I recently went to a summer camp with Jake Schwein for the week. There were a few things I noticed when I was gone. I thought I would share them with you and hope they encourage you.

Stress free living:

I don’t consider myself a person who carries alot of stress, but when I do I carry it in my stomach which means I feel like junk. The lesson here is to take time away, floating down a river and relaxing was very refreshing. If you haven’t been away for a little while I suggest doing it. Just a day can refresh you!

Challenge yourself:

I spent the week with youth, some of these youth were from the inner city in California and was their first time doing wilderness adventure activities. I was struck by their willingness to try new things. Whether it was rafting and doing so knowing that they couldn’t swim or trying a ropes course. There is something that happens in us when we do something that might scare us or we are afraid of. We start to see that we can do it. As many times things in life might be challenging sometimes it is best to move forward and try even if we fail. That time of trial and failure could teach us a lesson.

People actually believe in bigfoot:

There is a town called Happy Camp where they are known by their belief in bigfoot. The picture above is the statue that is by the entrance to the town. Recently bigfoot’s wife and chidden were spotted. I dont know if you would call them bigfoot or littlefoot.

Middle schoolers are funny:

I know this might not be that hard to believe, I have worked with a high school ministry before but not middle school. Middle schoolers don’t care what people think about them at least the guys. They will eat whatever, wear whatever and say whatever they are not concerned about what others think. As “adults” we could learn a thing or two from middle schoolers. There are times in life when we need to just live and not care what others think of us. There are times as well when we need to maybe shape up a bit. We could all use a little middle school in us.

Laugh:

Many of you might think this a no brainer, but serously people enjoy life laugh at things that are funny even some things that are not funny we might laugh inside. I laughed alot this last week and loved every second of it. I love joking around, but there is a time as well to be serious. Live and laugh guys….live and laugh.

Bible reading:

Camp was crazy we were always doing something and there was not alot of down time. When I am at home I feel that I read my bible a fair amount. Being at camp I missed reading the word. Now that I have been back at home for a couple days I can say I missed spending time in the word. The more you read the word the more you want of it, its a cycle that never ends and am I glad thats its a good cycle to be on.

Well that was my week I think I could become a river rat and raft all the time. I could believe in bigfoot if I saw him and I could laugh a whole lot more. Bottom line take some time this summer get outside and enjoy what God has created and hey if bigfoot was part of that plan than maybe that means the lock ness monster is to.