Pastor's Corner - October 29th, 2021

This week, Shannon and I traveled back to the Home Office to meet with the rest of the Camp Directors to begin planning this coming year's Winter and Summer Camp season.

The Camp Directors meetings are always something that is incredibly fulfilling, due to the ability to sit and talk with the other CD's throughout the meetings and determine what we can do to better serve the youth of the Church. 

We aren't a Boy Scout or YMCA camp - our camp isn't about activities... though, we certainly have our fair share... the United Youth Camp program hinges on the Christian Living theme for that week. Everything that we do builds on that theme, and focuses the week.

Last year's theme, 'Be Anchored to God' was a great theme. It was tangible and evocative in many ways, and quite honestly, I think God knew we were going to need it and the concepts contained within due to the challenges that we are all facing in the world around us at the moment. 

During our meetings, we do a debrief of the previous years session, and begin planning the following year's session. Next year's theme was introduced and developed this week, and that theme is 'Becoming Sons and Daughters of God', taken from Romans 8, Galatians 3, and a number of other locations throughout scripture, we plan to discuss the concept of family - and God's desire to have a loving family of His children, calling those He is working with at this time.

The United Church of God has taught for a number of years that God is calling our children. He is working with them, due to the faith of their parents. 1 Corinthians 7:14 talks of the sanctification of our children through the faith and belief of even just a single believing spouse, otherwise our children would be unholy, not set apart, not sanctified. But God promises to work with our youth. They still have to respond to that calling - but that calling is available to them.

... just as it is available to each and every one of us. 

God desires our submission and willingness to obey Him in the way He has called us to lead. Something we learn more about and study each Sabbath. 

"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)

We are constantly learning how to better allow His Spirit to lead, let us maintain that focus, and continue to learn and grow in the grace and knowledge of God. 

I hope that you have a most enriching and spiritually fulfilling Sabbath. 

With Love,
Ben