Camp Camp Camp

I love church camp. There's something about sleeping in cabins, swimming in a lake, and eating starchy foods for a week that makes me smile. Now, the food isn't all that fantastic, but I do love what camp is about, what it embodies. Giving students of any age 5-6 days away from home, where they build genuine friendships with peers and leaders, where they do unique activities like a zip line or the blob, but most importantly they have a week to get to know who God is and what his Son did for us.

I went to camp in middle school and have some very sweet memories of the week I spent away from home. Camp was a formative experience in my walk with Christ. For the past 3 years I have had the privilege to being a counselor at camp for middle school students. Going to camp is the highlight of my summer. A few weeks ago our church headed down to Trafalgar, Indiana to Camp Allendale.

Each year of camp has a different mood or feel to it. Last year, I saw students respond almost immediately to the sermons and worship. This year, we as leaders saw such bondage on the hearts and lives of the campers. Over the course of the week, we saw those burdens lifted and the chains broken in their lives. It was amazing to see the Spirit of God move in their hearts.

In my family, which had 11 campers and two other leaders, I believe God planted many seeds in their hearts. Though I did not see the eager responsiveness like my group last year, I know God will continue to work in them as they return home to their family, friends, and school.

I could go on and on about camp, but I at least wanted my thoughts on what God did that week. Oh! and did I mention that we spent the whole week in the book of Nehemiah? How cool is it, that we're diving not only into Scripture, but the Old Testament at youth camp. I think that's pretty cool. Anyway, here are some pictures from the week. Enjoy!

My Family Group, strangely named the Rolling Fat Heads

We were a bit of a strange family - as you can tell

Some of my campers on their way up to the zip line!

All the 5-8th graders during the Morning Show

Family team-building time

1 Samuel 12:20-25

1 Samuel 12:20-25

"Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away."

I read this passage this morning and it hit me hard in my face. Samuel was speaking to Saul after he make a bad decision in battle. The truth of Samuel's statements still apply today. Reading it this morning was a very good reminder for me that my sin in my past does not determine my future. I am to turn from the 'useless idols' and follow God. He will not reject me, because God was pleased to me his own. I am to fear God and serve him faithfully with everything that I have.

What a wonderful reminder this morning!

Blessings Given and Blessings Received

Have you ever had someone unexpectedly come into your life for a short while, then leave just as mysteriously as they came?

I experienced this last week at the Thursday Dinner Table, a ministry at my church that serves a free meal to the community once a week. It was a very busy night at the TDT with a modest count of 150 people and an excess of volunteers who came joyfully to serve. One of our volunteers, Joe, who comes about once a month was helping on the serving line. Joe's quite the sarcastic person, who always has a comeback on the tip of his tongue.

What I did not know about Joe, was last week was the last time he would be there. He's moving to the East coast to start a new job. Though it is exciting to have a new job that can help you make a career, it saddens me that he won't be able to join us at the TDT anymore.

Joe came unexpectedly to the TDT crew and blessed us with his presence, sarcastic or not. It makes me wonder if we were able to bless him like he blessed us. These brief interactions with people I believe cannot go with meaning or purpose. God intersects our lives together for periods of time to teach or show us something. Or perhaps to teach or show someone else. Personally speaking, it is so hard to see these moments because I am stuck looking at myself and not other people.

I guess I was reminded from the brief intersection of Joe and the TDT that I need to stop looking at myself all the time. It is so easy to miss unbelievable opportunities to serve and love on others when I am more concerned about what "I" am doing the next day or who "I" want to spend time with. I want to challenge you, and I'm challenging myself at the same time, to open our eyes to the lives of those around us. Ask for God to provide opportunities to help others. If we ask with an earnest and sincere heart, he will always provide.

I hope for the best for Joe in his future and that we'll see his face again at the Thursday Dinner Table.

Every name has a story

I've been thinking about the poor and homeless lately. In fact, it's been brought to my mind more in the last 5 months than in the last 4-5 years. The other day, I tweeted, "Every name has a story, what's yours?" This was inspired by a picture I drew (a very poor picture, mind you) of a man who most would classify as a dirty, seen-better-days deadbeat.

God has been showing me that these people are precious to him and every single one of them has a story. God created all of us to live a story that is unique and extraordinary, and He made us to live that story with one another. Unfortunately, some have faced circumstances that have separated them from the community that God intends. Our society sees them as homeless, drug-addicted, prostitutes, drop-outs, or alcoholics - put on the outskirts of society. It was not meant to be this way.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites had to follow a strict code of laws and regulations to consider right before God. They could not be 'unclean' and allowed in the camp. They could become 'unclean' by burying the dead, women on their period, leprosy and various diseases. When the Israelites became 'unclean' they had to live outside the camp for a designated time, then they could enter the camp and make the sacrifice for their sin. When Christ came, he made us clean - washed away all the things that would put us outside of the camp. We are not to banish the 'unclean' of our society to live in isolation; they are made clean in Christ.

There are so many ways to start reaching out to those in our cities that have names and stories, but no one to share them with. Here's a few that God has brought to my attention over the past few months.

• Degage Ministries in Grand Rapids - Serves Lost Cost Meals to the poor and homeless in GR


• Food Pantry and TDT - Food pantry and free community meal offered by my home church


• CHIP Indy - Coalition to End Homelessness, Intervention and Prevention


• The Healing Center - A massive resource center that provide emotionally, spiritually, physically, and relationally to those in need


• Second Helpings - Recycles food from restaurants to provide ready-to-cook meals for non-profit organizations

Though these are organizations and church doing great things, it can be as simple as donating canned food. Tonight at the Hillsong United Concert, they're doing a canned good drive. Check it out here. These can be the starting steps to helping people, and eventually learning their stories and sharing your life with them.

Every name has a story, you know your own - but do you know theirs?

The Holy Spirit...what's that?

Today I finished reading Francis Chan's most recent book, Forgotten God: Reversing the Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Also, my church has been working through a series on the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, I've had a lot of talk about the Holy Spirit lately and it has mthinking about the Holy Spirit's work in my life.

At the end of Chan's book, he talks about about our biography and what it would look like if the Holy Spirit working in us mightily.

"A biography that speaks of a life so supernatural that no one would even consider giving you the glory. A biography that displays the power of the Spirit and lifts up the name of Jesus to the glory of God the Father."

...a life so supernatural, no one would give me glory, only God. I want to live a life like that, where I can only ever point to God and when others see my life, they look to God and praise him.

In this passion and desire God has instilled in me for the Christians, especially in the universities, in Grand Rapids area - I want people to see God and praise him in my life and actions, not me. I hope and pray that I would be led by the Holy Spirit in this area of my life (well, in every area of my life). I want "a life in which people know that our accomplishments could not have been attained by our own power. A life that brings glory to God in heaven." (another quote from Chan's book).

I am quite certain that unifying a large, diverse group of believers is not to be accomplished by the hands of men, but only by the Creator of us all.

Today, I am reminded that though passion-filled people often the face and voice of God's doings - it is God and God only who does those things.

Colorado Beauty

This past week I had the privilege of traveling to Colorado to visit with a childhood friend, watch her get married, and explore the hills and mountains of Colorado with my dad. As beautiful as Indiana is (no sarcasm in that statement), Colorado takes the cake for beauty. Having lived on the West Coast for a while - I love the mountains and everything that comes with them.

I know this post doesn't follow the purpose of this blog, but I wanted to share some pictures of the sites I saw. I hope you can revel in the glory of God's creation like I was able to on my trip.

(Gregory Canyon, Boulder)

(Mueller State Park)

(Mueller State Park)

(My favorite hike/view in all my Colorado travels)
Mueller State Park

(Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs)

(Mueller State Park)

"The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

"You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game." Psalm 76:4

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkey quench their thirst. The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work." Psalm 104:10-13

Pride.....in a good way

I wish I was more disciplined at blogging. Ideas constantly run through my head on what to write, but I do not take the time to sit down and put them into words (which is hard enough for me anyway). So, I apologize, once again, that it's been a while since my last post.

This morning I was reading in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 about Paul's love of the Thessalonians and his joy in their faith. As I read through this chapter, I hear a leader exuding extreme joy for the people he has poured his heart and life into. He has literally poured his life since he wrote the letter after being torn away from the people through trials.

I reflect just a portion of Paul's emotions here when I think about the ministries and the people I have poured my life and heart into.

"Timothy...has brought good news about your faith and love." (vs. 6)
"in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith." (vs.7)
"For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord." (vs. 8)
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." (vs. 12)

Let me share a recent example of this:

Two very dear friends of mine from church, they are sisters -one graduated a few years ago and the other is still in high school - are going on a mission trip to Haiti in just a few short weeks. They both had been working extremely hard to raise funds for this trip, but money was still short. $700 short to be exact. The day before the rest of their money was due, someone made an announcement at the high school youth group bible study that these sisters needed money, which was due the next day. So, the youth group decided to take a collection for the two.

Remember, these are high schoolers who have little or no money whatsoever. Within 15 minutes, every penny that was needed for the remainder of the trip had been collected and counted. Let me say that again, in 15 minutes - less than 80 high schoolers gave $700.

Seeing those students give of themselves to another person, maybe even someone they don't know, proud is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings. I do not take ownership of that youth group, but it is a group of people I poured 4 years of my life into and I cannot help but smile when I see how God is moving in that group of young people.

It is in moments like these that I remember how great our God is. He is no small being that can only do small things. He can and does bigger things than we can imagine.

Colossians 1:15-20