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What Makes Great leaders Great
What is it that makes a person a good Christian leader? What is it that separates those who follow Christ and those who have not found the love of God in their lives yet? These have been two burning questions in my mind since we left camp 9 months ago, and since then I have struggled to answer the question. What is it that I should be doing to demonstrate good leadership as a Christian man in my everyday life?
I became focused on the surface attributes that everyone does. First, I must be better at whatever it is I am doing than everyone else because that immediately makes me the leader, correct? Two issues immediately became apparent when I attempted to install this idea in my life. The first was that I was never going to be as good at some things as others, and if all I based leadership on was being the best, I would fall short in many areas. When I think back to some of the most brilliant leaders I have ever met, none of them established themselves as perfect or the best. They were just trying to do the best they could and help as many others as they could to find the love from God that they had. That was my second issue. Even the greatest leaders I have met or heard speak were not the best in their field at times. It had to be something else.
So the next area I thought to try was control. To be a great leader you must control everything and instill in others your dominance. Immediately, I found this difficult to replicate because as I began my attempt to control others and establish a leadership, the opposite would occur. They would not look to me as a leader, but instead as a pushy, obnoxious man who attempted to control them in order to feel better about himself. Where was I going wrong? If a leader is not always the best at what he is doing and a leader is not just the person asserting control or fear, what is a leader and what makes that leader a good one?
Then it finally dawned on me. Some of the strongest and most influential Christian leaders I have ever met were not perfect or in control, but instead they loved unconditionally. I realized that the men who had helped shape my spiritual life through Highland and other Christian environments I have been a part of did so through unconditional supportive love. They lead by example in one area at all times, loving others. John 13:34 “"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This commandment was so special it was given apart and separate from all the others. It focused on one thing and one thing only, love.
Now you maybe asking yourself, “Well of course I love everyone but I don’t feel like I am a great leader?” Well I felt that way too. Then I found this quote in a book I have been reading by A.G. Riddle, “Great leaders as forged from the fire of hard decisions.” How does this apply to love and Christian leadership? The great leaders I have known have loved through difficult and trying times. These leaders love everyone regardless of their stories or their background. They love through their character flaws and difficulties. That love and caring displays and it creates what their leadership is founded on. This love is difficult and hard, but it is through these fires that their leadership is built.
I want to grow in that area. I may never be the best speaker or the greatest writer, but I want to be a leader in my communities for Christ. I want my life to be an example for Christ and I feel that if more Christians focused on this tenant of our faith, Love, we would become great leaders for our world that at times feels so lost and distant from the love of Christ. May God bless you all.
--- Written by Ian Johnston
The Pharisees among us
Every Easter, we hear the retelling of the different parts of the life of Jesus Christ, most specifically, the ending of His life. For some reason, lately I have been drawn to the passages focused around the Pharisees, and it got me thinking about how, in some ways, our world isn't that much different than it was 2,000 years ago.
The word Pharisee actually means pure, or separate. These were men who aspired to be the best of the Jews, and were considered to be the most righteous of all of the Jewish people during the days of Jesus Christ. They definitely knew their stuff, and had worked very hard to be righteous in the eyes of God. The Bible, however, certainly does not show them in quite the same light. In the Bible, these men are depicted as uptight, arrogant men who wielded the word of God as a weapon to turn against Jesus and his followers. They could not see past their bigotry, greed, or need to control others, even when the miracles performed by Jesus were shown right in front of their eyes. They saw Jesus as a threat to everything they had and stood for, and took every opportunity to discredit or disempower him in front of the crowds. They even went so far as to manipulate an angry crowd, already outraged that Jesus was not the warrior they expected who would liberate them from the control of Rome, into demanding that He was crucified. All in the name of God.
The Pharisees were an elite group of self-righteous leaders 2,000 years ago, but they are still alive and strong today. We live in a world where people use the Bible to strike each other down in the name of God and even Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34). I often wonder, if Jesus came back to our world, would he be met with the Love that he had for all of us and commanded us to have for each other, or the treachery of the Pharisees? Would he find a world where people love and accept each other, or where they judge and condemn each other in His name? Would he, too, be condemned?
God loved the world so much that he allowed his Son to go through one of the most agonizing deaths known to our world. He did this so that everyone who was ever born could be forgiven of their sins, no matter what they are, and be given eternal life by believing in Him. All sins, all people, through His Love, whether the Pharisees approve or not. It's a complete game changer. This was the memo that the Pharisees missed way back in Jerusalem, and the Pharisees of today haven't really completely figured out yet either. As you go into this beautiful Easter weekend, I challenge you to embrace the Good News all over again, and be joyful for the amazing sacrifice that God made for all of us.
"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." -John 3:16-17
Winter Update: News From the Park
Hey everyone,
Hoping you had a wonderful Fall, and your winter is going well. On Sunday this past week we sat down to some legendary Kratz Lasagna at our annual Mid-Year Banquet. We had some fun catching up with each other, and got to hear some exciting announcements for this year.
Meet our New Evangelist for 2015
We were introduced to our new evangelist for Highland Park, 2015, Colleen Batchelder. From an early age, Colleen has had a passion for sharing her relationship with Jesus Christ with others. She's received several degrees in biblical studies and ministry, but was very recently diagnosed with a life-changing condition placing her at risk for Aortic Aneurysms. The average lifespan for people with this disease is approximately 45 years. Colleen embraced this as a calling from God to spend the rest of her life ministering to others instead of studying, and sharing her passion with the rest of the world. We are blessed to have her sharing her passion with us as Highland Park's first female evangelist, and are excited to welcome her into our Highland Park Family.
Registration Is Open, and we have yet another great deal
As if $160.00 wasn't a low enough price for a week of youth camp, we're offering an opportunity to cut that in half. If you introduce a friend to Highland Park and they attend as a first-year camper, you will only be responsible for your $80.00 deposit. Please keep in mind, your friend must not have been a camper prior to this year, and must be entering grades 7-12 or graduating in 2015 (Sorry, TJ, you can't use Elliot as your friend).
New registration forms are currently in the process of being printed, and will be mailed out soon, but you can download them here if you want to share Highland Park with a friend. On-line registration and payment is also available through our website at highlandparkcamp.org.
This is the year that you won't want to put this off until July. We got really good at advertising last year, and are starting three months early! Make your plans now to join us for camp!
It's easy to keep "Christ" in "Christmas"
If you frequent any social media, it's not easy to miss the heated debate over keeping "Christ" in "Christmas" while partaking in holiday traditions. It's also not easy resisting the urge to weigh in on your perspective of this controversial subject. It is, however, easier than you might think to find Christ wherever you may look.
Santa Claus is Real
For centuries, the tradition of portly, jolly, white-bearded man wearing the red suit has been celebrated by many different cultures around the globe, and is often recognized as "St. Nicholas." The name used commonly in the U. S. is actually derived from the name "Sinterklaas," which is how the Dutch spell "Sint-Nicolass." St. Nicholas was the only son of wealthy parents in Myra (which is now in Turkey) who died from a disease when he was a young child. He was raised by his uncle, the Bishop of Patara. Nicholas followed in his footsteps and was ordained into priesthood. He had a reputation for secret gift giving, such as putting money in the shoes of those who left them out, and helping to pay the dowry of young women by throwing money in the window. His reputation evolved among other Christians, which was common for early Christian Saints. He is believed to be one of the bishops who signed the Nicene Creed. He may not actually have lived at the North Pole (Turkey, rather) or employ a contingent of elves to build toys, but he was a man who acted out the love of God, and his acts of love later transcended him into the legends of him that many hold dear today.
O Saturnalia Tree...
The "Christmas Tree," among many other Christmas traditions actually originated from before Christianity was Christianity. Evergreens were often seen as symbols of eternal life by cultures as early as the Ancient Egyptians and Chinese, and were later used by the early Romans to celebrate the Winter Solstice. As one of the only natural occurrences of color in the winter time, the Romans used evergreen trees as decorations in Saturnalia, their celebration of the Winter Solstice, which was their most important holiday because it symbolized the approach of the spring, and the return of their crops. As the Roman Empire spread all over the Western Hemisphere, so did many of their customs, including the use of evergreens to celebrate Winter Holidays. Once Christianity emerged, early Christians would celebrate Christmas while the pagan Romans celebrated Saturnalia. Naturally, the evergreens, along with many other traditions, such as gift-giving and feasting were assimilated into the celebration of Christmas Day as we know it today.
It Doesn't Matter how you do it
All of these traditions, whether they originated from the birth of Christ or not, are rooted in the most powerful force on this earth, God's love. Sometimes it's hard to see just how much His love has permeated everything around us, whether it's the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, to the celebration of St. Nicholas, one of the most generous wielders of God's love in Christian history. What's important, is how you celebrate His love to everyone you come in contact with. The traditions that we've come to know Christmas by are only kept because of the love that they inpire in one another, and the gratitude that we have for God's incredible gift to the human race, which was inspired by His love for us.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:35
Not by our facebook, not by how we celebrate holidays, or even what holidays we celebrate, but by the way we treat each other and demonstrate God's incredible love. Look for God's love in everything around you, and let it fill you with joy, not judgement. Instead of jealousy, take joy in seeing God's love fill the hearts that have not yet discovered Him, and pray that He begins His work in them. Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!
Holiday Shopping on Amazon? Get them to Donate to Highland Park! Here's How:
Earlier this year, we announced that Highland Park Campmeeting Association was part of the Amazon Smile program. What does that mean? When you shop on Amazon through their Smile program, Amazon will donate .5% of your purchase to Highland Park Campmeeting Association, without affecting your purchase. While 1 cent for every 2 dollars may not seem like much, I can tell you that there are a lot of Amazon Prime members out there who do the majority of their shopping through Amazon, and it certainly adds up! Today, we'll be looking at how to use Amazon Smile when you purchase through Amazon.
Earlier this year, we announced that Highland Park Campmeeting Association was part of the Amazon Smile program. What does that mean? When you shop on Amazon through their Smile program, Amazon will donate .5% of your purchase to Highland Park Campmeeting Association, without affecting your purchase. While 1 cent for every 2 dollars may not seem like much, I can tell you that there are a lot of Amazon Prime members out there who do the majority of their shopping through Amazon, and it certainly adds up! Today, we'll be looking at how to use Amazon Smile when you purchase through Amazon.
How to get started on Amazon Smile
1. Go to our homepage at www.highlandparkcamp.org and click "Get started" in THIS graphic here:
2. Sign in with your Amazon user ID (email address) and password:
3. Start shopping! You'll know you're supporting Highland through the Smile program at the top-left corner of the page.
4. Every time you shop on Amazon in the future, just enter the site through http://smile.amazon.com instead of http://www.amazon.com and it will remember that your smile donation is set for Highland Park! If you can't remember this link, just go through the "Get Started" link on our site, and it will get take you straight there.
5. If you prefer using the Amazon App on your smart phone or tablet to shop like I do, just keep in mind that this app will not buy through the Amazon Smile program, and if you purchase directly on the app, you won't be benefiting Highland Park. But there's an easy way to rectify this: Instead of adding the merchandise to your cart, add it to your "wish list."
Then pull up smile.amazon.com on your mobile browser, go to your wish list, and purchase the item.
Good luck in your holiday shopping this December!
Highland Park Camp Meeting bids farewell to a dear friend
With sadness, we want to take a moment to remember Charles “Bud” Hollenbach, a friend of Highland. Bud was killed in an automobile accident last Friday, October 17, 2014. He was a retired Pennridge High School teacher and , football coach.
As a member of the Pennridge community, I had the privilege of being under Bud’s guidance, and his physical, educational, and spiritual leadership. I was blessed in my youth, by going to First Evangelical United Brethren Church, at Fifth and Market Streets in Perkasie, which is now known as The First United Methodist Church. As such I was the recipient of multiple mentors. In the course of our life's journey, we may be lucky to have one mentor, teacher, or coach, who makes significant impact on the person we become.
I had many, of which Bud is so counted. His wife, Maggie was my confirmation teacher, and Bud was my high school Sunday school teacher, and later our adult Sunday school teacher.
Bud’s Passion for coaching, teaching, and his family, was matched only by his passion for spreading the good news of the Saving grace and power of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ! Please take a moment to remember Bud and say a prayer for his family.
In fondest memory,
John Hollenbach
Mayor of Perkasie
President, Highland Park Camp Meeting Association
Thanks for an awesome week of camp
To all of our campers at Highland Park Youth Camp,
My apologies for sending this so late! Just touching base with everyone that I can, and thanking you all for an awesome week at Highland Park Youth Camp! Here are a few things that you may have missed over the past few weeks since camp ended:
To all of our campers at Highland Park Youth Camp,
My apologies for sending this so late! Just touching base with everyone that I can, and thanking you all for an awesome week at Highland Park Youth Camp! Here are a few things that you may have missed over the past few weeks since camp ended:
- Ways to stay connected:
- Website: www.highlandparkcamp.org - our hub for all campground news and devotionals provided by our Youth Staff.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/highlandparkcampmeeting and also https://www.facebook.com/groups/111282338942861/ for our group page.
- Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/114670125549846382186/posts
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/thehighlandpark (@thehighlandpark)
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/thehighlandpark
- FourSquare: Coming Soon!
- Most counselors are always happy to accept a Facebook friend request from a camper, so don't be shy, but they usually won't send you a friend request. It's nothing personal! I'm pretty sure any counselors will accept one from any camper.
- We usually hold our annual Mid-Year Banquet the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Check out the website or our Facebook page for more information.
- Highland Park 2015's Theme Song will be "Thrive" by Matthew West and Mark Hall (as performed by Casting Crowns).
- Campmeeting and Youth Camp for Next Year will be July 26-Aug 2, 2015 (it's always the week that runs from July into August)
- Registration for camp will open in January 2015.
- We'll be sending you a periodic email to your address from time to time, just to keep you updated. If you don't want to be on our email list anymore, just send an email to support@highlandparkcamp.org and i'll make sure to take you off. Or let me know if you want to update it.
- A higher resolution version of our Camp Photo is now available for download. We even put up 3 of them, so you can choose which one you look best in, or the one you like the best. The link can be found here: http://www.highlandparkcamp.org/camp-photo/
You will need a password to get in. Just put in "livewithabandon" (without quotes) and you can download whichever photos you want.
- Fill out a review on Google or Facebook! A detailed review is always best, but just a star rating is better than nothing! Those links: https://plus.google.com/114670125549846382186/posts ; and http://www.facebook.com/highlandparkcampmeeting
So stay tuned for more, but stay in touch with each other throughout the year. Help each other to stay strong in your walks with the Lord. We hope you had a great week, and look forward to seeing you all back next year! Good luck with the start of your school year!
5 Reasons to send your teenager to camp!
As the times have clearly changed during the last 30 years, summer camps across the country have seen a steady decline as teens have become more independent. There are, however, some very good reasons for your child to attend summer camp that are more important now than they may have been when we were kids.
As the times have clearly changed during the last 30 years, summer camps across the country have seen a steady decline as teens have become more independent. There are, however, some very good reasons for your child to attend summer camp that are more important now than they may have been when we were kids.
1. Helps them to make friends
Kids who attend camp often make friends who they might not necessarily go to school with or see every day. This teaches them to stay in touch with people in the long term. Many youth who attend camp make friends that they stay in touch with all their lives. This offers them the unique opportunity of branching out in the friends that they have. Building these relationships with others also boosts their self confidence in socializing, and teaches them social skills in building new friendships in the future.
2. Forces them to unplug
This is a hot topic these days, but learning to turn the phone or tablet off is a skill that your child can learn! It's very hard for teens to stay off of the internet these days or away from the video games, but when they have to do it with peers, it makes it much easier for them. A lot of kids come to camp to be with friends and to learn how to navigate, mediate, and integrate friendships. The best way to do this is by talking and hanging out together. It also teaches them the very valuable skill of breaking their dependency on technology, which is very hard to come by these days. Besides, it's SUMMER! Our devices will be around all year long, but the summer weather will not. Unplugging will get them outside and actively using their bodies, instead of sitting around thumbing a smartphone.
3. Reinforces leadership skills
While not everyone is a natural leader, leadership skills can be learned by anyone, and camp is a great place to learn them. Camp programs often give youth the opportunities to lead a team, perform music, create projects, and lead discussions outside of the classroom. For the shyer crowd, campers can learn these same leadership skills by watching their peers, giving everyone the benefit of youth-directed activities.
4. Exposure to different age groups
Most teenagers in America spend the majority of their day with students of the same or similar ages. Many camps offer a much different experience, where 7th graders have to interact with 11th graders, or 9th graders have to work with 12th graders. This gives youth a unique experience, and motivates younger campers to act more mature, and older campers to step up into leadership roles. Camp counselors are often not seen so much as "law enforcement" but older, "cool friends," who care about them, and can have a huge impact on their life.
5. Kids get a good dose of "emotional learning."
At camp, youth go on a number of adventures throughout the week, experiencing and learning many new things. Learning how to function in a team, for example, is something that a camper at camp can learn much differently than what they might learn at school. Summer camps are the latent learning method of teaching children hard work, teamwork and of preparing them to face difficult situations with courage. The amazing thing is how the campers don't even realize they are learning any of these things because they are enjoying fun activities, with friends.
News from the Park
So there's more reason to go to a Work Day than just Work...
...you also get to find out what's going on in the Park! So last Saturday (June 14) was our Spring Work Day. We got the Tabernacle cleaned up for...
So there's more reason to go to a Work Day than just Work...
...you also get to find out what's going on in the Park! So last Saturday (June 14) was our Spring Work Day. We got the Tabernacle cleaned up for its many engagements over the Summer, including the Valley Forge Chorus Concert, the King's Brass Concert, and our own Highland Park Campmeeting. Many thanks to the Eichlins, Ian Johnston, and Matt Erickson for coming and helping out! We also found out that Highland Park is planning on pampering our campers with some brand new mattresses for its bunks. These mattresses are nice and firm, much thicker than the old ones, and very comfortable, considering they are for bunk beds!
Introducing Imago Dei
We also get to welcome some new guests to our community. If you've been to camp recently, you may have seen their signs up and around. This group meets every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, and takes part some great mission work throughout the local communities here and around Highland Park. As you can see, they have already left their mark on Highland.
They also worked heavily on what used to be the "Old Dining Hall" underneath Boys' Dorm. This area was first partitioned into separate rooms by Cornerstone Community Church several years ago, and Imago Dei has taken that work a few step further. They will be occupying Highland Park's facilities during our off-seasons when they are not in use, which helps to take care the grounds during the rest of the year.
We would like to welcome them to Highland Park, and we look forward to working with their church.
Many great things are happening at camp these days! Please plan on checking them out at our annual Campmeeting from July 26-August 3! Click here for more info!
HPYC 2014: Live With Abandon
The 2014 theme for Highland Park Campmeeting and Youth Camp this year is “Live with Abandon.” Read more about our Camp Theme.
The 2014 theme for Highland Park Campmeeting and Youth Camp this year is “Live with Abandon.” When I first heard the name of this Newsboys creation, I thought… really? Live with abandon? That sounds like a rather reckless message to be coming from a Christian Band. Typically, the phrase “live with abandon” means living in total surrender to something, with complete disregard for anything else. Usually, that abandon refers to following our wants and desires without any regard for any moral implications. This is no way for anyone to live. As I soon learned, it gets scarier than that.
Michael Tait and Duncan Phillips describe it as letting go of your life and letting God take control. They say that human beings don’t feel comfortable with that. We want to take control, and we want to fix our problems ourselves. Living with abandon is all about giving up control of your life and giving it over to God.
Paul lived with abandon, but not to his own desires or natural instincts. He lived with abandon to the will of God, and he gave up all control over to God without any regard for his own life.
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jeusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has giving me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s Grace.”
- Acts 20:22-24 -
We all go through a lot of rough times in our lives, and those rough times seem to follow us wherever we go, whether it be to school, to our homes, or to our workplaces. Sometimes the problems seem bigger than us, and sometimes they are. This is when it just seems natural to give up the control, and give the problems to God. He’s really good at those. He’ll walk you through it.
Now for the scary. How about when things are going great? Or when there’s something you really want? Can you give it up for Jesus Christ? I am happy to say that I don’t live with abandon to my natural inclinations; however I do play it safe in my life far too often. I can only pray that God will show me how to live the life he wants me to, instead of the life I want to.
I would like to invite you to our Youth Camp and our Campmeeting this summer to learn alongside with me, and the rest of our Highland Park congregation, about living life with abandon to Jesus Christ. If it’s not a life changing experience for you, you’ll still get something out of it by learning how to build your relationship with God, or maybe even start your walk with Him. Come join us at 7:30 p.m. any nights from July 27-August 3, and then hang out and enjoy some great ice cream afterwords.
- by Jack Grimes