“Rain”
Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (NKJV)
Today was supposed to be lake day. The whole camp had bags packed for Chilhowee, towels and swimsuits ready. Then the rain rolled in and washed the whole plan out.
Here is what happened next, and it might be my favorite thing all week. Instead of moping about it, the camp pivoted. Somebody rented out twelve lanes at the local bowling alley, and Camp Areté descended on the place for a full-blown bowling extravaganza.
It was chaos in the best way. Every lane full, campers and staff shoulder to shoulder. The scores told the whole story. A few respectable games in the mid-100s, and at least one heroic 35. Nobody cared. The reviews from campers and counselors were unanimous and unrelenting: best rained-out day anyone could remember.
And honestly, it preached better than a sermon. The verse printed at the bottom of every page in their handbooks this week says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Not rejoice when the weather cooperates. Always. Today the plan fell apart and the joy did not. That is the whole point of Philippians, lived out in a bowling alley.
The teaching stayed rich even with the day scrambled. The sessions moved through Philippians 3, where Paul lays out the one thing worth more than any resume. He counts all of his own impressive credentials as loss next to simply knowing Christ. One session dug into legalism, the trap of trusting your own goodness instead of Jesus. And then Paul’s charge to keep going: “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14). Keep your eyes ahead. Knowing Christ is the prize.
One more thing for the parents who have been refreshing the photo gallery. We finally got the tribal games pictures from earlier in the week uploaded, so they are posted now alongside today’s bowling shots. Plenty of your camper to find in there.
Standings after Thursday
- Humblebees (938)
- Joy Story (901)
- Fellowship of the Phillies (888)
- United Stakes of Areté (805)
The Humblebees are still on top, but the Fellowship of the Phillies keep climbing and are now right on Joy Story’s heels for second. One big day left to decide it all.
Praises
- A washed-out lake day turned into one of the most joyful days of the week.
- Campers and staff who chose to celebrate instead of complain, which is exactly what we have been studying.
Petitions
- Safe travel on the vans in the wet weather.
- That “rejoice always” would stick, especially on the days when plans fall apart back home.
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