The Family That Camps Together

By Robin J. Steinweg –

Is it possible these days to raise a happy, well-adjusted family? When our boys were little, we listened faithfully to Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family program. We learned a lot and developed confidence in the advice we heard. One day he mentioned a poll taken of successful Christian families. Something they all had in common: camping.

Without hesitating, we scoured garage sales and thrift stores for equipment. We borrowed How-To books from the library, and collected recipes for campfire meals. We found an available site at a state park and loaded the car till the bumper scraped the driveway.

My husband had never camped in his life. I had fond memories of camping as a young child. The rain, the long soggy treks to the outhouse, the lake leeches attached to my sister’s legs, the mosquitoes carrying me off. How could I describe such delights to my uninitiated family? I didn’t. They could experience it for themselves.

The book of Proverbs tells us wisdom will protect us, wisdom is supreme—so get it, if it costs all you have. Wisdom might come through God’s Word, or sometimes He plants it within us. But then there are the times He allows us to walk through an experience to develop our wisdom muscle. Guess how He chose to do it in our case?

I should have seen it coming. A husband who dislikes the unexpected, a son who believed he had a future in entymology, a toddler who believed every insect was a scorpion, and me with allergy-induced asthma. A thin sheet of canvas wasn’t a proper filter from ragweed that spread pollen like guests showering rice on newlyweds. Nor did it filter the whoops of drunken neighbors starting their weekend early.

By the time we folded up our sodden tent (of course it rained) we were only on speaking terms with our sons. We got over it eventually, and learned some valuable lessons: it’s wonderful to have programs like Focus on the Family to teach good parenting skills, but it’s a good idea to check with God before jumping into things. What works for other families may not be God’s best for yours.

Yes, it is possible to raise a happy, well-adjusted family these days. But leave camping for campers!

AUTHOR QUOTE: The family that camps together may end up soaked and ornery.

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25a, KJV).

Today’s devotion is by Robin J. Steinweg. Robin’s life might be described using the game Twister: the colored dots are all occupied, limbs intertwine (hopefully not to the point of tangling), and you never know which dot the arrow will point to next, but it sure is fun getting there!

To Love Another Person Is to See The Face of God

By Marty Norman –

Recently I saw a student production of Les Miserable at the local community theatre in For Worth, Texas. All I have to say is wow, the power of this production! And these were high school students. As surely as I stand, I testify that their voices rivaled those of Broadway stars. It was amazing.

A long time has passed since I last saw the production. I had forgotten the depth of the story, how pertinent and timely its message is for today.

The story takes place in France in the late 1770s, during the time of the French Revolution. The plot revolves around a number of mini-plots with the common denominator the transforming power of love.

Love permeates everything: the love of a mother for a child, a man for a woman, a man for his God and a man for his country. Sound familiar? Almost every song or conversation was about God, prayer, forgiveness, redemption, salvation or un-forgiveness.

Biblical, isn’t it?

What struck me most was the contrast between the two main characters, Jean Val Jean and Javert.  If I didn’t know better I would have thought, in a different time and place, that these two could have been Peter and Judas or at least representatives thereof.  In addition, they both were symbolic of everyman, for there isn’t a man or woman who, when he comes to the end of his life, doesn’t have to make the same choice as they made: to choose God and his plan for salvation or eternal damnation.

This contrast between light and dark was highlighted in song and drama. The first character, Jean Val Jean, was a thief, clearly a sinner, and he knew it. In the middle of his sin he came face to face with a priest who, acting as the hands and mouth of Jesus, poured out unconditional love in the midst of sin. This encounter was life-changing, forcing him to take a deep look at himself. In so doing he recognized his sin and cried out to God for forgiveness. He then turned his life around, experiencing a metanoia not unlike Paul’s on the road to Damascus. He then dedicated his life to serving God and his fellow man. Sounds like a Peter to me.

The second man was also a sinner. Javert, a policeman, spent his entire life following the law. But his eyes and ears were closed to truth. Only when faced with the truth of himself did he make a choice.  Encountering the unconditional love and self-sacrifice of Jean Val Jean, his large ego and even larger pride would not let him receive the forgiveness offered. He commits suicide rather than face the truth about himself, thus choosing eternal damnation and separation from God. Sounds like a repeat of the Judas story, doesn’t it?

So what is the lesson learned?

I believe it is more a question than a lesson.  The question being, which one are you?  A Judas or Peter? A Jean Val Jean or Javert?

As believers most of us are Peters. As a Peter, our job is to be aware of the many Judas’ and Javerts that are out there. Knowing their plot and their end, we should all be spurred to give a helping hand, one that offers the transforming power of a loving father who reaches down from heaven through the gift of his Son, to meet each of us in the middle of our sin and reconcile us to himself.

Just like Les Miserables, this Jesus play has a powerful ending too. No longer miserable, we, His people, are now joyous as we join the cast of thousands who enter into the great drama of heaven, receiving the applause, taking curtain calls, and accepting bouquets of roses as  we  choose the kingdom of light over the kingdom of darkness.

And there’s no better production than that, student or otherwise!

If You Have Faith the Size of a Mustard Factory

By Cynthia Ruchti –

Recognize the quote? Jesus said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard factory, you can say to this mountain, ‘Be moved,’ and poof! It’s gone.”

That’s how the quote goes, right? Oh! Mustard seed. My mistake.

What if the Bible read the way we think? Has anyone taken on the task of creating a Bible translation/paraphrase called The Reality Bible: Truth twisted to match our thought patterns?

“Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your gym membership.”

“In all your ways, acknowledge your personal trainer, and he shall direct your paths.”

“Take up your yoga mat daily…”

“The love of money is the root of all evil, but infatuation with it will take you places.”

“If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek, take a deep breath, and then flatten him with a right hook. If that doesn’t work, sue.”

“If we confess our sins, we can pretty much guarantee they’ll show up in the tabloids. Or on The View.”

“Therefore to him who knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is most likely related to poor parenting on his mother’s part. Or an absentee father. Or a weak educational system. Or genetics.”

Interesting factoid about truth. We’re not supposed to change it. It’s supposed to change us.

If I created a tongue-in-cheek Reality Bible, I might find a publisher to take on the project. Some segments of our population would snatch up a “Bible” that thinks like a human.

I for one am grateful the project doesn’t exist on anyone’s drawing board. I’ll stick with the Truth that transforms me.

PRAYER: Lord, Your Word is my heart’s delight! May I read it, obey it, live it out in all its truth, rather than putting my spin on it. Make me faithful, Lord, to Your Word.

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of they statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end” (Psalm 119:33, KJV).

Today’s devotional is by Cynthia Ruchti, writer/producer of THE HEARTBEAT OF THE HOME radio ministry and president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Cynthia’s debut novel—They Almost Always Come Home—releases with Abingdon Press May 1, 2010–http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtZb0by984g. Cynthia writes stories of Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark (www.cynthiaruchti.com).

Meeting Tara

By Brenda W. McIntyre –

“Tara!” The vivacious student approached me with a hand full of fliers when someone called her name. “Hi!” she said, handing me a sheet.

I was moving into my dormitory at college. The flier was an invitation to visit the Baptist Student Union, which I had no desire to do. Religion was for people with nothing else to believe in. I had something to believe in—graduating from college. With a degree, I would be self-sufficient and never rely on anyone. Inside my room, I tossed the paper into the wastebasket.

Not long into the quarter I began slipping into a depression. I went to bed early one evening, going into a deep sleep. It felt like I was plummeting into an abyss, sinking deeper and deeper into a black void. I awoke when my roommate came in, but couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d been dying. I became convinced I would die if I stayed at the dismal place, so I decided when the quarter was over I would pack my belongings and go home.

The same week I overheard a professor asking about a student who died. I didn’t know who it was or how it happened, but thinking about it kept me from sleep that night. Grasping for anything that might help, I got my roommate’s Bible. Clutching it throughout the night I prayed, “God, if You exist, please help me. Let me see my co-worker, Tammy, in the morning, and I’ll ask her for help.” I rarely saw her on campus, but I knew Tammy was a Christian.

Going to my first class, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Tammy was coming out of the building I was entering. I shivered from the chill running down my spine and asked if she would meet me after work.

That evening I learned it was a close friend of Tammy’s named Tara Lockhart who was killed by a drunk driver three days earlier. The funeral had been that day. Tammy was grieving the loss of her friend, yet she was reaching out to me.

Before the quarter was over I went to church with Tammy. One time was enough to spark something inside of me. Throughout Christmas break I anticipated returning to college. No longer did feelings of depression and imminent thoughts of death plague me. Instead I was filled with a desire to know God.

I returned to college and began attending church regularly. One Sunday after the service we were going back to campus. At a caution light Tammy said, “This is where Tara was in the accident that afternoon when leaving church.”

I was appalled. We hadn’t talked about Tara much. I didn’t know she attended the church where I was now a member. As weeks passed, I learned more about her and could imagine what she was like. I realized it was through Tara’s death that I was saved. I’m sure she prayed about leading others to Christ. It just happened to be in her death that she witnessed to me.

Although I went away to college feeling alone and uncertain of God’s existence, I now know I’m never alone. I will never be self-sufficient; I must rely on God to guide me every day, but I have something better than a college degree. God will supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). He knows my needs before I even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). And when I go home to meet my Maker, I know I will meet Tara also.

A Fun Way to Get in Shape

By Courtney McArthur –

Tired of spending an hour on the treadmill just to burn a minimal amount of calories? Do you hate going to the gym? I’m happy to report that there is a solution!

Growing up, I tried about every sport there was in order to get in shape. I hated almost every one of them. I hated running because it hurt my back and I had asthma so it was hard to breathe. I hated being sweaty, which comes along with almost every other sport in the world. Finally, I found one that was perfect for me. It didn’t require running, being sweaty and it burned more calories than any other sport. I began swimming.

Swimming is a sport that can be practiced whether you are five or ninety-five. Swimming is a low-impact sport, which means it is easy on your joints, bones and muscles. Because of the low impact, swimming is commonly used as rehabilitation for people who are injured. Once you begin swimming daily, it builds strength, flexibility, endurance, heart health and lung capacity. It is also the only sport that uses every muscle in the body. If you are 150 pounds and you swim for an hour, you will burn approximately 900 calories. The heavier you are or the faster you swim, the more calories you will burn.

Not only is swimming beneficial to your physical health, but it is also good for your mental health. It is very relaxing and once you get into a daily routine of swimming, it will become almost a form of meditation. Something about being submerged in the water and focusing on nothing but swimming really calms one’s mind.

Another great thing about swimming is that there are many different ways to get involved. You can go to your local recreation center and swim laps on your own, form your own workout in the comfort of a private pool in your backyard, or you can join a swim team.

You are incredibly wrong if you are saying to yourself, “I’m too old to join a swim team,” or “I can’t do that because I’d be the oldest person on the team!” U.S. Masters swimming is a national organization that provides workouts and competitions for adults eighteen and over. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or you once were a competitive swimmer, Masters has a place for you.

I know firsthand about Masters, because my freshman year of college, I swam for the Auburn Masters program. The coach was helpful and understanding; I made some great friends, and I had such an enjoyable workout that I wanted to go every day of the week. I never had to stress myself out by making up my own workouts. The workouts were already made for me and all I had to do was show up. The great thing about joining a team is that it gives you a social outlet along with the mental and physical benefits of swimming.

So, next time you are dreading getting off the couch and going to the gym, try going to the pool for a refreshing swim instead. You will burn more calories, ease your worries, and maybe even meet a friend!

Courtney McArthur is a junior at Auburn University. She is a workout enthusiast and former competitive swimmer and is excited about helping people find workouts that are best for them.

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