Thursday - Unpack the Tools

Today our students are looking at the following tools:

• Camp
• Going to Church
• Fasting
• Quiet Time
• Prayer
• Fellowship with believers
• Reading/studying the Bible
• Disciple Now
• Missions trips/service activity
• Giving/tithing

They are being asked:

What are some of the hurdles you face on a daily basis when it comes to being consistent in reading the Bible, praying, being active in your church, or giving or tithing from your money?

If you are like the rest of us, the challenges come from all sides. School work, sports, schedules, parents' objections, other stuff we want to spend our time and money on. Jesus never suggested that being a builder was going to be easy. We must recognize the importance of the tools that God has given us and actually use them - even when it is a challenge.

They are taking a look at Philippians 4:10-13, practicing the tool of bible study. They are asked to answer four questions:

1. Who is the audience
   
2. Who is the author?
3. How would the audience have heard what was just said?
4. How would this principle apply to me?
   

Our guiding text today is:
Matthew 7:24-27

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Email:
Again, you can log onto the Parent Point and email your student. The students who have received emails have thoroughly enjoyed hearing messages of encouragement, humor and prayer. At the parents point site you can also see photos and video of the students at the camp.

General:
Stage night was a wonderful opportunity for some of our students to display their skills. Our sign art team performed, Jansen Barrett sang, and Jonathan Vinson's band (Erin Bailey, Andrew Lockard and Grant Jones) closed out the night. Please continue to pray for our students. Two have made professions of faith for salvation. We are challenging them tonight to really engage the tool of bible reading to not only to be broken by God at camp, but to be able to hear what God wants to say to them every day. Many are getting it, wanting to change, and asking questions of how to study, asking for study bibles, and for accountability and tools. Your prayer is more powerful than you will ever know.

Wednesday-Thursday

We are alive, doing well and growing. One of the main things we hear your students saying is how they are relating their brokenness with their need to reconcile to their families. We want you as families to know as much as possible what your students are learning. Our church camp theme is "blueprint: a call to radical faith and obedience." On day one, they covered the idea of "Behind the Design" where they examined that God is holy and God is perfect. Everything He does is right. He is lacking nothing. They looked as Colossians 1:16 that says "He created it all and holds it all together." They learned the fact that God being is holy is one of the great things about his character, because we are able to trust Him with our lives. He makes no mistakes. They were asked the question, "How does God's holinessand perfection affect the way you live today?

On Wednesday they looked at the idea of "Laying the Foundation." They looked at the passage Matthew 7:24-28, looking at the foundation of two different homes. They were asked to complete the John 1 Foundation Test and aswered the following questions:

• The Word of God: Do you have a desire to know God's Word?
• Sin: Am I sensitive to my sin and quick to confess and repent (turn from sin)?
• Loving Others: Do I love 'the brothers' (other believers)? Do I have astrong bond with and/or love being around those who encourage me in the faith? How do I treat other believers?
• Obedience: Do I have a desire to obey the commands of God? Do I have a desire to know the commands of God? Do the things I say, watch, listen to, or people I ahng around reflect the world of Christ?
  
• Are you following in the footsteps of Christ

They sifted through what are false foundations that replace our foundation found only in faith by grace in Christ. Examples of false foundations were things such as Emotions (the need to feel God, having an emotional experience at some point, goose bumps, camp high), Deeds (Pharisees, reading/memorizing the word, go to church, etc), Other People (Youth Pastor, Pastor, family, receiving assurance from other people), Events (saying a prayer, baptism, going to church, filling our a decision card). Their TAWG (Time Alone with God) booklet exhorted them in the following:

When someone builds on the foundation of Jesus Christ and is obedient to His Word, the foundation affects everything they do. Their lives are different and that difference is noticed by people who are around them. Think about the people you listed above that you look up to as Christians. Would you say their lives are built on the foundation of Christ? You may want to talk to them. Ask them to meet with you and help you understand what it means to have relationship with Christ.

Church Camp Tuesday

Hello parents!

The weather in Cedarmore is perfect and our students are flourishing in the sun (we are still liberally applying sunscreen on some unwilling faces). Parents, if you would like to email your camper, or see footage and photos of our week, go to the Crossings link (hit the hyperlink) and log into the parent point. We will receive any emails and distribute them out to your students. We are getting ready to move to our connect time, so please continue to pray. God is working and it is a privilege to work with your students. Today's activities included breakfast (biscuits and gravy which is always a crowd pleaser), bible study, blobbing and zip line in the lake, the first POIs (climbing, horses, mountain biking, sign language, arts and crafts, field games), connect time, and then worship tonight. In the evening, after our checkpoint time, there will be a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. Long days but rewarding times. Our evening will conclude with girl time and "dude" sessions. They're tired but excited. Gotta go unlock a room!

Ichthus 2008

We leave for Ichthus Thursday, June 12, early in the morning. We will depart from the ministry center. We will return Sunday, June 15 around 9:00 am for the morning service at Pathway.
Things to bring:

• Sleeping/bag pillow
• Sunscreen (over 15 spf - preferrably sweat proof, or long extended wear)
  
• A reuseable water bottle (if you have one)
• Bible/notepad
• Towel, toiletries
  
• A folding outdoor chair
• A tent (if you have one - contact Dan if you do)
• Personal drinks or snacks
• Spending money for t-shirts, food vendors or band merchandise
• Bug spray
  

Helpful/optional things to bring:

• A tarp to sit on (if you have one)
  
• Flip flops for the shower
• A battery powered fan to keep cool
• A small bag to hold personal items (all bags are checked at security)
• A head lamp (to see at night, especially great for the port-o-potties)
• A watch to keep track of stage times
• Glo-necklace or stick for night concerts
• A small umbrella (to shield sun and rain)
  

What will be provided for you:

• All your meals
• First aid kit
• Hand sanitizers
  
• Toilet Paper
• One outdoor shade tent/cover
• Water/ice
• Silverware
• Lots of Dan humor

Contact Pastor Dan if you have any questions. To see the band line up select the following link: Ichthus 2008