From the dust we came (or Do Something, Even Nothing, Outdoors)

Go. be. outside.

Charles Spurgeon:

"Let a man be naturally as blithe as a bird, he will hardly be able to bear up year after year against such a suicidal process; he will make his study a prison and his books the warders of a gaol, while nature lies outside his window calling him to health and beckoning him to joy.

He who forgets the humming of the bees among the heather, the cooing of the wood-pigeons in the forest, the song of birds in the woods, the rippling of rills among the rushes, and the sighing of the wind among the pines, needs not wonder if his heart forgets to sing and his soul grows heavy.

A day’s breathing of fresh air upon the hills, or a few hours, ramble in the beech woods? umbrageous calm, would sweep the cobwebs out of the brain of scores of our toiling ministers who are now but half alive.

A mouthful of sea air, or a stiff walk in the wind’s face, would not give grace to the soul, but it would yield oxygen to the body, which is next best.

Heaviest the heart is in a heavy air,
Ev’ry wind that rises blows away despair.

The ferns and the rabbits, the streams and the trouts, the fir trees and the squirrels, the primroses and the violets, the farm-yard, the new-mown hay, and the fragrant hops—these are the best medicine for hypochondriacs, the surest tonics for the declining, the best refreshments for the weary.

For lack of opportunity, or inclination, these great remedies are neglected, and the student becomes a self-immolated victim."

(Thanks Justin Taylor)



And from Wendell Berry:

"I don't think it is enough appreciated how much an outdoor book the Bible is...It is best read and understood outdoors, and the farther outdoors the better. Or that has been my experience of it. Passages that within walls seem improbable or incredible, outdoors seem merely natural. This is because outdoors we are confronted everywhere with wonders; we see that the miraculous is not extraordinary but the common mode of existence. It is our daily bread. Whoever really has considered the lilies of the field or the birds of the air and pondered the improbability of their existence in this warm world within the cold and empty stellar distances will hardly balk at the turning of water into wine - which was, after all, a very small miracle. We forget the greater and still continuing miracle by which water (with soil and sunlight) is turned into grapes."


(Thanks Chip Baggett)

Gospel Truths in... SAYING GOODBYE

(from the CWR Times)

We are nearing the end of the summer and we will soon be saying goodbyes. A difficult goodbye is always a reminder to me of the Gospel. We were created to experience a closeness with others. Relationships are meant to give us a certain satisfaction. But ever since man’s rebellion there has been a particular strain in our relationships. When we experience, even in part, the harmony and camaraderie that we were made for, there is a part deep within us that doesn’t want it to end. The good news is that Christ died to make all things new. In Christ we find the relationship for which we were made. When Jesus was resurrected he told Mary to go to His “brothers.” As the firstfruits of the Kingdom of the resurrected, Christ began the restoration of the humanity of humanity.

Even now we are beginning to feel the effects of that redemption, yet we still live in a fallen world. So it is hard to say goodbye. It is hard because of how good the community has been and it seems to be a parting. Yet, it is not a permanent parting, and for that reason there is a certain comfort to be had. While this group may not ever again serve together in one location on this side of glory, we know that we are going separate ways with the love and support of brothers and sisters in Christ. We can leave knowing that, on account of the spectacular redemption we have in Him, we will all be united once again. And at that time, bittersweet goodbyes will be a thing of the past.

Gospel Truths in... the PASSAGE of TIME

(from the CWR Times)

Ever notice that those 5 minutes in Lakeside during Canteen go by really quick? Or how quickly ten minutes with a prayer partner turn into twenty? Can you remember yesterday’s flag raising? Seems like forever ago. At the same time, it is hard to believe it is already the eighth week for the staff. I feel like we were just huddled in the dark, powerless Dining Hall sharing with each other at the end of Staff Training. It’s a short summer made up of long days.

I think that our experience of the passage of time teaches us something about how things are supposed to be. When things are going well, time seems to pass quickly. It feels as though it escapes us. This points to our innate desire to experience goodness without end. Conversely, when things are going poorly, time seems to drag on. This points to our innate desire to experience only goodness. In glory, the expression “time flies” will lose its meaning. We will never have to fearfully check our watches to see if we are out of time. We will never agonizingly glance at the clock and realize that we have to endure just a little bit longer. One day, thanks to the redemption found in Christ, we will experience the good of life without the worry of when it will end.

The Gospel Truths in... SILLY BANDZ

(from the CWR Times)

When I look at an arm full of Silly Bandz I’m reminded of the Gospel.

Silly Bandz, have you seen them? They are so much fun. At first you would think it is just a funny looking rubber band, but they’re not! They are something far grander. When I see Silly Bandz I see that people are creative and desire fun things. This is because God made us to be creative and to desire fun things. The large number of campers I see running around with Silly Bandz is also evidence that people like trends. People like to belong and no one wants to be left out. This is a result of being made in the image of a God who is, within Himself, perfect community.

The Gospel story is one of a good God making a good creation and people in His image. He made us to be creative. Then man rebelled against all that is good so that now not everything is right in the world. This is why Silly Bandz break. But God, in His grace, has made redemption available through His Son. He is redeeming hearts first, but even broken Silly Bandz serve as a reminder that redemption has not yet been made complete.

CWR Summer 2K10

Done.

The Gospel Truths in... a BURGER

(from the CWR Times)

When I look at a burger I see the Gospel. I am reminded that God is good. He created a world in which we can experience deliciousness and delight. He did not have to make burgers taste good, and He did not have to make us capable of tasting them, but He did because He is good. I am also reminded of sin. A cow died for me to have that burger. And too many burgers could kill me. That is not the way things were meant to be. We were meant to experience delicious things apart from death, decay, and destruction. But through our rebellion those things entered the world.

But there is redemption. Christ died and was resurrected to make all things new. One of the visions of glory is a vision of a great feast. I am not sure if there will be burgers in the consummated Kingdom of Christ, but I do know that whatever we do eat, it has to be at least as good as the best burger in this life.

Blogging will soon resume...

It’s been a long stretch of time since my last post.

Summer at Camp Willow Run is a great thing and it consumes my time. But things are beginning to slow a bit. Posts should resume over the next week.

I think I will post a little series that I wrote for the CWR Times about Gospel truths that can be found in the world around us.

For now, I’ll leave you with two of my favorite sunset pictures from the summer taken by the CWR media specialist, Brently.

Mera Dost (or My Friend)

I recently saw a buddy of mine. There was a time when he was a stranger. Then he became a friend. And then a dear brother.

Now, to me, he is a hero and an inspiration. I marvel at his walk with our God and his service to our Lord.

He is a hero because he gave up the familiarities and comforts of home for a strange and foreign land.

He is a hero because he lives as a light in a very dark place.

He is a hero because he gives of himself and pours out his energy to a people who yearn for attention and meaningful relationships.

He is a hero because he is bold and courageous with a message of peace.

He is a hero because he fights to demonstrate love and patience in an environment that would try and frustrate most Americans.

He is a hero because he will almost certainly shake his head in disregard at me calling him a hero.

You see, he believes the Gospel and sees himself through it. Thus, his view of himself is marked by humility. It is a humility that recognizes that his shortcomings are overcome by the power of Christ. Those things about his life that I see as so remarkable, he views as obedience to the calling of his Master.

Obedience to the Master no matter the cost. To see a life lived out in such a way should be inspirational. It should push me to serve Christ more faithfully.

His extraordinary obedience in extraordinary circumstances is a reminder of our call to live extraordinarily as children of God even in ordinary circumstances.

Live life and live it for Him. My friend has encouraged and challenged me. If there is not a friend or brother in your life who spurs you on towards a closer walk with Christ, find one. We are to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Find someone who does that for you. Be someone that does that for others.

And always look to the one who has called us “brothers” (John 20:17; Romans 8:29). No one has lived a more extraordinary life than Jesus, the Son of God. And in time, by His grace, He will make the extraordinary possess the same familiarity as the ordinary.

Brother, my friend, stay strong.

Proverbs 18:24

Depart 7:46pm, April 18

Arrive 12:30pm, April 20

And then six days of sweet goodness.

Churchill

I just finished a book about Winston Churchill. He was the British Prime Minister during WWII and was instrumental in casting the war as a battle between liberty and totalitarianism, freedom and oppression, good and evil.

I enjoyed reading about his life in the biography by John Keegan. The following are words delivered by Churchill in 1925 at the unveiling of a memorial for the Royal Naval Division. I think they accurately capture the man's convictions and are worth passing along...

"We are often tempted to ask ourselves what we gained by the enormous sacrifices made by those to whom this memorial is dedicated. But that was never the issue with those who marched away. No question of advantage presented itself to their minds. They only saw the light shining on the clear path to duty. They only saw their duty to resist oppression, to protect the weak, to vindicate the profound but unwritten Law of Nations. They never asked the question, 'What shall we gain?' They asked only the question, 'Where lies the right?' It was thus that they marched away for ever, and yet from their uncalculating exaltation and devotion, detached from all consideration of material gain, we may be sure that good will come to their countrymen and to this island they guarded in its reputation and safety, so faithfully and so well."