For seven summers I’ve been trying to write thoughtful blogs each night of our camps and mission trips to help families at home stay connected. For seven summers now I’ve always stayed up after the guys fall asleep to write. But as I lay here I can tell I’m older. I’d love to write an amazing blog tonight filled with all the interesting details of the day, but all I really want to do is sleep. My alarm will go off in less than six hours.

But honestly we couldn’t have asked for a better first day of camp. The weather is great, the staff is awesome, the students are getting along, and the Lord is moving in their lives.

We have our first full day of classes, recreation, and worship tomorrow. Keep praying for us. We would all like to say a special thank you to our prayer partners – please keep bringing these students to the feet of Jesus in prayer each day. Here are a few pics from the day including a picture of Justin Briscoe passing the cross to Jeff Zhou!

Despite the threats of Tropical Storm Debby, we made it to Panama City Beach with just enough time to see the sunset at the beach where Jacob Ross passes the cross to Justin Briscoe. The last big band of the storm was moving east of camp and we could see the dramatic line of clouds giving way to clear skies and a gorgeous sunset. The students spent the evening hanging out and playing volleyball with another church group who came early too. The rest of the churches will arrive tomorrow as camp opens after lunch. Everyone is hoping to wake up to a beautiful day with calmer seas so we can spend the morning at the beach before camp gets rolling. Pray for us. I told the students as we left Spartanburg that I prayed we would be safe from the storm, but that we would be anything but safe in our walk with Christ this week. I pray that God churns up a storm inside us so none of us goes home the same. May each of us leave here more passionately in love with Jesus – our Savior & Lord!

“…it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”  No, it’s not Christmas, but even better – it’s Fuge Week.  Centrifuge is one of my favorite camps on the planet and I get the privilege of taking our students next week (June 25-30).  This year we’re heading to Panama City Beach, Florida for Fuge.  We will be staying at the Shalimar Retreat Center and joining over 500 others for a phenomenal week with the Lord.  This year’s Fuge theme is the pursuit and the Bible Studies will be on the Lordship of Christ based on passages in Ephesians.  Check back each day for blog updates from camp.  Parents can also download this Parent Devotional to keep up daily with what your students are learning in God’s word.

The tuareg cross started it’s journey too.  Last week it was passed among Child Evangelism Fellowship Missionaries while they were at their summer camp.  So far the following folks have carried the cross this summer: Brittany Eberhart, Ryan Hammett, Makayla Meyers, Rachel Massengill, Caitlyn Turner, April Bussey, and Megan Scott.  The cross will begin being passed again among the mside students as we head to Florida on Monday.  It’s become one of the summer traditions here at Morningside and this seventh summer won’t be an exception.  I can’t wait to watch the path of the cross and the work of Christ in the students’ lives this summer.  Hang on…it’s going to be an amazing summer!