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03/10

What I Learned at Winter Camp

Steve, Josiah & I hit the road to join 400 teenagers (I almost said “screaming teenagers” but decided to be more positive in my approach…though that may be cancelled out by the fact that I told you what I almost said? Hmm…things to consider in my free time) at Wildhorse Canyon for Winter Camp 2008. We both got to speak and hang out with kids and meet some amazing people with really deep and passionate hearts who love teenagers enough to PAY to share their lives and cabins with them. I want to post some pictures and thoughts about this later, but for now, here are a few things I learned:

1) Dramamine. In spite of having been to Wildhorse at least 15 times prior, I still forgot to give my son – who gets sick in the car on the way to school – Dramamine.

2) Jr. High girls never fail to amaze me with their…um….fashion sense. One girl’s look could best be described as Marilyn Monroe meets Winnie the Pooh. Remarkable (and super cute in it’s own “she’s gonna hate looking at these pictures in 5 years but will still probably laugh really hard” kind of way).

3) Kids are hurting. I mean, not just the typical “growing up is hard” wounds but deep and defining things like a dad dying of brain cancer, parents who committed suicide…a kid who’s mom walked out on him two weeks before camp. Things like that flowed out this weekend in countless heart-wrenching stories. If we think this generation looks dark and brooding, it’s because they are, and with good reason. Their only hope for healing is Jesus and our only hope for the future is to help them find Jesus.

4) Parents who love their kids enough to send homemade cookies with them to camp are very rare and wonderful, indeed.

5) Parents who love their kids enough to pay the way of some of their friends to go as well are…simply put, heroic.

6) Don’t eat the scrambled eggs. Something just isn’t right there.

7) Though I speak in all kinds of places to all kinds of people, nothing in the world feels as weighty and important to me as speaking to 200 girls who are deciding what they’re going to do with their future, their bodies, their affections and their destiny. It’s just beyond beautiful to see them choose life. I determined this weekend to take – and to make – more opportunities to invest in this age group.

Those are my immediate thoughts on camp…I actually came home with my head just spinning with dreams and possibilities and ways to reach the young women of the next generation. If there are any other dreamers out there, let’s join forces and create something to equip these brave, beautiful ladies who are the moms and lawyers and school teachers and pastors and presidential candidates of the future.

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March 10, 2008 - 3:42 pm

Cher - Amen Sisto!

March 10, 2008 - 8:52 pm

Kaci Bullis - My daughter came home so moved by your girls only session, we had the best talk ever! She said she feels her crown now!
I am with you lets find great people and join our “wonder woman bracelets” together and reach these girls

March 11, 2008 - 4:34 pm

cassie - hooray for Winter Camp 2008…

my blog will soon be posted with pics and stories!!!!

i must say YES AND AMEN to the statement about scrambled eggs and jr. high fashion sense!

Also…i’d love to join the force to love these girls more effectively…and watch them Hit the Mark for Jesus!

March 12, 2008 - 4:16 pm

bolovesjoe - Oh, Kaci – I LOVE the Wonder Woman bracelet! In fact, I often pretend to be deflecting bullets with them and people generally don’t get it.

And thanks, Cassie, for the affirmation on the eggs…I didn’t want to be alone in that.

03/06

Church Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen Anywhere, Anytime. Ever.

I recently read about a new church coming to our area, and it’s press release carried the same talking points of about 14 other churches in our town and about 85% (note: all numerical statistics contained herein are completely made-up for my own purposes) of all new churches forming right now. They all include some variation on the theme: church for twentysomethings, different than every other church.

I don’t know. I’m not against new churches – not at all. There are too-many-thousands of people in Central Oregon who are desperate for the gospel and I understand that the job is way too big for one or ten or two hundred churches.

Interesting, though, how the older generation treats change like the enemy while the next generation sees tradition as the enemy. Sometime, somewhere in our future, some prophetic and passionate dreamer is going build something great around the crazy idea that neither change nor tradition is the enemy and neither should be worshiped.

Two things I’m absolutely certain of: 1) The power and promise of The Church is not in its methodology, but in its true, timeless and unchanging Message. 2) There is no hope for lasting revival in any one generation if they are removed from the generations. No hope at all.

“Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall tell of Your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:3-4

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March 6, 2008 - 5:25 pm

Cher - As usual, you said exactly what I feel, but I can’t communicate! It can get so discouraging waiting for that ‘church purpose/vision’ to come into balance. I wonder if I’ll see in in my lifetime? Thankfully, my Father knows me as an individual more than as a church member and the years have brought my relationship with Him to be one as a Father more than as a ‘church’ as well.

03/03

The Unorganized & Overflowing Bookshelf

A couple of people have asked about what I’m reading right now and so I’m answering that question because I’m super nice that way. These are in no particular order, but I am a pretty intentional reader so while they may look totally random, they’re all important for something I’m figuring out or working on or working through in my equally unorganized and overflowing head.

Woman in Charge: the Biography of Hilary Clinton by Carl Bernstein. I bought this book in July, when it looked for all the world like she was going to be our next president and I was hoping to find some truly unbiased information that would ease my troubled mind. My conclusion: I’ve rarely seen a life that has so much, that I envy so little (by contrast, see my post on Anna.)

Beloved Disciple by Beth Moore. A study on the amazing life of the apostle John. I got this on the $1 shelf at church and it was quite a brilliant investment.

My Single Mom Life, by Angela Thomas. I’m reading this for a Parenting conference I’m planning and I love it! Thomas manages to be really honest without veering down the slippery slope of self-pity and I think that’s quite a triumph.

What I Saw at the Revolution, by Peggy Noonan. How much do I love the ever-controversial Noonan? SO much! While not quite as steeped in Republicanism as she is, I love the way she uses words. This book is her take on one of the great political eras: the Reagan years. Interesting aside: I bought this book for .01 at Half. I’ve gotten SO many books this way and I’ve never been disappointed.

When God’s People Pray by Jim Cymbala. This is actually a book & six-session DVD study that I’m doing at my leisure and it’s terrifically good. My favorite quote so far: “anything God can do, prayer can do.” Let that sink in for a minute and then get off the internet and go stinkin’ pray something!

Women in Leadership Ministry by Dr. Jack Hayford. Great book, but – as with all Hayford books – I recommend keeping a dictionary at-the-ready. For those looking for a Biblical foundation for gender equality in ministry, this is the ticket. For those looking for women to be quiet, this is going to be mostly annoying. Continuing with the theme of “Bo is cheap”, this little book can be obtained for a mere 3 bucks at www.foursquaremedia.org, or you can borrow mine when I’m done for FREE!

Wow – now that I started the list, I’m embarrassed at how many more there are that I don’t want to take time to include. I should start fewer books so I can actually finish them! I hesitate to ask, because I’ll probably go buy them and then get distracted from finishing these…but what are YOU reading?

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March 3, 2008 - 10:03 pm

helenw13 - Thanks Bo…
I love to know what people are reading…mostly because I am nosy…but it is always great to get a free critique…

I love Angela Thomas…I have read two of her books…A Beautiful Offering and When Wallflowers Dance…who knows if I read them today would they have the same punch but they were both my heart’s cry at that time.

I would love to read or do the study on the Beloved Disciple…I love what she writes and teaches…I am starting Stepping Up with a friend this week…it is on the psalms of ascent…I am looking forward to it…I took my time…probably 6 months and did the Tabernacle study…so wonderful.

I hate to say that I just carried down a large stack of books that I cleared off my bookshelf in my bedroom, my floor, my night table and a few other places…our dog Hazel is so thankful to have some floor space again…most of them had not been finished and some not even started…so I am waiting for what I should pick up again…but you can always find that list of stacks in The Library at my place…

Have a blessed week and I hope Steve is home by now!

Helen

March 3, 2008 - 10:27 pm

bolovesjoe - Oh…the Psalms of Ascent…such beautiful, deep waters. I love Eugene Peterson’s commentary on them (Long Obedience in the Same Direction…was that the name? I think it changed titles along the way).

Steve IS home and I – much like Hazel – am a happy, happy girl! I’m gonna check out your library!

March 4, 2008 - 1:22 am

helenw13 - Oh yes…another book that I have really wanted to read for eons…maybe that would be good when I finish the study…the list goes on and on and on…

March 4, 2008 - 5:48 pm

Katie - Ok here we go…

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I love him so much – he’s just such a balanced and wise guy – and a martyr! Though I haven’t gotten very far in this book, I have learned how to spell his name! 🙂

The Complete Works of Prayer by E.M. Bounds…need I say more? I’m pretty sure I’ll be reading this over and over and over again until the day I die.

Divine Mentor by Wayne Cordiero. I love this book that is refreshing my love for the Word!

The Shack by William Young. Talk about a book that is turning my world upside down. I’ve learned I can’t read this book in public anymore because I cry too much!

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzaro. Yet another book I will be reading until the day I die…

The Message Conversations. Okay, so it’s my Bible, but I love love love it!!!!

So…I’m really bad at finishing books. That’s my story…

March 4, 2008 - 6:29 pm

Lindsay Joy - My turn to admit to also starting a billion books, some of which even before I got married, took on the two week honeymoon and still have not finished…

The Seven Declarations of an Unshakable Life by Frank Damazio…It’s a great book with a million different nuggets. I don’t so much care for his writing style but truth is truth is truth.

Secure in the Everlasting Arms by Elisabeth Elliot…I LOVE Elisabeth Elliot and sometimes I want to be her. This book reads more like a devotional so I don’t mind only picking it up every now and then. I think I would be overloaded if I read it all at once!

Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas…He is revolutionizing the way I view marriage, and conviction comes every time I read. Maybe that’s why it’s taking me so long : )

And finally – No Greater Love by Mother Teresa…When I read her I feel like my grandma is talking to me.

There you go!

March 4, 2008 - 8:20 pm

bolovesjoe - Three things:
Helen: not to feed your book addiction, but “Long Obedience” is at half.com for three little dollars…such a bargain!

Katie: your book list looks exactly like mine! No wonder we work together so well!

Lindsay: I taught a class built on Unshakable LIfe this year and I totally agree with your critique. Also, I read a little of No Greater Love every morning because I also can’t quite absorb more than that at once but I just love it.

March 5, 2008 - 12:50 am

Jessica Carpenter - A Grief Observed by C.S.Lewis- Its intensely sad, in the eventually uplifting way… and short… so maybe you’ll finish it??

Serve God, Save the Planet- It’s good… but I’ll never finish it until this semester of a million reading assignments is over!

Le Petite Prince- In an desperate attempt to not lose all the french I learned… and on the plus side, you’re at no risk of being tempted into reading it since it’s the wrong language (unless tu parle francais?)

Mountains of psychology articles, case reports, study write ups… Mountains. Try not to be too envious.

Just finished Mere Christianity and Surprised by Joy, loved them both!

Thanks for your blog comment Bo, I appreciate it SO much! I’m a total information super highway nerd who gets legitimately excited that you even read it 🙂

March 5, 2008 - 1:49 am

helenw13 - Oh…I think I need to fast from buying books for awhile…but I will definitely check out half.com…I was excited because I found the book from my quote last week for 1.99 just waiting to get it…nothing excites me like mail and mail that comes in book form…yippee…
How I love reading what others are reading…it reminds me of past loves and the promise of the future…

March 7, 2008 - 1:06 am

Tracy Hamaker - Hi Bo,
I just found you! How fun to read your words, you write like you speak-fabulously full of life!
I have to share what I am reading, often I read at least 2 books at a time and more often have multiple backups to begin immediately after puttin one down!

Breakthrough Prayer by Jim Cymbala, full of testimonies of the power of prayer! It echoes my heart about holding onto God’s word with the promise that a day will come when you see the fulfillment of it!

Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna
How to raise Spiritual Champions! I actually just finished this one. A must read for any parent pressing toward raising kids that don’t give into the world’s views but resolving to lead them into life-changing TRUTH!

Boundaries with Kids by Cloud/Townsend
I went to the boundaries simulcast and realized I’m really good with other people but my kids often cross them, I’m a softy and tend to be a pushover, I needed to sharpen my skills. It is helping!

Nurutre by Lisa Bevere
Give and get what you need to flourish. I just love Lisa Bevere. We are going to do a women’s book club group in May with this book so I’m getting a head start! Are we far to busy surviving to make the time to assure that tender lives surrounding us thrive?

Thats it for now, I could spend another 3-4 paragraphs telling you what I plan to read but I’ll save that for another time! God bless you!

March 7, 2008 - 2:53 am

bolovesjoe - Tracy – I loved your list! I know how books just multiply. I’ve recently been trying to NOT accumulate anything new til I make some progress on my stack of unfinished stuff…but new ones are SO tempting! Hey, also: I’m gonna shoot you an email this week because I want to talk to you about Parent University. 🙂

March 7, 2008 - 6:05 am

Tracy Hamaker - Yes I need it, Parent University, that is…I’m sure I would study hard but the lab is always so challenging…

02/29

Cautionary Tales for the Sleep-Deprived

So, maybe it’s the crazy schedule we’ve had lately, maybe it’s the fact that my beloved has been gone for a couple of days, or maybe it’s just that working with young adults has made my sense of humor dark and twisted, but these Caring for Babies instructional posters triggered the laughing/crying emotion that I hate and fear. In retrospect, I suppose the teething tennis shoe was a bad idea and I should apologize to my kids.

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February 29, 2008 - 7:51 pm

cass-a-rooh - wow… that was way funny…. my little siblings enjoyed it also….

March 1, 2008 - 6:03 am

helenw13 - Thanks Bo…

Courtney and I have now digested our pizza from that belly laugh!

March 1, 2008 - 8:17 am

bolovesjoe - Cassie- I think your family could make some great educational posters of their own! Am I right when I say that you’re now at 13 kids? Seems like a really big number, but all 3 D kids that I have met have been so overwhelmingly wonderful, that I think your mom and dad should go for an even 20. Please pass along my good idea to them. 🙂

Helen & Courtney: glad I could help. Steve’s been away for a bit and I was missing him and sad and morose and all other words that mean exactly that same thing, and I didn’t want to post anything deep today. I think I managed to avoid deep quite nicely!

March 2, 2008 - 7:04 am

cass-a-rooh - 13 is correct! That is a big number… yikes! I will pass along the idea. My mom has actually been writing a book… called “How to earn a P.H.D in Motherhood.” I’ll make sure and get you a copy when it hits the market!

If i see you in the AM at church i will make sure you get to meet the 4 youngest (biological) ones that are staying with me!

02/28

Make a Political Love Connection!

I took this little test yesterday – it helps you pick a presidential candidate based solely on the issues. It’s fun, but also a little like the girl who says she doesn’t care if the guy is cute, as long as he makes her laugh, until she dates a homely funny guy and then decides she actually kind of cares about the cute. Yeah, it’s a little like that. Anyway – check it out here. (It’s worth it, just to see the faces pop up in the windows!)

And a loving piece of advice: this test is built on your opinions about some very important issues. If you don’t have an opinion yet…get one! Do some homework! Read Real Clear Politics or Citizen Link (from Focus on the Family and it contains fascinating stuff!) or anything else you can beg, borrow or Google so you are educated on the issues your country is facing.

Let me know how it turns out – or at least let me know if you’re surprised at how it turned out! (I was surprised at my result…probably because I will usually pick the best communicator as my favorite, even if the best communicator is not actually the best…um…person. This time, for my kids’ sake, I want the best person.)

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February 29, 2008 - 5:41 am

caleb and ashley - McCain and I disagreed on three issues…but the little machine put him as my first pick. Although I don’t want to vote for him. I think Obama will murder him in the debates. My first pick for 08 President would be Condi Rice…
So we might move to mexico and help Seth get a sun tan!

February 29, 2008 - 5:49 am

bolovesjoe - Yeah…I would agree that the choices are not very appealing. But the three words that ring in the back of my head as I consider the November election: Supreme Court Justices. That makes the choice pretty clear for me. Hey – maybe Condi can be one of those! She could rock the robe!

February 29, 2008 - 8:01 am

cass-a-rooh - That was so great! Although i am not totally sure i want to vote for who it said i should vote for; McCain. But i didn’t like some of the options they gave me so i had to pick the closest to what i would say…. hmmm….

oh and i’m with Caleb and Ashley… Condi has always been my pick… why isn’t she running??? She could however totally rock the robe… so we’ll see…. i also like the “moving to mexico” line… witty my friends witty!

March 9, 2008 - 8:41 pm

caffeevino - I clicked on your blog from work of heart blog roll. I just want to say I really enjoy your posts and I’m glad you talk about politics. I am a political junky and love watching foxnews and msnbc.

I look forward to more reading!

March 9, 2008 - 10:35 pm

bolovesjoe - Caffeevino – thanks for the comment! I’ve had fun writing in these “small pieces” for the past few weeks…and junky to junky: is this not the STRANGEST primary season ever? Who would have thought the democratic nomination would still be uncertain at this stage of the game? Crazy – but I like it!

March 10, 2008 - 11:45 pm

Kristin Bryan - Somehow all of my “top picks” were Democrats (Freaking Hillary was #2) and I think this is mostly funny because I am not even a little democratic in my opinions – especially on the financial/public issues.
Interesting.. i think there might have been a glitch.
When the #2 is the “I’d rather move to Canada” choice there’s a problem