...Okay, so this blog is definitely one of the longest ones I have everrr written. Its taken me about a week so I hope that you would read it slowly, digest it, and enjoy it!
There is a phenomenon, that happens all over the world when it comes to church summer camps.... that I like to call the "Summer Camp Hangover."
Basically, here is what happens: Student (lets say his name is Joe) (lets also say he is in highschool) goes to church or youth group every Sunday, hears a message, feels kinda convicted, then leaves, goes home, and pretty much forgets what he learned. Now, summer comes and Joe signs up for the highschool summer camp. Finally the day comes! He hangs out after the Sunday morning service, anxiously waiting for the bus to arrive, finally, the bus arrives...5 hours late. Joe is tired, maybe a bit grumpy, very hungry as the bus arrives at the camp way behind schedule. He immediately forgets his moods and pains as he steps off the bus into one of the most excited crowds he has every seen. People screaming and cheering, welcoming Joe and the rest of the highschool group to the camp! After things settle down, a little bit, there is worship, and then it’s off to bed. For the next week, Joe is at this camp, and everyday there is devotions, sermon, worship, small groups, more worship, and other activities. As the week goes on, Joe starts to feel this thing. This emotion. But he can't really describe it. It causes him to sing his heart out in worship, to clap his hands on every song, even though no clapping is needed. It causes him to read his Bible with more passion and with a new perspective, he starts thinking about how he can apply the sermons to his life, he gets real in small groups and opens up to share his heart with his fellow team members. Joe feels close to God. He feels the joy and satisfaction of being in God's word, and worshipping Him on a daily basis. As the week ends Joe feels changed, he feels like a different person. He gets back on the bus and starts to head home. He has a new attitude, and a new perspective. After a long ride home, he finally goes to sleep, in his own bed after a week of being at camp. The next day is Sunday. For once, Joe is actually excited about going to church! He sings with his whole heart during worship. He lingers on every word of the sermon. He takes tedious notes. He loves the fellowship afterward with the other highschool students. He leaves with the thought, “wow, I’ve never enjoyed church so much!” Joe is on a high. A spiritual high that was the product of the week in God’s word, the week of worship, the week of devotions, the week of small groups. There is just one problem; no matter what the circumstances, a high, can only last so long…. Within two weeks, Joe has lost all that excitement and fervor he had. Church has become just another thing he has to do. He no longer worships whole-heartedly, he no long takes such detailed notes of the sermon, and in fact he can even be seen texting during the sermon. He has gone back to his apathetic approach to church and to God. At first, his life seemed radically changed, then that change began to blend with his old habits, which eventually overpowered that change.
Now, what changed!? What could have possibly happened to make a highschool student go from apathetic, to excited and acting completely differently, back to the apathetic attitude a few weeks later. Why do people find so much joy and energy up at camp, and then come home to find out that nothing really changed?
Well, think about Revival (If you didn’t catch it, that was the analogy of the story)… What happened up there that was different from most people’s normal everyday normal routines? *(Now, don’t get me wrong here, I know there is a solid core that stands firm in the ebbs and tides of True North excitement. I am most definitely not talking about everyone here, but I am addressing a large group of those who were up at Revival)*
Answer: EVERYTHING! There were devotions every morning – causing everyone to get into the WORD DAILY. There was worship every morning and every night – causing everyone to adopt a LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP. There was a sermon preached every night – causing everyone to examine themselves and think about how they could APPLY IT TO THEIR LIVES. If you think about it, if you were to extract the extra activities up at Revival 08, what would be the final result? Think of this equation: Revival 08 – boats – games – free time = Orange County Highschoolers saturated with as much Bible Studying, Biblical Teaching, and Whole Heated Worship they possibly could have handled. Now wait a minute! Am I really saying that the reason a lot of people have lost our fire and excitement from Revival is because they aren’t doing those things? YES! EXACTLY! So here’s the deal, if you are missing that fire and utter joy and excitement from Revival you need to:
1) Get into God’s word daily. Hit up Scripture of the Day at “http://www.compasschurch.org/blogs/sotd/”
2) Be thinking on a consistent pattern of how you can worship God and give Him the glory. Not just with songs of praise, but with the way you live your life.
3) Listen to sermons with the intention of application. Be thinking during the sermon of how you can implement it into your life. And then afterwards discuss it with someone who will keep you accountable.
Now. If you are already doing this, and you know who you are :), there is another challenge. We, who have that fire and zeal need to step it up. We need to be so involved in the lives of others that our fire and excitement pours over into their lives! We need to be discipling others and spurring them on to live lives glorifying to God. If we, as leaders, can take it to the next level in our encouraging and involvement with others, I think that we will see a change in the excitement and seriousness level of True North. We first need to make sure God is number one in our lives and then make sure others are doing the same!!!!
