Oregon Ministry Network

The Power of Summer Camp

Would you rather sleep in a sleeping bag on a bunk bed or in a five-star hotel with room service? Would you rather eat chicken nuggets on an assembly line or eat a gourmet burger at Red Robin? Would you rather canoe in a green pond with a bunch of kids or cruise the Bahamas with your family?
 
Guess what time is coming? If you guessed Summer Camp, you would be right.  In just a few months many of us will be packing kids on a bus for Summer Camp. A day at Summer Camp will look very different than a kid’s average day.
 
The average American kid spends…

A Life Lived Palms Down

On the Saturday before Easter, I spent the day in Central Oregon helping my brother-in-law John rebuild his fence so he could bring over their two horses. After a long afternoon in the warm sun and gusty wind we were thirsty, hungry and ready for a break. So we sat down on the patio and John brought out some cold water and what was left of a few small cinnamon rolls. Being polite, I allowed the others to enjoy a cinnamon roll first. Now, two remained so I made my move and grabbed one. After taking a small bite, I arose and headed toward the work truck with the remaining roll loosely in my hand. Just then, Jack, John’s wild and crazy golden retriever snatched, from my hand, the rest of my sweet piece of heaven. Now, this is just one reason why I don’t need a dog in my home. Luckily there was still one more cinnamon roll left on the plate for me; Jack would not get his slobbery mouth on this one.

 
In life, there are some things we need to hold on to tightly, but for other things its best to hold them loosely. This is the difference between holding things palms up or palms down. I’ve noticed we tend to live our life holding things palms up; tightly in our grasp. This way if we lose our grip we will still have time to react and regain control.

Significance & Security

I wrote in my last blog that the kids and youth we all work with each week are seeking to satisfy two basic human needs: Significance and Security. As I said last time, I believe these needs are only met through Jesus Christ and his church.

 
Last time I discussed Significance. This time I want to talk about Security. 

Significance & Security

I think we all agree that most upper elementary kids, tweens and teenagers, in their own way, are seeking for approval. Identity is huge at this age. They are asking questions like: Who am I?  Where do I fit? What do I have to offer? This is all part of the maturity process. But, as our kids and youth struggle with their identity, through this time of life, there is no better place than God’s church to help them find significance and security.

As I wrote in my previous blog, significance and security are two fundamental needs of every human being. I believe these needs are only met through Jesus Christ and his body, the church.

In this blog I want to talk about significance; next time will talk about security. 

Pretty or Ugly?

You may have you heard about the latest YouTube craze happening among Tweens. Recently on YouTube young girls and boys have been posting videos of themselves, asking the world if they’re pretty or ugly. You can only imagine the types of comments others are leaving. Take a look at this young girl’s post named sgal901 on YouTube, (http://youtu.be/8D9mqqkgH-0), she may be in middle school.  She has over 4 million views and over 90,000 comments.

I think we would all agree that the Internet is no place for Tweens to be wrestling with their identity or to be finding self-worth. Denise Restauri, a contributor on Forbes.com writes, “Absolutely nothing good can come of this.” Restauri then asks the question many of us are wondering: “Why are girls doing this?” She goes on to answer her own question with three reasons.

RELENTLESS

RELENTLESS! That is what our OMN Missionaries are every day. They are relentless about fulfilling the Great Commission and they should be our heroes. We need to teach our Kids and Youth to be relentless like these missionaries. I believe that every time we give them an opportunity to give to STL or BGMC we are teaching them to be relentless for the cause of Jesus Christ.

 
A few weeks back I received the following letter from our missionaries in Djibouti, Africa. I hope this letter encourages you in your support of BGMC and STL; God’s timing is always perfect.

STOP!

Luke 10:25-29: “And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How do you read it?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.’ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”

Jesus confirmed that the lawyer’s conclusion for inheriting eternal life was correct. Now, I’ve thought many times, why didn’t the lawyer leave it alone? Why ask the next question? Pride and self-righteousness can make it hard for us to keep our mouths shut at times.

Thanks to the lawyer’s next question, Luke chapter 10 records two stories of a few busy people, to teach us some important lessons about the Great Commandment.

What Are You Dreaming About?

Prov 29:18, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” (ESV)

Gift-giving Season

Christmas is the gift-giving season, here are the “Top 10 Things to Say About a Bad Christmas Gift”:
10. Hey, now there's a gift!
9. Well, well, well . . .
8. Boy, if I had not recently shot up 4 sizes that would've fit.
7. This is perfect for wearing around the basement.
6. I sure hope this never catches fire! It is fire season though. There are lots of unexplained fires.
5. If the dog buries it, I'll be furious!
4. I love it — but I fear the jealousy it will inspire.
3. Sadly, tomorrow I enter the Federal Witness Protection Program.

A Compliment from the Third Century

In the third century, St. Cyprian of Carthage wrote the following in a letter to Donatus:

“It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians. . . and I am one of them.”

What a compliment! St. Cyprian description of the church is refreshing. It seems that the third century church had taken to heart the instructions St. Paul had given on how to live in this “bad world”, a few centuries earlier.