Here's a short story I heard from Jael, our discipleship coordinator this week. There was a girl at camp in 2019 who was having a hard summer, but stuck it out. She was welcomed here, and felt safe! Her home life was exceedingly messy, so she moved in with her boyfriend. They moved to a different city, but Jael was able to stay in contact and continues to visit occasionally. This young girl was talking about how much she loved Tim Hortons Chili, and Jael was like, "Do you want me to teach you how to make chili?" The girl was more then ecstatic! They did a quick shopping trip, and began the process of assembling the Chili! The girl learned how to cut up an onion for the first time and made a successful pot of chili! She was so proud she took a number of pictures and was sending out to different friends, family members. Stories like this are beautiful and also sad. Its amazing to have the opportunity to build relationships that last outside of camp. Its so good to have a staff member whose passionate about connecting with our kids outside of the camp season. It kind of makes me think this is what Jesus ministry would look like at times, visiting people in their homes. Its sad to see and hear the stories of abuse, the lack of skills, the challenges ahead etc. But... God has a plan in this, and I am excited to be a part of this plan at Gimli Bible Camp. Her story is not over, just like the many hurting and broken kids that attend Gimli Bible Camp every summer, their story is not over.
Valentines Day!! We knew our boys would love flowers to, and they sure do!!
I was reading "Making Sense of God" by Timothy Keller yesterday, and it made me think quite a bit about our identity. (I've put a few of the paragraphs that stuck out to me below!) Growing up as a Christian right from young on, I would always say my identity was in Christ. You get taught those verses, have some good bible studies on identity and feel like your pretty set there! But... the cultural message of Identity has been so pervasive for the last couple of decades, I wonder where my thinking has faults in it.
We've been taught to be independent, forge our path, follow our dreams, if it doesn't serve you throw it out! There are many ways that Christians can make the above statements sound spiritual. I think the biggest realization for me is that we cannot determine our personal identities ourselves. God has given us Christian Community for that purpose. He has given us all different gifts and talents to come together and use them together, not alone.
Think about what would be more impacting to your identity. First example: Talking to yourself, "I did a good job working at camp this week, I loved the kids well, I led Sam to Christ, I was funny and made the experience enjoyable for all. I am good counsellor! Second Example: Camp Director comes to you: "Pat, you did an incredible job serving at camp this week. You are gifted working with these campers. I saw how you lead bible study, and how your heart is to serve the Lord. Keep seeking the Lord like you are and He will continue to work through you like this last week." Then, a camper runs up and says "Pat, thanks so much for this week at camp. You helped me understand what it means to be loved by God, I never understood that before but you helped me. Thanks for all of the laughs, and memories you made for us. I will never forget this week of my life!"
It is so powerful to speak into the lives of 'brothers and sisters' and call out their identity in Christ. Look around you, look what God has planted inside of people and call out that identity in them. Your words will change lives.
There may be a bit of coffee in each cup...!
Making Sense Of God Timothy Keller
Our culture tells us that we have the power to create ourselves, and that puts the emphasis on independence and self-reliance. But it also means that society adulates winners and despises losers, showing contempt for weakness. All this produces a pressure and anxiety beyond what our ancestors knew.
We have to decide our look and style, our stance and ethos. We then have to promote ourselves and be accepted in the new space, professional, social, aesthetic - in which we have chosen to create ourselves. As a result, "new modes of conformity arise" as people turn themselves into "brands" through the consumer goods they buy. The irony is that the conception of a "nonsocial... conception of reality" actually leaves the person more dependent than ever on outside validation and more vulnerable to outside manipulation. This is why we are far more dependent on consumption of fashion and electronics and other goods and products in order to "feel good about ourselves."
The self-made identity, based on our own performance and achievement in ways that older identities were not, makes our self-worth far more fragile in the face of failure and difficulty. While we claim to have a new freedom from social norms, we now look not to our family for our validation but to our chosen arenas of achievement, where we need the acceptance and applause of others who are already within those circles. This makes us, more than ever, "vulnerable to the recognition given or withheld by significant others." You have got to be brilliant. You have got to be beautiful. You have got to be hip. You have got to be accomplished. And they have to think so. It is all up to you, in a way that, in traditional cultures, just wasn't the case.
Fletcher is potty training!!! And he's doing a good job of training Jade's little doll man how to go potty as well!
Comments