Should you send your child to Summer Camp or Seminary?

Best Friends at Kamp: The Camerons

At Kanakuk, campers have a blast doing all the fun stuff, hanging out with cool counselors, and making great friendships. This past summer the video staff at K-1 interviewed two boys, both named Cameron, both "lefties" and both sorting through deep theological issues.

When I was 8, I was still trying to figure out whether the chicken came before the egg. So I can appreciate the struggle that the Camerons had with the question "Would we be alive if Jesus didn't die on the Cross?" But they seemed to get to the bottom of it in a way that only a child could. Watching this video reminded me of Matthew 18:1-4. Cameron and Cameron gave me pause to wonder if I'm being child-like enough in my walk with Christ.

My daughter has a shirt that says "My Dad can fix anything!" Talk about pressure! She's about Cameron's age and still believes what's on her shirt. I do my best to live up to those expectations. I want her to know that when she comes to me with broken stuff that I'll at least give fixing it a try. The fun part is pointing her to the One who can fix it all. The older she get's the less it seems I can fix things :-)

If something is broken in your life, don't come running to me. God is waiting for you, waiting to give you life through the cross. So, yes, Cameron we become "alive" in Christ through His death on the cross. That's great news and I'm so glad you're already thinking about it.

When you came to Kanakuk during the summer how did it impact your life and your view of Christ?


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How do you pronounce "Hallelujah"?

Laura Lee and Callie share God's gift of laughter. See video below to accept the gift for yourself.

Wheww! It has been crazy-busy and to get a break from the hectic days and focus on my family I haven't taken my computer home for the past few weeks. That's cutting down on the posts. I so appreciate ALL my readers. Thanks for your candor and your encouragement. During the winter months you'll definitely get a mixed bag of posts here.

Here are the things that are coming up with Kanakuk from my vantage point:

The new kanakuk.com is coming! I know I've been saying that:-) It has turned out to be a real challenge to give you something radically different. We are getting closer to having it done and readers of this blog will be the first to know when it's ready for a test drive.

I'm collecting three amazing stories to share with you:

• A young Kamper who came to Kanakuk for the fun but left with so much more. We captured highlights from her whole term. I think she even figured out how to say "Hallelujah"! (See Video teaser)

• A mom made a flippant decision over 20 years ago to attend a Kanakuk Movie Night with a friend. That moment has changed her family forever and now she wants to share it all with you. (Hot of the phone lines last night!)

• Normally a fatal blow to a Kanakuk counselor's summer, an emergency appendectomy couldn't stop Jenny from following God's plan. The outcome surprised even her as she witnessed God's hand at work.(Video to come! Thanks BHill.)

During the summer months there will be much more specific about Kanakuk happenings here at Inside Kanakuk, but I'm looking out ahead at the horizon and there will be much to share between now and Summer 2009! Check out the blogs on the right for different little windows into the Kanakuk family.

Look at the heart.

Have a great day!

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What do Kanakuk Director's like to do during the winter months?

In a very unscientific poll 98.6% of Kanakuk Kamp Director types around the offices said that one of their favorite things to do when they can't be at Kamp is to travel to see their Kamp family in their towns. This is evidenced by the caravan of Kanakuk vans seen moving out of here on a regular basis during the winter months. It starts this weekend and continues pretty steady through the first part of February. To find out if they are coming to your area go the website: KanakukLive!

If you have a Kanakuk Director sighting in your area please send me photos at jay_@_kanakuk.com. They have so much fun when they are gone I'm not convinced they aren't going to the beach for a week!!

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Are You Like Sarah Palin?

 

Palin family minus new little guy, Trig.

Ask anyone, I vote, but I'm not political. I figure God already knows who's gonna win, so I spend my energies on other things, but Sarah Palin's explosion into the national spotlight has made me think.

If nothing else it seems to have highlighted the intensely diverse roll of women. Maybe you can relate. At 44 years old Sarah Palin is a self proclaimed "Hockey mom", mother of 5 in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath house, wife married for 20 years, small town church goer, oh, and Vice Presidential candidate! 

It made me think of the many Kanakuk Kamps moms who drive the kids to school, work a job, do the family "books", attend church, serve on school committees, coordinate soccer teams, and lovingly tuck their little ones in bed at night. It's not so different from Sarah Palin's life really. Maybe you don't have handlers (maybe you wish you did?). Maybe you aren't scheduled for a national televised debate tonight, but standing before the school board fighting for character training funds is pretty big. Especially impressive when you spent the 4 hours prior closing a real estate deal, making dinner, and solving pre-algebra problems! What guides you through all that?

We are getting close to rolling out a new kanakuk.com; A foundational start to a new experience for our whole Kanakuk family. My dream of kanakuk.com becoming a "resource for your life" makes me want to stop and consider your diversity. What you are doing, what you are dealing with, what questions do you have, what connections do you want to make with us, and each other? How can we come along side with encouragement for your family throughout the year?

You may not be preparing for the Sarah Palin v. Joe Biden debate but, if you can relate to the hectic life of Sarah Palin, we are right there with you. We all need a solid foundation to stand on. Something absolute to cling to when the pressures get overwhelming.

Consider this today as you spread peanut butter: Psalms 119. It is 176 verses on the importance of relying on God's word for our every need. At least take with you the familiar verse 105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Take time to read God's Word you won't regret it.

Can you relate to Sarah Palin today? How?

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Kanakuk Pools Inspire Dreams

Every day, at every activity, Kanakuk Kampers live faith-impacting moments that God uses to bring them closer to Him. Our counselors share those moments with great kids like Josh.

“Hi, I’m Josh. I’ve been going to Kanakuk for two years and when I grow up I want to be a professional blobber. This is my story…I got my start in blobbing when I was just seven-years-old. Yeah, I tried all that other stuff like water slide, water tramp, diving, trapeze, water polo, and even swimming. Anyway, my counselor K-Mart (Kenny Martin is his real name) says I have huge potential in the blobbing world. He says it takes bravery and courage to be a great blobber. You definitely need the bravery part because the first time is scary for no reason, but you don’t know that until you do it. K-Mart said when you jump off the tower the first time it’s like trusting God that he’ll always be there when you need Him. K-Mart should know ‘cause he likes trying new stuff like the triple leapfrog, and extreme apple eating, all of which are awesome! But for me, I could just blob all day at Kamp and some day I’m going to be on ESPN! K-Mart would think that was the blob (dot) com!”

Kanakuk offers children young and old new, exciting adventures that prep them for a life of challenge and success. Josh’s story is based on the experiences of thousands of young boys and girls who come to Kanakuk and share special moments with one of our hand-picked Christian counselors; leaders and role models who strive to live a life worthy of following. Sometimes it takes being called “K-Mart” and playing in the pool!

This is a compilation of Kamper and counselor stories that I have collected over the years. The name, etc have all been changed.

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