North Star Bible Camp Blog

Looking for some adventure this summer?  How about a chance to serve God?  Why not do both at the same time?!?  North Star Bible Camp is seeking people who love God and have a passion for sharing Him with kids in a camp environment.

Our theme this summer is ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’, based on Joshua 24:15 which says, “…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

NSBC needs people of all ages who will choose the following adventurous assignments:
Rightly Dividing - June 8-14   *need 1 or 2 babysitters and a kitchen helper 

Senior High - June 15-21   *need at least 3 gal counselors and 1 guy counselor, and 2 kitchen helpers to run this camp!

Junior High - June 22-28   *need 2 more guy and gal counselors and 2 more kitchen helpers

Boys & Girls - June 29-July 5   *need more guy counselors and 1 or 2 babysitters

Wherever you find yourself this summer, please choose the adventure of praying for North Star as we battle on the front lines in the greatest adventure of all time!  We invite you to visit our campgrounds anytime, join us for a meal, and do a prayer walk for our ministry.  Contact Robin Ross at rross@northstarbiblecamp.com or 495-6378 for more information.  Whatever you choose, may our great God and Father be glorified!

You are cordially invited to attend the first annual NSBC Prayer Walk June 7th at North Star Bible Camp!  Lunch will be served at 12:30 followed by a prayer walk.  Our intention is to bathe the entire camp in prayer, committing the program, the staff, the facilities, ALL to the LORD!  It is HIS camp, afterall.  We are merely His servants seeking to accomplish His will and purpose.

Please R.S.V.P. to Mark or Robin Ross at 907-277-6414 or registrar@northstarbiblecamp.com.  We hope and pray you will join us for this exciting opportunity to combat the Enemy and commune with our great God and Father!

PRAY that God would work in the hearts of those who He calls to work at camp this summer.

PRAY for safety for camper and staff this summer. 

PRAY that God would provide financially for the camp’s future.

PRAY that God would call young men and women to volunteer their time and energy at camp this summer to the glory of God.

PRAY for a revival in the state of Alaska.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him PRAY.
Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call for the  elders of the church, and let them PRAY over him…
And the PRAYER of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord
will raise him  up…PRAY for one another, that you may be healed.
The PRAYER of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:13-16 ESV

The holy Scriptures contains prayers of women in pain, men in
mourning, boys in happiness and girls in wonder. Elizabeth called out to God to ask him for a son. God hears her supplications–the yearnings of her heart. In her twilight years He presents Zechariah and Elizabeth an unexpected gift…a son. Even in our disbelief, God can work miracles. To often we fail to ask.

Job blessed greatly by God for his faithfulness with wealth is
suddenly shaken by the excruciating news his servants present him–his sheep have been annihilated by lightening, his camels stolen by bandits, his home was destroyed by great wind while occupied by his children. How desolate his future now–how excrutiating his plight. Yet in the eye of the storm he cries out to God. And God answers…and we are surprised. Do we really expect God to answer our prayers?

Surprised by the calling of God, Samuel answers, “here I am.”
And God speaks…He spoke to a frightened Mary through His angelic messenger and Mary is humbled to be the mother of the long awaited messiah. GOD SPEAKS to us today. Are our lives too filled with activity or our ears filled with ear phones to hear God’s still small voice? He is calling us to conversation. To walk with Him in the coolness of the garden of prayer. We need to take a few moments to sit in the lap of or Heavenly Father to tell Him our troubles and share with him the desires of our hearts. We need not worry if our prayers sound child-like to a father who yearns to hear from us!

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently
that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did
not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave
rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”  James 5:17-21 ESV

Jarrod Jones in “The Backwards Life” speaks about how upsidedown this world’s people’s priorities tend to be.  We seek after fame, money, and personal gain over others.   God is not like us.

  “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others

and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:28

When the King of Kings was born into the magestic Roman Empire we find in history and the Scriptures that its  emperors were oppressive, its govenors corrupt, its religious leaders self-grandizing and its people were morally bankrupt.  The greatest empire in history was undermined through the avariciousness of its leaders.  The juxtaposition of Jesus and the selfish, wicked, malevolent political and religious leaders of the time is so severe it is startling.  And yet, shockingly the Creator of the Universe came to Earth to serve His very creation.  Now THAT is service.

If Christ came to serve sinners, what high calling is there in life than service?  Now that is backwards!  Those priorities are all wrong for we human beings who strive for recognition and honor.  We strive to be the leader of the crowd, the boss at the work place, the president of the board, or the govenor of the state.  We want people under us to serve us–our focus is on me, Me, ME!

But Christ, who could have come to earth as emperor, war hero, king, or high priest instead came as a humble carpenter.  He taught his followers the benefit of serving others.  In one of the most self-deprecating gestures of Christ’s final days on earth He took the time to wash the feet of his closest followers.  Now THAT is service. 

“And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,

you ought to wash each other’s feet.” John 13:14

Where are your priorities?  Have you washed any feet today?  Do you daily strive to crucify your selfishness on the cross of Christ or do you climb the ladder to the pedstal of self?  Look down at your feet.  If you are standing on the bodies of others as you claw your way to “the top” then you are exactly the place the world expects you to be.  If you are kneeling down in the service of others then you just might be in the place God wants you to be.  In the service of the King.   

Last week there were two homocides in Anchorage.  There were also several stabbings and shootings that did not result in deaths.  It seems crime is on the rise everywhere you look.  The recent string of violence has a lot of people scared.  It isn’t uncommon, in times like these, for people to ask, “Is this city safe anymore?”

I found myself thinking this very thing.  I felt worry starting to well up in my chest, fears for my boys and how they might innocently wind up in the middle of a dangerous situation.  Is is safe for the kids to play outside?  Is it safe to walk the coastal trail?  Is it safe to go on a bike ride?

And then an even better question struck me: is it safe to die?

You see, this life is only temporary.  James 4:14 says, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”  After this life is done, we do not cease to exist or get reincarnated into a new body.  2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”  There is a God and we are accountable to Him.  This accountability is one with eternal reprocussions.  We will either enter into the joy of our Master or be cast into the eternal fire (see Matthew 25:31-46).

It is perfectly natural to be concerned about our physical well-being.  But I had to ask myself, am I spending a proportionate amount of time planning for my spiritual and eternal well-being?  How about the eternal well-being of my neighbors and co-workers?  While it is appropriate to be wary of keeping myself and my family as safe as possible, the better question to ask is not, “Is it safe to live?” but rather, “Is is safe for me to die?”  Have I made arrangements for my eternal well being?

That God to whom we will one day give an account is a loving Father who has prepared a way for us to spend our eternity with Him in a beautiful paradise.  John 3:16 never gets old: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  Jesus told his disciples He was going to prepare a place for them and all believers in His Father’s house, a mansion with many rooms.  He went on to say, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  (John 14:3)  Whether we exit this temporary life through death or Jesus’ return, we will exit at some point.

The question is, is it safe for you?

We are proud to announce the launch of our very own North Star Bible Camp MySpace page!  It is still (and will always be) under construction but definately check out the lastest and greatest happenings at www.myspace.com/nsbc65.  Thanks to Marisa for heading up this project.  Be sure to sign up as a friend and catch up with all your camp buddies!!  See you on MySpace!!!!

The boys are out running around in the sunshine.  The air is chilly but you couldn’t ask for a more wonderful fall day.  The leaves are a brilliant yellow, the sky a deep azure blue, a breeze is rippling the lake which is casting a silvery, dazzling reflection on the entire property.  Snow blankets the mountain tops visible in the distance and clouds dare not mar the scene…just absolutely gorgeous!

We are at camp and two old friends of camp want me to pass on their greetings: Eliner Richards and Mina Bachelder!  Both ladies worked at the children’s home in Palmer, the precursor to NSBC, with the Richards (the founders of NSBC) and the McCormicks (my grandparents).  They are just as tickled as can be to be here, amazed at how much things have changed and can’t believe that Jim and Janet’s granddaughter is here with her three kids!  We had a nice visit this morning, chatting about old friends and the good old days.

I feel so blessed to be here serving in this place!  With Eliner and Mina here, it is a reminder of how deeply North Star runs in my veins and how I love this place with every fiber of my being.  It brings tears to my eyes to think of the priceless gift that is mine: a heritage so rich in the things of the Lord.  And as I watch the boys playing on the same trails I used to frequent, it makes me so thankful that God saved me and brought my own family to this place where they can grow in the nurture and admonition of our loving Father.  I feel so honored to know that my presence here is a blessing to people who knew my grandparents.  What a priviledge that God would use me to encourage others just by doing something I love!  To God alone be the glory!!

An old hymn came to mind as I reflected on these things:

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Wherever you are today, wherever you come from, no matter who is in your family tree, make a determination to praise our great God today for the great things He has done in your life!  Be a blessing and encouragement to those around you.  Refresh the spirits of others today with a song of thanksgiving on your lips!

The job of camp cabin leader is very demanding.  Parents leave their little treasures in your charge for six whole days.  You are instantly transformed from unsuspecting, carefree young person to mother-father-doctor-friend-waiter/waitress-maid-etc. for an incredible 144 hours!  You have to help them tie their shoes, remind them to put on clean clothes, play games, tell stories, be both funny and serious, laugh at their jokes, walk at their pace, get down on their level, encourage, correct, and love them with the love of Christ.  It is a tall order!!!

Sometimes, usually around Wednesday, cabin leaders can succumb to discouragement.  The task is physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining!  It is normal to hit a slump.  God has been teaching me that in those times I need to call on Him, asking for His strength to accomplish the extraordinary.  You see although it would be normal to allow myself to grump and complain, God has called me to be free from normal, free from ordinary.  He wants me to do things His way, a way that seems backwards to this world.

One of the ways to get out of the dumps is to have a merry heart.  Proverbs 17:22 says:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Elsewhere in Proverbs we are told having a merry heart is like being at a continual feast and a merry heart changes your countenance or your appearance.  I don’t know about you, but I would much rather be like good medicine than drying up people’s bones.  It is much more fun to be at a feast!!  Having a merry heart means choosing to look at the positive side of a situation and choosing to thank God for whatever comes your way.  A wise vegetable once said, a thankful heart is a happy heart.

Keeping things positive requires a sense of humor.  This video is supposed to be a day in the life of a mom but it totally fits with being a camp counselor!  If you need a laugh, whether you have having a grumpy day or not, check out this video for a change of countenance!

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Last weekend we had our first ever Senior High School Fall Retreat.  Here’s what you missed:

• Martian kickball
• Martian volleyball
• Martian soccer
• Panco chicken
• Brad Stine
• Independence Mine
• Rufio
• Small group prayer
• Tomato Soup Explosion
• Challenging messages from Jenson

The entire weekend was a huge success!   With the amazing chapel services to the outrageously good meals we fed both our bodies and our souls.  The smaller group allowed us to get more personal and enjoy sweet fellowship, even a field trip up Hatcher’s Pass!  Thanks to everyone who attended and to all of the volunteers who made the weekend possible!!!