This is basically a brain dump after rereading the story of Noah. Sorry that it’s not eloquently written.

It is no secret that the story of Noah was shared in the book Genesis. Almost everyone is familiar with the story. The story of the ark is in Chapters 6, 7 and 8. However, here’s a Joe Roy summary:

• • God needed to hit the restart button on humans
  • Noah was the only decent, Godly man left.
  • God told Noah to build a boat for a flood he would send, flood = button.
  • 2 of each animal approved by God were to be stored on the boat during the flood
  • When the flood came, everyone and everything was wiped out. Except Noah, his wife, his sons, and their wives.
  • Rained for 40 days and 40 nights.
  • Eventually the waters went away and Noah and his family (and the animals) we’re left to repopulate the earth

Well, that’s the basic gist of the story.

Noah can be praised for many things.

Noah was faithful to seek after God’s heart. He was truly the last man on earth who cared about God. Was he perfect? Absolutely not! However, he was (according to verse 6:9) “blameless” “man of integrity” “righteous man” and “he walked with God’. That in itself is praise worthy. Despite what the world was telling him, he choose to take the narrow road that only few will find. He was willing to look past what every one else was doing and where everyone else was going and focus on God. Wow. Would I have that kind of strength? Integrity?

God spoke to Noah, told him to build a boat because he was going to destroy the earth. Water was going to fall from the skies for forty days and forty nights and flood the earth. Destroying all of humanity. Could you imagine the looks on peoples faces when he told them why he was building an ark? What about the rumors that we’re spread? Remember, it had never rained before. Did that stop Noah? Psht no! Did he care what other people thought? Naw. He pressed on towards the goal and only cared about God.

Not only was Noah willing to serve God while being mocked by everyone else. Not only was he able to keep his eyes focused on God when everyone else had taken theirs off. He demonstrated an enormous amount of faith. He had to have FAITH that he could build the ship in time. He had to BELIEVE the two of every animal would find their way to this giant ark. He had to be CONFIDENT that it would rain and flood the earth. He had to have faith to see that God was in control and he would make the seemingly impossible the extremely probable.

Think of the man hours it took to build this boat. Day after day. Hour upon hour. If we’re not careful we find ourselves becoming very negative. We complain when someone asks us to take out the trash at church. When they want us to serve an extra service. We can find ourself saying “really God?”. I bet Noah didn’t complain when he hammered all those nails in. Or when he cut all that wood to make the boat. Or every time he found himself accidently placing his foot in the droppings of one of his new animal friends. Yet, we are okay with dedicating our minimum to his kingdom and expecting the maximum.

Above all of these things, Noah resinates as on of my favorite bible characters for one more reason. He attributed one characteristic that I lack more than any other. The one that I have had to rely on strongly in this season. You rarely hear him recognized for this. Noah was – patient. He waited forty days and forty nights for the rain to stop. He waited 150 days for the boat to rest on the mountains of Ararat (present day Turkey) He waited in a boat for an entire year.

The story recounts that Noah would send out birds to see if the land was dry. The first time the bird returned, meaning that the there was no land for him to rest on. One time the dove returned with a fresh olive leaf in its beak, meaning that it was almost time to leave the boat. Another time he released the bird, and it never came back. This meant that he had found land to rest on. Even though Noah thought the land was dry enough to live on by this evidence, he waited until God told him it was time to depart from the boat.

Wow. Noah was willing to put everything in God’s hands. He waited it out. Even when it seemed safe to mans eyes – he waited. He waited with his family for a year on top of a mountain. He could have gotten off – but he knew not too.

I know that sometimes I wish I was more like Noah, especially in this department. Being content with waiting for what’s next. Being content in my desert waiting for God to lead me out. Being content with waiting in my boat why God prepares me a new world. I want to be confident that God “knows the plans he has for me” and that in this season he preparing me for them. So what if this wasn’t what I expected. I doubt Noah pictured hanging out on a boat for year.

Bottom Line: I wish I was more like Noah. Willing to do whatever. If it means waiting in a boat on a mountain for a year. God is faithful to those who choose to obey.

Hopefully, some of this made sense. Hopefully it blesses you like it did me.

Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalms 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalms 37:7-9  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Psalms 62:1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him

Psalms 62:5-6 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

Lamentations 2:25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.

Extra Information About Noah:

Random: First Major ship builder, second father of the human race

Strengths: Only follower of God in his time. Patient, consistent, obedient.

Mistake: Got drunk and embarrassed himself in front of his children

Occupation: Farmer and preacher

 

So to sum it up: I had a blast at Camp KidJam. 

What an amazing opportunity to see those Kid’s grow over a period of less then 4 days. Believe me, they were not the only ones who grew that week. I was stretched, pulled, and tried more over those four days then I could have imagined. There were those moments where you just felt like you were about to snap. But, then there were those times where you couldn’t wait to get back to the dorm so you could play with the guys. I quickly became the target for the boys in Wing A. But, like I said, I loved it. Luckily the Good moments out weighed the trying ones about a million to one. Some of those kids are so passionate about God and making him known. It just makes your heart smile when that Kid answers a question in small group and you’d never thought about it like that before. They never stopped having fun, and could always make me laugh. 

I had the privilege of being on the other side of the fence. Not only was I blessed by the kids, God placed me in a position where I was able to spend time with some incredible leaders at C3. Being able to eat lunch with, talk with, go into leadership training with these guys was a huge privilege. They are some of the coolest most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met. I’m blessed to have them in my life as role models. If you’ve ever wondered what kind of person God wants you to become, look at the influence who HE surrounds you with. The key word there is “HE”, not to be fooled with the people you surround yourself with. Like I said, it was an amazing opportunity to be surrounded by such awesome men and women of God. I pray one day God allows me to be as cool as them.

Overall, I loved camp. I’ve got stories out the wahzoo about it, some of you have already heard. If not, I’m sure you will. I really hope I get the opportunity to do it again next year.

As most of you know I’ve spent the better part of my High School “career” knowing that I would be attending the self acclaimed “worlds most exciting university”, or the Largest Evangelical College in the world, or their claim to fame and most commonly regarded title “Isn’t that Jerry Falwell’s School?”. I went to Liberty a few times thinking that “God is calling me to begin my independent adulthood right here”. Not a doubt crept into my mind until, All Access 2009. At All Access my mind was was broadened and my eyes were opened to the world of interning. Healing Place School of Ministry to be exact.

 

I’ve spent the past two months trying to decided between the two. HPC or LU. For months I’ve sought after the will that God has for me this Fall. I’ve done it all: prayed, fasted, studied the word, searched the word, sought wise council, you name it, I’ve probably done it. He would never give me a clear answer on where HE wanted me to go. 

 

Most everyone wants the answer to the most FAQ of my past few months. The dreaded “Where you headed in August?”. Most of you just got a simple “I’m going to Liberty University in Lynchburg” for an answer. That of course was my attempt to avoid the more complicated answer. A few of you got the “Well, either Liberty or HPC” and others received “I really… don’t know”.

 

Well, I’ve decided to dedicate the first post on my new blog to revealing the answer. So what is it you ask? “Is it HPC or LU” you ponder to yourself as you stare at the computer intensely. “Is he going to be 3 hours or 13 hours away” as you worry in fear of me leaving. “Virginia or Louisiana” “Lynchburg or Baton Rouge” “Dino Rizzo or Jerry Falwell” “Internship or University”. I’m relieved to say that after much prayer and consideration:

 

I thank God he doesn’t limit us to Multiple Choice questions 

BECAUSE it’s neither A or B but the short answer of ‘Option Three’.

 

More Information to come soon. Don’t want to say too much and possibly regret it later. All you need to know is that I’m 95% sure I’ll be staying in Johnston County come August. It’s an amazing opportunity and NO it’s not JCC. And its the biggest step of faith I’ve ever taken. I can’t wait to share with you how God always opens the right door with perfect timing. 

 

Joe Roy