{"id":669,"date":"2011-06-02T17:35:16","date_gmt":"2011-06-02T21:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=669"},"modified":"2011-06-01T19:34:53","modified_gmt":"2011-06-01T23:34:53","slug":"is-there-any-other-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/06\/is-there-any-other-way.html","title":{"rendered":"Is there any other way?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Often, my good friend, Woody Johnson, used to teach, “As Christians, we have no rights. \u00a0Our job is to listen and obey.” \u00a0Of course, she was talking about obedience to God, not obedience to men. \u00a0However, there are times that all of us need to simply listen and obey. \u00a0Our American way of life resists this notion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It has been suggested by a few that the Camp\/Retreat Agape volunteers adopt this motto for Camp\/Retreat Agape in regard to Rev. Richard Stimson who is the founder of Special Gathering and the executive director, and me, Linda Howard, area director of Indian River Special Gathering. \u00a0Camp Agape is actually divided into two separate groups of people. \u00a0Richard has the responsibility for about 120 people from Central and North Brevard, Jacksonville and Volusia County. \u00a0I am responsible for 93 people from South Brevard and Indian River County.<\/p>\n

Understand, that Stimson and I don’t believe that we are always right; but we do have the responsibility for the 200 people we take from their parents, their homes and their apartments for the four-day weekend.<\/p>\n

Stimson and I enjoy the merciless ribbing we receive each year. \u00a0All of our volunteers are amazing people who understand the level of risk that is taken each year to host these men and women who are part of the mentally challenged community.<\/p>\n

The principle of submission does run through the New Testament teachings. \u00a0Paul said that we are to submit to each other. \u00a0In planning the weekend, there are times that I do what Rev. Stimson desires and he says that HE ALWAYS DOES WHAT I WANT TO DO. \u00a0We try to submit to each other allowing each one to use our skills. \u00a0Additionally, we try to match our volunteers with the tasks which they will enjoy, matching their skill set to the needed tasks.<\/p>\n

Often, we make our sternness during camp the brunt of camper jokes. \u00a0The first day of camp, Stimson wears a shirt that says, “I’m not mean. \u00a0I’m just focused.” \u00a0I sometimes wear a shirt that says, “I’m not mean. \u00a0You’re just a wimp.”<\/p>\n

Is there someone to whom you feel the need to submit in a Christian manner? \u00a0What have been the times when you need to come under the authority of another person?<\/p>\n

Photo by Ladybug Photography by Tarah Risher<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Often, my good friend, Woody Johnson, used to teach, “As Christians, we have no rights. \u00a0Our job is to listen and obey.” \u00a0Of course, she was talking about obedience to God, not obedience to men. \u00a0However, there are times that all of us need to simply listen and obey. \u00a0Our American way of life resists…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,61,10,16,127,28,12,41],"tags":[690,697,21,688,696,7,699,703,701,691,13,19,689,692,700,130],"class_list":["post-669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-humor","category-inspirational","category-intellectual-disability","category-ladybug-photography","category-mentally-challenged","category-religion","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-camp-agape","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-humor","tag-inspiration","tag-inspirational","tag-intellectual-disabilities","tag-mental-retardation","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-religion","tag-spirituality","tag-submission"],"yoast_head":"\nIs there any other way? - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/06\/is-there-any-other-way.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is there any other way? - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Often, my good friend, Woody Johnson, used to teach, “As Christians, we have no rights. \u00a0Our job is to listen and obey.” \u00a0Of course, she was talking about obedience to God, not obedience to men. \u00a0However, there are times that all of us need to simply listen and obey. \u00a0Our American way of life resists…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/06\/is-there-any-other-way.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-06-02T21:35:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-06-01T23:34:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/files\/2011\/06\/253468_2017949285056_1133582940_32400385_1435890_n.jpg1.jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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