OH, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF QMCC?

Tonight was the 50th Anniversary Banquet for Quartz Mountain Christian Camp (QMCC) in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. It was a great evening hearing stories about the past and being inspired about the future of QMCC.
Joe's uncle, James Trent, was one of the speakers for the evening. James directed camp sessions for over 25 years. His session is where Joe and I met. He still helps with QMCC and even took his 9 year old grandson from Iowa with him last summer!

James and Jan Trent

The Sojourner's painted the new "Tradin' Post" at QMCC. It's a mini store with necessities that campers might forget, plus t-shirts and other QMCC apparel.

The mess hall and a beautiful sunset behind it!

These are the old 'A' frame cabins. These are what Joe and I grew up sleeping in! Our children can not believe we slept in these! My memories of camp are full of stories about weeks in these cabins. Lots of nights we would have to go out and shut the windows (they're covered up now with metal) because of wind or rain! There were 5 'A' frames for the girls' side and 5 for the boys' side. You had to walk to the bathrooms...in the dark....with flashlights.....worried about snakes and tarantulas!!

The new dorms (maybe 10 - 12 years old ?) This is like sleeping in luxury! Bathrooms are in the dorms and there are two wings on the building. There are 2 dorms for the girls and 2 for the boys. There is also a classroom area in the front for both wings.

Fisher Chapel - a place for worship, talent shows, and skits. Built in the mid 80's. It holds about 200 people. There's a bigger one being built where the old pool was. Yes, there's a new pool. Almost 2 years old! I didn't get a picture of it tonight, though.

Trent Pavillion, named for Albert Trent, Joe's Granddad and James Trent's dad. He was one of the original board members, as was one of my great-uncles, Virgil Francis. Camp is a great experience for the youth. Being in a setting such as QMCC - you can't help but feel close to God. The wide open spaces, the mountains, the starry sky, the Bible lessons, the family groups, the singing, the friendships, the closeness of Christians coming together to worship God for an entire week! It's AWESOME!

Just last week my daughter asked, "Can I pack for camp now, Mom?" She goes at the end of June and first part of July!

It's supposed to be Soap Box Saturday.....so here's my soap box: That I'm too old to attend QMCC as a summer camper any more!
.

And, the song! Yes, the QMCC Camp Song! Let me hear you sing it!

Soap Box Saturday

Tonight was a rare occassion in our home. All six of us were home on a Friday night! It was so exciting! No ballgames, no stock shows, no meetings, no obligations. When I realized this was going to be a free night, I decided to make a big meal of roast, carrots, potatoes, green beans, gravy, and rolls. That's typically a Sunday-after-worship meal for us, so the rest of the family was really excited to come home and smell roast on a Friday. We all enjoyed our rare Friday night, Sunday-after-worship meal together.

So, what's my Soap Box this Saturday?
Family time around the table used to be the norm. Old sitcoms (Leave It To Beaver, Andy Griffith)show the family around the dinner table every evening, and I'm sure that was the way it was then. But, nowadays, with our lives busier and busier, the family meal time has diminished. Honestly, in March, it seemed that we were never home together in the evening. Too many activites and obligations (most of which we put upon ourselves, I know).

After becoming a little annoyed by our rare family meals, I began to put a star on our family calendar for every night we ate together, just so we realized how few times it really was. April has been much, much better! Maybe we are making more of an effort to be together because of seeing the lack of stars, but a lot of it has to do with certain school activites ceasing for the year or job responsibilities that require more at some times than others. It goes in spurts throughout the year in our family and it probably does in yours, too.

When we eat together at the table the TV is never on. We use this time for visiting with one another and enjoying our time together. Occassionally we all eat in the living room and watch something together, but it's a treat, not the expected. How does your family do meal time? Do you struggle with the same things we do?

Have you ever heard of Turnoff TV Week? Our family has participated in it for the past eight years. The organization begins the event on Monday, April 20th. We start ours on Sunday, April 19th, since it's the first day of the week, and the TV stays off all week. Even though we don't watch TV all the time anyway, it's still missed in the beginning of the week. However, by Saturday each year, we don't even give it a thought. In fact, I believe it was last year, we even forgot that we "could" turn it on! It stayed off another day or two! When the kids were little, I'll admit it was harder, because that meant no Barney or Disney movies, either! But, our children are now used to the every April routine. The organization's goal is to encourage reduction in screen time in an effort to build stronger families. I did notice they've added a date in the fall. Check out the link above for more info.

After our meal tonight, we went for a family walk. What a rare and enjoyable Friday evening!

So what do you think? Are family meals around the table rare for you? Are your meals centered around the TV? Will you give TV Turnoff Week a try? Maybe for your family the whole week of the TV off wouldn't work or seems impossible, but maybe you can make an effort to cut down on the screen time. Remember, our goal is stronger families and more time together. It's worth it!

Be sure to let me know your thoughts!

Soap Box Saturday

Note: Part 2 of "GO - It's a BIG Word!" is posted below or here.

For today's Soap Box Saturday, I want to talk about Easter. Tomorrow morning millions and millions of people will worship God and many of those will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Of course, that is WONDERFUL! It is GREAT! It is what SHOULD BE DONE! But, here's my "Soapbox": On Sunday, April 19, many of those same people who were so excited about the risen Savior on Easter Sunday, will have put Him out of their minds until Christmas. Many feel obligated to get all dressed up and "go to church" on special holidays, but I can't find any scripture in the Bible that tells us that is what God wants.

In fact, we see just the opposite is true in the following passage:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25

It seems from this scripture that the early church had the same kind of problems the church does today. There was, is, and always will be, those who choose to not assemble or meet together with other brothers and sisters in Christ to worship Him.

But, consider this question: Is Jesus your mascot or your Master? Answer it truthfully. Is Jesus something you just use to fulfill a duty or an obligation or his He the Lord of your life? The definition of mascot is: A person, animal, or object believed to bring good luck, especially one kept as the symbol of an organization, such as a sports team.

Jesus wants to be your Savior. But He wants to be recognized as being so every day...not just on special holidays.

Have a wonderful Easter Sunday!

Soap Box Saturday - The Problem with ME!

Okay, now this is REALLY sad!! Last week I told you that every Friday night I would write Saturday's post and it would be called "Soap Box Saturday". The only thing is that the next day I started a "series" of blogs that spelled out G.A.R.D.E.N. So, that messed up my schedule. I don't LIKE my schedule messed up!! So, this post has the sub-title "The Problem with ME!"

Do you know what my hubby just now said as I was telling him my dilemma? I told him that I was going to sub-title my soap box "The Problem with ME!" and he said... and I quote, "Do you want me to write it??" Can you believe that!! :) Like he could write about what my problems are! (hee! hee!)

Well, truthfully, he could. Of course he could. We've been married 20 years, and so he knows my shortcomings. And, honestly I do, too.

So, my "soap box" problem this Saturday is with myself . I don't always think things through, and sometimes when I do and my schedule isn't just "so, so", I get a little upset. Not big upset, just little. Still a problem and most often sinful.

I need this verse today:
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5

Dear God,
Thank you for continuing to love me. Continue to show me your ways and teach me through your Word. My hope is in you today and every day.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

What's on your "Soap Box Saturday"?

(Note: The last "How Does Your Garden Grow?" post will be Saturday night.)

Soap Box Saturday

I decided to start something new on Saturdays. It will be written on Friday night, actually. It's going to be called "Soap Box Saturday" and it's a time and place where I can get on my "Soap Box" as I do from time to time. I hope you don't mind :).

Many times my children come home from school upset about something that has happened in class. Today Zachary, my 6th grader, came home with a lot of homework from one particular class. This is very atypical for him, as he rarely has any because he gets it done during school. He has tests to study for at times, but that's it most of the time. It was very unusual, too, because it's a Friday. Not many teachers here at our small school give homework on Fridays.

Well, Zachary proceeds to tell us that the reason he has all of this homework is because of a few (4 or 5) in his class kept acting up and it ended up getting the whole class (27 students) in trouble. Now, my motto when things like this happen is always "Life's Not Fair" and, as the former 1st grade teacher used to tell this class and her other classes, "Build a bridge and get over it!" I agree with that, BUT, I do get on my "Soap Box" when the same students are in trouble over and over and nothing is done - or nothing much. I expect there to be discipline, and maybe my expectations are too high (according to my Soap Box!).

Of course, discipline is the parent(s) responsibility, but too many times, the parents leave it up to the teachers. Then, when the teachers try to do something about it, the parents get upset at the teachers....a never-ending, ever-disrupting cycle. Parents have the duty and the responsiblity to discipline their children. I believe the Bible teaches us, as parents, to discipline our children.

As parents, my husband and I realize that our children are not perfect, and we don't expect them to be; however, we do expect them to behave in a certain ways. We expect them to respect each other, as well as others. They are expected to obey their teachers. We may not always agree with how the teacher at school disciplines, such as punishing the whole class for a few student's behavior, but we support the teacher and expect our children to do the work that is given to them.

Discipline is a natural part of life, and not always pleasant for the giver or the receiver! God disciplines us, His children, and we don't always like it, do we? Look at these verses in Hebrews:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5(b)-11

These verses point out that God disciplines us because He loves us and that it is for our good. When you discipline your children, your grandchildren, or your students, do they feel loved at that moment? Do they say, "Oh, thank you! This is for my own good!"? Of course not! Discipline is not pleasant at the time, but it produces, as the verse above says, "a harvest of righteousness and peace". Discipline in the Greek means to instruct or train. We discipline our children because we love them and they are better for it. We teach them by instructing them and training them.

True discipline is when it is directed toward the problem, not towards punishing a whole group for the misdeeds of a few. And now...I'll get off my "Soap Box" and go make sure Zachary has his homework done!

So, what's on your "Soap Box" today???