The Recci

So, Dave “Bush knife” Smith and I took a merry drive of just under 1 hr ½ inland to mid Illovo to check out our new campsite before we all head there together next weekend. You know, just to avoid any awkward surprises that would leave me without explanation and ready to run from the angry mob, that would be COGS YOUTH. Such surprises could possibly have included a unisex long drop, cold outdoor showers and maybe even (the horror) no cell phone signal. But you’d be pleased to know, there were no such surprises, don’t worry girls you don’t have to share your long drop with the boys, they’ve got their own squeaky clean toilets with first world plumbing. Just kidding. There are plenty 1st world bathrooms for all.

So we arrived and climbed out the car to meet Gail, the lady in charge (she’s cool so treat her like gold), and Chucky, her potentially intimidating dog. The two of them took us on an extensive tour of the camp.
The camps name has recently changed from Living Waters to Camp Manoah, possibly because it sounds like manure and on the way there you’ll drive through some pretty gut wrenching fertiliser fragrances. But once you’re there it’s this really serene, rustic, isolated place that kind of sends the message “oh no, here comes another group of noisy teens to be completely insensitive to their surroundings”.

The place is BIG with lots of open space, there’s way more space than we could possibly need which means we’ve have accommodation options, but don’t worry I took the initiative to choose where the boys and girls would be sleeping. I’d hate to put that kind of pressure on you.
We all know that for girls it’s comfort first, so girls you’re going to be in the nice, new 6 sleeper chalets
( I regret however, no ensuite bathrooms).
For the boys, it’s common knowledge that BIG JOLS always come first, so all the boys are going to be split between two big dorms which is going to make for some pretty out of hand shananigans, but as long as no one gets kicked in the head we can all laugh about it.

So what do they have?
They’ve got a dam where you can pretend to catch delicious bass, a really big swimming pool so bring your cozzies to cool off after we shibobo on their 2010 – FIFA World Cup – hosting - nation - rural settlement - style - soccer - field. They have a tennis court which would only be good for one thing, and that involves boys, no shirts, a plastic ball, a good arm and welts on backs. But that’s not all, apparently they have two pet goats and Gail said that if you can find them you can paint them. Jokes, she didn’t, that was me.

Anyway, so loads on offer at Camp Manoah, we’re gonna have SUCH a jol!


Just a few things to remember:
*Bring your own bedding (sleeping bag & pillow)
*Bring R30 for your driver for petrol
*The weather there was quite hot and midday but I think the nights could get pretty chillos

And now … a work of art:
COGS YOUTH CAMP
IT’S NOT GONNA BE CRAMPED
SO GET AMPED
DON’T LET YOUR SPIRIT BE DAMP
GET READY FOR A REVAMP
DON’T PACK A LAMP
BUT MAYBE SOME SHAMP – OO
(It rhymes better if you sing it)


Reverend Rhyme Master
Paul Edy

The FIRE that burns!

I was recently flicking through my notebook that I’ve been filling up with sermon notes, thoughts and scratchy lists of my fantasy world cricket 11, when I noticed something that I scribbled down in one of the margins. Here below is what I wrote plus minus a month ago and what follows it are a few of my additional thoughts that I added today.

Thursday 10th June 2010...
"Salvation is not just a one time legal transaction; it’s an ongoing, radical, all encompassing love affair, where I fall more and more in love with Him. It’s a romantic, extravagant chasing after my soul’s greatest desire! It’s giving up EVERYTHING for just even a moment with Him. It’s letting go of every earthly, fleshly desire and pouring out everything onto Him…This is it!
A love affair where I give every ounce of my energy, attention and want for a moment, a glance, a touch from Him! I am seeking Him! That was what I was born for. My very reason for existence...my very reason for breathing is to chase non-stop after Him."

The Lord is gathering an army and this people will be a people that strike dread into the heart of the enemy. Why? Because they are possessed by a spirit of burning, a passion for purity, a never ceasing desire for Jesus. Their lives will be utterly transparent before the Lord, and every impurity will be purged from their midst by the white hot flame of the Lord. They truly will be spotless. (Malachi.3:2-3)
God is making for himself worshippers in this hour whose lives are enflamed with holiness, who are unattached to the things of the world. They desire only their Lover!
We must move beyond acceptance of this cleansing fire. Let us even move beyond submission to the fire. Let us become the fire! Hebrews 1:7 says the Lord makes "His servants a flame of fire". This fire is synonymous with purging. It is synonymous with passion. It is burning desire!

The great revivalist John Wesley famously said,

"i set myself on fire and people came to watch me burn."

In fact, our God himself is a "consuming fire", and to become one with Him is to take on His fiery nature.

As the man after God's own heart in the bible often said, "When can i go and meet with my Lover?"

And as I repeatedly sung in the key of B flat;

"NOW IS THE TIME!"

Jalaps


(Look out for a book by John Crowder called "The New Mystics" and search for sermons by Nick Davis. Alternatively, just seek your Lover with everything you have)