Today was the last day of family camp. We had things to do in the morning, but packed and left shortly after lunch. The activity this morning was dragon dodgeball, where we had to run around and prevent the balls thrown from hitting the "tail" of the "dragon". The icebreaker involved flour and faces.

I was volunteered by the leaders to be one of the people who searched for lifesaver candies in the bowls of flour with our mouths. It went fine, except early on I accidentally breathed in a little flour through my nose. Yikes. Our team went on to win.

After a hilarious skit, a message, and distributing the tips from our banquet last night (each waiter and waitress earned $20), we had lunch and headed home.

---

I already said this before, but I originally wasn't planning to go to this camp. I thought I wouldn't fit in, since the youth program of the camp was originally intended for people younger than college. They only started accepting college kids this year.

Each and every day I spent at this camp, my impression of it changed for the better. I got to know a lot of the kids in the youth program, and we've grown close through the messages, activities, and fellowship in general. The trips we've taken have been amazing, and the games we've played have been both fun and unique.

I thought games and activities put on by older people for younger people would be long, tedious, and boring, but they made all the games a great time for entertainment and fellowship. The skits and icebreakers were random and sometimes gross, but we had great laughs and bonded all the more.

Although the messages were aimed at young and new believers, I stilled learned quite a few things through it, and it was a blessing to see the leaders display such a high amount of enthusiasm and care for all the younger folk.

I will definitely be missing every single person I met at camp in the past five days. We became like a family, and it was sad having to sad goodbye.

Pastor Sean, in his concluding remarks, said something relatively simple that struck me as being filled with love and faith. He said, "I hope to see each of you again, whether it be next year, or when Jesus returns."

I loved this family camp.

---

Devotion notes and thoughts:

2 Samuel 14

But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him.

God presents us with a way to reconcile with him and be forgiven.

Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24 But the king said, "He must go to his own house; he must not see my face." So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.

David allows Absalom back into Jerusalem, but he does not reconcile with him or forgive him, but instead sends him to his own house without fixing their relationship.

Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed Absalom.

After two years of not seeing David, they finally have a reunion, but David does not discipline Absalom for his actions in any way, and it does not say anywhere that Absalom repents.

Isaiah 32

But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.

2 Peter 1

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Peter teaches us what qualities we need to pursue in order to be productive for God. Unproductiveness comes from being nearsighted and not thinking of eternal matters but of temporary and insignificant earthly things.

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Peter goes on to confirm certain things told in the gospels, and tells us that none of scripture was fabricated by man.

2 Peter 2

the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

From past examples documented in the Bible, we can be sure that God keeps his promises to save and to punish.

These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm.

Springs without water are useless and benefit no one, instead bringing discouragement to everyone who looks to them. Mists driven by a storm have no control over their own direction, and are completely obedient to the destructive forces of the storm.

2 Peter 3

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed[...]

These are the last days, and God's judgement is coming soon. "Soon" might not be days, weeks, months, years, or decades, but the next verse goes on to say,

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

We need to be vigilant and diligent in continuing to grow in our faith.