Good reminder for pastors: Before you were called to be a minister, you were called to be a Christ follower.
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On Friday night at Opportunity Camp, one of our older boy campers came up to me and said, "Kensley, have you always been a good guy?" (For those who don't know, Kensley is the most efficient way of saying Ken Hensley!). "Not always." Before I could say more, he continued, "No, I mean have you made any mistakes? I've made lots of mistakes." Smiling at him, I added, "I've made lots of mistakes, too, but I've tried to learn from them." "Me, too, Kensley. But's it hard." "Yes, it is but it's not impossible. That's how you get better." He smiled back at me, adjusted his hat, and said, "Thanks, Kensley." With that, he took off running across the field.
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I'm sitting in the San Jose airport appreciating the fact that San Jose is in the heart of Silicon Valley -- there are electrical and USB plug-ins everywhere. Even on the bottom of my Starbucks cup. The San Jose airport is about thirty minutes from Felton, where Opportunity Camp is located. But it might as well be across the country. The people coming and going, parked at their laptops, are in their own world. I imagine many of these folks are in the tech industry, or want to be. Anywhere in Silicon Valley you might be ten feet away from a millionaire (meaning ... don't judge people by their sandals). Felton sits between San Jose and Santa Cruz on Highway 17. For many of the kids just now waking up at Opportunity Camp, Felton sits between the life they have in foster or group homes and the life they want…
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Here at Opportunity Camp we pair every camper up with a staff member for what we call "forest walk." Though no one actually walks in the forest, it's a time for one-on-one attention and conversation. Many people -- both campers and staff -- will often say it's their most favorite part of camp. My forest walker is a twelve years old, though he could pass for fifteen or sixteen. It's his first year at Opportunity Camp and he's already decided it's "the best camp ever." As far as I can tell, I believe he actually means it. As we talked yesterday, I learned that he only recently entered the foster care system. Ten months ago, to be exact. He and his sisters moved in with foster parents and that's how he ended up at camp. We partner with Contra Costa County social services to bring kids to camp. It's a…
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With each passing anniversary, it's hard to remember the young man with big glasses and a goofy smile standing next to my wife in our wedding pictures. But she insists that it's me. Tonya and I were married in Memphis, TN, on a rainy night in December (the 21st to be exact, in case you're wondering). It was the culmination of a year-long engagement and the beginning of a life-long adventure. A friend sang "I Will be Here" and Tonya's father presided over the ceremony. A grand night indeed. As a pastor, I have always loved performing weddings because every wedding is unique and yet there are common threads running through each of them. Threads of love, anticipation, hope, and promise. Most of all, there is joy. This weekend we'll be exploring a parable Jesus taught that revolves around a wedding feast. It's about more than wedding cake and dancing;…
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