The last two days of FUGE camp were just absolutely crazy. Sorry to those who emailed, but I’ll briefly recap. The first couple of days taught us about having faith to let go and faith to stand. Then we moved into much more difficult waters. We talked about faith to take a risk and step out in the unknown and faith to wait. These are probably two of the hardest concepts for any of us. Faith to take a risk though is all a matter of perspective isn’t it? What appears to us to be a risk isn’t a risk at all really. When was the last time God called anyone to a task to big for God to handle? When was there a task too big for God period? We’re called to take a risk but its only a risk because we are so not God and God is. For God our great step of faith is nothing more than an infant finally letting go of the coffee table and trying out their legs. When I take C to the pool it is always an awesome moment when she stands on the side of the pool and just jumps to me. She may afraid at first but when I get in front of her and she focuses on me all fear is gone and she just leaps off the side knowing even though she can’t swim yet her daddy is more than sufficient for her needs. That is faith to take a risk.

Of course the final lesson may be toughest. Having the faith to wait is often agony. We’d rather be active. At least in doing something we feel like we’re at least somewhat in control. Waiting is the ultimate act of surrender. It is admitting that you are fully reliant on someone else to act before you do. This week I was asked by a student how can she tell her friend about Christ. After we talked about some different ways she told me she had done that and unfortunately there comes a point when we’ve done what we’ve been called to do and we have to wait for God to either open another door or bring someone else along to continue the work. This is especially hard when we are aching to see a friend or family member come to know Christ. But waiting is sometimes what we’re called to and in our waiting we can glorify God more than with our actions. Waiting is hard, but God is faithful and that sustains us.

As the week drew to a close we collected a missions offering. The main focus of the week was our neighbors to the north, Canada. Canada has really become a spiritually dark place. It is a moralist country, and we confuse a good people with a saved people. Today almost 90% of Canadians would go to hell. There is a great need to reach our neighbors. On the night of the offering the 1,500 students in attendance collected $23,783 to support the missions work. It was awesome to be a part of God working and student giving. I have more to say about this but we’ll save it for next time.

This week I learned that we expect too little from our students. They are more capable than we give them credit for. I learned not all goldfish are cute, and there are certain smells that come from an all guys rooms after a week that were not meant to exist in nature. And I learned that God is calling us to move, and faith that cannot move you is a faith that cannot save you. God’s call to move can be anywhere because God is everywhere.

There is no experience quite like that of sharing a room with 3 twelve year old boys. It is a world that is nothing like the world we live in. All the civil rules of society (and hygiene) are voided and it becomes just a matter of making it out alive. Perhaps its more a matter of making sure they make it out alive. Seriously, how many different ways do you have to tell someone they need to shower? Just the fact that you have to tell someone to shower is enough to prove we’re in some strange twilight zone that need never be visited by any sane individual.

Middle school issues aside, this has been a really good couple of days. The theme for the week is “Move”. We’ve been challenged that a faith that can’t move you is a faith that can’t save you; meaning that even demons have a faith of belief but theirs doesn’t move them towards God. Ours must be a powerful and active faith. The first day was about having “faith to let go”. That is letting go of anything slows or obstructs our walk. Day 2 was a “faith to stand”. Those two really go together because before we can really let go we have to have a faith that what we’re going to stand on will be sufficient to support us. I think it was an enlightening moment for some when they were shown the depth of persecution that those like Paul faced and still reasoned with Christ’s compassion. Paul’s was a faith strong enough to move him and provide him what he needed.

By the way…David is here. Just so you know. And Brittany (not with a “ney”) thinks blogging is dumb. I’m sure you were interested those updates.

Finally, last night we enjoyed a surprise trip to pizza hut after worship. It was a great time were we could relax together and then have our church group devotional away all the craziness of camp. We get the chance to talk about the fun parts of the day and what we learned, but my favorite part is easily where they can ask questions about anything they heard or saw. Its great to be exposed to new idea and see how other believers worship.

*Note to the reader. In truth I love middle school students, but I love to see them go home as well. Just kidding, c’mon if we can’t laugh at them what can we laugh at? I guess we’re just left with the platypus.

Ok so they got me. Yesterday while we were still in transit to camp they got me. When you are a youth minister there are certain things you understand. You are often times thought of as the oldest member of the youth group, there will be some people who never understand what you do or why you do and last but not least you will be pranked. Today I will address the last of these.  We stopped for lunch and as you would expect, when lunch was over we headed back up in the van. We loaded the van and pickup that we had with us and headed on guide by my trusty VZ Navigator (cheap plug). We made it about 10 min down the road when I realized that one of our kids was not with us. After some simple detective work we found that he had gone back into the restaurant to use the bathroom. So we pulled over and I moved from the bus to our truck so we could go back for our lost little one. With frustration rising I went into deep in prayer pleading for the strength not to kill the student in question. As we began our journey back their trap was sprung and I found my missing student hiding in the back of the truck waiting to surprise me. I’m not sure how far down the road they would have let us go but I will confess that was a pretty good prank. It did remind me of the one of the basic of youth ministry, the pre-departure head count.

Also today, in worship, the Lord moved in many students. There were many who came to know Christ for the 1^st time, and in our group several who wanted to take another step in their faith. It is very exciting to see God work and students respond. The band has been great and speaker has been very challenging. I look forward to worshiping with them the rest of the week.

It’s 20 minutes past lights out and we are at the beginning of an endless tradition. Nobody will shut up on the first the night of camp. Its been that way forever. No one is to blame. Its exciting to be at camp. It is a chance to take a step out of the real world and separate from all the stuff that so occupies our attention.

Perhaps I jumped to the end first. All 18 of us made it safely the Centrifuge camp. There are over 2000 students here this week and there is an excitement in everyone that is contagious whenever you get this man people around. Of course there are those who want to be the cool one, they usually wind up getting in trouble trying to funny but alas that is the way of things.  There are those students who are desperately search for the Mr. or Mrs. Right God has brought into their life. Or at least the Mr. or Mrs. Right-Now that they can convince it doesn’t matter if I live in GA and you live 3 craters into the dark side of Mars, surely our love (of 4 days) will overcome…facebook me.

But it is a happy day. I love my student…EVERYONE HAD BEST STOP TALKING RIGHT NOW!!! Lights are out…GO TO BED!!!…….um where was I…blah blah love students…It is the greatest joy I get, outside of my immediate family, to see students come and worship and be in an environment where they feel they can let go see what God is doing.

The theme this week is “move” and we’ve already talked about how we move our relationship with God. Christians use the phrase “our walk with God” and that a good one for us this week. By getting away and living the next 5 days in the crazy camp lifestyle, we camp take time to see the details of what God is doing and where God is going so that we can be a part of that.  Let’s move.

Its Father’s Day 2009. It’s the 29^th edition I’ve had the privilege of being a part of (ok 30^th if you wanna count in the womb, but I didn’t want to get political). Last year my participation underwent a dramatic change. This is my 2^nd year being the focus of this day rather than part of the cheering masses. The funny thing is that it doesn’t feel like a day where I am being brought to the center but one where I find myself shuffling to the back of the stage trying to find the part in the curtain. I don’t feel like someone who has done anything worth being celebrated. Heck, most of the time I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. Its only by the grace of God and that little picture of a bathing suit tie that I can put a swimmy diaper on the right way. I guess if we’re honest most of us feel that way. In truth I think what makes a dad great is living in the constant fear that you could really screw up this poor kid if you’re not careful. That constant awareness of the delicate nature of that which has been entrusted to us.

For me its that awareness that make it impossible for me to understand an abusive father. Sure I get tired and I get frustrated but not once in the last two years has it ever crossed my mind to have anything but infinite compassion for my daughter. Perhaps that’s a God thing, perhaps it has as much to do with my example. My father is a great man and a great dad. When I think of that father’s day stage its men like him that I believe we are celebrating. He was soft spoken, but strong enough that there was never a question of who was in charge. There was a healthy fear of his disciple but neither my sister nor I ever felt intimidated or scared, but rather we knew we were infinitely loved no matter what.

My dad is a wiser man than I think I will ever be. He know how to work with, not manipulate, people and he has a patients that is at the same time impressive and endlessly frustrating. There have many time when I’ve wanted to act or rant or any number of other actions but he being him was patient and it was for God’s glory. He is the definition of meek. Which is great, he’ll inherit the earth and then, as long as I stay in the will, I’ll inherit it from him. Sweet!

To the fathers…happy you day. I guess that includes me…Happy Father’s Day me. Why thank you very much self. Same to you. You’re too kind me and so good looking. You’re not too bad yourself self.

See what I mean. Is the thought process of a responsible father figure? At least I’m doing better than Darth Vader. My wife is still alive and my children have all their extremities.

I got to see several movies this week. Here’s my thoughts on a couple of them:

Taken – I just finished watching it on DVD and it was pretty good. Liam Neeson channeled a unique combination of James Bond, Chuck Norris and Qui Gon Jin. Lots of kicking of butts and many names were in fact taken. It had just enough suspense and action to keep you in the movie without going too far over the top, and as a parent it really pulled on those emotion (Kids are so intrusive, I can’t even enjoy a simple shot em movie without thinking of her). If you haven’t seen it rent it asap. I don’t think its one I’ll be purchasing but its definitely worth a viewing.

Night at the Museum 2 – Full disclosure, I was not really all that excited about seeing this so my expectations were very low. Lets be honest the first one was funny enough but is there anyone who thought this movie would be anything more than a rehash of the first movie. With this being the case I’m happy to report this was a very above average sequel. It was both funny and while it did repeat several of the jokes from the first it was different enough to stand on its own. I did enjoy it but if you’re wondering, and if you’ve read this far I’ll just assume you are, wait and rent it, but it’s worth the 2 hours.

Wolverine – Finally I saw Wolverine a couple weeks ago, but hey I’m a slow typer. This one was really all it was advertised to be. This was not a movie for the Marvel purist but for those who want to see Logan cut down everyone in sight, this is your flick. The 1^st three quarters of the movie was awesome. It was a little predictable but hey we’re not in this for an Oscar we wanna blow stuff up. And blow stuff up it did. The fighting was great and my personal favorite was the onscreen debut of Gambit. They did a good job of making Gambit a solid character. I hope he returns in coming flicks.

Still to come this summer…Transformers is just a few weeks away, I’m pumped. See you in the theater.

This past weekend we had a chicken bar-b-q to raise money for the youth ministry. It was a great success. We sold out and thanks to the Macon Meat Market (*plug) donating the chicken for us we made an excellent profit. I was very happy with the event. However, I wish they had donated a slightly sturdier box for the chickens…

I’d like to take a quick moment out of the story here to just say, my wife rocks. She went to go pick up these chickens and as nice as the people were it still smelled like a meet market. But she was a trooper and not only got them but took them back to the church and put them in storage all on her own. Sadly, her good deed was not without incident.

On her way away from the market one of the boxes collapsed, spilling chicken juice and whatnot (we won’t discuss the whatnot) in the back of my RAV4 (*plug). I’ll let you take a moment to think about that…I KNOW…now add 90 degree weather…I KNOW…if you feeling a little sick its understandable. Take a second to compose yourself, I’ll wait.

So after both Tiff and I took a turn scrubbing down the back and then took it to be shampooed the smell was unbelievably unbearable. We’re talking driving with my head out the window like the family dog. Actually, that’s not true, after the shampooing it was just overpoweringly nauseating. The main bullet point of my presentation here is that it was bad, very bad.

And of course my use of the past tense is somewhat inaccurate. At the time of publishing riding in my car is like having to sit next to the sweaty fat kid on the bus in August. I hate when that happens…note to self make sure to always get to the bus early. So I took the carpet out of the back of the RAV and in what would have to be described as an act of desperation I put cat litter in the storage bin. The carpet still smells really bad but miraculously after a day or so the litter has reduced the smell in the car substantially. I’ve never been so happy to have kitty toilet paper.

 ***As an aside this further proves what a horrible pet the cat is; even the kitty litter is more desirable.***

I got to see Star Trek with perhaps the most appropriate of people, my dad. He and I have always enjoyed discussing the finer points of Star Trek lore. We’ve even been known to visit the occasional Star Trek Convention (not in costume). Don’t get me wrong. I know for some of you it may seem shocking but rest assured my heart will always beat first for Star Wars. Star Trek is a nice enough distraction but the force runs strong in my family.

But I digress. The movie was very well done. It had a good story, it hit all the Treky high points and visually it was amazing. I know there are some hardcore fans that have problems with its relationship to the overall cannon but for once the Star Trek brain trust decided to make a movie that a appealed to the masses not the fanatics alone. Good job guys! Its hard to imagine it but a Star Trek movie with good acting and and easily followed plot. What will they think of next?

Sayler made a great Spock and the young Kirk was solid. It had the action and it was funny. Overall I would definitely recommend it and furthermore I would say that is a must see in the theater. Many of the visual effects were made to be larger than life.

Next up Wolverine…