The Light at the End of the Tunnel

When I worked at Eagle Lake Camp in Colorado Springs, we had a cave that we would explore with our high school campers on adventure trips. We would give the campers a short lesson on caving and then show them the opening to this dusty cramped little cave. The goal: find the other way out.

It was always interesting to see how well the group would fight off discouragement. The cave was small, but it had lots of dead ends and really tight spots. With a little coaching and prodding, the group would eventually find the right passage and see the treasured “light at the end of the tunnel”. There was always lots of celebrating once they got out.

We are seeing the light at the end of our construction tunnel here at WCRC. Building a cabin is one thing. Building a village of five cabins with a 2,000 square foot common building is another. Through the dead ends and tight spots of 2009, we have emerged to a place where we can see a small but unmistakable patch of light.

Please continue to pray for us as we move towards completion of our cabin village. Pray for Larry McLaughlin, our Maintenance Director, as he leads the project, and pray that we get the volunteers and funds that we need to emerge into the full light of project completion.

We hope to see lots of progress here in the next few months. I’ll do my best to update the website often, so check the construction progress tab to see new photos and the site cam. Stay tuned to see the light grow!

Bob

A Proverb a Day

A short blog today. One obvious way to Draw Near is to read the Bible. I’ve decided to start the New Year by reading through the book of Proverbs. There are 31 Proverbs, so one per day will take me through the month. I’m reading in the New Living Translation to get a fresh perspective on it. (I usually read in NIV).

Proverbs 4:25-27
Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil

I’m encouraged by this passage to have a plan and stick to it. I’m also reminded of the passage in Romans that says, “Overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

If I keep my mind on what the Lord is teaching me and where He is leading me, I can keep from getting sidetracked.

I’ll endeavor to stay in the Word!

Bob

Draw Near in the New Year

Well here I am entering the social networking world with my first blog. I tend to embrace new technology slowly and I’m still asking if all this is really necessary.

One of the images that returns to my mind often is the joy of sitting in a circle with a group of campers discussing a Bible passage or some topic of life in Christ. That’s fellowship! Face to face interaction and discussion can be so rich. But here in 2010 we also have many new ways of communicating, which in the proper quantity and context can be good. So, here I go.

For my first blog, I want to share a bit about a theme we will pursue at WCRC for 2010. It comes from James 4:8 which says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The theme is simply titled Draw Near.

There are many ways for us to draw near to God, and there are, no doubt, many benefits from having Him draw near to us. I hope to discover both by pursuing this theme. The benefit that initially attracts me to this passage, however, is joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” That’s a no-brainer. I want joy, and this passage says that I can find it in His presence.

Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center is a place that is designed to help people draw near to God. In 2010, as an organization, we will be looking at things we can do to help our guests and campers and staff Draw Near to God. The promise is there. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us!

Consider joining us in this pursuit. It’s a promise that’s too good to pass up.

May the Lord bless you as you seek to know Him better in 2010.