I reccently played a fake newscaster at Palmetto Bible Camp as part of the "daily news" show. It was a great outlet to work with some creative people and to entertain the campers and staff each day. Below are the highlight clips. I hope you'll watch the segments below and give some thoughts and feedback.

Oh the joy of Summer camp! I hope you feel that way. I am in a beautiful area of the country where camping and the outdoors are easy and fun. You can do just about anything here all while being surrounded with mountains! Thank you Lord for that. I just returned from such a beautiful place, holy ground really. That place was a Christian camp in South Carolina known as Palmetto Bible Camp. It’s the emphasis on Jesus and spiritual development combined with the people and the great outdoors that makes it unique. No cell phone reception…hardly. No internet surfing or email. No tv watching or video games. It’s all an opportunity to reconnect with the God who made it all, the savior who saved us all, and the Spirit who lives in all who become Christians.

However, more and more people are not making summer Bible camp a priority. Why is this? Many of our youth and families enjoy camping but won’t attend a Christian camp. Many youth attend band and sports camps in the summer but not Christian camp. This should not be. These bible camps exist to create intentional bonds and memories that will not only last but help one in their desire to remain a Christian. If cost is an issue, there’s sponsors available. If scheduling is an issue, plan further in advance. What do you enjoy the most about summer Bible camp? What memories do you have that will carry with you for a lifetime? I am who I am today, because of summer Bible camps. Don’t let the opportunity pass you by to connect with one. Leave your comments on this please. I’d love to know your thoughts.

I’ve been asking this question to myself lately a lot more than I used to. Why? Because it matters. It matters a whole lot who and what I love. Sometimes what I love comes before who I love. That seems to be the wrong order sometimes. Also, what you love seems to effect how you love.

In my desire to be a better Christian, who I love takes on a new meaning. Am I really stretching myself to love those who love me dearly and freely? Have you loved someone lately that does not really love you? In this context, I am referring to unconditional love that’s greater than romance and even friendship.

What do you love? If you are all about what you love, then you should really think about what those things are. If you love food, sports, art,music, recreation, camping, hunting, fishing, and any number of things, that’s fine in itself. It’s when loving those things more than people who need love that those become a problem.

So, ask yourself today who and what do I love? People all around you need love. Will you take the time to be that love for someone? In doing so, we represent Christ to them in a way that puts our beliefs in action like never before. I dare you to go for it, and take the Lord with you!

and that’s what I’m talking about…

I enjoy hearing what so many think this is. Furthermore, what makes Christian worship any different than other forms and kinds of worship? Here are a few thoughts on the matter that I read in a yahoo discussion thread this past week.

Worship means “to give honor, homage, reverence, respect, adoration, praise, or glory to a superior being.” God demands worship because He and He alone is worthy of it. He is the only being that truly deserves worship. He requests that we acknowledge His greatness, His power and His glory. Revelation 4:11 tells us, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created. God expects us to worship Him as an expression of reverence and thanksgiving to Him. But God wants even more than that. God also expects us to be obedient to Him. He wants not only for us to love Him; He wants us to act justly towards each other, to show love and compassion to others. In this way, we present ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. This glorifies God and is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). When we worship with an obedient heart and an open and repentant spirit, God is glorified, Christians are purified, the church is edified and the lost are evangelized. These are all the elements of true worship.”

I hope that you know what you are doing when you worship, or what you do when you merely go through the motions and do not. Will you let yourself talk during the service today or be distracted by other things? Worship requires that you engage your heart, your mind, your voice and even your soul today. Won’t you please join us as we seek to do this in spirit and in truth? If not, be blessed by it today as the church around you does.

Today is the national day of prayer. It was a beautiful day here for such a  gathering that many like minded citizens all over our country did.  I was asked to lead a prayer on behalf of the youth and families. It was a joy and an honor to do so. So, what is a prayer to you?

Is it a joy or a burden? Is it communication or confusion? Is it real or just routine? Is prayer powerful and persuasive or just merely passive? Is it time well spent or time wasted? Is prayer a discipline for you or is it just demanding?

Prayer seems to be what you make of it? Isn’t it interesting and wonderful at the same time that God leaves it up to us how often we pray, what we pray for, and even how long. Certainly Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer, and do you suppose he was as busy or busier than you are?

His closest disciples fell asleep on him when he was praying. Do you fall asleep when you pray, or better yet, when others do? What’s your view of prayer? Are  you privileged to pray? God waits for you to decide.

…and that’s what I’m talking about. Love, Rob