Ready but not READY...

So Camp is 9.5 days away. Thats just over 225 hours from now. AND I CANT WAIT! I am so excited. This is usually one of the most amazing weeks of the year. From rec and funny videos to family groups and seeing God produce life change, nothing compares to a week at camp.

But yet, even in the midst of longing to be at camp, I am finding myself aprehensive. This year Dom and I have spent tons of time preparing. Planning and scheming. All the way back in September of last year we were planning. Praying the Lord would lead us to the right speaker, band, and location. Oddly enough, it was definately not in that order.

Normally, when planning a camp like Camp Illumination, one would find a location first. I mean, what good is having a band and speaker without a location for them to play, and kids to sleep? And yet, God showed us that He doesnt always work in the ways we would expect. Our first peice was the Worship Band. The Dutton Band came to us highly recommended from our good friend Shawn Davis. Shawn played bass for Jeff Berry Band, whom we have had to camp and REFUGE before. And when Shawn speaks, we listen. And thus, we ended up contacting, and securing The Dutton Band before we even had a location.

Then, we began to realize in about October how seriously "out of order" things were. See, people who 'know what theyre doing' secure their locations in say... August at the latest. So when we began calling camp grounds, we got laughed at. alot. From Colorado to Arkansas, Missouri to Arizona, we found very few locations open on the dates we needed. But in the Lords timing, he brought us to the promised land. Ahh Texas... Giddings, TX to be precise. Camp Tejas. The place we have heard so many good things about. The place we wanted to go for so long, but was always booked up. They called us up one random day, and said they had an opening, and would be like it? HECK YES WE WOULD!

And then, there we were. With a band. And a location. and no speaker. Again, we felt way out of order. But by now, we knew the Lord had his hand on this camp. Everything was coming together, and it was definately not because we were masters of planning. If you know us, we are anything but. Back in September, I had called our friend Keith Smith, yes, THE Keith Smith. We thought we had secured him. But come to find out, we hadnt. And then, I talked to my dear friend Casey Cease, and explained the situation to him. He, without hesitation, named off the guy we now know to be Joey Dodson. Joey is a professor at Houston's Baptist University, as well as a former missionary, and future professor at OBU.

Anyways, all of that to say, God has really really REALLY brought things together. And yet, I still feel a little unprepared. Well, to be honest, i dont feel as unprepared now as I did when i started typing this. It seems that taking time to remember that God has been at the center of every choice and turn along this road has reassured me.

And though there is still plenty to do, I know HE is in control.

Take some today and think about what it is that HE has done in your life to get you where you are. Thank Him and praise Him for it. And above all, remember HE is in control.

Counting down the hours,
--bryan