Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Kaléo 2013 Official Blog!
http://kaleo2013.blogspot.ca/This is the blog which the interns regularly update about all the activities, events and classes we have throughout the year, to keep you guys updated. I just wrote the most recent blog post for that site if you want to check it out :)
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Fondness for the Body of Christ
As the famous anonymous writer once said, "You never know what you have 'til it's gone..." the same is true with every part of our lives. For myself, as I moved an entire landmass away from my family, friends, church and everything familiar, I started noticing big differences between what was at home and where I am living. Back home in Coquitlam I lived in a suburb, a ten minute walk down to the mall. Here on the outskirts of Crofton I live in a small town, a ten minute walk down to the ocean. The atmosphere is more relaxed here on the island, you don't constantly here traffic. The pollution is from the pulp mill instead of the myriad of imported cars. I do quite like the difference of being in a completely different ambiance, it just makes me miss and appreciate the different qualities of home.
In particular, after taking our class on Church Ministry and serving for the past few months at Warmland Community Church, it has made me appreciate my amazing church back home.
The church I attend back home in Coquitlam is called Coquitlam Alliance Church, right across the street from my old high school and a two minute drive from my house. There are many things which I have come to gain a new respect and love for at my church, such as the leadership team. My church is pastored by Mark Francisco, the Lead Pastor, Cam Huth, the Executive Pastor, David Wood, the Senior Assistant Pastor, and Chris Throness, the Young Adults Pastor. I have gained a new respect as they are at the forefront of ministry at CAC and pastor the flock which God has given them. There is such a huge responsibility for the leaders of the church to lead their church under Christ, the way that he intends the church to live, and they have done a phenomenal job.
One thing I really appreciate about CAC is that it stands on solid doctrine and theology. The mission of Coquitlam Alliance is to "help seekers and believers become fully devoted followers of Jesus," and that's what we do. My church tries to mirror the first church of believers in Acts. Pastor Mark and David do not shy away from preaching about difficult topics, but rather, what the Bible talks about, they talk about. In all circumstances and situations, the final authority for the church is from the Word of God. CAC holds unity, prayer, joy, excellence, freedom, faith, love, mission, giving and missions in high regard as the values of the church.
Out of the solid doctrine and theology comes the life of the church. Everything in CAC revolves around the purpose statement, "We at Coquitlam Alliance will worship God by loving Him and those around us. We will reach out to people, invite them into God’s family, equip them to be like Jesus, and send them out to serve in their community and around the world." The church knows that it will have differences amongst the members, but we don't let it divide us. It's so encouraging for me to see all of the members in the church, no matter what skill level, spiritual maturity or age, using their gifts to glorify God and build up the church. There are no unnecessary traditions that I can think of in my church that exist simply because they have existed for decades. Everything is relevant to the purposes and needs of the church to reach the world and disciple believers. In Coquitlam Alliance, there is a huge emphasis on baptism and we make quite a large (and wonderful) ordeal of having celebration services so the entire community can celebrate with the person's declaration of commitment to Christ.
The attenders of CAC have a huge heart for giving and a heart to reach everyone in every walk of life with as many ministries as are needed. From anything from adults, young adults, youth, children, and connecting with non-believers to creative arts, life groups, local outreach, missions, mulitsites, prayer and worship, I commend my church for being so involved in people's lives. My church encourages the members to give back and get involved by serving each other with their time. I've served with a number of ministries in my church, getting a firsthand experience of what it is like to be a part of the body of Christ. There is a huge portion of the budget that goes towards missions, and the members of the church give generously and willingly. Once I attended a budget meeting with my dad and my eyes were opened to how my church operates, and what the church is doing with the money that God has entrusted to them.
In everything Coquitlam Alliance does, we recognize the heart of Christ for others, and reflect that in our practices and values. One thing that really makes me proud of my church is how many broken and lonely people attend our church because they know they will be safe and accepted. There is a huge group of men that come every Sunday to church from a Christian drugs and alcohol recovery program called Resurrection House. Seeing them in the very front pews with their hands raised, surrendering their lives to Christ makes my heart jump for joy. Nothing is more rewarding than to watch the testimony of one these broken individuals tell of their story of coming to faith and mentioning the fact that this was instrumental in bringing them back to Christ, a place where they could seek forgiveness without being judged.
All my reflection on my church has made me extremely proud of the body of Christ that I call home. Coquitlam Alliance Church has shaped me into the young woman I have become today, and it is by the grace of God that I will continue serving and giving back to that church body and hopefully impact more people in the same way I was.
"No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." -1 John 4:12
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." -John 13:35
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Modern Miracles
How do you describe the Hand of God? In countless occurrences through Scripture you see strange and mysterious events, that could only be described as something done "of God."
From the Red Sea parting, bread and birds falling from the sky for food, to walls of a fortified city falling down, the sun standing still for longer than a day, flames descending from heaven upon a sacrifice, a widow's son coming back to life...None of these instances could have happened by chance, or by human strength. Something far more powerful is at work throughout history, something like the power of an Almighty God.
There are many believers today who wonder why the God of the Israelites, the God of the Bible, the God who is living in our hearts today, why does he not manifest his presence and works in our midst?
Suggestions have been made that perhaps God does not show the work of his hand in our generation often due to a lack of faith, or perhaps this generation doesn't provide situations in which he wishes to work.
I'd like to suggest to you that although this may be true, I believe that there is an ulterior reason. God does still manifest his power and his hand today, just not in the ways we may think. Many believers look for physical signs and wonders such as people being healed, the elements controlled, and God manifesting himself in our midst. I would like to argue that God has been physically manifesting himself every day in the lives of those he touches.
As I've been learning to listen to God's voice and serve him in some of the ministries at camp and at my church, I've seen that when I let him use me, I see his hand at work in places I least expect it.
At my church in Crofton (Warmland), I've been hanging out with the youth every Friday night at youth group. At first, connecting with them was pretty difficult. I would see them every week, running around, playing games and I would say goodbye as they left. But as I constistantly showed up these two lovely girls, Ashley and Hannah took to running at me, screaming to greet me every night. They would climb all over me, pull my hands to come sit with them and as the weeks progressed, I was able to start getting to know each of them and their stories. Ashley and Hannah continually ask me to come hang out with them during the week or come to their houses, and although I've been far too busy to, just knowing that God has opened doors so much that I have gained enough trust to be invited over to their house speaks volumes. Even just today when I was at church, before the Sunday School class Mike and I were teaching got under way, we joined the service for some singing. Ashley and Hannah were on either side of me, beautiful grade seven girls and I put my arms around both of them. We just stood there, swaying slightly and singing about "How Great is Our God." How fitting, I thought, that those small girls' voices could carry right to my heart and remind me that I was that small church for a reason, to foster such close friendships that were a testament to the work of God's hand.
Last weekend I had the privilege of serving at the Junior High Retreat here at Qwanoes which catered to twelve to fourteen year-olds. I had eagerly expecting this retreat because I would be seeing a few returning campers. I ended up counseling with Lindsey my roommate, which ended up being so much fun in itself, but we also had one of my former campers in our cabin that weekend! Her name is Hannah, not to be confused with the Hannah from Warmland, and her friend Lizzie who I had met at a Qwanoes event a few weeks prior at one of the island churches. It had been such a joy counseling Hannah during the summer, she had been the light of Christ everywhere she went. She brought with her another friend Katelyn, who didn't know Christ, nor did she want to. Throughout the week, Hannah was faithful to keep being a friend to Katelyn, bringing up faith and hoping that through her actions Katelyn would come to Christ, but to no avail. I had told Hannah at the end of the week in the summer to get involved with a church and youth group in her home town and she promised she would. As I saw her that weekend, I knew that I wanted to keep building into her and hopefully her friend Lizzie as well. Throughout those three days, during cabin discussions as well as my own personal time with the girls I got to talk with them, learn about them and build into them. I didn't really know what was going on in their hearts until our chapel discussion on Sunday morning. All the girls in our cabin hadn't really been vocal about their faith previously, but that morning they shared what was on their hearts. All the girls were talking about the speaker who was my former youth pastor, JonnyMo, saying he had really influenced them and got them thinking. The girls shared about looking at the friend groups they had and seeing how that was impacting who they were, and how they wanted to have Jesus back in their life because they had fallen away. Lizzie, Hannah, and another girl, Sam all had asked for purity rings from me, a symbol to them of their commitment to stay pure until marriage. They shared with the group of wanting to stand firm in their commitment and if asked about it, they would tell their peers what it really meant to them and the implications it had. Hannah and Lizzie also wanted to find a youth group to go to together, as they hadn't done so yet. We all prayed together and I really felt that the Lord had moved. Literally the next day, Hannah and Lizzie both texted me, sharing how they had been asked about their purity rings at school and were able to boldly share about what it meant; the girls who had asked seemed fairly interested. Hannah had shown her parents her ring and especially her dad was very proud of her. They both told me they were standing up for girls that were being made fun of at school and just today, Hannah told me that her and Lizzie had found a youth group which they would both be attending from now on. God is good!
Another girl who was at the retreat this past weekend was one who I had counseled on a retreat last fall. Her name is Sarah and she is very dear to my heart. Ever since last fall, we have had a close bond and I mentor her. We didn't end up being in the same cabin though, so I was hardly able to see her all weekend. On Saturday night, though, I ended up staying up late with her and having a good long conversation about where she was at, what she was doing with her life since I had seen her in the summer. She confessed to me that life wasn't so good. The foster family she was living with was atheist and they constantly heckled her for her beliefs. They weren't willing to give her rides to youth group and as a result of that she had no Christian community; she felt so alone. I encouraged her and prayed for her and told her to be bold for her faith in Christ. I told her I would be praying for some good Christian friends to come around her and that God would provide a way for you to get to youth. She asked for a purity ring from me the next day, which I was very encouraged by. I got a text from her a few days later. I could feel the excitement through the phone as she explained to me how she was able to talk to her foster mom about her beliefs and although the mom didn't agree, she listened and let Sarah talk. Sarah said she felt no fear and she knew God was with her.
God works through the mighty power of his hand; yesterday, today, and forevermore.
"The Lord replied, 'Look around at the nations and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." -Habakkuk 1:5
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Who Will Lead Us?
The people wander around around, aimlessly, with no direction. Nothing is getting done, no one is going anywhere, and everyone is getting frustrated. No one is stepping up to lead this group, and therefore the group just sits in confused static. They need a leader.
Martin Luther. William Wilburforce. Joshua. Nelson Mandela. Deborah.
All these men and women are exceptional leaders of our history, stepping up to the plate when they were needed, whether they had great courage or not. They saw that there was a need for direction, for them to lead in their society, and instead of backing down from this great feat, they accepted the challenge.
As I have been at Kaléo for a little under 2 months now, I have been able to see, through my church experience, Qwanoes retreats, Bible classes and numerous out trips, many different qualities of a leader within our group. Although there are many different attributes to a good leader, what has stood out to me thus far has been adaptability, putting others before themselves, humble service, encouragement, initiative, reliance on God and intentionality.
As I've seen these qualities being portrayed by myself and others, I'm not going to pretend that it was easy. In a community full of leaders, it's really easy to just become complacent and let others step up to the plate. To stretch me here and allow me to serve my brothers and sisters, God has been stretching me in so many ways by giving me leadership opportunities.
During the Jrs Retreat last weekend, I was an "All Star" which means I helped run the games, as well as helping out doing dishes, actioneering for some of the morning Q-town (chapel), and running the milkshake hut. It was really fun, and I was able to get to know lots of the kids who were there, as well as work on a few papers and books I had to read for my next class. On Saturday evening though, right before dinner, the Head Counselor approached me and asked me if I would be willing to step in and help in a huge way. One of the international female counselors from Australia had just gotten word that her grandmother had died back home, and would be in any state to counsel the rest of the weekend. Could I help out and counsel her cabin for the rest of the weekend? I know I was going to say yes, and even a little bit excited to hang out with a new group of girls, but at the same time I was apprehensive about connecting with them and the loss of my homework time. The Lord works in mysterious ways though, having all of them loving me right from the minute I said hello. They are so precious and God opened doors that night giving me a chance to explain heaven, hell, the trinity, taking God's name in vain and the gospel to a group of 11 year-olds. He definitely challenged and stretched me to be adaptable and fully rely on Him.
This past week our group has been in an "Old Testament Literature" class with Prof. Don Taylor from Briercrest. He taught us so much this past week, my eyes were definitely opened to the God of the Old Testament, and many different new truths, perspectives and ancient history that helps me see the Bible through different eyes. At the end of the class yesterday, I was going to stand up and pray for him and bless him for coming to teach us after he had finished praying for us. Everyone started getting up out of their seats and making announcements about the weekend and I saw the moment slipping away. I wanted to thank him for all that he'd done in a prayer but I just felt silly because everyone was already leaving. So I didn't. I know that's not a very encouraging story, but just a way to show that I still struggle with qualities of initiative and intentionally in leadership. I ask God that he would give me other opportunities just like that so that I may learn from last time and follow what God has asked me to do.
As a leader, you not only have to lead those around you, but also follow well. If you are not able to follow other leaders and show you are a good follower, those who you are leading will see your bad example and will not follow you. When you are a leader, following can sometimes take a lot of humility, but it is necessary and good to teach you how to be a better leader.
A few weeks ago, we went on a tall sail ship, somewhat like the Bluenose (which is on the dime) with a program called SALTS (Sailing and Life Training Society). We were taught how to be sailors, how to run a ship, how to sail and steer and live together in such close quarters. It was a real eye-opening and learning experience since I'd never been sailing before and I had no idea. I had to listen to the crew members and do exactly what they told me, especially when we were putting up anchor, or sail, or steering the ship. It was a humbling experience, not knowing at all what I was doing, but it was exciting to be able to learn and be taught along with my Kaléo family here.
In my church, Warmland Community, my friends Michael and Evan and I were asked to lead the Sunday School on Sunday morning called Ten Ten, (from John 10:10). We all planned the lesson together, and had assigned portions that we were going to lead, questions and topics we were each going to speak about. During the Sunday school, some of the kids weren't really responsive during one of the times Michael or Evan was leading, so I interjected, and asked my own leading questions to try and make them think in a different way. I felt super convicted after because I had been taking leadership out of their hands and I had been trying to lead myself instead of following and letting them take control. It definitely showed me that I wasn't very comfortable with letting others learn to lead, and that I needed to be a better follower.
As I try to stumble around and perhaps sometime encounter what it's like to be a good leader, ultimately I can look to Christ who was the perfect leader. He exemplified all the qualities of an exceptional leader, and he continues to lead millions around the world who call on his name. I don't need to worry that I have not arrived, for no one will ever truly arrive until we come home with Christ. I will continue to learn and grow and make mistakes, all looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. To him be the glory forevermore.
"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won't become weary and give up." - Hebrews 12:2-3
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Hands and Feet of Christ
If your house was on fire, I bet the only thing you would really be caring about saving would be your family. Firefighters brave the flame and the blaze to look for those you love, those who you have invested your life into, not your sock puppet from the sixth grade. Relationships are central to our existence here on earth, and I believe that they literally govern how we live our lives. Days can be made and hearts can be broken by just a single relationships interaction. Relationships take a long time to form and build trust, but can also be the most monumental thing in our lives. As Christ has called me to serve in my local church of Warmland, he has also called me to start formulating relationships with those around me, in his body which is the church. Every Sunday morning I attend the church service and every Friday I attend the youth group full of a small bunch of rowdy, lively young people. As an outsider coming in, at first I felt a bit intrusive to their tight-knit community, but even after the first night, I felt so welcomed there. All of the kids kept running around, talking to me, playing with my hair, jumping on my back, holding my hand. I can't say that that was the most graceful acceptance into a youth group I've had before, but i definitely knew that it was there way of saying that I belonged. A child knows you care about them if you remember their name. Our names are our spoken identity, and it speaks volumes if you can remember a child's name. Whenever I see the students on Sunday at church, I try to call them by name and engage them in conversation about their week, and even sit with them through the service. When I see a youth at church who I haven't seen at youth group, I go up to them and ask them their name and try to get them to come out to youth group, even if that means talking to their parents. Last week I got the chance to lead a small group of girls, roughly grades 6 and 7. I got to go around and learn different things about them before we started our chat about life and faith. It is definitely going to be a challenge working with these girls, but I know that God has placed me in this church to make an impact, and that is what I'm planning to do!
As part of a ministry team at any church, you need to intentionally connect with the leaders within the church and get on board with their vision. It is such a privilege and a blessing to have Stevie-G, the games coordinator from Camp Qwanoes also be the Youth Pastor of Warmland. I had already known him from the summers past at Qwanoes, and it was just the coolest thing to come on mission with him at his own church back home. His wife, Alycia, is also my LinQ, my older staff connection from camp, so God has greatly blessed me getting to know this family! Every Sunday after church, Evan, Michael and I, along with all the other youth leaders head over to Steve's house for lunch and a youth meeting. It is so encouraging to bounce ideas back and forth, step up for leadership roles, but most importantly to get to know some of the other leadership staff who I am going to be working beside. Another leader who I have gotten the opportunity to connect with would be Bryan, the Lead Pastor of Warmland and his wife Lana. One Sunday after church when we didn't have a youth meeting, Bryan invited us to come over to their house to meet their family, and another family on the leadership team at church. It was such a blessing from God to have hospitality given to us in this way, so far away from home. Both families have such adorable little toddlers, and we were able to play Lego and other games with them before lunch, and we really saw the family dynamic of these strong Christian families. As we talked with Lana and Bryan, and James and his wife, I was just so encouraged to have the opportunity of leading beside and underneath these wonderful individuals. I felt a lot more comfortable talking with them about their lives and struggles, and telling them about my life as well. As it turns out, Lana's sister lives in Coquitlam! How crazy is that? God works in mysterious ways...As I get to know Warmland and its members more and more, I continue to see God's hand of blessing everywhere. Putting me in this church was no mistake and as I continue to serve and connect with the body of Christ all around me, I grow in my love for his people and am able to give back what I have been given. Even when I'm so far away from home, these people feel like family, and I'm so glad that I am able to be used by Christ in this way.
"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." - Eph. 5:1-2
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Diving into the Word
To study...or not to study. There is no question when you are studying God's word! The first week of classes started this week on Monday, and I am loving every minute of it. Spiritual Formation with Cal Macfarlane, all the way from Briercrest in Caronport, SK to teach us how to engage the spirit in our lives more effectively. Being out of school for so long, since June, although it feels almost blasphemous to say this, I'm really glad I'm back in school now. To sit and learn and soak up so much truth about God and about his spirit being active in our lives hardly feels like school, but the more I learn about Christ, and the life that he has for me, the more I fall in love with him. Cal just speaks with such passion and intensity, that it's hard to be bored in his full-day lectures. They are more like golden nuggets of truth that you pray you never forget. Today we had part of our class down at the dock, and I was looking out across the ocean as I was listening to him talk about suffering, and making sure that we make room for suffering in our lives because then that is when Christ can work and is glorified. He gives us opportunities to go off and meditate on Scripture by ourselves each day and let God's word soak into our hearts, so that the teaching doesn't just become words and head knowledge, but that it really permeates into our hearts.
The wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon said, "Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver, seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth comes knowledge and understanding." - Proverbs 2:3-6
Where You go, I'll go; Where you serve, I'll serve. I will Follow.
It's one thing to see service from afar, and appreciate the many tasks which are being done for you, but quite yet another to jump at it full force and immerse yourself into the mess of life. I simply cannot stand and watch others serve, or see the many needs of the world and let the need continue or allow less hands struggle to carry all the weight. Christ has called us to be his hands and feet and help the least of these, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!" Matthew 25:40.
As part of the Kaléo program, we are called to serve in the areas of camp and church ministry. Camp Qwanoes has been home for the past 6 summers, and it is no strange task to be gladly helping out here once again! I'm so delighted to be able to give back in a more permanent way thoughout this next year and serve alongside my fellow students, and also the year-round staff that have given their lives to follow God's calling of service. Along with serving at Qwanoes, each of the students are assigned a local church to attend, serve, and be actively involved in. Myself, along with my friends Michael and Evan attend a church called Warmland Community Church in Crofton, BC, not even five minutes out of the camp.
There are many opportunities to serve here at camp. With a camp that usually runs with over 500 campers each week in the summer, year-round there are numerous retreats, guest groups and special events such as the Qwanoes Road Tour which is held at supporting churches. I am involved with helping out in the dish room washing dishes once a week after dinner with a few of the other students, helping out with activities for guest groups such as belaying in the challenge course or supervising the skate park, and in the upcoming weeks, I will be working full weekends counseling at the Juniors and Junior High retreats. I love serving here at Qwanoes, I feel that God has called me to this place for the purpose of bringing glory to him. I was so excited just to be able to lead by example to my fellow peers and show them how things are being run at camp, hopefully making their lives easier as well. It brings me such joy to be able to see the people I am impacting here at camp become closer to God while I allow them to have fun on activities or be able to have clean dishes or ask their questions about life and faith. I have come to be content and even eager to serve in whatever area of camp I am needed in order to allow Camp Qwanoes to run, and thousands of people to come to know Christ more deeply.
When we were being assigned our churches, I was eagerly waiting and expecting to be serving in a church where I could use my God-given talents and just to be able to offer up my gifts and services wherever they were needed. But when it was announced that my church for the year was going to be Warmland in Crofton, I am sorry to say that I was a little disappointed. Warmland was the small local church, well known to the camp, that the camp worship leader and games leader both served at during the year. I guess I had presuppositions about the church because I had come from quite a larger church back home in Coquitlam, and I was doubting that this was where I was really meant to be. I knew that Crofton was a small seaside community with a lot of twisted problems that went back far into the family tree, and I did not think that this church was going to be well organized at all. But of course, in all things, the Lord had a divine plan that is far above mine, and I reluctantly decided that I was going to trust in whatever he had in store for me. The first Sunday, Michael, Evan and I arrived at Warmland, and by the end of the service I felt like God had done a complete 180 turn-around in my heart. This small church was not at all what I had expected, full of fake and shallow people who didn't really want to come to church, but instead I found an amazing community of believers who were trying to reach out to a desperately lost community by drawing their neighbours into a community that could only be characterized by Christ's love. As I talked with the pastor, Bryan, and many other attenders there, I felt a huge welcoming and I knew that Christ had put me there for a reason. My LinQ, who is another staff member at camp that a student is "linked" with for the year, Alycia, also attends Warmland, along with my good friend Kayla, and I could see that Christ was affirming my place in Warmland Church. I was a little hesitant about the first youth kick off on Friday night, but right away when I got there, I got talking to some of the girls there. They wanted to get to know me and play with my hair and jump on my back, and I welcomed it all in stride. I was a bit taken aback at the size of the group, the 12 students there, because at my youth back home, there would have easily been 70 students on a given week. Even through all this, I saw that Christ was showing me that faith is not all about numbers, it is about building into those lives that he gives you.
Not even two weeks into Kaléo, and already I can see God's hand in everywhere that I serve. As he continues to give me opportunities to serve him, all I can hope is that I really do serve with all that I am, and not do it for selfish ambition, but only to glorify his name. I pray that I would not lose sight of the mission, and catch myself trying to have selfish ambitions, but that my service would mold me into the woman of God that he intends for me to be, the woman of God who selflessly follows his call wherever he may lead.
"And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them." - John 13:14-17
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Upward and Onward
You never know what being on top of the world feels like until you actually stand on the top, after grueling hours of getting there. The burn of the lactic acid in your muscles, haggard breaths and side cramps threaten to deter you from your goal, your mission, but determined you press on. Our Kaléo group took three days in Strathcona Park, and trekked on up Mnt. Albert-Edwards. Over 6k on the first day, 10.8k the second day all the way up to the summit at 6800 ft, it was probably one of the more difficult feats I've accomplished in my life. Your legs get so sore, your face is sunburnt, you run out of water, and it is a while til you see the next glacier-fed lake. Throughout all of it, though, you are looking around you and see the beauty of God's majesty and glory. As you climb higher, you can see your campsite and the many lakes as tiny droplets in the distance, and you realize just how big our God is. At one point I saw the Pacific Ocean and the mainland a blueish haze in the distance. I was so close, but so far away from home. Every time I wanted to give up, I had to keep telling myself to push on, that God was going to give me strength. I saw others who were struggling more than I was, but we all managed to make it up to that summit, victorious. This hike for me was more than just a physical activity, or something to bring our group together. This hike was my life. There were flats and downhills, but it was the uphills and the rocky places that really tested my endurance and will to continue. If I had tried to climb on my own, I know I would probably not have made it in the shape I was, and with such a positive outlook. The backpacks that we hiked up to the peak with were not the big hiking packs, but smaller day packs. God pointed out baggage in my life that I had been trying to lug around me everywhere, and is now telling me to put it down. When I focus on myself, all I can think is how heavy that weight is and how tired I am, but when I finally get to the summit, and look around, I see how small I am compared to all his glory and how big his grace and love is for me.
"I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!" - Psalm 121:1-2
"Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths." - Psalm 36:5-6
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Soaring on Wings like Eagles
Hey friends,
Some might call me crazy, some might call me ignorant and rash, but others might call it following the call of God. I'm here at Camp Qwanoes on Vancouver Island taking a program called Kaléo, an eight-month leadership course filled with adventure trips, nine modular courses from Briercrest Bible College, community with my peers and ministry in local churches and overseas. I'm beyond excited, just for this day to be finally here, after waiting for so long.
The call started years ago sitting as a Junior High camper, here at this very camp, and by his grace, here I am - a living proof of that call.
Kaléo actually means "voice" and to hear God's voice this year is what I have set out to do. Living on Vancouver Island, in the midst of God's creation and surrounded by this incredible community that I quickly adopted as my family, know that this is where I am meant to be.
Inspired for Life. Called to Lead. Two sentences that will fan out in a very real way this year as God unfolds his calling for my life. My life needs to be radically changed by God, I know that full well. Everything that I do or say needs to come straight from him. My favorite verse, Galatians 2:20 says, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." I know that he has brought me here to Camp Qwanoes so that I can listen to his inspired voice, his Holy Spirit, and live the life that he has planned for me, which is too great for me even to imagine. I know that God wants me to be a leader in all walks of life, whether it is to my peers, those who I mentor, in work or in sports. This year is going to be much more than a leadership development year, though. This year is going to shape me for the future, set into a life of following the call that my savior requires of all who call him Lord.
So I'm looking out at these next eight months with anticipation and eagerness, wanting to be stretched and praying for growth.
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