Gene

Church camp in the summer was an incredible time, softball, swimming, singing and GIRLS.  Each summer, kids from my church would travel to the Lake of the Ozarks for a week of fun and games.  There we would be joined by kids from churches from three southern states.  It was a time I looked forward to with great anticipation each year.

This particular year was no different and the first three days of camp were spent attempting to impress a cute little red head from Arkansas.  The last three days the brunette from Louisiana was the object of my attention.  These times always ended with tears of separation, promises to write every day, and dreams of looking forward to meeting again next year.  These dreams would last for a couple of months as the letters came every other day, then weekly . . . then weakly (Emphasis added).

Each day there were Bible studies arts and crafts, recreation and each evening one of the Pastors would preach a sermon.  These provided immense opportunities for sitting next to the young lady of the day.  Note passing and winks were about all the stern chaperones would condone, so each chance was grasped with great anticipation.

Then came the final sermon.  On the last day of camp.  And the preacher talked about sin and a place called Hell.  It was a blistering sermon about my sin and the fact that my sin separated me from a Holy God and that my sin would doom me to Hell.  And the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart.

My fingernail marks are most likely still on the pew that was in front of me as I fought the battle between self and God.

God won!  And so did I!  I gave my miserable sinned stained life over to the one who had paid the awful price for those miserable sins.

I had chased the redhead.  I had pursued the brunette.  And after a number of years, God gave me a blonde.  Fifty four years this coming October we celebrate together.  I have been blessed!