Date For Obsess 2024 is June 19th-23rd
Theme for this year:
More Than Conquerors: Weapons of our Warfare
1. The Battle of the Mind - Freeing the Mind With Truth
The battles we face day by day often begin in the mind. There is a constant struggle against fear, worry, depression, anxiety, and misplaced self-worth. This is the battlefield, but what can we do to fight against our own mind? One of the greatest bulwarks we have is the knowledge and proclamation of truth. Through discipline of the mind we guard ourselves from relentless attacks. But truth is not just a shield, it is a weapon we can wield to fight back. How can we see the battlefield plainly and discern truth? How can we discipline and renew our minds to resist the enemy’s lies? How can we use truth to break chains of bondage that bind both us and those we love?
2. Though He Slay Me - Praise and Worship
In the midst of our battles we must remember who our Leader is. He is the One who can never be defeated and through Him the war is already won. This is not something we should keep to ourselves; let your allegiance be proclaimed! When facing life’s battles, praise and worship are powerful weapons given to God’s warriors. But not just praise for who God is and what He has done; praise for what He is doing and will do through the hardship that you are facing. We have been promised; “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose”. When something our foe intended for our destruction is instead used as praise to God, the miraculous happens. When we praise and worship God, it destroys the power of our enemy.
3. Power Under Control - Purity and Beauty
In God is fullness of beauty and purity. Yet He reveals His beauty in His Creation. He made mankind specifically to be pure and beautiful as a reflection of Himself. As a result, all beautiful things are hated by the enemies of God, who thus strive to destroy or taint them however they can. As image bearers of God we are responsible to display His beauty in a direct, deliberate way. We must live with care, as our body, mind, and spirit are intimately connected. Deep harm is caused by acts of sexual impurity, self-harm, abusive eating habits, drugs and addictive substances, or so on. What does God intend for our bodies and minds? How does God cleanse our stains, redeem us, and turn our scars into battle trophies? How is the true power of purity and beauty revealed through meekness?
4. Adopted and Ordained - Identity and Belonging
We all belong to something. What, or who, we give ourselves to will ultimately define our fate. The choice is our own to make. Freely giving oneself to Christ brings a complete reorientation of purpose and identity. It requires daily commitment, but results in a miraculous newness of life and mind that will continue as long as Jesus is followed. To truly overcome you must know who you are in Christ and how God sees you. What can we do without Him? What is impossible for us when He is with us? How does this new identity impact our relationship with God and others? How is our identity a weapon in the battles we face?
5. In Quietness and Trust - Rest (Not Relaxation)
“Busy, hurrying, running, working”, these words often describe our lives here in “First World” America. Our foe works hard to keep us distracted. We fill our days with activities, work, noise, entertainment, and accumulation of wealth and possessions. What if we just stopped? That is, intentionally pulled back from the hurrying and gaining to just rest and trust. To simply “be” instead of “do”. God told His people,“In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength”, but Israel’s failure to heed led to their destruction. What is the importance of rest and trust for our soul? How does it affect our ability to face our battles? How can we obtain true rest, not just relaxation?
6. Without Vision, We Perish - Fighting For Others
What are you fighting for? What is the end-goal of your battle plan? Is it all to obtain your own peace and safety? We are called to be MORE than overcomers. In other words when we obtain our own victory we should be reaching out to take others by the hand, fight alongside them, and reinforce them so that they also overcome. The call to spread the gospel of life and freedom is not a suggestion, it is a command from our Lord and Commander Himself. The question is not “Does Jesus want me to be a missionary?”, but “How has He equipped and called me so I can best share the Gospel?”. Then, when we fight for more than ourselves, it directly affects our ability to fight our own battles.
Camp Location
Sullivan, IL
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Contact
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Mailing Address
7501 Brush College Rd.
Woodburn, IN 46806 |