It's the final countdown...

It's official.

Mike can go to camp. The playlists have been made ("There will be no Christian music at our camp."-- Adam). My chacos are on their way... In fairness, I'm sure we are still missing some paperwork and I still haven't talked to Scott yet about what we are speaking on (that would be helpful)... but the time is quickly approaching that we will stick 90 students on two buses and haul them to Coker Creek, Tennessee.

I'm pretty excited. God has already done so many incredible things with regards to camp thus far, I trust Him not to disappoint.

I mean, if nothing else I get to go whitewater rafting, eh?

Jesus, I thank you for all of the great things you have let me do with these students this summer. I can't believe it's coming to a close. I have watched you do amazing things, I know it's just the beginning. So Lord, I ask you to blow my mind next week. You who are capable of more than I could ever ask or imagine, bring it. Rain down your presence, that all who are there may walk away changed. You're so awesome. I love you. AMEN

My summer with the youth is basically over. I led my final TPX last Wednesday (thank goodness we played cow tongue football). I'm so sad to watch it go. This is what I know, TPX does not change lives. Camp does not change lives. Only Christ can change students, and He can do that any way He pleases. I don't know why He chooses me.

I have learned so much. I have so much more to learn. I can't wait to bring back the incredible stories of camp.

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Comercialized Christianity

Took the TPX-ers to a gianormous concert at WOF, headlining David Crowder Band and Mercy Me.

Good things:
1) I had lots of fun hanging out with all my other volunteers.
2) "John" see previous post made a comment about how we are the only people who would bring him back to WOF. Made my heart smile. :)
3) David Crowder was really good live. I'm really glad I got to see him.
4) Rousing games of spot the mullet and/or fanny pack.
5) My sweet action "I Fed One" t-shirt... I got a shirt and fed 100 people for $15. It's a sweet organization... CHECK THEM OUT.

Bad things:
1) So many christian t-shirts.
2) LONG lines. (I don't think I've ever seen this many people at WOF)
3) Not gonna lie, my feet hurt like a MUG right about now.
4) $7, burnt, bad-tasting pizza. :(

The night left me thinking... Christian concerts are always at least slightly awkward because no one knows whether to worship or party (I generally choose both). Overall, the event left a bad taste in my mouth, I think in part due to my own cynicism, but also because I couldn't help but notice how commercialized everything was. I couldn't help but note the irony, that my shirt that fed 100 people cost $15, then my pretzel with cheese cost $4.

James said, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." I wonder if now it would read something to the effect of "Show me your faith on your t-shirt, and I will show you my faith by what I do." I wonder if we substitute Christian shirts for Christian lifestyles, and huge worship events for service. Someone asked, "Why do we come to these events?" My first thought? "Because it's easier that loving kindness, doing justice, and walking humbly with God." Something just seems wrong when I watch someone pray for God to receive all the glory while they are in a spotlight.

So my question is, would people know you were a Christian if you never wore a t-shirt that said so? How many of those shirts with the dorky Christian logos were made by slaves? (Cotton is one of the number one slave exports.) If all of those people at Heartfest found one ministry to volunteer with, how different would KC look?

In fairness, I'm not a huge Mercy Me fan. But I wonder if Jesus would take our merch tables and flip them over, asking why we are selling things instead of praying.

Adam brought up an excellent point. One Way Caravan is playing worship at our camp in one week. I really like them and I want to support their ministry. They are going to want to set up a merch table. But I am not ok with, "Hey, we just worshiped and so if you like what you heard, come buy our cd." In fairness, we are paying them and supporting their ministry in that way. How do we deal with that? I'll let you know the outcome.

Oh, for those of you who think I especially attack Christian t-shirts... it's true, I'm not a fan. Why? Because my parents hate them. Anything that turns my parents off Christianity immediately receives strikes that will be very hard to earn back in my book. Here are some acceptable christian shirts: 1) you received it at an event, 2) it only has a bible verse on it... oh, wait, that's about all I can think of. Unacceptable t-shirts include 1) anything that took something not originally about Jesus and made it about Jesus, 2) anything hugely obnoxious (aka, covered in flames or Jesus face huge on the back), 3) anything that talks about Hell. Why the last one? The only people Jesus talked to about Hell were the people who were really good at church. Glad I could keep you all up to date on acceptable Jesus-wear.

James 2:17- In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
If you can not feed 100 people, just feed one. - Momma T

Kids say the darndest things...

This week, there was no TPX due to VBS. Because our church is awesome and run by volunteers, we have VBS from 6-8:45 pm Sunday - Thursday...

At the beginning, my intentions were to have very little to do with VBS, maybe wrangling the TPX volunteers... however, I've learned that as an intern, one can go into very little expecting to do nothing. "Can you be a teacher?" Sure. "Can you come and help decorate?" Sure. "My high schoolers didn't show up, can you MC?" Sure. So not only was I teaching 8 and 9 year olds but I also spent some time wearing an inter tube making a fool out of myself on stage. As if anyone could ever doubt that I was not supposed to go into ministry...

I'm sure, that anyone else out there in church land has also experienced the wonder that is Lifeway's "Outrigger Island." Here's a favorite story from my adventures...

After giving my kids the "A B C" sailboat (you know, the standard VBS take home that discusses becoming a Christian) one comes up to me and says:

-Admit to God you're a sinner, what does that mean?
-Well, it means that you tell God that sometimes you do bad things.
-I don't do any bad things.
-You've never done anything bad in your whole life?
-*pauses for thought* No.
-You've never lied?
-Well, sometimes I say something that's not true but I say just kidding.
-You've never not cleaned your room when your mom told you to?
-No. I always do it.
-Right away?
-Well sometimes I wait a couple minutes if my show is almost over, but then I do it!
-Ok. Well, you think about it and come back to me.
THE NEXT DAY
-When I was a baby, I said cuss words, but I didn't know they were bad, so I prayed to God for forgiveness.
-Ok, good.

Shall we say 2nd and 3rd graders are not my calling? I think we shall. This was, of course, the same girl who said "My mom had me when she was 18. Don't say oh my gosh!" Hahaha. Kids-- they're so cute. Unfortunately, I will miss the last day of VBS due to work... bummer.

In other news, I met with Joey this morning and we discussed prayer. More than anything, it made me miss the good ol' days of youthfront summers past with morning prayer, midday, and compline. We discussed the difference between prayer and prayerfulness. Prayer is not only something we say to God and then check off a list, prayer is engaging God in all of our thoughts and actions. Thus Paul's command to "pray without ceasing" becomes much more than "pray a lot" or worse, something impossible. Instead, we must engage in a prayerful lifestyle...

It's good good.

Worlds of Fun on Saturday to see David Crowder and Mercy Me. It's gonna be awesome. Furthermore, I'm excited about camp. Only 5 weeks from today I will be back at OBU. Crazy.

May God give you opportunity to serve Him super-abundantly.

We minister to people, not to ideas.

Yesterday in my meeting with Mike and Joey, one thing we talked about is that we minister to people, not just ideas. If you haven't met someone, how can you know how to minister to them?

Just some food for thought.

One of my students-- we'll call him John-- is a trouble maker. In my heart, I know that he is a good kid... he just likes to impress his friends. So last year, we went to Worlds of Fun for a day with the youth. And John, oh John, did something stupid and got himself arrested. The funny thing is he had two accomplices and if they had all run away as originally planned, they wouldn't have gotten caught. But, John felt bad and went back to the scene of the crime, because he just didn't know what else to do.

So Mike tells me this story about last year at WOF (after I have planned a WOF event for this year, mind you) and my only thought is: so why on EARTH would we take them there again??

But, then on Wednesday, I had the students break into small groups and then they each had to teach the large group about what they talked about. The high school boys were talking about John the Baptist doubting that Jesus was the messiah after he got put in jail. I watched 4 of them trying to explain to the other students what they had learned. And finally, John says, "You know, someone told me, it's not always going to be easy, but it's going to be worth it. Jesus knows what he's doing, and that's what always gets me through."

I'm sure, my mouth was gaping wide open at that point. You see, John is not just a trouble-maker. He is a student who needs guidance, and needs to be told that he has a lot to offer. He does have a lot to offer.

So some would question my bringing him back to WOF. I would do it every time.

I pray that you may see what I've seen-- Jesus in the eyes of someone you least expect.

Isaiah 55:10-11

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, nd furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

Today was a day for revelation. Though, I suppose, that would be the point behind meeting Amy V for breakfast.

Long story short: I am learning that as someone in ministry, I'm not always going to be "on" in the Spirit-led sense. But you know what, I still have to go minister. Yes, that makes it harder. But, if I'm not receiving truth from God, then I just have to trust that if I teach truth from His word, it will not return void, but will accomplish what He desires... and I need to prepare a lot more.

That said, I'm way pumped for TPX tonight. Only 3 teaching weeks left!

May your heart delight in love and the truth.

Merry Independence Day!

It's funny how life comes at you in waves.

I've done so little this week I feel desperate to leave my house. Not only that, but TPX was a little bit of a bust because we meet outside and on Wednesday butt heads with hurricane Missouri. It was funny to watch all of us huddled together in th middle of the park shelter listening to Mike say, "This is what memories are made of!" And I admit, even though we were all drenched no matter where we were standing (thank you, Mr. Wind) I supposed that the students needed to bond more than they needed to hear about callings. Ok, God. I trust You in that.

But, on the upside, one of my girls who I haven't seen in probably almost 2 years, who I spent a lot of time with in high school, came by TPX. Sure, it was only for 15 minutes, but it was good. So maybe, whatever she was doing needed to get rained on to get her to come by. I don't know. But I hope she comes to camp or something. Sigh.

If you would like to pray for me, I could use a good helping of faithfulness and discernment.

-May the peace of Christ be with you... and please don't set anyone on fire today.