The Salty Peanut Gallery

The day we got back from camp, we had just enough time to run home, wash some cloths, pack the car, get a few hours sleep and head out around 5:00 the next morning for our Disney, Florida summer vacation. It was certainly helpful that there are three licensed drivers in the family. Fifteen hours in a minivan fighting traffic all the way down I-95 would have been a pretty daunting task otherwise.

This was pretty much a once in a life time deal thanks in part to the economic stimulus package from good ol’ Uncle Sam. I guess you could say that we were doing our part to stimulate the economy. It was also a blessing to have friends who own a membership with Resort Condominiums International (RCI) that were able to help us get a really great deal at an Orlando resort right next door to Walt Disney World.

In retrospect there are a couple of things I should point out. First of all if you’re planning a trip with teenager’s it’s probably not a good idea to go immediately after a week of youth camp, at least not if they’re like my guys who have a fond affection for sleeping in their own beds. The other thing is that the middle of the summer is not the optimal time to take a Disney vacation, since this is overwhelmingly one of the most crowded times of the year. But life is very rarely optimal. Some things you just have to deal with. That said, if you’re ever planning a trip to Disney I strongly recommend Bob Sehlinger’s “The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World”. It is by far the best travel guide for negotiating your way through the congested Orlando theme parks without losing your ever loving mind. Don’t leave home without it!

Here is my top ten list of favorite attractions on our Florida vacation:

#10 Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom – a western-themed roller coaster

#9 Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom – a space ship roller coaster in the dark

#8 Dueling Dragons: Fire at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – a high tech duel suspension coaster; Fire has a slight zero G hump in the middle

#7 Dueling Dragons: Ice at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – the mirror to Fire; Ice seems a little faster

#6 Tower of Terror at Disney Hollywood Studios – a “Twilight Zone” themed indoor thrill ride

#5 Incredible Hulk at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – an accelerated launch coaster

#4 The Amazing adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s Islands of Adventure – an indoor adventure simulator ride

#3 Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba” at Downtown Disney – an imaginative theatrical, acrobatic circus

#2 Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach – only the coolest beach T-shirts on the planet (I got three)!

And my number 1 favorite attraction on our Florida vacation…

The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney Hollywood Studios – a Rock and Roll themed coaster featuring Aerosmith

I have very fond memories of summer camp when I was in high school. Team competitions, swimming, new friends, afternoon activities, awesome counselors, daily sessions, fun games, and life-changing decisions for Christ. I also love how when you’re at youth camp you’re able to just get away from it all. No TV, no internet, no iPod, no Xbox, no modern technology, none of the distractions of contemporary culture. For one week you have teenagers’ undivided attention.

For the past three years our youth group has been teaming up with another local area church to host a week of camp. I lead the worship. We’ve been using a church owned camp facility located out in the middle of nowhere a couple of hours from where we live. It’s nothing special really. The dining hall and chapel are both open air. None of the dorms are air-conditioned. There’s no swimming pool, just a small lake with a dock. But man is it peaceful. I can’t begin to describe what comes over me whenever I drive onto that campus.

The theme for the week was “Reality Reload” using reality TV as the backdrop for helping kids realize that God is real and alive! The intent was to give them a better understanding of what living in “the real world” is really about. We learned about real life issues such as overcoming fear, running the race, understanding family, true love, and what it means to be molded into Christ’s image. What an awesome opportunity for God to impact the lives of young skulls full of mush. Overall I think we did a good job of accomplishing what we set out to do. Heaven only knows the eternal impact it will have. Our prayer is that the kids will take back something of what went on during the week that will forever change their relationship with the Lord.