twists & turns

A bit perplexed today. I can't seem to find what I am looking for. I keep my stuff a bit like my mind....all over. I am looking for some wire cutters...pliers anything that will bend some wire for me. Without the right tool....the purpose becomes diluted. Sure I can make do, but I don't think the wire will bend the same using my fingers and since I need to strip the wire my handy dandy pocket knife will not really strip the wire correctly and burning the plastic off is just a bad idea....trust me I've had a lot of those...BAD IDEAS.

So as I attempt to find some purpose and get some things done...I realize the tool I need. There is nothing that refocuses me, my purpose, like the word of God. I mostly I need it every minute of every day.

That's where I am going to go now....to my bible...and somehow I think when I am done those pliers will turn up.

days upon days

Vision without action is a dream.

Action without vision is simply passing the time.

Action with vision is making a positive difference.
Joel Barker

Yesterday I was told of the death....the death of a kind & loving man. He became diagnosed with cancer of the liver about 3-4 weeks ago and it was a rapid decline from there. It is sad.

So today, again, I weigh out what it is I do here on earth with my time.....

Am I making a difference?

Am I instigating change?

Am I inspiring too others?

I can see people coming to know Jesus.
I can see people dedicating their lives to Him who gives life.

If I can see that difference....then I can be that difference.

been contemplative lately

It has been such a long, long time.

So very long.

I thank the saints everytime I think of all you fellow campers.

I do.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today... Hebrews 3

where else is life so fulfilling?

where else is the day long & the night so short?

where else, on this earth have I ever seen the love of Christ so very powerful?

No where else, but

CAMP MANATAWNY

Prayer Works

Hi,
I know it's been a long time since I've posted and that this year has seen fewer posts then ever before and this post will be brief.

Last fall it was determined that we would pray for 1,000 campers for 2009 camp season and that the camp board would pray for 1,000 campers every time they brushed their teeth.
I am told that have been doing that.
2007~ 725 campers
2008~ 731 campers
and for 2009.....

810 campers!

if you decide to continue to pray for 1,000 campers as we will continue to do please also say a prayer of thanks for the 810 souls that heard the message of Christ this summer.

Tomorrow forward

tomorrow forward. for the next six solid days I will not be exposed to mass advertising, I will not hear any television, nor will I sit in any traffic or red lights.

i will wrestle for my life during boy's swim and i will eat three solid meals a day.

i will not carry keys and lock doors

within the 1st day or two i will learn to not text, email or use my phone at all....save twitter/facebook/blogger to communicate camp to the world ;)

every morning @ camp will be like christmas

most of all i will be thinking about God more

i will be loving God more

and i will again understand that it is not possible for God to love me any more then He already does and that He loves me for who I am and who I'm not.

Camp...I am packing....here I come.

FOREVER!

God is my shepherd I won't be wanting I won't be wanting He makes me rest In fields of green With quite streams Even though I walk Through the valley Of death and dying I will not fear 'Cause you are with me You are with me Your shepherd staff Comforts me You are my feast In the presence of enemy Surely goodness Follow me Follow me In the house of God, forever

PSALM 23 2B truly inspired go here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoXWIK1lfyo

the path...

we all follow paths, it's the choice of which path we follow that shapes are lives

the paths we choose are not always fun

sometimes they are rocky

or muddy

and even icy

sometimes they flood

but no matter the path we choose

He knows the heart

and the heart is truth

so far over 500 campers have signed up

we can pray for their hearts

Warren Nelson

Life brings you all kinds of interesting twists & turns.

It has been a rough two weeks for me. Sometimes my job becomes more then a job to me and that's not good, for my job is not who I am.

I have had some alarming accusations made to me and I had to figure out how to address them, how to remain confident and how to do what is right.

1st-- I have prayed and will continue to pray and turn the other cheek for this person who is making these accusations
2nd- I will not lie even if it costs me my job...period.
3rd- Warren Nelson is "hungry"

Warren lives at 30th St Station in Philly he is one disgusting looking and living person, but he is a person nonetheless. I mean this guy truly lives right on the NE corner of Market and 30th right across from the Septa steps. Everything he owns which I would consider beyond trash usually lays right at the lamppost on the corner.
I see Warren pedaling for money quite often. Today he was inside 30th St Station, cup extended and we talked briefly. I then asked him his name and he didn't quite hear me...."hungry" was his response....I asked him again, "no, your name, what's your name", "hungry" again, was the reply and then I looked even deeper into his eyes, "no, your name sir", "oh" he replied, "Warren Nelson, Warren Nelson" came the reply. "Warren Nelson" I replied and extended my hand as he took mine and firmly gripped and shook it as our eyes never left each other.

sure I don't always do what is right in this world. I don't need your approval for what I write or for you to see me with the poor or the rich.

I just need to share my heart sometimes....not sure if this is always the place, but I know this for sure: PSALM 56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

the city trashpickers

I see them everyday, digging through the trashcans to get something, anything to eat and now we have these....the new & improved trash compactor which the people who eat out of the trash, can no longer access, and someone explain to me how a culture of people who can't even get trash into the old open circles of the former trash cans are going to find the time to even open this for their trash!

aahhhhh progress!

tiebreaker ends @ midnight

Hey all!

Voting for 2009's staff shirt ends at midnight tonight. We had a tie between Safety Green w/Black fotn and Black w/Pink font.

The only way to vote this time is to pop an email over to campmanatawny@yahoo.com

Once you've done that you have completed your civic duty for the day.

Thanks!

love sweet love

what the world needs now

is

love sweet love

it's the only thing that there's just to little of

(that's all i have today...nothing else)

the field

You can have lots of different fields.

Baseball fields, fields of corn or sunflowers and fields of people.

This is about fields of people.

& fields of dreams.

The field is wherever you work or go to school.

There is nevera better time to tell anyone about Jesus.

go into the fields....

work the fields

no name

Today someone asked me if, "I see dead people". a reference to the movie "The Sixth Sense". I sold shirts in one of our Philly stores that said .....I see dead people. The shirt did okay, but not good enough to reorder it for the masses.

I often have been known to say that everyone on the train appears to be dead to me. People riding public transportation just seem to have no life and then one day someone said to me....do you think they might see you as dead? Now I try to smile to everyone as I don't want to be mistaken for a lifeless person.

If the heart beats...are you alive, or are you just living? And if you are living....what are you living for?

I for one, am alive--my heart beats wildly, like a branch blowing in the wind.

Do you see the life? The life in me?

The life I have....a gift, a gift from the ONE who truly is the life giver.
You know WHO that is.....I need not speak HIS name.

Be alive, alive with purpose. Alive with a purpose to live for--REAL PURPOSE.

prayer

I just don't pray enough. God's word calls for us to be in constant prayer.

Them I found this in one 1 Thessalonians 1
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

always

continually

always & continually

I am beginning to think that the key here is to 1st think of God often....so often that it becomes LIKE all the time and also DO NOT FORGET to let other's know you are thinking of him!!!! and lastly--be an encourager constantly and always. :)

trouble

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

From the unexpected flat tire to the rain storm or the things that slow us down----to hurt and pain and suffering....

God has spoken--- IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE

Can anyone, anywhere in this world disagree with that statement?

Who does not have trouble at one time or another?

WHO?!

No one....that's who! Everyone has problems somewhere along the way...everyone

Jesus starts the verse telling us that "He has told us these things so that we may have peace"

That is where we find peace....real peace.

Peace that passes all understanding.

Jesus says something real simple next....BUT TAKE HEART.

TAKE HEART

TAKE HEART

He has overcome the world.

find that peace

search for it

seek it

dwell in it

John 16

these times r a changin'

Okay....since some of you are finally catching up to the blog world....this blog isn't going anywhere just yet!

We do have some wonderful NEW additions!

1. Twitter!!! Yes, Camp Manatawny is on twitter! search for Camp Manatawny or CampManatawny

2. Camp is now officially on Facebook as a person...I am not sure how that works, but search Camp Manatawny and JOIN!

Look for lot's of new fun stuff and links!

Be informed!

Subscribe to it all!

the last day

IF this were YOUR last day


would it matter?

time is short
life is shorter

Let the world KNOW what you KNOW!

DO YOU KNOW THE TRUTH?

the day is coming

i (almost) fear the sound of the trumpet

I know and yet I don't

will I be known?

I do know Him....I can see Him...I can hear Him

can you?

forever & ever

The ONE THING that you know.

I don't know if my beloved Philadelphia Eagles will ever win the Superbowl

I don't know if I will see Springsteen play at the end of the month.

I don't know if I will be at this same job in five years or even five months.

I do know ONE THING....for absolute sure.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that He loves every one and of that....I am certain.

STAFF SHIRT VOTE 2009

Time to vote from the above choices for your personal favorite staff shirt color.

Vote here or on Facebook.

Be sure to vote!!!

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

I have been reading this over and over and over and over all week long. So much of it rings true! I love- "when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent"
KNOW WHO YOU ARE!

and...."Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
God shows it all the time, but who helps him???

Peace, love & understanding,

Tater

actually I love the whole thing :)

the walk "home"

It has been a l-o-n-g day! It started with a wake-up call, a slow walk to the bathrooms with a toothbrush. Flag raising and a session with Mr. EXCERCISE. Then food, bible classes, activities, more food, more activities and most of all fellowship.

It was a night capped by "campfire".

Devotionals, stories, singing---fellowship & then....

the walk back to camp.

The campfire has been held in the orchard area for the past few years so the walk back is about as long as it can get. It's dark--Pitch black dark and yet there is light all around.
How can you describe the walk back to the cabin?

There are NO worries, no "real" fears and aside from an occasional shriek most of the walk is in laughter and joy!

Life is good.

that walk back is so simple and yet affirming.

affirming in the life of love, the life given to Him who gives real life---eternal life.

simple is good.

God is good---all the time

all the time---God is Good!

no apologies

just checking....30,000 people DIE (cease to live!!!) everysingleday due to simply not having food

30,000

think with me....30,000 people die every day due to the lack of food....30,000??????

really, they do.

FAIR WARNING....this post is a bit stronger then normal

42,000 people can attend a baseball game at Citizen's Bank Park.

everysingleday over 30,000 people die from the lack of food

EVERY DAY!

i honestly can't take it anymore

living a life of absolute riches

I spend money, like it grows from trees

We sponsor a Compassion Child

what difference am i really making?????

REALLY?

I don't know how much longer I can sit idle

It is to easy to ignore, but my heart won't let me anymore

...and what about you dear reader?

(go ahead and run from this negativity and cynicism!)

I for one need to make a difference by:

a. getting myself out of being a slave to debt

b. continuing to talk about global poverty

c. plan for the future, to find ways to utilize my valuable time and valuable energy

to "be the change in the world"

God said there would always be the poor

I have no grand illusion that that will ever change

BUT

to sit idle when commanded by God to do different is no longer an option for me

I promise to see the poor like Jesus sees them

I promise to use my wealth to better off the poor

I promise to throw pebble after pebble in the ocean to offset change with my every breath and to not be ignorant of the problems of this world due to the blessings God has and continues to bestow on me.

There are 960 million starving people in the world

The population of the United States is 300 million

Let's stop this charade of ignorance and force the change!

God loves everyone, everywhere

if ANY of our children were starving we would stand up and SCREAM and KICK and PUSH

imagine not having a choice or an option and for all the kicking and screaming you do...

no one seems to hear, not ever.

Will you do something?

Anything?

please pray with me....

Oh Lord, Father and creator of all

we cry out to You

we need guidance to do your will beyond our daily lives

we need you to teach us how to be good stewards with our

blessings for the poor and not for ourselves

we cry out to You

guide us Father

guide us to help and give and love and forgive and to continue to give and love and forgive and to love to love to love and to love

like you love us

we cry out for your guidance

O'Lord

guide us

through Jesus

amen

preparing to preach

a good friend gave me this advice; Don't just give good advice, but give good news.

My thoughts turn to Ephesians 6
keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

How can we continue to live this life and not speak truth w/o judgment?
I am tired of us seeing others as we see them and not as God sees them. This is the very thing that keeps people away from Christ. When they see Christians being people. God's word calls us to STAND APART from the world.

Every morn is anew

stand separate from the world for this world is not yours

see others as God sees them and not as the world sees them
that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
The mystery is simple...it is Jesus
PROCLAIM IT

Proverbs 8

The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.

It is from Proverbs 8:13

It really hits home.

good is good

seek good

seek GOD

He cares for you

quotes

Robert Louis Stevenson said...." For God's sake give me someone who has brains enough to make a fool of himself."

It made me think about STANDING UP for God in whom I believe. It made me think of this verse-

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Psalm 56

What can man do to you....or me??? REALLY?

What can God do :)

eternal life

a life of service
service brings joy
joy brings happiness
and God smiles

amen

URGENT- STAFF SHIRT ALERT

Hi!

We are in the process of getting ready to have our annual staff shirt color vote. If you have a choice get in to us now for consideration. Things are going to be run a little different this year. Keep in mind if you give a color suggestion that is not your vote. We arew going to offer the choices this year and have most of them picked, but wanted to give you, the reader a chance for input.

We will probably run the voting on Facebook this year....just a bit more traffic there :)

If you are not on facebook yet---get moving and be sure to request friendship w/ Tate Perazzelli to be included in the 1st rouind of voting coming to a PC screen near you!

love

stephen stills sang----love the one your with

ray lamontagne sang----love is the answer
and of course the BEATLES sang

love is all you need.

and U2 sang----how long, how long must we sing this song

they are no different

we are no different

we as people are all the same

we try to be different with our appearance, but we all have sin & shame

I know the non-christians love when we take that pity us approach, but it is true.

we all have sin

when we can GET His grace we have won

won eternal life, won TRUTH over the falsehood of this place we call home

me? I call heaven home....and He is calling me.

won't you join me?

How can they understand?

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

John 1

Your friends, your co-workers, your classmates & your family....maybe they are in the dark? You are either in the light or the dark.....IF you or they are in the DARK they DO NOT UNDERSTAND the LIGHT.

It is up to you.....YOU ARE THE LIGHT!

can't get no--- a no, no, no

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

From the book of Ecclesiastes

Okay---F o c u s

the best a man can ever do is find satisfaction in his work
stay focused---- for without Him who can eat or find enjoyment

The BASE is GOD

make him your base, for everything else is meaningless


Credit to the Stones for the blog title :)

what the guitar player said

I love attending "live" music shows. Years ago I caught Jars of Clay out at Hershey and the lead singer said this...

"we as Christians need to stop bickering about the differences between our religions, all the non-Christians look over at us bickering and say....why do I want to be a part of that?"

The other night in Philly, Chris the guitar player had this to say....

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind & strength and let's not forget the second part...love your neighbor as yourself"

I just wanted to add to Chris' statement---Who's your neighbor?

Don't tell me....just think about it.

WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR?

is it everybody or just who you want it to be

A Solid Day of Worship

It's Sunday a day of rest folks....rest and thanks for what HE has done.

I cannot wait to sing out to Him and pray to Him in unision.

ahhh.....the splendor of the King
Robed in majesty
How Great, How Great is Our GOD!

Tonight is Chris Tomlin @ the Electric Factory in Philly.

We've got a total of 14 going.

We're going to sing, sing, sing

3 verses

The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.

The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

you pick the 3rd

DVCC Board Meeting

One of the agenda items for Tues nite's Delaware Valley Christian Camp meeting is "toothbrush"

Now what's that about????

just the word "toothbrush" on an camp board's agenda....lol!!!

God is good!!!!!

r u ready?

God is calling!

He is calling you!!

He is always there to LOVE you!!!

He does not ever fail....not ever.

The question is....

r u ready?

Are you ready to be loved by Him who gives love to all
To everyone!
Especially the corrupt, the hurt the lonely, the bored

He gives love to all, freely He gives.
All He wants is you.....all of you.
Every single ounce of you.
It is a lot He wants....I admit it.

If you give to Him you will never ever be disappointed....not ever.
No need to look to the skies....just read this-
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

Once you believe; continue to seek Him. Look for Him in others. Look for Him in the book called the Bible, look to Him and He will meet your needs....all of them.

....and if you need.....call me 267-236-3237 (Tate) and I will help you see Him.

amen

tattoos

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; Romans 12:3

I think I could read this every minute of every day and still struggle with it.

I have thought of time to time of getting a tat. My bro-in-law has a tat of the Steelers 'cause he loves them. I have thought of a chili pepper or an outline of New Jersey. Two things that identify me...but I would never do it, to permanent.

If I were to get a tattoo....I would have something like that verse tattooed on my hand or wrist to remind me.....to remind me, again and again.

I could look at my hand...."not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think" and then I would look at my hand again and read; "not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think" and again, and again, and again.

and maybe one day it would work.