Leggo my eggo...

A shortage of Eggo waffles? A shortage that might last until mid 2010? How can we survive this situation - forget world peace, government health care take overs, deficits - no the real crisis is Eggo waffles.

Isn't it amazing how papered we have become - every convenience right at our finger tips. It seem that even God is our butler. I was amazed to see, while channel surfing, a Christian TV show claiming that we can gain financial prosperity if we plant a seed ($25.00 donations) and we can even master a system that will guarantee a God produced miracle. Imagine that, miracles on demand - sort of like a genie! My have we got a warped view of how the world was designed to work. What makes us think it is always about our comfort, prosperity, and health?

God has a calling for all of us and it is not primarily concerned with what we value - or what we are taught to value in our culture. God might be calling you overseas, into the missions fields in your area and beyond, or into the lives of those around you. As Francis Chan, a pastor and author says,

"It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it is absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on this planet, it's because he has something for you to do."

A speaker at camp from International Justice Mission (IJM) said that God calls us to be willing to give up four things: Comfort, Security, Control, and Success. We need to be willing to sacrifice these things if called upon to serve God's purposes - Really? Really! (He replaces those with Adventure, a closeness to God, ultimate purpose, and the gifts of the Spirit - love, Joy, Peace...)

A relationship with GOD is not easy but it is the best way we could ever live. Are you willing to give up what you value most for your Lord or not. Really! It is true but boy I love my comfort and security! I am working to let go when called upon -- now your turn to wrestle with it. (Look at what the Bible says and realize I am sugar coating it!)

Peace and joy,

Portage Dave

Grocery Store Musical HQ 2009

Inspiration of the day - I love this sort of thing. Actively try to make someones day today! Let me know how it goes!

Portage Dave

Does God Exist ? Albert Einstein

I love this exchange. I googled this and it would seem that there is little or no evidence of Einstein having this exchange but it is a good argument none the less. I hope this week that you each stand up for God in your world. I don't mean be obnoxious but be bold in standing for what you believe. Do not be afraid of being a Christian - hopefully your life has exhibited a great deal of grace and love so that your belief can be warmly received. (If not embraced.)

Have a great week and be a light on a hill. (And go twins!)
Portage Dave

Hero Dog Tries to Help Mortally Wounded Dog - Chile

A lesson?

Hero Dog Tries to Help Mortally Wounded Dog - Chile

A lesson?

I had a chance to see this video yesterday. It is making the rounds so I suppose many of you have seen it as well. My take on it follows:

As this dog tried to cross a busy highway he is hit and wounded by a passing car. He lies there for quite a while and another stray dog see him and risks his life to gently drag the wounded dog off of the road. Apparently the dogs were not a team and the rescuer simply risked everything to help another dog in need. The video is quite moving.

As I see this I wonder how many of us see these hurt people in our lives or in our jobs and get involved? How many times have we "thrown people" onto the road where they are injured or lost. (People who we judge as being wrong or involved in the wrong kind of behavior.)

I think that this week we all need to become like the rescueing dog - alert for ways to genlty and humble serve, help, and protect those who are hurting around us.

• At school - those marginalized or left out (or are irritating?)
• At home - really listen to our family members - hear their stories.
• At work - seek out collgues who need a touch of a friend (even when you do not have the time to get involved)

Put your self out there and let Christ in you save another. Let me know what happens so we all can be encourages. Remember, you have all been prayed for today.

Portage Dave

(Sorry the dog does die - too real world for sure!)

Do it with style

Hello from camp and I pray that you have had a great summer. For family and staff, know that though I have not been on-line with my thoughts I have continued to pray for each of you. Even though it is Friday I have a few thoughts for you and want you to know you each have been prayed for.

At the end of the summer I packed up the family for our usual trip to Maine. As we load up, I pack a small utility trailer up with camping gear and bikes (Jon and I have new road bikes this year!) and we head to Kristen's families vacation home in Down East Maine. On the way while getting gas on the Tollway in New York, a car hit our trailer. It caused little damage but the trailer needed some repair and we hit the road only to realize the lights on the trailer were out. Seeing as we were getting to our destination at 1 am I realized the lights would be vital so I took the lights off my new bikes and strapped them on the trailer.

These lights were super bright LED lights that would flash for hundreds of hours so I thought they would do the trick until I fixed the lights in Maine. I set them on constant shine and took off. AS we got closer to the Maine house I stopped to check the trailer only to find the lights had run out of juice. How could this be - I thought they would last hundreds of hours? We made our destination OK and I tried to figure out the light issue the next day by reading the light instructions. It said that the lights would last 6 or 7 hours in constant mode but over a hundred hours in bright flashing mode? I would have thought it would have been the other way for sure!

That got me thinking about life - could it be that it really takes less energy to sparkle than it does to just dimly light our world. Maybe, when we conserve our efforts and put a dull shine on our work we are really wearing out quicker than if we gave it our best "sparkling" effort. This week I want you to give it a test - do it with style, do it well, add some zest to everything you do - especially at work or in your homes. Give your efforts over to God and see if he blesses you in a surprising way. Maybe your "sparkle" will bring others around and you can let them know where your energy source is really from - the Father.

God bless and have a great week

Portage Dave

Wanna be king?

Staff is up at camp and the excitement and stress levels are growing. It never seems like we can be ready for campers but it always works out! God has a way of making sure we get it all together before the first excited camper shows up at the camp.

I was reading in 1 Kings 1:1-53, the story of the end of King David's life. He was ill and the time for a successor had come. Now David had many sons from many different wives but one son, named Adonijah, decided he was going to be king. He gathered up a large number of animals for sacrifice and sent invitations to many important people to attend his self inauguration party. (He left out invites to the chief priest, the prophet Nathan, and other high leaders.) As he began to gather for the party, his brother Solomon and Solomon's mother Bathsheba heard what was going on. They went to David to see if Adonijah was really the anointed one and found out that David planned for Solomon to be king. David decided to bless his son and make Solomon on the spot and God's chosen man for the job was installed.

Solomon was now king and and the party to crown Adonijah, in full session, was now illegal. All of the guests fled and hoped they would not be killed for their allegiance with Adonijah. In the end Solomon showed mercy and a new king was anointed.

The reason I tell this story is that many of us are in process of crowning ourselves king -- well not king but certainly we often feel like we are doing God's work in the world. The problem is that we cannot, by our actions, desires, or hopes, do God's work without God's blessing. How often do we set out to serve only to realize we never sought the power and blessing of the real King.

This week, recommission your lives to the service of the King, Christ our lord. Seek HIS power, and His vision and THEN move out to impact the world. I am giving over my role at camp to a greater power -I think I know what needs doing but God knows better. Get out of the drivers seat of your life and commit yourself to seeking God's will. After that wait, wait a bit more -- stop worrying and let your marching orders come from God. (Read the book of Acts to see how the disciples got their ministries rolling. -- no really Read it!) If the disciples could start with less than nothing and change the world what could we be commissioned to do?


Portage Dave