Easter Camp

I love Easter weekend. Why? Well for a start this is the weekend that we remember the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, faced a death more painful than anyone could possibly bear, and when death came a knocking he let it think it had him and then he showed it who he really was and what he was truly capable of. This is the weekend that the whole world changed. Jesus made a decision. A decision to look into your eyes and see the iniquities within, a decision to love you anyway, a decision to take those iniquities and cast them upon his own back, his own conscience, and face the consequences. This is a weekend that 1973 or so years ago changed the course of history. This is a weekend that today still changes the course of history. I saw hundreds of non-christians come to Christ this weekend. I saw the Spirit move within thousands of hearts openly and honestly offering their all to the King of Kings. That's another reason i love this weekend. How many people can say they have been turned to God through theological discussions, to debates of Creationism vs Evolution, or to finding flaws in the things science teaches us? It won't be many. But who can say they turned to God because of a spiritual experience they had with Him? That changes people, and Eastercamp gives those people that experience. I saw several people from Cashmere High School turn to God at Eastercamp and i intend to fulfill my role as prefect and more importantly as Child of God to make sure my brothers and sisters stick to it. To fight the struggles of the world, the peer pressure to give in to selfishness, the empty social lives that create so much pain. This weekend is a chance to start something at Cashmere that moves the lives of the students. This weekend brings me back to the basics. The best way to evangelise is to talk, and to live what you talk. Sure i don't find the living part so difficult, but i've been so wrapped up living the right way that i've forgotten i need to talk. As simple as "do you know Jesus loves you?" can change someone's life forever. Literally forever. This weekend has reminded me that it's not me who saves people, it's God, and if i don't stand on a mountain and sing his name then what faith do i have that He can change the hearts of those who hear my voice? This weekend does more, it speaks to me of the importance of the decisions i have to make. Am i willing to give up pride for my Lord? It's God or the world, no man can serve two masters.

Have i ever turned my head to things i know are wrong? Have i ever used my hands to do someone harm? Of course, are we not all guilty of that? I ceratinly am. Each one of those times i was faced with a decision, and i chose wrongly. How many more times do i have to face the consequences of my poor decisions before i decide to stop making them? Well i've decided now, and things at school will change. Because Eastercamp leaves no-one the same.

One thing Randall pointed out though, which i totally agree with, is that they haven't had someone go up on stage and say "Hey i'm a christian, i've grown up in a christian home and been a christian all my life, i've faced struggles and everyday i fight against the things the world forces at me. I've never turned away from God because everytime i've fallen Jesus has helped me back up again. I'm still fighting"
Everytime some goes on stage it's "i turned from God, and got into drugs, sex, etc, and then i realised it was empty, so i looked for answers and then i truly experienced God for the first time... bla bla bla."
That's all good, but if taht is all that we get told then that is what the standard becomes. And i will tell you i have often thought about leaving God for a few years because "i'll find him again later" and then i can truly experience him and apprieciate him more. Well that's wrong. I don't have to leave God to know Him and i shouldn't believe that i do. I know God now, and wouldn't give him up for the world.

God has a purpose for me in my life. I can decide to do one of two things. I can follow Him and do what i am predestined to do, or i can walk the 'other' way and live life for nothing. This is where it starts. This weekend has made it clear to me of my decision. Now i will choose.

The greatest need in the world is to save lost people. That is what we are called to do. That is what I am called to do. I liked the example of the evangelist who either caused a riot or a revival where he went. That is what we as Christians need to do. Get up and fight for what we believe in. We believe in saving the lost, clothing the poor, feeding the hungry. Let's get out there and do it.