Weekend review: Cancelled DC trip, birthday party for two, and teaching forgiveness

My trip to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian was cancelled due to a planned event occurring in the DC proper yesterday. There were concerns about safety for the group while they were traveling in DC and the possible time lags while traversing in and out of the city. Protests are a common occurrence in the nation's capital, but it affects everything, from worker commutes, overcrowding in restaurants and restrooms, and the increase in security. It causes hassles for DC area residents.

Often times, they happen during the weekends, and the effects are minimal for most DC area residents.

Traffic is greatly affected. Protests often slow the transportation and routines for most commuters, if they take the metrorail (congestion starts in the morning) and metrobusses which encounter street clogs.

Last night, a few YA ministry participants hosted a birthday party for a couple women in the group. It was a nice occasion for fellowship and catch up with old acquaintances and meet new ones.

That event was held in Alexandria VA, away from the protest area.

Since the life group is comprised of internationals, the food was varied with tasty morsels of marinated chicken, fried fish, quesidillas, fried rice, jollef rice with lamb, and zesty salsa dishes. There was also a nice display of cheesecake, coconut golden cake, cookies, chocolate cake, and tropical ambrosia desserts.

Today's schedule was filled with service attendance, teachings on forgiveness and bitterness, meeting up with a life group member who needed to talk and unwind, and a spirit-filled time with ministers at an evening service.

As for the bible teachings, a life group continues their series study on relationships. A couple young people from this group talked specifically on the effects of unforgiveness and bitterness on our physical bodies, as well as the effects on our relationships. When we fill ourselves with either of these two conditions, we prevent ourselves from being filled with God's love and God's best for us. Also, we don't allow others to see God's work in us. If left unchecked, it may act as slow poison in which can lead to personal disintegration.

As we humble ourselves and acknowledge our spiritual weaknesses to God (and to others when it appropriate), we allow God to work on our conditions, granting us to sense His grace.

technorati tags: Life Groups; Bible Study; Relationships; Church