Hidden Acres Christian Center News by Earl

She Set the Table for Me!

2011-12-08T08:29:00.000-08:00

Auntie Anne and Uncle E.R.

I grew up poor; we had very little, but we didn’t know what we were missing. My dad was a single parent for a few years. An unfaithful wife left him alone with four kids under ten. We managed. We survived. We stayed close together through it all. Dad was the breadwinner and the bread-maker. There was no Friday night pizza tradition for us. It was the time to do laundry at the laundry mat in Grinnell.

Occasionally we made a trip south to Auntie Anne’s and Uncle E. R.’s house. They lived near St. James, Missouri, in what we thought was the most beautiful home we ever saw; it was one of those modern ranch homes complete with large windows overlooking a manicured lawn and flower garden. We had never been around anything so elegant.

We had no fancy silverware; ours was a hodge-podge of several sets. Our drinking glasses were the colored aluminum ones that set your teeth on edge when they touched the rim. Tableclothes and crystal were non-existent for us; we only heard about the rich having such luxuries.

But always, when we visited our dear auntie, she set her table for me. Crystal glasses were used which created rainbows and colorful prisms when placed on a sunny table. Plates were pulled from the china cupboard. Tablecloths and flowers covered the tables along with napkins, coffee cups, saucers, and soup bowls. The table was full of colors and smells.

I often think of this act of kindness and love and wonder how often I “set the table” for those around me who need to enjoy a crystal glass or two. Am I too self-absorbed in my own life to stop and consider the neighbor who is down on their luck and needing some care?

During the summer at camp, we try to set the table for many campers by offering them scholarships so they can attend. For the past several years, Hidden Acres has provided over $40,000 each summer in scholarships for families who need a touch of crystal and tablecloths in their lives.

We are grateful for our churches supporting us throughout the year with their regular gifts from the church budgets. In addition to our scholarships to campers, churches’ gifts allow us to keep our summer costs down. For every camper that attends Hidden Acres, it costs us $40 more than we receive from the registration fees. We had 2,012 campers last year, and lost $80,000+. Again we are grateful for the gifts from our churches which off set this loss.

You will be celebrating most of this month- too much food and too many presents to people who have everything they need. My challenge to you– set the table for someone or for a family around you that could use a touch of mercy and kindness.

Just last week I returned to Missouri to visit my dear auntie and uncle; it was their 70th anniversary celebration and I was asked to conduct the renewal of their vows. It was a thrill for me to be involved and to share the love and care they had shown me 50 years ago.

Kindness and generosity never go unnoticed; look around and set the table!

The Long Bus Ride

2011-03-02T17:32:00.000-08:00

On Friday night, I get to travel to LaCrosse, Wisconsin and speak at Bethany Evangelical Free Church; I will be speaking to a group of deer hunters and eating chili with them. I am especially interested in being there because this is Dave Martin's former church where he put together a rag-tag group of high school singers and travelled all over the United States winning every national Free Church choir contest. It was this wonderful group of young people whom Dave transformed from the radical 60's and 70's into a crowd of future preachers and missionaries that would serve all over the world in the years after. I am thrilled to return to Bethany and to hear one more Dave Martin story from a member.

The following story is a slice of Dave's life while serving at Bethany EFC.

“The choir was the gas that ran my engine” said Dave. “I loved everything about it: the kids, the travel, and the opportunity to lead young people in their faith. I never turned one kid away, and I never kicked one person out. I came close a few times.”

By 1979, Dave and the choir were known all throughout the Evangelical Free Churches in America. They received invitations to come and sing locally and as they traveled to national conferences.

The choir was loaded up on 3 green school buses in to attend national conference in San Diego. The 115 voice choir had grown and matured, and Carol and Dave had recruited as many chaperones and drivers as they could to help keep the kids corralled and in place on time. Rick and Jackie Perry were one of the couples who went with the group.

As usual, little Bethany church from La Crosse Wisconsin won the national choir contest. The Arlington Height’s leaders were heard saying, “Next year we will have our new youth choir director in place. Things will be different.” They weren’t.

After the conference, the choir was scheduled to spend a day at Knots Berry Farm, before the Sunday morning concert in the Hollywood Evangelical Free Church. Dave was awakened at 4 a.m. that Sunday morning by a phone call from the Annandale Free Church pastor. "Dave, there has been a gas explosion at Jackie’s parents house. Both of her parents were killed along with their baby daughter Jessica, but the small baby boy Jonathan, was blown out of the house while on a couch and is still alive and at the hospital.”

Things changed quickly. Hysteria ran wild amongst the girls; tears and more tears. The young men were stunned. Plans were changed. Flights were scheduled to get Rick and Jackie home quickly. Instead of staying in California with Carol and the girls to visit relatives, Dave would replace Rick as the bus driver to get back home. The service would go on at the Hollywood church, and the rest of the group would leave early Monday morning.

Even the three pigeons used in the magic show felt the emotions of the day. Throughout all the prior performances, the 3 young magicians and their pigeons had behaved beautifully; but not in Hollywood. The three boys pulled out the birds from their cage, and the birds exploded into the church auditorium. In their confusion and excitement, two birds flew directly into the back wall and fell lifelessly to the floor; there were feathers floating down into the back pews.

There was another evening performance and the plans developed that Dave would take one of the loaded buses and go as fast as he could in order to make it back home in time for the funeral. Dave drove straight through, without a relief driver. The 1700 mile trip was made without any sleep. “There were hundreds of miles that I don’t remember driving,” comments Dave.

Dave continues, “I limped into the Des Moines airport, and was met by a small plane that would take me up to Annandale. Another driver had arrived from La Crosse to finish out the bus ride. I arrived 2 hours before the funeral began. They sat me up on the platform.”

Dave fell asleep immediately. Later, Rick commented, “The deaths of Jackie’s parents and our daughter were devastating, but as we sat in church during the funeral, both my wife and I poked each other and smiled often as we looked up and saw Dave sound asleep throughout the entire service.”

Missed Opportunity

2011-02-25T04:55:00.001-08:00

Many of us have encounters everyday that could/should lead to our sharing our faith or encouraging someone in need. I have written a story about my good friend and mentor, Dave Martin. Trust this might spur you on to be ready and available to reach out and touch someone's life today.

The Gideon’s were responsible for the Sunday afternoon service at the Crow Wing County Jail. They contacted Dave and asked if he would like to take one of the afternoon services. He would lead music and preach.

It was a different set up; Dave couldn’t see the inmates from where he was standing in the entry level room. Dave was told, “Just preach loud enough and they will hear you while locked in their cells.” That was easy for Dave. Away Dave went with the music and his sermon, and as he closed he spoke, “If any of you heard what I said, and you want to accept Jesus as your Savior, repeat the prayer after me.” Dave prayed the sinner’s prayer without knowing if anyone had heard, let alone responded to his challenge.

A letter arrived on Wednesday. In the letter one of the prisoners wrote, “I heard you on Sunday and I did what you told me to do; I asked Jesus to save me.” Dave went to visit him the next time there was visitation at the jail. The young man was named Evans and he had been put in jail for stealing something small from a local store. Every time Dave visited Evans, he was always receptive and seemed to have a hunger for his new found faith. Dave was excited to bring this young convert along in his faith.

The family had been down to Minneapolis singing on a Saturday; on their way home they drove past the prison on Highway 10. “On the other side of that wall is where my friend Evan is in jail.” Dave told the girls. “He is the one we have been praying for and the one that accepted Jesus. Isn’t God Good?”

When his family got back to Brainerd, they had supper at Ken and Jen Wagner’s house. The kids were tired after an enjoyable evening of fun and fellowship, but Ken said, “Why don’t you stay and watch the news Dave before you head home?” Dave loved the news, so he was more than willing to watch.

The first news reported was an alert: Prison break from the prison farm near St Cloud. Three prisoners are unaccounted for; one of the three was Dave’s friend, Evans. “My emotions were drained from me. Just seven hours earlier I had said, ‘I really don’t have the time to visit with my friend today’. I will come again another day.” remembers Dave.

Dave was crushed. The story soon came out that two of the older men were the ring leaders of this escape from the work farm; Evans was forced to come because he knew what they were planning. The two were captured within the day, but a day a two later Evan’s body was found floating in the Mississippi River. Nobody ever knew what had happened.

Dave had Evans funeral, but the family was distant and wanted nothing to do with the church or Dave’s religion. Dave recounts, “It took me years to get over Evan’s death. I could have visited him that day as we drove by on Highway 10. Perhaps something I could have said would have helped him during the escape.”

Dave let the memory of this event etch itself deep into his mind and heart; whenever there was an opportunity to minister to someone in need; regardless of how busy Dave was, he dropped his chores and took care of eternal business.

Renewing the Mind: Chuck Swindoll agrees with me!!

2010-08-06T03:42:00.000-07:00

I knew someone else thought like me; I didn't know Chuck Swindoll would be the one. Every morning I receive via the internet, three different devotionals; Swindoll, Stanley and Sproul. Below is Swindoll's thoughts for the day.

Personally I don't like the "D" word; Diet which means depriving yourself of tasty things to eat. I do like the word diet which means, "the great foods that I get to eat". One says, "you can't eat this or that food... and while you are at it.... keep track of every calorie you consume"- the other says, "you can eat all these super foods and eat as much as you want- you can have a 'full' feeling all the time." It is easier to stay on track when you don't feel deprived!

That Dreaded "D" Word
by Charles R. Swindoll

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Okay, folks . . . it's that time again. I'm down to two suits, one sports coat, and only a couple of pants that I can squeeze into. No more excuses. I'm tired of good intentions, secret promises to myself, groans and grunts as I roll out of bed in the morning, and especially those well-meaning comments from first-time visitors at our church: "You look . . . uh . . . different than I expected." I suppose that's better than "You look . . . uh . . . fat."

Funny thing about being overweight . . . it's impossible to hide it. So the alternatives are (a) ignore it and lie to yourself by saying nobody notices, (b) make jokes about it, (c) try to solve the problem overnight—which is tempting but dumb, or (d) face the music and get underway with a long-range plan that works.

For me, it's an intelligent diet (ugh!) mixed with a program of regular exercise and a do-or-die mind-set that is determined to see it through, followed by a from-now-on game plan that is realistic, workable, and consistent.

Personally, I don't need a shrink to shrink. But what I do need is discipline with a big D. (It might also help me a lot to think of rewards other than a strawberry sundae.) You know what I'm getting at, don't you? If I intend to avoid great widths, I need to go to great lengths to make that happen. And if you are put together somewhat like I am, you do too.

So why am I telling you all this? It would be much easier and certainly less embarrassing for me to say nothing, eat little, exercise in obscurity, and start to shrink. I did that once before and it worked. Problem was, when I got down to my desired weight, a rumor spread that I had cancer. Cynthia even got a sympathy card or two. So . . . none of that.

I'm mentioning it because I need to be accountable and we need to be reminded of the importance of our physical appearance. While there is an overemphasis on this in the secular world, for some strange reason, we Christians tend to underestimate its importance. Yet our bodies are indeed the "temple of the Holy Spirit" and we are to "glorify God" in those bodies (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

So, let's get serious about something we've ignored or excused or joked about long enough. As for me, I've got about forty pounds to go. How about you?

Have you looked in the mirror lately? Could the Spirit's temple stand a little attention to get it back where it ought to be?

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Since January, 2010, I have changed the way I look at food; instead of filler, I see food as fuel. Thanks to my good friend, Josh Denhart, his advice about eating power foods has changed my life. At the end of 2009, I was a dead man walking around in a 250 pound body that had little zip left in it. I was under motivated, lacked much brain power, and I felt like I looked- fat and lethargic!

Spinach: Can't eat enough of this power food!!

When I changed my mind about food, I began to lose weight. I didn't exercise one single minute over the past 7 months- exercise... meaning walking, riding stationary bike, etc... activities that took you to no place. Throughout these last seven months, I have become more active- but it was productive work-lifting lumber, climbing ladders, walking to the shop to pick up a tool; losing 50 pounds from the stomach generates energy and drive that allows a once fat man to get out and start moving again.

I hope over the next few months to blog a bit about my "changing of my mind" diet. I have become a "food evangelists" who wants others to enjoy their lives again. Good eatin' my friends!

Written by:

Earl Taylor

Director of Design and Vision at Hidden Acres Christian Center, near Dayton, Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by the Central District of the Evangelical Free Church, and is a summer camp and retreat facility with 660 acres of land and 850 beds to welcome guests.

Hidden Acres Tractor Ride

2010-08-03T05:06:00.000-07:00

Come Join Us or Tell Your Grandpa to Join Us

The Hidden Acres 1st Annual Tractor Ride will be held on August 23-25, 2010. This Tractor Ride will be a great event of fun, fellowship, food, and riding!

Each day there will be a route to that will take you and your tractor on a scenic tour of Central Iowa’s rural area. Accommodations will include lodge style lodging, meals, and use of the camp’s activity facilities.

We will have you park your tractors for display when you come back onto the camp grounds every day. There will be speakers each evening for you to listen to including Bill Northey, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture! He will even be out on the route for one of the days! For registration information feel free to call our offices at 515-547-2751 or visit our website at www.hacamps.org. Participants will receive one free T-shirt per registration.

For those who wish not to ride, but would like to attend the Tuesday evening meal and message by Bill Northey, please contact the camp for your reservations.

A good story along the banks of a River

2010-07-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

The Riverside Bandshell of La Crosse

Many of my camp friends knows and loves our dear friend Dave Martin: Dave has been hospitalize for nearly a month due to breaking a hip. Now, he is ready to go back home; getting around very carefully with the aid of a walker, but with the same determination and drive that he exhibited nearly 40 years ago when he was serving Bethany Evangelical Free Church in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. If I learned one thing from Dave over the years it would be: "keep your head down and keep pushing... most of the times, pure hard work and tenacity... will pay off when one is faithful." Dave demonstrated that as a pastor and he continues to do that as he recovers from his surgery. NEVER give up!!

Sunday nights at the park

“Our little church in La Crosse, Bethany Evangelical Free, had 176 very uncomfortable theater seats. On a Sunday morning we would average around 50 or 60 people the first year I was there. I wasn’t happy or content with that number.” Dave set out to develop some growth.

It was acceptable to experiment a bit on Sunday nights; Sunday morning was off limits: Dave set out to make their Sunday evening better attended through some innovative programming.

The early 70’s was also the beginning of a revival that swept the entire nation: The Jesus Movement. It hit La Crosse also. The Christian Ladies Club began to swell, and it spilled over into Dave’s Sunday night service. With Carol on the piano, and Dave leading music, there was life in the church, and the women of La Crosse loved what they found at Bethany and brought their entire family. People were getting saved every Sunday night, “In spite of me, people were coming to know the Lord. I couldn’t keep up with all the new conversions and the counseling. Everything was moving very fast.” Dave recalls

“After a while, I knew I wanted to try to get our Sunday evening service broadcast live on radio. I contacted the local station KTY: they were willing to try this new format for three or four Sunday evenings. This was another one of the keys of the Sunday night growth; after a short period on the radio, the station manager knew he had a hit program.”

It wasn’t long before the Sunday night crowd of 40 grew until all 176 seats were taken.. Dave declared, “We need to move outside for Sunday nights.” The church board couldn’t argue with Dave; their little church was busting at the seams each and every Sunday night, so they let Dave go ahead with his plans.

Along the Mississippi, there was a park with a band stand and permanent wooden benches. Dave knew this would be a great place to set up his Sunday evening extravaganza. Dave had already had experience with live TV performances, and he knew the results of broadcasting from back at church; the radio station manager agreed to come to the park with his equipment and broadcast the summer evening service.

“The first week we had a good crowd, but as we continued to broadcast, more and more people would show up. Some would not leave their cars, but would park along the Mississippi River, and listen to the evening service on their car radios.” Dave caught on, and would announce live through the radio, “All of you folks listening across the river on the Minnesota side, blink your lights if you can hear us." They heard and they blinked. Dave told the audience, “Sing for the folks across the river… the louder the people sang, the more the cars blinked!”

It was a chore to get set up. Every Sunday afternoon, Dave would take one of his girls over to the church. Dave’s van would be backed up to the lower level and the Sunday school spinet piano would be wheeled out and hoisted into the van. Dave had a system where he needed just one girl, usually Ruth or Bethany to drive the van into place. Dave would lift one end onto the van, while the daughter would put pressure from the back. Dave would then lift the other end up and roll the piano forward. The opposite would happen at the park.

Before long, one of the head men of the church could see that this event was beginning to cost the church a few dollars to put on, so he began to complain. He took his complaint all the way to Superintendent Smith who had recommended Dave to the Bethany Church. “We don’t know what to do with this Dave Martin whom you sent to us. He is bankrupting the church with his $35 expenditure to have his evening services broadcast.”

The superintendent replied, “Arnold, you let him do this, and if necessary, I will pay the $35 myself.” This seemed to quiet the frugal, shortsighted elder.

The evening services swelled. There were over 600 people coming from miles around to this new type of old style tent-type of meeting. The Enthusiastics were regular singers; the Martin girls sang, Carol played the piano, Dave preached and did chalk drawings. Sunday mornings picked up too.

Over the years, the church exploded to over 600 people. By 1976, a new church was built to hold the enlarged crowds.

By 1978, the Sunday evening church in the park was a mainstay in the community. For 7 years, there had not been a rain storm that would cancel the event, until the last month Dave was in La Crosse.

“It was pouring buckets late that Sunday afternoon and early evening. The service was to begin at 7, and it was still raining at 6:30. People were calling and asking, “Is it cancelled?” Dave was adamant, “No, we will have it. We need to pray.”

“At 6.45 the sky parted, light came down, and we unloaded the piano from the van. The evening service was on, and the crowd showed up.”

Dave left La Crosse that year, and the service in the park fizzled. People still remember those great nights and talk about the blinking of the car lights across the river. God is so Good.... to WE!

Hidden Acres Missions Trip to Mexico

2010-07-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

We have talked about this for years; on Saturday, our vision of sending summer staff on a post-summer camp mission's trip became a reality. Nine counselors and Katie Northey our program director loaded up the van and headed south: they will be joining another former counselor, Sam Hanson, who with his wife and her family run an existing camp 7 hours into Mexico. Hidden Acres staff will come along side this camp and provide staff for 2 weeks of summer camp.

As we sent them off, we encouraged them to "make us proud" and to remember who they represent. We also reminded them that the success of this adventure will determine the future of Hidden Acre's mission's trips. We are already planning to partner with the Free Church in Congo to help them build a camp. It is our prayer that we would be able to send another group of counselors next July to Congo to help them run their camps.

For those who have taken a short term mission's trip; it is life changing experience and you understand the value. Pray for safety and for a fruitful ministry for these 10 young people. My prayer is that each of them will catch a vision of future ministry opportunities for their lives and that because of this trip, they would recieve the "call".

Picture of the Week

2010-07-17T18:15:00.001-07:00

Karen Gordon, Wendy Gordon Kies, Earl, Chuck Gordon along with Jennifer Gordon George and Lisa Gordon on the floor. What a treat to see 5 former counselors return to camp this weekend to use the new Inn and bring their entire family for a reunion. Every time I see a former counselor, it always brings much joy to me as I remember back on their particular years at camp.

We have finished all 27 rooms as of today; there is a little work to finish on the downstairs hallway, and the project will be complete. It is a super place to have your summer family reunion.

Picture of the Week

2010-03-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

350 men and their sons will invade Hidden Acres this weekend for our 20th 24 Hours with the Guys retreat. Pray for safety and that the Lord would work in the hearts of each man. This is our biggest evangelistic outreach of the year for adults. We love this weekend.

The Sky was Quiet

2010-03-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

I had arrived in southwest Colorado on September 3, after a quick trip to Romania and a very demanding summer of ministry. I was frazzled inside and out. There was no drive: no push left in me. I wanted and needed the quiet of the mountain to restore my soul.

During those 11 days, I soaked in the beauty of the nearby stream full of cutthroat trout. I saw herds of elk roll off one mountain seeking isolation and security on the other side of the valley. The magpies were greedy and demanded any extra morsels of bread or snacks. I saw a lighting storm explode a nearby pine into splinters. I was blessed and harvested a bull elk with my bow.

Hunting was hard work; there were four of us who had packed all of our gear on our backs the four miles into a wilderness area. We rose from our tents in the dark; pumped and purified our stream water in the dark; ate our oatmeal breakfast in the dark, hunted and walked all day; and fixed our freeze-dried supper in the dark without the aid of a campfire. We cooked our food in one small aluminum pan over a portable propane stove. Our routine lasted for eleven days. We had no company; nobody checked on us; nobody knew where we were.

The skies were quiet for three days and I didn’t understand it. Watching the jet tailings were part of my hunt as I waited on elk; looking into the sky and watching jets traveling east or west passed the time. I never saw a jet on my last three days on the mountain.

Three days had passed since 9/11 when I walked out of the wilderness: calmed, refreshed, and renewed. I walked into civilization; my first stop was a local restaurant to get real food. I sat stunned as I ate and watched the replays of the jets hitting the World Trade buildings.

I was man scared: without a shriek or a scream; it was more of a long drawn out sigh that anticipated the worse was yet to come. I felt torn apart inside as I tried to make sense of what had happened: terrorists, Bin Laden, President Bush, the rubble and deaths.

As I drove across I-80, stopping in towns like Ogallala, Grand Island, and Bellevue, I saw the fear and uncertainty in every face I met. I heard the stories from gas station clerks of the stranded flyers who had hitched a ride across country with a stranger. There was a silent understanding that another attack could be eminent.

I missed President Bush’s first evening speech, "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts...we will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them." Before sleeping that night, President Bush entered into his journal: "The Pearl Harbor of the 21st century took place today...We think it's Osama bin Laden."

I drove the 800 miles back home numbed. Much of my fear was second-hand fear. Thankfully, I heard in my heart time and time again as I was swept back into life from the mountain, “ The same quietness, peace, and rest you found on the mountain is the same quiet, peace, and rest you can find now in me.”

My thoughts are not your thoughts about September 11th; I didn’t experience the watching of the first 72 hours of uncertainty and unrest, developing minute by minute, detail by detail. God quieted the skies for those few days; He still quiets the heart of men when storms and fears come our way.

Written by
Earl Taylor
Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center
...a youth camp and adult retreat center owned by the Evangelical Free churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri

Picture of the Week

2010-03-11T12:47:00.001-08:00

Counselors are being hired. Campers are sending in their registrations. We are expecting another great summer of ministry. Join us as we minister to over 2000 campers through the lives of 150 summer staff. God is so good!

Mantle, Martin and Mays

2010-02-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

The greatest center fielder: Dave Martin

I am ready to hear an umpire yell... "you're out", or at least see a little green grass. I thought this story about our good friend Dave Martin and baseball would warm your heart! (as told to me)

“I always wanted to play ball,” remembers Dave Martin. “When I was younger, I signed up for every team that was playing in town: basketball, softball, or baseball. I played center fielder in high school. When I grew older, I organized a softball team just so I could continue to play.”

“I was out of college and getting ready to start work when I got my notice to report to take my army aptitude test. It was to test my intelligence and identify my abilities. I just wanted to coach and didn’t see how a stint in the army would enhance my career opportunities.”

It was 1951, and the Korean War was going strong. I arrived to take my test only to find another budding sports star was to sit right behind me. They lined us up alphabetically, so Martin was in front of Mays. Willie Mays, playing triple A ball for the Minneapolis Millers. Mays kept whispering over my shoulder, “How you do dat’ Martin?” Mays passed the test and was drafted in the army after finishing his first season with the Brooklyn Giants. Dave reflects, “I often wondered if I hadn’t of helped him, perhaps he would have flunked and wouldn’t have been drafted. Perhaps he would have played two more years in the majors. And perhaps in those two years, he would have hit enough home runs to eclipse Ruth’s record before Hank Aaron. It is just a thought I have once in a while.”

Willie Mays

I preferred to go to the Army like Mays, but the Marines drafted me that year. Though a fine specimen, I knew I wasn’t Marine material. I was in shape enough to make it through basic, but I was placed behind a typewriter for the two years in service.

That same year I watched a triple A budding star from Kansas City play the Minneapolis triple A team. Mickey Mantle was playing against Mays. Martin was stuck in the Marines, and Mantle and Mays went on to be become Hall of Famer’s as center fielders and hitters.

Mantle and Mays made history and wrote their name in the archives of baseball history. Mantle hit 536 home runs. Mantle still has the record for the longest home run ever hit. Mays finished his career with 660 home runs, finishing third on the all time home run race.

Martin made the record book too.

At Hector Minnesota, Dave batted 1000% by leading the church from a small, struggling congregation into a growing and healthy church. He led countless people to the Lord, and began his live Sunday afternoon television program that included his 6 daughters singing, his wife playing the piano, and Dave preaching.

At Lacrosse Wisconsin, Dave batted 1000% by leading the Evangelical Free Church into tremendous growth. He began a youth choir of over a 100 kids during the 60’s; many of the kids the church had given up on because of their radical look and hair style of the late 60’s. Dave shaped this rag-tag group of young people into an award winning group of singers that traveled the United States singing and giving their testimonies

At Glenview Evangelical Free Church in Chicago Dave batted 1000%, by giving his all to this metropolitan church. The church grew, Dave became a national figure in the Evangelical Free Church, and his family of six girls were maturing and all heading into ministry opportunities.

In Iowa, Dave finished up his working career, batting a 1000% as the District Superintendent of the Evangelical Free Churches. He started a church planting program that was modeled across the nation in other Evangelical Free Church districts.

Dave is still batting 1000%. He beat off a fierce battle with a stroke and overcame a weakened heart. He is still at the plate, winning life’s game every day. Touching lives and still hearing the calls from the plate, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Mickey Mantle

“Your name may not appear down here
In this world’s Hall of Fame
In fact, you may be so unknown
That no one knows your name;

The headlines here may pass you by,
The neon light of blue,
But if you love and serve the Lord,
Then I have news for you.

This Hall of Fame is only good
As long as time shall be;
But keep in mind, God’s Hall of Fame
Is for eternity.

This crowd on earth they soon forget
The heroes of the past.
They cheer like mad until you fail
And that’s how long you last.
But in God’s Hall of Fame
By just believing on His Son
Inscribed you’ll find your name.

I tell you, friend, I wouldn’t trade
My name, however small,
That’s written there beyond the stars
In that Celestial Hall,
For any famous names on earth,
Or glory that it shares;
I’d rather be an unknown here
And have my name up there.”
Poem read by Bobby Richardson at Mickey Mantle’s funeral in 1995

May’s divorced and was on the verge of bankruptcy in the 60’s. He retired from the Met’s in 1973. Both Mantle and Mays were banned from baseball for two years because they worked as greeters for a casino in Atlantic City. Mantle had a liver transplant in 1995, and was diagnosed with cancer during the operation. He died shortly after, but not before making a confession to his good friend, Bobby Richardson, that he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Mays is still alive and promotes the sport of baseball.

Mantle, Martin, and Mays. No doubt, three great center fielders; and one great servant of God.

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Design and Vision Director
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
www.hiddenacrescamp.blogspot.com
...a youth camp and adult retreat center owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri

Picture of the Week

2010-02-23T08:26:00.000-08:00

Holding on for the Ride of their Lives; two middle school retreaters are enjoying their wild ride down the 200 foot toboggan run at Hidden Acres.

Nearly 1100 middle school campers have enjoyed their weekend at Hidden Acres. The Central District Student Ministry team(youth pastors) has provided 4 great weekends of fun, fellowship and teaching at camp. We are grateful for their leadership and their commitment.

DeDe and Earl- The Future!

2010-02-22T05:19:00.001-08:00

"DeDe forgive me, this was too true to pass up!"

www.hiddenacrescamp.blogspot.com

Picture of the Week

2010-02-18T06:35:00.000-08:00

I don’t need ABC, NBC, CBS weathermen to tell me Spring is close: I saw it on the road this morning: a dead skunk!

You heard it from me… the skunks are out of hibernation which can mean only one thing: the spring thaw is close at hand. Put away your coats, turn down your thermostat, pull out the fishing pole, and hide your shovels. Spring is on the horizon. For years I have watched this phenomenon, and it is fool proof; better than the ugly, hairy varmint of a groundhog who appears to be all show and with unpredictable results.

Thinking warm thoughts and watching out for skunks!

My 36 inch Parrot

2010-02-15T16:29:00.000-08:00

I have a grandson who is four and says and does nearly everything I do. I hunt, he wants to hunt. I fish, he wants to fish. I mow the yard, he wants to get on the mower. I speak a word, he repeats it. It didn’t take me long to see this 36 inch parrot was soaking me up and swallowing anything I would throw at him.

Being a former English teacher and one that enjoyed a good word, I started throwing out morsels of words that he could chew on: wonderful, marvelous, stupendous, Praise the Lord. I moved a little deeper into the thesaurus and declared one of my favorite words, bodacious! He bit and was hooked.

It has become a game around our house: during and as we are finishing a meal, we begin our litany of words to describe the delicacies that grandma had prepared for us. “Delicious“, I cry. “Wonderful“, he shouts, “Stupendous“, I retort… “Bodacious“, he crows. Grandma feels good, we laugh and think of other words that might describe the feast we just devoured.

He is four and will be 14 in ten short years; 14 and dumber than a rock. 14 and squirrelly. 14 and interested in girls, but has no idea where to start. Perhaps even, 14 and no longer a parrot of grandpa’s, but a brazen tree-cawing crow.

My work is cut out for me this next ten years.

Pr. 22:6 Train up a child when he is young, so that when he is old, he will not depart.

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision: earldtaylor@yahoo.com
Hidden Acres Christian Center
a youth camp and retreat center owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

Picture of the Week

2010-02-10T04:57:00.000-08:00

....another two days of snow. I am ready to commit to going off the blob one more time, if, in the next 30 days it gets warm enough to do so!

Blessed is the Man who Perseveres under Trials

2010-02-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

I was moved to tears yesterday morning as I read through a friend's website and watched videos of projects and interviews that have taken place over the last 6 years. May I share their story?

DeDe and I have known Gaye Sampson for over 40 years; we all attended a little Christian High School near Greenfield Iowa in the early 70's. She was from Chicago, DeDe and I were from Iowa. Gaye was one of DeDe's best friends throughout her high school days. We finished school: Gaye returned home and married Bob Swaback; DeDe married me.

In 2004, Gaye and Bob's son, Mitchell, was involved in a swimming accident that took his life. A 23 year old young man entered heaven that August day. That was a very sad and dark day for Bob and Gaye... but let me share with you the rest of their story.

I referred earlier about reading a friends website: www.mitchellswabackcharities.org. As I read over the website, I saw Bob and Gaye take the tragedy in their lives and turn it into a wonderful, fruitful ministry. First, they committed time and resources to help an orphanage in Peru that Mitchell had been involved with through an earlier missions trip. They didn't stop there, but continued to realize a dream of their son's by seeing that a sports complex was added to the church Mitchell attended. They continued by getting involved by sponsoring an extreme makeover to Tabitha House in Chicago: a Christian run home for homeless women and children. For six years, Gaye and Bob have held fund raising events so they can minister to those in need. Isn't that a wonderful story of ashes to beauty?

I read this morning from James 1. "Consider it pure joy my brothers when you encounter various trials." My devotional book went on to add: "In this reading, James has two other pieces of advice for getting through trials. One is to ask God for wisdom (v.5). Wisdom is practical knowledge about how to live in godly ways, especially under difficult circumstances. The other is to 'believe and not doubt' (v.6). Affirming what we know to be true about God is faith, a rock that cannot be moved by any storm of life."

The older I get, the more I understand that no family is immune from heartache. These past two weeks I have spent the cold, snowy days at home tracking down other students of Stanzel Christian High School. You know what I have found? Nearly every student has had some heartache/trial in their life since leaving high school; no one is immune. I also have seen many different ways we have handled our trials.

Let me encourage you to turn your heartache into joy; your sorrow and pain into something good and productive; roadblocks into bridges; death into life for others; broken lives into restored lives. God is the giver of all good gifts... and He is capable of sustaining and renewing our hearts and minds.... thank you, Gaye and Bob, for your Godly example... may we each follow your example and create ministry from our sorrow.

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center...a youth camp and retreat center in central IowaHidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free churches of Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri.

Hidden Acres Picture of the Week

2010-02-01T11:45:00.001-08:00

Over 250 men gathered at camp for our annual district men's retreat last week. Hidden Acres is now hosting 4 weekends of Winter Blast: our district middle school winter retreat. Over 1000 young people and youth pastors and sponsors will be a blessing to us throughout the next 4 weekends! Always room in the Inn for one more retreat group. Check us out at: www.hacamps.org

Stanzel Days- 1968 to 1978

2010-01-31T10:41:00.000-08:00

Lois Cutbirth and her seven children. All the children were involved in the ministry over the years.

For 10 years, a little experiment of a Christian boarding school existed along Highway 92, located between Winterset and Greenfield Iowa. Even today, the original school building stands... sagging and unattended for over 30 years. A sign out front still proclaims Stanzel Christian High School; but no book has been opened or no meals prepared for students since closing in 1978. For those who gave money and time in the late 60's to open the doors, some may look at their efforts as wasted; this blog is to tell men like Cecil Whistler, Clair Rogers, and others, "Thanks". It is also a big thanks to all the teachers who gave of their years to pour into a couple hundred young people's lives.

The glory years of Stanzel were the years of the Cutbirths; along with Bob and Lois, Ray Block, and others saw the vision and they too poured their heart and soul into getting this baby of a school going and on its feet. I was able to attend in 1969, the second year Stanzel was open. The first year, about 23 students left the safe, public school system to try this alternative education system. This was 20 years before the homeschool movement began to pick up momentum. The late 60's cultural revolution was forcing parents to look for an alternative to the school system that was being infiltrated with drugs, Vietnam unrest, and wild rock and roll.

Gas was $.29 a gallon, a pizza was a dollar, a pop was $.10 and a candy bar a nickel. Truly those were the good old days. Visits to the nearby Ramseys service station were guarded; there was a fear that perhaps the local farmers might swear or spit tobacco our way. As students, we loved the atmosphere of the locals: Worth Ramsey.. the owner, and his sons, Sonny and Hugh; one a mechanic/farmer, the other a hard drinking farmer that drank and swore too much. We loved getting away after class and slipping over and drinking a pop or eating a candy bar.

At 14 years of age, I was making decisions and living on my own like most 18 year olds were allowed to do when leaving for college. Some how, a group of young people from all over Iowa and the midwest, came together, lived under one roof with one dorm counselor, and became bonded and friends for life. It wasn't perfect; there were young men and women who came in troubled and left troubled. There were students who did not make it past the first month because of behavior issues. There were those students who came, lacking skills and abilities who left richly rewarded and with direction and purpose in their lives.

Who would have thought that young people like Steve Canter, Randy Larson, DeDe Crow and myself would have gone into full time ministry. Steve Canter is now a missionary in Japan; Randy Larson has been a preacher for over 30 years; DeDe and I have been at Hidden Acres for over 25 years. Each of us would say, "Stanzel days saved us... it gave us direction... it made a student out of us... it solidified our faith"

By far the most influential people at Stanzel were Bob and Lois Cutbirth along with Ray Block. Each one so different in their approach, but each one ordained to be there at that particular time. It was Lois who took a rag-tag group of singers and made it a choir that did a little travelling to events and churches. It was Bob who administered the school, cast the vision, disciplined the students, raised the money, encouraged the staff, and met with the very conservative board. It was Ray Block who introduced students for the first time to creative thinking... outside the box kind of thinking. These were pre-psychology years... but Ray was ahead of his time. He was ministry minded before others.

Ray Block is still impacting and influencing young lives

As fast as the school developed, it ended just as abruptly; not much explanation by the school board: one fall day in 1971 we had teachers, and the next day, several were let go. Nobody ever really knew the details; only that it wasn't the same after that day. I left at the end of the first semester and returned to public school after staying 3 years at Stanzel. DeDe ended up attending all 4 years and graduating from Stanzel the next spring. The school continued on for a few more years; I returned in 1977 and taught English, German and PE. DeDe returned also that year to teach music and be the girls dorm counselor. We married at the end of the school year in 1978. The school never opened again.

I tell you about Stanzel not to lift it up as the perfect example of a ministry; there were plenty of things that went wrong. I tell you about Stanzel to remind us that, regardless of any of our current situations, great things can happen when we are faithful. The Cutbirths and the Blocks... they were faithful. Did they do everything right... probably not... but in spite of our efforts, God is able to take little conversations, small encounters and make them huge on the spiritual impact scale.

To Lois Cutbirth and to Ray Block... I thank you. Lois is now 85 years old and Ray, must be 70ish: I want to publicly tell you how much you meant to me. Your efforts were not in vain.

And to those who are serving in out-of-the-way places; you wonder if your efforts will amount to anything: I encourage you to remain faithful in the work you were called to; there will be those around you who will come along later... and write you letters of thanks for how and what your poured into their lives.

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center
...a youth camp and retreat center in central Iowa
Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

Picture of the Week

2010-01-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

Think Summer my Friends... think Summer! It doesn't help much right now... but green trees, water, and fun in the sun is right around the corner at camp!!

Dear old Aunties

2010-01-26T05:13:00.000-08:00

Auntie Elsie, Aunt Betty, and Auntie Gladys- another year older!

We all have them... dear old aunties that poured out love to us when we were children. I had 5 of them on my dad's side. Two of them just celebrated their 96th and 93rd birthdays this week. Let me share with you my memories.

Auntie Peg. One of a kind. Loud, opinionated, with a memory for obsure details of the past. She knew everybody and everybodies business. I lived with her while in college for 6 months; it was there I grew to love this unusual lady who was a bit brash on the exterior, but a gentle, loving soul on the inside. Aunt Peg passed away a few years ago at 93 year of age. When we were children, we didn't like staying with Aunt Peg... as an adult, we loved being around her and hearing her stories and listening to our family history.

Auntie Gladys is the second to oldest... she turned 96 this week. She was the care-giver. From the world's view, Auntie never did anything huge in her life; she stayed home and cared and nurtured her family, and doing it so well. Uncle Bill, her husband, was one of my favorites. A fisherman, a quail hunter, a talker. It was this auntie that cared for us many a Friday nights as we laid around her house after our weekly trip to the laundry mat with my dad; she fed us, she mended our jeans, she mothered us.

Auntie Elsie turned 93 this week. Auntie Elsie was the happy one; always laughing; always excited about birds and flowers. She lived on the farm outside of Kellogg in a big house with lots of rooms. You wanted to be around Aunt Elsie because you knew your spirits would be lifted. She was married to Uncle Roy; a great farmer, but just the oposite of Auntie... gruff, frugal and impatient. Never have I seen a couple so opposite in their dispositions. Never have I seen a lady enjoy spending her late husband's saved money after he passed away. What fun for us to see our dear auntie get out and enjoy her life with traveling late in her life.

Auntie Anne... the kissing auntie. We knew we were going to be lavished with lip-sticked-kisses when we met and left this auntie. She was the beautiful one; her hair, her makeup, he whole demeanor shouted glamour. We loved seeing auntie as a kid; she loved everyone of my 23 first cousins; she never remembered our faults and shortcomings, but poured out love and affection to everyone, every time she saw us. We loved going to her house; we always felt like a king in her palace.

Aunt Betty... she turns 72 in early February, the youngest and the last of 8 kids born to my grandma and grandpa. Aunt Betty was different from the rest; she became a single mother in the early 60's. She never married, but had the one daughter. Aunt Betty grew on us. We never stayed at her home as a child, but later learned to love her for who she was; a staunch Democrat, a smoker, and a great cook.

As I reflect this week about the birthdays of my four living aunties, I am glad they were/are apart of my life. I have had 3 aunties that have lived into their 90's, each one living through 2 world wars, each one leaving a wonderful legacy in my mind. I pray I can do likewise and influence my nephews and nieces with love and kindness and kisses and encouragement as they grow up in a very different world than I did.

The Red Dress

2010-01-19T05:25:00.000-08:00

I was 5 at the time; my sister Vivian would have been 7. We both were attending the same school in Grinnell Iowa: Cooper Elementary. Cooper Elementary no longer exists but a newer Fareway store has been built over the site.

In those days, 1960, girls wore dresses to school. If for some reason the weather was bitterly cold, pants could be worn under the dress. There were strict dress codes for all students.

This must of took place after our mother left us; Dad had custody of 4 young children; he worked at Donaldson's factory in Grinnell while raising 4 kids in a cold, old farmhouse. During that first winter, Grandma Taylor came up from Missouri to help with the household chores and be there when we arrived home on the bus.

Vivian brought home a note from her teacher one day asking if she could stay after school. The teacher had said she would bring her home. Permission was granted. Discipline? Extra help on homework? No... shopping.

We don't recall the teacher's name, only the act. She took this little 7 year old, who probably didn't have a decent dress at the time, up town and bought her a simple red dress.

I have often thought of the impact this wonderful gesture by a kind, sensitive teacher must have made on this young child who must have missed out on a mother's fussing over her school clothes for her.

Reminder to me: Watch for opportunities to create a "Red Dress" moment in the lives of children. Acts of kindness to a 7 year old that needs a little extra love may become one the pillars that could shape a child's perspective all their lives.

I know... I remember... and I know my sister remembers.

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
Hidden Acres is a youth camp and retreat center and is owned and operated by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

One Last Trout

2010-01-07T07:10:00.000-08:00

It is a cold,snowy day today; my thoughts are on future Springs and past Springs: the following story is from 2008, written after my dad passed away in June.

We had been saying for years, “This could be our last trout fishing together.” Finally, it came true this spring. Dad turned 80 in February, and had spent a good part of the late winter in and out of the hospital with old age infirmities; his body was worn out.

We headed to Waterloo Creek near Dorchester; this was a stream that Dad had grown to love to fish; he had one hole he particularly enjoyed sitting over. My brother Randy and I loaded Dad and his scooter chair up, and headed north from our cabin for what was to be the last trout fish.

It was a sunny day; we arrived before the stocking truck arrived. We were the first ones in and we were able to secure dad’s favorite hole. The stocking truck arrived by the time we had our equipment unpacked and poles readied to fish. Dad caught his last five trout that morning. He never moved from his chair the entire time he fished; we handed him bait, retrieved his fish and put them on a stringer, and brought him drinks and sandwiches.

We almost forgot to take a picture; but now are so thankful we had Dad pose with his last catch. That was the last time Dad sat along the banks of an Iowa trout stream; it all started in 1964 when a friend invited Dad to use his little school house cabin along Wexford Creek, south of Lansing. For 44 years, Dad had hauled his boys, his grandsons, and old hunting buddies to the cabin to try their luck on these small ribbons of streams that the DNR keep stocked weekly with hatchery raised trout: browns and rainbows mostly.

Dad only caught one lunker trout in 44 years; a 5 pound rainbow; and even this by accident. I had hooked the trout earlier with my cane pole and bobber, but it didn’t take long before I was stripped of line, hook and bobber; too much fish and not enough pole. Dad was throwing a spinner when he hooked my broken line and bobber, wrapping the line up in his spinner. After 20 minutes of working the fish, Dad dragged it onto shore. But, he was just as happy catching 12 inch rainbows that glistened when fresh out of the water; to Dad every trout was a blessing and a thing of beauty to behold.

We will return to the cabin again this spring to do a little more fishing,turkey hunting and seek for mushrooms; but we will also make our way up the path from the trout stream at Wexford and visit Dad’s nearby grave. It was Dad’s wish to be buried in the Catholic cemetery overlooking the Wexford stream and right down the bluff where Dad shot so many spring gobblers; it was as if he wanted to be able to hear one more trout break water for a gadfly or catch one more gobbler announce the morning off the roost.

Welcome home Dad. May spring come soon!

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton Iowa
Hidden Acres is the youth and family camp of the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri

Good Luck: I will pray for you!

2009-12-29T05:03:00.000-08:00

The two phrases don't fit together: Good Luck and I will Pray for you! It is one or the other, but it can't be both.

To the Christian... who prays and seeks the direction of the Lord, there is no such thing as good luck. There are answered prayers, there is the hand of the Lord on them, but luck has nothing to do with good things happening to a person or a family.

Case in point: I saw it happen yesterday. Let me share Tracy's story. Tracy Waltz is our youth pastor's wife. 10 days ago, we had a wedding at the camp chapel, with the reception at the main lodge. Tracy and Joel were there helping and participating in the fun evening. On the drive to the camp, Tracy took off her wedding ring in order to put on some hand cream. As she left the car to walk into the lodge, she forgot that her ring was in her lap. It wasn't until later that she realized that she didn't make it home with her ring.

This was not just a off-the-shelf ring; the diamond was Joel's grandmother's set into a new ring. Not only was it valuable, there was alot of sentimental value to the diamond itself. Tracy was crushed; Joel was doubtful that it would ever be found.

Tracy returned to the camp yesterday with a metal detector. Since the wedding, we have received over 10 inches of snow, and plenty of ice. The circle drive in front of the main lodge had been walked over, driven over and the snow and ice pack was at least an inch thick; and their were fresh bobcat tracks where the maintenance man had just scraped off what snow and ice that he could. Tracy used the metal detector and heard a beep under the snow. Tracy tells her story, "I figured the camp picked up bottle caps and litter, so I was hopeful. I went into the lodge, got a bucket of hot water and began to pour it over the spot. Right before my eyes, a circle began to melt around my ring. I stood there and cried... knowing it was truly a miracle. My husband had wished me good luck before I left home, and I told him he should pray that I would find it. He did, I did, and so did others"

What a great reminder to me... expect God to intervene when we pray. We worry, we fret, we stew before we pray. Buried under the snow packed situations of our struggle on earth, He has already has the perfect answer ready for us when we pray.

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
earldtaylor@yahoo.com
... Hidden Acres is a youth camp and retreat center and is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

Leaving Margins in Your Field

2009-12-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

Boaz told his foremen, ”Leave some stalks of grain behind so that Ruth may come behind and glean in our fields. And don’t embarrass her in any way!” (from Ruth 2:15-16) Our staff recently returned from a national Christian camping conference where the speaker, Pastor Bryan Loritts from Memphis, Tennessee spoke from this passage; the hearts of the entire staff were stirred as he shared this principle: The principle of allowing margins in our lives: Boaz provided margins in his fields by telling his workers to leave some behind; “don’t pick up every sheaf… leave some for the needy… leave something for those who are willing to work for their bread… we have enough, we don’t need it all.”

This is a wonderful picture; I see it often from the farmer who wants to make sure the pheasants and deer have enough food to make it through an Iowa winter by leaving the last 4 rows of corn. I see it in some homes where boxes and boxes of food are packaged up and given to the hungry. I see it here at camp when families are struggling along, living pay check to paycheck, and we are able to say, “ No problem, Come on and come to camp. We have room and let’s not worry about the fees.”

We purposely have built in margins into Hidden Acres' finances. Even in the early years when we found ourselves short, we always attempted to show mercy and margins with our summer campers. Why? It is very simple, “The gospel can’t penetrate a heart of the young person if he isn’t at camp, but stays home loafing around the house!” Empty beds cannot be ministered to. I want kids to come to know Christ!”

I love that theme of building margins in our lives. I was young and stupid once; and went into debt for stuff and house. When I freed myself of debt, I felt a big burden slide off my back; I began to build in financial margins into my life; not building wealth, but opening up more opportunities to give.

Charles Wesley built in margins into his life: He determined that 29 pounds was an adequate sum to live on each year. When the royalty checks began to arrive, he still determined that 29 pounds was adequate to live on, and gave the rest away.

I do have to admit, I don’t build any margins in my life when it come to mercy, or gentleness, or kindness. My driver personality gets in my way at times and blocks out seasons of mercy and gentleness. “ Lord help me to let my margins along my fields to grow wider and heavier for the Lost!”

For us this Christmas time, we have built into our calendar a month of margins; it is our slowest month of the year and we use this time to reconnect with family, to plan for the upcoming year, and to renew our spiritual lives. Workers without margins in their life burn out and leave.

I won’t say it too loudly but I pray you have created some margins with your gift giving. I have been around for 54 Christmas’ and I honestly don’t remember a gift that was memorable; the gifts was nice stuff to have, but there has been nothing that I received that I still cherish and keep. Enuf said!

I trust we understand and know what our 29 pounds looks like, and have the self control to live on our 29 pounds each year and give back to those in need.

Wishing you and your family the very best!

....Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth; Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.....and Jacob the father of Joseph of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Matthew 1:1-16

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
earldtaylor@yahoo.com
....Hidden Acres is the youth camp and retreat center owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

Joy to the World...THE LORD IS COME!!

2009-12-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Talk about getting me out of the mood for Christmas!! I turned on a local TV station this morning to catch an update on the upcoming storm, only to be greeted by a lively New York City choir singing a rendition of Joy to the World. Nice choir: energetic and engaged. But they got the song all wrong: they couldn't sing the song as written: Joy to the World, the Lord has come... that would be offensive to someone... instead they replaced the Lord has come with "let everyone sing". As if singing was going to bring lasting JOY to the world.

For those who know me, you know that I don't go for all the hype and glitter of Christmas. I was told when I had children I would change.... I didn't: I have four. I was told when I had grandchildren I would change... I didn't: I have six!

I do love the spirit of Christmas: the extra time with family, extra time to read and relax, extra time to reflect on the past year and anticipate the next year, and I even like a few football games. I don't need presents and decorations and parties to accomplish that. What I like best is the platform of the Christmas season to share my faith: it is a no brainer. When others complain about their busyness of the week, I can talk about the Christ child... born to be the Savior. Born into a world full of sin and strife, knowing that this "lamb of a child" would 33 years later be the final and perfect sacrifice.

Today is the 23rd, and I have yet to visit a store in town to purchase the "Joy giving gift" that many have labored over for weeks. My prayer over these next few days is that I would be sent a stranger with an empty spot in his heart, and that I might be the messenger of the Good News to all people and share about this Christ child born so many years ago... "Lord give me the courage and discernment when you send a joyless person into my life!"

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Design and Vision Director
Hidden Acres Christian Center Dayton,Iowa
...Hidden Acres is a Christian youth and summer camp along with an adult and family retreat center located in central Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

Apples don't fall far from the Tree

2009-12-16T07:53:00.000-08:00

My 4th grade friend Norman

My daughter arrived home from college a few Christmas's ago; she had called earlier in the day and said she was bringing a friend.

I was a little taken back when I stepped outside to greet my daughter; I could see her friend was struggling with her baggage. She walked with a limp, her knees were turned in and she wore thick glasses, with limited eye sight.

As we sat in the living room, tears came to my eyes because I was seeing the exact image in myself 37 years later.

We had moved to Coon Rapids, Iowa when I was going into the fourth grade. I was ready for the move. My dad had recently remarried after a 1961 divorce. We settled into the community, and I started school in Miss Sorenson’s class.

In 1964, there were not special education classes, only three levels of students: the smart, the average, and the slow. We had 3 slow students in my 4th grade class. Dave, Patty, and Norman. I was average to smart.

No one wore tennis shoes to school in 1964, but dress shoes. Norman didn’t wear either; he wore a heavy type above-the-ankle work boot that was sturdy, bulky, and enduring.

From his feet to his head, Norman dressed differently than the other kids. His coat and jeans were not stylish, but straight cut denims that a 30 year old farm hand would wear. He wouldn’t eat the 35 cent school lunches, instead he would carry his lunch of heavy dark bread sandwiches full of last night’s meat. I ate the Friday fish stick lunches and drank the 2 cent milk.

I wasn’t the biggest kid on the play ground, but I remember watching after Norman. I always made sure he was included in kick ball games at recess and would not allow the other boys to poke fun or mimic Norman. He was not overly gifted in running and throwing, but he was extra strong in arms and chest.

When Christmas came around in 1964, my dad was making around $3000 per year. I didn’t know we were the poor ones. I remember having our Sunday school Christmas program prior to Christmas school vacation. I remember the good hard candy and chocolates that were passed out to each child in the brown paper sack. I saved mine.

I took it to school on Monday morning, gift wrapped in a box and slipped it to Norman over lunch. He never said much. I never received a thank you, but I knew I had done the right thing that Christmas. I haven’t seen Norman since grade school. I heard he never made it through high school. I moved away when we finished 8th grade.

I doubt my daughter’s friend got asked to visit somebody’s home often during her 4 years at Moody Bible. I am glad that apple’s don’t fall very far from the tree. I am glad that some things can be taught and others things are pure instinct.

And to you my old friend Norman, Merry Christmas to you again, 44 years later.

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
...a children's and youth camp, a retreat center, and a family camp located in Central Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

A True Turkey Story

2009-11-26T03:17:00.000-08:00

I had one tag turkey tag left in my pocket, so I felt it my duty to hunt just a few more times for turkey on my property north of my house. I was able to get two tags this year, and had filled one in October.

On Sunday evening I sat in my shooting house; it is a little 6 sided shooting shack on stilts, with 6 windows to see and shoot from. I love it because it was my dads, and I love it because I can sit in it with a heater, coffee, radio and earphones, and enjoy an evening of hunting. From my high perch, I can see all corners of my property and some of the neighbors too.

Right on cue, a group of 5 young gobblers entered my bean field. I got my gun stuck out the window and waited until they came into range. At 50 yards, I could tell they were not going to get any closer, so I shot, dropping one. He flopped around, but I knew that was normal. But, he stood back up and walked into some weeds. I jumped out of the house, and chased him down, shooting him again with my last bullet.

I carried him back the 100 yards to the shooting shack, and laid him at the bottom of my stairs. I had a bow tag, so I returned to the shack to wait out the last hour of the day. While in the shack, I received a phone call from my son in law. While on the phone I said, "There goes another turkey across my bean field." Then it dawned on me to look out the door. I did. And the dead turkey was gone.

I had been pondering how I was going to cook this turkey for Thanksgiving today, and all the time this Lazarus turkey was thinking otherwise. I was out of bullets, so I tried to chase him down with my bow, but the turkey slipped into the timber, never to be seen again.

....and that is a true story!! Motto: Always have a ham in the freezer!

written by:
Earl Taylor
Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center
... a Christian youth and children summer camp, a retreat center for adults and families, owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota, and located in central Iowa

A Few Good Friends

2009-11-21T02:12:00.000-08:00

My good friend Herb hunting with me

We all want them; we all need them; few of us have what we would call a Good Friend. I have just a few of them; I know lots and lots of people; I consider many people friends of mine; there is only a handful of folks that I call Good Friends.

I had a visit with one of my Good Friends this week; Herb and his wife and daughter drove over to see us and we spent some time hunting together, and a little time visiting and laughing. Much of our time is not spent, visiting about general newsy stuff; if we talk we talk directly to each other and discuss what is going on in each others lives.

I lost a childhood Good friend this week; Randy Schultz died from smoke inhalation caused by a house fire. Randy and I were nearly inseparable when I moved to the Coon Rapids area in 1964. For 5 years, we bummed around together; I would go to his house on Saturday morning, help him scoop hog manure from the barn and lay down fresh straw for the pigs, in order to play and be together in the afternoon. Randy was twice the size of me. My dad referred lovingly to Randy as "Hoss", after the Bonanza character. Some people saw us together and said, "Mutt and Jeff!"

We moved away from Coon Rapids in 1969, and Randy and I saw each other occasionally. 20 years ago, I attended the funeral of Randy's 3 year old son who was accidentally run over by a semi truck in their front yard. Years later I attended Randy's parents funeral. We didn't write, we didn't call over the years, only seeing each other occasionally. Next week I will attend my last Schultz funeral.

Proverbs says it right... iron sharpens iron... honor the friends of your father... a friend stick closer than a brother. True friends admonish, encourage, exhort, and trust each other. True friendship endures time and space; friends come and go.

I will miss knowing Randy is no longer here; my prayer is that we will meet once again in heaven and renew our friendship again, after another 40 years of near silence.

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center
...a Christian youth and children's summer camp and a retreat center for adults, families, churches, and schools. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota and is located near Dayton along the Des Moines River.

The 2 dollar Bill

2009-10-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

...as told to me by Dave Martin

“When I was in high school a best buddy and I exchanged $2 bills. We told each other that even when we were broke and down on our luck, we still had $2. I took it seriously,” remembers Dave.

“Several years had passed. I was out of college, married and in Thief River Falls Minnesota. I wasn’t a pastor yet, but Carol and I were very active in the local Evangelical Free Church. I was keen on seeing Pete, Dee and their family to come to church. I kept asking them.”

“Would you let your three kids come to Sunday school?” I asked. Dee was for it, Pete had reservations. The children eventually came.

The boys came to Sunday school, but after awhile they were hesitant to come. “Everyone was wearing suits, and we boys have these old sweaters.” Dave heard of their embarrassment. The next Sunday, Dave the Sunday school superintendent, stood up in front of the church, wearing his sweater. “The boys beamed at me.”

Sometime later, we were at the Wednesday evening prayer meeting, when one of the dear saints who worked for the public works department shared, “Pete and Dee are going to get their utilities turned off. We should pray about it.”

Pastor Joe Swan said, “Pray about it! We are going to take up an offering.” And so he did. He pulled out a paper bag, passed it around, with families putting a dollar bill in as it passed their chair.

“I was dead broke,” remembers Dave. “Except for the $2 bill tucked away in my billfold. I didn’t want to give it up, but I felt the Spirit of the Lord prompt me. I dropped it in as the bag passed by.” Their lights stayed on and Pete got back on his feet.
Pete and De started attending church.

One year later we were ready to take our 1st church in Hector, Minnesota. The church was having a little going-a-way party for us, and Pastor Joe found a paper bag and passed it around again so that church members could give us a gift to send us off to Hector.

When we arrived home, and began to sort through the bag, there was the exact $2 bill I had given to Pete and Dee in a sealed envelope.

I went to see Pete the next day, “How did you know I had given you the $2 bill?” I asked. Pete said, “I know of no one else dumb enough to give me their last cent!”

“I still have the $2 bill in my billfold as a constant reminder of being faithful when being faithful hurts. I photocopied the bill, framed it, and gave it to Pete for their 50th anniversary, only I changed the picture on it… instead of the president, we put a picture of Pete.”

Pete and De grew in the Lord, raised their family, and was successful as a business man. His children to this day are walking with the Lord.

“Isn’t GOD GOOD!”

Written by:
Earl Taylor Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center
... a Christian youth and children's summer camp and a retreat center for adults, families, churches and schools. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota and is located near Dayton in Central Iowa along the Des Moines River.

Foundation Stones

2009-10-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

I returned to my cabin in Northeast Iowa this past weekend; we took grandkids on their first trip to cabin and to tour the area looking at the leaves and the many beautiful sights. We had a wonderful trip.

As I was picking up sticks to build a fire behind the cabin, I noticed that the limestones that used to be the foundation for our old cabin, were peaking through the dirt; one here, one there, but a general outline could be seen in the grass; it had the appearance of something like a ancient building site being unearthed by archeogist.

I knew what was beneith the surface; I didn't need to have an expert tell me. It was I that burned the old cabin down accidently 4 years ago. It was I who pushed in the left over debris and buried everything below the surface and seeded it down with grass; and yet four years later... stones were making their way to the surface, indicating where the old house had set.

We all have them: buried rocks. Rocks that we have tried to bury. Rocks that have deeply hurt, wounded, or grieved us. Rocks of death, broken relationships, and unfulfilled promises. Rocks that have created havoc and chaos in family life.

We don't bury joy rocks! We mount them on top of the shelves of our houses and minds. Great stuff! Great events! Awards! Trophies! Letters of admiration! Letters of Praise!

It is the buried rocks that we keep tripping over, stubbing or toe or falling flat on our faces because they tripped us up.

I will leave the rocks visible at the cabin, and won't remove them until they trip me up at night as I go to the outhouse; then I will dig them up with a vengenance and will remove them permentantly. And with the rock, I will build a fire place near the pond, so I can have the rocks visible and functional again. It is ok to have the rocks... just don't let them crush you beneath their weight. Use them them for future ministry.

Written by
Earl Taylor
Executive Director
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa 50530
... a Christian youth and childrens summer camp and a retreat center for adults, families, churches and schools. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota

Boats and Beer Signs

2009-10-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

I actually don't enjoy estate auctions, but I will look through the listings in our weekly shopper; my wife likes to attend auctions, so I want to see if there might be something I could use that she could buy for me.

Last week's shopper had the usual listings, but one struck me and resonated deep into my mind: lots of old beer signs and lots of boats! A man had live 70+ years, and two types of items seemed to personify the person... beer and boats.

I know that auction notices are unable to fully explain the man; perhaps he was a fine Christian man who led countless people to the Lord; perhaps he was a fine family man that love and nurtured his kids and wife: I was unable to read that in the list of what he had accumulated. I don't suppose I would have been any more ready to purchase a boat from him if I had known he had used the boats for Christian cruises of Don Williams Lake. But through the entire thought process, I did ponder, what will I be known for when I die and they sell off my stuff that I had accumulated over the years? Will anybody really care about my many deer heads, my guns, my wildlife art collection and will anybody really know and understand my testimony and my walk with Christ? Will my life on earth have any effect on what will be sold at my estate auction?

I just returned from a hunting trip to South Dakota where I got lots of shots at deer; missing 11 times. I was surprised at my response when I missed a couple really nice size bucks: I felt bad for a minute, but didn't stew or brood over not acquiring another big rack for my wall. Instead I rejoiced in the entire trip, revelling in the outdoors, and the many opportunities. I was content with waking up each morning very alive and eager to face the new day. I thought to myself,"Perhaps I am finally learning something, growing a little wiser, and perhaps I am getting things in life in a better perspective."

Earlier this week I had a chance to share with my 80 year old friend Cliff about Christ; in the end of our conversation, Cliff simply said, "You were brought up differently than I was. My dad lived to be a 100, and he did not see any need for religion. I feel the same way." Cliff will die one of these days, maybe tomorrow, and maybe like his dad, in 20 years; it is my prayer that when I preach his funeral sermon, I can tell about the man Cliff, who loved to hunt and garden, but more importantly, Cliff the man who came to Christ at 80+ years old. Pray with me for Cliff.

My friend Cliff

I actually hope I do have a big audience at my estate sale; but I don't want them there because they covet a deer head or a gun of mine; I want them there sitting on the sidelines visiting with others and saying, "I would like to have one of Earl's guns, he meant something to me and he was the one who led me to Christ." I trust that perhaps a Cliff might come to the sale... or others because they came to know Christ because of my faithfulness here on earth.

So... is your garage full of unfinished sail boats and the walls littered with antique beer signs? Or... are you already preparing you sale bill with fewer and fewer earthly items, and concentrating on your eternal sale bill?

Written by
Earl Taylor, Executive Director
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
... a Christain youth and childrens summer camp and a retreat center for adults, families, churches, and schools. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

The troubled camper

2009-07-13T04:06:00.000-07:00

Keep the bit in a child's mouth allows the parent to keep control... which in turn produces great kids!

I wish I could tell you that every camper that comes to camp has come from the perfect home; with a mom and dad, a loving caring environment that has nurtured the child along physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is easy for me to spot these families after a few encounters with parents and children. When just the opposite has happened, it isn’t quite so easy for me to pick up. Children can hide many of their hurts and scars from most of us; it is usually only in a cabin, that the child breaks down and share what is going on in their lives back home.

We had such a young man at camp this past week. He was a bigger kid than most in his cabin. He came into camp crying out for help; not with any words, only with his actions. He was unruly, undisciplined, mouthy, and with an attitude that said, “I am in charge, I call the shots, don’t push me”. For most counselors, such behavior is very tough to handle; the camper’s disruptive behavior can flavor the entire cabin. If a counselor doesn’t get outside help from other lead staff, he might end up with a disaster of a week; none of the cabin’s campers will have a great week.

As it turned out, this young man’s mom was recently put in prison; his grandparents are trying to raise him, but incapable in dealing with the boy’s anger and hurts, so consequently spend most of the time yelling and trying to correct the boy from a chair instead of correcting and disciplining the boy with a firm hand.

The boy ended up acting out his emotional pain by trying to cut himself with paper. I asked the lead staff what cutting was and why do kids do this. Their response was that young people use paper, or razor blades to inflict cuts on arm or legs and this helps them to calm down from their emotional pain by inflicting physical pain. Apparently having physical pain temporarily removes the hurts and pains of home or school.

I am lost on this one.

At the same time this past week, I saw the other side of family life. I am thinking of two families in particular whose children attended camp this week. I have known these two families for years and have seen time and time again, the parents and child together. Every time these two families come to camp, the entire family comes. Every time I meet or greet these children, they come across as confident, friendly, engaging, and polite.

As I shared in my last blog about control, both sets of parents of these great kids have not lost control of the family. There is order, respect, control, and lots of love flowing from parent to child and from child to parent. In both situations, mom is able to stay home and maintain oversight and balanced nurturing of the child. The parents are making the decisions; the child stays under the parent’s umbrella of authority.

Regardless of what background, who ones parents are, how one is raised, the child needs a week at camp. It is here that much of life’s struggles can be forgotten for 5 days. It is here that under the care of a young counselor, that each child can find a place to fit in for 5 days. We are not miracle workers: there are still many families that children have to return to on Friday and face a mom or dad or grandparent that won’t continue nurturing and guiding the child. We want to be an oasis for a week, that perhaps, can be a little balm of Gilead to a young person’s life.

I do have to tell parents out there going through a divorce and all the ugliness that brings, “Keep your wars at home and keep the camp out of your wars. And don’t engage your child in your wars while he/she is at camp!” I am tired of immature parents fighting it out and trying to drag the camp into their legal messes. Enuf said! Grow up parents!

And to you parents who are keeping the bit in your child’s mouth, and continue to control them through their teen years, “I appreciate you and pray for you to continue to have the courage to keep up your great parenting!” It is worth it; the results of your faithfulness will come back to you generation after generation. “Surely, your grandchildren and their children will rise up and call you blessed.”

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
... a youth and family camp and retreat center owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota

July 4th- Random Thoughts

2009-07-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

When it comes to work, most children have no idea how or what it entails. They mostly like the pay check part of work, and would rather skip the sweating part. I have been surprised of late of how teen age kids want to learn how to build or at least be apart of something bigger than they are. I have run two different crews of extra counselors the past two weeks. We have been doing different projects on the new Inn. Three boys installed a 2000 sq. ft. wood ceiling in the meeting room and afterwards I told them, “You have just done something that will last for the next 50 years. You will be able to bring your grand kids back to camp and say, ‘I did that’!” I had others sanding, putting up siding, painting, and finishing doors and trim. As I watched them work, it was easy for me to see who had initiative, who was a slacker, who worked at not working, who had an eye for detail, who grasped unseen concepts of construction. I also saw that most young people love to work with a group, but hate doing something totally by them selves. At the end of the two weeks, I felt my time with them was productive, that each person learned a new skill. I think I would enjoy doing that type of supervision for an entire summer.

Counselor Work Crew

I told the work crew counselors a story I had heard years ago from Tony Compola, about children. I told them about the difference between city kids and farm kids. Parents of city kids want children, like children, but don’t need children. They are a financial liability and end up costing the parent well over $225,000 to raise up to the age of 18. However, the farmer parent needs children. Their children are a financial asset. Each child of a farmer, will generate over $125,000 in income for the parent during his 18 years if the child is actively involved in the farming operation. I have never seen a farm kid with self esteem issues when he works along side his parent… he feels needed; however the opposite is true with city kids… they are not needed except to maybe empty the trash or perhaps mow the yard.

My thoughts about parenting: Too many parents lost control of their child when they started asking for the child’s opinion and preferences. When a child is little, and if a parent asks him, “Would you like oatmeal or fruity pebbles?” The child learns he is in control early. When we parents state, “This morning we are eating oatmeal, and it is good for you. Take it or leave it are your choices.” The child understands mom and dad are in control and will remain in control. When does a 6 year old know what is best for himself? By the time a child is 13 or 14, a parent will have a child with an attitude on their hands if they have been smothering him/her with excessive decision making; grow up mom and dad’s and take control early; it isn’t a popularity contest: it is called parenting!

In case you are wondering, I am from the old school; I am only 54, but in many ways, I think like most 70+ year olds; I find certain activities and music very offensive and improper. I still believe consumption of alcohol for a Christian is wrong; I still don’t think Christians should be dancing to secular music; I still find it offensive when I see a Christian light up a cigarette. Call me legalistic, call me old fashion, just don’t call me up and ask me to go drinking and dancing with you.

I hunt for meat!

I am a practical guy; I don’t spend money foolishly; I don’t do things that are not productive; I am not one to seek out entertainment or activity (movies, concerts, or sporting events) that doesn’t result in something: i.e. I hunt so I can get meat;I fish so I can eat fish; I till the ground so I can grow beans and corn. I don’t go to fire works, don’t piddle with video games, I don’t lay out in the sun, I don’t drive a motor cycle to somewhere I don’t need to be just for the sake of a ride, I would never shoot a paint ball gun (I eat what I shoot) and I would not own a pet. I know this last thought goes against every grain in America; we are a nation of pet lovers. It just doesn’t make any sense to me to own something that doesn’t do anything. I would have to feed him, take him outside, clean up after it’s messes, and then worry about the animal if I have to leave and go somewhere. If I want companionship, I will find a new friend (a person who can talk). If I want kissed, I will ask my wife or grandchildren. If I want messes in my yard and house, then I will adopt some more kids… but don’t ever expect me to get so attached to something that can’t talk, can’t work, and only costs me money. Enuf said!!

But I do have to tell you this 4th July weekend, I do love our country and all that it has allowed me to do and become. I do love the state of Iowa where it gets so sultry and hot for a few months and so cold and blustery for a few months that it can drive you inside for weeks on end, but I love the drastic seasons and the variety of natural forces. I love the fertile soil that can grow crops and weeds and wildflowers side by side. I love our rivers and the timbered valleys that pour excess water into the river basins. I love being an American and pray that the Spirit of God would sweep this great nation and bring it to it knees.

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Design and Vision
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
earldtaylor@yahoo.com
Hidden Acres is a Christian youth camp and retreat facility located in central Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota.

Fishers of Men

2009-06-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

Fishing Boys with prize- an 11 pound Catfish

I watched the little ones arrive at camp yesterday; what joy in their little faces. I love it when kids come to camp with such excitement, such anticipation. Once again we were overwhelmed with the sheer number of campers and parents as they arrived for a picture-perfect day; no rain, mild temperatures and just a little mud.

Three different speakers speaking to three different audiences, with plenty of fun mixed in the middle should make this week memorable. I love this age group of kids; they ask great questions; they look at their counselor as one who has all answers; and they try their best to stay up later than they should. Opening evening around the hot dog roast was best described as a zoo, as the little ones were climbing all over their counselor. I only watched and smiled thinking, “There is no way in the world I could be a counselor at my age; they would wear me out in a minute!”

Tradition has it that the fishing boys come to my house and fish from my pond one of the evenings. DeDe and I cook the boys a BBQ with some wild meat; last night was no exception with plenty of deer steaks and even fresh frog legs from the afternoon of pond plunking. The first two hours of fishing was more chasing tad poles and trying to catch a huge bull frog; there was little real fishing done except by a couple boys who were fishermen before they arrived at camp.

It is easy for me to spot the boys whose dads have fished with them and have trained them how to handle a rod and reel. They have skill and they also have the tools of a very full tackle box. Other boys come to camp with a rod and real, and a few hooks and bobbers, but little skill and for some only a mild interest in fishing. They liked the idea of fishing, but also like just mudding and dinking in the water.

I looked at this scenario and realized it is similar with people and their faith; many are committed, trained, disciplined, believers who are serious about their Walk with Christ; others are like the boys who will plink their week away; they talk fishing, they have a pole, but they never really get any fish caught. Some Christians love the idea of being a Christian, but never develop past their salvation experience; they stay along the shore chasing life without ever growing or going deeper in their walk.

And it brings great joy to my heart when I hear of someone who all of sudden takes off in their walk with Christ. I know, I diddled around shore for my first 20 years of my Christian life. I knew the language, developed a Christian pedigree, but I never caught any fish; I piddled 20 years away.

Occasionally, even in fishing you get surprised. Last night was no exception. I had left the boys at their campsite and walked the 100 yards back to my house to shower and get ready for bed when the doorbell rang. “We just caught the hugest catfish!,” they clamored. I grabbed my camera and headed across the bean field with them in the dark. Sure enough, they had. This little guy who had not caught anything all day long had stuck a dead blue gill on his hook and ended up landing a 11 pound catfish; which became the largest fish ever caught by a fishing camper in 20 years. The campsite was a buzzing with excitement, as everyone got interested in getting their pole in the water looking for another record size catfish.

My prayer for this week for these 11 young men and for the rest of the 400+ campers at Hidden Acres is that each of them will see the excitement and passion of their counselor’s lives and they too will get excited about their faith. Over and over I hear from parents of their child returning home from camp renewed and excited about Bible reading, sharing their faith, and praying. I want each camper to become real fishers of men.

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
earldtaylor@yahoo.com
Hidden Acres is the youth camp and adult retreat center located in central Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

When Old Staff Return Home to Camp

2009-06-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

Shawn and Connie and children

There has probably been at least 2000 kids who have worked at Hidden Acres over my past 25 years of being apart of the ministry; there is a long list of kids whom I have grown to love like sons and daughters; I smile often as I think about their time spent at camp with us.

Yesterday a couple of my favorites stopped in on their way back to Montana: Connie and Shawn McAlpine who both worked for us back in the late 80”s; Shawn is the pastor of an Christian Missionary Alliance church in Colstrip, Montana; they had returned to Iowa for a parents 50th wedding anniversary, and wanted their two children to see the camp and to check out what was new at camp; they had not been back for at least 10 years. It was great fun for me to give them the nickel tour and to show them the family life center, chapel, pastor’s cabin, and all the new program areas.

I considered both Connie and Shawn to be top notched staff; they were great kids while working together (before they were married); Shawn was our program director in the 80’s and went on to work at a camp full time in Minnesota after college. I remember them both as faithful, diligent, and with a passion for ministering to campers. In the 80’s, a staff of 12 to 16 seemed huge and almost unmanageable. I was much younger and much less trained, so that was all I could oversee. Today, we have 140 young people on staff and I don’t blink an eye at the size of the staff.

….And the week before, Ryan Peterson and his wife and new baby stopped in for a couple day visit prior to attending a wedding nearby. Ryan was a counselor and the camp pastor in the 90’s who now is senior pastor in Minnesota. He too shared about receiving his calling into ministry while working the many summers at camp.

Ryan and his family

Part of my early morning devotions time, I look over the list of current staff members and pray over them and ponder what will they become and how will they serve in the future at camp and back in the local church. From reading their bio-sketches, many of the young men have a desire to become youth pastors. I am surprised about the lack of kids who don’t see mission work in their future.

As I told the parents of the summer staff last week during our commissioning service, we will be a grinding wheel on your child’s life this summer. We will push them beyond what they ever thought they could accomplish. We will train and encourage. We will scold and admonish when necessary. We will force them to make good decisions and to be diligent and responsive. We will insist they take responsibility for mistakes and we will reward them for outstanding service. We want each young person to have a true servant's heart and to put the needs of campers above their own personal desires.

From the 140+ staff, I pray that we do send out future pastors to places like Colstrip, Montana and Minnesota, I pray we send out missionaries to places like Congo, Malaysia, and to inner city work. My prayer for this year's summer staff is that the Lord would touch their palate with the taste of active ministry that would transform them into young men and women who will not be content to sit along the sidelines of the church as pew warmers, but will be actively engaged in soul winning and kingdom work.

Pray with me that from this group, in 20 years when they come back for their tour of camp, (as they push me around in my wheel chair), that they too can report in and say, “It was here at camp that the Hand of the Lord touched me and I knew I was going to be in the ministry some day!”

Written by:
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
earldtaylor@yahoo.com
Hidden Acres is a Christian youth camp and adult retreat center located in central Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota.

First Week of Camp at Hidden Acres

2009-06-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

Fishing camp-- biggest catch of the week

Camp is off and running: 350 campers arrived Sunday afternoon; the rain held off until after the hot dog picnic and every mom and dad were gone. But true to form, we had a good shower that muddied up the roads and trails; for the kids, it created another adventure; to the housekeepers… it created opportunities!

There were so many new families bringing their first time campers to camp. We had underestimated the number of cars that would be arriving in a 2 hour period. Our new registration area in the Family Life Center worked well, but after the first week, we know we need to make some logistical changes for the upcoming weeks. For future Sundays parents should see even a smoother system in place to get their campers registered.

Our speakers this week are Damian Peasley from the Madrid Free Church and Tyler Parsons from the Sioux Center Free Church. Both are youth pastors and both have spoken at camp before. Our prayer is that each speaker will reach the heart of every boy and girl and that the Spirit of God would do a mighty work.

I have to tell you a story from Sunday. A mother approached me and introduced herself and went on to explain that the camp had given her daughter a full scholarship to come to camp last summer. The little girl had such a wonderful experience last year she had to come back for another dose of summer camp. The mother handed me an envelope with a lovely note stating how thankful she was for the experience her daughter had enjoyed last year, and included a check for $300 with a note stating they wanted to “pay forward so that another child could get the opportunity to come to camp on a scholarship”. Wow! Did that ever bless my heart! Thank you dear parents who understand how valuable one week can be in the life of a child.

Two different camps going on at the same time: Jr. High age campers and 4-6th grade campers; one group who acts a little squirrelly at times, but tries to mask it with a sense of coolness and lack of interest, and the other group who are still intrigued with life and are full of questions and energy. We love them both and know that no matter where they are, God has a wonderful plan for their lives and our prayer is that each child will return home renewed in their Spirit and with a clean heart to serve and to grow.

…. And just a reminder to parents…. Don’t forget to pick them up on Friday!!! We love them… but they will be plenty dirty, plenty tired, and will be ready for Moms and Dads to take them home and indulge them with regular showers and daily changes of all clothing! Sorry Mom, if you find your son’s suitcase unpacked from Sunday… we really do try to make him shower!

Written by
Earl Taylor, Director of Vision and Design
Hidden Acres Christian Center, Dayton, Iowa
earldtaylor@yahoo.com
Hidden Acres is a Christian youth camp and adult retreat center located in central Iowa. Hidden Acres is owned by the Evangelical Free Churches of Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

2nd Generation

2009-06-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

I knew it would happen eventually; if I stayed around long enough, a second generation of workers will work for me; today it has happened.

Kendall Johnson from the Oakdale Free Church worked for us in 1986 as a counselor and doing maintenance. The camp was very small with only 10 paid summer staff workers. My memory of Kendall: while a counselor, I would see Kendall on the John Deere tractor doing something, moving something, but not with his kids. Kendall was from the farm, and needed a little tractor time each week just to keep him sane. He tore into fixing the tractor and left it in a pile of bolts and metal.

Today his son Josiah Johnson starts working for us. Josiah has attended camp all these years, and has finally come of age. We are bigger now with over 120 summer staff, so Josiah will be one of many and much harder for me to keep track of.

I actually like the idea of seeing a second generation come through Hidden Acres work force. Though we were tough and demanding on the first generation, these parents understand the process of growing up and allowing their children to spread their wings and to begin establishing their own pedigree. For many, this is there first real job.

Just so you know Josiah, I will be as tough on you as I was your dad; the only difference is that I am much older and slower and I don't hear much... good luck and I pray you grow in real knowledge and that you will develop new skills that will last a life time.

In Name Only

2009-05-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

I did something last week that I had only done one other time in my lifetime; attended a Saturday night mass at a Catholic church in Northeast Iowa. I was on my yearly pilgrimage to the God’s country: turkey hunting, trout fishing, Mississippi River fishing, and mushroom hunting; it is a tradition that my family and I have enjoyed for over 20+ years. It is a trip that I can’t and won’t miss each spring.

This is a different year however; the first year that my dad won’t be making the trip to the cabin with us; he passed away last summer: we buried Dad just over the hill from the cabin in the Catholic cemetery at Wexford; one of the oldest Catholic churches in Iowa. The cemetery has grave stones that date back to the late 1800’s; with family names that I recognize from the community. I visited Dad’s grave for the first time on Saturday night; afterwards I walked to the beautiful old Catholic church and attended their 8 p.m. Saturday night service.

Many of the people who arrived a few minutes before 8 p.m. are my friends; I hunt on their land, and over the years we have grown to love them. I sat and cried as I listened to the “Hail Mary, full of Grace… “ repetition of the congregation. The people were very reverent as they entered the building, crossed themselves, dipped their fingers into Holy Water, then bowed before they sat down in the very uncomfortable pews; the kneeling bench was lowered and they bowed before the shrine of statues and prayed through their beads.

I had no idea what was going on throughout the service; the acoustics were poor, the Father was un-miked, and there was many rituals performed that I had no idea what or why of their actions. Good farm folk were very comfortable with the routine; I felt like a complete stranger who didn’t understand English. I felt very uneasy; but I stood when others stood, sat when they sat; most of the time I turned off my hearing aids, and bowed and prayed silently. But my heart ached as I prayed.

For over 150 years, this little stone church has been the meeting spot for countless families; it was where they were married, their children were baptized, where they participated in the sacraments, and where they were buried. For 150 years, people have attended a church and never understood the good news of salvation through faith alone. “For by grace are you saved, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

I spoke with one of the bachelor farmers on Monday and told him I enjoyed being in church with him on Saturday night. Johnny commented, “I can’t understand that priest. Couldn’t hear or understand a word.” I said, “Me too.” Nearly 80 years old, and not understand a word from the priest.

I attended New Albin Free Church on Sunday morning. There was no grand building to enter; because it was a temporary church, there was no sign out that indicated this was a church; the church was a bank meeting room; a lovely room with limestone walls, no ornaments on the walls, but only a piano, a portable lectern and a stack of hymnals. Coffee was on, cookies were out, and fellowship of believers was taking place. Prior to the service starting, family and friends milled about and visited with each other. There was life in the building.

4 hymns were sung: I knew everyone by heart; I didn’t need to open the hymnal. For the first time in months, I sang. “Tell me the old, old story; His Name is Wonderful, Grace greater that Our Sins, and Jesus, Name above all names” My heart was stirred from the words. The sermon was from the 1st three verses in Hebrews, of the 7 attributes of Jesus…. The one who provided purification from Sin. I understood this message. I understood each aspect of the service; I felt the Spirit of God working among His people as I sat in this room next to the bank on main street of New Albin.

What a difference: a beautiful church surrounded by a beautiful, old cemetery surrounded by beautiful timber and a nearby trout stream, and a main street bank building converted into a church for a short period. The 150+ year old Catholic church had no message, no spirit, no hand of the Lord. The bank building was blessed and anointed with proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One was a church in name only, the other, the Church that God intended.

Volunteers: What a Blessing!

2009-03-25T09:19:00.002-07:00

Dennis and Pastor Mike from Charles City

I have just finished up a 2 week run of overseeing volunteers: what a blessing this has been for me! With the building of Schlichting Inn, we have put out the word to our churches that we are looking for help; and they have responded.

The Meriden Crew putting up siding

I am always amazed when a group of men will give up their Saturdays to come to camp and work hard and long. This winter we have had groups of men from Muscatine, Adel, Arthur, Oakdale, Meriden, Pella, Sheldon, Ankeny,Clear Lake and the Johnston area. Everyone of these group of men come with different skills and a variety of interests. During this one or two days of work, they accomplish more than our staff can do in a week. They are available to do work that is heavy and tiresome, freeing up our permanent staff to concentrate on some technical parts of the construction process (geothermal, heating, cooling, plumbing, wiring).

The Pella men sheetrocking the meeting room

In addition to these group of men who have given up their Saturdays, we have had 2 groups of young people here to work at the camp. One, a group from Dordt college in Sioux Center and the other, a high school group from the Pella Free Church who gave up their spring break days to come and help us in the Inn and around camp.

The Pella High School Group and Pastor Greg

I have to tell you, I have drug my feet when I get a request for a work project from high schoolers; it is usually the adults who want their kids to experience a service project of some kind; the students are usually not too hot about it. NOT SO WITH THESE TWO GROUPS! I have never seen such a faithful group of kids... and they gave up their week off of school to help me out!! That is a huge blessing to me.

The students cleaned out and re-mulched all of our flower beds, they hauled over 200 sheets of 12' x 4 1/2' 5/8 sheetrock up to the second story of the Inn, they put on siding, insulated, sheetrocked, cleaned, swept, and organized our tools and supplies in the Inn, made targets for 24 hours retreat, hauled picnic tables, hauled wood, picked up trash, pulled wire, mudded nail holes, set up archery range, and anything else I could think up! They worked their tails off.

Dordt College Students

I actually loved being around the kids; they always came and asked me, "What do you want me to do next?" I call that Iniative! Very few young people have that gift. It truely is a gift that will send these young people to the head of the line when they start looking for full time jobs. There is nothing that exhausts me more than having to track down workers to tell them their next assignement.

We see the same thing during the summer with our paid staff; there are those who want to work, and then there are those who just want paid. A big difference. It is the workers who we invite back the next year.

A free piece of advice to parents: Instill a strong work ethic in your kid early; don't allow them to make excuses, to be lazy, to be sloppy or slothful. It never hurt a child to push them a bit... or alot! Kids want to be challenged, they want to do something big, and they can't and won't do anything sitting in front of their video game machine. They should be taught life skills that will go with them into adulthood. A parent of the Pella students wrote me a note after her son returned home: "My son especially noted your willingness to teach him and work alongside him. He mentioned you were almost a grandpa figure for him!" Man... that blessed my heart! A grandpa figure!! and at 54 years old! (I felt like a 80 year old grandpa trying to keep up with these young, strong, able bodied young people. I was determined not to be outworked).

I always have many projects up my sleeve for the volunteer! I can use a bunch of good men, women and children to help me build and keep the camp looking good.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

The New Look in Church: No Steeples or Stainglass

2009-03-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was visiting with my mother-in-law the other night and asked about her church. She replied, "Our pastor is leaving. We can't seem to attract any young families. There are 3 or 4 couples and a handful of widow ladies, and one young family." We talked further and she said, "But our building is worth a million bucks." She went on to say the church building was right next to the new mall in West Des Moines and that the city would love to own this piece of property.

It was a no-brainer for me, "Sell the building, hire you a young pastor with a family, pay him a decent wage so he can work full time at the ministry and set up church in a store front or school," I told her. "We could never do that," she said with a shocked look on her face. I said, "Well, then figure on dieing a very slow death as a church!" But I understood her shock; here was a group of older folks who have attended this church all their lives, and had no idea of how to break out of their slow death march and create a new look, a new perspective of ministry, a model that could be attractive to young families. The rut they were in was nothing more than a grave with both ends opened up.

I visited the Onawa Free Church yesterday. Quite the opposite from my mother-in-law's scenario. This established church recently sold their old conventional church building in a hard to find residential area of Onawa. They sold the church building, bought a former car dealership building out on the highway, and are now busting at the seams. The men of the church have created a very lovely, usable space complete with sanctuary, offices, Sunday school rooms, kitchen and fellowship area. They have a huge parking lot complete with enough parking lot lights to light up every nook and cranny of the site. And to top it all off, before the ink was dry on the purchase of the car dealership, another company came along and offered to buy the service building across the street from them; they were able to get into their new building for next to nothing.

I liked their approach; it was not normal or conventional, but the leadership of the church understood they need more space, more visibility, and a facility on ground floor. As a result, the Lord has blessed them abundantly. They just purchased an adjacent building to the church to create a youth center; all for penny's on the dollar for new construction. We pray for Pastor Tim and the congregation that they will be salt and light to those who drive down main street Onawa. Great move!

Don't get me wrong: I love my mother-in-law, and I pray the best for this little Baptist church next to the mall. I am not asking them to throw out their piano and organ; I am not asking them to preach a lighter gospel; I am not asking them to stop meeting the needs of the seniors. I just wanted the church to look beyond their personal interests and needs and to see the fields white unto harvest; To place their church right in the middle of where people are living.

That is our prayer at the camp; to always look for more ways to preach the gospel. To be attractive enough to the unbeliever that he or she will give us a chance to share with them. And to be available when opportunities come our way to respond quickly and with the purpose of presenting the gospel message to those in need and for those looking for answers. I see the crumbling economy as a wonderful opener to share what God's Word says.

Launch: A leadership development Program at Hidden Acres

2009-02-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

Launch... sound like NASA. But it is not. I am thrilled about this new program we are offering at Hidden Acres. For years we have tried to have an internship program for college age kids; it usually consisted of one or two people who didn't know what to do with their lives so they came to camp to help out with kitchen, housekeeping, or maintenance. We worked them to death and didn't pay them too much. They were able to get some direction in their lives, or decided, "I don't want to have to work that hard for the rest of my life, maybe I should go to school and make something of myself." Either way, each young person moved on from camp after a semester or two with us.

Under Ryan Graden leadership, our new Leadership Development program, called Launch, will take up to 10 young men in the first year. The young men will arrive at camp in August, and stay with us until May. During that time we will have scheduled classroom time, assignments, outside of camp ministry opportunities, and they will help around camp doing routine jobs that will enhance and enlarge our entire ministry.

I love the concept; 10 Christian young men living together in a dorm under the tutelage of a Godly teacher, Ryan, being poured into daily with concepts and opportunities to grow, develop, refine, establish and define themselves, and understand their God given gifts and natural abilities; preparing themselves to launch into life.

Subject material that will be covered will be character development, leadership skills, service in ministry, finances, being a Godly husband, and roles in the church.

In addition to their class room time, the young men will get a opportunity to work along side other full time staff; office, maintenance, housekeepers, food service, and programs. They will learn how camp is run, but more importantly, they will be taught concepts like availability, service, initiative, perception, and drive. . We want to be able to help train these young men to become great employees for any sort of work they might do later-in-life. This is a time to refine and build up a resume with marketable skills and insights.

Throughout the year, Hidden Acres will bring in pastors and teachers to come along side us with additional teaching. Each young man will have a chance to attend a regional camping conference, visit other camps and ministries, and to become even more familiar with what could be available to them in full time service. Our ultimate goal is to point these young men into service, whether it is full time, or being very engaged in the local church.

Unlike school, each participant will be paid to learn and grow. Parents: If this doesn't excite you... not as much money out of your pockets, your son will be surrounded by Christian men to encourage and keep him accountable, he will learn to do dishes, his own laundry, and mop floors and toilets, and we pray he leaves Hidden Acres after his time with us, grown up, prayed up and ready to launch out into life of school, marriage, family and church, a stronger and more productive leader.

Check out our web page for more details and download an application: http://www.hacamps.org/

My Bus Driver Friend

2009-02-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

Jr. High retreaters left on Sunday before noon; the Valley kids were being picked up by a local bus service from Des Moines. While the kids were packing up, I struck up a conversation with the bus driver. A 70 year old man who was looking for some breakfast; I found him some coffee and some rolls from breakfast and sat down in the Family Life Center to visit while he ate. It didn't take long for him to open up.

"I had my esophagus removed a couple years ago, " he said between bites. "I have to eat slower. My stomach is right up here," pointing to near his top of his sternum. "I had chemo for prostate cancer 10 years ago... and my wife is taking chemo for lung cancer. I can't get her to stop smoking." He went on and told me of his days in the service in Washington, about driving the bus, about one of his twin boy being still born. I said, "We know he is in heaven."

I stopped him when I asked, "If you died today, do you know where you will spend eternity?" He replied quickly, "Heaven." There was no more conversation, the bus needed to be loaded. I wanted to spend time following up his answer with a question about the time when he accepted Christ as his Savior. I pray that he remembers our talk, and that he might return and we can visit again. He said heaven, I pray he knew, but I have some doubts. When asked where he went to church, he said, "I can't remember the name of the church, but the preacher is the son of the former preacher... and I can't remember his name."

It is never too late to have an encounter with the Almighty. Never too late to start fresh. Never too late to become a new creation. For many, when we think of Hidden Acres, we think kids; but I think, "If he is breathing and walking, he should hear the good news." Pray with me for my bus driving friend.

Hazle and Ralph Erickson

2009-01-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

Over the last 25 years at camp, I have made some wonderful friends; I get to mingle with the families from over a 100 different Free churches; yesterday, I attended the funeral of a dear friend: Hazle Erickson.

If one has been around the Free church for a number of years, you knew Hazle's husband Ralph better than Hazle. Ralph spent most of his ministry years in the Covenant Church; 20 years in the Des Moines Covenant Church. Ralph was larger than life; a big man with a loud voice; when he came into a room or a meeting, he was engaged. Seldom did you not hear Ralph's opinions or vision. Hazle was just the opposite; quiet, supportive, and calm encourager to those around her.

Slowly we are loosing a generation of faithful servants; they are now with Jesus. Years and years of service in the local church as pastor and wives; for many, it meant poor pay, poor housing, and lousy hours! They endured for the sake of a higher calling. They ministered in spite of their conditions. They were tough and they were called. They stuck to it even when things didn't look comfortable or positive.

I like being around people like Ralph and Hazle. They understand the big picture of ministry life; they both understood that they were in the people business and not the church business. Their passion was to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ and then to grow and develop into solid, stable church leaders. I never sensed from either of them that they were about building the biggest and brightest church in town; they stuck with the knitting and worked with one person at a time.

I find this to be a wonderful model; the Ralph and Hazle way of building ministries; one person at a time. Caring, teaching, training, instructing, developing, pushing souls into kingdom service. I am not against large scale programs that have been copied from another successful ministry; but in reality, ministry can be simple (it can messy and complicated too), but simple when you stay focused on people and not projects or buildings.

Trust me, I need to be reminded of this quite often; attending Hazle's funeral and hearing about her faithfulness is just what I needed as I look ahead this year. Stick with building Biblical truths into individuals lives, and the ministry will blossom and be blessed.

Thanks Ralph and Hazle for your faithfulness to Hidden Acres and to the many churches that you were a part of during your 50+ years of ministry. We look at your lives with gratitude and thankfulness; may we be just as diligent in our service as you were.

A New Year

2009-01-20T03:55:00.000-08:00

In camp life, January 1 is a big day; not because of football, or the family gatherings; it is because we start in earnest getting ready for the next summer of ministry. For me personally, I spend some of January reflecting on the past year, planning the next year, and doing some dreaming. It is no different this year.

I believe that 2008 was a good year for the camp; we were blessed with a great summer staff and key leadership that were engaged and diligent in their work. I saw young men and women arrive as children, and left after a summer of work as men and women who were finally thinking and acting on their own. A summer spent in a Christian community serving has a way of melting and blending hearts and minds together. For summer staff, friends made during the summer will be long-term friends and not just passing acquaintances; this is a result of 120 staff being committed to the same cause; that is to bring boys and girls to Jesus Christ.

The camp facility also grew during 2008. The Wester cabin was finished and used by 53 different family last year. Over and over I am hearing pastors and missionaries comment how thankful they are for such a wonderful cabin to bring their family to enjoy all the camp has to offer. We are so thankful for the Wester family for seeing such a need and responding with the funds to help us build. In addition to the cabin, we began Schlichting Inn; a 27 room lodge that will function like a motel and will provide 150 beds and a meeting space for conferences and meetings. This new facility will allow us to attract another type of group to camp; an older crowd that wants to have a bathroom and some privacy.

2009 will see the completion to the Inn, but the beginning of a new leadership program for young men. This 9 month service opportunity will be used to train young men with leadership skills that can be plugged into future ministry opportunities, or to life in general. We want to help give these young men the skills and insight into seeing a ministry in action as well as many hands on experiences that will mold them into flexible, insightful, determined young men that could do well on the mission field, or do well in a local church.

Pray with us as move ahead. Pray for us as we work at hiring just the right staff for the summer. Pray with us as we minister to countless retreat groups.

Campers Baptism at Charles City

2008-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

I have had a great weekend with the Charles City EFC; the Saturday night pie auction to raise money for the new motel lodge was fun and profitable... over $1500 was raised for the new building. I stayed over night and spoke during the adult Sunday school hour.

What really blessed me was the Sunday afternoon baptism of two young ladies, Courtney Debner and Victoria Downey; Courtney had accepted Christ while at camp and Victoria had rededicated her life to the Lord while at camp. These young lady's baptism was a special event for me to witness. I was so pleased that Hidden Acres played a part in the development of their spiritual lives.

Summer camp has been over for some time but the memory of the summer still glows in my heart and mind. Just last week, a leader of our International camp told me a great story. During the first day of International camp Nancy had asked a couple boys she didn't recognize, "What country are you from?" The boys replied, "Chicago!" "No, what country," Nancy asked again. Again the boys replied emphatically, "Chicago!" Nancy saw the boys in Ames after camp was over and the boys asked Nancy, "Did you know that Jesus Christ loved you so much that he died on the cross?" Nancy told them, "I sure do!" Nancy went on to tell me the boys were now attending Awanas at the Ames church.

Whether it is hearing the gospel for the first time or for the 100th time, great spiritual encounters can happen at camp.

Over the weekend I heard another good story; Pastor Mike Downey told of speaking at camp 10 years ago. That was the summer that the Brooklyn EFC in Beresford, SD had sent over 40 kids to camp from town, paying for their entire camp experience. The particular week that Mike spoke, a young girl by the name of Rachelle attended camp and accepted Christ. Recently the girl told Mike that she was one of the kids during that week of camp; she is also the same young lady who is dating Mike's son; spiritual children and biological children. When one is faithful, you never know how that will influence the future.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

A Real Camp Wedding

2008-08-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

I attended the wedding of Grant Stephas and Sarah Seehusen on Saturday night in Eagle Grove. Both, had attended camp at Hidden Acres, met as T3'ers and cleaned toilets together, and eventually were Jr. and Sr. Counselors. What a joy for me to witness their marriage and to eat their cake too. My prayer is that their lives will continue to be fruitful and that they may raise a family that brings glory to God. It was so unique to see that both Sarah's and Grant's parents and grandparents and great grandparents are all still married; what a rich heritage this couple begins their life together with; they have to succeed as a couple with all that pedigree behind them.

We are not E-Harmony... but close. During the staff commissioning service at the end of staff training, I tell parents who are attending, "Look around, your future son-in-law is probably in this room. " And I tell the staff, "And your best man or bridesmaid is probably here too." Did that ever come to fruition on Saturday.... Grant and Sarah met as campers, dated over the years; all of Grant's groomsmen were young men Grant had counselled with him at camp. I will go out on a limb and say, "These same 4 young men will probably be life long friends of Grant's too." Camp has a way of blending kids together in such a healthy environment; working side by side in ministry has a way of cementing relationships. And... they were married by his youth pastor, Tim Olson, who was also a camp counselor many years ago. The rehearsal supper was themed, "Hidden Acres". I think I need to send a bill out to their parents for this match making via Hidden Acres.

That truly is an added bonus to the summer ministry of camp. Over 1900 campers attended Hidden Acres this summer; 55 accepted Christ; over 120 young people worked for us over the summer; and many lasting friendship were made. Isn't camp life wonderful. We think so!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Conquest: A high school tradition

2008-07-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

The buzz has already started; maintenance boys are clearing their schedule today, so they will be freed up to play tomorrow. The BIG game of the week; camp is divided into different territories; campers are divided up into several different teams, and the afternoon is spent chasing each around the 660 acres of camp. Flags are created to symbolize each team; paint and camouflage is put on to create an imagery of some type of a battle; and the staff begins to lay out strategy and plans. The Biggest Game of Capture the Flag is about ready to begin.

I stay in the office; have never played it in the game's 12 year history; I just watch as wounded campers and staff hobble into the nurses station with poison ivy attacks or sprained ankles. Being the compassionate person I am, I remind them... 'it was your choice to play!! Stop your whining."

The entire event is comparable to a high school prom. For a prom there are weeks and weeks of preparation, and lots of money spent, only to have a so-so evening... but the before preparations are exciting, and the after talk is fun to verbalize and embellish... just the dance ain't too great... neither is the poison ivy and all the running and sweating.... but it is fun to anticipate and fun to remember creatively and selectively.

The game is a great revealer of who has leadership qualities; who is a bit lazy; who are the competitors; who is timid and not a risk taker; who are the risk takers and the gamblers; and who is the one who is the social butterfly and prefers to visit with team mates and the enemy... they just want to be together visiting with someone.

I say, "Good Luck Kids!" .... and remember... if you get lost, climb up the hill and you will arrive back at camp... if you want to run away... go down hill.... and supper is at 5:30.

For all you alumni staff, we wish you could be with us tomorrow for the game of the week; for those not able to attend, sit back with me and smile, knowing how much fun is being had and what great memories are being made at Sr. High week.

Our Walk: and the walk across Iowa

2008-07-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

I spoke this morning for our church time at camp; 40+ campers and staff filled the first 3 rows of the chapel. During our time together, I spoke of my walk 4 years ago across Iowa and what I had learned from it. The 22 days on the road, that covered over 350 miles were three weeks of pure fun and joy. I can't remember when exercise felt better.

Much of what I learned from the walk, I transferred to our spiritual walk. Let me share the seven things I learned.

1. No coasting… Scripture talks about our spiritual walk…
a. we need to be doing something… often times we want BIG opportunities.. big ministry…
b. More often than not… our spiritual walk is one step at a time.. being faithful in the small opportunities… taking care of the mundane, detail issues in our walk
c. Dolly Christian.- Many Christians want the pastor to push them along in their walk and whine… “I’m not being fed”, when they are not living victorious lives.
d. A Christian with a ball and chain of past hurts and life pains struggles in their walk

2. Everyone needs someone to be encouraged along the way.
a. The lady in the Red van, who picked me up at the end of the day and took me to my camper, and then invited me for supper and stay in their families back yard over night. She was an angel of mercy on my walk.
b. I am a lone ranger. I can do it by myself has been my mantra... I have had to learn to let others encourage me.
c. I believe this is the single #1 reason new believers shrivel at the vine. No one comes along side them to encourage. If you can’t teach, preach, be an elder… be the church encourager.

3. Stay focused. Nothing could sidetrack me. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Eph 5:15 Circum- around spectly- to look. I had lots of offers for breakfast in morning, longer lunches. Just skip a mile… no one will know was told to me by many. There are lots of noices/voices/attractions that can get in the way… trip us up. Life in general can pull you off track. Satan is the deceiver…a snake in grass, walking about look whom to destroy.

4. Keep fit. Watch my diet. Wear the right shoes.
I knew that heavy cheeseburgers and fries… killed me. Sugars and sweets slowed me down… what I needed was pasta, carbohydrates… New balance shoes. What I took in…. made me.. What are you consuming of the world? Movies… (I tell counselors during summer… stay away from them…. Keep you mind/life clean and unpolluted.) I often times am seen as legalistic…. But I know the equation… garbage in---garbage out.

5. Straight roads are best… I could drink coffee/read newspaper and walk at the same time.
Scripture backs me up!!! Ps. 27:1 lead me in the straight path; Heb 12:13 Make straight paths for my feet; Matt 3:3 make your paths straight ; Prov 3:5-6. No obstacles/no hills/no distractions. Central Iowa was pretty boring… but pretty flat.. Eastern Iowa beautiful… but hills and blind curves… On the straight path… you can see way out in front of you.

6. I was committed! I was often asked how do you keep doing this day after day. How do you FEEL about walking this far… I always say, “It ain’t about feelings. I am committed to completing this. I get up, take Ibuprofen… and walk. Even when I didn’t FEEL like it. The same is true with marriage/job/my relationship with the Lord

7. Keep looking ahead. Water towers, elevators… meant restaurant, pancakes and rest… heaven… eternal rest. Start looking at life from a heavenly perspective. The older I get the less attached to earth I am. My life trophies seem meaningless. (Deer mounts… where are my kids going to put them?)

How’s your walk.. Getting off the road… hiding behind curves. Trying to coast down hills… have you stopped reading daily.. praying...are you compromising Biblical principles?.... tiny unseen sins pull you off the path into the ditch.

Are you surrounding yourself with other believers to encourage you. MORE IMPORTANT- are you as an older, mature Christian surrounding the young believers

How’s your diet? Is your diet a steady intake of Bible reading, memorization, prayer.

Are you looking ahead. It isn’t a run-but a slow, step by step walk. Decision by decision. Making the right choice along the way.

What does the Lord require of you according to Micah 6:8- What does the Lord require of you!... To Walk humbly with your God

God told Abram,”Walk before me and be blameless Gen 17:1 Abram was 99 years old.

God was saying, “Stay out in front of me so I can keep track of you (so I can take care of you.”

You can walk with God, or before God, Just Walk!!! As in the movie, What about Bob…baby steps are ok... at camp... you may take giant strides forward... but when you get home...keep walking, stay committed... keep consuming Scriptures daily.... stay on the straight path... and look ahead.

Isaiah 40:31 Run and not grow weary… walk and not faint.

It is my desire, as the camp director, that this group of high school and college age kids will leave Hiddden Acres with purpose in their Walk... with a new resolve to meditate on Scriptures... to walk and NEVER faint... or grow tired of doing good!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

My Second Cousin: "I did it my way!"

2008-07-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

Cousin Robert and Earl in 2007

I attended the funeral of my second cousin, yesterday in Newton; as a child, I stayed with my cousin'sparents, Aunt Bessie and Uncle Ernest, for weeks at a time during the summer; I credit my time staying with my dear aunt and uncle as a real learning experience to me; I believe some of my work ethic was caught while staying on the farm with them. It was with this dear aunt and uncle that I lived with, when at 6 months old, my mother and I were travelling to see them on the farm and was involved in a car wreck; I was thrown out of the car along with my mom... she broke her back and was laid up for 6 months... I received a nasty cut on my forehead...(I still have the scar), but was OK otherwise. From the stories I have been told, Aunt Bessie took care of me for most of the 6 month while mom was recuperating. For that reason, I always have seen Aunt Bessie as my favorite.

My cousin was out of the house and married during most of my stays on the farm, but lived close by and farmed along side of his dad. (I actually was a ring bearer at my cousnin's wedding in 1958). I looked up to my cousin as a child as we went around the farm doing summer chores together: haying, watering cattle with a windmill pump, and throwing out corn on the ground to farrowing sows in the pasture. All was big stuff for a ten year old.

My cousin was 71, lived his entire life on a farm north of Newton, and died of cancer. I was struck by the entire funeral service. The preacher read some Scripture, talked of sparrows falling to the ground; but never mentioned anything about a spiritual experience of my cousins (there was none that I was aware of), and closed in a generic prayer suitable for a "Christian" burial. The service ended with the casket being rolled out of the chapel to the song by Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way!" ... followed by sandwiches and potato salad. As I looked over the table set out in foyer of the funeral home, I was saddened at what been identified as to having meaning or value to my cousin: there was a variety of farm toys... representing his love for the farm (he was a great farmer), but along with the many pictures of fishing, farm activity, and grandchildren: all of things my cousin cherished; were three other items: 2 smalls bottles of Black Velvet whiskey, a pack of Camel cigarettes, and a empty Chicago Cubs beer cup! The very thing that killed him (Camels) was seen as an important part of his life by someone; not by me... I remembered my cousin as a lover of the land and a helpful, caring neighbor.

Needless to say, I was a little weepy as I visited with my cousin's brother and sister and their children. I caught up with two of my cousin's kids outside of the funeral home on their own cigarette break; they too had no hope in their eyes or heart. Time/and the amount of people wanting to visit with the children, did not allow me to strike up a conversation about a relationship with Christ; my prayer is that I have another opportunity; I loved my cousin and his entire family and would want nothing more than spending eternity with them in heaven.

I tell you this story this morning as a reminder to each of us: What will we be carrying to our funeral; empty beer cups and pack of cigarettes, or testimonies of lives that we influenced through our works and personal witness and testimony? ....Only one life to offer... take it dear Lord I pray... or I did it my way?

Planning for eternity....today!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Great Testimonies from Home

2008-07-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed: I get to be around kids all summer; I get to motivate a group of staff; I get to hear great reports from mom's and dad's back home after the children return from camp. (occasionally I am not so Blessed when I get a unfavorable report from home; this doesn't happen often... but it does happen!) I will share appropriate excerpts from parents.

" I have enjoyed reading your blogs and insights on many issues. I want you to know that the experience my children have at Hidden Acres is priceless. I am a single mother trying to raise my boys on my own for 14 years now. I never could have done it without Gods help, the church's help or Hidden Acres . My boys are 17 and 15 now. One is currently at Hidden Acres. The three of us have seen alot of ups and downs together, but God always seems to give us the strength we need to move forward. Both boys have gone to Hidden Acres every summer for the last 8 years. I try to keep them actively involved in church so they can stay focused on what is important, but sometimes life gets in the way. It is such a blessing to see them return from camp every year. The bond they form with Christ while they are there no money can buy. They always come home with such an inner peace, it makes me cry. I want nothing but great things and a prosperous future for them. I know through God they will find it. God works miracles in our life every day, through people like you and the great staff at Hidden Acres! Thank You! I only pray that one day I can give back as much as you guys have given us. You have truly been a blessing to this family!"
Sincerely, One grateful mom

What a blessing for me to hear that! That is the kind of impact we pray we can make in the lives of young people and entire families. We are here to help parents be successful in their parenting; to help them raise kids with a heart to serve and worship Christ.

Dear Hidden Acres Camp:

I just wanted to write and thank you for the wonderful time my son had at camp. He attended the T-3 camp . Alec Epkes was his counselor and my son enjoyed and looked up to him so much. Thank you Alec! My son loved the fun, work, friends, and "devos". He's come backed changed in a good way. I am so thankful as a mother to see his growth and a new depth in his character. As a teen, he needs to be around other teens with a positive influence that reflects God's love to him. Alec and Hidden Acres certainly did that. Our son told me last week that he really had fun hanging around Alec. He was looking up Bible verses to share that he and Alec had talked about. We just signed him up to be back for Sr. High week this month and he is thrilled to be returning...

God Bless your ministry.... a mom of a camper

Do you see what can happen? When a counselor is sold out to Jesus Christ... his life style and example bubbles out from him; his life is contagious to those around him. That is our prayer each spring when we hire these young people; that they will be the instruments that God uses to touch camper's lives.

....and finally

"Sometimes during the winter, when things are getting a little rough with our teenager, I remember that during the summer she will be going to Hidden Acres. I can't explain the transformation that occurs after she's been there. I just can tell you that the Holy Spirit is refilled within and fruit is produced."

In gratitude... a camper's mom

Transformation... Changed... Refilled with the Holy Spirit! I don't have to say anymore... these mom's just did it for me.... they just explained why we have camp at Hidden Acres, and what we hope to accomplish in the lives of each camper.

Sr. High week next week!!! Are we ever excited about how/when the Spirit of God will work in their lives. Pray with me throughout the week.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

International Week/Adventure Camp: a diffferent sort of week at Hidden Acres

2008-07-14T07:21:00.001-07:00

We have started one of the most unusual type of weeks of the summer; a blend of international flavor for about 70 campers; and a non-traditional type of adventure camp for over 200 other campers. We have two speakers, 3 coaches, 2 shooting instructors, and several other volunteers on the grounds this week.

There are cabins of boys ready to hit the paint ball course; there are boys and girls playing basketball; girls playing volleyball; girls riding English; girls beginning the first green broke camp at the horse barn; and then there are the archery and shooting boys. Their schedule is completely different from any of our earlier camps. As I drove around camp this morning, there was activity in all areas of camp. What a joy!!

There are several things that excite me about this week: Mark Henderson, the youth pastor from Ames EFC is one of our speakers. Mark and his wife Cari were counselors for the camp back in the 90's. Becky Angell Bloom, another former counselor and program director, is coaching the girls volleyball. Coach Bob Berggren is back coaching BB camp for his 27th summer at camp. To me, it feels like old home week.

Know what else excites me? This is the week we attract some young people who might not ever go to church or camp anywhere else, but things like paintball, shooting, or basketball attract them to Hidden Acres. Most of you might know, I find paint ball a little silly.... I am a hunter and find playing with a toy gun a little bit unreal... (I enjoy the real hunt for deer and turkey). But over the years, I have seen a bunch of hard looking boys come to camp because of the paintball.... hear the gospel... and turn their lives over to Christ.... I can't argue with that... get them here with paintball... present the gospel... and watch the Spirit of God work in their lives.

International camp also thrills my heart. We have a group of kids from all over the world: Africa, SE Asia, Russia, Mexico, and South America attending camp and hearing the messages from our friend Lawrence Bommett from Kenya. In addition to hearing the gospel, these young people are getting to experience camp in America. For many of these young people, they are here in the States because their parents are graduate students in Ames, Iowa City or other colleges. Usually, after 3 to 5 years, they will return home to their native countries. It is our desire to send out young missionaries back to these countries; they accept Christ at camp... plug into a local church for a couple years... then return home to share with others in their homelands. That is multiplication!!

I just returned from a tour with a dear friend; Joe Anholt, formerly of the Ft. Dodge Free Church, and now living in Cedar Rapids. Joe was one of the original board members who founded the camp in 1979; he was one that helped raise money to buy the land, and one that helped erect the first building. He is now 88 years old; ready to go home to be with the Lord; and wanted to take the 3 hour drive to camp to see what it had become. What a privilege for me to give him the big tour and to show him a busy camp full of kids and opportunities for us. What fun to take him to the Prayer Tree and for him to read the plaque near the tree where the founding board knelt and asked God's blessing and direction for Hidden Acres. When he left, he left with tears in his eyes and with the comment, "I'll be waiting for you!" It took me a minute to understand what he was saying.... but I caught it... "I'll look forward to that day Joe when we both are in heaven!"

Joe knows his days are numbered; he knows where he will spend eternity; he knows he has done a good thing in being involved in such a ministry as Hidden Acres; and he knows because of his efforts and many others, he will see many who had made their commitment to Christ while at camp.....and I'll be waiting for the campers too!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Never Stop Dreaming

2008-07-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

Balm of Gilead

I sit around and think a lot these days; it is part old age and part pensiveness; regardless my thinking leads to dreams and over time, many of my dreams become a reality.

I have always had a project or two in the boiler; we knew we were going to build this motel lodge many years ago; we just needed to finish to Family Life Center first. Today they are digging the footings for the motel, and digging in water lines. I can get started thinking about the next project!

The next project won't be a building but a program; a counselling center. A place where our churches can send couples, singles, families, young, old, and in between to get some long term counselling. It is our desire to provide such a place as this at the camp. We would create a centrally located counselling center that would be open and available to those who are hurting or whose lives are being ripped apart by divorce, infidelity, or death. We want to provide the BALM that helps heal the wounds and make well the sick.

I received a envelope yesterday from a family friend who lives out west; in it, he and his wife announce a new ministry they have just started to minister to those who had gone through an abusive situation as a child. My friend then went on and told how as a young boy, he was molested by an uncle.... and for 40 years, my friend kept this secret to himself. What so surprised me is that this friend, lived a Ozzie and Harriet type of life; went to church 3 times a week, had a mom who stayed home and cared for the children, had supper at 5:30 every night with the family.... and yet he was tormented by this Uncle... and tormented throughout the first 30 years of his married life.... as he wrestled with the doubts and questions about his youth.

At times, I want to bury my head in the sand and not listen or look around me; but I am afraid there are way too many people who need a dose of balm somewhere in their life or in their families lives. We see it at camp as children come and open up to their counselors about the struggles and hurts they are experiencing as a 10 year old. We see it in families who attend family camp as a last ditch effort to keep the family together. We hear stories of men at men's retreats who are one step away from walking away from their families.

We will start slow by having someone here part time; as the motel is finished, we will be able to offer long term housing for those who need extra time with the counselor. Eventually, I could see providing space separated from central camp for this ministry.

Do you see the need around you like I do? Write me and tell me if you think this is a needed ministry. I need to hear from you about how you see this counselling center working.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Ruth and Boaz: Finding a mate: Biblically

2008-07-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

I went through a stack of wedding invitations this morning responding to those that we could attend, and sending my regrets to those where we could not be there. Each of these invites were from former staff at camp. I began to reflect on the Ruth and Boaz story from the book of Ruth and remembered it has been many years since I taught these principles to the summer staff.

We are all for Christian young men and Christian young ladies to be interested in each other; just not on camp time. There is a time and a season for everything, but creating a relationship while being a camp counselor was not one of them. I always told the staff after you are home, and back under your mom and dad's umbrella of authority, then you can begin the process; I want you focused on the campers for the summer. No purpling allowed! (pink and blue make purple so the staff came up with the term purpling)

I smile at all the staff who met at camp that were eventually married. There was a time that our head counselors automatically connected after camp. John Nett and Ivana Zylstra. Tim Olsen and Lori Schaefer eventually married each other. Others were counselors, or kitchen, or maintenance that became interested enough during the summer, that by fall, they were head or heals in like (love). Last month alone, there were 2 weddings of former staff, both on the same day... and they had all met each other in camp... Mary and Jonathan and Bethany and Carson. One of the weddings was held at the camp near the horse barn where Mary and Jonathan met.

Ruth and Boaz did it the right way. Ruth stayed under the authority of her parent (mother-in-law). She did not seek a husband, but obeyed her mother in law and gathered grain in near-by fields. It was only after that Naomi found out that Boaz treated Ruth kindly that Naomi instructed her how to approach her kinsman redeemer properly. The courtship continued until Boaz went through all the necessary steps to redeem Ruth properly. As a result... Ruth and Boaz beget Obed and Obed beget Jesse... and Jesse beget David.... you read the rest of the story in the first chapter of Matthew.

When done properly (Biblically), courtship can produce wonderful results; marriages are blessed. When done without a Biblical model to follow, there is often times heartache and problems that young couples will have to deal with and receive counselling for later on. Who wouldn't want to have a young man come and ask permission to begin to see your daughter? Who wouldn't want a young man to take time to get to know the entire family of the girl he is interested in? Who wouldn't want to have a potential son-in-law that owns his own fields... and house... and not expect mom and dad to provide a roof and bed and food for them after marriage? Boaz did it right!!!

I can remember a counselor from Oelwein church, Jill Evans, who told me after she was married, "We followed the Ruth and Boaz model... and our marriage is wonderful... we involved our parents in the entire process, we remained pure, and my husband honored me by going through the right steps in securing my family's blessing of our engagement." To me that is a pretty good recommendation.

I am not too big on dating; especially for 14 to 18 year old kids; there is no reason for 2 young people to be alone. There are too many emotions and urges that cannot be contained or controlled. Why play with fire when you don't have the tools to keep from getting burned in the end. I would always look for large group activities to let my kids attend; never alone!

Many parents fight me about this; they dated when they were young, and why can't their kids. They can date... but there will be some consequences. I don't believe recreational dating brings anything good...if a kids is bored... get a job. We date to find a mate... and we don't need to find a mate until we are old enough to hold a job and provide for the family... so why get started at something too soon... it is not as if we need practice to get good at dating.

I challenge you to read the beautiful book of Ruth and look at it as a courtship model for your family; if done properly... many generations to come will be blessed.... Ruth and Boaz beget Obed.... and so on!!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Value of Camping: It costs alot to attend Camp!

2008-07-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

We hear it from many parents, "Wow, $250 to send my kid to camp!? I remember when I went to camp for $35 for the week!" It is expensive; we know that; the camp staff all have children and we know how expensive raising a child can be.

Can I share with you what other camps are charging? I have picked 5 camps in Iowa that are similar to Hidden Acres in what they offer; Hidden Acres is the largest of these camps.

Pine Lake-Eldora- regular camp $295 early registrationand $320 late registration

Inspiration Hills- NW Iowa- regular camp $260 early registration and $270 late registration

Village Creek- Lansing- regular camp $285 early registration and $305 for late registration

River Side- Story City- regular camp $345 early registration and $360 for late registration

Hidden Acres- Dayton- regular camp $250 early registration and $260 for late registration

That doesn't take the sting off you when you write the check out to Hidden Acres, but it does show you we are not out of line in what we charge. During our retreat schedule, I hear from people that say, "For what you offer, you are too cheap!" We have tried to keep our costs down so that our guests feel like they got a great value for their dollar. I don't know about you, but I hate to go out and eat, pay a high price, and the food and service was lousy... I feel I was taken to the cleaners.

We also have changed our policy about emails; and we have heard a few complaints; now parents have to pay BunkOne a fee to send emails to their child while at camp. Let me tell you why we did this. We were getting up to 500 emails per day; we were having to hire a full time person in the office to manage this flood of emails; we were going through a ream of paper and lots of ink each day so that parents could say "Hi". We want the camper to receive mail, but felt that our costs were getting out of hand. We also spoke to several other camps: NONE of them were doing what we have done for years. They would not accept emails for free. I have not heard of another camp that feeds parents and family on opening night and on closing night like Hidden Acres does.

I tell you all this parents, so that you can understand a little bit about how much it costs to operate the camp. Even at $250 per week, your child is subsidized by our Evangelical Free churches; our churches donate over $90,000 per year to keep the camp running. Camp actually costs Hidden Acres over $300 per camper to attend.

I know of child care for small babies over $200 per week; I know of day sports camps for young people to be over $300 per week. Raising a family is expensive; it is estimated that it costs an urban family over $225,000 per child to raise them up to age 18; with no financial return on their investment. A farm kid will generate over $125,000 income for the farming parent through labor on the farm; we all need to move back to the farm!!

Know this parents! No child should stay home because mom and dad can't swing the entire bill; we want every child to have an opportunity to attend camp. Our churches have been so faithful in providing help for campers. Hidden Acres can help some too. We want everyone boy and girl to experience a week of camp where they can be challenged in their faith, where they can be encouraged in their walk, and where life time friendships can be started.

You have to trust the parent of 4 kids who attended Hidden Acres all their lives; much good fruit was produced in their lives because of their weekly treks to camp.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

God is moved by prayer...your prayers too!

2008-07-07T05:57:00.001-07:00

Part of my job on Sunday during registration time is to float around and visit with parents or other guests; I am given no job on Sunday but that. I approached a dad and young daughter yesterday and struck up a conversation, asking where they lived, which spurred the next question of what church they attend in this town; the dad's response was, "We don't attend church." My response was, "OK... we are so glad you are here!"

I am so glad this 5th grade young lady is going to be at camp this week. I am pleased that her parents decided to send her to a Bible camp; it is as if they knew that what she will hear this week would be good for her. Indeed it will... anytime a young person can come and hear the gospel message several times over 5 days is a GREAT thing!

Our speaker for the week is Josh Denhart,(see picture above), children's pastor at Valley EFC in West Des Moines. Josh and his wife Sarah were counselors at Hidden Acres in the 90's; they even met at camp. Josh comes to camp with the passion of an evangelist and the heart of a pastor; he uses his skills as a former chemistry teacher to present the gospel and other Biblical principles through visual chemistry experiments; Josh spoke last year during this same week... he was probably the most powerful speaker we have ever had at camp. And... he was so good that he touched even the counselling staff.

I love Josh's testimony; he grew up in SW Iowa, father was a veterinarian; but Josh grew up thinking more of being in a rock and roll band than anything spiritual; and his lifestyle followed that of the rock and roll mentality. When he enrolled at UNI, through the testimonies of others around him, he was saved. One of his buddies was a counselor here at Hidden Acres and recommended Josh to come and be a counselor. Josh became the best wilderness counselor we have ever had; his letter written to his friends and family is an almost holy document to me. I have told my family that I want that letter to be buried with me... it so exemplifies what we do at camp! Below is the letter that Josh wrote in 1998:

Dear Friends and family:

Camp is going very well. It was very rainy the first two weeks and that was difficult to handle in the army tent, but I was able to maintain a positive attitude and serve God. There are many wonderful stories that I could tell, but I will tell only one. The third week was nearing an end, and Thursday morning at the senior staff meeting, I was at the end of my rope. I almost cried when I shared how distraught I was. I was exhausted physically, mentally and spiritually. I spared them the details, and just shared that I really needed prayer. I had stayed in any army tent for the last three weeks: rain, roaches, more mosquitoes than I had ever experienced, an elusive yet odoriferous nest of dead mice babies, and the kids were rebellious. The staff prayed for me, and I later found out that the staff continued to pray for me. We closed the meeting singing the chorus, "Create in me a clean heart" from Psalms 51, and I became so refreshed, and I had peace.

We had a closing campfire the next night, and the Spirit of God was poured upon the group of kids that I had. Several boys went forward at the campfire and rededicated their lives to Christ. I was very excited, but as God's Word says, "He can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine", and He did. We went back to the tent and.......... the formerly rebellious boys began singing praise songs. That night the 16 x 32 foot army tent was transformed into a place of worship. Soon the group was gathered around into a circle, and we spent over an hour in prayer. This was not just prayer, but Spirit filled, physically exhausting, campers crying, hands lifted, - type of prayer. Something like this has never happened in any of the previous groups of campers. WHOA, it was indescribable, and it was a moment of worship that I will never forget. These boys experienced what I hoped they strive for all the days of their lives. One boy said at a break in prayer, "My insides are all tingly, and I never had this before." Oh, to let others taste and see that the Lord is good. Remember that this was the same counselor, one day before who was ready to throw in the towel... God is moved by prayer...your prayers too.

The next day the boys stopped the director of the camp and insisted on telling him about our experience the night before. They were excited about the encounter that they had had with the Almighty. The overflowing joy of the Holy Spirit must be expressed! As soon as their parents came to get their kids, they told them, "we prayed for over an hour and...and....and"

Do you see why I love this letter? Some day I will compile a book of my experiences here at camp and the title will be, "The Hand of the Lord is upon Us... an Encounter with the Almighty".

Now you know why I was excited to see the little unchurched girl sitting on the rock with her dad. I knew that this week she was going to have her Encounter with the Almighty!!! God is moved by prayers... and your prayers too!!!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Having faith like a Child! First timers at camp

2008-06-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight, 250+ little campers arrived at camp; for many, this will be their first camping experience; for many it will be their first time away from home for 3 nights with strangers; for many, it will be their first 3 day sleep over in a fun cabin with 7 or 8 other campers. All in all, it is a great 3 days at camp.

For me, it was even more enjoyable to see 5 former counselors bring their little ones to camp! Wow! Mom and Dad wanted to give their child a similar experience that they experience as counselors back in the early 1990's. This is by far my favorite week; the kids want to be loved by their counselor; they want lots of action and fun, and they need extra sleep. The counselor loves this week also; for the counselor, they are ready to be smothered and wallered by their camper, and the 7 year old boys climb over their counselor as if he were a tree.

This is my prayer; many of these children have attended Awana's and have made some commitments to Christ; for others, this could be their first time in a Christian environment that will introduce them to the gospel. It is our prayer that each camper has their encounter with the Almighty... that these three days will be etched in their memory and heart as an encounter with the Savior.

I looked around tonight during the hot dog roast at these rosy cheeked children, full of innocence and promise; as I strolled amongst the tables I rubbed a few heads and patted a few shoulders, but I was really praying for these children. Praying that their days and years ahead might be full of positive Christian influences like they will experience this week. Praying that they would maintain purity in their hearts; praying that they would become strong Christian leaders with vibrant testimonies.
As a news junkie, I watch too much Fox news. I hear and see reports around the world and I can begin to fret and stew and worry and wonder. I wonder what my grand kids are going to have to endure; I wonder what these 250 campers will have to face in the days ahead. What can we do today to build up these young people with hearts and minds to discern what is good from evil, to discern what is best for them in the future? I know of nothing better than God's Word engrafted into their minds through memorizing... "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee."

In 10 short years, many of these first time campers will be of age to work at the camp; I am praying that the Lord will begin a good work in them that will be built upon at home and at church and in the future years at camp. We want these youngsters to develop into real soldiers of the cross.

Pray with me this week!!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Bone-head award

2008-06-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our Poster Child: Joel Saleh

To the ultra sensitive, the Bone Head award sound a little harsh and judgemental; to the uncamped person, you might not understand the rational; to the camp staff, everyone knows and appreciates the bone head award; it is to be received as a badge of honor; as the camp director it is seen as a young person checking his or her common sense out at the door.

For over 20 years we have been announcing a bone head award at the end of each week; 20 years ago, I passed out chicken bone on a rope for the staff person to wear as a necklace. We don't serve chicken on Friday nights anymore, so there are few bones around for the necklace.

Let me share a few episodes I have witnessed:

1. Randy Baber taking my favorite 1983, red Suburban and wrapping it around a tree near the boys cabin. He said, "The road was too slick from all the rain we had." Randy lives in Des Moines after graduating from Emmaus Bible College.

2. P.J. Holmertz and other staff took 5 horses to the river in 1993 on a weekend horse ride... without permission. While at the river, the horses ate grass along the river bank that had been flooded during the 1993 floods. They returned to camp with the horses. On Monday, the first horse dropped over dead with botulism poison from the grass... by the end of the week, 5 horses were dead. P.J. is now the counselling pastor at Valley EFC.

3. Brent Bartels picks up one of the dead horses on Wednesday, and drives through the middle of camp with the horse hanging from the front end of the tractor loader.... right by the little kids standing by the flag pole.... children were crying over the dead horse!! Brent and his family lives in South Dakota.

4. In the 80's we didn't have a full time summer camp nurse; we also had very little medication to dispense. We had a small room where the medications were kept, and it was the responsibility of the counselor to dispense any pills that campers needed to take before a meal. Chris McGovern, ask his boys, "Who takes medications?" Caleb Merriman said he did... and so Chris gave Caleb the only medication from his zip lock bag to Caleb... Redlin... and Caleb didn't take Redlin... needless to say... Caleb was a little subdued for the afternoon... I called his mother Marty.... "Oh no problem..." she said, "He will be fine." And he was... Caleb ended up being a counselor at camp when he was out of high school. (Note: We now have RN's dispensing meds!!) Chris is now an banker.

5. Joel Saleh... do I need to say more? Joel received more bone head awards than any other staff: truck or tractor accidents, spilled paint, you name it... he attracted mishaps or accidents.... he is now a railroad engineer....

6. Ryan Sheldon from Oregon, had never driven a truck with a stick shift, or a tractor, but was put on the maintenance crew. His first day, he drove a truck through the large overhead door at the shop. Greg Johnson was the maintenance director in 2003. Greg stormed into my office..."I can't take them boys anymore!", he snorted... Greg moved to Wichita a few days later. Ryan is now a school teacher in Japan.

7. Jonathan Stamberg was on staff in the early 90's. A great kid, but absent minded. He was buzzing around in my personal truck, a Ford Ranger pickup, when he lost track of the road in the girl's cabin area and found a 8 inch hickory tree. The ranger had a nice creased look after that. Jonathan is a worship pastor in Atlanta Georgia.

The best thing about this is that we laugh about it heartily now! Though they destroyed property or possessions, these young people learned from their mistakes and misdeeds. Usually we were able to display large amounts of grace; none of these kids were ever fired from camp; they were reprimanded is some way, and life went on.

As adults, we all should be given a bone head award at least monthly; we all have fallen short of the mark; we all have goofed either at home or at work; a chicken bone around the neck might help us to remember longer and act slower.

Note: The list above is not exhaustive; these are only a few that come to mind this morning... more will be added as my memory kicks in.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

My Dad: 80 wonderful years. Thank you Dad!

2008-06-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

We buried my Dad today in Wexford cemetery south of Lansing, Iowa; a place that Dad loved; a trout stream nearby and a turkey hunting woods behind his grave. From the hill looking over the valley below, the sight was breath taking. My family has fished and hunted and vacationed in the hills south of Lansing for 44 years and Dad wanted that to be his final resting place. The entire two days of a funeral in Boone on Tuesday and the grave side service near Wexford, were wonderful; sad... but wonderful that my Dad's strong testimony and influence in people's lives were validated over these two days. We connected with family friends of over 50 years; so many spoke so kindly of Dad and what he meant to them.

I will share with you the eulogy I wrote and spoke at the funeral service on Tuesday.

For 80 years, Dad carried on life here on earth… born in a log cabin in Missouri, his early life was filled with wonderful memories of his Dad and especially his mother… life on Locust and Paw Paw creeks was extremely bare and poor, but filled with wonderful events and 7 brothers and sisters that shaped dad into who he was to become as a man… it was his mother's love and care that Dad spoke of so much as he grew older… her canning nearly a 1000 quarts of greens, and fruit, and vegetables… or his Dad’s rants and raves or hunts… or his tom boy sisters…. Or his big brother Everett who stuck up for him, and was his protector… and of course his colorful brother Earl… all were instrumental in creating the Waylon we knew… when he spoke of his dear sisters, he spoke as if they were Saints…except Peg…. When he spoke of Peg… he spoke with love and affection…and only said she was one of a kind….

Can I share of few word pictures of what mattered to dad?

Some of Dad’s favorites:
Loved the cabin…Loved to fish for trout..for 43 years… dad’s favorite place to vacation was in NE Iowa…
Loved to turkey hunt. He loved his hunting shack that Jane gave him..
Dad loved to garden… you could often find him hoeing early in the morning with just his shorts on. We all remember going to the garden with a knife and eating kohlrabies, or tomatoes… dad loved fresh tomatoes…corn, asparagus…
Loved to cook: favorite meals we always enjoyed with dad… chicken BBQ, fish, Indian fry bread, tacos… with the home made shells, wild turkey soup, wilted lettuce. And anything that gravy could be made from…

Later in life, he enjoyed going to Des Moines to the Sr. Golf tournament…. Vivian was dad’s autograph getter… Arnold Palmer and others.

Dad loved to go to Missouri… fish at Uncle Everett’s ponds, Memorial Day weekend… he would usereal lard to fry fish.

In the late winter you would find dad at Veterans Auditorium at the high school wrestling tournament, and in March, he would travel up to 500 mile to go to the national wrestling tournament… state tournaments for basketball, baseball…But in the summer… it was the St. Louis Cardinals… he loved to watch the Cardinals.

Dad loved any excuse to get together with his family; if you invited dad to a celebration, wedding, graduation, etc, he would be there… extended family knows what I am talking about… it was as if he could smell the cake. And once there, he became the life of the party. We are convinced that his 80th birthday party was what kept dad alive last winter.

Dad loved taking countless pictures of insignificant things… in multiple… of buildings, bridges, trees, flowers, or a deer or turkey at 700 yards. He bought his first reel to reel tape recorder in 1961… we still talk about our tape of eating supper with Grandma Ola Taylor… dad’s mom…. with grandma saying, “Look at the boy eat that sour kraut… "

Dad loved his morning paper… Des Moines Register… at the cabin we would drive nearly 20 mile to get several different papers for Dad to read throughout the day.

Most of you know Dad was a Missouri Democrat… true blue democrat… his mantra was the Republicans take from the poor and give to the rich…. Didn’t like big oil… we Republican children stopped discussing any type of politics with dad several years ago… we couldn’t convince him, and he us… I almost thought dad wasn’t real comfortable voting for Barrack Hussein Obama, and he sure wasn’t going to vote for a Republican, so he just decided to check out of life…

Dad was able to marry all his kids and all the grandchildren old enough…. At Randy’s… he was at his best… toward the end, he would forget to include important parts like kiss your bride or exchanging rings… but at each there was so much fun, and laughter and love…. Nobody cared… it was a treat to have grandpa a part of each wedding.

Dad loved to meet new people… He never met a stranger, but would strike up a conversation with anyone… dad was remembered by most as someone with a large laugh and a slap to his knee.

I have heard from many people that they loved Dad’s stories… he was able to draw from his rich, but poor, childhood so many stories of his brothers and sisters and his mom and dad. His last story to me was about farming in the early 50’s with Grandpa Harm, and milking cows by hand… the self cleaning cream separator… complete with sound effects of how it sounded when it was cleaning… and about a particular cow that was a real milker; when they sold her, they got $300 for her..

Everything that I have spoken of above were the activities that we remember him being involved in… earthly things.

But by far the most important thing that ever happened to Dad was his conversion on April 3, 1961 while on the job at the Grinnell high school construction site… eating lunch… that was the greatest event in Dad’s life… he did become a new creation in Christ..

From that point, Dad changed… a Missouri childhood friend when told Dad was a pastor said, "I thought he would have been a horse thief."

It was during that time our mother left Dad… leaving him with 4 young children to raise… and he did it so faithfully….cooked, worked in the factory, took us to the laundromat on Friday nights along with visits to Auntie Gladys… Gary on the floor watching a movie, and Karen and her yappy, nervous, Pomeranian dog… …(my sisters remember me sticking my arm and swiping candy bars from the machine at the laundromat… and dad whipping me for that!!!) Jane remembers dad even whipping her when she was 17 for a lie she told… Randy remembers the episode of his 61 Chevy and the souped of racing motor he put in without Dad knowing it, and how Dad handled that... and Vivian remembers well, how Dad kept track of her high school parade of boys wanting to date her.... Dad didn't stop disciplining us when we reached 12... but we always felt completely loved... we all knew when we had it coming to us.

We moved to Searsboro in the spring of 1962, where Dad met Dorothy… when they were married, life got back to more normal… he was called into the ministry… and his first church was at Pleasant Ridge north of Coon Rapids… Dad didn’t have much theological training… as a matter of fact… his 8th grade education was about it… a little training at Vernard… but it was Dad’s heart, his care, his compassion to the church people that made him a pastor, and not a preacher…for over 40 years… Dad served at 5 different churches…

Tomorrow, dad will make our last trip to the cabin… there will be no stops along the way in some Podunk town… just because he had never been there… no stop for groceries… no stops for a paper… we will bury him in a place dear to his heart… Wexford… near an ancient Catholic church, within a few hundred yards of his favorite trout stream, within a few hundred yards from where he shot one of his earliest morning turkeys… an ideal place… almost heaven type place…

But not quite… however, we do know that Dad is in heaven… his faith of over 47 years says, “I have gone to prepare a place for you… not here on earth where things grow old, things rust out, things stop working… I go to prepare a place where there will be no more pain, no more heartache, no more loss of hearing or weakness of knees, but a place of perfect rest. "

Though he loved to have his family with him at the cabin…. Fishing on the banks of Wexford, he would much rather see each of you in heaven… seek the Lord today… while he may be found…

Dad’s life was colorful… dad touched more lives with his warmth, his friendliness, and his compassion…What a wonderful legacy he created to be passed on down through the Taylor bloodlines: always be engaged in other people’s lives, give care and comfort to those in need, laugh more than you cry; work hard, but don’t be so driven and consumed that you overlook the mushrooms, and flowers, and clear fishing streams, or your family… and love the Lord with all your heart.! Pretty simple life philosophy… going a shore and finding it heaven.... waking up in heaven.... and finding it home.

Staff Alumni-Cream of the crop

2008-06-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

Every year, I go back and reflect on past staff as I try to select names for the Wall of Fame: a list of former summer staff that I consider the "cream of the crop"; those who did above what they were asked to do; those who worked selfishly so that the camper's needs were met, in spite of how the counselor felt... whether tired or sick, or both.

We have a board of names located in the Family Life Center: it is a reminder for campers to remember old counselors they might of had, and it is a form of recognition to those who served so faithfully for several summers; typically, the kids whose names are on the Wall of Fame are staff that stuck with us for more than 2 years. They started in high school for very low pay, and they continued once in college for very low pay.

I want some healthy competition amongst the staff; I want them to want to win as a counselor or a dish washer or a maintenance person. I don't want them to think that second best is o.k., and they don't have to give out 100% to the campers or to the camp. They have only 5 days to make a lasting impact on the lives of the young campers; it is possible that some of their campers might never attend camp again, or go to an evangelical church again; this might be the only chance for this camper to accept Christ.

Cream always rises to the top; the best staff will always shine out from their peers; they will get the job done when the circumstances around them appear to be impossible; they will meet the needs of each camper. Even after 2 weeks of camp, I am seeing patterns of greatness; and sometimes I am seeing patterns of laziness. When I see the lazy, I am quick to go after it and push this staff to excel; (some call it yelling or admonishing... I consider it spurring on!) Pushing for cream, but will settle for half and half!

This week our speaker is Chris Rollman; a former counselor who is now a youth pastor in Wichita Kansas. I saw CREAM in Chris when he was 16; he was responsive, responsible, and diligent in his duties even as a Jr. Counselor. As he matured and grew older I saw him even become more of a leader and an inspiration to the campers under him. I spoke to a pastor that Chris did an internship with in Orange City and the pastor said, "Chris could get a job anywhere he wants; he is that good of a kid, and is so prepared for ministry that any church in the United States would love to have him on their staff." And I fully agree.

You will hear reports that I am bossy, pushy, demanding, a little growly at times at the staff; at the time, the kids think I am just the grouchy old man at camp that makes their life miserable. I am glad they think that at times; I do want them to remember my admonishments and direction later in life when they get a real job and start paying in for my social security. I want them to be able to reflect back and be thankful for some good training that helped them become productive citizens.

Cream always rises to the top; while uncared for milk usually sours!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Jr High Week

2008-06-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

It is Jr. High week; they come in all shapes and sizes; they come in all stages of maturity; some appear to me should be in 4th grade, while others look to be old enough to be in high school; but they all come with the same spiritual needs. Each one will have an encounter with the Almighty this week; some may reject, but our prayer is that all would accept this encounter and respond with an open heart.

Many have heard my testimony; it was at a Jr. High camp in 1967, that I put my faith in Christ. I don't suppose we had more than 50 campers in camp that week; we had volunteer counselors made up of parents or college kids; I don't remember the speaker or my counselor's name, but I remember the last night sitting around the campfire. We were to pick up a stick, which represented sin in our life and walk up to the fire and throw it in; a little bit corny... maybe not so accurate theologically, but the effects were, that I left the campfire that night a new creation in Christ.

That is exactly what I want to happen this week to the nearly 200 Jr. highers.

Much has changed in 41 years; my biggest problems as a emerging teen was an upstart of a pimple or the way I looked with a mouth full of braces. I don't remember being tempted by the culture or the world, to engage in lifestyle choices that are considered wrong. We had our home, a couple of neighborhood farm friends; we worked walking beans, weeding the garden, scooping hog manure, mowing the yard with a push mower, and occasionally we would ride our bikes a couple miles to a creek to try to catch a bull head. We didn't own a tv, didn't get a newspaper, didn't know what a computer was, and we only used the phone when we absolutely had to contact someone. We chased ground squirrels in the neighbor's pasture, we built forts in the neighbor's barn, we still played softball anytime we could get a couple teams together, and we all ate supper together as a family... at home. We went to week long Bible school all the way through high school... which lasted from 9 am to 3 pm., and we had a big turn out. We attended church twice on Sunday and on Wednesday nights. I bought my first bike for $29, and I thought I had spent my fortune.

It almost sounds like I was Opie Taylor, instead of Earl Taylor; almost. We didn't know we had it so good. But we can't go back; our culture began to slide backwards in the late 60's, and it has been a downhill slide since then; we were taught to question authority, question our faith; question our nation. The results ain't very pretty.

Most would say that kids are smarter today; they have been exposed to more information, more cultures; they do have more of a world view than I had when I was 13. A big trip to me was going to Colorado in 1964. Kids know it all, live it all, and want to experience it all... before their 14.

Where does camp fit in today? It is still just a relevant today as it was in 1967. Young people come with the same emptiness in their heart; they come also with more baggage, more hurts, more disappointments in their lives: but regardless, they come in need of Savior. It is the camps role to meet these spiritual needs through the impact of God's Word, our speaker, and our counselors; it is the faithfulness of the staff that breaks down barriers, softens hard hearts through love and attention; but it is the Holy Spirit that work deep in the soul of each camper that will convict. It is our prayer that when campers leave Hidden Acres they will have had their campfire experience.

Pray with us this very important week; this might be the last week of camp for kids; we see fewer and fewer kids come to camp after they reach high school.... we don't want to miss an opportunity.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Keeping is Simple: Miracle Poles to the Gospel

2008-06-14T02:58:00.000-07:00

The week is over; first week of camp; 340+ campers; 3 different age groups; 2 different speakers; arrived in a torrential rainstorm; left with a cool breeze to their back and a sun filled sky: WONDERFUL WEEK!

The counselors outdid themselves this week. As I went around Wednesday night after the storm checking the covered wagons to see if there was any water issues in the wagons and switching on a light for the camper's return, I was shocked at the amount of wet clothes and muddy shoes laying around the small confines of the wagon. But one wagon counselor comments sticks out to me from the week: Molly, on two occasions came up and shared, "One of my campers rededicated their life to Christ tonight!" She came into the office on Wednesday evening prior to the storm and told me of one campers decision: I was too preoccupied by the radar screen to celebrate with her.

We celebrate on Friday evening at the final staff meeting of the week; counselors report of those who accepted Christ and of those of rededicated their lives. The counselors tell of funny stories of the week, heartaches of the week, and victories of the week. Without fail, one or two cabins have an outstanding week where every camper make decisions for Christ; other cabins report one or two that made decisions. Regardless, lives are being changed by the impact of the counselor and the speaker. Young people are looking for good, positive Christian models to cling to and to believe in. Over and and over I tell the summer staff, "Guard your heart, guard what you say and how you behave during the week; you have many sets of young eyes looking you over and checking your testimony out... one miss-said word or action can/will/could keep one of your campers from making the decision of a life time... to accept or reject Christ."

I fished with the fishing campers this week at my pond near my house; it was the only body of water not muddied by the rains. The boys were young and inexperienced in their fishing skills; I could tell some had never really handled a fishing pole before. They came to camp with nice new poles that mom and dad had bought them. Some were the complicated type: open-face-type, while others were the typical Zepco 202's. It didn't take me long to go to the house and drag out my 10+ simple telescopic, fiberglass cane poles. The boys looked at me and couldn't figure out what you could do with a 14' stick with a string attached to it. I called them my miracle poles: after the first two boys caught 8 or 10 fish with the miracle poles, other boys threw their rod and reels down and asked, "You have anymore of those miracle poles Earl?" By the end of the fishing time, all poles were being used, and everyone was catching fish.

Miracles poles: there was no miracle involved here; it was just a simple system of pole, line, and hook. No tangled lines, no balled-up reels, just the essentials. Like camp: miracle camp: campfire experience at camp... nothing fancy... no complicated program... no big time speaker... just a camp fire and a group of counselors and kids singing and sharing testimonies..... and then a miracle happens where the Spirit of the Lord moves into young people's hearts and they are changed by a simple declaration, "I accept you Lord. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my life."

Like the miracle poles, we want to keep it simple here at camp. It is about the heart of the camper.... period. Counselors don't need to understand deep theological issues in order to share their faith with campers; they need only to be available to share the simple truth that all are sinners and that Christ loved you so much that He died for your sins ... you only must confess and receive Him.

Why can't life be that simple in the adult world of life: why do we struggle so much to share our faith with those we work with and interact with throughout our day? Perhaps we too need to throw aside the complicated rods and reels of our evangelistic approach and pick up the simple and effective gospel of Christ... and begin to share as if we were sharing to a small child.

Let's go fishing... for eternity's sake!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

During times of heartache and distress: Tornados and Floods

2008-06-12T16:43:00.001-07:00

I read a quote from Cedar Rapids Sheriff on Fox News this afternoon: "We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start," Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller said. "We're going to need a lot of prayers and people are going to need a lot of patience and understanding."

God's mercy. It is fresh every morning! We do want and need his mercy: EVERY DAY... even when the sun is shining,when the birds are singing, and when the strong winds blow or the waters are rising.

I am glad that even the world knows that they are at God's mercy; my prayer is that they cry out for his mercy in 6 weeks or 6 months when the mud is dry, the sheet rock is patched, and life is back to normal. I was so encouraged after 9/11 for about a month as we heard people call out for the mercy of God, but they soon forgot, and turned back to their earthly cares.

In a week, we will be hosting the Valley EFC men that are training for disaster relief; they will bring their trailer full of tools: chainsaws and other equipment to bring aid to those who are hurting; they were in Parkersburg 2 weeks ago cutting up down trees, etc. What an opportunity for these men to share their testimonies. I love this type of practical ministry.

My challenge to all is that we capitalize on this window of opportunity to share our faith; this is a season of questions and lack of understanding by the pagan world; to them things are falling apart all around them and there are no answers for them. Have the right answer ready: I don't know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand and shows His mercy to me even when I don't deserve it.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Til' the Storm Passes Over

2008-06-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

We were anxious last night; and rightly so; by 8 p.m., word had come to us that a tornado had hit a boy scout camp near Omaha, killing 4 and injuring 40+ campers and staff. We went into red alert; I quickly returned to camp, and hovered over the radar screen, manned the phone, and listened to WHO. By 9:15, the rainstorm arrived, with plenty of rain, and moderate winds. We had the kids all corralled inside, and key staff members knew what to do if I made the call to move the kids to the basement or into inside locker rooms.

The Storm passed over leaving plenty of puddles, lots of lingering lightning; but the campers made their way back to their cabins donning garbage bags for makeshift raincoats; I saw one group of girl campers splashing their way to the covered wagons, singing and enjoying the aftermath of a intense rain storm.

Our hearts ache this morning as we read in the papers and listen to the news about the boy scout camp tragedy. Within 8 minutes of the first tornado warning from the weather people, the storm snuffed out the lives of 4 young people. My prayer is that these boys knew Christ as their Savior. My prayer is for the parents and families will be ministered to during this time and that something good can come from all this.

The safety of 340 campers, 120 staff can scare a person into fear and trembling. But I don't let it weigh on me; I learned many years ago that the same hand of the Lord that has guided me through situations can also be the hand of protection. We reacted with our God given common sense and had the children in a controlled situation, we monitored the storm, and we reacted according to a plan, but in the end, it is the hand of the Lord that can move mountains, can calm the seas, and can create storms or diminish storms. We are chaff in the wind.

Chaff in the Wind: even with all the technology around us, we have no more control over the weather than we do when it come to the sun rising or sitting; we can only be bystanders, watching and wondering; do we watch with an eye that doesn't see God's hand, or do we watch and see God's ultimate plan playing out in right in front of our eyes?

Should we grow tired of the rain, the mud, the excessive wet area? It grates on the nerve; but when the storm passes over and we know who is in control, we can rest, knowing that this is the same God that protected Israel by day and by night; he will do the same for us.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Capture the Flag- It must be Wednesday night

2008-06-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

There is no other activity that we play at camp like capture the flag; and always on Wednesday; campers and staff would rather not eat for the day than miss capture the flag. All day long, there is a quiet buzz around camp; it starts with a bandanna around the head in the morning; and by supper time, it looks like we have a full blown war on our hands; camouflage, face paint, special hats... counselors come to camp with particular clothing and makeup packed just for this one night of fun.

I don't understand the game; I think there is a flag involved; I think there are couple teams chasing through the timber looking for each other's flag; I think each team can capture members of the other team. I know they get into lots of poison ivy, they get lots of scratches and bruises and bumps; and I know the kids love it.

Actually, I don't think all staff and campers are as equally excited about the game; I am almost certain there are a few die hard players; you can see it in their preparation; excessive camo, face paint, and packs are all necessary gear. There are others who get excited about the game, because it's what you are supposed to do; and others, they tag along for the social networking of the evening. It gives them a little time to hang with a few friends.

There have been other activities that have come and gone or at least only gets play sporadically. It appears to me for the boys, it gives them a taste of what it is like to be a soldier. For the girls... I have no idea why a dainty, pretty young lady would like such a game.

It is good that camp has certain traditions; each generation of campers has the same type of experience while at Hidden Acres. It is the type of experience that former camper parents will tell their children; "When you go to camp... you will play capture the flag or you will eat one of the camps famous chocolate chip cookies or a sticky cinnamon bun."

I don't want certain things to change at camp; I want the camp to hold on tightly to certain activities; capture the flag has been going on for 21 years; cookies for 18 years; cinnamon buns for 22 years. The sound preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.... since the beginning... 29 years.

Sound Biblical teaching and preaching goes beyond what is fun or tasty; it is essential to everything we do.

I don't like mixing other parts to the gospel either; I have to guard against the evil one trying to slip in something through the counselors; something they think might be innocent; something like a Harry Potter, or a yoga meditation: for many young Christians, everything can be mixed in with Biblical truth and still come out pure and sound. It won't get easier either. I see many compromises in the under 30 crowd; they are the same ones falling for the smooth talk of Obama, without understanding what he really stands for. They are so easily deceived; they lack a discerning spirit to know and understand what is best for them; and consequently settle for a luke-warm type of Christianity that lacks power and fervency.

Traditions: carpet ball, capture the flag, cookies and the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ: God's Word. Pray with me that I can be an influence on these young people with a loving spirit and a kind word.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Jr. Maintenance Boys- 1st Job

2008-06-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

For the lack of a better title we called them the Jr. Maintenance boys; they were 14-15 year old kids who attended camp as kids, were still too young to be counselors; but they wanted to work at camp. Around 1990, the Jr. maintenance program began. Some of the first boys were Seth Peterson, Joel Saleh, Daniel Poyzer, Seth Anderson, P.J Holmertz, Ryan Graden,Brandon Wind, and Brett Wiuff. We paid them $25 a week, so that we could fire them if they got out of hand; we work their tails off. Garbage, weed whipping, mowing, firewood, and even slopping the hogs with scraps from the kitchen.

We didn't know what we were doing those first years; we yelled, pushed, pulled, and tried to get them moving in the same direction. Always, by the end of the summer, I was worn out from keeping them busy. Not one has ever come back to me and said, "I hated my time here working for nothing." Everyone reflects back on the good old days and laughs and knows that was great training for becoming a man.

Seth Peterson is now 31 and is the construction coordinator for us at the camp... he did all the electrical and geo-thermal on the family life center... plus alot more; Seth Anderson just graduated from medical school; Brett Wiuff is with Navigators in Oregon; P.J. Holmertz is a family counselor with the Valley EFC; Ryan Graden is the Program Director at Hidden Acres; Joel Saleh is a railroad engineer; Daniel Poyzer is a computer programmer; Brandon Wind is still wanting to be in a rock and roll band.

First jobs are interesting at best; a young person wants to do well; they want to be paid fairly; they want to be spoken of highly. Some meet those expectations, while others fail miserably. They boys mentioned above all survived their 2 months and developed into fine young men.

I recall my first job beside walking beans. As a Jr. higher, I gathered eggs at a Hy-Line chicken farm outside of Coon Rapids; I received $.75 per hour: $6 for a days work. I thought it was great; I scooped chicken manure, cleaned out waters, gathered eggs, and anything else Harold Hagge asked me. I moved up to a $1 per hour in high school loading hay bales for Sonny. By my sophomore year, I made a whopping $1.60 per hour working at the Hotel Muscatine for Mike Rewaldt, doing dishes and busing tables. While in my senior year in high school, I took an evening job in a factory, making an astounding $4.22 per hour. I had made it to the big time.

By today's standards, I was working for nothing. Today, baby sitters make more than I did while welding in a factory. But work is good for the soul. I had no self-esteem issues when I was young; I was needed by someone. Sonny or Harold was counting on me to be there and to work hard for them.

Tomorrow, summer staff will come in and work for 8 weeks; Senior staff will make around $160 per week, Jr. staff will make around $70 per week. Maintenance boys will make around $70 too; They work 10+ hours a day for 5 or 6 days. Sr. and Jr. counselors are at it 24 hours a day; they are taking care of children late into the night, and they are awakened early for trips to the bathroom or for other reasons. They may put in over 100 hours a week; you do the math; that is about the same pay I received in 1972.

And they love it. And it is good for them. The will move on into adulthood better for having spent their summers at camp. They will be better teachers, parents, church workers, or whatever else they add to their resume. Camp molds young people into thinking, problem solving adults that will one day reflect back on their camps days and say, "That was great training, and well worth the nearly $1.60 an hour I made!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

First Night of Camping- June 1, 2008

2008-06-01T18:20:00.000-07:00

The fire is burning; the mosquitoes are biting; the sun is just setting; and the birds are making their final good night calls; life is good in a tent. I may get to liking this simple life. After the first midnight thunder storm, I am sure I will sing a different song.

Lead staff arrived today at camp; these are some of the best; proven kids that we have moved into leadership roles; kids that have been here many years as campers and as counselors. We are depending on these kids to lead the remaining 100 staff who arrive on Tuesday. After that, it is full bore at camp.

One would hope that by sitting quietly by a campfire that some profound thoughts would come to mind; new discoveries would pop into my head; complicated systems would suddenly seem simple to my simple mind; new building designs would come to mind… I am sitting only a few feet away from where the new motel lodge will be built. But, probably nothing new will come; the fire will turn into embers, my eyes will be filled with smoke and I have been quiet for 30+ minutes. “Be still and know that I am you God!”

It is fun for me to sit right next to the site of the motel; not so many years ago I remember the site being used for something else. When I arrived at Hidden Acres, a large brick hog shed that had been converted into a shop area and a recreation area sat on this site. The original foundation can still be seen. Behind the hog shed, we had two mobile homes; one was used for housing, the other was used as a kitchen for the first camp in 1983. Over the years, the hog shed was torn down, an above ground swimming pool was erected, carpet ball tables were moved in, and even a few campers were parked on the site over Labor Day family camp. Finally, the last building that I will remember will be built here.

As I mentioned the hog shed and mobile homes, a conversations comes to mind I had with a young man in his thirties on Saturday. International Messengers were training short term missionaries that will go into Europe this summer. One young men that was helping with the training, an International Messenger staff member told me, "I accepted Christ here in 1983 during Basketball camp with coach Bob and with Mike Shea the speaker." 25 years later, this young man is still going strong in his faith; a missionary; a soul winner. And he still remembers his coach, speaker, and that he stayed in the old tentels. I was blessed with his testimony from this young man from Ft. Dodge. Those who remember that summer, can remember a summer of mud, back up sewer systems, and uncompleted lodge, and toilets that shocked you when you flushed. It is no wonder that the Lord took that building home through fire 5 months later.

What will kids remember 25 years from now? Are we going to leave such big tracks behind us that we will be remembered; or are we only going to leave a few scuffles in the leaves that won't be noticeable after a few years?/ My pastor talked about this this morning; Paul wrote, watch what I do. Our pastor told the story of a Christian man who told a seeker, "If you want to understand what Christianity is about, walk along side of me for two months!" I am not sure I could/would make that statement.

We are walking through this life; some are on the run; but regardless we better understand that we are creating tracks of some kind; will they be tracks that will lead others to Christ; or will they will be tracks that will be seen as hypocritical and full of empty words. Will campers some day return to Hidden Acres and remember who the camp director was, who the camp speaker was, or who their counselor was? My prayer is that is would be so; that they too would still be strong in their faith; ready with their testimony of how Christ met them in a special way while at camp.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

The Hand of the Lord is on Us

2008-05-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

You hem me in behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where ever I go; what ever I speak; what ever I think; He knows it completely... and in spite of our ignorance and shortcomings, He keeps His hand on us: directing, leading, encouraging, providing, and admonishing us when and where it is needed. I am convinced about this as we work at Hidden Acres; God's hand is on us and is the guiding source of all we do.

My days are short before I move into my tent at the site of the new motel; on Sunday, I will give up comfort, a/c, and my chair and coffee in the morning for a tent. I will stay overnight in this tent for 30 nights; I will have my morning devotions in the tent, drink my morning coffee in the tent, and watch camp wake up slowly. I will wake up early; hours before the rest of the camp is moving about. I will see the flag being raised each morning; I will watch the flag taken down each night. I will hear excessive noise and late night activities; some sanctioned, and some not so sanctioned or encouraged by the camp. I am looking forward to the month. Perhaps I won't hear much news about the politics of the summer; perhaps I won't know if the corn prices have hit $7 per bushel; perhaps it might be just the thing to do to clear the mind from the noise of our nation.

The tent is a temporary home; not a place where we want to accumulate lots of extra stuff; just those things that are necessary in life. No pictures on the walls, little furniture, and nothing on the floor: there is little to keep track of; little to dust; and even less to organize and straighten up each day. More time to ponder, more time to think, more time to relate to friends and family, more time for exercise and write.

The Hand of the Lord has been on me. I have seen it over the 24 years at Hidden Acres. I have seen the Lord's hand in and on our daily activity. I have seen His hand with each building we build, with each new program we begin, with each staff we hire.

I trust you can read as I write more often this coming month of the days in the tent. I am praying for insight, new direction for myself and the camp, and for a fresh understanding of what it means to have His hand upon me each day. I am praying that the Lord supplies our needs as we begin the building; to keep us safe; to supply the funds and the workers, and to go before us and make our decision making process accurate and effective.

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Carpet Ball and Life

2008-05-25T05:47:00.000-07:00

I love the concept of carpet ball; everyone can win and past champions can be beat; there is little skill needed, only persistence and a good strong arm; but even the arm is not that important.

The activity is an equalizer; a 3 year old can compete against adults and adults can play with their kids; and both will enjoy the activity. There isn't many games that will please all people; basketball and baseball takes talent; with carpet ball, you just show up to the table and play; if you lose one game, you fall back in line and try again until you are anointed champion for the minute or for the hour.

I have watched educated grown men who are full of profound thoughts spend an hour at throwing pool balls back and forth; no thoughts, no efforts, no issues: only simple competition that should drive everyone.

I like competition; I am not afraid of competition. Our culture wants to eliminate it; they want everyone to be the recipients of blue ribbons; in the name of self esteem... they make everyone the champion in schools. My grand daughter came home with a medal the other day for reading progress; her mother said, "Everyone got the medal!" Wow! That must mean everyone is reading at an accelerated rate... but I doubt it.

Through healthy competition, the cream rises to the top; the best gets recognized and rewarded; hard work is rewarded; the sloven and lazy get nothing. We lost it as a nation in the 60's when we started handing out checks to those who didn't want to work; within 40 years we now have a nation full of people who feel entitled to something free without any effort. They have learned the system and they work it with the skill of a surgeon; they know what to do to claim disability payments and line up for the next hand out.

Let's apply the carpet ball principle to our culture; everyone is equal, but only those who stick with it and apply themselves wins. If you are too lazy to throw the ball, don't expect to rise to the top and become the camp champion; or the best reader in the class; or the best counselor; or the best car salesman! I am not big on whiners, but doers.

Now get out there and start throwing the pool balls!

earldtaylor@yahoo.com

Family Camps at Hidden Acres

2008-05-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

We are right in the middle of Memorial Day family camp; over 400 people are enjoying the extra cool weather and a little rain and mud; but most are die-hard family campers and would attend regardless of weather predictions or high gas prices: they see attending family camp as a tradition they don't/won't give up. It is worth of trouble and the expense to create some special memories for their families.

This is my 24th Memorial Day family camp. I still am just as pleased to see our families return; I love it when they invite their friends and family members along to share their weekend. I am even more pleased when a second generation family camper returns with their small children. It was important to them, and now they want their children to have similar memories.

There is more value to family camp than just memories: I see good wholesome, safe fun to be the glue to keep active families together. It is hard for dads to slow down enough to sit around a fire with his kids and just poke at the sparks and talk about things that seem insignificant at the time; child babble it could be called. But occasionally, out of the mouth of a babe, a life truth might be said, or a particular insight into the heart of a child will be revealed to the parent. What parent doesn't get surprised at what really make their kids tick when we stop long enough to listen.

Parenting can be tough, but it can be a real lasting blessing if done with care and with active involvement in the lives of our offspring. Cooking meals outside with less than ideal conditions teaches principles to children like, "Even when it ain't perfect... keep at it... don't stop when frustrated... or if you don't work, you don't eat. Sleeping in a soggy tent ain't fun, but I have yet to see a family melt due to a early morning rain shower. " A weekend at family camp might be one of the few times a family really has to rough it together. And roughing it is good!! Life isn't about convenience and always having comfort in order to be content and happy. Being content in the rough times, only makes those occasional, knock your socks off sunsets even more beautiful and meaningful. Life ain't the Holiday Inn, as a matter of fact, it is more often the Inn experience... with little holiday. There is nothing wrong being in the Inn... surrounded by hay, and sheep, and an old goat or two.

I spoke with a couple my age yesterday; they have been coming to family camp for 22 years; they were waiting for their daughter and her family to arrive at camp. They reflected warmly about the years past; the wet ones, the cold ones, the warm ones, the years the fish bit, the years the mosquito's bit, and the years the speakers spoke to their hearts. All added up to a rich tradition that they would not be traded for all the hotel stays of their life time. They don't run as hard as they used to run, but they love sitting in the Family Life Center and watching camp go running by the window; knowing that their grandchildren can/will be a part of something special too.

See you at Labor Day.

Imprinting: Transferring actions and attitudes

2008-05-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

I see it all the time in the animal world; ma and pa goose teaches and emulates proper goose behavior and methods of survival; "Watch what I do and how and what I eat and you will survive to fly south someday," they seem to be saying to the gosling off-spring. Sometimes I wish it was that easy with young people.

I don't know if you have noticed, but young people think differently than we did as teenagers; we lived somewhat simple lives; there were very few outside influences on our lives; our parents, family, church, and our friends pretty much was our world; we were not connected to the outside world's culture. What was going on in California stayed in California; we were quite content to live the rural, bucolic life style of a farm family in Iowa.

Not so today; every kid is bombarded from loud voices from all ways of life; the school teaches multi-culturalism, and a form a rebellion from our parents ways. TV and the Internet brings with its entertainment, but also all kinds of compromises and filth. What we were taught as children as to be wrong or sinful, in today's world nearly everything goes and everything is acceptable.

Imprinting: I try to change the way our summer staff think about their summer ministry; sometimes they respond, other times, they fight me and call my thinking outdated and old. I do try to instill certain behaviors that I find necessary: i.e., no excessive hardware stuck in various parts of ones head; no hats on backwards; no sloppy look in dress; look people in the eye when you talk to them; watch what you watch at the movies and on TV; memorize entire chapters in the Bible; get into the Word every day; cool the secular music and don't get carried away with wild and crazy Christian music (if you can call it Christian!).

I have seen an institution go to pot when someone doesn't stand up and hold certain principles of action as a guiding force; when someone doesn't hold up acceptable behavior patterns, it becomes tyrannical; out of control; the late 1960's revisited. During the first week of camp, we instruct the counselors that they need to conform to our standards. What is acceptable back home may not be acceptable at camp; it isn't a matter of right and wrong... it is about what is acceptable behavior while at camp.

Why should we be so fussy about how a counselor looks like or how they act? We have nearly 2000 young campers who attend Hidden Acres. Each camper comes from different backgrounds, different family situations, different traditions. Many campers are home schooled; their families might have a more conservative flavor to their family; while other campers might not have any church background and find everything acceptable. Our motto is always error on the conservative side.

Most people forget that it has been the seniors of our district that has given the money to develop the camp. I always tell the staff, "Don't being doing something or acting a certain way that would offend your grandmother." I would like to think that any guest that pops into camp would find the actions of the staff as acceptable and positive. Hidden Acres is every ones camp; I don't want one particular generation over-running and controlling the flavor of Hidden Acres.

Besides, I too want the staff to be able to fly south someday; successfully and without any baggage in their lives that will drag them down. Keeping a tight reign on the camp is not about me and what I want; it is about helping young people think through behavior patterns and the affect of bad choices that will scar their lives for years to come.

Appointments to Miracles

2008-05-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

We held our annual Spring Fling yesterday for our seniors; John Eilers from the Indianola Free Church spoke to the 40+ folks who made the trip to camp. What a wonderful day together with old friends of the camp!!

John shared his testimony of how he came to know the Lord; he was in his late 30's when he accepted Christ; he had lived an unfulfilled life up to that point... a life with alcohol that clouded his perspective and brought heartache to his life. But what a transformation when Christ got a hold of him. From a pagan to a preacher. From a life without purpose, to a spirit led life. A new creation.

In the afternoon session, John shared from his book about appointments to miracles; short stories of people and opportunities that he used to share his faith. John said, "I am a chiropractor that loves to share about Jesus!" He saw and took every encounter as a divine appointment to share his faith.

I missed one last week; I was standing in Walmart in Independence Iowa picking up a trout stamp and turkey license. An older gentlemen approached me and said, "I bet I have done something you haven't done; I was nearly blown up in Sioux City, at a local grain elevator. Five guys were killed, and I was the only one who survived." All I could say was, "You should thank the Lord for your life." He was 70+ years old... and may never hear the gospel message, and I blew it. Lord help me to see opportunities as appointments to share all that the Lord has done for me.

Divine appointments: are we praying for them or avoiding them? Do we see everybody we come into contact with as a potential hearer of the Word? At the end of our lives are we going to have a trophy room of junk or a room full of testimonies from people that we shared our faith with?

Pray for the summer staff that they too take advantage of every possible opening to share their faith with each camper.

Working for Earl

2008-04-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

I have hired a lot of kids in my days; over a 100 kids each summer for over 20 years; I have been around long enough to see how they have turned out! Some have surprised me, others have disappointed me, while others turned out just as I had expected.

Kids come to camp with little or no work experience; mowing grass or a paper route or babysitting is all they can list on their meager resumes. That's o.k. I would rather be the first one to work with them. I want to be the one to instill a work ethic that will follow them along all the rest of their days.

Some say I yell alot. Some say I am a little bit mean. Others would say I am pushy and demanding of the kids who work for me. I would say all of the above. I have heard through the grape vine that their is a group on face book or myspace called "I was almost fired by Earl". I will wear that badge proudly; not because I want to make a kid's life miserable, but I am glad they understand they are under our authority at the camp and are accountable to me or other staff. I don't mind if there is some honest fear; I want them to know that I would be disappointed if they don't follow instructions or if and when they have a lapse in judgement creating a sticky situation between the camp and a parent.

I received a nice note the other day from a former counselor/intern. She is now nearly 30 years old, married and a mother. Let me share what Stephanie wrote:

Hey Earl! I was just reading one of your blogs from March in which you commented on growing the summer staff in their work habits and it prompted a flashback in my mind...

Two lessons I learned working at camp: 1. Never say "that's not my job." and 2. Get in there and take care of it.To elaborate a bit...1. I recall, "Never say 'that's not my job,'" being one of your mantras and I think it greatly affected my work ethic. I often quote you when people to this day comment on my willingness to pitch in and do whatever is needed - regardless of whether or not it's part of my "job."2. My first day interning, I headed out to clean the bathrooms in the girls' cabin area and the cottages. I found 2 dead mice in a cottage toilet. It was surprising and gross, but I got them out no problem and moved on. When I looked in the first stall of the bathrooms in the girls' cabin area I discovered a large, bloated, squirrel deep in the toilet. I really hesitated for awhile about whether I could stomach it or if I should go get Greg or one his rookies working under him to take care of it for me. I went outside for a breath of fresh air and grabbed two sticks. I pulled that dead critter out with the sticks and moved on with the work day. When asked in my interview for my first teaching job to describe a difficult work experience that I overcame, this is the experience I described. They were impressed with me and hired me. One of the administrators commented on my relaying of that story a couple of years later and how impressed she was with my "can do" spirit that revealed. I'm still not sure whether they were impressed with my perceived ability to teach or just wanted to keep me on hand in case any other rodents showed up in a toilet. I taught middle schoolers... it was possible.

Stephanie Haila

If you are a parent sending your child off to work for us at Hidden Acres; relax! We will take care of your child. We will view him/her differently than you; we have very little history in your child's past. In our minds, they will have a clean slate to start their work history with us. What they do while at camp will depend on their character and their ambition. I always tell the kid, if you are lazy at camp, you will be lazy as an adult; so when calls come from future employers, I have a long memory and will be brutally honest about the former staff member.

It pleases me most when I can say, "Hire her!! Absolutely a great kid!" And more often than not, I do get to say that. But occasionally, I have to say, "Bad attitude in general. Lazy or sloppy in habits and character." It is crucial that each summer staff understands their role in making the camp successful. It is crucial that summer staff realizes that what they do now and the decisions they make during a summer has potential to influence future earnings.

For you parents that will be giving up your child for the summer: thanks! Thanks for letting us put them under our umbrellas of authority; and thanks for reinforcing what we say. You will hear from your child, "They expect us to work so hard. They get in our face when we miss up. They sometimes even discipline us." Be like my dad who said, "Son if you are sent to the principles office for discipline while in school, you get the same from me or worse when you get home!" Meaning: I got two spankings in one day. I used to tell my children, "Suck it up and get back in there and do even a better job next week!"

I trust you see my heart. I really ain't a meanie. I really don't enjoy yelling and reprimanding a kid; my blood pressure doesn't need spiked. I do what I do in order to train and mold these kids in future great employees. I don't always see the potential from every staff members; several of our former counselors are now doctors, lawyers, business owners, and pastors/missionaries. There were a few youngsters that I thought would not amount to much; boy did they prove me wrong. There were others that showed all kinds of personality and potential, who have gone on and done nothing with their lives... some even abandoning their faith and moral values and chosen life styles that are contrary to Scripture... those break my heart.

Hidden Acres is in the business to train young people to return home and re-connect with their local church as effective leaders and teachers and mentors. I trust you have seen this happen.

Old Friends

2008-04-25T02:37:00.000-07:00

Earl and Norman in 4th grade!

Few things in life are more comforting than having old friends; not aged friends, but friends with whom you go back a long way in your life; somebody you started grade school with; somebody you sat in Sunday school class with; somebody you went to camp with. When you get 60 or 70 years old, and life has turned you out to pasture, friends can be a real blessing and encouragement in our retired years.

I heard a good story from Dave Martin the other day; he was excited about seeing two old grade school friends; Dave is now 78 years old; so these are friends from over 70 years ago. 3 boys who played together, went to school together, and lived right next to each other; one became a priest in the Catholic church, one became a penticostal preacher, and Dave became a Free church pastor and retired as the Superintendent of the Central District of the Free Church. Dave will travel back to Northern Wisconsin next month to reconnect with these two childhood friends; he will go back in time with these two friends, remembering the past and renewing the tie that bound them together as youngsters. I am certain, that if these three boys' kindergarten teacher was still alive: knowing that the three went on to be in the ministry might have shocked her.

I too had a childhood friend that I have not forgotten over the years; as a 4th grader I began a friendship with a boy named Norman Dentlinger; a kid whose family was poor; a kid that didn't excel in school; a kid who was a bit shy and with drawn from the others. I wrote a story about Norman at Christmas time a few years ago; I will share with you again:

My daughter arrived home from college tonight; she had called earlier in the day and said she was bringing a friend. I was a little taken back when I stepped outside to greet my daughter; I could see her friend was struggling with her baggage. She walked with a limp, her knees were turned in and she wore thick glasses, with limited eye sight.
As we sat in the living room, tears came to my eyes because I was seeing the exact image in myself 35 years later. We had moved when I was going into the fourth grade. I was ready for the move. My dad had recently remarried after a 1961 divorce. We settled into the community, and I started school in Miss Sorenson’s class.
In 1964, there were no special education classes, only three levels of students: the smart, the average, and the slow. We had 3 slow students in my 4th grade class. Dave, Patty, and Norman. I was average to smart.
No one wore tennis shoes to school in 1964, but dress shoes. Norman didn’t wear either; he wore a heavy type above-the-ankle work boot that was sturdy, bulky, and enduring. From his feet to his head, Norman dressed different than the other kids. His coat and jeans were not stylish, but straight cut denims that a 30 year old farm hand would wear. He wouldn’t eat the 35 cent school lunches, instead he would carry his lunch of heavy dark bread sandwiches full of last night’s meat. I ate the Friday fish stick lunches and drank the 2 cent milk.
I wasn’t the biggest kid on the play ground, but I remember watching after Norman. I always made sure he was included in kick ball games at recess and would not allow the other boys to poke fun or mimic Norman. He was not overly gifted in running and throwing, but he was extra strong in arms and chest.
When Christmas came around in 1964, my dad was making around $3000 per year. I didn’t know we were the poor ones. I remember having our Sunday school Christmas program prior to Christmas school vacation. I remember the good hard candy and chocolates that were passed out to each child in the brown paper sack. I saved mine.
I took it to school on Monday morning, gift wrapped in a box and slipped it to Norman over lunch. He never said much. I never received a thankyou, but I knew I had done the right thing that Christmas. I haven’t seen Norman since grade school. I heard he never made it through high school. I moved away when we finished 8th grade.
I doubt my daughter’s friend got asked to visit somebody’s home often during her 4 years at Moody Bible. I am glad that apple’s don’t fall very far from the tree. I am glad that some things can be taught and others things are pure instinct.
And to you my old friend Norman, Merry Christmas to you again, 42 years later.

I called Norman last winter after stumbling onto his name in a phone book; he hadn't moved from Coon Rapids in over 50 years. I was all excited to hear how his life turned out; I had hoped he had went on and made something out of himself; that he had created a new life different than his childhood days. The sad part is: he hadn't: and even sadder to me, he didn't even remember me. I had not forgotten his name or even what he looked like for 44 years; he couldn't even recall who I was. I listen as he told me where he worked and a bit about his family. He had married, he had children; but nowhere did I ever hear about a conversion or even a changed life.

I need to go and see him one of these days; I can't change his past 53 years of his life; I doubt if anyone has ever shared with him about a relationship with Christ. I want to do that now; I want him to remember me just as I have often reflected on him and his childhood days. I want his name written in the Lamb's book of Life; where no one will be forgotten.

Building the Motel

2008-04-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

Over ten years ago, we began planning for major expansions to the camp; we planned an office, a family life center, the chapel and 4 more lodges. With the first 3 buildings completed, we are getting ready to build our first lodge; a 26 unit motel with a meeting room for 150 guests.

I have watched other camps move slowly and methodically, just barely moving ahead in their construction and remodelling projects. I have watched businesses that started 25 years ago with a bang, now closed up due to the lack of change and innovation; what was a good idea 25 years ago, slowly became a burden; the business went from something that generated passion and growth, to becoming an albatross.

We have been in a nice position at Hidden Acres; we are a relatively young camp, (29 years), and have been able to build and develop the camp aggressively over the last 20 years. As I have written in past blogs, lots has changed in the past 20 years; there are higher expectations from our guests; we have moved from a customer that would tolerate a little roughing it and inconvenience, to a very savvy consumer that expects things to be done well, comfortably, and with all the conveniences of home. They want beds that are comfortable, amenities that will entertain and stimulate the entire family, and they want great food.

Building this motel lodge will create space that will fit the needs of an entire family. Each room will be set up like a traditional motel room, but we will also include a set of bunk beds to go along with 2 queen size beds. The in-room bath will be a convenience that most people expect in housing options these days. In addition to the 26 different rooms, there will also be a meeting room for at least 150 people.

New building create interest and excitement around the camp. It re-energizes staff and guests. It provides space to create new programs and to offer more options for our different groups. We have seen this to be true in our family life center; since building this indoor pool, gym, meeting space and store, our guest groups have increased in volume and size. Creating new buildings is like producing an innovative product. Can you imagine if Bill Gates developed the computer, then settled in to enjoy just the start up without ever developing his company and products any further? That would be a pathetic business model, but so many non profit organizations do just that; they grow content and smug in their first creation. They never venture to keep re-inventing their ministries.

We don't reinvent for the sake of change; we reinvent to stay current and engaged with our churches and our guest groups. We have created certain traditions that we hold onto dearly; i.e. chocolate chip cookies, sticky cinnamon buns, family camps, 24 hours with the guys, great summer staff, and great food. But we do keep adding additional program activities or program areas in order to generate interests from the campers: paintball, tower, and this summer we hope to create a small skate park on the old basketball courts.

Our prayer is that Hidden Acres will remain a place that adds to and builds onto what is already happening in our local churches; we want what we do to enhance what is going on in the local church 52 weeks of the year; we are in the business to help the church grow stronger families, to fan the flame in young people's spiritual lives, and to train and motivate staff and counselors to return to their own churches energized and with a fresh call on their lives.

A new motel? I don't see just a new building. I see it as a tool to reach more families; I see it as a place where couples can be re-newed in their vows and commitments to each other; I see it as the next step in keeping the camp viable and engaging for years to come

Maintaining an Uncompromised Staff

2008-04-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

Slowly, our culture has changed; 23 years ago when I took the job at Hidden Acres, there were less issues to deal with amongst our summer staff; granted each counselor and staff could have had issues in their spiritual lives, but most things were kept controlled and very seldom did anything rear its ugly head. I am not saying the staff was perfect, I am just commenting, I was not aware of compromises in their lives.

Today, it is quite a different story. Due to 25 years of nonsense taught in the public school regarding right and wrong, most kids live in what I call a grey area; an area where they are not able to discern evil from good; wholesomeness from looseness; good choices from bad choices. Everything is OK today; all movies, all dancing, alcohol, lifestyle choices are up for discussion.

I am from the old school; I don't go to movies, I don't dance, I find alcohol to be of the devil, I don't gamble, I don't chew, and I believe homosexual activity is an abomination to the Lord. In case you have been under a rock for the last couple of decades, things have changed in Christian circles; and especially amongst the 30 and younger crowd.

What has changed in the past 30 years? God's Word has not changed. Were we wrong in seeing certain secular activities as sinful 30 years ago? Was it a sin to partake in alcohol or go to movies, or gamble 30 years ago? I remember the church preaching against it. I was instructed to have no part in a life style that would bring shame to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was taught to separate yourself from the culture. I was taught that if you were involved in compromising conduct, a weaker brother might stumble. I was taught you just didn't do certain things.

In our politically correct culture that we live in, we are told we can't/shouldn't point out choices and lifestyles that go contrary to the Scriptures. We are labelled bigotted/narrowminded/judgemental if we point out anything that Scripture warns us to flee from. Certain TV preachers won't talk about sin, but only smile big, toothy smiles and try to be the church cheerleader... "if you only believe enough, you can have a positive, successful life," they say.

I don't buy that approach; kids want to minister at camp, but when they are unclean vessels, their work is done in the flesh. Part of our job is to work with staff during their first week of staff training to help them to "have a clean conscious" before God. Paul understood that when he admonished young Timothy... have a good conscious so that you can fight the battle well and not have your faith shipwrecked like others.

We do those around us no favors when we moddle coddle them and tell them "good job" at every turn; instead of teaching, training, instructing and admonishing; when we do this, we are no better than the toothy preacher who cheerleads from the pulpit.

Just so you know... that will be my approach this summer; I will be smiling, but also admonishing and teaching!

MARCH 31- 24 HOURS WITH THE GUYS

2008-03-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite weekends of the year at Hidden Acres is our 24 hours with the guys retreat. This past weekend, over 350 men and sons came to camp with their trucks loaded down with bows and guns, anxious to hit the range to get in some early spring target practice. At the end of the weekend, men leave refreshed in their spirits and bodies from their time away from work and routine obligations of life.

This weekend is by far the best evangelistic tool we can offer to our churches to reach men for Jesus Christ. Over the years, more adult men have accepted Christ during this weekend than all of the other weekends combined. Men come, because they have a common interest in hunting and fishing activities, but throughout the weekend, the gospel is preached 5 times; and the men and sons do respond to Terry Baxter's messages. It is a real joy to be apart of this weekend.

This past weekend, one of the highlights for me personally was seeing a 17 year old boy, kneeling up front of the chapel with a group of men praying with him to receive Christ. Earlier in the day, a 45 year old father accepted Christ also. After the retreat was over, I looked over the evaluation forms, and many more men made commitments to rededicate their lives to Christ.

We were challenged more than once through the messages to share our faith; to be bold. Randy Larson, one of our speakers, took a poll of how we had accepted Christ, and the overwhelming majority raised their hands to say that a friend or a family member led them to Christ; it wasn't church, or an evangelist, or the preacher, or VBS, but a friend. Men walked away from the weekend with a renewed purpose to share Christ in all seasons.

One of the neatest things that has happened from this retreat is the spawning of other retreats similar to our 24 hours, at other camps; in the next month their will be a retreat in Wisconsin, in NW Iowa and in Alaska that mirrors our 24 hours event; representatives from different places have come to Hidden Acres to look over our model and then have gone home and replicated it either at another camp or at the church.

It is our prayer, that Hidden Acres will play a vital part in the spiritual development of men of all ages that come to camp; we have 6 different men's ministry events planned over the year, praying that we can offer enough different activities to attract a wide variety of men. Our August Jamboree will be full of golf, biking, fishing, shooting, and great preaching.

Pray with us as we minister to these men. We know that life in the trenches is tough, with many temptations that can trip up men and boys; we want to be apart of growing strong, Spirit filled men that can be effecive leaders back in the local church.

March 25, 2008

2008-03-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

A new week... a new season. At last, spring is here. I so enjoyed the extra long weekend doing very little except watching basketball and eating to much.

I spent most of the weekend goofing around on Facebook; enlarging my friends of former staff at camp. What fun for me to track down kids from the past and to get caught up on their lives through their pictures and employment situations. I am finding that it is becoming more important to me to keep connected with former staff than ever before. I do enjoy hearing their testimony of how their summer with us has impacted their lives today.

It is probably because of my age; at 53 you are nearly done working; which in turn forces a person to look back and see if our life counted. For some, they realize they haven't accomplished what they set out to do; for others, they see they have piddled their life away and it appears they have so little to show for their life; I look back over the years here at camp and smile at the kids and staff that have been a part of my life. I am not dead yet, just reflective.

The one thing that Hidden Acres wants to accomplish in the lives of our summer staff would be the following:
1. Teach young people that it isn't about themselves.
2. Serve with a humble mind and a willing heart.
3. Put in a good days work for your pay.
4. Develop some work habits that will carry over into a real job back home.
5. Encourage and train young people to become our church leaders of the future.
6. Promote healthy relationship that edify one another.

Summer camp is a wonderful time of the year for us; we have worked all winter preparing, hiring, building, and marketing for these 8 weeks together. I would encourage any parent to let their kid come and work at camp for a summer. We will return them to you seasoned and more mature because of their time at camp

2008-03-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

I turned 53 yesterday; there are still a few good years left in me, but most of what I wanted to accomplish physically has been accomplished or it just isn't going to get done. Oh sure, I would have liked to have hunted in Alaska deep into some wilderness area; oh sure, I would have liked to hike across America; oh sure, I would have liked to have had 12 kids... but these things probably won't happen. I have reached a point in my life where I am content with what I have done with my own strength and determination.

That doesn't mean I am content with where I am; I still know that I must keep building buildings, learning management skills, sharing my faith, and trusting the Lord in all situations. I know there are many good days ahead of me; perhaps even the best days are ahead of me; I just know there will be more mind work than body work.

There are few things more satisfying in life than to be fulfilled with your life work; a work that is meaningful and a life lived that spreads Godly influence on those you work with. It truly has been my pleasure to work along side of nearly 1000 staff (ages 14 to 25) who have helped us make Hidden Acres successful. I often reflect back on the good old days when counselors came to camp without a computer, a cell phone, an ipod and were 100% focused on their mission of ministry to campers. There were special years with summer staff; 1988,89,90,91 were all great years; those were the years of having only 15 to 20 staff, but I was able to touch each staff member's lives through teaching and training.

It doesn't mean that working staff in 2008 and beyond won't be as satisfying; it will but it also has it's own challenges. The young people are just as needy and open to be challenged to live a life of purpose and passion. It is our job to be faithful and engage ourselves into young people's lives to counter-act what our culture

The purpose of this blog will be to communicate the vision and direction of Hidden Acres along with updates to the facilities and programs. It would be my desire that from this blog, you would catch a glimpse of who we are and what we are about.