When the Rubber Meets the Road

These past few weeks my faith was really challenged as I strove to serve God. Allow me to explain.

I worked up at Old Faithful Christian Ranch in Island Park Idaho. I have to say it was very rewarding working with other people to impact high school and middle school students for Christ. However, working at the camp was definitely not easy. Both weeks, I was under spiritual attack around late Monday or early Tuesday. The devil attacked me with my fear of being inadequate in my ministry to the students.

Both weeks I had to pray for strength and wisdom while other staff members came around and encouraged me to continue to do what I know God has called me to do. My former pastor, Keith Stayman, put it this way when I said I was under spiritual attack, "That means you are doing something right." That hit me hard, I had been feeling inadequate for what Christ called! I thought God may have made a mistake choosing me to serve that week so this had really hit me at my core. The devil works hard to immobilize us when we are serving Christ.

When the devil attacks us spiritually, then we are doing something right! The devil wouldn't hit me as hard if I didn't care about Christ and try to lead people toward him but since I am ministering for Christ, that means that I am now on his hit list! So since I am on his hit list it means I need to rely on Christ even more because without Christ's protection and putting on the armor of God...I am in serious trouble!

I was encouraged this past week to pick an action verse and a life verse, something that I can fall back upon in times of trouble. I found those two verses. My life verse is Philippians 1:21 "To live is Christ and to die is gain." I am not trying to build myself up here on earth. I don't want treasure on earth! I want to live my life in light of eternity, because that's where life really gets kicking. While I am here on earth I want to live it out for Christ but when I die it's going to be even better.

My action verse is Micah 6:8 "He has shown you oh man what is good and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." That's what Christ wants us to do. If we walk humbly with him then he will lead us! But if we are proud and stubborn then Christ has a much harder time molding us. It is for Christ that we have to live, not for ourselves.

At the end of the day, you have to decide whether or not you are following Christ. If you are following Christ then grit your teeth cause it will not be easy. I once heard a saying, "Accepting Christ can be the easiest thing in the world...living for him will be the hardest thing you will ever do."

Old Faithful Christian Ranch

You ever have those summers that you just love? Yea, so did I. One of the big reasons for those summers was because of Old Faithful Christian Ranch. 

I leave tomorrow morning for Old Faithful Christian Ranch to serve with brothers and sisters in Christ. I am stoked for this! This camp is an awesome experience for anyone whether staff or camper.

The week is filled with fellowship, evangelism, games, food, and bathing in mosquito spray! This place really helped me in my spiritual walk and now I return to work with kids who go through the same stuff I went through as a kid.

High School Staff

Gotta love lunch

Some sort of running game!

Camp is a place where I built friendships with tons of people who I am still really good friends with to this day. Whether you are a lackey for Brenda (terrifying work), working with the excellent cooks, or chilling with the kids. OFCR is an excellent place for personal growth and for helping others grow.

I have been going here since 2005 and I turned out pretty good (don't comment on that).

I'm a Christian First

"I'm a Christian first and a German second." Famous words by the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Dietrich was a German Christian during the Second World War during the reign of Hitler and his persecution. He spoke against the German government and for Christ. He payed the final price by being hung in 1945.

As we celebrate Independence day in the United States, enjoy the barbecues and the fireworks by all means. But also remember at what price we are allowed to enjoy this. The men and women who died for that right. It's not national barbecue day (though I do enjoy ribs myself). While saying thanks to those who fight for us, remember our higher cause.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

236 years ago our forefathers signed a declaration. That declaration declared their independence from an oppressive foreign power. Christians let us declare our independence from the foreign power of the devil and his advocates! Let us cast aside all sin that hinders us and run toward the perfecter of our faith. Our citizenship is in heaven therefore remember that we are Christians first and foremost.