First Kid's Backpacking Trip

Gabe and I are experienced backpackers but our experience only goes so far. Taking kiddos on the trail is a whole new ball of wax. And this trail wasn't going to let us rest a minute. It was short, less than 2 miles in. But it was complete with missing foot bridges, bubble gum thick mud, and steep hills. Would we make it without our wives? Would the children have fun? Would Gabe and I survive? These were questions running through our minds as we set off for a two day adventure in ... Children Vs. Wild.


Big Hill Pond State Park was our home for a couple days and a night. The kids did awesome with their big-o backpacks. Gabe and I were so proud to have returned them each unharmed, fed, and relatively clean, even though we did not have our wonderful wives with us the entire time!

Why the Woods?

There is something deeply spiritual and refreshing about getting out into the woods, into nature, away from the sites and sounds of vehicles, buildings, concrete, plastic, pavement, and people. It's just you and God. Well, in this case, US and God. Still... You see where his created things are his original masterpieces, before we turned them into our own creations, into paper, 2x4's, and bug collections at the Pink Palace Museum. You hear the birds in the morning, smell the dew on the ground, and taste the cold in the air. The fog drifts across the lake surface like the Spirit of God hovering above the Earth right before everything sprang to Life. And my heart is full. It's full of the outdoors and of God's love. And I already long to return to His living room.

Who We Are In Christ

 I had a friend once challenge me to read this list below out loud everyday for 30 days. This exercise completely changed my life. That was in 1997. It still changes my life today. 

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Whenever I am asked what my personal statement of faith is I seem to have trouble narrowing the hundreds of great scriptures down to a one or two page list. There are intimate, relational passages like, "He who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:17); and "Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). And there are verses of incredible trust like, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13); and "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Romans 10:11). Finally, there are scriptures of passion and dedication such as, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17); and "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Then there is this list of scriptural affirmations, a list of passages telling us WHO we are. These are amazing to me, because they help us see ourselves the way God sees us. And if we see ourselves the way God sees us, we will see each other this way too.
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WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST

I Am Accepted
John 1:12 -- I am God's child.
John 15:15 -- I am Christ's friend.
Romans 5:1-- I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 -- I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 -- I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:2 7 -- I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:1 -- I am a saint.
Ephesians 1:5 -- I have been adopted as God's child.
Ephesians 2:18 -- I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:14 -- I have been redeemed and for¬given of all my sins.
Colossians 2:10 -- I am complete in Christ.
I Am Secure
Romans 8:1,2 -- I am free forever from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 -- I am assured that all things work together for good.
Romans 8:31 -- I am free from any condemning charges against me.
Romans 8:35 -- I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21,22 -- I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:3 -- I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 -- I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected.
Philippians 3.20 -- I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 -- I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Hebrews 4:16 -- I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
1 John 5.18 -- I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
I Am Significant
Matthew 5:13,14 -- I am the salt and light of the earth.
John 15:1,5 -- I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
John 15:16 -- I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 -- I am a personal witness of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3.16 -- I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17 -- I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2 Corinthians 6:1 -- I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Ephesians 2:6 -- I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 -- I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 -- I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4.13 -- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
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I never get tired of reading this list. And I can never read it enough. I am 100% convinced that every lie Satan tells us is something contrary to the above list of truths! That is why we should never stop reading and studying these scriptures. Even more important, we should never stop reading it to our children. And even MORE important than even that -- the Body of Christ, that is, every church, must read this together, replacing the "I" with "WE!"

WE are the salt and light of the earth.
WE are a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
WE have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
WE are a witnesses of Christ.
WE are God's temple.
WE are ministers of reconciliation for God.
WE are God's co-workers (1 Corinthians 3:9).
WE are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
WE are God's workmanship.
WE may approach God with freedom and confidence.
WE can do all things through Christ who strengthens US.

There is wonder working power when WE know who WE are!

Finally, of course, there is the "Greatest Commandment:" Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. "
This verse, which Christ said, "sums up the entire law," still sums everything up today. In my opinion, a statement of faith is only as good as our application of this greatest command. The reason why this is the greatest command is because it is precisely what the world is holding its breath to see. The world holds its breath to see Christians do one vital thing with this great commandment: Apply it.

" I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.." -John 14:12

Hebrews 10 sums it up...

It's a good idea to read Leviticus 16 and it's context before studying Hebrews 10. Several years ago I worked for a Christian school and had the opportunity to do a series of chapels on the different sacrifices under the Old Covenant, as well as the amazing layout and function of the Tabernacle. The traditions God started with the Hebrew people are astounding and very interesting. Read through and pause to take in the scenes and the amazing details. Understanding the roll of sacrifice and blood in the Old Testament is essential to one's comprehension of Christ's sacrifice once for all.

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All
    1 The law is only a shadow* of the good things* that are coming-not the realities themselves.* For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect* those who draw near to worship.* 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.* 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,* 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats* to take away sins.*
    5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world,* he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;*
    6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
    7 Then I said, 'Here I am-it is written about me in the scroll* - I have come to do your will, O God.' "* *
    8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"* (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will."* He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy* through the sacrifice of the body* of Jesus Christ once for all.*
    11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,* which can never take away sins.* 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,* he sat down at the right hand of God.* 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,* 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect* forever those who are being made holy.*
    15 The Holy Spirit also testifies* to us about this. First he says:
    16 "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."* *
    17 Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."* *
    18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.