My Epic Journey

Wanted to share with you the last message from our week at camp.  Ken Rudolph spoke to a combined chapel group (6th-12th grade).

Four Ways to Have the Hand of God On Your Life

Text:  Nehemiah 2

God puts you in a place so you can influence it.

#1.  Have a Passion to Help the Church (1.4)

• God is not looking for deadbeats.  He is looking for passionate people.
• Quit slumping around like a dying fish.
• Bring your Bible and start participating.
• Be a helper instead of a hinderer.

#2.  Have a Passion for Prayer (1.4)

• Not just a one time prayer but an ongoing, passionate conversation with God.
• Prayer saves the world.
• Start by praying for your own life.

#3.  Have a Passion to Clean Up Our Lives (1.6-9)

• The greatest thrill in life is to have a right relationship with God.
• We can’t live for God and live in sin at the same time.

#4.  Have a Passion to be Used by God (1.10-11)

• You have to be available to God 24/7.
• Go where He wants you to go.
• Do what He wants you to do.

We need this generation to rebuild the walls of the church!!!!

Ken Rudolph spoke an amazing challenge at camp tonight.  His passage of choice was Esther 4.

Title:  Four Warning to Assure Us We Live a Truly Dangerous Life for Jesus Christ.

#1.  Don’t Live for Artificial Danger (4.10-11)

• We all want to live an exciting life.
• Who, in Heaven, is going to give you a high-five for doing a daring stunts or for being an amazing athlete?
• A real man, doesn’t go off for crazy adventure but instead finds a woman who loves God, marries her, loves her and raises his children.
• Artificial danger = skateboarding, x-games, cheap thrills.
• Real danger = standing up for Christ in your school.

#2.  Don’t be Replaced (4.13-14)

• Perhaps the worst feeling in Heaven is finding out God had a job for you but you were replaced because you fought against it.
• God does have a job for you, but if you aren’t willing to do it, God will replace you.
• God won’t use you if you aren’t willing to step up.

#3.  Don’t Wish for Another’s Life (4.14)

• Don’t wish for someone else’s adventure–live for you own adventure.
• Don’t just sit back wishing you were someone else.  Live your own life w/ the purpose God has for you.
• Stop living a fake life–Stand up and Be Real!!!
• Know why you are here–for such a time as this!
• The greatest feeling in the world is to wake up and know your life is filled with Jesus.
• Live your life to the fullest!

#4.  Don’t Hold Back Anything (4.15-16)

• If I die, I die–but I WILL obey!!
• “It is not the last drop of blood that is hard for a soldier to lose.  It is the first drop.”  Abraham Lincoln in a response to a question about the Civil War soldiers.
• Have you spilled the first drop of blood for Jesus yet?
• Don’t hold anything back!
• How must Jesus do you have on you?
• Jump in to a dangerous live with Jesus.

God put you in this generation for such a time as this–Live & Live to the fullest!!!!

Day #4 has been very fun and very adventurous for most of our students.  Our High School students had the opportunity to climb the wall.  For most, this was a huge challenge.  Climbing a 38 foot wall is daunting for most people but those afraid of heights–it is even more terrorizing.

I had the chance to see Alex Herning and Raquel Mentzer climb.

Kevin even had a try at the wall.

I am sad that our time here is nearing the end.  Continue to keep us in your prayers.