Back from Camp...

Last week Chad and I took six kids from church to Junior Camp. I always love going to camp...but it takes a while to get ready to go and a while to get things back in there place once home....and I'm almost there!

Camp is always a treat for the time spent with the precious kids and hearing great preaching...here is a picture presentation of our week.

Yes, the girls are more highly favored in the pictures, but hey, I'm with the girls and the one with the camera! :)

The theme this year was Deep Space... our girls team was the Comets and our boys were on the Space Invaders.

For more information about this great camp, Commonground Baptist Camp, see a previous post or go to their website or FB page. It is a great camp centered around God!

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, 

the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? 

and the son of man, that thou visited him?

Psalm 8:3-4

Day 16 - Ministry Monday...

In the spotlight today for the Ministry Monday post of The First 25 Days of 2012 is Commonground Baptist Ministries...which is a ministry of Southeast Bible Baptist Church in Penfield, N.Y. [You can also check them out on Facebook.]

I'm mainly going to cover the Summer Junior and Teen Camps that our church kids excitedly look forward to every year. However, they do also have a Bible Institute that has an emphasizes in distance learning, as well as an online store.

But back to camp...Commonground Baptist Camp is a great camp! Here is an excerpt from their website on what the camp is all about...

What is Commonground Baptist Camp?

Commonground Baptist is a local church camp ministry under the direction of Southeast Bible Baptist Church, and it is designed to serve local churches of like faith and practice. The ministry started when it held its first ever Winter Retreat for teenagers in 1995. Winter camps have been held every year since and Genesee Valley expanded to include summer camp in 2000. God has abundantly blessed and I will gladly put you in touch with pastors who will testify of God working in their youth departments because of the ministry of Commonground.

  Camp Philosophy

Christ Honoring: Our goal is to honor Christ in all things. We are not  building a kingdom and we are not entertaining. This is a camp run by a youth pastor who sends his kids too!

Affordable: When registered early, a week of camp is only $88!

Modest Attire: Our camp strives for an atmosphere that does not hinder the working of the Holy Spirit.

Preaching Centered: Plenty of fun times, but there will be lots of Biblical, Balanced, and Boiling Hot Preaching!!!

  What makes it different?

Commonground is a distinctly Baptist camp that has attempted to lift up a standard in the midst of this Laodecian age. Christ honoring preaching is in the center of this ministry. The messages at camp often stress a total surrender to God in every area of your life. Love God supremely, forsake the sins of this world, and serve Him with all your might. A goal for every camp week is to have an atmosphere where the Holy Spirit has free reign to work. To that end we have a code of conduct for our camp that emphasizes modesty.
The spirit of the camp also sets it apart. As the teens respond to the preaching, the games, and the counselors, the camp has a spirit where the teens just don’t want to go home! Camp is a place where you can not only do business with God, but you can really enjoy being a Christian.

  Why is it a ministry?

I have seen camp have such an incredible impact on the lives of teens and adults that I do not want to see it denied to anybody. Many people over the years have argued to me that I should not be concerned about camp costs because teens can get money for the things that they really want. As a youth director, however, I know how the cost of camp can really have an impact on teens signing up for camp. Our enemy will use anything to hinder a teen from going to something that will bless them, including the cost! I want to keep camp affordable so that every teen can go and be blessed. Money that comes in for support goes for expenses and the expansion of the camp ministry. None of it goes to our local church.

  What is the vision?

From a small winter retreat, Commonground Baptist Camp has grown to include multiple teen summer weeks, multiple junior weeks, men’s retreats and sporting tournaments. For futher expansion, it is important for the camp to acquire it’s own property. Will you pray with us to that end?

Pastor Jim Krohn, Camp Director

and his family

I have gone the past three years, twice to teen camp and once to junior camp...they were all wonderful experiences in there different ways! Pastor Krohn has done a great job at making the camp fun, exciting, comfortable, affordable...and SPIRITUAL! Why go to a Christian camp and come away the same as when you went?

This camp is not like that! Pastor Krohn schedules great preachers that share their hearts and challenge the kids (as well as adults) to follow God with everything!!!

I can't wait for camp :)

Let no man despise thy youth;

but be thou an example of the believers,

in word, in conversation, in charity,

in spirit, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Amanda

Catching up...

So before leaving for camp all the laundry was done...now there is a HUGE pile in the laundry room (and I've already done a bunch!)...

I was hoping to do a little sewing today but not much of anything is being accomplished. It's hot and we have no air conditioning... so some days are unproductive!

However, I hope to post a WIP update tomorrow...even though little has been done!

The picture video is not uploading and is causing some issues...so I'll try to get something put together that I can post later so you can see the great fun we had!

And last night for our anniversary, Chad and I went for a hike and ice cream!

So, a picture of us together!

and our ice cream...next time we only need to share the specialty boat...(and skip the extra sundae) just maybe have the peanut butter added to the chocolate explosion boat!

We couldn't finish it all!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness:

and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

This verse was the main text for the last message at camp last week. Pastor Krohn spoke about making sure to put our priorities in order, then we will have all the fun things (not sinful) added to our lives and we will be living a joy filled life. I really liked his message and today I made mini replicas of the props he used to help the kids visualize what he was talking about.

 (The props used during the message.)

(My reminder 'mini' rocks.)

May we remember to put the right things first... Church, Bible reading, Prayer, Ministry, and School/Work...we will be blessed and we can really enjoy the fun things!

Amanda

Happy Anniversary...

Seven years ago, I married my husband. He is great and has become my very best friend. He is definitely my most favorite person! Happy Anniversary Chad!

Our wedding was planned in a couple of months and had a tropical theme. We got married during summer break while in college. I'd like to share a few pictures...

 A great picture of our rings...which happen to be the same size!

 The cake had the basket weave around it and was then decorated with flowers... Perfect!

A place setting at the reception.

I love this outside picture behind the church.

Our above wedding photos were taken

by Dennis Burchard.



And now we've been married for seven years and have two beautiful little girls...

and have very few recent pictures of us together...

so instead, pictures of us at camp last week. We took the Juniors (ages 8-12) from church.

I have a video of the weeks pictures that I put together for church.

(OK...so my video is not uploading...so I'll try uploading it again later on a new post! They are some great pictures!)

We go to Commonground Baptist Camp, which is ran by Southeast Bible Baptist Church. We just love this camp!

Being then made free from sin,

ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:18

Once we get saved, we are no longer under the weight of sin...but now we are to allow ourselves to be used of God. To be a servant to His will for our lives, in doing this we will find the greatest joy.

Amanda