"Anybody can win unless there happens to be a second entry." - George Ade

 Every morning at 7 our day begins with a staff meeting. This pic shows as many as I could get in my shot from one corner of the room. There's twice this many but you can't see the others because they're off to my right or left. It's a pretty diverse group, though most are younger - in their 20's or early 30's. Great group of people to work with. Most are counselors but we also have two guys running all the games and activities, a kitchen staff, general helpers who do whatever is needed and then the big cahoona (I have no idea how to spell that word), Kevin, who's the director for the week.
There's almost this many counselors meeting on the far side of this room having their own morning confab. They're working with the Junior High campers.
Our favorite part of the day is the Starbucks coffee we get at these meetings! We place our order the night before so Kevin and one of his assistants can make a run before our morning meeting. Mmmm!

The Jr. Higher and Sr. Higher campers all meet together for the first part of both the morning and evening chapel sessions. Jonathan, who is an amazing musician, leads his ad hoc band and we sing praise songs together. Lots of energy, lots of fun - the kids really get into it. You should see them sing and, for some songs, dance. They're fun songs, often pretty lighthearted. I suppose some old fogies might consider them less than appropriately dignified at best, sacrilegious at worst. But the lyrics are solid, and music (notes and rhythm) morally neutral. And think about the music that's played on radio stations geared to this age group. I'm 110% fine with them having a great time singing songs that point upward. 

After that we separate. The Jr. Highers go over to the lodge where Caleb Beefus leads them in their Bible time. I stay in this room with the H.S. kids....

This is an extremely sharp group. As I get to know some of them individually I'm pretty impressed with them. Some are at the top of their class academically. Some have excelled musically or athletically, or in drama. They are bright, articulate, ask good questions and interact with some pretty complex stuff. I was worried about how they'd do with one of my topics in last night's session - presuppositional apologetics. They latched right on to it. 

Interesting week! Certainly very different from anything else I do the rest of the year, or at Pathway. It's challenging me physically, emotionally and - how to say it - professionally. Communicating effectively to 80 H.S. kids on a pretty deep subject (Imago Dei and its implications) is work. But so far I like how it's going. I look back on the first four sessions and think I could have done some things better but in general they seem to be with me. 

It's also nice to be away. We're actually not that far off the beaten path but it feels isolated because the way this campground is situated. I come up to the caretaker's yard (sitting here now) to latch onto his internet each afternoon but other than that I have no clue what's going on in the world. I'm a news & sports junky so it's interesting to observe how little that stuff really matters. I saw a few minutes ago that the debt ceiling was raised by Congress. What real difference does that make to my life or the life of these teens? Kevin Kolb seems to be fitting in with the receiver corps of the Cardinals. So what? And it's HOT at home. Could'a told you that without looking. 

This forced withdrawal from civilization is probably good for staff and campers alike. 

But I do miss my evening (fourth) meal. And a fridge full of Diet Coke. Which is to say I am doing some real, legitimate suffering here. 

I'm also missing Pam. I left home last Wednesday to spend a few days with my folks before the week of camp began. I won't get home until Friday night. I don't think we've been apart for more than a week since I went to Africa 10 years ago. 

Sunday is our 40th anniversary. Absence does make the heart grow fonder; it reminds me what a blessing God gave me in my wife. I've said that to these kids. I've never been accused of being a romantic but I'm smart enough to know I would not be half the person I am if it weren't for the wife God gave me.