Armory and Full Armor of God

As the sun dropped over the horizon at the armory in Manhattan, our Troop 122 scouts, adults and visiting WEBELOS attended chapel with songs, scripture reading and messages delivered by our troop Chaplain Aides. 

Our scripture selection was familiar to campers that attended last year, but the lesson was different.  Paul’s letter to his people of Ephesus instructs us to put on the “full armor of God” found in Ephesians chapter 6 starting at versus 10.

After Graham shared the scripture, Mitch opened by aligning our message with what we saw at the armory: great equipment that protects our soldiers.  Our soldiers are waging war against evil, and scripture explains that we are waging war against evil that we call sin.  Graham and Quinn provided other examples of God-sized conflicts including the story of David & Goliath.  David was a young shepherd boy that was an outcast from his family and was victorious only because God was on his team.

We may never see a Goliath, but we have many pressures and distractions that can work against our call to be reverent.  We might be pressured by bad peers, be exposed to inappropriate movies and music, and see others participating in substance abuse.  Risky behavior is our Goliath that works to destroy us. 

David had his Goliath—we have our sinful nature that works to bring us down.  David had his slingshot, and soldiers have their armor.  How do we protect ourselves?  How do we put on our full armor of God?  Matt provided some suggestions:  We can have a conversation with God through prayer and ask him to protect us.  We can read God’s word in the bible and memorize scripture.  We can surround ourselves with good friends that hold us accountable.  We can live the scout law.

Logan challenged the group as we closed chapel.  He pushed us to check our relationship with God and consider how we can bring that to the next level.  Can we strengthen the armor that you are wearing into battle?  He asked us to check our lives and evaluate our friendships.  Finally, he challenged us to make the right decisions each day.

Fireside Chat: The Easter Story

One week before Easter, the Chaplain Aides gathered around the campfire to tell the story of Christ's last supper, arrest, crucifixion and resurrection.  Here are their talking points:

• Judas agrees to betray Jesus...for coins
• ...the Last Supper...12 apostles.
• Cup...this is my blood.  Took bread...this is my body...broken.
• He tells Peter he will deny Him 3 times.

• Jesus went to Mount Olive.
• Rose from prayer...his disciples were sleeping...get up!
• Crowd arrived to arrest him...Judas moved to kiss Jesus to tip them.
• One apostle struck a servant...cutting his ear.

• Peter was one of the apostles...he swore he didn't know him 3 times.
• Blindfolded him...hit him.  Be a prophet...who hit you?
• Pilate said he is innocent, but the crowd demanded they crucify him.
• Jesus says "forgive them...they do not know what they do"

• Jesus was mounted on a cross with 2 criminals.
• One mocks Jesus...save yourself.
• The other: Jesus has done nothing wrong.  "remember me"
• Jesus says "today you will be in paradise."

• Jesus died, and said "father in your hands I commit my spirit."
• Laid in a tomb.
• Sunday morning...Easter...they went to tomb, and the stone was away
• Jesus body was gone.
• Then, he appeared to his friends and apostles.
• "why do you look for the living among the dead...he is not here...he is risen!"

Where Are You Storing Your Treasures?

We visited Ha Ha Tonka located in the Ozarks of Missouri. 


Robert Snyder designed a private retreat, and construction began in 1905. Snyder died in a car accident in 1906. The building experienced financial & legal difficulties, and later burned in 1942.

Our feature Bible verses included Mathew 6:19:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”  

What are we storing up on earth?  What do we value? Perhaps game stations, iPods, cars, money.  

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

What can we be storing in heaven Your relationship with God? Kindness to others? Are you ready to be held accountable for your time here on earth?

Shall we get rid of all of our possessions?  (No.  But…)

How can we change our perspective---what’s really important?

What are treasures are you storing?  Where are you storing your treasures?

Full Armor of God

We camped this weekend (January 14-16, 2011) at an Armory and had the opportunity to spend Saturday on an army base utilizing their M16 simulator.  Besides trying to "qualify" with our shooting skills, the exercise included a series of "shoot / no shoot" scenarios.  We had to make split decisions based on the rules of engagement.  Are you making great decisions on a moment's notice?  What are your rules of engagement?  


Our scripture for the weekend was Ephesians 6:10-18.  The "armor of God" message was very clear, and I am proud of our Chaplain Aides for producing Sunday morning's chapel service with 50 scouts and 15 parents in attendance.   


Quinn's illustration was very real.  In one corner of the armory, there was a fully armored Humvee.  The bulletproof glass must have been over 2-inches thick.  It was armored throughout to withstand an attack.  In the exact opposite corner, we see Mr. Foster's minivan.  Not much armor on that family truckster!  


Which would you like to take into battle?  Silly question, right?  You need the full armor of the Humvee to survive out there.  The Apostle Paul's God-breathed letter to the Ephesians says it clearly:  If we want to survive out there in our real world, we need to put on the "full armor of God."  Quinn encouraged us to be in the spirit, get to know our God, pray frequently, and read his Word.  


What are your battles that you're facing each day?  What are you doing in your own life to put on the full armor of God?  

You Versus Yourself

Our November 2010 camp-out brought us to Watkins Mill.  A popular beer commercial declares "tonight, it's you versus yourself."  Sounds like a strange struggle?  Reminds me of the Apostle Paul.

The message we selected for this chapel was based on Paul's letter to the Romans as he outlined his own struggles with sin in Romans 7:14-24.

Paul admits that he does what he shouldn't, and he doesn't always do what he should.  Like the Apostle Paul, we can struggle daily with our fight to be reverent scouts and fulfill our duty to God.  What decisions are you making daily that represent that fight?

Our worship music included Chris Tomlin's Amazing Grace and Kutless' What Faith Can Do.


.

What Seed Are You?

October 2010's camp-out placed our troop on a farm in Kansas. We were reminded of the Parable of the Sower as told in Mathew 13:1-23. In the parable, a sower dropped seed on the path, on rocky ground, and among thorns, and the seed was lost; but when seed fell on good earth, it grew, yielding thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.

During our preparation and during chapel, our scouts discussed the parable and related the story to life as a scout. What are the thorns in your life that choke your effort to be a reverent scout? How do you manage your soil and conduct your life so that you can execute your duty to God without getting tangled?

What seed are you?


.