Stepping back and looking forward

What a great weekend this was. It was the Beaverlodge Alliance family camp at moonshine lake. We have gone there several times in the past for church campouts. It brought back some interesting memories from 9 years ago. Crazy.

I got there late friday night, around 12:30 or so, and joined some people by the campfire. It was windy and the pastor stood up and turned around, saying he was going to use his back to break the wind. I waited a good 10 seconds for my dad to make some comment related to "breaking wind" and how he should be careful with the fire so close or something. He said nothing. That was probably the strangest event of the evening, dad does NOT miss opportunities like that, and considering the roll he was on...you should have seen him, he had everyone laughing. Except me of course, I just marvel at how he can do that with such quirky comments.

My dad rules! Happy Fathers day!

So eventually it was down to 3 of us, myself, Matt Sterkenberg and Amanda Reimer. Known them both for quite some time, especially Amanda. We talked around that fire about what had been happening in our lives and that was really great to do that with friends I do not see very often anymore. As you can imagine, the fire, plus semi-to-extremely tired people, plus personal stuff equals crawling into the sleeping bag somewhere close to 5 o clock. There was about 40 minutes of me alone on the dock of the lake somewhere in there too.

Saturday was awesome, I read CS Lewis' book "The Great Divorce" Great book. played some football, baseball, guitar, ate some food. you know. the usual campout esperience.

Come supper time, the Jones family pulled out their 27 inch TV and pulled it into the shelter. Tal had brought his amp and stereo system, and my dad nabbed a singal booster from a fellow teacher. They rigged up the antenna and sound system and when the puck dropped there were about 50 people sitting in the shelter watching hockey on a 27 inch TV sitting on 2 tables stacked on top of eachother, and listening to like 300 watts of sound coming out of 4 speakers.

I know what is camping and what is not. But I am making an exception.

THAT is camping.

So after that Tal lost his new glasses and our massive search effort came up short. So we said we'd try later, then Tal foudn them right where he was standing when he lost them, that was really funny. We all went to fireside and sang songs I can barely, and I do mean barely recall from the days of my youth. We sang my God is so big, and some kids were diong actions in the back. After it was done I told them we had to do the mini version, which I then proceeded to sing Way to flippin high. Gross. Then we did the big version, and out of the whole crew, myself in the dead centre and about 4 way way in the back were just giving it hard. Noone else moved.
It was quite a spectacle, and someone commented on my performance and enthusiasm saying, I guess thats why hes at camp. Yeah I guess. I wish little mikey mulligan was there, he would have put em all to shame. Yes, there is something about that childlike ignorance of what your audience thinks of you that is stolen from us all too often.

Your audience is, was and always will consist of only one person. And you know what he thinks of you. If you don't, email me and I will gladly tell you. kalebmanalive@hotmail.com

Went to bed after a rousing game of poker and woke up to a very interesting sunday service featuring a play for our moment in missions that was quite interesting. A couple from our church then shared their journey with God and where it has taken them. I ran into this couple at breakforth and sat beside them for a session, I don't know them very well beyond that, and I certainly did not know what the husband shared, that he had been married before, and his wife died in a car accident. Wow. But he shared the story from there, and it really was amazing to hear of God's provision for him through his new wife, who is very much alive. It reminded me of how people are the instrument of God in his minstering to us. I really love my time alone with God, but I was reminded that God speaks to us, minsters to us, provides for us, and loves us through people. Satan loves to get us isolated so he can speak his deceptions to us unhindered by the truth God speaks to us through others. Awesome reminder for me.

After driving 40 km in the wrong direction coming home, adding about an hour onto my driving time (dont....ask) I am home after what was a very neat weekend and in many ways, it was much needed.

It was a time to stop for a day or two and step back. Step out of what has been going on in my life and search for God in there. It was a chance to be ministered to by my brothers and sisters in Christ, through simple fellowship. It was a chance to hear God speak through others into my life. It was a chance to slow down. breathe. If these things don't happen, I find I really start thinking WAY too much. We need to think, God gave us a brain, but i honestly find that those times when we are kind of depressed or out of it or down are also the times when our brains are just about ready to blow a piston. Its worth mentioning that this is my experience, but maybe its yours to, and if it is, I encourage you to get away or find a place where you can give the ol bean a rest. I don't konw what that looks like for you, but God does and you can ask him.

When you can stop and figure out where you are.....actually, forget where you are, WHO you are...once you figure that out, then you can look forward to who you want to be. I really think thats the question we need to ask. Where you are is the natural outcome of who you have been in past circumstances. But you aren't defined by where you are, but who you are.

Or maybe who you think you are. Like in Ice Age 2 when that mammoth chick thinks shes a.....whatever. rat we will say. Its not until she realizes that she is a mammoth that she bagins living like one. Like when Peter and John enter the tomb in John 20 and when John sees the linen Jesus was wrapped in, he saw and believed in the resurrection. Jesus had told them he was coming back, but until it clicked there was knowledge, but not expeirience. Back in september I crossed that plane...maybe its one that we need to keep crossing...or remembering at any rate. Those jews were very good at remembering. Probably cause God designed their culture and didn't want them to forget.

Ever read people magazine? Well that last paragraph is your seven degrees of difference between Ice Age 2 and ancient Jewish culture. I think thats people magazine....

And I think thats time I stop.