Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Leipzig Trip
Monday, August 04, 2008
Student Choir Devotion for August 4, 2008
Come, Thou Fount
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above;
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wand’ring from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
Read: Romans 8: 35-39
Reflect: Can you remember a time when you were a little kid and got lost from your parents? Where was it? How long did it take you to find them or them to find you? Have you ever been watching or babysitting a child and in a split second they were gone and you couldn’t find them? Can you recall that sense of panic?
Consider: It is not a fun feeling to be separated from safety. A child panics when suddenly they can’t find the adult who is their caregiver. A rock climber knows there’s trouble when the safety rope suddenly goes limp. A skydiver always has one hand on the parachute.
The song, Come Thou Fount reminds us that we are all “prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love.” The curious, explorative nature of a two-year old is something we never lose. We all want to see fresh places, be around different kind of people, do new things. This sense of adventure is a gift from God and is a wonderful part of being fully human. Unfortunately, sometimes such experimentation can result in unhealthy consequences. The thrill of seeking something new or out of the ordinary can lead us to mess up pretty badly. The pursuit of fresh excitement can take us further away from the safety of old reliable friends, habits and values.
It’s a great thing to know that when this happens the fount of God’s love still flows to us. A very true bumper sticker says, “If you don’t feel as close to God as you once did...guess who moved!” God is always there for us, constant and unchanging. As the text from Romans says, no force from the outside can separate us from His love.
As the experience of this trip comes to an end, let’s all be honest. Although there is great meaning and contentment in being a follower of Jesus, sometimes it is hard. Sometimes it is not very exciting. Sometimes the routine of praying, going to church, reading the Bible, or trying to do the right thing seems boring. This trip has probably been a high point for many of us in our Christian journey, but life back at school, college or work will not have the same “bada-bing” as a trip to Europe. We will all be prone to wander away from church or personal time with or service to God.
Pray: Let us all pray that we will remain faithfully close to Jesus and to one another. Let us seek to make the world more full of God’s love and joy. In doing this, may we each find the profound and abiding peace of Christ.
(Written by Clark Sorrells)Sunday, August 03, 2008
Leipzig Trip
reverb that the church's vaulted ceilings created. It was a spine tingling noise that completed our choir tour and literally was a great note to end on. From there we all rushed to the bus to get to the closing celebration of the BWAYC, still in our uniforms. Here we gathered for the last time with youth from eighty nine different countries where the celebration was broadcasted live on German television. We sang, danced, and prayed together reflecting on our time with each other and all that we had learned. Finally at the end of the conference, we had to say our goodbyes to our global friends and our uniforms as we ran to the bathrooms to change. We got on the bus once again and prepared ourselves for the five hour journey ahead of us to Munich. Once we arrived and found our hotel with lack of air conditioning, we cleaned up and headed out to the restaurant Lenz where we were greeted and served wonderful German food. This meal together truly wrapped the trip up for us since this is also what we arrived to on the first night in Germany. We got back to the hotel and gathered for fi
nal thought and reflection. From all that was shared it was evident how close we have grown to each other and God over the past ten days. Lastly, each of us were given a Dive Deeper bracelet by Roy that we exchanged six times with- prayer partner, family group members, and for some hugs. Thank you for your prayers and support. We get up in six hours to come home where we can't wait to see you all and share our many stories!Student Choir Devotion for August 3, 2008
Alleluia Fugue
Praise the Lord and sing unto His holy name. Alleluia, sing alleluia!
O let us sing a song of joy!
O let us sing a song of joy!
Praise the Lord and let the joyful music ring. Alleluia, sing alleluia!
Read: Matthew 5: 13-16
Reflect: Who comes to mind when you hear the words, “Whassup dog?” What restaurant do you immediately associate with spotted black and white cows doing crazy things? What is your personal trademark?
Consider: Today we sing at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. This church is the congregation where Johann Sebastian Bach spent the last twenty-seven years of his life (1723-1750) as organist/choirmaster, “minister of music” in modern Baptist terms. During a three-year period in Leipzig he composed a full-length (20-30 minutes) cantata for choir and orchestra every week: nearly 150 cantatas (obviously, this was pre-computer, quill pen and ink stuff.) These compositions are still sung and played all over the world today as are his other masterpieces: St. Matthew’s and St. John’s Passion, the Brandenburg Concertos, Christmas and Easter Oratorios, Preludes and Fugues, and Sonatas for various solo instruments- just to name a few. All in all, during his life Bach composed thousands of pieces of music, and still managed to father twenty biological children between writings!
Despite the rhythmic excitement and intricate details of his compositions, the one thing that makes Bach’s music extraordinary is not the music itself. To me, Bach is a musical giant because of the three simple Latin words that he penned at the bottom of the last page of every composition he ever wrote. The words and the sentiment behind them are Bach’s eternal trademark: Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory.)
No matter what the talent, skill or knowledge, our gifts come from God. Developing these gifts and using them to their fullest is the best expression of a life well-lived. Whether it is in the classroom, baseball field, theatre stage, computer terminal, or orchestral chair, when we nurture our special abilities to be the best they can be, we glorify God. The wise person is the one who always acknowledges this and is full of gratitude to God. Nothing is more repulsive than someone who has outstanding ability and behaves like they themselves are “God’s gift to the world.” However, nothing is more engaging or powerful than someone who humbly shares their talent as God’s gift to the world.
A very central part to the Christian faith is discovering our own individual contribution to the kingdom of God. Each of us must determine what we do best and then direct that ability toward helping or inspiring others, toward figuring out solutions to the world’s problems, toward expressing God’s grace to all people everywhere. This is referred to as “our calling.” God equips us all and then calls us all to serve others to the glory of God. What is your trademark and your calling in life? This is perhaps the most crucial decision you can ever make.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Pray
(Written by Clark Sorrells)
Saturday, August 02, 2008
First of all I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible for us from the bottom of my heart!! I cannot even begin to describe how amazing and life-changing this experience has been!!
Today we explored some of the most important historic places in all of Germany. I still cannot believe that I am actually here, seeing these famous places where so much happened. One of these places is the square where Adolf Hitler burned all the books...
And the Brandenburg Gate. 
Another place we learned more about was Checkpoint Charlie. This part of the tour holds special meaning to me because my Granddad was a part of the U.S. Army that came through Germany. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum had disturbing images and moving stories of the people who tried to escape from East Germany.
And of course we could not come to Berlin without seeing the famous Berlin Wall. It is unbelievable that a government would do such a horrible thing to its people. Families and friends were separated literally over night. The people on the East side of the wall lived in constant fear of being arrested. They had no freedom of speech, especially against the government. There is no wonder there was such rejoicing when the terrible wall came crashing down in 1989. (I was alive then! This happened in my lifetime!) 
This evening we continued to participate in the conference where the worship was taken into the center square of the city of Leipzig. The hope was to involve the whole city in the festivities. The whole square was overflowing with people of every nationality and background. Music and dancing is the common language. In the middle of several of the songs a giant Congo line broke out. In the midst of the fun, I know God was smiling down on His children and His heart was glad of the bonds that were being made between His children and Himself. All glory be to God!
Valerie Barnett
Student Choir Devotion for July 27, 2008
Zion’s Walls
Read: Acts 2: 38-47
Reflect: What is/was the favorite high school organization of which you are/were a member? A club, team, performing group, study group? Did you have regular meeting times or practices?
Consider: You know the feeling you get when your team wins? Whether it be the finals of a tournament, a big band competition or opening night of a play, there is nothing like sharing an accomplishment with a group of people with whom you have busted your rump in order to achieve a common goal. There’s a French term for it: esprits de corps – the spirit of the team!
The word “Zion” is the name of a team. It has been used since early Bible times to describe the people of God. “Singing the praises of Zion and shouting around the walls of Zion” means running around the stadium singing the fight song to the top of your lungs because the game is over and you have won!
God has given us a team with whom to live life. We call it the church. The scripture from Acts is a wonderful description about one of the very first churches ever formed. They shared everything together, supported each other and devoted themselves to learning about Christ in order to serve him better. Tonight we will be joining with a part of God’s church we have never met before: the International Baptist Church in Nuremberg. Other choirs will be there and we will all sing and worship together. We will be celebrating together as a team, as the body of Christ.
God made us to be at our best when we are yoked together with other people. We are hard-wired with the need for other people. Our happiness is always multiplied when we share it with others and our disappointments are divided when we allow others to help us. By worshipping and serving together regularly with others at church we follow the example of Jesus who “on the Sabbath went to the synagogue as was his custom.” That is what being a church is.
Think about your Zion. Do you realize how big the world-wide body of Christ is? Who are the important players in your own church who inspire your faith? Who are members of your church who might need your compassion right now?
Pray: Pray and give thanks to God for the universal church and the strength and encouragement it gives you. Ask God to help you become a loyal, valuable part of the body of Christ.
(written by Clark Sorrells)
Friday, August 01, 2008
Leipzig Trip
(pictured is Inwhan, Keli, Lauren, and Chris) 
ayed volleyball on the courts surronded by people from all over the world, alongside people playing futbol and ultimate frisbee. I would just like to say, we were undefeated. Timon (the young man from Germany that was in my group) and Corbon (a young man from Tennessee) played volleyball along with us and were major contributors to our team's victory. After that we socialized and ate wonderful German chocolate until worship.Student Choir Devotion for July 26, 2008
* The devotions the student choir will use July 31-Aug 2 are provided by the Baptist Youth World Conference. During that time, I will post the devotions that they read the first 3 days of their trip: July 25-26-27. - Tracey
Down to the River to Pray
As I went down to the river to pray studyin’ about that good ol’ way
And who shall wear the robe and crown, good Lord, show me the way.
Oh brothers let’s go down to the river to pray.
(Oh sisters, sinners, Christians)
Read: II Kings 5: 1, 9-14
Reflect: Do you like to bathe/shower before going to bed or first thing in the morning? Bar soap or body wash? Shampoo and conditioner, or just shampoo? 5 Minutes, or 30?
Consider: Is there anything better than a good, slow shower after you’ve gotten majorly sweaty from basketball, mowing the yard, or just laying out in the hot sun? How about the feeling of brushing your teeth after you wake up with “gunk mouth” or after you’ve eaten Italian, complete with four pieces of garlic bread? Feeling clean means feeling good.
Imagine how Naaman, the guy in the scripture, must have felt when his larva-infested, leprous skin became like a ten-year-old boy’s skin after he dipped in the Jordan River. He surely must have felt like a totally new person, full of life and promise. He was, in every sense of the word, born again!
Throughout the Bible and the history of Jesus’ followers, water and bodies of water have symbolized new life. From the flood of Noah that destroyed the evil of the world and replenished the good to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, water has birthed life. From the mighty waters of the Red Sea parted by the rod of Moses to the living water offered by Jesus to the woman at the well, water has given deliverance. From the watery womb of our mothers at our birth to the refreshing waters of our baptism, God sustains our life. These stories are what’s behind the power of the song Down to the River. For centuries people have gathered beside rivers in every part of the world to experience and witness baptism into a relationship with Jesus. It is an important ritual of our faith and a vital beginning step for a life-long commitment to Christ.
But the cleansing doesn’t stop there. The exhilarating feeling of ridding oneself of dirt and sweat by showering can only be surpassed by the freedom felt when we mend a broken relationship with God. Sometimes this requires confessing our sins to God and asking for forgiveness. Sometimes it means we have to say we are sorry to other people. And still other times it might mean an intentional change of bad habits. Whatever it takes, being made clean is always the first step to being made better. For the Christian, this is a daily process just like taking a shower.
So, what do you say? Oh, Christian, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down…the water’s fine.
Pray: Ask God to show you the parts of your heart and life that are not so clean. Ask God to forgive you and to help you strive for holy thoughts and actions.
(written by Clark Sorrells)
