My Cardboard Testimony

      You may or may not know that I spent the past week with several of my students at DCBC; only the most amazing summer camp on the face of the planet. Why is it amazing? Because God moves there. He really does. I don't know what it is about this place... maybe it's the group of amazing people who run the camp and work so diligently to serve others. Maybe it is the seclusion from everyday distractions. Maybe it's the care and concern and love for others that the counselors show to students and group leaders alike. Maybe it's the fact that this place and everyone in it are constantly bathed in prayer. I don't know. Maybe it's a little of all of the above, but what I do know is that when you take the left turn into the driveway from Hwy 113, a sudden peace and joy wash over you like a wave, and even though you are about to spend nights on a bed the thickness and texture of a bath mat and bathe in a shower shared by 19 of your closest friends, you know you are at home. I love that place.

      I know you are thinking "You are an adult. Why are you so passionate about summer camp?" Didn't I say so already? God moves there. God, the Almighty Creator of the universe, the Author and Perfector of our faith... yes, that one... moves. He speaks gently and softly, like a loving Father. He speaks quietly in a still, small voice. And sometimes, He speaks firmly, directly, and with a hand as firm as steel. And not only does He speak to the students, but he speaks to the counselors, the staff, the pastors, the ministers, and me.

     This week was emotional on so many levels. First of all, we were coming back to DCBC for the first time in a year. During this past year, a dear sweet girl we met at camp last year was killed in a car accident. We were to be back with her group, and one of my girls had become very, very close wtih her before she died. Secondly, two of my former 8th grade students (now just completed 10th), were on staff. Finally, because I had so many lessons to learn while there, but I didn't even know it.

      On the first full day of camp, after a particularly hard Bible study, Lex came to me in tears. "Why did Kaitlyn die?" She asked. Wow. Such a simple question, but one so weighted. I answered her as best I could, and told her that I would search scriptures for a more definitive answer. And I began to search. I prayed. I started a list... and then read each one. I wrote and explained the meaning of each one. I prayed. I cried. I searched more. And I finally, the next day, I gave Lex my list. She shared it with another close friend of hers. That night, the camp pastor (who was fantastic, by the way,) Brent Gambrell, preached a message on why bad things happen. Almost every scripture I shared with Lex was presented in his message (and a few more as well.) Wow. Lex and Kyndal spent the latter part of the evening surrounded by friends in prayer. What a freeing evening for them. God spoke to them in the midst of their heartbreak, and incredibly, He used me to help relay his message. I was astounded.

     On the final evening of camp, the staffers and counselors shared their "cardboard testimonies." On one side of the cardboard, they wrote a brief summary of their lives before Christ. On the back, they wrote how their lives had been transformed. Short and simple. But so powerful. "My" two staffers' testimonies definitely caused me to choke up a bit. One of them, "Rev," has come from a life that no child should have to live through. A drug-addicted mother, sometimes not enough food to eat, absentee father... I could go on. His card simply said, "Living for the World..... New Life in Christ." Wow. So simple, but so powerful. The other has a wonderful family, but carried private struggles that I would have never dreamed. It broke my heart to know that while he was in my class at school, he struggled so desperately with these things, and I never had any idea. He hid it all with a wink and a smile. I went to Rev after the service; I wanted to tell him how much he is loved and how proud of him I was..
 When I told him, he said, "Aw, but you shouldn't be!"
"But I AM," I insisted!
And then he gave a reply that was not of this world. It silenced me and brought more tears to my eyes...


"But that's the best part! It's not me!"

"It's not me." Every breath vacated my lungs. My eyes flooded. All I could do was fling my arms around his neck and hug him. "I love you, Mrs. C!" He said. "I love you, too, Rev."

     In that simple moment, God taught me everything I needed to learn for the whole week. It's not me. It's not about me. Sometimes I am so selfish! "What can I do for God?" "What do I need to be doing with the youth group?" "What do I need to get done for church?"

 Nothing.

     You see, I can't do a thing on my own. It's not me. But God can accomplish beautiful things through me. I thought back... I didn't offer Lex and Kyndal any comfort at all. I didn't know the right words to say. But through searching and prayer, God comforted them through me. Rev didn't do anything on his own... God worked through him. He worked through a sixteen year old country boy serving food and cleaning cabins at a summer camp to tell me exactly what He wanted me to hear.

So, what's my cardboard testimony?

   

The Responsibilities of the Church

  A few days ago, while reading through my twitter feed, I was overcome with the displeasure of those I'm following with the US government. Equal disdain for both Republican and Democratic leaders and policies, debt and spending, healthcare, marriage, social security, abortion... just about everything you can imagine, was clearly stated and lines were drawn. And an underlying sentiment from many "twitterers" was the issue of separation of Church and state.

   There SHOULD be separation of Church and state. Period. The Church should avoid political rambles, and the government should let the Church take care of itself. Remember when Jesus told his detractors to "Give to caesar what is caesar's and give to God what is God's" (Mark 12:17)? This makes it clear that God views the Church and the governing state to be two separate entities. He doesn't say "Give to caesar what is caesar's, and he will divide it amongst the government and the Church accordingly." Nope. Two different entities indeed.

    And though many contend that our founding fathers agreed there would be separation of Church and state solely to keep the government from regulating the religion in our country and to allow for religious liberty, I would argue that it went both ways. Although the founding fathers DID want our nation to be one of religious liberty, where people were allowed to worship (or not) as they personally saw fit, they also didn't want the Church to control the government as it had in many countries in Europe, and as seems to be the case in many troubled regions of the world today.

   So, what do Christians "do about this," in order to "fix" the problems goverment faces today -- you know, social programs that many have such problems with, such as healthcare, social security, taxes, national debt? Well, it's simple. We carry out the responsibilities of the Church.

   Galatians 6:2 says, "Bear one another's burders, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Philippians 2:4 says, "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but to the interests of others." Deutoronomy 15:11 states, "For there will never cease ,to be poor in the land. Therefore, I command you 'you shall open your hand to your brother, the the needy and poor in your land." James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: Look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep yourself from being polluted by the world."

   What does all of this mean? In context, these scriptures not only refer to caring for the spiritual and monetary needs of others, but the healthcare, physical, mental, and emotional needs of others as well. What's that you say? Christians are actually supposed to DO things for people? Which people?
 
   That's an easy one, too. All of them. Scripture also tells us in Matthew 5:43-48,“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^h and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

   What I'm getting at is this: Christians need to stop complaining about the government, spending, healthcare, and all these other issues and DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN COMMANDED TO DO! If Christians would step up and care for the poor, provide for the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give hope to the hopeless, the government wouldn't have to act as a poor substitute! Think about that for a second... if the Church did their/our job, there would be NO NEED for these government programs! There would be less debt! Christians wouldn't have to worry about whether the government sponsored abortion or not! There would be fewer poor that needed monetary hand outs. There would be fewer hungry people needing food stamps. There would be fewer homeless needing government-funded housing! How much headache could Christians prevent the government from "causing" if we just carried out what has been commanded of us?! Wouldn't that be lovely!

  Oh, but then we play the separation of Church and state card. You know, when it's beneficial to us. Because we don't really think *WE* are supposed to do these things. You know, we hear things like this, "Well, I think it's great that the Church wants to care for the poor, but I know who those people are. I personally won't be giving them any donations. They're just going to use it to buy drugs." But guess what, Church? If they do, it's on them! Luke 6:29-30 tell us, ^" If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." That's right, Church! We're supposed to give it anyway!  In a nutshell, my point is this: Christians, put up, or shut up. If we are not doing as commanded by the teachings of the Bible, (the one that many of us are so quick throw in the faces of our "pagan" enemies,) then we have no right to whine and bellyache about what the government does. Period. End of story.

So, Church, now that this has been put out there..... Our move.

Whirlwind Weekdays

Well, I've sort of been slacking on the blog for the past couple of weeks, but things have been very... chaotic... around here.

Let me catch you guys up a little:

June 29: Found out that hubby was being sent to Ohio for a couple of months. Yep, you read that right. MONTHS. We had to pack, prepare, and generally freak out for a few days.
Meanwhile..
July 3: Our next door neighbor's house was burglarized. That's right, they tried every single door and window until they finally broke something and got in. Took all sorts of stuff, and even drilled the safe. Cue complete freak out mode for me, since I'm to be home alone.. so, needless to say, security system: INSTALLED.
July 5: Hubby flies out to Ohio. :( Cue violin music. We both pretty much cried the whole time until his flight left, and then some.
To take the mind of this sad incidence, little cuz and I went to every freaking flea market within a 2-parish radius to try to find her the perfect vanity. She's doing this whole shabby-chic bedroom makeover all by herself, and I have to say, she's a little designer in the making. It looks fantastic.
July 7: Worked and painted for 10+ hours in the youth building at church with one of our pastor's teeanged sons. Ridiculously exhausting.
July 8: Church, visit with my mom, and then that evening, worked 2 more hours on the youth building.
July 9: Worked 8-9 hours on the youth building with pastor, 5 teeangers, and a friend. Dinner with said friend afterwards.
Purchased plane tickets and tickets to the Saints game to travel to Ohio and visit the hubs in August.
July 10: Worked 8+ hours on youth building with friend and pastor's son.
July 11: Left house at 8 AM, drove over an hour to where I graduated college, picked up a transcript, drove over an hour in another direction to my school board office, sent off for teacher re-licensure. Drove another 30 minutes to my school. Picked up supplies, cheer uniforms, and dropped off paperwork. Drove 30 more minutes home. Napped for 30 minutes. Drove 30 more minutes to church. Worked on youth buidling for 2 more hours.
July 12: Slept late. Created cheer signs. 2 teenagers, a preteen and a mom in my house for 2 hours. Drove 30 min to pick up a kid. Cheer practice. Total team meltdown over 2 people having to switch spots. Drove 30 minutes to drop kid off. (Her dad had surgery, say a prayer!)
July 13: DREW BREES GOT SIGNED! *stir the pot dance* ....and now I'm off the shop for VBS supplies, go decorate my VBS classroom, dinner with friends, and then back home.

I'm really tired. I'm sure you didn't need my itenerary, but I just wanted to give you an FYI of where I've been. It's exhausting, really.

I miss the hubs. But I do love my life. :)