serpent's suasive...

we studied genesis 3 today (a section of scripture usually entitled 'the fall') and i am seeing it from a whole new perspective. i am having a hard time understanding why God goes through the process of creation and giving free will even though it is so painful for him. His gentle response to the man and the woman after they disobey the one thing he asked them not to do is so foreign to my own thoughts and instinct in how to respond. so much of me wishes that God would have just yelled at them, expressed his anger but instead he just lets his pain sit out there. it frustrates me because it means i must do the same. i want to be justified but i know that i must change and respnd gentle, that i must not work independently of God but be dependent on him for guidance in moral choice. it is a humbling realization and hopefully one that i can stay commited to trying to live out...

transition...

although camp is offically over for me for the summer, i am still up at pioneer for the ontario campus staff retreat for this week. being back with other staff from around the province has made me excited to get back into campus mode but has also made me aware of how tired i am. this week we will be studying the first 11 chapters of the book of genesis. last night we did the first 11 books in 7 short skits which was quite hilarious and i am sure will provide planty of blackmail material in the future.
i am hoping this will be a good week of rest (three cheers for free time in the afternoon for napping!) and getting focused to return to ministry at MAC. it is so crazy to think that next week is welcome week and that students will be back on campus and starting a whole new academic year.

stepping it up...

this morning has been the best moment i have ever had at adventure camp. the theme this session is "cereal city" and the program team has done an awesome job trying to pull in as many of the cereal characters as they possibly can. this morning at breakfast (the cereal banquet) they all came together and sand a medley that summed up the story for the week. it was so good! i can believe how talented and creative they are. it all ended with 'cereal for life' (to the tune of 'circle of life') with the big finish being in 4 part harmony. it is so amazing how they have gone the extra mile for the last session when most people just fade out (including myself i think). i have been so impressed with the leadership over at adventure camp this summer and how much they really care for the kids that come to that camp and the ministry that happens there.
i'm hoping the video footage of the grand finale will end up on the internet for the world to enjoy. i will post the link on this site once i hear word...

increased communication...

tomorrow is the last full day of summer camp (although it feels like winter up here...). i have thoroughly enjoyed this summer, if i were chris clements i would most likely describe it as quite reasonable. definitely glad that i decided to come back for one last summer before taking a little time away from spending the whole summer at pioneer.
once again i am amazed by how God has been working in the lives of campers and staff all summer. i see Him working each summer but somehow i seem to forget and i am surprised when it happens again. we had our last director's meeting on tuesday night (with some delicious home cookin' from peter bloom, former general director for pioneer) and there was ust story after story of all the great things that are happening around the lake and the ways that campers lives are being transformed because of pioneer camp.
there are so many highlights and i wish i could write them all down to share with everyone but i don't have the time or the energy to do that. i have realized though that i really need to be doing this whole blog thing a lot more to update people on the day to day highlights of the ministry i am so privileged to be called to that so often get skipped over when i chat with some people only once or twice a year. hopefully this will be the start of more stories and tales of the ongoings of daily life of campus ministry (since camp really only has one full day left).
i find it hilairious to watch the campers at adventure camp (ages 5-10) eat their lunch and dance. extremely entertaining. today a girl lost her tooth (a baby one to be exact) and the dining hall errupted into a cheer. love it. it has been a while since i've been witness to someone losing a tooth. i'm thinking about losing some myself because they give out candy at adventure camp to all those who lose a tooth. not a bad deal...