First, enough with the dreams already. I haven’t had a dream in months that I could remember and then last night I woke up at 5am totally exhausted from running from vampires. Where did the vampire thing come from? My dream was a mixture “Omega (anyone remember this 1971 movie with Charleston Heston?) Men” and “Signs.” It seems one needed to be in and barricaded once the sun went down in my dream. Feel free to bring on any “analysis” you desire.
So I am exhausted on Barb’s and mine last day of summer vacation. What is that I hear out there in blog world – people “ahhh-ing” at the start of my personal “Pity Party?” If you are, I deserve it. This has been a wonderful summer and not just because it’s time away from the demands of teaching in this time of “Accountability” and (don’t get me started, wait a minute – I’m the one doing the starting) “No Child Left Behind.”
This is the last summer our family will have in which our son Steven will be heading back to High School. My son will be a senior this year. I think that is why our week of Bible Camp (not to mention the un-inviting / finding a new and better Camp / having Pat Pugh minister to our kids) along with our trip to the Mid-Ohio Valley Work Camp was so special to me. I hope Steven goes back to these 2 events next year but even if he does he will be just weeks away from leaving our family (Lord willing – that sounds kind of mean but I meant that in a nice way.) and hopefully realizing his dream of attending David Lipscomb University in Nashville.
DLU was very much on our minds last night as we went over to the home of our good friends, Ray and Brenda. They had a “going away” party for their daughter Brittany who they are taking to DLU today. I’ve known Brittany since she was a toddler and to see her now as a young woman of faith leaving her home and our church for DLU really got to me last night. I’m sure some of the “getting to” was my transferring this event onto my son in the next year. I think more of it was being in a living room filled with teens from our youth group many of whom I’ve known since their toddler days as well.
Many of the words that Greg has shared with us about Joshua and Jessica are flooding back my way. These teens are walking a walk with Jesus that when I was their age I didn’t even know or think about. They are full of energy and life with most of their lives as the popular Contemporary Christian song (of which I can’t remember the title) written by a Dad about his child, awaiting the outcome of “Heaven’s plans.”
I know I’ve said this before but I think it’s worth repeating; having been involved with Christian Teens for nearly a quarter century I am convinced that this generation is the next “Greatest Generation.” Especially when I think of what they may do spiritually. I think that is why our adversary, the Devil is attacking them in so many different ways. Gone are the days when one had to go to a store to buy pornography. Now porn can be downloaded onto one’s cell phone to which most of our teens have access to and use quite frequently.
But praise be to God for He gives us the ultimate victory in Jesus and I’m so proud of our teens attempting to live in that victory at their early stage of life. They are not perfect for none of us are. Theirs is a walk like all of ours, flawed with bumps and bruises. Our journey family is not one of attempting perfection like the 1972 Miami (I just had to throw in a sports analogy) Dolphins who attained victory and perfection. Ours is a journey of victories, losses, and ties but that’s O.K. For in the end those of us in Christ will be victorious because of what our Lord and Savior did at Calvary.
I know this post has been all over the place but such is the random workings of my mind. God bless you all and have a great weekend.
: 10:10 AM 
