|
 Admissions Student Fees News Calendar Academic Classes Vocational Training Development Labor Case Elementary School Alumni Association About Laurelbrook Sabbath School Lesson Nursing Home Contact Us Home |
 Mike Oxentenko Ends Spiritual Retreat The week of February 22-27. 2010 was devoted to a Spiritual Retreat for all Laurelbrook academy students. The week began with the students travelling to Falls Creek Falls State Park to have meetings in the park lodge. The speaker was Pastor Mike Oxentenko, an older brother of Laurelbrook’s president who has his own supporting ministry in the Washington, D.C. area.
Thursday afternoon the academy students returned to campus. Thursday evening there was a meeting in the Laurelbrook church. Friday evening there was an agape supper and communion service in the school auditorium, a service planned by the students themselves with faculty input.
Sabbath services at the Laurelbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on February 27, 2010 beganwith a song service led by Dorka Ubiera and Chelsea Briley, accompanied by Donna Kanna on the piano. The opening song was “What Wondrous Love”. Chelsea Briley had opening prayer. Vasti (senior) welcomed everyone. Karina (8th grader) then had prayer and read Romans 12:9-18 “9 [Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 [Be] of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
David (senior) read the mission report about a boy in Burundi who survived the mass killings in that country. He went to live with an aunt until he was 14. He went to the Adventist university even though he had a full government scholarship to attend other schools. He noticed the teachers at the university were interested in their students and personally prayed with many of them. He and his brothers gave their hearts to God during Week of Prayer meetings held in a stadium since there was no church building. Part of the 13th Sabbath Offering will go towards a church building.
Karl (sophomore) and Argie (junior) collected the Laurelbrook Missions Offering. Vasti played a piano solo for special music with her sister assisting her as page turner. Vasti had a few remarks. Vasti had closing prayer. The congregation then broke up into several Sabbath School classes to study the week’s lessons.
Following are some notes from Vasti’s talk:
1. The Golden Rule says you must treat others in the way you would like to be treated.
2. When Vasti was in elementary school, her mother enrolled her in a day camp. At the camp, there was older group who considered themselves better than anyone else. Wendy was one of the group but talked with Vasti until these older kids came. After a couple of days, Vasti decided not to talk to Wendy. Vasti started to be with an older girl. A disabled boy came and sat next to her; her older friend asked her why she was hanging out with this boy. Vasti gave the boy a mean look. The boy looked hurt, and Vasti felt terrible. She realized she had denied someone else a friend so she went and talked to the boy, but he wouldn’t talk to her. Vasti realizes she let this boy down.
3. Thinking over the story, Vasti realized that she was imperfect and disabled just like that boy. But God accepts her in spite of her sins. God loves us and accepts us.
4. Romans 12:9-18 God’s Word to the Nations “9 Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good. 10 Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other. 11 Don’t be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord. 12 Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually. 13 Share what you have with God’s people who are in need. Be hospitable. 14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don’t curse them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad. 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are. 17 Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble. 18 As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone.”
Following are notes from the Sabbath School lesson taught by Robert Zollinger in the church auditorium:
1. Meekness is not pushing our own ideas but God’s.
2. Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
3. Yokes are used by animal trainers to transfer training from one animal to another.
4. Jesus came to be our Example. If we yoke up with Jesus, He will transfer His virtues to us.
5. Matthew 5:39 “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
6. People in that day would slap people with the back of the right hand, in essence saying that that person was an equal. Turning to the left cheek emphasized this feeling of equality.
7. This text means not to retaliate for something done to you.
8. Peter asked how many times we should forgive people. Jesus says that these times should be limitless.
9. Jesus says that we ask for forgiveness as we forgive. How many times does God have to forgive us?
10. Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
11. We are not push away someone who needs our help aside or try to destroy his/her reputation.
12. When we see a brother’s fault, we are to quietly restore a brother.
13. Titus says we are to be gentle with all men.
14. Meekness is a loving attitude with a sense of balance and control of our tongue.
15. David killed the giant but went back to his sheep.
16. There is nothing in us that can subdue our tongues – Christ has to do it for us.
17. We are also to praise something that person’s character.
18. We have to recognize there is nothing in us that is totally good.
19. We speak evil of someone to lift up our perception of our character or ways of doing things.
20. We do not have more problems than Christ had. Christ had to live through some terrible treatment.
The church service proper began with an organ introit by Donna Kanna. Mike Oxentenko had the invocation. Robert Zollinger welcomed everyone and made the necessary announcements. There will be a potluck in the cafeteria. Vespers will be at 6:30 in the cafeteria.
The congregation sang “Lord, I Want to be a Christian”. Robert Zollinger had the Morning Prayer and called for the offering, which is for the Georgia-Cumberland Conference Ministries. The period for giving to religious liberty is drawing to a close. Daryll Ellis and Marvin Frey collected the morning offerings. The congregation sang the doxology; Keith Ferguson had a prayer for the offering and read Isaiah 9:1-2 “1 ¶ Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
Gabby (9th grader) then told the children a story about a brother and sister who were doing home school work. The boy looked out the window and saw snow. Later the girl saw a man pass the window and heard a loud bang at the door. The boy opened the door – the man asked if his parents were home and pulled out a gun. The man demanded something to eat and finally fell asleep. The boy tried to get the gun but was almost shot. They heard a loud knock at the door – the boy let another man in and the children were called by their name. Eventually, the second man insisted that the other man leave. The first man was thrown out and ran off. When the parents returned, they found no one in the guest room; they did find a note with the Bible text talking about angels.
The Laurelbrook Choir under the direction of Donna Kanna sang for special music even though they were not prepared to sing. Mike Oxentenko talked about “Broken Bridges”, the congregation sang “Redeemed”, and Mike Oxentenko had the benediction.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Clayton Brandt – one of Laurelbrook’s maintenance men assigned to the vehicle shop and heavy equipment, local
church elder.
Chelsea Briley – Laurelbrook graduate presently attending Southern Adventist University
Daryll Ellis – Laurelbrook graduate who works at nearby Majestic Stone Company
Dorka Ubiera – activities leader for the Laurelbrook Nursing Home
Keith Ferguson – retired Laurelbrook staff member still working in the vehicle shop and around the campus
Laura Mae Zollinger – retired nurse living with her husband Glenn on the edge of the Laurelbrook property
Marvin Frey – Laurelbrook Nursing Home administrator
Mike Oxentenko - an older brother of Ron Oxentenko, Laurelbrook’s president, who has his own Adventist supporting ministry in the Washington, D.C. area
Robert Zollinger – head church elder, former Laurelbrook president and board chairman
Notes on the sermon:
1. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
2. Luke 1:6 says that the Christ’s words have explosive power. Jesus has authority.
3. You cannot separate Jesus’ words from His power to heal.
4. The power to create that God has was placed in a human body.
5. Luke 5:1-3 “1 ¶ And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing [their] nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.”
6. Jesus is teaching people in the boats, a familiar environment to those people. Jesus took the Word of God to people in their own surroundings.
7. Every believer witnesses to others and thus the salt of the earth. Salt was used to preserve the fishing catch. If fish are rotting in the church.
8. Note that Jesus sat down to preach the Word of God. Jesus may have done this to teach them that He was a king instead of just a standing preacher.
9. Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
10. Christ is the 2nd Adam and has dominion over the sea and everything.
11. Solomon compared people snared in the net. Ecclesiastes 9:12 “For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.”
12. Trouble comes to us like fish snared in a net.Ezekiel 47:9 “And it shall come to pass, [that] every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” Note that the fish in the river live, but the fish in the Dead Sea live.
13. It is easy to cover up our problems.
14. Ezekiel 47:10 “And it shall come to pass, [that] the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a [place] to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.”
15. Luke 5:4 “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
16. Christ says it is time to get people in their darkness. A gospel preacher is called to get people reconciled to Jesus.
17. Christ told Peter to go where the fish are in darkness of the deep. Peter had to reach down where the fish were like Christians who have to go where the need is.
18. We all want to think a deep thought, have deep lives, deep experiences. So you should go where people are hurting in the depths of humanity and give them the acceptance of God’s light and God’s peace.
19. Luke 5:5 “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”
20. If you are looking for a life calling, work for others and you have a reason to live and work.
21. Peter pulled rank as a fisherman when Christ said this. But he went ahead and did what Christ asked.
22. As Adventists, we cannot compete with those who want show.
23. If we really want to get people to be Christians, we don’t necessarily use the smart way.
24. Jesus’ way is often the unexpected way.
25. Luke 5:6 “And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.”
26. When churches really grow, they fill their boat and then call other boats to fill them. Healthy churches plant churches and spread the Word of God far and near.
27. Peter does not do all the work. Often we expect the pastor to do it all and win converts by himself. But God’s work is often collaborative work.
28. God’s way of working is so that everyone works together with no one standing out for praise.
29. If we are fighting among ourselves, we are not doing the work of God.
30. For Peter to catch fish, he had to let go of the net. He couldn’t micromanage every detail.
31. Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
32. Peter was not claiming perfect but clung to the knees of Jesus.
33. Holding on to the knees of Jesus is frequently the answer we need.
34. Our young people need to hear the Bible more than the Spirit of Prophecy. This generation wants to be people of the Bible. The Spirit of Prophecy is really the lesser light.
35. Fishing is work.
36. Fishing for people builds relationships.
37. Luke 5:11 “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”
38. Being around Christ is all the reward anyone needs.
39. Those early Christians knew that Jesus was the only One Who could resurrect them after death.
40. Revelation 16:3 “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead [man]: and every living soul died in the sea.”
41. One day we will not able to fish for people because all will have decided for or against Jesus.
42. It is harder to reach people today either inside or outside of the church. Some Adventists today are lost because they don’t believe the Bible. Some talk more about rules than Jesus. Fish can die on other side of the spectrum as well as in the middle.
43. Let God define who we are. I want to be right with Jesus my Lord.
44. Put out to sea and obey the Word of God. Reach out to the people in darkness even at Laurelbrook. Fall down at Jesus’ knees. The joys of the journey will be yours.
45. One day one of my boys asked me to have fun with him. He begged me to take him fishing. We went fishing every day except Sabbath for a year. On one of the last day, we caught the biggest fish in a certain area.
46. Pray together, play together, and work together – three components of a good Christian life.
47. Take the time to invest in students’ or children’s lives so that the hard labor of the day is completed in fellowship and joy.
|
|
 |
|
|