Summer Camp friday Five

Mother Laura at RevGalBlogPals writes: We're settling into our new new apartment, and after a lifetime at Montessori Katie is having a fantastic summer at YMCA day camp. Meanwhile, Nicholas is packing up for a week at Camp Julian, shared by the Episcopal dioceses of Los Angeles and San Diego. His lists of supplies and rules--except for the ropes course available to the teenagers and the ban on IPODs and cell phones--bring back memories of my own happy times weeks at Y camp Ta Ta Pochon, funded by selling countless cases of butter toffee peanuts. So, in celebration of summer, please share your own memories and preferences about camp.

1. Did you go to sleep away camp, or day camp, as a child? Wish you could? Or sometimes wish you hadn't?
Starting at age 9, I went away to camp in the Blue Ridge Mtns, just down the road from Presby Mecca, at a place called Merri-Mac. It was for a whole month, and I didn't even write to my mom once the entire time I was there. One summer I did Girl Scout camp (Kateri) instead, but I liked Merri-Mac better. At that point Merri-Mac was all girl with the boys at a brother camp across town. According to the website, it's now a boys' and a girls' camp on the same site.

2. How about camping out? Dream vacation, nightmare, or somewhere in between?
nice for a few days, as long as either a) it doesn't rain or b) the tent is actually still waterproof.

3. Have you ever worked as a camp counselor, or been to a camp for your denomination for either work or pleasure?
I went to a Presby camp when I was 6 -- as a Jr counselor. OK. Mom was a counselor and I was a tag-along. I did do canoe camp as a camper and a counselor. It was based out of the local church.

4. Most dramatic memory of camp, or camping out?
Creation Fest 1989. I went as a counselor with a youth group. I'm not sure whether Ground level or the water table won the race. I gave up on shoes, because the knee-deep mud kept sucking them off. We put 9 bales of straw on our campsite and the water oozed up through, but at least it kept you out of the mud. Many of the girls slept on the bus, tent pegs wouldn't stick in the ground. When we got back to the church the sexton looked at the bus and then just hosed it out. (this was before they added the back area, the front loop was the only camping area). I believe it was Steven Curtis Chapman that made the crack about creation -- or primordial ooze?
Most dramatic, however, was, during yet another afternoon downpour, watching a small dome tent go floating down the road.

5. What is your favorite camp song or songs? Bonus points if you link to a recording or video.
In chapel at MerriMac I learned a version of Psalm 121 that I still sing. We did a lot of singing. as a matter of fact, I think I still have a song book from the camp (that I purchased, thank you very much).

Today I weep

Today I weep most for the children we have betrayed, those who will not know the power of the grace of Christ to overcome in their lives because we have chosen to tell them they don't need it. How can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Today I weep for those who have abdicated their responsibilities as teachers and guides and have chosen to let the sheep find their own path, one not of the shepherd's making. Yet we have chosen not just to remain silent, but to affirm error as truth. I weep for them, for we know the teachers will be judged more strictly.

Today I weep for those who choose the wisdom of the world over the revelation of God, who are driven by their own desires instead of the Word of God, who place sexual satisfaction over obedience, and chose instead to listen to what tickles their ears.

Today I weep.

Tomorrow I will once again resume my post as watchman, commanded to proclaim what I see, regardless of the consequences.

but I continue to weep, and to pray.

Taking in the View Friday Five

Sally at RevGalBlogPals asks:
This week I took some time out to stop and walk and take in the view; my son Chris is studying in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, too often we simply drive up there, turn around and come home! This time Tim and I took time out to take in the view. It occurs to me that we need to do that more in life....

With that in mind I offer you this weeks Friday Five:

1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person?

I am a big picture person. I see the patterns sometimes to the exclusion of the details.

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life?

what details? Oh, I've already put them in a mosaic. Nice picture, don't you think? the shadows help bring out the bright bits.

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports you to another dimension (one....what am I thinking....)
I read a lot of Science fiction -- you know: good guys, bad guys, and the good guys win even if it does take the whole trilogy or quadrilogy.

4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily?

see below. And I get to go after CPE, before ordination exams and before classes start back!!!

5. A picture opportunity... post one if you can ( or a link to one!)

It's Friday

OK. I'm a sad fringe player/lurker, and nobody tagged me. But I didn't like todays RGBP Friday five so I chose a meme instead.

Ten years ago:
1998. I was working as a Software Engineer at my worst. ever. job. I stayed at the job because we had a house being built, the mortgage was approved, and they don't like it if you move jobs in the middle of that. I was working for a big name "firm" that was ALL SHARK. I am not. I hated going to work everyday. As soon as the house closed, I changed jobs to a place I stayed for 6 years.

Five things on today's "to do" list:
1. Pre-reading for CPE
2. Pay Bills
3. Go explore local park with walking trails
4. Work on sermon for next week (not preaching this week, and I'm still pretty slow)
5. Laundry

Three bad habits:
1. Stress eating
2. Procrastination
3. Piles. On my desk, on the floor. But they are organized piles (until the cat gets to them!)

Five places I've lived:
1. Alexandria, VA
2. Tampa, FL
3. Belleville, IL
4. York County, VA
5. Gaithersburg, MD

Things I'd do if I were a billionaire:
Pay to have my house cleaned.
I'd start a foundation to protect the money and make it last longer and work harder. I'd love to be the Klingenshoen foundation* to an area left behind by progress.

Five jobs I've had:
1. Busch Gardens games hostess
2. Bank front area (new accounts, switchboard, etc)
3. Framing shop
4. Programmer
5. Software consultant


*fictional foundation in Lilian Jackson Braun's "Cat who ..." novels

Holiday Friday Five

Sally challenges us: It is a holiday weekend here in the UK, and the weather forecast for much of the country is not good!!! But we can still dream and so with that in mind I bring you this Friday Five.
Well, it's a holiday weekend here too, except that final papers are due Tuesday. So, as beautiful as it is, I took an exam this morning and afternoon and will spend the gorgeous weekend writing about my theology of preaching!

1. Getting ready for summer, do you use the gradual tanning moisturisers ( yes gentlemen you too can answer this!!!), or are you happy to show your winter skin to the world?
I am ghastly white and, well, there just anything much to do about it. I'm at an age when I don't show that much skin anyway.

2.Beach, mountains or chilling by the pool, what/ where is your favourite getaway?
Mountains or river. See my blog picture! and this one my husband took of a visiting friend.

3.Are you a summer lover or does the long break become wearing?
What break? I got my ID badge for the CPE hospital this afternoon.

4.Active holidays; hiking swimming sailing, or lazy days?
what I can fit of both, but leaning toward reading on the back porch.

5.Now to the important subject of food, if you are abroad do you try the local cuisine, or do you prefer to play it safe?
Ahhh, this is where the spoiled middle class child comes out. Local cuisine only if I recognize it! nothing really funky. And with celiac, it's even more fun. Either Wheat, rye or barley is common in almost any diet that meets the first criteria.

No bonus this week unless you can think one up!!!

I am alive....

I'm in the midst of end of term fun, so there' s even less blogging than normal.

However, I did find a lovely reason to say that I blog anonymously:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 0 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Now this was with my real name, not Althea N Agape which the more astute of you have figured out is "truth n love". (Hey, I was taking summer intensive Greek when I had to name the blog)

I just want to know if that 0 is supposed to include me?!?!

well, almost 1300 exist with my maiden name, so I guess it's my husband's fault that I don't exist in the US.

Wait and Pray -- Friday Five

Sally writes: Part of the Ascension Day Scripture from Acts 11 contains this promise from Jesus;

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Then he was taken from their sight into the clouds, two angels appeared and instructed the probably bewildered disciples to go back to Jerusalem, where they began to wait and to pray for the gift Jesus had promised.

Prayer is a joy to some of us, and a chore to others, waiting likewise can be filled with anticipation or anxiety....

So how do you wait and pray?

1. How do you pray best, alone or with others?
Alone. Although I participate in a weekly prayer group, alone is better for this introvert.

2. Do you enjoy the discipline of waiting, is it a time of anticipation or anxiety?
I can deal with waiting. I wouldn't say it was a joy, but it isn't anxiety. "I have learned to be content..."

3. Is there a time when you have waited upon God for a specific promise?
yes. And sometimes He says "no". Sometimes He just says "later".

4. Do you prefer stillness or action?
Stillness, I may be lazy.

5. If ( and this is slightly tongue in cheek) you were promised one gift spiritual or otherwise what would you choose to receive?
Discernment so when someone does something stupid, or mean, or out of the blue, I could know what the daylights they were thinking when they did it and how to most appropriately deal with this oddity. Rebuke, ignore, hug? sometimes it just really isn't clear.

and, to Answer GannetGirl's additional question: My favorite book on prayer would have to be Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God.