For those of you that weren’t able to make it to the Bowman’s farm this past Saturday, here’s a short video of all the fun we had! It was a great way to CONNECT with each other, and we appreciate the Bowmans, Gills and Schweickarts for volunteering their time and energy to host this event. It was a lot of fun!
Tag Archives: Nick Gill
GROW: A Growing Church is Messy!
-by Nick Gill
“People come in here and they’re sick and dying and bleeding, and they need our help. Helping them is more important than how we feel.” – Dr. Mark Greene, ER
Nobody wants to go to the emergency room. Nobody wants to be sick. Nobody wants to be in a car wreck, or to have an injured child.
So if nobody wants any of this stuff, why is there an emergency room?
Because there are emergencies. Because, despite our obsessive efforts to create a world of safety and security, we make mistakes. People sin. People put others’ lives in danger. Evil stalks the world, looking for people to devour.
God made the church to be His spiritual emergency room – a place where people are rescued from the brink of death. A place where people confront the spiritual diseases ravaging their souls. A place where the poor can go and know they’ll be cared for, regardless of the cost. A place where the weak can go and know they’ll be protected – that someone will stand between them and their oppressor and say, “Not anymore.”
Some people expect the church to be more like the hospital gift shop. They play soft, serene music. Everything is sweet and cute and neat, and you can find just what you want and then get out. Others want it to be like the billing office, where everyone is quiet and neat and busy at the work of reminding others of how much they owe.
But that’s not what the New Testament churches looked like. That’s not what the church looked like in Jerusalem, or Rome, or Corinth. They were MESSY – precisely because they were emergency rooms – places where desperate people needing radical healing came together. A spiritually growing church can be an uncomfortable place, but Christians aren’t called to be comfortable. We’re called to serve, not to be served. “Helping [others] is more important than how we feel.”
“A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” -Abigail Van Buren
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Grow: In 2 Peter 1:5-8, the Apostle Peter illustrates that just being “in Christ” is not enough, we need to grow. Opportunities for growing in our relationship with Christ abound at Holly Hill. These blogs will highlight these opportunities, or may just illustrate, teach or inspire us as we grow in knowledge, faith and love of God.
GROW: Evan Flora Shares Thoughts On First Camp Experience
Hello my name is Evan Flora and this year was my first year to go to church camp. I started going to Holly Hill last summer about the same time that it was middle school week at church, and when the middle school kids got back they asked me if I was going next year. I said probably. Then it came time to go to camp.
I went to Rolling Hills Bible Camp in Mt. Sterling. I was nervous at first, but when I got there I was taken in like I had been there before and when my parents left it was so fun I forgot they left. My cabin counselors were Keaton Pierce and Nick Gill. Nick’s wife, Carly, was a counselor for a girls cabin. The first night Nick asked who would take Carly to a cookout and I said I would so he gave me permission.
All week we studied the Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit. There were a bunch of different teachers and a couple of them were from Holly Hill.
When we ate in the cafeteria, it was really good food. I got to go back through the line three times! The activities were fun, too. I was in Hebron cabin. When we played kickball, it was the Zion and Gaza cabins against the Hebron and Bethany cabins. My first time up to kick I kicked a home run and we won. Then the basketball tournament I got injured so I couldn’t play.
But the best part of camp was the weanie roast. When I asked Carly to go with me, since I had permission, she said yes and we had a great time. We also did skits and my cabin came in first and in it I got to play Jesus and it was fun because I got to paint a beard on my face. I got to meet a lot of different people from different churches and now I am friends with some of them on Facebook. I also get to see some of them at the Youth Rallies. I really got to know some of the middle school kids at Holly Hill better at camp, too. Camp was a great experience and I would highly recommend going to camp.
Watch the video below to check out Evan’s home run in kickball!
-Evan is the son of Travis and Mary Sue Flora. He is going into the 8th grade at Anderson County Middle School.
Legacy Thoughts
And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the LORD God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: (1 Chronicles 29:1-3 ESV)
As Christians, we live between the times. We live knowing that the Lord could return right now, and we live knowing that our ancestors in the faith have lived in that knowledge for 2000 years. Our relationship with the future is complex and challenging – we don’t want to live there so much that we ignore the opportunities staring us in the face, but we recognize that living simply and responsibly is a way we can honor God.
David also had a challenging relationship with the future. Even though his idea of how God’s future would work out might have been very different from what we know under theNew Covenant, he was a warrior-king. Death was an ever-present companion; he had no illusions about the future being guaranteed. That’s what makes the verses above so remarkable! Look at how deeply this purpose runs in David’s heart. David didn’t just wake up one morning, wiggle his nose, and VOILA! there’s all this stuff. No, he planned this giving. Why?
He planned, because he dreamed a Godly dream for the future of his family.
He sacrificed, because he dreamed a Godly dream for his family.
He prayed, because his God invited him to dream together with Him.
What are your dreams for your family? Are you planning – sacrificing – working – praying so that your family may always be devoted to the Lord our God? There’s no kingdom dream you can dream that’s so big that He can’t one-up it! Lead the way for your family!
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)
Thoughts on Samaritans
One of the most shocking episodes in the training of Jesus’ disciples happened in the heat and hostility of Samaria. Hungry and tired, they drew near to Jacob’s well just outside the ghost town of Sychar before they noticed that no one had brought food from Jerusalem. Out of place in taboo territory, where would you even go to buy food? Into the Samaritan village, mostly deserted anyway, when “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans” (John 4:9b)? Back towards Judea? Regardless, they’d have seen the woman.
The lone woman.
The lone Samaritan woman.
The lone Samaritan woman from a town populated only by the poor, homeless, outcast.
The lone Samaritan woman lugging a heavy jar and over 100 feet of rope.
Did they stop to help her? No – read the end of verse 9 again. They thought God wanted them to hate such people. The best they might have said was, “Bad company corrupts good morals.” The worst? Well, we know what kinds of names rough men can devise for low women.
The last thing she wanted in all the world was to see a Jewish rabbi at the well. She of the five ex-husbands and current “too-good-to-marry-her” old man. She who is so scorned that she can’t find a single female in a town of outcasts to go to the well with her. This is the worst, most pitiful woman on earth!
Which makes it all the more shocking when we realize that the Son of God came from beyond the stars to keep an appointment with her (Jn 4:3) – an appointment to reveal to her the good news he had never told anyone before! For when she reveals her deep longing for God’s promised Messiah, Jesus leans forward and says, “That’s me.”
Wherever they went for food, the disciples were shocked silent – no small feat in the Gospels – by the sight of Jesus talking to this woman. Do you think they were even more shocked when Jesus decided to stay two more days there (John 4:40)? Did they learn the lesson, that the world was no longer Jew and Samaritan, but that “you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28)?
Who are your Samaritans? Poor people? Rich people? Mexicans? Democrats? Republicans? Put pen to paper this week and work out who your Samaritans are. Then put knees to floor and ask God to draw them into your life, so that you might share the love of Christ with them. It’s a dangerous prayer – it might change your world! Think about it.
Power, Respect . . . Love?
“From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” – James 3:10 (ESV)
You are not powerless.
Whether you feel that way because you’re “too young” or “too old,” or because you have little status or authority at work or at home, don’t believe it! You have at your disposal some of the greatest power ever created. If you can communicate, you have power. Power to heal and bless, or power to wound – even power to destroy.
God spoke Creation into being. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. You, created in the image of God, share in His power to create something new with your words. No, you can’t cause things to appear out of nothing – but what happens when a minister says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife?” Before, there were two people willing to share the rest of their lives. But those words create something brand-new – a marriage!
Our words have tremendous power, and perhaps that’s never more apparent than in a conflict. When someone’s upset at you, do you find that you remember their words more clearly? That they wound more deeply? Take care, then, when you are the upset one: you hold someone’s life in your hands. Here are three Scriptures that can help us remember how to love one another, even when it’s hard.
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” – Matthew 18:15 (ESV)
Don’t “go public,” except as a last resort.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1 (ESV)
Don’t attack! Seek to restore, to reconcile.
“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.” – James 5:9 (ESV)
Grumbling, attacking, and “going public” instead of making a personal effort to reconcile are signs of fear and disrespect, rather than the honor and love that should mark Christian relationships. Think about it.
Nick’s Fun Facts
Today’s facts are from Nick Gill. Nick is married to Carly Gill (see Fun Facts on 5/14/10). They have been attending Holly Hill since October, 2007.
- What is your occupation? – Interlibrary Loan Specialist, Kentucky State Library
- What book have you read that will stick with you forever? – Fiction: Ender’s Game – Orson Scott Card / Non-fiction: Surprised by Hope – Tom Wright
- What or who is one of the greatest loves of your life? Carly, Writing, Baseball.
- What quality do you most appreciate in another person? Gentleness.
- What’s the one area in which you are the least frugal? Books!
- When and where have you been happiest? late at night, sharing coffee and Scripture and fellowship with my beloved and our closest friends.
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Tomorrow, I will stop procrastinating.
- What man or woman has been the greatest influence on your life? Carly
- What is your greatest regret? Not finishing my degree work @ Lipscomb
- What would you consider your greatest achievement? Overcoming stage fright!
Thoughts on Self-Control
“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” – Proverbs 25:28
You’ve seen the scene in a movie. The heroes flee their great enemy until they reach the safety of the walled city. Finally, they can relax and catch their breath, with the enemy outside and the gates secured. Until the explosions and the screaming start. The walls are shattered, the enemy is inside, and all hope is lost. The French shatter the British defenses in Last of the Mohicans. The Orcs breach the walls of Helm’s Deep in The Lord of the Rings. Or maybe this isn’t a movie for you – this is your LIFE. Maybe someone tore down your walls and now you struggle to say no. Maybe you never built any walls. Do you find yourself often saying, “I can’t help it,” or “That’s just the way I am,” or “It just happened!” or other things like these? How often do you find yourself trying desperately to remove your foot from your mouth, or your hard words from the heart of a friend?
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Why did the heroes flee to the walled city? Because they knew the enemy was pursuing them! Are you living your life aware that you’re being stalked by a hungry lion, or are you living more like the ADHD gazelle on Animal Planet? The lion never gets the gazelle that’s paying attention, but the one that’s not watching. We need walls, and we need to be alert. From time to time, we need to step back, look at our lives, and find out where the weak points are. That’s where we need to be alert, and where we need to build strongholds. Nothing just happens. One of our greatest struggles is controlling our tongues. Why is it so hard? Because we carry stuff around, and we don’t say “No.”
We don’t say NO when someone throws a fit and invites us to join in.
We don’t say NO when someone insults us.
We don’t say NO when someone has something juicy to say about someone else.
How often have we said YES to negative influences that, with a firm and timely NO (in our heart, or aloud when appropriate), would help us flee long enough for us to get into our stronghold, the stronghold the gospel offers us?
“The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:7
That is good news! Say NO to the invitations of the devil, and YES to the peace of God that will guard your heart and mind.
– Nick Gill
Thursday Thought
Today’s thoughts come from Nick Gill:
Y’know, I’m tired of something, and I bet you are too. Would you like to know what it is? I’m tired of what I see in the mirror every morning. Not my physical condition so much, although that could use some work too! But what I’m tired of seeing is a certain look in my eyes – the look that says, “God would like you a little more if…”
If… I studied a little more. If… I prayed more. If… I didn’t eat that ice cream last night (hey, I said “not so much!”) If… I didn’t buy so much stuff.
If… I did more.
If I just did more, God would like me more – God would be happier with me. He has to love me – He IS love. But you know the old saying, “Oh I love [so-and-so], I just don’t like them very much.” What if God thinks that way too?
This mindset gives me a bad day, but that isn’t the worst thing it does. Wanna know what the worst thing is? It turns every encounter I have into a confrontation. Because I’m afraid God doesn’t like me very much, I look at other people and think, “Well, he’s got to like me better than them! Look at what they’re doing, or wearing, or saying, or eating, or driving, or buying!” Do you ever think like that? I still do, a lot – but not as much as I used to. Let me show you why.
First, I learned how God saw ME – through the lenses of grace. When Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians, he prays, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom… that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:17-18 ESV)
Did you catch that? How Paul describes us? We have an eternal hope because in us, God sees his glorious inheritance! Now, if you had a “glorious inheritance,” would you like it? Or would you want it to do more before you liked it? When we begin to believe against Satan’s lies and accusations, and begin to believe in God’s extravagant fondness towards us, something else amazing will happen! You see, when we trust that God really does like us, no matter how much of a mess we make of things, we’re free to stop competing with the people we encounter every day. We’re free to look at them through the lenses of grace, too! And what will we see?
“For God so loved [so-and-so], that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
Just think about it, okay?
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