A red thread, an upside-down world and the difference between a disciple and a fan

The summer is a busy time for us, filled with our summer Bible camp weeks. This year I was at camp for three weeks in a row, directing, teaching and participating. It was an especially challenging summer with many thoughts and challenges for our life that I am struggling to hold on to and make practical in daily living. Here are some of the things that amazed and encouraged me.

The red thread

In Dutch we talk about ‘the red thread’ that runs through something, the main theme. At Benjamin Camp (for the 8-11 year-olds) I was privileged as director to sit in on the lessons from Henk Rog about Genesis. Henk and Celia Rog have given their lives to Christ in all they do for many years and I have always been challenged by their example. During this week they were the teacher and crafts leader.

Henk’s lessons took 5 people in Genesis and made clear to the kids that God’s love and plan for us is shown again and again throughout his interactions from the very beginning. I was thrilled to see how he showed the gospel in each of these stories. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that the Old Testament is done away with! From the very beginning, it is in these stories of lives that God shows us His mighty love and His plan and strength to save us.

Take a look at how God dealt with Adma and Eve, at Noah – saved by faith through water, Abraham – receiving the promised life because of his faith, Joseph – who trusts completely even though he doesn’t see how it is going to work, and Moses (okay, we went a little into Exodus). Henk took the time to explain these stories, but also gave the kids some practical lessons to remember each thought. It is so exciting to see how the kids start grasping these ideas.

An upside-down world

In the following week I was the teacher for the Teen Camp (12-14 year-olds) and we were looking at Matthew 5-7, Jesus’ sermon on the mount. What a challenge! Jesus tells us that the world is completely different from what we think and are told by our society. And he shows us how to be different and make a different world.

But trying to make that practical is the real struggle, the real joy. I warned the young people each day that what we were learning would bring some real challenges that very day. And indeed – trying to use our tongues to build up, turning away from revenge, making Jesus our true treasure (instead of the ‘snoepwinkel’, the candy store time each afternoon) were real challenges.

Above all, I tried to emphasize that following Jesus was the best and most important thing they could ever do in their lives. 1. Follow Jesus. 2. Get to know him – read your remarkable library (the Bible). 3. Talk to God (pray). It has thrilled me that God has touched many of the hearts of the young people from that week who were already thinking about their future. We have seen two of these teens give their life to Christ in faith through baptism since then and I have seen and heard how the others are encouraging one another. That is exciting!

A disciple or a fan?

The theme for the Family Camp was simply ‘Being a disciple’. I presented the first lesson on ‘How do we become a disciple?’ Throughout the week we had some really challenging discussions about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Are we only dedicated fans? What does it look like to follow Jesus? Are we actually saints? Or disciples? And how do we look to those around us?

This fit right in with all the other things I had been struggling with earlier in the summer – the lessons from Marseille, the gospel theme in Benjamin Camp, the upside-down world that Jesus knows and shows is real. I want to follow Jesus. This means I need to get to know him, to fall in love with him, to listen to him and to obey him.

As we round out the summer and start into our various activities, it is these lessons that are shaping my thoughts and actions. What a wonderful challenging summer! How did God bless and challenge you this summer? 

If you would like to see some of the pictures from the three weeks, check out these links: 

Benjamin Camp

Teen Camp

Family Camp

(Why) Do you still follow him?

When I look at the first followers of that man from Nazareth, I see all sorts of reasons for their initial reactions to him. Some followed him because he was perhaps the first person to really see them as a person (Levi at the tax table). Some were shocked by how clear he made things, telling them in love, not in judgement, that they need to change their ways – and then showing them how. Some were amazed and enthralled by what he could do, others by what he said and how he said it (on a mountain, in a boat, in or on the water). Some saw all the people following and followed because of all the people following – it must be something interesting if so many followed, right? But why did these people keep following him?

Remember when Jesus said some hard things? He often said hard things, since he was quite clear and challenging in what was necessary. He didn’t waste time bantering about this-and-that, although he always spoke sincerely and with love. But there came a time when a whole slew of his followers up and left him (John 6). They couldn’t handle it any more. Maybe the shine or the fun or the newness had rubbed off and reality started to settle in – this guy was serious! Maybe the message simply came too close to home (his messages always do). Whatever it was, they left.

But some still stayed. Even after he was captured and they ran away – they still stayed. Even when they thought all was lost, they still wondered how they were to continue, wanting to stay (remember the guys on the road to Emmaus?). Why? Some had figured out that, even if they didn’t understand him completely, he had shown that he was true and worth following. Some who had started with amazement, had progressed through discussing and come to a realization of what he was saying. Some were beginning to understand who he really was and wouldn’t dare leave, even if they might have thought about it at one time.

Why did you start following Jesus? Do you remember? What made you want to listen to him, know more about him and follow him? And why do you still follow him? Or… if you do not, why not? How has your relationship changed? Do you feel like you are a follower (a disciple) or are you simply following (like a twitterer)? I would really like to know.