Spring Break

I am currently on Spring Break from my HoneyRock experience.  The last couple weeks held the experiences of attending the CCCA WI-IA conference, building cabins, and cleaning up the winter activity areas.  Thus the winter season is officially over and i'm in Grove City for a couple weeks catching up on life and working at GCC to earn some extra cash.  When i go back to Wisconsin I'll be taking 2 graduate classes in camping ministry which i will get credit for through Wheaton College.  This will involve class time, several projects, and a tour some camps in the area.  This summer i will be working with one other person to manage the challenge course area of the summer ministry.

On work projects...  Work projects are a great opportunity to be outdoors, fellowship with others, do things with one's hands.  Seeing as I enjoy all of these things it was a largely a positive experience.

On CCCA...  The 3CA conference was held at Lake Geneva Camp and was an opportunity to connect with others in the camping ministry in the area.  This was also a very positive experience.  I enjoyed making friends and learning more about camping ministry.  I was also challenged love for others, and was encouraged by what God is doing around the world through camping ministry.

On my personal growth... I have been challenged by living in community to grow in how I love, build trust, and encourage others.  It is a wonderful challenge to see ways that i need to grow in my walk with Christ.

As i write this, i'm sitting behind a sound board at GCC.  Yea for opportunities to work at old jobs :).

God Bless -matt

Pleasing God or Pleasing Man

The winter retreat season has finished in the sense that my coworkers and i will not be hosting any more groups, and it has been 50 degrees and sunny all week.  It is difficult to do winter activities when the snow is melting.  I'm  told that we usually get a couple big snow storms in April but at the moment it feels like spring.  It is spring in both a physical sense but also in a spiritual sense.  I have seen God do amazing things among several of the retreat groups.  Many people have experienced God's love and grace in real and amazing ways.

I also have experienced God's love and grace to the extent that it is fair to say i have never really fully known it before.  Hence the title of this blog.  Many who profess faith in Christ stop living for themselves and start living a life to please God.  This sounds good, but it doesn't work.  There is nothing i can do to please God!!!  I am already as righteous as i can be b/c of the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for me.  Instead of trying to please God we need to trust God.  We need to take off the mask that says we have it all together so that we can experience the freedom of God's love and grace.  For we have, "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ... ...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." (Rm 3:22-24)  Now that we have been forgiven so much we are able to love and forgive others and by this we show the grace of God to others.

With less retreat guests the main task has been building log cabins.  It is great to work out in the sun with friends.  If you are reading this I pray that you are encouraged by what God has been doing in my life and in the lives of those around me.  Blessings...