Week 7 2011

Day 2

Craft time at TC! This year the girls paint cans and decorate them with ribbon to place in their room or to use wherever they see fit. I am always amazed at the detail that most girls place in their can. They really want it to be beautiful. No so much for the eyes of others but for themselves.

I believe that God fashioned them in such a manner that he knit them in their mothers womb. He too with great patience has fashioned each one. Their beauty is known only to the one who created them. It is necessary for these young girls to see themselves as a work that God has done and to be satisfied in His ability to make them just as they are. Beauty is not something to search for or to adjust according to the eyes of men.

Day 1 Week 7.

Sometimes we would do well to just rest in the arms of a friend. The girls have fun playing a morning celebration game called "Knight Horse Chariot" which places them either in the arms, knees or back of another person. It is quite chaotic and allows them to see the difficulty of carrying another person. For the one who is attempting to bear the load, the weight becomes burdensome very quickly and most often they will drop even their closest friend given enough time. For the one who is jumping onto another, they can feel disappointed as they hit the ground time and time again.

A lesson is to be learned. We often attempt to place ourselves in the arms of other people when faced with life's difficult days. Even if that person is our closest of friends, family or even pastor they most likely when given enough time and circumstance will not be able to hold all of our worries and troubles.

So it is with those of us who try to bear the burdens of the world along with our own and those of our families. We will get tired eventually and not be able to juggle all the plates of compassion that come our way. So what do we do? There is only one who is capable to give you rest and at the same time stand up under the weight of any and all of mans problems. He alone is our only hope of salvation from the plague of sin that swarms like locust to devour our lives with worry, doubt and fear. His name is Jesus. Cast yourself upon him! "for when I am weak then I am strong"

Week 6 2011

Thank you Lord for another great week of sowing the seeds of your Gospel. It is a wonderful thing to see your good news as it lights the darkness and brings cleansing to the sinner, freedom to the slave and blessing to the cursed of humanity.

Week 5 2011

I need to apologize for the lack of blog during the first girls week of camp. It truly was an amazing week with many first time campers attending. Our Lord and God revealed himself in ways that stirred the hearts of young girls. Each year I wonder and sometimes worry about how the young girls will handle the week with the heat, bugs and schedule of camp. This year in particular I wondered how the girls would do in the mud pit. Would they get in? Would they just not touch it at all? It appeared that way at first and who could blame them. However, as you can see eventually they were covered from head to toe.

Week 4 Tuesday

A great thanks goes out to the Clarendon County Fire Department for bringing a fire truck each week of camp to hose off the kids with 1000 gallons of water. By the way, water is a mighty powerful thing when propelled by high pressure. A welcome activity to a day when the temp is above 100.

Week 4 2011

Week 4! Last week of boys for the year and we have a full week ahead. Last night we took a walk in the rain to the big oak and after getting a little wet we discussed the significance of the rain. How God is the provider of the much needed refreshment for the plants, the beast of the field, the birds of the air and of course for us as well. As the drops of water still fell from the leaves of the trees overhead we spoke of God's word and how it is like "cool water" for the soul. In the days and weeks prior we have had little to no rain and are very grateful when the Lord makes it His will to bless us with even a token amount. I have at least 4 copies of God's word available to me at any time to drink from His cup of wisdom. I have tasted and seen that it is good. So Good!

Genesis 3:8 "...and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden." The picture above is from earlier today at the paintball and Treyvon and Noah are hunkered down hiding behind the barrel to avoid the shots from the opposing team. Good reason to hide! For Adam and Eve, they chose to hide among the very trees that God had originally said was theirs for provision. Maybe we do a good job of hiding from God as well and just like Adam we might use His own provision to stand behind. Something to think about.

Week 3 2011

Day 2 Week 3

The Mcleod brothers, Gregory and Micah defend the fort in a game of paintball.

Jordan Adams out shot the field at skeet today hitting 3 of 3 on his first set of targets.

Day 1 Week 3

First night of Week 3 was wonderful! A full week of teenage boys and all the staff are expecting great things in the name of the Lord. It was nice to see so many seated under the "Big Oak" and to hear the voices of young men singing to God. I would imagine that by the end of the week the sound of that singing will be somewhat louder.

Kyle is singing "I can only Imagine" in this picture. A particular part of the song speaks of worshipping 'forever'. I was struck at the moment of even considering worshipping forever. I see that the flesh of man gets weak quite quickly in a worship setting whether at church or even at a camp. I "dont imagine" that there will be much distractedness around the throne of God.

The Word of God says in Revelation 4:8 that day and night the angels never cease to sing Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come!" It might sound odd but the opportunity to worship God forever sounds like an amazing thing to me! Would that we could worship now with our minds set on forever!

Week 2 2011

Day 3 Week 2

Day 2 Week 2
Mud pies, chicken w/rice and green beans sounds like a great day at camp!

We are swinging our way into week 2 at TC! All is well on on first full day. Campers enjoyed Rifle and survival skills today. It was a hot one today with the heat index reaching 105 so you can imagine how welcome the sound of going swimming was this afternoon. The rope swing is a favorite.

Reading in 2 Kings yesterday and learned of Ahaziah who sent some messengers to inquire of a false God called Baal of Ekron. You see, he had fallen in his house and evidently was injured bad enough in the fall that he feared he would die. In his anxiety he sent these messengers to travel and inquire of this false God as to what the future might hold. At the same time, the Lord spoke to Elijah and told him to intercept the messengers of Ahaziah and ask them "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?". We encounter different struggles each week at camp. They can be as little as no breeze and 100 degree weather, a homesick camper, a scraped knee, or an a/c unit going out. I can hear the word of the Lord speaking to me when I try to handle even the smallest things without coming to him first. "Is it because there is no God at Tracy's Camp that you are trying to handle this on your own?" Why would we not go before the Lord? I stand convicted.

On Sunday evening as we headed to the "Big Oak" to worship the air was still and muggy. I thought of Ahaziah and the words that Elijah had spoken to him and thus to me. I prayed to the Lord for a breeze to break the heat as we would begin to worship. Just know that their is a God at Tracy's Camp! He indeed hears our prayers! Thank you Lord for such a cool breeze. You are so gracious.

Week 1 2011

Day 1 Monday, June 13

The Sun rises on our first day of camp for 2011! We had a wonderful rain storm last night that was an answer to prayer on our first night. We have been without rain for almost two weeks. The roads were dusty and the ponds and fields all look much more refreshed this morning not

to mention it is a few degrees cooler.

Our first night at the Big Oak was a hot one with not much air moving at all. The campers all agreed that our God was worthy of worship and praise and the heat was no hindrance. We sometimes only "feel" like worshipping when all things are comfortable to do so. Not just with the temperature but with situations in our lives. It is true we are less likely to lift our hands whenever it hurts to do so. I am amazed at the simple understanding of children.

Last nights teaching from Genesis revealed to us all that the sin which began in the garden with Adam is still alive in us today. In the same way that Adam and Eve immediately continued to sin after first disobeying God's command to not eat from the tree, they then began to lie and try to conceal or hide from the one who knows all things.

I read this morning in 1 Kings the story of Jeroboam sending his wife to a prophet of God and when sending her he told her to conceal or hide her identity in order to find out what would happen to their son because he was sick. It is so ridiculously funny for man to think he can hide from God! In the next few verses I actually laughed aloud as I read that God then spoke to the prophet and told him all of Jeroboams plans. What makes it even better is that the prophet of God was physically blind. When Jeroboams wife walks in "disguised", the prophet is able to recognize her by the way her walk sounded!! He spoke her name as soon as she entered the room! She must have been shocked.

Adam and Eve sinned and revealed their lack of obedience and trust in God alone. God gave a simple command and with it the just punishment if they were disobedient. They listened to the enemy and paid the price of death. So to with Jeroboam who was cut off from the Lord because he was disobedient and did not trust the Lord. His family suffered as a result of his disobedience for years afterwards. Adams sin was brought upon his family as well and that sin bore the fruit of death when Cain killed his brother Abel. Sin brings about death.....period.

We must all stop believing that somehow we can hide from the Lord. We disguise our lives with good works, church attendance and the like in an effort to somehow hide the underlying sin from God. Repentance is full disclosure! A bearing of ones sin before the Lord.

May we recognize the only victory over death is in the Cross of Christ Jesus!! Otherwise, we stand alone to face the penalty for our sins. He died in my place so that through Him I might live!

Campers enjoyed a great breakfast before spending some time in the Word with their assigned tribe for the week!

Headed to the "swimmin hole"! Lots of happy faces. A great group of boys to start off the summer!

Paintball!!

Day 2 Tuesday, June 14

The day when campers begin to open up! Sunday night and Monday are often difficult days at camp for many campers who enjoy the comforts of their own bed at night and the safety of mom and dad's presence. This year is no different. However, what I have seen today gives me hope for the next two days together. A little opening towards coming together as a camp. New friends are formed and together we begin to open up our lives to one another. Beautiful!

How dirty is dirty?! Well when every pore is filled with red clay mud I would say you are dirty.

John the Baptist cried out in John 1:29 "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". His cry was to beckon all who hear to listen!! Listen to what I now say to you! This Jesus is the Christ, the lamb of God who by his unblemished life and spotless obedience to God has been sacrificed on the Cross to provide the means of salvation and cleansing of sin. Are you dirty with sin? The scriptures say that we are filthy even at our best before God(Isaiah 64) and not just dirty with sin but actually we are dead in sin and trespasses(Ephesians 2).

What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Muuuuuuuudy!

Day 3 Wednesday, June 15

Zachary Hodge prepares to reel in his first catfish while Andy Pack handles the net! 15lbs! Great job Zachary.

Cool morning this morning that was almost spring like gave those who went primitive camping last night a break from heat and they were up early this morning standing by the fire. Our Lord is a perfect provider for all things.

Today we learn the truth of Christ living and dying as a slave. Philippians 2 says that "He who was God did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant (slave), and humbled himself by becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross".

A slave serves! Some slaves as written in the scriptures would grow to love their masters and as a result would want to stay a slave and serve that master forever. When this was the case the scripture says that the master would take the ear of the slave and pierce it through into the door post of the house signifying that he would remain the property of that master indefinitely.

We are slaves to sin and unrighteousness. Our master is the devil and the flesh. We might be quick to say "I have never been a slave to anyone" as did the religious Jews in John 8 however Christ was quick to respond "Anyone who sins is a slave to sin". So our master is the enemy of God. Sounds like grim circumstances to me. No enemy of God will withstand his power of judgement nor escape his wrath.

What then? How can a man be set free from unrighteousness? How can we release the shackles that bind us to sin and death? Through the one who came as a slave, as nothing, and humbled himself becoming obedient unto death even death on a cross (our cross). Jesus! "If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed!" The Apostle Paul said that he "..was crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives within me" .

If Christ be your master, you will be his slave. As the slave who wants to stay with his master allows the piercing of his ear into the doorpost of the house, so to should we submit to our Lords command and "..deny yourself, take up your cross and then come follow me"

Only the man who sees himself as dirty will ever desire or have gratitude for the washing and only the slave likewise will appreciate true freedom!

Last night tonight! May God be Glorified throughout.

2011 Summer Camp!!

Tracy's Camp Counselors as Walmart greeters! Every year all the staff make the trip to Sumter for worship and swimming at the home of Dick and Sandy Davis and then head over to our local Walmart for our last minute shopping before campers arrive. We are blessed to have those pictured above to minister at the camp for the weeks of summer.

Training week has its challenges each year and through them we learn in preparation for the ministry to come with our campers. For us this year, we will certainly have our eyes open to serve every camper that steps onto the lawn at TC. Our eyes have been sharpened through the word of God and our hearts long to minister His love as we share about the Cross.

Our focus for 2011 is "The Cross of Christ". A real look at what took place on the hill at Calvary. It is so much more than mere suffering and death. We hope that none will ever look at a cross the same again after realizing that Christ died upon the Cross IN MY PLACE!

2 Corinthians 5:21 brings us face to face with the reality of Christ sacrifice. "For OUR sake He Made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"
We await with eager expectation those whom the Lord will send this summer. May He and He alone be glorified and the name of His Son exalted!