A few weeks ago I was privileged to speak at a Pine Cove Family Camp.About 25 families from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, Virginia and Tennessee met at Pine Cove Bluffs to enjoy the beauty of the majestic setting, relax, laugh, play, share life together and explore what God’s Word might say to them.

 

It was a good mix of families; some had attended for a decade or more while others were “newbies”.   Within a few days it felt like a family reunion.  Children enjoyed the freedom of roaming the grounds with new friends, mothers engaged in uninterrupted conversations and dads played with their children in the pool.

 

The staff made the week special with lots of enthusiasm, creativity and servants’ hearts.  The week was filled with skits and songs, games and activities, belly laughs and quiet conversations.

 

The breakfast trail ride was particularly enjoyable for Cay and me.  We signed up late for the ride and they didn’t have enough horses so we got to eat the cowboy breakfast and didn’t have to ride a horse!

 

Cay and I were encouraged at the intentional parenting of many of the families.  Choices about work, school, budgets, and yes, even vacations were all filtered through a godly, strategic grid. 

 

I spoke on the Parable of the Talents.  People came back all six sessions and they engaged in the discussions and interactions.  The people seemed to respond well and I was encouraged by several follow-up conversations outside of the sessions.

 

Camp isn’t just for kids.More and more families are investing in time together, time in creation, and time with God.