just one reason

i came back from camp. and same as last year, i was revived and now, my fire is burning more vigorously. i would like to share something i learn from the camp, and i hope that it'll be a blessing to whoever who reads it.

the week before the camp, i was supposed to be translating the sunday service sermon in front of the church. as my friends know, i am a person who easily gets freaked out by things.

and if you guys read the previous posts, i mentioned that my name means basically courageous. but really, i'm timid. so, i really hope to get most out of this camp.

during the camp, i started out having a heart for Christ. but the sad thing is that i don't know how big my heart is. the first thing that happened to me upon reaching is that people kept bombarding me with different things. (i'm not complaining by the way. i love serving Christ!) of course, fear sets in.

the first thing was first aid. i have to pray for the camp people, that no one will be dangered by anything, that everyone will be safe. and after that comes a book. more like a manual though. it contains first aid instructions that i have to read, just in case there's anything that happened during the course of the camp. fortunately, i need to read only a small part of it.

the second thing was the video and slides. i was in charge of the slides mostly (thanks to irvin who has helped me a whole lot!). the video was a part i was nervous about during the introduction of the camp. the night before the camp, i stayed up late and woke up early. as sleepy as i was (with only less than 3 hours of sleep probably due to praying for camp too), i needed to finish and perfect the video. (hey! i'm giving the best for Christ ya know?) and so nervous that things may not go right, i was shaking during the screening of the final project. and by the grace of God, everything is perfect!

the third thing is the translating thing. though the week before camp, i prevented myself from doing so in church, i promised ci lydia that i will translate for the church during the camp. well, a promise is a promise - i have to pick up my courage. and even during the camp, i tried to find myself a thousand different reasons to stay out of it. but as i've said, a promise is a promise. and this is not just a promise between me and ci lydia, but also between me and God - i promise to do Him a service.

and so, before picking up courage, i found courage. to be specific, i found God.

just tell me what's impossible for God! NOTHING!

so, no matter how small i am, Jesus (who lives in me) makes me big! because nothing is bigger than Him, i am big too! in Him, i have strength. in Him, i can do all things. in Him, i'm bold!

but together with the church, we are so great that mountains will move in the mighty name of our God, Jesus! that's what i got from the movie, facing the giants. i got the message of the movie: it's basically like "david and goliath" + "the story of job". but what amazes me is the whole church that created the movie. from the movie, i see that they have faith in Christ. they have passion for Christ. i see that even while making the movie, (regardless of the financial and resource constraints) they manage to pull through everything and came up with a movie that even hollywood wants to buy! it's such an amazing cooperation of a church.

anyways, the point is this. there can be a thousand different reasons to not serve Christ: having no time, sick, tired, stress, depression, agony, hatred, financial issues, little resources, etc. but one reason overpowers all those reasons. one reason will rebuke us why we need to serve Him. one simple reason: because we are serving Christ, who is worthy of our all.

and that alone means that we should lay down everything for Him. we only need to carry one thing with us: a heart that longs to serve Christ. why? because we are serving Him. this is the choice we have made. (remember ecc campers: what's the difference between choice and decision?)

blessed be the name of the Lord who came and die on the cross with love and resurrect from the grave with power!

happy easter everyone!

in the grace of God,
andrew