THANK GOD THAT GOD IS GOD!

Have you ever wondered if anything you do is helping or making an impact or if you are just spinning your wheels? Sometimes we all feel that way. Sometimes, at camp this week that feeling has resurfaced. Well.....tonight God sort of shared with some that if it feels that way....it doesn't really matter....because we can do everything we can think of and fail, but God is still God and will finish what He wants to accomplish. Our best efforts from our own power, will most often fail and then (and usually, only then) can we see God at some of His finest work.

Our group of teens tonight, experienced an evening of worship that was straight from heaven. It was an impactful night that hopefully will follow them throughout the rest of their lives. Yes, we had some great fun on the beach and at the cookout at the park....but then....God's glory was so bright that each and everyone of these teens knew it and felt it there. How do you explain that to someone that wasn't there? How do you share that with anyone in a way that does it justice? I doubt that it can be done.......you will just need to join us next year. Because year after year, theme after theme that raises questions in our minds, God shows up at this camp in a big and mighty way.

The teens of Ground Zero want to thank everyone who helped make this trip to camp possible. You know who you are, and you have been just as much a part of this camp! Thanks!

WOW!

Can you believe it is ALREADY Wednesday morning (isn't it?) Our camp week is flying by and has been an amazing journey into each persons world. This theme of time is HUGE! It comes at you from every direction and then does a transformation into another form and returns again. I admire the camp for taking this on. It is a journey that takes a lot of TIME! (you get it?)

Our small group meetings have been amazing as well! Monday night we split into 3 groups and had some great discussions. Last night we stayed as the larger group which gives everyone an insight and thoughts on the same things. Everyone is still in the "processing" mode a lot of the time and it will be interesting to see how that all looks in a while.

Meanwhile, back at the beach (we MUST have beach pictures from Panama City) there have been crab hunts, relaxing times and making a swim/dive platform out of a kiddie pool. Plus the grand trip to Walmart! Today is the "get your own dinner" day and we are going to a local park for a cookout and mindless games. We wish you were all here with us, and are convinced that you wish you were too!

Enjoy the pictures.....and talk to you soon!

WE MADE IT!

The trip to Panama City Beach went so smoothly that we arrived earlier than we ever had. Abby handled the ride very well and we rejoiced when we got to the Boardwalk Beach Resort. Pizza for supper (as usual on the first nite) and then the "Big" meeting. It was great....we have a different emcee this year because many of the regulars of BigStuf are at a conference at Daytona Beach, but the group that they put in place for worship and messages is still top notch.

The theme for this year is "Time". Hmmmmm.....we wondered......what are they going to do with that? What angle will they take? It seems to be coming from different angles, and we have found that it really doesn't matter. ANY of them are teachable moments. After the "Big" meeting, we had our church group/small group time in which topics were discussed about giving back our time to God, what do they want their story to be over time, etc. It is just the beginning on an amazingly interesting topic! A few pictures are attached to show you a little bit of what is going on here.

Today we also had our "leaders" time while the youth had their own special programming. The leaders meeting was awesome. Isn't it great when God sends someone else to tell you that you are on the right path. That what we are doing is what others see is the thing that needs to be done!?!?!? The whole message that was given is hard to sum up, but it is basically that we have a young culture that is totally different. One that the older generation can't really be expected to enter in or understand.....BUT.....we do not have to join their culture, we just need to love them like Jesus and show them that they are loved no matter what, that they can trust God no matter what, and that God created them completely unique and special and because of that they are valuable and loved!

Meanwhile, back at the student meeting, Kaitlin Reeves won 2nd place (out of 1500 others) in the Simon Says Contest. She was awesome and the whole room had a great time with that! Congratulations Kaitlin.....you will have to show us the T-shirt that you won.

Well, we are off to tonight's Big Meeting! Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers!
Talk to you some more real soon!
Tracy

SOOOOOOOIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

The Pigs have started to return home to Ground Zero (where else would they go?). As you can see there were teens counting change for quite some time. The initial estimate of the first returnees is around $275.00 It is so great to see everyone working together to make it possible for every teen to get to get to go to camp that wants to!

We also had a great time talking about whether or not we are sinners (what do YOU think?) and how Independence Day with Christ is a brand new perspective on freedom. Freedom from sin...freedom from condemnation....freedom from judgement. It is so good to be free! And...if we can wrap our hearts around that, what an amazing reality is waiting for us!

Count down to camp.....12 days.