Living out the gospel on Lookout Mountain...

Taylor, Ryan, Cole, and Ben...some of our utk.ruf guys
working at Alpine Camp this summer.

I've heard a lot about a lot of different summer camps. Unfortunately, I was never interested in summer camp when I was younger, and I somehow missed the boat on being a camp counselor in college, so I have no first-hand experiences myself. I've also heard a lot about Alpine Camp for Boys. Whenever I heard guys talk about Alpine, it was almost with an sense of awe and reverence, which I at first mistook for pride and nostalgia. In addition to a few other camps (most notably Camp Vesper Point outside Chattanooga), Tennessee RUF usually sends a pretty good contingent of guys to work at Alpine each summer, and this summer was no different. We currently have 3 rising sophomores and 3 rising juniors serving as counselors, and 2 rising seniors serving as head counselors.

So on my way to Atlanta for RUF Staff Training this upcoming week, the good folks at Alpine were kind enough to let me stop by today for church, lunch, and an afternoon visit at their mountaintop camp just outside Mentone, AL. Even in just a few hours, I was able to get a taste of why this place is so special to so many guys.

I got there in time for church, which takes place in the open-air gymnasium. Sitting along the back row catching the summer breeze, we visitors watched the boys and counselors reverently file in by age group, while a bugler played some hymns in the background. The Alpine boys and counselors always wear all white to church, along with their camp neckercheifs. It was truly something to behold. Far from normal camp songs, a worship team made up of counselors led the congregation (mostly made up of 7-16 year-old boys) in a variety of hymns, a lot like what we sing in RUF. We also all recited a corporate confession of sin and the Lord's Prayer. Richard Vise, the RUF campus minister at Auburn, is serving as the Alpine camp minister this summer. He preached a phenomenal sermon, very accessible for the younger age groups, but packed with solid biblical truth...and the gospel. These kids were already hearing that the gospel isn't about just "trying to be good," but rather that Christ had already made them new creations, and that's why we obey.

And of course, there were plenty of camp traditions...from the song all the boys and counselors sang  by heart after lunch, to a whole variety of other quirks and customs that were very entertaining (if not a little confusing) to me as a visitor. It was clear, though, how much they meant to each boy and counselor there, and that was cool to see.

After lunch, during the camp rest hour, I was able to spend some time with our Tennessee RUF guys. They gave me a tour of the camp, introduced me to some of their fellow counselors, and told me all about their boys and the challenges that come with living with them in a cabin for a month at a time! It was so encouraging to hear their stories, and see how God is at work in each of their lives. They are exhausted, physically and mentally, but they are learning to die more and more to themselves and live more and more in Christ. They're learning that in order to love these boys, even when they're frustrated and tired and at their wits' end, they must rely solely on Christ, and believe the gospel that Christ died for them when they themselves were enemies.

I read an article a few months ago in World Magazine about camp counselors in general, but more specifically about counselors at Alpine. You can read it here: "The Marrying Kind" The name really says it all...ha! These guys are learning very important lessons that they will ultimately carry into their dating relationships, marriages, and parenting. They're learning more and more about the Bible and the gospel. They're also learning lessons about leadership, love, and service that they will be able to put into play immediately upon returning to campus in Knoxville.

I was very impressed with my visit to Alpine. Their gospel-centered approach to summer camp is not only changing the lives of young boys, but also transforming the lives of the college guys that work there every summer. I must admit, it's an experience I wish I had been able to have in college.

Ben (soph), John (senior, head counselor), Ryan (junior), Cole (junior), me, Cullen (soph), Weston (alumni, former counselor), and Davis (junior). Not pictured: Daniel (senior, head counselor) and Taylor (soph)

I'm really proud of our Alpine guys, but I'm also very proud of all our students and everything they're involved in this summer. We have guys working as counselors at Camp Vesper Point and Victory Ranch, girls working at Camp DeSoto (the girls equivalent to Alpine, also in Mentone). We have students involved in inner-city ministry in Memphis and Nashville, working as youth interns in churches, coaching swim teams, and doing overseas missions in places like Costa Rica, Haiti, and South Africa. (One of our rising sophomore guys, Luke, and his friend arranged their own mission trip to S. Africa, and connected themselves to a ministry over there. Their blog is at http://capetowntotennessee.blogspot.com/) I'm also proud of our students that are working in restaurants and offices and internships, or taking summer classes...as they learn to relate with people and glorify God in their workplaces.

Yes, I'm really proud of our Tennessee RUF students. And yes...I'm ready for them to be back in Knoxville!

Stay tuned for updates from RUF Staff Training this week!

Talking to strangers...

As children, we're always told not to speak to strangers. In general, this is pretty good advice for kids. Just turn on the evening news, and it won't take long to realize why this is good advice. Kids don't have enough life experience to be able to sort out safe situations from threatening ones. Unfortunately, too many of us have carried this lesson with us into adulthood. "Don't talk to strangers." Sometimes it's out of a subconscious (or conscious) concern for our safety, sometimes it's to preserve our comfort zones, but maybe even more often, we see it as a public service. "They don't want to be bothered by me..." 

I could go off on a tangent here about how my generation will publish the most intimate (and inane) details of our lives on the internet for countless unknown strangers to see, but avoids talking to strangers in person at all costs.

But when it really comes right down to it, we are too preoccupied with ourselves. I am too preoccupied with myself. I'm either thinking so highly of myself that I don't want to be bothered by someone else, or I'm thinking so low of myself that I'm afraid of bothering someone else. In so isolating myself, I miss out on the incredible (and sometimes messy) joy of sharing with, learning from, encouraging, and being encouraged by those around me.

This is something we learned a lot about in Chicago with Sunshine Gospel Ministries. We rode the El Train from one end of the city to the other, with no other goal than to strike up conversations with strangers. Both times I've been, it's been an eye-opening experience. But both times, I've returned to Knoxville and retreated right back into my self-insulated bubble.

Last night, however, as I sat in my favorite coffee shop in Knoxville, I was lobbed a slow pitch...and I finally swung. I take no pride in this whatsoever. As you'll soon see, a 3rd grade T-ball pitcher could have put more zing on his fastball than this.

I was sitting in my normal, comfy chair, drinking Remedy's delicious Intelligentsia coffee, reading my book...and I was content. There was no one sitting around me. All was quiet. Just me and my book. Then four guys walked in, all dressed nicely, they ordered, and proceeded to occupy the couch and 2 chairs on either side of where I sat. They were clearly all together, and as they began discussing the binders and books they each had, it was clear they were with some sort of Christian group.

I kept hearing "Bible study" and various theological terms bouncing back and forth. I even noticed one of them drawing out the "cross diagram" that I like to use when trying to explain gospel-centered sanctification. On one hand, I was intrigued, but on the other, slightly annoyed. After all, I'm an RUF intern. I deal with this stuff all day. I was just wanting to get some enjoyable, non-theological reading done, quietly, in my favorite coffee shop, but I found myself in the middle of a theological discussion.

Thankfully (I guess), I have an uncanny knack for concentrating on reading even when there are distractions, so I finished a couple more chapters, and then I decided to head out. But before I got up, I realized (almost dutifully) that I really didn't have a reason not to talk to them. I had managed to ignore them for a good 45 minutes already. I turned and asked, "So...where are you all from?"

So as you can see, if I didn't swing here, I might as well put away my bat, buy some popcorn, and go sit in the stands. My coffee shop, my chair, fellow believers, ministry-minded fellow believers, and for goodness sake, they were even using the same diagrams.

I found out they were college students from South Carolina and Florida (one who had even grown up in Destin...right down the road from my hometown). They were in Pigeon Forge for the summer doing a leadership training program with the Navigators, another college ministry like RUF that's on many, many campuses across the country. They were very engaging and told me about their program, and then they kept asking about me. "Wait a second," I think to myself, "I'm the 'ministry staff' person here. I'm the one who initiated this conversation [note false pride here.] I'm supposed to be asking about your life and encouraging you."


Well...as they continued to ask, I shared with them our situation in RUF at Tennessee next year, how we wouldn't have a campus minister, and how it would be my co-intern and I leading things. They asked many more questions, offered encouraging stories of similar situations they had heard of, and then...they asked if they could pray with me.

"What?" I'm thinking, "Right here in the coffee shop?"

"Sure, that'd be great." I said.

One of them then led us in prayer. It was a simple prayer, but sincere. He thanked God that we had met, and he prayed for me, our students, our ministry, and our campus in this upcoming year. He prayed for encouragement for me, and he prayed for God's continued work on UT's campus through RUF. He finished, we all said amen, we shook hands, I thanked them, and I left.

It was a simple encounter. So very simple. It was a simple conversation, and a simple prayer. I decided to speak to them, seeing myself as the instigator...the offerer of encouragement if there was any encouragement to be offered. Instead, these students ministered to me and encouraged me with their concern and love for a stranger, and their desire to pray with and for me and our RUF ministry at UT. It was really powerful, and it left an impact on me.

God's working on my heart, slowly chipping away the hard, self-protective exterior, and teaching me what it means to love. I don't remember their names, but God used these Navigator guys from Florida and South Carolina to teach me about not just talking to strangers, but loving strangers.

The post where my RUF blog turns into a food blog...

[L to R] TOP: Fido--Nashville/Hillsboro Village; Gibson's Donuts--Memphis; Maple Bacon donut from Gibson's; Cheesecake Factory--Nashville; Bongo Java--Nashville/Belmont; the Pharmacy Burger Parlor (creamsicle soda)--East Nashville; Monell's--Nashville/Germantown; Mafiaoza's Pizzeria--Nashville/12th South; MIDDLE: Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse--Nashville/12th South; Holiday Deli and Ham (Pimento Cheese sandwich)--Memphis; Tops Bar-B-Q--Memphis; La Baguette Bakery--Memphis (owned by the father of one of our students); Central BBQ (bbq nachos)--Memphis; Cheeseburger from the Pharmacy Burger Parlor; BOTTOM: Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams (poached riesling pear sorbet)--East Nashville; Republic Coffee--Memphis; Jerry's Sno Cones--Memphis; Watermelon supreme from Jerry's; Brother Juniper's (open-faced omelet)--Memphis; San Antonio Taco Company--Nashville; Family-style homecooked goodness from Monell's; Las Paletas (avocado popsicle)--Nashville/12th South.

Catherine and I just got back from a week-long road trip across the beautiful state of Tennessee, hitting both Memphis and Nashville. We were able to see many of our current students that are home for the summer, meet some incoming freshmen, and soak up some local flavor. Yes, Tennessee is beautiful...and it is also delicious.

But we'll get to the food later.

We had the opportunity to speak to high school and college Sunday school classes at Independent Presbyterian and First Evangelical Church in Memphis. We enjoyed seeing some of our current students at each church, meeting some new ones, and encouraging the Sr. High at IPC to get involved with a campus ministry (like RUF) wherever they wind up going to school. We were thankful to both churches for the opportunity to speak and meet their students.

Dinner at Central BBQ in Memphis

We hosted two RUF events while we were in Memphis for both current and incoming Tennessee students. We had lunch at Holiday Deli and Ham after church on Sunday, and then dinner at Central BBQ on Monday night. We had a great turnout at both events, and after dinner on Monday, most of the group drove over to the famous Memphis spot, Jerry's Sno Cones, to keep the party going (it may or may not have been my 2nd time at Jerry's that day.)

In Nashville, we enjoyed having dinner with the college pastor and college group from Christ Presbyterian at Mafiaoza's pizzeria, followed by Nashville Summer RUF across the street at Midtown Fellowship. The RUF staff from both Vanderbilt and Belmont team up to put on weekly RUF large groups over the summer for any college students that are in town. It was great having the opportunity to worship and fellowship with them!

Also in Nashville, we had a dinner at San Antonio Taco Company (affectionately known at SATCO) for current and incoming students. We had another great turnout, and again, the party kept going...this time at Cheesecake Factory.

Dinner at San Antonio Taco Company in Nashville

Our purpose for these events was to catch up with our current students, meet incoming freshmen, and get incoming freshmen to meet our current students. This definitely took place, and we were encouraged by the response! The first couple weeks of college are a crazy time for a freshman, and we were hoping to give them some faces and connections to know when they move to Knoxville in August.

These events were certainly successes, but one of the best parts of the trip was getting to hang out with our current students and friends and experiencing these awesome cities. And by experiencing...yes...I really mean eating. Friends, there are some fantastic places to eat in Memphis and Nashville, and we barely even scratched the surface.

In the top picture, you'll see a sampling of the food and coffee I was able to experience on the trip...and in case any of you happen to find yourself nearby...I have some recommendations below. Granted, these are recommendations from the places I ate...so definitely not exhaustive. [If you were just reading this for the ministry update...or if you hate food and try to have as little joy in life as possible...you can stop reading now.]

Gibson's Donuts, Memphis: Now, I've had a lot of donuts. [collective gasp of disbelief from the audience] But never have I ever had a donut like the donut I ate (it really deserves a much more beautiful verb than simply "ate") at the Memphis staple, Gibson's Donuts. The simple glazed donut was amazing itself...but I had to kick it up a notch and try the Maple Bacon donut. Yes. It's just what it sounds like...maple icing...bits of real bacon on top (picture above). Well worth however many hundreds of calories it packs. They're open 24 hours a day and are super cheap. Do yourself a favor if you're anywhere near Memphis and get a Gibson's donut...or two...[or twelve].

Holiday Deli and Ham, Memphis: Pimento cheese sandwich for the win. 

La Baguette Bakery, Memphis: Owned and operated by Mr. Amagliani, the father of one of our students, and one of the families I stayed with while in Memphis. You might think I'd be obligated to give a good review, but it was seriously probably the best cinnamon roll I've ever had. The icing just kept oozing out no matter where I bit in. The sausage, egg, and cheese baguette was also wonderful. (That was a big breakfast...) 

Tops Bar-B-Q, Memphis: Your classic, old-school, fast-food style BBQ. Definitely one of the best pulled-pork sandwiches I've ever had...and again, I've had a lot. After a disappointing visit to the Commissary last summer, this sandwich restored my faith in Memphis BBQ.  

Republic Coffee, Memphis 

Central BBQ, Memphis: I've heard for years from Memphis locals that Central is the best BBQ, period. I will need to give it another try in order to try their straight-up BBQ (pulled-pork is my standard), but the BBQ Nachos were unbelievable...and I normally don't go for the whole let's-put-a-bunch-of-extra-stuff-in-our-BBQ thing. I will be back. 

Jerry's Sno Cones, Memphis: This is another place I'd heard so much about from Memphians...of course, from the way they talked about it, I half-expected to be dodging bullets to get there, but that wasn't the case at all. Tucked back in an older neighborhood in the northeastern-ish part of town (clearly, these are directions from a non-local), I wound up making the trip twice in one day...it was that good. More flavors than you can imagine, ranging from your standard Cherry, Peach, and Blue Raspberry to your more intriguing Legit, Spiderman, and Wedding Cake. I was told you have to order it "supreme," which means it's served all up amongst some of the best vanilla soft-serve you've ever tasted. I was told correctly. I had the Watermelon Supreme on my first trip, followed by a combination of Peach and John Deere (I don't know what John Deere was supposed to taste like...but it blew me away.) Again...if you're ever in Memphis...Jerry's. It may even be worth a special trip.

Brother Juniper's, Memphis: They said it was the best breakfast in Memphis...and it was pretty darn good. They're famous for their delicious open-faced omelets, and mine did not disappoint. The cheese grits were also fantastic. It was a lot of food...good, good food.  

Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse, Nashville: Awesome name...awesome neighborhood...awesome coffee shop. 

Las Paletas, Nashville: Gourmet popsicles in some pretty wild and wacky flavors. I was convinced to try the creamy avocado popsicle. Surprisingly enough, it was delightful.  

Mafiaoza's Pizzeria, Nashville: I had been to the one in Birmingham before, and it was just as good. They have 2-for-1 Tuesdays, which applies to everything...drinks and pizza slices. Great deal...it would be a little pricey otherwise.

The Perch, Brentwood: Great breakfast spot...and call me a crepe, but those paper-thin pancakes were fantastic.  

Bongo Java, Nashville: Right across the street from Belmont's campus, this place is hipster-central. But that usually means it's going to be good...and it was. Great coffee, and the fancy grilled cheese was wonderful. Really cool spot...even if I felt more mainstream than Mitt Romney walking in the front door. [ha] 

Monell's, Nashville: You need to go to Monell's. It's in an old house in the historic Germantown neighborhood just outside of Nashville's downtown. You pay one flat price ($16), you sit with people you don't know, and you don't order a thing...they just keep bringing out more and more food than you can ever eat or even imagine. The fried chicken was unbelievable, but the vegetables may have been even better. Squash, cream corn, mashed potatos, beet salad, cole slaw...and homemade biscuits with peach preserves. The meats change everyday, but we had chicken...fried and baked, and pork chops. Of course, it was all topped off with a bottomless bowl of banana pudding. Go to Monell's. 

Fido, Nashville: Giant coffee shop in Hillsboro Village, right by Vandy's campus. In addition to great coffee (same as Bongo Java), they have delicious homemade baked goods and a full breakfast and lunch menu. (I had a sesame bagel with smoked salmon and capers...whoa yeah.) 

San Antonio Taco Company (SATCO), Nashville: Also right by Vandy's campus, this place is a staple. The food is great, but it's really the experience that makes it. You fill out a sheet of paper with your order when you walk in the front door (create your own tacos),  and hand it to the cashier who totals it all up. They got a sweet patio too. Every time I'm in Nashville, this is a must-eat place. 

The Pharmacy Burger Parlor, East Nashville: Out in the up-and-coming East Nashville area, this is one awesome place. There's an old-fashioned soda counter, and some of the best, freshest, most delicious burger options you've ever seen. If I hadn't already eaten so much that week, I would've gone with the Farm Burger which featured local TN beef, fried egg, local country ham, and local bacon...with maple mustard. HELLO. The regular cheeseburger I had was impressive enough, especially on a homemade bun. The soda fountain serves up all kinds of phosphates and milkshakes, and the Creamsicle I ordered was ridiculously good. They also had an awesome outdoor beer garden area out back with picnic tables and lights all strung up. Sweet location.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, East Nashville: I didn't think I could make myself eat anything else, but too many people had told me about Jeni's and we were in the neighborhood. I'm glad we made the final stop. I think the chain is from Ohio, but it doesn't feel "chainy" at all. They are not shy with the free samples, and I was impressed with their standard flavors (chocolate, coffee, etc.) and their less standard...like Queen City Cayenne and Goat Cheese with berries. I settled with a lighter option, the poached riesling pear sorbet...I've already used all my adjectives too much...it was very very good.

Are you hungry yet? Good grief, I didn't think I'd ever want to eat anything ever again...ha. But seriously, there is some good food in these cities, and it's not just the food...so many of these places have a lot of local character and flavor. Once I recover from the experience (give me a couple months), I'm looking forward to getting back and hitting some more spots.

Maybe I'll see some students too...if they agree to go with me to Gus's Fried Chicken in Memphis....or Burger Up in Nashville. We'll see.