Not High School Musical or Camp Rock! Seriously, there has been way too much Disney Channel in this home. But, my chance to escape was with High School students enjoying the wonder of God’s Creation in the Durango, Colorado area and learning in His Word. It was awesome and I have yet to fully recover. In fact, I debated posting because I am still wiped out. It was full of activity at 12,000 feet up and I have been reflecting on how He worked on me with those students, so I have not gotten the rest that I need. And although I was able to help Greg with his posting (you can read the play by play at his blog), I didn’t have the opportunity to blog while I was there. But here is some stuff that I took away from camp:

• My friend Fred and I were in charge of team building activities. We made a good team taking a couple of each to make our own and it was so cool. I really enjoyed Fred’s Blind Faith Obstacle Course and Self Control Gum activities. It was fun to work on those with him.
• Speaking of which, Fred is a total Levite. Dude is strong! He could put the giant grill together in about 5 minutes and I marveled at his abilities. It was such an honor to serve along with him.
• It was awesome to serve along with my daughter who was babysitting Greg’s daughter. I was so proud of her.
• The students were stellar. They were digging all the messages that they were taught and got along so well. God was pouring into them and they were loving it.
• I love my guys from Two Days Til Tomorrow. One of the highlights for me was when they got together in front of the condos and just started playing worship songs with a bunch of the students singing along. It was an incredible site that was made even better when a woman who was also staying there walked by and asked me, “Are you a part of this?” When I told her that I was she said, “That is so wonderful, good for you guys.” Man, was my heart filled with joy.

Finally, I got to get up in front of the group and present a couple of our team building activities and it was awesome! I hate to overuse that word “awesome”, but there is really no other word to describe it. On the day of our hike, I reminded the students how it represented our walk with Christ and how we should support each other the entire way. I dug into the book of Romans for this:

We who are strong must be consderate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. Romans 15:1-2 (NLT)

Being in the advertising business, my favorite activitiy that I got to lead was the “Commercial for God”. We gave the students up to 2 minutes to do a commercial that would sell God to somebody who had never heard about His glory and the students nailed it. They had a blast, but more importantly, they brainstormed ideas that would help them in conversations with their friends that don’t yet know Christ. Again, awesome.

And although we had a blast with the activites at the ski resort, hiking in the mountains and white river rafting, it was very spiritual and reminded me of the believers in the book of Acts:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NLT)

God is working in me BIG TIME and I just have to thank all the students, pastors and adults that were there. I think everybody had pretty much the same take away and I makes me even more anxious for each Sunday and next summer. What a way to start the new school year. Big things are coming. I will keep you posted.

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Wow, I never thought when I started my mission that I would get a month and a half behind. I did pretty good with school, soccer and other activities of the fall, but as we moved into winter, my schedule kicked into overdrive and I have fallen incredibly behind. But, I am really focused now and I will not let my goal be deterred.

Plus, not to make excuses, but I am working on some good things for others to share their faith. I am excited about the possibilities and it has been occupying some of my time. Stay tuned (even though I have been away) and see what is coming. Be patient with my efforts and pray for good stuff. Thanks. With that being said:

Previously in the Daily Read (Romans 14-16), we find that those of us that have found our Savior and are strong must help others to be be the same without judgment:

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Romans 15:1-3

As a young person, I have seen those that I looked up to please themselves with my failings. They never built me up, but used me for their own gain. But as it is mentioned in this passage, I let those insults fall on me and they have made me stronger. I can only pray for those that do this and work to help them. Each day with my reading I become stronger and those that attempt this become even more ineffective. Thanks to the Word and faith in the Lord. Thanks. Read on…

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Every time that I get to spend an evening with folks from our small group, I come away just so energized and thankful for the fellowship that the Lord has brought me this year. I make no secret that I was not the biggest fan of home teams, but they are indeed the biggest blessing that one can find. Eddie, your name was brought up more than once tonight! We love the online and offline fellowship and we wish our friend from across the pond could be with us.

With that being said, previously in the Daily Read (Romans 11-13), I find that Paul is speaking about, among other things, love and fellowship:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

That one says it all. I really don’t need to comment as that is how I feel with what I have found in fellowship this year.

With that being said, I am working on some exciting developments regarding online fellowship. I can’t wait to share more details, but I am still experimenting with the technology and I don’t want to get hopes up too high, but I will share as soon as I possibly can. Thanks for your patience and I will be catching up. Read on…

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Previously in the Daily Read (Romans 8-10), Paul gives tells us that we are here on Earth for God’s purpose:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of all those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

But what is the purpose?

For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Romans 9:17

To spread the Good News! Eddie has mentioned this on his sites, but what a wonderful gift online fellowship is. We now can proclaim his name to all the earth. People from all places have access to His Word! It is incredible, I believe.

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” Romans 10:15

Or the typing fingers? Read on…

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Previously in the Daily Read (Romans 4-7), Paul explains to the Romans that we are all sinners, but because Jesus died for our sins, we may be born again and become righteous. But we are of a sinful nature, so even though we want to do right by God, we will always be at odds with the sin that lives within us.

Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord. + So then, I myself am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Romans 7:25

One might wonder why then, once we have received this good news and are slaves to God’s law, must we suffer and have setbacks in our lives. I know I do:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access to grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5

So just as difficult as it is to fight our sinful nature, so to is it to find hope in those setbacks and sufferings. But we must always find the hope in those days because it does not disappoint. Read on…

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Previously in the Daily Read, we get started with Paul’s book of Romans and it is some heavy duty stuff. His heartfelt letters to his Roman brothers contains a lot of good stuff in the first passage, but the recurring theme that comes up that I want to touch on is God’s gift of righteousness and how He is the only one that can judge:

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Romans 2:1

“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” Romans 2:7

As Earl Hickey or TV’s My Name is Earl says, “Do good things and good things happen. Do bad things and bad things happen.” It is out of our control! The only way that we can be righteous is through Jesus:

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference , for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:22-24

We are only given this gift by our faith. Does faith segregate? Absolutely not:

Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through the same faith. Romans 3:29-30

One faith, many people. How awesome is that? During this Christmas season, we should give the only gift that really matters. The other stuff is just for fun. There is only one that really matters. This is good stuff, especially when you remember that this comes from a guy that was running down people for practicing the faith until he, literally, saw the light. A lot can change in one day. It just takes a few minutes to change somebody’s life. Good stuff. Read on…

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As I mentioned in my previous post, having patience can have its benefits, as it did with Paul in the most recent read. Previously in the Daily Read, Paul is let out of prison in Jerusalem to go back to Rome. He is shipwrecked and has a tumultuous trip, yet it all pays off for him when he reaches Rome. The Romans want to hear the Word and Paul saves many:

“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” Acts 28:28

He ended up staying in Rome teaching anybody who wanted to listen. Sounds like a great life on earth to me. So even when times are tough, we can look to God and know that it will get better according to his plan. But, we can not know joy if we do not know despair or frustration. It’s all a part of living. Read on…

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