Every evening on the trip, we sang several hymns or songs, and then Craig gave a short message from the Bible. Craig is very good at this – I like what he has to say. Here is how the (explicit) spiritual life of the trip went:

Sunday night: Even on the first night, Craig was ready. Way to go, fearless leader! We sang a few songs, but I was fighting one of my classic I-did-not-drink-enough-today headaches, so I don’t remember what they were. I’m not even sure if I sang (I think I did). The songs were simple arrangements all week – either solo guitar (except for Friday night when we had one duet) or a capella. It was nice.

Craig taught out of Isaiah chapter 1. This is a chapter where God rebukes the people for bringing sacrifices to him without knowing him or heeding him. God points out that even animals know their masters, but Israel does no know God. From these verses, Craig pointed out that you can be doing religious things that are right and good, but if your heart is not right with God, then God rejects them. Religious activity with a wrong heart is worthless.

Monday night: We sang three songs. I was feeling much better this night! Craig started his talk by explaining the concept of mythos – (related to myth) – mythos is the collection of stories that we see the world through. We all have a mythos. In America, it can be the mythos of rugged individualism, or consumerism, etc. Craig shifted gears and locations to Narnia for a minute. He explained that in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the children have to flee London because of the war. The war is a large part of their mythos. When the children go through the wardrobe into Narnia, Narnia becomes their mythos. The war fades almost entirely away, but Narnia is very real. When the children get back to their world, the Narnia mythos does not fade – most of the children remember and are influenced by Narnia their whole lives. The Narnia mythos is more real than the London/war mythos – it spans worlds.

Craig then brought it back to us here in America. He asked if the American mythos is portable. It is to a certain extent – I can eat at a Burger King in Singapore if I want to. I do not have to engage the local mythos at all. The next question to ask: is the American mythos global? It is, in that we have influence around the world, but it tends to be self-centered.

Scripture is portable (it crosses culture), and it is global in a real sense. It shifts “me” to “we” or “you,” and it shifts the mythos from “me” to God. The entire worldwide church is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. When one member of the church suffers, it should affect all of us. Our mythos needs to be rooted in the real mythos of God’s perspective.

Jonathan Edwards said something to the effect of “Until you see something of the holiness of God, you cannot love God.” This tied back to Sunday’s teaching – you can not be devoted to God until you see something of his holiness. If God is one of many things you are devoted to (like one flavor of ice cream out of several you like), then you will not be devoted to God.

In Isaiah 6, Isaiah receives his call. He sees a vision of God, and he realizes “…I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King…” God then does something extraordinary – he cleanses Isaiah with a coal from the altar. This is not how things normally work in Isaiah’s time – there is normally no cleansing of sin without sacrifice. It is a moment where God shows his authority and sovereignty over sin.

From a mythos point of view, Isaiah realizes he is a part of his people – he is not isolated (the “people of unclean lips”). The mythos of God is more real, though – God cleanses Isaiah, and commissions him to speak to the people. Isaiah’s life is far from easy from that point, but his mythos is real. The tumultuous political situation of Isaiah’s day was less real than the mythos of God – the only successful king of Isaiah is Hezekiah, who trusts in God and all of Judah is saved as a result. The other kings who trusted in Egypt or other political alliances were put to shame.

When we can worship God or worship ourselves, we should worship God. We are not good at playing God, and nothing takes the place of seeing God.

Tuesday evening: Craig gave the group an opportunity to share what was going on. Some things that came up:
– college decisions were becoming clearer
– students felt accepted by the larger group on this trip, even if they were not close friends at school
– we were encouraged to continue to be kind to Dave, a volunteer on the job site, and to pray for him and share the good news if possible
– it is a tough thing to give over your future to God
– one student expressed interest in a life of service
– it was noted that some people were coming out of their shells
– the trip was hard, but with the group it was easier to get through
– we were applauded for being positive and encouraging

Craig talked about how Isaiah talks a lot about God’s messenger. Many of those verses are understood to talk about Jesus, but Craig says that does not let us off the hook. Since we are to imitate Jesus, we need to be messengers too. The basic message is that God has come and is coming again.

We looked at Isaiah 34 and 35. Chapter 34 shows the world under God’s judgment – wherever God is not is desert. Chapter 35 looks ahead to God’s way – the way that rises above the desert, and is smooth and straight.

Our message is about what God has done, what God is doing, and what God will do. We should live in hope (for the smooth way of God). Are we being transformed by the life God gives? By our hope?

Wednesday night: We sang a few songs and then took a few requests for hymns. Craig read this:
Psa 127:1 Unless Jehovah builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless Jehovah keeps the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.

It was late, and Craig said it would ironic to read about God giving rest and then keep us up with a long message, so he let us go to sleep.

Thursday evening: We sang four songs, and then had a share time again.
– encouraged to show love to Dave
– devotions can be hard, but the student could not sleep the previous night and spent the time praying, and it was good
– one student said that her close freinds were not on the trip, but that things had gone well – we can all get along as fellow Christians
– it is good to get to know people on the trip
– one of the chaperons shared how proud she was of the kids; it was echoed by two other chaperons
– we were commended for being easy to work with and for being encouraging
– a student described herself as critical, but this trip was helping with that
– when you come to the end of youself (as early as day one), you turn to God
– it is easy to “go back into yourself” – old habits
– we are called to greater things – must rely on God
– trips break up routine and schedules – makes faith come alive again
– the chaperons were applauded for being good examples of servants
– the adults can be talked to and really care
– encouraged to share the good news with Dave if an opportunity came up
– we choose to get along and to serve God (it is a choice)
– we are probably fulfilling what the CVCA founders had hoped for – living in community and looking to serve
– why wait until the end of senior year to build community?
– this week looks like the early church – all things held in common and helping each other
– looking ahead to “real life” can shortchange high school relationships

Craig reminded us about mythos and devotion. The trip was not about CVCA or Battle Creek; it was not about demolition; it is about the heart. Life is where the Lord is; otherwise, there is desert. We share and walk together. God has come and is coming.

We looked at Isaiah 61. We were reminded to imitate Jesus, and to give beauty for ashes, and to change mourning to joy. The ashes point was well taken in that we were dealing with ashes and dust all week in demolition.

Friday evening: We sang five songs and shared again.
– I shared how I was impressed at how hard the kids worked
– a student that struggles with negative thoughts had been positive and peaceful all week
– one student shared how her grandfather had died the night before the trip began, and the trip was helping her to deal with that
– this trip was a chance to implement spiritual change; God is God, and we are not
– it was shared that Dave was saved three months ago
– it was shared that some out of our team got to meat Juan and his two daughters; they were putting in “sweat equity” in working toward a Habitat home

Craig shared that in Isaiah 54 and 55, we see the world as it really is (God’s mythos). We have hope – God is married to us. We would not cheat on our spouse, so why do we cheat on God? Why are we not more devoted?

God cares for his people. We have a heritage (as messengers). God owns us and values us. We are unconditionally loved. Isaiah gives us a vision of the desert blooming – of briars giving way to juniper.

In addition to these evening times, we had brief messages from the students at breakfast. I did not have my notebook at breakfast, so I cannot relate the details.

Many thanks to all who gave time and talent to helping the group worship, and many thanks to those who shared.