Well, we're back. I've spent most of the day working on my sermon for tomorrow, reflecting on what happened the last day of camp, and sleeping off my Bigstuf hangover.
Some really amazing things happened on day 4, some of which you already read about. Many of them actually spilled into day 5, though, so I'll tell you about them now, and hopefully post pictures later.
First, we had at least four of our students that decided to adopt a child through Compassion International. This is an amazing way to make a huge difference in the life of a child for about a dollar a day. These kids were compelled by Matthew 25 where Jesus says, "Whatever you do for the least of these, you do to me." But, I thought teens were just caught up in themselves, and what they should wear, and how they should look, and what songs and games and electronic devices they have. Not all of them.
Next, in the evening session, Jared Herd went through the entire story of God, from Adam and Eve, to the tower of Babel to the birth of Jesus, to the cross and resurrection. An amazing story still. When he finished, he asked if anyone wanted to enter a relationship with Jesus for the first time, and two of our students stood up and made that commitment. Then, after a long and meaningful discussion, I mentioned if either of the students that made that commitment wanted to be baptized, we could go do that in the Atlantic Ocean. We all got dressed and ran (quietly) out to the beach. We ended up baptizing SEVEN students in the Atlantic- some were first times, and some were re-committing. So, at 1:30 AM on Friday, we were standing in the Atlantic Ocean watching teen after teen publicly proclaim their lives for Christ. God is amazing!
(Note to parents: yes, I considered what you might say about your child being baptized at a time and place where you couldn't see it. I was worried about what you might say. Then I considered what Jesus might say when I die if I didn't do it, and all my concerns disappeared. I'm sorry if you're upset, but I'm not sorry we did it. We do have pictures I'll post when I get them...)
Parents and Genesis Church folks: thanks so much for those of you who kept up with our trip here. I invite you to come back... I usually post 3-4 times per week, and right now I am gathering my thoughts as I read through the bible this year. Several of my posts here have/will turn into sermons in the future, so you can have a head start!
Peace! Steve
Showing posts with label bigstuf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bigstuf. Show all posts
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Bigstuf- Day 4
Well, rain again. This time, we got about 20 minutes of free time after eating lunch and getting our picture taken. Then, it started coming down in sheets. The good part about today was that there was no thunder or lightning (at least at first), so we had 20 minutes of clouds and 20 minutes of rain- hard, driving rain- the kind that stings when it hits you. But since we'd had precious little time in the ocean since we'd been here, a few hardy souls stuck it out and suffered through. Then, the lightning came and the place cleared out quickly. So, all in all this week, we've had about 2 hours of sun. Monday - 45 minutes, Tuesday - 45 minutes, Wednesday- 10 minutes, today - 20 minutes. For the first time ever, I'll come back with less of a tan than I had when I left. But that's not what's important.
This morning was really incredible. We started with the Daraja Children's Choir from Nairobi, Kenya. This is not the best picture - I'm sure some of the students took better ones.
Then, Francis Chan challenged us all with what it means to Do unto the least of these. It was unbelievably stretching, and I'm not quite ready to talk about what it did to me, yet.
We did get to meet James David Carter from the Bigstuf band before the rain came. Many of the girls were excited by that. And, he was a genuinely nice and patient guy. This despite the fact that every girl wanted her own picture taken with her own camera even though I swore that I could send them one from my camera that would be just as good. Digital generation my foot.
Well, this will be the last post "live" from Bigstuf. We have the long worship session tonight, and we leave for the airport early tomorrow morning. I hope you've enjoyed following our trip here. Feel free to leave comments. I'll try to get more stories up when we get back. Until then, peace.
This morning was really incredible. We started with the Daraja Children's Choir from Nairobi, Kenya. This is not the best picture - I'm sure some of the students took better ones.
Then, Francis Chan challenged us all with what it means to Do unto the least of these. It was unbelievably stretching, and I'm not quite ready to talk about what it did to me, yet.
We did get to meet James David Carter from the Bigstuf band before the rain came. Many of the girls were excited by that. And, he was a genuinely nice and patient guy. This despite the fact that every girl wanted her own picture taken with her own camera even though I swore that I could send them one from my camera that would be just as good. Digital generation my foot.
Well, this will be the last post "live" from Bigstuf. We have the long worship session tonight, and we leave for the airport early tomorrow morning. I hope you've enjoyed following our trip here. Feel free to leave comments. I'll try to get more stories up when we get back. Until then, peace.
Bigstuf- Day 3
Well, another day- another thunderstorm. Once again, our free time on the beach was rained out. We didn't even get our (now traditional) 45 minutes- most of us had only 10-15 minutes before the clouds let loose.
I don't want you to get the idea that it rains all the time here... that's not true at all. It really only rains when we're outside. In fact, most mornings and evenings, it's been really nice. Unfortunately, that's when we're in the arena. The good news is, the students spent their time sitting in the hall and texting each other. In fact, at one point, two of the students were sitting right next to each other and texting back and forth. Man am I old.
We also had a special guest today. Dianne Kemp, who moved from Noblesville down to Orlando about a year ago, came to visit us. The girls were especially glad to see her, particularly the ones who were here the last two years when Dianne chapperoned for us.
We were able to redeem some of our time, though. Since we had dinner on our own tonight, we headed into town for the Olive Garden. When some of the students complained they don't really like Italian, we just explained that it's not really Italian, it's Olive Garden. The whole back room was filled with laughter from the time we arrived until the time we left (to the dismay of a few other families who lost the table lottery and ended up in our dining area). I heard several students say this was the "funnest meal they ever had." I think that's good.
Unfortunately, we arrived back later than we should have and weren't able to get good seats together for the evening session. This meant six students ended up in one place and four in another, with the leaders taking the "back of the house" for a while. This gave some of our leaders a chance to show off a few moves they learned on "So, you think you can dance." And no, we can't.
In case you were wondering, this mornings session was Andy Stanley talking about how our direction, not our intention, determines our destination. This evening, Francis Chan gave an incredible message on how we're called to deal with trouble in our life. Our small group time went so long, that I'm not posting this until very early Thursday morning. As you can imagine, I'm quite tired and excited all at the same time. I feel like I can go for another couple of hours, but I know I'll crash as soon as I hit the sack, so I'm headed there now.
Peace.
I don't want you to get the idea that it rains all the time here... that's not true at all. It really only rains when we're outside. In fact, most mornings and evenings, it's been really nice. Unfortunately, that's when we're in the arena. The good news is, the students spent their time sitting in the hall and texting each other. In fact, at one point, two of the students were sitting right next to each other and texting back and forth. Man am I old.
We also had a special guest today. Dianne Kemp, who moved from Noblesville down to Orlando about a year ago, came to visit us. The girls were especially glad to see her, particularly the ones who were here the last two years when Dianne chapperoned for us.
We were able to redeem some of our time, though. Since we had dinner on our own tonight, we headed into town for the Olive Garden. When some of the students complained they don't really like Italian, we just explained that it's not really Italian, it's Olive Garden. The whole back room was filled with laughter from the time we arrived until the time we left (to the dismay of a few other families who lost the table lottery and ended up in our dining area). I heard several students say this was the "funnest meal they ever had." I think that's good.
Unfortunately, we arrived back later than we should have and weren't able to get good seats together for the evening session. This meant six students ended up in one place and four in another, with the leaders taking the "back of the house" for a while. This gave some of our leaders a chance to show off a few moves they learned on "So, you think you can dance." And no, we can't.
In case you were wondering, this mornings session was Andy Stanley talking about how our direction, not our intention, determines our destination. This evening, Francis Chan gave an incredible message on how we're called to deal with trouble in our life. Our small group time went so long, that I'm not posting this until very early Thursday morning. As you can imagine, I'm quite tired and excited all at the same time. I feel like I can go for another couple of hours, but I know I'll crash as soon as I hit the sack, so I'm headed there now.
Peace.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Bigstuf- Day 2
Here, it's all about the seats. Most of Bigstuf is about getting the right seats. A lot of time and effort goes into saving seats and getting good seats and making sure you are as close to the stage as you can get. This morning, I saw a man (one man) save 40+ seats with a pair of sunglasses and a flip-flop. Amazing. Especially in light of this story Jesus told:
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
-Luke 14:7-11
Fortunately, most of us were happy with our seats this morning.
Francis Chan really blessed us this morning with a talk about how we should consider the greatness and majesty of God before we pray. It was incredible. Later, the leaders heard from Reggie Joiner about how the church that makes an impact needs to have a loving father mindset.
Unfortunately, day 2 also brought thunderstorm number 2.
A few of us went on a "Target" run and missed all but a half-hour of good weather, but most of the students got 60 or 90 minutes at the beach or pool before the downpoor. Fortunately, our students are creative, so they spent their time blowdrying each other's hair...
... and messing up their rooms.
Yes, this is one of the girls' rooms and it's a mess (no surprise to you parents, I'm sure). They actually closed the suitcase for the picture so it wouldn't look so bad.
Yet, in the midst of all this, we're also having some great conversations. Last night, we talked about peer pressure, especially as it relates to drugs and alcohol and we had a very good conversation about dating over dinner tonight. I find our small group times and quiet times are where we all grow the most, so I'm looking forward to those the rest of the week.
Gotta go. Have to get good seats for tonight!
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
-Luke 14:7-11
Fortunately, most of us were happy with our seats this morning.
Francis Chan really blessed us this morning with a talk about how we should consider the greatness and majesty of God before we pray. It was incredible. Later, the leaders heard from Reggie Joiner about how the church that makes an impact needs to have a loving father mindset.
Unfortunately, day 2 also brought thunderstorm number 2.
A few of us went on a "Target" run and missed all but a half-hour of good weather, but most of the students got 60 or 90 minutes at the beach or pool before the downpoor. Fortunately, our students are creative, so they spent their time blowdrying each other's hair...
... and messing up their rooms.
Yes, this is one of the girls' rooms and it's a mess (no surprise to you parents, I'm sure). They actually closed the suitcase for the picture so it wouldn't look so bad.
Yet, in the midst of all this, we're also having some great conversations. Last night, we talked about peer pressure, especially as it relates to drugs and alcohol and we had a very good conversation about dating over dinner tonight. I find our small group times and quiet times are where we all grow the most, so I'm looking forward to those the rest of the week.
Gotta go. Have to get good seats for tonight!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Bigstuf- Day 1
If you're reading this, you've probably figured out that (a) we made it to Daytona Beach, and (b) I've managed to chain the students to their beds long enough to write about day one.
Monday started and ended with lines for us. First there were the lines at the airport- thanks to the Brickyard 400 yesterday, there were more people at the Northwest ticket counter than I've ever seen.
Fortunately, we all got checked in. This evening, our session started with the line to get into the arena...
In between, and after we went through the run around of trying to check into the hotel, being told we had to check in at the conference first, finding a place to park at the conference, then finding a place to park at the hotel (day 1, I already have $74 in parking two minivans, and I haven't paid my airport parking yet...) Whew! Finally we got here and had a good 45 minutes of beach time before the thunderstorm came.
Fortunately, we have a great group of students who love each other...
... and we had a great evening session of worship and learning about what it means to seek wise counsel.
We also had some great conversation about seeking advice during our small group time and a couple of spirited games of Uno and Euchre (Brandon and I are undefeated, and ready to take on all comers...) Anyway, more tomorrow - our first full day. If you want to see our schedule, or anything else about the camp, you really should go here.
Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed. - Proverbs 15:22 (the Message)
Monday started and ended with lines for us. First there were the lines at the airport- thanks to the Brickyard 400 yesterday, there were more people at the Northwest ticket counter than I've ever seen.
Fortunately, we all got checked in. This evening, our session started with the line to get into the arena...
In between, and after we went through the run around of trying to check into the hotel, being told we had to check in at the conference first, finding a place to park at the conference, then finding a place to park at the hotel (day 1, I already have $74 in parking two minivans, and I haven't paid my airport parking yet...) Whew! Finally we got here and had a good 45 minutes of beach time before the thunderstorm came.
Fortunately, we have a great group of students who love each other...
... and we had a great evening session of worship and learning about what it means to seek wise counsel.
We also had some great conversation about seeking advice during our small group time and a couple of spirited games of Uno and Euchre (Brandon and I are undefeated, and ready to take on all comers...) Anyway, more tomorrow - our first full day. If you want to see our schedule, or anything else about the camp, you really should go here.
Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail;
take good counsel and watch them succeed. - Proverbs 15:22 (the Message)
Friday, July 25, 2008
Three more days...
...til the start of Bigstuf Student Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida. I'm really excited about what God is going to do in the lives of our ten high school students (and four adults, too). Here's the lineup for the week:
Andy Stanley, speaker
Francis Chan, speaker
Fee, worship band
Here's the question that is being asked this year... If you had only one thing you could communicate with high school students, what would it be? Well, go ahead and leave your comment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
