What Jack Knows

About 2 months ago, we acquired (isn't Craig's List great?) a 10 yr. old black lab named Jack. It was obvious that he was well-cared for and loved and we're trying to carry on the baton.
Jack is a simple creature; he needs to eat, he needs to relieve himself, he needs water, he needs exercise. Jack is curious; he stops, starts, darts, digs for (and probably dreams of) whatever is living in that hole or crack in the ground, surrounded by burrs and weeds. For Jack, a walk and run around the yard and neighborhood - having the liberty to explore the world around him - this is life itself; all the hours of waiting for that "freedom" are prologue. Jack doesn't own a 401k, can't jump in his car and purchase something he's been pining or lusting for. He doesn't dream of no debt, no worries. His only debts are simple, his only worries are whether potential prey will escape or be undiscovered.

Jack has helped me in a number of ways. Meeting his needs (to be "out") has forced me to meet some of my own needs - exercise, quiet, unprogrammed time, wonder, time to gaze at the dark night and experience the crisp dawn. Why didn't I do this 30 years ago? Jack doesn't take time to look back - his adventure is always ahead, he's always ready or getting ready (read: resting :=). So I meet his needs and he returns something to me - could this be analog to relationships? To Relationship? God meets my needs before I wake, before I first awoke; can I return something to Him? Can I give Him the gratitude, the devotion, the obedience, the worship He deserves? "Life with Jack" demonstrates the the simple axiom of giving first, receiving abundantly - just as Christ models for us. Can I live in that? And am I to Jack as God is to me? Does Jack know I care for him? Does he know how he blesses me? Don't know - his adventure/my adventure is always ahead.

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Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect (His goal for me), but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do. Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lays ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are [mature] have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus, and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you. from Philippians 3 - NASB

Giants

In my last blog, I discussed the distinctives of Christian Camping and applied it to Wilderness Ridge and its unique ministry. I ended with a discussion of II Timothy 2:2 from the New Testament and posed the question:

What are the characteristics we want to pass on, entrust to the next generation of leaders in this particular ministry.

As I considered this, I looked to the founders of Wilderness Ridge and found some excellent examples of Traits emodied in these men which I'd love to see the Boys - and the future leaders of Wilderness Ridge - Catch.

This is given in the spirit of I Corin. 11 where Paul invites the Corinthians to “follow me as I follow Christ.”

Dwane McNabb – Faith and Vision, Courage and Boldness

Dwane as first chairman, was the one who took the initial desire of one man (Isaac Pape) to gift his land and developed with him and others the vision for the camp. Dwane as our first chairman was a get it done kind of guy surrounded by guys who were just trying to keep up. Dwane could see the next hill we needed to take plus the next 2 after that. The challenge for the board was trying to catch up with his thinking and not be anchors on the development of the camp. Dwane saw what the ministry could be and persisted in passing that vision on to others and to see it become a reality. He passed that passion on to others and the result is evident today. John 15;16 says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you would go and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain.” Dwane's passion and vision and bold faith yielded fruit that remains.

Ken Strom – Focus and Intensity

Ken is a remarkable man. Ken is an extremely focused man. He's a detail guy. Dwane was a “take that hill guy.” Ken is a “bring your climbing shoes” guy. I've never wondered what was central to Ken's heart – and that is getting the gospel to kids and building them up in the faith. At each point that I've had the privilege of working with Ken, you never had to wonder what his mind was on. He's a one song-man. I remember countless times learning the lesson of what happens if you ask Ken whether we're still going forward with the plan. I remember camping trips to Big Bend where we're getting back into the car and looking into some dark clouds. Ken would rather go into danger that he knew than miss an opportunity to fulfill his ministry. Ken is an example to me of Paul's words in Philippians, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Ken exemplifies pressing on for the prize.

Ber Kletke – Faithfulness and Service

Ber gave the appearance of being a gruff guy, but served tirelessly because he loved God and he loved serving campers. Think of faithfulness; he was the guy who epitomized it. I can't remember many times being up at the camp that Ber was not there already, usually already serving in the kitchen (which at one time was a half-barrel grill, a refrigerator and an army tent), on the roof or designing a building for us (with many revisions and usually not being built the way he designed it). Ber had a heart for people and he demonstrated how to never give up on boys. Ber taught us what it meant to show up and let God use your talents. God is Faithful; God came as a servant to save us. Ber demonstrated these characteristics in his life. To extend the hill analogy, Ber was a “let me give you a hand up” kind of guy. Ber exemplifies faithfulness.

Benediction

So what is the future for Wilderness Ridge? I hope it is a continuation of its past. A focus on the reason why God established the ministry and a focus on prayer - asking Him to accomplish His purposes for Wilderness Ridge.

The future for Wilderness Ridge is strong as long as it stays true to its purpose of using the unique environment God has provided to serve His People.

I am confident the camp is in those good hands and that the ministry will continue to grow and more importantly, to be effective in reaching boys and families with the life-changing reality of Jesus Christ.

Can we do it?

I'll leave you with Jude's benediction, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, blameless with great joy. To the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time, now and forever! Amen. ”

Christian Camping

This is an excerpt of a talk I gave on Sept 27th for the Wilderness Ridge 20th Anniversary Austin Banquet held at Hill Country Bible Church Northwest.

The Nature of Christian Camping:

OuTlook/Perspective – Camping gets you get out of your element (thinking of the fumes example from the chapter on practice 7 of The Seven Practices of Effective Ministry) and evaluate your life from a different perspective. Christian camping exposes you to God's amazing creation. Wilderness, in particular, allows you to experience the outdoors as it is all of the rest of the days of the week – How God made it. The alternative is to import all of the conveniences of your everyday life into the woods. Wilderness is quiet, but shouts out God's glory – Ps 19.

Thankfulness/Appreciation – Being in a different environment leads you to realize not everyone in every time has had the benefits you do. Just like the Israelites were given the Festival of Booths to remind them that they were nomads apart from God providing them a land. We get to see that we're not really home in this world, and we won't be until we get to home for good. Camping reminds us of that.

Quality Time – Our family goes camping once a year – Mom and Dad and as many of the family as can spend the night do. We do it to have quality time together. Camping gives you the opportunity to do that with other friends. Camping also gives you an opportunity to spend time with God – in an environment where you can be really ready to listen.

Transparency - Camping removes the facades of everyday life. You get hot, you get sweaty, you get irritable. Others can readily see how you operate under pressure and stress. Boys get to see leaders (and children get to see their dads and leaders) operate under un-controlled conditions. It is much easier be and to test who is REAL in a camping environment.

Transfer – Camping provides excellent time for life-on-life with others. For Wilderness Ridge, it means time for leaders to spend with boys, or Fathers with sons or daughters. We can't pick up life skills and absorb character without spending time together. It is an excellent environment or laboratory for II Tim 2:2.

II Tim 2:2 as it applies to Christian camping for Boys.

The question you might ask is “why” Christian Camping as a ministry and activity? Why do this here, now in this way? For Wilderness Ridge, God provided the ministry, God provided the land, God provided the workers and the servants to build what is there. That gift constitutes a trust – just like the gospel is a sacred trust that we are compelled to pass on.

The question that II Timothy 2:2 begs is – what are those things that we are to pass on, entrust to others? Obviously, it is the gospel, the Word of Truth and Life and the entirety of scripture. But it is also about character. Notice that this verse is in the letters of Paul to Timothy, where Paul calls Timothy his "true son in the faith;" he talks about "the goal of his instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith;" He says, "Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience." These are all depictions of character - character transfer from Paul to Timothy.

Paul uses these two letters to Timothy to describe the character of an elder and of his life . Paul tells Timothy to “guard what has been entrusted to you.” “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings ” These things come out of a man (out of the treasure of his heart) in a transparent environment like Christian Camping. Earlier, in I Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, follow me as I follow Christ. He repeats this in Ephesians 5:1.

So, who can we follow to excellence in this ministry to future leaders in the context of a Christian camping ministry? .....

See my next blog.

The Wonder of the Almighty

Post #2. I'm a blessed man. I have a wonderful wife, a family who loves God and who each have tender hearts. What more could I ask for? In so many ways, God has blessed me. I know that He brings difficulties into my life to test and bless me. Testing to God is not pass/fail, but purifying as an assayer would test silver or gold. The gold He finds is only what He put there, but it brings Him pleasure to work with raw material such as I and to have the wonderful conundrum of connecting my good with His Glory. Who could conceive of such a God; who could imagine Him; who could fathom counting Him as friend. Only a destitute man, hungry for the Good He defines, for the Grace He offers, for the Truth He reveals, for the Life He gives, for the Justice He satisfies, for the Glory He sheds. Amen.

My First Blog

Today, I start blogging. I don't have much to say today, but I hope to expound (:-) where God leads (and be silent otherwise).

I did get to see a group of guys get excited about long range planning for the church I'm a part of (www.hcbchutto.com). My prayer is that God uses us as a church in a big way to do our part to reach Every Man Woman and Child in the greater Austin Area with the Life-Changing Reality of Jesus Christ. May He give His Leaders Faith and Vision.