Friday the 2^nd of July saw many of the youth and young adults at Log Cabin Ranch. We spent the weekend looking at different songs/lyrics and the kingdom of God. As groups we brainstormed together our views on the songs and the kingdom of God and how we should be able to achieve goals which in some way would connect to the idea of this kingdom.

Roger helped us remember the lessons with a few visual ‘pegs’ which worked via connecting the numbers 1-10 with their own picture, then drawing a picture of lesson 1 which included the visual peg number 1 (1 = Tree, and the picture became a Tree with a bird hanging in a cage from a guitar string singing; and this was to show that even though the bird was locked in a cage it could still be free. The guitar string represented the idea that if a guitar string is not bound or tightened to its base it would not be able to produce its notes or melody and therefore if we do not have any morals or rules we would not be able to become fruitful; this also connected to the idea of being either a slave to God or a slave to yourself).

Personally for me, camp was more about the time we got to spend bonding with one another, like a revival of our friendships. The youth we have at Belmore Road at times are so different and almost categorised, but it amazes me as soon as you give us a deck of cards, a soccer match to watch, or even long car rides together, we all connect so tightly.

Peter mentioned how often in church we like to sit with our chairs apart, but when we get into these card games we sit up in each other’s space rubbing shoulder to shoulder, laughing so hard. It brings me joy that at Belmore Road, though we are so different, we’re still full of love and don’t judge one another. Beth, at the end of camp while we were recapping, told us how she also felt that the weekend allowed us to reconnect.

Camp was a reminder that there is a Kingdom of God out there that we have to work for as a body. But I think that we cannot work towards it as a body unless the body is one unit that functions well, all hinges attached. We need to be close to one another in order to do the best we can in pleasing God and this applies to everyone in every part of life. The whole church is one body.

"But if we are the Body, why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the Body, why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?"
(If we are the Body by Casting Crowns)