When Jesus summarizes his work on earth, he doesn’t start reliving all the great sermons he preached and all the people who came to listen to him.  He doesn’t talk about the amazing miracles he performed---giving sight to the blind, enabling the lame to walk, and feeding thousands of people with minimal food.  He doesn’t even mention bringing the dead back to life.  Instead he talks repeatedly about the small group of men God gave him out of the world.  They were the work God had given to him.  They were, quite literally, his life.

David Platt, Radical

A Slice of Fresh Bread

The sassafras leaves are turning red and not a moment too soon.  Here in East Texas the summers are long and hot; at time I think the inferno will never end and then I see the change of color in the sassafras.  Being the first leaves to turn each year they give me hope that cooler days are soon to follow.

The changing colors of the sassafras leaves provide hope of better days to come.  Ironically, the colorful symbol of hope begins with the initiation of the death process for the leaf.

Hope is a foundational concept in Christianity.  Paul writes frequently of faith, hope and love.  Ironically the basis of our hope for better days to come is based upon death as well.  The writer of the Book of Hebrews recognizes the importance of hope when he says, Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

The strength of our hope is based upon the reliability of the source of our hope.  That is why the verse ends with the phrase, for he who promised is faithful.  Our hope is built on our relationship with God though His Son Jesus.  As certainly as the cool breeze of autumn will follow the hot blast of summer we live with the certain hope that every tear will be wiped away and that the shame, pain and frustrations of this world will dissolve into the joy of eternity. 

Don’t let the long hot days of summer drag you down.  Look for the sassafras leaves and know that the hope for a better future will someday be reality. 

Prayer Requests

1.      Please pray for the board and staff of Camp Kikoten near Mexico City.  They are facing a major challenge to their property rights.  Legal proceedings are underway that could require them to give up all or a portion of the camp property, or resolve the issue forever in their favor.  Please pray for God's protection of this significant camping ministry in Mexico. 

2.      CCI-UK has hired a new office manager who beings this week.  Please thank the Lord for this much needed help for the rest of the staff and pray that she will be effective in her service to CCI-UK.

3.      This week a group from the United States is working at a Christian camp in Jamaica. Please pray for safety and impact for the volunteers and for support and encouragement for the camp and its staff.

4.      CCI-Latin America is holding a camp training session on September 4 in Costa Rica.  Please pray for the travel, logistics, training and encouragement of this gathering.

5.       African Christian Camping is holding a training event near Nairobi, Kenya September 6-11.  The board of ACC will meet during this time with Dan DeGroat, President of the Global Outreach Group and the Regional Representative for CCI in the Former Soviet Union as well as Ross Bay from New Zealand, the CCI Regional Representative for Africa.Please pray for God’s guidance during this important meeting and training event.

When measuring a church, we must determine the degree to which God’s people are drawing on God’s grace to carry out His divine directives.

Gene Getz, The Measure of a Church

A Slice of Fresh Bread

The headlines seemed particularly discouraging this week; devastating floods in Pakistan, drug related killings in Mexico, death and fighting in Afghanistan, a mother murdered her two young children in South Carolina (USA), hostages killed in the Philippines, economic futility, rising unemployment, political dysfunction, and my wife lost her cell phone.

Fortunately, I came across Isaiah 6:3.   The angels assigned to serve in the throne room of heaven called out continually, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.

WOW!  The angels of Isaiah’s time enjoyed a much better perspective than the news outlets of today.  The angelic reality filtered through the power and majesty of God’ greatness supersedes our vantage point jaded by the pain of sin and death.  Both are true but only God is victorious.

We must never lose site of the pain and turmoil of this world, but we must never surrender the angels’ truth that, the whole earth is full of his glory. 

What are you looking for?  What dominates your perspective?  Take time to see the beauty of God’s creation.  Enjoy the authenticity of a loving relationship.  Receive the reconciliation that God provides through Jesus Christ.  The whole earth is full of his glory.  

Prayer Requests

1.      CCI-UK has hired a new staff member to help carry the significant load in their office.  Please thank the Lord for this much needed help for the rest of the staff and pray that she will be effective in her service to CCI-UK.

2.      A Christian camping leader from Kenya is visiting Christian camping sites in Spain.  Please pray that the cross-pollination between these associations will be helpful to both.

3.      CCI-Latin America is holding a camp training session on September 4 in Costa Rica.  Please pray for the travel, logistics, training and encouragement of this gathering.

4.      African Christian Camping is holding a training event near Nairobi, Kenya September 6-11.  The board of ACC will meet during this time with Dan DeGroat, President of the Global Outreach Group and the Regional Representative for CCI in the Former Soviet Union as well as Ross Bay from New Zealand, the CCI Regional Representative for Africa.  Please pray for God’s guidance during this important meeting and training event.

5.      A Christian camp near Mexico City is dealing with squatters who have occupied portions of the camp’s property.  Please pray for a peaceful and just resolution to this difficult confrontation.

6.       A camp in Jamaica reported an amazing week of ministry in which every child from an impoverished, rural area made a commitment to Christ.Please thank God for working in significant ways in camps throughout the world.

Help me to love like you loved
Serve like you served
To speak only words of truth
Help me to care like you cared
For a world in despair
Help me to love like you.

                 Jonny Diaz, Love Like You Loved

A Slice of Fresh Bread

Our daughter is getting married in a few months and our house is aflutter with wedding planning.  I mainly try to stay out of the decision making but I do enjoy watching my wife and daughter working through the many critical details. 

However, I cleared my schedule when they planned a meeting with the caterer to sample the possible food options that could be served at the reception.  Oh my! That was very, very nice.  Wave after wave of tiny yet scrumptious samples of appetizers, salads, vegetables, and meats concluded with only six cake samples.  Saying no to some of the magnificent options was a tragedy of major significance.  Tough work but I was glad to help as best I could. 

The tasting was wonderful; it left us wanting more and a desire to share these delectable bites with our friends.  David knew the feeling.  In Psalm 34:8 he says, Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Having experienced a sampling of God’s provision and protection David became an advocate for others to do the same. 

Experiencing God’s love, forgiveness, protection and peace, even for just a taste, will leave us wanting more and hoping for opportunities to share Him with others.  Camp offers an ideal place for children, youth and adults to, Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Prayer Requests

1. The Leadership of Africa Christian Camping (CCI-East Africa) will meet later this month in Nairobi, Kenya.  They are moving forward with plans to become the newest and 19th member of the CCI Worldwide Alliance.  Please pray that all will go well and a strong foundation will be laid for many years of effective ministry.
2. I will be participating in the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism October 16-25 in Cape Town, South Africa. Please pray for the funding needed for this trip and that this will be an effective time of learning, networking, strategizing and inspiration. 
3. Planning is underway for the CCI-Canada national conference November 21-24 and the Christian Camp and Conference Association (USA) national conference December 6-9.  Please pray for the work that is underway to make these effective times of training and fellowship.
4. Several CCI associations are in financial difficulty.  Please pray for the operating resources for these associations to continue ministering effectively. 

I believe that much of the American churchgoing population, while not specifically swimming downstream, is slowly floating away from Christ.  It isn’t a conscious choice, but it is nonetheless happening because little in their lives propels them toward Christ. 

Francis Chan, Crazy Love

A Slice of Fresh Bread

It has been hot here in East Texas the past few weeks, temperatures in the low 100s (38+ C) and high humidity.  I’ve talked to three summer staff members from three different local Christian camps in the past week (Rockin’ C Ranch, Sky Ranch and Pine Cove.). 

Just making small-talk, I asked each how their summers were going.  I expected small-talk replies and comments about how hot it has been.  Each surprised me with what they didn’t say, their attitude and their focus.  All of them seemed oblivious to the heat, they were all enthusiastic and excited about camp, and each talked about the good things God was doing in the lives of campers and staff.

Spending time with campers, some difficult to love, during the hot, humid days of August in East Texas, is a challenge – especially after weeks and weeks of similar routine.  But none of that seemed to faze them; the excitement of living the love of God and sharing the truth of His Word with campers was all that mattered.

Nehemiah and Ezra faced the tough challenge of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the soul of a nation.  In the long, demanding, exhausting days of their work they discovered the truth, The joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) 

If the heat of this world is wearing you down, reflect on Christ; remember who He is and what He has done for you.  The joy of the Lord is your strength. 

Prayer Requests

1. Please continue to pray for the fire situation in Russia.  At least three Christian camps have been evacuated but there have been no reported injuries.  Please pray for the continued safety of everyone involved and pray that God would allow the ministries of other camps to go on without interruption.
2. Christian camping Southern Africa and Christian Venues Association (Australia) completed major conferences last week.  Please pray that the information learned, relationships built and commitments made would strengthen those who attended these important events.
3. CCI New Zealand is hosting The Gathering August 8-12.  Please pray that this meeting for the executive leadership of CCI member camps would provide the networking and strategic planning to grow Christian Camping throughout their country.
4. The Leadership of Africa Christian Camping (CCI-East Africa) will meet later this month in Nairobi, Kenya.  They are moving forward with plans to become the newest and 19th member of the CCI Worldwide Alliance.  Please pray that all will go well and a string foundation will be laid for many years of effective ministry.
5. I will be participating in the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelism October 16-25 in Cape Town, South Africa. Please pray for the funding needed for this trip and that this will be an effective time of learning, networking, strategizing and inspiration.
6. Several CCI associations are in financial difficulty.Please pray for the operating resources for these associations to continue ministering effectively.