Shifting Focus to Things Above During the Christmas Season
As we enter the busy holiday season, it's essential to turn our eyes from Earth to Heaven. Let's refocus our minds on heavenly things amidst the parties and gatherings. Encourage others to prioritize what truly matters during this time of celebrating our Savior's birth.
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To be and make disciples of Jesus Christ We wonderful which ironically tends to be the busiest and most hectic time of the year. In season, we should be turning our eyes to Remember through the dozens of parties, numerous gatherings, and bustling stores that our focus for this season should not be found on Earth. Instead, looking Heaven, focusing our minds on things above instead temporary things of this world. How can you help those around also shift their focus to the things above? are entering time the the most year, of this Christmas our Savior. family towards of the
Merritt Bongard Memorial Scholarship Recipient 2022: Joe Ruppert Many of our Gap alumni from Central Michigan University s chapter remember with fondness Pastor Merritt Bongard. He was the pastor at New Life Christian Fellowship in the early 2000s. His love for and support of college students and Standing in the Gap was legendary. He encouraged a lot of young adults during his ministry in Mt. Pleasant. Even after he left Mt. Pleasant to pastor in other churches, he kept in touch with several of us. Merritt died suddenly in 2016. To honor him and to continue his ministry of encouragement of college students, the Standing in the Gap Foundation Board created the Merritt Bongard Memorial Scholarship. The award goes to a senior who has shown extraordinary commitment to the ministry of Standing in the Gap during their college career. Joe Rupert was awarded the $500 Merritt Bongard Memorial Scholarship at the retreat this fall. Joe has been active in Northwood University s Standing in the Gap chapter since his freshman year. Indeed Joe s involvement and enthusiasm have been used by God to greatly increase the size of Gap at NU during Joe s college years. He was the president when he was an undergrad and now in his first semester of his MBA program, he is the intern campus pastor. Joe leads small groups, meets with students individually and helps out in numerous ways with the ministry. He is clearly deserving of this award and he is somebody Pastor Merritt really would have loved. If you would like to contribute to the Merritt Bongard Memorial Scholarship, you can do so via Venmo, PayPal or check. Be sure to include MBM Scholarship in the memo or comments. Due to the pandemic, there were a couple of years when the scholarship was not awarded. However this fall, we once again resumed giving out the scholarship (which usually was given out in the Spring).
The Kings Trade Poem written by alumna Kacie Lenaway I doubt it was a silent night. I doubt it was some winter s dream. When heaven s rescue committee launched What would be its greatest scheme. The world Jesus was born into Was under Roman law. It was one of the most brutal regimes That history has ever saw. See God came down to Earth To be a man, like you and I. To join us in the throes of life And in our place, He d die. The family Jesus was born into Was tested from the start. For Joseph had not lain with Mary So from her, he intended to part. But those words feel so tired. How can I say them anew? Let me take you back before the star in Bethlehem, Before the first breath Jesus drew. The body Jesus was born into Was limited, like yours and mine. It would be plagued by hardship and pain So why d he give up his right to be divine? See Jesus was already on the throne And in Himself, complete. The Father and Spirit were His community, The galaxies, the playgrounds at his feet. To serve and to love, To bring life and to heal, To take back those wanderers Whom Satan thought he could steal. For God so loved the world, So I shall love it too. For that baby in a manger Has come to make all things new. So there s no way he was bored Or desperate for our affection, So what could compel him To trade his kingship for subjection? So in His footsteps, I will go To every broken and dark place For what Jesus started at Christmas Was so the Church could finish the race. Subjection to a broken world, One where sin and death reigned. It s shadow tainted all our hearts, Not one of them unclaimed.
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