Santa vs Jesus

The North Pole or the Manger?
by Max Lucado, from Christmas Stories

                                                 

Some call him Sinterklaas. Others Pere Noel or Papa Noel. He’s been known as Hoteiosho, Sonnerklaas, Father Christmas, Jelly Belly, and to most English speakers, Santa Claus.
His original name was Nicholas, which means victorious. He was born in AD 280 in what is now Turkey. He was orphaned at age nine when his parents died of a plague. Though many would think Santa majored in toy making and minored in marketing, actually the original Nicholas studied Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine.
He was honored by the Catholic church by being named Bishop of Myra in the early fourth century. He held the post until his death on December 6, 343.
History recognized him as a saint, but in the third century he was a bit of a troublemaker. He was twice jailed, once by the Emperor Diocletian for religious reasons, the other for slugging a fellow bishop during a fiery debate. (So much for finding out who is naughty and nice.)
Old Nick never married. But that’s not to say he wasn’t a romantic. He was best known for the kindness he showed to a poor neighbor who was unable to support his three daughters or provide the customary dowry so they could attract husbands. Old Saint Nicholas slipped up to the house by night and dropped a handful of gold coins through the window so the eldest daughter could afford to get married. He repeated this act on two other nights for the other two daughters.
This story was the seed that, watered with years, became the Santa legend. It seems that every generation adorned it with another ornament until it sparkled more than a Christmas tree.
The gift grew from a handful of coins to bags of coins. Instead of dropping them through the window, he dropped them down the chimney. And rather than land on the floor, the bags of coins landed in the girls’ stockings, which were hanging on the hearth to dry. (So that’s where all this stocking stuff started.)
The centuries have been as good to Nicholas’s image as to his deeds. Not only have his acts been embellished, his wardrobe and personality have undergone transformations as well.
As Bishop of Myra, he wore the traditional ecclesiastical robes and a mitered hat. He is known to have been slim, with a dark beard and a serious personality.
By 1300 he was wearing a white beard. By the 1800s he was depicted with a rotund belly and an ever-present basket of food over his arm. Soon came the black boots, a red cape, and a cheery stocking on his head. In the late nineteenth century his basket of food became a sack of toys. In 1866 he was small and gnomish but by 1930 he was a robust six-footer with rosy cheeks and a Coca-Cola.

Santa reflects the desires of people all over the world. With the centuries he has become the composite of what we want:
- A friend who cares enough to travel a long way against all odds to bring good gifts to good people.
- A sage who, though aware of each act, has a way of rewarding the good and overlooking the bad.
- A friend of children, who never gets sick and never grows old.
- A father who lets you sit on his lap and share your deepest desires.
Santa. The culmination of what we need in a hero. The personification of our passions. The expression of our yearnings. The fulfillment of our desires. And... the betrayal of our meager expectations.
What? you say. Let me explain.
You see, Santa can’t provide what we really need. For one thing, he’s only around once a year. When January winds chill our souls, he’s history. When December’s requests become February payments, Santa’s left the mall. When April demands taxes or May brings final exams, Santa is still months from his next visit. And should July find us ill or October find us alone, we can’t go to his chair for comfort — it’s still empty. He only comes once a year.
And when he comes, though he gives much, he doesn’t take away much. He doesn't take away the riddle of the grave, the burden of mistakes, or the anxiety of demands. He’s kind and quick and cute; but when it comes to healing hurts — don’t go to Santa.

Now, I don’t mean to be a Scrooge. I’m not wanting to slam the jolly old fellow. I am just pointing out that we people are timid when it comes to designing legends.
You’d think we could do better. You’d think that over six centuries we’d develop a hero who’d resolve those fears.
But we can’t. We have made many heroes, from King Arthur to Kennedy; Lincoln to Lindbergh; Socrates to Santa to Superman. We give it the best we can, every benefit of every doubt, every supernatural strength, and for a brief shining moment we have the hero we need — the king who can deliver Camelot. But then the truth leaks, and fact surfaces amid the fiction, and the chinks in the armor are seen. And we realize that the heroes, as noble as they may have been, as courageous as they were, were conceived in the same stained society as you and I.

Except One. There was One who claimed to come from a different place. There was One who, though He had the appearance of a man, claimed to have the origin of God. There was One who, while wearing the face of a Jew, had the image of the Creator.
Those who saw Him — really saw Him — knew there was something different. At His touch blind beggars saw. At His command crippled legs walked. At His embrace empty lives filled with vision.
He fed thousands with one basket. He stilled a storm with one command. He raised the dead with one proclamation. He changed lives with one request. He rerouted the history of the world with one life, lived in one country, was born in one manger, and died on one hill...
After three years of ministry, hundreds of miles, thousands of miracles, innumerable teachings, Jesus asks, “Who?” Jesus bids the people to ponder not what He has done but who He is.
It’s the ultimate question of the Christ: Whose Son is He? Is He the Son of God or the sum of our dreams? Is He the force of creation or a figment of our imagination?
When we ask that question about Santa, the answer is the culmination of our desires. A depiction of our fondest dreams.
Not so when we ask it about Jesus. For no one could ever dream a person as incredible as He is. The idea that a virgin would be selected by God to bear Himself... The notion that God would don a scalp and toes and two eyes... The thought that the King of the universe would sneeze and burp and get bit by mosquitoes... It’s too incredible. Too revolutionary. We would never create such a Savior. We aren’t that daring.
When we create a redeemer, we keep him safely distant in his faraway castle. We allow him only the briefest of encounters with us. We permit him to swoop in and out with his sleigh before we can draw too near. We wouldn’t ask him to take up residence in the midst of a contaminated people. In our wildest imaginings we wouldn’t conjure a king who becomes one of us.
But God did.
God did what we wouldn’t dare dream. He did what we couldn’t imagine. He became a man so we could trust Him. He became a sacrifice so we could know Him. And He defeated death so we could follow Him.
It defies logic. It is a divine insanity. A holy incredibility. Only a God beyond systems and common sense could create a plan as absurd as this. Yet it is the very impossibility of it all that makes it possible. The wildness of the story is its strongest witness.
For only a God could create a plan this mad. Only a Creator beyond the fence of logic could offer such a gift of love.
What man can’t do, God does.
So, when it comes to goodies and candy, cherub cheeks and red noses, go to the North Pole.

But when it comes to eternity, forgiveness, purpose, and truth, go to the manger. Kneel with the shepherds. Worship the God who dared to do what man dared not dream.

 

Epaphras

Watching a sunrise,

Gazing the night stars,

Opening of the first flower bud,

A baby being born,

Making great friendships,

Spending time with your twin sister,

Stepping out of your comfort zone to new growth, 

Seeing someone follow hard after Christ,

is all....

EPAPHRAS

"...Epaphras, a dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit." Colossians 1:7-8

Epaphras is a hero in scripture that most people don't notice.  This dude was a legit guy as we see how he was described by God through Paul in His letter to the faithful brothers in Colosse. He's also mentioned in Philemon as being Paul's fellow prisoner in Christ.  How would you describe all these things listed? All these are just a few things that I got to see or experience over the last couple months and I'd describe it as LOVELY. Epaphras means lovely.  He sure lives up to his name.  He's called a "dear fellow servant" which the Greek word for dear is agapeteous which means a self-sacrificing love, the strongest form of love.  He loves unselfishly to others in his service to them. What he tells Paul about his time with the Colossians isn't about how "religious" they are, or what good/bad works they're doing, etc but of their "love (agape) in the Spirit."  Out of all the things he could have told Paul, their self sacrificing love in the Spirit is what stands out the most and what means the most.  After someone spends time with me, is that how I would be described?  What do I look at when I'm with others?  Is it there apapeteous servant hood?  What do I aim at when around other?  Is it being a faithful minister of Christ?

My second summer at the ranch has passed and so many stories to tell.  I had the best HK team I could have asked for; we truly had brotherly love among us, not in work only but in friendship and time outside of work.  Having adventures of floating the river, hiking, rollerblading, slamming, bowling, eating together, laughing more than I have all year, talking, sharing life!  I still cant believe I get paid for the job I do sometimes.  I had a lot more on my plate this summer with the change of position but still was doing it for God's glory with joy, preparing a place for people to hear the good news (a verse from Habakkuk got me thru a week of infirmity among teen mom and baby campers, I don't know how else I could have gotten thru it with such energy).  My house was full with three wonderful Godly women roommates for the summer but they're slowly departing as they were only here for a season.  We all bonded really well and spent time together on our off days down at the river, riding the slides, horseback riding or just vegging out at home.  Zuela didn't complain having a few extra "moms" either!)  Michelle came from Australia to visit for a few days.  Oh did we have a blast and pictures only describe half the fun, I only wish she would've stayed longer:(

After the summer craziness I had a nice long break where I took my dog camping and hiking for a time to get away, relax and just BE.  Now it's that time of year when the year long interns are getting ready to depart and a whole new crew moves in.  It's going to be hard saying goodbye as I really loved them and appreciated each one so much. Some are moving across country, some are getting married, some may stay and some don't know what's next.  They set a high standard not only for the next year's interns but also for me in how I live my life and love and serve others well.  They're definitely EPAPHRAS.

Serving with Joy

"...whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

This is one of the verses we're memorizing this summer in the Housekeeping department with the summer staff and work crew.  How true these verses are in housekeeping and doing the dirty jobs to serve the campers.  Most of the girls and guys that we get in the summer don't choose housekeeping and aren't too thrilled about it at first, but it's so cool to see how that changes throughout their session.  Not that they love unclogging toilets, but amazing, deep, real relationships happen that far out-ways a fun activity job.  It teaches humbleness and brings out the true colors of servant-hood in people's lives.  It has been for me the past year and a half and continues.  I'm super excited for my second summer here to start.  It's exhausting mentally organizing, preparing, planning, coordinating presummer groups and to create the summer atmosphere and tone before all the volunteers and campers come, but it's so worth it.  The thing that's been continually keeping me joyful in it all has been everyone's attitudes.  All the interns and my co-supervisor I get to work with are so amazing and truly serve with joy as serving the Lord and not man.  A huge group of us went to the Hillsong concert in Portland last week which was the coolest and best worship concert I've ever been to.  It wasn't a concert to listen to the artist ability (although very very good) but a concert to sing to the Lord with other believers.  It was loud enough you couldn't hear the person next to you because you're singing and shouting unto the Lord not holding back even if you have a bad voice.  It was three hours of non stop worship through singing.  Such a great way too for all of us to worship together before summer craziness and be on fire for the Lord together!  


My puppy Zuela is adorable and a handful.  She's a great companion already but man do I feel like a single mother sometimes!) Her and I go on a walk almost every morning, today we even hiked Fohawk at 6:30am on my day off b/c she was ready to go.  There are a lot of dogs out here so she has a lot of play dates which in turn has made me more social with my neighbors and great friendships that I didnt necessarily seek out before!  Zuela is bilingual of course.  Her word to get her to go to the bathroom is ba~no and of course I talk to her mostly in Spanish and my roommates in English.  I have three other girls living with me now, all seasonal hires for the summer.  It's fun having a full house again, spending time together in many different ways.  Well I'm looking forward to a kayaking trip with some friends next week on the John Day River!  I did it last year for my birthday and want to make it a tradition! Ah I am not excited to know that I'll be in my last year of my 20s though:(  Yet looking forward to Michelle coming to visit in August!

SYMPHONOUSIN

"After all our discord, clash, and clamor, we will one day worship in the presence of the One who orchestrated the perfect symphony of two different testaments and more impressively, of a host of clay instruments"  Beth Moore

I love music!  I love to listen, sing, dance to all sorts of music.  My boss gave me about 20 cds she found in storage of all different types of Christian music, some from the 80s and 90s too.  I've had fun the last couple of days listening to them and thinking on their lyrics.  Bre and I did a Bible study in our L.A.C.E (Ladies After Christ's Example) group about daily living: music.  We played a fun game of "Name that tune" listening to segments of secular and Christian music.  We talked about the songs of our life if they sing to the Lord or not and saw how songs of Moses, David and Mary are a few examples in scripture of their life and were songs of honor to God no matter what the circumstance- good or bad.  Earworms is a German term for when we get parts of songs stuck in our head without trying, showing how much an impact listening to music effects what is in our thoughts.

"The words of the prophets are in agreement with this..."  Acts 15:15

I just finished an amazing study thru the book of James. I've learned so much of the life of James both before and after the letter he wrote and thru the words he penned.  It's been an incredible journey learning the history of James and applying it to everyday life as well.  From seeing James be changed from a doubting little brother of Jesus to a prominent leader of Jewish believers in Christ after Jesus' resurrection, he has challenged and inspired me in my life, faith, knowledge and walk with the Lord.  What does the Greek word symphonousin look like in English?  That's right symphony.  The word "in agreement" in the above verse is this Greek word.  James showed how much the Old and New Testament are interwoven and just as important. He showed ultimately how great a symphony the Lord composed scripture and so to our lives!

The last few months have been full of holiday times, travels, new people, new challenges and so much in-between.  My brother Mark visited the Canyon during Thanksgiving.  I hadnt seen him for over a year so I was over filled with joy getting to be with him.  We did all sorts of things like playing flag football, going on the giant swing, serving espresso on Black Friday at the camp coffee shack, had Thanksgiving meals with other families in the canyon, shot guns at the range, vegged out and talked at my house for hours and took a trip to Portland.  Oh I cant believe how much I missed hanging out with him.

Shortly after that visit I had a work trip to two Young Life camps, one in southern California and the other in Arizona.  We were gone for a week.  It was a great time of training and getting to hang out with a few co-workers and meet other people in the mission.  One of the new housekeeping supervisors at the camp doesn't speak English fluently yet (although I think she does amazingly) so I help translate a bit for her and talked to her about some of my favorite Spanish Christian artist who turned out to be her favorites as well. Such a blessing to meet such a wonderful sister.

After the Cali/Arizona trip I had a week to come home, work, and pack for Australia.  I don't even know how to sum up Australia.  After 30 hours of traveling I made it to Perth and was over joyed to see Michelle and my mom and dad.  Two weeks were filled with a new adventure every day.  It was hard to understand Australian English because of unique vocab and strong accents that most of the time mom, dad, and I would just nod our head and wait for Michelle to translate. We started every day with a morning Tim Tam slam (an Australia biscuit to be eaten with coffee).  Michelle and Jake live 5 minutes from the Indian Ocean so we spent many days there for a quick riding of the waves, watching sunsets, and walking along the beach.  Some of our daily excursions included visiting a macadamia nut farm, kayaking in an ocean bay, visiting national parks, walking on a sand bar for 20 minutes to reach Penguin Island, going to two zoos (one which I think animal rights needs to visit) where we go to pet koala bears, kangaroos, wallabies, and other typical Australian animals--the flood must have caused some of these creatures to only be found here, one of my favorites is the platypus.  We also got to visit the gold mine where Michelle and Jake work and saw a gold pour where we held a brick of gold costing around $500,000, got a tour inside the mine and go for a run in the bush.  We spent Christmas on the beach, which felt weird as I'm use to snow during that season, and then had a big Christmas dinner with our family and their neighbors from South Africa.  Mom and I found a Christian church near by to attend a service in honor of why we celebrate.  My favorite day was when we went to Rottenness Island where we took a 40 minute ferry and then biked around the whole island stopping at various coves and beaches to swim and snorkel.  The island is named so because when it was first discovered the animals they found on the island looked like giant rats so originally was called Rat Nest Island.  They're not really rats but called quocas.  Michelle taught us poi so we'd play with that, got into some intense games of Balderdash, and sat on their porch reading, eating, and talking every morning and night.  The night I left Jake prepared kangaroo for dinner, which was really delicious.   The flight home was rough and I had jet leg for almost two weeks when I got back, but it was worth it.

January has been lower key, hanging around the ranch and enjoying the snow and community.  I went cross country skiing with a friend around our sports field and again at one of the mountains outside Sister, OR.  A bunch of the interns and a few other staff and I went snowboarding on tightwad Tuesday.  I continue to be apart of a morning Bible study that meets at my house every Wednesday at 6am.  We just finished the James study I mentioned.  Something I don't want to mistake being touched with being changed.  The L.A.C.E group meets every Wednesday night and has been so wonderful!  It's been a challenge and a joy to lead and pour into the teen girls and even hang out throughout the week going hiking, shooting bow and arrow, baking cookies, singing, dancing, etc.  I also got a new roommate who moved in a few days ago.  She's the same as me and from Ohio.  I'm excited to get to know her more.  I also had one of my old roommates out for a visit and help planning her wedding in April.  It's interesting to continue to see the people that come in and out of our lives some for short periods and some longer and the effect we have on each other for Christ's glory.

Now a day of rest...

FOR, THRU, TO

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36

FOR OF HIM I am here and can't even imagine who or where I'd be if I didn't have Christ in my life.  AND THROUGH HIM I enjoy this ministry of sharing Christ with the 'unchurched' and walking with other believers to grow in faith.  AND TO HIM I daily lay down my soul and follow Christ that I may become more like Him.  TO WHOM BE THE GLORY FOREVER is not of my and my selfishness or how others view me, but to honor God in my all. We bring all that we are to all that He is and all that we need to all He can give (Beth Moore).

ONE YEAR completed of living here in the canyon of Young Life's Washington Family Ranch.  In some ways it feels like I just moved here and I'm still the newbie and other ways I feel like I've been apart of this community for years.  I continue to learn about my job, my role in the community, and what God's doing in this place and in my life. Many friendships have been created, of whom I feel as if I've known them my whole life.  Some remind me of old friends I no longer live around so brings a joy and comfort in a way.  This community is constantly changing with seasonal hires, new full time hires, newborn babies (there are four women pregnant now all due in the next two months), people moving away, etc.  My two roommates I had for the summer are gone now so I live in 7 bedroom house alone.  I actually just moved out of the one I've been living in to a lesser remodeled home to save on rent, so still has a lot of Rajaneesh stuff (the cult that was here in the 80s).  The fall colors in the canyon are beautiful with the deciduous trees that were brought here many years ago reminding me of the midwest fall colors, oh how I miss this time of year back home and all the raking of leaves that I truly enjoy.  I have yet to go back and visit Minnesota or Wisconsin to visit family and friends, many of whom had or are about to have a baby since I've been here and I haven't yet met :(  I'm blessed to have had my parents visit and one of brothers is coming out for Thanksgiving in a few weeks, yay!

A new group of year-round interns moved in at the beginning of October, there's 13 this year (12 last year).  I really enjoy them.  They're very different from last years group.  I got the opportunity to do a high ropes training with all the interns when they first arrived to become certified on all our different elements (zip line, giant swing, rock wall, ropes course, pamper pole), so got to get to know them right off the bat, some closer than other for having to straddle each other while learning how to do a rescue on the ropes course (lol).  I've also joined a Bible study with 8 other women (different from the Women of the Bible study groups I did last winter/spring) .  We're doing a Beth Moore study through the book of James.  I'm loving it soooooo much!   Two other ladies and myself are challenging ourselves to memorize the book of James, not to be 'high and mighty religious looking' but to have HIS Word dwell in our hearts.  On our walks together we work at it.  The Lord has also placed on my heart to pour into the older girls of the families in our community (junior high age).  Another woman, Bre, who was an intern last year and now on staff with Mark 2, will be leading the group with me.  We haven't started meeting yet but will this coming Wednesday. 

Well with our slow season of camping starting soon full of deep cleaning and various projects at work, going to work when it's dark and returning when it's dark too, I'm looking forward to relaxing days and evenings reading, making crafts, game nights, sharing meals with others and getting ready to visit my sister in Australia!!!!!

1st summer at WFR

 "He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself...And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick." John 14:13-14

  Oh where to begin!  It's been over three months since I've posted and so much has gone on that I don't know what I'll all get to writing down?!  I think this verse sums up a bit of how I've been.  This summer was amazing from the moment the first bus of campers arrived and tears of joy filled my eyes, to training high school and college age women to clean toilets as if Jesus were going to use it, to pouring into these same women for Christ, to grow as a team with my co-workers thru long hours of work and riverside bonfires and night swims and doing all this all over again from day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month and so much more in-between.  It left little down time, but was worth it for the opportunities I had to serve others and guide them to fall more in love with Christ.  I did get one or two days off each week where I'd explore a destitute place on our property to sit and be alone with Christ.

  Each month there was a new set of volunteers that came out to the canyon to work in a variety of departments.  In housekeeping I had about 20 ladies each session from all over the world (most from the US but a couple from other countries).  It was fun working along side them and encourageing them in their walk with the Lord.  I was encouraged by them as well that they would give up a month to come and serve all because they want others to come and know the Lord (Young Life is an out reach to the unchurched if you didnt already know).  I was challenged in so many ways being a leader and communicating with my co-leaders to work as a team for the same purpose and heart (Philippians 2:2), also having one-on-one time with the ladies to seek them out, show their loved, encourage them in the struggles of this world, combat lies and be a friend.  We would have theme days where we would all dress up crazy, we would sing while we worked, we'd play "screaming feet" or "ninja" while we waited for campers to leave a building so we could go clean, we'd have contests who could plunge a toilet the fastest, we'd memorize scripture together, we'd have night washboard parties, we'd stop for a Sassy treat (name of our snack bar), we'd wear bags on our head when we had to disinfect a lice room, we'd share lives together!
  When I wasn't working I would go to some of the camper events like the county fair/festival in the soccer fields, square dancing (my favorite!), the camp speaker talks, work crew/summer staff talent shows, and waterslides.  I also went kayaking and floating down the river with a friend who had the same off day as me or go for a long hike around the property or just lay in my hammock reading for hours.  I think I went in to town once every three to four weeks (however long I could go without grocery shopping).  I've gardened a bit and for the change of soil from Wisconsin to the dry desert of Oregon I still had wonderful lettuce, cilantro, basil, spinach, kohlrabi, and more than I can keep up with zuccihini.

  My parents came out for a week and got to be adult campers.  They loved it and created some great friendships with other adult guests and most importantly with Christ!  My dad even loved embarrassing me while I gave a making bed demonstration tell everyone that he taught me those hospital corners.
  It's now back to off-season camping and still seem just as busy but without all the extra volunteers.  We had two Spanish speaking groups in at the end of August so I was super excited to give my clean up speech to them in Spanish.  Unfortunately for the first group I forgot the word for pillowcases so as one of the tables in the back of a room of 300+ people started yelling the correct word I heard incorrectly and ended up saying a swear word in Spanish.  Everyone broke out in laughter and I tried to play it off as if I didnt know what I just said and finished the rest of the speech, but man none of my co-workers are letting me live that one down.  I made sure I remembered the correct word for the next week group.  I'm back to helping host groups during the off-season, with this weekend being a women's retreat so it's nice to have a change up a bit.  
  My two roommates are both seasonal hires so they'll be leaving shortly and I'll be in a 6 bedroom all by myself.  There's not any options really for any singles out here :(  I had a four day break last weekend and went to a friends cabin, then camping and hiking at Crater Lake and then hiked South Sister (the third highest peak in Oregon) with some of the year-long interns.  Their year is coming to an end and a new set of year-longs move out in October.  I'm coming on almost one year at the canyon.  I'm still loving it and so blessed to be apart of this ministry! 

Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. ¹² And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. ¹⁴ Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. Ezekiel 16:9-14

What an amazing picture this is of how Christ cleanses us and adorns us no matter how filthy of sin we are.  I love the last part saying our beauty is perfect because of Jehovah's splendor.  That is for sure true beauty!  The rest of this chapter goes on to say how Jerusalem idolatrated her beauty and splendor that the Lord bestowed upon her.  Things that seemed a "small matter"(v.21) to them where a huge matter to the Lord.  How too it seems in the Christian world today of making light sin ("sex scenes in movies are normal to view," "sex before marriage is what everybody does these days," "getting drunk is needed to relax from a hard work week," etc), but just because it's the norm today doesn't make it ok in God's sight.  There's a song that has some lyrics that say "break my heart for what breaks your" and how much can we say today that our heart breaks for the sin in this world not just among the unbelievers but what is in the believers as well.  I'm just as much as guilty at this as whoever is reading this is, but man this book of Ezekiel is rockin my socks off lately of God's grace, justice, love, commands, extremes, that is challenging me to live for Him alone continually and admit I'm broken and how lucky I am to be a believer today (the book of Ezekiel was just before the captivity of Israel, a very scary time, yet I wonder if the people then would be scared to live today for the increased evil since then?!?!?!)

Ok well summer camp craziness starts tomorrow basically and I'm pumped!  I had a few days off earlier this week to get some outside adventure in before my days off become my days of relaxing in my hammock all day to catch up on rest.  In three days I went to a rodeo in Sisters, OR (biggest rodeo in Oregon), went hiking at Smith Rock (every rock climber's dream), and went kayaking all day on the John Day River which is basically our backyard out here.  So yes a lot of adventure and fun and a nice treat after the last month of camp groups in every day.  There was a weekend of adventure-a-thons called Wild Canyon Games that has all these crazy intense competitions over three days (many teams were star Nike athletes, military, etc).  Seeing these people and their intensity reminded me of the verse where Paul says he beats his body to make it subject to him and running in a way to win the prize.  I had a couple of friends who formed a team and placed really well among all the others and it was fun to watch them when I could while I was in the background cleaning up (lol).  

Well I was just hoping to write a little bit before high summer season starts and I'm not sure all what to expect.  I appreciate everyone's comments and encouragements and updates.  I pray that the Lord will be glorified in whatever your doing day-to-day and that we can have a heart that breaks for what breaks His.