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Roadside Assistance Issue 8.4
Roadside Assistance Issue 8.4
Roadside Assistance Issue 8.4
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Eph
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And I pray that you,
love of Christ.
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what it is
Roadside Assistance is a forum for
Reformed youth. A forum is a place where
people talk together. So listen and read, but
go ahead and write something as well. We
would like you to send your articles, poems,
and art, and well do our best to include
them in the upcoming issues!
This particular forum is a place for
discussing faith matters, encouraging
one another in the faith, passing on Bible
knowledge, building and expressing our
beliefs as Reformed Christians, sharpening
hearts and minds, stimulating reading on
Bible-related issues, and educating each
other.
Do you want to write for RA? Email us your
articles and maybe your work will appear in
an upcoming issue!
Volume 8, Issue 4
December 2014
02 Editorial:
For Such a Time as This
Alina Van Goor
05 Roadquest:
Help Us Study
Iwan Borst
06 The Lord My Storm
Debbie Hofsink
07 Soli Deo Gloria
Tara Tuinstra
09 Innerviews:
Hilmer Jagersma
John Boekee
15 Creative Highway:
Evangelism
Alyssa Tuinstra
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Editorial
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There once was a girl. She had been taken away from her homeland and
from everything that she once knew and held dear. Her parents were dead
and the only relative she had left was a cousin. She now lived in a strange
land with strange people, strange customs, and a strange language.
Everything was new. Everything was different.
Now this girl was also very beautiful. She was so beautiful that the king
of this strange land took notice of her. He was so pleased with her that
he made her queen. But one day this girl was faced with a huge problem.
She found out something that was bad. Really bad. If she did nothing
many people could get hurt or, worse, killed. Her cousin urged her to go
to the king. Maybe he could help. The girl was very scared, but her cousin
continued to urge her: I know it has been hard to learn to live in this
new land. I know you miss your home, your friends, and your parents a
lot, but do you ever wonder why God brought you here, or why
He let you go through all these hard times? I do not
have an answer to all these questions but maybe, just
maybe, you are here for a reason. Maybe you are
in the kings palace so that you can help all these
people! Have you not considered that maybe
you have come to this royal position for such a
time as this?
01
02
we often do not know and we will likely never understand it all on this side
of heaven. But, just because we do not understand it all, does not mean
it is not true. Maybe you can look back at things or events in your life
and see Gods hand in them. Sometimes that is hard to do but whatever
has happened to you, be it good or bad, God was in control. He has used
certain events or certain people in your life to shape you and bring you to
this point today.
Maybe this all sounds quite fanciful or overly theological to you. It might
be comforting to know that God has a plan and that He is at work, but
what does this mean practically? What does this mean for me, for my life,
right now and right where I am? A lot.
If we believe that we have been placed where we are for a reason and for
such a time as this, then that can, and should, affect how we live our lives.
The people we meet and interact with have been placed on our paths for
a reason. If we can be a help or blessing to them in any way we should
do that willingly and gladly, as instruments in the hands of God. This
can be anything from helping a friend or being a listening ear, to giving
a stranger the time or simply a smile to brighten their day. Through our
words and our actions we can win our neighbours for Christ. Who knows,
perhaps you and the interaction you have with them today may be the
only meaningful exposure of Him they will ever have. Take that chance.
03
04
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Roadquest
Debbi H
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Young peoples, young adults, college and careers, womens and mens
Bible studies are all in full swing. If you are attending, I hope you are
enjoying and being edified by these weekly or bi-weekly meetings. How
upbuilding and sharpening a good and open discussion can be! But I
think we all know that some Bible studies are just a bit more enjoyable
and edifying than others. Bible study topics, books and programs play an
important role in this. Every year Bible study boards across the nation
wonder what they should study next. Should they ask people for topics?
Which books of the Bible would be most engaging? Which guide will work
best? Who is going to make the questions? Is this book going to encourage
enough discussion? These are all important questions, but the outcomes
might be difficult to predict. So Roadside Assistance encourages you to
take the time this Bible study season to sit down and write a review of the
Bible study material that you are currently using or have used in the past.
What book are you using? How are you discussing it? What
has made the study worthwhile? Consider these questions
and share them with us. Let us help one another to make the
most of our Bible studies by sharing our experiences of great
resources.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
05
THE LOR
06
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God alone.
07
This message applies to all areas of our life service does not just
stop with volunteer hours or service trips, but our whole lives are
required to be lived in service to God. That means that our lives are
not our own but as Romans 12:1 says, they are living sacrifices to
God. This may seem like we have lost our freedom, but in truth, we
have gained much more. Gone are the shackles of sin, and
we are free to live out our lives for Gods glory. Our lives
must be lived in constant service to God. That doesnt mean we all
have to go into social services and work at soup kitchens for a living
in order to meet the gospels service requirements. Service to God
means glorifying Him in all we do and in any career choice. Now
08
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Innerview
09
HJ: Divine Hope is a prison ministry program that offers theological training
to men behind bars. Currently, this ministry operates in state prisons
located in Indiana and Illinois. Divine Hope seeks to bring the Word of God
to men in prison, and to disciple and mentor them as they grow in their
faith in Jesus Christ. Most of the courses that are taught there are similar
to those that are taught at a regular seminary. The vision of Divine Hope
is that the theological education will bring about moral rehabilitation. This
change in lifestyle has been noticed by the prison staff, officials, and other
inmates. The Lord has richly blessed the Work of Divine Hope thus far and
may He continue to do so.
RA: What made you nervous, other than the fact that prison
was a new experience for you?
HJ: There was certainly an uneasiness about the concept of lecturing. I
was accustomed to listening to lectures, not giving them. So certainly
there was some apprehension as I embarked upon this new adventure
-- particularly since this adventure would take place within the walls of
a medium/maximum security prison. Looking back though, Im not sure
why I worried so much. Granted, there was a short period (as I entered
prison for the first time) when I was overwhelmed by my surroundings.
10
At the same time, I was amazed at how quickly this effect wore off. Once
I entered the classroom and met the inmates I would be teaching, all the
exterior distractions soon faded away. Though many of their life stories
are quite different than mine, it was quickly apparent that we shared the
crucial bond of Christian brotherhood.
11
12
RA: What are some ways that we as Christian youth can get
more involved in prison ministry, or perhaps even in Divine
Hope?
HJ: Due to the nature of prison ministry, I will acknowledge that it is not
necessarily something that is for everybody. However there are two very
important ways you can help. One thing we can easily forget is that the
most helpful thing for any work of the Gospel, including Divine Hope, is
something that can be done by anybody. That is to pray. Colossians 4:2
says Devote yourselves to prayer. Please pray for Divine Hope, thanking
God for the work being done, and asking for His blessing on the continued
work there. Pray for the teachers, the students, that the Gospel may
continue to spread in the prisons where they are, and that the Gospel may
continue to spread to other prisons as well. The other way you can help is
financially. The seminary program is free for the inmates. But that means
the funding has to come from somewhere else. Please consider donating
to Divine Hope some of the financial blessings that the Lord has given you.
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Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
(Mark 16:15)
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Creative
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1. The pra
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2. Ardent
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spel
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How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
15
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of
the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
(Matthew 9:37-38)
Here am I, send me.
(Isaiah 6:8)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
(Acts 1:8)
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may
see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16)
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to Him
be glory
in Christ Jesus
throughout all
generations, for