Random Pictures for Parents.

In case some of you miss your kids, here are some random pix. I hope you see yours, if not, they are here and fine.

Tuesday Night Update

Hi All.

Just a quick word before I turn out the lights. Whatever you guys are doing back home, in terms of prayer, keep it up!

After the service tonight, we had our group time. The Lord showed up in a big way tonight. You could truly feel the presence of the Lord. As Bro. Kit began the discussion, he asked them to describe to each other, what God was doing here this week in each of their lives.

It started out slow. But then kids we haven't heard from yet began to share very personal things. About how they struggle trying to live for the Lord. How they are embarassed sometimes to be a Christian at school.

Others began to talk about how they left camp last year with good intentions, but have since fallen away. There were tears, there was honesty, and it was quiet and orderly. 50+ kids in one space talking one at a time? Middle schoolers sharing with High Schoolers their most intimate thoughts about their faith. Expressing the need to change their friends when they get home. Sharing their desire to really share their faith with some of their friends at school.

After a half hour or so of this, Kit asked any kid that felt like they needed help, or to talk further with an adult counselor to come to the center of the circle. About 10 did. Then Kit had everyone else gather around them and put their hands on their backs and have a prayer time. I would like to have a picture of that scene, but you'll have to use your imagination. Sometimes it's just not appropriate to click cameras or film the most personal details of people. No camera tonight.

After the prayer was over, there were kids hugging each other, some in tears, some hugging counselors. Then the one's that wanted to stayed and talked one on one. Decisions were made.

Fat Guy falling and Dodge Ball

Good afternoon from Gardner-Webb University, home of Crossroads 2007. Many great things continue to develop here, and I will have to say again, that youth are amazing... or is that the first time I've said it?




Last night Clayton King spoke to the kids on purity.

Mom's and dad's, he said what all of us want our children to hear. God's plan, and God's way for a life of purity. He verbally attacked the world's idea of relationships, and he outlined what God has to say about being pure. His points were these (if you would like to look them up at home).

"The Process of Purity" 2 Cor 6:11-7:1

1. Nothing is Invisible. (Deut. 29:29) (Hebrews 4:13)

2. God is better than sin. (2 Cor 6:18) "...we think sin will satisfy us more than God..."

3. Intimacy is Conditional (2 or 6::17)(Psalms 24:3-5)

4. Holiness is hard work. (2 Cor 7:1)


He challenged them to do more than make a commitment to sexual purity, but to be comitted to the idea of living pure in every area of their lives. He said that the main focus should not be a commitment to sexual purity, but a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. He painted a very clear picture of what a Holy life could look like.

Last night in our Church Group time, (which is when just our church meets together to share), Bro. Kit led a discussion about the sermon on purity. He asked them what all of this meant, and how do you apply it, and how do you make it real. The kids had answers. They discussed and shared for about 45 minutes. Folks, God is at work in our teenagers. Keep on praying.


































This morning, speaker Justin Brock, Missions Director for Crossroads, challenged them to be missions minded. He said the one word that describes our failure at missions as "selfishness". He challenged our kids to have a commitment to the Lord, that transcends selfishness and leads to a life of evangelism, and sharing the gospel with the world.

In other news, the "Brass Knuckles" Dodgeball team, comprised of Thad Cox, Chip Clarke, and Kagen Morring, took top honors by beating out Fuit Cove Baptist Church for the tournament trophy. The victory was observed by approx. 20 Kernan supporters who cheered loudly. After the tournament ended, "Brass Knuckles" took on the Crossroads Staff and beat them 3 out of 5 played games.







In addition to "Brass Knuckles", Kernan had 5 other teams named "Da Boyz", "Planet Punishers", "Bulldogs", "Hardcore 904" , "the Lollipop Wonders" who were each eliminated in turn.







After Church tonight we will have a birthday cake for Bro. Kit. He turned 29 today.




We are blessed to have Bro. Kit Hentz as our Youth Pastor. He is God's man for this job, and it becomes more evident each day. Please keep him in your prayers.

That's all for now.

A personal note.







I'm still having a blast. Get this picture. We have kids playing dodge ball, climbing towers, playing at the river, hiking up mountains, and a number of other high intensity sports.







I walk accross the parking lot, and twist my ankle in a hole. It popped, I fell down. It hurt. The kind of hurt that makes you almost pass out. Everyone was already in church, I was retrieving one of my cameras. I'm lying in the grass. I can't get up. No one to help. 600 people here and not a person in sight. I called my life lines, William, and then Kit. they didn't answer. So I'm thinking "now what?". I just laid there on the ground and began to pray. "Lord, you know I need this ankle not to be broken. I need to walk a lot the next few days. Please help me get up and walk".







Does that sound kind of nutty to you? It worked. I was able to get up and walk. It still hurts. It is impacting my ability to get around. So... would you guys please pray for my foot? I don't want to miss a moment of what God is doing with our kids. It is my goal, if not my calling, to bring this experience home to you. Thanks in advance.







Joel

Youth Camp 2007

We survivied the trip from Jacksonville to Gardner Webb. Got checked in. Settled in. Everyone made it alive.














Crossroads is pretty exciting. The "team" met the kids as they got off of the bus. They yell and scream. Then they pass out the room keys and we unloaded the bus.



















We immediately attended a rules pep-rally, where we were educated on things that will get you sent home.

Worship was at 7:00pm. A mix of music and preaching resulted in over 50 young people accepting the Lord. Clayton King is the pastor. He gave a no frills invitation to students to make Jesus the most important thing in their life. He led them in a prayer, and then told them to pray silently. There was no music, the lights were on, and he told them to stand if they had accepted Christ. It was a bold move, and he was committed to ensuring that kids weren't going to get emitionally pumped up, and make decisions based on emotions. It was an incredible experience to see kids all over the arena stand boldly for Christ. 4 of the one's standing were ours.















All of the kids standing accepted Christ!
(I know it's blurry, hard to focus with tears in your eyes)

Here is Clayton King, the camp Pastor.

If you are interested in the daily progress, check back often. So far I have an internet connection that will let me manage my site. If I lose it, we'll have to go back to the old-fashioned way of doing things. I may update multiple times in one day, depending on the schedule.

If you are a parent of a youth that is here, don't you DARE fail your teenager by neglecting to pray for them. I challenge you to pray for them 3 times each day. Morning, Noon, and night. If you do this you will be a part of what God does in them this week.

If you aren't a parent, you can pray for them as well. Remember, 3 times a day. They are in morning service at 9:00. Workshop around 11:00, and evening worship at 7:00pm.

A personal footnote.

The production here is very impressive. They have 2 screens on the sides they use for IMAG. They feed it with 5 Sony XDCAM type cameras. 3 are on stands and 2 are mobile down front. Very cool application of video into worship.

Continued Camera Fun

I just completed a roll of 120 film shot through my Kodak Duaflex. I adapted it to use 120 film, as it originally used 620. As I used the last exposure, I began searching for a place to develop and print the film. My search led me to Foto Technika in Jacksonville. http://www.fototechnika.com/

The best I can tell, these are probably the most professional folks around our area. They do just about anything. They are on Lomax Ave near 5 points. The place is impressive just to walk into. I sure am looking forward to getting the prints.

4th of July or What's wrong with this Canon?

Click any of the following pictures for a bigger view. My sisters will do anything to try and get a good picture from their Canon play cameras. They even tried to shoot through the view finder of a 50's model Kodak Duaflex. I don't think they got it done.

If you want to see what it looks like looking through a duaflex, it's the last picture.

The Tour

Saturday we got up and went "abroad"... or actually just around Jacksonville, looking for some photo opportunities. We were each shooting with our Nikon's, and we each had a film camera just for fun. We had a great time, got some pretty good shots.