What makes Kanakuk Fun?

It's no secret that Kanakuk is a fun place to be...but why?

The Wiebe's have always had dogs around kamp and around our house. For the most part, we have chosen to go with yellow labs. However not long ago we had an abrupt ending that left the whole family sad, in fact so sad that we just couldn't look at another lab. After much deliberation, and some expert dog hunting advice, we made a new choice to go with a Golden retriever. Isn't it funny how people get at times when it comes to picking pets?

I'm glad we debated our decision. We have had some great dogs, but this one tops them all.

None have been quite like Jake. He is our new Golden that loves being in the "pack." He never wants to miss a moment of family activity. We know that Golden's are known for being loyal, committed to their master, and always happy to see you regardless of how tough a day has been. He fits those things to the "t"...and by the way, he follows me wherever I go.

This week we are in the midst of hiring our staff for 2011. We have literally thousands of applications we have to sort through, pray over, and make selections of who will be leading kids this summer. It's fun, it's exciting, and it's miraculous.

Much like Jake, taking the time to get the right staff is the first step in summer fun. Seeing the process that happens is amazing and certainly sovereign in God's hands. Watching the Lord line up just the right counselor who will in turn be ready to meet just the right kampers in the cabin is testimony to the Lord's goodness. We could never plan it that well.

It's humbling to watch our staff come along side, much like Jake does, to liven things up, make fun memories, and help add to the laughter that is so prevalent on the fields, cabins, and in the dining halls.

In no time the gates to kamp will swing open and thousands of kampers will be unloading off of buses, suburbans, and cars. The neat part is that they will be greeted by a staff who are loyal, committed to their Master, and happy to be with them no matter what has happened that day. Most importantly, they follow Christ no matter what the situation is (much like Jake follows me everywhere I go).

The secret really isn't a secret when you talk to kamp kids. They will be the first to tell you that the reason this place is so much fun is their counselors. There are lot's of camps around the country that certainly have good staff. By God's grace, we like to think ours is the best yet.

New Year with Old Friends

Since 2011 rolled around, I have been hearing quite a bit about a new year, new diet, new choices, and new national champions. But don't go so fast to get to the new. Old things can be just important...especially when it comes to friendships.

Early on in my work with kids, I had the privilege of living in St. Louis and being the Klife director for five years. It was nothing short of miraculous for me. More than anything, it has proved to have been a season of friendship building that I still enjoy today. I was young, and the kids I worked with were even younger. Now I am starting to get gray hair and they are starting to have their own kids. Many things have changed except the friendship...it's even better.

A new year does always bring new opportunities, but there is nothing like an old friend. Time that I spend with St. Louis folks just seems to get sweeter and sweeter as the years roll by. This past week I had a chance to be in St. Louis on two separate occasions to see Mike and the Bobcats play some basketball. While I was there, it was great to see some old Klifer's. Faithful, fun, encouraging, and even more spirited than our opponents cheerleaders, they came out to support the Wiebe Family, Mike, and cousin Weston (it worked...we had two great wins).

I am always excited to meet and make a new friend, but I am more thankful for the old ones that grow sweeter with time. I intend to make it a point to enjoy those more this year...

Slow Down...Work Ahead

Our new bridge at the end of Lakeshore Drive is taking forever to build. As I rode my bike yesterday I passed through the construction area and a sign flashed, "Slow Down...Work Ahead." "Who has time to slow down?" I thought to myself. Even on my bike I try to pedal a little faster just to see my mph flash on the radar sign. Those nagging signs have been there for months and are just slowing down anyone who drives by.

I was working with one of our staff this past week and had the chance to listen to how crazy their school schedule had been and how little spare time they actually had to be still. It seemed like every second of the day was already preplanned for them. Anybody relate to that one?

Philippians 1:6 says "For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Have you and I thought lately about the fact that we need to slow down our life long enough to allow God to work? After all, we are in the process of becoming more like Christ every day the sun rises, but if our heart isn't set up to be a construction zone, we could be in trouble.

Here are a few things to slow down and check:

• Have you thanked God lately for how He is at work molding and shaping you to be more like His Son? If not, tell Him now and stop long enough to consider His work. We will be a finished product when Christ returns. Until then, be patient and teachable.


• Do you have a time built into your schedule every day where you can sit for a few minutes and be still before the Lord? We all have 86,400 seconds in a day. Some of those should be set aside to be quiet. Schedule and keep it.


• Slow down long enough to recognize that God is at work in you and through you. Don't miss the opportunity to love someone today by just taking an extra minute to ask how they are doing and what you can pray for.

This past week in church, I was reminded of my private disciplines that no one else sees (giving, praying, and fasting). Private disciplines are just what they mean: private...things that no one else sees (or should see). We practice these things without an audience and as we do, we are rewarded by God. The reward is that our faith will grow because we see His hand at work and trust more.

Slow down, there is work ahead in your life. Stop running so fast, look to the Lord, and listen to what He is trying to tell you. He is working at building you into Christ likeness. Shift down, put on the brakes at some point today and consider how God is at work. Don't miss the flashing signs. They are there to help.

He Found a Good Thing

Solomon was right when he wrote, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord."



Will knew when he found something good and he is holding on to it. Will Certain and Nicole Downs were recently engaged to be married. We couldn't be more excited about this dynamic couple and their future together.



Apart from each other, these two KWest staffers have been stellar in their work with kampers and ministry. Together, we all know that they will even be better.



We can't wait for the wedding day. The Lord has certainly blessed these two beyond their wildest dreams! Congratulations.

Kanakuk Mascot

Meet Jake.

Jake will be one of the K-West mascot's this year.
He just turned 6 months today weighing in at a tad over 45 pounds and growing like a weed.

Over the years we have always had a few good dogs to help come along side the staff and the kampers while they stay here. The funny thing about Kwest is that you never know what you will get.

What do I mean by that? Well, Spook (our women's director) is really great about bringing mascots...cats, occasionally a pig, maybe even a baby calf. Among her many talents which include National Championships, PhD work, and real estate, she is also a rancher and does a pretty fair job of raising cattle.

It will be fun to see Jake this summer at kamp. Be ready to at least meet him and say hello. He is the world's friendliest dog.

Even more exciting will finding out what mascot Spook will be bringing. No doubt they are always a "hit."

Kanakuk Green

I rode my bike to work today.

That's not really as big of a deal as it sounds. Lot's of days of I ride my bike to work. I'd like to say that it's because I am thinking Green and considering the environment. I am okay with that, but I wouldn't be telling you the whole truth.

I'd also like to say that ride my bike to work because I am staying fit, you know, doing that athletic thing. I am okay with too, but I wouldn't be telling you the whole truth.

It would be fun to tell you that I ride my bike to work because it's a nice day and I just want to enjoy the outdoors. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice day today, but most days I ride my bike to work it's been cold and windy. If I am completely honest with you, I hate being cold so I definitely don't ride to work to solely enjoy the outdoor air.

Honestly, I rode my bike to work today, well...because I am last on the list for vehicles at our home. By the time I cover the bases for my kids and wife, the garage is empty (except for my bike, a power sprayer, and my favorite lawn mower, and only one of those will really help me get to work).

Really I don't mind though. Honestly, I ride my bike because I love to ride bikes. It's one of the simple joys in life. It takes me back to being a kid at 301 Willow Road, where I grew up riding, jumping, wheeling, and at times, crashing my bikes. It was one of the best things about growing up.

If you haven't ridden a bike lately, dig out your bike, pump up the tires, and take a spin around the block. Trust me, you can get hooked pretty fast. In fact I got a call from Kurt yesterday and I am planning on meeting him at lunch to, you guessed it, ride my bike.

I like being green...

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.

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