TalcKamp Update

Sorry I wasn’t able to update as much as I wanted to from the camp.  Cell phone reception was pretty spotty and there was only one place in town to get WiFi (lucky that there was even that) and there just wasn’t a lot of time to make it over there.  Anyway – This year, as expected, was amazing.  We never know exactly how it’s going to play out but went knowing there was a plan far greater than we could plan.  We expected that but somehow it’s still a little surprising when it happens.  The change we saw in the kids was tangible.  As is the change we’ve seen in ourselves.

Thursday night we started with a worship concert.  This year the kids seemed to be more expectant.  Some of them even ready to worship.  We, of course, had to work hard to get them involved but by the end we had them jumping and clapping and shouting!!  One of the days of the camp we did a “What is Worship” workshop (I’ll post my thoughts on “what is worship” in another post) and after that day we saw a lot more kids involved.  Something we had to remind ourselves is that the majority of these kids didn’t have a relationship with Jesus yet.  It’s really quite amazing that they would even show up to a camp like this!  But they did!

There were 37 kids – 10 of the them accepted Christ for the first time!  All but 1 wanted to know more or at least have a conversation with one of the leaders.  We all got a chance to meet one on one with some of the kids and really get to hear their stories.  It’s amazing what a teenager will tell you when they realize your just waiting to hear them.

So this year we walk away again with just as much change as the kids.  I’m still sorting it all out but I’m really just amazed at how God uses us when we just go.  We went with a specific set of skills but we were really there to live with some kids for a long weekend and help speak truth into their lives.  God is already working there and we got to plug into that which is an amazing thing to watch happen.

We’re already planning and anxious for next year!!  Thank you for everyone who prayed and helped make this possible.  We love all of you!!!

TalcKamp Day 1

I couldn’t sleep all night but we are here safe and we’ve got a big day ahead of us. Got to set up the sound system and run through our for the big concert tonight. Gonna be LOUD and all Rock n Roll! Here are some pics off the top of a hundred foot cliff over the ocean….we were actually above the clouds! Beautiful!

~Stephen

ocean veiw from the cliffs

ocean view

On The Road

We are on the road! So far a great trip. I’ve posted some pictures of the highlights!

~Stephen

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Rubber Meets The Road!

Tomorrow morning we will be tearing out of Portland at 6am.  The drive is going to take somewhere between 12 and 14 hours.  Long day of pounding the pavement!

I’m excited to get there.  This year even more than last year.  I think I have a lot of anticipation going into this year because of the amazing things God did in my heart last year.  Some of what I’ve been working through in the last couple weeks is the idea that God is working and He wants us to be a part of it but in order to be a part of it we have to start moving instead of sitting and waiting for something to just show up.  Several years ago we did that – we took a huge risk and it seemingly didn’t pay off.  We stepped out in faith and moved our family to Southern California.  When things didn’t work out like we thought they should I really started to loose faith.  Since then I’ve only allowed myself baby steps and even at that didn’t really allow for doing anything out of the ordinary.  In some ways this is another step towards that kind of faith.  Even though this isn’t a huge cliff we are jumping off of,  I am expecting God to move.  I’m expecting changed hearts and I’m expecting the biggest change to be in mine.  Last year when we did this camp I didn’t have any idea what God had in store and I was shocked.  This year I expect the change but have no idea of the what or the how, but I’m open and waiting.  Expectantly waiting.

Stay tuned – I will be doing my best to post updates with pictures along the way.  Can’t wait to tell the whole story!

Strep Throat

Yeah – this week has been interesting.  I got strep which is quite painful.  definitely put some kinks in all of the preparations for camp.  On the other hand it forced me to slow down for a couple days.  So keep praying for us.  Pray for protection and good health.  We NEED it!

In some other news – we’ve been working on a CD for the kids and although last minute it looks like we are almost done.  Most of everything has been mixed and mastered.  We’ve been working really hard on this project and to have it done is a really good feeling.  I’m really ready to move on to playing live!!  So in only just a week and a half we will be.

Stay tuned!

TalcKamp 2009

Some of you may remember last year that we went and led worship for a camp in California……well it’s that time again!  In 2 1/2 weeks we will be packing a trailer with all of our equipment and making the 15 hour drive south.

Last year was absolutely amazing.  I’m not sure if God had it more for the kids of for me!  I walked away with a new passion for kids and especially leading worship for youth.  God did do some amazing things with the group.  This, in many ways, is not your typical youth camp.  Over half of the kids that came to the camp do not go to church.  They all choose to be there.  Many of them live in broken homes.  Some had criminal records.  Some of them make choices to change their lives and follow Jesus.  I look at this as much more of a expedition than just a fun camp.  We are headed to place and a people who need the hands and feet of Jesus and we are going just to plug into what God is already doing.  We’re going to use the music and abilities we’ve been blessed with.  We’re going to just be with some kids that need to know they are loved and there are people willing to walk their story with them.

The coolest thing last year is that we got to be there with them and speak into their lives.  We got to step down off that stage and walk along side them for a long weekend and we will be forever changed.  So we’re headed back to do it again.  This time with a bigger team and even more kids.  Last year we had about 25 kids.  This year – Already 40 kids signed up and possibly even 50.  Last year a 3 piece band – this year a 4 piece band and one VERY loud sound system!  But no matter how much growth we are seeing one thing still remains the truth – we are headed into an encounter with the hurt, needy, burdened and those needing to hear a new message – one that can change lives.  One that can change their world!

We need your help | one thing really: prayer.  We found last year that the more we prayed the more change we saw.  There is a war being waged and those kids are right in the midst of it.  This year, I think even more prayer is necessary.  Would you be willing to commit to pray throughout a day for the band, for the leaders, FOR THE KIDS!?  If this is something you want to be a part of please email me so I can send you specifics and even times.  Email me at inkedindreams@gmail.com and I will put you on the schedule.

More to come so look for the updates!

Kids Grow Up

So Leif had his first sleep over this weekend.  It was a weird feeling for me because you spend so much time taking care of and protecting your children and it seems with every step forward for them is a step away from us.  So I dropped him off and had to hope that everything we had talked about and all of the protecting that I’ve done would be impact enough to guide his decisions.  And I guess really it’s just Leif heading off to a friends house to play but the overnight part was where I realized that I was having a bit of a hard time with him being gone because for some reason night time seems like a time where my protection instinct kicks in.  Maybe it’s where a lot of direction happens: making sure that they brush their teeth, making sure they are getting to bed at a decent hour, making sure that the doors are locked……..I was here and Leif was not where I could protect him.  

Bottom line – my little boy is growing up and he really isn’t all that little anymore.  It was just a glimpse of just how fast it all goes and how important every day is.  

The day ended with this great quote from my other growing boy: “DAAAAAD – Leif just kicked me in the nuts!”

Shine

You are the love – You are the hope
We need your grace – We need your mercy
We need the promises You’ve spoke
We need to feel you hold us tight
Shine your light

Oh……Shine
Shine Your Light

Show me your people Lord
The broken and the bruised
The orphan and the widowed
Show me where injustice is
The hungry and the thirsty
The beaten and downtrodden
Show me how to shine your light
Show me how to shine your light
Oh Shine…..Your light

Show me where the hurting are
The losing and the dyeing
The forgotten and the lonely
Show me where your heart is
That’s where I want to be
Where you already are
Show me how to shine your light
Show me how to shine your light
Oh Shine…..Your light

You are the love – You are the hope
We need your grace – We need your mercy
We need the promises You’ve spoke
We need to feel you hold us tight
Shine your light

Brain Tumors

I recently wrote a song called “Shine”.  The song is really just me asking God to show me who needs His light – I’ll post the song a little later.  I wrote this song knowing that God could answer but for some reason I didn’t expect him to.  I don’t know why I was surprised when I found families with children that were dying and God said “here are my people”.  Two kids specifically – Armstrong and Blake.  They both had brain tumors that were taking over and the doctors couldn’t do anything more for them.  So as I followed their stories my heart broke more an more.  It’s come to the point that I can’t even think about them without being overtaken with emotion.

In the last couple weeks both Armstrong and Blake have passed away – both of them in their parents arms.  Can you imagine holding your 3 or 4 year old in your arms as they pass from this world?  The pain – no matter what you believe about God and what’s next after life here the pain of loosing a child has got to be out of control.  I don’t know what this means for me exactly except that I’m excited that God answered and now I know I need to respond.  I’m still praying about how that could look but thought I should share.  If your reading this – pray with me for the families of Armstrong and Blake.

Armstrong

Blake

Joy

I’m not sure I can explain why but I feel such an incredible joy.  Just got finished leading worship and the whole night was just joyful and incredible for me.  I walked in to the house and the kids were still singing “Oh Praise Him”.  That’s amazing!  I am more convinced than ever that this is a time to celebrate!

I shared this at Ethnos tonight but felt that I should let everyone hear it.  We as a “new generation” of Christians have made it very OK to shout at or to God when we’re angry.  We’ve allowed ourselves to take out our frustration on Him.  One thing in all of this that we have missed is shouting to Him in praise.  It’s not fair – It’s not right to leave this part out.  I am not saying it isn’t OK to bring Him your frustration – He wants that too but he desires our praise and our worship.  There is a time for lament.  I’m good at that.  The time is now to SHOUT to him with a voice of praise.  I am certain that this will complete my own healing process.  I am certain that as I lift my voice He will lift His as well.  I am even more convinced of all of this tonight as I watched just how contagious it is.  To hear your kids sing songs of praise and articulating their own worship to God with their tongues is simply amazing.  To watch them dance with reckless abandon regardless of what people around them think  is a vision into what is ahead.  I am excited about stepping forward into this.  It seems strange that this should be a new journey for me but it is.  Charlie Hall says it well: “This is a new year, This is a new day, to rise shine, lift up your eyes.  This is a new year, this is a new day to rise shine, and point the way to God’s great life.”