More NC Pictures

Critters that greeted us at the Billy Graham Training Center

Hiking in Great Smoky Mountains Nat'l Park

Happy but Heavy Baby!

What an incredible frozen waterfall! This picture does not nearly do it justice! You can just barely see the top of Josie's head - she was asleep!

Sermon Online

Here is a link to a sermon online I preached at Oakwood Christian Church in December. It is a Christmas sermon, but I think it is a message that should be heard anytime. Check it out if you want. Click on the above link, (the above posting title)then go down to December 23, 2007.

Dad and sons

More art!

Bathroom sign

Jason's fork art!

Joel eating

Joel and Jason

Jason on the slopes!

Jason asleep on the bus

Jewel

Jewel at Grandma's for Christmas

Jewel at Lowe's

I've been experimenting with posting pictures from my phone to blogger.

Here's one!

Joy Daisy

More phone pictures!

Fear Not the Compass | Christianity Today Movies

Fear Not the Compass | Christianity Today Movies

I like this article a lot. Click on the link above or on the title. The main thing that troubled me about the Golden Compass movie was how many emails that I received that sounded like the Antichrist had arisen and was jumping out of movie screens everywhere.

I love the first line of this article: "Should Christians be afraid of The Golden Compass? Mercy, no. Let's not be afraid. Discerning, yes. But not afraid."

For all those who think that the movie should be boycotted, that is fine, but please don't tell anyone. Have Christians not learned anything in the past 25 years of media "badness?" When was the last time that a Christian "boycott" ever resulted in anything but more hype and interest in the thing being boycotted? Let's not be afraid. Discerning, yes. But not afraid.

Of course Christians should not be a part of worldly things - that is the command of Scripture. You can't be a friend of the world and a friend of God, according to the book of James. So that means that you will have to "boycott" certain things or movies or music or places or words or thoughts or actions. But the minute 3 million emails go out advertising the "boycott," or the minute that the Facebook friends list gets 30 invites to the "boycott The Golden Compass Group," it changes from the personal choice (Maybe shared by friends and family) to advertising.

I have to admit, I was out of the loop on this one, and I hadn't heard about it before. As soon as I heard about it, I wanted to find out more. I would like to think that I have some wisdom and Christian discernment, but I know that many people who received those messages don't have much discernment. They may want to go see the movie even more because of the negative publicity about it.

Besides all that - it sounds like The Golden Compass has been a dud at the box office. They are talking about not making the sequels, which is a good thing. They are now talking about making The Hobbit, which is also a good thing. Check out this link about The Hobbit Movie.

Now don't get me wrong - from what I know about the Golden Compass, I won't go see it, and I wouldn't let my kids see it, nor would I let them see 98% if the movies that are available to see.

So rest easy, The Golden Compass is yet another minor pathetic hiccup in the constant attempts to erode the Christian message and the Word of God. It has already failed, just like all the others. So, smile, praise God for His almighty power, and go forth, sharing boldly the Word of life. Some will listen, some will scoff, some may want to kill you, but hey, with God on your side, it's all good.

My prayer for anyone who reads this, my friends, family, and Christian brothers and sisters all over the world is this...

"...I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil" Romans 16:19

I am now getting off the soapbox.

jc

Duck Tape brand Duct Tape and More! Duck Products Home

Duck Tape brand Duct Tape and More! Duck Products Home

The picture of the couple who made duct tape outfits for the prom is priceless. They even won a scholarship!

jc

Girls Birthday Special Time

These happy little girls are dressed up for the Dixie Stampede. This was a special birthday thing that we did for Joy and Jewel's Birthday with Jordan coming along. This was a blast - everything that little girls like. Horses, pretty girls in pretty dresses, lots of animals, singing, dancing, and even more horses. You can't see it in the background of this picture, but there is a horse there that the girls are standing in front of. They liked the food, but they didn't care about eating with just their fingers. We had a great time!

jc

The Word "Maranatha"

I was doing a little research into the word "Maranatha," and I found out I was partly right about what I thought about it and partly wrong. Many people ask me what "Maranatha" means, and I have always told them that it was a Greek word found at the end of Revelation that means "Lord, Come." Well, I guess having one thing right out of three is not that great, so I am setting the record straight. "Maranatha" is Aramaic, not Greek. It is found only at the end of 1 Corinthians, not Revelation (See 1 Corinthians 16:22). (To my credit, the Greek equivalent of "Maranatha" is found at the end of Revelation, so I guess that part of my answer was at least good enough to pass a small amount of scrutiny.) The part I was correct about was that it means "Come, O Lord."


1 Cor. 16:22 is translated in the NIV as "If anyone does not love the Lord-a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!" However the KJV doesn't translate the last two words - "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha."

To quote from the Wiki (see Link above):

The phrase seems to have been used as a greeting between Early Christians, and it is probably in this way that it was used by the Apostle Paul. However, the preceding word is the curse "anathema", and because the original texts of the Greek New Testament contained no punctuation at all, or indeed any word or sentence separation, early readers took the two words together and construed the passage as, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha". It was therefore believed that "anathema maranatha" must be some exceptionally severe kind of curse. The phrase was in use in this sense at least by the 7th Century, when Pope Silverius pronounced anyone who deceives a bishop as "anathema maranatha" (see the Catholic Encyclopedia article referenced below). One possible understanding of this is that the offender would be excluded from communion with the Church until the return of Christ, tying the punishment to the term Maranatha. John Wesley in his Notes on the Bible comments that, "It seems to have been customary with the Jews of that age, when they had pronounced any man an Anathema, to add the Syriac expression, Maran - atha, that is, "The Lord cometh;" namely, to execute vengeance upon him." The negative understanding of maranatha began to die out by the late 19th Century; Jamiesen, Fausset and Brown's commentary of 1871 separates Maranatha from anathema in the same way as modern scholars.

So, there is some debate about whether the early use of this word was used only as a greeting or whether it was used in the process of Church discipline. Either way, it is little wonder that this Word is "Greek" to our culture today. First of all, the culture, including many people in our churches are Biblically illiterate. They don't know how to study the Bible and apply it to their own lives. Even Church leaders think the only way to "study" the Bible is to get the class in a circle, read a verse, and then ask everyone, "What does this mean to you?" Is it any wonder that our Churches are so messed up and have such a lack of discernment? Is it any wonder that the Spiritual growth and maturity of adults in Churches (not to mention youth) is so woeful? If any verse could mean anything to anyone, then by that logic, "Maranatha" could mean magnetic monkeys driving BMW's.

Second, the idea that there might be an "Anathema" attached to the "Maranatha" is almost considered a hate crime. Maranatha is certainly a word filled with hope in the coming of the Lord, but like so many Biblical truths, it is hope with an edge. The phrase "Come, O Lord" is wonderful if you are looking forward to His return, but if you live for yourself and choose to reject God's plan for your life, then you are not going to be praying "Maranatha." In fact, "Anathema" would be a better word for you.

Now, I am not suggesting that we rename the camp "Anathema Maranatha Bible Camp" - that would indeed be a mouthful. (I can imagine the telemarketers just trying to say that name.) But we, and all of God's Churches that truly want to follow Him, need to give the full message - there are blesssings for those who love and obey the Lord, and curses for those who don't. That's the hard truth. I choose blessings!

jc

MBC Critters and the Sovereignty of God

So Jonathan has been into photography lately. He has been taking pictures at Church for the Christmas program and he has really enjoyed it. He took this picture of a squirrel in our front yard - its a pretty good picture considering the subject and the photographer. We have been feeding a tremendous amount of squirrels and birds lately - I guess it's the weather. There were nine of them out there this morning with twice as many birds there at once. They come in, eat all day, then leave. They fight and quarrel and fuss with each other. They push to get ahead of all the others and they don't want to share. I watched a squirrel eating sunflower seeds from our bird feeder chase a nuthatch away from one side of the feeder while another nuthatch or chickadee came to the other side. The squirrel must have chased 5 or 6 birds away before he gave up. We have really enjoyed watching the birds and the squirrels. It's funny how they are kind of like people - they are extremely selfish, they eat like hogs, and they don't want to share, They run when they shouldn't be afraid and they stay right there when danger comes along. Most importantly, they don't realize that there is someone watching them. They don't know or care that I am trying to feed them. They are impatient, indecisive, and always hovering on the brink of disaster. I am amazed to think that God knows even when a sparrow dies (Matt. 10:29). How many tiny birds die every single hour? How can God have that much awareness and wisdom? We had a bird crash into our window and die with a loud "clunk" a few weeks ago. Was that God's plan? Matthew 10:29 says it was clearly. I don't understand that, but in many ways. Maybe His glory is magnified by our considering that we aren't that different from them, and we are desperately in need of God to take care of us. Just like birds. And squirrels.

Did I mention that people are also "squirrelly?"

"Consider the birds of the air...." Matthew 6:26. (Squirrels too.)

jc

Here's Hoping

So much to write about - so little time. I really do like to blog - and I like to see the occassional comment that a blog produces, and it is interesting to see who responds. I have worked all day today trying to finish a hundred things so we can leave tomorrow. We are going to visit Jenette's brother in Indy and we are going to visit 4 different camps on the way and while we are up there.

I'm hoping that the kids have a great time in the van (I have put at least 30 hours of books on the MP3 player to listen to). I hope that I learn a lot from our visits to the camps. And I hope that our family has the opportunity to experience some new and fun things together.

It is hard to leave this camp - with so much to do, and so much undone, yet I am trying to look at the bigger picture. I suppose that is a good thing.

I will try to blog when I have internet access - to log my learning and our experiences.

Two Very Happy People that the OU Sooners won 79 - 10

MBC Tree Frog

Another MBC Critter created to bring praise and glory to God, the creator.

Reflecting on two days of planning and dreaming

Today completed two days of meeting with our camp directors - planning, dreaming, prioritizing, etc. I can truly say that in all my years of ministry, I have never been involved with such an intense time of looking ahead at the big picture. I feel that there are many areas that we need to improve here at the camp, but I am excited to see the beginnings of a long range master plan in all areas.

I still can't believe that God has allowed me the privilege to be a part of this, and to be a leader in this ministry.

We were sitting on the Retreat Center deck last night in the dark, with the full moon shining on us, and I couldn't help but think of my life and ministry in analogy to the moon. I am to be a reflecting the glory of God to my family, my friends, my whole circle of influence - and it is not to be the light or wit or glory of myself, but the light and the glory of God.

I am reading a book called "Cat and Dog Theology" which has challenged me to make God famous in everything that I do and everything that I am a part of. That is hopefully what I will do more and more in my own family and in my ministry here at MBC.

I also love the quote from John Piper that says that if anything makes us more content than God, then we need to fast from it. That is exactly what we want people to do when they come to camp - to fast from the things that not only bring them more contentment than the Lord, but also all those things that distract them from listening to and obeying His Word.

Maybe we should start a class at church called the "Moonshiners" - maybe that would be misunderstood.

jc

The Beginning of an Era of Blunderblogging

So, even though I am melancholy today - this post is a test to see how this blog imports into facebook. This is also the first day that I am able to blog at my home at Maranatha Bible Camp - our wireless internet seems to be working - the guy must have come to fix it yesterday, or it was miraculously resurrected. (The guy pronounced it dead!)

How wonderful to have internet access at home again after 11 months of exile - Jenette will be thrilled - she has been waiting for this!

jc

End of an Era

This has been a day that included a kind of emotional drain - not just for myself personally, but for our church, because this was our preacher's last Sunday. I guess I have never experienced this in my entire life - hearing the last sermon of a dear friend and mentor.

Being at the camp, I am sure that it won't be the last time I will hear him preach or get to spend time with him; in fact I asked him to speak at a retreat here at the camp next spring. Having said that, after working under him for the past 10 years (nine years actually working there under him as youth, children's and family minister), it is a little hard to take.

My kids have listened to so many of his sermons that they are very comfortable with him, and they listen well. While most of the other kids go off to children's church, all of ours age 5 and up sit and listen to the sermon.

The kids asked me this morning who would be preaching next week, and I had to tell them that I had no idea. I hope that it will be someone as honorable, and God honoring, as BA Austin.

jc

Flash flood trashes MBC bridge!

The west end of the bridge got tossed downstream about 10 yards. It's crazy to think of the sheer force that would be required to make this happen. From looking at the ground around the creek, the water must have been at least 10-12 feet high.



This view is from the east looking back west toward the ampitheater. This end only moved a few feet downstream.

Looks like we have another MBC project to tackle this fall! Does anyone have a crane?

More Vacation Pictures

We saw some awesome sunsets!

Six kids - one banana - lots of fun!

The boys enjoyed wakeboarding.

A happy baby Josie in her playpen on the dock!

A few Vacation Pictures

Nice fish, Jason!

The tire swing was a big hit.

Three big boys, two little girls, all having fun together!

We spent a lot of time swimming off the dock!

Back on the Blunderblog

It's time to saddle up again and do more blogging. I know the rest of the world is using facebook, because they like the personal interaction and the size .02 fonts, but I am just a little bit old school sometimes and I kind of like blogger. I also like to see pictures that are bigger than a literal thumbnail.

I'm going to put on a few new pictures, and I am going to be blogging more on a regular basis, now that the camp schedule is not so hectic.

jc

House Construction 7

Looks a lot better with doors and windows!

House Construction 6

I missed a few steps here, but the roof is on, and the whole thing is wrapped. Inside, the plumbing and wiring are starting to go in, along with the heat and air.

House Construction 5

This is the side facing the highway, and where a garage will be in the future.

House Construction 4

They sure put the trusses on quickly - they had the whole thing done before 8:30 AM that morning.

House Construction 3

This is the back side!