It's Over

The first community outreach camp between Vaughn Chapel & Northridge has finished. We fed the families tonight and had a closing program to encourage them and hand out school supplies. There is no doubt that we were able to have a positive impact, even in the short week that we shared together. We saw the fruit of our labors in the retention of the campers and the enthusiasm they brought back home with them. I can't begin to describe the satisfaction that I feel from our endeavors and months of planning together. The time that was served in the trenches with both churches has forged a bond of friendship & kinship that will only help to transform our community. I am grateful for the leadership that is willing to be obedient to God's vision for His Church. The rewards have only begun to be realized, but this investment will have a return that we won't fully realize this side of eternity.

End of a Day

It's the end of the first full day at Camp Kaleo and the daily tiredness is starting to set in (for campers & for staff.) It has been a challenging day in some ways, but rewarding in so many others. I don't know that words can accurately express all that I was able to take part in, but it will certainly do for now.

• Watching campers & staffer alike joining in motions to new songs with enthusiasm
• Lots of laughter at a full camp game game of wiffle ball
• Campers begging to get back in the pool because they never get to swim like this at home
• Learning that a young camper bought her first bathing suit for this trip for the same reason
• Getting to watch our staff love on these children in so many situations
• Giving big shouts of encouragement as they hit the target shooting bows & arrows
• A young man (who likes to test boundaries) sitting with me at dinner and having a great conversation
• The same young man hearing the adults at his table talk about the good dinner rolls & going to get another one for them to share
• Sharing the truth that we are sons & daughters of the King and praying it takes root even if we won't necessarily see the immediate impact

Round 2

I am entering into another week of the "Rescue Is Coming" theme this summer as we partner with Vaughn Chapel Baptist to host camp for kids in Milledgeville. This is a unique venture for all of us and has already presented nechallenges as we get acclimated to a new environment. We have already broken down some barriers with our campers (faster than expected) and are starting to see some opportunities to share Christ. I am humbled to serve with such a great staff from both churches & look forward to the relationships we will build with each other from this time in the mission field.

Camp Reflections

I have just completed my 9th year of leading middle school camp and I can safely say it was another successful venture. I wrote about each day's theme, but I am also thankful for many other things that were part of our camp experience:

• Committed & passionate volunteer staff giving up vacations, time with families, sleep, & quiet to make a difference
• A lead pastor who is also passionate about camp & understands the level of work that goes into making it happen
• Serving with adults who were once part of my youth ministry in Florida
• Being able to dance & act ridiculously goofy to build bridges of trust with campers
• Camp baptisms
• Working with full-time missionaries on the camp staff--they do this all year long
• Over $1200 in missions offering being given to help feed people in Haiti
• Insane amounts of laughter with good friends
• Another year of camp with my daughters
• Seeing recognition in camper's eyes when they hear they are sons & daughters of the King
• Watching God work in the hearts of adult volunteers even as they serve
• People who donate vehicles, equipment, time, and finances to make the trip a success
• Object lessons that cement the point of a message & work exactly as you hoped
• Loud worship music
• The willingness of someone to step in at the last minute to be part of the camp staff
• Early morning coffee & quiet time before the hectic day begins
• The chance to speak God's truth to over 130 campers & staff-Rescue is Coming!

Do Something

God seeks to rescue us because of His great compassionate love for His people. His desire is to see us freed from the chains of a sinful life so that we can fulfill our life's purpose. He is pursuing us to restore us to a right relationship with Him, but also to rescue others. It's what we do when we are passionate about sharing what we have experienced.

True life transformation will ignite an unstoppable desire to help rescue those close to us. It is a natural result of the grace we have been given from God and will flow out of us more as we understand how it is our life's work. We are the arrows that point to the solution that God offers.

The Greatest Need

We seek rescue from a variety of things but they are really only reflections of our need for salvation. We are doing ourselves a disservice when we refuse to focus on this ultimate rescue. Our energy is focused on solving symptoms of a problem instead of addressing the root cause. The sin that so easily entangles us will inflict damage that is reflected in our relationships, self-esteem, and purpose. It can be so painful that we forget the underlying issue-the distance we have created between us and God as a result of our rebellion. Without recognizing that this is the problem we will lose sight of the bigger truth we should be seeking.

How great is it that God was willing to come down here to offer that solution to us? It reflects the true nature of a compassionate rescuer that is willing to do what it takes to completely rescue His people from sin. Being saved now depends on our humble acceptance of what is offered.

Rescue Me From Me

Sometimes the greatest enemy we face is ourselves and the lies that we believe. We have convinced ourselves that what has been done to us defines us. We buy into the false principle that what we have done means that God doesn't love us. It is a defeating misconception that our past sins, mistakes, and life history decrease our value. This can be one of the greatest areas of rescue because this particular one prevents us from seeing the love that God has for us. It becomes a perpetual cycle of falsehood that inhibits acceptance of our position as sons and daughters of the King.

He is ready to rescue us-even from ourselves. It's our acceptance of His ability and willingness to save us that begins our process of redemption. How comforting is it to know that God is waiting to remind us that we are His workmanship by freeing us from these lies that weigh so heavy on us.

In Temptation

We seek rescue from the things that tempt us and God tells us that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. The reason we succumb to it isn't because of the pressures of outside influences however, but because of our lack of self-control. God doesn't want us to choose to follow that path and will provide ways out. When we choose not to take that escape route but instead make another decision along the wrong road, our options become limited. God is still going to offer a way out for us, but instead of having a garage door to walk out of now we find ourselves crawling out a window to get away.

Our rescue comes in the middle of our temptation, but we have to be willing to take it. A nasty path of regret awaits us if we don't claim the way out God offers.

Recognizing the Need

There is no need or desire to seek God if we are convinced that our lives are fine the way they are. We can choose to ignore our sickness or make excuses for why we don't seek God's healing, but neither one will deliver rescue.

While God is more than capable of intervening, He is waiting for us to stop the excuses and decide we need His help. It's in the recognition of that need for complete rescue that our vulnerability is genuine. The moment we decide we want to get well is the moment God steps in to rescue His people. This is where our journey begins.