GOOD APPLES FRIDAY // WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO CHURCH

Welcome to Good Apples Friday

After my camp they gave me some cool books to read one called "Live Smart."

It's a really good book that I recommend you to read.

But I'm reading about You+God.

1. Fear God.

2. Know the Bible and Pray like Crazy

and 3. Love the Church.

I decided I wanted to talk about 3. Love the Church because it's a topic that I really agree on.

One reason why kids who go to camps can often stray away from Christ after the camp even though they loved God at the camp is because most of them do not have a church that they go to.

The church is one of the main reasons why I love God so much.

Because I see all the people who love God and I want to be like them.

When I go to my church I always see happy faces hugging and loving others while encouraging them.

And that makes me want to be like that.

One reason why kids can often stray away from God is because they don't have a church.

And why does that matter you ask?

Because all around you in the church is people who have the same problems as you do?

They all have struggles obeying and putting Jesus first.

A lot I can find myself discouraged to do something like fast internet or read the bible because all around the world people don't care about that.

And it's very encouraging to go to a church where people want to read the bible and want to put God first.

In the book it said that the church is not perfect but it is healthy.

It might not be perfect, but these are the things that we need to look in a church.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1. They Were Devoted to the Apostle's Teaching

Sometimes you can find churches that don't always use the bible as their main tool.

the apostle's teaching is actually the New Testament.

Next time you are at church or are visiting a church listen carefully and see if they use they're bible a lot. Do they base their sermon on a scripture? Do they use scriptures to make points?

2. They Were Devoted to One Another

The people in the church encourage you to deepen you love for Christ. They mourn and love you when hard times are in your life. And they care for each other by helping them. This week some of the men of my church went to build a ramp for a man in the church for his wheelchair after his surgery. They helped him by making him a ramp in this hard time for him. When you look at your church do you see people talking after the service or do they all just leave quickly? I know just even talking to someone who is going through someone can help. Even if you don't even talk about this matter together they are encouraged and know they have someone to go to.

3.  They Were Devoted to the Gospel

In Acts 2 is shows how they people were dedicated to the gospel. After the author of this book was saved on June 22, 1986 he said his life changed greatly because he trusted Christ and he became apart of a local church. Seeing people just like you loving God and wanting to deepen that relationships helps and encourages you A LOT.

"I wish I'd have been a believer younger in life, so I could have taken advantage of all the things you can. I missed out on all the camps, the church groups, the Sunday school classes, Dan Dumas the author says. But since I became a Christian, I've been a part of the church, and I haven't left. I don't want to leave either. There's too much to gain from belonging to something so big, so important, and so glorious. Jump in with both feet!"

just like he said it guys jump in if you haven't.

if you're not so interested in being apart of helping the church with events.

do it.

it will change you life.

and also read this book.

Dan gives a plead to you.

To be apart of a church.

Because he didn't when he was young.

And he regretted it.

bouncing in to say bye,

                                 bernie

Bernie' s Random Ramblings // An unexpected injury

So this is what you've been waiting for....

Last week I went with my youth group to a camp. And it was fun, but something unexpected happened. And it involves a head, a car, and a bucket.

So, on Tuesday last week, my first day of camp we were having team games. This year the games were Olympic themed since the Olympics are this year. ONE MORE MONTH GUYS! We were team England. Our first game was slippin slide kickball. We won. Next game was.. don't know what it's called. A big giant inflated ball and everybody from both sides run and try to push it to the other side. This is a big ball so you need to give it a big push. Most of the time I was a little scared so I didn't push it much at all. But this was the last time I was going to do this, so I went all in. "I'm going to pull this baby all the way to victory I thought." And that's all I remember until about a minute later.

I wake up on the ground. I sit up and try really hard to breath. Finally after I started breathing I lay back down while a man watches over me. I stand up and I leave the field in a wheelchair. So, apparently I went for the ball and fell on the ground and hit my head. I was also unconscious for 3-5 seconds. After a while an ambulance comes over and takes me to the hospital. 

I was also told that I couldn't do any sports for a week. Now it's hot at my house so I'm not so mad about having to be dragged outside by my brother to sweat like crazy. But this also means no gymnastics. No handstand guys. It was horrible. There are plenty of times going around the house and just wanting to belt out a handstand. But no! I couldn't guys. There were times I just cried_(fake) because I couldn't flip. 

Another bad thing about this injury was I missed going on my first rollercoaster experience. Yes, one thing they were doing for the camp was going to an amusement park and I couldn't go.  Although I wasn't so disappointed because I'm going to six flash with my family this month after hearing the stories from my youth group I front kinda bad. Sleeping the whole time wasn't that bad though. I was wiped Because of my injury. 

Btw, those of pictures of the beautiful campus we got to stay at.  The whole,campus was dream. And it's a Christian campus too. Also got some swag_ (that's what they call it these days?) An awesome backpack, books, a shirt, and also the amazing staff gave me some awesome stuff as a care package for my head. All of a sudden in front of every one they call my name and give me the worst injury award for  the week. They got me some shirts, food, that see some note, sunglasses, and a coffee cup. 

Thanks for reading guys!  I did not want you to make you feel bad. I'm just a person who loves hearing about injuries. The story and everything interests me. Hope you like!  

bouncing in to say bye,

                              bernie 

P. S. Stay tunes for Friday! 

Late Good Apples Friday // His Amazing Love for Us.

Welcome to the Late Good Apples Friday

Yeah I'm late. I'm sorry. I'm not even going to say my excuse. It's pretty dumb.
But I'm still here.




Today I want to talk about loving one another.
And caring for one another.


Actually while I was folding laundry yesterday my mom was watching FireProof on the tv. And in the movie the character was complaining about loving his wife so much and sacrificing time for her, but all she would do was get mad at him for being nice to her and almost discouraging him to be nice because she would receive his gifts with lots of unthanks. When he was telling this to his father he stood there right by a wooden cross just listening to him.


I know in my life I can sometimes be tired of doing things for my family like cleaning and receiving nothing back. Sometimes I think the least they could do is keep it clean and not clutter it again. Sometimes I complain when I'm doing so much work for them and they ask me to do more things like take out my dog when it really is my turn. They could've been nice and took him out for him even though it was my turn. And sometimes I get mad about that.


But we need to look at Jesus. He died for us so that we could follow him and have eternal life with him. And what did we do? We constantly sinned against him and refused to follow him. This world has seen Jesus him who died for us, loved us, and forgives every single sin that we have done and what do we do? We sin more. We focus our eyes on things other than him. We make other things idols other than him. We hate him. We sin against him and don't even think it's a big deal.
But God died for us. He saw what we did for him. And despite that he loved us enough to die for us.


God you are amazing! Your love is perfect.
It is stronger than words can express.
Even though they spat in your face not knowing that you were going to die for them.
you loved them.
And even though my friends and family sometimes are not thankful for my caring for them.
Help me to love them and help care for them.
No matter what.
Help me to love like you, Lord.

bouncing in to say bye,

                                     bernie

P.S. BIG STORY COMING THIS TUESDAY. YOU'RE GONNA WANNA HEAR IT.