March 2016 Newsletter

Regardless of the weather, activity has been going on here at LLBC.  We have been busy with retreats and lots of fix-up projects.  Josh and Caleb have been grouting the tile in the Mission House, painting the interior of Lodge #2, cutting firewood, and many other projects.  Caleb is also working on our summer schedule, finding new games and activities for the campers this summer.  I’m in the process of hiring summer staff, scheduling events, trying to declutter the office, and cooking for weekend retreats.  It has been a good winter overall but we are looking forward to warmer weather.

A few days ago I was prompted by the Lord to write down what could be done here at LLBC if money were no object. I wrote down several items and projects and am still pondering the question. When the local Baptist churches in Southeastern Kentucky took over the Singing Hills Bible Camp in 1981, they had a vision and a dream of what could be done on this land someday. When I came in view of a call in January of 1991, the Search Committee showed me a poster of what they hoped the camp would someday look like.  Much of that dream has come true, but we still have a ways to go.  Our goal has always been for this facility to be an instrument in God’s hand to help strengthen churches through summer camps, weekend retreats and various other events.  When I first started, we struggled to fill the spring and fall with retreats.  Our facilities at the time were not well suited for adults.  After Thanksgiving we would winterize most of the buildings and not open them back up till spring.  Since then, God has blessed LLBC with more efficient buildings and our facility is now open year-round.  Last month, in spite of cold, snowy weather, we had groups come and use the camp. And during one of those retreats, 3 young women gave their hearts to the Lord!  All which has been done at Laurel Lake Baptist Camp has been a team effort led by His Spirit and guided by His hand.  Your prayers, volunteering and giving have made it possible for thousands to attend camp and hundreds to be saved at this “set aside” place.  I want to thank you for all your support.

The task will not be over until the Lord returns.  Please continue to pray and give as the Lord leads. We are going to need another fifty scholarships this summer ($5000).  Please be praying for more churches to put the camp into their budget, and for individuals to support our work.  Your giving helps us keep our prices low, which in turn makes it possible for more children to come to camp.  We have never turned away a child because they could not pay.

Many years ago, the Lord instructed me in Psalm 127…

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.  It is vain to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.  Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

This chapter comes to life every time a child comes to camp or attends a retreat. As the Word of God is expressed to those who come, they are fashioned into sharper arrows for the Lord’s use.  When we follow the Lord’s guidance in building a new kitchen or dorm, we are “being still” and allowing the Lord to build this camp, according to His specifications.  Thank you for helping us do the will of our Father.  Your prayers and giving are vital to the ministry of Laurel Lake Baptist Camp.

                                                 Your Partner in Ministry,

                                                 Pat Callahan
 

 GOD IS AT WORK IN THIS PLACE!

Laurel Lake Baptist Camp                       Phone: 606-528-3522
578 Singing Hills Road                             Fax: 606-526-6791
Corbin, KY 40701                                      E-mail: pcallahan@integrity.com

BE STILL AND KNOW

Be still…and know

Be still…and fear not

Be still…and don’t miss this!

Aw, there is nothing quite like the ushering in of spring, after a long, cold winter!  It is God giving all of us the visual of His nature moving from death into life.  It is evident all around us as we see the grass change from being short, scratchy and brown to growing long, smooth and green.  Tree branches that looked stark and bare during the winter, suddenly take on a bright green hue.  Things that were dormant begin to move—like thawing waterways and hibernating creatures awaking. And then, of course, the thrill of seeing those things which were hidden away suddenly become visible—such as daffodils, tulips, blossoms on trees, and baby chicks!  And that’s just the physical aspects of spring, but when we think on the spiritual ramifications which Easter brings, namely, our Jesus dead in a tomb because our sins put Him there, coming to life in the fullness of God’s glory and making that life available to us, His murderers… now that’s mind-boggling!

The change of spring is coming shortly; it will soon be available to all of us, but we all won’t receive of it, for it requires something on our part which often times we aren’t willing to give.  For you see, in order to experience the fullness of its grand display, we must… be still and know.

I am speaking from experience, because many times over the years I’ve missed out on seeing God’s glory simply because I wasn’t willing to be still and acknowledge Him as God.  So this year, as the very first signs of new life appear, I’m hearing my Savior whisper to me, “Be still, Lisa, you don’t want to miss this!  Be still, and know that I AM God.”

 Be still… it’s just two little words, how hard can that be… right?  Well, based on how often we do it, it must be harder than it looks.  Let’s look for a moment on what hinders us from being still, and we’ll use two sisters from the Bible to illustrate the right way and the wrong way.  Their names are Mary and Martha, and they had company coming, none other than… Jesus!  Talk about sweating bullets, who could ever be still in a situation like that?

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word.  But Martha was encumbered/distracted/anxious about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her”  (Luke 10:38-42).

So what hinders us from being still?  It’s tempting to blame it on our many responsibilities, but Christ, the most productive human who ever walked on earth, started His mornings being still before His Father.  And then carried that same quiet submission with Him throughout the day.  Fears and worries also hinder us from being still.  Maybe that’s why God tagged on the mandate “…and know that I AM God” to the command to be still.  Because peacefulness is a by-product of recognizing God for Who He really is.  It would be easy to blame our present culture for our inability to practice being still.  Pat and I spent a day last week in a doctor’s office just to get a simple procedure done like getting a prescription for a new pair of glasses.  As the first hour rolled into the second, and the second into the third, and finally the third into the fourth, we noticed the sense of peacefulness and well-being we had when we first entered was being replaced by impatience and annoyance.  There were fish tanks strategically placed throughout the waiting rooms in which gracefully swimming fish could be viewed to help lower one’s blood pressure.  Unfortunately, the television defeated the purpose of the tanks.  So there we sat listening over and over again to the rapid speech of the various reporters, their excited voices getting and holding our attention, as we anticipated hearing about the latestcrisis, only to find the day’s highs would be in the 40’s and the lows in the 30’s.

What are some ways we can successfully be still?  If it’s important enough to us, it is possible.  One recommendation is to be intentional, very intentional.  Develop the Mary mentality by actively removing obstacles which prevent you or your loved ones from enjoying God, whether it be busyness, doubts and fears, or the world’s distractions. 

As spring unfolds before your very eyes, realize God desires to do in you the amazing changes He performs in nature.  Easter is the coming alive of mankind!  What previously was impossible because each of us were born into sin, and owed a debt, is now possible because Christ graciously paid that debt, setting us free!  Now, just like nature, we also can walk in newness of life. Without Christ, we are spiritually dead, lifeless, harsh, always taking/never giving, our potential being buried under a mountain of sin, and find ourselves isolated in a dark cave of nothingness.  But when we are still, and KNOW Him as God, He moves us from death into life and suddenly, like the grass and the trees, our lives take on the spectacular hues of a brilliant sunrise or sunset.  Our porcupine, sand paper personalities that kept others at bay, are transformed into being a lover of God and others, more than self, and miraculously sweet fellowship becomes a part of our everyday life.  Our never before seen potential as a son or daughter of the Living God begins surfacing and a vision for excellency and adventure appears on the horizon of our life.  Slowly, we begin the amazing discovery that being dead to sin, and alive to God is a display of His power visible in us. 

So this spring, let’s not miss out on this season because we’re “running around like a chicken with its head cut off!”  Instead let’s be watching, listening, and experiencing the unfolding of the spectacular as He brings dead things to life.  He is going to do it…whether we’re watching or not, so let’s not miss this.  All we have to do is… BE STILL AND KNOW!                                                                              

Happy Easter!  Lisa