The theme of the camp was Epic, and it is modeled after the book Hinds Feet on High Places.  Each morning, the campers would visit an “altar,” where I shared a portion of the allegory, and they had a time of prayer and reflection.  In the evening, they revisited a changed altar, and I shared about some corresponding topics from scripture.  (That’s me speaking in the “Valley of Humiliation.”)

We talked about pride, loneliness, peacemaking, giving up your burdens, dying to self, and being a new creation.  May sound heavy for middle schoolers, but the kids handled it well.

Props to the directors for an incredibly imaginative Camp, and letting me be a small part of it.

I couldn’t be more excited.  I went to camp for 9 summers years growing up, and still look back at it as a key to my personal and spiritual formation.

While there, I’m going to do my best to unplug.  That means no Facebook, Twitter or even reading blogs.  If you really need to get ahold of me, you probably have my number or email.  I may, however, schedule a post or two to keep my Mom and my other two readers satisfied.

I’m hoping a little time out of the matrix will provide a little detox, and help me get my thoughts in order for what is sure to be a wild fall.

See you in a week!

1) Your Cabinet.  An inner circle of friends is like the President’s closest advisors.  These are the people who know us best, and understand our hopes and dreams.  They may include your best friends and family, but they also include mentors and straight shooters.  They do not necessarily receive the most of your time, but their opinion has the greatest weight.

2) Your Field.  These are the people you see every day.  The people you work with, go to shows with, and live next to.  Because of your natural rhythm of life they are the people you spend the most time with.  They are your greatest opportunity for you share about Jesus.

3) Your Church.  Simultaneously the furthest away, yet the closest.  You share values, and when you come together, you receive strength and encouragement you get no where else.  Your time together is spent on important things together, like worship, care for the poor and hurting, etc., and some may find their way into the other two circles.  Practically, they cannot receive the majority of your time and attention, but knowing they’ve got your back gives you the strength to focus on your field.

Do you agree or disagree with this theory?  How do you think about your relationships?

He was referring to the infamous Facebook beer pictures.  Something about the nature of social networking leads people to take pictures of themselves holding beer bottles grinning hideously and almost falling over.  This person did have a lot of pictures, but they portrayed family and friends having adventures, making music and going on trips.  You couldn’t help but look at them and assume this person has a meaningful life.

We’d like to say “oh, that’s just Facebook.”  But the reality is, our online doppelgangers capture our public selves.  If you can’t tell by one’s profile what is important to them, then maybe it’s not that important.

1.  Read the whole Bible. Progress was slow this past month.  I’ve got a lot of catch up to do.

2.  Run a full marathon. Still need create new fitness goals.  I’m struggling to find motivation post-marathon.

3.  Climb a 14,000′ Mountain. Although I hate to give up on any of my plans this year, I don’t see this as a financial possibility in 2010.

4.  Visit somewhere I’ve never been. See numero 3.

5.  Find a full-time job. Got an interview coming up!

6.  Take at least one graduate course. This is looking more and more likely.

7.  Read 40 books. I’m somewhere in the 20s now.  Right on track.

8.  Volunteer at least 1 time a month. I volunteered a lot for my church community this past month.  Good times.

9.  Pay off all debt, except school loans. I’m pretty sure I can do this by the end of the month.

10. Share my faith regularly. Slowly having more and more opportunities for this.  A key I’m learning is to be unbelievably counter-cultural.

11. Begin leading and/or hosting a regular gathering for skeptics and Christians to study the Bible. It takes a long time to build the relationships necessary for this one.  I need to pray more regularly for it.

12. Write daily, including journaling, blogging and working on a book. Slacked off a bit this month, however I did revisit a book proposal I’ve been working on.