GX Highlight Video

Check out highlight video from Senior High Camp!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=1542254718341&oid=323055232494

MESSAGE! – Why We Do Camp

Camp is a lot of fun. No doubt. I mean, take a look at all the pictures running around the internet from our Wild West Coast summer camp 2010. Facebook is getting a ton of posts too. Hopefully you’ve made not just “FB friends,” but real friends; community, the kind of friends that will journey with you in Christ!

Well, in addition to the fun, there is the life-change. Below are some of the testimonies from ALCF of what God did in the hearts and lives of our students. If you ever wondered why a bunch of us would spend so much time, energy, resources, etc. into events like this…this is why.

MESSAGE!

We praise God for all the lives and hearts that were transformed, and we are continuing will continue the journey with you as you follow Jesus with all your heart, all your soul, and all your might!

OTI!

JANET! You know, a great story as to why we do the games the way we do. Even the activities teach!

VICTORIA!

KENNZEIL!

KEONI! Keepin’ it real.

MS TINA! You know, it’s amazing how the fun camp things turn into serious things. Squirrel!

SENIOR HIGH CAMP – videos!

Here is a small sampling of the videos from Senior High Camp.

What would you do for a Klondike bar? How about bench pressing Junior! (He had a little help, but still, this is impressive!)

Part two:

How about do a “dance off” with Marcus Randolph!!!

And now for the Square Dancin’ videos…

SENIOR HIGH CAMP – Day 4

First, here are some pictures of yesterday.

Another day of games, and another day of fun. Last night, during my blogging, the staff set up a “tunnel of doom and destruction,” a.k.a. a “plastic-covered-slip-n-slide-with-foam-at-the-end.” If you recall from Junior High Camp, they did this, except, during the day. SENIOR HIGH camp has it now at night, with glow sticks, and some rave music. So, needless to say, it was a bit of a party last night.

Tonight, Marcus touched on the fruits of the Spirit and the temptations of the flesh. He addressed the issue of sexual sin, fleshly desires, and all of that in quite a straightforward and candid way without being explicit. It was quite amazing to watch, actually. You’ll have to hear from the kids exactly what really went down on this talk.

Right before Marcus spoke, two students from ALCF (Abundant Life Christian Fellowship), Anthony & Kennzeil performed a “human video” to a song chosen by Marcus as an introduction. We’ll try and get the video up and running for you, but in brief, it was a dream a guy was having about the temptations that come his way. However, because of his new found relationship with Christ, the strength of the Spirit in Him, he is putting all the old “sin” to death. It was amazing, the kids, (I’m so stinkin’ proud of them) did awesome. They’re such servants, with hearts of gold, and they ministered to the camp in a phenomenal way tonight!

One more day…”one more day!”

SENIOR HIGH CAMP – Day 3

Tonight was nuts. Remember “What would you do ooh ooh, for a Klondike Bar?” Well, our camp this year had several amazing feats. Some of them too gross to mention (like licking the bottom of someone’s foot). Two that stand out as camp favorites. 1. Daniel Thomas, the Senior High Ministry Director of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, said he would bench press Junior (our hefty Samoan worship leader). The video is incredible. 2. One student said he would do a dance-off with Marcus Randolph, to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” That video is also priceless.

Marcus’ message tonight was about community, and how there are no Lone Rangers. You need friends who will be there to support you and encourage you in your spiritual journey. Listen to them, be accountable to them. This has several very easy applications.

1. Girls/Guys…listen to your family and friends when you start dating.
2. Listen to non-Christians in your life who know you’re living out a saved life; they are watching you and may keep it real with you.
3. Love your church family, and be devoted to them.

Once again, good stuff all day today. Sorry, there is no media. I left the camera in the room. Will try and make it up to you.

Junior High Pictures

Sam Law apparently posted some pictures on Facebook. I believe they are public. Just click here: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=409873081515&ref=notif&notif_t=video_tag#!/album.php?aid=189215&id=509749836

SENIOR HIGH CAMP – Day 2

I’m sorry, but I don’t have any media to share this day. Perhaps we’ll get pictures tomorrow. And, there’s really not too much of an update, so here are the bullet points:

• Games included 4 way volleyball in the pool, like at Junior High Camp; and the sawhorses on the field with sponges…like JR HIGH CAMP.
• The afternoon volleyball net was filled with students playing “schism,” which is an interesting mix between volleyball, dodge ball, and “catch.”
• The kids are having a great time.

Marcus’ message tonight was powerful. “Sin does not discriminate, but neither does salvation.” It doesn’t matter what has happened to you in the past, it doesn’t matter what you think you are, or how bad you think you’ve messed, or how far or distant you think you’ve fallen…you are still close enough for Jesus to save you.

Several students responded, and we believe that God is really moving hearts. Praise God for the decisions that were made tonight, and praise God for the amazing young men and women who are responding well to the message God has for them!

SENIOR HIGH CAMP – Day 1

Well, it’s Day One and it’s already full.

We got to camp and started with the camp picture. The full res., 5MB picture is below, both a serious and a fun one. After that, we headed for dinner, and introduced the weekend. Our worship team is Junior Tagata from Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, our Speaker is Marcus Randolph from Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, I, one of the camp pastors is from Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, and everyone else is the same crew as from Junior High Camp: Adam, Director, Heather, Activities, and same location…well, duh.

So, the students got “robbed” again, as their buses pulled in, and in order to get their stuff back, someone had to “pay.” In other words, what was the “ransom” for their stuff? Well, Gloria was the one to “take it,” and “it” was a cream pie in the face. Adam got a little into it, and smeared it. He wasn’t satisfied with the mere “one-shot-in-the-face-and-leave-it-be” technique.

Like Junior High Camp, there’s the “Minute to Win It” games, like the petroleum jelly on the nose to move cotton balls, and the streamers thingy, whose name is escaping me right now.

Most importantly, Marcus brought a message of dealing with the sin that’s been done to us. Showing a couple clips from Hook, he demonstrated that the Devil’s job is to take a small piece of fact (that something bad happened to us) and turn it into a big lie (that it’s all God’s fault). In reality, we need to be healed from that, we need to let it go, and not blame God for the free will of humans. Freeing ourselves from the “blaming of God” is the first step towards a remedy. Several students responded, and we’re excited to see how God is going to plant the seeds from this message into the hearts and souls of our students to grow into love, peace, joy, etc.

Already we can see that the High Schoolers are truly embracing the fullness of camp. We’re really looking forward to a great week!

VIDEOS!!!

From Junior High Camp!

Here’s a sampling of our worship time, with Cameron from Crossroads in San Francisco!!!

Another sample: “I Am Free!”

One of the “Minute to Win It” games. Kwate is attempting to get a cookie in his mouth using only his face muscles. He tried a “jumping” technique that really didn’t work well for him. Bummer.

During one of the relays, they had to “scoot” along the ground. Several complained of sore muscles…muscles, they apparently never knew they had!

When asked, “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” August Powell said, “He’d sumo wrestle Marcus Randolph. Hmm…well, not sure how this turns out, but he did get is ice cream!

Jordan Newt and his “Box O’ Chocolates” showing off their moves!

Rebekah Cardelli, a.k.a. “White Chocolate,” a.k.a. “Flashlight” is perfecting her dance moves! Go Rebekah!!! (Poor Miss Rachel can’t keep her composure!)

And believe it or not, Junior Higher’s doing Square Dance. Can you believe it! And, they’re having a great time! Read my last post for what happened later that night during the worship time! (By the way, our “caller” was fantastic. He and his wife really were patient with our kids, and they kept encouraging them the whole time. God bless them!)

And until the hi-res camp picture gets posted, here is a quick video shot of us getting ready for the picture!

A sampling of our students during meet ‘n’ greet! (I love your hair too!!!)

Junior Higher’s “I’ll Fly Away”

Day 4 – The Remedies to the Outlaw

The last full day, was, well, quite full.

The afternoon’s activities included jousting at the pool on 50 gallon barrels, and pool “noodles.” The traditional “belly flop contest” proceeded right after. This picture is of our first speaker, Luis, demonstrating how it’s done. This is definitely a camp favorite.

The “field” game was not so much in the field, but in the “tunnel of doom.” Yeah, sounds scary!!! PVC pipe + thick plastic sheets + Suave Shampoo + hose water + a massive bubble machine = the “tunnel of doom.” Oh yeah, don’t forget the strobe light and the florescent lights inside too. You got to give it up for this camp staff. They know how to put a game together. Check out the pictures below, ’cause the foam was insane! It blew all over the place, stuck to everything, and was so much fun!

Free time consisted of the regulars (basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, paintball, ropes course, and gazebo chillin’) but then, you’ll never guess what we did for the evening. First, there was a real BBQ outside; yummy! Beans and potato salad with burgers. And right after that, the staff hired a real square dance caller. Yeah, you read that right. A real square dance caller, fit with the sound system, voice, and all the moves to make a heifer jiggle it’s udders (whoa, sorry for the image). Anyway, you’ve not seen anything, until you’ve seen a bunch of Junior Highers “do-si-do” around in a circle. Seriously, amazing. And believe it or not, the kids had a great time. How do I know. This next part, I would not have believed, unless I saw it with my own eyes. It was too dark to take pictures (on my iPhone…still mad I left my camera at home), but right in the middle of rock ‘n’ roll worship, the kids busted out with the square dance moves, right in the amphitheater! It was incredible. Do-si-do to electric guitar and drums. Truly incredible.

One of the evening’s games challenged students to get Vaseline on their nose, pick up a cotton ball, and deliver it to a waiting receptacle. Hilarious. I caught the Newt brothers competing against each other, face to face…quite literally. See for yourself!

Hoy, our evening speaker, challenged our students in three areas: community, Bible, and prayer. As I am typing this out, they are in their last cabin time of the week, and our prayer is that the kind of community they have here at camp would continue at home; that the Bible they studied here would be the Bible they love at home; and that the communion with God that they’ve had here would be the kind of prayer they exemplify, for the rest of their lives!

For the parents at home that are anxious (or perhaps not as anxious?!) to see your offspring, we are encouraging you to prepare to let God continue the work in them. We do camps, not just because we like games, or that we want to be perpetually immature for the rest of our lives (though many of you may consider that to be a high possibility! ). We do it, because it’s time and space that we allow God to truly plant seeds in the lives and hearts of our kids. We hope, and pray, desperately, that when they return home, many to challenging lives, even in spite of all of that, their lives bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God, and that they truly get to experience the love of God in new and fresh ways.

Officially Signing Off: This is the last blog post for JUNIOR HIGH CAMP. Senior High camp begins next Monday!