New Favorite Song

I love how country songs relate so much to life. This song has been on repeat all day, even though it is Christmas! ;)

Hospitality

Some people have the wonderful gift of hospitality. Then there are those of us who do not have that gift. However does that mean those that are not gifted in this department need to forget about it, leave it to waste, lock it up and sink it to the bottom of the ocean? No, the Bible commands us to be hospitable. In 1 Peter 4:8-10 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Now that we know God wants us to show hospitality. How do we go about doing that? Well here are some different ideas on how to become a great hostess. A few ideas for having guest would be to have some level of privacy, Bathrobe, slipper socks, Extra quilt, blanket, pillows, Nightlights, flashlights, Sample toiletries, paper cups, and Reading material. Some of these are not very necessary but it is always a good idea to have these on hand, just in case. Now having family as guest adds a new twist to it, you got to please your relatives. To add to the list previously mentioned would be to plan every meal-prepare ahead of time, don’t do it all, have a plan, and plan for down time. You want to spend time with your guest. So make sure you plan ahead and clean. Your guest don’t want to think you live in a pig pen or live in it themselves when they are visiting. Most importantly encourage them in the Lord and show them His love through your life. Happy Hostessing.

Reading Takes You On An Adventure

"If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads."
-Robert Pattinson

I am not a big fan of Robert Pattinson by any means. But I found this quote on Pinterest and thought it was cute.

The Importance of Godly-Role Models in Camp Counselors

Many kids these days, predominantly in the Christian realm, spend their summers going to camp. I know I did, I was at one or two every summer. It was the highlight of the year for me! I remember when I was in junior camp at Rapidan Baptist Camp in Rochelle, Virginia and getting on the bus with all my friends bouncing around with energy about what the week is going to bring. All the way there Mr. Curtis, our ever faithful bus driver, hears laughter, a little snoring, and the main thing “Are we there yet?” I was also thinking along the lines of what your counselor looks like. Is she tall, skinny, with brown hair, and green eyes? Or does she have blue eyes with blonde hair? What her personality is like always went through my mind. Then we would finally pull into the drive with the big sign on it with the camp name splashed across and hear a big cheer that probably could be heard for miles. We were off the bus before Mr. Curtis even put it in park. Ecstatic doesn’t even begin to describe our excitement. Then we would finally meet the person in charge of us for the rest of the week. In this paper we will look at what it takes to be an impact on camper’s life as a counselor. This could make the experience for the camper great or make it terrible. The counselors have that big of an impact.

More goes in to counseling then you would think. At least for me it did. When I was that little girl bouncing off the bus walls, I didn’t think much went into being one. How wrong I was about that. Many different elements go into training summer staff. General Orientation would be the best place to start. Take them around the camp, teaching them about the basic operating procedures, and a general welcoming spirit always makes the counselors feel better. To increase the chance of success, talk with your staff members about the purpose of the camp, the general outcome you want to achieve, how to achieve these goals, and how the counselors can help. Also just go through regular stuff to make sure you are all on the same page, such as authority, responsibility, communication, job description, policies, and procedures. If there is an emergency would your counselors know what to do? Training your staff in CPR and First Aid is a wise idea for safety, legal, and accreditation standards. Training them to work together in team-building activities will help counselors be able to facilitate their cabin group on different undertakings. Before the campers arrive it is also a good idea to schedule a time for group worship, personal devotions, and prayer. Goals are always important to set for the summer and even share with each other. These days child abuse prevention, recognition, and reporting are a common thing. It is a good idea to train your staff on how to go about preventing it, recognizing it, or reporting it. Don’t forget to also train your counselors on how to relate to kids, working with the campers, and planning and leading activities.

The camper’s spiritual life is the most important thing. Yet how can we, as effective staff members, best influence them? Share God’s joy with them. Open yourself up to them. Show them you’re not some big old person that just wants to run their lives for the duration of camp. There is nothing more real than basically being real with someone. Many kids these days come from a background of hurt, the last thing they want to do is open up to a stranger. Yet, you have the hope they need in this hurting world. Lead them to the Creator of the Universe. They matter so much to God; show the campers His love for them through you. You have the chance to make a huge impact!

I’ve gone to many different camps, from Christian camps to sports camps to even Culinary Arts camp. Of all the counselors I have had the one that demonstrated the qualities from the above paragraph and so much more is Gabriele Cole (Pictured with me @ the top of the page). She was my Team Leader (our fancy word for counselor) at STEP (Skills Training for Emergency Preparation) Gabby, as we affectionately called her, led eight girls for four weeks through the thick, thin, and hot Texas heat. We went through those four weeks with only two girls not getting sick or hurt. She had so much patience with us, was extremely open, and real. God radiated through her! I had never seen joy like she had before. She showed us we mattered not only to her but to the King she served so joyfully! The devotions she gave were inspiring, like relying on God for your strength and not yourself. You hear that all the time in the typical “Christian circle” but she presented it in a whole new light. She was the image of a servant, from bringing food to her sick girls to piggy-back riding me down the long flight of stairs because I hurt my ankle. I will always remember her coming into our room right before lights out to pray with us and give us a good night hug. She was exhausted by the end of week three. Did she ever complain? No, she invested everything she had into us for those four weeks. This past summer we were both back at STEP working. Gabby was in a higher position and had more girls under her to minister too. She did a wonderful job. Those girls, like me, loved her. She became more than a Team Leader, Gabby became your friend. I know she is obviously not perfect. However, she went above and beyond what was asked of her. For me I believe she qualifies as a Godly-role model in a counselor.

Sadly, not all counselors demonstrate the godly qualities Gabby did. Some counselors have less than desirable things they do. For example getting mad if the kids got them wet when playing a water game. It is part of the fun, particularly on a hot muggy day! Kids are not going to come back if it is not fun. So if you’re a “party-pooper” the kids are going to have a bad experience and are not going to want to come back. How can camps go about making sure they hire enthusiastic godly counselors? First, make sure you, as a director, really examine the written application. Get in contact with the applicants references. If they are hesitant about the young person, that should be an automatic red flag. Second, check out their beliefs and where they stand on issues. If it doesn’t match up with your camps, then you might want to think twice about hiring them. Thirdly, it is pretty easy to make stuff sound good on paper. Observe them work for a few weeks. It will tell you a lot about their character, their relationship with God and their beliefs. However, prayer is more important than all of these. Lift in prayer each prospective staff member to God.

Investing in campers lives is extremely important but before we can do that we have to invest in our counselors lives. In Philippians 2:1-4 Paul says “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercies. Fulfill ye my joy that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” ,Most camps are looking for humble, teachable, like minded college students (Train Them Up 34, East) In “A Firm Foundation” by Dave Wager, he says “Camps used to be places where we guided young adults and helped them develop into leaders. Today it seems we want these young people to come to us already developed. In, reality college-age staff members have limited knowledge and usually lack seminary degrees.” The ones in charge of the camp need to also disciple their counselors too. Just because they are going to be a counselor at a Christian camp doesn’t mean they know it all. That’s where the director needs to watch and mentor them.

It is also important that the leaders in the camp make sure they are serving for the right purposes. A leader that is focused on self is going to fail epically. Leaders are in a serving position to the kids that come through the camp. Jesus Christ was the greatest leader of all. In Philippians 2:7-8 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, he became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Bob Tissot in “Adventures in Leadership” explains this verse and how Jesus’ leadership style was. “First, Jesus made Himself nothing. Second, He became a servant. Third, He then humbled Himself. Forth, became obedient. Fifth, He obeyed at the point of death, even the death on the cross.” Bob Tissot called it a pattern for leadership. A good counselor is humble, has a servant’s heart, and is obedient to those above him/her. It requires a lot of patience, discipline, faith, trust, perseverance, and wisdom.

This is just a short glimpse into a godly counselor. We covered a godly-role model in a counselor, an example of a godly counselor, how to train the counselors, investing in the counselor’s life, and looking at Jesus as the ultimate Counselor and Leader. There is a lot that goes into a counselor. Being a one all summer long is not easy, let alone one that exemplifies Christ. It stretches and grows you alot. It’s a hard yet very rewarding job, one that you will remember for the rest of your life. Galatians 6:9 says “And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Five Reasons Why You Should Consider Working at a Camp or Conference Center

Most people spend their summers on a beach somewhere, at a job earning the big bucks, or on their precious couch. The last thing some are thinking of doing would be working at a summer camp or conference center. What could be fun about making sure a bunch of kids take a shower and get where they need to be on time? The worker’s camp experience is more than that. It grows you in many different ways.

“Five Good Reasons to Work a Summer at a Christian Camp or Conference Center” by the Focus Series put out by Christian Camps and Conference Association gives us some reason why this task is hard, yet rewarding. First, working at a camp or conference gets you in touch with people. I liked how the article said “As a staffer, you become a partner with those you serve and a servant to those you lead.” That is very true, one of the biggest blessings in life is to serve others. You develop strong relationships with the staff you work with too. Reason number two, Peaceful setting, I don’t agree with this one as much. Because you are so caught up with all the activities you don’t notice the peaceful setting. Thirdly, it will provide you with an adventure. It would be an adventure of a lifetime. Fourth reason prompts spiritual growth. However, this should be one of your primary reasons because it stretches you like none other. One way it stretches you spiritually because you have to maintain your own relationship with God in order to help others. Lastly, reason number five, it will prepare you for the rest of your life. This is true because you learn how to work with people and children from all different backgrounds. Also because it stretched you spiritually your relationship with God is stronger. When you look back you will always remember the summer you worked at a camp or conference center.

Where Have I Been The Past Months...

Greetings from the gorgeous mountains of West Virginia! The brightly colored leaves were so beautiful during the fall! I can not wait until it snows! I now go to school at Appalachian Bible College! God has been stretching me a lot this semester through the preaching, classes, and devotions. My professors are wonderful and it is obvious they have a love for what they do and a desire for us to grow in our relationship to Christ. This semester I am taking Bible Study Methods, English Comp 1, Foundation of Camping, Practical Christian Service, Freshman Seminar, Apologetics, Ecology, Low Ropes and Initiatives, Basic Skills, and Camping P.E.

They have skills classes for Camping majors that are one credit hour. However that’s where the fun is. This semester my skills classes are Ecology, Low Ropes and Initiatives, and Basic Skills. Some skills classes they offer are Whitewater Rafting, Caving, Wilderness First Aid, Horsemanship, Rock Climbing, Backpacking and many more. My Favorite class would be Camping P.E and Ecology class. My homework for Ecology consists of finding a spot in the woods and going there every week for an hour to observe nature. It is a great time to do my devotions too.

One lesson I have learned this semester was from Ecology class. Trees get scars from lots of different things. The huge gashes do loads of damage. Yet, most trees still live, the scars heal, and the tree to fulfill the job God has given it. Happily, God does the same thing with his children. We may do something that leaves a huge scar on our life, but God lovingly heals it and use it to his advantage. We can reach and touch lives we may not have been able to before.

At ABC we are required to take part in a Practical Christian Service while we are students here. Appalachian believes that one of the best ways to train for ministry is to apply it. Some help their church in Awanas, teaching Sunday school, youth groups, and in the children’s department. We also have different ministry teams you can get involved in, such as: the evangelism team, nursing home team, Children’s Evangelism Fellowship team, Drama team, and Puppet team. I would like to get involved in either the nursing home team or the children’s program at Maxwell Hill Baptist Church, where I attend.

Some things I would appreciate your prayers on are that I would grasp what is being taught, do well on my homework, and that God will show me what ministry I should get involved with.

No Excuses, No Explinations: Tony Dungy

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” What if you were judged by the color of your skin? What if it seemed like you were just receiving blow after blow? For Tony Dungy this made life harder. Yet, he didn’t let it faze him. He knew God made him special even if he did not have natural God-given abilities. He knew he had to work harder and play even harder to become uncommon. This is the story of his journey; where Tony Dungy learned what life was all about. Not about football, no matter how great the game is, life is about God and His glory.

Dungy grew up in a Christian home in Jackson, Michigan. His mom, CleoMae Dungy, taught English and Public Speaking at Jackson High School. Wilbur Dungy was a professor of physiology at Jackson Community College. Tony’s dad taught him not to let external issues be a problem and always to control your attitude towards your circumstance. His parents also taught him about God at a very early age. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the young age of five. However, it wasn’t until years later when Tony learned what it meant to make Christ number one in his life.

In 1978, while playing for the Pittsburg Steelers, Dungy contracted Mononucleosis. He was naturally shy and never had a serious girlfriend. So this came as a bit of a surprise to him. After three weeks, his white blood cell count was still too high and he was getting really frustrated and even difficult to be around. Late one night, Dungy was talking to another player for the Steelers, Donnie Shell. Tony was very upset about being out for so long and not being able to play. Donnie explain that even though Tony claimed to be a Christian, he started showing what was really first place in his life when his football career started going sour. He then started understanding what it really meant to be a Christian. For the very first time he looked at football as a gift from God instead of something that makes him. Tony’s purpose in life is to glorify God.
He faced a lot more than having Mono in 1978, that was just his starting point of harder things to come. The next thing that happened was losing his job as head coach for the Buccaneers in 2002 just a couple days after the death of his beloved mother and losing his father in 2004. Yet, the hardest blow of all those was at 1:45 in the morning on December 22, when the Dungy’s received a phone call that there son, Jamie, had taken his life. They have no explanations to why he choose this, but they know Jamie is in Heaven with his heavenly Father. At their son’s funeral service, the family had “I Will Bless The Lord At All Times” played. Tony wanted people to remember that even in the sad and difficult times God can offer joy in the midst of a gloomy occasion.

Three principles I have learned from the life of Tony Dungy is actually some points he found in of the book of Nehemiah. 1) Nehemiah’s opportunity came in God’s time, not his own. 2) Nehemiah diligently prepared his mind and his heart so he would be ready when God’s time arrived. 3) Nehemiah needed to be prepared to take on the problems, doubt, and adversity that would come his way both from the outside and from within (Dungy, 87). If God is not the center of my life, then I will fail at everything because I would be relying on my strength thinking I can do it by myself. I need to trust God with His timing and not my own. If I don’t prepare myself for the task my Savior assigns me then I would not be serving Him to my absolute best. I, Rebecca Bishop, pray that I can look at life the way Tony Dungy does. That even in the midst of a trial that I will seek God, put Him first in my life, and when I get to Heaven I will have no excuses for my time on earth.

Amazing Quote

"I may not see the entire painting right now, but I know the Artist is putting the paint exactly where He wants it on my canvas." - Kyle Cline