Crowns' Camp Day Seven

Mark is off teaching High School Students at his church's retreat, so...we are posting a video he did for the meaning behind the song "The Altar and the Door".  Thanks

Comments

[Dylan Faulkner]

man i was gettin scared... i thought that crowns camp was gonna stop!!!

[Josh]

very nice. i to was getting a little worried. i say keep em coming!

[Samuel C]

It was still a blessing anyways. How about we go out today and live what we've been reading this past week. Don't lose it between the alter and the, well you know where.

[Kelly]

God showed me SO much yesterday, even in Mark's absence. Wow! As I mentioned before, as part of this I'm fasting from Twitter, MySpace, FB, and also from posting on the Jeremy Camp boards (still have to check them daily since I'm a mod, but I'm not allowed to post.)

After a few days of it, I started to feel like I was fasting from friends since most of the people I talk to on a daily basis are people on Twitter and the JC boards. I thought "Should I really be fasting from this if it's taking me away from my friends?" Then last night through this video, God revealed to me that maybe my friendship with Him isn't what it should be, or could be. I know it's certainly better than it was this time last year, but maybe this whole thing was His way of showing me that He wants even more from me. Talk about an eye-opener!

Last night I watched a movie, P.S. I Love You. Without giving too much away, I will tell you that it's a story about a woman whose husband dies, and before he died, he had secretly planned out her life for her. So on her 30th birthday she started getting a letter from him every day telling her what to do that day. In the end of the movie, she realizes that they're not going to come forever and eventually she's going to have to learn how to cope without them. Made me think again about this video & how Mark talks about us being just fine in church and in Bible studies, small groups, etc...but when we're outside of those places, we kinda lose that relationship we supposedly had with God. So we have to ask ourselves did we really have that relationship to begin with, or were we just "borrowing" someone else's relationship with Him and mistaking it as our own?

Thanks for posting this video in Mark's absence!

God bless,
Kelly

[Laura Chambers]

Just a question....if we're supposed to fast from Casting Crowns music too (according to pre-camp video) whoever posted this is setting us up to fail!!! lol. I already gave in. But the funny thing is TV doesn't stay with me as much when I stop. Like it rolls off of me unless someone else brings it up.

So that's cool. :)

~Laura~

[Laura Chambers]

Just a question....if we're supposed to fast from Casting Crowns music too (according to pre-camp video) whoever posted this is setting us up to fail!!! lol. I already gave in. But the funny thing is TV doesn't stay with me as much when I stop. Like it rolls off of me unless someone else brings it up.

So that's cool. :)

~Laura~

[Krista]

I have realized over the past week that the internet only has as much time in my life as I give it. I have gone online so often (other than this past week) just because I was bored more than anything. I don't miss TV at all. I expected I would but I haven't which is amazing. This video hits too close to home for me because I feel that way all the time. That when I am behind a closed door it is so easy to find the relationship with God that you desire but as soon as you open the door and have to express your faith and use all that you know, it seems so much easier to look the other way. Thanks for the videos.
PS I have failed several times with not listening to Casting Crowns:)...What can I say, I have to prepare for the CC concert on Friday night:)

[Kelly]

Hehe good point Laura! I guess when the cat's away, the mice will play! *wink* KLove plays CC a lot too, but hey that's their fault...not mine, right? :p

[stephiegdalyrist]

Absolutely,absolutely so so true.Been in the word everyday maybe skipped a day.Whoops!But yeah,time to grow with God/Jesus everyday.We need and have to have time with Him in order to communicate our needs to Him in prayer and this:Be!"Be still and know I am God." Sometimes I seem to "rush" prayer cause I am afraid Christ is going to ask something of me that I would be reluctant to do ya know?Don't need to be afraid.To give up everything to and for Christ is to gain Him and His ultimate greatness,obedience and love.Not to mention this world has nothing for us!!!Nothing!!It is thru Christ Jesus and I have been working on stopping,hearing His voice and what I need to do to gain a better relationship with him.What am I hiding?What am I not giving up?So,I am going to get index cards and post scripture all through the upstairs I live.

Also consider this.When I/we all as Christian's have a negative thought about ourselves or hear lies from the enemy.I counteract,counter attack those lies with what Christ says about me and tell satan to "go on and get out of here!" and tell him what Christ says about me is true and you are a liar.When you or your loved one's go through a healing process maybe emotional,physical,etc.especially emotional stuff and hurt from past,present or from someone.The closer you are to freedom,the more the enemy attacks cause he doesn't want us to be free.Recognizing satan's schemes and lies are essential and I believe and know you can counteract/counter attack them with being heavy in God's word everyday.Doesn't have to be like 5 hours a day.Just enough to get out of the word the meaning and what is applicable.

Thank you again for sharing this.Awesome good great God stuff and work.

Keep up the God work and may the ministries the Lord have you in soar to the hem of heaven ok.
You are being prayed for by many and me!!Ain't God great?!!!!Ohhhhh yeah baby!!!Ha.

Stephanie G
Charlotte,NC

[Dylan Faulkner]

hey mark where u been? im ready for some more camp!!!

[Chris Love]

Hey Mark, Agreeing with Dylan, I'm ready for the next lesson! :) ;) Post it when you're ready.

[stephiegdalyrist]

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this.Mean it from the bottom of my heart!!

Got my index cards,reading the Word everyday,writing down scripture and memorizing it,and posting Christ truth about who I am in Him!!!Keeping strong in the faith.Basking in God's great healing,deliverance and miracles in my life.Doing so fantastic although I am still recovering from going to 2 Winter Jams back to back this past weekend.It rocked,the bands rocked,Tony rocked and was good to say hi to Tony and to meet other band members and wow!!!! so many commitments for Christ made.Yes!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway,off the subject here,sorry...thank you Mark so much for this awesome series!!

Thank you so much for doing this!!:)Really learned a lot.God bless you and you are in our/my prayers often.Hope all is well with ya!!

Great God stuff,keep up the God work ok!!!

May the ministries the Lord have you in continue to soar to the hem of heaven!

Stephanie G
Charlotte,NC

[angelsaroundme]

Mark,
I have been very blessed in my life. I have had the honor of teaching Gods little children for some years now. I know this is what he wants me to do because I have feelings when I walk into my class room that I can't explain in words. There have been times I went in there to mediatate and been so overwelmed by the feeling that I could do nothing but become emotional. I have been dealing with some issues with my spiritual life. Then one day I heard your song on the radio station. The tears rolled down my face. I felt the love within my heart release pain that I had been holding on to for sometime. As the tears flowed I asked myself that same question WHO AM I? I had blamed so many things on my abusive past. The spiritual issues I was dealing with. The am I worthy of teaching these kids. God used your song and done something to my soul I cannot explain. I want to thank-you and mostly GOD. I used to write poems. So words mean alot to me. I listen to words in songs closely. These words in your song touched my heart. I think sometimes in life we need to express to people that they touch others with sometimes what seem so simple words. I want to take the time to thank-you for your words. They made a difference with me. I feel such energy from this song I have sent it to several friends that are having hard times. I know God has blessed this. May God hold you in his arms. Thank-you my friend. I am a better person because of your loving Godly words.

[bridget]

I certainly have enjoyed these crowns camp blogs, please consider doing more...if not daily how about a weeks worth each month? anyway...your family of music is a blessing beyond description!
from la (lower alabama) that is

[Jonathan Steele]

Mark,
I have always loved casting crowns, but I am just now starting to follow y'all alot more. I just got one of your dvd's and it touched me so much. I have been battling and wondering what God has called me to do. I have been called of God for about 2 years now, but He was never specific. I watched your testimony on that dvd and it really touched me. I now know what I am called to do thanks to you and casting crowns. I love y'all with all my heart and keep serving the Lord because i believe you are touching millions of lives with every song you write. I know your touching mine.

Jonathan Steele
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

[Penny]

Mark,
Like a lot of people, I want to say thank you. I was jazzed in January when I heard you were going to have Day Camp. Then I came down very sick and missed when it started. Praise God! It's still here! Since I started watching Crown Camp I've been sharing it with everyone on my email list, including a Christian truck driver that has no home church and can't be a part of regular Bible study. Also, it's kind of strange. In January I felt the need to read the Lord's Prayer. I got to the part about 'Forgive us our sins,as we forgive those who sin against us...'. I thought for a moment and realized the only person I had not forgiven (on purpose) was my ex-husband that had severely abused me. I understood that in God's eyes I was no better than my ex, and I needed to forgive an ask God to forgive me also. He has accepted my forgiveness and forgiven me for the hate I had stored up against him. Everyday has been a blessing and God has opened many doors since then. When I got to Day Six, it hit like a ton of bricks. Everything has come full circle. I am sending your Day Six to help our family and friends who are still in shock to understand God's grace can do anything! I've prayed for 12 years that God would avenge me for the pain I've suffered. Instead, He's lead me to be a witness to my greatest enemy...I mean ex-enemy!!

[mercedes]

Thats an amazing video i would have to say :]
I love you guys so much.
This band has changed my life a ton since i've been listening to you! I went to your concert last year in michigan on valentines day and it was sooooooo amazing! It touched my heart so much. Then getting to ride in the elevator with only the best band on this earth was a once in a life time thing. who can say they've done that! I would just like to say thanks for all the great music and keep doin what u guys are doin!
p.s. My uncle owns covenant eyes ;]

[Zach]

Hey wats up casting crowns i say thats an amazing video. Also that i just got back from Missouri Youth Convention in Kansas City and i say that you guys should have sung there and it would have been even more awesome with you all there.

[Niko]

Hi Mark,

I read your post and then I thought about the following:

"Be my weeping and my wailing
Unavailing,
Still receive my willing heart.
When Thy suff'rings are completed,
When at God's right hand Thou art seated,
Let me have in Thee a part."

(It's from St. Matthew Passion, act 52.)