Flesh Wounds

After being postponed for a day, the Noblesville Baptist Church teen group returned to the hill Wednesday morning, June 14 for three hours of paintball fun. The activity was worth the wait as the group of 18 that participated were split into two groups of nine. Team Orange and Team Black squared off in four battles, with each teen aiming to shoot at and eliminate the competition while trying to emerge unscathed.

Success on the “battlefield” requires bravery, teamwork and a single focus on the objective of achieving victory. When in the midst of battle you can learn much about your team, and the opposition. Over the course of three hours on the course the goal was to deliver far more successful shots (and paint-splattered opponents to prove it) than what you received. By the signs of the welts displayed by some, there were successes and failures. Nobody from either team left the course without being hit at least once.

While the competition was all in good fun, when we leave Alpine later this week, we’ll return to a world where the slings and arrows of the world are all too real. Welts will be replaced by the threats of peer pressure, the desires to fit in with the crowd, and those trying to break us down physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our personal battlefields are littered with obstacles and pitfalls. The threats are always present, and take on many shapes and forms.

But we must remember we are not alone in this battle. God is sovereign and helps us to navigate the battlefield if we let Him. Jesus paid our sin debt and bore the stripes so that we may have eternal life. We know that the journey is not without strife, but we can rest assured in the outcome. We just need to place our trust in Him.

Later in the afternoon the youth group went out into the hills of West Virginia on a hike to take in God’s masterpiece. We traveled a little over 30 minutes from camp to Hawks Nest State Park, where the group hiked along an old railroad trail. It was amazing to see the terrain of West Virginia and how it differs greatly compared to the Indianapolis area. To observe God’s handiwork up close and to know he is responsible for it all is truly inspiring. After spending time exploring the falls along the rail trail, we departed for dinner and then returned to camp for the evening service.

Pastor Russ Smith continued his teaching on 1 Thessalonians 5:14, this time with a message titled “No Man Left Behind.” Smith spoke about how Christians are in this fight together, and that we all fall, but that the strong don’t stay down. If you are strong, give support to the fallen. If you are weak, don’t be afraid to seek help in getting back up.

After a short testimonial time following the service, the teens enjoyed an hour in the pool before wrapping up the day. During the time of testimony is was encouraging to hear teens complement one another, discuss how the teaching has impacted them, and the lessons they are learning through each day’s events. Wednesday was long, but packed full of rewarding activities. Tomorrow we will take on the adventure of white water rafting. It will be a challenging day, but sure to be a memorable one.

Continue to pray for our youth. They are learning both through the daily excursions and our time of delving into the Bible. Pray that this week will open their eyes to God’s word in a way they may never have experienced before. Pray also that they continue to make valuable connections with their fellow youth group members.