What's For Dessert?

I have become an advocate for the next generation of leaders. You’ve heard it said, “Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders!” I like what I see in today’s youth! That’s why I seldom turn down an opportunity to engage and be with them. This past week, I participated in a youth police camp sponsored by the local American Legion and the Illinois State Police. It was on the beautiful campus of Camp Lincoln here in Springfield, Illinois. This was my third year serving as an ISP chaplain and taking part in the camp graduation ceremony!

Homemade Blackberry Pie
Thanks, Sis!!

The State Police Youth Academy was first conducted in July of 1972. Each year since, young men and women are invited and sponsored to participate in an intensive week of physical training, classroom instruction in law enforcement, field trips to interesting sites, and recreation that bonds them with new friends. They learn about discipline, teamwork, and respect for themselves and others.

During this year’s ceremony, a very tall and sharp cadet named Wyatt was chosen to be the class president. He delivered a challenging address reviewing the highlights of the week. He spoke of personal benefits like a renewed respect for those in authority. He shared how difficult it was during those first two days to learn how to comply with the counselors’ standards for formation, room upkeep, and general behavior.

The youth chuckled to hear Wyatt relate how after messing up some things on Monday and Tuesday, that those in charge would say, “I can see that there’s going to be some dessert this evening!” The training counselor didn’t mean that literally! But consequently, for their “mess ups” and misbehavior, there would be more sit-ups, push-ups, high leg lifts and other physical exercises required to make amends!

Here is some of what was shared during my prayers for these young people… “Heavenly Father, we celebrate with all these graduating cadets today. We are hopeful for this next generation of leaders and thankful for their enthusiasm, talents, commitment, and for the dreams and plans they have for the future. Thank you to the families who support them. And thank you for the vision, partnership, and investment of time by law enforcement and sponsors who planned and support these camp opportunities.”

“Thank you, Lord for this week of education, training, team building, bonding with new friends, and fun. This has been an action-packed and memorable experience for everyone. May the lessons of self-respect and service to others continue to be instilled in these youth. Bless these cadets and may this week of disciplined, physical, and mental exercises continue to shape their future pursuits. In your blessed name we pray. Amen.”

The Apostle Paul often used analogies of athletic competition to make a point. He draws out this conclusion in a letter to the Corinthian church, “You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athlete’s race. Everyone runs; only one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard… I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else about it and then missing out myself.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, The Message).

Thirty youth participated in the 2025 summer police camp. I’m sure that many of their peers stayed back to “nap” and therefore missed all the training and fun! I am so proud that these young men and women risked putting themselves out there. They seized an opportunity that pushed them out of their comfort zone to growth and development! As a result of this disciplined week of conditioning, they have been shaped in new ways. Now, they have returned home with added information, skills, friendships, wonderful memories, and blessings.

How many of us love a delicious meal and a tasty dessert at the end? I do! But a good spiritual work-out through disciplined Bible study, prayer, worship, and applying faith to daily struggles may do us a lot more good! Let’s “run hard” toward growth and development in the faith! 

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
©2018-2025 All rights reserved.
Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Pray and Move Your Feet!"

Image
There is an old West African proverb: “When you pray, move your feet.” I have said something similar in a little different way: “Be careful in your praying. You may be (and often are!) the answer to your own prayer.” Others see this almost as a command to “Put feet to your prayers!” What do we mean by these various sayings? Prayer is not just an important spiritual discipline for the Christian, it often leads to an “in the flesh” response and connection between the pray-er and the prayer request. Prayer and Action! pngimg.com While prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines, this doesn't mean it is just an academic, theoretical or forensic exercise! I have heard it said, "God inhabits the praises of His people." This suggests that it blesses God to hear the praise of His people in prayer. I believe that the Lord gets an even greater blessing when our praying is “incarnated” in devotion, commitment and service for Him. Our best efforts at praying involve action plans to ...
Read more

Grumpy and Crotchety!

Image
Just the other day, I watched a humorous interview with a preteen. This occurred on an afternoon entertainment news program. What caught my attention in this brief and show-ending feature was that this youth was explaining her bad attitude while riding in the passenger seat of the family car. She was speaking to one of her parents as she made this adult-like excuse, “I’ve been crotchety since I was nine!”  Image: freepik.com I have enjoyed watching the Grumpy Old Men movies (1993, 1995) several times. The original film featured three of my favorite actors: Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon, and Ann-Margret, It’s a story of two men, Max Goldman and John Gustafson who are neighbors and lifelong friends that find themselves competing for the affections of a beautiful woman,   Ariel Truax, who lived across the street from both men, Matthau and Lemmon with deadpan humor do a masterful job of bringing their characters to life in an uproariously funny and absurd way! I’ve had my own grum...
Read more

Uncle Billy Moments!

Image
Photograph courtesy of Paramount Pictures Many of you will remember the beloved uncle who partnered with Jimmy Stewart’s character in the Christmas favorite, It’s a Wonderful Life. Uncle Billy was absent-minded and habitually wrapped a "reminder string" around his finger so he wouldn’t forget things. There is that pitiful exchange between the uncle and his nephew George Bailey. After a costly lapse in judgement in which $8,000 falls into the villainous Potter's hands, George, fearing the bank examiner's reprisals, called Uncle Billy, “A silly, stupid old fool!" Indeed, it was a sad occasion for the Bailey Building and Loan at the cusp of the Great Depression when that amount of money in today's dollars would exceed $114,000 in value. This was for me an unforgettable (and I use that word carefully) confrontation by the two characters in the film. I had an Uncle Billy moment last week. One that I am still embarrassed about. I absentmindedly left my bank ...
Read more