Lauren gets tactile- my fave word i learned from kate

oooo... I like the idea of "taste." I wonder if we coudl attach a sense to each day that is in one of the proverb verses on teh topic "hear, oh sons, the instructions""pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones""search for her as for hidden treasures""can a man walk on hot coals and not be scorched?""?" ok, I can't find one about smell, but I'm sure there is one Anyway, on taste day we could do taste tests, on hearing day we could listen to random funny sounds and then a beautiful symphony while the sun sets, on seeing day we could view a slide show of amazing pics or maybe watch part of Planet Earth (or since we're like, you know, an outdoor camp, we could totally actually go outdoors and see Planet Earth for ourselves), touching day we could ... hmmm.. touch and hug a lot? ok maybe not; but you get the idea. I don't think the above should drive which passages are used or how they are divied up; just a fun idea to tie in later. I know, I know, I'm jumping the gun here. But this is online brainstoriming, right? No idea is a b... Maybe this would be easier on a blog where you could easily scroll back to each idea. Lauren

Ben's thoughts

These passages struck me as extremely relevant for our condition as a nation. I think these passages may also address the challenge that many young people face, which is related to the desire and/or blind focus on immediate results. As we all know, young people do not seem to care about what might happen to them in the distant future, let alone, when they die. The world will always offer a more attractive looking option. One question that I think we need to focus on is "How do we really highlight the reality of the world's lies compared to the truth of God's promises"? What would we need to do to make these passages very real for the kids?Just some thoughts I had.ben

Contrasting topics covered in Proverbs
1. Wisdom, wise vs. folly, fool
2. Righteous vs. wicked
3. Life vs. death
4. Knowledge vs. ignorance
5. Work, diligence vs. laziness
6. Orderliness vs. disorderliness
7. Success vs. failure
8. Self control vs. Anger
9. Faithfulness vs. unfaithfulness
10. Obedience vs. rebellion
11. Honesty, integrity vs. cheating, deception
12. Justice, fairness, equity vs. injustice, unfairness, inequity
13. Truth vs. lying, deception
14. Honor vs. dishonor
15. Commendation vs. criticism
16. Humility vs. pride
17. Purity vs. impurity
18. Encouragement vs. slander
19. Peace vs. strife
20. Love vs. hatred
21. Mercy, kindness vs. cruelty
22. Generosity vs. greed
23. Joy vs. sadness
24. Hope vs. anxiety
25. Good company vs. bad company
26. Friendliness vs. animosity
27. Wealth vs. poverty
28. Virtue vs. shame
29. Soberness vs. drunkenness
30. Friendliness vs. unfriendliness
31. Trust vs. worry
32. Pleasure vs. misery
33. Quietness vs. talkativeness
34. Contentment vs. envy
35. Teachable vs. un-teachable

some potential verses from Steve

I've attached a list of contrasting topics addressed in Proverbs...as listed in a Bible commentary I've got. Thought it might be useful in helping people boil down...or categorize the seemingly random listings of sayings in Proverbs. It's kind of overwhelming.

Please share any "Proverbs breakdowns" you may have.

Below are 3 verses that I think might help campers rise above typical difficulties experienced in life.

Verse: 27:20 "He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet."
Questions: Is this why the prodigal son wanted to eat pig slop? Is this why Jesus, after leading the woman at the well to salvation, told his disciples he had eaten food that was even better than what they brought Him? Are there kids trying to fill a hunger for God with lesser...even poisonous "food"? How much suffering has occurred in our lives from spiritual and emotional junk food? What things will truly make us "full" in this life?

Verse: 27: 17 "Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man."
Questions: Will we ever be satisfied when looking around at all there is to have? If we devote ourselves to attaining things we can see, and succeed...will we be satisfied? At what point? Is this what Paul meant when he talked about "the lust of the eyes?" (1 Jn 2:16) How could this verse help us avoid "the struggle for more" in an attempt to find satisfaction? How do we become "satisfied" ...poke our eyes out?

Verse: 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."
Questions: How might an active and bold faith in God help us do what is right...no matter what people think? How come people's opinions in the present seem to "trump" God's eternal perspectives when we are making our decisions. How many horrible decisions have been applauded by a crowd at the moment, that turned out to put everybody at risk?

Anybody got any other "Progressable" Proverbs?

Steve's email

Please note Pete's home e-mail address has been added in CC section.

Our theme idea was Wise Up...with the W crossed out, and an R added over it. The thought being: wisdom, applied, will allow you to stay above all the hassle and difficulty that a sinful and foolish lifestyle undoubtedly brings. Rise above it with wisdom's wings...poem anyone?

Hmmmm...sounds kind of like Chris was right when he argued that being a Christian makes your life easier - during the great debate of Progress '08.

I'm about as ADHD as they come...but to read a chapter gives you about as many different thoughts as there are verses. So it's very likely that we need to pick one, or a group of similar verses that deal with an important life issue and develop that thought for application today.

I did a little studying and Agree with Pete's suggestion to start with Prov 1:7 "A wise man fears the Lord." In this verse, there is a wonderful message to begin the week with:
Lord-this implies relating to God in proper perspective...He, the creatOR...me, the creatED. Who needs help from who in this story?
Fear- I'm seeing
A. RESPECT who He is, and
B. RESPOND in trust, worship, obedience, and service
------------------------------------------
so for the week of July 12-18th, can we all:

A. Humble ourselves and consider God as so very much "higher" than ourselves?
B. Trust Him to teach and change us?
Worship Him out of grateful amazement and desire?
Obey Him, by avoiding the temptations that even follow us to camp?
Serve Him by helping others, loving each other, showing mercy etc?


Gotta run

SteveO

pete's email

1) I have received the email.
2) To be clear: Steve will continue his role as the “face” of Progress AND Breakaway because Clint has other 3 Springs obligations.
3) To be clear Part 2: We will not be meeting this spring…our “meeting” will be over email.
4) I’m not that smart…ask Randy.
5) Assuming we are doing the e-meeting…Theme: Wise Up! Let’s start hammering out the talks/topics we want to present this summer….the thought is to examine the book of Proverbs….what do we want to pull out for the students? Hit us with verses, topics, ideas, etc. For example: First talk, first night: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” For example #2: there should be a talk about discipline (listening to parents, working hard, etc). Example #3: “Trust in the Lord…and lean not on your own understanding (or anyone else’s for that matter). You get the idea…have fun…talk to you soon.

Come on blogging is fun you must try it

Ok, I thought it might be easier to keep up with and be able to go back over ideas in this format rather than trying to save a bunch of emails.

Plus, I'm really just trying to one-up Ben's skyping idea. And I"m insecure about getting old-fogy status when it comes to electronics and computers.