When I was a kid, living on the Cedar River south of Gilbertville, I loved to be in the woods. I would often spend time there. One day while goofing off in the woods I found this cool looking vine that had wrapped itself around a small tree. I cut the vine out and took a portion of the tree home to make a walking stick. I was busy working on peeling off the bark when my dad saw what I was doing and decided to help me. Dad was never a really involved father, he provided the income for the family and handed out discipline, but he didn't spend much time nurturing us kids, so when he got involved in my project it was something special. He suggested that after we got the bark peeled we should sand down the knots a little so they were smooth and put some lacquer finish on it. It was a time I will always remember. I still have that walking stick, its here with me in my office.
In this day and age the family is taking quite a beating. Many man and women have corrupted and abused it, some would have us redefine it and some wish the state would take it's place. But the family is God's foundation for any society. Without the family cultures cease to exist. God taught His people about the importance of family, and how it is His tool for teaching the next generation.
In the book of Deuteronomy God gave the Law to Moses and commanded him to pass it on to his children so that each successive generation would know and worship Him. (Duet. 6:6-9) It is a great responsibility for us parents, but revealing God is not the only information we should be passing on to our children and grandchildren. We should be teaching them about life, relationships, enduring trials, and caring for others. This can only happen if parents and grandparents are purposeful with their children, spending time with each of them, carefully-and wisely, nurturing them. It's a sad story, but I was working at a "hunters breakfast" one time, it was sponsored by our men's group, the guys were all there and some brought their sons to help too. One father, while washing the dishes was using the time to nurture his son. The problem was he was teaching him to be hateful towards the wealthy, the professional, and the educator. In his mind, the only "just" people in God's eye were the uneducated, blue collar, common folk. He was teaching his son to be suspicious and jealous of others.
I tell you this story to illustrate how important our role as parents and grandparents is. We must be careful-and wise to take time with our children and grandchildren, "training them up in the way that they should go." (Proverbs 22:6)
I'm attending First Wesleyan Church in Charles City now. Our pastor, Dennis Bachman, is doing a series of messages on "Time." His words inspired this blog. "We must be careful about how we use the time God has given us." (Psalm 90:12) That's so true.
So here's my sales pitch. Life is very busy. It is easy for us to get caught up in the urgent and forget about the important. What are you doing to enjoy life and share that love of life with your family? I have a great place for you to slow down a little and "redeem the time" with your children and grand-children. Bring them to camp! In fact, we are organizing day camps for June 6-7 and one of them will be "Walking Sticks." The kids will be able to make their own walking stick and we will go for a hike. Why not take the day off, or invite your parents to bring your son or daughter to camp for the day. You only have so much time with your children and grandchildren when they are young. Why not use it wisely.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Steady as she goes
One of the new things I am experiencing here at Cedar Springs is the winter road conditions. If you have been here you know that we have two lanes that come into the camp. The main entrance (I call it the south entrance) is about 3/4 of a mile with open fields on either side. The north entrance that comes in to the managers house is better protected, but still exposed to the southern winds. So I am rediscovering the hassle of country living and snow drifting across your road.
When I was in school I loved the winter wind because it usually closed the county road that lead to our house and we would not have school. But now that I need to keep the road clear I have a different perspective. Our current method of snow removal is a Farmall 560 (open cab) tractor with a blower mounted off of the PTO. Usually its not too bad of work. I like the feeling of power as I cut through the deep drifts across the road. ( I feel like Tim "the tool-man" Taylor!) But the days when the wind is blowing and the air is biting cold aren't so much fun.
We have experienced some wind the past day or so, and combined with the light snow falls over the past week or so I was expecting some real drifting. I came home from Mason City yesterday, the air temp was about 5 degrees and the wind was blowing about 25 miles an hour. I noticed the snow, blowing over the piles the county maintainer had pushed up on the edges of the gravel road. It was so light and pretty, glistening in the afternoon sun. It sure didn't seem like much of a threat. Being a photographer at heart I was plotting ways to capture the scene on film. In that sliver of time the wind and snow were not a threat to me, or anyone else passing along that road. But that's the thing about the winter wind. She is steady and persistent, working relentlessly for hours, and even days, burying the road with hard-packed snow. It takes a lot of time, even with a lot of wind, but mother nature doesn't give up-she is persistent, knowing that eventually the road will be closed.
That was a valuable lesson for me-a lesson I had learned before, but like most hard-headed human beings, it takes a number of times covering the same lesson before we get it. You see, I came here with great expectation and excitement. (And it has not subsided) And after a couple months I find myself falling behind in my strategic goals. I get frustrated because things are not falling into place as quickly as I had hoped. Does that ever happen to you? I told myself before I arrived at Cedar Springs not to expect too much too quickly, but I just can't help it.
Our problem is we are an compulsive generation looking for instant gratification-wanting everything handed to us immediately. Sometimes the world doesn't work that way and most certainly, God does not work that way! He is as constant as the northern star. We does His work in us and through us slowly and deliberately as the winter wind. (We couldn't handle it any other way!)
And as I watched that snow, blowing steadily across the road, it reminded me that that is how He is working through me here at Cedar Springs. My big plans are aggressive, but they will have to unfold as He sees fit. As an example I had this great idea for a theme oriented camp but I need help from experts in the field to pull it off. Try as I may, I have been unsuccessful at making the proper connections. God seems to be saying the time isn't right. I need to learn to accept that.
So what about you? What situation in your life isn't going the way you had hoped. Is it possible that you are not in God's will? Is it possible that He is attempting to teach you something about waiting on Him? (James 4:13-17)
Some times our plans do not succeed due to errors we have made-perhaps we have not been diligent enough in pursuing that job, or detailed enough to win that contract, or timely enough to land that new client. If that is the case we must work harder at doing the best that we can (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). But remember this, at other times our frustration is not due to incompetence but zeal for our own will to be done, and not the Father's will.
Next time you feel like this step back and allow God to work in you, steady and constant, like the winter wind.
When I was in school I loved the winter wind because it usually closed the county road that lead to our house and we would not have school. But now that I need to keep the road clear I have a different perspective. Our current method of snow removal is a Farmall 560 (open cab) tractor with a blower mounted off of the PTO. Usually its not too bad of work. I like the feeling of power as I cut through the deep drifts across the road. ( I feel like Tim "the tool-man" Taylor!) But the days when the wind is blowing and the air is biting cold aren't so much fun.
We have experienced some wind the past day or so, and combined with the light snow falls over the past week or so I was expecting some real drifting. I came home from Mason City yesterday, the air temp was about 5 degrees and the wind was blowing about 25 miles an hour. I noticed the snow, blowing over the piles the county maintainer had pushed up on the edges of the gravel road. It was so light and pretty, glistening in the afternoon sun. It sure didn't seem like much of a threat. Being a photographer at heart I was plotting ways to capture the scene on film. In that sliver of time the wind and snow were not a threat to me, or anyone else passing along that road. But that's the thing about the winter wind. She is steady and persistent, working relentlessly for hours, and even days, burying the road with hard-packed snow. It takes a lot of time, even with a lot of wind, but mother nature doesn't give up-she is persistent, knowing that eventually the road will be closed.
That was a valuable lesson for me-a lesson I had learned before, but like most hard-headed human beings, it takes a number of times covering the same lesson before we get it. You see, I came here with great expectation and excitement. (And it has not subsided) And after a couple months I find myself falling behind in my strategic goals. I get frustrated because things are not falling into place as quickly as I had hoped. Does that ever happen to you? I told myself before I arrived at Cedar Springs not to expect too much too quickly, but I just can't help it.
Our problem is we are an compulsive generation looking for instant gratification-wanting everything handed to us immediately. Sometimes the world doesn't work that way and most certainly, God does not work that way! He is as constant as the northern star. We does His work in us and through us slowly and deliberately as the winter wind. (We couldn't handle it any other way!)
And as I watched that snow, blowing steadily across the road, it reminded me that that is how He is working through me here at Cedar Springs. My big plans are aggressive, but they will have to unfold as He sees fit. As an example I had this great idea for a theme oriented camp but I need help from experts in the field to pull it off. Try as I may, I have been unsuccessful at making the proper connections. God seems to be saying the time isn't right. I need to learn to accept that.
So what about you? What situation in your life isn't going the way you had hoped. Is it possible that you are not in God's will? Is it possible that He is attempting to teach you something about waiting on Him? (James 4:13-17)
Some times our plans do not succeed due to errors we have made-perhaps we have not been diligent enough in pursuing that job, or detailed enough to win that contract, or timely enough to land that new client. If that is the case we must work harder at doing the best that we can (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). But remember this, at other times our frustration is not due to incompetence but zeal for our own will to be done, and not the Father's will.
Next time you feel like this step back and allow God to work in you, steady and constant, like the winter wind.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Important Me!
Hurray, Hurray!
I'm finally somebody!
No, I'm already in the phone book. I'm somebody because I have a blog!
Actually, Theresa had to set it up for me and I don't know all the correct Internet lingo and abbreviations, but I at least look like I'm somebody.
Of course, having a blog, or face book page, or twitter account doesn't make you somebody important. I have followed a few of those pages from different people and some of them can be a real waste of time; not communicating any thing except the boring details of an ordinary life. (Oh, I'm not talking about YOUR social network page!)
I want my space to be different. I hope I can convey something of value that will help you find true purpose- and importance-in your life.
You see, I am someone important-not because I have a blog spot, but because I am a child of the King.
He created me and even while I was still within my mother's womb He knew all of my days.
It's hard for us to comprehend a Creator who knows each of us perfectly, loves us completely, and believes each of us is important and special.
You know, until you realize that you are a child of the King-and surrender your will to Him-your life won't have any real meaning or purpose-and nothing you do will be important.
But once you discover who you are "In Christ" life has real purpose.
You see, I used to live life for myself-working to satisfy my desire for pleasure. Now that I understand that I am a child of the King, and He has a plan for me-I want everything I do and say to be pleasing to Him. It is the reasonable thing to do-don't you think?
And that gives me an important purpose for living.
So how about You? Have you discovered that you ARE someone important?
I'm finally somebody!
No, I'm already in the phone book. I'm somebody because I have a blog!
Actually, Theresa had to set it up for me and I don't know all the correct Internet lingo and abbreviations, but I at least look like I'm somebody.
Of course, having a blog, or face book page, or twitter account doesn't make you somebody important. I have followed a few of those pages from different people and some of them can be a real waste of time; not communicating any thing except the boring details of an ordinary life. (Oh, I'm not talking about YOUR social network page!)
I want my space to be different. I hope I can convey something of value that will help you find true purpose- and importance-in your life.
You see, I am someone important-not because I have a blog spot, but because I am a child of the King.
He created me and even while I was still within my mother's womb He knew all of my days.
It's hard for us to comprehend a Creator who knows each of us perfectly, loves us completely, and believes each of us is important and special.
You know, until you realize that you are a child of the King-and surrender your will to Him-your life won't have any real meaning or purpose-and nothing you do will be important.
But once you discover who you are "In Christ" life has real purpose.
You see, I used to live life for myself-working to satisfy my desire for pleasure. Now that I understand that I am a child of the King, and He has a plan for me-I want everything I do and say to be pleasing to Him. It is the reasonable thing to do-don't you think?
And that gives me an important purpose for living.
So how about You? Have you discovered that you ARE someone important?
Monday, January 10, 2011
Jan 2011 Newsletter
I fancy myself as a little bit of a handy man. We purchased a house in La Porte City that had a lot of character but needed a lot of attention. It was my goal to remodel each room as we could afford it.
My first project was the main bathroom. The old plaster was falling off of the wall. I figured I could jump right in and repair as I go. The problem was I didn’t have a plan. I tore the plaster off the wall near the bathtub on a week end and realized that I needed to insulate while the wall was exposed. It wasn’t possible for me to run and get some since the Menards was in Waterloo, so I just put the sheetrock on without it. And as I got farther into the project I kept running into other un-anticipated problems. I did not look ahead to plan what I needed. In the end, the bathroom was done, but I was not happy with the work.
I learned two important lessons on that project:
1) Don’t do things halfway (you’ll just have to do them over again)
2) Have a plan for where you want to go.
Since that project, I have improved the work on each successive room I completed. The point being, without a plan you will go nowhere, or you will go in the wrong direction.
That’s where we are right now, at Cedar Springs; we thank Brad Toppin for his years of service to the camp. He has taken the camp from a very low state of repair, to an outstanding looking facility, but as we thought about coming to Cedar Springs, Brad pointed out something important: He worked like crazy to maintain the facility; He could not focus on the future because his energy and resources were required for maintaining what we have. Well Brad, thank you again for your hard work and advice. Now, with his preparation, Theresa and I have been called to take the camp to the next level.
The first step is to create a vision for what God wants to accomplish with the ministry of CS. Our vision can be found in our new mission statement:
“Creating environments for people to experience God”.
Our goal at CS is to create an atmosphere where people who use the camp can get away from the bustle of the world and connect with God. Everything that we do must accomplish that mission. Most of you will agree that we have been doing that already, but in order to become a thriving ministry we must expand what we are already doing. There are many exciting improvements that we are planning and invite each one of you to get on board to make them happen. This newsletter and (soon to be) updated web site is only the beginning.
Dec 2010 Newsletter Article
Greetings in the Name of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Theresa and I are excited about the ministry that He has called us to at Cedar Springs Camp. Cedar Springs is a place that is near and dear to our hearts, as it is to yours, I’m sure. We have been active in the ministry at CS since 1995. In July of that year I went to a Promise Keepers event in Minneapolis with my new church family (Trinity Wesleyan, La Porte City, Iowa). It was during that weekend that I surrendered my life to Christ. The following week my pastor invited Theresa and I to come to Cedar Springs Camp for family camp. While we could not spend the whole week, we came to the evening services to hear Tim Elmore preach and challenge us to serve Christ with our entire being. I remember the tabernacle at that time had exterior walls, but they were not finished, and there was only sand and carpet where there is now a concrete floor. (Our two oldest children played in the sand while we listened.) Since that time we have been active in work-weekends, retreats, camps and various boards at CS.
Also during that time God has guided our path as I worked my way through the FLAME classes to ordination in July of 2007. I have served as youth leader at my home church in La Porte City, as an assistant to Rev. J. Richard Ernst at the Church of Promise, Buckingham, Iowa and most recently, I have been ministering to the people at New Hope Wesleyan in Sioux City Iowa as their pastor.
We have four children. Our oldest, Audrey is in her first year of college in Kentucky. John, our oldest son is a sophomore in high school and as many of you know, has been fighting a battle with Lymphoma Cancer. He has currently completed the standard protocol treatments and has begun his maintenance treatments. Mitchell is in 7th grade and he’s our home boy, loving to play by himself with his legos. Sarah is in 6th grade and just like Audrey, she is an active socialite. She is involved in sports and loves to be with her friends. Each one of our children is excited about being at the camp and looks forward to serving the Lord there.
I have much to tell you, but for now I want all of you to know that we value your support of Cedar Springs. We look forward to meeting each and every one of you and hearing your “camp stories.”
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