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Camp – Day 4

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Morning Celebration today was on John 14:1-7 and how what we believe relates to how we live. There are many realities that emerge in this text that have ramifications for what we believe.

We finished up our week of missions with a Cookout for those we had the privilege of serving.

Then, tonight, Evening Worship included Billy & Cindy’s excellent leadership. Neil preached a provocative message (in my opinion) from 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 and how we need to flip live and learn to LEARN AND LIVE. This passage calls us to learn 4 things from God:
1) Worship Him!
2) Listen to Him!
3) Trust Him!
4) Follow His Leaders!

We ended the day as a church group together. Good day and we head home tomorrow.

Camp – Day 3

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Another day wrapped up and in the books. Had a good day and finished a bulk of our physical labor, which was helpful.

In the AM Celebration, Billy and Cindy brought us usual God-centered songs and Neil opened God’s Word to Psalm 12:6 and spoke on the importance of God’s Word in our lives. God’s Word reveals who we really are.

In the PM Worship Neil spoke on the 129 Words That Changed the World (Romans 3:21-25). He presented 4 things we must believe and respond to:
1) All have sinned.
2) Grace is real (It’s Power, a Gift, and Transformational)
3) Redemption is only in Christ…
4) and it … has to be received by faith.

One more full day and then we’re done.

Spurgeon on belief…

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Related to camp, where day one focused on repentance and day two on belief, I thought it would be helpful to let Spurgeon weigh in. I was reading his sermon An Appeal To Sinners, in preparation for Sunday’s sermon from Luke 15 this morning and came across the following…

Is there is an infidel here who says he shall be well enough off if he shall die the death of annihilation and shall not live in a future world? Well, my Friend, suppose all men die like dogs, I shall be as well off as you are and I think a little better off, even as to happiness and peace in this world. But if—(and mark you I do not put it so because I doubt it)—if it is true that there is a world to come, I would not like to stand in your place in the next world! If it is so that there is a judgment seat and a Hell—(I put it hypothetically, not because I have a doubt about it, but because you tell me you doubt it though I do not think you really do)—if there is such a place, what will you do then?

Why, even now you shake if a leaf falls in the night. You are terrified if the cholera is in the street. You are alarmed if you are a little sick and you rush to the physician and anyone can impose upon you with his medicines, because you are afraid of death. What will you do in the swellings of Jordan, when death gets hold on you? If a little pain frightens you now, what will you do when your body shall shake and your knees shall knock together before your Maker? What will you do, my Hearer when His burning eyes shall eat into your very soul? What will you do, when amid ten thousand thunders, He shall say, “Depart, depart”?

I cannot tell you what you will do. But I will tell you one thing that you dare not do. That is, you dare not say that I have not as simply as ever I could tried to preach the Gospel to the very chief of sinners. Hear it again— “He that believes on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.” To believe is to trust in Christ—to drop into those blessed arms that can catch the heaviest laden sinner that ever breathed. To believe is to fall flat on the promise—to let Him do all for you until He has quickened you and enabled you to work out what He has before worked in you, “your own salvation.” And even this must be “with fear and trembling.”

The bold part is my emphasis and helpful language to employ when we talk of conversion.

Camp, Day 2

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We had another great day at camp today.

Our morning began with Celebration. Neil opened up God’s Word to Nehemiah 8:1-11 and urged us to greatly rejoice in God’s Word. He spoke of how Christianity is not a feeling we strive to maintain, but a reality we were created to enjoy. Then he gave this simple outline: 1) most of the difficult things in life require more joy than discipline and 2) the Bible has more confidence in joy than you do. He ended by directing us to Hebrews 12:1-2 and how Jesus lived out of joy.

Our afternoon service project was a good success. We got 3 rooms completed and 2 more to finish tomorrow. We also moved some things for the organization we get to serve.

Tonight, worship helped with theme of the day — enter. Neil’s message was on the Fruit of Conversion from Acts 16:16-34. There were 4 points:
1) Consistency
2) Endurance
3) Worship
4) Conversion

Was a great day and we anticipate more from the Lord tomorrow.

Camp – Day 1

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Well, we arrived safely around Noon. We grabbed some lunch and got registered, then, after orientation, got ready for the evening.

Evening worship included Billy and Cindy Foote leading music from their latest EP Wonder Working One (where you can read my review under customer reviews). Their exact set began with Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Sing to the King, Knees Are Bowing, Set Free, You Are My King, Nothing But the Blood, All Praise To God, and How Great Is Our God.

Neil McClendon came and preached on “The Patient God That Crushes People” from Luke 20:9-18. His outline revealed 4 things out of the text about God…
1) God is Patient
2) God Speaks
3) God is Just
4) God is Direct
I was struck by application to use this week to listen to all that God has ordained to show me. He is patiently calling me to Himself. I need to avail myself to this grace.

We finished the day with church group time. We had a great day. Everyone’s doing well and we look forward to a busy day tomorrow, serving so that God is glorified.

Camp Is Near!

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Tomorrow, Monday, July 20, we leave for Student Life Missions Camp.

Our Camp Pastor is Neil McClendon.
Music will be led by Billy & Cindy Foote.

You can visit the Student Life website, to listen into worship services, check up on camp happenings, email members of our group and countless other activities. (If you go to check us out, we are at a Missions Camp, July 20-24, 2009 at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK.)

Or use this direct link.

Only 3 Weeks?

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…Yes. Only three weeks until I leave with students and adults from our church for Student Life Missions Camp. It looks like we will have a great week, with Neil McClendon as Camp Pastor and Billy & Cindy Foote leading our music. The theme is Flip! There’s also some great promotional videos available. We have been assigned an amazing missions opportunity. We get to work with a local community service organization that assists women. We will be painting and serving them.

Pray for this week as details come together. Pray for the staff at the camp. They have been doing this for weeks now and we want to refresh the spirits of all we encounter. Pray for our group to minister and reach out. Pray for God’s glory to be seen in all we do.