I hope to share a few images of both camp sessions during the course of this week. Maybe even a few parents can see their kids in action! Camp Impact and Camp Cornerstone are both going on during the same week on the campus of Oklahoma Christian University. We will have over 850 campers, counselors, and support staff during these sessions. The two sessions will operate on different schedules in order to optimimize the facilities. Once again I will be…
While at was at camp…the police officers I am privileged to team up with were back home doing their thing. Sgt. Michael Holly and members of his shift began their week on Monday by being summoned to a drowning. A 15 year old who would have been in Mitchell’s graduating class got in trouble in the swimming area of Lake Granbury adjacent to the city beach. I am certain that Sgt. Holly’s crew and rangers with the Brazos River Authority…
Camp Zenith is about to come to an end. Tomorrow morning well over 400 campers will pack up and say goodbye to dozens of new friends. Dozens? Some of the campers have actually met and started friendships with that many people. “Z” Groups of course encourage that process. Each camper has been in the same group of about 20 people for the entire week. It is pretty interesting to see groups begin to come together over the course of the week. Some…
My sister’s children are adults now, but they still affectionately refer to me as “Uncle Buck.” There was always great excitement in the air when it was announced at Kim and Rocky’s home in Lubbock that Uncle Buck was coming to see them. I was of course always impersonating some unsuspecting member of our extended family, or just generally harassing my niece and nephew. In the back of my mind however, there were more serious thoughts to be entertained. Kim and…
One of my fellow staffers at Camp Zenith shared this wonderful quote from the wrapper of a Dove Chocolate bar. It reads as follows: Life is not one big to do list. I LOVE that quote. I force myself to do lists weekly in my job, because structure does not come naturally to me at all! I completely prefer spontaneity, if it all possible. Ironically to do lists have become such an engrained part of my weekly existence, I am…
Day #2 at Camp Zenith…. It has been a day of water slides, drama groups, and even a guest band tonight in addition to the rich spiritual food that the campers are receiving. But for me it has been a little different. Last night and today has been a time for interaction with campers and a former exotic dancer as well. Yes I know…I have some explaining to do. In 2009, a book entitled: Scars and Stilettos: The Transformation of an…
The first day of Camp Zenith is officially underway. This marks my fourth year as Head Men’s Counselor for this session. I have a whole crew of college students serving as counselors and volunteer parents filling the role of dorm dad’s. I have a great job as long as there is not a crisis or some unmanageable discipline problem. We have an awesome staff, so that makes it even better. Thus far I have inflated air mattresses, made runs to…
The book The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates tells the story of two men with the same name. Both were born in Maryland. Both grew up with single mothers. Both had run-ins with the police by the time they were 11-years-old. But at this point their stories part. One Wes Moore graduated from of John Hopkins. He eventually became a Rhodes Scholar. He went on to serve as a White House Fellow under former Secretary of State Condoleeza…
You never know what a day is going to bring… Tonight I sat at the same table during a banquet with Texas State Senator Wendy Davis. Senator Davis, a Harvard Law School graduate, served on the Ft. Worth city council for many years before being elected to the Texas Senate in 2008. She is a very personable lady. She was the guest speaker this evening for a law enforcement related conference being held in Granbury this weekend. My background as…
There was no shortage of attendees at the 50th wedding anniversary party for Thomas and Barbara Mason last Saturday. Their reception was held at the church across the street from the preacher’s home, where they exchanged vows on June 10th, 1960. We all visited with family members whom we have not seen for several years. That was especially gratifying. About midway into the reception I noticed my mother-in-law visiting with some Hispanic guests whom I did not know. She eagerly…