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.

?????????????????

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

Bathroom humor and righteousness; what's the connection????

The Lord can use ANYTHING! and everything-- to make His Name known. Even a dirty, stinky DIAPER!! on a 16 year old boy (that we all know and love!!!) --Yes, even this can help us know Him better. Lloyd did such a beautiful job tying together the stinky diaper scenario with our covering of Jesus' righteousness. My sin keeps me from God. Only when I take on the redeeming blood am I washed clean. He (the Father) looked on Him (the Son) and pardoned me.... I can't wait to see the sketch again tomorrow night at FWN!!! What fun that will be!

g-Camp...the PLACE to be

g-Camp has been THE PLACE TO BE this week!! 

With 9 kids ranging from a little over 2 to 5-going-on-6, we have had a few challenges--and LOTS of fun!!  My worker bees, Nicol Sponberg and Nancy Petak, along with our youth helpers Maddy, Millie, and Tori have greased all the squeaky wheels and helped our camp run smoothly--and joyfully. 

Our focus this year is that we are God's kids, princes and princesses, being trained by the King of Kings for His service. 

Monday we talked about what it means to be a servant--and how Jesus left heaven and its glory to come to earth-- still King, but Servant King. 

Tuesday we looked at two examples of Jesus' servanthood.  First, we looked at His feeding the multitude from the standpoint of His serving the people by meeting their need for lunch.  Second, we looked at Jesus' example of serving His disciples by washing their feet.  These campers listened intently to the story then quietly followed the instruction to move onto the tile floor, taking off shoes and socks, and wondering what was going on.  The Lord had impressed on my heart to follow Jesus' example so I washed their precious little feet.  Their was no giggling or questions or talk (which I fully expected!), just quiet watching.  For me, it was a glimpse of glory, this side of heaven, and something I will not forget!  I was clearly reminded that God is at work teaching the teacher!! 

Today we talked about one bad king and two good, talking about Saul, David, and Solomon. God's Word reminded us that man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart. 

Before, after, and in the in-betweens we have colored, glued, played on swings and slides, sprayed each other with the hose, prayed together, made new friends, ridden wheeled toys lickety-split in the hall, chased each other in rousing games of Duck, Duck, Goose and Cat and Mice, laughed, snacked on popcorn, goldfish, frozen pops, and lemonade, eaten lunch with the 'big kids' and at least 100 other things!

Thank you for lending me your wondrous, amazing, funny, tender, wrestling, curious children.  They have been a treat these first three days and I fully expect more of the same for the last two days.  Our God, the King of Glory, is incredible!  ~ Gege

Our Caring Shepherd

I love storms. Love hearing them, love watching them roll in, love squealing from my car to where ever I need to go and love getting drenched by rain...and watching others do the same. Minutes before our campers were sceheduled to be moved to the east parking lot for our big yearly ecamp photo, the black storm clouds finally made good on their threat. This wasn't a soft, seeping-into-the-parched-ground Oregon kind of rain, this was a good ole fashioned Cumberland Valley of Middle Tennessee downpour! There was nothing Southern-polite-like about this kind of storm. It is merciless and drowns every thing in its path, displaying the wildness and unpredictability of our massive Storm Maker. But minutes later, it ceased. Just long enough for us to herd all 140+ precious little sheep outside for a group picture. The skies over Brentwood were perfectly overcast, which meant no shadows! (Every good wanna-be-photographer knows this and smiles when this happens.) It's so kind of the Father to care about even these things. He makes His Name known as Jehovah Raah- our Shepherd, who cares. Later, it started pouring down again and stopped again throughout the day. No wonder there are so many different Names for God- He cannot and will not be contained. He is WILD and unpredictable - just like stormy weather.

Grasp It!

Have you seen the red hands? They are everywhere. Do you know what they mean? If your e-camper came home with a red hand I hope they have shared the reason! Our hands are attached to us at all times. We never will be without them! Our hands help us play games, eat, work, write, clap, pray, praise God and also TELL the story of what Jesus has done in our lives. E-Campers are walking away from Grasp It with a tool to share the salvation story with friends and family. The Thumb: God loves me. He gives me the free gift of Grace, if I choose to accept it. The Index finger: I am a sinner. When we point out the sin of others, we have to remember that there are 3 other fingers pointing back at me. Everyone is a sinner. The Middle finger: It is the tallest and greatest! Jesus Christ is the greatest in all of the universe. He died on the cross, because I am a sinner and gives me the free gift of Grace. The Ring finger: I need to Believe that Jesus came to earth to die for my sins. The Pinky finger: If I believe, then one day I will spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

At the end of each session, e-campers are invited to place their hand on a piece of cloth as a remembrance of what Christ did for them. He bled (hence the red ink) and died on the cross for our sins! That's MY God! And my prayer is that MY God is, or becomes, THEIR God. As they are making their hand prints, several wonderful ladies are praying God's blessing on each individual camper. It is a blessing to see their face light up when we lift up their name to Jehovah Raah, our shepherd.

Thank you so much for sharing your child with us this week! This is one of many hearts that have been greatly blessed! And it's only day 2!

holy halls

Please excuse my lack of techno-savvy. I cannot figure out how to rotate this video, therefore, will you please rotate your head to watch?

Today 140 children walked through the tunnel of love to e-camp. Our student leaders made the tunnel by standing shoulder to shoulder and raising their hands high. Little people passed through it to the other side amidst cheers and whoo hoo’s. 

I can’t help but see the figurative illustration represented here by the literal. These student leaders are giving their lives away. A phrase we throw around a lot at Fellowship Bible Church. Do we actually do it? Well, I am seeing it first hand in action by a loving group of student leaders this week. All day long I saw the leaders encouraging, bending down and looking littler people in the eyes and giving them words or hugs.

And as a mom, I know, these littler people thrive on the attention from teenagers. One Create it! (that’s e-speak for art) participant bloomed right before my eyes when Erin Ogilvie pointed out a facet of her design that was beautiful. 

My own children have regaled me with stories since we arrived home. In fact, one just called me away from this post to ask me something “very important.” He is supposed to be going to bed. One more story had to be told. He asked me if I had seen Fernando today. I told him I had not seen him but had been looking. Fernando is a friend we made two years ago at e-camp. He is from Honduras originally and now attends El Shaddai church. (We are blessed to have a group from there participating.) And so my son, Joshua, was telling me how Fernando had made him laugh today. We lived for four years in Honduras and share a special love of that country.

And so back at my computer, thinking of Fernando, I watched the video I had taken this morning and who should appear coming through the tunnel? Fernando. Catch him in the Honduras soccer jersey. Hey, Fernando, Viva Honduras!

Worship. Community. Growth. Service. Generosity. 

I’m not sure these halls at Fellowship have ever been holier.

My name is Gigi McMurray. I am being lead by ten 6 year olds and thirteen other young people during the Create it! afternoon focus group. In addition, each child will create something in the morning in our art break-out session. We will display these expressions of worship on Family Worship Night. Yes, these children are leading me. And they will lead us in worship Friday night.

Look forward to seeing you there!

BIG NEWS.... 

                      BIG NEWS.... 

e-Camp is back! 

                e-Camp dates are....  

(drum roll, please...) 

  June 20th-24th, 2011
 

Please visit fellowshipnashville.org to register online! 
Registration is open NOW!! 

Come, let us worship our KING!

Overheards - 2010

Day 4: Exalt GOD

"You have sheep hair, Gege! Yeah, you have sheep hair, but you have people skin!" g-Campers, ages 3 and 5

"Just twist it and pull it out" - e-Camper, age 6, trying to pull out her first tooth!

(playing with a train like a plane) "I'll fly you to Jesus!" - g-Camper, age 5

Camper: "This isn't my real hair color."
Leader response: "Oh, really?"
Camper: "Yes, I use a LOT of shampoo!"
- e-Camper, brown hair, 6 yrs old, Voice It!

"My mommy and daddy sing really good. My daddy teaches classes and goes to works. Why does he teach classes? Why am I here?" - g-Camper, age 2

Camper: "I'm so excited to go on vacation to Lake Tahoe!"
Leader response: "How cool...What's in Lake Tahoe?"
Camper: "A Lake."
- Voice It!

Leader: "What was your favorite part of the day?"
Camper: "Losing my tooth!"

Day 3: Trust GOD

Of art created in class, "This represents what God wants to give me and it is too big to hold." - Create It!

"I play the guitar. That is the gift that God gave me to give back to Him." ...of the painting done of a guitar, Create It!

After asking the youth guys to move the staging (heavy lifting at the end of a long, hot day...) the wholehearted response... "I would LOVE to!!" - Aaron Martinez, student leader

"I was just here for the kids, but this is changing me. This is very rewarding!" - Emily Batiste, student leader

"I feel so thankful when I am singing worship songs." - Rachel Wilburn, student leader, Voice It!

"When I sing to the Lord, I feel like He is really in me." - Voice It!

"When I sing worship songs, I am singing more for God's pleasure. When I am singing other songs, I'm singing more for myself." - Voice It!

"We are like professionals at this dance!" - Move It!

"What are some sins? - Ding-Dong Ditching, Egging someone or t.p.'ing a house" - Grasp It!

"Read your bible and use it as a weapon to fight your giants." - Stacia, Grasp It!

"Why does God do bad things and then tell us how to take them away?" - g-Camp, 5 yr old

"Why do we do bad things and belong to God?" - g-Camp, 5 yr old

Camper - "Life is like a rubix cube."
Leader response - "I can solve a rubix cube if I take all the stickers off." - Write It!

"A merry heart makes us joyful and the bad spirit dries up your joyful." - g-Camp, 5 yr old

"You have sheep's hair!" - spoken to Gege, g-Camp, 3 yr-old

Day 2: Honor GOD

"Song writing was AMAZING! We wrote a song...a whole song!" - Write It!

"I think it's time for you to stop talking and start painting." - Create It!

(About God)"You are like a great oak giving us support and shade from lies." - Write It!

"Can we like draw a picture of God so we can show how much we love Him?" - Create It!

God created..."The world! Mars! Yeah and He breathes hot breath from His mouth!" - g-Campers ages 4 and 5

God has provided..."The grass for a soft landing" - g-Camp, Jonathan Petak, age 5

"I like crazy!" - Worship time

"God already told me what to draw." - Create It!

Day 1: Seek GOD

"I know a bad, bad, bad sin...ignoring your parents!" - Grasp It!

"We all live on this big blue ball, and there's sin everywhere. We just have to make the best of it!" - Write It!

(Prayer Request) "I want to die when my mommy dies so that I can go to heaven when she does and we can be together. I don't want to be apart from her." - 5 yr old, g-Camp

"My grandfather composed the music we are listening to" - Create It!

"How do you spell 'createable'?"