The Journey

Lazy Summer Afternoons

Yesterday I was walking down by the ropes course, and look what I saw....

Remember the days you just relaxed by a river, or a lake, or a stream, or just some sort of trickle in the backyard? 

Remember feeling carefree?

Remember having time to talk to your friends, and just enjoy life?

I just smiled and thought, "This is the way life's supposed to be."

KIVU...

This morning, we're having a family meeting. 

I get the whole camp in our 'state of the art' teaching facility, and we're revealing all the new changes that are coming down the pike out here at our Durango Location. 

It's so exciting to watch them catch the vision, and come be a part of what we're doing all over the world, and I love seeing them connect when we talk about our online component. 

Not only can they see pictures and videos...
They can create their own place to connect with friends from camp.
They can have a forum of discussion about the most important issues they're dealing with.
They can upload their own media.
AND....
They can register online for our mission trips, and our camps next summer.
(by the way, we're ahead of enrollment for KIVU 2010, so be sure to reserve your spot if you want to come join us.)

What a thrill.  God is so good. 

If you'd like, go ahead and click on the KIVU banner at the top of the page, and you'll be re-directed to our website.  If you'd like to make a profile, and join the conversation, come on over.  It's free, and you're more than welcome to be a part of what's going on here. 

For, we are not a people who are building a kingdom of hay and straw...but we are a people interested in taking part in building the Kingdom of God, with Jesus at the head. 

God bless you!

Lots of FUN...Lots of Music

Just Chillin on the Volleyball Court

The first year I was doing camp, I went to the new volleyball court, and there was NO net, NO ball, and the sand was really rough.  I was just a counselor at the time, and didn't know any better, but I figured there were issues if the equipment wasn't up and running.

So, we decided to make our own game.

We called it, hide the treasure!

The objective of the game was that someone would take off a sock, and dig a hole in the sand, while the rest of the cabin hid their eyes.  Then when the person digging felt like they finished well enough, they would say "GO!" and everyone would dig around the volleyball court to find the sock.

I know, it doesn't sound very appealing.
I know it sounds kind of ghetto for a camp to play 'hide the treasure.'
But you know...

Those kids still talk about that game, and it was 10 years ago.

Of course we've since ordered all the equipment to make sure we're running a good program, but it's interesting that 'hide the treasure' is still at the top of the list of favorite camp games.

I think it's not so much the stuff that keeps kids interested, but the time we spend with them.  I think if we took a second out of our busy lives to just invest relationships with other people, it doesn't matter what you do....it will be the favorite.

I sure love what I'm doing out here.  Developing friendships from all over the globe.  WAY FUN!!

Have a super day...

And go play a little 'hide the treasure.'  You never know the memories you'll be making.

Focus

Yesterday I started our teaching session by helping teenagers understand the power of direction.  There's no magic to goal setting, but it's necessary to have some sort of direction in your life, in order that you don't wind up just in the ebb and flow of whatever the world throws at you.

I don't mean you have to plan out the rest of your life, and have 5 year, 10 year, and 20 year goals; but it only makes sense to take life by the horns and start working on understanding the gifts God gave you, and how you want to implement those gifts into your whole life.

My book this year is called, "Where are you going?" It came to me as I was driving down the highway, probably lost, when all of the sudden that old Dave Matthews song started playing on the radio.  I stopped on the side of the road, and started thinking....

I wonder how many teenagers even engage in ideas about their future.
I mean, I know they think about where they want to go to school, what they're going to eat, and who they want to date; but how many of them are actively seeking a place where they can hone in on their gifts.
I wonder if some of the issues with suicide, teenage drinking, teen pregnancy, and some of the other traditional things we give to teenagers as failures, can be curbed if we just spend time trying to find those things that fan into flame a future of bright success?

Paul said, "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function," (Romans 12:4)  Maybe it's time we focus on the gifts of every person individually, and try to make up a whole body. 

How fun would it be to have a group of teenagers, able to see and respect each other's gifts, and have a 'one body' view.  The focus of that group, well...it would change the world.

Sometimes, you just gotta have fun

The main reason teens say they're not interested in going to church is, "It's Just So, BORING!"

Shame on us.

Jesus said, "The thief has come to steal, to kill, and to destroy, but I have come to give you life, and life to the full."

I know faith isn't all about fun.
I know you can't just be super happy all the time.
I'm certainly not a health/wealth/and happiness guy.

But...

Isn't life with Jesus more fun than life without?
Isn't knowing that sin is forgiven, and life can be lived free, at least worth partying over?

Why can't we just lighten up a bit?

Sometimes, you just gotta have some fun...and I'm sure Jesus is o.k. with that!

Some of the Greatest Times in Life are Free.

Can't you just hear the rush of the water right here?  Our team from The Expedition had a chance to take a break off the trail, and as soon as I saw this, it just reminded me...

Sometimes the greatest times in life are free.
They don't have to be creative.
They don't have to be expensive.
They don't take a lot of thought.

Sometimes just sitting in God's creation, and soaking in the sounds, the mist, the smells, and the virtual vastness of His majesty are enough for us to know...

The Bible says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." (Romans 1:21-23)

Maybe it's time to just give the Lord the Glory we can see in His creation. 

Community Service #3

Fourth of July Fun!!

At The Top

Sometimes when I read the Bible, I find myself asking questions about all the parts that are clearly NOT in the text.  Things like...

What did Jesus and the disciples joke about?
What did they 'do' all day?
When they traveled, were they all serious all the time, or did they just lay around and talk about the creation of the world?
What kinds of questions did they ask Jesus?

It's probably not on the forefront of your mind, but when trying to re-create a place where students can know the intimacy of Jesus life, it's part of life that comes up.

Leisure time is a part of life.  We CAN'T go through life working EVERY SINGLE MOMENT.  God gave us a picture when the Bible says, "And on the Seventh day, He rested." 

Another reason I love being a part of this kind of ministry out here in Colorado.  We are re-enforcing the ministry skills necessary to go out in the world and share the Love of God, but we're also committed to helping kids understand the necessity of leisure.  They work SO hard during the school year, and trying to keep up with all their friends; it's healthy for them to come and REST!

Here at the top of the rock, they just hang out, enjoy the view, and talk about the deepest issues concerning their life.  It's AWESOME!!

Thanks for hanging here.  We're so excited about the newest part of the ministry.  Camp Kivu is up and running online, and we'd love for you to come and join us online at  Camp Kivu.  You can sign up for a profile, register for camp, or see the newest, up and coming events happening in the lives of teens around the country. 

Happy surfing!