Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone!

We hope you all have a great time with family during this holiday season and have a great start to the new year. In Psalm we are reminded to number our days so that we may be careful to spend each day wisely. We pray that God will meet all of your needs and give you good health.

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
-Psalm 90:12

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Merry Christmas!

Tara and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope you get some great time with family.
We'll be traveling quite a bit over the winter break and would appreciate your prayers.
Thank you for partnering with us in this ministry through prayers and financial support.
We couldn't be here without you.
Merry Christmas!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

The Greatest Inheritance of All Time

In light of the economic hard times, it's refreshing to know that those who have put their hope and trust in Christ have an amazing inheritance that can never depreciate or lose value. (Unlike the stock market)

"So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."

Can you believe that God, the one and only God of the universe who created all things, would do this for you and me? That we could be heirs to God?! You can't get much higher up than that.

David said in Psalm 8:4-5

"what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor"

The sad thing is that are many people around you and me that believe the lie that can get their way into Heaven. As long as they are good enough or give enough money or whatever the good work is.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

2 Corinthians 10:7 says "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord"

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Giving Thanks In All Things

Why do we give thanks? I know that sounds like a crazy question.
Americans spent approximately $28.5 billion dollars on Thanksgiving this year.
The day after Thanksgiving, Americans spent approximately $460 billion dollars.
WOW! I have to admit that I was a part of that group that shopped after Thanksgiving for presents. Tara and I had our list of who to buy for this Christmas and it was a great day to get good deals. But do we really need these things?

I heard a quote on the radio as Tara and I were driving back from South Dakota which this pastor said:
"I use to complain that I had no shoes, until I met a man that had no feet."
It's easy to look around and see what we don't have. Commercials and advertising is there to tell us that we aren't good enough unless we have their product.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." It's seems easy to give thanks to God when things are going well. When the family is healthy, the job is going well, the cars are working well, the bills are paid, and the to do list is finished (atleast for now). But that's not what God intended for us. God wants us to give him thanks in all situations. As I was thinking about this verse this came to mind; when I complain and don't give thanks to God in all things, what I am showing God is that I don't believe that He knows what is best for my life.

We don't have a God that likes to make us unhappy. We have a God that loves us so much that He sent His son to die on the cross, a bloody death, for our sins. That in our repentance and faith in Christ we will have peace with God! How awesome is that!

Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for us and taking the penalty of sin on your shoulders. Thank you God for sending your Son to come and live a perfect life as an example for us and then die a criminals death for so that we might be free. Lord I pray that everyday would be a day of thanksgiving and that in all things we would thank You.

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Light of the World

About a week and a half ago there was a day when people dressed up like someone else, Halloween.
What is interesting about the city of Whitewater is that it has a haunted past.
Whitewater's haunted past dates back to before the University existed.
In it's place was an institute devoted to communicating with the spirit world. Ever since the institute was built, Whitewater has been known as the "second Salem" because of the witchcraft in the city. The institute is no longer in the city but there is a group on campus that is devoted to witchcraft.

This past Monday I was talking with a guy I've been discipling and he mentioned that this past Friday there was a girl in Whitewater who was possessed by a demon. Her friends were talking to her about what it means to follow Christ, but the demon resisted. A few of his Christian friends brought her inside their house and called people to pray for her. They prayed over her and eventually it came out.

Later on Monday I was talking with one of the guys in my Bible study and asked him if he heard about this story of the girl. We were in his dorm room talking about this and some other spiritual things and his roommate turned around and told us that he believes in that stuff happening. I asked him about what he meant and he told me to close the door so that others wouldn't hear. He shared with us how he has been attacked by demons at night at home and even in the dorm room. I asked him if it scared him and he said it was a freaky. It happened to him in his dreams and he has seen the demons when he was awake. I asked him about what his spiritual beliefs are and he said that he believes some of the Bible but he also believes in reincarnation. I asked if I could share somethings with him about why I believe the Bible is truth. We talked for about 2 hours and shared with him the Gospel. I asked him how he gets the demons to leave and he said two ways; one by getting in the light and two by saying something. I asked him what he said and he told me that when the attacks are really bad he would pray to God and say the name Jesus out loud. (There is power in the name of Jesus!)

Before I had this conversation, I was somewhat discouraged. I was trying to connect with the guys in the dorms and they weren't there. So I felt like God wanted me to walk around the dorms and pray for each building and the students in there. We can't forget the power of prayer. There is a spiritual battle out there and we are the light of the world bringing good news!

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." - John 3:19

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."" - John 8:12

Please pray for the students hear in Whitewater. Pray that they would be attracted to the Gospel and find freedom from evil and darkness. Pray that God would allow us to be effective in the things we do and say and that the glory would be given to Him!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Beautiful Feet

This weekend Tara and I had the privilege of being a part of the Missions Weekend at my home church. The theme for the weekend was "Beautiful Feet".
In Romans 10:14-15 says:
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Paul explains that as we bring the Gospel to the lost; they see us as bringing something special and valuable. It's nothing about us that makes people accept the Gospel message but it is the Holy Spirit that goes ahead and does the work. We as Christians are called to be obedient to where God calls us and to share the good news of the Gospel where we are.

I picture a village of people that are sick and helpless. Many are dying and trying to do their best to hide the pain through alcohol and drugs. Their is a hole in each one of these people their trying to fill and it just isn't working. The village is filled with screams of pain. The city lights are burning out. It's dark and dirty all around. Then in the distance you see someone that is brightly shining and walking toward the village. As he speaks God's Word the things around him become more colorful and take life. The people that accept the Gospel Words are changed; the old self cracks of of them like a brittle black shell and they are standing there bright and full of life. More and more people come to see whats happening in the street. Some laugh and reject the man and go back into the darkness. Others receive the Gospel and become a new creation. They join together in the streets to praise God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the life it brings. How beautiful are the feet of those that bring good news.

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

THE WEEKENDER - Fall Conference 2008!

What an amazing weekend we had!
There were 54 students from Whitewater that attended the conference.
There were over 400 students and staff and it was the largest conference the upper midwest Navs have had in a long time!
This years conference them was: "The Word is Life".
We had great conversations on the road there and back. This probably will be our last year at Village Creek Bible Camp because our group is growing out of the space they have at the camp; this is a good thing but sad to leave the camp.
Tara and I had lots of great conversations with students during the weekend. I stayed with the guys and she with the girls. Through those times connecting with our students we got to know them on a deeper level. Though some conversations went in to the wee hours of the morning, it was well worth it!
We are praying for the students that attended that they would continue to let God work in their lives. Much prayer is ahead for these students.
Thanks for praying and continuing to support this ministry!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Melting Peoples Hearts

This past week I met with a guy who has cerebral palsy. We meet every other Friday for lunch and to talk about spiritual things. This past Friday we met to talk about what it means to be a Christian and to share with him what salvation is. God has been working on his heart and his is ready. It is so evident that God has turned his heart from stone to flesh and he is just soaking up everything in the Bible. He told me that he wants to believe and accept the salvation as a gift but he is scared of what his parents may think. Please pray for him!

After we have lunch and talk, we head over to play basketball in the main Whitewater gym. Even with being in a powered wheel chair that doesn't keep him down. We were watching some of the guys playing as we got there and they were pretty intense and kind of talking back to each other. Once the game was over, we both got on the court and shot around. It was amazing how it seemed to melt the guys hearts when he came on the court.

I think a lot of times we take for granted our ability to run and stand. It's humbling playing with him on the court because we want him to enjoy playing also and it causes us to put aside our own desires and selfishness. My desire is not that you look at me and how good I am, because really it's because of Christ in me that gives me the heart and compassion to share with him about the gospel and treat him that way. But my hope is that by being obedient to God and setting aside my selfishness to get out on the court, that the others would wonder why I did that and be impacted. The least that we all can do is help those around us that are handicap. This guy was born with cerebral palsy and it wasn't anything that he did that caused him to be that way. I know that God is using this guy in my life to refine me.

-For the sake of the Gospel
Tim and Tara Chamberlain

Investing in things that last

Today I saw online that the government plans to spend another $700 Billion to bail out the mortgage companies and others. I put the number in and calculated how long you could support missionaries. With $700 Billion dollars, you could support 5 Million missionary families for 20 years!

Jesus says "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:19

Jesus spoke more about money than anything else. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus also says "You cannot serve both God and money". As followers of Christ, we need to examine our lives and the way we live. This can be hard for me with fundraising and our desire to have a house. I want to be careful in how much I focus on the money aspect of ministry. It is necessary to be up to budget in order to minister fully on campus, but I can't allow the money part to get in the way of my relationship with God and reaching out the students. I need to trust God for the finances. He is faithful!

A big reason why our economy is where it's at is because people bought big houses that they really couldn't afford. There are other contributing factors, but it was mostly due to people stretching themselves beyond their ability. Their identity was placed in the big house. It's sad to see all the houses destroyed by the hurricanes down south not too long ago. The people there hopefully have insurance, but the insurance money comes from somewhere.

I was just thinking about this camera I have and how four years ago it was new. But then a couple months after I bought it, other ones came out that were better and less expensive. Recently that camera just died, it didn't fall on the ground or get wet but it just died. Granted the pictures I took with it are good and I still have them, but the camera doesn't work anymore.
Was that a good investment? It didn't cost much compared to a car, house, college, etc.

I'm reminded that we live in a world where things break down even Jesus knew that moth and rust destroyed things. So, my hope is that we would be good stewards of what God has given us and think about ways to invest in things that last.

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Living As If Today Is Our Last

This past week a fellow missionary on the campus of UW-Whitewater passed away.
He graduated from UW-Whitewater earlier this spring and was hit by a car while crossing a street near the campus. He was a lively guy, born with muscular dystrophy but that didn't keep him down. He was just coming on staff with Intervarsity and doing what all campus ministers do when school starts, meet and connect with as many students as possible.

Later this summer one of our friends Dad who had been on staff with the Navigators for over 50 years passed away. He was diagnosed about a year ago with brain cancer.
The funeral was a great celebration of the life and legacy that he lived. It was a good reminder to check how I've been living.

Recently our campus director here at UW-Whitewater received news that his mom has brain cancer similar to the case above. It's been a hard time for them this summer. Not including the flooding in their basement and many other changes. His mom is in need of much prayer as well as our campus director and his family.

With all the tragedies and difficulties that we have seen or been a part of, it really reminds me that life on earth is not easy. Questions I ask myself and others are: What are you living for? Is it the big job, the nice boat, the cabin up north, weekends, vacations, etc. What are you holding on to tightly? Is it the job, the car, money, sports, or Christ?

Jesus says "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"-Matthew 16:25-26

My hope and prayer is that students will see that displayed in our lives because of what Christ did in us and that they will follow Him 100%.

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

The First Week of School

It's hard to believe we are already on to the second week of school.
Last week seemed to fly by. We had many outreach events and had some informal Bible study meetings.

Here is a picture from our first Nav Nite! We we're able to reserve the large ball room in the University Center on campus.

On Friday we finished with a Luau Party on campus. We grilled brats and hot dogs and then went over to the football game later that night. The Warhawks won! They haven't lost a home game since 2004!

Please continue to pray for all of us here as we reach out to the freshmen and the older students.
In campus ministry we talk about the three week "window of opportunity". This is usually when students are usually open to checking things out. After this time, students begin settling in to the groups they are going to be involved in and it's harder to connect with them.
Thanks for your prayers and support!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Celebrating your Birthday on God's day

Yesterday was my birthday! We started it off by going to church and then went golfing and lastly went out for dinner. As I was driving to church with Tara and a few friends I thought back to when I was younger and how I got to do pretty much whatever I wanted on my birthday. I got to pick where we were going to eat and something fun to do that day. I was probably selfish about it and in the U.S. we feel it's your right to get what you want on your birthday. But what about our creator, God, shouldn't He be the one we first thank as we begin to celebrate our birthday? In Psalm 139 God is praised for how He knew us before we were born and we were fearfully and wonderfully made.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

As we were singing the songs in church I was thinking about how my parents raised me and loved me and yet God even knew me before I was created! How awesome is that! I think it was God reminding me yesterday that He is the one to be praised and thanked. I hope that with every birthday in the future I will remember to give God the glory!

For the sake of the Gospel,
Tim and Tara Chamberlain

Leadership Retreat

Tara and I are getting ready for our leadership retreat Jump Start that starts today.
We will be joining up with 25 students on the leadership team and four other staff.
Here are some prayer requests that we have:

Prayer Requests:
-For safe travels for everyone as we're all coming from different areas of Wisconsin
-For protection from Satan in causing tension or conflict. That we would be able to build community and have good fellowship
-For God to give us ideas and wisdom in planning outreach events for the first week of school
-For Tara and I as we lead a workshop on Unity as Brothers and Sisters in Christ
-Threats to unity: conflict, gossip, lies, unwholesome talk
-Building unity: peace, valuing people, speaking truth, loving each other
-Discussion time
-There is some of this going on in our group and pray that God would use this in the way He wants and that it would be Him speaking through us
-For safety canoing down the Wisconsin River on Saturday
-For continued financial support: currently we are at 73%

Thank you for being a part of this ministry!
For the sake of the gospel,
-Tim and Tara

S.D. Gordon (19th century Christian leader) said "Prayer is the real work of the ministry; service is just the gathering in the results of prayer."

Funding Update

Our Fundraising Thermometer

We can officially go back to campus since we are at 70%, but we are praying to get 100% by August 15th. We have until Sept 31 to be at 100%, or we'll go back on fundraising.

Thanks again to all who have been praying for us and support us financially. We wouldn't be here without you!

In Christ,
Tim and Tara

Second time around

3,200 miles so far and about 1,000 more to go!
This is our second time making it over to South Dakota and Minnesota.
I guess we just loved it so much the first time around that we really wanted to go back and do it again.

Tara and I were in Whitewater for a week after making our way through South Dakota and Minnesota. We were able to get some rest and time with our friends there in Wisconsin.
A couple of our students were married in Illinois while we were back and the following Saturday Tara was in a wedding.

Throughout this summer I have had a lot of time to think in the car, alongside talking with Tara. It has been a good way to think about what God has been teaching me and what He has been challenging me in.

Throughout our lifetime there may be times when we don't follow God's plan and we choose ours. We choose to do it our way, trust our way of doing things, and end up unfulfilled and dissatisfied. God's plan is the only one that will succeed. So God brings us back for a second time around or third or fourth or etc. until we get on His path headed in the right direction to learn and experience the things He wants for us.

So in this second time around I am encouraged and excited about the things we'll learn and experience as we go through South Dakota and Minnesota. I'm so thankful we have a God that doesn't give up on us, who has a steadfast love for us, and is gracious to us when we sin.

Thank you Lord for sending your perfect Son to be the savior of the world!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Let us celebrate our freedom in America and in Christ!

As I (Tim) was thinking about this upcoming holiday that we all share in this country, I wondered why we as Christians don’t celebrate the freedom we have in Christ like we celebrate the freedom we have in America.

I was reading a couple weeks ago about when the Emancipation Proclamation that was signed and put in affect by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to abolish slavery. The problem was that many slaves didn’t find out that they were actually free until 1865! They lived as if they were slaves yet they were really free!

Similarly the Roman believers had lived for almost 25 years after Christ’s death thinking they were still in bondage to sin. Apostle Paul reminded them that what ever they submit to becomes their master. Paul says in Romans 6:17-18

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

Tomorrow we will celebrate the 4^th of July and our freedom we have in this country because of the many people that died and shed blood for this country. Let us also remember Christ’s death and the most amazing freedom and salvation we have because of his shed blood! I pray that we as Christians would never forget to celebrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For the sake of the Gospel of Jesus,
Tim and Tara Chamberlain

On The Road Again...

Tara and I are on the road again! We had a short pit-stop in Whitewater before heading out to South Dakota and Minnesota for family events and fundraising. Currently we are in Yankton, SD with four more fundraising appointments scheduled and a family reunion too!
So far we have put on about 1,700 miles and there are more to come!
We would appreciate your prayers as we travel and share about the ministry God has called Tara and I to. Please pray for new ministry partners to support us financially.
We pray that our times fundraising and meeting with people would be encouraging to them and glorifying to God.

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry through prayers and financial support!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

We're back to Whitewater!

Group North 2008
Students and Staff

This past month we've traveled quite a bit.
Starting our summer with a week in Colorado for our last EDGE Corp summit.
Then Tara and I and the other Nav staff from Whitewater headed up to McNaughton, WI for a three week training program for college students. What a blast that was!
After that, we came home and got ready for our friends wedding which Tara was in.
I think that brings the total to 30 days of living out of a suitcase.

We are back to Whitewater and beginning to settle in and adjust.
Our campus director's house was recently flooded this past week due to all of the rain we have received.

Some prayer requests:
-Time to rest
-Fundraising this summer/Traveling
-Students to continue growing over the summer, spending time in God's word.
-Campus directors house that is flooded, that it wouldn't be an expensive fix

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Tim and Tara Chamberlain

We're a travelin...

THE GLEN EYRIE
Colorado Springs, CO
EDGE Summit 5

Group North 2008
Fort Wilderness
McNaughton, WI

Wow, this past month has just flown by!
The beginning of May we were wrapping up our large group meetings and Bible studies, having parties and barbecues!
About two weeks ago we were getting ready to go to Colorado Springs for our last EDGE Summit.
What a great time it was to reflect on the last two years and talk about what God has taught us about ourselves and ministry.
Now Tara and I and the rest of the UW-Whitewater Nav staff are up in McNaughton, WI at Fort Wilderness for Group North 2008, a student summer training program. I don't have internet there which is a blessing in some ways. I do have cell phone coverage. It's been a blast getting to know the students from around the midwest that are there. We have 36 students plus 7 staff!
Spending time up in the northwoods of Wisconsin in God's creation has been great and definitely something needed physically for rest and spiritually resting in God.
If you could pray for us and the students during this time that would be great.
-For great team bonding
-To hear from God
-For physical and spiritual rest
-For spiritual growth
-For great times in God's word
-Safety
-For encouraging conversations and fellowship

In Christ,
-Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

This week:
(D-9) Proverbs 3:9-10
"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine."

(D-10) 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap
sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap
generously. Each man should give what he has decided in
his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver."

For His glory!
-Tim

National Day of Prayer- May 1

I was thinking about what to do on the National Day of Prayer and one thing came to mind...pray!
Throughout the day I thought of the many people that are taking this day to be intentional about prayer. But can't we do that everyday? We have this freedom to pray and read the Bible in our country that many other countries in the world do not have. So why not today or tomorrow or everyday be a national day of prayer.

One verse that comes to mind is Philippians 4:6-7 which Apostle Paul is telling the people in Philippi
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

What Paul said to the Philippians and which holds true to us as well is that we don't need to worry or be anxious about our day. By praying and presenting our requests to God, we are acting our our faith showing that we trust God. When we pray and truly hand over the worries to God, He gives us a peace that is beyond understanding.

Here are a few things from the National Day of Prayer website:
http://www.ndptf.org/7x7/index.cfm
"The National Day of Prayer Task Force's mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family."
"7x7 involves praying for seven centers of power seven days a week: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family. "

For the sake of the Gospel,
-Tim and Tara

This week:
(D-7) Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

(D-8) 2 Corinthians 4:5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake."

For His glory!
-Tim

Nav Night @ The Brewer's Game!

UW-Whitewater Navs and Friends
(Tim, Tara, Kim, and other students in the backgroud)

Last night we all went to a Brewer's game in place of our regular Nav Night. This was our big outreach event of the spring semester to other students on campus. It was a great time getting to know some of the students friends and continue to build relationships. Last night we had 70 people with our group. We tailgated, cooked about 300 brats and hot dogs, and threw around some frisbees for a while.

There were two miracles that happened last night.
1. When Chad and I started handing out the tickets and checking off people that paid, one of the students noticed that the tickets were for the wrong day! So what do we do now, there's about a thousand dollars worth of tickets and we can't use them. Chad and I talked and the only thing we thought was to go to the ticket booth and tell them what happened and see if they would exchange us tickets for that day. We prayed and God answered our prayers; we got new tickets in about the same area and didn't have to pay any extra!

2. The second miracle happened when the Brewer's won the game, just kinding... After the game one of our students that is a diabetic realized he forgot his blood sugar meter and bag in the bathroom during the game. We looked all over the bathroom and then went down to customer relations and they didn't have it. We got their number in case it showed up and as we were about to go the ushers at the game kept bringing in lost items and we prayed it would show up. I felt maybe we should wait a little bit longer. Then he said "that's it! He has my bag!". One of the ushers had his bag and we were all excited!



Just a few small miracles from God!
-For the sake of the Gospel
Tim and Tara Chamberlain

Scripture Memory (D-5, D-6)

This week:
(D-5) 1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing
move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the
Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not
in vain."

(D-6) Hebrews 12:3 "Consider him who endured such opposition from
sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

For His glory!
-Tim

A little adventure everyday

Today I was meeting with one of the guys in my Bible study at the University Center (UC) on campus. I usually meet with each guy one-to-one during the week and sometimes at different places. Today also happened to be the American Red Cross blood drive at the UC.
After I was done meeting with David, I met up with Tara to go give blood. As I was sitting in the chair waiting to be called I was getting nervous because the last time a needle was put in my arm was four years ago after our rollover accident. Tara was ahead of me and looking fine, not nervous at all.

So I was called to come and sit down and they were going to check my blood type. The lady pricked my finger and began drawing out blood for two different samples. As she was doing this she said that since I was a taller guy I could give twice as much blood and they would put me on this special machine. I was trying to figure out what she meant and as I looked at the blood on my finger and the machines I began to get really dizzy.

I asked the lady for some water hoping that the dizziness would go away. She told me to sit back and drink the water. Then they had me get up and lay down on this wheeled bed. They wheeled me across this large room and many people were saying "oh I wonder what happened to him?". Meanwhile Tara was waiting and heard what was going on and said "oh that's too bad" and then when she saw it was me she said "wait that's my husband!"

I wasn't able to draw blood today but possibly tomorrow. I felt a bit embarrassed but oh well what can you do. It was a comical story to tell, especially when Tara realized it was me.
What would we do without a little bit of adventure everyday?!

Scripture Memory (D-3, D-4)

This week:
(D-3) 1 John 2:15-16 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful
man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has
and does — comes not from the Father but from the
world."

(D-4) Romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —
his good, pleasing and perfect will."

For His glory!
-Tim

Looking to get a...van

This sounds kind of crazy but Tara and I are seriously considering getting a van.
We don't have any kids yet or any on the way but we have seen how vans are a great thing to have especially in ministry. I also was more excited about the idea after driving one in Detroit during our spring break trip. The pastor we helped in Detroit has a Dodge Ram van and it was great having all the room and the power to haul things.

Tara and I would be selling one of our cars to help with the cost of purchasing a van.
This would be a great ministry vehicle!
If this one didn't work out maybe sometime in the future it would be nice to have one.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6

-For the sake of the Gospel of Jesus
Tim and Tara Chamberlain

Scripture Memory (D-1, D-2)

This week:
(D-1) Matthew 6:33-"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well."

(D-2) Luke 9:23-"Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow me.”"

For His glory!
-Tim

Update: Spring Break to Detroit

We are back from our trip to Detroit after a week of service and awesome community building with the 21 that went. This trip was a huge eye opening experience for us all. I never have seen so much devastation and despair before. In Detroit, 40% of the land is vacant and since the 1960's the population has decreased from 2 million to 900,000! Because of the huge decrease in population, the city's infrastructure collapsed with no ability to maintain itself. That is why when you enter the city limits of Detroit you see many neglected homes, trash all over, broken city lights, broken sidewalks, closed schools and churches, and a sense of hopelessness. My heart can't help but be broken for these people. The act of picking up garbage and cleaning up old buildings does a lot to the neighborhoods. People begin to have a sense of hope and pride for the work and change that is happening. Please pray for them!

Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Hearing from Pastor Michael Sewell of St. Olaf Church in Detroit. He has a heart for bringing hope to the neighborhood and ministering to the people there. Pastor Sewell was born in England, moved to Jamaica, and then God put it on his heart to move to Detroit. He first lived in the suburbs of Detroit but he realized that in order to really connect with the people he needed to live among them. Here we are at a piece of land that he bought and we helped him clean it up so that it will be a park for kids to play at. The homes and land in Detroit are very cheap; he showed us a house he bought for $16,000. It needs a lot of work but this way he can begin to revitalize the neighborhood and change the the atmosphere.

This is another building that Pastor Sewell bought to revitalize. We helped clean up all the broken glass, bottles, and other trash around the building as well as scrape and prime the building with new paint. We worked here Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the mornings and Pastor Sewell said that the people in the neighborhood were already talking about the change. We are hoping to go back to Detroit next year or the year after to continue this partnership.

Some of the other things we did that week were:
-Packing over 1500 food boxes for the elderly in Detroit
-Fixing up two carpet-ball game tables for the Boys and Girls club in Detroit
-Cleaning up the church where we stayed.
-Visiting a Muslim mosque with the Navigator staff in Detroit
-Building gardens on vacant lots
-Installing insulation and cleaning up a house

Please pray for Detroit!

"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"- 1 John 3:17

For the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
-Tim and Tara Chamberlain

Scripture Memory (C-11, C-12)

This week:
(C-11) Hebrews 2:18-"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is
able to help those who are being tempted."

(C-12) Psalm 119:9,11-"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to your word. I have hidden your word in my
heart that I might not sin against you."

For His glory!
-Tim

Scripture Memory (C-9, C-10)

This week:
(C-9) Romans 8:32-"He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"

(C-10) Philippians 4:19-"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

For His glory!
-Tim

Spring Break to Detroit

We're almost on our way to Detroit!
10 hours and counting!

Please pray:
-Good bonding time with our group, grace filled atmosphere
-That the name of Christ would be proclaimed
-Safety as we travel there with five cars
-Safety for us in the city interacting with the community
-That we would be a blessing to the Nav staff in Detroit
-We would come away from it changed and having a heart for the poor in our own community
-Energy throughout the week
-Final details and plans would go smoothly


-For the sake of the Gospel
Tim and Tara

Easter...Christ is Risen!

I would undoubtedly say that Easter is the most important holiday because if Jesus had died and was NOT risen from the dead, it would be like any other religion in the world. He not only fulfilled numerous prophecies leading up to his death, but He appeared to the disciples in physical form to prove that He was raised from the dead. We have that salvation by being convinced that Jesus suffered and died for our sins, confessing our sins to Him, and letting Him be King in our lives.

The amazing part about Jesus is that He is immortal! He died on the cross but was raised from the dead and went back to heaven. In Luke 24:39-43 Jesus appears to the disciples after he was risen from the dead.

"See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him (Jesus) a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. "



10 Reasons Jesus Came to Die: (from John Piper)
#10-To destroy hostility between races
#9-To give marriage its deepest meaning
#8-To absorb the wrath of God
#7-So that we would escape the curse of the law
#6-To reconcile us to God
#5-To Show God's Love for sinners
#4-To Show Jesus' own love for us
#3-To take away our condemnation
#2-To bring us to God
#1-To give eternal life to all who believe on Him

-For the sake of the Gospel
Tim and Tara

A Winter Blizzard!

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Outside our window is a winter blizzard!
It was just yesterday evening that I had shorts and a t-shirt on playing tennis.
The crazy weather of the midwest!

And now three days left until we go to Detroit!
In Christ,
-Tim

Spring Break only 6 days away!

We are only six days away until UW-Whitewater Navs travels to Detroit.
Our journey will begin at 9am on Monday and we will come back Sunday evening, March 30.
This will be a great time to bond together and serve the community of Detroit and the Navigator staff there also. Some of the things we will do in Detroit will be working with Boys and Girls Club, helping out at a local garden, prayer walks and cleaning up garbage, packing food boxes, and learning from leaders in the community and Nav staff what it's like to minister to the poor in the city.

Please pray:
-Good bonding time with our group, grace filled atmosphere
-That the name of Christ would be proclaimed
-Safety as we travel there with five cars
-Safety for us in the city interacting with the community
-That we would be a blessing to the Nav staff in Detroit
-We would come away from it changed and having a heart for the poor in our own community
-Energy throughout the week
-Final details and plans would go smoothly

This is the verse we are going to memorize for the week there:
-"Learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."
-Isaiah 1:17

For the sake of the Gospel,

Tim and Tara

Scripture Memory (C-7, C-8)

This week:
(C-7) Isaiah 26:3-"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."

(C-8) 1 Peter 5:7-"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

For His glory!
-Tim

Update: Eternity Starts Now - Campus Missions Week 2008

The Campus Missions Week is over and the spiritual seeds have been planted.
The week began with all campus worship on Sunday and a message by Pastor Gil from the Lutheran church with scripture Matthew 16:24-26 that we are in the world but our citizenship is in heaven.

The "Free" Bake Sale went well; I think people were confused at first what it actually meant. There were a lot of cookies and brownies that were made, I couldn't even count them all!

The surveys on Wednesday and Thursday went really well. The results will be published in the Royal Purple this next week (student newspaper). Tara and I went on Wednesday and we both had somewhat positive feedback. I talked with four guys about what they think of eternity and where they think they would go if they died. For most of them it was something they never thought of before and a couple guys seriously had no clue. I shared with them part of my testimony and how I believe it is important to know where you are going. I mentioned to them that there is a Bible discussion on Tuesdays at 7:30pm to read about the life of Jesus and any other questions. To my amazement two of the guys said they would like to come!

Please pray for:
-The spiritual seeds that were planted would grow and Satan's hand would be shut out.
-The Bible discussion would be a place for these guys to ask questions and realize the power that is in knowing Christ and how much He loves us.
-That students wouldn't stop sharing their faith but that this week was just the beginning!
-Our Christian groups would continue to be unified!
-Courage to continue stepping out and sharing Christ with others

For the sake of the Gospel,
Tim and Tara Chamberlain

Eternity Starts Now - Campus Missions Week 2008

This week begins our campus missions week at UW-Whitewater titled:
"Eternity Starts Now"
Please pray for:
-The name of Jesus Christ would be proclaimed
-Open hearts to talk about spiritual things
-That Satan would not be able to put his hand into the things we are doing
-That we would have courage in sharing our faith
-Students would be aware that they are eternal beings whether it's heaven or hell they are going.
-The events during the week would go smoothly
-Unity with the Christian groups and that the relationships would continue to grow
-That God would be glorified in all that we do

Tim and Tara Chamberlain
-For the sake of the Gospel

Scripture Memory (C-1, C-2) (Two weeks ago)

I also wanted to add the first two verses of the C Pack
They are:
(C-1) I Corinthians 3:16-"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

(C-2) I Corinthians 2:12-"We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us."
For His glory!
-Tim

Scripture Memory (C-5, C-6)

This week:
(C-5) Lamentations 3:22-23-"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

(C-6) Numbers 23:19-"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?"

For His glory!
-Tim

The Countdown Has Begun...

The countdown has begun for when the Campus Missions Week starts.
The topic for the week is "Eternity Starts Now"
Five days until the worship night on Sunday at 8pm.
Then five days of 24 hour prayer!

Events Calendar:
All Week Long ~ Prayer Room

Sunday, March 9 ~ All Campus Worship - 8:00pm in Summers Auditorium

Tuesday, March 11 ~ Free Bake Sale - 11:00am-?? in the UC

Wednesday, March 12 ~ Survey the Campus - 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm

Wednesday, March 12 ~ Take out Garbage - 5:45pm meeting at Drumlin

Thursday, March 13 ~ Survey the Campus - 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm

Please pray that God would use these events and conversations for His glory!
Don't waste your life...eternity starts now!
-Tim

Scripture Memory (C-3,C-4)

Back when I was at the U of M I started scripture memory with the Navs. Now we have have picked it up here at UW-Whitewater. If you would like to join in feel free. I will post the two verses to memorize each week.

This week:
(C-3) Isaiah 41:10-"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

(C-4) Philippians 4:13-"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

For His glory!
-Tim

Welcome

Welcome to our BLOG!
We hope that this is a place where you can be encouraged and hear more about what God is doing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater!
Thanks,
Tim and Tara