Roy’s Ramblings…From Vacation

So, this past week Samuel has been at “New Member Pre-Camp” for Brown County High School Marching Band. This is the prep week for all new members of the Marching Eagles. This week they are training on: how to march (forward and backward), what field commands are, posture on the field, using peripheral vision to see others and points on the ground, etc. They are also bonding in their sections as well as as a whole unit. It is totally different going from: “Our band is all in our grade” to “Our band spans four grades”. It has been hot; it has been exhausting; it has been a great lead in week to full band camp next week. And, I’m just a band booster looking in and not actually participating … but it is still a ton of fun!! (Brings back memories to my own band camp experience 40+ years ago.)

Why do I bring this up? Well, for one this is ramblings and each week I just “Free Associate Type”. What is in my brain comes out through the keyboard. Second, watching these young humans coming together, bonding, reaching for a common goal, etc. makes me thin of how we should operate as a church. Maybe we should have a “Back to Basics” week long camp. We could be encouraged to daily prayer/devotions, we could learn new hymns/songs, we could be taught better techniques on evangelism/inviting the stranger, we could always be reminded that we are to support our church and each other through our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. We could especially work toward building and developing a common bond to march toward a common mission and vision. NUMC BOOT CAMP!!!! (It could be a thing.)

Ok, maybe I took this idea a little bit too far … maybe??? But, I still think it worth our while to think/ponder/pray about how we are called to function as Christians and as a Church. God called us and is still calling us to: make a positive difference in our lives, in others lives, and in the world. This coming week I encourage you tomato a list of 5-10 positive steps you can make to be in full alignment with God’s calling in your life and then work toward achieving perfection in that list. (Don’t get frustrated if you don’t fully accomplish your whole list – I mean – how many of us are perfect?) Set your bar high and reach for it. Maybe put something on there that you can’t achieve without God’s help. Maybe, just maybe, something on your list will become a habit or a means of grace that brings you closer to God, to others, to yourself.

So, let’s keep on keepin’ on – Hut Two Three Four – Blessings All – Pastor Roy