It was great getting away last weekend to the Blackfoot River (that's the river "A River Runs Through It" was filmed on). The Program staff at camp all went camping together for a couple of days, and had a chance just to relax with each other and not talk about work. We did some playing on the river and even got to do some bowling. This video is of me trying to surf on a wave in the river and flipping over as usual. I was just glad to be able to flip back up! The time to get away and have fun with some friends was much needed. Sometimes I don't realize I need time like that until I actually get it.
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Camp Bighorn is a Christian adventure camp near Plains, Montana. It seeks to build up godly leaders using wilderness adventure as one of its primary tools.
at the cross above camp... this time in the snow!
good friends, good mountains
"'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord"
Center stage at Camp Bighorn
Camp Bighorn is a Christian adventure camp near Plains, Montana. It seeks to build up godly leaders using wilderness adventure as one of its primary tools.
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My new home... near Plains, Montana
at the cross above camp... this time in the snow!
Home sweet home!
Prayer Requests
- Thank God for his faithfulness to provide the funds for me to be here!!!
- Understanding of how to spend my time and energy in ministry here at camp
- Continued building of friendships here in Montana
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About Me
- Josh Vander Meer
- Plains, Montana, United States
The winter view from camp
Why, "In Search of the Source"?
Most people, when they hear about my job, have some sort of reaction that says, "That's not work... you get to paid to play in the wilderness all the time!" or "I want that job!" Well... first of all, they're kind of right. They would probably love it, and there are definitely a lot of times when I'm thinking to myself, "I can't believe I'm getting to do this. I love this!" But the part of the job that I really love is teaching. I love to teach stuff that I really care about... and faith in Chrsit is one of those things. My best days aren't days of shear outdoor bliss, but they're days when God's word seems to jump out at us through the very things the students and I are experiencing together. And the very best days come when God's word not only jumps out at us, but sinks back into our hearts and bears fruit in our lives. I love seeing things click and start to produce change for those that I get to teach and even within myself.
All of that is to say, "Wow! Lord, you have given me an amazing gift in allowing me to do what I get to do." BUT... the work in and of itself is nothing. Our wilderness playground is nothing. Change in people's lives is nothing... nothing without "the Source," that is . Christ is the Source. He is the wellspring of life. You don't need to be in the bear hug of the mountains or in the churns of a sunwarmed river to find life or peace or joy or contentment. For some reason I find it so easy to get distracted from the main point. I think I see life in so many things. I have so often thought that others had really found the answer because of the things that they were getting to do... the places they were getting to go to... the people they were friends with. I was especially fooled by people getting to go live overseas and do mission work over there. It seemed to me that if I got to do that, my life would be complete. But I guess it doesn't take too much soul searching to start realizing that we can be totally discontent people though we have everything that we need and more. So... I am in a constant search of the Source, knowing first hand from my own experiences that even the best in life is nothing without the source of life himself. It all gets so empty so quickly. And my soul has too much of an ache in it to be wasting more time. I want to know Christ, Life himself, and to have joy and peace in him. I want to be filled to gushing over and to be able to follow him into the worst of life's circumstances and to live as a light in the midst of great darkness.
And now, these have all just been words. And though my life has a long way to go before these words mark the reflection of who I am, it is still my heart's desire and that for which I seek. That's why "In Search of the Source." And just to give credit where it's due... it's also the title of one of my favorite books by Neil Anderson, a former missionary to the Folopa people of Papua New Guinea. So, if you haven't already... I hope you too give up the search for life where it can't be found and start seeking out the Source... the one who says to us, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:37-38).
All of that is to say, "Wow! Lord, you have given me an amazing gift in allowing me to do what I get to do." BUT... the work in and of itself is nothing. Our wilderness playground is nothing. Change in people's lives is nothing... nothing without "the Source," that is . Christ is the Source. He is the wellspring of life. You don't need to be in the bear hug of the mountains or in the churns of a sunwarmed river to find life or peace or joy or contentment. For some reason I find it so easy to get distracted from the main point. I think I see life in so many things. I have so often thought that others had really found the answer because of the things that they were getting to do... the places they were getting to go to... the people they were friends with. I was especially fooled by people getting to go live overseas and do mission work over there. It seemed to me that if I got to do that, my life would be complete. But I guess it doesn't take too much soul searching to start realizing that we can be totally discontent people though we have everything that we need and more. So... I am in a constant search of the Source, knowing first hand from my own experiences that even the best in life is nothing without the source of life himself. It all gets so empty so quickly. And my soul has too much of an ache in it to be wasting more time. I want to know Christ, Life himself, and to have joy and peace in him. I want to be filled to gushing over and to be able to follow him into the worst of life's circumstances and to live as a light in the midst of great darkness.
And now, these have all just been words. And though my life has a long way to go before these words mark the reflection of who I am, it is still my heart's desire and that for which I seek. That's why "In Search of the Source." And just to give credit where it's due... it's also the title of one of my favorite books by Neil Anderson, a former missionary to the Folopa people of Papua New Guinea. So, if you haven't already... I hope you too give up the search for life where it can't be found and start seeking out the Source... the one who says to us, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him" (John 7:37-38).
Ahhhh! the Tetons!
good friends, good mountains
1 comment:
You actually got to go on the river that "A River Runs Through It" was made on? Lucky!
I liked the video, though. Nice roll!
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