Day 6: Have done with lesser things

"Rise up, oh men of God, tread where His feet have trod

As brothers of the Son of Man, rise up, oh men of God."

—Traditional

Your prayers have worked, and we are overseeing a different group of kids than the ones who arrived here on Sunday.


Bill Ellis from Chicago smoked the crowd Thursday night, confronting the young teens on their tendency to be "good" enough to be called "church kids," while still keeping the deeper teaching of God at bay.
"Unfortunately, that arm's length from the world may be miles from God," he said. "You betray Him. By not obeying Him. By not loving Him."


And we heard the final message of the week this morning, from Indianapolis' Eric Testa. He spoke from his personal experience, about the amazing things God has done in his life at times when he dared to have real faith. Reading them Numbers 13 and 14, Eric challenged the campers to believe that they can do amazing things themselves, if they will rely on Jesus' power.
"Explore campers, look at me — 'Be strong in the Lord.'"
Eric urged his audience to not go home and revert back to the person they were a week ago. He read the lyrics to "Rise Up, Oh Men of God," and implored the young teens to put the Xbox and Facebook away and start building dreams based on the Kingdom.
"Have done with lesser things," Eric quoted. "Serve the King of kings."


And now, the question lies in the minds of each camper. Who will go home tomorrow, spend hours texting their friends, and forget everything they experienced here?
And who will go home and still believe? Who will go home and decide to make a difference?


If there are any kids on Earth willing to take the risk...I'd bet they were at Camp White Eagle this week.