The Big Three: Why Kanakuk's Staff is the Best!

This past weekend was the NBA All Star game. When you think of the NBA, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the players. You think about who is best, who is hot, who is amazing. It‘s the most natural thing to do. You think about who is the best of the best as far as hoop skills.

Most would probably go with Lebron, Kobe, and Dwade. Those guys pop into my mind as elite level players that I would love to watch in live action (no offense to my second big three which would be Dwight, Shack, and KU Alum Paul Pierce). Honestly though, I wonder who I would pick to start a team. Is shear athleticism most important? Is the mental aspect and basketball IQ at the top of the list? What about attitude and willingness to work with others?

As a man who has directed college students for over twenty years and faced the challenge of picking a “team” each summer for Kanakuk staff, I have learned a few things about drafting people. I want to put a staff out on the floor that will win games (so to speak) and all be top notch All Stars.

The most athletic staff are not necessarily my first pick. Huh? Yep, you heard me right. I feel strongly about 3 things that I think are critically important when it comes to doing counselor work, playing basketball, or just navigating life and friendships:

Excellence, Attitude, and being on Time.

Give me someone who will do the job right, and I can go a long way with him. Give me someone who will do the job right and with excellence, and I will put him on my leadership team. Do the job right, with excellence, and help others around him be better, and I will recommend him to be a director.

Once again, the Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful staff to come and serve this summer. We really do have an ALL Star Team at Kwest who will be ready to serve and love our kampers with excellence, an I'm Third attitude, and make those around them better than when they walked into our gates.

I can't wait for summer.

Integrity

As a young child, I remember the 45 minute drive to Abilene, Kansas for President Eisenhower's funeral. He grew up just around the corner from my home town of Hillsboro and was one leader who I believe lived with integrity.


I was home this past weekend visiting with my parents. My dad and I were discussing the years that Eisenhower served as our President. He was also a key leader in our military during World War II and made several very difficult decision's at key times (e.g. the landing for D Day just to name one).

It seems hard to find people of integrity in these days. Listen to what he says about leading,

"The supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office. If his associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other.

I can think of few ingredients more foundational to being a good leader than knowing oneself---and accepting oneself---and feeling secure about oneself inside one's own skin.

The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.


I am thankful that I work for that type of leader here at kamp. I know he needs our prayers every day as he stands before the Lord and leads us.

Kanakuk Staff Leading and Helping Others

When I was in 6th grade, we had our annual opportunity to order books, posters, and other items from our school book club. It was always fun to fill out the sheet and get stuff. One of the posters I ordered is still on my wall in my parents home. It's a little boy dressed up like a doctor with his dog sitting and staring faithfully, wrapped awkwardly with bandages and a thermometer in his mouth. At the bottom of the poster it reads, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."

For an alumni of KU to write about something happening at K-State, you know it has to be really important, very significant, or maybe even world impacting. There's kindness going around the Wildcat population and I think it might meet all of those criterion.

Anna Zeiger, Kwest super star counselor, along with her fellow KSU students, are making a difference on campus. You will need to check out the YouTube video sharing their story. It's important, significant, and is definitely impacting people. I guess there really are some nice folks who wear purple.

Take a minute to watch what's happening. It might just give you a vision for your campus and world.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_npqbMKzHl8

Lots of Snow Flakes and Lots of Kanakuk Enrollment

It's snowing again here in Branson. Lot's of snow.
It's one of those snows where everything looks picture perfect.
The snow is falling at just the perfect speed: no wind, no blowing, just quietly landing and making a masterpiece that looks like an artist planned it "just that way."

It's also getting closer to summer here in Branson and enrollment is speeding up. Kanakuk's summer enrollment picture just keeps getting better by the minute. Last week over 300 kampers enrolled and will begin the process of digging out their trunk and finding those kamp clothes they love to wear during their term (over 150 of those kampers were at K7...and Kwest signed up another 49).

Like snowflakes, each one of those kampers are unique and a little different from the other. They will all end up looking like a picture perfect masterpiece this summer when the gates swing open, the blob is full, and the chuckwagon grill is smoking and full of flavor.

I'm glad we had lot's of enrollment this week. I am also glad that there are lot's of snowflakes falling too. Most of all, I am glad it's one day closer to summer. Bring on some of that good ol fashion heat and humidity.

I am ready to be warm again.

Video Time!

Great News!

This week it looks like we will be mailing out our picture/video packets to all of the campers.

There is nothing better than getting a little mid winter pick up in your mail box to make you think about the summer. In my thirty years hear at Kanakuk, I can honestly say that this year's Movie Tour video was not only my favorite, but I would vote for it as best of all time as far as telling the story about our mission and why kamp is such a great place.

Night after night out on the tour, I couldn't keep myself from watching Tim's work and seeing kampers and staff tell the story about how Christ had changed their life while they were at kamp. It's so fun to watch dozens and dozens share about when their life was transformed. It's humbling and thrilling at the same time.

Be checking your mail box in the next two weeks. We launch the videos February 8th.

Medical Breakthrough: Fat is Good for You

This morning, I drew the short stick at my house and had the privilege of riding my bike to work (no cars left in the driveway and by the way, it's still very cold here). Two things I am certain of as I sit thawing out in my office:

1) during the winter months I am probably one of the few guys in the world who wishes I had more body fat (it's genetic...I don't do much to be this way)

2) I am always excited to hear good news (as a glass is 1/2 empty guy I am blessed with a wife whose sees the glass always FULL).

I like starting my day with a Proverb. Solomon seems to have the right words for any given situation. In Chapter 15 verse 30, he reminds us of a timely word of wisdom. Good news puts fat on the bones.

I like that one. I need that one.

The skeleton structure of my faith is sound. Although over the years of spiritual growth I have suffered from separated joints, deep contusions to major muscles, and even some head trauma (I bring it on thru disobedience), thankfully the foundational skeleton bones of my believe in God's sovereignty have not been broken.

God is sovereign. He was yesterday, He is today, and He will be tomorrow.

That being said, here is some good news about Kwest enrollment that should put fat on our bones:

On the girls side of kamp in our two week sessions Terms 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all full with wait lists. On the guys side of kamp, term 4 is full with a wait list and term 5 only has three spots left. There are also a number of our one week sessions full as well. That news adds thick blubber right where it's needed most.

2010 is a year that I want to wake up EVERY day reminding myself that God is sovereign. That's good news for all of us to consider.