Annapolis Skyline
Dear Fellows and friends of CSLI Annapolis,

We at CSLI want to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year!  We are excited about the events scheduled in the next few months at CSLI Annapolis.

There are a full slate of events on the calendar below. Please check for events that you may be interested in.  You will also be receiving invitations to events that are open to you.  OPEN TO THE PUBLIC are the following:

Pastor Gerry Miller will be our speaker for a two-part Apologetics Seminar on "Why Should I Trust the Scriptures?"
  • Apologetics Seminar Part I | Friday, January 29 | 7-9pm| Brice House 
    (dessert/coffee will be served)
  • Apologetics Seminar Part II| Saturday, January 30 | 9-11am| Brice House 
    (pastry/coffee will be served)
And Dr. John Lennox from Oxford University will be the speaker at our first Annapolis Annual Banquet on Saturday, Apr 16, 6pm at the Doubletree Hotel.  Invitations will go out for this event in the next 30 days.

In October's newsletter, we offered an introduction to  "The 8 Traits of a Disciple of Jesus", and committed to cover all eight traits over the next eight newsletters. I use these traits to disciple someone who wants to know and follow Jesus better.  The first and last of the eight newsletters contain the introduction and conclusion respectively along with the 1st and 8th trait.  If you find this useful, you are welcome to have the "Eight Traits" in their entirety for your discipleship purposes. 

Eight Traits of a Disciple:

Trait 4. A follower of Jesus l oves  his neighbor as himself.   (Matthew 22:39)

How is this different from Trait 3 which is having love for others?    Technically it is not.    But Jesus knew that we all hear what we are taught through mental "filters".    "Others" may be "those that I know" or "my family" or "those in my sphere of influence".     This is why the "expert in the law" asked Jesus "who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29)    He was seeking to exclude some from this command.
  Who is your neighbor?   Matt 25:40 & Luke 19 :1-10 says your neighbor includes the "least of these" and "the lost".  Who are the "least of these"?

Who comes to your mind when I suggest:    they are the person you don't really want to have dinner with; the person you always send to voicemail when you see their number calling; the person you avoid when in a social gathering, or the person asking for money or food that you avoid on your way to work?
In Trait 4, Jesus challenges us to love those that are otherwise repugnant to us; to love the one who has hurt us the most; to love the one who least deserves our attention.

C.S. Lewis said: "We need to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship.......  There are no 'ordinary' people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." (3)

Does it change your perspective to think of everyone  you meet as an eternal being?
Jesus loved us when we were a stench in his nostrils.  Think of the worst sin you have done, the worst thought you have had, Jesus still loved you (sought your well being) despite your offensiveness to Him.  

We love our neighbors by being a neighbor of loving compassion.  Jesus taught His disciples to "be merciful (compassionate/forgiving) as your Father in heaven is merciful" (Luke 6:36).  He wants us to exhibit the kind of love that compels us to go out of our way to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors. 

Next month:  Trait 5

Thanks for all your support.  Lives continue to be changed through your generosity of time, money, and prayers.

Blessings,
Jim Phillips


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Calendar fragment with half-opened sheets in different angles

Calendar of Events

January 
  • Year 1&2 Fellows Meeting | Saturday, Jan 9 | 8:45am | Brice House & Paca House
  • Apologetics Seminar Part I | Friday, January 29 | 7-9pm| Brice House
  • Apologetics Seminar Part II| Saturday, January 30 | 9-11am| Brice House
  • SJC Men's Discipleship Group | Tuesdays | 7:30pm | Aslan House
  • SJC Women's Discipleship Group | Wednesdays | 2:30pm | Aslan House
February 
  • Year 1&2 Fellows Meeting | Saturday, Feb 6 | 8:45am | Brice House & Paca House
  • Pastor's Luncheon | Wednesday, Feb 17 | Noon - 1:30pm | YellowFin
  • SJC Men's Discipleship Group | Tuesdays | 7:30pm | Aslan House
  • SJC Women's Discipleship Group | Wednesdays | 2:30pm | Aslan House
March 
  • Year 1&2 Fellows Meeting | Saturday, Mar 5 | 8:45am | Brice House & Paca House
  • SJC Men's Discipleship Group | Tuesdays | 7:30pm | Aslan House
  • SJC Women's Discipleship Group | Wednesdays | 2:30pm | Aslan House
April 
  • Year 1&2 Fellows Meeting | Saturday, Apr 2 | 8:45am | Brice House & Paca House
  • CSLI DC Annual Fundraising Banquet | Thursday, Apr 14 | 6pm | McLean Hilton | John Lennox speaker
  • CSLI Annapolis Annual Banquet | Saturday, Apr 16 | 6pm | Doubletree Hotel | John Lennox speaker
  • John Lennox at USNA | Sunday, Apr 17 | 11am | U.S. Naval Academy Chapel
  • John Lennox at USNA | Monday, Apr 18 | noon | Laboon Center
  • SJC Men's Discipleship Group | Tuesdays | 7:30pm | Aslan House
  • SJC Women's Discipleship Group | Wednesdays | 2:30pm | Aslan House
  • Year 1&2 Fellows Meeting | Saturday, Apr 30 | 8:45am | Brice House & Paca House
May
  • Pastor's Luncheon | Thursday, May 5| Noon - 1:30pm | TBD
  • SJC Men's Discipleship Group | Tuesdays | 7:30pm | Aslan House
  • SJC Women's Discipleship Group | Wednesdays | 2:30pm | Aslan House

June 
  • Year 1&2 Fellows Meeting | Saturday, Jun 4 | 8:45am | Brice House & Paca House


We are funded by the contributions of private individuals who identify with our Mission and Vision. If you wish to support this ministry, please click here. Specify that you desire your contribution to go to the "Annapolis Extension". All contributions are tax-exempt; the C. S. Lewis Institute is a US 501(c)(3) organization. Receipts are mailed to all donors. Contributors to the Institute automatically receive Knowing & Doing, our quarterly publication for discipleship of heart and mind. Thank you for your support. 

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