to modernism/postmodernism, consumerism, sexuality and homosexuality, marriage, and much more. He actually wrote one of the best books I have read in awhile. It's called Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Cultural Christianity. Seriously, this is one of the best treatments of how to respond to and understand our culture as a biblical Christian. I can't recommend it enough! You can buy it at his website or from Amazon. Seriously--go buy it today.

In other news, we continue to have more fun in the snow than should be allowed! We all learned how to cross-country ski this past Wednesday. There are few experiences in life more breathtaking than skiing through fresh powder on a snowy afternoon under the shelter of towering, snowcapped trees. We took a few minutes on the trail to stop and simply listen to the snow falling. I hear they stop to smell the roses in Scotland...here in the Adirondacks we prefer to stop and listen to the snow fall!

We also enjoyed one of our first snowshoe hikes. The group is already in much better shape than we expected at this point. We made it up, had lunch on top, froze our hands, and then ran through the mounds of snow on the way down in a few hours less than we thought it would take. We are excited at how well everyone did--but we laughingly told them they should have intentionally tanked their first run out--that way the rest of the semester would be much easier! Now we know we can challenge them!

We have already seen growth from our classes. We are studying a few of the significant contributors to Christian thought over the years (Athanasius, Augustine, Calvin, Edwards), as well as learning leadership lessons from Jesus in the book of Matthew. There are few things more challenging to our Western paradigms than the Sermon on the Mount. We've also delved deeply into our study and practice of the spiritual disciplines. It is great to watch the students pour themselves into their studies, as well as practice bible study, solitude, worship, prayer, and even fasting. We look forward to what is to come.

This week we'll be tackling our first afternoon of full outreach. We will be involved in a wide variety of activities throughout the mighty metropolis of Speculator. This will include serving at the local library, historical society, Day Hab (daily rehabilitation for the severely retarded), and local volunteer ambulance center. We also host a group of local girls every week on Monday night for Tapawingo Girls Fellowship, which is sort of life Vacation Bible School, only better! :) We simply do everything we can think of to practically and tangibly demonstrate and proclaim Christ's love to those who desperately need Him. We'll appreciate your prayers, and we'll let you know how things go!