Slaying Giants. (Be Like Kids Part 1.1)

So, this is an addendum to the previous post. It is a similar story but I believe it is one worth telling. Because, if we’re all being honest, we have some giants to slay.

We got a new set of campers on Sunday afternoon and honestly I was not happy. I had grown a little more attached to my first group then I had realized and my heart did not want to love this new group. And honestly, I was not giving this group the love they deserved. That is, until Tuesday night.

Every night before the kids go to bed, we have a devo time. It was my turn to lead and I wanted to do the story of David and Goliath. I wanted the kids (and myself) to realize they had power they had never realized. I wanted them to know the God of heaven had their back and whenever something came their way that seemed a little too tall to climb, the had the God of the universe giving them strength. Well, we read the story and I animated it and made it fun for them. I had every eye and every ear. By the end, the kids were on the edge of their seats and we all cheered when David struck down Goliath. It was wonderful night full of adventure and wonder and the kids were excited. And seeing them excited about God and the power he had given them opened my heart to give them the love they deserved.

But, the story gets better.

The next day (Wednesday) we were going on our canoe trip. Before every canoe trip, we head over to the tower to take a leap into the lake. The tower is about 30 feet up and it’s a pretty intimidating jump, not to mention the climb, into the frigid waters of Lake Taneycomo. My campers were terrified.

I had one camper who was particularly scared. His name was Andrew. When he first got to camp, he cried and cried because he was homesick. But, he was still having fun and he was an amazing kid. However, when we got to the tower, it was obvious he was afraid. I climbed up before him and yelled back down at the kids on the dock that today was the day to slay giants. I lept of the tower and met the frigid waters. Climbing back on the dock, I found Andrew standing still looking petrified. I grabbed him by the lifejacket and looked in his eyes and asked him if he was going to slay a giant today. Then I asked him if he knew who was on his side. Who gave him power. He looked at me with determination and said God. Then he looked at me and said, “Jonathan, I am going to slay a giant today.”

He marched up to the tower. Climbed up the tower, never looking down. When he got to the top, he looked over the edge, found my gaze and took a running leap. Andrew jumped higher and farther then any other camper that day. All because he knew God was going to help him slay the giant. Beautiful.

I know this story is similar to the last, but in the previous post, I left out a crucial detail. When it’s time to jump, to slay the giant, God will give the power and authority to do what’s necessary. We are forgiven. We have power. The story in 1 Samuel 17 tells us the battle is already the Lords. We just have to take the time to walk to the battle lines.

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Drink Coffee. Party. Slay.

-kounselorjon.

Below is John Seay from the last post! Still my favorite Kamper!

The Home of the Brave (Be Like Kids part 1)

Friends. Yes and Yes. I am drinking coffee right now for the first time in over two weeks. Like I have said before, coffee is the lifeblood that fuels that hearts of champions. Today, I am being a champion.

I started this blog last summer with the intent of letting friends and family follow me as I adventured across the wonderful country of Thailand. But, the Lord had some bigger plans for the blog and before long, this became a place for me to download the influx of ideas spinining out of control in my mind. And before I knew it, I had a few blogs carrying the title of A Bigger Picture. These were spaced out between regular updates and were just some huge ideas God was growing in me during the storm of last Christmas and whatnot. Well, my little adventure climaxed on top of a mountain Mae Ai, Thailand where I had the privilege of baptizing students in a small fountain. The last year has been amazing. I have fought my battles and seen my hard times, but for the most part, these past twelve months have been full of joy and laughter and cycling. So wonderful. Well, in a previous post, I mentioned the Lord was taking me back to the place I thought healed and was calling me to finish what was started and fully become the man he desires.

So, here we are. Surrounded by children. And my journey begins again. I hope you will continue to track with me over the next month or so as I hope to write a series of posts of how the learning is stretching me here in Branson. So, let’s Be Like Kids and learn to become men.

The Home of the Brave.

Kids say the darndest things. Kids do the most amazing things. And sometimes, ever now and again, you see a reflection of yourself in the heart of a little one and something inside of you stirs. Some unknown emotion rolls over like a leviathan in the ocean and for a brief moment, you are a kid again. Last week, a kamper from barn one taught me a little bit about courage.

His name is John Seay. He is seven years old, has red hair and a gap in his front teeth. He gets excited when he talks and has a hard time getting the words out. He will make your heart melt. Although John wasn’t in my barn, we had plenty of fun fighting slew monsters, doing flips in the pool, riding water slides, and playing catch during football klinic. Then one night, he made me so proud, I think my heart literally did a jig dance.

At Kamp, we have parties (well, every night because were are awesome) with a certain theme every couple of nights. We had Amigos, Amigos, Amigos, Swashbucklers Delight, Old School, and the Holiday Party. The Old School was to be our water party. Right next to our Kamp is the Kanakuk family Kamp and it has some awesome water slides and a lazy river. So, we took our kiddos over there to get krunk in the lazy river before we dressed up like the elderly and “kicked it old school.” Well, I was working a certain station and look across the pool to see John Seay standing on the blob tower, staring down a ten foot jump. The look on his face could only be described as terror. He walked to the end, shaking at the knees. Then he turned around and headed back the the ladder to climb down. (The whole time I’m watching this, kids are trying to use the rings and I’m not paying any attention to them and getting punched in the back for it…) He walked half way back, screwed up his face, and headed back to stare down the jump. This time he got to the end, and bent his knees in preparation for the jump, stood back up and headed to the ladder.

By now, the whole pool was watching. John repeated the process over and over and over. Bending his knees to jump then standing up in a fear, ringing his hands. After several minutes of this, kids and counselors alike were starting to shout, “John, John, John…” And before I knew it, the two hundred people were chanting his name. I could only watch in silence…

John gazed around the pool in wide-eyed excitement at the sound of his name being chanted over and over. He walked to then end and bent his knees to jump. Nothing. Then went to jump again. Nothing. Knees bent. Nothing. The chanting swelled. John bent his knees. Nothing.

Then it happened. In one brief moment John was free falling. He hit the blob, bounced in the air and slid down the side into the pool. He floated to the top whooping and hollering like a man set free. Smiling from ear to ear. He melted my heart. All I could do was stare.

And it occured to me, John might have shown more courage in that one moment then I have in years. He literally slayed the giant, conquered his fear and came out having been set free. I realized then, this is what it means to be a man. It’s about staring down the enemy, conquering fear, and diving in. But, what is so beautiful about it, people are watching, shouting my name. Watching silently, hoping. Those who have gone before are urging you to take a leap. Attack the giant. Be brave.

But the reality is while this story is heart warming, blob towers aren’t scary. For some of us, they might even be boring. But we all have a tower or mountain in our life which needs conquering. Maybe it’s a phone conversation. A career change. A come to Jesus time. Or the top step of the podium. Whatever it may be, masculinity is defined by the courage we can find within ourselves to conquer the deepest fears. And swim to the top, like John Seay, whooping with the joy of being set free. It may be deep. It may be a long fall. And honestly, it probably will hurt. But, I think freedom may just be worth it.

What are you afraid of? It’s time to jump…

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Party. Laugh. Love.

(look out now…)

-Kounselorjohn

(Well friends, I have pictures. But, I forgot my USB cable. I’ll figure something out. Next time!)

The Least of These…

Friends,

I am writing you from Branson, Missouri. The last ten days I have been living the life at K-Kountry hanging out with kids. Riding water slides. Playing football. And jumping on blobs. Obviously, the greatest summer of all time.

Right before I left for camp, the Lord starting working on my heart. I thought it interesting he started calling on me to be the man he created me to be days before I left to spend six weeks in the presence of 9 year olds. How can nine year olds tear down the walls built around my heart? How can nine year olds lead me to the presence of the Lord? How can nine year olds teach me how to love and serve and act the way I was created to? What can a 9 year teach me about courage? How can a 9 year old teach me how to stand up for what’s right?

When I left for camp, I thought I was going to have to put what the Lord was taching me on hold and pick it back up in August when it came time for more sitting on the railroad tracks perched precariosuly high above rushing water and certain death should an untimely fall occur (how about that sentence?).

But the thought ocurred to me the other day that maybe, just maybe, the Lord knew what he was doing when he sent me to camp. Maybe he knew I would have something to learn from a cabin full of nine year olds and a seven year old named John with red hair who faced his greatest fear with courage King David would be proud of and jumped on the blob for the first time in his life two nights ago. Maybe a 7 year old knows more about how to be a man then this 21 year old. Could it be that a 9 year named Ryan Lynn who jumped into my arms and gave my neck a death grip before he even knew my name knows more about how to be a man than me?

You see, a child’s heart is pure. A chid’s heart is automatically trusting. A child’s heart only knows one way to love. Full speed. A child’s heart knows how to express emotion. A child’s heart knows how to care. A child’s heart smiles and laughs. Does my own heart know all of those things?

Sure there are kids who know hate and spite. Sure there are kids who pick on other kids and who cheat and lie. But most kids, like John, are pure at heart. Smile a lot. Face any challenge. Love to win. And laugh loud.

Could it be these kids are going to teach me how to be a man in the eyes of the Lord?

I think the answer is yes. Stay tuned.

Laugh out loud. Cycle. And Party.

-junglejon

Sleeping Giants.

People I love the most are speaking truth into my heart a life. Through conversations shared while being perched precariously on railroad tracks high off the ground, late night back porch musing, and a couple of books, the Lord has been stirring something inside of me. Through it comes an itch to be something more. An itch to live abundantly. An itch to love selflessly. And an itch to finally become the man the Lord has called me to be.

I can feel something stirring in my heart. Like a giant waking from his slumber. It comes and goes and comes and goes. A battle rages in my heart and mind as I recoil from all the Lord is revealing. But the pebble has been thrown and nothing can stop the ripples spreading rapidly across my heart. The giant inside of me is clawing at the surface now.

I have realized there are still walls around my heart. Walls from love lost and friendships squandered. I see their faces and hear their voices and a terrible ache rises to the surface. A great sadness time seems unable to conquer. For so long I thought myself healed and mended. For so long I considered myself whole and true. But the Lord is telling me otherwise. He is calling me now to rise up and face the final test. To break down the walls I was sure no longer existed. And the giant inside of me grows.

A quiet confidence is stirring inside of me. A challenge to stand for what is right no matter what the cost. A challenge to love in the same way Christ loved the church. Who, being in very nature God, considered equality with God not something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, enduring death on the cross. So, I too must be willing to put my heart on the line and step with confidence into my own Garden of Gethsemane. Trusting the Lord with every ounce of my being and being ready to give me life for the one I love should the time come. So, I too must be willing to fight for her and buy her back over and over again, even if everything I am is on the line. I too must be willing to go to the ends of the earth to rescue her and bring her into the Kingdom and community with our Heavenly father. No matter the cost.

I realized, however, I am not that man. I am not ready to love like that. I am not ready to fight and put my life on the line. I am not ready to stand with courage for what is right and true and pure. I shrink at the thought of ridicule. I buckle at the thought of disappointing others. I back down when it comes time to fight for what is right. I tremble at the thought of loving someone again.

But the giant inside of me is growing. Slowly I am learning faith the size of mustard seeds can move mountains. Slowly I am learning I have the power to stand against those who oppose truth and life. Slowly I am learning I do have the capacity to love like Christ has loved us. Slowly I am learning all I do is meant for the glory of the one who endured the cross. Whether it be eating or sleeping. Crying or laughing. Riding or sitting. Catching frisbees or hanging with my roommates. I do it all for the glory of the one who rescued me and gave me life.

With this comes a freedom. A reckless abandon to do it all with full speed and a smile on my lips. To stand tall and ride fast. To love fierce and to laugh the loudest. I don’t do it for them. Or you. Or whoever else there may be. I don’t do it for personal gain or glory.

I do it for Him, who is even now sitting on his throne in Heaven with the fullness of the Glory of God surrounding him.

The giant is growing. Climbing to the surface. Challenging me to step into the person the Lord has for me. Challenging me to live a life worthy of the Cross. So, I must. Even though it hurts to travel back into the pain and once again tackle the walls around my heart. I must push forward. I must conquer my fear and doubt. It is time for courage and confidence. Time for life. Time to grow up.

So, let us together arouse the sleeping giants and raise an army of men and women who fear nothing save those who might not hear the gospel we so desperately cling to. Let us join the throngs of those who are already fighting and take up arms with our brothers and sisters. Let us enter the arena, surrounded by those who have gone before and run the race marked out for us.

It is time.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Come, let us shine together.

Ride hard. Laugh loud. Love fierce.

-junglejon