Church Camp

Singing to our Lord, class time spent in studying the Word, devotionals, worship service, and Christian fellowship are all highlights of time spent at Silver Maple Camp near Kingman, KS for church camp. We had around 200 kids and counselors at the camp grounds this year the last full week in July. This camp is supported and promoted by the churches of Christ throughout Kansas and the neighboring states.

Yes, the weather was hot and humid, but for some reason when you are at camp and busy attending all the activities, you don’t seem to notice it as much. There was only one shower of rain during the week, and it was just enough to settle the dust. The skies at night were absolutely awesome. We would sing songs late at night when it was dark, and you could look up and see part of the vast universe displayed with its brilliant stars. One particular night there was even a shower of falling stars.

We sing a cappella, and it was beautiful. All the parts of bass through soprano were beautifully harmonized. The theme this year was ‘running the race,’ taken from Hebrews 12:1. This theme was studied during morning class time, morning and bedtime devotionals, and was also the subject of the evening worship lesson by five different speakers throughout the week. In the afternoon there was also a session called ‘Pot Luck’ which varied from day to day. It was an activity that got the kids involved with each other and doing some studying in their Bibles. There was also a session called ‘genderfication’ (a word made up by our camp director) in which the boys and girls were separated and learned what their rolls are – not only in life, but also within the church.

The kids were also held accountable for keeping their cabins clean by competing to see who could have the cleanest cabin in order to go to lunch first. And speaking of food – wow! We had three square meals a day that were cooked and served by the volunteer cooks and also volunteers who came from various local congregations to help out. The food was delicious! And then there was afternoon and evening canteen where the kids could have a candy bar and cup of pop. The kids looked with anticipation to this time of day, but it made it interesting for the counselors to get a few of them wound down to get to sleep after that sugar rush.

We also had an evening activity which got all of the kids involved in doing things together – such as ultimate duck-duck-goose, scavenger hunt for items in the Bible, fun night of different games, skit night portraying the Bible character for whom their cabin was named, and talent night where kids could perform for others with their own singing or expertise. Some of these were awesome. And of course there was always afternoon activity time where the girls could swim and the boys do crafts and then switch, or play baseball or soccer, or go fishing.

This was mine and my husband’s eighth year and our sons’ ninth year of attending Silver Maple Camp. It was our youngest son’s last year as a camper, so we will all be returning next year as counselors. Our others sons have been serving in that capacity already the last several years. Probably the most rewarding thing when camp is over for the week is seeing how the kids have grown spiritually during the week. There were even four baptisms this year. We always look forward with anticipation to camp for the next year. It’s great to get spiritually rejuvenated for another 51 weeks. Just as we sometimes need to get the right mindset with our daily life and running businesses or working jobs by reading positive books and being with positive people, we need the Bible and Christian associations to give us the right mindset for getting us through our spiritual life on a daily basis.

Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.

http://www.internettowealth.com/

Fathers

Father’s Day will be here in a few days. I got to thinking about fathers and what they represent in a family. According to the dictionary, a father is the male parent. He has many roles to fulfill: provider, protector, instructor, trainer, commander, corrector, nourisher. The list could go on and on, but you can get the general idea what their role in life should be.

I remember growing up thinking my dad could do no wrong and could basically walk on water if he wanted. When I was little I would sit on his lap and we would talk and play and I would tell him I would marry him when I grew up. I realized as I got older that that was not possible or even legal, but I also came to the conclusion I wanted to marry someone "like my father." I believe I did that. I married a wonderful man who is a super father to our four boys. He has set a good example for all of them to follow. He has not only been a good father, but a great husband, which is hopefully the model they will follow when they marry.

I was fortunate to get to be a stay-at-home mom while our kids have grown up. Hubby did not want me working and sticking our kids in daycare. Even though our youngest just graduated from high school, he does not want me to have to work outside the home. So thank goodness for the Internet and my online business! He has been an excellent provider as a husband and father. He has worked at the same job for nearly 26 years doing shift work. We added on to and remodeled our house ourselves to give each of the boys their own room to enjoy while they still lived at home. He has taught the boys a lot about construction and then encouraged them to go to the technical college where he went in order to gain more knowledge in that trade – which they have done. He is interested and involved in what the boys are doing and was a faithful supporter of them for 3 ½ years in their training to obtain their first-degree black belts in Tae Kwon Do. He has also been their Christian mentor and example since they were very little. I remember several of the boys having to write a paper for school about their hero. And guess who it was they wrote about? Their dad.

Fathers keep the family linked together and make the world go round. I feel sorry for those who have grown up without a father in the picture. Little boys need them to have a buddy or a hero to look up to. Whey they get to be teenagers, the dads have usually lost that status, but it made great memories for dad while their little boys were growing up. Little girls need their daddies in order to know what to look for in a husband years down the road. They have a way of wrapping their dad around their little fingers and before dads know it, they are telling the preacher they are giving their little girl to the man of her dreams. My husband and never had any little girls, but I know giving a daughter away at the wedding would have been really hard on him. He is not an overly emotional guy, but something like that would choke him up and cause very moist eyes.

I have two plaques hanging side by side in our bedroom. One says "A mother is a person who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take." The other one says "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy." Both sayings are so true. Do not forget to wish your dad a Happy Father’s Day, but most of all, tell your father (and mother) that you love them. If it was not for them you would not be here! Plus, we never know from one day to the next how long they or we will be around to tell them "I love you," and once someone is gone it is too late.

Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.

http://www.internettowealth.com/