But If Not …those are three powerful words. During the week of Music Camp, June 5-9, our church has the privilege of sharing the story of the men who spoke those words recorded in Daniel chapter 3.
Over 30 years ago, in 1991 to be exact, our church began a tradition with a different twist on “Vacation Bible School,” a week we call “Music Camp.” Jonah, Zacchaeus, David & Goliath, Gideon, Noah, Sermon on the Mount, Esther, Joshua, King Jehoshaphat, King Josiah, and many others have been the stories from the Bible taught during past Music Camps. They were cleverly combined with music to teach young children about God’s love, truth, and faithfulness.
This year’s musical is “It’s Cool in the Furnace!” This particular one is a most beloved favorite of both children and adults. The story includes some of Daniel’s experiences and ends with the amazing deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace.
Our theme verses this week, which will be on the shirts that the children keep, are Daniel 3.16 - 18. When faced with a most CERTAIN death if they did not bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, they replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
Those words “But If Not” are so powerful! They KNEW that God COULD deliver them. They were absolutely sure of that fact. But would He? They really did not know, but they trusted that if God’s answer was “No,” then that would be the best thing. They could have enjoyed the comfort from Nebuchadnezzar for their lifetime if they agreed, but they said “No.”
In this musical, King Nebuchadnezzar is totally confused as he looks into the furnace and the script reads, “He could not understand how or why: Simple! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted their God to be with them, and He was. RIGHT THERE IN THAT FURNACE!”
So, what is YOUR furnace? What are you facing that seems extremely hot, scary, dangerous, uncomfortable, painful, overwhelming, or impossible to come out of? We can KNOW that our God is able to deliver us from it. But If Not… we can still trust that He is in complete control and that He will never leave us.
The way our church serves communion now always strikes me as a testimony. I see all these beautiful people made in God’s image as they come to the table. As I look at my brothers and sisters, I am sure that there have been many “furnaces” that God has seen them through by walking with them in it. We all have “furnaces” - some pretty hot and some heated seven times hotter - but thanks be to God that we are never alone in it!
This year, we are honored to have Judy Foster and her team lead our missionary focus during Music Camp – Operation Christmas Child. The campers will be bringing gifts all week to pack into shoeboxes and share with sweet children in another country.
So, what can you do?
- Pray! -- for the children attending to learn more of God’s love, for the many workers (adult and youth) to be vessels, for the physical safety of our people, and for the children receiving the filled shoeboxes to learn more of God’s love.
- Come! Please attend the Music Camp presentation on Sunday evening June 11 at 6 pm.
Let me share with you some words from the final song in this musical. It is a beautiful praise song to our God. What a great way to end the musical!
“Praise the Lord in the holy place.
Praise Him in the firmament.
Praise the Lord for His mighty acts.
Praise Him for His excellence.”
Thank you, church family, for your prayers, support, and the loan of your children for this week. Thank you to all the youth and adult volunteers who pour their energy into loving these children. And lastly, I just want to say publicly, thanks to Melissa Ferrel for inviting me to be a part of this ministry alongside her many, many years ago!
