Harmony Hill

Have you ever seen a picture of “rolling” hills? The way one begins before another begins, the different shades of green, the shadows and shines. Harmony Hill is not just about the beauty of the countryside.

Can you imagine the sounds of friendship? Laughter, talking, singing. Harmony Hill is about more than wonderful friendships.

Do you remember the energy of youth? Running and panting, creating and decorating, imagining and acting, sweating and laughing. Harmony Hill has purposes other than expending energy.

Harmony Hill is about being in conversation with God. Pray that many will meet God on the Hill this year.

Eliezer the Matchmaker

God and Abraham had quite a history together. For that matter, God, Abraham, and Isaac had some pretty crazy stories to tell. Isaac’s birth was somewhat unusual as was his first recorded mountain-top experience. Why should his arranged marriage be any different?

Abraham had no desire to be the father-in-law of a pagan Canaanite, so he thought to choose from among his relatives in another country. Of course, being “well stricken in age” made it somewhat difficult to travel; his trusted servant would have to do for the family matchmaker.

So the wealthy and powerful master of the house sent Eliezer on the errand. Nothing too grand or stressful. Just go to a land you’ve never seen, greet my family you’ve never met, and choose a bride for my only son. She must meet a very short list of requirements, namely be willing to leave her family and the only land she’s ever known to marry a stranger. How hard could it be?

Oh, did I mention she should be a perfect wife?

Poor Eliezer! He had years of experience making decisions and being in authority, yet how could any of that prepare him for such a task? Whether Eliezer’s experiences prepared him or not, the ways of his master certainly gave him an idea of where he could start.

He loaded the camels and set out with a prayer. He prayed for a good journey and kindness for his master’s task. Then he got specific; he asked that as the young ladies of the town gathered at the local well to get the day’s water, one of them would answer his request for a drink with an offer to feed his ten camels. Again, nothing too spectacular — just volunteering to do exhausting physical labor for a complete stranger.

God did it for him, too. A lovely young niece of Abraham was the girl Eliezer approached, and she agreed. She brought up load after load of water until all ten camels had their fill after that long desert run.

When was the last time you loaded your camels and set out with a prayer? Perhaps Harmony Hill Youth Camp this year would be the place for a specific answer to prayer.

www.hhyc.net

The Miracle of Freedom

— Michelle Avery, Editorial Assistant, Herald and Banner Press

Here in America it is only by a miracle that freedom still lives. The miracle is not just that nearly 42 million people would be willing to risk the dangers of war but also that almost 860,000 would risk and suffer death for the freedoms of others.

“Greater love hath no man than tis, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Happy Fourth of July

— Francis Scott Key, lawyer from Maryland.

O thus be it ever when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

July is upon us! Two days from now this country will celebrate her 234^th birthday with picnics, family or community gatherings, memorials, and fireworks. The Fourth of July is a favorite holiday for millions of people.

This month we’ll join in this celebration in a couple of ways. Stop by the blog throughout the month and read what we have for you.