On Tuesday, September 23, Mr. Blamer spoke to the students about how to take the experiences of Retreat 2014 and make them everyday experiences at school. Using the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 18 (Mt. Carmel) and 1 Kings 19 (Elijah runs to the mountain of God), Mr. Blamer encouraged the students to take the passion and excitement from retreat and continue to live with passion.
"Elijah is one who had passion for God," Mr. Blamer pointed out. In the span of one day, Elijah gave everything he had to the service of God. This is one reason, Mr. Blamer observed, why Jesus was often mistake for Elijah by the crowds--Jesus lived with such passion for God, much like Elijah did. It is this passion of Elijah that the book of James (5:17) encourages believers to imitate.
Commenting on retreat Mr. Blamer pointed out a common experience: many times after having a spiritual high, we get put to the test, often through hardship. A few days after the events on Mt. Carmel, Elijah is running for his life into the wilderness because Queen Jezebel wants to kill him. This is when God comes to Elijah on the mountain of God in a crushing silence. Likewise, the students may be experiencing a crushing silence now that they have returned from retreat. But God is in the hardship and in the silence. And when God spoke to Elijah, he told Elijah to go find Elisha to help continue the mission of the prophet in Israel.
Mr. Blamer brought all of this to a close by encouraging the students to be like Elijah. First, live with passion and spend every day living with that passion for service to God. Second, listen to God especially in the silence. Third, find someone to go with you on your journey through high school and through life. This is how the students can bring their experience with God at retreat to the hallways and classrooms of Lansing Christian High School.
"Elijah is one who had passion for God," Mr. Blamer pointed out. In the span of one day, Elijah gave everything he had to the service of God. This is one reason, Mr. Blamer observed, why Jesus was often mistake for Elijah by the crowds--Jesus lived with such passion for God, much like Elijah did. It is this passion of Elijah that the book of James (5:17) encourages believers to imitate.
Commenting on retreat Mr. Blamer pointed out a common experience: many times after having a spiritual high, we get put to the test, often through hardship. A few days after the events on Mt. Carmel, Elijah is running for his life into the wilderness because Queen Jezebel wants to kill him. This is when God comes to Elijah on the mountain of God in a crushing silence. Likewise, the students may be experiencing a crushing silence now that they have returned from retreat. But God is in the hardship and in the silence. And when God spoke to Elijah, he told Elijah to go find Elisha to help continue the mission of the prophet in Israel.
Mr. Blamer brought all of this to a close by encouraging the students to be like Elijah. First, live with passion and spend every day living with that passion for service to God. Second, listen to God especially in the silence. Third, find someone to go with you on your journey through high school and through life. This is how the students can bring their experience with God at retreat to the hallways and classrooms of Lansing Christian High School.