A Quick Turn Around

"Today begin to look toward the goal of being all God made you to be." -Florence Littauer

After a short day of rest and last minute prep last Sunday, my partner Sam and I welcomed over 100 2nd-8th graders to our summer camp on Monday. Watching the guys run their warmup lap after our opening prayer,  I was blown away thinking about the ways God has blessed this ministry over the years. Just three years ago we opened the summer with almost 30 guys and now we have two sessions of 55 kids. Although it is awesome that God has brought so many kids to into our lives, we have learned how much more we need to plan and prepare. More so than ever, it is important that the life we as leaders are living matches our mission. Our theme of study this summer is Men of Greatness and through stories and character qualities we are exploring what it means to be a man of God rather than the world. The challenge for us as leaders is that our lives can match and model the lessons we teach. This may seem a daunting task at first but we have been intentional in recognizing that we can only change the kids lives when we ourselves are changed by Christ. It is Him who holds the power to transform these boys into men of faith and righteousness and we are blessed to be apart of the process. Our aim is to draw closer to Him and, through our daily interactions with the guys, reflect the light, love, and joy of Christ.
Many of the guys from camp are coming from tough home situations and all are battling ideas and images our culture gives them of what true manhood is. At this pivotal age they are bombarded with everything but the message that they are loved and sustained by their Father. They are told repeatedly that they need more things, are inadequate, and that there worth and happiness are wrapped up in what they have or do. Our goal this summer is to reveal to them the infinite value and worth they have in who they really are, beloved sons of the Most High God. Through all our words and actions we will love and encourage them on their way to being all that God made them to be.

Depth in the Distance

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough."-Meister Eckhart

As I watched the sun set on my time in Cabo with a few friends, I thought of all the many people I had come to know and love during my stay. The great distance I had traveled had led me to great depth, and I had found a wealth of relationships during my stay. Luis, Andres, Jose Luis, Nestor, Roberto, Blanca, Mari, Carlos, Thomas, Isaias, Jimena, Elisa, Israel, Alejandro; these names (and many more) represent the body of Christ in Cabo and men and women that welcomed me, loved me, and befriended me. For the short month I was with them, these believers allowed me to share in their lives and their Church. Crossing the distance of miles, culture, and language I found depth with these men and women as the love of Christ forged between us a bond that crossed any barrier in its path. As my time wained with these brothers and sisters, I did my best to thank them through the hugs, blessings, and tears. Saying my goodbyes, each and everyone called me their brother and this greatly warmed my heart. Acknowledging me as one of their family surpassed any superficially feeling of acceptance and belonging because it meant that I had carried out my aim to love and serve them. I am greatly thankful for these brothers and sisters and the way in which the light of Christ shone through them.
During my stay I learned many valuable lessons and I would like to share just one that I hope can encourage you as it has me. Psalm 46:10 beckons us to "be still and know that I am God." Removed from some of my responsibilities and pressures back home, I was better able to find stillness and know Him a little more fully and these experiences were amazing. Heading back to Wheaton, the FCA summer ministry, work, and many other responsibilities await but I do not want to let them distract me from my greatest responsibility--to know the Lord. Just as a calm and still lake better reflects the light of the sun, I do not want to let busyness churn the waters of my soul and take away from my ability to reflect the light of Christ.
Looking back on my time in Cabo my prayer is one of thankfulness but as the sun sets on that chapter and begins to rise on the next I remain thankful for all that God has in store for FCA this summer. The distance may be less to be with the kids but I will seek depth with them and aim to deepen their knowledge of the Father who loves them. With all this in mind I begin the next phase of the summer thankful, and I hope it will be enough.

Refreshments

"Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home." -C.S. Lewis

For whatever reason this past weekend was really hard. I really started to miss my family, friends and the many comforts of home. As I prepared to go to a new church on Sunday morning, my heart was heavy and I felt drained and tired. Entering the Palapa Church of Cabo, I was anything but ready to worship. Luckily, God had other plans for my morning and as we lifted songs of praise to the Lord my heart began to change. After the last song the pastor asked for a few minutes of silence to pray and quiet our hearts. As I prayed, I felt the worries, discomforts, and my weariness melting away and I was filled with a deep peace and comfort. In Matthew 18:20 Jesus tells us that "where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them," and these words came alive for me Sunday morning. I looked around at the five or six families that came for worship that morning and there was no doubt we had gathered in His name. Jesus may not have been visible with my eyes, but the Prince of Peace brought with Him a tangible feeling of comfort and security that is unmatched by anything of this world. I came to church that morning wishing to feel comforted by a hug from my family, a slice of pizza, or maybe a couple more hours of sleep but true comfort is found in God alone. I do not want to complain or make it seem as though my time here has been ridiculously difficult and full of hardship because that is simply not true. However, many of the things that I find comfort in back home have been removed and are not available to me here but I count this as a great blessing because it has forced me to rely all the more on Christ. And the good news is that each time I have sought comfort in the Lord, He has been there in a powerful way. There have definitely been times of want but never times of need because in Him we have more than we could ever need. All of this burst through the doors of the Palapa Church last sunday and during those few minutes of silent prayer, I was refreshed by this glimpse of what Heaven must feel like.

After the service I had a chance to meet a new brother and friend and his story of redemption blew me away. Over two years ago he had come to Cabo running from the law and seeking to get into the booming drug trade here. After a few months he found himself in jail, but it was there that he came to know the Lord and his life has taken a turn for the amazing. Late last year he celebrated his first year of sobriety since he was less than 9, and I could hardly imagine the guy I was talking to could ever have been anything other than someone following whole heartedly after the Lord. The man I was talking to had been powerfully changed by Christ. Before he left we made plans to get together Wednesday and as planned, he picked me up yesterday to take me to his favorite place in Cabo. As often occurs, I had no idea what we would be doing so I packed my bag with a bible, snorkel, sandwich, camera, and some extra pesos so I would be ready for anything. We parked down by the marina and looking up at the mountain you see above, he told me with a smile that we'd be going up there and off we went. Together we ducked under some barbed wire fences and began to climb. As we went we shared more of where we had been and where we believed God was talking us in life. Like with most cool hikes, there were no paths and every ten or fifteen minutes we would find a good rock to stop on for a water break. Each time we stopped and looked back I was amazed by how far we had climbed and the view that was unfolding. Onward we went and after a few run-ins with cactus' and a snake we arrived at the top and were greeted by the cross. Up until this point I had no idea that there was a cross on top of this mountain and this place quickly became my favorite spot in Cabo as well. Looking out at the city to one side and the ocean on the other, I as captivated by the beauty and how much more spectacular the view from the top was from our water breaks below. They may have been pleasant inns down below, but there was no mistaking the them for what I know saw. My friend told me that over a year and a half ago he had brought all of the remnants of his life of drugs and literally laid them at the foot of the cross. Smashing them on the rocks he prayed that God would empower Him and that the chains of addiction would be broken and he now stands firm in the Lord. Temptation still comes but he renews his strength in the Lord, the source of strength. I praise God for what he is doing in this brother's life and the joy it was to hear some of his story. Before heading back down for some fish tacos, we prayed together that God would continue to strengthen us and that we would be so filled with Christ that there is no room for sin.

This week may have been hard at times but God is reminding me that in Him alone do I stand. There have been some pleasant inns and stops along this journey that have brought much refreshment, but I pray I don't mistake them for the real thing that awaits when we're all home in Heaven.