e-camp...Day 4...hope

Well, folks, we made it through one of the hottest days of Summer so far!  Luckily we had most of our activities indoors.  The focus word of the day was hope.  The kids got some pretty cool bracelets passed out to them today.  Ask them about them and see if they can successfully lead you through the salvation story using the symbols on the bracelet.  Our hope is that this will be an easy way for them to share about Christ with their friends and family!

Since I am fortunate enough to work inside all day with the Create It! portion of camp, I thought I would tell you a little bit about what's going on in the art world...

On Monday the kids were given a piece of canvas to paint.  There were numbers on the pictures to direct them to the color of paint they should use in that section (think paint by number).  They gladly completed the task, but they had no idea how their piece was going to be used to create a much larger image.

Tuesday...the mystery was revealed.  Each family group worked together to create one large image on banners that will be hanging in the Worship Center Friday night.  This was by far one of my favorite activities.  The kids had no idea what they were creating until it was time to put the puzzle pieces together.  I think they were pretty surprised and pleased at what they discovered.  Now, I would love to share an image with you...but, you will have to wait to see!

The lesson taught here was that we are all unique pieces of one large body of Christ.  When we come together to worship or to serve Him using our individual gifts, we create one large beautiful picture of what it means to glorify God.

 Wednesday and Thursday...We talked to the kids about art being a process.  After revealing each banner and discussing their spiritual meanings, the kids were asked to sketch in pencil images that would reflect the message.  Then they were asked to transfer this image onto canvas where they traced the lines using oil pastels.  Finally, today, they washed over and painted in their pictures using a form of water color.  I cannot wait for you to see them.  They are amazing!  What's even  more amazing is seeing the children light up as they gaze upon their final artwork.  

Lesson here...we sometimes have to go through a process in our spiritual journey to come to a place of true worship!

We hope your children have enjoyed worshiping God through art!  

Carole and Gina 

Visual Overheards

Trusting in the face of danger...

Trust.  Trust in us.  Falling.  Fall on.

The words are easy to say.  Do you trust me?  Often, we reply with a quick, “Sure, I trust you…” But would your really, if it may not be “safe” and risking “danger”?

Wednesday brought our campers face to face with the choice to trust in someone and take a risk.  Pushed to the edge today, the e-Campers had to answer some pretty tough questions for themselves.

Do you trust me enough to lean on me to help you stand 

(even if we cannot use our hands)?

Do you trust me enough to allow me to guide you with my words through a battlefield surrounded by your enemies who are all aiming for you? 

The e-Campers today talked about danger and taking risks.  Together we discovered that choosing to trust someone is difficult, but not impossible.  We relied on others to guide us and catch us when we fell.  We learned that even if I am afraid, having a friend there to walk beside me makes me able to conquer my fears.  We learned what it means to have someone’s back when they fall.

With the exciting things we learned, we also discovered that no matter how much a person tries, they could always make mistakes.  Today this meant getting hit with the wet sponge balls while we were “the tanks”.   We learned that people could falter and mess up because they are humans.

Then we were reminded that even though our friends and even our families might make mistakes, we serve a God who will never fail us.  God may ask us to do things that cause us to ask ourselves, “Is this safe?”  Then we can remember that our God, like C.S. Lewis wrote in, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is not always safe,  “Who said anything about safe? Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King I tell you."

Our God isn’t a mythical creation in a story book.  He isn’t a human that can fail us.  He is, as David said in Psalm 18:2 a, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge.”

He will never leave us wandering around like our tank drivers.  He will never, ever let us fall, like the giant circle when someone pulls to hard and we stumble.  His hands are mighty to save (MUCH mightier than our counselors, and they were pretty strong when we did the trust falls). 

He is our rock.  He is one that we believe with all our hearts when He asks us to step off the edge into danger.  To Him alone we will say with full confidence that we have trust that we can fall on, no matter what He tells us to face.

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Moose!  Let's Make a Deal! 

Crusaders! Red leather, Yellow leather! My Hands are Up Up Up!  Yum, Chocolate!  Toy Boat!  I'm Not Ashamed!  Venturers!  Brand New Car!  Not that Way!  First for Lunch, YES!  eeeeeeeeeeee!  On, on, on and on!  Let me hear you Warriors, What's that you say! I have a chal-ONGE! Yuck, Chocolate! Octopus!  Jazz Hands!  Oreos!  15 minutes till popsicles!  Mary had a little lamb!  Whoa!   We are Explorers, Bom, Ba, Bom, Bom, Bom, Bom, Bom!  

Are you Curious, yet?  

You should be!  Curiosity is the word of Day 2. Sometimes things are not as they seem. Something may look good on the outside, but on the inside it is something totally different.  

We have to be careful and mindful of the choices we make.

We spent the day making a lot of choices.  Which box to choose for Let's Make a Deal.  

Which piece of chocolate do I want.  What kind of chips to eat for lunch.  What color popsicle. All of which are not too hard to pick.  But some choices are not that easy and some choices are made for us and we have no say in it.  

The Chal-ONGE today is this:  

When making choices about things we do and say,  STOP, THINK, and turn to God's word to see what God says before making a decision.  God is with us for little decisions, big decisions, and even in the decisions that are made for us.  He will never leave us or forsake us,

 but we have to INCLUDE Him in our lives.  He wants to be in a relationship

 with us and walk with us every step of our day. 

God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.

1 Corinthians 10:13b

So, what will it be?  Do you accept the Chal-ONGE?

I am crucified with Christ and now I LIVE! 

Good Morning, Campers!  

We started today off with a story....

This story is a love story of epic proportions!

A story of redemption, sacrifice, and LOVE!

We had a captive audience!  

They were watching and observing....

A man named Jesus was betrayed by a friend.   

After an all night vigil of prayer, 

He was confronted by a kiss... from Judas.

The Roman guards took Him away.

He willingly went with them.

He had a purpose.  A plan the Father had made.  

A life giving plan.

Jesus obeyed.

He was bruised and beaten.  For you and for me.

Our campers were without words as they watched.  We all were.

Jesus knew all along what He was purposed to do.  He is a Life Giver!

He hung on the cross.  He cried out to God the Father...

"It is finished"

That is not the end of the story.  

The credits don't roll and we all go home..."NO"!  

He was indeed crucified.  

But HE ROSE AGAIN!  

He conquered the grave!

Today we told this story in the first hour of camp.  We used few words, but instead watched it unfold right before our eyes.  We ALL needed to see this story this morning as we sat in the heat and saw with fresh eyes the absolute sacrifice that Jesus made for us!  

It was moving.  It was powerful.  

Hearts were changed!

To Him be all the glory!

This is the testimony that God gave us, eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life, whoever does not have the Son of God, does not have life.

1 John 5:11-12