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Reading: Isaiah 2: 11 Reflection: March 1988. I was a high school senior, earning a few extra bucks babysitting a young boy who was a friend of our family. It was a Friday night. All was calm, all bright. I put young Timmy to bed and settled in for the evening, awaiting the arrival of his parents. While I waited, I flipped on the radio, catching the end of the District 6 AAA Basketball game. From the tone in the announcer's voice, it was evident that my school's team was doing well. In fact, they came from behind to where the lead was now seesawing between the two teams. The final seconds ticked away, and we won the district crown for the first time in years. It wasn't for another nine years that I would feel the same sense of pride that I did that night. I had grown up quite a bit since then, but I still had my boyish desire for my team to win the championship game. Ironically, they played the same team they had come from behind to beat so many years before. This time it was February 28, 1997. I was a working man and took time out of my Friday evening to go down to my garage and sit in my car to listen to the championship game. I could barely pick up the game on my car radio, but could tell what was happening. And it happened again. The boys' basketball team won the district championship. This time it was even sweeter, as earlier in the evening, my high school girls' team won their district championship, too. A double whammy from the Panthers! I was filled with a great sense of pride after both those nights in my life. To be able to say that I attended the school with the district championship basketball team was a great honor for me. It was even a greater honor when both teams advanced to the state championship games. Unfortunately there, we went 1-1, with only the girls being the best in Pennsylvania. There are probably many instances in your life when you feel pride-- from something your child did, from something you do, or something like a sports championship. Whatever it is, enjoy that feeling inside and share it with someone else. It may just be contagious! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Make a reminder somewhere that the next time someone makes you proud, tell them about it!
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Reading: Genesis 44:29 Reflection: Oh yeah—the gray hairs. If you look closely at my hair in the temple region above my ears, yes, you will see gray hairs. When the gray hair starts sticking out too far, I know it is time to get a haircut. I started getting gray when I was 28-years-old. Funny thing—it was the same year that I started as director of Mount Luther. I like to blame my gray hair on that first summer’s staff! They are the ones who discovered the gray. They are also the ones who would pull out the gray hairs on occasion. I guess they wanted me to look youthful. Gray hair on older men is a sign of dignity, I’ve been told. But I have a few friends who grayed or even lost most of their hair and they are not even the 28-years-of-age I was when I noticed the color change. So, are they seen as dignified as well? Certainly they are in my eyes! Often gray hair is a sign of stress or troubling times in your life. “My kids gave me gray hair,” you might hear. The gray hair makes up the person you are and tells your story of life. What are the gray hair moments in your life? What has caused you pain or anguish or suffering? What did you do to overcome those moments? Did you turn to God and ask for guidance, help, and reassurance? Or, did you try to do it alone? Remember, God can fix your gray hair situations. Turn to our creator when you need to turn your gray hair day into something brighter! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for any gray hair moments in your life right now. Discussion:
Reading: Acts 16:31-34 Reflection: Have you ever seen the classic "The Wizard of Oz?" Because it has been run on TV each year for who knows how many years, I would have assumed that everyone on the planet has seen it. But I am wrong. I know someone who has never seen the film. He got a taste of what it was about one summer while I was working at camp. We developed an All-Camp Activity around the Wizard of Oz. We had staff members dress up like characters from the movie and the object of the game was to go around collecting items from them. But beware of the flying monkeys- they could come and take your items from you. Everyone seemed to enjoy the game except for a few people who were disturbed that we were using the Wizard of Oz at a church camp. They had a problem with having something associated with witches and warlocks being done at a Christian church camp. Being young at the time and since this was all my idea, I was taken aback. I thought it had worked out well and the kids and counselors had a good time doing the activity. It hurt me that someone did not like it and refused to participate. Looking back at it now, I can see that those individuals were just standing for their principles. Perhaps they did have a problem with witches and warlocks and did not want young campers to go home with a message that those types of things were alright. We, of course, were not trying to promote the ideals of witches and warlocks, but you know how impressionable young children can be. I guess I should have admired those people for standing up for their beliefs rather than being upset that they would not play our game. What strength they must have to be able to stand up for what they believe in! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for those who are persecuted for their beliefs. Discussion:
Reading: John 8: 1-11 Reflection: What forgiveness Jesus Christ had toward the woman who committed adultery! The Ten Commandments say that thou shalt not commit adultery. The woman broke a law. “Should she not be stoned," asked the disciples. But Jesus said, "He who is without sin cast the first stone." We all sin. And we should not look down at people who have committed sins greater than our own. In the Lord's eyes, we are all equal when it comes to sin. And we are also equal when it comes to forgiveness. I think I have learned how to forgive people-- just love them. Accept them for who they are and even if you do not agree with something they did, don't hold it against them. Be willing to love them even though they are not perfect or living up to your standards. After all, isn't that what God does? -Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray the Lord's Prayer, paying particular attention to the section on forgiveness. Discussion:
Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Reflection: Change can be good, but it is hard. Trying new things can be exciting, but it is hard. Staying with the familiar is comfortable and easy...even if it's ridiculous. We heard this funny story in church recently. Our pastor swears it's true! In the dead of winter, a new pastor was called to serve an old country church. When the service began on his first Sunday there, the entire congregation was seated on the lectern side of the sanctuary. Strangely, when the second hymn began, the entire congregation rose, hymnals in hand, and moved as one body to the pulpit side of the church. When the pastor climbed the steps to the pulpit, the congregation moved away from him, back to their original seats. The pastor was confounded, but said nothing. This same strange practice continued every Sunday for the rest of the month: as soon as the pastor announced the second hymn, the congregation moved from one side of the church to the other. As he prepared for the sermon, they moved back. Finally, after watching this strange activity for the third Sunday in a row, the pastor approached the president of council. He very politely asked him, “Why does the congregation move from one side of the church to the other and then back again during the service?” The council president explained, “Back in the 1890s, when this building was erected, its heating system was very difficult to regulate. At the beginning of the service, everyone sat near the stove in order to stay warm. However, about 20 minutes into each service, that side of the sanctuary would become too hot. So, the congregation would move to the other side..and then back again as the coal eventually lost its heat.” “But...but...” stuttered the confused pastor. “That was over a hundred years ago! The heating system has been replaced since then. The whole church building is warm enough all the time now. Why does the congregation still move during the service?” “Why?” repeated the confused parishioner. “Because we're good church-goers. We've always done it that way!” -Christine Conz Moll, former Mount Luther camper Closing: Discuss with others the following exchange Q: How many church-goers does it take to change a light bulb? A: One to actually change the bulb, and nine to say how much they liked the old one. Prayer: Dear God, help us to accept change. Remind us that “We've always done it that way!” is not necessarily a reason to keep doing so. Encourage us to continue to move forward, to try new things, and to let go of what holds us back. Amen. Discussion:
Reading: Matthew 7: 24-29 Reflection: Is your life's foundation Jesus Christ? God's only son tells us that you should not build your house on sandy land but on a firm foundation. Just as a building needs a firm foundation, we need a firm foundation in our lives. If our foundation is Jesus Christ, we can live strong lives and overcome any floods that may occur. Check your foundation today to see if you will weather future storms! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Watch this video and reflect on our verse today. Discussion:
Reading: Jeremiah 29: 11 Reflection: I'm sure that if you are reading this devotional writing, you have found that when life gets you down and you are facing some trials and tribulations, turning to the Bible more often than not gives you hope and guidance. Passages jump out at you, helping you through your adversities and putting your circumstances into perspective. One of those verses for me just happens to be today's reading. It is my belief that God has a "master plan" (or should we call it the "Master's Plan") for our lives. God works through each of us, often in mysterious ways. I was reminded of the power of God influencing our lives while riding in the car one summer day. I was traveling with a friend who was going through some particularly troublesome times in his life. He had the radio tuned to a local Christian broadcasting station and what they had on the air hit home for my friend. The program gave some pretty good advice and scriptural backup for one of the problems he was dealing with. When that program ended, the next show featured a girl who went through an ordeal that my friend's brother was facing. It is hard for me to believe that was just coincidence that we were in the car at that time to hear those programs. And, to top it off, the radio in the car had not been working properly for the past few weeks but did that day. I thought, "This has to be part of the Master's Plan, designed to help my friend with the his problems at that point in his life." Each day, we should go forth with hope knowing that our future is secure and that we will be taken care of. It's all part of the Master's Plan! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Make a commitment to look for where you see God in your daily life. Ask yourself each day, "Where have I seen God today?" If you do these devotions with others, answer that question with each person in your group. Discussion:
Reading: Isaiah 32: 1-8 Reflection: A day has been set aside to honor the Presidents of the United States. What a responsible job they have. When you look at the presidents, I think it is very interesting to look at photographs from the beginning and end of their time in office. Most age considerably in that period of time. What stress they must feel! And, what faith a president must have. It's lonely at the top, they say. When presidents have to make tough decisions, I know they get advice from their knowledgeable staff. But I'm sure that there have been presidents in our history who have turned to God and who have prayed about the decisions they have to make. I'm sure many have asked for guidance from God. I think it's important to pray for our nation's leaders. They often have tough decisions to make. With God's help, they will make the right ones and lead our country according to God's will. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for our nation's leaders. Discussion:
Reading: Mark 3: 35; Romans 12:1-12 Reflection: I will have to recall this story from what I've been told. I was a little too young to remember it. When I was almost three-years-old, my mother went to the hospital to deliver my parent's second child. I don't remember if I was excited or not. I'm sure my parents explained what it would mean to be a big brother, but I can't remember what I was feeling. My mom told me that I did say to her that if she had the baby and it was a girl, she didn't have to bring it home! I wanted a brother! She only was to bring the baby home if it was a boy. Well, my parents didn't listen to me because it was a girl and I had a baby sister. It was to be the last of my parent's children, so I never got my wish to have a brother. Don't get me wrong-- I love my sister and despite our fighting growing up, we had good times and have grown closer over the years, especially in our adult lives. But there is still an inkling in my mind that I missed out on something because I didn't have a male sibling. I don't know why I always wanted a brother. I guess it could be because I believe there is a special bond between brothers. Or, maybe I just wanted someone who I could harass grouping up and "teach him the ropes." I think I got to do those things with my sister, but I don't think it was the same as doing them with a brother. I have been fortunate though. I have a couple of friends that have been like brothers to me, like it says in Romans 12:10. In my Revised Standard translation it reads, “Love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” Those words stood out to me as I read this passage. One of my friends one said that I was like the older brother he never had; I felt like he was the younger brother I never had. Another friend once told me the same thing, and I felt special because he had brothers of his own. So maybe I did get my brother! Jesus says in the passage from Mark that whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother. I think you can go a step further and say that anyone who shares the belief of Jesus Christ is a brother or sister. So, I guess we all have many brothers, and many more sisters for that matter. It is in that same spirit that Paul tells us also to let our love be genuine, be guided by the Spirit and serve God. What great words to live by! If we all treated each other with respect and honor as we should our own biological families, I believe the world would be a better (and more fun) place! (There are still days, though, that I feel it would have been nice if mom came home from the hospital with a baby brother!) --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for your family in Christ. Discussion:
For today's devotional, again we will use the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which will also be a big part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers this summer. First, read the passage and then discuss the four questions below. Conclude by reading the reflection and ponder the quote presented. Reading: Exodus 12: 31-42 QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? (or for younger kids, which part of the story doesn’t make sense to me?) QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text? (or for younger kids, what is my favorite part of the story?) QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? (or for younger kids, what does this story remind me of?) QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? (or for younger kids, what is God or Jesus doing in this story?) Reflection: Can you imagine what the Israelites felt when they left Egypt for the Promised Land? They had no idea where they were going and just kept walking, day in and day out. I think I can sympathize a bit with them. One day when I was in college, my roommate and I decided to walk to the local Hoss's Restaurant. We decided to treat ourselves to a steak dinner. My roommate said he didn't think it was too far to the restaurant. We didn't have a car so we decided to walk. We began walking. We traveled up a hill and my roommate looked further down the road when we got to the top and said he thought the restaurant was just over the next hill. So we continued to walk. I took his word for it. We got to the top of the next hill and still no restaurant. "I'm positive it's just over the next hill," he said. Again, after much walking we reached another peak. And we continued walking. We almost turned back but I said we had gone this far already, so why not finish. And eventually we did. We found the restaurant, although it was a lot farther from our dorm than we both remembered. I only had to wander for an hour or more. The Israelites wandered for 40 years. What faith they had to have in God to show them where they were going. I know they complained along the way; but, so did I when we went to Hoss's. Know that on your spiritual journey, God is leading the way. He will show you where you should go-- even if you are not too sure how far you are going. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Discuss with others or meditate on this quotation, "Peace in the world begins deep inside." (Unknown author) Discussion:
Reading: Matthew 3 Today, I celebrate the day that I was baptized. It is when I became a Child of God. Baptism is when you are marked with the cross of Christ forever. On the day that Jesus Christ was baptized in the Jordan River, the heavens opened up and the Spirit of God descended like a dove. What a special day! Just as that was a special day, my parents made sure that my baptismal day was special for me. Each year we would celebrate by lighting the candle that was given to me when I was baptized. They would buy me a special gift as well, usually from the local Christian bookstore. My baptismal day was like a second birthday. It was the day I was born again into God’s family. Jesus told Nicodemus that you must be born anew to see the kingdom of heaven. He said that you must be born of water and the spirit. Through baptism, we become heirs of the kingdom of heaven. I still celebrate my baptismal days. It definitely is an important day in my life to mark each year. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for those who are preparing for baptism this Lenten season. Discussion:
For today's devotional, we will use the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which will also be a big part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers this summer. First, read the passage and then discuss the four questions below. Conclude by reading the reflection and ponder the quote presented. Reading: Matthew 6: 19-21 QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? (or for younger kids, which part of the story doesn’t make sense to me?) QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text? (or for younger kids, what is my favorite part of the story?) QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? (or for younger kids, what does this story remind me of?) QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? (or for younger kids, what is God or Jesus doing in this story?) Reflection: You've probably heard the saying, "You can't take it with you" referring to the fact that we come into this earth with nothing and we leave with nothing. I think that is important to remember. So much emphasis is put on material goods in our world and the idea of having more being better. But, when we check out of our earthly lives, we will leave with nothing. What we as Christians do have is the promise of eternal life. We know we are going to a better place where we will see God face-to-face. What a prospect! So don't get caught up with having more than your neighbor. Some day, you'll have exactly the same thing-- nothing! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Discuss with others or reflect on this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen." Watch this video to begin today: Reading: I Corinthians 3: 16-17
Reflection: One of my all-time favorite musical artists is John Denver. His songs were songs of peace and love and told about the beauty of the earth. It was very tragic on the day that I woke up to the radio news telling me Denver has been killed in an airplane crash. I think that had he lived, he would have continued to make joyful music, which everyday people could relate to. One of the songs that John wrote and sang was for his first wife, Annie. He really loved his wife and wrote "Annie's Song" to tell people about his love. They later divorced and I read that he was so upset during the divorce that he sawed all the legs off Annie's table, but that is another story! I once heard "Annie's Song" being played on the radio and I listened carefully to the words. I thought to myself that although this song was written for a human being, it could have been written for God. We should let the love of God fill up our senses. We should allow the Holy Spirit to take over our lives and control us. As you read the words to John Denver's ode to this wife, think about God. Has the Holy Spirit filled your life? --Chad Hershberger Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Read and reflect on the words to Annie's Song, by John Denver. Come let me love you, let me give my life to you, Let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms Let me lay down beside you, let me always be with you, Come let me love you, come love me again. You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest Like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain, Like a storm in a desert, like a sleepy blue ocean, You fill up my senses, come fill me again. Discussion:
Reading: Genesis 7: 1-5 Reflection: With a moo, moo here and a moo, moo there; here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo. I closed my eyes. Could it be? I was I really standing in the middle of a barnyard during milking time? I, of course, was somewhere else-- sitting at a table, singing an old familiar song. But music didn't fill the air. Laughter did. Why? Because of a talented individual named Jason. You see, Jason was imitating a cow as we were singing "Old MacDonald." It was the best, and only, cow imitation I have ever heard. He was so good! He not only imitated a cow, but transformed himself into the role as well. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. I guess that's true. And who better to flatter than animals? After all, they were here long before humans inhabited the earth. Do you suppose Dana Carvey ever imitated a chipmunk? Or has Rich Hall ever impersonated a squirrel? How about Will Ferrell becoming an eagle? Why don't entertainers ever impersonate animals? Don't they deserve their fair time on TV, too? People are an important part of our daily lives. But let's not forget the animals. Get out there and be an animal! See what it's like to look at life through their point of view. And if Saturday Night Live ever needs a cow, I'll give them your name, Jason. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for the animals. Discussion:
Reading: I Corinthians 13; I John 4: 7-21 Reflection: The month of love, hearts, valentines, and the color red is once again upon us. Saint Valentine's Day-- the widely observed holiday when the exchange of roses, cards, and candies take place-- is here for another year. Valentine's Day celebrate the feasts of two Christian martyrs of this name, according to Chase's Annual Events. Chase's says, "One, a priest and physician, was beaten and beheaded on February 14, AD 269, during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Also, the Bishop of Terni is said to have been beheaded February 14th (possibly a year later)." February 14 was selected for the celebration of these two men, possible as a diversion from the ancient pagan observance of Lupercalia, the Roman fertility festival, observed on February 15. For a holiday which is now known for love and romance, its beginnings surely weren't anything romantic. February 14th also has been the date of some major non-romantic historical events. Like the famous Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929, when seven members of the "Bugs" Moran gang were shot by gunmen. And, in 1989, a death sentence was given to Satanic Verses author Salmon Rushdie. Many events in our lives are just like Valentine's Day. We think they are going to be boring or bad, but they turn out great. Sometimes things we don't want to do are better than we ever imagine, and things we look forward to turn out to be disastrous. The next time you don't want to do something or go somewhere, thing about Valentine's Day. You may find love, romance, or something else you weren't expecting! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Reflect on this Bible passage: For God so loVed the world That he gAve His OnLy BegottEn SoN ThaT whosoever Believeth In Him Should Not Perish But have Everlasting life --John 3: 16 Discussion:
Reading: Psalm 51: James 1: 12-18 Reflection: The Lenten Season is the time when many people give something up. They promise for about six weeks not to eat chocolate, consume alcohol, or do other things. Lent is a time for repentance and it has been tradition in many church circles to symbolize repentance by giving up something for the Lenten season. I heard a neat idea one year. Instead of giving something up for Lent, why not promise to DO something during Lent. For instance, why not decide to shovel snow for a neighbor for free during Lent. Why not decide to be nicer to people and smile at them more during Lent. As it says in James, every generous act is a gift from God. I like the movie “Pay It Forward.” The idea of doing something nice for someone else, even random acts of kindness, makes my heart warm. I heard recently of someone who paid for a veteran’s lunch at a local restaurant; I also heard about someone who when they went through the drive-through, their morning coffee had already been paid for. I've given up certain foods for Lent and I have found that I continue not to eat those foods well after the Lenten season is over. If we can start a positive change in our lives during Lent and it carried on, how much better will our lives be? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Check out these ideas for your Lenten Journey from an ELCA congregation in Colorado http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber/2012/02/house-for-all-sinners-and-saints-40-ideas-for-keeping-a-holy-lent/ Discussion:
Reading: Matthew 17: 24-26 Reflection: Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is today, is one of my favorite presidents. I admire what he did during his years in the White House. I am interested in the events surrounding the Civil War. And, I have read about his assassination and his final days. I think Lincoln's shining achievement is the Emancipation Proclamation. What a bold step to take, freeing the slaves in the middle of the Civil War. I'm sure he agonized over what to do and knew the right thing to do was what he did. I'm sure he knew that his plan would not be popular with Americans in the south. But he did it anyway. You have to admire him for that. Abraham Lincoln was a savior of sorts, setting the slaves free. He died at the hands of an evil man who took a gun and shot him in Ford's Theatre. I'm sure there have been comparisons between Abraham Lincoln and Christ. Abe died at the hands of evil, just as Christ died at the hands of evil-- sin. Lincoln set people free, as did Christ. I have also read accounts which show me that Lincoln had a strong faith. I'm sure that faith sustained him during the Civil War. I don't know what else would have. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Discuss with others or mediate on this quote: "Always behave like a duck. Keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath." (Jacob Braude) Discussion:
Reading: Matthew 6:25-27 Reflection: I have always been a worrier. When I became a mother, I had the children to worry about. And I worried even more. A friend of mine recently said, “Being the the mommy is such a paradox of joy and terror.” When you're a worrier, that's doubly true. When we worry about what could happen, what we should have done, what others think, etc. we miss out on the joy of what is happening now. These days, when I worry, I try very hard to think about the Dalai Lama. Five years ago, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama gave a lecture entitled “Generating a Good Heart” at Lehigh University, just 15 miles from my home. I will always remember everything about that experience. What I will remember most is when he told the audience, “If you don't like a situation, do everything you can to fix it. If it's beyond your control to fix it, then stop worrying about it.” In order to quote him more accurately, I retrieved this quote from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/570218.Dalai_Lama_XIV “If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, do everything you can to make it better. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.” --Dali Lama XIV This is truly one of the most profound statements I have ever heard before or since. It's so simple, yet so powerful: Do what you can to fix a problem. Do what you can to fix something you don't like. Do what you can to make something better. But if you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it. Just let go and let God. -Christine Conz Moll, former Mount Luther camper. Closing: Mediate on or discuss with others the following poem excerpt retrieved from http://www.mepotelco.net/web/mepoinc/poetry/letgod.html To "Let Go," does not mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else. To "Let Go," is not to cut myself off, it's the realization I can't control another. To "Let Go," is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To "Let Go," is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands - but in God's. Prayer: Dear God, please remind us that worrying takes away from enjoyment. Remind us, like the apostle Matthew does, that You will take care of us no matter what. Amen. Discussion:
Reading: John 6: 35-40 Reflection: The following poem was written for a friend of mine on the day that I heard of the death of her mother who had been battling a terminal illness. That was on this day, in 1994. Hopefully this poem can help you in time of sorrow. –Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Life’s Roads Life is a beautiful thing From the moment we open our eyes, the world is ours We travel life's roads Singing, laughing, gazing at the stars. There are those moments When we find joy in little things, when small is best We travel life's roads When we are tired, we rest. There are those moments When we are filled with sadness, when tears are in our eyes We travel life's roads Often wondering how or why. We meet many people Of different backgrounds, different outlooks on life We continue our journey Stopping to join with a husband or wife. But nothing can prepare us When we lose someone we dearly treasure The emptiness we feel Is so hard to measure. In death there is new life A new road for our loved one to travel A new hope of eternal being A new joy to celebrate May the emptiness you feel now Be filled with great memories And as you travel life's roads Remember, a part of your mother lives on Not only eternally, but in you as well. May God Bless you in your time of sorrow And may you be surrounded in love in all your todays and tomorrows. Closing: Pray for those who are suffering loss right now. Discussion:
Reading: I Peter 2: 10 Reflection: Sam Lickliter. The name conjures up hostility. He caused much pain and anguish for many loyal Penn State basketball fans. February 9, 1993. A day that went down as one of the worst basketball calls in Penn State history. Penn State's basketball team was in its first year of Big Ten play. They were playing the number one ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Coach Bobby Knight had said that going to Penn State would be like going on a "camping trip." Well, Mr. Knight, beware of Lions in your campsite. Penn State came out and played an incredible game against the Hoosiers. The crowd was very loud. And when regulation play ended, the score was tied. Penn State took it into two overtimes, but came up a bit short. The final score: 68-64. No one expected Penn State to play so well. So, what about Sam Lickliter? He called a foul on Lion Greg Bartram, which was clearly a mistake on Sam's part. One of the Indiana players was holding onto Bartram's jersey and Greg tried to push him away. Clearly, it should have been called on the Hoosiers. But things didn't go the Nittany Lions' way. Penn State lost the game because of a bad call. No one wanted to forgive Mr. Lickliter. He had done wrong. I guess the lesson to learn from his story is that no one is perfect. We all have our faults. We all make mistakes. I guess we have to forgive and forget. I was at the Penn State/Indiana game. It was an incredible experience. A crowd so loud it was silent. A great effort by a team coached by a marvelous coach. I guess once you forgive those who make mistakes, you can see the good in discouraging situations. And, there's always next year. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Author's Note: I wrote this piece shortly after this historical game. I was recently was reminded of the game when a commemoration of it was featured in The Penn Stater. It was fun to re-live that night as I read that article. It's hard to believe that game was 20 years ago today! Closing: Pray about forgiveness. We've gotten very positive feedback to our "First Light Digital Devotions." We thank all of you who have read them and are using them to grow in your faith, as you practice daily devotions.
As you can see, most of the devotions are being written by me. We've also had contributions from Christine Conz Moll, who was a camper at Mount Luther in the 1980s (with me, nonetheless!) Christine read on our blog that we were looking for authors and she wanted to try writing devotions. I hope you have appreciated them as much as I have. If you would like to take a stab at writing for this project, please be in touch with me and we'll give you more details. I'd love to have several people contributing to this project. You don't need to commit to doing more than one when you volunteer; but, if you find you like it, feel free to write as many as you'd like. For more information, please contact me. Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director [email protected] Discussion:
Reading: Matthew 5: 13 Reflection: Make a batch of French fries. When they have just finished cooking, let them cool down a bit and then try one. How do they taste? Do they taste okay? Or do they need something else? Now take the salt shaker and add some salt to the French fries. Take a bite again. Now how do they taste? Better? My guess is that you said, "Yes." Salt adds flavor to the fries. Salt makes them taste better. As Christians, we are the world's seasoning. We are the salt of the earth. We add so much to our surroundings. If we weren't here, the world would be dull and not as pleasing. We should remember that we spice up the world and we should take our jobs as salt seriously. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Make a list of ways that you want to be salt to the earth. Put them in your Bible and remind yourself frequently of your list. Discussion:
Reading: 3 John 2-4 Reflection: My parents once bought a dry sink. My dad finished it in a cherry stain and the dry sink was part of the furnishings of my childhood home. When we moved to a new house, my mom and dad decided to put the dry sink in the main bathroom. That bathroom was purple in color and my mom chose lavender accessories for that room. So that the dry sink would match the room, my dad painted over the cherry stain with lavender paint. We moved to two other houses after that time and the dry sink mainly was used for storage in the basements of those homes. When I was out on my own, in my own apartment, my parents asked me if I wanted the dry sink in my home. I took it and decided to refinish it to match my kitchen furniture. I got some paint remover and sandpaper and began the job. It was a lot of work removing the layer of purple paint and the layer of stain. But once I got the paint off and started to sand the wood beneath, I saw the beauty of this piece of furniture. I sanded the sides down until they were as smooth as a baby's behind. I was very proud of my work. Finally, I restained the dry sink with an oak stain and added a layer or two of polyurethane. I also had the hardware cleaned up and bought new screws to fasten them onto the piece of furniture. When I was all done, the dry sink looked like new. I felt such a sense of accomplishment. And then it dawned on me. This dry sink is like many people in the world. There is something very beautiful on the inside if you just take the time to remove the layers on the outside. Just as my dry sink was covered with paint and mildew, once I removed it, I found something beautiful underneath. So it is with many people. They may not look good from the outside, but on the inside they are something special. You can't judge a book by its cover. You can't judge a piece of furniture by just its outer coating. And you shouldn't judge people just by how they look. Look into their hearts to see the type of person they really are. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Watch this video of the song "Inside" by Peter, Paul, and Mary. Discussion:
Reading: Psalm 24: 4-8; Matthew 15: 1-20 Reflection: Being human is tough. Being a Christian is even tougher. Becoming a Christian is an easy thing to do, but living a Christ-like life is tougher. I've found that sometimes words can get you in trouble. I know I often have said things to people that I regret later. Often I say something for humorous effect and not think about how it might hurt someone. In this passage in Matthew, Jesus says that what comes from the mouth comes from the heart. And out of the heart can come some pretty evil things. Sometimes we know what is right from wrong. But even though we know what we should or should not be doing, we do it anyway. Other forces in our lives take hold and lead us in the wrong manner. How can we prevent that from happening? Perhaps we need to let the Holy Spirit lead our lives. We need to plan ahead and ask God for peace and self-control. We need to put our trust in the Lord and ask for help before we let unclean hearts control our actions. Try it. I bet you will like the results. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Discuss with others or meditate on this quote: "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." (Mother Theresa) Discussion:
Reading: John 8:12 Reflection: Have you ever gone caving? Have you ever gone down in a cavern with no light and walked around the rooms and trails that have been made over time? When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity to go caving. It was a good experience. We were told to take two flashlights a piece. I didn't know why. But I soon found out when were down in the depths of the earth it was extremely dark. If your flashlight's batteries died, you better have a backup. Caves are indeed very dark places. No light at all shines there. Some people's lives are like caves. They do not have the light of Christ in their lives. In her later years, my grandmother had a rechargeable flashlight she kept next to her bed. At night, when she needed to use the bathroom, she used the flashlight to find her way down the hall. In the morning, she would plug her flashlight into the kitchen receptacle to charge it up for the next night. It was her daily routine. After her death, my family was standing next to her gravesite. We were engaged in a group hug and my dad, her son, remarked that Grammy no longer needed her flashlight. Now, she had the light of Christ. We can all have the light of Christ lead us. If we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness-- no matter if we are in a cave or need to to see the way to the bathroom at night. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for those who are living in darkness. |
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