1.) Who am I?
Knowing who I am is essential in my life. It might sound like a no-duh question, but thinking about what my characteristics, inabilities, qualities, and shortcomings are helps me to understand who I am. I know that I am a child of God. This privilege does give me freedom and a reason to live. The Lord is my King and I need to be ready to serve Him in everything that I work towards. The abilities that Lord has blessed me with allow me to carry out His will for my life and allow me to understand who I am.
2.) Whose am I?
Like I said above, I belong to the Lord. I have a responsibility to fulfill to Him. I should be living for Christ in everyday opportunities and have my mind set on how to please my Savior and glorify Him in my actions. The Lord calls His believers to live a life according to His purpose. So many times I have thought how a situation may or may not benefit myself. I should be focused on living for Christ with every breath I take.
3.) Why am I here?
I believe that I am here on this earth to serve God and glorify Him. The world around me views the world as a place to follow your own desires and to live with the intention of earning respect for yourself. Today, hero is the ultimate goal in life. Having people look to you. As you lead this life you become a god. We have a God, who is a hero. He sent His only son to die for us. We do not need the pleasures of this world if we follow Him. I am part of God's family and will follow His calling to help reach the lost and lead them to Christ. I can not save anyone, only Christ has that power, but I will be here for Him.
4.) Where do I belong?
I belong in God's hands. Where that leads me, I am not always sure. However, I believe that right now I am at camp because the Lord made it possible for me and I am learning to have an understanding of camp ministry. I want to strengthen my walk with Him as I continue serving the Lord at Hidden Acres.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Blog # 13: Explain three traits or qualities about myself. Explain how I would relate to someone completly opposite to my own traits.
I would say that three traits that I try to hold are compassion, joy, and entertaining others.
Compassion is a trait that does not always exist in my life, but I try to do my best at helping others and I try to be there for those in times of insecurity and hardship. This would involve being a friend to someone when they feel distraught. I don't want people going through life unable to trust others around them.
I see the opposite of compassionate as well, uncompassionate. There are those who do not have compassion on others experiencing hardship. A lot of the time these types of people are more focused on the tasks around them and hold the attitude that life is tough to everyone and getting over it should be dealt on their own. There is a time when experiencing hardship one will have to push through the situation on their own, but its nice to know that people stand ready to help.
Having joy helps me keep an eager readiness for any task. Now I do not have joy all the time, but I try to in order to help those around me. The reason I have joy is because my relationship with Christ. He showed the ultimate way to have joy in every situation even leading up to his death. I want to try to keep a joyful spirit in everything that comes my way.
Sorrow is the opposite of joy. Holding the belief that there is no purpose in a task or that people are irritating would be the opposite of having joy. Now I know there are times I have felt like this, but the Lord reminds me that I need to need to go through the hard tasks having joy. I want those around me who might not have joy see that through Christ I can live each moment with joy in my heart.
Entertaining others is just a trait I truly enjoy. I want my friends and family to have a great time when their around me. I hope this is not a prideful attitude, but I want people to remember the fun we had in any situation.
Dull or boring is the words that always come to mind when I think about the opposite of entertaining. Now if I'm around someone who holds a dull aspect on a task I try to think of a way that same task can be fun. Any situation can be entertaining if you make it that way.
Compassion is a trait that does not always exist in my life, but I try to do my best at helping others and I try to be there for those in times of insecurity and hardship. This would involve being a friend to someone when they feel distraught. I don't want people going through life unable to trust others around them.
I see the opposite of compassionate as well, uncompassionate. There are those who do not have compassion on others experiencing hardship. A lot of the time these types of people are more focused on the tasks around them and hold the attitude that life is tough to everyone and getting over it should be dealt on their own. There is a time when experiencing hardship one will have to push through the situation on their own, but its nice to know that people stand ready to help.
Having joy helps me keep an eager readiness for any task. Now I do not have joy all the time, but I try to in order to help those around me. The reason I have joy is because my relationship with Christ. He showed the ultimate way to have joy in every situation even leading up to his death. I want to try to keep a joyful spirit in everything that comes my way.
Sorrow is the opposite of joy. Holding the belief that there is no purpose in a task or that people are irritating would be the opposite of having joy. Now I know there are times I have felt like this, but the Lord reminds me that I need to need to go through the hard tasks having joy. I want those around me who might not have joy see that through Christ I can live each moment with joy in my heart.
Entertaining others is just a trait I truly enjoy. I want my friends and family to have a great time when their around me. I hope this is not a prideful attitude, but I want people to remember the fun we had in any situation.
Dull or boring is the words that always come to mind when I think about the opposite of entertaining. Now if I'm around someone who holds a dull aspect on a task I try to think of a way that same task can be fun. Any situation can be entertaining if you make it that way.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Assignment #12: Ask four questions while at Twin Lakes.
While visiting the Twin Lakes Bible Camp in Twin Lakes Iowa, the Launch students were to ask four questions to the camp director. These are my four questions and reasons for asking them.
First, I was curious to receive the view of another camp director on being in this ministry. I asked Scott, what has been the hardest part of being in camp ministry? He told me that so many times camp has been invasive towards his family and out of camp life. Scott loves working at Twin Lakes camp, but being involved with camp pulls him away from personal time sometimes.
The second question I asked Scott was, is the summer staff paid or does it volunteer without pay? I know some camps can not afford to pay a summer staff. Scott told me that they do get paid similar to what Hidden Acres summer staff receives.
The third question that came to mind was, what is the biggest reason campers come to Twin Lakes camp? Scott explained that families that have been involved with camp have been sending their kids for years. He said that new kids that come hear about camp and are interested in the lake and other activities.
The last question I asked Scott was, what has been a situation where you have seen God move this last year at camp? He told me that he saw the Lord working on the summer staff. Scott said he saw a maturity in the staff through healthy relationships. I always love hearing how the Lord works at camps.
First, I was curious to receive the view of another camp director on being in this ministry. I asked Scott, what has been the hardest part of being in camp ministry? He told me that so many times camp has been invasive towards his family and out of camp life. Scott loves working at Twin Lakes camp, but being involved with camp pulls him away from personal time sometimes.
The second question I asked Scott was, is the summer staff paid or does it volunteer without pay? I know some camps can not afford to pay a summer staff. Scott told me that they do get paid similar to what Hidden Acres summer staff receives.
The third question that came to mind was, what is the biggest reason campers come to Twin Lakes camp? Scott explained that families that have been involved with camp have been sending their kids for years. He said that new kids that come hear about camp and are interested in the lake and other activities.
The last question I asked Scott was, what has been a situation where you have seen God move this last year at camp? He told me that he saw the Lord working on the summer staff. Scott said he saw a maturity in the staff through healthy relationships. I always love hearing how the Lord works at camps.
Friday, November 5, 2010
How do I relate cross-culturally locally, nationally, and internationally?
I believe relating cross-culturally to people is a difficult task for me. I am always used to my own cultural that opening myself to other cultures is difficult. The different cultures around me do not have a lot in common with me.
I guess locally the way a relate to people is through the similarities that I have with certain people. Basic beliefs, morals, characteristics, and specific traits that are similar to my own draw me to converse and learn about others. Living at camp is probably the most local way for me right now in interacting with cultures.
Nationally and internationally are difficult to describe the way I relate to others cross-culturally. I realize that nationally I am used to the many different cultures. I see that cultures are different from state to state whether its the most conservative state to the most liberal state. I have noticed that politics plays a big role in the culture around me. It seems that the national cultural outlook is one of material gain. The culture in the U.S. tends to run towards the latest fad and the newest trend.
I think the different cultures around the world are diverse in every way. All countries have different values, expectations, beliefs, governments, trends, and lives. My relationship with other cultures in the world would be difficult to describe. I think that if I spend more time learning and maybe even visiting other cultures around the world, it would be a great experience for me. I did have an opportunity last week while cooperating the zip line with two other Launch students to meet bussiness me from other international cultures. I found it amusing how these men were fascinated and a littel weary of the riding the zip line. Once the first rider went down they were snapping away pictures on their cameras to remember and perhaps show their families their experiences in America. This wasn't a suprise to me, but some times I forget how the day to day activiteies that I deal with are different and new to others. Learning how and why other cultures seek out worldly desires would help me in my journey to reach the lost.
I need to go into every situation with the mind set that not everyone around me was brought up with the same cultural beliefs and values.
I guess locally the way a relate to people is through the similarities that I have with certain people. Basic beliefs, morals, characteristics, and specific traits that are similar to my own draw me to converse and learn about others. Living at camp is probably the most local way for me right now in interacting with cultures.
Nationally and internationally are difficult to describe the way I relate to others cross-culturally. I realize that nationally I am used to the many different cultures. I see that cultures are different from state to state whether its the most conservative state to the most liberal state. I have noticed that politics plays a big role in the culture around me. It seems that the national cultural outlook is one of material gain. The culture in the U.S. tends to run towards the latest fad and the newest trend.
I think the different cultures around the world are diverse in every way. All countries have different values, expectations, beliefs, governments, trends, and lives. My relationship with other cultures in the world would be difficult to describe. I think that if I spend more time learning and maybe even visiting other cultures around the world, it would be a great experience for me. I did have an opportunity last week while cooperating the zip line with two other Launch students to meet bussiness me from other international cultures. I found it amusing how these men were fascinated and a littel weary of the riding the zip line. Once the first rider went down they were snapping away pictures on their cameras to remember and perhaps show their families their experiences in America. This wasn't a suprise to me, but some times I forget how the day to day activiteies that I deal with are different and new to others. Learning how and why other cultures seek out worldly desires would help me in my journey to reach the lost.
I need to go into every situation with the mind set that not everyone around me was brought up with the same cultural beliefs and values.
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