Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2004

Grace Church of Burlington April 25, 2004 “Every now and then go away–even briefly, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer; since to remain constantly at work will cause you to lose power.”    Leonardo da Vinci             “On the road again. I can’t wait to get on the road again.” I often sing that old Willie Nelson song when we’re packing to head off for a vacation. There’s just something about a vacation that brings a freshness and vitality to my life. Over the years we’ve been to some wonderful places:  the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Florida, Washington D.C. And we usually do it pretty economically. But do you know what the two most important things for us are on vacation? Bonding and good old-fashioned rest.             In a matter of a few weeks the vacation season will officially start. I really hope that you are planning to take one. Is it on the schedule yet? Have you started thinking about where you will go or what you will do?             Periodically, someone will say to me, “I can’t afford a vacation.” Either they feel that they can’t afford the time or the money or both. But I truly believe that we human beings can’t afford not to periodically take a vacation. God created us to be human beings, not human doings. And you don’t have to go somewhere exotic to have a vacation. Even just staying home, turning off the TV and telephone can be a vacation for most of us. There are also a lot of wonderful things to see and do very close that are very inexpensive. You might even throw in a project or two that you’ve been wanting to get at.             The key is a change in pace and schedule. Even Jesus encouraged His disciples to “come apart and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). Vance Havner commenting on that verse said, “If you don’t come apart and rest awhile, then you’ll just come apart.” He was right!              Vacations are a time to spend quality time with your spouse and your children. Incidentally, please don’t visit relatives on every vacation. Besides the stress that it often brings, your immediate family needs to really to get to know each other. Obviously, there will be some of the normal squabbles.  Vacation, though, is an opportunity to really take some time to problem solve.             Ask any parent, and chances are they have a legion of nightmare stories about traveling with their children. A key to avoiding bad trip memories is to talk about expectations ahead of time, establish consequences for misbehavior, and enforce the rules when necessary. Have a plan for handling conflict before you even get in the car. Deal with issues as soon as they come up. Don't make the consequences for bad behavior something abstract or in the future. Avoid threats such as, “If you keep pulling your sister's hair, you won't be able to go swimming tonight when we get to the hotel.” Instead, make consequences immediate: “If you hit your brother again, I'll take your puzzle book away.” We want to build memories of relationships on our trips, not of Mom and Dad being referees. And as with discipline at home, consistency and follow‑through are essential on the road. But above all, traveling with kids means packing a sense of humor.              Traveling, too, is one of the few times we have our children's complete attention and they have ours. Everyone is belted into a seat and no one can get up and run around. Make the most of this time together by focusing on each other and playing creative games that help you get to know each other better. One family used to play a game they called, “Where do you think that car is going?” It starts with a parent asking the question and pointing to a specific vehicle on the road. The child answers with “to the airport” or whatever destination they dream up. The whole family then makes up stories about the people in the car. The game can get as crazy and goofy as your family wants it to. While this game is a lot of fun, it can also spawn insights into what's happening in your child’s world.             Plan, too, for some memories. Our family loves to play table games late into the night on vacation. It’s an opportunity to teach your kids about sportsmanship and for them to beat their parents.             Kids cherish one‑on‑one time with Mom or Dad, but that can be a little tricky in a car full of people. If your kids are old enough to ride in the front seat, don't overlook the opportunity to give each one a chance to ride “shotgun” with the driver. We’ve used this time to teach our children how to read a map and to give directions.             Then, pick out some books to read before you leave. Use the change in schedule and quiet to stretch your mind.             Most of all remember to spend some time bonding with the Lord. There is just something about being able to have your devotions without having to rush off to work or another chore that is so spiritually revitalizing.             So get your vacation on the calendar...and then do it!!