July 31, 2007

SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST





























Friends

I pray everyone has experienced CAMP in their lifetime. For some of you it might have been this year or it’s been a few years. My boys go to our annual pow wow for our churches Royal Rangers. This is where all the boys from across the state of Tenn come together to camp, hear a speaker, play games related to the theme, and receive and be recognized for awards and generally have a GREAT time. Royal Rangers is mostly a boy/ dad/ leader organization. We meet at our churches campground in Nashville after all the youth and kid’s camps are over with and they put on a GREAT themed camp. This year’s theme was ‘SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST’. You know where all you wear is camo. What boy wouldn't love this? All I saw all weekend were 500 boys and men in camo outfits. What fun they had taking that out of their drawers and closets. What fun that will be washing all the stink out of those clothes~!! In the midst of the 500 boys/ men… there are a handful of women in the camp. I think we have it made. Sleep in air-condition, work in air-condition and take a few naps. There were twelve of us women. Some are needed to help with the men in the kitchen and some in the concession stand. I opted for the concession stand. I love the business of that place plus the food is there~ What fun you can have with adults in the concession stand.

I stayed in the ‘special dorms’ for staff folks at the camp. There were six of us in one room. I felt like a camper again with sharing of the bathrooms. Each day we got up at 6 am to be ready at 7 am formation. Some where in my funk the first morning, showering, I put on my head hand lotion. No wonder it didn’t lather up!~!! CAMP! MEMORIES!

I have some pictures of the days at camp. We had someone who knew someone who knew the phone number of the clerk, who had our paper work, at the Army National Guard to get the BLACK HAWK to land in the baseball field. WHICH it did. It was totally COOL. I thought the trees were going to break from the wind the helicopter put down. The boys were mesmerized by the power of the machine they have sometimes or maybe never seen that close. The National Guard brought in a Humvee and a rock climbing wall. The oldest of the boys, were in a ‘FORCE RECON’ group. They all looked liked fresh recruits in the Army. Their leader, Sergeant Lewis, is a man who has been in the Army for 28 years and now in the National Guard. He stayed with them day and night, had them doing PT at 5am, drilled thru the camp, yelling out cadences, and had an awesome recon camp. Hopefully that picture will be here. The National Guard brought in their AR 15’s and SKS for that group of boys to shoot. They, the National Guard, were so impressed by the skills, and character of the boys. They have already volunteered to come back next year and to improve their rifle range. You can be a Christian and sometimes your ‘actions’ can speak louder than your words.

Our guest speaker was Pastor Rich Gipson. He was a former SEAL during the Vietnam War time. He went thru HELL week twice. TWICE! Back then your unit was numbered. His was 21; now Seal team 4(for those who really want to know). http://www.specwarnet.net/americas/UDT.htm

His testimony was compelling to the boys. He kept their attention and kept mine. He kept the theme of Soldiers of Christ and all thru the weekend, the boys saw how the life of a soldier in the natural world is for real as a Solider of Christ in the spiritual world. Another ministry that helped out is called Soldiers for Christ. Here is their web site: check it out: http://soldiersforchristministries.org/index.htm

Another group of folks were there selling their unique brand of camies. Called Christian Camo; here is their web site: http://www.christiancamo.com/default.aspx
Very cool stuff.

Many of you know my son wants to join the Army. This weekend probably confirmed that for him. I have NO doubts he can pass the tests, boot camp and really enjoy the life of a soldier. He saw grown godly men in the role of a soldier but also how to live the life of a ‘Soldier for Christ’. What a powerful testimony you can have!!

Hopefully all my pictures have come thru. This was by far an awesome weekend. If your son is a Royal Ranger age and you live in Tennessee. Don’t hesitate to send them back next year. It will be gooder and gooder!~~

Got my pen, compass and first aid kit!
Serving my commander in Chief, The Lord Jesus Christ
I’m a nobody, telling everybody about somebody~

Liz

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

from mom and meme

ok that was a very interesting
article, yes jed will make a very
good soldier for he has had good
training from the rangers and his
mom and dad
thanks for sharing

love mom and meme