In about two weeks, our youth will be going to SpiritUs, our annual summer beach retreat.  This marks the fifth straight year that the youth have attended this camp, and each year proves that interest keeps growing.  This year we have 52 participants going on the trip, which makes it the largest overnight retreat that we have done.

Abortion is a complicated and divisive issue in America, in part because it strains the capacity of our culture and political system to discover a way to protect the life of the unborn in a society shaped by the value of individual rights and freedom.    We Americans cherish the cultural value of being free to make our own decisions without interference from government.

It seems to me sad and wrong that creationists bad mouth and discount evolutionists and that evolutionists bad mouth and discount creationists.  Over the last 150 years (2009 marks the 150th anniversary of Darwin's "Origin of Species") each camp has been digging in their heels deeper and deeper.  

No matter how many times I've heard it, I love that story told about the lady who asked her pastor to come and see her to discuss her funeral plans.   This well prepared lady gave the pastor a list of funeral plans.   On the list were included scripture readings, congregational hymns and other special portions for the service.    She even had listed the clothing she had selected for her burial.   The attentive minister listened and confirmed her plans.   Then, as he got up to go, almost reaching the front door, the woman suddenly remembered something else.  "One more thing, preacher.   When they put me in that casket I want you to make sure they put a fork in my right hand.   And when folks visiting at the funeral home ask about the fork I want you to tell them what it means.  You see, I've been attending church dinners for years.   And every time we have one of those church meals, when we get close to finishing our plate of food somebody will always say,  "Now keep your fork.  The best is yet to come!"

Every year I approach VBS with one thought..."What family is going to be most blessed by VBS"?  Each year is different and the stories are always interesting.  I've had years when families used VBS as a way for the kids to be watched while a parent underwent surgery, years when a family member died and we watched the kids while the family made arrangements, times when grandparents got the grandkids for a week and they wanted to make sure the grandkids learned about Jesus, we've had too many stories to describe here too. In my twenty years of organizing VBS, this year, I finally realized, every family is blessed by VBS, but none moreso then my own.  VBS is for many a family event, and this is very true for my family.  It is also a great time for my family to truly "see with their heart, eyes and soul" that the Kingdom of God is ever present in all we do, even the smallest detail and most mundane.  This is true in all we do, not just the VBS events, also the daily events of life.  Take time today to spend a minute in prayer thanking God for all the "issues, crisis, mundane and extraordinary", it is through all these events that God is present, we need only take time to thank Him for it all! 

One of the strong, compelling themes of The Book of Revelation is a Christian call to be actively engaged in God's justice and mercy in this world.    Some camps, unfortunately in my opinion, interpret this Book as doom and gloom and that the  whole world is "going to hell in a handbasket" so we will bunker down and have nothing to do with the culture in which we live.

Beginning Sunday, July 5th, and for three continuous Sundays, we will be considering the Book of Revelation in our worship services.   How difficult and confusing apocalyptical literature can be!    Yet, if we do our history lessons, and try as best we can to understand the times in which this literature was written, we can come a long way in gaining insight and renewed inspiration from this incredible Book.