Well, I’m back from another week of camp and so will now give you the old speech, “I fully intend to writing on the blog everyday from here on out”.  We’ll see.  Actually, I only write on days that I’m in the office, but we’ll see about how I can work in the half hour it usually takes to write, edit, study for the commentary part, then publish the blog on the weekdays I’m not in.  Like I said, we’ll see.

Camp was a doozy of a week this year.  We had a new set of deans who had worked with the fellows who lead it for the last few years and worked well together, so that helped keep a few of the traditions of Sr. High week intact.  However, it was definitely a new flavor of camp.  One obvious difference in the week was that we had close to 190 campers!  190 is a good Jr. High week.  And for those of you who are a little fuzzy on comparing Jr. to Sr. highers, Jr. High kids have very few inhibitions about anything, where as highschoolers are a little more concerned with looking cool and not making waves and usually that leads to smaller numbers at camp.  That wasn’t the case this year.  And it was good!  Our speaker for the week was intense and really in-your-face as well as biblically solid.  The worship leader lead only with a guitar and no other accompaniment, which was a different take from the full, electrified ensembles of the past.  All in all, it was a good week and I’m really looking forward to starting on next year’s camp with this group.  I just hope we (BCC) can bring more kids next year.  I really think they missed something by not being there.

Proverbs 28:1 says “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion”.  Have you ever known someone who is completely paranoid or always looking over their shoulder, or ducking authorities?  Could it possibly be because they are always doing something wrong and their conscience is, thus, always on the defensive?  It’s somewhat amusing to see the lengths to which people will go in order to keep themselves from getting caught.  After a while though, it’s just sad.  The LORD told the people of Israel in Leviticus that he would punish the wicked with various diseases and invading nations to the point that, even when they weren’t being pursued, they were running.  As an alternative to this cowardice, righteousness seems pretty enticing.  If being as bold as a lion, like David standing in the face of the giant Goliath (I Samuel 17), is what the righteous are, I want to be righteous.  The LORD provides richly for his people even in areas of character, like boldness, if we adhere to his ways.  “Meow” or “Roar”.  The choice is ours to make.

We’re serving at the Light House Mission in TH tonight.  Leaving from the church at 3:30.
Get prepared for a great opportunity to help a young church.  On the 21st & 22nd of August, we’ll be heading to Bradley, IL to help serve at Adventure Christian Church.  It will be a good thing to get involved with.

Later

Back in the saddle

Well, at long last, I’m back in the office after a week at camp and a couple days with my girlfriend. It was time well spent (both things included). I think that the weather that we experienced last week while I was at Illiana was the best that I’ve ever seen at a week of camp! 5 straight days of low humidity, sunny skies, and warm weather is about the best anyone can ask for. Now watch, the weather for my next week, Sr. High in July, will be an absolute scorcher. But no sense getting pessimistic, now is there? Camp was went well but was trying in ways that it hadn’t been before. Just like growing up, with the added title of being a dean (even on a team), comes more responsibilities and the need to have all our ducks in a row. This was the first time in years we’ve been without John at the helm and it was our turn (Tim, Brian, Steve, Jennifer, Brenda, and myself) to spread our own wings. We, or at least I, saw some places where we need to work on for next year. And that’s ok. Now I’m back in the office and getting ready for the rest of the summer. On tap is the canoe trip on Monday the 12th. I’ve only got 2 signed up right now, so get on the list! Friday the 16th is a Young Adults (not Youth Group, to be sure) fellowship night at Pizza Inn and Putt-Putt in TH. Come on out. Well, now it’s off to the races…or into the sunset…whatever.

Proverbs 7:4-5 says, “Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister’, and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words.” Wisdom is to be as close to you as a family member. Sure, some folks don’t get along or even like their siblings from time to time, but we know them inside and out. Many times, wisdom is like that, too. We know what we ought to do but the wisdom of doing the right thing often seems like a killjoy to the fun we might otherwise have. But in the end, wisdom pays off. It keeps us safe. It keeps us heading straight on the safe path. It keeps us away from the harm that is personified in the wayward wife and the adulteress. Bad company corrupts good character, and spending time with these chicks will put you in the grave. Let’s try and spend some more quality time at home with the fam: brothers, sisters, and Father.