CHURCH CAMP: PART 1

Have you ever been totally caught up in something? Something that was bigger than you? Bigger than you could ever think was possible? I remember back in the dark ages, 1973 when I graduated from High School, I was. Some of you reading this will probably wonder what I could possibly say that you might find interesting. After all, if I graduated in the 70's I'm pretty old! LOL Let me just say this. The things we did then are still being done today. They may be called by different names but they are the same things. Partying is partying whether you call it getting stoned, high, trashed or just gettin' a buzz on. So back to the original thought...sometimes when your involved in these types of activities things happen that aren't really part of your plans. You're just out to have a good time and you don't realize that there are other forces at work. I'll tell you about one summer of my life that I won't ever forget.

My friend and I had just graduated and we decided to have one last good time before we joined the real world. This is the same friend I talked about in my earlier post "Puzzle Pieces". We decided we wanted to go work at the church camp for the summer. In case you were wondering, our reason for going there was not to become more spiritual. We were both deacons kids and her boyfriends Dad was her pastor and the director of the camp. All we had to do was say we wanted to go and they made a place for us. The best part was we didn't have to stay with the other workers. We had our own little camp trailer. We were cool. The directors wife was in charge of all the workers and was hoping to become my friends mother-in-law. So..whatever we wanted was okay.

We were looking at this as a vacation. And, like most vacations you prepare before you leave. Everything you think your going to need you pack. We got all of our clothes, some snacks, radios, guitar, cigarettes, weed, pipes, rolling papers, lighters....oh..right, we were going to a church camp. That's right, and we were going prepared. We just didn't think about what the consequences might be for what we were going to do at a church camp. We had planned for what we thought would be harmless fun. We had been doing this for years and nothing too bad had happened to us yet.

We got there a couple of days before camp was to start so we could get ready. We ate, swam, smoked, got high went to bed and did the same thing again the next day. Then the campers arrived. Everyday we went to devotions for the workers, served all the meals, cleaned up the dining room and attended night service. The rest of the time was free time. We played games in the trailer, listened to music and smoked and got high. We didn't think anyone except some of our friends knew. Much to our surprise we found out they all knew and just let us stay because they thought we might become Christians. They prayed for us all the time. We were there for all the camps so as time went on we made friends with some Forest Rangers. We had been there for three or four weeks when my friend got the Rangers to bring her a six pack of beer. That was when everything went downhill.

I'll tell you the rest of it the next time. Right now God has given me a few other things to say.

I just want to say that I believe God allows things to happen to us sometimes to get our attention. And if your not a Christian you better be careful because you never know what might happen when your playing in satans playground. Remember what the Bible says in John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it more abundantly. Satans goal is to totally destroy you to the point of death. 1 Peter 5:8 says Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. That someone is you. But the great thing is...We have a Savior and His name is Jesus!! He is always there for you. All you have to do is ask Him for His help and He comes. He loves you more than you could ever imagine. Romans 5:8 says this: God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That is extreme love! Christ's cross..intense. Christ's love..immense. Jesus never regretted the cost He paid on the cross for you. NEVER. John 3:16 says this:
For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone that believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. If you've never known Gods love you need to ask Him to be the Lord of your life. Just ask Him to forgive you of all the things you've done wrong. Tell Him you give yourself to Him right now. Then receive Him into your life and thank Him for saving you. And believe that He has. Find a church and pray and read your Bible. You won't regret the decision.

Mark 9:23 says this: Everything is possible for him who believes.
Romans 5:22 says: I have gained acccess by faith into the grace of God.
Matthew 4:17 says: I repent and turn away from sin because the kingdom of heaven is near.