Memorial Weekend

Well I hope everyone is getting over a sunburn right now that they got doing something leisurely this Memorial Day weekend. I had a good weekend in spite of some persistent rain. I went over to Arkansas with a few objectives, sitting with a book, relaxing with some friends, swimming in the river, oh yeah and climbing. I'd say that we accomplished most of those, enough to consider it a good weekend.

Highlights from the trip were Brett snoring like a freight train, Randall "Pink" Banning having trouble on the hills in the very muddy Horseshoe Canyon. As far as climbing goes, my highlight was getting closer to redpointing my project (on lead with no falls) this weekend. Getting closer!

While I was out living the good life though Lance was at home with a sick family. All of the Giles house seemed to catch a bug on the holiday weekend. Bummer. So here's my shout out to Lance, and here's hoping that next week they all feel better and have some good family time before they pack up and head to Colorado.

Steven

Spring

Spring draws to an end...let's go back.

Well the kids are winding down school, youth pastors have turned their attention to summer activities, families are planning their summer vacations, and we're gearing up for our summer camps, I guess that means that Spring is over. Not to mention that it got to 102 yesterday in parts of Oklahoma. So let's look back at the Spring we have had.

We are very happy with the way things went with Compass this Spring. We more than doubled the number of students who got to come on trips with us and we had an overwhelmingly positive experience with them. When growth like that happens, it is easy to be excited about it, thinking that growth in itself is the goal, but it's not. It is the quality of the experience that is paramount, so we really want to make sure that the huge increase in the number of groups that we have had doesn't compromise our quality. We have had such a great response from the groups that we are proud to say that indeed, we were ready for the increase in volume. We received more unsolicited positive feedback this Spring than ever before and I believe that we fostered an experience with God and with each other that will impact the students for their whole lives.

We have developed several new staff members that are becoming more self-sufficient with every trip, and are going to be great assets to whatever organizations they find themselves in in the future. Some of them will be in vocational ministry, some in education, and hopefully some will choose to make careers with Compass, but hopefully all will benefit from the time that they share with Compass and the groups that we lead.

This summer we are bringing on an intern whom many of you have met, John Oxford. He guided several trips this Spring and is interested in a career in camp management, so we'll take him! You'll hear about John and from John later, but for now, be praying for him that he develops the skills he needs to provide a life changing experience for those who work with him.

Last but certainly not least, let's turn our attention to the future. Like I said, we're gearing up for the summer, which will entail an exodus for many Texans and Oklahomans to the great state of Colorado, where we will meet with many groups this summer. Be praying for Lance and the staff that they have the passion and energy to bring the gospel to the groups that come. Pray that the students meet with God when they come, and that we are all working toward bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth!

Grace and Peace,
Steven

On The Road Again

I'm tired. I've put a little over 1,500 miles on the road over the last week and I'm tired. I'm actually typing this on the road as I ride toward lake Tenkiller helping my in-laws move some furniture out to their lake getaway.

It's times like this that I am reminded of the value of slowing down. It's a little bit ironic that we build in to our trips this intentional time alone. We value solitude and taking the time and space to slow down, evaluate ourselves and listen to God. Yet here I am weary and in need of a break. It would make sense that we do that better than others, and maybe sometimes we do, but we can all get busy and begin to show signs of wear without realizing it.

We often share some ideas about solitude with the groups along the lines of solitude and we've been talking about it recently, so here are some of those thoughts, I hope that it leads us all into a more joyful existence, a more productive existence, and ultimately in better relationship with God and each other.

Some of the staff and I were talking the other day about how it seems like there is a pretty common thread through the Bible of God talking to his people in the wilderness or when they're alone. In the gospels (I'll use Mark) Christ goes to the wilderness early in the morning to pray (1:35). He's tested by 40 days in the wilderness. In chapter 3 he withdraws from the crowd and goes to the lake, and then up onto a mountainside to pray. Then there are others in the Old Testament who God speaks to in the wilderness Moses is "behind the Wilderness" in Exodus 3 when God talks to him, and then alone on Mount Sinai when he receives the 10 commandments. The list goes on where God uses the wilderness to speak to his people, but why?

I acknowledge that this is speculation, but I suggest three things that happens there in the wilderness better than in daily life. It removes distractions. We're no longer in the busyness of daily life and our minds are quieted. This leads to the next thing that happens, being in solitude encourages introspection. When we're alone with our thoughts, there is space for them to be heard and really evaluate where we are going in life and whether or not it is what we really want and whether or not it is what God wants. Finally, it allows us to change our posture to one of being willing to listen. It is difficult for us to hear God speaking to us when we fill our thoughts and lives every minute of every day.

These things aren't a given in solitude however. Just by being alone doesn't mean that we're listening to God. We still must commit to the task of seeking him there.

So remember that we must be intentional to leave space regularly to decompress, to slow down, evaluate our lives and to simply listen.

Take time to breathe.

God Is Green

It's been so long since we posted, I don't know where to begin! Let's see, we're on the tail end of our spring season, which has been a beautiful, wonderful season. Let me hit a few high points real quick...

I met Matthew this week. It is great to me to look into someone's eyes and just see joy and passion. He is going to college in the fall and is trying in earnest to follow God's calling on his life. He's a gifted worship leader and seems to really want to serve people and serve the Lord. I ask your prayers for this young man, who I believe God's hand is on to be a leader in the generation to come.

We had the "God is Green" weekend. This particular youth pastor has embraced the idea that God loves all of Creation, and he is convicted by the way we abuse it. We got to be the last part of a series he did. It really drove home the importance of our responsibility when they spent time immersed in God's beautiful creation. I believe they will be part of a positive change in our world. I pray that we all examine our lives the way this group does, and then that our belief aligns with truth, and that our practice follows our belief.
The spring ends in such a natural way with groups coming with us to celebrate graduation, and begin a new phase of life. There have been some really cool students we've met this year, students who are on their way to shape the world that we live in. Students who are working out their faith, to bring the Kingdom of God to Earth.

Steven