There’s a Christian, western themed adventure camp in Newberry Springs, California called Ironwood. I was introduced to the camp many years ago when my oldest son was in 5th grade. For several years after, he and I would attend the “Father Son” camp. When my youngest son Bradley was old enough, he and I would attend the camp as well.
One of our favorite events was something called the watermelon drop. Each father-Son team was given a watermelon and then lead to an area littered with everything you can imagine that could possibly help a watermelon fly. You were also allowed to bring items from home. You were given 1 hour to build a contraption that would keep your watermelon from exploding when dropped from a 30 foot tower. One year, we tied for first place with our entry, “Wally”.
The Watermelon Drop taught my sons and I how to work together as a team to find a path that would NOT lead to destruction. Many of the watermelons that were dropped just exploded. Others broke apart or cracked. Over the years we learned what worked better or not at all. We learned from other teams mistakes.
Jesus said that there is a path that leads to life. There is also a path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13–14). Unlike our watermelon drop, God gives us a clear roadmap of what we need to do to not only survive, but thrive. The words of Jesus, the New Testament and the Bible as a whole, are designed to keep us on the path that leads to life.
Imagine you’re Wally, on top of a 30 foot tower about to be dropped. Which path are you on?
Living Life by Design 
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