It is easy to be come discouraged.

The following little story illustrates a wisdom tidbit which simply put is: Don’t let the devil discourage you. Remember what God told Joshua, be strong and courageous. Joshua 1:6-9

Once upon a time it was announced that the devil was going out of business and would sell all his equipment to those who were willing to pay the price.

On the big day of the sale, all his tools were attractively displayed. There was Envy, Jealousy, Hatred, Malice, Deceit, Sensuality, Pride, Idolatry, and other implements of evil on display. Each of the tools was marked with its own price tag.

Over in the corner by itself was a harmless-looking, wedge-shaped tool very much worn down, but still it bore a higher price than any of the others. Someone asked the devil what it was, and he answered, “That is Discouragement.” The next question came quickly: “And why is it priced so high even though it is plain to see that it is more worn than these others?”

“Because,” replied the devil, “it is more useful to me than all these others. I can pry open and get into a man’s heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tool. Once I get inside, I can use him in whatever way suits me best. It is worn well because I use it on everybody I can, and few people even know it belongs to me.”

This tool was priced so high that no one could buy it, and to this day it has never been sold. It still belongs to the devil, and he still uses it on mankind. (Author Unknown)

A friend of mine recently used this phrase. I like my coffee black in a large mug with a big three finger sized handle. You get the idea that coffee flows right trough us. So does the rest of our food, but I will leave that thought right there (unless you’re a grade 8 boy). 

My mom used to say she spent too many hours making meals for us to just eat dinner in 87 seconds. Time goes by TOO fast. We don’t really have the time we think we do. We need to focus on what is most important. Family first. 

One of my new favourite songs is Time by Dean Brody. Check out the lyrics below. 

A gang of kids on their peddle bikes
In a dusty town, way to ride
To the general store for popeye cigarettes
Class of ’99
Yeah we lived, laughed, loved and cried
Took for granted that those days would never end
Living like that yearbook picture wouldn’t fade
And some standing right beside me, I might never see again

[Chorus]
The trouble is
You think you have time
You think tomorrows always coming down the line
And then one day
You wake up and you find
The trouble is you thought you had time

Student hire and a fancy job
Big old house, two car garage
He works hard for his wife and his son
An empty seat at t-ball games
Just a sacrifice he’ll make
Make it up, next weekend comes along
Years go by and that day comes too soon
That boy goes off to college, he stands in his empty room

The trouble is
You think you have time
You think tomorrows always coming down the line
And then one day
You wake up and you find
The trouble is you thought you had time

Shotgun shells and a tackle box
On the floorboard of a truck
Morning sun burning fog off a lake
Teenage girl and her grandad
He takes her fishing but he feels bad
She can’t take her eyes off that Facebook page
But someday soon, who knows how long
She’ll look up from that phone and he’ll be gone

The trouble is
You think you have time
You think tomorrows always coming down the line
And then one day
You wake up and you find
The trouble is you thought you had time
The trouble is you thought you had time

It’s okay to be polite!! Really! In fact, it’s more than okay. It should be expected!

Hold a door, let someone go ahead in traffic, go into the proper lane when turning, don’t cut people off, say please and thank you and sorry.
Say excuse when you have to walk in front of someone and acknowledge people when they say excuse me. Check out the words from Tim McGraw’s song Humble and Kind below. 

Its okay to be polite, after all we’re Canadian, eh!! 😉 

Tim McGraw’s “Humble And Kind”

You know there’s a light that glows by the front door
Don’t forget the key’s under the mat
When childhood stars shine,
Always stay humble and kind

Go to church ’cause your mamma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
It won’t be wasted time
Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say “please”, say “thank you”
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb
But always stay humble and kind
When the dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride
But always stay humble and kind

Don’t expect a free ride from no one
Don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why:
Bitterness keeps you from flyin’
Always stay humble and kind

Know the difference between sleeping with someone
And sleeping with someone you love
“I love you” ain’t no pick-up line
So always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say “please”, say “thank you”
Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb
But always stay humble and kind
When those dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride
But always stay humble and kind

When it’s hot, eat a root beer popsicle
Shut off the AC and roll the windows down
Let that summer sun shine
Always stay humble and kind

Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you’re going don’t forget turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind

When our girls were young, they would treat us to dinner at Upendi, it was their very own made up restaurant. These were our dates when the girls were little. They took so much pride in making the time special for us. I wish I could remember whether the food was good or what we even had to eat. I know we thoroughly enjoyed the time with each other and with the girls. 

I didn’t know then that Nicole “borrowed” it from the Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride. There was a song that mentions the word upendi. It is sung by Rafiki as he encourages Kovu and Kiara to fall in love. The word is very similar to the Swahili word upendo, meaning love.

Thank you girls, I love you.

Dad

New Years resolutions?!?! Did you make some? WHY??

I stopped making new New Year’s resolutions years ago. Did I want to do better, be better, be happier? Of course. 

This may be a better option that I borrowed this from my pastor. “Resolved, to be a better person on December 31, 2017 than I am today through prayer, Bible study, and service to my fellow man.”

But it’s not automatic and I think that is where most of us fail. The problem with the Christian life sometimes is that it is SO daily. We have to take up our cross daily. We have to decide daily to live in obedience with Him. 

These decisions include, but are not limited to what your character will be, what your attitude will be, your work ethic, your personality, how deep will your spiritual walk be, who will be your friends, what are your guiding life principles, how will you treat the people around you, how will you deal with conflict or disappointment or failure, how will you represent yourself to other, and there are many more decisions that you haven’t even realized yet.

Some of these decisions you will have to make every day this summer. Many will be hard or require you to work at them. Most will take discipline. Some will cost you in time, friends or activities you cannot do.

The Apostle Paul reminds us, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14)

The themes for 2017 are: Destination Greece, Nintendo & The Round Table

Destination Greece

Follow the pathway though the labyrinth to Greece camp. You’ll experience a mix of ancient and modern Greek traditions, food and games. Enter through the bold columns into the Longhouse for some famous Greek recipes like souvlaki, gyros & Pantespani. Choose and armour your best gladiator for the games, search for ancient civilizations, join in the Olympic style competitions.

Nintendo

Mario and other characters from the Nintendo world need your help! Wii have a fantastic adventure planned where you will have to super smash Donkey Kong and his team of villains in time to save the Princess so Excite Bike your way to Marioland in the final fantasy of the summer and join in the fun and games!

The Round Table

Here ye! Here ye! Knights and princesses of the great land of Britain! All the most noble and stout of heart, all the most gentle and spritely of spirit are invited – nay, implored! – to make way to join King Arthur at The Round Table! From feasts to fiery dragons, from peasants to princesses – shine your armour, feather your fans and adventure with us through the Middle Ages! Chivalry – Rivalry – Revelry

How many Widji logos did you find in our themes picture at the top? 

So often we focus on what we are going to GET for Christmas. I also like to give gifts that will be appreciated by the person receiving it. It is a wonderful thing to see their face light up and to hear their gratitude. What are you giving back this Christmas? Who can you help where there is no benefit to you? 

Her are a few ideas that come to mind:

• Food for those in need
• Help pay for a load of wood or propane for a family that is struggling to heat their home
• Toys for Tots or a similar program
• Service to someone who cannot do for themselves
• Pack a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child
• Drop your spare change into the Salvation Army kettles
• Spend some time with a senior, or shut in or someone stuck in the hospital this season
• Help at a soup kitchen
• Buy something from the catalogue.worldvision.ca
• Check out The Muskoka Red Sock Initiative
• Give socks to some homeless people. (my oldest daughter does this and we collected a bunch last year for her to distribute)

Give gifts out of gratitude for what Christ has done for you. You may never see the results, but that’s not the point, now is it?

We are all do stupid things! And everyone around us sees many of them. We set an example for all those who watch our lives, and believe me, they are watching. Ever had someone comment a long time after you post something on social media? You find out they were watching even though they never liked or commented on your post. It’s just like Rodney Atkins’ song Watching You. The lyrics are below…

In Rodney’s song, the song of the singer emulates his dad, both in the bad (swearing) and the good (praying to God). The son wants to be just like his dad. In many ways our campers want to be just like our staff. 

There is a prayer in the song that the dad prays that resonates with me. He prays, “Lord please help me help my stupid self!” There is little, actually nothing, I can do to make it right with God. I need God, through Jesus to make me right with God. It’s the only way. 

The best way we can lead and teach others is by our example. You are an example, what kind will you be? 

“Watching You” by Rodney Atkins

Driving through town, just my boy and me
With a Happy Meal in his booster seat
Knowing that he couldn’t have the toy ’til his nuggets were gone

A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit my brakes and mumbled under my breath
His fries went a-flying and his orange drink covered his lap

Well, then my four-year-old said a four letter word
That started with “s” and I was concerned
So I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to talk like that?”

[Chorus:]
He said, “I’ve been watching you, dad. Ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We got cowboy boots and camo pants.
Yeah, we’re just alike. Hey, ain’t we, dad?
I wanna do everything you do.
So I’ve been watching you.”

We got back home and I went to the barn
I bowed my head and I prayed real hard
Said, “Lord, please help me help my stupid self.“

Then this side of bedtime later that night
Turning on my son’s Scooby Doo nightlight
He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees

He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands
And spoke to God like he was talking to a friend
And I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to pray like that?”

[Chorus:]
He said, “I’ve been watching you, dad. Ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixing things and holding mama’s hand.
Yeah we’re just alike. Hey, ain’t we, dad?
I wanna do everything you do.
So I’ve been watching you.”

[Bridge:]
With tears in my eyes I wrapped him in a hug
Said, “My little bear is growing up.”
He said, “But when I’m big I’ll still know what to do.”

[Chorus:]
‘Cause I’ve been watching you, dad. Ain’t that cool?
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
By then I’ll be strong as Superman.
We’ll be just alike. Hey, won’t we, dad?
When I can do everything you do,
‘Cause I’ve been watching you.”