It is summer camp time!!  If you have followed my blog at all you know that summer camp is an important part of who I am and my call to ministry.  I spent eight wonderful summers going to Camp Calumet as a kid, I spent another nine fabulous summers as a counselor/senior staff person at Camp Calumet.  Then during some time off from college I spent three years on the year round staff at Calumet.  All very important in my life and I had many life changing experiences at Calumet.  I also have a great group of friends from Calumet as well.

It is no surprise that as a pastor outdoor ministry is high on my priority list.  Five months into my call I recieved a letter from the Bishop’s office asking me to prayerfully consider serving on the Vanderkamp (local Lutheran/Presb camp) board.  After some conversations with colleagues and after some prayer I decided this was something that God was calling me to do.

So I have been serving on the Vanderkamp Board of Directors for about a year and a half, and I really enjoy it.  I am able to help formulate positive camp experiences for youth in our synod.  I also came back recently after directing a confirmation camp at Vanderkamp for youth in our conference.

But none of that excites me more than seeing my son excited to start his time in camping ministry.  This past Sunday we dropped of Cheese wiz at camp for his first week as a camper at Vanderkamp.  Now this would not of happened if we were in New England.  As much as I am excited for him to experience Calumet and do the same things that I did when I was a camper/staff person.  Calumet does not allow kids to come to camp until they are eight years old.  Vanderkamp allows kids to come as early as six.

He was counting down the days before he went to camp.  We got there on Sunday and he was ready to go.  In the picture to the right he is holding his bear so he can sleep with it at night.  He packed his drum sticks so he can play in the band, he packed his bathing suit and goggles to go swimming and he was very excited to do some boating.

I had mixed emotions on Sunday.  I was sad because I knew that I was going to miss him.  But I was so excited for him.  I know the lasting impact camp has had on my life and I know that it is going to have a lasting impact on his life as well.

This will be the first of three camp experiences for Cheese wiz.  The next will come at the end of July when my parents will take him and my daughter and my brothers children for a week at Camp Calumet.  Then at the end of August we will take our yearly family vacation with friends at Calumet as well.   Our summer will end Labor Day Weekend when we will be at Calumet for the 90′s staff reunion which I will serve as chaplain.

I hope that my son finds as much joy and excitement as I did in his camping experience.  I hope that he sees God working in the camp and in his life as I did growing up.  Even if he chooses not to be on summer staff at Vanderkamp, Calumet or any of the other camps that are out there, I hope he holds these memories close to his heart, because I will never forget the look of excitement, wonder, and love that were in his eyes after I dropped him off on Sunday.

David has tagged me for a meme. I will try and finish this before I go to the YMCA for some swimming.

The rules for this meme are fairly standard. Simply post the rules at the beginning of your post, answer the questions,, and tag five others to play along. Leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they need to visit yours for the rules, and of course, link back to the one who tagged you, in this case….me!

Here we go

Ten years ago:
Wow I have not thought about 10 years ago in a long time. 10 years ago I was finishing my second year at Luther College. I was preparing go to to Camp Calumet for the summer. hmmm… Good times

Five things on today’s “to do” list:

Work on my Bible Studies for this weekend

Work on my sermon for Sunday and Wednesday

Pack some

Teach swimming lessongs

Cook dinner for the family

Things I’d do if I was a billionaire:

Pay off all my debt

Help my family and friends out

Contribute money to Calumet, LTSP, and Luther College

Contribute to the Leadership Fund of the ELCA

Buy an iPhone

Buy a nice house in New England with a large yard and spend my days playing my guitar and writing songs

Three bad habits:

Drive too fast

I tend to have a hard time saying no

disorganized

Five places I’ve lived:

Philadelphia, PA

Reading, PA

Freedom, NH

Decorah, IA

Rutland, VT

Five jobs I’ve had:
Paperboy (1^st job ever)

Line Cook (Red Lobster in high school, Country Kitchen in college)

Camp Counselor and Retreat Specalist (Camp Calumet)

Youth Director

Dunkin’ Donuts driver

Five people I’m tagging:
Dr. John

Johnna

Ian

Virginia

Christoph

You can count me as one of those people who has tried many diets over the years. I have to admit that I have not had much success. I have lost a few pounds here and there but they never seem to stay off and I have not lost as much as I would like or need.

After much prayer and discernment I have decided to try a new “strategy.” I have decided that I am not only going to lose weight for me, but I am going to lose weight for other people! That’s right– I am going to lose weight for thousands of people, young and old who have Autism or Autism related disorders.  I hope that you will consider to sponsor me  (that is you who is reading this) during my weight loss journey.  I would like all the money to go to Autism Speaks.

There are many ways that you can do this.  The first way is that you can sponsor me for every pound that I will lose.  Another way is just to give a flat rate and sponsor me that way.  Either way the money is going to a good cause and I feel supported and challenged.

I have spent most of my life sacrificing myself for others.  I always put the needs of others before myself. This is most likely one of the reasons that I have ended up where I am with my weight.  I realized that’s who I am and that is not going to change, no matter how hard I try.  So why not build upon my strengths and challenge myself to do this –  not only for me but for the thousands of kids that will benefit from your donation.

Why Autism Speaks?

Well I realized that I have never connected myself with a charity.  All the money we have given has gone to the church or to Calumet.  So I researched different charity’s.  I found four or five charities that I really liked including this one.  I chose this one because it is connected to us in more ways than one.  See, the last year or so we have been working with our son “the boy” with different disabilities.  We are not sure if he has any or how deep they go.  There is a chance that he will be diagnosed with something on the Autism Spectrum.  Weather he is or not this money will go and help people like us with research to help uncover the to uncover the cause(s), prevention, treatments and cure for autism.  It is a long road and anything that can help will benefit  thousands of people.

Another reason that I chose this organization is that there is a walk in September that I would like to participate in.  I think September a good point to regather and see how this is working for me.

The walk is in Rochester, NY on Saturday September 27, 2008.  If you would like more information about it you can visit the Walk Page.

My hope is to lose at least 50 pounds by then which figures to be about 2 pounds a week from now until then.  I think that is a reachable goal.

If you would like to sponsor me please click on this link and sponsor me.  If you would like to sponsor me in another way either leave a comment here or send me an email.

I started a new blog called Pounds for People where I will update on my progress, how I am doing this and all the other ins and outs of my thoughts, feelings and progress about this.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to hear from you.

Calumet is a Lutheran camp in Freedom, NH. It is a big part of my life and my call to ministry. I will write more about it as I proceed.

I was tagged by Eric over at The Heart of the Pastor to share 10 random things about myself. Without further adieu here it goes:

1) I have the ability to play seven different instruments: Tuba, guitar, piano, harmonica, trombone, trumpet, and euphonium. I currently maintain proficiency on my guitar.

2) I once drove from my college In Iowa (Luther College) to my parents house in Vermont only stopping for gas, food and three 30 min “naps.” I think it took me between 24-26 hours

3) I am currently typing this from a Mac powerbook G4 and I love it. I will never buy another PC again. Once you go Mac you never go back.

4) I am Caffeine Sensitive – I usually tell people that I am “allergic” to caffeine because it makes more sense. Basically if I have any sort of caffeine my digestive system goes out of whack, my stomach makes noises and I feel sick. (yes even chocolate)

5) I have never been a good student but in seminary I currently maintain a B to B+ average and that’s the best in my entire academic career.

6) I started working when I was 10 years old as a paperboy for the Rutland Herald. I have maintained at least part time employment since then even through college and seminary.

7) One good friend convinced me that every man needs a drink they can have in a martini glass. My favorite is a Sidecar.

8 ) I am an Eagle Scout and I went to the National Scouting Jamboree at Fort AP Hill VA in 1993.

9) I love football – instead of playing football in college I chose music. My senior year of high school my football coach told me I had the skill to be the best defensive lineman in the state of Vermont. My problem was that I was not “dedicated” (Instead I spent my summers at a Church Camp and I was in the band and other activities)

10) I love everything that has to do with The Simpsons and I have to admit my son loves them too. Daily we catch an episode before dinner.

Now I have to tag some people. I would like to tag Nathan at PhilosYphia and revhrod.

It has been a great few days. Only if Katie and Logan were with then it would be perfect. But alas, I am having a great time with my daughter. It still feels weird to say daughter, I am getting use to that. But on the other hand it is great to say it too.

I have met some wonderful people on my trip and I am getting to know old friends again. I wanted to talk about some of the people I have come across along the way.

First there is Wiley — Wiley actually goes to the Y that I go too. On Thursday last week I met Wiley – he never told me his name but he did have his name in big capitol letters WILEY. Anyway, I got done swimming and Wiley was there. He asked if I had good time and I said yes. Our lockers were next to one another so it is not uncommon to have uncomfortable small talk in the locker room following a locker encounter. But Wiley did not want to stop, he was asking what I was doing in the pool and then we continued to talk. He did the most talking at first. He was telling me about him coming to America from the Czech Republic as a little boy and how he always yerned to go back, but he is not sure he can since he is so old now (he looked in his 80′s). Then he changed the subject and he asked what I do for a living. Now I don’t always delvuge that information at first because of people’s reactions. I honestly try and not mention it until I get a good read on a person. Well I could not get a read on Wiley and I was not going to lie so I told him I am in seminary studying to be a minister. Wiley then started to say “praise God, oh thank you jesus” — he did this for about 2-3 min and he said may you be blessed in your ministry. That is the best thing you can ever do with your life. I said thank you and I turned it on him, and I asked what he did and he said “I don’t work anymore but I did work for the Government and I can’t say anymore.” What?!? What did he do? Why coudlent he tell me? by this time Wiley was done getting dressed and he ended the conversation quickley and left. Maybe Iwill see Wiley again and get to learn more about his secret Govenment job.

The Ruso Family–
Needing dinner on our way up to Vermont, Addy and I stoped at a Chili’s. We grabbed our seats and I fed Addyson her dinner of mushed carrots, rice stuff and Children’s Vita-Lea. About half way through dinner the people next to us started talking with me. It was a family with three girls ages ranging from 6 years to 12 years. They seemed nice and they thought Addy and I were on a “date” but I told them we were on a trip from Vermont. They told me about themselves and that they were coming back from a vacation from North Carolina. Very nice family and the girls loved Addyson.

The people at Camp —

I have loved being back here at Camp and I have realized more and more how I have missed it and how much I want to spend more time here. There are people who I have not seen in 4 or 5 years and I love remaking those connections. I have seen kids where the last time I saw them they were 3-6 years old and now they are 8-11 years old and it is crazy how much they have changed. The funny thing is that they still remember me and they still want to see how I am doing. I love that feeling and it makes me feel like my 10 summers here and three years on the year round staff was good ministry even though I was not “seminary trained” and I realize that I was making a difference in the world. I never thought that I was going to never do outdoor ministry again but I realize now that I am going to try and make a more concious effort to get back here more often. Some friends and I were talking about picking a week as “Vacation” together. I love that idea and I would love to perhaps be a chaplain once I come back to New England.

I think one of the great things about my future occupation is that I am going to be paid to talk with people about life and about faith. I am going to be able to be there for them in their high times and low times. I thhink that is one of my favorite things about being in the position that I am going to be in and I thank God for that.

It is so good to be at camp again. I don’t realize how much I miss it when I am gone. It is also weird seeing people again that I have not seen in 5 years. When I was working at Calumet before I must of met over 20,000 people. Granted some people don’t remember me, but alot do and I barely recognize half the people that have come up to me the past few days. I do remember people, here and there but overall??? Forget it. I have to be more active at Camp in the future. I should come up at least once a semester this year just to keep myself spiritually focused.

I can’t wait to post pictures next week and give lots of updates that happened over the last few days. I have already posted titles for future blogs to remind myself of what to talk about.

Tomorrow I am still working (volunteering) but I want to take pictures of Addyson and me on the beach and on Jackman’s Ridge. I also need to make a stop a Rosies — for those who know…..I have to go….

Night I am going to get some needed sleep.

Looking back at the last two years and to sum up everything that has happened to me is hard to do. Mainly there has been so much I can’t express it all right here and right now. There is no way I cna ever think that I would be here at Camp Calumet working full time and living in the Conference Center. Never would i think that I would be in love with the girl of my dreams and she would be in love (though I am not sure) with me. However wo don’t have a relationship becuase we are 1,200 miles away from one another. Funny how life turns out!!!
I guess in order to summerize the last two years or so I would say it has been about CHANGE!!
What do you think of when you hear the word Change?
The money in your pocket?
The color of someone’s hair?
The clothes on your back?
Or would you think about the attitudes of some people or the wya they live their loves or how they make their decisions?
It is funny how someone can experience all of these things. You take a boy who is far away from home — lost, confused and who does not feel loved and take him and put him in a place where he learns to have direction in his life.
He is close to the friends that he loves, He has some sort of an idea what he wants to do with his life.
In order to make his life perfect is if he has the girl that he loves standing beside him.
Is it right to have this boy’s life perfect?
Some might say yes and some might say no.
“He doesn’t deserve to have a good life.”
“He doesn’t do things the way I do them, so he is wrong”
If they say that they are fools!!!!
Everyone deserves the perfect life. I see my life now and say I almost have the “perfect” life but what about two years form now? What would I consider the perfect life and will I have it?

Sitting here early this morning on Jackman’s ridge I feel at peace.  All of my worries and cares are not with me right now.  They are forgotten because of the wonderous beauty that lies in front of me.  I hope to come up here early many mornings.  B said that she was going to come up too.  If I had someone to share this with — to share your love with me that will make me happy.

I f things work out today I will be able to go and clean Arts and crats and then leave for a baseball game tonight.  I do hope everything is good!

“It is not Circumstances that need altering first, but yourselves, and then the conditions will naturally alter.”  God Calling

I have been up since 4am this morning.  To my surprise I am not tired!  I am gald I have some quiet time before the day starts. I need to figure things out in my life.  J came the other day and I have not gotten a chance to catch up with her het. I need to do that.  I have not made an effort to catch up and I feel bad about that.

The more that people come up the wierd camp seems.  I just want my friends up here and everyone else can leave. I really don’t mean that but I like the quietness of camp.  I don’t think God leaves camp with over 200 staff but I can feel God’s presence more with fewer people.  I also am afraid that I will feel out of place once more people come. Since I was not on main camp I missed out on getting to know alot of people. This year I hope to make up for that.  I have already gotten to know E and she seems really cool.

I have been feeling stressed lately and my stomach is acting up.  I think I am going to try that medicine that my doctor gave me and see if that helps. I know I am going to get more and more stressed throughout the sumemr and I can’t have this happen.

I hope that I hear from people from school soon.  I would love to keep in touch with alot of people.  I have to make sure I write letters back. I have been bretty good so far.  I just need to keep it up.

I am going to get some breakfast and start my day out right.