Lisa J. Camp

Attending the Springs this weekend and hearing the teaching on Being Rich and recognizing how rich I really am as an American (even an unemployed American), I was reminded of this post from 4 years ago. We have so much.  Honestly, I've lost or squandered more than some people will ever have.  I am blessed and yes, I am rich! -  -  -  -  -  -  - The Litmust Test of Stewardship (or Confessions of a Packrat) I have in my car this little placard that sits on my dashboard.  It's backward, so if you look at it or try to read it, it makes no sense. However, if you're seated in the car looking out the windshield, its reflection reads perfectly.  It has a verse on it to help me meditate on the goodness of God.  The verse right now is 1Timothy 6:17 - "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Last night at dinner I was telling stories on my parents when out of my mouth came the voice of my Dad - his words, his tone, his attitude.  It stunned me for a moment, and with  my hand over my mouth I looked at my friend and confessed, "I am so much like my Dad, I'm buying myself a Father's Day card this year." I'm not sure I want make an official confession of all the ways we are alike, but here's a short list.  He's a poet, a writer, a wordsmith, a thinker, loves to unfold truth in the Bible, a book collector, a collector of interesting things.  He's funny, he's snide, the life of the party if you can get him to go to one, but he's happy to be at home most of the time.  If I am any of those things, I promise you I am a lesser, unrefined version by comparison.  There's much of that list I have yet to perfect to the degree my Dad has, but he's got 30 years more practice than I do. If you're still not sure you know my Dad, I ca

My maternal grandmother and her twin had a baby sister named Tavis.  Today she would have been 91 years old, and I miss her all the time.  She is the one who inspires me to be a well-loved aunt and truth by told,  much of how I interact with my 12 nieces and nephews is based on how she made me feel as her great niece.  She was always so kind, so genuinely interested in how you were doing, engaged with every person in the room regardless of their age or significance, the most likely to throw her head back in shear delight of the presence of little people, the most enthusiastic hello coming through the door.  I miss the sound of her nasally "oh Ge yishe" - her unique and delightful way of saying "gosh".  My cousin Jenny does a spot-on impersonation of her, but it's just not the same. I'm not nearly as classy as she was, but I like to think we have other things in common.  Some are obvious.  We are both the baby girl of the family.  We neither have had our ow