SPEC 2004

COURAGE TO BE




Saturday - July 31

This morning we gathered for our final celebration. We shared in singing, testimonies, and a final challenge. Delegation leaders gathered together to sing a song to the campers. Campers streamed out on the floor for a final round of goodbyes.





Buses, vans, and cars are being loaded for the short or long drive home. Some delegations are headed for the airport. Goodbyes are being said and hugs exchanged. With the end of the mornings closing Celebration, SPEC has ended for another year.





My thanks to Seventy Bob for sharing his reflections on SPEC in his daily reports.



It has been my privilege to share visual images of SPEC with all of you.



Next year, SPEC reports will be here

Blessings to each of you!

Jim



SPEC photo albums are at ImageEvent.com/JimDoty.

You may download photos in the SPEC albums for your own personal use as screen savers or to make prints for yourself. 8x10 and larger prints are available from the photographer. For pricing information go to JimDoty.com and send an email.

Friday Evening Photos
























A lot more SPEC photos are here.

Friday Afternoon Photos
















A lot more SPEC photos are here.

Friday - July 30

Good Morning Readers,

Today is the last full day of SPEC for 2004 (and no biscuits and gravy for breakfast yet? What's up with that?) It's been an awesome week. Yesterday the tournaments for the sports competitions began. All week the teams have been playing to find the closest level of competition for each team. As teams win or lose in the pool play they are slowly grouped with teams of similar skill and win-loss records. Then when tournament play really begins, that last two days, there is an even chance for each team to win a gold or silver medal. After yesterdays play, several of the Rockies teams won, and are going to be playing for the Gold medal today. GO ROCKIES!! Sorry, but I never claimed to be unbiased.



In our Leadership class yesterday we were reminded that mirrors can reflect accurately, or like a fun house mirror, very distorted. The campers were challenged to find for themselves true mirrors in which to see their reflection. Good friends, pastors, youth ministers, parents, and of course, God, can be mirrors of true reflection. A clip was used from one of the Harry Potter movies that has become one of my favorite quotes. Dumbeldor catches Harry looking into the mirror of desires. A mirror that only shows one what they want to see. Dumbeldor cautions Harry from spending time there by saying, "It does not do well to dream . . . And forget to live." A similar thought says, "No one can go back and create a better beginning, But anyone can start from today and create a better ending." Wise counsel I believe.



Yesterday, along with sports, the campers participated in a talent show. A brief overview of just some of the talent included, bands, vocal groups, solos, magic, instrumental, dance, and some very creative comedy with sleeping bags and hooded sweat shirts. I'm not sure I could articulate it in a way that would truly show the comedy. Ask me in person if we cross paths.



The evening ended with a Communion Worship on the lawn in front of the Library. Over One Thousand of us, sitting on the lawn was quite reminiscent of some of the Bible stories of Jesus ministering to crowds of thousands sitting on hillsides. In this instance, the President of the Community of Christ, Grant McMurray spoke, and ministered to the gathered crowd.



A drama helped to put us in the days of Jesus and the feeding of the several thousands. Andrew first, then others ran to Peter excited about the feeding and the extra baskets. Each basket of communion emblems was then blessed and distributed among those of us sitting there. The imagery was pretty cool, and added to the Worship experience.



Today is the track meet this morning with various events like sprints, races, relays, discus, shot put, hurdles, etc. Also this morning is the swim meet with single events, team events, relays, etc.



This afternoon we will finish up all the sports events and medals will be awarded at the end of each event.



Tonight is the Extravaganza. This year, the campers will be performing, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat." This event is always a highlight of the week as campers work hard all week to present a musical on the last night of SPEC. Campers attend Extravaganza as their two daily classes, in the morning, after the Leadership Class. Tonight is also the dance. And, as you can imagine, this too is a highly anticipated event. Almost everyone looks forward to the dance.



As you can see it's a busy day. Tomorrow we have one final delegation worship, the final Closing Ceremony, and we pack and start the long (or short) drive home. As faithful readers, we can use your prayer support during the drive home time. Campers are tired and sleep a lot on the drive home (a good thing), Staff are tired and sleeping on the way home is not a good idea. The Rockies arrive in Denver at approx. 11 pm tomorrow (Sat) night. Many will spend the night in Denver and drive on to home, or be picked up on Sunday.



If time allows I may try to put together a final reflection at this site. If not just check out the incredible photos from Jim's website, ImageEvent.com/JimDoty, and Blog Spots. As always it's been a treat to offer this joint project to try to keep you connected and feel a part of such an important activity in the life of our young people and their staff. I commend Jim for his hard work and diligence at putting together such a quality project.

As always it been a joy to be your SPEC reporter,

Bob




More photos will show up here and at the album site over the next few days, including photos from the Track Meet, Swim Meet, and Closing Celebration. SPEC albums will show up here.

Friday Morning Photos

Here are a few photos from Friday, including the track and swim meets. You can see the rest here.

Thursday - July 29

Good Morning Readers,

It's yet another cool wonderful morning here at SPEC. Sleep-in
morning. No Morning Celebration today and so the campers and staff can
sleep in. First activity is delegation meeting at 8:45, then Leadership
Class at 9. The other staff, in my room, and the campers, took full
advantage of the extra z's. This reporter spent a quiet morning of
meditation and contemplation.



During my quiet time I asked myself, "What is it about SPEC that is
such a draw? Why do so many come year after year?" As I ponder the
reason that so many campers come back for three years, and then come
back as soon as they're twenty-one, as staff, and so many staff come
year after year I have, for me at least, one possible answer.
Relationships, friendships.



Sure the sports is ok, but certainly not the quality and competition
that the real sports jocks are used to. The classes are fun,
enlightening, challenging, but often not different than one might find in their
own congregation or VCS. The food is ok, but certainly not good enough
to leave home for.



No, I think it the relationships that the campers have with each other,
and hopefully with the staff that draw them. Each year as soon as we
begin to fill this campus, the sounds of joyous reunions, and often
startled revelations fill the air. "How have you been?" "What's
new?" "How's so-and so?" "Have you seen . . .?" "No way,
I would have never recognized you." I haven't seen you in. . ."



Scripture tells us that in the very beginning, God recognized it's
not good for us to be alone. That we need helpers to get us through
life. That we need each other. And so we gather and re-gather to those
places where we find community. SPEC is community. Support,
affirmation, love, acceptance, communion, occasionally accountability.



In an old song by The Cars, called "Who's gonna drive you home
tonight?" the song asks, Who's gonna be there when you fall?, Who's
gonna be there when you scream? Who's gonna hear you when you call?
And, Who's gonna tell you when you've gone too far? One answer to
those kinds of questions is SPEC. SPEC is the community for young
people where they can ask and answer those questions from a much larger
perspective.



At SPEC jocks and nerds mix. Hotties and not-so-hotties mingle.
People from different cultures, races, countries, orientations, ethnicities,
religions, and other diversities, come together into community. The
Community of Christ. For one week we put aside differences and just be.
Together, joined, connected. We are mostly open, mostly honest, mostly
real.



I am enough of a realist to know there must be some who go home after a
week, who would offer a very different perspective. And for that my
heart aches. But for the majority, it is the camaraderie that calls. As
you contemplate the communities in which you interact (family, work,
school, whatever), I would encourage that you ensure that at least one of
those communities fills, for you, the role of companion; one who comes
along side to help you in your walk. A community that strengthens you
and sharpens your vision of what can be, and who you can be in the
community. A community that offers you the chance to become all that God
has created you to be. A community, that not only helps you recognize
the gifts that God has given you, but offers you a place to use those
gifts of ministry in service to others. And that you would use your
influence to make sure that the communities in which you live and work and
play are those kinds communities of love and support for others.



May God bless us as we work to become Community of Christ.

Seventy Bob



SPEC photos are here.

Wednesday - July 28

Greetings Readers!

I have not yet received the daily SPEC report from Seventy Bob for July 28, but it has been a very busy day. I will post his report as soon as I receive it. In the mean time, the latest SPEC album has just been uploaded and you can look at the photos here.

Here are a few photos from Album 4:












Blessings to each of you!

Seventy Jim

Tuesday - July 27

Good Morning Readers,

It's another glorious day here at Graceland University, in beautiful
downtown Lamoni. The locals, and the veteran staff, have a hard time
remembering a lusher, greener SPEC than this one. The combination of
rain and cool weather has been wonderful. And the cool weather seems to
be trying to hang on tenaciously. GO COOL!!!



Breakfast today was eggs, sausage, shredded potatoes and fruit, juices,
bagels and a choice of cereals. Breakfast includes fellowship and
conversation along with the food. The later into the week we get the fewer
breakfast eaters we have and the later the rush to get something to eat
quickly and get to Morning Celebration.



Today I want to highlight some of the classes offered to the young
people in the morning. The first class is a leadership class that
delegations attend as a unit. After that each camper is free to pick from a
slate of offerings. The camp is split into fifths and each day the
leadership class is offered to one fifth of the entire camp. By the end of
the week each camper and staff has attended all five leadership theme
classes. So the theme class for any given delegation may be ahead or
behind the daily camp wide theme, which today is "Courage to Belong".




Today, this reporter attended the "Courage to Believe" theme class
with the Rockies Delegation. Those leading the class talked to the
campers about how to develop specific beliefs; articulate those beliefs,
defend those beliefs, and assimilate those beliefs into daily life.
After discussion and instruction the group gathered into groups of three
or so and asked to share personal beliefs in the small group setting.
My group got to share about two each. Then, each camper was given a
fortune cookie with a special fortune inside.



These fortunes contained statements that are spiritual in nature. Mine read, "I believe in the absolute oneness of God, and therefore also of humanity." Those
willing to come forward were asked to read, and sometimes re-read their statement until they seemed to be reading it with the conviction of belief. It was an electric experience.



Afterward campers were invited to come again to the mic and share their own personal statements of belief. The young people of the Community of Christ are a strong and gifted group with vision and conviction. This reporter believes we are in
good hands.



Other class options that the campers can participate in are as diverse
and varied as the people who teach them, and cultures they come from.
Amateur Radio Licensing, Celebration and Worship, Intro to Scripture,
Hip-Hop Dance, Music, Yoga, Pilates, Gourmet Cooking, Ceramics,
Quilting, Stone Carving, make choosing a campers classes a hard choice.



Tomorrow we will highlight another facet of the SPEC experience. Until
then may we each seek the Courage to Believe, along with the Courage to
Belong.

Seventy Bob


John Rush, the Human Jukebox, performs at a Monday night concert.

SPEC photo albums are here.

MONDAY - JULY 26

Hello SPEC Fans,

Well, things are really underway here at SPEC. Classes, sports competitions, friendships, "relationships", cheers, tears, hugs and bugs. The wonderful cool temperatures are slowly being replaced with warm. Sigh!! It was good while it lasted.



Every morning after the gourmet breakfast (scrambled eggs, waffles, and ham today) the whole camp gathers in the gym (which closely resembles an old conastoga wagon without wheels) for the morning celebration.



Today's theme is "Courage to Believe", and I would add to that, the courage to act on your beliefs. Morning Celebration is a mix of music, worship, testimony, and information and ministry.



Today, during Morning Celebration, we were visited by Sean Touhey and his brother Brendan. Sean had the desire to be a professional basketball player after college. Life offered him a different choice. Today he heads up an organization called "Play For Peace". In countries like Northern Ireland and Africa, Sean and his organization are using his basketball skills to teach large groups of kids how to play together instead of fight. Catholic and Protestant kids. Rich white kids and poor black kids. Helping to promote peace in a generation of young people before the culture can teach them to hate. Another major facet of the work in Africa is Aids Education. Using music and sports, Sean is able to get young people to talk about Aids and hopefully understand the cause of the spread of the disease. Sean had the courage to believe, he acted on that belief, and he is changing the world one small neighborhood and village at a time.



Today at SPEC in a totally unprecedented way, and following the model of Sean, during each sports competition the teams will exchange some players and we will be playing with, instead of against opposing delegations. It will make for interesting play today.



Day 2 - later. The experiment went very well today. The mixed teams played together well and everyone this reporter watched seemed to have a good time. Admittedly, if a team or delegation are in the more competitive brackets, and wanting to play for the gold, as it were, they might not like the idea. But for a one day experiment, and since we're still in the pool play, which help in the bracketing, I think everyone had a good time.



As the competitions begin to draw to a close, and the campers gear up for the evening activities, the sports attire is exchanged for more social dress, and the dating rituals begin to be acted out.



After the evening activity the campers will retreat to their respective dorms and the delegations will spend a little time debriefing the day and share in a closing devotion. This reporter is in charge of evening devotions for the Rockies boys, and I am always pleased by the depth of sharing of some of our campers. Tonight we will ask the campers to discuss how they are seeking the "Courage to Believe" and how they can put their belief into action. A good question for any of us to ponder.



Until tomorrow this is SPEC reporter, bob saying have a glorious evening, and don't forget to catch the accompanying photos by photo journalist and brother, Jim Doty at http://imageevent.com/jimdoty (As faithful readers of this column you know Jim as photographer extrodinaire!!

Seventy Bob





SPEC albums are here.

SUNDAY - JULY 25

Hello Faithful Readers,

It's summertime in the great city of Lamoni, Iowa, and people are gathering from all parts of the country , and "nether regions", to attend an arts, sports, and leadership youth camp called SPECTACULAR. SPEC, as it's lovingly called by those who know it well, is an annual pilgrimage, and both youth and staff travel miles and miles to attend. Some travel hours, some travel days. Some drive, some fly, some just ride. But when the migration is complete approximately 1200 campers and staff arrive in Lamoni to participate in the event.



Geographic areas of the Community of Christ, called Mission Centers, all bring delegations of youth and staff to learn, worship, fellowship, and compete in sports competitions. The mornings are filled with a wonderful variety of classes and activities. The afternoons are devoted to sports competitions between the various teams. Volleyball, basketball, soccer, softball, and a host of track and individual sports offer a type and level of competition for all present.



Each delegation designs a team T-shirt with the color and design of their choice. One of the interesting things of note to this reporter is that the first day a spectator will see large groups of same color shirted people moving about the campus of Graceland University, where the activity is held. But in less than a day one sees moving rainbows as the campers and staff begin to mix and mingle. Lines disappear and colors integrate. The transformation of small cells into community is a colorful and rewarding experience to participate in. Diversity is, after all, what gives any community it's strength and vitality.



"Courage to Be" is the weekly theme, and each day the camp will explore some facet of that theme. Sunday is the "Courage to Begin". Beginning, starting, taking the first step, is hard for many, and courage is necessary for stepping off. A new school, new job, deeper walk with God, a first step on the Path of the Disciple, a decision to forgive, or accept forgiveness, a move toward reconciliation all require courage, which needs to be drawn from some, often unknown of, or untested, well or reservoir. God is the headwaters, the wellhead, the reservoir from which one draws the strength and courage to make the first step.



As we move through the week watch this column for updates and reports on the various activities happening here. And as you seek the Courage to Be, may you also find the strength required for the first step.

Until next time this is your SPEC reporter saying courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving out in spite of your fear. Have Courage!

Seventy Bob

SPECTACULAR BEGINS



SPEC at Graceland University is off and running. One thousand youth from all over North America have gathered for a week of worship, sports, classes, arts, fellowship, exploration, celebration and a whole lot more. Come here for a taste of SPEC in words and pictures. The theme this week is COURAGE TO BE. Each day's worship and classes will develop that theme.



Seventy Bob from Colorado will be writing regular SPEC reports. Seventy Jim from
Ohio will provide photos here and also at an album site. The first album with 50 photos from last night and this morning has already been posted (see the link below).



Look for new posts here on a regular basis.



SPEC photo albums are here.



Seventy Jim

SPEC 2004

SPECTACULAR this year will be July 24-31 at Graceland University, in Lamoni, Iowa. The theme is COURAGE TO BE.

You can also look at reports and photos from last year.

SPEC Reports 2003

SPEC Photos 2003 (scroll down the page until you get to the three 2003 SPEC albums)

SPEC Reports 2002