As we gather for our Christmas festivities, I am aware of a God that gathers with us, who gives His presence to us, who makes his dwelling among us. With the incarnation, God put on human flesh in the most humble and vulnerable forms of humanity - a new born baby. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) With the Birth of Jesus, God enters our humanity and all that that entails. If you have ever given birth or witnessed a birth or even contemplated your own birth, you know that it is messy. Even in the most sterile of hospitals much less an animal stable, there is blood, placentas, umbilical cords, pain and crying babies. It's a messy process. Yet, we have a God that enters into our messiness and invites us to be a part of what He is doing.
In Colossians 1:15-16, Paul names Jesus as the first born of all creation. "The Son is the image of the invisible God the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." It all begins with Jesus. "Jesus is the revelation of the God who created the heaven and the earth. He is also the God who is with us, Immanuel." (Eugene Peterson, God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas) This is God's story - Creation, Incarnation, Redemption, Glory. It is all His doing, and He invites us into that story. "The Christian Life is the practice of living in what God has done and is doing." (Peterson) This Christmas may we be aware of His presence with us, of what He has done and what He continues to do.
At King's Camp we have a story of what God has done and what He is inviting us into. This monthly newsletter will be a telling of that story and an invitation to you to tell your story of God's working in your life through King's Camp and beyond - what He has done and what He is presently doing. Please join us in this journey to praise Him with our voices, to declare His faithfulness to us, to give Him glory for the Good Father that He is to us, to give birth to His Kingdom everyday in our lives. In Revelation 12:11 John declares, "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony [the telling of what He has done in our lives]." Let us share our stories of His faithfulness and encourage one another to continue to trust in His goodness. Kingscamp@gmail.com
Each month we will feature someone's story that has had some connection with King's Camp. Whether you were or presently are a camper, parent, staff, speaker, worship leader, part of a retreat, have joined us in prayer and support - if you are or have been in any form or fashion connected to King's Camp and the Holy Spirit invites you to share your story with us please submit your story to our email and put the subject as: His Story - His Glory Let us lift the name of Jesus. Let us give glory to our King. It is His story. It is the King's Camp.
For our January newsletter we will feature an interview with Emmy Ogletree (shown on the right) about the beginnings of King's Camp, how God called a band of ragamuffins that were hungry for Jesus to gather and worship and break bread together and from that community created King's Camp.
