By Tom Jenkins on 7/29/2009 5:43 PM

 

     The children in our Summer Camp program led the chapel service for the Academy this week. They wrote a script based on some of the concepts of “Boomerang Express”, our theme for Vacation Bible School this year. They used puppets as the “characters” for the script. The boys and girls in the Academy were delighted with the puppets. They laughed and giggled so loudly that the Summer Camp children had to present the play twice to be sure that they had been heard. They ended by leading us in the pledges to the flags and the Bible. We sang a song from my ancient past in Bible School, “The B-I-B-L-E.” I am pleased that our Summer Camp workers use the Bible as part of their teaching. After all, Summer Camp, including the Academy, is part of our church and we must teach eternal values to be true to our identity as the Church of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the workers in Summer Camp and the Academy that see their work connected with the eternal purposes of Jesus Christ for his church. We are following the Great Commandment that tells us to love God with our “heart, mind and soul” and the Great Commission that tells us to “teach the Gospel.” There is no higher purpose for us in our work with children than this. Pray for all of our children’s workers and ask God to bless them as they faithfully teach our boys and girls about Jesus Christ.            

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By Tom Jenkins on 7/12/2009 7:11 PM

       I was on vacation last week. One of our grandsons was with Cheryl and me, so I stayed away from work as much as possible to enjoy his visit and “Re-Create” myself. That’s the root meaning of “recreation”. The body and mind need downtime away from everyday activities to re-create. That’s what vacations are supposed to do. I know some people, however, who attack vacations like they are work. They don’t feel like a vacation has meaning without much activity. I can be on vacation and never leave town. Just give me a few days away from the office and the multiple demands of Christian ministry and my mind can go into “vacation” mode.

      You must be on your guard when you take a vacation without leaving town. It’s easy to be consumed by projects at home you have delayed. A home renovation project can ruin a vacation. I used to use vacation days to paint, hang wallpaper and rework the yard. I learned that’s not a vacation. That’s work and a vacation should not involve work.

      Now I try to...

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