I've Moved!

Hello everyone!

I want to let you know my blog has a new home. Click here to see my new blog. And just in case you have me bookmarked be sure to update them (this blog will be removed soon).

See you at my new blog home!

Pure and Total Neglect

How Embarrassing! I mean really, really embarrassing. One would think that as the winter months arrive and things slow down here at camp that I would have much more time to devote to this blog. However, the total opposite has happened. There is no one to blame except me and I take full responsibility. I can't stand it when I go to a blog and see that no new posts have been entered for a month or so and here I am going on three months! I'm sorry and I'll try to do better. Now, let me give you some updates of what has been happening.

First, the camp committee has been meeting every month and trying to "tweak" little things to make summer camp even more fun for those who are going to attend. I've got several messages from many campers who are making a real effort to invite friends and that is exciting to hear. Also you'll be happy to know that the theme has already been decided and I'll unveil that a little later in another entry. The big thing is that we are trying to add some more activities for the middle school and high school weeks of camp. Stay tuned for updates. Another bit of news is that camp has decided once again to keep the price of camp the same as last year. That means that for the past 6 years camp has never raised its fee. Now if your planning on completing the lesson course to earn a free week, remember the deadline for starting is March 1. We praise God that he continues to be faithful to us through the support of hundreds of people who give to help keep this cost very, very reasonable.

Secondly, we have begun getting applications in for 2009 summer staff. This of course is very exciting for me as we wonder who God is going to bring our way to hopefully form a cohesive staff that seeks to minister to so many children, teenagers and families during our summer.
Perhaps even you may qualify for a summer staff position. Don't wait to long to inquire if you are at all interested. Pray with me that God brings in just the right people to fulfill His purpose.

Finally, I would like to share with you a couple of college visits that have been scheduled to recruit summer staff. On Feb. 2 and 3 I'll be at University of the Cumberlands and on Feb. 11 the Braces will be at Asbury College. Pray for safety and for some good contacts to be made.
I'll try to do better with the blog and as things begin to get going I think it will be easier to stay faithful. I love to hear the comments so keep them coming.

Wind Power

It was really exciting to see as we traveled across Kansas. Off in the distance, miles away turning ominously in the wind were these wind mills. Actually they are officially called wind farms with 50 or more of these wind mills towering 300 feet high with three blades on each one that are 90 feet long. It is reported that one of these farms can power 40,000 houses. And yet that power is transferred and made into electricity that powers so many things very quietly.

I couldn't help think about how the Holy Spirit does the same thing through us. Some times it is a gentle breeze and sometimes it is a rushing wind but it takes the Spirit to empower us to be all He wants us to be. It's also curious to note the those turbines need to be maintained and serviced. We too need to be maintained through prayer and the reading of Gods Word and fellowship with others.

It's A Small World

Today I'm writing from McPherson Kansas. As previously mentioned we are recruiting summer staff and possibly even full time staff for Camp Nathanael. One of the things that seem to happen wherever we go is that we meet people who have connections or they themselves have been to Camp Nathanael before. Today we met a student named Tim Schiro who ministered with his family a year ago for our day camp. They had since moved to Wyoming and Tim is now a student at Central Christian College. It was nice to have a student telling others about his experience at camp in a very positive testimonial. In this network of people who consider themselves missionaries or ministers there are always ties that can be made that encourages you on your journey. It is one of the many ways I think God lets you know that he truly is in control. We'll check back in a few days.

On The Road Again

Part of being camp director means that I often times will have the priviledge to represent camp at several christian colleges or Bible schools. My wife Beth and I are leaving soon to head out west to visit 7 different schools in 13 days. This not only gives us a chance to tell people about what we do but also exsposes them to the opportunities they have to come along side of us and help. This could be for a short time by being on summer staff for our camp season or in the fall helping with our outdoor education program. It could also mean for full time ministry as well. We could use many people with specific skills to help Scipture Memory Mountain Mission maintain and grow the ministry it's had over the past 76 years. Pray that God would prepare hearts and perhaps even cause some of these students to catch the burden that we have to minister in south eastern Kentucky.

Outdoor Ed. Begins!

I'm sitting up in my office checking emails this morning when I hear a very unfamiliar bell clanging. I went outside to see a modified Jeep Wrangler looking like a locomotive pulling a wagon full of school kids. I knew that the outdoor education program was starting today but that was a new element. Well over 2000 school children will flood the grounds here at camp over the next four weeks. Carol and Bob Murr with the the rest of the outdoor ed. committee and volunteers transform the camp grounds into a theme related backdrop. This years theme, "Trees are Terrific", deals with the history and practicality of wood and the products we get from the harvesting of trees. Not to mention the wonderful design God had for the tree to help out in other was. Of course as Christians we know the importance wood played in giving us salvation. It was the material used during the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus. May the message be shared and received during the next four weeks!

Recruiting Road Trip

One of the things that I'm really looking forward to doing this fall is taking a recruiting road trip. What is a recruiting road trip you may ask? Well, it takes several people to run a summer camp program and a good percentage of those people are my college aged workers. We have been very fortunate in the past to get some great college kids whose main objective is ministry for the summer. Unfortunately not all of those kids fall into your lap for the summer. So periodically some full time staff from the mission will make contact with those college kids often through the schools they are attending. Many of the schools are christian based and so we are sure to make known that we are interested in people who feel called of God to full time ministry as well. Perhaps you may know of someone who would make a great counselor or is drawn to summer ministry. I would be happy to share with them the opportunities here at Camp Nathanael. I would be remiss in not mentioning the dedicated high school staff that we have as well. It takes a team effort to be able to give kids a memorable week of camp. Thanks to all who have a part.