Church Retreat 2010

The Florida Hospital Church Retreat, held at Camp Kulaqua (www.campkulaqua.com) in High Springs, FL, is the most-anticipated event of the year for FHC members and attenders. With attendance generally between 500-600, it is the perfect opportunity to engage and connect, discover a fresh understanding of God, and relax with family and friends. Here are just a few comments from last year’s Retreat Surveys:

• Loved the zoo! Best in Florida!
• Relaxing – just what I needed
• The Bluegrass vespers on Friday night was my favorite.
• My kids loved the children’s Sabbath School.
• Our family really enjoyed the canoes on Sabbath.
• Saturday night . . . David Banks . . . need I say more?
• Music – uplifting, powerful, spirit-filled
• So glad we came - next year I'm bringing friends!
• Please bring back the Russian dancing again next year!
• Danny Howell’s Sabbath School class was the best ever!
• Walka!! Walka!!
• Relaxation, time with friends – just what I needed.
• The serenity and spiritual experience of the weekend fed my soul.

Applications are now available, but be aware that the Chalets, Efficiency Apartment, Guest Cabins, and Spring View Cottage are all filled. There are still Mini Lodge Rooms, Cabins, Tent Spaces, and RV Sites open for reservations. If you do not need accommodations and decide to just drive up for the day, an application is still required, and a small day-fee will be charged (see application). Applications must be returned with payment in full, and are available online.

PLEASE NOTE: No worship services will be held at the Florida Hospital Church on Saturday morning, April 10, due to Church Retreat. Please make plans to join us at Camp Kulaqua!

Going for the Gold by Tami Cinquemani

All around the world, eyes are riveted on the events in Vancouver – the 2010 Winter Olympics. Jeff and I were watching the other night as the female snowboarders competed in the Women’s Snowboard Halfpipe Finals. Americans Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark, both previous Gold Medal winners, took the silver and bronze medals, respectively. The gold medal went to Australian Torah Bright.

What an exciting, yet frustrating, night. We watched these talented young women jump, flip, and spin in hopes of attaining the gold. We watched the ipod karaoke . . . the mental determination . . . the strength and talent . . . and we watched the frustration of unmet personal expectations. But here’s the thing that made the greatest impression in my mind – the smiles. These girls smiled.

When the runs were over, and it was apparent they did not achieve their ultimate goal, they were still able to smile. No anger, no tears, no flinging of equipment. Just smiles. How does that happen? How do you spend years in preparation of an event, confident that you have what it takes to be the best, and then not fall apart when you don’t make it?

Could it be knowing, without a doubt, that you did your best? I believe these young women gave it all they had. They didn’t hold back, they put it all on the line, they truly went for the gold. Then life happened . . . and they moved on.

Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 (the Message) says:

“Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,

Drink wine with a robust heart.

Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

Dress festively every morning.

Don't skimp on colors and scarves.

Relish life with the spouse you love

Each and every day of your precarious life.

Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange

For the hard work of staying alive.

Make the most of each one!

Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!”

Life is filled with failure, disappointment, and sadness. I’m not advocating a mindless denial of this fact. That reality needs to be addressed and dealt with. Solomon knew this very clearly when he penned Ecclesiastes. Solomon spent the majority of his life training for “the gold”. He was known for his wisdom, his wealth, and his writings. But in his old age Solomon floundered and fell. He lost his integrity, the respect of his people, and his dreams.

But the counsel of this wise man, familiar with failure, is clear. Live life without a net. No regrets, no “what-ifs”, no “if-onlys”. Go for the gold.

Tami Cinquemani

Looking Beyond the Labels by Tami Cinquemani

I find bumper stickers fascinating. Though adverse to adhering one to my own car, I enjoy reading the auto postings of cars around me at a red light. Whether commercial, political, sports-related, thought-provoking, or humorous, they can be seen as a window into the personality of the vehicle’s driver and an insight into their views. After all, if you’re driving the car, you’re promoting the label . . . right?

Several years ago, a friend was living with my husband and I while making a location transition. For some reason, my own car was unavailable, so my friend graciously offered me the use of his. While driving around town, I couldn’t help but notice the strange and curious looks I was getting as people drove by. One woman in particular looked at me and gestured with obvious hostility. I was perplexed. As the woman drove on I noticed an ichthys, or Jesus fish, on her bumper.

I arrived at my destination and exited my car. A man was walking by who looked at my car bumper, looked at me, shook his head, and walked on. It was when I saw the back of my car that I realized what had been causing the reactions. My friend is gay, and his bumper sported a small rainbow flag.

My understanding is that the rainbow flag is used in many cultures around the world to represent diversity and inclusiveness. In our culture it also represents gay pride. However, for the people passing the car I was driving that day, it represented an opportunity for judgment, disgust, and anger – all directed at someone unknown to them. I thought of the woman in the car with the Jesus fish and wondered if possibly she was borrowing a friend’s car as well.

Tami Cinquemani

Let the Good Times Roll by Chad Hess

In my Bible study with my AV team leaders, we just started looking at the book of John. We talked about how different John is from the other gospels. Many scholars believe that it was probably the last gospel written, and John probably tried to fill in some of the gaps from the other gospels. There are many stories that John leaves out, and there are also several things that John includes that the others leave out.

Matthew, Mark and Luke tell the story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness as one of the starting points of Jesus’ ministry. In John, Jesus’ ministry begins with a party. In fact, John makes sure to point out that turning the water into wine was Jesus’ first miracle (John 2:11). This then makes it interesting that Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding. Jesus obviously wasn’t invited because he was hugely popular; he was a new teacher with a small following, who hadn’t done anything noteworthy yet. It seems that Jesus was invited because he was fun to be with. Jesus knew how to have a good time. And he began his ministry by quietly keeping the party going. His first act of divine power was to “keep the good times rolling”, or should we say, flowing. What a far cry from the somber, tight-laced killjoy that many people think of when they hear the word “Christian”.

I think there is a reason that Jesus did his first miracle at a party. It’s very similar to the reason why a God of infinite power choose to rest for 24 hours at the end of creation. I believe it was God’s way of reminding us that we need to rest and we need to have fun. There is something cleansing about a deep belly laugh among friends. There is something refreshing about good food and great conversation. There is something invigorating about a great party. It is so easy to get caught up in all the things that need to be done, that it can be difficult to make the time for fun. But it is important, and it is necessary. After all, Jesus didn’t come to give us a to-do list; He came “to give [us] a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10).

Chad Hess