Staying Close Together

Each summer on the first night at camp, after the evening service, we would go with our group to the team meeting site.  Before it was dark, the logs were gathered and set up to make the camp fire.  It was always good to have kids on your team who camped and knew how to get the fire started and then keep it going.  Through the years, I noticed that they kept the logs stacked very close to each other, with a little circulation space in between the logs.  They were very careful to add more logs when needed.  If a log ever rolled away from the stack, it cooled off and produced very little heat as the fire went out.  As we stood around the fire, we enjoyed making and eating Smores and spending time getting to know the teammates for the week.

When it was time to head back to the cabins, the logs were pushed away from each other, doused with water, and covered with dirt.  It didn’t take long for the fire to go out and the logs to begin cooling.

Logs for a fire aren’t the only things that need to stay close together to fulfill their purpose. We are encouraged, held accountable, have fellowship, and given the privilege of ministering with others when we are together, whether it be at church, at home with our families, or with friends.  Just like the log that separated from the pile and lost its heat and fire, it’s a more difficult journey if we travel alone.

Acts 11:23

When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.

Hebrews 10:25

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Romans 1:11-12

¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Health Update:  The past few weeks I have been able to increase the weight and/or repetitions on the machines at the gym.  Today, a couple that we see often came over and told us that they had talked about how much progress they have seen in my ability to exercise this year.  I started using the elliptical machine for the first time 3 weeks ago.  Beth said that she was really amazed that I do the elliptical on the steepest setting.  Larry does the machine like that all the time so it was no big deal for him.  He left the setting the same since it didn’t have weights.  I looked at Larry and we all laughed.  But I did it!  I climbed a mountain for exercise today!  (Please pray for Beth and Allen.  They lost everything in an apartment fire four months ago.)