Friday, May 20, 2016

Being at Christian Youth Camp While Physically Disabled

Being at Christian Youth Camp While Physically Disabled

       This title may be a bit jarring for some readers. It's highly probable that parents have never considered what could or might happen to a disabled child at Bible camp. Of course many parents may not even consider sending a child depending on the extent of the disability, but it may not be so simple. I want to caution you: If you think the church will take as good care of your child as you would, I hope you're willing to live and die on that promise.

       When I was fourteen, I was going to a Baptist church. I was very involved with the youth group and I felt a sense of belonging I'd never felt in a church, or really anywhere before. It was a really good feeling. The youth would eventually that summer be leaving to go on a nearly weeklong get away in another state, on a large university campus where they would meet with congregations from many other states, who would descend on the school for five days of revival. I was thrilled to be going.

       But at the end of May, I was involved in a pretty serious accident. I fractured my jaw. Then I had to have surgery to wire it shut. For six weeks, I could only receive nourishment through a straw, which precluded nearly everything but soup and shakes. Now, this isn't entirely bad, because my mom regularly made me oreo milkshakes with the best ingredients. But let's say I was already a small kid and I lost a lot of weight during those six weeks. I looked like the liberated of Treblinka, or Buchenwald. I felt terrible. Having already committed to going, I had to reevaluate the situation and decide if I was still up for the journey. I had a choice to make, whether I would go on with the trip as previously planned or would I stay home and watch cartoons and drink milkshakes.

       Feeling the pull of adventure, I decided, probably against wisdom to go ahead and go. It was suggested that there would be some type of facilities at the campus where I could prepare my meals and eat (the other kids would get to eat in the cafeteria quite delicious food). I was also told that if I needed to be taken home because I was having trouble with the entirety of the circumstances, my mom would pick me up, and don't be afraid to call, because this was a difficult situation.

       We arrived at the campus. I was hoping to immediately be apprised of what those facilities were and mentally prepare myself for what my process would consist of, because it would be different from the other kids. Basically, the short version of it - There was no microwave in the dormitory room, shared with one other male student. There were not really the tools I needed - can opener, microwave, blender, silverware - available for me when I needed to cook myself a meal and there unfortunately were not any adults that took much interest in my situation.

       Now, my solution might have been, Can we explain to the cooks that there is a student with a medical situation to where he may need his food handled in a special way? Or that we can provide the cans, can you just heat up this soup and sort of accommodate that condition? That would be one. I realize I'm being a little selfish here. However, maybe a more reasonable solution is, Can we get the kid a can opener, a blender, and a microwave in his dormitory that he can use at any time he needs to eat, and also permission to leave a study or a revival if his medical condition would be benefited by eating?

       Those are reasonable middle-ground solutions to accommodate a very specific medical problem a child is suffering through.

       There was not really anything like that. I was kind of just left to figure all this stuff out on my own. I was helpless in other words.

       I would submit that over those five-odd days at the Bible camp, my medical condition did not improve. But I stayed all five days because I had made my mind up that there was a higher purpose in the experience of the youth camp, of the friendships I had developed with those young people, of having a faith experience. It was a bit like a fast, you could say.

       And that was all very true.

       But what I want people to know when they send their kids away to these events is not so simple. The short answer of it is no matter how close you are to the church leaders, no matter how well you think you know them (within reason of course, some of you may have family in leadership that you would trust with your life), when you send yours kids so far from home where it's not so simple as just a short drive to be with them, you're essentially sending your kids with a stranger. Or you should consider it as such. These people just biologically cannot feel the same way about your children as they feel about theirs. Forget all this lovey-dovey God talk, "the children!" as they would say. Nobody really believes that. We can talk about faith and God and the Bible and all these lovely ideas. What it comes down to is when your child is surrounded by fundamentalists and he or she gets sick, the chance that they hold hands and say prayers while your child dies before they get to a doctor is likely. The chances that they do nothing if your child gets sick from some infected tap water or has a reaction to the chocolate mousse - They're not going to be there. You're going to be there. You're the parent and you love your child. But what are they going to do when your child is sick, not well?

       Alright, Johnny. You just go ahead and go nighty-night now. You close your little eyes and say a little prayer to baby Jesus and before you know it it will be morning and you'll be all better. Nighty-night Johnny, Johnny can it will you, we're playing cards in the other room! Go ahead and leave us alone now, Johnny.

       They'll come in in the morning and Johnny is comatose, maybe he'll even be swollen up like Violet in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when she ate the experimental candy. And Johnny will never wake up.

       Or maybe you'll have the other problem. You'll send your little girl to one of these camps and she's violated by a pervert while away.

       Go ahead and laugh. They'll say I've twisted the mission, I've twisted the meaning of Bible camp, and brought lies and accusations upon it.

       No I haven't. I've only told you the truth. They can smile, shake hands, pass around the offering bucket (I guarantee even if they don't smile and shake hands they'll still pass around the offering bucket), but these people don't really care about your kids.

       I know you, any of you, would take a bullet for your child. You'd jump out in front of a car to save your child. Will the pastor do that? "Well, if I jump out in front of the car, then the kiddies won't have their pastor! Oh, and then if a ravenous wolf takes over the flock, Oh! then who will the kiddies have to look after them? Nice knowing you, Johnny!"

       Or even worse. "Ha, Johnny! You little devil. Now we won't have to deal with your little devilish ways of deceit! Ha! Sayonara, Johnny!"

       And then Johnny is left as roadkill on the side of the road.

       Okay, I didn't need to be graphic just to make my point, but the people don't care about your kids. They're there for the same reason the kids are - Free cafeteria food, a five night stay in dormitory accommodations, a university swimming pool, and every other level of fun that that entails. It's a cheap getaway, just a fun little ditty. That's all.

18 comments:

  1. I have never attended a Bible camp; therefore, I cannot make a comment!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ...and most of the study was about the fake who named himself Apostle Paul.

    Many of the few people who have concluded that Saul of Tarsus was a liar failed to mention his lie in Acts 20:35.
    For you who hate to read and/ or hate to read the Bible, the main idea in this passage is IT MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. Although it sounds good, it is not true! It only takes on word to make a true statement false. Paul uses three words--how he said. Jesus newer said it! And how can they "remember" what was not said?

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  3. The next major lie came in Acts 21:13. Whether he knew he was lying at this time or not, the lie materialized in Acts 25:11.
    He claimed that he was willing to die for "Christ"; but soon as he arrived in Jerusalem, he appealed to the Emperor of Rome.
    From his actions, anyone not in love with Paul, can readily see that Paul works for Rome, not GOD!

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  4. Most of the anti-paul videos on youtube mention the differences in the conversion stories that are located in Acts 9, 22, and 26; a few mention the account by paul in Galatians, Chapter 1.

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    Replies
    1. HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACTS 9

      1. Saul fell to the ground
      2. Jesus supposedly said something about kicking
      against the pricks
      3. Go into the city
      4. The men with Saul stood
      5. The men heard
      6. They saw nothing
      7. Was blinded, and scales covered his eyes
      8. Visited with Ananias
      9. There was a conversation by Ananias
      10. Scales fell from the eyes of Saul
      11. Ananias baptizes Saul
      12. He met with the Apostles of Christ

      HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACTS 22

      1. Saul fell to the ground, but no mention of the
      posture of the men with him
      2. Kicking against the pricks omitted
      3. The "voice" said go to Damascus instead of city
      4. The " had another person to tell Saul of
      his new duties
      5. The men heard nothing
      6. But now they saw the light
      7. He mentioned being blind, but omitted the scales
      8. Now, Saul says that his ministry started in
      Jerusalem, not Damascus
      9. "Holy Ghost" omitted from the speech by Ananias
      10. Saul received sight w/o falling scales
      11. Ananias mentioned that Saul needed to get
      baptized, but not that Ananias baptized Saul
      12. Any meeting with disciples or apostles omitted

      Delete
    2. HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACTS 26

      1. All fell to the ground
      2. Kick and pricks spoken in Hebrew
      3. Headed for Damascus
      4. This time Saul said that he was appointed
      apostle to the Gentiles
      5. Did not hear the "voice"
      6. Saw the light
      7. Both blindness and scales were omitted
      8. Nothing about Ananias
      9. Since Ananias is missing, his speech is also
      10. Neither Holy Ghost nor baptism were mentioned
      11. Saul added that "jews" wanted him dead
      12. Saul said that he preached in Damascus before
      he went to Jerusalem

      Delete
    3. HIGHLIGHTS FROM GALATIANS 1

      1. Said that he was called to preach from birth
      2. No lights, no voices, no pricks; just revelations!
      3. He claims now to going to Arabia first
      4. Saul never mentioned travelers with him
      5. Added that what he said was superior to all others
      6. Saul said that his information came by revelation but didn't say if by dreams or direct communication
      7. Saul now said that he waited at least 3 years before going to Jerusalem
      8-10: Nothing about blindness, Holy Ghost, or Ananias
      11. to be completed later
      12. "

      Delete
  5. It says it all, in the one where he says, "And I'm not lying!"

    That's a classic deception of skilled liars. It doesn't matter if it's "Apostle" Paul or whomever, if they have to tell me they are not lying about something, I'm going to dig deeper because chances are, they're lying!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and how many Real Men Of GOD such as Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, and Jeremiah ever said "I lie not!"?
      THE ANSWER IS NONE!

      Delete
  6. 11. Now he mentions other places that he went

    12. In verse 20 he had to remind them that he wasn't lying

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  7. Very little was said about the murdering Saul from (of) Tarsus in Acts 10-12. I will start counting the lies of Impostor Paul HERE: 4, all accounts of his conversion were lies!

    Acts 13:1 indicates that Paul was associated with Herod. By this time Paul claimed to be working for Jesus. LIE #5!
    Only a few years ago, Jesus was on the earth. Saul first mentioned his false Doctrine of Justification by Faith. Jesus had more than 3 years to say something this important, and He didn't!

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  8. The next big lie of Apostle Paul (impostor paul) is found at Acts 13:39: "And by him all that believe are JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, from which we could not be JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES. This verse contains at least 3 major lies, causing the number to increase to 8!

    to be continued....

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  9. ...Continued from sept. 13:

    The first lie in this verse is contrary to all of the Bible written prior to it. It is saying that believing in Jesus is all that is needed to be righteous.
    The second lie is that men like Moses himself, Isaiah, Daniel, and Jeremiah were unable to become right by obeying the LAWS OF GOD.
    The third lie is that there is no law of Moses; it is the Law From GOD!!!!

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  10. This fake, who calls himself Paul told many lies, so many that I will not list them all. For example, when he says that he was an apostle to the Gentiles, I will not count them; what I will count are his major lies.

    Last Friday, September 16, 2016 I got up to Chapter 18 of Acts without a major lie from him. I will start today, September 20, 2016 at Acts, Chapter 19. The comments made on last Friday were not published for some undetected reason!

    In Acts 19:1-7 Paul lied by his action and by what he said. He re-baptized twelve who had already been baptized by John the Baptist. This is also insinuating that his baptism was superior to that of John who baptized Jesus. The verbal lie was that Jesus required belief in Him before baptism.

    Count is now 11.

    I will end here and go into chapters 20 and 21. I know that he lied in chapter 22.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The next major lie comes at Acts 20;28. This verse gives credence to those who think the Trinity is real. It strongly suggests that the Holy Ghost is human. Neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit ever bought the Church with blood.

    Before the end of this chapter, Paul lied again @ verse 35. Even the unsaved have heard, "...it is more blessed to give than to receive." There is one problem with it. THE LORD JESUS NEVER SAID IT!!!

    The count is now 13.

    Acts 21:13 contains two important lies of impostor paul. He was not willing to be bound or die for Jesus!

    15 major lies at this time!!

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  12. The first part of this chapter is about his conversion. I have already counted it.

    At verse 25 he lies again based upon a previous lie--"...willing to be bound...." by pulling his "I'm a Roman card".

    Now to 22;6, where Paul said that he was in Jerusalem "of the hope and resurrection of the dead....". Lie! He was there for teaching against the LAW of GOD!

    At Acts 24;11 paul said that he came into Jerusalem to worship; such is another lie because he was summoned to answer questions!

    In verse 21 he came again with a repeat of the "resurrection lie".

    19 major lies by the end of Acts, chp. 24

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  13. At 25:10, #20 lie major came to pass. If he would have been willing to die for Christ's sake, Caesar could do him no harm.

    6 and 7 of Acts 26, Paul said here that he was on trial for the hope of a promise made by GOD.
    LIE#21!!!











    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Also found in Acts 26 is the third conversion of Paul, which I have already counted as a falsehood! There are more lies in this chapter.

      At verse 20 Paul said that he preached repentance and a return unto GOD; he did not. Although this is a compound lie, I will only count it once.

      Next verse (21), Paul said that the "Jews" tried to kill him for preaching the above verse 21.

      UP TO MAJOR LIE 23

      Delete