The Biggest Loser

“Winning isn’t everything…it’s the only thing.”

This quote is often attributed to famous football coach, Vince Lombardi, and has seemingly become the mantra driving American sports, and is arguably the kind of attitude that has permeated all of American society. Everything seems to revolve around this concept – that is until the inception of “The Biggest Loser”, a TV reality show where contestants win by losing weight. Who would have ever imagined that losing is the path to gaining happiness, health, and a new lease on life? What a concept!

Well, to be honest, this concept is not original. You see, it is actually thousands of years old. No, really! Let me explain.

I’m not talking about losing weight, or money, or sporting events, or whatever silly contests we dream up. I am talking about losing everything! I know I sound a bit crazy, but I’m not suggesting we pass around the Kool-Aid and everyone take a drink. No, but I am suggesting that we must give up our lives! The only way to do this is for us participate in the blood sacrifice…not a sacrifice of just any blood, but THE BLOOD of the one and only Lamb. Jesus said it best and most succinctly when he told Peter, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8)

The only way to do that is to give up everything. Jesus says in Mark 8: 35, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it.” Wow! What a tough command! God does not ask for our possessions (although we are called to do that in 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Acts 2:45), or our intellect, or our cooperation, or our careers, or our families, or our time. He asks for one thing and one thing only – our very lives, all of it, every part of it. And if we do this one thing for Him for a very short lifetime, He promises that we will be the biggest winners throughout all of eternity!

This will be our focus at Tallgrass Christian Camp this week. We directors, counselors, teachers, nurses, cooks, staff and volunteers wish to dedicate our lives for this one week to help these kids understand that being a living sacrifice in all areas of our lives and that putting God and others first makes us the WINNERS!

Thank you all for making this possible through your generous gifts of time, labor, talents, finances, encouragement and love. After all, it is your sacrifices that set the examples and that show these kids what living for Jesus is all about.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

~ The staff at Tallgrass Christian Camp