New Disciplines

I've been trying to take up a couple of long held traditions in the Church over histories that have never been a part of my daily walk.  The first one is the practice of fixed-hour prayer.  This discipline was practiced all the way back to the first century church and has its roots in the traditions of Judaism.  We know that Peter received his vision from God of accepting the new Gentile converts into the church during his noonday prayer time.  I thought it is especially appropriate to be practicing this in light of the fact that I am planning on telling the story of Daniel.  Anyone who knows Daniel's story knows that it was his habit of fixed-hour prayer that landed him in the lion's den.

The tool I have been using for this practice is this book.  I have enjoyed the many psalms and songs that are included that are very familiar to me.  The other thing I have liked is the many things I am praying for now that I never would have thought to pray for before.  There are prayers called compline prayers that are prayers to say right before you go to bed.  The first line is always the same, "May the Lord Almighty grant me and those I love a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen."  I love that!

The other discipline has been harder.  It is the practice of silence.  I have chosen to spend my three daily prayer times out on my lovely new deck, and at the end of the prayers I am trying to sit in silence for several minutes and really see what is around me.  I try to really hear all the birds that are calling and the bugs that are buzzing.  I try to look at the lake and see if it is still (sometimes the reflections are just like glass) or choppy.  I try to listen to the wind rustling the birch leaves (they make a very distinct sound).  If you watch the CBS Sunday Morning show you know that they always end with a moment of nature.  I'm trying to emulate that as I look around.   

One morning I looked around carefully and found one lone pink flower bloomed a short distance away.  I would never have seen it if I had not been really paying attention, and I am certain that I am the only one here who did see it.  It made me think that God had put it there just for me.  

How many things does He put out there every day just for me that I am too busy to notice?

Decision vs. Disciple

Since we’ve chosen the Olympics for the theme of camp this year, I’ve given a lot of thought to the many comparisons between being an Olympic athlete and being a Christian.  It’s not hard to find verses that go along with this thought either.  Check these out:

Philippians 3:12-14

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

One of the things that has really been sticking with me is the difference between making a decision and becoming a disciple.  If I ask the kids here at camp if they think winning a medal at the Olympics would be a cool thing, something they would like to do, most of them would raise their hand to say yes.  But we all know that that’s not how you become a medal winner.  You don’t raise your hand and do nothing else about it (or very little) and then show up at the medal ceremonies expecting to get your medal.

In the same way, I can’t ask kids to raise their hands if they want to be a Christian and let them think that that’s all they have to do.  They can’t lift their hand, pray a prayer, and then do nothing else (or very little), and then show up in heaven expecting their reward.

Continuing this idea, becoming an Olympian and becoming a Christian both do start with a decision.  For the athlete, it might have been a parent or a coach that introduced them to a sport.  After learning the basic skills, they have to continue to practice and develop in their sport.  Being an athlete will cost them – socially, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Becoming a Christian starts with a decision too.  For some of the kids here, they will have parents or teachers who have introduced them to Jesus.  But for many of them, we will be the “coach” who shows them what the Christian life is all about, and teaches them the basic skills they will need for following Jesus.  We will have to see what happens next.   Will they continue to practice and develop their spiritual self?  Will they pay the price of following Jesus?—for it will cost them socially, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Some kids have been coming to camp every summer for years.  Will we see fruit in their lives?  Will we be allowed to take them one more step along the journey of their lives with Christ? 

We shall see.

At the Table

It is a beautiful day here.  The weather has dried up and turned nice even though it is still cold at night.  The lilac bushes are in bloom, and there a butterflies everywhere.  Even though the water of the lake is icy, all the younger folks around here have taken at least one dip.  They come out freezing but exhilarated, fully alive.

  They delivered our new bed today, and it is all set up.  I expect to sleep soundly tonight, although sleeping soundly has not been a problem.  The room is dark and the air is so cool that I have much more trouble getting out of bed than I do at home.  I feel lazy.

  I have spent some of my evenings reading this book…

I highly recommend it.  It is a wonderful and practical explanation of Jesus’ teachings and the life He is calling us to live.

  Tonight this passage struck me.

  “Once when Jesus is teaching, Mary and her other sons come to the door of the home in which Jesus is teaching.  They are looking for him.  They send someone inside and interrupt his teaching.  Some of those in the home inform Jesus that his family wants him.  Jesus asks a stunning question: ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’  Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!’  The new society Jesus creates around the Jesus Creed is like a family—they share their lives with one another, they care for one another, and they do all of this around Jesus.”

  This describes what I find here at Camp of the Woods.   Since I’ve been here we’ve already had groups come and go; our group from Tennessee, several from a church in Minnesota.  Right now we have ladies from Georgia and Indiana, and a guy from Michigan.

  We all sit down to the table together.  Meals here right now are long and leisurely.  There is time to talk, time to tell a good story, time to share our lives.  But it is at the table that we are family, brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is at the table we engage in communion.  It is at the table we are one.

  It is quite an adjustment for me.   I am too often in a hurry to move on to the next thing.  I get antsy.  I’m learning to be more patient, to take time to be still, to take time to listen.  

  Right now, there is time.  And it is a blessing.