The 2 dollar Bill

...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

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

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

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

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

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

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.