Drew Boswell

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Restored Relationship at Camp Rock

Camp Tygert Dining Hall "decked out" for Christmas

Camp Rock is a camp specifically designed to serve children who are in the foster care system or are “at risk.” The Valdosta Baptist Association sponsors this event, and Redland Baptist Church specifically organizes the camp. This year there were over a hundred children who enjoyed a five day, four night camp complete with three meals, housing, and a great staff of counselors.

The highlight of the week is Christmas at Camp Rock where the entire dinning hall is decorated for Christmas Thursday after lunch so that when the kids enter for dinner they are completely surprised by Christmas decorations, lights, singing of carols, gifts, a hug from the entire staff, and a huge Christmas dinner. There were many open mouths and smiles as the children entered the dining hall.

My family had the privilege of serving as support staff for the entire week. We emptied trash, cooked, took pictures, videos, helped wherever we could, and the Amazing Bozini even made a guest appearance. My children were in with other kids who floated through the programming and even slept in the cabins at night

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Words Hurt

On one of the days as the kids were floating from station to station, I was returning something to the adults cabin and came across Caleb’s (my son’s) camp counselor (who also happened to be named Caleb). The counselor told me of how Caleb and another boy had just had a “disagreement” that the other boy named Brandon wanted to go home, as a result of their argument. Caleb (the counselor) was at a loss of what to do and basically handed it over to me, and he and the group went on their way from kickball to their next station. So there I was with Brandon who was crying uncontrollably and Caleb who seemed to be nonchalant about the whole event.

I asked Caleb what had happened and he began to tell me a story of how he and Brandon had been discussing Pokemon characters and which one of them were more powerful than another. Caleb said one character was more powerful because of one thing, and Brandon had countered with some other reasons why another character was more powerful. The disagreement continued to escalate and become heated until Brandon said, “well at least I don’t have to wear idiot glasses.” And after some discussion with Brandon I further discovered that Caleb had fired back with, “well at least I have a thumb!” Brandon’s comment did hurt Caleb’s feelings, but Caleb’s words cut deep.

You see Brandon was born without a thumb. Every day of Brandon’s life (as he explains it) he is made fun of for not having a thumb. His school life is miserable because there are bullies there that ridicule him about the deformity. Caleb’s words had hit him deep and in a way that he never could have predicted. Brandon came to “Bible Camp” hoping to have one week of his life where no one would make fun of him because of his thumb.

One minute Brandon was firing back, and the next he was an emotional crying lump on the floor. Caleb had won the verbal scrimmage, but the cost of the victory was very high. I made the boys apologize to each other and go on to their next station (this worked for my boys when they argue, why not try it here?). Caleb didn’t mean it, and Brandon would have nothing to do with it.

I took Brandon to crafts (their next station) and got him started in the craft project where he eventually calmed down. I then proceeded and take Caleb outside to “explain” how powerful his words had been over Brandon. I leaned in pretty hard, and was very descriptive of how this boy’s life was affected by people’s words and how his life was different because of his deformity. I described how this camp was designed to be a haven for these children whose lives are so full of pain and disappointment – and now he had messed that up for this boy. Did I say that leaned in pretty hard?

Words are powerful.

I told him that he had to make this right and how the boy wanted to go home, leave camp, because of the pain that he felt because of Caleb’s words. Then Caleb began to cry. After a few minutes I told him to go to the bathroom, clean up his face, and at some point when he felt best (I left it up to him) he was to go and apologize to Brandon where he was to truly express how he felt sorry for his actions – and explain that to him. He wanted go right away, but I told him to wait and let Brandon “cool down” and talk to him later. Caleb then went back to another table and started his craft project.

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Making It Right

I then went to a corner in the craft room to begin working on a video for a presentation on the last day. As I was editing video and pictures on my laptop, I looked up to see Caleb standing at Brandon’s seat. I could not hear what he said, but I could see on his face that he truly was sorry for what he had said. The boys hugged and I could not hold back my tears. I gave him a smile, and as they hugged he smiled back over Brandon’s shoulder. They were inseparable the rest of the week. They even set up a play date for later in the summer.

Brandon and Caleb

My son had fallen, and then made it right. I was so glad that I was there to guide the process, and witness my son doing the right thing. I am so glad that my son’s conscience was stricken with guilt over his behavior. As we stood outside the classroom, it felt like I was giving him a verbal spanking. It was different than lectures about how he needed to work harder in school, or not to aggravate his siblings. He needed to get to a point where he got a glimpse of how his words had hurt another person.

Our children will make mistakes and have moral failings, and I was so thankful to God that I was able to be there to steer him in the right direction.  A parent’s words are powerful. If we use them for evil we can crush our children. If we use them for good, then we can steer them toward righteousness and away from destruction.

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

9 for they are a graceful garland

for your head and pendants for your neck.”

                                                   Proverbs 1:8-9

 

 

The Third Temptation of Christ; Matthew 4:8 (Selfishness)


Matthew 4:8 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

The taking of Jesus by the devil and going to various places was supernatural – so that Jesus can see the vast numbers of people. What is Satan trying to accomplish by showing Jesus the multitudes and “ethne” of people?  What is the temptation for Christ? As a man he had only seen those people in his geographic region. So now he sees the “multitudes” (Matthew 28:17 ff.) We see the short cut (avoid the cross) here in the beginning of the book, and we see the real plan in the end of the book (the horror of the cross).

Satan has the temporary authority to possess the nations; to give them away or to keep them as the “ruler of this world” [1] and “the whole world lies on the power of the evil one.”  The world has believed the Father of lies and its’ own glory would have been worshipping false gods, and all sorts of wicked and evil things. Were all these evil and wicked people worth Him dying a cruel and horrific death on a cross? Jesus saw it all and still died for it anyway.

Romans 5:8 “. . . God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus saw a world in need of a Savior. Satan intended to tempt Christ by showing Him the multitudes (in sinful rebellion) but it only reinforces the mission that the Father has sent Him on – to redeem all of the world. All of His creation desperately needed a Savior, a Redeemer.

That redemption would come at a price. Since the beginning, something/someone would have to die, and His blood must be shed. [2] Satan knows that Jesus, in order to redeem the world has to die under the wrath of the Father. He had an idea of what the Father’s wrath will be like – he will himself experience it one day.

The temptation for Jesus is selfishness; for him to save himself the pain of the cross and to hell with everyone else.

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Satan knows his time is limited, and that the Father’s wrath is coming – therefore because Satan hates the Father his desire is to take the multitudes (the ones who the Father desperately loves) with him.

For Jesus to worship Satan would be a shortcut around the cross. He would save the world and Himself the pain only momentarily. God’s wrath would still be stored up against mankind, and the sin problem would not have been dealt with. The world would still be in need of a Savior – and now the only One who could have saved them would have sinned in selfishness, [3] a Holy God would still be separated from sinful creation. No restoration would have taken place, and no intimacy regained. Nothing but time would have been gained. Man does not need more time to destroy himself with sin, nor does he need more time separated from His Creator who infinity loves him.

If Jesus had worshipped Satan and avoided the cross, it would have meant doom for mankind. Spiritual shortcuts never accomplish what faithful obedience eventually does. If you are tempted to take the spiritual shortcut, let me point you to Jesus and allow Him to illustrate why this is true. You cannot do what God has created you to do if you constantly take spiritual shortcuts and try to live this life by your own rules. If you have failed this temptation, I am right there with you. I have been selfish time and time again. But let’s journey this next distance of road together knowing that it doesn’t work.

Matthew 20:27-28 “. . . and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Thank you Jesus for being selfless and faithful.

 

[1] Jn. 12:31; 1 Jn. 5:19.

[2] Genesis 3:20

[3] Romans 2:5, 5:9

"Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts." Rick Warren

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