There's a guy who frequently comes to my ER drunk. In reality he's not the only one, but that's another story. We'll call him Brian (not his real name).
Brian shows up in bad weather with a few beers in his bag. He always has a vague reason for coming to the ER and usually won't let us draw his blood or run any tests until he passes out. Usually this story ends in Brian getting angry about something and yelling and he is eventually escorted out by the police.
In Matthew 25:40 Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the least among us, we do for him.
Here's where I struggle: Brian is a smelly drunk who does nothing to help himself and usually does nothing but waste our time in the ER. Time that would be better spent helping sick and injured people who want to get better. We've given him every chance we can. Each time, he uses and abuses us for a place to get out of the cold.
I guess it begins with how Jesus would treat him. With respect. With the love of a brother who knows that he will never change but hopes that one day he will.
It likely that I'll have Brian hauled out of the ER by the police again. I'll also never turn my back on him (he took a swing at me once). I can try my best to look at him through the eyes of Jesus and see someone of value. If I can do that for him, how much easier can I see the rest of the world in that way?
NOTE: Brian isn't really a real person. Rather, he is a composite of several folks I see on a regular basis. Privacy law prohibit me from sharing real stories of real people. However, Brian the composite gets the point across.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Meeting Jesus in Strange Places
Matthew 25:31-46
It’s easy to overlook people who aren’t important.
Well, important in the way the world defines important.
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. Here, Jesus rewards the righteous for their treatment of “the least of these brothers of mine…”
Who are the least of these brothers that you know?
It’s easy to overlook people who aren’t important.
Well, important in the way the world defines important.
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. Here, Jesus rewards the righteous for their treatment of “the least of these brothers of mine…”
Who are the least of these brothers that you know?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Grace
So I missed the Monday deadline. It's been a busy few days.
I guess this is a good time to talk about grace.
Last week I talked briefly about rules and how they aren’t the whole picture. People like rules because they define borders. Color inside the lines and God has to let you into heaven. I’ve often heard individuals say they are in line with God because they follow the Ten Commandments and are a good person. Well, there is more to the Bible than just ten rules for living. Additionally, how does one define being a “good” person?
I’d like to think I’m a good person. However, the flaws are there. Sometimes they show up when I least expect it. The story we live in (as Christians) is about grace. It’s not about knowing the special key to pleasing God and getting into heaven. It’s about being a forgiven people who are interested in being a blessing to the world.
Light in the darkness.
A city on a hill.
I guess this is a good time to talk about grace.
Last week I talked briefly about rules and how they aren’t the whole picture. People like rules because they define borders. Color inside the lines and God has to let you into heaven. I’ve often heard individuals say they are in line with God because they follow the Ten Commandments and are a good person. Well, there is more to the Bible than just ten rules for living. Additionally, how does one define being a “good” person?
I’d like to think I’m a good person. However, the flaws are there. Sometimes they show up when I least expect it. The story we live in (as Christians) is about grace. It’s not about knowing the special key to pleasing God and getting into heaven. It’s about being a forgiven people who are interested in being a blessing to the world.
A city on a hill.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Gospel of Negativity
I grew up learning about things I was supposed to not do. These were things that God didn’t like. It said so somewhere in the Bible but it’s hard to find because it’s a big book with a lot of words that I didn’t understand.
To a young me, obedience to God was showing up at church and avoiding a list of behaviors and actions that were bad. People who didn’t follow this list of rules just weren’t in favor with God. It was all about following the rules. That made God happy. Right?
However, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this:
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
(Matt 5:14-16 The Message)
The Gospel is supposed to be the good news. Good news is not the idea that God has piles lists of rules for us to be subject to. Good news is that Jesus has come to earth to save humanity and end our separation from God.
Letting your light shine doesn’t come from how well you follow the rules. Sure, leading a life of righteousness is part of the package. Is simply being good letting your light shine? Declaring Jesus through your life will get your noticed. Standing up against injustice or being the champion for the weak will get attention. Minding your own business and just staying out trouble is hiding under the bucket. How can you let your light out?
More to come…
Monday, February 1, 2010
Registration Opens Today
As of today, there are 19 weeks left until Superweek. 2010 promises to be another year of powerful worship, thought provoking classes, exciting productions, and hanging out with great friends. The program team is hard at work to make this year just as exciting and memorable as ever.
Online registration has opened up today at the PBC website. Every year there is a waiting list to get into Superweek. Register soon to reserve your spot for Superweek 2010.
Check back here every Monday at the Superweek blog. Each Monday for the next 18 weeks we'll be posting news, discussion items, and maybe even a few hints about this year's theme.
Post a comment with your favorite memory from Superweek 2009, Heroes (or any year for that matter).
See you in 19 weeks,
-DK
Online registration has opened up today at the PBC website. Every year there is a waiting list to get into Superweek. Register soon to reserve your spot for Superweek 2010.
Check back here every Monday at the Superweek blog. Each Monday for the next 18 weeks we'll be posting news, discussion items, and maybe even a few hints about this year's theme.
Post a comment with your favorite memory from Superweek 2009, Heroes (or any year for that matter).
See you in 19 weeks,
-DK
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The Campers Have Spoken!
Hello SuperWeek Campers,
I have spent a good portion of this beautiful Sunday afternoon reading your surveys. First of all let me thank you for filling them out. Your thoughts and suggestions are very important to us and help shape the years of camp to come. The Program Team will be meeting soon and we will be going over each and every survey looking at your suggestions. If you have more ideas please feel free to email me anytime with them, you never know what will be the next great camp activity.
I hope that since you have gone home you have examined your lives and what it is your pursuing. Remain diligent in your studies of the bible as well in your prayer life and remember that God loves you no matter what and always will. We are all important to him, he would not of sent his son Jesus if we were not.
As far as next year, we are already working on next years theme. We will be updating here as information becomes available. Remember, contact me if you have ideas for PBC or just need to talk.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Danny Baddeley
danny4pbc@yahoo.com
I have spent a good portion of this beautiful Sunday afternoon reading your surveys. First of all let me thank you for filling them out. Your thoughts and suggestions are very important to us and help shape the years of camp to come. The Program Team will be meeting soon and we will be going over each and every survey looking at your suggestions. If you have more ideas please feel free to email me anytime with them, you never know what will be the next great camp activity.
I hope that since you have gone home you have examined your lives and what it is your pursuing. Remain diligent in your studies of the bible as well in your prayer life and remember that God loves you no matter what and always will. We are all important to him, he would not of sent his son Jesus if we were not.
As far as next year, we are already working on next years theme. We will be updating here as information becomes available. Remember, contact me if you have ideas for PBC or just need to talk.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Danny Baddeley
danny4pbc@yahoo.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
SuperWeek 2008 - Closing Remarks
Pursue_
What's with the underscore? Well, it's like when you are typing on a computer and the cursor is blinking behind the last word you've just written. Nowdays most programs have a vertical line instead of an underscore; however, the concept is still the same.
***
You see, the end of the story isn't written yet. Your story. How will you pursue? What will you pursue? It is my prayer and desire that SuperWeek 2008 touched your heart and brought you to a better understanding of the path laid out before you as Christians. Pursue wasn't about a week in the woods of worshiping, learning, and playing together. Pursue is about a lifestyle emulating Jesus.
***
I can't wait to see you all next year. Don't be surprised if I ask you about what and how you've been pursuing.
What's with the underscore? Well, it's like when you are typing on a computer and the cursor is blinking behind the last word you've just written. Nowdays most programs have a vertical line instead of an underscore; however, the concept is still the same.
You see, the end of the story isn't written yet. Your story. How will you pursue? What will you pursue? It is my prayer and desire that SuperWeek 2008 touched your heart and brought you to a better understanding of the path laid out before you as Christians. Pursue wasn't about a week in the woods of worshiping, learning, and playing together. Pursue is about a lifestyle emulating Jesus.
I can't wait to see you all next year. Don't be surprised if I ask you about what and how you've been pursuing.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Falling short...
I've obviously fallen well short of my ambitious (and possibly downright crazy) goal of releasing one video from Superweek 2007 every week or so. Several of them were queued up ready to go, so I will go ahead and post all of them now. Whew... and just think, in about two weeks, I'll have another 30 or so hours of footage from Superweek 2008! See you soon!
Video: JD and the peanut butter
Video: Stemy during Superweek 2007
Video: Free at last!
Video: Chris' Crazy Limericks
Video: JD and the peanut butter
Video: Stemy during Superweek 2007
Video: Free at last!
Video: Chris' Crazy Limericks
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Full, Busy, and Irrational
First Week at PBC is officially full. If you haven't registered yet, contact the registrar (registrar@palmettobiblecamp.org) for information on our waiting list.
...
If you've been visiting the PBC blog lately, you'll notice that we haven't been posting much lately. Well, the thing is that staff is in crunch time. Many staff members are getting geared up for camp by buying things they will need, getting out their camp clothes, and getting their mind ready to minister to all the campers at SuperWeek. The program team members are busy putting the finishing touches on the productions. Teachers are thinking about classes. Danny is, well, doing whatever it is that Danny does before camp. In short, all the staff are preparing for another super week at SuperWeek. Remember to tell them how much you appreciate their hard work.
...
Faith is an irrational thing. At least, that's the wisdom of the world. In a few weeks, we'll all be together to enjoy the wonders of God's glory as we praise him in song, study the word, and build relationships with other Christians. Some people won't understand it. Some will even call it foolish. However, I can't wait for us to be together to learn more about this journey of faith.
See you all soon,
DK
...
If you've been visiting the PBC blog lately, you'll notice that we haven't been posting much lately. Well, the thing is that staff is in crunch time. Many staff members are getting geared up for camp by buying things they will need, getting out their camp clothes, and getting their mind ready to minister to all the campers at SuperWeek. The program team members are busy putting the finishing touches on the productions. Teachers are thinking about classes. Danny is, well, doing whatever it is that Danny does before camp. In short, all the staff are preparing for another super week at SuperWeek. Remember to tell them how much you appreciate their hard work.
...
Faith is an irrational thing. At least, that's the wisdom of the world. In a few weeks, we'll all be together to enjoy the wonders of God's glory as we praise him in song, study the word, and build relationships with other Christians. Some people won't understand it. Some will even call it foolish. However, I can't wait for us to be together to learn more about this journey of faith.
See you all soon,
DK
Friday, May 2, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
15
That's how many more campers we can take at Superweek! There are only 15 more spot left in camp for Superweek!
If you haven't registered yet visit the PBC website before we fill up.
If you're not sure if your parents have registered you yet, find out before it's too late.
If you're already registered and you are excited about camp, leave a comment and tell us about it.
We can't wait to see you all in a few weeks.
If you haven't registered yet visit the PBC website before we fill up.
If you're not sure if your parents have registered you yet, find out before it's too late.
If you're already registered and you are excited about camp, leave a comment and tell us about it.
We can't wait to see you all in a few weeks.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Spiritual guidance but not math tutoring...
Staff loves to come to Superweek to serve the campers. I was honestly tempted to edit out the first part and leave the end where Allen demonstrates that math is not necessary for ministry. I couldn't. Allen's experiences in Cabin 1 and his observations from Horse's Head capture some of the greatest things about spending the week at Palmetto Bible Camp. But just remember, the "window between ten and eighteen" is only eight seven years.
Monday, April 7, 2008
What's your favorite camp memory?
I was thinking about the many years I have been at PBC as both a camper and a staff member and about all the great times I have had. Camp means so many things to so many different people. I'm curious to what is your favorite moment at camp? For me, I think it was getting the opportunity to baptize my brother. I'll never forget that evening. I was wearing a cast on my left arm, covered with a plastic bag and wasn't sure if I could bring Ben back up from the water, but when I did it was amazing to see my new brother. That's only one of hundreds of great camp moments I could write about, but I want to hear yours.
So, whats your favorite camp memory?
Danny Baddeley
So, whats your favorite camp memory?
Danny Baddeley
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Passover
Soon it will be Passover.
To the Jews, Passover is a time of remembrance. It is a time to remember God's faithfulness and power. It is also a time to remember the bitterness of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians.
To the Christians, we remember passover as the time when Jesus was crucified and rose three days later.
Is it coincidence that Jesus went to face his fate during a time when God's chosen were supposed to be remembering how he delivered them? Isn't it ironic that nobody understood that God was delivering them once again, only this time from sin, right before their eyes.
Easter may have been a couple of weeks ago, but take some time this Passover to remember how God delivered us all from the slavery of sin.
-DK
Passover begins this year on April 19th at sundown and continues until the 27th.
To the Jews, Passover is a time of remembrance. It is a time to remember God's faithfulness and power. It is also a time to remember the bitterness of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians.
To the Christians, we remember passover as the time when Jesus was crucified and rose three days later.
Is it coincidence that Jesus went to face his fate during a time when God's chosen were supposed to be remembering how he delivered them? Isn't it ironic that nobody understood that God was delivering them once again, only this time from sin, right before their eyes.
Easter may have been a couple of weeks ago, but take some time this Passover to remember how God delivered us all from the slavery of sin.
-DK
Passover begins this year on April 19th at sundown and continues until the 27th.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Buck on "Under Pressure"
Buck shares some insight on Under Pressure -- the weekly theme for Superweek 2007. Unfortunately, due to a scheduling conflict this year, Buck won't be able to make it to Superweek. So everyone take a minute and let Buck know how much he'll be missed this year. Hmmm... I wonder if I can set up a Buck Headroom...
Monday, March 24, 2008
We try to identify needs...
Throughout scripture, we see examples where Christ identified the physical needs of a person and addressed them. Only after addressing their immediate physical needs did Jesus then turn towards their spiritual needs.
At Superweek, we try to mirror Christ in everything that we do. We try to follow Christ's model every step of the way -- from the classes we plan to the food we serve.
Feeling sluggish? Talk to Josh and the rest of the engineers at Superweek 2008 to find out what helps to get them moving.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sometimes you just gotta laugh...
What are "cremains" you say? Try asking Stephanie and Aimee at Superweek 2008... they've had almost a full year to figure it out.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
12 More Weeks...
It's amazing to think that PBC will kick off again in just 12 weeks! We, the Superweek staff, have been working hard all year to make 2008 another great year of fun, friendship and spiritual growth. As of today 93 campers are registered for Superweek. If you haven't registered yet, be sure to visit the camp website and reserve you spot soon.
As camp gets closer, keep checking here on the Superweek blog for updates and information about the coming encampment. We'll do our best to keep it interesting.
Also, please let us know what you love about PBC and what you'd like to see in the future. Comment on any post to let us know what you think. You never know, you might have the next great idea for camp.
In the meantime, keep praying for camp in the upcoming summer and for the years to come.
I'll see you all in 12 weeks,
-DK
As camp gets closer, keep checking here on the Superweek blog for updates and information about the coming encampment. We'll do our best to keep it interesting.
Also, please let us know what you love about PBC and what you'd like to see in the future. Comment on any post to let us know what you think. You never know, you might have the next great idea for camp.
In the meantime, keep praying for camp in the upcoming summer and for the years to come.
I'll see you all in 12 weeks,
-DK
Friday, July 13, 2007
Hello Superweek Campers!
It occurred to the staff of Superweek a few days before camp that we really should have a blog. We know, everyone has a blog these days but were giving it a shot anyways. The reason we decided to have a Superweek blog is simple. We feel that once you are a Superweek camper you are always a Superweek camper. You are our responsibility before and after camp. We cannot provide you with a great week of camp and then just leave you hanging for a year! That just wouldn't be cool. We want this to be a safe website for you to visit so this is how it will work.
1. The staff will contribute a devotional thought or some important camp info at least once a month. Hopefully more.
2. In order to keep you safe from the "not so normal" people on the internet, we will approve all comments posted on the board. It's OK to be negative, just now obscene. (Not that any of us who go to camp have ever said an obscene thing in our lives) This blog is just for you.
3. We need you to stay involved. We do what we do, when we do! This means visit the blog often. This will be a great place to stay in touch with fellow campers and staff. We as staff are always looking for ideas for themes, skits, games and whatever else may help make our week great. We do it all for you and to the glory of God! Your ideas are important to us. I am not promising that every idea posted will be used but all things will be considered. If you don't like a certain game on game day, tell us why. If you love having a basketball tournament tell us why. If you love corndog day, let us know. (admit it, we all love corndog day). If there is something specific about the bible you want to learn about, tell us. That's why we are here. If you need prayers from us and other campers, feel free to ask.
4. It is our goal to provide you with useful material to study after camp. Several staff members will be contributing to this blog so it will not be one person giving the same lessons. It is also our goal to inform you of things coming up at camp. For example, have you registered for the fall youth rally Sept 14-16? We want to give you as much information as possible about camp. We want your help in making it happen.
Once again, this site is for you. You are all very special to us. Our friendship really shouldn't be contained within a weeks time in June. I talk to my camp friends every week either by phone, email or blog. Lets make sure that we are all staying brothers and sisters the rest of the year.
More to come soon,
In Him,
Danny Baddeley
1st Week Director
1. The staff will contribute a devotional thought or some important camp info at least once a month. Hopefully more.
2. In order to keep you safe from the "not so normal" people on the internet, we will approve all comments posted on the board. It's OK to be negative, just now obscene. (Not that any of us who go to camp have ever said an obscene thing in our lives) This blog is just for you.
3. We need you to stay involved. We do what we do, when we do! This means visit the blog often. This will be a great place to stay in touch with fellow campers and staff. We as staff are always looking for ideas for themes, skits, games and whatever else may help make our week great. We do it all for you and to the glory of God! Your ideas are important to us. I am not promising that every idea posted will be used but all things will be considered. If you don't like a certain game on game day, tell us why. If you love having a basketball tournament tell us why. If you love corndog day, let us know. (admit it, we all love corndog day). If there is something specific about the bible you want to learn about, tell us. That's why we are here. If you need prayers from us and other campers, feel free to ask.
4. It is our goal to provide you with useful material to study after camp. Several staff members will be contributing to this blog so it will not be one person giving the same lessons. It is also our goal to inform you of things coming up at camp. For example, have you registered for the fall youth rally Sept 14-16? We want to give you as much information as possible about camp. We want your help in making it happen.
Once again, this site is for you. You are all very special to us. Our friendship really shouldn't be contained within a weeks time in June. I talk to my camp friends every week either by phone, email or blog. Lets make sure that we are all staying brothers and sisters the rest of the year.
More to come soon,
In Him,
Danny Baddeley
1st Week Director
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