Summertime

Summer is in full swing. It is hard to believe it is late July already. The first two weeks of Camp Daniel have come and gone. From all I have heard Camp has been amazing so far. Things haven’t all gone to plan but maybe that is God’s plan – a little disruption to remind us how much we need Him and how we need to be involved in what He is doing rather than expecting Him to get involved in what we are doing. It was good to see our friends and partners; Dan and Nancy Germo, Jason and Rebekah Witt. Dan and Nancy are planning their return to the mission field starting next week. Jason and Rebekah will be returning later this fall.


I have been reading an interesting book this past week. I don’t agree with all the points the author is making but a couple of things have really stood out for me. Our relationship with God is dependent on how we respond to Jesus. Through Jesus, God wants to retell the stories of our lives. We just have to believe. There are many times when I think I don’t have anything to offer or I have messed up so many times God will never be able to use me. God’s story is we are all loved, worthy and valued. We all have something to offer. We can all do something to make the world a better place, more like the place God intended, every day. So, the real question is “Will I believe the story God is telling about my life?” And if I do believe that story, “Will I live according to the story God is telling?” I have written a lot about getting involved in Camp Daniel, missions, going on a short-term missions trips and many other ways we can be involved in what God is doing. These are all great things to be involved in and I encourage everyone to jump in wherever you can. But, we can also live the story God is telling in our everyday lives, in our workplaces, in our schools, even at Wal-Mart while shopping. Anytime we put the people around us and their needs before ourselves and our needs, we are making the world a better place. It could be as simple as holding the door open for someone, saying Hello, or asking someone how their day is going and being genuinely interested in the answer.

As summer continues on please remember to pray for the Germos, the Witts, Camp Daniel, our pastors, our church and the people we interact with day in and day out. If you get a chance spend a day or week helping out at Camp Daniel. Get involved in Family Camp. Above all else ask God what story He would tell about your life and then try to live that story. It won’t all be easy but it will be interesting and we can all make the world a little more of what God intended every day.