Besides living in Colorado, going to Family Camp at Fort Wilderness is the next best thing to capturing the vitality and wonder of God’s creation.  It creates lots of opportunity to live dangerously quite safely.  {Ahem.} 

The boys literally had their bags packed days before we heel clicked outta Indiana.  (Thanks for the idea Melody1983)

This left them rather . . . anxious, with nothing to do.  Toys lacked any entertainment, paling in comparison to horses, guns, cowboys, food not found in our pantry, and ample of time with their grandparents.

This year was no different.  The kids had fun and in one way or another I got my spiritual butt kicked. 

Camp life was significantly easier.  We didn’t have anyone in diapers, everyone liked their morning class, horses filled our thoughts, and potty training was nearly accomplished. 

Life was good even though I was eating grain free.  Maybe that was why the weeks sailed by – I wasn’t in a gluten coma.

The Part Where I Got My Butt Kicked

The boys learned how to walk behind a horse to avoid getting kicked. 

But there isn’t a lesson on avoiding spiritual kicking unless you call it “having a hard heart.” 

My heart was soft, moldable and ready.  Ripe for the weed picking.  A wee bit raw from recently dealing with some baggage. 

While the children were participating in the Kingdom Chronicles VBS at family camp, I sat under the teaching of Mike Bellanti, from Northbrook Church (his wife is super funny and soaks almonds – we are destined to be good friends).

Highlights from my Family Camp Notes

I don’t know that I can really sum up 5 days of teaching.  Umm . . . go listen to the podcast.  You are going to get pieces.  Nuggets – all that in-between my favorite pictures.

What Do I Expect From Jesus?

The crowds often had wrong or false expectations of Jesus. 

So. Do. I.

They wanted Jesus to make their lives better.  They wanted power in this leader, but found out He was a servant.  A warrior was expected, but they discovered he was a peacemaker.

When we don’t get what we want, we often become fickle.  Like a leaf floating on a fall day.  What do we do . . . what do you do when you don’t get your way?  I know what my kids do.  (Can I get a witness on this, Engineer?)  They sound like the eels in The Princess Bride, I kid you not and let me remind you, I love my children.

When we don’t get what we want,

1. we get our feelings hurt
2. we give up

What can you expect from Jesus?

The Bible tells us that in the world we are going to have trouble.  But Jesus has overcome.  Fact.

1. He is our Prophet.  He will show us how to live.  Jesus speaks the truth to us.
2. He is our Priest.  He interceded for us and continues to do that through the Holy Spirit.
3. He is our King.  He came to rule our hearts, should we allow Him to.  Jesus came to show us what God is really like.  He is the Authority regarding God.

The simple fact is that Jesus doesn’t want to be your consultant.  He wants to be your King.

Stop Using

You will never get all that you need from people. 

Move from being a consumer to a contributor in the Kingdom of God.  Not all of your needs are going to be met.  Our job is to “partner” with God in saving humanity. 

On the Subject of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is mandatory.

Reconciliation is optional.

Both require God’s help.

I don’t have much to say about this – other than these three statements impacted me the most.  Freeing, quite honestly. 

Those Pesky Neighbors

There is really no need to use those 50 pound Christian words.  Remove the complexity from the Gospel. 

Our “neighbor” is anyone you have to deal with.  Have to . . . get to . . . are blessed to be around. 

But vampires exist.  Those people that S.U.C.K. the life out of you.  In this case, remember that love is an action.  It doesn’t have to be an emotion.  And Jesus knew this. 

To love the vampires in your life:

• have God make a deposit in your heart each day.  Read your Bible, meditate upon His word, pray and listen to the Holy Spirit.  Fill up your “love tank.”
• don’t make assumptions about these vampires – there may be a REALLY good reason for their tendency to attach themselves to you and extract your energy.  Assumptions lead to judgments.  How I have been guilty of making such horrendous assumptions about people only to find out they are quite endearing . . . once I knew their story.  Take the time to discover the why behind their who. 
• establish boundaries – fences make good neighbors.  Boundaries allow you to love someone for the long haul.

As believers, our job (as it relates to our neighbors) is to:

• love
• pray for
• and encourage

our neighbors . . . BUT our job is NOT to be responsible for their next step, their happiness, or their success.  Contrary to what our neighbor may cause us to feel.

Want to Crave God?

Shalom means more than peace.  It is wholeness, goodness, a sense of feeling complete.  Oh, how this resonated with me. 

Shalom.  I wanted to name one of our children, Shalom. 

The gospel can be simple.

Creation. 

Fall.

Redemption.

Mission.

Eternity.

But. We. Make. It. Complicated.  Full.  Busy.  Worldly.

We let the things of this life blur the message of the Gospel.  We get distracted.

There is a belief out there . . . a thought . . . almost a movement.  It’s called Christian Therapeutic Moralistic Deism.  It’s when we make Christ our mascot.  We come to believe that it is His job to make us feel good – to be happy. 

This is not what was EVER intended. 

By doing so, we make God tame.  Tired.  Boring.  Like a genie stuck in a small bottle.  Easy to replace when we don’t get what we want.  Or we run out of wishes. 

The simple fact is that Jesus + Anything = idolatry of self reliance.

My Response.

We need Jesus.  We need Him in a mighty way.  I want a life that is radically dependent upon Him. 

With boundaries – because this is OK.  Allowable. 

And due to my sensitive heart – I HAVE to forgive but that doesn’t mean I HAVE to keep pursuing a relationship with someone.  He even dusted the dirt off of His feet and never returned to certain locations.

I want to crave.  I want to live passionately.  I want Shalom.  Wholeness.  Peace.  I want this for myself.  For my husband.  For my children.  Oh, to pass that legacy on to them.

And most of all – I really really really want to be a part of God’s plan for saving humanity. 

Thank you, Jesus.

(BTW, thanks MIL and FIL for making it possible for us to come to Fort Wilderness!!!  This post if for you!  We had a great time and we love you!)

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