Afterlife: Buddhism
Dave House shared with the students the basics of Buddhism, and what the Buddhists believe about life after death.
Buddhism is a sect of Hinduism, and began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. Buddha, or "enlightened one", was named Siddhartha Guatama, and taught the following principles, called the four noble truths, to his followers:
1) Suffering is universal.
2) The cause of suffering is self-desire.
3) The cure for suffering is to overcome ignorance and eliminate cravings.
4) Suppress craving by following the eightfold path: having the right viewpoint, speech, occupation, mindfulness, aspirations, behavior, effort, and meditation.
Buddha's mission was not for his followers to find heaven, but to show man the way to escape the suffering of life -not to describe what they would find when they would get there. Buddha did not believe in the existence of God, but rather in an "enlightened consciousness". The Buddhists believe they must work through the four noble truths and the eightfold path to escape their suffering, and their view of the afterlife is sketchy. Here are some examples of ideas of heaven in the eyes of the Buddhist: Heaven changes for everyone, and it doesn't last; there are 33 heavens and 33 hells; when a person dies, they could be reborn or reincarnated as another human, animal, ghost, demon, or even a Hindu god.
Dave contrasted this with Christianity, where through the death and resurrection of Christ we are not required to do any work to get to Heaven.
Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God."
2 Timothy 1:9, " ...who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Please consider volunteering in Student Ministries!
Pastor Dan and "Doctor" Dave have been praying for additional adults to get involved with Student Ministries. Please consider whether God may be nudging you to fill one of the following volunteer positions:
Wednesday nights
Most positions can be done before and after the Wednesday night adult classes.
Behind-the-scenes help: Power-point, set-up, clean-up - once a month or more
Cafe - once or twice a month
Info Zone - once or twice a month
Greeters - once or twice a month
Small group leaders - every week, break for summer
(you're not expected to jump in immediately...first, simply come check things out and get to know the kids)
Saturday nights
Female small group leaders, High School & Middle School (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
Info Zone - once or twice a month
(5:30 - 6:00 p.m.; 7:15 - 7:40 p.m.)
Cafe - once or twice a month
(5:30 - 6:00 p.m.; 7:15 - 7:40 p.m.)
The Cafe has been closed for the past 3 Saturday nights because of lack of adult help.
Sunday mornings
Game room "Champion' - responsible for scheduling volunteers for the game room
Game room support - 9 a.m. service, 2nd and 4th Sundays. (serves from 8:30-8:55, and 10:30-10:55)
Greeter/ check-in - before 9 or 11 a.m. service - once a month or more
Cafe opening - 8:20 - 8:55 a.m., 1st and 3rd Sundays.
If you would like to volunteer for any of these positions or would like to talk more about where your best fit is, please call or email Pastor Dan or Dave. Contact info can be found on the left side of the blog.
Wednesday nights
Most positions can be done before and after the Wednesday night adult classes.
Behind-the-scenes help: Power-point, set-up, clean-up - once a month or more
Cafe - once or twice a month
Info Zone - once or twice a month
Greeters - once or twice a month
Small group leaders - every week, break for summer
(you're not expected to jump in immediately...first, simply come check things out and get to know the kids)
Saturday nights
Female small group leaders, High School & Middle School (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
Info Zone - once or twice a month
(5:30 - 6:00 p.m.; 7:15 - 7:40 p.m.)
Cafe - once or twice a month
(5:30 - 6:00 p.m.; 7:15 - 7:40 p.m.)
The Cafe has been closed for the past 3 Saturday nights because of lack of adult help.
Sunday mornings
Game room "Champion' - responsible for scheduling volunteers for the game room
Game room support - 9 a.m. service, 2nd and 4th Sundays. (serves from 8:30-8:55, and 10:30-10:55)
Greeter/ check-in - before 9 or 11 a.m. service - once a month or more
Cafe opening - 8:20 - 8:55 a.m., 1st and 3rd Sundays.
If you would like to volunteer for any of these positions or would like to talk more about where your best fit is, please call or email Pastor Dan or Dave. Contact info can be found on the left side of the blog.
Middle School summer camp fund-raising opportunities
Camp fund-raising opportunities are now available in the Info Zone:
Hoagie sales
Gene & Boots candy sales
Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough sales
Your student can pay for camp through fund-raising!
Pick up forms this Wednesday night or on the weekend.
Hoagie sales
Gene & Boots candy sales
Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough sales
Your student can pay for camp through fund-raising!
Pick up forms this Wednesday night or on the weekend.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Middle School summer camp information
It's time to start planning for summer!
High Energy Middle School summer camp
June 26 - July 1, 2011
Theme: "Basic Training", a discussion of the basics of faith.
Cost: $300.00
Includes all kinds of fun stuff, games & events, awesome teaching & worship, plus a day at Idlewild!
Early-bird deposit of $150 is due on May 1, 2011, with final payment due on June 5. For late registration after May 1, cost will be $350.00.
Parents are invited to join us for the final worship and teaching on the last day when picking up your student.
Registration forms are available in the Info Zone.
Fundraising
Gene and Boots candy sales are also available. If participating you will be required to pay in advance at Gene and Boots for your box of candy. Call Gene and Boots Candy at 724.837.8427 and mention Cornerstone when placing your order. Please ask them for information on your choices of candy bars, number you will take, and how much you should charge for them.
Pick up information about fundraisers at the Info Zone this weekend.
Scholarship applications: contact Dave House.
Teaching this weekend, March 19-20
Pastor Dan shared a message about what Muslims believe happens to them after death, as the second installment in the series titled, "Afterlife".
Muslims believe in an afterlife called Janna, a garden paradise of everlasting bliss. Entry to Paradise is limited to those who believe in Allah and his messengers, and who have led a good life on earth. In the Qur'an: Surah 2:82 "but those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therin shall they abide (for ever)." A Muslim believes that personal rewards are the goal of heaven: The smallest reward for the people of paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, among other things. The Muslim cannot claim to know he will enter Janna, he just hopes that his good deeds are enough. They believe that those people who do not do the required good works will go to hell.
This was contrasted with the true heaven that God has prepared for believers in Jesus. The focus in heaven is God himself, not the rewards given to each Christian that enters. And, entry to heaven is not something that can be earned. It is a free gift of God through His grace and the blood of Jesus.
Next week in the "Afterlife" series: Buddhism
Muslims believe in an afterlife called Janna, a garden paradise of everlasting bliss. Entry to Paradise is limited to those who believe in Allah and his messengers, and who have led a good life on earth. In the Qur'an: Surah 2:82 "but those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therin shall they abide (for ever)." A Muslim believes that personal rewards are the goal of heaven: The smallest reward for the people of paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, among other things. The Muslim cannot claim to know he will enter Janna, he just hopes that his good deeds are enough. They believe that those people who do not do the required good works will go to hell.
This was contrasted with the true heaven that God has prepared for believers in Jesus. The focus in heaven is God himself, not the rewards given to each Christian that enters. And, entry to heaven is not something that can be earned. It is a free gift of God through His grace and the blood of Jesus.
Next week in the "Afterlife" series: Buddhism
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Coming up....
In Amplified Student Worship this weekend, Scott Uhlinger will be our speaker. He will talk about listening to God, referencing 1 Kings 19: 11-13, James 1:5-6, and Philippians 4:8.
Next week, a new series called Afterlife will begin. Dave will be speaking on Catholicism.
Tonight, March 2nd, JAM will begin the Gladiators series, and Fusion will begin a series titled Pause.
*We are still needing volunteers to head up the fund-raising efforts for the Middle School Summer Camp. Please contact Dave or Ruth if you'd like to sign up or learn more! Thank you!
Next week, a new series called Afterlife will begin. Dave will be speaking on Catholicism.
Tonight, March 2nd, JAM will begin the Gladiators series, and Fusion will begin a series titled Pause.
*We are still needing volunteers to head up the fund-raising efforts for the Middle School Summer Camp. Please contact Dave or Ruth if you'd like to sign up or learn more! Thank you!
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