There is something disturbing about our world, or perhaps it’s just my world. I recently read about vacation spots that specialize in self-indulgence…at the same time I hear about the growing numbers of homeless in our great country. I hear people complain about gas prices as they fill up their 4wd SUV’s and pickups and drive off into the sunset. I read and hear of the flooding here in Illinois, some of which is said to surpass the ’93 flood, while many live as if it the suffering is half-way around the world. The list goes on and on, but perhaps the most glaring discrepancy I see is the way the Spirit freely moves here at Beulah (and other camps as well) and the way the Spirit is stifled in many churches today. I want to believe that church camp is a microcosm of the larger church and that these young adults are the “faithful remnant” that will return to and equip the local churches for another generation. Athough I sometimes fear the local church has for the most part “lost its first love” and I pray that it doesn’t drain these young adults of their enthusiastic faith as has happened to so many in the past. The good news is God is not scared or surprised by "disturbing"…in fact; the Spirit uses “disturbing” daily to convict, correct, and sanctify us as we bless others.
3 comments:
Maybe what seems stifled to us isn't stifled to God? He alone knows our hearts. We all try to put Him in a box and make Him what we think He should be. I am a more enthusiastic worshiper than alot of folks but that doesn't mean I'm worshiping right and them wrong. Now, when someone wants to try to change me and how I choose to worship that's wrong. We need to respect and appreciate our differences.
It would really be nice it there were such a thing as a Beulah camp for us 'old folks'. I would embrace the oportunity to be revitalized and recharged with the enthusiam you speak of that the youth are experiencing. My prayer is that it won't be sucked out of them as soon as they go home to their 'reality'.
Yeah, you are correct, only God truly knows our hearts, just as he knew the hearts of the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3. However, I tend to beleive that if all professing believers have truly surrendered to the Spirit, we would live in a much different world. There is a place for us "old folks," its called Holiness Camp (at Beulah & at Bonnie). There will be more shared about it on Sunday as Mike Rayson will be there too!
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