January 27 - Assignment 5

January 27 - Assignment 5
Sunday, January 27, 2019 by Cindy Sproles

4 Weeks and counting...

Assignment 5 is up on the blog
This week Lucinda McDowell provides you with a wonderful assignment on Learning to tell a story. You will glean some wonderful tips for learning to tell your story, either through non-fiction or devotion. Lucinda is a pro, so take what she teaches to heart. Pay attention to everything around you. Make notes. Look at the details you'd normally not observe - in essence - people watch. My hubby and I love to go to the mall, sit on a bench, and people watch. It's such fun because we make up their stories and wonder if we are vaguely close. Like I said, take special note on Lucinda's post this week.

You can click here for the link to the website post.
ROSTER
Unless you are brand new to the conference this week, the roster is now closed. I have not finished sorting through my emails to get the remainder of those bios and photos yet, but as of last week, we still had 19 folks who had not sent their bio and photo. I will list all the names and try to get the emails in there as well, but photos and bios are now closed. I want this to be a networking tool you will have for years to come. I think you will appreciate it once you get it in your email. Just to be able to put a face with a name will help you so much once you arrive at the Cove.

SPEAKING OF THE COVE...
If you have never been to this venue, boy are you in for a treat. I stop eating a week before I arrive just so I can taste a little of everything. Their staff is wonderful. And even more - we enjoy the "eternal feeding trough." :) Let me explain. On the main floor of the training center, there is a refreshment section where you can get soft serve ice cream all day. There's soft drinks, water. It's all there for you to partake of and upstairs on the 3rd floor, where we meet, there is coffee, hot teas, and water provided all day.

I only ask that as you enjoy these refreshments through the day, that you will please dispose of your cups and napkins. Please don't leave drinks sitting around to be knocked over. In fact, I recommend if you have a thermal cup with a lid, bring it. You can keep your coffee hot and your Coke cold. Help us keep our meeting rooms as clean as possible. Thank you in advance...oh...and did I tell you, on the second floor of our hotel, you can get these same hot and cold drinks. This is a wonderful amenity that you won't be charged additional for. No hunting for a drink machine. Nada. The Cove loves to spoil you.

OUR LIABILITY POLICY ...

Below you will see our liability policy. You will be asked to sign this when you arrive at the Cove. Our Conference Care Representatives will welcome you at our hotel, give you your conference materials, and they will ask you to sign this liability form.

I want to only mention this once, because it upsets me to have to mention it...but this day in time, no venue, conference, school, or workplace is immune.

Within this liability statement you will read about sexual harassment. It is important that as adults, you conduct yourselves in a way, that would please God. The world has made a simple hug, a form of harassment. Since we are at the Billy Graham Training Center, let's practice what Dr. Graham himself practiced. Do you put yourself in a situation where you are alone with the opposite sex. Anything can misconstrued. Stay in groups of three for your own protection. Our conference has never experienced an issue with sexual harassment, but like the rest of the world, we are not immune. All we can do it make every effort to conduct ourselves in a godly manner. If you feel at anytime, you have experienced harassment at our conference, you are to tell myself or Eddie Jones immediately. Do not wait for months to report. DO IT IMMEDIATELY. You will not be judged. But we cannot handle a situation if we do not know it exists, nor can we fix a problems months after the incident.

There, I've addressed it. The elephant in the room...

Having said that, I know you have been prayed over for a solid year. God has moved you to attend. I rest in assurance that all will be perfect for our conference. I believe in each one of you and I can't wait for us to meet face to face.

Liability Release Form

To: Christian Devotion Ministries

From: [Participant’s Name] _____________________________ Date: February 22,2019

Dates of Event(s): February 22-24, 2019

Event Name: Asheville Christian Writers Conference

In exchange for receiving permission to participate in the event organized by Christian Devotion Ministries, I, for myself and my family, heirs, executors, and representatives, agree to the following:

*I assume the risk of any harm or injury that may occur as a result of, or in connection with, my participation in the Event(s).
*I accept full responsibility for myself, my actions, and my possessions while participating in the Event(s).
*I release Christian Devotion Ministries, The Cove, The Billy Graham Training Center, their members, officers, employees, agents, staff, faculty, and volunteers from any and all liability, costs, damages, or other claims that may occur as a result of, or in connection with, my participation in the Event(s).
*I give my consent for Christian Devotion Ministries, its members, officers, employees, agents, staff, faculty, and volunteers to assist me in the event of an emergency, including seeking emergency medical treatment on my behalf and I agree to accept financial responsibility for the costs related to any medical treatment.
*I agree to conduct myself and behave in Christian manner, treating all individuals with respect, consideration, and charity, at all times during my participation in the Event(s). I agree to refrain from any behavior that is threatening, violent, aggressive, or sexually or morally improper.

*I agree to report to Christian Devotion Ministries any behavior by others that I witness that does not meet this standard.

*I understand that if I engage in inappropriate behavior or fail to report inappropriate behavior that I witness, I may be asked to end my participation in the Event, and if asked, I agree to abide by the decision.

By signing below, I represent that I understand and agree to the foregoing statements:

PRAY...

Please pray seriously over this conference. Ask God for safe travel. Good health and perfect weather. Lift up our faculty, your peers, and the staff. We want this conference smothered in prayer.
_________________________________________

Spiritual Takeaway

JUICY FRUIT
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

I love fruit. Well, a lot of fruit. Uh, maybe some fruit. No. Nope...I love certain fruits. There, that's got it. I love certain fruit.

Give me a strawberry any day of the week or a bunch of grapes. A banana. Watermelon. But I'm not real keen on fancy fruit - kiwi, not so much.

As a kid, I loved Fruit Stripe gum (Remember the colorful zebra that used to advertise the gum?). Then, when I hit my teen years, Juicy Fruit grew to be my go to fruit. In adulthood, I swayed toward Teaberry.

Somehow, I've always loved some sort of fruit, be it the real thing or the sugary treat.

This week, I'd really love for you to have some fruit of your own. When the hard things of life settle in to try and trip you up, have some fruit. Grab a tad of forbearance (patience), or a tidbit of joy. When you don't think you can put a word on the page, much less spend the money to attend a conference, pull down the bowl and grab a bite of faithfulness.

You see, the evil one can't take away your fruit - not unless you let him. Practice filling yourself with the fruit of the Spirit, then ask yourself, who is the Spirit anyway? We often think the Spirit is us, but it's not. It's the Spirit of God. Take hold of the tasty fruit He offers you. Use the gifts God affords you. Not only will your own life be better, but the lives of others will be touched too. You will be amazed at how you breeze over the things that trip you up.