tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55273358358653552502023-11-16T07:54:28.722-06:00From Password to Angelsa Camp Phillip blogjoelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-44004987785049887842013-01-04T15:46:00.000-06:002013-01-04T15:46:46.256-06:00The Hug After<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I watched Judah (my three-year-old) and Lucy (my
five-year-old) go through the "I'm sorry..." and "I forgive
you," routine recently. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They both stood there, stubbornly not wanting to even look
into each other’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
unfortunate, but true. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neither of them wanted to give in.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They needed a push.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lucy
say, I’m sorry.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I’m sorry, Judah.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Judah, say, I forgive you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I forgive you Lucy.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“and I love you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I love you Lucy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Now hug.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hug after is so important. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is contact, and connection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stops us from thinking about ourselves and
our excuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It stops us from thinking
about how much we deserved that apology.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And for my kids, the hug after is long enough if it returns
them to giggles, and possibly they fall over laughing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-mymme9CeiEHeSxGU1vXPa60LsIMnN_tehyphenhyphenq7iPJo5Bpn-05T0vE1_sdBiDkepTQ2KXwJ7BnW5LtEOKdbBXdZSKbeUQ4B_0HNHDb4YfcQTu3gRkf70ThPizlGRY52bdY7vsVA04E1hfn/s1600/2012-02-05+14.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-mymme9CeiEHeSxGU1vXPa60LsIMnN_tehyphenhyphenq7iPJo5Bpn-05T0vE1_sdBiDkepTQ2KXwJ7BnW5LtEOKdbBXdZSKbeUQ4B_0HNHDb4YfcQTu3gRkf70ThPizlGRY52bdY7vsVA04E1hfn/s320/2012-02-05+14.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can probably think of a time when someone— a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>parent,
teacher, or principal— made you apologize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It might not have been the most authentic of apologies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Was it better for you to have been pushed into a resolution
at that age than to not have one at all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Now we’re not five-year-olds, but you and I stand there with
people, </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>unable to look them in the eye, refusing to give in.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you think of someone who has done something to you that
you would have a hard time forgiving them for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or can you think of someone that you would have a hard time apologizing
to, maybe because it would be hard to admit your fault, or maybe because you
are stubbornly pretending it wasn’t really your fault?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But we make a mistake if we stand there stubbornly, refusing
to face the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are wrong if we
suffer heroically, imagining that ignoring the problem will make it better. We
talk about forgive and forget, but sometimes we don’t do either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just let it fester.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And we rationalize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It seems that since we can’t actually undo what has been done, we should
just try to forget about it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our sinful
nature, and our enemy the liar would be happy if we suffered, imagining that
that is the only solution.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now God agrees that there isn’t anything we can do to take
it back, or fix it or undo it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes
that very clear in Hebrews 10, among other places.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Law, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can never, by the same sacrifices repeated
endlessly make perfect, those who draw near to worship</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. - Hebrews 10:1</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Can you imagine if you had to keep apologizing over and over
and over for every sin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That system just
couldn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could never be sorry
enough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You may have even tried before to sit in the pew and
apologize for everything that needs apologizing for, as if apologizing is what
removes the guilt.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But then Jesus shows up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And He says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Their sins and lawless acts I
will remember no more.”</i></b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And
where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-</i></b>Hebrews 10:17</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jesus shows up and does the thing that we are unable to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will forgive… and forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will love us enough that we don’t have to
think about our sin again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can
actually put the wrong things we have done behind us, and leave them behind us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And he opens his arms to give us the hug after.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Therefore</span>,
brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of
Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his
body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, <span style="background-color: yellow;">let </span><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">us draw near to God</span> with
a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">to cleanse us from a guilty
conscience</span> and having our bodies washed with pure water. <span style="background-color: yellow;">Let </span><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">us hold unswervingly to the hope</span>
we profess, <span style="background-color: yellow;">for he who promised is faithful.</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>-Hebrews 10:19-23</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hug after from God turns right into forgiving each other.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>We
only apologize and offer forgiveness because we have gone through that process
with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you have a festering relationship with someone, you
really can say you’re sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You really
can offer forgiveness, even though you’re not sure how they will respond, or
even though you can’t undo it. You know how God has responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Remembering the grace of God, we can take risks like that
because we know that he is holding us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not everyone will apologize when we confront them, and not every
problem we have will be resolved with a hug after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hug after is a part of the healing process, a part of
going forward into life with someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are times when we aren’t able to go forward with someone, or it
wouldn’t be safe or wise for us to trust someone again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it is important to offer forgiveness and ask for
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To skip that is to ignore the grace
and power and faithfulness of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I pray that you have just been reminded of the hug after
from Christ, and nudged to ask for or offer forgiveness to someone who needs a
hug.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<![endif]-->joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-39299958845796131882012-04-16T16:29:00.000-05:002012-04-17T11:16:11.304-05:00Retreat and Catch your Breath<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Each time I get ready for
another retreat, I ask myself the question, “Why are we here?” There are so many reasons to be at a
retreat. We come to get away, to grow
closer to our friends, to meet members of the opposite gender, to spend time
with our role models, and to have some Camp-Phillip-style ridiculous fun.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">We also come because we know
that a part of being a Christian is spending time with God. We aren’t always sure how, but we expect that
time away from our normal life will allow God to encourage our spirits, to give
us hope, and to rekindle our faith.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">God has used a time away to
prepare so many of his servants throughout history, and he does the same thing at
Camp Phillip. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is a pattern to the way
that he works during a retreat. The
retreat begins with excitement at arriving at a new place, and anticipation of
a new experience. Camp is fun, and new,
and exhilarating.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sometime later, in a devotion
or Bible study, or in a conversation with another Christian beside the fire,
the retreat cycle continues. God uses
his Word to show us something that we couldn’t see clearly at home. We arrived at Camp, like someone who has
gotten used to a bad smell. There are
things in our lives that we have grown accustomed to, but the time away helps
us get a whiff of the stench of our sin.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The new perspective helps us
shout with Paul, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“What a wretched man I
am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”</i> (Romans 7:24). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The next thing that happens
is that we get to take a deep breath of the freedom that comes through
forgiveness. God uses Scripture,
devotions, songs, and deep Christian friendships to give us a sweet taste of
the Gospel. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">So many of us in the Camp family
can proudly proclaim that God used Camp Phillip to introduce us to some of the
best friends we have known. I would even
go so far as to say that I didn’t learn what a good friend looked like until
Camp.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">God uses the retreat to give
us a breath of fresh air. He leaves that
taste in our mouths, and he teaches us how to avoid some of the pitfalls that
we had been stumbling into. God has
used the time to plant a seed of truth, and to nurture in us the new creation
he has made. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I pray you are able to join
us for a retreat. I pray the God gives
you many other opportunities to catch your breath. But even more, I ask that “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ
Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.”</i> -Romans
15:5-6</span></div>joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-87236332783909444422011-12-14T14:14:00.000-06:002011-12-19T14:28:07.452-06:00Four Bits of ThanksgivingI was at a church recently, and after offering some worship in the morning service, a mother walks up with her son. <i>"My son is looking for the basket to give to Camp Phillip. He just loves it there."</i><br />
<br />
After directing them to the ushers, I smile at the two quarters shining in the boy's hand as he makes sure to give his fifty cents to Camp before he heads off to Sunday School. All that is left is for me to offer a prayer of wonder and thanks to our God who has blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of his ministry to his kids.<br />
<br />
Recently, I have been so thankful and impressed with the generosity of the kids we serve. I have had the privilege of thanking a six year old PeeWee camper for passing on his Birthday money on to Camp. <i>"I already had so many great presents, and I wanted to give the money somewhere that God could really use it."</i><br />
<br />
Two different campers raised money for Camp using our cookie dough fundraiser, and then decided instead of keeping the money for themselves, they would allow us to put it into our campership program so that other kids could come to camp. It is simply great to be served by the children of God.<br />
<br />
We work hard here at Camp, and it can be easy to just keep working and not even to pay attention to all the ways that God is blessing us. But when I look around and pay attention to all the appreciation that is shown to us, and all the work that is done to support and encourage the ministry that happens here, I am speechless (except that I immediately journal about it).<br />
<br />
So many people are excited to gather with their friends for retreats and to share our songs at their churches. So many people make Camp a part of their plan to walk with Christ. But even more amazing is that so many people are thanking God for the work that is done here. What a blessing it is to be a part of his Body.<br />
<br />
This reminds me of Paul's encouragement to the Corinthians:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"This service that
you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also<b>
overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
</b>Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will
praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the
gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with
everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. <b>Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! </b></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
-2 Corinthians 9:12-15</div>
<br />
It is great to be moved by the small gifts given by children. Perhaps it is because I know that I could not possibly deserve such pure love, freely given. And God has made clear the punishment that i really do deserve. And in the middle of the sad reality my sinfulness, I think about the Gift that the Child of Christmas came to give. How blessed we are to have such hope in Christ! <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"You turned my wailing into dancing; </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Psalm 30:11-12<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thanks be to God for sending us a child that could give us an unfathomable gift. There isn't a way that we can even grasp the fullness of the love that God is and that he pours out on us. I pray that he helps me simply thank him like a boy with a couple quarters.</div>
</div>joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-87261400353304906942011-11-10T11:02:00.001-06:002011-11-11T14:21:27.574-06:00Everybody's It<br />
<b></b>At Camp Phillip, we really do believe in learning by playing. And there is a really important lesson that can be learned from this game:<br />
<br />
<i>Campers and staff are spread out inside the rectangle of cones. Everyone waits for the wacky codeword to signal the beginning of the game. As soon as the game begins, everyone is either tagging or tagged. People who are tagged run to the outside to watch the action, as the crowd inside gets smaller and smaller. </i><br />
<br />
<i>The game that started in chaos ends with a dramatic duel as the final two players each try to tag the other first. Rounds go by so quickly, that no one has to sit out for long. Soon, everyone is spreading out inside the cones again....</i><br />
<br />
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This is a familiar scene during a classic game that we play at Camp. It is called <b>Everybody’s It Tag.</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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It's simple, quick and fun. I have led the game enough times to notice some common strategies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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Some kids will cower in a corner, hoping no one comes near them. These kids don't have anywhere to run when someone comes toward them, so they get tagged first.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
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Other kids have a more Kamikaze approach. They run at other kids, hoping to catch them off guard. They don't often defend themselves that carefully, so after getting out a few other kids, they usually find themselves watching the final showdown from the sidelines.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxC79LzTSpTdalCBWGTdMhrRC4Sm964CWX5_zkJBszoXM6CQcukJU0jfqNrU8Z5C7MLcQ_MDr8vsuTB0EAEsBFxXrUN_a71Wna9z49dk2vlzKNKmgemaJEj_uYmvg1-I4BsMF02Xo7Bb1/s1600/karate+kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxC79LzTSpTdalCBWGTdMhrRC4Sm964CWX5_zkJBszoXM6CQcukJU0jfqNrU8Z5C7MLcQ_MDr8vsuTB0EAEsBFxXrUN_a71Wna9z49dk2vlzKNKmgemaJEj_uYmvg1-I4BsMF02Xo7Bb1/s320/karate+kid.jpg" width="320" /></a>Some kids look more like the Karate Kid. They get into a defensive stance, and stand in the middle, twisting and dodging as quickly as possible. Depending on their skills, these players sometimes do well. Their quick movements cause most other players to try to stay away from them.</div>
<br />
<br />
But, <span style="color: black;">time and time again, the strategy that keeps players in the game longer is forming an
alliance. These campers are already talking with each other during the rules explanation. They whisper and nod and gesture to each other, "I won't tag you if you don't tag me." When the game begins, they stand together.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: black;">So what can we learn from
this? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">You may already be making the connection that life is like that game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Sometimes we try to hide in the corner, hoping to stay out of everyone's way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">Sometimes we are like the kamikaze. We aren't as careful as we should be, and we end up in dangerous situations, unable to get ourselves out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">And sometimes we stand alone like the Karate Kid. We work as hard as we can, and do as much as we can. We say we don't want to be a burden on anyone, but we also take pride in being able to handle things on our own.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">But God has shown us a better way. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">There was a woman from Jericho named Rahab who had taken in two Israelite spies. She laid her life on the line by hiding them from the guards who came looking to kill them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">While Rahab is talking about her escape plan with the spies, these men give us a rallying cry very similar to the one that I hear campers whisper during outdoor sports:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><span style="color: black;"> </span>“Our lives for your lives!” </b>the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what
we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD
gives us the land.”</i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%202&version=NIV1984">-Joshua 2:14</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She is willing to risk her life for these men. And they promised by their blood that they would care for her. <span style="color: black;"> She joins the ranks of the heroes of faith
for this act. And after she is rescued from the city, she marries
an Israelite man and has a son named Boaz, who marries another famous
foreigner, Ruth. This puts her in the bloodline of the Savior. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">The reason that God chose to give her such an important role is demonstrated for us by the reason she helped the spies in the first place. She says:</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea
for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og,
the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely
destroyed.
When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed
because of you, <b>for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the
earth below.</b>"</i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joshua%202&version=NIV1984">-Joshua 2:10-11</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;">This is truly an example of someone coming to faith because they FEAR the Lord. She becomes part of the people of God, as God used his mighty wonders to bring her to faith. He led her to fear, love and trust in him above all things. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have not always done this. We often choose to walk a path that looks
like <b>MY life for ME. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thankfully Christ paid the price to save us from this
sin. What would have happened if he had
chosen to live for himself? We would
have no life. But his sacrifice allows his judgment to pass over us, just as it passed over Rahab and her family. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>"And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for
themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." </i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-2Corinthinas 5:15<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Just like Rahab, after we have seen the wonder of God's power, love, and salvation, we are joined together with other Christians, saying <b>"Our lives for Yours."</b> <br />
<br />
I wish I could attach a perfect picture of kids in an alliance, protecting and defending and supporting each other. <br />
<br />
I don't have that picture. But You and I can live that picture.<br />
<br />
Tag. You're it. Everybody's it.joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-62850233497849873312011-10-05T12:08:00.000-05:002011-10-05T12:56:00.875-05:00PigpenHow does it happen? Someone one day confidently says, "I will never do this thing." Then someday later, much more quickly than they ever imagined, they find themselves doing that thing.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
How often have you witnessed someone saying at one point in their journey, “I will never
do this thing.” (get drunk, have a sleepover with their boyfriend, marry someone who’s not a Christian, be a Bears fan, or whatever the thing is that
they will never do) How is it that they
end up doing the thing, and in many cases defending the thing and calling their
old claim ignorant or naïve?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever found yourself looking down at your life, and
realized that what you are doing is something that you would have never
imagined yourself doing before? Have you
ever seen a friend making choices that you had been confident that they would never make? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
This is how it starts. The devil holds up a billboard and tries to plant the seed that life could be something different. He
tries to take a Christian and show them a glimpse of a life that seems more fun or
rewarding.
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then keeps to himself that his real goal is to separate
us from God’s people and God’s path. He
doesn’t let us in on his secret goal, which is our despair.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imagine the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2015&version=NIV1984">story of the prodigal son.</a> Picture a young man growing up in the world with a
good father, hard-working, successful.
His current situation is fine, and his life has a purpose and a direction, but the devil plants the seed of adventure, and travel, and exotic
experience. The devil doesn’t mention
ultimate loneliness, or separation from God and the people who care about him. And Satan certainly never mentions pigs, or
eating their food. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so the prodigal slowly gets used to the idea. He asks for the money, just to see how that
would go down, and his father allows it.
Then after a little while, he decides to take the next step, and see how that goes. So he heads out on a journey to experience what else the world has to offer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In his travels he discovers some of the fun and adventure
that he pictured. (Because God doesn’t
stop blessing us simply because we sin.)
But the slow transformation moves him from fun and adventure to crazy
partying and self-centered wastefulness.
And this leads to loneliness and isolation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And this leads to the pigpen.</div>
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God works through the pigpen. He gives the lost son a moment of decision,
where he is on the edge of an “almost.”
He is almost about to do something he wouldn’t have ever considered
before, certainly never done before. </div>
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And it is in this almost moment that he remembers the love
of his father, and that is what allows him to repent, and offer himself as a
servant.</div>
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I’m not sure how many other times he had almost moments, or
what other events in his wild living would have led him to think, “I would have
never pictured myself doing this.” <br />
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the beauty is that the father’s love and forgiveness are so great, that he
never says, “What about all the other times that you remembered me, and made
the wrong choice? What about all the
other times that you felt guilty, and knew you were living outside of what is
right?”</div>
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The Father says instead to his son, “You were lost and now you are
found. Let’s celebrate.”</div>
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Our Father demonstrates his love for us in this story, and in the entire chapter of Luke 15. He shows us again and again that we are treasured, and that we are unique and important to our Creator. God's forgiveness of our sins is not cheapened by the fact that he also forgives all others' sins. His love is so much greater because he is able not just to love one person this way, but he is able to forgive and love each of us this way.</div>
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Isn’t it fantastic to know that we have a heavenly Father
who gives us opportunities for almost moments?</div>
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For the rest of his life, the lost son can say, "I almost ate
the husk of the carob pods that I was feeding to the pigs, but I didn’t."</div>
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So what is the almost moment for you?</div>
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I almost gave in to my boyfriend again, but I didn’t. It was hard on both of us, but I said
no. God has a better plan for me….</div>
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I almost went to the party, even though I wasn’t going to
drink, but then I realized that would make it seem like it was fine….</div>
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I almost kept it a secret from everyone, but then God showed
me that I didn’t have to deal with it alone, and so I got up the courage to ask
someone for help….</div>
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The story is all about planting the seed of the hope of forgiveness. He gives us a hope for a future in him, even though we have been lost.<br />
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In Romans 12, God shows us that we are able to see through the world and the devil's sinful patterns.<br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
this world, </i></div>
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<i>but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. </i></div>
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<i>Then you <b>will</b>
be able to test and approve what God’s <b>will</b> is—</i></div>
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<i>his good, pleasing and <b>perfect</b>
<b>will</b>.”</i> -Romans 12:2</div>
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Think back to the billboards that the devil has in front of us. They show us a life of happiness, and comfort when we give in to selfish, sinful desires. Now imagine the Holy Spirit, and Scripture working so that we are able to see through the billboards, and instead see what the devil's goal is.<br />
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Imagine if advertisers would show us their ultimate goal on the
billboard. It's almost funny to picture driving down the highway seeing
twenty billboards, all with an image of you handing the company your
money. It's a bit ridiculous to think of a bunch of commercials showing smiling executives receiving their paychecks.<br />
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Not every business is only about making money, and not every life adventure that is offered is really a disguise for some prodigal "wild living". But God gives us a picture of his wisdom helping us see the dangers before we head down the road.<br />
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And he gives us hope that there is an escape when we wander into the pigpen.</div>
joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-83498703293594830592011-07-20T17:43:00.005-05:002011-10-05T12:09:58.364-05:00Lose the Costume<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I distinctly remember telling myself, "It doesn't matter what other people think about you."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">But fifteen minutes into my first day of middle school, the teacher was taking attendance, and when the name Joel Hansen was read off, three boys in the back laughed, like my name was a joke. Thinking quickly, I told the teacher my name was J.D. (short for Joel David).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is the beginning of a string of chameleon-like changes in my life. As I look back to my middle school and high school years, I see many costumes I wore for short periods of time. Ever year or two I changed my clothing style, my friend group, my way of talking and the music I listened to. It seems to me that I just got really god at paying attention to what was acceptable, and fitting in to that mold (even if it was the mold of a star wars geek, punk rocker, roller hockey fanatic, etc.).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am so good at looking around at how I am supposed to talk and act and dress and even think, and then copying it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I bet you’re pretty good at it too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">When you go to school, to a sports event, to the mall, to work, to a party, out with a girl, when you come to camp, you are taking time in any setting trying to fit into the acceptable costume.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You spend a lot of time trying to be acceptable. Most kids talk differently with their mom or dad than they do with their friends. I have seen it happen at camp where I have walked up to a group as they were talking the way they do with no staff around, and then listened to them change their conversation to “camp appropriate.” I imagine that you might talk differently around your co-workers than you would with your pastor, or your kids. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The problem is that we blend into the wrong picture. We spend so much time blending in to the world, than when we go to church on Sunday morning, we often have to put on our Christian costume. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We can’t treat our faith the same way that we treat all the other environments in our life where we look around and conform to the appropriate behaviors and attitudes just so that we fit in. We can’t open up the Bible and stand in front of the mirror of God’s law and hope our costume is good enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our sinfulness is embarrassing enough, let alone trying to hide it or cover it up in front of the God who knows all things. But God doesn’t ask us to try to cover up our weaknesses and failings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>“But he said to me, <b><span style="color: #c0504d;">‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ </span></b>Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">-2 Corinthians 12:9</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our God suffered and died so that we would be acceptable. No image we create or attitude that we put on can accomplish that task. And 2 Corinthians tells us that it doesn’t need to. His grace is sufficient. And in fact, he desires that we are open and honest about our failings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We can stand in front of God, knowing that he choose to love the unlovely. Knowing that there wasn’t something of worth in us, before his grace entered our life. But now there is a beautiful new creation growing in us. And we are the dwelling of the Holy Spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And having the grace and power of God in our life is such a wonderful blessing. So often, I find myself passing on a story of something that happened in my life and I say, “I am so thankful that God was with me thought that, or patient with me during this time.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I cannot think of a time when I would say, “I am so thankful that I chose this shirt today,” “My life would have headed down the wrong path if I hadn’t seen this movie,” or “I am so thankful that I handled that so well, cause I’m not really sure if God could have handled that without me.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is no costume required for success.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">People often slowly lose their worldly costume while they’re at camp. They find that they don’t need to look or perform a certain way to be acceptable. That is such a good feeling. I suspect it has a lot to with what makes Camp Phillip a great getaway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But God wants more from us than just temporarily losing the costume for a brief retreat or camp-out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For example, people come to camp and they love to sing camp songs and those songs mean so much to them, so they delight in the music while they are here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">When people leave camp, there is a whole other world of music out there that we are supposed to know about to be accepted. And so we blend in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But God desires that we would keep the costume off. He would love it if the music that we were sharing, the movies we were talking about, the books we were reading, and the talk we engaged in, would all center on his grace and truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Let’s seek out what is wonderful, or praiseworthy in the world from God’s perspective, instead of learning what the world deems praiseworthy in order to be acceptable in someone else’s sight.</span></div>
joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-67667619377511944302011-05-10T23:29:00.000-05:002011-10-05T12:10:57.503-05:00Run for the Prize<br />
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I’ve been trying to go running lately. </div>
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And as I run, I often ask myself questions like, “Why are you doing this to yourself; you have enough things to do?” or “Who cares if you take a little break?” It is difficult to set goals for myself, and hold myself accountable to those goals, so that I can fight the temptation to slow down, or give up. </div>
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Then I wonder, in how many areas of my life am I this lazy? How often do I set my goals low, and then quickly offer myself forgiveness when I don’t meet the goals I have set? In how many places do I find myself running the race as if I have already won the prize, instead of running the race in such a way as to win the prize?</div>
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There are parts of life where we cut ourselves a little slack, or where we compare ourselves to the people around us, instead of our Creator’s perfect standard. It is probably not too difficult for you to think of some areas like that. <br />
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<li>In our relationships we can be afraid to have the difficult, yet important conversations. </li>
<li>In our spiritual disciplines of prayer and Scripture reading we make excuses for low standards. </li>
<li>In our giving and service we can be self-centered, or self-serving </li>
<li>As we seek entertainment, we find it difficult to maintain high standards for purity and message.</li>
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The truth is, it is easy to think of examples of times that we have sinned by walking slowly when we are asked to run. We are asked to trust God, and run in the path of his commands, and sometimes we are too afraid, or lazy, to follow those directions.</div>
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Scripture tells us about a solution for this sin. </div>
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Philippians 3 tells us that we can glory in Christ Jesus. We have a righteousness that comes by faith. Our forgiveness of sins is a free gift. But we are not to act like it, when it comes to our walk of faith.</div>
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<i>“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”</i></div>
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-Philippians 3:13-14</div>
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Verse 15 makes it clear that “all who are mature should have such a view of things.” It is maturity to run in such a way as to win the prize, even knowing that the prize is a free gift.</div>
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We run that way when we seek God’s will constantly through study and prayer. We hold our heavenly destination in front of our eyes. We endure hardship as discipline, and we consider Jesus’ love and sacrifice so that we don’t quit, because we remember that our hardships are nothing compared to the suffering he endured that we might have that heavenly destination.</div>
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When we find ourselves tempted to run in such a way as though we already have the prize, we can pray the prayer that David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24</div>
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<i>“Search me, O God, and know my heart; <br />
test me and know my anxious thoughts. <br />
See if there is any offensive way in me, <br />
and lead me in the way everlasting.”</i></div>
joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-50571217939949483062011-04-15T14:10:00.001-05:002011-04-15T14:17:43.220-05:00To the Rescue<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">A large part of Camp Phillip for me has always been the songs. The music at Camp has always been a way for me to pray, reflect, commune with God. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I wrote this song at the end of a morning of Scripture reading and prayer. It was such a blessing to be out in God's creation with a Bible, and a journal and a guitar (and a thermos of coffee).</div><br />
It's interesting that the song that was written on a glorious day like that is about the hope we have in Christ on days that aren't nearly as glorious. But I guess having a day when God's truth and love is so clear to me reminded me of the days that I try to handle the old man in me, the devil, and the sinful world all on my own. It is great to know the reality that I am never really on my own.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/campphillip#p/u/6/5A0QRY_BJC4" target="new"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4Ru7Te9_vaV1NUw89bbMcPJp56TS6RUzICq3Se6wgSyLtHLrS0N3bgK_jzY-ukndj4iqK_VZpRTw1CjOQrgW34gudoxGF7DhaAZknSwkOfW2Xc1hv9Mnwr5PzEnYAJUqxkiF0VRVB-ax/s400/to+the+rescue+video+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a>God has done all the work to rescue me from sin, death and eternal separation from him. It is frustrating to me to know that he has done that, but that I am still in the middle of this battle zone. My old self still tries to convince me that a sinful path would be easier or more fun. Romans 7 and 8 remind me that this is not abnormal for a Christian. <i>"Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."</i> -Romans 8:23<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am still seeing both patterns at work in myself. I see myself walking by the Spirit's leading, and I see myself doing things that I clearly "should know better" than to continue doing. When I am troubled by this, it is better to look toward God for a solution. Though David could have talked a big game because of his mighty deeds, he was humble before God's mighty power when he wrote psalms like this one:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>He reached down from on high and took hold of me; <br />
he drew me out of deep waters. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-14136"></sup>He rescued me from my powerful enemy, <br />
from my foes, who were too strong for me. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-14137"></sup>They confronted me in the day of my disaster, <br />
but the LORD was my support. <br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV1984-14138"></sup>He brought me out into a spacious place; <br />
he rescued me because he delighted in me.</i></div><div style="text-align: right;">-Psalm 18:16-19 </div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My salvation and yours is complete. Our sinful nature has been defeated. The world has already lost the battle. But is is a bit like watching a superhero movie. Even though you know that the hero will win in the end, you wonder how it could be possible. It certainly doesn't always feel like the hero will win. All signs seemingly point to despair, but just as the villain is explaining that his plan for global domination is foolproof, the hero make the villain look like a fool for ever believing himself the victor.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a bit like Good Friday that way. At the time, all hope seemed to be lost, but God was taking the necessary steps for our salvation. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I pray that I can be like the overconfident character, who is undaunted by the looming darkness, and confidently says, "I am not afraid, not as long as we have <i>(insert hero's name here)</i> on our side!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If God is for us, who can be against us?</div>joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527335835865355250.post-52681093074510001762011-03-30T12:07:00.006-05:002011-03-31T22:27:31.168-05:00Crazy Confidence<div class="MsoNormal">Sometimes when I look up from the Bible, I get discouraged. Scripture describes what our lives could look, and I am excited about the picture. Then I see what we've made of it, and I lose heart. I often respond to this by taking the burden onto my shoulders to fix the world.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This weekend we had a teen retreat at Camp, and it became clear that I am not the only one who loses hope when faced with the reality of the sinful world around us. The girls cabins spent some time in reflections on Friday night thinking about the parts of their life where they need to trust God's will, and rest confidently in him. (Normally, we don't share reflections, but since they chose to post their reflections in the dining hall on the wall for everyone to see...)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are times that you probably look around and don’t notice God at work. There are times when you feel like he hasn’t given enough evidence of his power and control. So many things happen that shouldn’t. Things don’t seem to make sense. Things don’t fit in with your plan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And so you doubt God. You give up on him, and think that you need to go elsewhere to find peace. Maybe in your own accomplishments, or your relationships, or you escape into your pastimes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The truth is that our giving up, our giving in, demonstrates a lack of trust in God. This isn’t surprising I guess. Not trusting was the first sin. Really all sin is about not trusting.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">God spends most of the Bible, and most of our lives teaching us to trust. One place that he shows us trust, is Job. The story of Job begins with a faithful man of God being stripped of all his blessings, joys, family and health. In Job 1:20-22, we hear about the kind of response Job had in the midst of his sufferings. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> and naked I will depart.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> may the name of the LORD be praised.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><i> </i>Job does eventually start to question God a bit, but before that we get to see what the world's response is to his crazy confidence in God<i>. </i>His wife<i> </i>asks him:<br />
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<i>“Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”</i><br />
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<i>He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” </i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i> </i>Job 2:9-10<i></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="MsoNormal">We know that Job's friends ended up doubting his faithfulness and purity as well. They sort of treated God like he was able to be manipulated. "If you do this Job, then God will do this...."<i></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The truth in this is the story of Job is just one of hundreds examples in Scripture and thousands of examples of times in our lives where God tells us, "Trust Me!" <i> </i> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And he does not say "Trust me" the way any human does. He says it with the voice of the only one who has never failed us. We may have felt that god has let us down, but that again is our sinfulness showing up. When we remember the total sacrifice, the complete love of our Lord, we can beleive him when he says to us,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” </i><br />
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<i> </i>Jesus walked on the earth, teaching his disciples how to trust him--preparing them to be able to trust him even after he had gone. And now we are to trust him that much. He has already provided for us an escape from punishment, and a new life in Himself, now he ask us to trust him with some smaller things like how much money we are comfortable giving to church, which television shows to allow our kids to watch, and whether or not to make time for Scripture reading today. </div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b>This weekend, I got reminded that <b>Crazy Confidence </b>makes the people around us ask the question, “Are you kidding me?” That many of the people we model our faith after trusted God so much that the were willing to appear silly to those around them who didn't get it. When I'm talking to a group of teenagers, I realize that the life I am asking them to live is one that would appear ridiculous to many of those around them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You don’t like Lady Gaga? Are you kidding me? Her music is so fun and her videos are so creative!”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You don’t want to have sex until you’re married? How can you wait so long? It’s no big deal!”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> “What’s the big deal about Sunday morning, can’t you make it through a week without church?”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When people are asking those questions, you know you are doing the right things. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t confuse Crazy Confidence with self-confidence. Self confidence looks boastful and arrogant. Crazy Confidence is humble and submits to what God’s Word says.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrpgAZldT_LUzIgNk2NdApgdyiFLNZUwq3-L9Qmb9kj_0TDHKuDD2Ow86C7BcF7yt6glXvyyrEVYAiiKx-ikuo2fNLHDl4gQtRskm7f8JsZUCrL0yw4DinVldOLXm5p3OFDoNn98IlThb/s1600/DSC05555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZrpgAZldT_LUzIgNk2NdApgdyiFLNZUwq3-L9Qmb9kj_0TDHKuDD2Ow86C7BcF7yt6glXvyyrEVYAiiKx-ikuo2fNLHDl4gQtRskm7f8JsZUCrL0yw4DinVldOLXm5p3OFDoNn98IlThb/s640/DSC05555.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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At Camp Phillip we have for years done an activity called a trust fall. To stand at the top of a platform, and simply fall straight backwards into the arms of your teammates takes a lot of trust. It is always scary for a second. But if we flail and try to catch ourselves during that scary second, that’s when we have problems and people get hurt. If we practice a little Crazy Confidence, then we get to experience the joy of being held up, being protected and safe.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we are acting in Crazy Confidence, it might feel scary, but it’s that scared feeling that lets me know that I am resting on God’s power and not my own.</div>joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01413315061411610856noreply@blogger.com0