Another Week Bites the Dust

BY BOBBY GODFREY

Ahhh, the sigh for another week behind us. It has been a great week though. Just so you wouldn't think that I was sighing for relief. Many good things have happened this week and I'm happy to tell you all about them.

Hmmm, well, I supposed I should start with the beginning of the week right? So I shall. (Since I, Bobby, am writing this, I will do so in the first person. Just so you know.) Sunday was the normal Sunday here at Fairwood. We all woke up! Yes! Hurray that God gave us all another day to live for him! Then we all went morning class before church started at 10:30 am. The first year students have been taking "Paul's Life and Letters." You all probably knew this from last weeks post, but I thought I'd refresh you on their current status (smelly first years, as Dave would say. Haha). And my class, the second and third years students have been taking, "All Israel Restored," an interesting class let me tell you. If you never studied the subject before, be ready for your eyebrows to raise and almost pop off your face. Haha! (Sorry for all my humor, I can't help myself.)

I feel though I should explain my class a little more to you all so you're not in the dark about what the class is about. The class is exactly what it says, all Israel restored. Meaning, all the lost ten tribes of Israel being restored back to the land of Israel. So we've been learning where the lost tribes were last known to be in history, and where they might be today, and who they might be. So yeah, if you'd like to know more, come to class! Except that it ends tomorrow, Monday, so... too late!! But there's always next year, so there is still hope.
Also on Sunday we had the dreaded night class (music* bum, bum, bum, bummm*). But really, it's not as dreaded as I'm making it sound. It is in fact, quite interesting. We're learning how to be better teachers. Learning how to use different teaching styles, get over our fears, and be more interesting when we speak.

Monday... Hmmm... well I can't really think of any significant things that happened, except for the normal, so I will move on to Tuesday. Tuesday we did our regular morning routine of classes and meetings, and then our weekly wood drive. And the wood drive is what I will talk about. All the men of Fairwood, students and staff, joined forces against the woods. Some were called to battle on the roadside, and some to battle in the thick of the woods. With there chainsaws, sledge mauls, wedges, tractors, truck, and trailer, we went out to wage war against our outnumbering foe. For hours we all cut, hacked, and hauled the wood back to the huge woodpile behind the men's dorm. And at the end of the day, without any casualties, we had sent another blow to the woods forces. But for us, more heat in the winter. We are thankful for the woods' sacrifice. I would also like to add that the crew on the road, Gerry, Aaron, Brandon, and I, had the opportunity to halt cars on their journeys, by having trees fall into the road, and making them wait for us to cut them up. My favorite part I must say.

Then we played sports that evening, which were fun also, but I won't go into length about them. We played soccer and volleyball, and that's really all you need to know. So now I would like to move on to Thursday, which was a very full day, and tell you the best news of the week! Thursday was outreach day for the students, in which we all do some ministry for the community. Most everyone when to elderly man's house to rake leaves, but Ben, Stephen, Josh, and I, all went evangelizing. Ben and I teamed up and headed for the Keene State College to do some surveys, which at the end brings them to spiritual questions, and therefore leads them into spiritual discussion.

Well, our first attempts were hindered greatly by the freezing weather, and most of the students were in a great hurry to get moving. So no luck there. Our next move was to try the Wal-Mart plaza. As we were heading over we saw the McDonald's in town and decided to hit that also. Upon arrival Ben and I spotted an elderly man and targeted him. We should have noticed the hearing aid in his ear, and thought to ourselves, "He is going to talk quite loud," but we didn't. So we went over to him and asked him if he would take the survey, only to find out he was an atheist. But he took the survey and talked some with us. It was a good experience, except that, since everyone could here every word we were talking about, they knew what we were up to and didn't want to take the survey knowing what it was.

On we went to Wal-Mart. On our way over, we were going by a Burger King when I spotted a young guy standing outside on his break. I then boldly approached him and asked if he'd like to take the survey, and he said he would. I went through the first two sections of the survey as usual, but on arriving at the third section things started changing. The third part of the survey is where we ask them spiritual questions. The last three are the main questions and usually make people think, and they are as follows:

• If you could know and experience God personally, would you be interested?
  
• Have you come to the place in your spiritual life where you know for sure (100%) that, if you were to die today, you would go to Heaven?
  
• If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He were to say to you, "Why should I let you into my Heaven?" What would you say?

Our friend Matt answered "Yes" to the first question. And then "Yes" to the next question. But when we asked him the last question he fell under conviction from the Holy Spirit. He said to us, "Wow, I don't know what I'd say to Him. So I guess I'm not 100% sure I'd go to Heaven." With that, Ben went right into telling him how we knew we were sure and how he could be too. As Ben was finishing the plan of salvation I asked Him, "Is this something you would like to do?" And he replied, "Yes, I would." I was thrilled! I made sure he knew what he was really doing and then led him in the prayer of salvation. Praise the Lord! We have a new brother in Christ! I can't even begin to tell you all how much joy I felt. So I gave him my contact info and he said he'd keep in touch. If you think of it, please pray for Matt that he will grow in the Lord and have a deep relationship with Him.

Now that I've told you that, we'll move on to the next biggest thing of the week, at least to me anyway: Thursday night basketball. This is the time when a bunch of guys from the school and around the community come and play some intense basketball. I could go on and on about the play, and how much fun it was, and how we got really intense, but I think I'll save it for the next time I post.

So we've come to Friday. Not too much to say about it except it was good to get to the end of the day and have the church Sabbath meeting, where people from the church here came and had Sabbath meeting with the students. It was a nice, quiet evening, which no one complained about at all.

Well, now we've come to the last day of the week. I can't really say that it was a blast, because it wasn't. Saturday at school is the day where no one does much, because it is the Sabbath. And seeing that I'm an active man, I get restless quite easily. But enough with the complaining, I will tell you that this Saturday had it's upside to it. Yes indeed it did. Diane, Jane, and Mr. and Mrs. Randall cooked for us a delectable Thanksgiving meal. It was a feast that I'm sure even the angels wished they could have attended. It was full of delicious food, and smoothies, and some yummy desserts. If only you all could have attended, then you would truly understand how great a meal it was.

I guess that about wraps up the week. I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Until next time folks, this is Bobby Godfrey wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving! Peace out!

The amazing... the incredible... the weekly update!

BY STEPHEN ADAMS

[Editor's note: Due to a miscommunication, the update for the week before this past one was skipped. This past week, however, is about to be covered in stunning detail. Behold...]

Cough, cough. OK, right. So, on Saturday we set forth in full battle dress with our weapons (signs) held high. We drove to Keene and disembarked from the big red van on Main St. and we (most of the students, Craig, and Andrea) marched toward the intersection of Main St. and Rte. 101 like an army with banners. Actually, McCain/Palin signs. [Editor's note: Fairwood Bible Institute does not officially support or endorse any candidate, but every one of the students happened to be rooting for the same candidate. Surprise, surprise.] Once on the battlefield, we commenced waving our signs and screaming and yelling out such slogans as, "McCain for President!" and "Charisma is not leadership!" Obama supporters trickled in until we were well outnumbered, but we still firmly held our ground and cheered for truth. We came home hoarse and tired, but happy and triumphant.

Sunday we did the normal things one does on Sunday, such as go to church. We also had a good time of fasting and prayer for the elections. Then we set forth again, this time to Peterborough where McCain supporters were lining up en masse for a McCain rally. A nearby intersection was full of protesting Obama supporters and a very large caricature costume of Obama. We stood our ground again, and cheered for the right until some of us were dragged home for Mary's birthday dinner [Editor's note: Happy Birthday, Mary!]. Others stayed and stood outside town hall to catch a glimpse of McCain himself! After waiting quite a while, he came! He saw! They saw, and boy was it exciting! (So I'm told.) Around 8:30 or 9, they came home tired and happy to scrape together a dinner. Bobby lost his voice big-time.

On Monday, I can't remember what happens, so we'll just skip that.

Actually, Ben and Bobby had a meeting on David's mighty men, generally, and specifically Shammah, who held back the Philistines in the middle of a field of lentils.

On Tuesday, after lunch, we voted! [Insert Beethoven's Fifth theme.] On Tuesday, after sports, we sat glued to the television set and watched with horrified fascination as Obama pulled ahead for a win. But you all know this already. Everyone in the WORLD knows this by now. Argh!

Parenthetical testimony by Aaron:

I took the election rather well, I think. I was certainly not hoping for the outcome with which we are all now only too familiar, but I was not surprised in the least. Far more reassuring than my own realistic pessimism, however was the fact that I - and many of the others here at Fairwood, as they testified the following morning - was blessed with the reassurance that despite all, God was in control. As if my own knowledge of the fact was not enough to keep me from succumbing to a dour depression that could have lasted weeks had I poured into it the kind of energy that I expended in campaigning for what became the losing side - as if that wasn't enough, I came across a really relevant and comforting passage in my Bible reading the following morning. I was reading Lamentations - it seemed appropriate for the times - and I found that the first two chapters are all about what I think of when I think of Lamentations: dying children, wars, and whatnot. When I came to chapter 3, however, it was a different story altogether:

The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I have hope in Him."
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
It is good that he waits silently
For the salvation of the LORD.

For the Lord will not reject forever,
For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.
For He does not afflict willingly
Or grieve the sons of men.

Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,
Unless the Lord has commanded it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That both good and ill go forth?
Why should any living mortal, or any man,
Offer complaint in view of his sins?


These passages were very encouraging to me throughout the day, and even until now. God is still in control, praise the Lord, and his lovingkindness is still ceaseless, unfailing, and new every morning no matter who is going to be in the White House come Inauguration Day.

End parenthetical testimony by Aaron. Resume report by Stephen.

The next day, we had a wood drive. It was also the fateful day on which Aaron tried to chainsaw his finger off. Also Josh fell of the wagon. Literally. Also Katie Sutton hurt her back. And other bad things happened. Obama! Argh! It was all his fault!

Thursday was the usual affair. We had morning meeting and class, and then went to men's meeting (the male students, that is) in which we were reminded of the importance of purity. Gerry had each of us do a mini Bible study to find verses on the subject and share some of what God had spoken to us through what we had found.

Friday was not the usual affair, as young people streamed in for the upcoming youth weekend. I looked on while splitting wood and my finger behind the men's dorm with Mr. Murray's help (on the wood that is; I did the finger all by myself. And it isn't really split, although it's bruised enough that I wouldn't be surprised if I lost the nail.)

The youth weekend went pretty much as planned. There were good meetings, there were good sports, there were good games. There was good fellowship, and then we went to bed. Repeat.

On Sunday, the weekend was capped off by a message given by the famous Lance Lambert from Jerusalem. He spoke about God's use of a lowly thorn bush to speak to Moses, and how God works through thorn bushes, not stately palms.

After the youth left, things wound down to normal, and that brings us to the present. And here we are.

Kind of Weekly Update

BY MARY SUTTON

The week of October 20th was pretty good, except that several of us students were sick. Some people had colds, just sneezing and coughing and sounding like a bunch of barn yard animals. Others had a fever, headache, and/or sore throat.

Tuesday was apple sauce day. Yea!!! Everyone had a job and worked together. We ended up with about 650 quarts of applesauce. It was a busy but extremely fun day.

We also had a free weekend (Oct. 24-26) which for me was great. Not that I really wanted to leave school, I love school. But I got to see my family and our animals. I love animals so living on a farm, like my family does, is wonderful for me. But living at school I miss getting up early to go out to the barn and feed and take care of them. I also got to see some friends while I was at home. All in all it was a wonderful week (even if we were sick part of the time) and I am glad God is go good!!!