That's All, Folks

Four consecutive weeks of camp speaking in three states, now history.

But trusting the Lord to continue to honor His Word cast forth in faith...

And this blog comes to an end...

Just a few closing thoughts, some repetitious...

1) Camp is like R&R in Vietnam (and other combat areas)...campers come from the warzone of life 101 to a nibble of heaven, only to return to the warzone six or so days later...

2) A well meaning speaker/counselor can make camp a dangerous place by "pushing" for "decisions" without committing to making disciples. Midweek because of emotional and physical exhaustion any speaker could have any audience do just about anything. We must be careful that Spirit of God does the drawing, not us...

3) The most critical need at camp is good, trained, committed counselors. The worst speaker with good counselors can result in a great week; the best speaker with ill equipped or just doing it to do something counselors will be a disaster

4) Good food and plenty of it is vital.

5) Camp is not the place to learn new songs; maybe a couple, but at least the first meeting start out with songs most of the campers will know. A live worship facilitator or band is nice, and ideal; but
you can make other technology work. Better no live music than bad live music...

6) Allow adequate time for post-meeting counseling. Be willing to dump the rest of the schedule if it appears Spirit of God is moving

7) If you are having a "big" event after the evening "rally"..either move the rally earlier or dump it altogether.

There's more...but that'll go in the book.








you can make tapes

Almost Done

Tomorrow (Thursday) morning the camp here in Amherst, Colorado will come to an end.

And thus will end my four consecutive weeks of camp speaking (in Missouri, Wisconsin, and Colorado) and I will head home.

Yeah, the voice is a bit tired, I'm a bit worn, but it has been a fantastic time. The Lord has done wondrous things...some we take on faith, some, by His grace, we've seen, heard, and read.

In any case, His Word has been cast forth in faith; and will accomplish His purposes.

In all the camps we were blessed with great food, great counselors, great staff, and, really, pretty awesome weather.

I shall probably write a couple more posts...will be home for a few weeks...doing "normal" work...catching up on incoming mail, etc; writing thank yous; and...let's see...there was something else???

Oh, yeah, officiating my daughter's wedding on July 25! Jane has been working crazily on preparations (we are having the service at our home..outside...please pray for great weather). Still a ton to do...grateful I'll be home to help.

Then in early August Jacob and I will head east, first for my annual "Korean Kamp" and then a couple days of playing tourist in New York City before doing a short camp with an inner city church just across the river in New Jersey.

Then summer...yet another summer...will be over.

Thanks for traveling with....

Transitioning to Week Four

Overnighting in Des Moines enroute to my fourth and last consecutive week of camp for this journey.


The first week in Pol, Mo (Midland's SuperC) seems so very long ago. Glad I am still having "conversations" (facebook, email, and text) with several campers.


The two weeks at Crescent Lake Bible Camp (Rhinelander, Wi) evaporated too quickly..it is, for several reasons, my favorite camp...first time I spoke there was at a winter retreat in 1980 or so...


And now to Camp Machasay on the Colorado/Nebraska line...a small camp with a great staff, directed by one of my dearest friends.


Anything new these first three weeks?


Not really, although there was much discussion...and arguing...about homosexuality in light of the "supreme" courts decision on gay "marriage."


As I told the teens and counselors, Christians can certainly disagree about the whole gay "marriage" thing (for instance, when I think of the millions if not billions of dollars spent by Christians fighting this fight I grimace...fighting spiritual battles with man's weapons hasn't worked since Peter drew the sword and proved yes, he was impulsive and also that he was a lousy swordsman). That money could have been used to fight trafficking, poverty, hunger, etc, but instead as flushed down a non-winnable drain (and, frankly, I don't care about "gay rights" until they infringe on mine).


But the act is sin. Just as is premarital, extramarital, sex with a dog etc.


Did a (written) question answer session with about 45 senior high teens. Three of the questions were variations of, "How can it be sin if they were born that way?" Two wondered what I thought of transsexuals.


They, like all too many adults, are learning much from media and little from the Bible...and, as one teen told me, "My parents never talk about this stuff, and my youth pastor never does either...when I ask him he tells me to ask my parents."


I know that in all too many churches a youth pastor who approaches the topic of sex in any fashion may well be run out of town on a rail.


And that disgusts.


So there is not much "new." Same old stuff. Lots of teens from "good" churches who are Biblically illiterate. Thankfully...so thankfully..there are exceptions.


So we press on in our narrow mindedness.