How do you picture "God's Camp"?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

A couple days ago someone asked me if I wanted to be in God's Camp. After thinking about it for awhile, I responded, "no"..... In my view, God's camp is a deserted wasteland where, if there *are* any people, they are skeletons - long ago deserted and dead. There's no happiness there. There's nothing friendly there. There's no flowers blooming and no trees sheltering from the wind. Maybe a few vultures circling in the sky. But that's my inner view of "God's Camp." Sort of like this:

Can anyone relate to what I feel, or does everyone have some other view of what being in "God's Camp" means?

[Gail]

My goodness! Not at all! My view is a complete 180 degrees!

[Woody]

How sad. Not that I fault you. Many have wrong perceptions of God. It's not their fault. It is OUR fault. We have some how failed you Pam. I hope that you will give God and us as His representatives ... a chance to make it right.

[cricket]

Can anyone relate to what I feel, or does everyone have some other view of what being in "God's Camp" means?

A song that often reverberates in my head:

Heaven and Hell, I know them well

But I haven't yet made my choice

I'm feeling dead 'cause I'm shouting loud

And no one can hear my voice

Walking the tightwire, can't look down

Strung out high, above you all

Fateful wind blows through this land

Howls my name, heralds my fall

Over this land

All over this wasteland

Over this land

All over this wasteland

~Mission U.K Wasteland lyrics

[Gail]

Pam, think about our Half-Step Denise. She was in God's camp...

((( Pam )))

[Raphael]

Right Rudywoofs,

The rigidity of the last and remaining church of this end of days may be as awfully described in your poetic blithe concentration camp portrait. (Is that a Nazi camp image you are posting?). You know, always on the look out or on alert for something un-right when its inescapably all around everyones lives, but then it may be helplessly like that, right?

No ones trying to live where everyone behaving like Paul's great act.. 'release me from this jail of flesh'.. or in the latest state of the art prison made of fear.. fear of people's opinions, fear arising from insecurity or simply can't be their dear selves for what ever reason.. yup, very depressing indeed.

I think it must be only professional skill that can tune the ability to accept and live with sin and in the same time work fully progressively against it... quoting verses have shown their ineffectiveness..

..there should be new faculties of Theology, one for the pure studies and another for the applied studies which would mean a lot of added things.. you know, just like others..

But, then I am not really sure of what I am talking about..

Cheers,

Raphael

[Lineman]

I picture God's camp as being the most awesome places in the universe. Maybe kind of like this picture, but ever changing 'cause there is never an end to His creativity and design:

It seems to me that when we are talking about God's Camp verses the Devil's Camp we are really talking about "freedom", so picture this illustration. Try to imagine the largest flat space you can. Envision the center area fenced off with a one way fence. Once you get into the center (This is where we all start.) you cannot get out, unless you ask God to help you (surrender to Him).

In this center we see all sorts of things the Devil has made that appeals to the visual/physical appitite but that are not good for us. In fact, if you take a closer look you see that in the very center of this area (circle) there is a venturi/funnel (like water spinning as it goes down a drain) that is pulling everyone into the deepest pit you have ever seen (death).

This is all quite unnoticed by most people as they go about their daily life, but those who cry to the Lord for help will be placed (by God) outside of the oneway fence, which is seen to be anything but flat space.

Outside the "fence" you and I have complete freedom to go and do anything we would like to do. (In fact, we are even free to return through that oneway fence and die if that is what we want.) Just think of the places in the entire universe you can go visit and the things you can see and learn about there. Think of all the good stuff you can eat and drink. Think of all the people you will get to meet who really care about things. Think about being able to not just see Jesus, but visit with Him.

Each speck of light in this picture is at least one sun and some of them are actually thousands or even billions of suns. Think of all the "planets" that must be in orbit around each of them and ask yourself:

"What has God created out there that I know nothing about?"

"Why did He create so much for me to enjoy if He does not want me to be happy?"

"How long will it take me to visit just the ones in this picture (though I can't see them) if I were to spend a day on each one?"

That's REAL freedom my friend. That is God's Camp and you and I can live there, forever. Praise the Lord!