Here I am
About this blog
Brian Frick is the Associate for Camp and Conferences Ministries with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has been involved in camp and conference ministry since high school. For the past ten years, Brian has served as program director of Johnsonburg Center in New Jersey, Westminster Woods in California, and Heartland Center in Missouri.
Camp and conference ministry compliments and partners with other ministry aspects of our church to foster faith development and reflection. As our communities and our church changes, our ministries need to grow and adapt with creative and emergent programming and leadership to meet new realities.
These blogs entries, though varied, are intended to spur thought and conversation around the opportunities and challenges before us.
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Pinch Me!
It's been slow on the blog and I apologize but with relatives from out of state and then a whole week of no school (Yes, the boys are still talking about it!) for snow - it's been a bit nuts around here.
One thing I did get to do and actually did again last night, was see the Avatar movie. If you haven't seen it, think Fern Gulley, Star Wars, Alien, and a romance novel all rolled into one. It is amazing. The plants light up and move, the animals all have 6 legs and the "people" are about twice as big as we are. 
But this post is less about the plot and more about the Computer Generated Graphics (CG). James Cameron (Titanic, Terminator, Aliens, etc) created and directed a film unlike anything you have seen it as far as computer creating a "new reality" that you are emmersed in from the moment you sit down. The two things that stood out to me were the "realism" of the movie. Nothing looked out of place, or like it was made in a Hollywood basement - it looked "real" in a new way.
Add to that the 3-D effect (which was also done in a completely new way so your eyes followed the plot and you didn't get "3-D fatigue" like in past 3-D films.) It was stunning and compelling and a "game changer" as my brother in law who works in films told me. He told me that this would be the film others would be judged against, just as Star Wars was in the '70's.
Why am I telling you this? Well it made me think of my kids, as most things do! What will their expectation of reality, of entertainment, of their daily lives be like going forward? If we can create alternate universes, what's next and what will become "normal?"
And then I started thinking about our ministry (which usually follows me thinking about the boys!). In a world of "Avatar" entertainment and rapidly changing realities - where do we stand? Do we stand in opposition to this reality "get back to basics - live simple - avoid overindulgence." Or do with the flow and assimilate (3-D MADD camp?!) Just kidding - but maybe we will be creating bigger and better activities, more thrills, more more more - to get the kids to come to camp, then teach them about Jesus. The third alternative is to stand as a counter-point to the new reality - a place of rest, renewal and escape. To experience simpler living in a way that empowers children and adults to re-enter that "new reality" charged and in touch with their real soul - their real understanding that they are loved for who they are, not for what they do because they are children of God. God loves them unconditionally and charges them to carry that love with them into the world, helping, feeding, clothing, comforting, and inviting others to walk along "the Way" no matter what reality that person they are interacting with is living in.
Lots of time for thinking - and an amazing movie that I highly recommend you all see.
Pinch me! Ouch!
- Posted at 3:26 p.m.
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