Life FOCUS Clas XVI

Life Focus XVI came to a close Saturday evening. 11 students commenced in what we pray will be a launch pad that propels each one onto greater works for the kingdom of God.

Blue Team The Leadership Green Team

The final days leading up to Commencement were full of memories, practice, and charges.

Singing practice Final hair cuts - thank you Chad Early morning run to the center of town & back (5+ miles)

Mrs. Ritchie applies dough to Jonathan's stick for another 'Dough Boy"Neilen spends time in the ScripturesMrs. Ritchie graciously gave up a full day to accompany our class on a day trip to Turkey Run State Park. She was camp cook and my what taste ticklers she had planned – thank you Mrs. Ritchie!

In between meals, the guys participated in an all out game of ‘Fox & Hound’ and 45 minutes of capture the flag in terrain full of valleys, gullies, cliffs, creeks, trees, outcroppings of rock, & a large river (Turkey Run).

Cooking Dough Boys over a roaring fire Posing for a picture after 'Capture the flag'

Final video sessions were watched and much practice on both verses and our class song, “When God is Near.” Anticipation Dr. Guthriecontinued to build all week.

By Thursday afternoon, all 10 fathers had arrived along with our surprise, guest speaker, Dr. Larry Guthrie. These final days were to be full of exhortations from Dr. Guthrie and lots of father/son time. Dr. Guthrie shared so many key principles including:

Dr. Guthrie's message entitled, 'Hitting the Mark'  A powerful object lesson on keeping a clear concience

- The mark of maturity for a man is that he receives instruction.

- If you are full of yourself, there is no room for God.

- Those who are busy seeking financial security, reputation, sports, etc. will often miss the big things of life: family, faith, church, and relationships.

Dr. Guthrie shoots an apple of the head of a cabbage A father trying a shot with Dr. Guthrie's bow Everyone had the opportunity to shoot Dr. Guthrie's state of the art 'Matthew's Bow'

As Malachi 4:6 exhorts, the hearts of sons were turned towards their fathers and the hearts of fathers to their sons. A powerful spirit of ‘One Accord’ rested on our midst all weekend, culminating in an awe-inspiring Commencement ceremony Saturday night.

Devotions together as fathers and sons Working hard together A joyous father & son team

The book of James was quoted with power and they Practicing for the Commencement Ceremonysang ‘When God is Near’ with meaning and understanding. Dr. Guthrie spoke on the 10 marks of a real man (the first one being that a ‘real man sings’) and told each parent to make ready for a new man in their household.

The ceremony closed with each leader delivering a powerful 3-8 minute charge to the students. What passion! What love! What inspiration was contained within each charge given.

Fathers assist sons in the final PT test - Saturday morning before the Commencement Mr. Wang joins his son on one of the final laps of the PT test run - 2.3+ miles Singing 'When God is Near' 

Jonathan receives his certificate Patrick gives a final charge Final Push-ups as a class - 16 in all!

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom….watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For (you are) now ready to be offered, and the time of (your) departure is at hand. (You) have fought a good fight, (you) have finished my course, (you) have kept the faith:Henceforth there is laid up for (you) a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give (you) at that day: and not to (you) only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Tim. 4:1,5-8).

This entry was posted on Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 6:29 pm and is filed under Ministry Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.