Creation Chronicles: Stories of Compassion, Part 3

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 Corinthians 5:1

Camping at Creation

I am not fond of camping. To be truthful, I am spoiled. You see, Michelle and I used to have a camper, but we got rid of it, so now we are forced to do the tent-thing. Actually, when you own a camper/trailer, you don’t say to your friends and family, “We’re going camping, ” but instead you candidly announce, “We’re going parking, ” but I digress.

While camping at Creation Festival this year, we had three major disasters. First, the tent ripped when I was setting it up. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it was borrowed and the guy who loaned it to us is very particular about his camping-stuff and I worried the entire time about his ‘reaction’.

Second, one of our air mattresses (borrowed from the same guy who loaned us the tent) popped. Fortunately, it was my wife’s mattress and my mattress was fine (just kidding, I gave her my mattress).

Finally, and the straw that broke this camel’s back was, our glass coffee percolator cracked…and yes, it was on loan as well. You should know that the Lord has healed me of several maladies, but I still struggle with my addiction to my morning cup of Joe. Frankly, the Bible verse from 2 Corinthians 5 gave me much peace—having the assurance that this earthbound experience (all of it, not just camping) is temporal and fleeting.

Camping Irony

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Philippians 1:21-23

What does this passage have to do with camping you ask? Well, I can make a very good case that the Apostle Paul was probably camping when he penned these verses (he wasn’t really, in fact he was in jail). Actually, one single word leapt of the page that I understand to be pertinent to today’s exchange.

Depart

Why does Paul substitute the word ‘die’ with the word ‘depart’? Was he being poetic? I don’t believe so. The word in the Greek has several meanings (all of which fit rather nicely into Paul’s message), but the specific connotation I believe Paul was going-for was the military term which means to pack up your tent and break camp. After all, Paul was tent-maker by trade ~and~ he penned the God-inspired words of 2 Corinthians 5:1—it all just fits so magnificently!

Is it Better to Share Your Tent, or the Gospel

The answer is of course, “Yes!” In other words, we are called to do both these things as members of the Body of Christ, His Church.

I have yet to receive the final number (from Compassion International), but I know over 1, 000 children were sponsored during the Creation Festival. Yes, the festival is over, but our Lord’s mandate to spread the Good News and to care for the poor continues—will you please prayerfully consider sharing the blessings you have freely received.

Will You Sponsor a Child Today?

Sponsor a child today and I will send you a free copy of “Hope Lives: a Journey of Restoration” by Amber Van Schooneveld.

Compassion dave

PS. Please visit the official Compassion Blog