Lisa J. Camp

Being away from my family this year for Thanksgiving reminded me of the first Thanksgiving I spent with my brother's family and a precious lesson I learned about happiness.  It's resonating today as I reflect on the previous year of unemployment, uncertainty, and mourning all of which has been accompanied by the rich goodness of God and the sufficiency of His presence.   Whether you find yourself in a season of plenty or want, I pray you are filled with gratefulness for the companionship of the Savior who orders our steps and then walks with us through it all.  Grace & Peace to you all!   "What Makes You Happy?" Thanksgiving 2008 $1.99 for Bubba teeth is an investment... trust me. We had the most fun with them.   Today I spent Thanksgiving with my brother Justin and his new family - wife, son, daughter and MIL. This is a first since they've only been married a matter of weeks and I went with a bit of trepidation.  I feel so awkwardly sin

For twenty years of my very young (cough cough) life, I got my paycheck from one church or another.  I was, what we refer to as, "in the ministry" which basically means one thing - I am accountable before God for my work and leadership in the church more than the average attender.  Not necessarily a perk of the job, but it keeps you honest.  In those years, I learned a lot about people, leadership and churchworld.  Nothing groundbreaking, mind you - no one's gathering their staff around waiting for these posts with bated breath.  But, as one of my more redneckier friends once told me, "I don't know everything, but I don't know nothing."  A few of these things I think could be helpful to you regardless of where you get your paycheck.  If  you love people, lead people or engage in church on any level, you'll get at least something from this series of posts even if all you get is mad at me.  (Which, let's face it, IS possible - I was in ministry.)

For twenty years of my very young (cough cough) life, I got my paycheck from one church or another.  I was, what we refer to as, "in the ministry" which basically means one thing - I am accountable before God for my work and leadership in the church more than the average attender.  Not necessarily a perk of the job, but it keeps you honest.  In those years, I learned a lot about people, leadership and churchworld.  Nothing groundbreaking, mind you - no one's gathering their staff around waiting for these posts with bated breath.  But, as one of my more redneckier friends once told me, "I don't know everything, but I don't know nothing."  A few of these things I think could be helpful to you regardless of where you get your paycheck.  If  you love people, lead people or engage in church on any level, you'll get at least something from this series of posts even if all you get is mad at me.  (Which, let's face it, IS possible - I was in ministry.)

For twenty years of my very young (cough cough) life, I got my paycheck from one church or another.  I was, what we refer to as, "in the ministry" which basically means one thing - I am accountable before God for my work and leadership in the church more than the average attender.  Not necessarily a perk of the job, but it keeps you honest.  In those years, I learned a lot about people, leadership and churchworld.  Nothing groundbreaking, mind you - no one's gathering their staff around waiting for these posts with bated breath.  But, as one of my more redneckier friends once told me, "I don't know everything, but I don't know nothing."  A few of these things I think could be helpful to you regardless of where you get your paycheck.  If  you love people, lead people or engage in church on any level, you'll get at least something from this series of posts even if all you get is mad at me.  (Which, let's face it, IS possible - I was in ministr

Dad and Me... a few years ago. One month ago today, my Dad passed away "old and full of years". It wasn't unexpected or even sudden, but his death has been much harder to process than I ever expected it to be.  If you knew him, you know what a loss my family is feeling at this time.  If you didn't know him, you can get a picture of him in this blog and in some future writing projects I'm working on. Needless to say, I haven't written much lately, and to my faithful readers I say a very heartfelt, "thank you for your patience."  Next week we're back and I'll be posting a series of blogs on a few of the things I learned about ministry and church-life over the 20 years when it was my world.  I think the principles will be helpful to anyone who loves people, lead people or attends church anywhere.  I'm looking forward to it, and I hope you are as well.