4th Annual PROOF Christmas Party

You are invited to the 4th Annual PROOF Christmas Party!

Wednesday, December 7th at 6:30 PM at the home of Steve & Rhonda Dest

Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share!

We will also be having our traditional White Elephant Gift Exchange! Please bring a wrapped gift if you'd like to participate. It can be anything from around your house - regifting is encouraged! If you do spend money, please keep it under $5 or $10.

Call the Dest's if you need directions or the code for the gate: 512-864-3067

November & December Celebrations

November

November 7th - Happy Birthday, LESLEY!

November 11th - Veteran's Day

November 24th - Thanksgiving Day

December

December 6th - St. Nicholas Day

December 7th - 4th Annual PROOF Christmas Party!
December 8th - Happy Anniversary, RYAN & DAYNA!

December 20th - Happy Birthday, BRAD! 

December 25th - Happy Birthday, JESUS!

December 31st - New Year's Eve

September & October Celebrations

September

September 5th - Labor Day
September 9th - Terranova turns TEN! (Llamafest on Sunday, September 11)
September 14th - Happy Birthday, MIKE!
September 22nd - Happy Birthday, BRETT!

September 23rd - First Day of Autumn

September 24th - Happy Anniversary, HUGH and SALLY!

September 28th - Happy Birthday, PAUL!

October

October 5th - Happy Birthday, NICK!

October 10th - Columbus Day

October 16th - Happy Birthday, PAMELA!

October 19th - Happy Birthday, JEFF! 

October 31st - Halloween

Schedule & Snack List for Aug/Sept

Below is the schedule over the next few weeks:

August 10th - Accountability (Snack: Sanders)
August 17th - NO GROUP (unless someone would like to volunteer to host!!!)
August 24th - Romans 4 (Snack: McMahans)

August 31st - Accountability (Snack: Fillares)
September 7th - Romans 5 (Snack: Anna)
September 14th - Accountability (Snack: Heather)

Romans

We are launching our study of the Book of Romans on July 6th!! We are not following a particular study as a group, but we will be studying individually and then coming together as a group to discuss, share, and wrestle with the word.

If you are looking for some resources to aid you in your study of Romans, here are a few that have been suggested by our church leadership:

• John Piper's sermons through the Book of Romans: you can listen or read these off of his website for FREE! {hint: great resource if you are in the car a lot and can access the audio!}
• Tom Schreiner's commentary on Romans:  Tom was Sean's pastor at his previous church.  He is was also one of his seminary professors and perhaps the top New Testament scholar on Paul.
• John Stott's commentary on Romans:  Excellent resource and a little shorter than the above commentary by Schreiner.
• Sam Storm's Outline and Walk through the text:  Very helpful site.  All in one place.  Free!! 
• Other authors that have been suggested in the past include: William Barclay and John MacArthur

{note: there are links to the free resources in the "Links" section of this blog on the sidebar}

 Take some time and really dig into the word. You will have two weeks in between each chapter to study and prepare for the discussion. May God use this study to strengthen and teach us as we walk through His word.

Come prepared to discuss Romans Chapter 1 on July 6th!!

Schedule & Snack List for July

Below is the schedule over the next few weeks:

June 29th - NO GROUP
July 6th - Romans 1 (Snack: Sanders)

July 13th - Accountability (Snack: Fillares)
July 20th - Romans 2 (Snack: Charrieres)
July 27th - Accountability (Snack: Jamy)

July & August Celebrations

July

July 4th - Independence Day
July 5th - Happy Anniversary, BRAD & LESLEY!
July 19th - Happy Birthday, NICOLE!

July 24th - Happy Birthday, HUGH!

July 31st - Happy Birthday, BILLY and DAVE!

August

August 3rd - National Watermelon Day

August 7th - Friendship Day

August 21st - Happy Birthday, ANGIE! 

May & June Celebrations

May

May 3rd - Happy Birthday, DAYNA!

May 5th - National Day of Prayer

May 6th - Happy Birthday, RYAN!

May 8th - Happy Mother's Day!

May 30th - Memorial Day

June

June 14th - Flag Day

June 19th - Happy Father's Day!

June 21st - Happy Anniversary, PAUL & NICOLE! 

On Memorizing Scripture

Upon reading the chapter on Scripture from John Piper's Desiring God, our group felt convicted to be more disciplined in our Scripture memorization.

Our first challenge is to have a verse (at minimum) memorized to share with the group on Wednesday, March 16th... how's it going so far?!

Here are some wonderful tips on Scripture memorization from our pastor, Kyle:

Preparation...

1. Choose your translation. I suggest memorizing from a more literal translation, but the best is probably whatever translation you read and study in regularly. You know my personal favorite is the ESV.
2. Ideally, choose not just a verse, but a passage so that you can memorize in context. Perhaps even a whole chapter or book.
3. Be committed to memorizing exactly as it is written. Don't create your own summary, by changing words and leaving stuff out. Be precise.
4. Decide your pace. One verse a week isn't enough. A verse a day is a great minimum to start with, but don't underestimate how much you could actually do over time. Pick your pace and protect however much time you need to keep it up.
5. It is your choice as to whether you will also memorize the reference numbers. Some are big on this because it is so helpful for using the verse later on. Others opt not to because they were added later on and are not part of the text, not to mention...it's hard to keep up with! Your call on this.

Daily Process (at least five days each week)...

1. Begin by quoting what you've memorized up to that day. If you don't review them, you will lose them.
2. Read your first verse of the day 10 times very slowly, stopping your eyes on each word as you say it out loud. Your brain will want to go faster, but only go as fast as you can while still stopping your eyes on each word as you say it, taking a picture of it with your mind.
3. Now, quote that verse 10 times, glancing back at the text as necessary if you get stuck, or to make sure you're saying it correctly. This ten-times-twice procedure will help you meditate on the meaning as you'll notice various words and insights as you go over and over them.
4. Repeat these first two steps with your next verse (if you're doing more than a verse that day)
5. Before proceeding to your third verse (if you're a beast and doing multiple verses each day), say your first two from that day 5 times together. After doing the ten-times-twice thing with your third verse, say all three 5 times together.

Long-term review...

1. Once you complete the passage you set out to memorize, quote it daily for a month.
2. Then, park it on a particular day of the week, and quote it every Thursday (for example) for the rest of your life. After quoting it daily for a month, you'll be able to do it weekly like this without looking which means you can do it in the shower, or while dressing, or driving to work, etc.
3. Occasionally, have someone check you with an open Bible so that you can make sure you haven't started substituting a word here and there or leaving something out.

Final thoughts...

1. Learn! A lot of learning can take place through this process and that is key. You don't want to do this without soaking up the Scripture.
2. Pray! Ask God to open your eyes as you do this so that you truly value the Treasure of God's Word.
3. Obey! Don't spend weeks memorizing something that you are not living out.
4. Be humble! Guard yourself against pride when you are memorizing well and condemnation when you are struggling.

Schedule & Snack List for Mar/Apr

Below is the schedule over the next few weeks:

March 2nd - Desiring God* Chapters 5-6 (Snack: McMahans)

March 9th - Accountability (Snack: Jamy)

March 16th - POTLUCK DINNER!
      {also, have your Bible verse memorized and ready to share with the group!}
March 23rd - Desiring God* Chapter 6 (Snack: Bevils)

March 30th - Accountability (Snack: Fillares)

April 6th - Desiring God* Chapter 7 (Snack: Charrieres)

* hint: click on the link to go to the study guide

March & April Celebrations

March

March 3rd - Happy Birthday, MARTY!
March 9th - Ash Wednesday (the season of Lent begins)

March 13th - Spring Forward (don't forget to change your clocks!)

March 17th - Happy St. Patrick's Day!

March 20th - Happy Birthday, HEATHER!

March 29th - Happy Anniversary, JEFF & PAMELA!

April

April 1st - April Fool's Day!

April 17th - Palm Sunday

April 22nd - Good Friday

April 24th - Happy Easter! 

Superbowl Party with Koinonia

All Koinonians and PROOFers are invited!

Steve an Rhonda will provide the pulled pork and soft drinks.

If your last name begins with a letter between:

A-K -- Please bring an appetizer or side dish

L- Z -- Please bring a dessert

Hope everyone can make it!

January & February Celebrations

January
January 1st - Happy New Year 2011!
January 6th - Epiphany

January 17th - Martin Luther King Day

February
February 2nd - Happy Groundhog Day!
February 6th - Super Bowl Social with Koinonia!
February 14th - Happy Valentine's Day!
February 21st - President's Day
February 24th - Happy Birthday, Jamy!!

Schedule & Snack List for Jan/Feb

Below is the schedule over the next few weeks:

January 19th - Social Night at the Charriere Home
January 26th - Accountability (Women meet at Carly's house to help assemble retreat materials)
February 2nd - Desiring God Chapter 3 (Snack: Charrieres)
February 9th - Accountability (Snack: Bevils)
February 16th - Desiring God Chapter 4 (Snack: McMahans)