question answer

It has been a while since I was last on here. I have been busy getting to know a new session as well as trying to spend as much time with the property staff and interns as I can. I am facing a dilemma. I only have 3 days left here. This place has become a second home to me. The people have become my community. My time here has ran by me without looking back. All I can do now is appreciate the last times I will have as well as cherish the memories.

Some of my favorite times for sure have been intern fun nights. Each week on day 3 we get to spend a nigh of fun with the fellow interns. Some of the past fun nights include an iron chef competition, kayak water polo, redneck games and playing hockey with the Beyond Malibu staff. It is in these times that we share smiles with each other. We get to purposely love on one another. Throughout the summer I have also had the great privilege to lead a Bible study day 5. It has definitely been on of my highlights. I love being able to share the gospel and my ideas with friends.

As the summer comes to a close I have to look forward to going to school. Though it seems like a downside there is much positive that is to come. At WSU we are starting our second year of college young life and I am excited to see what God has in store. I am also looking forward to staying with four awesome guys in a house off campus. The house is an amazing deal and I look forward to see how God uses it for His ministry.

For the past 18 mornings the guy interns and I have been getting up before breakfast and chomping on the Word. We generally get up at around 7. We are going through Psalm 119, 8 verses a day, for 22 days. The Psalm focuses on the law and how we need to meditate and delight in them. The point of the bible study isnt so much the scripture itself but rather the point of establishing a habit. Getting up every morning and starting it off with God's word and prayer. It might make me a little more tired but it has been an amazing way to start every day off.

"... who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." Galatians 1:4

He has rescued us from our present evil age. As we stand in this age we are a light. Evil cannot touch us because of the will of our Father. I love the word rescued. It just rings so true to me. I look back to this summer and the things that God has blessed me with. I don't know where I would be if God hadn't rescued and taken hold of me and it just blows me away.

At the end of the week of our last camp Colton and I were asked to do a question and answer session for two girl cabins. The girls wrote down questions anonymously for us to look at and give them answers. Questions ranged from "What do you do when a guy doesn't text you back?" to "How important is sex to a guy?". It was a great time though. It gave Colton and I the opportunity to let them know what a Godly guy is like. It gave them the sense that there are guys who really do care for them.

From this session I drew one thing... these girls live in an evil age. The girls asked a lot of questions along the lines of looks and how much that meant to guys. I reassured them that the initial attraction does sometimes have to do with outward looks but a lot of "good" guys are looking far beyond that. I told them that as you get to know the irresistible qualities of a girl she becomes more and more beautiful in your eyes. It might sound cheesy but it is the truth to me. Overall the session was amazing and meant way more to those girls then to me.

A cool breeze

The Holy Spirit is something that we all have trouble to grasp. In our last intern/property staff bible study we talked a lot about the Holy Spirit. It got me thinking about what the Holy Spirit really meant in my life. I don't think I realize what an impact it has on me daily. I believe that Holy Spirit convicts me. It is that something deep within me that pushes me to do the "right" thing. I think the Holy Spirit is what has molded and continues to mold me into the person that God intended me to be.

It is hard for me to picture what the Spirit is. I think the best representation of the Spirit is the wind and water. It flows through things, makes things move and if you see it in action it most likely it isn't still.

One thing we have a problem with is the Spirit working inside us. It all comes back to that trust issue we have. We are selfish closed off beings. The Spirit will go into the areas in our lives that need work but we don't want to let it. We think "not that area.. that's that area that no one goes around". It all comes down to the willingness of us. Are we willing? In scripture, Jesus performs miracles on those who are willing..

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Mark 1:40-42

Let the Spirit inside us work miracles. So that we can we transformed in Christ.

Something that I have really been in awe over for a long time are clouds. They are massive yet light. I just can't get over them. They fascinate me. The beauty in them continues to remind me of the Lord. His creation. There is a quote from one of my favorite movies Forest Gump. It is when Forest is talking about the beauty of the sky.

"You couldn't tell where Earth stopped and Heaven began.." -Forest Gump

This quote is what I feel like when I am at Malibu. Even though I know deep down this doesn't even compare to the Heavens above.

The last couple weeks we have really had fun with our intern fun nights. Last week, we had an Iron Chef competition where we choose from certain food items that we had to use and just had to get creative. I had a stellar group that took on a lot of the cooking responsibility while I just watched and helped where I could.. long story short we didn't win but the food was outstanding. This week for fun night we played Kayak water polo. It was intense and quite the work out for me. After that we went caribing behind the boat. It was such a fun time. I love the times I get to spend with the other interns.

This is a song that I have really enjoyed listening to lately.. just wanted to tell y'all about it.

They say-
it is better to light a candle than to curse the dark
in the eyes of the youth
there are question marks
like freedom
freedom for the mind and soul,
we don't see them
see them for their worth at all,
that’s why we lead em
lead em to these wars
and what is it we feed em
feed em our impurities
and who it is we treat em
treat em like the enemy
humanity will need em
need em like the blood we spill
and we're freedom
freedom for the hearts we fill
we mislead em
they hunger for the love we give
but we cheat em
the guys beat him and all he wants
is his freedom,
so they defeat him,
whatever spirit he’s got
"beat him"
and they teach him
the rest of the world don’t need him
and he believes
in the disease that he’s heathen
Put up your fists if all you want is freedom
Put up your fists if all you want is -

(3rd verse) In the beginning - K'Naan

Home and back again

So two week have gone by and a lot has went on..

I went home for about 6 days to enjoy a time with family and friends. It was strange leaving Malibu so suddenly. It was great being home though. When I come home from being away for so long my parents basically welcome me back like the protocol son. Feast after feast. While at home I was able to watch my brother play in the Washington State All-star game for football. I love football and enjoy watching my brother play. I also got to go boating, go to a movie, and went golfing. It was a solid time at home.

Once I got to Malibu I tracked the amount of miles a drove within this one week and I had driven over 1000 miles, this is not including the ferry or boat rides.

While away at home the rest of the interns had Christmas in June where they exchanged white elephant gifts and had a fancy dinner. It was a bummer missing it but I did get to leave behind a gift for the exchange, so that I could receive a gift in return. I decided to leave a free 15 minute back massage from yours truly in return I ended up getting the best gift there. I ended up getting a private plane ride with Bob Goff around the inlet. Bob is a neighbor of Malibu's and owns his own plane and multiple lodges. It was a great coming back gift.

When I got back to Malibu it was whole new group of personnel. When I had left Malibu the first session assignment team, summer staff and work crew all left as well. It was just strange coming into camp with things already running with all new people who I didn't know. It made me miss the first session instantly. I think it was because I connected with so many of the summer staffers and assignment team that I just felt really comfortable.

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:9-12

These verses have so much to it. My favorite verse of this group is definitely verse 12. It makes so much sense in my mind. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is exactly how I see Christ daily. I see Him in others. While at Malibu everyone is sacrificing themselves for others and you can see Christ through them. But it isn't just through these actions that Christ is evident. It is through their simple smiles and joy. I personally believe that a smile brightens someones face. Just as when Moses' face was glowing when he saw God I also believe that smiles show Christ to me, because like it says in 12, God lives in us.

In verse 12 it also says how God love is made complete in us.. God's love is made complete in us!? How crazy is that?! We have the opportunity to be a part of a perfect love that God provides.. a perfect, complete, and unconditional love. Let God live in you.. be in love with our creator. Show the love that Christ showed you to those around you, to those who don't know Him. This love that you show them is God living in us, and it will shine through you.

Come and go

I watched the movie Invictus today. I thought it was a solid movie. It contained so much Truth. The way Nelson Madella acted as president during that movie had so many Biblical truths behind it. All I have to say is that you have to see it to know what I mean. There are too many things on here for me to even get started. It's funny though. God himself is in everything. In a movie such as this that really had nothing to do with Christ in my mind had everything to do with Him. There are plenty of quotes, songs, movies and just people who have nothing to do with Christ but to me the meaning behind what they represent is Christ in my eyes.
It is hard to see people come and go. This last week here with first session really makes me sad. They are a great group of people that I will miss tremendously. It is hard to believe that I will most likely never see a lot of them again. They will be only memories to me. And then before I know it there will be a new group, new faces and all with a unique new story of Jesus impacting their lives.

This week my hometown area was here with kids. There are 350 campers this week which is over capacity for Malibu so you can imagine the controlled chaos here at the BU. Tonight is the dance party and I am excited to see what goes down.

Say-so is time where I remember why I do what I do. When I see that group of kids stand up.. It almost brings me to tears. I see it as that moment they are rescued. That is a very powerful word in my book lately.. Rescued. Those kids were rescued from a life that no one will ever know about.. they are rescued to come and live in eternity. There is a celebration in Heaven for these kids.

You just got served

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death
even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:2-8

If you don't understand what being humble is about after you read this then you probably will never understand. Making yourself less then the person next to you knowing you have power over them. Knowing that you could easily do without them yet you serve them. When do we ever consider ourselves nothing? Jesus made himself nothing when He had all the power in the world. It's something that is hard to grasp. Take on the nature of a servant today.. think of the person next you first not yours.. It is tough but it would be what Christ would do.. How cliche this sounds but "What would Jesus do?"

The goal is to be aware of the unseen things even as you live out your life in the visible world.

The first official week is over here and I love it. I really connect with them summer staff here. It definitely helps having 3 of them from school as well as Gary and Judy as the summer staff coordinators. Earlier this year I heard a sermon on what a blessing meant and what it is. Because of it I asked Gary if he would give me one. It then came to my mind that I hadn't been baptized yet and what a wonderful and unforgettable place it would be if I got to do it at Malibu. So hopefully before the session is over I will be able to get baptized.

It is strange but I already feel the sadness of the summer staff and work crew leaving. It will be a strange deal trying to connect with these groups and then see them basically walk away for who knows how long. But no matter what we are still connected. No matter how long the time in between seeing each other we don't forget one another. We are united in Christ and we can't be divided because of Him. It is that common love. The love that we all get to share for eternity. We are eternity bound.. get excited.

Amazing love,
How can it be
That you my God
Would die for me

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
I come and lay my burdens down

Amazing Peace
No more to fear
My god my help
is evernear

Amazing grace
How the sweet the sound
I come and lay my burdens down

Amazing sight
No longer blind
You touched my eyes
New hope I find

Amazing grace
how sweet the sound
I come and lay my burdens down

Amazing life
Forget the grave
Jesus had died
My soul to save

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
I come and lay my burdens down

Amazing help
No more alone
New family
New heavenly home

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
I come and lay my burdens down

Amazing love
How can it be
That you my God
Would die for me

Amazing grace
how sweet the sound
I come and lay my burdens down

By Ryan Long

This song has been money for me to listen to with a couple of other songs that have been great to worship the Lord with.

Slower

Well the Summer Staff and Work Crew as well as our first camp and I really feel like I have something going on at all times. I feel like I have no time for the internet except to check it briefly between things. I love it though. Our ODC(outdoor crew) guys are great. I don't get to interact with them as much as I want but the time I have been with them, I love it. There attitudes to serve inspires to want to serve even more. It brings me back to when I was on work crew. Since the campies showed up as well things have become so much slower. Each day seems to be longer which opens up opportunities for more interactions with others.

God is changing me into a man. I strive to be a man after His own heart. This summer so far I feel like He is forming my character as well as my skills to be a man. A man to lead, a man to take care of his family, and a man chasing after Christ. There have been a couple times where I felt like I had crossed the line when poking fun at others and usually I just brush it off thinking that they could handle it because they knew I was joking but something inside me has pushed me into apologizing. Sitting down with the person and saying, "Hey, I know you knew I was joking but I just wanted to let you know I'm sorry and I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." It is like a weight is lifted off my shoulders. It is like I can't go on with my day unless I tell that person how I feel.

So I finished Crazy Love. What a great book. I recommend it to anyone who is looking into a challenging and convicting book. One of my favorite quotes from it is "Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers." I love this. It seems more common here then most places, especially for summer staff and work crew. You tell people that you are going to go and work your butt off for a month for no pay. You think they understand what serving means to you? Sure, I do get an honorarium for serving but does that change why I am here? In my mind it doesn't. I would do this for free in a second.

Crazy Love used this picture that I love to think about. You are swimming in a river against a current... if you don't swim against it you will never gain ground, but flow down the river and fall farther away. This is a picture of our relationship of Christ. WE have to chase after Christ with all of our hearts. If we don't.. if we stay complacent.. we fall slowly away from Him and the relationship He intended for us.

I am thinking of reading another book.. I haven't read any of C.S. Lewis so I might read Mere Christianity, but I am open for suggestions.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40

This is a verse that I am trying to live out at the moment. Serving everyone.. that is my goal.

Do Something

I love vanilla chi tea.. had it the other night and it looks like I finally found an alternative to hot chocolate when everyone else is having coffee. There is a lot of stuff going down here at camp. We just had discipleship weekend with over 300 campers which is the largest it has ever been. It was a great preview of what camp will be like once the sessions start up. This summer at Malibu we will pushing capacity so everyone here on the property is excited and amped up for what God has in store. The assignment team for first session arrives this week.. CRAZY

Reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan has been great. It is a faith challenging book and already has me wanting to make myself more like Christ. One thing that I really wanted to share with you about Crazy Love was in Chapter 5 called Serving Leftovers to a Holy God. The chapter was essentially about how Christ wants all of you.. He doesn't want only parts. Look at it from His perspective.. He has made everything that you have or will ever want but you will only give part of yourself? It just doesn't make sense. Think of it this way, when you get a token "Thank you" or compliment you but you know the person doesn't truly mean it. I mean wouldn't you rather just have that person not say anything at all? God is that way. He doesn't want a courtesy prayer or for Him to be something on the check list. He wants to be the entire check list, He wants to be everything to you.

One of the things Francis Chan has you do is take the scripture from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which says

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. it does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all thing, hopes all things, endures all things..."

Now take this passage and replace the word Love with your name because God calls us to represent love to the world.

Brad is patient and kind; Brad does not envy or boast; he is not arrogant or rude. he does not insist on his own way; he is not irritable or resentful; he does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth. Brad bears all things, believes all thing, hopes all things, endures all things...

I don't know I thought it was really cool and thought you guys would enjoy doing this exercise as I did. I know I haven't lived up to this yet but I know that I can... Love each other because that's what is all about. Serve one another. Your love for Christ will show.

Twice this week I have heard someone say that the poor are better off with Christ then we are. I was in the doctors office thing here at camp and he told us that Africa will be the center of Christianity by 2020 because they don't have anything so all they can do is focus on God and read his word. By living without the safety net we have to depend on God to get us through those tough times and if we don't suffer those times do we truly know the power or love of Christ?

Here at camp we consider our staff one big team. One team with one goal and that is to serve kids and prepare a camp to help show the love of Christ. We were each chosen because we were the cream of the crop. We were chosen for our abilities. I came across a verse today which I thought represented exactly what us interns are here for.

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10