7/1/2025
How was summer camp for Journey youth? I’m so glad you asked!
Our church had two students commit their lives to the Lord for the very first time. We had many others who recommitted their lives to the Lord and even more who grew in their faith and were challenged in their faith.
Here are just a few remarks from some of our teens regarding what the Lord did in their lives at FUGE camp:
This week I wanted to fully surrender my life to the Lord. I learned that surrender isn’t just a singular moment, but it is a choice and a decision every day. I wanted that emotional rush, that “camp high”, but I learned what comes quickly, leaves quickly. I also learned about the value of Biblical community and the importance of having regular spiritual conversations. I want to get into the habit of routinely talking about Jesus with others.
I learned that God deserves my all, not just my leftovers.
I felt convicted about my social media problem. I have deleted TikTok and have an accountability partner. I also learned in coming home that not everyone is going to make the same decisions you did at camp, but that is okay. You can let your light shine in the darkness. You can keep being the light and maybe one day they’ll find the light too.
Camp made a big difference in my faith. This week I realized I’ve been hanging on to other people’s faith, and now I have my own faith.
Worship was my favorite part of camp!
One of the main focus words this week was “fuel.” I realized that I’ve just been riding around on a spiritually empty tank. I get too busy, and I just put in $1 of fuel in at a time, just barely hanging on. I’ve learned to dial in and to fill up every day. Another example that stuck with me is that God is like a lamp. Not a flashlight, but a lamp. If He lit up our path like a flashlight, we’d see all the way to the end, and we might get scared, so He lights up just a few steps at a time. And again, the importance of keeping the fuel in the lamp, if you let the light run out, you won’t be able to see your next steps.
For me, camp was a new start. I feel more connected to God. It was an amazing experience.
I learned I need to be more intentional with my words because the proof of the resurrection is in me.
I learned about the value of Christian community. I know that when I leave for college, I need to find community so they can help me stay connected to God.
At camp I realized I have a borrowed faith, and now I’ve decided to be baptized.
So how was camp? I’d say it was pretty amazing.
-Jackie
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7/7/2025
I wish that I was wiser than I am. I am grateful for the wisdom found in the Bible. I am also grateful for the wisdom of spiritual guides like the theologian, Frederick Buechner, whose quotes inspire me to ponder more deeply the wonder of a Jesus-like faith. Here are some of his sayings I’ve reflected on recently that I hope might inspire you as well.
-Michael
“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.”
“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you.”
“Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.”
“Faith is stepping out into the unknown with nothing to guide us but a hand just beyond our grasp.”
“Wherever people love each other and are true to each other and take risks for each other, God is with them and for them and they are doing God’s will.”
“The world says, the more you take, the more you have. Christ says, the more you give, the more you are.”
“We find by losing. We hold fast by letting go. We become something new by ceasing to be something old.”
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
“You can’t be too careful what you tell a child because you never know what he’ll take hold of and spend the rest of his life remembering you by.”
“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.”
“Even the saddest things can become, once we have made peace with them, a source of wisdom and strength.”
“Resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.”
“Go where your best prayers take you.”
“Coincidences are God’s way of getting our attention.”
“A Christian is one who points at Christ and says, ‘I can’t prove a thing, but there’s something about his eyes and his voice. There’s something about the way he carries his head, his hands, the way he carries his cross—the way he carries me.’”