Live Blogging From Pike Road -- Wednesday, June 7, 2006

Live Blogging from Pike Road

Alabama District UPC

Senior Camp

Day Three -- Wednesday, June 07, 2006

For all of the folks who were worried about the girls of Dorm D, they have redeemed themselves. It appears that they all went to sleep last night without any pending disasters, at least none have come to light as of this time. So because of that, this morning, the Dothan girls of Dorm D were allowed to leave the morning assembly and go to breakfast first.

Please note that I wanted to post a lot more pictures on the blog from yesterday but was unable to do so because of the internet connection. Hopefully, I can find a good remedy for that for this post. For those who are wondering, what I am doing is to leave the Campground just before Midnight Madness starts and sit in the parking lot of Panera Bread and use their free connection. The problem with this is that the restaurant is closed and I do not have an alternative power source and my battery actually drains pretty quickly so I cannot load all the pictures that have accumulated during the day. Maybe tonight’s post will work a little better.

I did ride this morning but without Bro. Neal. I tried to roust him out but it was shortly after 0600 and he had a late night. My 17 ½ mile ride this morning went without incident. No rabbits, no dogs, the same amount of cows, and one dead snake that was run over between yesterday and this morning’s ride.

After breakfast for 300+ campers, they started the 10 AM session. Bro. Sammie Sherrill took a text from Romans 8:31 and spoke to the campers about “God Is For You.” He preached to the Alabama Youth about the fact that God is always going to be present with us and taking care of the difficulties no matter what they are. Sometimes we can get so caught up with the distractions that we forget the God is working in our direction. In the end, God has a plan for our salvation.

After this session, Bro. Todd Gaddy, continued with the concept that every decision that we make always starts in our minds. Our mind controls our life. Whatever direction that our life is going, our mind is working to get us into that direction. Bro. Gaddy started with a short, one-man skit with him listening to an Ipod, using a remote control, and working on a laptop. We are not robots simply marching day-in and day-out but there are choices that we make and every single one of the choices will direct the which way that our lives move.

The points:

• 1. Our mind controls our steps and we have a choice.
• 2. What we put into our minds will direct our steps.
• 3. We have a filter (PHP-48 which is free to download).

The devil does not have a remote control that moves us. . . . we have control. . . and it all begins in our minds. However, what we put into our minds will control us. If you eat junk all of your life, you will get fat. . . . . Why would we think that what we put into our minds would not affect where we go and what we do.

We can choose to use our filter. It is not a matter of if you have a filter, it is how you will use that filter. One filter we have is our friends. Another filter can be Hollywood, modern society, and affluence. But the most important filter that you will find is this:

Philippians 4:8 KJV Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

This is the real filter. Proverbs 4:23 is the main filter. . . . Keep your heart with all diligence. Movies and music is one of the most devastating forces and influencers in our generation. This past weekend, $38 million was spent in Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn’s new movie The Breakup. The huge question is this: Did any of those people who went to see the movie really know what the movie was about? We need a filter at every turn in our lives.

Music is a great influence in our lives. Music has changed drastically in the last 30 years. Rap music now dominates the scene. MTV rated 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop” as the number one video, it is full of sexually explicit material. . . . and some of our kids are probably listening to some of it. . . . . .

With all of this, we have an obligation to find a real filter. . . . It was one that was written in ancient times but it works with incredible power, especially for those who are living for God. The best filter available is the PHP-48 and can be downloaded free of charge from your Bible.

Much excitement was created today with a new device (Pugo Sticks) at the Campground. What it entails is two people get into a large inflatable ring like structure and stand on two platforms. The trick is to maintain your balance on the platforms and thing to swing a large bat-like pole that has padding on either end of it. Michael Joyner knocked off the “champion” earlier in the day but I did not have my camera with me. However, when Anita Williams stepped in the ring, I did have my camera and I have several pictures of her popping some poor sap in the head and knocking him off of the platform. She did take a dive also when the kid finally decided that if he was going to win that he was “going to have to hit a girl”. Anita has had quite an exciting week here and it appears that loads of fun is constantly in orbit around her.

I thought that Stacey was making real progress today, but at supper she told me that I was “goofy” and that all of my “serious” side was just a front. I am unsure what has led her down this very unnecessary path.

Our gang was supposed to sing tonight during “singspiration” but for some reason got their names in the hat too late. Maybe we will hear from them tomorrow.

As of right now, this is the lineup for the Pizza Party tomorrow night:

• Rebekah Butler and John Paul Miller.
• Tori Kovach and Daniel Elmore (Elmo).
• Kristi Cureton and Ron Adams.
• Amanda Collette and Daniel Patterson.
• Monica Isler and Brandon Tolson.
• Whitney Wallace and Nathan Harrelson.

The rest of the crowd denies going with anyone else but that can all change in a matter of minutes, yea even seconds.

Those are all of the ones that I am currently aware of.

The worship service was very responsive. Then Bro. Ron Tiller took his text from Isaiah 49:1-4 and asked the question, “Is It For Nought?” Will the Church get to this point in history and it all come to nothing? Can the Church fulfill the direction and mandate of Jesus Christ into this earth?

There must be a passion for holiness, righteousness, evangelism, truth, doctrine, and prayer. If those things are absent from a man’s life then we are not truly apostolic in our lifestyles.

Bro. Tiller made a very strong call for commitment for this generation. There is a spirit that is sweeping the apostolic movement. That spirit is one that holds the things of God in a state of irreverence. We enjoy such powerful moves of the Holy Ghost in our services and then we can go directly back to the things of this world. We are similar to Rehoboam in his generation. He had a very casual relationship with the holy things of Israel. It is absolutely imperative that we have more than a relationship with God that merely “touches” us and does not change us.

There was a great call to listen to the pastor, the man of God, whom has been placed in your life. The elevation that you hold your pastor will have a direct reflection of your relationship with God. While Bro. Tiller was preaching this, my mind drifted back again to the incredible things that Bro. Patterson has poured into my own life. I have that same desire to pour my own life into the lives of others and to the Church. We cannot afford to ditch what has brought us this far. Bro. Tiller mentioned that many of the problems that occur in the lives of people is because they hold the messenger in low regard and it is not very long until the message is held in low regard and they backslide. We must embrace a passion that is going to get us out of the pew and into an altar of sacrifice. Calvary has lost it’s meaning for too many!

This message was marked by an incredible call to surrender and dedication entirely to God. The last fifteen minutes of the message 80% of the youth was in the altar areas. Many of the Dothan gang spent much time in a deep prayer and I am certain that things from this service will continue on into the future.

The theme of this entire day was COMMITMENT. Much thanks to Bros. Sherrill, Gaddy, and Bro. Tiller.

See you tomorrow. . . . . . .