Beruflich Dokumente
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EMBRAC
2016
I feel so humbled and honored to have been here to capture your senior week this
year. I started attending this week years before I was old enough to be a camper, and
every year I have been changed. I wanted to give you the pieces of this week that, as
a camper, I always wanted.
I loved spending this week with you. I loved eating meals with you and experiencing
God with you. I loved worshipping and praying with you. I loved laughing with you. My
prayer for you is that you dont forget. I know these are only a few pages of paper and
ink, but I hope that on days when you feel distant or unloved you can look over these
pages and know that there is love for you here. I believe there is love for you
everywhere you go now because you have had the privilege of these experiences
and carry with you both the memories and the God who made them possible. I pray
that you have the courage to create your own community back at home with the
pieces you take back and love deeper than you have before.
A special thank you to Dana Street for capturing moments when I didnt know how
and for picking up the slack when I slept in until 11am. Thank you to anyone who stole
or politely asked to use my camera throughout the week and allowed us to see
through their eyes.
Lets go create heaven together.
I love you guys.
Until next year,
1/
SATURDAY
introduction
JASON HAWKINS, SATURDAY EVENING
The problem is that is no matter how big God is, no matter how unfathomable he is, no
matter how hard it is for us to get our minds around itwe try to make him small. I think
christians, I think your church, I think all of us are guilty in some way of trying to make
our big God smaller than he is. Our theme this week is Embracing the Mystery. Were
talking about how big God is, but how we as humans try to make him small. Why would
we want to make God small? To understand him? So we can get our minds around
him? To raise ourselves? To have control? How many of us are guilty of wanting to have
control in some part of our life? The problem with us wanting control is that were not in
control. The problem with us wanting to understand everything is that were not God,
were creatures that are made by Him. This week we have a goal to take God out of
whatever boxes we try to put him in. Our desire this week is to take God out of the box
and, in doing so, discover blessings. By taking God out of the box, I believe we will
discover and uncover blessings that he wants to bless us with that we know nothing
about. We think that if we let God out of the box that well lose control, but in reality,
theres something right and theres something good and theres something pure about
God being God and us being us. So, were going to try to embrace the mystery. In
Isaiah 55 it says,
Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of
doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he will have mercy on
them. Let us turn to our God that he will forgive generously.
Isaiah 55:7
A lot of us come back to camp because we want to get right with God; we want to get
back to a certain place. We feel like weve got some issues or weve drifted away or
things get dull and we get complacent. Thats what this verse is kind of about return
to God, turn to him, get back to him, get things right. But whats interesting to me is that
the next verse says,
My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and my ways are far
beyond anything you can imagine.
Isaiah 55:8
If were going to have what we long forwhat we need with Godwere going to have
to embrace the mystery. Lets embrace this mystery, which is something that were
going to have to spend the week on because its not something that we can do easily or
want to do or do naturally.
CARSON:
I try to manipulate and control every detail of my life to the point where it seems it
consumes all of my daily life. I worry about every single thing I need to work out that day. I want
to spend time with the people I want to spend time with and I want to go to the places I want to
go to. And not just the day to day things, but Im talking big picture things as well. Because I
want the future that I want and I want to desire the things that I want to desire and seek after the
things that I want in my life because its my life and Im the captain of it. I try to control all of it
and I finally get to this point where I realize that Ive constructed for myself a very well
functioning, meaningless life. Ive constructed for myself a very finely tuned piece of temporary
garbage. Im trying to construct my own thing that Im in control of.
!
One of those things that is so mysterious about God is that he is the most uncontrollable
force in the universe. He cannot be contained. The very first words of this book that so many of
you brought here that were going to be looking at so much this week are, In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth. Already, I dont get it! Already, it makes no sense! If
anyone in here claims that they understand those words fully, youre lying. It absolutely makes
no sense. There was something that existed before the heavens and the earthGod was just
there? God made something out of nothing! Scientists with all of their technology and their
know-how on the planet could never just make something out of nothing. It goes against the
laws of everything we understand about how the world works. But God was not only able to
create something out of nothing, but to create everything out of nothing. I dont get it. It makes
no sense to me. The fact that I was created by a God means that I am not the captain of my life.
Thats the thing that I like the least and thats why were embracing the mystery of God. It is so
difficult for us because the fact that there is a God that has created all of thisthat in the
beginning he spoke all of this into beingthat means that I have no control. I have no real say
in what happens in this world.
!
What always amazes me about tsunamis is that these waves just wash away cities
completely. And that is such a great picture of what happens when we try to contain and box in
who God is. Its so overwhelming that it completely washes away our understanding of who we
thought God was in the first place.
JASON:
Those of you who know me best know that I am a self-proclaimed control freak. The
reason why I want to control things is because I can avoid certain things that I dont want. I can
avoid certain pain. I can avoid certain discomfort. I can avoid certain feelings of insecurity and
feelings of depressionall these things that I struggle with, if I can just be in control of my life, I
can stay away from those things. And Ive learned enough to know that it never really works.
And the only times in my life where Ive ever really felt at peace and fulfilled and not controlled
by all those things I just said Im so afraid of, is when I just really let God takeover. And so
theres this contrast between those two things.
!
Were talking about fear. And a lot of you, those who have been at Senior Week
beforethe majority of usthis place has become special to you. I would even say that this
has become a safe place for you. Which is kind of ironic because as much as this is a safe
place because we know we can come here and we can be loved and we can get away from
some of the stuff at home and some of the hurts we deal with, this is also a place where we
know that if we let him, God is really going to work in us. Which isnt always the safest thing.
Because sometimes when God wants to really do work in us, we have to deal with this stuff that
we so desperately try to control our lives so we dont feel them. And so, its interesting. Because
you can see it out here in myself and in you guys. Weve been coming out here for so long and
weve seen that even out here, we come out and maybe because its such a special week and
that its so short and its only once a year, we try to control things out here too, dont we?
!
So we have all theses issues and things were concerned about and the truth is that
theres a conflict we face when we come to a week like this. And the conflict is that we want to
be out here, but were not sure what Gods going to do with us when we do. And so I believe
that if youre anything like me, you bring with you certain things that we need to let go of. Certain
control things.
!
What are you bringing out here this week that youre anxious about, that youre worried
about, that youre concerned about?
!
If I just give Him control, whats going to happen?
2/
SUNDAY
QUOTES FROM
CAMP WIDE
THINGY
WHY DOES THE FACT THAT WE DONT AGREE CREATE A PROBLEM FOR US?
1 CORINTHIANS 12:12
JOB 35:5-8
ONE OF THE ENEMY'S
TRUE SCHEMES IS
MAKING THE ENEMY
E A C H
O T H E R .
DOES GOD WANT YOU TO HAVE IT ALL RIGHT? IF NOT, WHAT IS IT HE WANTS?
PRAYER
N
O
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U
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C
JASON HAWKINS
CAMPFIRE
We wanted to get us to a place at the beginning of the week where we dealt with the fact that as
much as we appreciate the words in the prayer Carson led us in and as much as we want to know
everything, we dont need to know everything. And thats a humbling experienceto get to a place
where you admit to yourself, Im too concerned with figuring out all the answers and knowing
everything. As we move forward in the week and continue to embrace the mystery, theres a
process were trying to go through as a camp. Were trying to let go of our need to control things
and our need to know everything and at the same time, search for the things that really matter.
Were focusing on what God really wants us and needs us to know and focus on. I want to share
with you guys tonight a prayer that the apostle Paul prayed for a group of people he really loved.
Theres a letter that we have in the bible called Philippians. Its a letter to a church in a place called
Philippi. Whats interesting about this letter to me is that in the first eight verses he says something
remarkable to them. He says, Every time I think about you, I thank God for you. Anybody relate to
that? There are times during the year when I am reminded of camp and Im reminded of some of
you who I dont see every day or every week and in my prayers, youll come to my mind and Ill just
say, God, thank you. I thank God for people because thats what they mean to me. In the letter to
this church, where Paul says, every time I think of you I thank God for you, after I realized how
much he cared about these people, I wanted to know what this guy is going to say to a group of
people who he loves so much. And tonight I just want to tell you what he prayed for them and then
were going to pray a version of this prayer about you campers tonight and I want you to catch
something. I can honestly say that I can relate to Paul here. Youre people who, throughout this
year when I think about you, Im going to thank God for you. So when we share this prayer for you
tonight, I want you to know that its a personal thing, kind of like when it was originally written. Paul
says to the church, I want you to grow in your love and abound in your knowledge and your
understanding. And if your knowledge and your understanding cause you to love better and you
grow when youre loved, he says if that happensif you grow in your lovethen you are going to
be able to discern what is best. In the NLT it says youre going to be able to know what really
matters. Which is kind of what were talking about tonight. We dont need to know everything, but
there are things we do need to know. And what we really want to know is what matters. And so he
says, if you get love, youre going to get what really matters. At the end of the prayer, its is so
beautiful because he says when that happenswhen you get love and that causes you to really
know what matters, then youre going to produce fruit. Which basically means your lives are going
to mean something. Your lives are going to be purposeful; youre going to produce fruit. To put this
in the most simple terms, if we love, we are going to know what matters, and our lives are going to
produce somethingwere going to have meaningful, purposeful lives. Tonight, thats our prayer for
you this week and for the rest of our lives.
3/
MONDAY
QUOTES FROM
CAMP WIDE
THINGY
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS WE DONT UNDERSTAND THAT PERSONALLY AFFECT OUR LIVES?
THERES A CONTRADICTION
BETWEEN WHAT WERE
TOLD AND WHAT WERE
ACTUALLY EXPERIENCING
A N D F E E L I N G .
Prayer experience
4/
TUESDAY
CAT CHRISTIAN
/
DOG CHRISTIAN
CHRISTIANITY HAS
GOTTEN
TO
A
DANGEROUS PLACE WITH
THE OVEREMPHASIS OF A
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
W I T H
G O D .
Mess Night
I love you
tell me
I love you
in general
your tears
not
I love you
show me
in general
your smile
the dark
I love you
you love me
grant me permission
for real
my laugh
the pressure
my file
the pain
the mess
theres pages
we confess
of loneliness
theres poems
of guilt
I love you
I know
of past hurt
you doubt
one mile
5/
WEDNESDAY
14 Hours
of
Prayer
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you / as the day rises to meet the sun. / Glory to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will
be forever. Amen. / Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the LORD
our Maker. / Song Lord, Take Control / Speak, Lord : for your servants are listening. / Psalm
86: 1-7 / Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer : answer me, for I need your help. / Protect
me, for I am devoted to you : Save me, for I serve you and trust you. / You are my God. / Be
merciful to me, O Lord : For I am calling on you constantly. / Give me happiness, O Lord : for
I give myself to you. / O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive : so full of unfailing love
for all who ask for your help. / Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD : hear my urgent cry. / I
will call to you whenever Im in trouble : and you will answer me. / Speak, Lord : for your
servants are listening. / 1 Kings 19:11-13 / James 5: 13-16 / Speak, Lord : for your servants
are listening. / Mary Olivers poem Praying reads: / It doesnt have to be / the blue iris, it can
be / weeds in a vacant lot, or a few / small stones; just / pay attention, then patch / a few words
together and dont try / to make them elaborate, this isnt / a contest but the doorway / into
thanks, and a silence in which / another voice may speak. / Praying for Others / Our Father in
heaven, / may your name be kept holy. / May your Kingdom come soon. / May your will be
done on earth, / as it is in heaven. / Give us today the food we need, / and forgive our
sins, / as we have forgiven those who sin against us. / And dont let us yield to
temptation, / but rescue us from the evil one. / In the name of the Father, the Son, / and
the Holy Spirit. Amen. / Purify our hearts, O Lord, to long for the one true thing and be
distracted by nothing. Amen. / May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he
may send you; / may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the
storm; / may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you; / may he
bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
ISA IAH 42
GOD WANTS
TO TAKE OUR
BURDENS,
NOT BURDEN
US.
PSALM 73
If there was ever a room that depicted God, it might be this room.
Ive seen God do some crazy stu in the shelter house that I do not
getthat I will never understand. Ive seen us praising God in this
place and thunderstorms with winds that look like they should just
make this shack fall over raging outside and 70 people just singing
totally unaected by the rain and the wind. Ive seen people that I
never thought I would see have their hearts humbled, bowing down
before a God they cant even see. Ive seen so many people have their
hearts moved and stirred in prayer in this place. Who can really
explain that? Who can put their nger on that and analyze it? Who can
accept it and say it means this one particular truth. Its so hard to
really put your nger on what it is about worshipping God in this
place that makes it so special. I cant tell you why, I just know that it
is. CARSON, SATURDAY NIGHT CAMPFIRE
6/
THURSDAY
PHILIPPIANS 3
WE DONT KNOW
HOW TO UTILIZE THE
BEST GIFT JESUS GAVE
US.
JOHN 14:36
J O H N
oil Night
Oil night is universally loved here at senior week. I was here the first year it
happened and I can honestly say that there is a beautiful difference in how it
went that year to the experience we all had this year. Immediately after
praying, I saw campers and staff eagerly stand to bless others when usually
a few moments would pass before anyone moved. And I love that. I love that
we have found comfort in honesty together. I love that we are eager in our
kindness. Jason later said that oil night this year was a taste of heaven, and
I think we all felt that. I love that we have grown from moments of uneasy,
timid honesty to eager, joyful honesty. And I love that I have experienced this
growth. Oil night has instilled in me the knowledge that being honest with
people changes things; it heals insecurity and it grants confidence and it
spreads love. I think we all left wishing we had more time, as two hours
never pass as quickly as they do on Thursday night of senior week. I pray
that we no longer wait for these moments to be given to us, but that we are
loving and reckless with our honesty.
- MEGAN MADISON
7/
FRIDAY
ROMANS 8:18
HERES WHAT I
KNOW ABOUT
HEAVEN: ILL BE
WITH GOD AND
EVERYTHING WILL BE
AS IT SHOULD.
JOHN 17
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