No, it is not a recipe for a new mixed drink.  They are three of the most important items for any camper to have with them – any means those with tents to big motor homes.

I’ll start with the green alcohol.

All RV’s have sewage holding tanks that eventually need to be emptied.  Tent campers often carry porta- potties that also need emptying.  The amount of harmful fecal bacteria present in the effluent is overwhelming.  There is enough stuff in one of those tanks to infect the entire population of my home town and still have some left over.

I am appalled at the number of people I see dumping their sewage tanks with bare hands and no apparent method of disinfecting themselves.  Some use heavy canvas work gloves or rubber gloves.  But, unless they are disinfected all they do is spread the bacteria to their container and even the person using them. Disposable vinyl or latex gloves should always be used.  Disinfecting is also necessary, but many campers ignore this important step because they do not know what to use.

Years ago I used a solution of bleach and water mixed together in a spray bottle as a disinfectant.  But, if any bleach happened to get on my clothes they were ruined.  I also found the smell unpleasant and it was not good for my skin.   I switched to Lysol in an aerosol can, but it could get kinda expensive.  Then, one day when I had to take Oscar to the veterinarian, I was introduced to wintergreen isopropyl alcohol as a disinfectant.

The Vet used it in the bottle it came in and just screwed on a spray top.  After one animal was examined, they would spray down the tables with the green alcohol and then wipe them off with a paper towel.  I thought this was a great idea!  Wintergreen 70% isopropyl alcohol is available at Wal-Mart for about a buck and a half a bottle.  The wintergreen has a nice scent.  Once I have dumped my holding tanks,  I spray down my gloves, peel them off into a trash can and then spray down my hands with enough alcohol to disinfect the spray bottle handle as well.  Next I spray all the dump levers and caps.  Lastly, I spray down the soles of my shoes before climbing into our truck.  An application of a little hand lotion once in the truck helps to prevent any dryness the alcohol may cause on my hands.

For tent campers green alcohol is great for spraying down your hands after using a porta-potty. You can recycle or purchase small spray bottles that hold a couple of ounces and fit in your pocket.  These small bottles of green alcohol are beneficial as a disinfectant for public porta-jons or restrooms.  If you check the ingredients of a small hand sanitizer bottle you will discover that it is isopropyl alcohol.  Buying it in a pint bottle is much less expensive.  It is great stuff and no camper should be without it!

Duct Tape was first used in WWII as a sealing tape for ammo boxes.

Silver duct tape is also called Hurricane Tape, Racer Tape and now Camper Tape

At the time it was called Duck Tape (as in quack-quack).  Truthfully, it is not a good tape for sealing heating or air conditioning ducts.  Its adhesive is a natural rubber compound that dries out and releases its adhesion after a few months.  But, for temporary or emergency repairs to a RV or tent it is unsurpassed by other tapes.

I keep a big roll of 3M duct tape in the RV all the time.  Rarely do we set up camp that I do not use duct tape for something.  There are many other brands of quality duct tape such as Scotch, Duck and Nashua.  Unfortunately, some brands are of inferior grade.  Sticking with a brand you know is good is the best way to go – it does not have to be 3M if you know the quality of the brand.  Another brand of duct tape that has recently come on the market is Gorilla Tape.  It is thicker than regular duct tape and its adhesive is awesome.

Pop-Up Camper with canvas/vinyl material completely recovered with silver duct tape.

I have used duct tape to fix torn awnings, rips in rubber roofs, torn aluminum camper siding, rips in  tents, lawn chair repairs, tarp tabs, leaking pipes and hoses, and I have even twisted it into a rope for tying items down.  I have friends that have used it to hold in broken

Director's Chair completely recovered with silver duct tape - a new life for camping furniture!

windows, hold a compartment door closed that had a broken latch, seal where gaskets are missing around slide-outs, repair a broken fender on a golf cart, patch a leaking air mattress and even patch a crack in a camper grey water holding tank.

I have seen wallets, jackets, pants, boats, tents, door mats, and drinking cups made entirely of duct tape.
I used a piece of duct tape today to make a tie to hold one of my tomato plants to a post.  Without a doubt is it the most useful tape a camper can have with him.  The only downside is that one must understand that the tape is a temporary repair.  While it is extremely strong, has a really sticky adhesive and is somewhat water proof, it will deteriorate when exposed to the elements and the adhesive will dry out and release over a period of several months.

Now, duct tape is being used as a “fix” for a reception problem on the new Apple Iphone 4– who would have ever thought……… ?

The TV show Myth Busters recently did two episodes on duct tape that included putting a car back together that Carrie totally cut apart, making a black powder cannon from the stuff and even a suspension bridge that Jamie and Adam walked across.  In summary, don’t leave home without at least one roll of duct tape.  The stuff is amazing and its use is only limited by your imagination.

Last but definitely not least is WD-40

This amazing liquid in an aerosol container can make anything you have not secured with duct tape move.  I have used it on my camper’s screw jacks, as a fire starting fluid, to clean chewing gum off of the carpet, as a cleaner for bugs splattered all over the front of the camper, waterproofing for shoes, a cleaner to remove road tar from both the truck and camper.  It is useful as a cleaner and rust preventer for tools that are exposed to salt air or high humidity.  It also works well to remove the gooey residue left after removing duct tape from a smooth surface.  Having spent the past two weeks at the ocean-front I have used up a full can on my golf cart, lawn furniture, beach umbrella, tools, beach cart wheels and even the snap on Oscar’s leash which filled with sand and salt water.  A light spray on the polished aluminum wheels of our truck that is wiped down with paper towels leaves a clean, shiny surface that easily repels brake dust and road grime.  It is great for removing paint, grease and dirt from your hands.

I remember my grandfather polishing his big black DeSoto sedan with a can of kerosene and a rag.  The kerosene would leave a brilliant shine, remove dirt and make it easier to get the next round of tar and bugs off of the paint.  Today, WD-40 has replaced kerosene as the preferred petroleum based polish and cleaner for the fiberglass front cap on many trailers and can make sun aged plastic parts look new again.  It also helps to preserve and protect these parts.  WD-40 should NOT be used on your rubber camper roof.

You can scroll through a list of other uses for WD-40 by downloading the PDF at

http://www.wd40.com/files/pdf/wd-40_2042538679.pdf ^[6]

When combined as a three-pack, green alcohol, duct tape and WD-40 are indispensable items for any camper.

You’ll find a coffee shop on virtually every corner, and there’s always a poetry reading or live music going on somewhere. Take a walk through Stanley Park, which sprawls over several acres and allows you to lose yourself among the trees as you follow the winding trails. Be on the lookout for the dark brown ground squirrels, which are only too happy to block your way and demand food for allowing you to pass through their turf.

The aquarium at Stanley Park features many exhibits of fresh and salt water fish, some of which are rare or endangered. Traverse further through the park and you’ll find yourself transported to the Amazon rain forest and will come face-to-face with several types of wildlife from that region, including the dreaded anaconda.

Up in North Vancouver, you can traverse the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is touted as being the number one tourist attraction in Vancouver. The swaying boards take you across a 200-foot chasm that provides you with a world-class view, and the surrounding park is filled with restaurants, shops, and activities guaranteed to make this an experience to remember.

What makes this area great for one tank trips and vacations is that you’ve got every type of terrain available to you within a short driving distance. Beaches, snow-covered mountains, marshland, even desert, are all easily accessible, and waiting for your exploration at this South British Columbia camping destination.

Heading north out of Vancouver via the PR-1A, take it for 12 miles until you come to the PR-1. Along the way, you’ll see signs for the Sea to Sky Highway, which runs alongside a steep fjord that offers up unparalleled views between the West Vancouver and Squamish areas. Take the PR-1 for 7 miles, then head north on the PR-99 for just under 30 miles until you pull into the Squamish/Britannia Beach area. This area is considered to be the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, with more opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, or watching wildlife than just about any other part of the province. In the fall, avian enthusiasts from all around gather to get lingering looks at the rarely-sighted bald eagles, which return to Squamish every year and make it their winter home. In nearby Britannia Beach, the BC Museum of Mining provides a change of pace, and gives visitors a comprehensive look at the mining operations at work in the Vancouver area, dating back to the earliest prospecting days.

Take a drive through 40 miles of breathtaking greenery via the PR-99 and before you know it you’ll find yourself in Whistler, site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Walk in the steps of some of the world’s greatest athletes and try your luck with the downhill ski courses, or maybe just sip a hot toddy by a warm fire in any one of the numerous ski lodges in the area. In the summertime, you’ll have your pick of such fair weather activities as golf, tennis, canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing, and renting an ATV for some off-road adventure. Go whitewater rafting down the Elaho-Squamish River, or ride the gondolas to the top of a 6,000 foot mountain peak and work up an appetite by hiking back down. Add to this a myriad of shopping and fine dining opportunities, and you’ll see why Whistler is considered one of the most treasured jewels in British Columbia’s crown of tourist destinations and the perfect spot for ending South BC one tank trips when possible.

When you experience this area for yourself, you’ll see that British Columbia camping blends elegance and ruggedness, relaxation and adventure, like no other area in the world can.

America currently stands in a very dangerous position, said renowned pastor and author Dr. Charles Stanley. Today more than ever, the country is turning away from God and moving closer toward socialism, he warned.

And the consequences will be grave.”We know the truth, we know the principles of God. In spite of all that, we find ourselves as a nation violating the laws of God, heading in a direction that is going to be disastrous for us, for our children and the generations that are to come unless there is a change,” he said.

Speaking to thousands at First Baptist Church of Atlanta and to a live Web audience on Friday, Stanley delivered a sobering 4th of July message about a dangerous spiritual tide that is engulfing the country and the crucial need for prayer.

“There is a tide that has touched the shores of our land and reached the heart of our nation,” he said against the backdrop of the U.S. flag. “It is a tide that is bringing with it ideas and philosophies, actions and attitudes that will ultimately destroy the way of life that you and I have.”

The influential pastor and founder of In Touch Ministries listed 12 things involved in the tide. Among them are the financial crisis and the move toward socialism.

With the national debt rising by the billions every day and increasing taxation, future generations will likely be left with a debt so heavy that they’ll never be able to spend most of what they make, he said.

Addressing the idea of spreading the wealth, Stanley emphasized, “It is not the government’s responsibility to take care of us. It is to protect us.

“We’re responsible for taking care of ourselves.”

Socialism, he pointed out, is opposed primarily to Christianity and Judaism.

“In Christianity, we’re taught to do our best because we’ve been gifted by God. So there’s motivation, willingness and we cooperate,” he explained. “We use our spiritual gifts for the good of everyone.”

But under a socialist society, in which the government controls all means of production and distribution, there is no motivation for diligence and creativity is stifled, he said.

When there is less reward, there is less to give. And as evidenced in the recent downturn, what suffers first is supporting missionary work.

“You see, it affects every single aspect of society,” Stanley warned.

He added, “Naturally, when the government takes control, do you think that freedom of speech is always going to be there?”

“The tide is bringing in a control that will indeed attempt to silence the truth and will attempt to squash the religious devotion and worship of the people of God.”

That tide began creeping in many years ago, he noted, when the government and the courts began banning prayer at schools and removing references to Jesus, God and the Ten Commandments from the public square, Stanley noted.

“It is an attempt to destroy the Christian spirit in America,” he said.

“There is a war going on against Jesus,” he declared. “It’s part of the strategy. The primary reason for this war against Him is He is interfering with the plan to make this a socialist nation. Mark it down. It is the truth.”

Among the other elements of the dangerous tide are: terrorism, turning our backs on Israel, the announcement that the United States is not a Christian nation, increasing national disasters, a departure from the biblical view of marriage, and support for killing the unborn, Stanley listed.

“Mark this down for socialism because these three groups of people who do not contribute to the state … are of no value: unborn babies, the elderly and those who are disabled,” said the Atlanta pastor.

With the tide moving fast, Stanley issued a charge to Christians to turn it around.

He called believers to join him in 140 days of humbling themselves, repenting of sins and praying to God.

“The Bible says judgment begins at the house of God. We’re not expecting lost people to do all this because this is the work of the people of God; it is our responsibility,” he stressed. “A lot of where we are is because of our apathy. We haven’t prayed for these men who are making decisions.”

“Do you want this nation to keep going where it’s going or do you want us to get back on track?” he posed.

Prayer, he said, is the one thing he knows that works.

“Do you believe God answers prayer?” he asked. “Pray for God to change the direction of this tide.”

He added that those prayers have to be backed up with righteousness and a godly life if they are to be effective and nation-altering.

“There has never been a nation like these United States. We do not want it to fail or to fall.”

To join Stanley in 140 days of prayer, visit: http://intouch.org/

Josh McDowell

This is a concern because pastors’ inability to present biblical truth comprehensibly and relevantly has led to children from Christian families leaving the church, research has shown.

In the United States, the age at which nearly all such children leave church has decreased to 18 years.

Not even the children of many successful ministers are spared.

McDowell made his comments at a recent networking dinner among various men’s ministries organized recently by Men-in-Covenant. MiC is the men’s ministry of Covenant Evangelical Free Church.

He recalled speaking with the pastor of one of the largest U.S. churches, a man known for his expository preaching. Confiding in him, the pastor said their church was losing its youth right after high school graduation.

In his 50 years of ministry, McDowell has asked several thousand pastors and leaders how they could be certain Jesus Christ said “I am the truth” and not one of many truths or a truth.

“Not one person has ever given me an intelligent, biblically-based answer,” said the author of The New Evidence that Demands A Verdict.

During the past six years, he asked hundreds of Christians and leaders why they see themselves as Christians. Again no one gave him an “intelligent” answer.

In the past 17 years, he has asked over 4,000 pastors, leaders and parents why they believe the Bible is true.

A mere six “came close to giving an intelligent answer,” McDowell noted.

“If anything is based upon truth, it’s the Christian faith,” he said. “Christians who do not know why they have faith or believe have a very difficult time expressing themselves to others.

“The saddest thing is people come to me and say, ‘What’s the answer?’”

“I say, ‘There’s no answer… There are hundreds of answers.’”

Most Christians, even some pastors, don’t even know one. On the other hand, the apologist said he could give 50 reasons for his belief that the Bible is true.

Ninety-five percent of Christians gave disappointing responses when asked why they believe Jesus is the Son of God.

Asked why the Bible is true and historically reliable, Christians replied that it was what they had been taught by their church or parents.

A common response that most Christians gave to both questions was that it is “what I believe.”

McDowell responded: “That’s voodoo thinking. Where did we ever get that crazy idea that something is true just because we believe it?

“If that is true, then there will never be heresy. Everybody would be right.”

On one occasion, 13 youth pastors at a large convention were unable to reasonably answer the apologist’s question.

Finally one young person stood up, walked toward him and told him he knew the answer.

The young man promptly held up his Bible and said, “Because I believe it.”

And to McDowell’s dismay, all the youth pastors applauded him.

McDowell said, “Young man, do you know the difference between you, me and the majority of Christians in the world?

“To you, it is true because you believe it. For me, I believe it because it is true.”

Another response the apologist received was: Because I have faith.

He commented, “Where did we ever get the crazy idea that faith makes something true? That’s idiotic. That’s so unbiblical you can call it heresy.

“God doesn’t use faith to create truth. He uses truth through the Holy Spirit to create faith.”

Christians, the apologist stressed, are called to explain their faith when asked. They are set free by the faith in the truth, he expressed, referring to John 8:32.

Yet others say Christianity is true because Jesus changed their lives.

Even this will not stand up to intellectual scrutiny, McDowell argued.

“Lies change lives; cults change lives,” he said.

To make such an appeal is “not the essence of Christianity,” the author emphasized.

McDowell said: “We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to our children, we owe it to our neighbors, we owe it to the lost, to tell them not just what we believe but why do we believe it.”

My first experience with a speed camera was actually in New Zealand while RVing with my granddaughter. Out in the middle of nowhere a sign warned that we were approaching one. Later in our trip, we read in the newspaper that a man was contesting his ticket – he had to speed to get around someone. I doubt he beat the ticket with that excuse.

Arizona has had them set up on highways, more than any other state. In January, on our way to Quartzsite in our RV, and then back to Phoenix, we passed several on each trip. That is now changing. In an article at Yahoo News, Arizona is ending its program to use speed cameras along Phoenix-area highways and in vans deployed across the state. While governor, Janet Napolitano instituted the program, anticipating that it would bring in $90 million in revenues in the first year, it failed to meet its goal. In fact, many people ignore the tickets with apparently no consequences.

Governor Jan Brewer is ending the program when the contract is up on July 16. The program had received many complaints and has been the target of an initiative measure proposed for the November ballot. Local cities can still use speed cameras though not for both speeding and running red lights. (Now that makes no sense to me.)

Supporters say they slow down speeders and reduce accidents. Detractors see them as opening the door for wider “Big Brother” surveillance and are more about making money than safety. Personally, seeing how fast many Arizona drivers go, I’m in favor of them. You don’t get a ticket unless you are going at least 11 miles over the speed limit. Isn’t that enough leeway?

So, what do you think? Thumbs up for getting rid of them? Or thumbs down for caving? Or is it thumbs down for another reason?

Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

reprinted with permission

Let’s take a closer look at some simple ways to trim a little off of your RV insurance premium.

• Many RV insurance companies provide discounts to customers who are members of some type of RV association or club. Discounts vary by insurance company. Call your RV insurance company agent and ask for a listing of associations or clubs you can join to receive a discount.

Note: Association discounts are often given for participants in RV manufacturing associations and clubs too.

• Driver safety courses often qualify an RV owner for discounts with some RV insurance companies. Your insurance agent can inform you of what programs qualify for discounts.

Note: Qualified driver safety courses are often offered at large RV rallies such as at FMCA rallies.

• A clean driving record will reduce your insurance premium. It usually takes 3 years (36 months) for accidents and moving violations/citations to stop impacting your insurance rates.
• Another way to reduce your insurance premium is to buy multiple policies from the same insurance company. This is called a multi-policy discount. As an example, companies like National Interstate Insurance Company offer discounts when an individual buys an RV policy and a companion auto policy.
• Homeowner’s discounts are a common way to lower your insurance premium. Ask your insurance agent for more information.
• Some insurance companies offer discounts if you pay your premium in full up front.
• Adding a security device to your RV such as an audible alarm will often qualify for a discount.

As an added note your credit score can heavily impact your insurance rates, so improving your credit score may improve the premium you pay. Credit usage is not allowed in all states, so it varies from state-to-state and carrier-by-carrier. Ask your insurance provider for more information about using credit scores.

Keep in mind that most insurance companies will not stack discounts. As an example, even if you are a member of multiple qualified associations and you have taken a qualified driver safety course, the insurance company will most likely give you one 5% discount.

I would like to thank National Interstate Insurance Company for its contributions to this article.

Happy Camping,
Mark

Mark Polk is founder of RV Education 101 and RV University

Of course the outcome of any poll depends on several factors like what type of poll it is, how the questions are presented, who is asking the questions and of course who does and does not participate in the poll.

Our weekly RV poll is not a scientific poll, a political poll or a marketing poll. It is basically used to give me some idea of what our newsletter readers are interested in, how they use their RVs and just for the fun of it.

So, here is a look back at some past polls and how the participants responded.

• 30% of the participants have experienced problems with rodent control in their RV’s and 70% have not.
• 48% have spent a night in a Wal-Mart parking lot and 52% have not. Of those, 58% asked permission to stay in the Wal-Mart parking lot and 42% did not.
• 68% connect to the internet every day when traveling by RV and 32% do not. 82% experience trouble getting an internet connection on the road and 16% do not. 58% of the respondents depend on free Wi-Fi to connect, 27% used a wireless card to connect and 15% relied on other methods like paid Wi-Fi, cell phones and satellite service.
• When asked who drove the most 92% responded male, 5% female, 1% female traveling alone and 2% male traveling alone.
• 74% said their RV came with a spare tire and 26 % did not get a spare when they purchased their RV.
• 84% make campground reservations in advance and 16% do not.
• 9% of respondents see closing state parks as a way to decrease state budgets and 91% do not.
• 55% are currently financing their RV and 45% are not. 51% of those financed think they owe more than the RV is worth and 49% do not think they owe more than the RV is worth.
• 85% of participants have an Emergency Roadside Service (ERS) plan and 15% do not.
• 18% travel 200 miles or less per day during RV trips, 47% average 300 miles per day, 26% average 400 miles per day and 9% travel 500 or more miles per day.
• 54% own motorized RV’s and 46% own towable RV’s.
• 94% use rest stops along the way when traveling by RV and 6% do not.
• At one time or another 35% of respondents have had a damaged RV holding tank waste valve and 65% never have. Of those with damaged waste valves 58% repaired it themselves and 42% did not attempt repairs.
• 36% use some type of digital line monitor to monitor campground electricity and 65% do not. 40% always test the campground wiring prior to plugging the RV in and 60% do not.
• 82% check the tire pressure before each trip and 18% don’t.
• 58% use checklists to perform maintenance and routine tasks on their RV and 42% do not.
• 12% of the respondents have work camped before and 88% have not.
• 90% said they use environmentally friendly holding tank chemicals and 10% don’t.
• 63% use their RV in the winter and 37% don’t.
• 70% have stayed in a friends or relatives driveway before and 30% have not.
• 19% frequently stay at state or federal campgrounds, 34% stay at private campgrounds, 5% stay at public campgrounds and 42% stay at a combination of all three.
• 67% use a pre-departure checklist when they RV and 33% don’t.
• 98% have one or more slide outs on their RV and 2% don’t have any slide outs.

Well that brings us up to date on the poll results. When we gather more results I will keep you posted.

Happy Camping,
Mark

Mark Polk is founder of RV Education 101 and RV University

While KOA CEO Jim Rogers is throwing out the welcome mat for dogs at his parks according to RV Daily Report, Cherry Creek State Park in Colorado is having problems because so many dogs and other users use the off-leash areas.

Rogers says that 40 percent of their customers travel with a dog, and that number is growing. Many KOAs provide pet parks, water stations, grassy fields, doggy playgrounds and supplies of biscuits, treats and more at its locations. KOAs are happy to see dog owners.

Cherry Creek State Park, as well as Chatfield State park, are finding that use of their off-leash areas have grown in popularity so much, it is causing conflicts and damage. Other users such as horseback riders and bicyclists are sometimes in conflict with dog users, especially dog trainers. The area was originally designated as an area for training hunting dogs. Hundreds of dog owners can use the area in a day, day after day, and the grass is worn down, the soil compacted. Those parks are looking at solutions. Not only campers and RVers use these areas, but many locals.

As long as people pick up after their pets and a dog doesn’t go after me, I’m happy to let them be. At KOAs and other smaller RV parks, often the doggy areas are fenced so other visitors don’t have to come in contact with a loose dog. At Cherry Creek, the area sounds enormous and, on weekends, chaotic. Maybe too much of a good thing? Perhaps one of our readers has actually spent time at Cherry Creek or Chatfield and can give us the scoop. (ha!) In the meantime, I’ll probably pick another place to stay. I like pets and I’m more comfortable when they are under control on a leash!
Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

reprinted with permission

Nationally, we need some change. Wall Street has been more like a back alley with drug dealers making quick bucks than a business handling the investments of hardworking people. Politics needs to change. Democrats and Republicans alike are self-absorbed. They don’t do what’s in the best interest of the country; they do what’s in their best interest. We are insane if we think the same old political cronies are going to produce real change. It’s the clowns in Congress who allowed the legislation that got us in this mess.

I’m for change—make the Representatives and Senators live in their districts face the music every week for the constituency that elected them. The car companies need to change. The unions have destroyed the free enterprise system, and we are paying people not to work. Unions have set up their own welfare system within the auto industry. That needs to change.

Churches need to change. Churches obsessed with business meetings or run by a few families need to go out of business. Churches that treat pastors like slave labor need to close their doors. Communities would be healthier if about half of the churches were shut down or combined to make vital, stronger churches. We don’t need a church on every corner. We need churches that are more committed to the four corners of the earth than their corner on the pew.

Denominations need to change. We are losing a younger generation because we aren’t listening and leading. The younger preachers flock to conferences that lack balance and do little to encourage biblical preaching. Why? Because the majority of mainline denominations don’t have a clue what’s going on in the pew. The ivory castle is no place to figure out what is needed. Jesus walked among the people; He didn’t sit in an office removed from them.

There has been much debate in my denomination about the name of the Cooperative Program. I believe that program is a solid way to join together in a common cause and mission. It was right to change the name of the Foreign Mission Board to the International Mission Board. It was right to change the name of the Home Mission Board to the North American Mission Board. It was right to change the name of the Baptist Sunday School Board to LifeWay. So what’s the problem with changing the name of the Cooperative Program?

I know of meetings where men have dug in their heels on changing this name. They refuse to think of Kingdom business. They are more stuck on two antiquated words than a name that will (a) continue to emphasize CP giving and (b) get the attention of a younger generation that thinks in missional, kingdom terms. Of course, they would rather let the funding die and ministries cease than do anything about increasing our giving to missions. The change that needs to come is (a) in the name and (b) in anyone who wants to hold on to a name for a name’s sake.

Change is not the same old thing with a new label. Baptists are notorious for changing the label on the same old product. We use to have BYU on Sunday nights, and then it was Training Union, then Church Training, then Discipleship Training. The problem was never the name. The problem was that we weren’t doing a good job of training and discipling. Call it Bible Study, Sunday School, Small Groups or Cell Groups—the key is the leader’s commitment to the purpose of the event and process.

Churches have to be willing to change. We’ve changed a lot at Sherwood in my nearly twenty years here. When I came, we were King James only, women couldn’t wear pants, and Scofield was as sacred as Saint Paul. Today, nothing has changed theologically, but we wouldn’t be the church we are today if we had not changed.

We changed the music, but not the message. We changed the translation we use, but not the commitment to inerrancy. We changed the way we do ministry, from committees and deacons running the church to Pastor-led. The result? Over 5,000 people have joined in the last twenty years. With the declining population of our area, it is a God thing that we are growing.

What if we had stayed the same? One, a lot of folks who left would have been happy. They would still be large and in charge. Two, we wouldn’t be making movies. We wouldn’t have a Sports Park. We wouldn’t be an integrated church like we are with people from nearly a dozen nations. We wouldn’t be reaching people in 29 surrounding communities. Three, we wouldn’t be “anchored to the rock and geared to the times.”

We must be consistent and at the same time changing. One day, we may not be in the movie business anymore. I don’t foresee that day coming soon, but if it does, God has something else for us. We need to be constantly thinking, “How do we keep the vision of ‘reaching the world from Albany, Georgia’ when we are aiming at a moving target?” The methods must never become sacred. The message must always be essential.

Paul was willing to become all things to all men that he might save a few. Paul never compromised the gospel, but he did whatever it took to carry the gospel to others. Will you join me in praying that God will continually use us in a changing world to change lives and the culture? Let’s pray we never get stuck in our ways or preferences. Let’s ask God to make us fluid in our thinking, while at the same time fixed on the cross.

Copyright 2009, Michael Catt

The opinions stated in this article are not necessarily those of RVchurchesUSA but solely the expressed opinions of the author

printed with permission

by Keith Bennett
The RV Travel Examiner

RVers are very price sensitive to fuel costs and coupled with many state parks being closed for economic reasons; we predict that RVers will stay closer to home.  The patterns may be very similar to 2009.  The patterns may change if RV campgrounds increase rates to take advantage of fewer choices for RVers due to state park closures.

In informal chats with RVers the resistance point for a full hookup seems to get intense the closer the rate gets to $40 per night.  Where is your resistance point for staying in a private RV campground if gas is at/above $3/gallon?  Drop a comment with your thoughts.

Happy Camping

You may comment below or visit Keith’s site at The RV Travel Examiner for additional RV Travel articles.