I will be leaving at the end a next week for summer camp in Northern California. the camp’s name is JH Ranch and it is the same place where I met Jesus 10 years ago. and I will be speaking this year and I are very excited because I get to open up registration to all you!
The camp is open to both high school and college students. you are still able to register, and there are still generous scholarships available. our philosophy is that no one should be able to go just because of cost, so if you are concerned about money, don’t be. you are guaranteed to be able to attend. cost is $450 (see what I mean?)And the dates are July 18-23. if you are interested you can send me an e-mail at kotihu_at_gmail_dot_com.
the other event I will be at is called “the heat” and it is for college- aged students. this retreat is a weekend in Columbia, Washington at Crescent bar, which is a camp ground near the gorge. it is a full weekend with jet skiing, water skiing, inner tubing, etc. the dates for the heat are August 1-3 and cost is $75.
this year we are doing something special by combining the cost of the heat with JH ranch. if you attend JH you can also attend the heat for free. In other words, signing up for JH automatically signs you up for the heat as well.
i am incredibly excited about both of these events because I have seen God use them to not only to grow believers in faith, but also to bring new believers to Jesus Christ!
visit my church’s website for more information…
Dad, thank you for letting me be a part of the brotherhood of believers. I hate being paralyzed, but I love what you’re doing with this. I said that I would follow you, it was a vow I made even before I understood, really understood, but I am not going to go back now. I am not going to trash 10 years of following, listening, worshiping, loving, and enjoying my relationship with you through your son Jesus Christ and by the power of your Holy Spirit. I will continue to read my Bible. I will pray. I will have fellowship with the body of Christ. I will listen. I will serve. I will obey. I will follow.
“You missed the back two” he said at 1 a.m. as I pulled the tooth brush out of his mouth. I was still learning how to thoroughly clean someone else’s teeth. After rinsing his mouth, I stood at the side of his bed and pulled on the sheets to scoot his body towards me. Rolling his shoulder over, I tucked a pillow under his back to support him on his right side. With a pillow between his knees, I positioned his legs in a way I imagined would be comfortable.
This was all new to me. It was one of my first nights staying at my friend’s house. I would do anything to be there for him. What a privilege it was to be able to serve him in that way, and what amazing things God did in those few months. He was more than a friend – he had grown to be a brother.
As I lay down, I made sure my alarm was set for 5 a.m. – I needed to wake up to rotate him onto his other side every 4 hours. We prayed, and God met us. He comforted, and protected us as we lay and talk about what might be next for the both of us, along with all the hopes and fears and stumbling blocks there would be on the way.
8 a.m. rolled around, and it was time to wake up and be reminded that it all wasn’t a dream – it really happened. The sun had already risen, and the clouds were sharing a little bit of its light with us. His parents came in the room offering fruit for breakfast and asked how last night went. We began the morning routine – and I saw one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
From his computer I started playing a song we had downloaded the night before. His parents and I were around the bed – one supporting his neck, one holding him off the bed, and another fighting his shirt on. He was staring straight to the ceiling, as if looking directly at God and asking Him “do you see this? I don’t understand.” His circumstances forced him to be vulnerable, forced him to be humble, and forced him to rely on things outside of himself. The chorus of the song came through the speakers, and with every ounce of his soul, I watched him sing along.
“I will follow, I will follow, I will follow you…”
Tears spilling from his eyes, as if drawn up from a well in his heart by singing these words. A moment in time that I will never forget – a real, tangible example of what it means to have given your life to Christ, to have sold everything to buy the field, an example of what it truly means to say “You are enough”.
From every part of his body, every part of his mind that God graciously protected, every part of his life, every part of his entire being, past, present, future, EVERYTHING, I could hear him saying “I will follow”. That phrase rang in my ears for weeks – it was one of the most profound and powerful things I had ever seen.
God, make me more like this. I will follow you, every day. Any where you take me. Anything you take me through. I will follow.
It is always cool to have someone think something you did is cool. Cool. influencing other young worship leaders is a passion of mine, thank the Lord for the body of Christ.
This song has got me in a trance or something. It’s such a great song. I love Koti Hu’s version. He posted it on December 26th 2007 on his website: www.codywho.com. I’ve listened to it a ton. A friend of mine also helped me out by figuring out the chords for Koti Hu’s version. It was so amazing. I don’t know how he did it so quickly… listening by ear. I hope I can do that someday. I guess it comes with practice. I think the guitar sounds very close.
I’m hoping to play it when I step out and lead worship soon. I text james yesterday night, I would sing, at least, one song this upcoming wednesday… I didn’t give any hints of what song… Heh. “Humble King”. I hope I don’t shy away.
I also read the bible for the first time in quite some time… However, I don’t think I’m really locking into it. I read Psalms 1 & 2… But, I can’t remember what it’s about? I think I should try and read it before I’m about to fall asleep, lying in bed.
Maybe, I should do it now…
everybody who reads my blog,
I am shamed at my recent neglect of this blog. In my defense, I have been inordinately busy with a trip to the emergency room, a nasty allergic reaction to something I have not previously been allergic to, several speaking engagements, as well as my ministry to college students. These are not to excuse me from the responsibility of posting clever things at this site, they are simply to explain my neglect. I hope, and pray that your forgiveness is forthcoming.
So many exciting things are happening right now: physical therapy has yielded better strength and overall mobility (although there is clearly still an incredibly a long road ahead), leader is are coming out of the woodwork in my ministry, the Lord is softening my heart towards Him and the college students I’ve worked with, I am starting to see the path in front of me again, and I am having over all better pain management.
I am reminded in this time of a new song I led all of last summer. “one way, Jesus you’re the only one that I could live for!” This is indeed the greatest challenge of my life. I don’t want this, but I will do it anyway. All glory to God.
