We got over 100 inches of snow at Camp Gray this winter. For those of us who cross country ski (Joe, Sara, and Mo-T all raced in the Birkebeiner/Korteloppet this February) it was awesome!
Just walking around camp was tough sometimes though, necessitating the use of snowshoes. I wanted to post a picture of what is was like, so I can remember on those 95 degree days during the summer!
-Joe
HELLOOOOOOO!!!! This is Mo-T!!!! Hopefully you are outside enjoying this beautiful weather, and thus were able to hear my yell hello. If not, that probably means you were crawling into your freezer in an attempt to remind yourself of what winter feels like. I can respect that too. Do not worry, though. Despite the change in season, God will still be with you. How do I know this? Oh, I just read this Sunday’s Gospel. Check it out for yourself…
John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
In a little while the world will no longer see me,
but you will see me, because I live and you will live.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father
and you are in me and I in you.
Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.
After reading this Gospel, it may seem confusing and kind of wacky. That’s what I thought the first time I read it. After re-reading it, however, it seems more simple. Jesus is telling us that He will always be with us. There are two ways he will do this.
The first way Jesus remains with us is through the Trinity. He says, “…whoever loves me will be loved by my Father.” That Father is God. When we are praying to, experiencing, or growing closer to God, we doing the same with Jesus. It is a mystery to us, but they are really just one. But wait, there’s more! Jesus also remains with us through the Holy Spirit — the “Spirit of truth” which Jesus talks about. We cannot see or hear the Holy Spirit, but it is with all of us. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit work through and with each other. When we talk about one, we talk about all three. When we love one, we love all three.
Jesus also lets us know that He comes to us through other people. He lets us know that He is in us, and we are in Him, and He is also in God. What does that mean? This Holy Trinity is present in each one of us, all the time. Think about all the people in your life. God is also in each of them. Jesus comes to us through our friends, family, and even strangers. Imagine what our lives would be like if we truly understood and remembered that every time we interact with another person, that it is really God!
Upcoming Events at Camp:
Family Service Weekend April 26, 2008 9:00am-5:00pm
Your help is needed! It’s time for spring cleaning at Camp Gray – trails to be cleared, leaves to rake, and buildings to clean and paint. Bring your friends and family and be a part of camp’s annual face lift! Snacks and lunch for all will be provided. You can come all day or for part – just RSVP to Tricia 800-711-4729 or tricia@campgray.com . See you there!
April 26, 2008 ? 9:00am-5:00pmYour help is needed! It’s time for spring cleaning at Camp Gray – trails to be cleared, leaves to rake, and buildings to clean and paint. Bring your friends and family and be a part of camp’s annual face lift! Snacks and lunch for all will be provided. You can come all day or for part – just RSVP to Tricia 800-711-4729 or . See you there!
2nd Annual Happy Camper Fun Run/Walk May 10, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Held on Camp’s beautiful trails, the Fun Run/Walk is a fun way to get outside, meet new people, and support scholarships for summer campers. Come for a great trail run and stay for the food, fun, raffle, and awards! May 10, 2008 ? 10:00 a.m.Held on Camp’s beautiful trails, the Fun Run/Walk is a fun way to get outside, meet new people, and support scholarships for summer campers. Come for a great trail run and stay for the food, fun, raffle, and awards!Cost: $15 by May 1, $20 afterward – includes t-shirt!
May 10, 2008 ? 10:00 a.m.Held on Camp’s beautiful trails, the Fun Run/Walk is a fun way to get outside, meet new people, and support scholarships for summer campers. Come for a great trail run and stay for the food, fun, raffle, and awards!Cost: $15 by May 1, $20 afterward – includes t-shirt!For more information and to register, go to www.campgray.com/happycamper
See you in spring!
I GOT BIT BY A MOSQUITO TODAY!!
WOO HOO!!! Well howdy, y’all! This is Chris Topher bringing you this
week’s Gospel Devotion, and I believe that, due to the fact that I got
bit today by a mosquito, it is finally spring! There are
still a few piles of snow left around Camp, but if we get many more 70-
degree days like today, then they won’t be here long.
Anywho, let’s get to this week’s Gospel, which comes to us from the book
of John:
John 14:1-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.
The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me,
or else, believe because of the works themselves.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes in me will do the works that I do,
and will do greater ones than these,
because I am going to the Father.”
Soooooo…
“I am the way and the truth and the life.”
In this reading, Jesus presents Himself as the Way to the Father for
those who believe in Him.
Why is the Way oftentimes so difficult?
In a book by C.S. Lewis, he writes of God, “He wants them to learn to
walk and therefore must take away His hand; and if only the will to
walk is there He is pleased even with their stumbles.”
Even if you’re struggling in your faith or giving in to sin, if you
have the will to “walk,” God is pleased with even your “stumbles.” The
will to please God does just that, and the Way to God is Jesus.
Talk to Jesus daily. You will foster a personal relationship that will
lead you to the Father and to the Father’s dwelling place, where a
place will be prepared for you.
God bless you all!
-Chris
Upcoming Events at Camp Gray:
Family Service Weekend
April 26, 2008 ? 9:00am-5:00pm
Your help is needed! It’s time for spring cleaning at Camp Gray – trails to be cleared, leaves to rake, and buildings to clean and paint. Bring your friends and family and be a part of camp’s annual face lift! Snacks and lunch for all will be provided. You can come all day or for part – just RSVP to Tricia 800-711-4729 or tricia@campgray.com. See you there!
2nd Annual Happy Camper Fun Run/Walk
May 10, 2008 ? 10:00 a.m.
Held on Camp’s beautiful trails, the Fun Run/Walk is a fun way to get outside, meet new people, and support scholarships for summer campers. Come for a great trail run and stay for the food, fun, raffle, and awards!
Cost: $15 by May 1, $20 afterward – includes t-shirt!
For more information and to register, go to www.campgray.com/happycamper
See you in spring!