I don't even really know where to begin? Unless you were right there with me this last week its really hard to put everything into words. Bare with me. I'm currently sitting on my bed. My mouth is still partially numb from getting my cavities fixed. I'm eating leftover pizza, drinking Dr. Pepper and just trying to make sense of what I've experienced. If you follow the World Race site, then chances are you have seen the barrage of Training Camp (TC) posts. Well this is me throwing my hat into the ring.
I returned from World Race Training Camp about four days ago. I'm still trying to process what all went down there. Those who were there with me, or have been part of TC before can testify to what it is like. Simply put, TC week was one of the most rewarding/spiritually awaking weeks of my life! Bold statement, I know. Please allow me to explain.
I believe the Bible is the perfect word of God and that He inspired men through the Holy Spirit to write it. Therefore I believe what it says. ALL of it. Not just bits and pieces that are easy, and/or convenient to the way I want to live what can be a very sinful life. However, some where along the way, I began to “glaze over” the parts of the Bible which were uncommon or some how inapplicable to today. For example, the laying of hands to heal. Jesus himself said… “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” -Matthew 10:8. I don't really know how I missed it since it says it right there in His word in black and white. During TC I came to the realization that I greatly limited the power of God and what He was able to do through me by not really thinking the above verse applied to me. We often dismiss what we can't explain, right? I think most people can relate. It's hard to teach the unexplainable and therefore our churches have generally ignored the subject all together. I'm not saying this in judgment, I'm just stating the obvious. And because of the lack of teaching, about the authority God has given us, things come full circle with us questioning God's word by wondering if we REALLY have the power his Word says we do. You following me?
At TC I saw people healed! Not so much in the sense you probably think I mean, even though people were physically healed! I didn't see someone that was blind see or someone in a wheelchair get up and walk. However, what I did see was multiple generations worth of healing take place. And boy let me tell ya its a beautiful sight. To see dozens of people broken and humbled before the Lord. It's something I hope to see more of and often. I really like AIM's (Adventures in Missions) approach to TC. Instead of going over what most of us have heard and know by heart (The love of Jesus and salvation He brings to all those who accept Him.) They want World Racer's to get rid of any emotional and spiritual baggage people might be carrying. It's a simple concept but one I don't find practiced a whole lot.
Bottom line…I hadn't felt as close to God as I did during TC in a long time. There's just something about worshiping and “doing life” with 250ish other people that are just as passionate for the Lord as you are. You can practically feel the tangible presence of the Lord when that many people unite together to sing praise to God. It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it! That kind of worship has me longing for more. More of the one true God. Longing enough to serve Him for 11 months in 11 different countries and rest of my life just to feel this newly felt presence.
