Change of Scenery

One of the things I love the most about living at a camp is the scenery.  We live in a farming community, so the primary view from anywhere is flat.  But, at camp we have lots of trees.  Pine trees mainly, but a few deciduous trees are scattered around. I have always thought that Camp is extremely beautiful.  Green everywhere, flowers, plants, trees, the lake.  


But lately, in this winter/spring thing we are doing right now, I have been feeling a little discouraged.  I look around and I see dead grass, dead flowers, lifeless trees, bare branches, muddy roads, and patches of melting snow.  And to top it all off it started to snow again the last few days.  Gray skies, cold temperatures, and snow/rain.  Not very fun.  


But God allowed me to see something beautiful yesterday.  I was driving home from somewhere the other day, (not sure if it was the office, or from town) and I drove by our archery range.  Sometimes I take a different route home, just to shake things up.  And there was a light covering of snow on the archery house, the field, and the trees that boarder the range.  I almost stopped the car.  It was beautiful.  And then yesterday when I was driving into town, I took the interstate (another shake up as I have been taking the highway lately).  The trees alongside the interstate had a heavy dusting of snow as well, and the way the snow lined the trees caught my eye.  Again, another beauty sighting from God.  


I wish I had my camera with me, I would have taken a picture to share with you.  it wasn't much, but in the midst of a weather front I wasn't enjoying, God gave me a glimpse of beauty.  Now I am noticing the beauty everywhere in this dismal season.  God has changed my view and my attitude about nature this week.  God is always providing us with beautiful things to look at. I just needed a change in my habit to notice.


CHALLENGE!!!
    This challenge has 2 parts.
              Part 1: I challenge you to change a habit today.  Make a different decision and see what beautiful scene God has in store for you!
              Part 2: Tell me about it!  Leave a comment on this post!

A Little Bit of Irriation

Ok, I know I just posted something, but I just have to write about this.  Here is my question: how do the words of one man in a letter to another man become so misconstrued?  It's this whole issue of "separation of church and state."  It was the reason Prayer in schools was banned, why teachers can't discuss their beliefs with their students, why churches can't do anything in a school.  Anytime prayer happens, or a Bible study is mentioned, or a group of students prays at a school event some one inevitably says, 'They can't do that!  Separation of church and state!"  


What it seems people fail to realize is that this phrase and what it entails were written to protect the church from being controlled by the state, not the church "infiltrating" the state.  This phrase, this concept has nothing to do with religious activities happening in a school, or government building.


Anyway, that is all I have to say on this matter.

Take a Number...

I have to say, friends are from the Lord!!  One of the hardest things about living at Camp is that my close friends all live elsewhere.  I don't mean in the town a few miles away, but a few hours to a day's trip away.  I realize this happens to many people when they graduate from college.  I don't make good friends easily, and I am not one to have a lot of "friends."  I am much more likely to have two or three really close friends.  And it was hard to leave them all in my college town.  

I have to admit I had been complaining to my husband and a few people that I didn't have any friends to spend time with.  Probably not the best decision or action to take.  I really shouldn't have been feeling lonely or friendless.  There are plenty of younger women at camp whom I can have a close relationship with.  And I do.  But it's just different.

But God is good!  A few weeks ago I learned that one of my close friends from High School is moving back home.  We have been friends since elementary school and she is an amazing Godly woman.  Recently she and her husband felt God pulling them elsewhere, and after considering various options decided to come back home.    My friend came to town this week to look at a few houses and we were able to spend an afternoon together.  It was one of the most refreshing afternoons!

Don't get me wrong, I love to spend time with my husband, but catching up with an old friend and finding out that you still have things in common is amazing!!  I was a little nervous driving over to her grandparents house.  

What if we can't relate?  

                  What if we have changed too much?  

                                             What if she doesn't like me anymore?

Yet again, my questions and fears were of little use.  Remember that verse: Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."  I spent mental energy worrying about something that didn't need to be worried about.  We still related, we hadn't changed too much, and she still likes me!!  God is good!  All the time!!!  I cannot tell you the joy it brings to my soul that I serve a God who listens to my complaining.  

Domestic Missionaries

Not a lot to say this time but I wanted to let you all know...


My husband and I gave our first "missionary presentation" today.  We spoke at a Sunday School class and then at a potluck dinner after church.  It was a good experience but kinda weird at the same time.  It is good that we are getting practice presenting what we do and our heart for ministry.  What was strange was that we were presenting at our home church.  We attend this church every Sunday and I grew up in this church.  I have never been on e for speaking my heart in front of people who have known me, because I am always so scared that they are going to judge me or think that I don't show my heart enough.  


Granted I probably don't show my heart enough.  I love to talk about things I'm passionate about, but it has to be the right situation: a small group or one-on-one.  But I am more likely just to do my thing, participate in the activities I'm involved in.  I am glad to say things went very well.  People enjoyed our presentation and we spoke what was in our hearts. 

Springter Weather

Yes, I just made up a word.  I have come to the conclusion that we do not have Spring in the state where I live.  We have Springter.  This is a combination of Spring and Winter (if you hadn't figured that out already).  Springter includes strange weather phenomenons such as cool/hot/cold (CHC) days and melt/freeze (MFW) weeks.  

CHC days start out around 30 degrees, and then warm up to about 65 or 70 by 10 o'clock am.  It continues to be this warm until about 6:15 pm at which time the temperature automatically drops to around 20 degrees.  

MFWs are only slightly more annoying.  MFWs are those weeks when you have around three warm days in a row immediately preceding two or three days of below freezing temperatures.  These weeks are the worst because they trick one into thinking that the weather has turned human again and one can finally begin to look outside, see the sun, and assume it will be nice.  But instead, one looks out the window on day four, sees the sun, and walks outside in shorts, a t-shirt, with a good book, only to find that although the sun is shinning proclaiming a wonderful day, the air has decided to rebel and fall below human temperatures.  

You can probably imagine what our roads look like at Camp during Springter.  Snow falls, accumulates, freezes (which is fine), then begins to melt (also fine).  However, the snow never really gets the chance to completely melt because of CHCs and MFWs.  These wonderful events come along and all that melted snow becomes ice.  Ice.  Ice.  Lots and lots of ice.  Our driveway could have served as an ice skating rink for quite a while.  Those warm days would come, melt the ice.  Then freeze again.  Ice.  Lots.  Of. Ice.  

Driving on these roads is almost as much fun as the weather is annoying!  I have a Buick.  Let's just say - not the best ice-slash-snow-slash-mush-slash-mud car.  I have more mud on my car than I have ever seen on a vehicle in my life.  Well...I did until I dished out the bucks to get it cleaned during one of those MFWs.  

I would like to say something.  This is what I wanted to tell you from the beginning.  I love Summer.  

What if?

I just spent four hours talking with a girl I barely know.  I will tell you, there is no "get to know you" period with her.  Which was nice.  We just jumped right into conversation.  I have to admit, I was rather surprised about what we talked about.  Everything.  We talked about everything.  Relationships, our pasts, school, activities vs sports, education, theatre.  


I will tell you the thing that struck me the most wasn't that we hardly knew each other or that we come from very different backgrounds, but that it was so easy for me to mention the God part of my life when I was talking to her.  Now this girl is not a believer.  She made that very clear.  But when she asked me questions about my life, I just decided to be completely honest.  And if God had a part in a certain aspect of my life or a decision I made, I just said so.  


Just because one is the wife of a man in full time ministry, doesn't mean it is easy for one to talk about her faith with other people.  Especially a non-believer.  Sure, it's easy to acknowledge God's role in one's life when one is speaking with someone who understands and has the same beliefs as one.  


But when that person doesn't believe, personally it is easier for me to leave out the God part.  I feel ashamed to be admitting this to you, but it is the truth.  I struggle to share my faith with those around me.  I have never felt comfortable "presenting the gospel"  I have done it, but it is so unnatural for me.  And I always get so nervous about how a person is going to react when I mention that God had a huge part in a decision or lifestyle choice.  
       What if they look at me funny?
                         
                    What if they get angry?  
                                      
                              What if they think I'm a wierdo?  

     What if they think I am trying to push my 'religion' on them?  
All these questions buzz around in my head and keep me from even mentioning the word 'God.'


Tonight, these questions still buzzed around in my head, but I decided to ignore them.  I said to myself, "Self, just tell the truth.  Be honest.  God is a huge part of your life - just say it."  So when she asked a question, I answered it.  

AND GUESS WHAT????

She didn't get angry.  


               She didn't look at me funny.  


                                She didn't get offended.  

She just listened.

And you know, it wasn't so hard.  I listened to her life stories, just as she listened to mine.  She knows that I believe in God, and that I pray to him, and consult him, and that he has control over my life.  I know that she doesn't do those things.  We talked for four hours.  Anyone who knows me would tell you - that is strange for me.  Maybe not with someone I am close to, but with a person I hardly know?  Never.

I did not share the 'gospel presentation' with her tonight.  I did not bring my Bible.  I did not tell her she needed to 'repent and turn from her evil ways.'  I just talked with her.  And answered her honestly.  

And you know what?  She asked me to come back tomorrow night!  Knowing that we believe entirely differently.  We don't have plans to talk about the Bible, or doctrine, or theology.  And I believe that is okay.  

When a lawyer asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was, Jesus answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matt 22:37-40 ESV)  

In short - Love God and Love People.  I believe I brought honor and glory to God by keeping him a part of my story.  And I believe that my conversation with this girl is the beginning of showing her God's love.  Who knows if she will become a believer or not?  I don't.  Only God does.  I don't know if I am just the seed planter, or the one who waters the seed, or helps it grow.  But I will do my best with God's help to love her as God would love her.  

The Bubble

So this is my first post...

                Welcome to my blog!...

                                  I don't know how you found this so...

                                                                This is a blog about...

I have been sitting here for the past ten minutes trying to figure out how to start this blog.  It probably doesn't help that I am sitting in a friend's living room watching her television at the same time.  It is very hard to think straight while an interesting television show also demands my attention.  Now I know what you are saying, just turn off the television.  This would be the sane decision to make.  Okay, you convinced me..there it's off.

Life as a Camp Wife.  What's that like?  What do I do all day?  A thousand questions are probably flowing through your head right now...okay maybe not. (but maybe?)  

One of the gorgeous views of our lake.

Let me start somewhere else.  My husband is the Executive Director of a Bible Camp.  We operate year round.  In the summer we do summer camps, family reunions and retreats.  In the fall, winter and spring, we do conferences and retreats.  We are located slightly in the middle of nowhere US.  Don't worry, we aren't completely cut off from the world, but it is a half hour drive to the nearest Wal-mart. 

That is one thing about being a Camp Wife.  Our lives are lived in somewhat of a bubble.  My husband and I are trying to get away from the "Christian Bubble" phrase. But...when everyone in your 'neighborhood' is a believer, and you live 30 minutes from the nearest city, it is easy to get caught inside this Bubble.  We don't have cable at home, nor do we have internet so it is also easy to be disconnected from what is going on in the world.  

My husband listens to talk radio a lot, so he is pretty well informed, but I, dislike talk radio so I find myself very ill informed on the state of the world. I am trying to remedy this.  I attempt to pay attention when my husband has the radio on and occasionally I find myself changing the station to talk radio.  

I currently do not have a job.  I spend quite a bit of time at home.  However, I am involved with the Theatre and Speech department at the local high school, and I have been helping with the Musical there as well.  I graduated with a degree in Theatre so I have made an effort to be involved with it as much as I can.  I help out sometimes at our community playhouse and am currently in a play there.  Involving myself in the surrounding community has helped me escape the bubble.

Both my husband and I want to make sure that we don't isolate ourselves.  As I've mentioned it would be easy to do so.  However, our ministry is not just about serving the people who come to out to Camp.  God has called us to "shine as lights in the world" (Php 2:15).  That means that as believers we need to be seen.  If I isolate myself out at Camp - where everyone I know is a believer, and I won't be made fun of or rejected because of what I believe - I am not fulfilling God's calling on my life. Plain and simple.

So this blog is about me, trying to fulfill God's calling for my life.  

My Life as a Camp Wife.