Lasting Fruit?

Apparently 12 campers made public their professions of faith yesterday as SuperC Camp (week one) wrapped up yesterday.

The Spirit of God does the counting that counts, but these teens stood up in front of their peers to acknowledge their commitment, so we are cautiously trusting that the Lord genuinely brought them to repentance and faith.

I saw a couple of them at the Matthew West last night. Parenthetically, this was the best ministry/concert I've ever seen...it was a small crowd, but West poured it on with a mixture of raw energy, penetrating lyrics, great music (for me), spots of hilarity, and..most important...genuine ministry.

Too many concerts (like too many "church" services, are entertainment only. As far as concerts go, I have no problem with that, as long as the artists don't identify it as "ministry." Obviously a church service should be a whole lot more than "entertainment," but that's a topic for another discussion.

As potentially dangerous as the internet is, it serves and has served as a great ministry tool.

I left St Joseph around 11 last night, drove a few hours, napped for a half hour, drove a couple more, napped, etc...got here around 1pm in time for counselor meeting. Campers have been arriving all day here at Crescent Lake Bible Camp in Rhinelander, Wi. This is a junior high week; followed by a senior high week at which I'll also preach. CLBC is by far my favorite camp, for many reasons...

But during the drive up I was not able to check the net, so when I had a moment here I went on line to discover 14 "friend" requests from campers as well as several private messages thanking me as well as asking for ideas on Bible reading plans, how to interact with unsaved parents, etc.

So I thank God for the internet even as I pray He protects people from inadvertently stumbling across junk.

As an aside, one thing that gets me in trouble occurs when I tell teens and/or parents that it is idiotic to allow a teen to have a cabled tv or computer with internet access in their bedroom. "Oh, but I trust my son, Jack." With due respect, you are an idiot. It is not a "teen" thing, I don't have a computer in a private room; my office door has a window in it, our computer at home is in a public place. Can't fix stupid...

I'm rambling a bit...I shall continue posting for the next three weeks of camp ministry. May even continue it into August trip to PA and NJ (all Korean Kamp and an inner city camp).

Questions? Arguments? Fire away...it's how we grow...

The Last Night - and a Commentary on the Invitation "System"

Friday evening was the final full session with the campers of SuperC week number one.

Friday we had to send a camper home because of violation of tobacco standards and another issue. It is always difficult to make that decision, but "a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" and sometimes discipline must be enacted for the sake of the rest (a lesson churches need to relearn, by the way).

Of course by this time of the week campers are exhausted, and easily "moved". So I pray even more that not one person would make a "decision" if not provoked by God's Spirit rather than me, peer pressure, or raw emotions.

I'm not a big believer in the stereotypical "invitation" system. I made the mistake of reading the gospels; and noted that Jesus always made it easier to say "no" than to say "yes."

I can't see him ...or his preachers for the first 1900 years of His church...doing a stereotypical "heads bowed, eyes closed, is there one of you who would say, "preacher, pray for me"..." stuff.

Seems silly for us to so do (though it is the "method" I was taught in Bible school). On the one hand youth workers worth the title "minister of the gospel" want their teens to stand up and stand out from the crowd, to unashamedly proclaim Christ etc...yet we start them out with "eyes closed, no one looking around" secrecy? Dumb.

It is helpful to study the invitation "system" and realize what a newcomer it is to the church.

Is it always bad?

No. 

But it is always bad if we think our cleverly constructed invitation ("Jack, you need to ask them questions early on in your message and ask them to raise their hands for various reasons so they get used to raising their hands, then it will be easier for them when you get to the actual invitation" - yes, I have truly received "counsel" like that!) is helping God out.

"No one comes to the Son except the Father draws him."

Perhaps we should let the Bible say what it says?

Tonight I preached Luke 14.25ff, wherein Jesus says that it is IMPOSSIBLE to be His disciple without a:

• heart that loves
• life that dies
• hands that let go

As I walked to the platform God prompted me to open with Psalm 22; to remind the teens of the horrific price Jesus paid that we might be forgiven. Emotional? Yes...but not manipulative. The teens were tired, maxed out, drifting, and I begged God's Spirit to use His Word to impact the teens with the fact that "He who knew no sin became sin for us" and that "in my place He stood condemned."

At the conclusion of the message I opened the "altar" and said something like, "If you have business to do with the Lord there is no better place than here and no better time than now. (campers were looking at me; no "heads bowed, eyes closed") You can pray right where you sit, but there's something about humbling yourself, something about making a public stand, and here is your opportunity."

Several teens responded; and their counselors prayed with and for them.

I spoke with some afterward and asked them to keep me informed how it was going so I could pray specifically.

I'd ask you to pray also...that these young men and women would commit to 2 Peter 3.18, "Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

And may we do likewise.

Why Not Talk About What They Want To Talk About?

Most of the camps at which I speak allow me to have one session where I respond to questions posed by the campers, counselors, and staff.

This evening I'll open a box in which written questions have been placed and prayerfully, honestly, and directly respond.

It is probable I will say "I don't know" a lot.

I am sure I will say, "This is my opinion.." quite a bit.

I am also grateful that I'll be able to say "Thus says the Lord..." in response to most of the questions.

Because I have a piece of paper on the wall that says I be a "reverend"? Nope. Because of my (formal) education? Partially. Because I've been called to preach? Nope.

But because, by His grace, I study to show myself approved; I recognize that the more I know the more I know I don't know  a whole lot...

And I recognize the truth of Deut 29.29.

So why do it?

Tonight is SuperC camps "big event" (Mission Impossible) Most of the teens are really anticipating this great time and it is a tad hard to focus.

So why not talk about what they want to talk about?

Why don't we do this more often? Do we fear a controversial question? Truth be told, maybe some of us have a hard time saying "I don't know."

Since I know I don't know much, it's cool.

The Message I "Hate" To Preach...but must

I love preaching forgiveness; I love preaching of the beauty of Christ and the gospel, I love preaching God's standards for a variety of things; I hate preaching to teens about sex...but that's what I'm about to do...

"hate" is not really the word, dislike because of the age and relative innocence of some of the campers; anger because in any crowd I am sadly confident there will be victims of abuse who think they need forgiveness; aware that in any crowd (of any age) there will be those who profess Christ and at the very same time think it is okay to engage in pre/extra/homosexual sex...

My hope is built in nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; and a sanctified awareness that He has called me to this; I've studied and prepared as best I can, and begged His Spirit to control my mouth and grant me grace to speak as He gives the campers...and staff...the grace to hear. 

I'll be speaking in less than an hour; prayers longed for and appreciated

What? Talking about the Bible at Bible Camp?

Last night I was directed by Spirit of God to use my chapel time to basically teach a class on "The Authority of Scripture."

My first point was "It is logically inconsistent to 'believe in Jesus' and deny the authority of the (entire) Word of God."

Basic?

Yeah.

And all too often forgotten/overlooked/ignored.

Perhaps we king-james-donkey-sume that all campers understand that the Bible is the inspired Word.

You know what happens when you assume...

It's like camp games...how much energy is spent on coming up with some "new" game that we think will capture the campers? I am not against creativity (I'm jealous of those creative types); but usually the campers delight in the "old" stuff...because to them it is not old; it's old to us because, well, we're old(er).

Same same topics to be discussed. We think we need "new" stuff; they need to be reminded (and in many cases told for the first time) the "basic" stuff.

"But you preached that message last year, Jack!"

Could well be...but if I pray seeking God's direction on what to preach, and He leads me that way, that is the way I roll. Besides, even if all the campers have been with me before (about 80percent of this weeks campers are retreads); they don't remember..and even if they do, they need the reminder. (Peter says that a couple times in his epistles, "I'm gonna tell you this although you know it...") 

Why? We leak; and there is that thing about the secret of repeated impression.

Yes, I preach new messages as part of my assignments, but it is not lazy or "force of habit" to repreach many messages (tweaked along the way).

And, God knows, most teens...like most adults...need to work on the foundation of their faith even as they strive to "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."( 2 Peter 3.18)

Remember this song? It remains true...oh, by the way, this song came out in 1992 (what ever happened to 4Him?)
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Our Times Are In His Hands - Prayers Requested TODAY

Megan Robie was a camper at Penn York Bible Camp last summer. Corning (NY) Area Bible Club has hosted two weeks of camp there for decades. I was the camp speaker that week (as I have been every other year or so for many years)

Megan's Mom was, as I remember, the camp nurse. I definitely remember she always had GREAT coffee early in the morning, causing many early visits by me.

Megan died last week. From what I know at this point...which is very little...she died from complications from a "routine" surgery.

Shocking. Sad. Heartbreaking.

But not a shock to God.

He is either sovereign in the affairs of man, or He is not.

And if He is not sovereign He is not much of a God. 

Obviously I don't "get" it.

But I do "get" that I can pray.

And I have been and am praying especially today as her funeral will take place at 7:00 eastern this evening.

Would you pray with me? Pray comfort for the family and friends who are believers; pray for those attending the funeral who are outside the family of God. I know the pastor who is officiating; I am confident the gospel will be proclaimed.

Pray with me that God would open hearts and minds tonight...that the Spirit would honor the proclaimed Word and draw teens and adults out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The prison mantra is simply: God is good; all the time; and all the time, God is good.

All the time.

All.

And I am thrilled that in our grief we can confidently look forward to seeing her again.

Day One...Done...Or Is It?

Two sermons preached, some significant conversations, campers are in bed.

Day one of SuperC camp is done.

No, it is not.

God's Word was cast forth in faith, it will accomplish much...some of its accomplishment we've seen, most we have not and may never.


We walk/live/preach by faith, not by sight.

It was and is neat to see God in action.

But "success" is not measured in "numbers," or "decisions," or response to "altar calls," or, in my case, the usual absence of "altar calls."

In fact, spiritual success can not be measured.

Our job is to be faithful in the tasks He has provided for us to accomplish.

His "job" is to add His blessing, His Spirit, to accomplish His will.

Amazingly...stunningly...we get to be involved.

Amazing. Stunning. So blessed to be able to do what I am able to do.

"Not unto us, not unto us..."