Surf Camp Video

A Surfing Weekend

One of the reasons I love living on the Outer Banks is because I love the beach and ocean.  I also love to watch surfing.  I used to surf but due to my out of shapeness I no longer surf.

Friday night at church we showed a surf movie, Distant Shores.  This was an outreach event geared towards youth but we had a great turn out of all ages.  The showing was the passion birthed out of one of our member's surf trips.  Mike saw the film and knew right away it needed to be shown at NHC.  He came back from his trip and went to work putting the event together. (It's great, as a youth pastor, to go to a youth event and not have done the work putting it together.  My basic responsibility was to share the gospel at the end of the film.  The rest was all organized without me.  That's what ministry is all about!  Members getting equipped and turned loose to minister.  A big thanks to all those involved in pulling off this event and to Maximus Pizza and Hukilau Surf Camp for providing the pizzas, all 30 of them.)

The message of the film was powerful.  We are fortunate to have some local pro surfers, Jesse Hines and Noah Snyder living in our area.  Both of these guys love to surf and love to use their sport as an avenue to spread the love of Jesus Christ.  Jesse, Noah joined Nic McLean (Noah's Arc and Walking on Water) to introduce the film and then answered some questions afterwards and hung out with us and threw out some Hurley freebies to the kids.  Thanks Nic, Jesse and Noah for investing in the lives of kids.  You guys are a blessing.

Mike, Nic,  Noah, Jesse

Noah Snyder

Jesse Hines

Nic McLean

Nic, Noah, Me, Jesse

(I'm the heavier dude nestled between the two lean, mean surfing machines)

On Saturday we hosted our first Hukilau Surf Camp of the summer.  This year we are holding 3 camps for students and one for international students.  Hukilau Surf Camp is an outreach of NHC and is the passion of Pastor Steve.  I think just about every camper stood up and rode a wave on Saturday.  Thanks to our camp team and coaches!  The good news of Jesus was shared during one of the breaks.  One young man even showed up for youth group last night at the beach!

Pastor Steve

Contagious Last Night

Even with a couple of our regulars not here and a few out of town we had a great turn out at the beach last night including several guests.  It's always cool to see new students show up as the result of their friend's invitation.  Many hot dogs and bags of chips were consumed.  Thanks Cinnamon for the cooler full of sliced watermelon!

The Parent Pod was great last night even though the winds caused us to get sandblasted.  Let's just say we all had an exfoliation.  A couple of newbies to the Pod and the Pod continues to grow.  We had one mother and son at Contagious last night as a result of our surf camp on Saturday.  Coolio!  Last night's talk was hopefully a spring board for parents and students to have "the talk".

Last night we talked about God's view or our body and sex.  Of course with students whenever you say "sex" you have their total attention.  For some reason that is the topic they are most interested in.    We unpacked I Corinthians 6:12-20 .  Sex was God's creation and we need to make sure we keep it in the context of the Creator's purpose.   Students then got in their sand pods (formerly known as family groups or table groups) and discussed this section of scripture.

Parent/Teen Discussion:

Read I Corinthians 6:12-20

1. Do you think the sexual guidelines that most Christians set up for kids today are too loose or too tight?
2. What do you think are the top three sources of sexual temptation for students today?
3. What is one fresh insight you can take form today’s Bible passage that can help you battle sexual temptation?

Resources to use in talking with your teen about sex:

A Chicken's Guide to Talking Turkey with Your Kids about Sex

Sex and Sexuality Parent Resource Kit

Her Worship Was Her Song

Last week, when we were at camp, we had an evening worship gathering that was very powerful.  God’s presence was so strong that we stood for several minutes in silence after a song.  That’s huge considering there were 1,125 students and their youth leaders in the room.

There was a girl behind me who sang really loud.  Not that loud bothers me, but she sang really way off key.   Her singing was so bad musically that even I was having a hard time carrying the tune in the bucket.  I even cringed a couple of times.  I thought to myself, “could she maybe sing a little softer, this is killing me.”  You know some people just can’t sing and I think perhaps she may have been severely tone deaf.

As worship continued and as worship deepened in that huge chapel I soon could hear not only her singing off key but I could hear the tears in her voice as she cried out to God in worship.  It didn’t take long before I could realize that she was worshipping God with everything she had.  It was obvious that God was moving in her life.  She still sang loud and with incredible pitch problems but her singing no longer bothered me. 

I don’t know where I got confused and thought she was singing for me or to me?  It was pretty shallow of me to judge her vocal skills or lack of.  She was singing songs in worship to her Creator, to her Lord and Savior.  I know that as she sang to Him He didn’t hear her singing off key, He heard her heart; He heard the created singing to the Creator.  I was soon moved not only by the worship I was giving to God but also by the worship of this tone-deaf girl behind me.  Worshipping with her drew me deeper into worship and also taught me an important lesson.

So to the believers in Christ who say, “Well singing just isn’t my cup of tea”, I say, open up to God in song.  God’s Word is clear that we are to sing to Him.  You can’t find any scripture that says to fold your arms in worship and sit their tight-lipped.  You can find lots of scripture that tells us to sing to God.

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; sing praise to the Lord, Selah  Psalm 68:32

A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD, to sing praise to Your name, Most High,  Psalm 92:1 

Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day.  Psalm 96:2

Shout to the LORD, all the earth; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.  Psalm 98:4

And don't get drunk with wine, which [leads to] reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 5:18-20

Slice Pizza

In a round about way this post does have something to do with youth ministry and parenting teens because it involves pizza.  Usually when I post about food I get the most comments.  

Nate and I just had a delicious lunch at Slice.  Slice is a new pizza place in KDH next to the new Sunsations.  If you live in the OBX area or are here on vacation I highly recommend it.  My lunch was very good.  I enjoyed a spinach roll and a slice or white pizza with broccoli.  Yummo!

The slices are huge man, big NY style.  I believe one of the partners has made pizza in Brooklyn for about 15 years or so.  It is the real deal.  I would even venture to say the best pizza I have had on the beach.  Stop by and see the folks at Slice and tell Jeremiah you are there because of Andy's recommendation.  They had a meat stuffed pizza and it looked awesome!  Maybe next time.  We sat next to our family mechanic and he said Slice has the best cheese steak on the beach.  I guess I'll have to give that a shot too.

Thanks Jeremiah for the delicious lunch!

Do You See Me?

The Liberty Journal from Liberty University has a little "Remember When. . .?" page.  This month the page features someone we all know and love, someone really famous.

A stroll down memory lane.  Back in the 1970's I worked as a child at a Treasure Island children's camp.  Treasure Island is located in the middle of the James River in Lynchburg, Va.

I worked for $20 a week for several summers.  My job was to feed, brush and take care of the ponies.  I also saddled them up and gave the pony rides to the campers.  There was also a "petting farm" and I took care of those animals as well.  

I had lots of fun on that island during those summers.  The good old days.  The island was later demolished by flood waters as during a time of a lot of rain the flood waters swept over the island because someone did something wrong with a dam up river.  Thomas Road Baptist Church still owns the island but I'm not sure if it is being used.

So did you see me in the picture?  That's right.  It's me riding old Chip.  I remembered the pony's name which is incredible because I can't remember most people's names.

If you receive the Liberty Journal and would like an autograph just send me the magazine in a self addressed, stamped . . . .

Religion in America

Interesting video clip from MSNBC.

Contagious Last Night

We had a great time at the beach last night even though the water was a tad bit chilly.  There was volleyball, hot dogs, drinks, chips, hanging out, swimming and I even saw some beach soccer and football.

Our study was about God the Father:

1.  God the Father is your Creator.   Ps 139:13,16

2.  God the Father is your Comforter.   2 Cor. 1:3-4

3.  God the Father is your Challenger.  Rev. 2:4-5

The Parent Pod is growing and that is exciting.  After doing the study with the students I went and hung out in the Pod with the parents and we did the study together and some discussion time.  I look forward to watching the Pod grow into a parent ministry led by parents.

Parent/Teen Discussion:

Rejoice as God's Creation

PS 139:14

>What is one thing you really like about how you were created?

>Do you have any problem accepting  that you've been created in God's image?

Explain

Relax in God's Comfort

Psalm 145:8-9

>What are your worries or concerns right now?

>How might God comfort you in these?

>Do you agree with this statement: "God loves you more than you love yourself."

Run to God's Challenge

Phil. 3:12-13

>In what area do you think God wants to challenge you?

>Can you identify any ways in which you are currently resisting the challenges of God and His Word?

Spend some time praying together.  Pray for your teen to come to realize God as their personal creator, their comforter and to rise to God's challenges in their lives.

16th Summer Camp

Another summer camp over.  This year was probably the best week of camp that I have ever experienced personally and as a youth pastor.    Student Life knows how to do camp.  This summer SL will put on 44 camps in 18 states.  That is a whole lot of camps!  The SL team that led our camp last week left to do a camp in Florida this week and then drive to Colorado the next.

Student Life has been doing so many camps for so long they have it down to a science yet they are still adjusting and changing things as they receive input from youth leaders.  Student Life has made the biggest impact on me because of their attitude of being there to serve.  So if you are a youth leader planning next summer's camp I would highly suggest Student Life.

When thinking about a choosing a camp I would think about:

1.  The purpose of the camp

2.  The Biblical theme of the camp

3.  Sound doctrine in the teaching

4.  Know something about the speaker for the week

5.  A camp that is relevant and contemporary

6.  Some free time for the students

7.  Good daily schedule

8.  Plenty of interaction between students and also with youth leaders

9.  A camp with a great reputation of serving youth groups

Divorce

Today on Studentdevo.com there is a good blog post on Divorce and Matthew 19 from Amy Brothers, of Duck UMC.  Amy is part of our Outer Banks Youth Ministry Network.  Many students in our youth groups are dealing with divorce in their families or in the lives of their close friends.

If you have a teen or a youth group let them know about this site.  Each day a devotional is posted that only takes a few minutes to read but they can also click the links to dig deeper on their own in the Bible.  The whole purpose of this devotion site is to help students get into the HABIT of Hang Time with God.

Struggling with Faith?

Ever find yourself wondering where God is at in whatever situation may be going on in your life? Faith is powerful.  I have stood back and watched in amazement the faith of Tricia.  After all Tricia has been through in the past several months,  delivering  a beautiful miracle baby and after Tricia has a miracle double lung transplant she finds out she has cancer.  It has been amazing for me to watch Tricia's faith (and Nate's) through all of this.  Not only am I amazed but I am inspired.  I've been inspired to trust God more.  I've been inspired to accept God's plan for my own life.  I've been inspired to live life with a deeper passion for my family.  I've been inspired to allow God to use my life as a witness.

God has given Tricia an incredible opportunity to share her life with the world.  I just finished reading Tricia's blog post about her prognosis and treatment for her cancer.  Truly amazing! (There's that word again)  If you haven't read her recent post you need to take a minute and do so.

I'm with our youth group at Student Life Camp this week at Wake Forest.  I know our youth group loves Tricia, the girls especially look up to Tricia, she has had a big impact in their lives.

Impacting lives, isn't that what we should all be doing as believers?  Using where God has placed us to share our faith in Him with others.