Bring on the Weekend!

Howdy, boys and girls. Ye ol’ blogger is off for a fun-filled night on the ol’ camp grounds. That’s right, it’s camp meeting time! The Louisiana District UPCI has been holding camp meetings since 1948, citing Dr. Vinson Synan’s assertion that it is the longest-running camp in America.

I’ve been in a responsible mood lately, which means I’ve been grown-up and boring, thanks to post-college, real-job life. So I almost considered not going for the first time in my formative Apostolic social bunny years. But the illusion of “camp” beckoned greater.

I’m excited. I said I wasn’t going to eat today so I could fit into my dress. I made it till 9:04 a.m.

I know this year is going to be great. However, I am all too familiar with last year’s brush with reality. I wrote this when I got home from camp last year:

Signs You're Getting Too Old for Camp Meeting

1. For the first time you consider going to the main camp meeting services rather than the youth services across town.
2. You keep catching yourself beginning sentences with "I remember back in the day..."
3. You are at first frustrated with the "Yes, ma'ams" over and over from all the little rugrats until you realize your old authority-figure status redeems you from practical jokes in the hotel.
4. You actually lock your hotel room now instead of throwing open the door for the weekend and putting a sign in the hall directing folks to “Le Par-tay.”
5. The only thing you invaded at the “Invade the Mall” social was the no. 7 "La Chimichanga Dinner" at El Rodeo.
6. People don't call your room after 11 p.m. because they know you're in bed.
7. One of the youth committee members suggests you join the fun at the Ramada for the Singles event.
8. You actually didn’t exceed the hotel occupancy level for your room! Gone are the days of 12 to a room (seriously), and crawling over bodies to get in the five-people-deep line to the community bathroom.
9. You spend the whole weekend (when you're not asleep) making sure the younger ones from your church have lunch money, rides, curler pins, towels, and yes, toilet paper.

Even Better News
Yesterday I bemoaned the lack of good news in the world. Today I will counter that by sharing 5 positive stories.

1. Unemployment is down to its lowest in almost 4 years.

2. The market is up because of the employment report.

3. America’s deficit is in better shape than expected.

4. At G8, $50 billion was pledged to Africa. Perhaps you have mixed feelings on the issue, but at least that shows apathy has not completely paralyzed the globe.

5. And there are still good people out there.

In Closing
The globe is reeling over the London blasts. I think we all were instantly overwhelmed with 9/11 flashbacks, and it’s not hard for Americans to imagine what Londoners are feeling right now. In this age of global terror, we must harbor hope that evil forces can be conquered by the power of those united for good. God bless Great Britain.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!