Enjoy my Thoughts

My Exit From Camp

2011-04-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

I'm sure by now most people know that I am no longer in the Launch Program at Hidden Acres Christian Camp. Some people know why and some have heard false stories. I just want to clear up everything. I left because I felt that I was not growing in the Lord. There was also a situation that occurred that I felt I could no longer be around. I wish the rest of the students luck on the program. I hope you enjoyed my last thought.

Assignment #22

2011-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

Give an example of an team building process you gone through in a job.

The team building process I have experienced is reinforcement. This happened at the best job I have ever had at the Hampton Inn. Working at this hotel is interesting because most of the employees are only there during the day. So when I got in for 2nd shift I worked alone. (Which I loved.) I loved the regular guests that I had. It was just great all over. Hampton Inn came out with a competition that lasted a few months. It was called "catch me at my best." The guests fill out what they saw us doing for other guests or themselves or just with our co-workers. It made us feel good that our guests saw how much we care about them. It really made us think about our guests. Even though it was a competition it was fun and everyone got involved. Greatest job ever! I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #21

2011-01-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

I took a personal assessment and now I am to list the three things I agree with and at least one that I do not agree with.

In the description of the assessment of me I am called an inspector. The one word that best describes me is super dependable. I would agree with this because my close friends say that they can depend on me. Most of my jobs that I have had I have also been called very dependable by my bosses. In my work situations I try to take as many hours as I can and I fill in for people when they have emergencies or vacations. My bosses have also told me to slow down or I will become overworked but when situations arise that I can get more hours it just makes more sense to me to work longer because when I go home I'm bored anyways.

I have a greater need for private time. I agree with this statement as well. I am very independent and like having quiet time with myself. I like being able to make decisions for myself and doing them. When going into town for shopping I prefer going alone because I can leave whenever I want but when going with a group we have to set a time to be ready and if someone isn't ready then we leave later. One of my biggest pet peeves is being late. I try to arrive at least 10 min early to anything I go to.

The last thing I will agree with is that I will assume a great deal of responsibility. When I know what is expected and I feel very confident of the task or project I definitely like being in charge. I have been known to take on too much at a time but everything works out for the best.

The one thing I disagree with is the field of work that attracts me. This test says that I would do best in finance, insurance underwriter, office manager, or bank examiner. Not one of these is anything like I want to do in life. I am horrible at math and really suck at spelling so these jobs would not suite me at all. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #20

2011-01-07T08:45:00.000-08:00

Being an expressive personality how would I relate to our guests, staff, and development of the camp?

When relating with our guests here at camp I put their needs first and foremost before any of my own needs. I think if I were more approachable then I could work more with the guests when they are here and make sure everything is taken care of but unfortunately I am shy when around bigger groups of people I don't know.

When working and relating with my fellow co-workers I think that I am a bit hard to work with. I can be strong in my opinions of what I think should happen instead of listening to others and what they know and has worked for years. I don't like taking directions from people who shouldn't really be giving me things to do but I need to start thinking that I am not doing it for that person but for the camp, its guests, and the Lord. If I were a real expressive person I would be able to work with anyone and be very enthusiastic about it all.

For development around the camp I have a few different ideas but most of them don't work for this area. As a Launch student I will have to complete a project for camp in May. I have an idea thus far but I would like to expand on it. However, I am not great with building things so I may end up keeping it simple. I also have to keep in mind that after Launch is over I won't be around to keep it up. I had a plan starting a garden but that takes a lot of work that the full time staff here just don't have the time for. The reason I wanted it was so the kitchen could have fresh produce to use but overall its just not worth it.

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #19

2010-12-15T08:21:00.000-08:00

We are going to visit Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp in Story City tomorrow and we each have to ask four questions.

My first question is about winter activities and how do they plan on attracting more people to the camp. We personally have added a lot of different winter activities for people to do this year. I have noticed that they don't have many retreats set up for December and January and I would like to know if that is just because they are usually slow or do they prefer not having groups out there due to their lack of activities.

The second question I have for them has to do with their summer staff. Do they get enough applications or do they have to go out and look for summer councilors? Also, being a Lutheran Camp do they only allow Lutherans to work on full time staff or summer staff?

Thirdly I was curious to know who comes up with their summer camp theme? I didn't know if they all come together or if they have one or two people working on that. Along with this question is the person(s) who do this also hire summer staff?

Finally, has the camp suffered from the economy having problems? Have you seen a decrease in children coming out for summer camps?

These are the questions I will be asking tomorrow at Riverside. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #18

2010-12-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

Give a SWOT analysis on Hidden Acres. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats.

When looking at Hidden Acres and our strengths we are good at taking care of guests and their needs. We all know that if our guests are not happy they could decide to not come back in the future. Our food is always a high point for our guests.

For weaknesses I think that our unity as a camp need a lot of work. We tend to blame one another and not take responsibility for our own mistakes. The teamwork here is almost non existent. People are out for their own gain. Some of our facilities could use some work. Another weakness here at Hidden Acres is that some people are spread really thin that don't have the time to complete simple maintenance around the camp.

I don't really know of any opportunities that we are missing out on. We cover a lot and we allow just about anyone to come out to camp.

The weather is a threat being in the Midwest we deal with tornadoes and flooding just about every year. We also have to deal with the government and their policies. We have to be very careful with our bookkeeping records just in case the government comes in wanting to look over things. But we have an amazing financial director so I feel confident that we are good in that department.
I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #17

2010-12-10T09:42:00.000-08:00

Name three measurable visions for Hidden Acres and explain how we will accomplish it with a timeline.

I have noticed that the horses are a big hit with younger people. So I think that if we work on fixing up the fences and remodeling the barn it would really invite more people in. This should be worked on over the winter and spring months to be ready by the Summer.

Our food at camp is delicious. However, I think if we had a remodel or a new building all together that would make us so much better. With more room it makes us more capable of doing bigger retreats. This could be accomplished by Summer 2013.

I know I should have three but I can't really think of another one so I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #16

2010-12-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

We are looking at a fictitious camp in class and it is getting a new director (me). So being new to this camp I need to figure out my next steps.

What are my next 3 decisions for Camp Pine Tree?

The first thing I would do is take a very detailed tour of the camp and see where buildings and grounds need to be improved or even taken down. By looking over the camp it would set me up for the next steps that I want to do. Having a better understanding of where the camp is stuck will make me more informed when it comes to the sit down meeting with the staff.

The second step and maybe most critical step will be sitting down with the staff and see what they want for the camp. Knowing how they want to see the camp continue on is very important. I think hearing what they want to do will help me see if they should stay employed or not at Camp Pine Tree. If they have no passion and are discouraged and giving up then I don’t think they should continue working at the camp. But I would not just fire them I would work with them and see if I can find the passion that they once had when they first started working at the camp. I would also be able to find out who really stands out as the leaders.

With the third step I would take what I learned from the meeting and see where the finances are. If they are good I would look into what needs improvement right away and get that project started. However, if the camp is in a bad financial state I would start brainstorming about how to get backing and donations. That’s about it. I know that it would take a lot of steps to get this camp going great again but this is where I would start. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #15

2010-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Why am I here?

Well… I’m not going to lie some days I have no idea why I am here. But then I go to the truth of the Bible for help and inspiration. Psalm 23:3 says “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” I know that the Lord has a plan and a path for me. His timetable isn’t meshing with mine like I would like but I know he is right. I need to stop pushing for what I want and just relax and see what the Lord is putting in front of me. I also refer to James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I tend to find the bad in every situation and then I talk about people behind their backs and also to their faces and I have come to feel convicted that this is not only morally wrong but sinful. Further in James 1 there is another wonderful verse that makes me look at how I communicate with people. I am always saying that at this camp “there is no communication” but there is more to communicating then just talking. “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James 1:19. I am hoping that by working on this not only will I know more and understand more before I react but I will learn to communicate with those who anger me but in a mature way so feelings do not get hurt.

I like learning how to do new things and coming here I knew that I would be put into those situations. I never imagined that I would put in water lines or fix broken water lines and that has really made me feel confident. Also learning how to drive a backhoe was so much fun. I love getting dirty and working outside with my hands. Just don’t ask me to build anything; I am horrible with measurements. I am still young in my relationship with the Lord. I accepted him into my life just over a year ago and I have so much to learn. This is why I am here. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Frustration

2010-11-20T18:36:00.000-08:00

I'm to my breaking point yet again. I just do not understand people. How can some people be so inconsiderate and do things that are only benefiting themselves. I am trying to stay positive and work for the Lord but it becomes very hard when others know I will do the work and they try shoving other tasks they should be doing on me. I also hate when people lie about the smallest little things although everyone knows they are being deceitful. BLOWS MY MIND... I'm not say that I am perfect by any means but when people throw things onto others just because they are too LAZY to do them themselves even though it only takes 5-10 min. just makes me not care. I also hate when people think they can walk all over others because they are easy to intimidate. Then when I stand up for my friends I get yelled at. hmmmmm..... does that sound right to anyone?? I feel that certain people come to me not only to vent but because they know I will do something about the situation. Trust is something that I don't come by often around here. For those who truly know me know what I am talking about with all of this. Who knows how much more of this I can take because obviously these people will not change their ways and I am to stubborn to change mine. But I feel like I am right I was raised the right way. Thanks Dad!
I hope you enjoyed my venting/thoughts.

Assignment #14

2010-11-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Character, Communion, Calling, Community. Knowing myself.

Who am I?

I am a shy person who takes a long time to feel comfortable around new people. I am very insecure about everything. I hate feeling worthless. I like to please others and that sometimes gets me burned out and then frustration begins. I don’t know how to forgive and forget. My friends definitely bring out the fun side of me and help me relax. I am a very independent person. I like coming up with ways to help others; most of the time they are not the greatest ideas. I have come to find out that I am not very approachable and I would like to work on this.

Whose am I?

I am a child of the Lord. I know that I can come to him with any problems that may come up in my life. I want to come to a point where I don’t second guess what the Lord wants for me.

Why am I here?

I think I need to learn how to control my anger and learn to forgive and forget. I know that I cannot become a true servant of the Lord until I conquer these issues. I don’t know what my calling is yet; but I know it will become clear to me when the time is right.

Where do I belong?

I know where I want to belong but it’s the journey the Lord has for me is where I truly belong. I want to belong in a church community that is a second family to me and I can go to them for help when I need to.

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #13

2010-11-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

Three things about myself and why I am the way I am? How do I relate to people opposite from me?

        I tend to look for the bad in things that I do except the positive. When I was being raised there was a lot of animosity around and people were not very optimistic. there fore I picked up this habit.
        For people who are optimistic I don't think I have problems with them, I actually wish I could be more like them. I also feel the for people who are more optimistic then have a greater relationship with the Lord and trust him more. I find myself having to remind myself to hand things over to the Lord.

       I find it easy to kick people out of my life because I cant forgive easily. Forgiveness is one of my greatest challenges I face everyday. When people upset me I get so full of anger that I just want to leave. This also come with how I was raised. Someone near and dear to my heart holds on to things that happened over twenty years ago and even through they cant change it they still go on and on about it. My family has also kicked other members out of for a period of time because they didn't like the choices they made and I believe those were justified both times because people cheated on their wives and husbands and had children involved. This defiantly come from both sides of the family.
        I want to work on this and when I see people get wronged and then not care just shocks me but I find myself mad with a person who hadn't even wronged me. I envy people who can forgive.

       I am very good with seeing something that needs to be done and getting it done without being told. I was raised on a farm and we raised animals from young ages so we had responsibilities every day. I am so happy I was raised this way because I see people who have to be told when to do something and it is just very frustrating. Being a farm kid makes me very proud because I think people think I may know what I'm doing more of the time then others. I tend to grasp ideas faster because to me its just logical.
       When dealing with people who are opposite of me in this aspect is one of the most frustrating to me to deal with. Quite honestly I dont know how to work with them without becoming upset so I can't answer this one.

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #12

2010-11-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Myself and the other Launch students will be attending Twin Lake Bible Camp Tuesday and we are to ask the director questions. Here are the questions I would like to be answered. And I hope to put the answers up so people know what the responses were.

When looking at Twin Lake Bible Camp what would I like to know?

What changes have you seen in your attendance in the last five years for summer camp? Due to the economy have you seen increases, decreases or staying about the same?

What have you seen as your biggest challenge in getting young people interested in getting away from worldly distractions? Todays kids are so into technology that it is tough to get them into a different setting that takes them away from their norm. For Twin Lakes I would really like to know if they embrace this or if they try keeping it out as much as possible.

What is the next step in growing your camp? All camps want to continue in growth whether it’s in raising funds, building new buildings, or buying new equipment.

Do you like your camp location or would you prefer it to be more secluded? The camp located next to North Twin Lake along with 300 other homes. I would really like to know if this location hurts the camp in anyway.

Assignment #11

2010-11-05T14:22:00.001-07:00

How do I relate cross culturally on a local, national, and international basic?

Wow what a question right? People are connected in a variety of different ways; living situations, sexual orientation, religion, race, sex, area of the world, or even area of town.

On a local level I think I can relate to a lot of different backgrounds. There are a lot of things I have gone through in my 22 years that others also went through. It is most easy to reach the people in your local area just by taking the time to do so. But the first step is to try and go outside your comfort zone.

Nationally it gets a bit difficult because most people can’t travel and visit with people and get to know them. However, Facebook makes this task doable. Americans as a whole have a lot of similarities as well and if we just took the time to find them friends would be all over the U.S.

Internationally the similarities are less because they way we live are different. I would personally love to travel all over the world and just meet people and learn about their lives. I think that I am very arrogant to their lifestyles though so it would be a great learning experience.

I’m not sure how well I answered this question but I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #10

2010-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Identify a trend in Christian Camping and explain if it would be a good addition to Hidden Acres or not.

There are a lot of different trends that are out there some good and some bad. The first thing that comes to my mind is ATVs. I have two older brothers who love to ride their 4 wheelers all over and I haven't seen a lot of their age group out at the camp and really focus on them. I feel that the age 20-30 tends to get overlooked and this is a age that loves to ride ATVs from my experience. Hidden Acres has trails and they would be great for ATVs.

A downside to this idea is that the camp roads and trails could get destroyed but if we could bring even one person to the Lord I think that a little road and trail damage is worth it. I don't think that the camp should be open at all times for anyone to just bring out their ATV but make a weekend of it. If we had a retreat for this group we would obviously not allow any other groups to be out here that same time due to the fact that ATVs make noise and most people find that annoying.

I truly believe that if people see that we care about their interests enough for them to bring out their ATVs I think that would open up a whole new aspect of the camp. Also we could have one retreat during the fall or spring then another in the winter for snowmobiles.
This is what I would love to see at Hidden Acres. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #9

2010-10-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

An International Camp apart of the CCI.

The camp I got information about was in Australia. Ankara Youth Camp is situated on the banks of the mighty River Murray, some 110 kilometers from Adelaide. The camp site with its comfortable facilities, is ideal for a family weekend, group holiday, or maybe a youth convention! Whichever way you look at it, and whatever your age may be, Ankara is a great place to spend a few days! The area the camp is located in is noted for abundant bird life, rugged limestone cliffs, fishing and marine life, water skiing, canoeing, windsurfing, and sailing.
Ankara Youth Camp is situated on the banks of the mighty River Murray at Walker Flat, some 110 kilometers north-east of Adelaide.
Their accomidations include: separate male & female bunk house. Each with 6 rooms having 4 double bunks with foam mattresses. For leaders cabins there is also separate male and female areas with 4 in each room, accommodating 11 people. Mattresses supplied

Ankara Youth Camp has self-catering facilities. A large dining room adjoins the kitchen and self-serve slide. And if you like the occasional barbeque, there's an undercover BBQ facility between the kitchen washroom and the activity hall.
The kitchen and dining hall includes:
tables & chairs for 100 people, walk in cool room & a large chest freezer, 2 commercial gas ovens & a microwave, commercial cook top, adequate cooking pots, cooking utensils, plates, cutlery & cups, industrial toaster & 2 urns (large & small), hot & cold water as well as filtered rain water, and industrial dishwasher.

If you plan to use the indoors, there is a large hall which can be used for indoor games or as a theater - great for evening concerts. The real action is outdoors, with a selection of great activities including canoeing, windsurfing, water-skiing, diving and swimming. A sandy beach is available for those who like to swim and play in the water or just sit in the shade. The spacious grassy areas are ideal for team sports. Some equipment for activities is provided.

There was not a whole lot of information on this camp but this is what I could find.
I hope you enjoyed this information.

Assignment #8

2010-10-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

Separation v.s. Accommodation in a camp ministry
When looking at a camp ministry and incorporating separation or accommodation I believe that there is a big difference. With separation your camp would be rustic and very basic. This would also cut out all of the worldly distractions; for some people this would be a good thing. People also like this type of camp because it is perfect for seclusion they would not experience in their normal day.
I think that in todays society people are looking to get away to a camp but not to be completely cut off from the outside world. Hidden Acres is more this because we do have t.v. with cable, wireless internet, a inn, indoor swim pool, and indoor gym. These accommodations keep guests happy. It is also nice for guests that we have so many options because when it is nice out they can go to the pond or mini golf but if it is raining they have the options of playing in the FLC swimming, playing games, or playing in the gym. If you still want seclusion you have the opportunity to go off by yourself and find a calming spot to spend time with the Lord.
Overall neither one of these options are bad its just what a person prefers. I personally would go to a modern camp before I would go to a rustic camp. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #7

2010-10-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

How do I see God through nature?
I spent the last two days at Backbone State Park and the park truly came alive. Going when the leaves are changing and falling to the earths ground was so calming. I also enjoyed the fact that the camp sites were almost empty so I could hear the wind blowing through the trees and as the leaves came down it sounded like rain. Everywhere I looked I saw the Lords handy work and it was extraordinary. While on a hike I felt loved just by looking and listening to all my surroundings. I know that the Lord loves us because of the beauty I got to see that day. More times then none I take for granted the sun raising in the morning and setting at night. I lose sight of the love the Lord has for all of use and because of that love he made a glorious landscape for us to see and experience. Today people are so obsessed with themselves and technology they have pushed the Lord so far away that they don't even remember him.
By taking this time out of my normal routine I saw the love that the Lord has and always will have for us. The Lord made the seasons and they are all beautiful; new plants grow and old ones die but there is a never ending cycle. He is so amazing and I just pray that my relationship with him can grow more and more everyday. That is my answer to the question. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #6

2010-10-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Look up a camp that is associated with the CCI and give a good description of the camp.

Young Life doesn’t start with a program. It starts with adults concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don’t happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency.
So Young Life leaders log many hours with kids around the world — where they are, as they are. Leaders faithfully attend football practices in the Minneapolis suburbs, mingle with teenagers at a mall in Stockholm and play pick-up soccer with former child-soldiers in Liberia. We listen to their stories and learn what’s important to them because we genuinely care about their joys, triumphs, heartaches and setbacks.
We believe in the power of presence. Kids’ lives are dramatically impacted when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God’s love with them. Because their leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose.
This is the first step of a lifelong journey; the choices they make today, based upon God’s love for them, will impact future decisions … careers chosen, marriages formed and families raised. All ripples from the time when a Young Life leader reached out and entered their world.
Everyone is welcome in Young Life! Our programs are custom made for kids throughout their adolescent years. Young Life is the name of our organization and is also the term we use for our program with high school students. We call our middle school program WyldLife. The initiative for college and university students is called Young Life College.
Young Life’s multicultural ministry, focused on kids in diverse cultural communities and those in economically-depressed areas, is arguably the largest of its kind in the United States. We refer to our ministry to kids with disabilities as Capernaum and to our work with teen moms as YoungLives. In a partnership with Military Community Youth Ministries, Young Life reaches military teens through a program called Club Beyond. The Small Towns initiative brings Young Life to communities of fewer than 25,000 people.

Incorporated on October 16, 1941, Young Life now reaches more than one million kids each year. Lost Canyon, owned and operated by Young Life, is located at 7000 feet in beautiful northern Arizona just 30 miles west of Flagstaff. In the summer season Young Life campers will experience nothing less than “the best week of their lives!” From Labor Day to Memorial Day, Young Life and non-Young Life groups are invited to experience the first-class facilities and warm hospitality that all of our guests here at Lost Canyon receive.

For more than 60 years, Young Life has set the standard by building state-of-the-art, comfortable and well-designed facilities that reflect God's glorious creation. We offer outstanding lodging, amenities and personalized service at competitive and affordable rates for groups of up to 500 guests. We desire to share this beautiful resort property and serve your non-profit organization.

Lost Canyon has eight buildings for your group to enjoy. The dining hall, recreation center, camper dorms, club room, goldmine, main street, stone house coffee, and the gym are all open for those visiting the camp.

During the summer they have weeks at Young Life’s Lost Canyon in the beautiful Arizona high country with over 400 other high school or junior high students is sure to be an experience you will not soon forget. With top-notch accommodations, unbelievable food and an atmosphere you won't want to leave, your trip to Lost Canyon is sure to be the best week of your life. The children experience a large array of activities like rope courses, the heist, pool and spa, zip line, the blob, mountain biking, basketball, sand volleyball, soccer, football, and a gym.

Looking over this program is very exciting to me because it is getting the children excited to be outdoors and know about the Lord. This camp is located in Williams Arizona.

Assignment #5

2010-09-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

How do I know I’m being called by God?

Is it a pinch, a whisper, a vision, a door opening, a dream, or just a feeling? For me it’s a few of these subtle hints. In the last year I have fully given myself to the Lord. I have stumbled and came close to giving up on many occasions but with the right friends there to catch me I got back up and dusted myself off. That to me was a sign from God not to give up.

Being a “new” Christian it’s hard to know if you feel a call from the Lord or if it is your own desire. I have struggled with this concept greatly in the last year and have found myself second guessing every decision I have made. However, as my relationship with the Lord has grown so has my ability to pray for my eyes to be open and my ears to be listening. I know that the Lord is calling me when the right door opens at the every last second. It makes me think that God has a sense of humor. Looking back on the last year it is just crazy to me how much the Lord has done for me.

For instance, when I was living in Arizona I had a great pull in my heart to do a mission trip. I had never wanted to leave the country for a mission trip prior to these feelings. But the crazy part was that this happened in February and the end of June I was on a plane to the Dominican. The way that this trip happened was a calling in itself. I moved back to Iowa moved in with my best friend in Ames and began my passport process and was searching the internet day in and day out for a mission group I could go with over the summer but I was having little luck finding something for me. Until I went to Waterloo to an old job of mine and my old co-worker told me about her sister who had just married a Dominican man and who had a mission down in Monte Cristi. So I facebooked her sister and from there we sent emails and two months later I was traveling down to Monte Cristi. We stayed for 17days and it was incredible. I was never a kid person but being forced to be with their four kids for that period of time made me open my heart to children. Before I had left for my trip my sister in Christ told me of a camp that had a leadership program. I looked into it but was very unsure of what to do. So while I was in the Dominican I prayed about my next step whether the Lord wanted me to go to this camp or to do something else. Two days before we left to come home I got a feeling to check the camps website. I ran upstairs and got on the website and read through the program and just knew I had to fill out the application and give it a shot. The first Monday home I called the camp to see if there were any spots left and was told that there were and I told Ryan I was sending my application in the mail the next day. He called me back two days later and we set up an interview. That was my first time coming to the camp and I was shocked at the size. It went really well and Ryan told me the ball was in my court and he told me to think about it for a few days and get back to him. Well if I remember correctly I called him about four hours later and said that I was in. This all happened less than 2 weeks before the program started. See God has a sense of humor just when I think I’m out of options he rescues me.

So you may be thinking sure God worked in your life but is that really a calling? Well when I returned from the Dominican I felt that the Lord wanted me to do more mission trips and bring his word to people all over the world. But I was not ready then or now mentally or spiritually to do so yet but time at this camp will help me grow and learn.

This is my answer to the question. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #4

2010-09-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

What is the relationship between a church and a parachurch ministry?

We will start with what is a parachurch? A parachurch is an organization that is faith-based that work outside of and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism, usually independent of church over sight.

How do these work together? My favorite analogy is the church is a rhino and the parachurch is the birds who sit on the back of the rhino and eat off the bugs. Parachurches don’t hurt the church but if there was no church the parachurch would suffer greatly.

The parachurch was mans creation because churches wanted something more long side of the church. Many churches want their members to have friendships with each other and to grow these bonds it is very helpful to get them out of the “church” setting and put them somewhere they can relax. Parachurches make a great setting for people to come together and culturally bond.

There are some churches that fund a parachurch whether that is a camp or missionaries. I hope this answered the question. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #3

2010-09-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

Explain the pros and cons of being a denominational camping organization.

This question is hard to answer because what I think of as a con someone else may see it as a pro. So I will be answering this question as if someone was to ask me. Some of the pros for me would be the fact that I know and understand the statement of faith that the E-Free Churches have set up for Hidden Acres and I feel very comfortable coming to this camp. Having a camp with backing from not only one church but a group of churches is also a great thing because I know that these churches truly believe in this camp and what it is set up for. When the day comes that I am married and have children I would be more likely to send my kids to Hidden Acres over just a summer camp because I know my children would be looked after and held accountable for their actions. This camp also has Bible study in the summer that kids usually don’t get much of during the school year. I would also want my children to meet other Christian kids because they are good influences (well I hope they are).

I see a few flaws with being a denominational camp. The big one would be if a E-Free church somewhere in the U.S. were to do something very wrong and unethical that got a lot of news coverage people could look at Hidden Acres in a whole new light and think that the decisions that church somewhere made is what we believe when that could be far from the truth. It is also important to hire the right people for the camp because if we were to have someone here caught drinking on property or off that could cause a group to never return and word of mouth could spread quickly and ultimately cause the churches that back us to rethink everyone on staff. This could be very detrimental to any camp that is associated with a denomination.

I’m sure that there are many different opinions on this question but this is what I think. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Letting Go

2010-09-16T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today I was asked to let go and not harbor bad feelings towards another person. Sounds easy right? Not for me. I don't know what it is but I have a difficult time letting go of things that make me upset. While I was mowing this afternoon I realized that I don't know how to let things go. I literally don't know how to just say ok and move on. I have always just stayed pissed until so much time has gone by that I don't even remember why I was mad or I realize that it was over something really stupid but I still can't bring myself to let it go completely.
I don't know any different. While I love my father to death he is a very angry person who to this day still goes on rampages about his ex wife. (They have been divorced for over 19 years) I know I have picked this habit of his up and I don't want to harbor things like this. I have actually cut people out of my life because I can't let go. A few of my best friends gone, my "mom" gone, others who I have cut out but they are back in. I just don't know why I can't function mentally and just let it go. I can feel the anger in my body and I don't like it there.
Over this last year as I have found the Lord it has really been weighing on my heart. I know that this anger I hold on to is not what the Lord wants me to do. I feel that I can't be a true servant of the Lord until I get over this bridge. In my eyes this bridge is old and falling apart I feel that even taking one step will bring the entire structure down. Where do I begin? How do I begin? May the Lord help me and I know I will get more opportunities to work on this in the next eight months.
I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

Assignment #2

2010-09-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

How does understanding the worldview of other religions help you minister to others needs, even if you never meet someone from those particular faiths?
If you are talking to someone who is confused and don't know where they fit in a religion you could be very helpful in opening the door of communication. By you understanding other religions they will get a good look at the possibilities. You will be able to approach the conversation in a nonthreatening way and allow the person to be comfortable.
Religion can be a very touchy subject to discuss but if you are properly full of knowledge this can be more helpful than hurtful. By giving correct information to a person about a religion they know nothing or little about could open their eyes to the world and spark interest or stop hatred. There are people in this world who hate others just because of their religion and the facts that the person received could be completely wrong. Therefore, by talking about other religions could totally change the way a person looks and treats others.
On the other hand by discussing other religions could make a young adult want to become a missionary and travel around the world. In some cases in other countries people are in remote areas and don't know of the world only of their own village or town. If you were to become a missionary you will absolutely want to know of the areas religion so you can respect them and they know you are not ignorant to their beliefs. If they know you understand them and respect them they will be more open to listening to you and what you have to say.
So that is why I think that it is important to know about other religions.
I hope you enjoy my thoughts.

Assignment #1

2010-09-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Why should everyone understand a ministries statement of faith? I think we should start off by asking what is a statement of faith. A statement of faith is a statement that a ministry will put together that tells people what their beliefs are. It can be in depth or in plain English for everyone to easily understand. From my experience in the last 2 hours the Launch program went through two different types of statements of faith. The first one was the Hidden Acres statement of faith and the second one was a online program CCI statement of faith. For the Hidden Acres statement of faith it is easy to understand front and back of a piece of paper. For the online program CCI their statement of faith was very in depth and left a lot of things open so other religions would not be offended. Their statement of faith was five pages front and back. Honestly who would be willing to sit there and read through all of that mumbo jumbo that doesn't make any sense and in the end not remember anything from it.

I think that if an organization truly wants people to read and understand a statement of faith they need to keep it short and to the point otherwise people can interpreter it however they want. I'm not saying that the CCI statement is bad I personally can't grasp what they really believe and to me that is kind of frustrating.

Why should people understand a ministries statement of faith? Well if you are looking for a place to bring your family or send your children you should look into their statement because you can get a feel for the type of organization the camp is. You can see if you believe the same things the camp does and if you don't you can look elsewhere. I hope that covered the question. Enjoy my thoughts.

Old habits fall hard

2010-08-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

As my time here comes and goes I find myself looking back on the past and what I did before the Lord was my top priority. I feel ashamed but blessed at the same time. If I didn't go through what I had would my coming back to the Lord be as incredible feeling?

In my past in have taken part in different activities that at the time I didn't care one way or the other. But now I hope that people do not ever look at me in that light again. As a teen drugs, sex, and alcohol were in the lives of many of my friends and myself. It was the "cool" thing to do. How silly and selfish of me and all of us to think that way.

I have been very good about not drinking in the last year (not saying I haven't at all but just not as much) which is kind of funny considering I'm finally 21 and can drink when ever I want to but I don't. My problem is that when I get upset, mad, depressed, nervous, and overwhelmed I want to drink. I want to lose control for that moment and just relax and feel nothing at all. This will be a challenge but I am praying that I will not drink in the next 9 months.

This is all I have tonight please feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments.
I hope you enjoyed my thoughts.

To my readers

2010-08-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize ahead of time if anyone gets offended from what I say. This is my blog and my true feelings and thoughts if I were to sugar coat these things then you would not ever get to know me for who I am as a person. Please enjoy my thoughts.

My top two Bible verses

2010-08-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalms 62: 1-2