B.O.W. Award of the Week!
This is such an honor! Thanks to Assembly of God Blogs for being such a blessing and to Aaron (Iron Sharpens Iron) for the nomination!
One of the earmarks of summer is upon us today... Kids Camp. We gleefully sent two of our kids off to the Lake of the Ozarks this morning. They were so excited last night that they could hardly sleep!
We normally pay for kids camp near the beginning of the year, so they have had almost six months of anticipation. When the month of camp hits, it becomes a daily topic full of stories from past camps. The closer it gets, the more they talk about it - everything is about camp.
My prayer is that it will be everything and then some that they expected it to be... and a few unexpected surprises! Celeste said last week, "Camp goes by so fast when you're there. Before you know it you're leaving with a heart full of memories."
For me, all the talk about camp makes me re-visit the important events that have shaped MY Christian walk. I'm sure you have those special times in your life, too. I realized...
Very few things in life can be earmarked as life changing spiritual events!
Camp IS one of those times (if you go). In fact, camp can be considered a pivotal turning point in some kid's lives!
The services in the tabernacle and times around the altar in prayer can be powerful! There's something about being saturated in the things of God for an entire week- uninterrupted by the outside world or secular influence. I've often wondered myself why weekly church services aren't more like camp... and could they possibly be? Why can't we have that camp "spirit" all the time? What makes the experience so different? That got me to thinking...
SOME LESSONS FROM CAMP WE CAN ALL LEARN:
1.) Anticipation and expectation. When was the last time you got all 'pumped up' for your church service? I'm NOT talking about emotionalism, but where is the fervor and zeal? Do we look forward to every time we get to spend in the house of the Lord or in our quiet time together with Him? Do we expect to feel God's presence or witness evidences that He is with us?
2.) Growing. So many times at camp, you receive a revelation about the Word of God or how it can relate to your life personally. The Word becomes real and meaningful, life shaping and changing. As we get older, we sometimes cease to learn and grow continually in the things of the Lord. We get stuck on our plateau of comfort. We think we've heard it all...several times over. May we get back to a place where our spirits are open to receive revelation and understanding, power and discernment from the Holy Spirit. We need to be continually growing.
3.) Baggage & Housing. You can't take a bunch of baggage with you to camp. You only take what you need. You also realize that you won't be at camp long. What a message! We older Christians need to learn to get rid of some of our 'baggage'! Our experiences in life would be so much better if we weren't weighed down.
We also need to realize that our physical housing is only temporary. We only have so long to stay in our 'tent'! We need to make the most of every opportunity. It also reminds us not to be materialistic and store treasures here on earth!
4.) Corporate Worship. Kids don't really care if they are impressing any one or not when they are worshiping the Lord. Kids tend to include everybody - without bias. Everyone at camp seems to worship and "get into it". At camp, you're a group.
They raise their hands, sing, pray for one another at the altar, move in the Spirit... and that's the NORM! There are no walls inhibiting them from completely engaging in fellowship. They praise the Lord until someone tells them it's time to stop and go to bed - otherwise they would keep on going!
How often do we in "adult services" have trouble engaging everyone in worship or paying attention to the message? Better yet, when service should be over, people begin eye-balling their watches and giving their pastor the "look". Ahem. Yeah.
5.) Getting Involved. At camp, everyone has to pitch in. That's part of the privilege of being at camp.
How often do we view our church attendance as a privilege?
Most churches are lucky to have enough volunteers to amount to anything! Ninety percent of the work is done by 5-10% of the people. Everything else falls on your pastor!
Also at camp, kids engage in the activities that interest them. They don't need to be told they have a "special gifting" in something in order to do it or contemplate their "talent" to feel qualified. They don't avoid getting involved because they aren't the "best". Wouldn't there be a lot more involvement in our churches if everyone really felt like they were on equal ground? There's a lot of favoritism that creeps in - which can lead to clicks and divisions. Where did we get away from the fact that everyone is special to God and we're all equal in His eyes?
Even though we're all 'grown up', I think we could all benefit from these and other lessons from camp! I'm sure you have thought of several more. I'll leave this section with this passage:
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." Mark 10:14-16
Fun-day Monday
Caption This: "Get your goggles on, he's ready to blow!"
