Lay Your Burdens Down

Max Stalling wrote a song called "Lay My Burdens Down." This song is famous between my brother, Steve Abney and myself because we'd occasionally get up before sunrise to go fishing before staff meeting at Camp. The chorus says:

I'm going to lay my burdens down now
Gonna ask the Lord to watch them a while
I'm gonna walk where the sun is shining
And I'll be home when I've found a smile

Have you worried about anything lately? I know I have, and hearing this song was such a great reminder that God is in control. All you have to do is let him "watch stuff"- he's in control and his ways are the best ways.

Listening to this song made me think of the Hebrews 11:1, which says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot see." I know what I hope for, and to be sure of that is an amazing thing. There's a lot I can't see right now, but being certain of what is to come is a beautiful thing.

Lay your burdens down today..hope..be certain...and find your smile!

Only Hope

Have you ever come close to drowning? A few years ago I took a trip with our family to Maui. One of the best snorkeling trips of my life was off of Kana'apali Beach to Black Rock. I saw sea turtles, huge fish, and all kinds of coral. I grew up loving being in the water, so being out in the ocean, nearly 25 feet or more in depth, was all natural to me. The second day out snorkeling I took Mom and Dad. They loved it, and just as we were about to start back to the beach, I thought I heard someone yell "help". I looked around, and there was guy, about 40 years old, waiving his arms in distress. I swam over and realized he was having a panic attack! His friend was right next to him and just froze up. My water safety training instincts immediately kicked in, and even though I had never "for real" saved someone, this was real. After telling the fellow to calm down, I safely dragged him about 400 yards to shore. Exhausted, I layed on the soft sand exhausted.

Have you ever been in a situation when not even your best friend could help? Maybe it was your best friend who let you down?

No matter what you may be going through, sometimes is just so reassuring to know the hope we have in Jesus. There's a song that Caedmon's Call sings called "Only Hope".

Here are the words:

"Depth of mercy can their be, mercy still reserved for me Can my God your wrath fore bare, me the chief of sinner's spare It's my only hope, you're my only hope, it's my only hope of Heaven...at the cross forgiven"

Isn't it nice to know that when we're drowning in life- He is there to save us...always. He's always there, no matter how many times our friends or others in our life let us down.

Isaiah 40:31 says, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Hope in the Lord today, and he will surely give you strength and endurance.

Have a blessed week- love God with all you have and love others!!

The Power of Words

When is the last time someone encouraged you with words? When's the last time you've said something you wished you could take back?

It's a funny thing how powerful words really can be; I guess the whole "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" message really never panned out.

Words are so powerful, and ironically enough they can go either way- for good or evil.

One of the most humbling passages I've ever read about the words I use is in James 3:3-6. It says, "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."

Is what I'm saying wholesome? Am I encouraging people or pulling them down...especially even when they deserve it?

May you be blessed today with words of encouragement, hope, and most of all. love.

Blessings and inwauh!

Promises Kept

Have you ever promised someone something and not followed through?

I sure have. I remember several summers ago I promised a camper to hang out after supper time. After supper time is when all of Camp just gets to hang out and do just about anything. Some campers are catching frogs and minnows by the pond, others hit the volleyball around to see how many times consecutively they can hit it, and some campers and counselors just hang out and talk on Horned Frog Pavilion.

So, I had promised to spend time with this camper after supper. As often times it happens, something came up that needed my attention and I didn't follow through on my promise. I remember the camper be very upset with me, as they should have been, and I was left with the guilt of not following through on my word. Since that time, I've worked at two things. First, I try to only promise people things that I intend to do. Second- when I do promise those things then I do everything in my power to make sure I take authentic action and actually come through. Even though I've gotten much better at this- it's amazing that I still fail! How frustrating!

The good news is that there is someone out there that never goes back on their promise, no matter what. His name is Jesus, and he's the one person we can go to daily who will not let us down. He never changes, which is pretty cool to know. Even when those closest to us do change or do mess up, He's always there. Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Another one of my favorite promises is Jeremiah 29:11, which says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." All we have to do is abide in Him daily.

May you have a blessed week and know that He's always there to keep His promises!!

Having a Bad Day? Look up

Have you had a bad day lately? Maybe even a bad week?

This week I got to visit another camp for C.A.M.P. here in Texas and we got to take a tour of the camp grounds. It was really neat to see another Texas camp and at the same time made me appreciate all that we have at Huawni. Towards the end of the tour, we walked up a hill to an outdoor amphitheater made of rocks; this is where the kids meet on Sunday as a church and where kids sometimes go to get close to God.

Soon enough, I begin thinking of all the places at Huawni where I've encountered God and felt really close to him. The Little Red Church, Mimi and Daddy Earl's grave site, the TJ bridge, the deck by the pool, Horned Frog Pavilion, the Glory Gang, and the Main Cabin porch were just a few places that jumped into my mind. It's at these places that I like to spend time alone or with a few friends praying and reflecting on the Lord's creation and His will for me.

So at the base of this cross, it read "I life up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1-2 .What a great reminder- my help always comes from Him. Are you getting sick of school or work already? Are there things that are weighing heavy on your heart? Just look up- He's there and is the best help we could possibly imagine. Even though we can't go back to the Little Red Church or SOJ by the pool until next summer, it's okay.....He's still with us.

May the Lord bless your week, and don't forget to "look up"!:)

Words that Build Up

Can you remember one of your most inspirational memories at Camp Huawni?

One of my favorite Camp moments happens frequently each year during Run for the Roses, which is a huge relay race where campers and counselors pass a baton as they run a big running race across campus. Nearly every year there is one team that really gets smoked and finished last.

I will still never forget the first time I saw a counselor running next to the last runner for the last place team, cheering them on to finish strong, even though the race was practically over. When the camper crossed the finish line, their counselor gave them a big high five and hug, affirming their effort to finish strong. This was definitely a win-win moment.

If anyone has every read the book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" then you know what a win-win is. A win-win looks for a positive outcome for all parties involved as opposed to one person winning and one person losing. In Run for the Roses, even 4th place got the satisfaction of winning. Why? Because one counselor made it their mission to encourage their camper verbally, even when the race seemed to be over.

You know- what comes out of our mouth is a lot more powerful than we could ever imagine. James 3:4-5 reads, "Or take ships for example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot want to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts." James goes on to say that what comes out of your mouth "sets the whole course of his life...". Can what we say really have that much impact on our life, both good and bad?

In my experience, the answer is definitely yes. Have you ever been around a positive person that's fun to be around and always complimenting others? Likewise, have you ever been around a person who is negative all the time and puts down other people? What is coming out of our mouths each day?

May the Lord bless your words that you share daily and bless your week!

The Path

Yesterday I was cruising up I-45 late in the day and realized I was coming up on Huntsville State Park. I needed to get a jog in, so where better to run than through the big pines of this state park?

The 4 miles I ran seemed really short, and as I was running, I felt like I was running through the woods at Huawni. The creeks, sand, and ferns growing all around really made me feel at home. I felt at home and a very serene feeling came over me. Thankfully, I didnt' worry about getting lost as the trail markers showed the way.

Psalm 27:11 says, "Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path." This is a very simple verse, but there's so much truth wrapped in it. Kind of like the trail I ran on yesterday- God puts trail markers in our lives to show us the way. When we stay on His path- it's a blissful thing! Occasional we get lost (as I did on a run recently on Town Lake in Austin), but if we'll stick with him, He'll get us back on track.

Blessings and Inwauh- may the Lord bless your week!

Busted Flat In Baton Rouge...

What's your favorite Camp song? My is....well, let me share first about a definite Camp favorite "Me and Bobby McGee". If you've ever come to a Camp Huawni Sing Song, you'll know that "Me and Bobby McGee" starts off like this:

"Busted flat in Baton Rounge, waiting for a train. Feeling nearly faded as my jeans."

Ever feel faded or worn out? Ever been knocked down by life?

My good friend Nathanael Yellis just lost his mother to cancer; Nathanael and I attended Acton together. You can listen to the Eulogy he gave for his mother here: Nathanael's Eulogy.

Nathaniel has surely been knocked down temporarily by his mother's passing; I can't imagine the pain and grief he's experiencing. Many of us have lost loves ones, and oh how we can remember the pain of losing that person. But- there is Good News! Nathanael's mother lived a verse oh so well when battling cancer. James 1:12 reads, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." His mother definitely loved the Lord, and she now surely is wearing a crown of life.

The lyrics to "Me and Bobby McGee" go on to say, "And I'd trade all of my tomorrows for one single yesterday...." When we face trials, we certainly wish for better days for sure. Remember though- persevering through a trial is ultimately a test. How will we react when trouble comes our way? Who will we turn to? The Big Guy is waiting to give you peace and rest today as you fight through life's trials (Matthew 11:28).

p.s.- My favorite Camp Song is Farewell

Camp Huawni

Ever wanted to swim in the Initiation Pond? (or the i pond as we now call it)

In 1996 I had the pleasure of building the tribal fire with one of my best friends, Micah Howard. It was 3rd Session and there were only 4 boy counselors- myself, Micah, Andrew Clendenen, and Wade Merida. I was a CIT (counselor in training), nonetheless I look back on that session and it may be my favorite because of the bond that Micah, Wade, Andrew and myself shared.

Back to the i pond- so winding up 3rd Session and the summer, Micah and I built this huge bon fire (the Tribal Fire). It was 100 plus degrees and we were drenched in sweat. We got done and just stared at that big beautiful piece of manly work, kind of looked around, and then Micah said, "Hey man, you want to go swimming?"

We dove head first into the pond, swam deep down near the mud, and were instantly refreshed. The water down deep was so cool that you didn't even want to come up for air immediately. That's a memory I'll never forget.

Mark 1:35 reads, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Sometimes the Bible refers to the morning as the "cool of the day". So why did Jesus get up so early to pray? I asked myself the same question this morning. Why do we get up so early for SOJ at Camp? I'm sure you have answers, but here are just a few thoughts of mine. My mind is clear in the morning, and I sure do hear God a lot clearer. I can watch the sunrise and see part of God's creation- so beautiful. It's quiet; I can hear the birds in the morning singing. I feel at peace and feel God's presence.

So, I want to encourage you to take some time out in the morning, or maybe just in the quietest part of your day, and pray and talk to God. Take time out to read His word and just listen. Maybe it's been a long time since you've even talked to God- so what...that's okay. That's what today is for:) If you do it- I promise that you'll be refresh...and probably won't even want to come up for air!

Tribal Competition & Temptation

How many Tribal Competitions have you won in your lifetime? If you're like me- I bet you can remember pretty accurately. What would happen if you cheated? Well, here's a story along those lines.

In my early days as a counselor, I had the opportunity on several occasions to coach along side my good friend Caleb Deason. Caleb was a linebacker for the Henderson Lions, and the running joke in the late 90's was this- who's the best-ever athlete at Huawni....Micah Howard or Caleb Deason? Needless to say, Caleb was competitive, as was I. One year Caleb and I were coaching soccer together during Tribal Competition and we decided to let one of our older kids play with the younger kids. This was clearly against the rules, but we thought it necessary considering we had less kids than the other team. Soon enough we were caught, and we had to give up our win. Campers and Counselors were disappointed, as were Caleb and I for making a pretty dumb decision. Why did we make such a silly decision? In the moment of temptation, why didn't we just do the right thing?

This weekend I got to hear Matt Carter speak at the Austin Stone Church- he spoke on temptation. He shared Hebrews 4:16, which says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Jesus was tempted just like us, yet he never sinned. This verse is so simple yet so powerful. It says, "In times of temptation, seek Jesus so that he can give us the strength we need to stay out of sin." So how do we do that? Well, praying at the moment of temptation is one way. Another way is to speak the Word verbally in times of temptation. In both instances, He will help us...how cool!

May the Lord bless your week and give you plenty of SOJ!

Love and inwauh,

Travis

Jumping In

My most memorable and fun time this summer at Camp was on Wednesday night of our two week sessions. We dug a huge hole in the volleyball court as counselors and campers prepared to duke it out in some fierce tug of war matches. It was at that time that Sarah Black (I think) came up to me and whispered, "Travis...it's time to get out of your comfort zone." And it dawned on me- that morning I had encouraged our staff to really get out of their comfort zone to love on the kids. So...there I was:) The rest is history- as you can see in the picture...that's what happened next. As soon as the mud filled my toes and ears and everywhere else on my body...the fun officially begun. The rest of the night was such a blast, and I was so glad I dove in head first (that pun is for you Price Downham...lol).

In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command." So, what is He whispering in your ear today? Will you listen and obey? I promise- if you do, blessings will follow at some point in ways we never expect. A good family friend of ours, Byron Gossett, once said, "On the back side of obedience is God's blessing."

My prayer today is that each of you will hear God's whisper, obey with a childlike faith, and be blessed beyond belief!

Love and inwauh,

Travis

When the World's Moving Backwards

Good morning Tribe!

Summer 2010 was pretty amazing, and for those who participated, you came to know and love the music of Ben Rector. Ben sings a song called Moving Backwards. The chorus goes like this:

Cause standing still isn't easy, when the world's moving backwards...
So get your fill, please believe me, the world's moving backwards

What an accurate picture of all the junk going on in the world. This year there will be so much junk thrown at you and me while at school, home, or where ever we are- gossip, peer pressure from friends, stress, and much more. Camp Huawni is a beautiful place because it allows us to get away from all the junk and just be still.

I have Good News- that same peace is available to us year round. In John 16:33 Jesus says, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." As the world moves backwards around you, just know that Jesus has overcome it, and walking with Him daily gives you a peace and the power to reject all the junk and take in all the good OJ!

May the Lord bless you today! Until next week....

Love and inwauh,

Travis

SOJ is Here!

Good Morning! Well, we finally found a way to bring SOJ (spiritual orange juice) from Flagpole Hill to you year round! I will be posting weekly SOJs for campers and counselors to read; I'd love to get your feedback, thoughts, prayers, and the like if and when you have something to say or feel moved to share.

Please tell all your Camp Huawni buddies, as we hope to have everybody joining in by this Fall.

Have a blessed week- OJ is served:)

Love and Inwauh,

Travis