a letter from camp
a letter from camp
When we decided, in God's sovereign will, that my wife and I would be in Virginia for four days in May, I had little idea of what to expect. After all, what things would come to your mind when you sign up to spend some quantity time with those whom you have affectionately been calling "The Basement People"? None of us perceive God's plan looking ahead, but we may discern His purposes as we look back. And it is in retrospect that I praise Him at every remembrance of our experience.
We arrived at the Sproul home Thursday morning accompanied by our traveling partners, dear friends from Pennsylvania. The greeting committee was two of the children and their dog. There was no fanfare or pomp. R.C. Montalban was not out calling, "Smiles, smiles, everyone!" and handing out leas. It was simple; it was warm; it was a home. Denise and the children were always present in this inviting place. They all welcomed us as desired guests, as brothers and sisters. Coffee and muffins awaited us Thursday and Saturday. Friday we were offered breakfast. Each day lunch was provided. And with each opportunity to "break bread" we would converse with the other campers, talk about (or play) baseball with Campbell and ask R.C. questions. I mention these small, simple things because they acted as the atmosphere surrounding us, which seemed to come as naturally as breathing.
It was in this context that we were to be challenged by a triad of studies. I gleaned much by way of a different perspective and a clear focus. And though my purpose here is not to go through all of my (wife's) notes and dissertate, I do desire to share some of my harvest.
One of our hour-plus-long sessions each day was spent considering the sovereignty of God. He who lacked nothing was Himself as a bucket full to the rim, which He then poured out to aesthetically manifest His beauty throughout all of Creation. After the Fall, we immediately are given the proto-gospel (Genesis 3:15). And for the remainder of history, God's Lordship extends over all things including our suffering. As His children, our suffering is for Christ's glory and our sanctification. All that happens to us short of the gates of Hell is an act of God's grace.
The second of our sessions each day was about the covenant family. God gave our first parents specific roles to play. Despite the fall, our dominion mandate remains unchanged, though it is more difficult to execute. God's covenant of grace to a family is that of obedience bringing blessing and disobedience bringing curse. Probably what had the most impact for me was recognizing clearly my role as prophet, priest and king to my wife. I am responsible to sanctify her by washing her with the Word. I must intercede for her daily. I must lead her with strength of purpose as I exercise dominion. Praise to God for this clear perspective on godly manhood!
Finally, each day we wrapped up with time spent examining building the kingdom. Certainly building the kingdom is initiated in the first chapters of the Word. But consider a clear admonition from Christ when He tells us to "Seek first the kingdom of God…" (Matthew 6:33). How this acts as a rebuke when I mark those things that I tend to seek first! We try to see the future then determine what to do rather than live by principle and just do what is right. In this day when there are many versions of the Bible, I would like to revisit R.C.'s favorite sectional breakdown of the Word: Genesis 1 and 2, Creation; Genesis 3, the Fall; Genesis 4 through Revelation 22, trying to get back to Genesis 1 and 2, only better! For me, this is a great way to encapsulate the building of the kingdom as we strive to fulfill our dominion mandate and as we pray, "Thy kingdom come."
R.C. wrapped up our meetings together with a word picture from Psalm 23:5, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies…" We are called to make manifest the kingdom 24/6. But on the Sabbath we are to rest. And while the world yet wages battle around us, we are invited to sit and be fed by the Lamb. As he described his family being before the table of the Lord and his words to them (most particularly to Shannon), our eyes were brought to tears and our hearts were caused to yearn to experience the same with our families—to be at rest in Christ and to be fed by Him.
While that was a fitting conclusion to our last session together, I would be remiss to exclude the community activities we were invited to join. Thursday night was a cookout and softball game at a park near the Saenz home. Friday night was a pizza party at the Saenz's and a barn dance complete with an accomplished fiddler and a caller (and R.C.'s home brew!). Both of these events afforded us the opportunity to meet the families of the church, to discuss what we had been learning with each other, and to commune with Laurence, Rick and Jonathan and their wives. It was a beautiful, most relaxed atmosphere; it was obvious that brotherhood thrives.
My wife and I are grateful for the opportunity given to us to attend the couple's camp and to be assimilated into the lives of those whom we visited. We would consider attending again and would encourage others to do the same. With eyes, ears and heart open, one cannot come away unchanged. To each who we met, we think of you often and thank you for your sincerity and generosity. To R.C. and Denise, a special thanks for giving of your hearts to us. Soli Deo Gloria.
Bill visited us from Glenmoore, Pennsylvania.