So I totally flopped. The kids were antsy…I had too many points in my notes…I was trying too hard to get across my point (which…now that I think about it…what the hell WAS my point?)…oh well. We talked some more about fellowship…about Christ’s hope for the Church – we actually had some discussion out at the campfire as to what the church was…we laughed. At the end when I asked them what my point was (frankly, only because by that point, “I” had forgotten what I was trying to say), all they said was “lasagna” (because I told a story about sitting in a committee meeting and discussing for 30 min what the best way to serve lasagna to 400 people was…). So, I felt like a loser. That happens from time to time…it’s okay – it’s humbling. But I had some kids come up afterwards and we talked about Church and had a good conversation. More kids have asked questions today just randomly and it’s been good.
This morning, I felt much more comfortable with what I hoped to share with them. We talked about salvation as process – as the journey (our theme for today/tonight). Shared about people who think about salvation as “getting saved” and “getting” their ticket to Heaven to get off the ship before it sinks – and getting their butts to heaven. As opposed to the idea of “being saved” (as Paul even refers to it) as the process…the continual falling, failing and screwing it up – while being worked over by God and God’s Spirit. Anyway, it went really well.
Some random tidbits:
- I got sunburned today.
- I’m on page 300 of Harry Potter, and little Julie and Anna keep trying to tell me that Neville is the one who dies in Book 5 (DON’T RUIN IT FOR ME!!!).
- I stepped on Julie’s sandal and broke it – so Andy is buying her some new ones in town right now.
- Everyone is making fun of my love of Britney Spears.
- The kids keep asking for the “oldies” – the songs that are the “oldies” – which is funny b/c when they ask for the oldies, they’re asking for In the Secret, Pharoah, Pharoah (I can’t spell Pharoah…), and songs we did 5 years ago, they don’t like the new ones…silly kids…
- I absolutely LOVE working with my buddy Andy. He is hilarious…we are a great match I think…
Tonight we are continuing on with the theme of the journey. Instead of having the kids randomly run down to the campfire, each camper will get a lit candle (signifying God’s presence guiding/directing them as he did in the pillar of fire with the Israelites). On the way to the campfire, there will be 3 stations where they will stop, read and pray. Once they get to the campfire, they’ll trade their candle in for a rock, which they’ll throw later as a symbol of throwing their old lives away if they choose to join this “journey with God” later this evening. Anyway, it should go pretty well. Pray for us tonight if you think of it…