Jr. High Retreat.

This past weekend we had a Jr. High retreat out at beautiful Camp Hanover. It was a Presbytery-wide Jr. High retreat, which meant there were a hundred or so middle schoolers there. We couldn't have asked for better weather. We had six kids go, which was good, especially considering we usually only have four or five at youth group! The retreat was put on by the Presbytery of the James Youth Council, meaning it was planned and implemented by high school students, and they did a great job. The theme was American Idol. So, as you can imagine, we talked about idols in our life, but then it kind of morphed into the idea that God calls all of us, through Christ, to walk with Him, no matter what. My favorite statement of the weekend was in the worship service Sunday morning. At the point in the service where we were to greet others in the name of Christ, we were told to tell them "God loves you...and there's nothing you can do about it!" I like that. It's so important for all of us to hear and be reminded of, but I think it's especially important for middle schoolers to hear. Sometimes I think we (Christians) get so preoccupied with the little things (or even the big things) that we, and others, do wrong that we forget that God loves all of us the world over, and indeed, there is nothing we can do about it.