going to camp

I am a pastor to youth. We are going to camp for 5 days. I am pretty excited. It's weird. This is the first time I have been personally responsible for something this big and I feel a great peace about it. The Lord is really taking care of everything. My stress level, the youth's commitments, the money and everything. It seems to be falling into place. I was originally stressing out about the number of youth attending and then I just prayed and asked God to bring those that He would have come. I submitted my worrying to Him and I trust Him for the journey. Everything is in His hands, so He will direct those who are to come. He will also direct my steps in all of the challenges this camp has to offer. I am anticipating God to do some awesome things with His kids this week. Jesus has a way of sneaking up on us and just loving us into following Him. The Lord is up to something. I am glad I can be a part of it.

refreshing

What is it about getting up early in the morning that I loathe? Of the few times I can remember rising early to start the day I have had a great day. A day full of things and this is even before noon. Why then do I find it difficult to rise early and take care of things? Morning time as a child seemed so laborous. The early awakening before dawn, cold Ohio mornings with no sun, always made me feel depressed. Taking care of chores, and getting ready for school seemed tedious considering it was a daily routine. Over and over, morning after morning the same thing. Was there no end to the dreadful school year and it's cold early morns? The only bright spot of waking that early was to catch the only goodness in day that has already started mad, namely cartoons. What is it about cartoons that makes a kid believe and need it's story? I know for me it was the escape, the refreshing I needed to start my day. A moral lesson from GI Joe because knowing is half the battle and a vibrant battle between Autobots and Decepticons, helped get me to the bus. No longer was I thinking about the snow, sitting in third grade math or the chores I just did. I was part of the story. I was involved. Who would win between Cobra and the Joes next time? Sometimes I wish the real terrorists would wear insignias and scream "Cobra!" right before they attacked. Ah to be a kid in the 80's- it was refreshing. And now as an adult I find refreshment in another story. The story that is being lived out even now. The epic of my life with Jesus. How He is my hero. How he is changing me, and engaging me in the battle for this world. Bring on the enemy, I say. Knowing Jesus is half the battle.

pilgrimage

So why the journey metaphor? Well, I believe that life is a journey. We are always on the go. We are all pressing on toward a goal. From person to person the goal and the journey takes on a different shape. As a Christian, however, my journey is marked out by and with my God. I am not unique in this. All of Jesus' followers are on the Path. Jesus described Himself as "the Way." The Bible is full of journey imagery. From the very beginning in Genesis to the end in The Revalation. This is not a new concept or a clever way of putting it. I just want us to walk together on this path to see what adventures may sring up. Have fun my fellow pilgrims.

and so it begins...

All of us are on a journey. Our starting points differ and our ending points are across the board. There are no "safe" routes. There are familiar ways and there are strange and mysterious ways to travel. It is my belief that there is one True Way. A Way that is more mysterious daily. The path is worn, however by others and there are many detours and distractions. But there is someone in this Way that guides and leads if we ask and listen. The journey.

My journey now that is a story...