Nice To Be Recognized

Last weekend SMMM was recognized at the Appalachian Regional Conference of the Association of North American Missions (http://www.anamissions.org/) with the presentation of ANAM's The Great Commission Award. This award is given annually to an organization or individual for “outstanding, widely recognized contribution to the cause of Christ – especially in North America.” Doug Clark, ANAM's Executive Director, stated the award was given in recognition of SMMM’s seventy five years of ministry in Appalachia.

While SMMM didn't set out in 1932 to win awards like this one, it is nice to have your peers appreciate what the Lord has accomplished through this ministry. Recently I had a note from an individual whose children attended camp in the 1980s expressing the positive influence Camp Nathanael had on them and that "only eternity will reveal all that has been accomplished." That's the "award" I'm looking forward to. But won't it be exciting to lay that one at Jesus' feet.

That's what's happening along the banks of Troublesome Creek until next time.

Lifetime Friends

Yesterday Debbie and I received an email from a good friend. We've known Dan and Rita since my freshman year at Wheaton College. It is a friendship that was solidified by weekly trips in the early 1970s to Joliet, IL to minister in a coffeehouse outreach (remember those?). Some Saturday nights we would drive Dan's '57 Ford filled with five or six college students. Other times we'd drive the college's 4-wheel drive Chevy which was used to explore the badlands of South Dakota in the summers. Those nights of seeking to build relationships with high school students off the streets of Joliet with the goal of sharing Christ also resulted in building a friendship which has lasted a lifetime.

I got to thinking about the many friends, both individuals and in various churches, the Lord has blessed us with throughout our years of ministry. I was reminded we are indeed rich! There are several, like Dan and Rita, who have been with us since the start. They have prayed, and many have given financially, that our part in SMMM might be effective. We have watched each others' children grow up. We've tracked the career developments along the way. We have celebrated and even cried together even though we have rarely seen each other face-to-face.

The common bond that has kept these friendships so special has been our shared relationship with Jesus Christ. These friendships are very valuable to us and I wouldn't trade them for anything. What a great experience to have lifetime relationships within the Body of Christ.

That's what's happening along the banks of Troublesome Creek until next time.

See Why I Stay

It's kind of a slower paced day around camp today. I've been catching up on my desk work which gets woefully behind during the summer weeks of camp. I'm slowly discovering that the top of my desk is mostly black, not papered in white.

I took advantage of this lull to review some pictures of the camp season and found one that explains one of the reasons why I stay in this ministry. Maybe I shouldn't reveal this reason but where else can you do this (see picture) and call it "work".

For the uninitiated this is a mountain board which is one of the newer activities at Camp Nathanael. To me it looks like a skate board on steroids. For now we ride them down a slopping hill but hopefully soon we'll actually take the boards up on the mountain and ride them on a trail.

It's great fun and, for those inquiring minds, no, I didn't fall and bruise my dignity.

That's what's happening along the banks of Troublesome Creek until next time.

God's Multi-Talented Family

Today I had a great reminder of the wide variety of gifts God gives to His children. As I walked across the camp grounds a little while ago, I heard a mower cutting grass over by the swimming pool. I heard hammers up on the hill where maintenance is rebuilding a porch damaged by a falling tree a couple of weeks ago. Then I walked into the Kentucky Building where I saw the artistic talent of Bill Baker.

Earlier this summer Bill and his wife, Wanda, were participating in Family Week. I was talking with them in the Kentucky Building about the four walled mural that portrays various sites around Camp Nathanael that some ministry friends had painted a few years ago. There, near one door, was a blank spot and Bill asked me what's supposed to be there. I replied that I hoped to have a view of the Chapel in that place someday. Bill, with a tone of genuine humility, said, "I think I could do that." I knew Bill did some painting and did very fine work with stain glass but I never dreamed he'd offer to paint the Chapel for the mural.

Well, he did and today he completed it. Using talent, given by God, Bill and Wanda invested five days to come and complete the Kentucky mural. Oh, how good it looks! Now you have another reason to come visit with us at Camp Nathanael - to see the Kentucky mural completed.

Today, several different God-given abilities were on display at camp. Whether its mowing grass, hammering nails, painting murals or whatever else it might be, we each have abilities which God has given us to use to advance His Kingdom. I trust you are using the ones He has given you for His glory.

That's what's happening along the banks of Troublesome Creek until next time.

A Life Changing Day!

There are two days in my life that have impacted me more than any other experiences I've ever had or will have. The first one is the day I accepted Christ as my personal Savior. I don't honesty have a calendar day for that but I was six years old and it was a Sunday night after church. I have no doubt as to what took place in my life that evening. Obviously, receiving forgiveness for my sins and the gift of eternal life will never be replaced by any other day at the top of my list.

Having said that, today comes right behind it. Thirty five years ago on August 11, 1973 at 2:00 PM in the Chapel at Camp Nathanael, Debbie and I publicly pledged our love and commitment to each other in a wedding ceremony. At the time I didn't fully realize what a special gift I had received in Debbie Mosgrove. And I don't think either of us had any idea how great our life together would become but it certainly has. The "for better, for worse" has come into play a few times with the "for better" far outweighing the "worse" part. I could write scores of pages about God's blessings and provision but let me simply say I'm so grateful the Lord has given me the privilege of spending my life with Debbie.

As I think about it, both of these incredibly life changing days are based on unconditional love. Christ loves each of us unconditionally and Debbie loves me the same way. What greater blessing could a man want!

That's what's happening along the banks of Troublesome Creek until next time.