Value-filled Vacations

 

“The best adventures are the ones that make your heart race

and your soul sing.” Jon Miksis

 
Do you have some great vacation stories? I sure do. Some of my “funniest” ones explain why I avoid camping like it’s the Covid virus. At least I never want to sleep in a tent or underneath the stars ever again. 
  The arrival of the summer vacation season is an opportunity for a change of rhythm. It’s the time of year that since school is out, families can hit the road for weekend getaways or week-long excursions. Roads are clogged, tourist areas are filled, but the memories that are made can last a lifetime. Even if your children are grown, you still need the refreshment of vacation time, even if it’s just the two of you. But two things can rain on summer fun – Idealism and Extravagance.  
  Idealism poisons vacations. Your picture of the ideal vacation may be very different from your spouse’s. Opposites generally attract. Then, if you have children at home, the “ideal vacation” can quickly go off the rails.
  Because of social media, many of us think that ALL of our friends have “ideal vacations.” They don’t. The pictures posted may be the very best ones from the entire vacation. None of us live an ideal life. Vacations don’t alter that. On vacation we’ll still disagree, and the kids will still squabble. You’ll sabotage your time away if you have high, unrealistic expectations.
  A good vacation is a bit like going to a family restaurant – there’s something for everybody from the senior menu to the kid’s menu. It’s wise to pre-plan activities that are age appropriate. Make it an opportunity to find options that fit with someone’s specific interests. It’s an opportunity to learn to cooperate and compromise.
  And that all begins with communication. None of us are psychic. Let everyone, if they’re mature enough, give input. If everyone knows the plan, it helps limit conflict. Knowing the expectations lowers the stress but the unknown breeds insecurity. Wisely considering and planning for the physical-emotional abilities of each person makes it all the more enjoyable.
  The travel portion can be the most difficult with young children. Is your picture of an ideal time going to jail? For a child, being seat-belted in for several hours can be like being trapped in a small cell. So, plan for it.
  Either drive at night when little ones are sleeping or plan for games that can be played. FYI: Flying won’t eliminate this stress. With the most ideal flight and arriving at the airport two hours before the flight, time on the tarmac and arrival, you’re investing a minimum of 5 hours in travel time.
  Great vacations don’t have to be expensive. One of today’s cultural lies is that the more expensive it is, the more value and enjoyment it has.
  Over the years I’ve ridden in a few limousines. Though a limo costs more than driving a car, it primarily only got me to my destination without having to drive. The extra expense didn’t add true value to my trip. While there’s nothing wrong with spending extra money on a special place to stay or a theme park, make sure it’s a wise investment and not just buying into the marketing of how great it is and how it’s so worth the money. Too often we’re buying the marketing and being sold a bill of goods.
  Make sure you prioritize rest. Too many of us are normally running on empty. And then we so overschedule our vacation that our vacation, instead of being a reprieve, is work. You want to return recharged, not needing a vacation to recover from your vacation.
  Overscheduling can make even the best vacation laborious and is sure to create conflict. If you or your partner tend to err on the side of filling up every moment while you’re away, purposely build in time to do absolutely nothing. It’s amazing how relaxing it can be to fall asleep poolside.
  As much as you can, clear the schedule. Store the watches and digital instruments. Instead of cramming lots of activity in, prioritize what will truly be meaningful for you and your family.
  Make room for spontaneity. Do you remember this nursery rhyme?
 

Pussy cat, pussy cat, where have you been?

I've been to London to see the Queen.

Pussy cat, pussy cat, what did you do there?

I frightened a little mouse under her chair.

 
  So, this cat goes all the way to London and the high point is chasing mice. She could have just stayed home and done that. On vacation engage your spirit of adventure. Use the imagination that God has given you. Our children will never forget hotel nerf gun battles or going crabbing at night with garbage cans from the condominium.
  Children love mystery and surprises. If though you don’t plan it, it won’t happen. Plan something they’re not expecting yet will remember. It need not be many things, nor need it be expensive, but there ought to be something unexpected, something to look forward to, planned for the whole family. It’s the stuff that memories are made of.
  Share the childcare and domestic responsibilities. Even in today’s liberated world, wives and mothers still carry the bulk of the household responsibilities. Too often vacation is a vacation for everyone but Mom. We tried to counter this by keeping it simple. Breakfast would typically be cold cereal with sandwiches for lunch. But we tried to always go out for dinner. That way Jane didn’t have to prepare meals or do a clean-up. Now that we’re at a different phase of life, we’ve made finding unusual and unique restaurants an adventure.
  We’d do activities in the morning and leave the afternoons for down time or rest. God rested after the Creation and rest is part of our design. In other words, we were made to rest, so make sure that you plan down time.
  Put God in your luggage. Most of us will inspect our vehicles, review our routes and check the weather before we leave. But things are going to happen that are unplanned and if you don’t invite God to come with you, you’ll be unprepared, so pack your Bible. You need spiritual fuel, too.
  Vacations are a great time for relaxed time with the Lord and even family devotions. Dig into God’s word as a family and talk about what the Scriptures have to say. And while you’re in the midst of God’s creation, enjoy the Creator. Romans 1:18-20 explains how God’s invisible attributes are clearly visible in everything that He’s created. Plan some outdoorsy time in nature so everyone can experience God’s creation firsthand.
  Depending on your vacation style, vacations are about rest, connection, adventure and relaxing. And you get to decide a lot of what happens. So, be intentional about making this one the best trip yet!

Can we help you spiritually? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

The Priority of the 1st Day

“In order to say YES to your priorities,

you have to be willing to say NO to something else.”

The one word that characterizes most of us is “busy.” When we’re busy, we look at our schedules and begin to cut items we feel are unnecessary.

  Imagine this conversation with a friend. They look exhausted. You’re concerned and begin to probe. They admit that because they’re so busy, they decided to cut out sleep once a week, so they can accomplish more. How would you respond? Or, how about this conversation with a friend? They look emaciated. You’re concerned and begin to probe. They admit that because they’re so busy, they’ve decided to cut out eating so they can accomplish more. How would you respond? One more…you’re having lunch with a friend. They complain about everything. They’re petty and short with the server. They admit that they’re angry and depressed. You’re concerned and begin to probe. They confess that because they’re so busy, they’ve decided to cut out attending church so they can accomplish more.

  So, how would you respond? While most would be very concerned about the first two, even most Christians would overlook the vital importance of the third one. We realize the importance of prioritizing the physical, yet often ignore the spiritual. But the spiritual has far greater consequences. It not only affects this life, but it also has ramifications for eternity. When Jesus was tempted by Satan to prioritize physical needs over spiritual ones, He responded, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

  What are some reasons why we miss attending a worship service?

  Work. Sometimes we have no choice. We have mandatory overtime or a rotating work schedule that requires us to work on Sunday. The early church faced that. Many of them were slaves. Essentially, they worked 24/7. It’s why they’d worship either early in the morning or late at night. While sometimes there’s no negotiation, many employers will work it out so you can attend church, especially if you’re a good employee.

  Sports. Many parents fret that their child will miss out, so they sign them up for seemingly endless sports leagues. With the growing secularization of culture, more practices and games are scheduled for Sunday morning. We must realize what our goal is. Many Christian parents are satisfied with good kids, but you can be a good atheist. Parents with a biblical worldview aim for a godly child. The difference can be an eternal one.

  Sickness. If you’re sick, please do stay home. Yet frequently, if one member of the family is sick, the whole family stays home. We wouldn’t do that with work or school. So, why do that with worship?

  Tired. As more have to work six days, Sunday becomes a day to sleep in. Then, many stay up late watching TV or surfing the Net. We need rest, yet instead of crashing on Sunday morning, schedule an afternoon nap. You’ll rest better on a spiritually full stomach and be better prepared for the week.

  So, why should Christians make Sunday worship a priority?

  It shows that we love God. Attending the worship service is a public expression of our love for God. It shows our priorities to family and friends. It publicly identifies what “team” we’re on. It’s our one time in the week where we can together bring our awesome God offerings of praise, thanks, and honor that are pleasing to Him. As the psalmist wrote, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you” (Ps. 22:22). Many are motivated to attend church for how it will bless them. The Bible teaches that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a blessing to Him.

  It shows that we love God’s family. Gathering together shows that we value our spiritual family. Scripture is clear that a right relationship with God requires both a vertical and horizontal alignment. God didn’t save us alone. We have a Forever Family. It’s impossible to love God and refuse to love the other believers. As we come together, we have opportunities to be a blessing, to share love with our brothers and sisters in Christ, to pray for and encourage them. Keeping ourselves in loving harmony with other believers helps keep us humble before the Lord.

  Faithfully attending worship follows Jesus’ example. Weekly worship was Jesus’ life pattern and priority. If anyone could have made excuses for not going to worship, it was Jesus. He could have said, “I don’t need organized religion to worship; I can have a relationship with God on My own.” And it was true. Jesus had a perfect relationship with His Father. Yet, if Jesus knew that meeting together once a week for worship with God’s people was a spiritual necessity for Him, isn’t it necessary for us?

  Worshiping together helps protect us spiritually. Why do we often see Christians getting picked off by Satan? It’s because many have neglected this simple principle that you can’t survive as a Christian alone. It’s a spiritually dangerous world. Commitment to a church family is important. Being under the teaching of God’s Word increases our faith and builds us up spiritually. We need to be fed spiritually so that we can have victory over temptation. There’s multiplied strength in the combined faith of God's people. Greater spiritual gains can be realized through corporate prayer and worship. D.L. Moody wisely said, “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”  

  Even worshiping when we’re on vacation helps us to see how big God’s Kingdom is. When you’re on vacation, look for a Bible-believing church to worship with. It highlights how big God’s family is, what we have in common – our shared faith. Christianity is so much bigger than our church.

  I’ll always remember worshiping at a church in Minnesota. The Lord touched my heart and tears streamed down my face. Another time was seeing the love of fellow believers for each other and us in Taiwan. While we didn’t understand Chinese, we all spoke the same language of Christ’s love. As you worship with other believers in another setting, you’re understanding of God grows and it increases your love for His Church.

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Even God knows you need a vacation...

“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”   Allen Saunders

  Timelines have never been one of my gifts. I’ve continually had difficulty estimating how long a project will actually take and am too optimistic. Jane, on the other hand, is much more realistic. It makes me very thankful to be married to someone so smart. So a normal conversation for us is for me to ask her input on a realistic appraisal on how long a project will take.

  Sometimes my ineptness at time estimation costs me, as it did recently. There’s a project related to our new building that I thought I could focus on and complete on my first day of vacation. Boy, was I ever wrong! It took bits and pieces of our whole week…and we’re still working on it. But we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

  Vacations are very important. For the past few years, there’s been a lot of criticism of both President Obama and Trump on the amount of vacation time they take. Personally, I have a hard time believing that the President is really ever on vacation. I just can’t see, “Well, I know a hurricane just took out Florida BUT don’t bother me now…I’m on vacation.”

  In a few weeks the summer vacation season officially starts. So is there a biblical worldview when it comes to vacations? While Scripture never specifically says anything about vacations, the Bible has a lot to say about rest and a stewardship of life. Both concepts are applicable when it comes to the matter of a believer taking a vacation. Sadly, while Christians value work (as we should), too few value rest. Have you ever shared with a friend that you were “so busy” and they responded, “Not me. I’ve had so much time off, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with myself.” It’s a conversation that’s not going to happen in American culture.

  On top of that, what many of us call a “vacation” has little to do with rest. We’re so time and activity oriented, we have difficulty adjusting to true down time. But if it’s a vacation why do you really need to know the time? Maybe to catch a plane, but if your vacation is as brimming full (sometimes even more) as your typical work week, what’s really the point?  

  In the very beginning our Creator God set the example of rest after the biggest project of all time. “On the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done” (Genesis 2:2). Part of the very identity of the Jews as God’s chosen people was that they were commanded to take an entire day of rest from all work. And while as New Covenant Christians, we are no longer under the Old Testament Law, that doesn’t mean that rest isn’t part of God’s plan and essential for us. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for us, meaning that God gave it as a gift to us (Mark 2:27). God knows that we need rest. In resting and ceasing from work, we demonstrate faith and dependence on God for His provision.

  In a culture that values busy and accomplishment, taking a break to recharge your batteries, bond with your spouse and family, to see God’s wonderful world are vital, yet too often taken-for-granted blessings. Vance Havner said, “We need to come apart and rest awhile, and if we don't come apart, we will come apart, we'll go to pieces! It is true that the devil never takes a vacation, but we are not to follow the devil but the Lord.”

  The Lord Jesus told His disciples after an exhausting day of ministry and meeting people’s needs, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” We need to turn off our phone and all other electronics, pack up and get away trusting God that things won’t fall apart in our absence. It’s biblical wisdom to take that step of faith in God and rest.  

  Vacation improves us. The vacation tradition was started by companies in the early 20^th century as a productivity strategy. Employers found that their employees returned re-charged and much more productive as a result of taking a break. Recent studies show American workers are much more productive after returning from a vacation. Increased hours of sleep and decreased levels of stress resulted in more productivity.

  Are you and your spouse constantly bickering? Is family life a war zone? Maybe you don’t need a marriage or family counselor, you all just need some real rest. Take an electronics fast. Believe me, if it’s truly an emergency, they’ll always find you. Take a walk on the beach or in the forest, listening to God’s matchless symphony. Breathe deep, relaxing in the glory of His creation. Have long conversations with your spouse and children. Make s-mores and stare up at a star-filled sky. Play table games. Read a book until you doze, just make sure it’s not work related.  Count your many blessings! For most of us, it will take a few days to decompress.

  Vacation spurs our creativity and gratitude. My favorite vacations are the ones where I can enjoy the outdoors and marvel at God’s creation. For me, the artificialness of a theme park is like a TV dinner. I want true beauty by the Master. Seeing God’s creativity spurs our creativity. In most jobs or hobbies, if you can add a creative element you’ll be more productive and fulfilled with what you’ve created. That’s also true of worship. You are God’s masterpiece…a one of a kind. There is a deep fulfillment in living out your purpose through the talents and abilities God has given you. 

  Please take some time and enjoy it. Enjoy it with your Heavenly Father. We were created to love and enjoy Him forever. A vacation is a wonderful reminder of that. So go ahead and schedule it. If you need to, tell your boss that it’s a church thing and your Pastor made you do it.  

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.

Are we there yet?!?

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu

  I’m not a good traveler. When I was little, I hated it when our whole family would pile into the station wagon and head off for our annual vacation in Florida. I loved the destination but I despised the journey.

  I loved it when we arrived. My love for the sound of waves breaking on the beach, the smell of salt and sand, and the cries of seagulls hasn’t abated a bit in over fifty years. As we drew closer, I’d be peering out the window for that first glimpse of the ocean.

  I loved fishing in the surf, digging for sand crabs, bodysurfing the waves and building sandcastles. There’s nothing better than walking a warm, sandy beach late at night. You’d see the blinking lights of shrimp boats far off in the ocean. We’d scoop up crabs for a crab dinner who’d came floating in with high tide. We’d shine our flashlights out as far as we could see and the light would dissipate into the pitch black of the ocean.

  It really wasn’t that far of a trip, basically a day trip. We could leave Atlanta and be at our hotel in Ormond Beach in about seven hours. But for some reason, the trip just seemed to take forever. Probably, not more than thirty minutes into the drive. I’d be piping up from the very back of the station wagon, whining, “Are we there yet? When are we going to get there? How much farther?” and of course, “I have to go to the bathroom.” I loved the final destination but I hated the trip. Those seats seem to get so sticky so quickly and you felt so cramped. You could only look at comic books for so long. Remember, this was back in the Dark Ages of AM radio with few channel selections. CD’s, even cassette tapes, were unheard of. There were no monitors of laptops. I’m sure that the lack of distractions gave birth to the Alphabet Game, the Sign Game and I spy. Many a horrible yet unforgettable tune was birthed on those seemingly endless treks. My children will tell you that I tortured them on our own long family trips with ancient versions that I learned as a child of “Pine Trees” and “The Ants go marching one by one,” to name a few.

  The Bible talks a lot about being on a journey. It’s a constant them of Hebrews 11. Probably, the most noteworthy verse of travelling, and really wandering, is verse 38, “of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Though leaving their homes, apparently because of persecution and their faithfulness to God, they wandered about with no final destination on this earth. It certainly was not a vacation, yet they also did not have a home they were ultimately headed towards.

  What’s amazing is that they did it with both joy and grace. Though in horrible circumstances, they seem to be free from the constant whining of “How much longer?” The only explanation is for their wonderful attitude is that their faith, they truly trusted God.

  What a contrast we find in the book of Numbers. It’s noteworthy that they are not called “Jews” or “Israel,” but the “children of Israel.” And they certainly live up to that allusion to childish behavior.

  Freshly released from four centuries of slavery in Egypt, just three days into the journey, the Bible tells us that they began to murmur and complain. Can’t you just hear them, whining to Moses and Aaron, over and over again, incessantly for forty years: Are we there yet? When are we gonna get there? Why is this taking so long? 

  Poor Moses. Don’t you wonder how many times he thought that leading sheep for forty years had been easier? Ultimately, Moses had no control over the situation. He couldn’t wave some magic wand and make the trip shorter. God was setting the pace. God was in the driver’s seat, not Moses.

  Like little children, though, they lacked patience and self-control. They whined and complained, despising the long wait and boredom of plodding along at what they felt was a snail’s pace.

  I’m a much better traveler than I was. I’ve learned that the journey is as important as the destination. I’ve gotten where even driving all the way through Illinois and Indiana, (seemingly, the most boring states to drive through), doesn’t bother me that much anymore. I’ve learned to pace myself and sightsee. There are some interesting and important sites along the way. I’ll listen to my favorite music or a book. I’ll read or just rest.

  In the Christian life, the journey is nearly as vital as the final destination. It’s on the journey that we learn to trust our Heavenly Father. It’s on the journey that we learn to wait and grow in patience. It’s on the journey that we learn to persevere and be steadfast, when we are tempted to bail. It’s on the journey that we learn that God is on our side even when are attacked, just as the Children of Israel were. It’s on the journey that we learn that prayer changes the outcome, not whining or pitching a temper tantrum.

  Someday our Heavenly Father will bring us Home. The very thought of heaven should fill out hearts with joy and inspire us onward in the journey with strength and true patience.

  Are we there yet? No, not yet, not quite, yet every day brings a little closer. When are we going to get there? Always in His time, at the best time. Perhaps even sooner than we would expect.

  I have to think that like any loving parent, our loving God must want us Home even more than we want to be Home. Yet, there is work to do, lost people to reach, and a Savior to follow down the winding road of days and years. When we finally turn into heaven’s driveway and see King Jesus waiting at the open door, the long drive won’t seem so long at all.

  By God’s grace, let’s choose to trust Him and not be like spoiled children. Let’s be like Abraham and the heroes and heroines in Hebrews 11, not like those whiners in the desert who brought distress to their leaders, and grief and anger to their God. We enjoy the journey “by faith,” when we trust Him. If the journey is frustrating you, that’s a good indication that you need to grow in faith.