Camp, Co-op activities and Christ

I've spent most of the last several days at our church camp near Ashland, NE. Camp Carol Joy Holling is a wonderful space spread across about 300 acres with hard wood forest, open fields and lakes and waterways. It also has wild turkeys, bugs, and all the other wonders of creation. And this week it has, in addition to the multitude of summer camp staff, several dozen "Confirmation Campers" who are studying, playing, eating and serving together. They are doing so around a theme that has to do with community in Christ. I get to interact with our four students and other students and Pastors as we go about camp life together.

One of the more fun activities to observe are the "co-op" activities where students learn to trust each other, work together and accomplish activities together. These activities are designed to assist students to be able to participate in and complete the "high ropes" course, a task that cannot (and should not) be done alone. They need each other for support, encouragement, balance and community. It is fun to see students complete this challenge together.

Springs campers are divided into several "villages". Each village consists of individuals from different churches and communities. Each village will be "Village for the Day." This year what it means to be "Village for the Day" is that the members of the village work together to carry a large wooden cross -- it is made from 2 x 6 lumber and is probably 12 feet tall. It takes some cooperation and effort for all hands to be carrying the cross. When we see the village carrying the cross we can yell, "Why are you carrying that cross." The village will respond, "Because Jesus is the center of my life."

Jesus the center of my life. Isn't that a wonderful response to a whole host of questions? Why have you chosen to make weekly worship a priority? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why have you chosen to share 10% of your resources with others through the church? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why do you notice the poor and the outcast? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why have you decided to pray and read your Bible on a daily basis? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!" Why are you so eager to tell others what God is doing in your life? "Because Jesus is the center of my life!"

You see, when looked at like this, Jesus as the center of my life changes things. It gives me a new way to look at my motivations, a new way to look at my choices, a new way to think about my discipleship and my following of Jesus.

One of our students observed that many of the things we "do" as disciples we do without expecting anything in return. That's really right on. How can we do things without any expectation of anything in return. Because Jesus is the center of my life! Of course. And because Jesus gave it all for us.

Now, isn't that good news!!

And, oh, I forgot to mention that campers, the Nebraska Synod Mission Trip and World Hunger are partnering to put together 32,000 health kits (soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, comb, band-aids, nail clipper, hand towel and wash cloth) for the people of Haiti. This project is on target to reach this goal by the end of camp next week -- this week campers assembled 4,600 + Health Care kits and the total at the end of the week stands at 30,049. Why? Because Jesus is the center of our life!!