Yes, You Can Ministry

Camp Hawkins-The Good but Tearful Memories

James 1:27 “This is pure and undefiled religion before our Godand Father; to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

This has always been one of my favorite verses in the Bible; in fact the book of James is one of my favorite books because it is filled with practical teaching. James in his epistle seems to take a jab at the “PEWSITTERS”, and say that they are only fooling themselves. Does that sound harsh? well, listen to these words from James. “But someone may well say ,’You have faith , and I have works; show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”-James 2:18-19

If you go to church Sunday after Sunday, and just sit on the pew nodding your head in agreement that Jesus is Gods Son, or even if you jump to your feet and applaud then I guess you are worthy of my congratulations. According to James all of your agreeing, and even your “Hallelujahs” puts you in the same league as the demons of hell! They believe there’s a God, heck they know there’s a God because He ran them from Heaven.

As a Christian I do not want to be counted in their league. I want to be counted among the next list that James talks about in Chapter 2. James says that Abraham was justified not by his faith alone, which he surely had, but he was justified when his faith turned into action. James also mentions Rahab, the harlot, who was justified not only by her faith, but also by the works she did that completed her faith. It is also interesting to note that both Abraham and Rahab are in the lineage of Jesus Christ. They did not only give lip service, and say that they believed in God; but when the time came their faith sprang into action, and they were justified before God. They are, with others, listed in Hebrews 11 wich is called by many the Wall of Faith. I prefer to think of it as God’s Hall of Fame.

I have spent the last month and a half working in North Georgia at Camp Hawkins, and I feel like I have been surrounded by people that also deserve to be included-

Carol McCarty, Marc Cole, Kendra Sewell, Will Parker, Lexi Smith, Jason McCarty, Kimberly McCarty, Tommy Collins, Ashlee Collins, Amanda Bridges, Anna Kathryn(AK) Henry, Anna Faulk, Ansleigh Peaster,Anna Bunker,Brittany Lannigan, Caleb Bethea, Caroline Cordle, Catherine Balcer, Danielle Rae Baker,Ginger Showater, Harley Stapleton, Heather Allen, Kasi King, Katlyn Renfroe, Kristen Wells, Laura Buruss, Lauren Evans, Lindsay Reddish, Lyndsey Greene, Michael Johnson,Michelle Williams, Mindy Rabadeux, Meredith Woods, Nichole Suckow, Peter O’Tim, Rachel Alexander, Rachel Bell, Rachel Chapman, Rachel Sabine, Sandra Daniels, Savannah Fricks, Staci Smith, Tara Shiver, Zack Thompson, Zach Chick 

There are countless more heroes of the faith spread throughout the world that are not included in my short list, but they are remembered by God, and kept close to His heart.