Farther Than You Think
Walk to one side of your yard and face away from the middle. Read 1 John 1:9. Spend the next few minutes agreeing with God about the sin in your life. This verse promises us that if we will admit our wrongdoings to him, he will forgive us.
When you have finished with your time of confession, turn around and walk to the opposite side of your yard. Read Psalm 103:8-12.
Isn’t that great!? Often we picture God as mean and angry, ready to yell at us for the slightest mess up. But this passage tells us God is loving and patient, and while he can get angry, he doesn’t get angry easily. God’s love for us is so big and strong we cannot understand it. And verse 12 shows us that we are not only forgiven of our sins, but we are separated from them. The wrongs you just confessed on the other side of your yard, God has thrown them away from you, the Bible says, “as far as the east is from the west.” Imagine that as you spoke those words of confession, they continued on in a straight line away from you forever. They went from your mouth, across the sky, out of the earth’s atmosphere, and infinitely through space away from you. Spend some time thanking God for his incredible love and patience and for separating you from your sin.
Proud to walk with you: Jeff
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Altars
Remember When
Read Joshua 4.
Several times throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites built an altar out of rocks to remember what God had done for them. This is one of those occasions. God tells them people will ask about these stones, and instructs the Israelites to tell the inquirers the meaning behind the stones.
Think back to a time when you had an incredible experience with God at a camp . Maybe you could frame a T-shirt from that event and hang it in your room as an altar, a remembrance for what God did.
In the future when you encounter God, maybe you will want to pick up a rock from that place to remember your time with him.
These “altars” will not only help you remember God’s faithfulness when you are having a rough time, but will also give you the opportunity to brag on God to your friends when they ask you about them.
Spend a few minutes going over your devotions from Camp. jot down a few reminders from the week, and thank God for what you learned, and what commitments you made.
Read Joshua 4.
Several times throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites built an altar out of rocks to remember what God had done for them. This is one of those occasions. God tells them people will ask about these stones, and instructs the Israelites to tell the inquirers the meaning behind the stones.
Think back to a time when you had an incredible experience with God at a camp . Maybe you could frame a T-shirt from that event and hang it in your room as an altar, a remembrance for what God did.
In the future when you encounter God, maybe you will want to pick up a rock from that place to remember your time with him.
These “altars” will not only help you remember God’s faithfulness when you are having a rough time, but will also give you the opportunity to brag on God to your friends when they ask you about them.
Spend a few minutes going over your devotions from Camp. jot down a few reminders from the week, and thank God for what you learned, and what commitments you made.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Hope House Directions
 | 1: | Start out going SOUTHWEST on WESTEN ST toward KY-880/S CAMPBELL LN. | 0.3 mi |
 | 2: | Turn RIGHT onto KY-880/S CAMPBELL LN. | 0.8 mi |
| 3: | Turn RIGHT onto US-31W/NASHVILLE RD. | 1.2 mi |
 | 4: | Turn LEFT onto UNIVERSITY BLVD/US-231. Continue to follow UNIVERSITY BLVD. | 1.1 mi |
| 5: | UNIVERSITY BLVD becomes S KENTUCKY ST/US-68 E/KY-80 E. | 0.9 mi |
| 6: | Turn LEFT onto E MAIN AVE. | 0.1 mi |
| 7: | Turn LEFT onto ADAMS ST/US-68 W/KY-80 W. | 0.1 mi |
| 8: | Turn RIGHT onto 10TH AVE E. | 0.1 mi |
 | 9: | End at 112 W 10th Ave Bowling Green, KY 42101-2004 |
Saturday, June 6, 2009
New pick up time
Hey folks it looks like it may be around 3:45 to 4 arrival time please note change.
Arrival time update
Parents it looks like we will now be arriving at 4:30... Will update if a change
Friday, June 5, 2009
Which Day is it?
Which Day of Camp is it?
I think it is hard to put into words exactly what takes place when our students are together. If you have experienced the camaraderie of a team, or the closeness of a group of people who share a common experience, you understand. If you are not there, you cannot always put into words to explain what the others have seen. They will share stories that will be retold a hundred times, and laugh every time. If you were not there, you miss the punch line. They will act out scenarios that involve tripping over a rock in front of that cute guy from another church. Or what took place on that recreation field in front of the whole camp. Shared experiences are the gold mine of memories. How can you tell the story of what takes place at our church group time. It is hard to feel what Harrison Bowles felt like when the youth group surrounded him to embrace him and pray for him and welcome him into their family of faith. (Harrison is going to be baptized this Sunday at 9:30). Harrison felt the hands of the group that stood to hug him, and pray over him, as he takes his first steps of obedience. As well, Harrison needed to know that there are no school colors flown at church, we are all a part of HIS family. It does not matter if your school is not the majority. Harrison does not stand alone.
Your student will come back tomorrow with stories, inside jokes, and experiences. They should, that is what camp is all about. Everyone is excited to share their experience with family, and friends. Yet, a few fear coming home. Coming home to old habits, old memories they would like to forget, and friends that will not care about their camp experience, or what God did in their lives. So parents you must help them to remember their commitments they made. You must remind them that the God they experienced daily on the mountain top waits to speak to them each day. You must remind them of their new friends in the faith, and the family of faith that will miss them if they sleep in on Sunday. You must remind them of who God is, and what he did, and what they experienced. Camp is used as a reminder of a God who wants to have daily shared experience with us.
Jeff
I think it is hard to put into words exactly what takes place when our students are together. If you have experienced the camaraderie of a team, or the closeness of a group of people who share a common experience, you understand. If you are not there, you cannot always put into words to explain what the others have seen. They will share stories that will be retold a hundred times, and laugh every time. If you were not there, you miss the punch line. They will act out scenarios that involve tripping over a rock in front of that cute guy from another church. Or what took place on that recreation field in front of the whole camp. Shared experiences are the gold mine of memories. How can you tell the story of what takes place at our church group time. It is hard to feel what Harrison Bowles felt like when the youth group surrounded him to embrace him and pray for him and welcome him into their family of faith. (Harrison is going to be baptized this Sunday at 9:30). Harrison felt the hands of the group that stood to hug him, and pray over him, as he takes his first steps of obedience. As well, Harrison needed to know that there are no school colors flown at church, we are all a part of HIS family. It does not matter if your school is not the majority. Harrison does not stand alone.
Your student will come back tomorrow with stories, inside jokes, and experiences. They should, that is what camp is all about. Everyone is excited to share their experience with family, and friends. Yet, a few fear coming home. Coming home to old habits, old memories they would like to forget, and friends that will not care about their camp experience, or what God did in their lives. So parents you must help them to remember their commitments they made. You must remind them that the God they experienced daily on the mountain top waits to speak to them each day. You must remind them of their new friends in the faith, and the family of faith that will miss them if they sleep in on Sunday. You must remind them of who God is, and what he did, and what they experienced. Camp is used as a reminder of a God who wants to have daily shared experience with us.
Jeff
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Camp Day 3
Rain, Steep climbs to Rec Hill, and Lack of Sleep could not dampen the spirits of Hope students. Every afternoon a thunderstorm has rolled in, and literally poured on Ridgecrest. The hill we all climb each day is a long and steep one. Sleep seems to elude a few of the adults. Is anyone complaining? Not in the slightest. The food is phenomenal, the staff, adult volunteers, and attitude of the campers are fantastic. Everyone, adults, and students are seeing God begin to move in new ways. Here are a few highlights:
Students were challenged to take a stand for Christ.
One of our students stood to receive Christ.
In our church group devotions, many stood to share what God was doing in their life.
George Woodard feels a call to the mission field.
Taylor Allen feels God leading her to missions in some way.
Kris Bridgeman stood and shared that God was speaking to him about becoming more vocal with his faith. As Kris stood to share, tears welled up in my eyes, and in a few eyes of the guys in his small group. You would have to know Kris, awesome student, extremely quiet. His standing to share in front of us was HUGE. Go Kris. Go God.
Sam Wilson, and Michael Paladino, stood and spoke....those two guys are LEADERS> ...
Fred Pursley : also known as Mr. Camp, stood and inspired the whole room. Thank the Lord for men like Fred.
Pray for us today...Jeff
Students were challenged to take a stand for Christ.
One of our students stood to receive Christ.
In our church group devotions, many stood to share what God was doing in their life.
George Woodard feels a call to the mission field.
Taylor Allen feels God leading her to missions in some way.
Kris Bridgeman stood and shared that God was speaking to him about becoming more vocal with his faith. As Kris stood to share, tears welled up in my eyes, and in a few eyes of the guys in his small group. You would have to know Kris, awesome student, extremely quiet. His standing to share in front of us was HUGE. Go Kris. Go God.
Sam Wilson, and Michael Paladino, stood and spoke....those two guys are LEADERS> ...
Fred Pursley : also known as Mr. Camp, stood and inspired the whole room. Thank the Lord for men like Fred.
Pray for us today...Jeff
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Camp day Two
Day Two :
Matthew 4: Jesus Calls The first disciples:
18 aWhile walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Last night the message was from Matthew 4. When Jesus called his disciples, it says that they dropped their nets, left their dad, and followed him. Key word in this passage: immediately. Here is the official definition of immediately :
without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once:
In other words, Andrew and Peter did not tell Jesus they would pray about it. They did not ask him to wait so they could put their nets away, and sell the fish they may have collected. They just dropped what they were doing and followed.
Your student, was challenged last night to obey immediately. My wife has a little saying she tells our children when it comes to obedience. “Obey, right away, with a happy heart”…Sounds pretty good to me. Ask your student when they return from camp, what God has asked them to leave behind? You might be surprised at their answer. In fact, I asked God last night what he wanted me to leave behind to follow him..I was surprised at the answer.
Quick Camp Updates:
Students participated in track times yesterday. Some of the favorites were “Battle ball” , Digital photography, and missions.
Students are making new friends, within our church, and with other churches.
Students are breaking in the “new adult counselors” . Rex Woodard, a rookie camp leader, had a crash course with the 9th grade boys. According to Rex: “They would not talk in discussion time. ..they would not sleep at night”
This morning he gave a praise report that the guys bonded last night, and God begin to move in their discussion time. However, ….still no sleep. (:
Sam and Jacob won “eating pudding through a panty hose” game. ( yeah)
Taylor Buckles, Jacob Carr, and Mallory Harmon, did great with the marbles in the ice bucket race.
Seth Stewart, and Casey Clemmons did their best to win in the paper tongue contest.
All of our students are doing a phenomenal job, and having a great time. See you tomorrow.
See Pictures from Yesterday below:
Matthew 4: Jesus Calls The first disciples:
18 aWhile walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Last night the message was from Matthew 4. When Jesus called his disciples, it says that they dropped their nets, left their dad, and followed him. Key word in this passage: immediately. Here is the official definition of immediately :
without lapse of time; without delay; instantly; at once:
In other words, Andrew and Peter did not tell Jesus they would pray about it. They did not ask him to wait so they could put their nets away, and sell the fish they may have collected. They just dropped what they were doing and followed.
Your student, was challenged last night to obey immediately. My wife has a little saying she tells our children when it comes to obedience. “Obey, right away, with a happy heart”…Sounds pretty good to me. Ask your student when they return from camp, what God has asked them to leave behind? You might be surprised at their answer. In fact, I asked God last night what he wanted me to leave behind to follow him..I was surprised at the answer.
Quick Camp Updates:
Students participated in track times yesterday. Some of the favorites were “Battle ball” , Digital photography, and missions.
Students are making new friends, within our church, and with other churches.
Students are breaking in the “new adult counselors” . Rex Woodard, a rookie camp leader, had a crash course with the 9th grade boys. According to Rex: “They would not talk in discussion time. ..they would not sleep at night”
This morning he gave a praise report that the guys bonded last night, and God begin to move in their discussion time. However, ….still no sleep. (:
Sam and Jacob won “eating pudding through a panty hose” game. ( yeah)
Taylor Buckles, Jacob Carr, and Mallory Harmon, did great with the marbles in the ice bucket race.
Seth Stewart, and Casey Clemmons did their best to win in the paper tongue contest.
All of our students are doing a phenomenal job, and having a great time. See you tomorrow.
See Pictures from Yesterday below:
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
An Amazing Opportunity
And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “ We have seen extraordinary things today.” Luke 5:26
Yesterday was a great start to our week at camp. Everyone settled into their rooms, ate their first “camp” meal, and gathered for worship. The first day is always a little awkward at camp. New surroundings, new roommates, uncertainty about where you go, and at what time you need to be there. However, after the first full night, new friends are made, new stories are shared about the craziness in their groups, and a new awareness takes hold. For many of us, it takes a day or so for God to break through the walls we seem to have built around us. Our fast paced, entertainment on demand lives have a strong hold on us. In fact many of us have a hard time leaving our cell phones, and ipods, behind. Our lives are so noisy, God who whispers to us in those still moments cannot be heard. In fact, most of the students who shared yesterday, said they want to know God more intimately. When asked the question, “ what is one thing you would like to see happen in your life this week at camp?” most responded with answers of intimacy, and closeness, to Christ.
Why is it that the most amazing thing that has ever happened in humanity, Jesus Christ walked among us, and died for us, does not sound so …well …amazing? No one would actually come out and say it, but most of us, if we were honest ..would share what one teenager shared with me last night….I want to grow close to Christ, but I forget_______. You could fill in the lank couldn’t you. I know I could. I forget what Christ really did. I forget how amazing HE is compared to whatever has my attention at the moment. I forget that the God of the universe wants to meet with me each day. I forget that HE promised to fulfill all my needs each day. I simply forget…
This week pray that our students will remember. Pray that they would gave upon the face of the One who created us…
We are studying about the life of Moses this week. In Exodus 33:11 it says that Moses would meet face to face with God, as a man meets with his friend. Can you imagine what would happen to your student if they would meet God this week? …If they would look up, and gaze on their eternal loving creator, instead of focusing their eyes on the temporary. …It would be amazing.
Yesterday was a great start to our week at camp. Everyone settled into their rooms, ate their first “camp” meal, and gathered for worship. The first day is always a little awkward at camp. New surroundings, new roommates, uncertainty about where you go, and at what time you need to be there. However, after the first full night, new friends are made, new stories are shared about the craziness in their groups, and a new awareness takes hold. For many of us, it takes a day or so for God to break through the walls we seem to have built around us. Our fast paced, entertainment on demand lives have a strong hold on us. In fact many of us have a hard time leaving our cell phones, and ipods, behind. Our lives are so noisy, God who whispers to us in those still moments cannot be heard. In fact, most of the students who shared yesterday, said they want to know God more intimately. When asked the question, “ what is one thing you would like to see happen in your life this week at camp?” most responded with answers of intimacy, and closeness, to Christ.
Why is it that the most amazing thing that has ever happened in humanity, Jesus Christ walked among us, and died for us, does not sound so …well …amazing? No one would actually come out and say it, but most of us, if we were honest ..would share what one teenager shared with me last night….I want to grow close to Christ, but I forget_______. You could fill in the lank couldn’t you. I know I could. I forget what Christ really did. I forget how amazing HE is compared to whatever has my attention at the moment. I forget that the God of the universe wants to meet with me each day. I forget that HE promised to fulfill all my needs each day. I simply forget…
This week pray that our students will remember. Pray that they would gave upon the face of the One who created us…
We are studying about the life of Moses this week. In Exodus 33:11 it says that Moses would meet face to face with God, as a man meets with his friend. Can you imagine what would happen to your student if they would meet God this week? …If they would look up, and gaze on their eternal loving creator, instead of focusing their eyes on the temporary. …It would be amazing.
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