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: I Thessalonians 5: 1-11 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: The experiences I usually write about here all happened while I was awake. But all of us spend a great portion of our lives asleep. Each day we need to rest to rejuvenate our bodies and clear our minds. This passage tells us that no matter if we are asleep or awake, we must be prepared for our Lord's coming. It may happen during the day, or at night; we do not know. Are you ready? --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for rest and readiness.
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Discussion:
Reading: Matthew 7: 28-29 Reflection: I've been blessed to be able to teach part-time at the collegiate level for the almost 20 years. When planning my lectures, I try to come up with innovative ways to present topics. I always tell my students to expect the unexpected. The very first college course I taught I decided to try something I had heard other teachers do. I went into class and pretended I was a student. I sat down and got my book out like everyone else. As the students came into class, I heard them talking about the class. One person even said that they heard a guy by the name of Hershberger was teaching it but they didn't know anything about him. When it was time to start, I got up and began teaching class by reading a story. You should have seen their expressions. They did not know I had been sitting there for several minutes. They were surprised. When I took attendance, one student apologized and said he was sorry for anything he may have said about me when he didn't know I was in the room. On the last day of the semester, I asked the students what they would remember about the class. Several of them said they would never forget the first day when I surprised them by being a student. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for teachers. Discussion:
Reading: Romans 8:19 Reflection: During the late spring and summer months this year, I’ve had babies on my mind. Sure, being the father of a five-month old, you’d probably expect that. But consider this:
All of these children, including my own, have adults who watch after them and take care of them. This summer, in my job as director of Mount Luther, I’ve watched children play in the woods, stop by the side of the road when their counselors saw a car, and scurry off to the indoors when something scary, like thunderstorms, came rolling through the camp. And I was reminded of how God takes care of us when we need guidance and arms to run into when we are unsure what to do. Just as the baby animals are totally dependent on their parents, so, too, should we be dependent on our Creator who adopts us as a child and is always close by. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Pray for children. Discussion:
Reading: Isaiah 43: 19 Reflection: A room full of people. A Nerf baseball. A Nerf baseball bat. A couple of rubber bases. But it's raining outside! It's America's favorite pastime. But what do you do when it's dark and dreary and you want to play? Improvise. "Let's move all the furniture out on the porch," someone says. The room full of people mobilize themselves, turning a small room into a baseball diamond. For an hour or so, we played hardball. It's a most interesting game when played inside a small room. It's easy to get a home run (just hit the ball to the couch on the far wall). It's also pretty easy to get an out when all the players are within seven yards of you. We had a splendid time playing late that night. It was a new, unusual activity. And while none of us would be the next multi-million dollar star of a major league team, we enjoyed bonding and sharing a game of ball. New experiences are good. Meeting new people is exciting. Sometimes we get into a rut and resist change. But change can be good. It can rejuvenate us, refresh us, revitalize us. It can turn something drab into something exciting. It can also open many new doors, ones we never knew existed. Those doors may just lead us to something that could influence our lives forever. We opened the door one last time that night-- to replace the furniture and turn our baseball field back into a lounge. My team won, but it really didn't matter. We had experienced something new and had bonded in the process. We changed the typical American pastime into an unusual socialization experience that was not soon forgotten. Baseball seasons may end, but you can take me in to the ballgame anytime! --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director Closing: Reading: Psalm 94: 10
Reflection: Remember the excitement that surrounded your first day of school? This is the time of the year when students, young and old, return to the classroom to begin their trek for another academic year. This is the time when you buy new clothes, stock up on school supplies, and buy the all-important lunch box! I can distinctly remember several “first days of school.” The very first, day one of kindergarten, I felt a little better after my teacher told me she would keep a cup next to the sink so I could get a drink of water at snack time (back then, I was not a big milk fan). Or, my first day of second grade when my mom was my substitute teacher because my real teacher’s father-in-law died. Then there was the first day of sixth grade when I went to a new school (middle school) or the first day of ninth grade when I began my high school career in a new building (and everyone told me just to go through the double green doors-- of course, all the doors at the school were double green doors!) And I’ll never forget my first day of classes in college when I was amazed that people could just walk into class when they wanted to, without a hall pass, and hosts of them smoked right outside the building, which was a no-no in high school! Since my college graduation, I’ve had several teaching opportunities. And I can honestly say that the first day of school is as exciting for teachers as it is for students. New enthusiastic faces, a fresh start, and open minds are contagious. A thirst for knowledge and further one’s education is indeed a gift from God. Learning is important- even if sometimes we have to learn “the hard way.” Even though I no longer have to shop for a new lunch box or a new Trapper Keeper, there is an excitement that only the fall and the start of school bring. I hope this year you catch that enthusiasm, especially for studying God’s Word. I must be going now—the bell just rang to change classes. A bonus devotional writing for this holiday!
Reading: Genesis 1: 26- 2:4 Reflection: On this day that marks the unofficial end to summer and a day where we honor those who work, let us remember that we are to rest one day every week. Six days the Lord created the heavens and the earth. On the seventh day, God rested from work. So, too, should we rest from our toils one day each week. We shouldn't need a national holiday to tell us to rest like God did! Reading: Hebrews 13: 20-21
Reflection: God has given us all that we need. We should be content with what we have and not continually feel we need more. We have been given special gifts as well. We should share whatever we have with others. What can you share with others today? Make it a point to share two things today with others. Ask God to help you share every day of your life. --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director |
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