Please keep us in your prayers!  We especially have a burden to help provide at least a roof to worship under for two of the communities where we are holding meetings.  The congregations there have no church building and have been using school classrooms, but last Sabbath was the last that the government is allowing churches to meet in schools!  We’d really like to raise another $10,000 to give the new members we trust the Lord will bless us with a place to worship.  Pray!

Church Buildings

Please keep us in your prayers!  We especially have a burden to help provide at least a roof to worship under for two of the communities where we are holding meetings.  The congregations there have no church building and have been using school classrooms, but last Sabbath was the last that the government is allowing churches to meet in schools!  We’d really like to raise another $10,000 to give the new members we trust the Lord will bless us with a place to worship.  Pray!

OK, I know, I've been promising to update my site with photos from recent trips, etc for a long time now.  But.... I think (cross fingers) that I'll be able/it'll be higher priority in the next few weeks as I'm on my way to Ghana, West Africa with the Class of 2006.  It will all depend on what internet access I can get there!

Right now I'm in London in the British Airways lounge enjoying the last few hours of high speed access.  Please pray for the Class, Mrs. Dysinger, and me as we spend this time in evangelism.  We'd love to hear from you too!!

Have a great day!!

1.  A true friend who can help me heavenward is the greatest earthly treasure.  "We may refuse to be corrupted, and place ourselves where evil association shall not corrupt our hearts. Individually the youth should seek for association with those who are toiling upward with unfaltering steps.  Better than all the friendship of the world is the friendship of Christ's redeemed.  The warmth of true friendship, the love that binds heart to heart, is a foretaste of the joys of heaven."  The Faith I Live By, p. 234.

2.  The love of many is waxing cold, which must only urge me on to greater faithfulness.  "To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason." Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 136.

3. The use of free time is a good indicator of character.  "The nature of one's religious experience is revealed by the character of the books one chooses to read in one's leisure moments." Messages to Young People, p. 273.  OK, we all know how that priniciple necessarily applies in 2006.  I sometimes wonder, When people read this xanga site (and my comments on others') and from it deduce what I'm reading and thinking about, what will they conclude about my character?

4.  The world (and sadly, many professors of Christ as well) thinks good is bad and bad is good.  "But God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Luke 16:15.  Isn't calling light darkness and darkness light akin to grieving the Spirit of God?

5.  Satan's stated plan is working.  The prophet of God really was inspired. And some of the dearest to my heart are unwittingly and unwillingly proving those two statements true.  Said Satan, "Through those that have a form of godliness but know not the power, we can gain many who would otherwise do us harm. Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God will be our most effective helpers. Those of this class who are apt and intelligent will serve as decoys to draw others into our snares. Many will not fear their influence, because they profess the same faith. We will thus lead them to conclude that the requirements of Christ are less strict than they once believed, and that by conformity to the world they would exert a greater influence with worldlings. Thus they will separate from Christ; then they will have no strength to resist our power, and erelong they will be ready to ridicule their former zeal and devotion."  Testimonies to Ministers, p. 474.  I can't count how many times I've seen this fulfilled.

6.  Personal influence of one upon another is an amazing phenomenon to watch.  "There are few who realize how far-reaching is the influence of their words and acts.... Everyone is exerting an influence upon others, and will be held accountable for the result of that influence. Words and actions have a telling power, and the long hereafter will show the effect of our life here."  Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 556.

7.  Technology has greatly extended the potential range of the atmosphere around each of us.  "The influence of every man's thoughts and actions surrounds him like an invisible atmosphere, which is unconsciously breathed in by all who come in contact with him. This atmosphere is frequently charged with poisonous influences, and when these are inhaled, moral degeneracy is the sure result."  Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 111.

8.  Nothing is really secret, yet many are living as if there would never meet their comments again.  "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."  Ecclesiastes 12:14.   "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." Ecclesiastes 8:11.

9.  The unhappy path to eternal loss is navigated one small compromise at a time.  "As soon as Satan can separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man's carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling; it is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things--the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly, the disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world."  Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 717.

10.  God will indeed have a faithful people.  "Those who are true to God will be menaced, denounced, proscribed. They will be 'betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends,' even unto death. Luke 21:16. Their only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer. As Joshua pleaded before the Angel, so the remnant church, with brokenness of heart and unfaltering faith, will plead for pardon and deliverance through Jesus, their Advocate. They are fully conscious of the sinfulness of their lives, they see their weakness and unworthiness; and they are ready to despair.... But while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have not given themselves up to be controlled by the satanic agencies. They have repented of their sins and have sought the Lord in humility and contrition, and the divine Advocate pleads in their behalf.... The assaults of Satan are strong, his delusions are subtle; but the Lord's eye is upon His people. Their affliction is great, the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them; but Jesus will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire. Their earthliness will be removed, that through them the image of Christ may be perfectly revealed." Prophets and Kings, pp. 588, 589.

I'm hoping that in the near future I'll be able to update my site with some more pictures from Christmas break and GYC.  In the meantime, however, school has started and we here at Ouachita Hills have been reminded of the uncertainty of life.

For the many who have asked, a fund has been established here at Ouachita Hills to help the Travers family cope with Enoch's funeral expenses.  Please clearly identify contributions as designated for this need, and mail to:

Ouachita Hills
P.O. Box 35
Amity, AR 71921 

Thank you for your concern, for your assistance, and especially for your prayers.

Yesterday morning brought the tragic news that Enoch Travers was killed in a vehicle accident during the night.  Enoch grew up on our campus while his father was OHA farm manager, then later returned as a student. 

Funeral services will be held at the Meriden Seventh-day Adventist Church in Meriden, Conneticut at 2 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2006.

If you are interested in contact information for the Travers family feel free to email me.

Thank you for your prayers for their family in this trying time.

Yay!! Warm weather!!!

Spending four days at my sister Karen's in Florida has been a relaxing treat for me and my family.  Jon and Jill came from Massachusetts too!  Below is a picture of our family on Christmas day (front to back, left to right): Jill, Jon, me, Dad, Mom, Amy, Danny (Karen's husband), Karen, and Carl (my nephew).

Not shown in the above family picture is the newest member of the Clark family, so I thought I'd include his picture below.

Hee hee!! That's right!  Jon and Jill surprised us with the news that Jill is almost five months pregnant!!!  Some of you might wish to email them your congratulations at jillybean1279@hotmail.com.

We're off to the General Youth Conference in Chattanooga!  Hope your New Year is a blessed one. 

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

Greetings from warm Florida!

I'm just so thankful today for God's incomparable gift - His only Son.

Wishing you the best of the holiday season! 

Your friend,

Chester

On Monday I went with my family to the wedding of Jonathan Sandberg (OHA Class of 1999).  The wedding was to be held in the Thorncrown Chapel at Eureka Springs.

The wedding was at night, but this is a picture of the glass chapel during the day.

The problem is that Eureka Springs is a five hour drive from Amity - although it is only 117 miles as the crow flies.  The curvy roads in that area make it a 230 mile drive!  So with that in mind my dad decided we should fly instead of drive.

Prepping the plane for flight.

Amy and Mom in the backseat.

This dog welcomed us upon landing at the Berryville airstrip, coming running towards us even before we had stopped taxiing!

The Matron of Honor, Pastor Hall (Hot Springs), Best Man (Adam Getchell), and Jon Sandberg as he played the processional on the guitar.

The prayer.

Here's a picture with the groom.

It was also a blessing to see some OHA graduates and former students - Chris and David Travers, Jere and Eric Sandberg, Jason Pritchett, and Paul, Adam, and Wendy Getchell.

Last Saturday night was our annual OHA Christmas program, and it was an incredible success!  The students did a smashing job, the community turnout was great, and to top it off a bunch of graduates came!  It was so good to see them again.  OK, here's a few pictures.  Someone borrowed my camera and took all these.

Leilana, Sarah, and Elisa.

Addison sharing a piano solo.

One of the most impressive pieces of the program! Mrs. Dysinger and Lanie.

The "old men" (plus Jon) singing Wayne Hooper "O Little Town of Bethlehem".

Josh the walking Christmas tree with other Bell Choir members.

Elani and Leilana.

Large Choir.

Paul and Peiter.

Me being goofy.