Jesus Loves us when we sweat- Real Grace Reflection #24

You might not believe me if I tell you that this Real Grace Reflection was inspired by the fact that my family will be spending the night in our Houston home with no air conditioning. However, this story is true. I am just about to head to bed and the prospect of a warmer than usual evening sends me to the keyboard tonight.

In the summer of 1989, I spent my second summer on the staff at Camp Lone Star.  During the final week of the summer, I served as a counselor in a building known as The Last Resort. The Last Resort (and the Hip Hut) was not air conditioned at that time, and it was only used to house extra staff back in 1989, not campers.  However, for some reason, both The Last Resort and The Hip Hut housed campers that special week.

Needless to say, we sweated quite a bit that week, but we made the best of it. The female campers in the Hip Hut that week, led by Joti Williams, did the same. (After thinking about it some more, I seem to recall Joti was the Junior Staff in the Hip Hut.)

My understanding is that that week was the final one ever that The Last Resort and The Hip Hut housed campers in a non-climate controlled environment.  If I'm not mistaken, The Last Resort now has A/C. The Hip Hut has been torn down.

I don't remember much about that week in The Last Resort except for the big fan, and a homesick camper who cried a lot on the first night. However, I do remember the song the campers made up and sang for the whole camp at some point during the week.

JESUS LOVES US WHEN WE SWEAT

Jesus loves us when we sweat
Though we may be soaking wet
And He helps us start our fan
Gives to us a helping hand

Yes, Jesus loves us
Yes, Jesus loves us
Yes, Jesus loves us
In the Last Resort

You can freely read every REAL GRACE reflection by clicking on this link.

From the Street Beside My Window- Real Grace Reflection #23

Not too long before I wrote this reflection on L.O.M.T.'s theme REAL GRACE, I saw a special on TV about NASA's exploration mission to Pluto.  It was pretty amazing to me to learn about the work that has gone into that project.  Somewhere in my mind, it inspired these lines about the long-lasting omni-presence of REAL GRACE

FROM THE STREET OUTSIDE MY WINDOW

From the street beside my window

To the outskirts of the town

To the border of the county, it is

Far from slowing down

Full speed it goes unhindered

To all parts of every state

And flows throughout the nations

Every one is on its slate

It goes beyond the moon, and rockets

Way out into space

The Kuiper Belt can’t stop it

And its always rapid pace

It’s everywhere, like Elvis,

It’s both near and far away

Wherever you may find yourself

It greets you every day

 c2015 Mike Tauser

You can freely read every REAL GRACE reflection by clicking on this link.  

Heart of Mine- Real Grace Reflection #22

Without further adieu, another reflection on L.O.M.T.'s 2015 theme, REAL GRACE.

HEART OF MINE

Heart of mine, love others as
You're loved now and before
Beat strongly to your brothers for
Up on you grace has poured

Heart of mine, be good for he
Is so, so good to you
Do what is right at every turn
Since you have been made true

Heart of mine, seek just the pure for
Beauty is your name
Turn from the things that tempt you for
To you perfection came

c2015 Mike Tauser

NOTE ON THE TITLE: After writing these lyrics, I considered what title to put on them.  During this process, I remembered HEART OF ME, a song written by Craig Oldenburg when he served at Camp Lone Star a few decades ago.  It struck me that the message of HEART OF ME is the foundation on which a loving heart can be built.  Thus, it seems to me that HEART OF MINE is in some ways a sequel to HEART OF ME.

Skeeters Officially out of First Half Race

With four games remaining in the Atlantic League's first half, Southern Maryland has clinched the Freedom Division title, eliminating the Sugar Land Skeeters from contention.  Southern Maryland's record entering play on Thursday stands at 39-27. The Skeeters are 34-32.

The Skeeters wrap up their first half schedule with a three-game series at Southern Maryland Friday through Sunday.  After the all-star break, the two teams face off again July 10-12, beginning the second half at Sugar Land's Constellation Field.