Camping Hack Fails

                               Common Christian Quips Fails

When people are introduced to the great outdoors, there can be quite a bit of anxiety involved, especially if they have no experience. They may feel out of their element and uncomfortable with the unknown. Ok, so I may be describing myself about 30 years ago. See, I had camped with my family as a kid, but that came with little to no responsibility. Packing up my kids for an adventure was different. My husband and I were in charge and had to learn the hard way. There are a lot of camping myths, folklore and hack fails.

Just like any other decisions you will make in your life, people will have a lot of opinions. There will be a lot of advice on the internet, from friends, and maybe even family. I am going to share with you today some of the myths and superstitions that I have found to be failures. LOL, You can learn from my experience.

1. Snakes won't cross a hemp rope.

Many say to circle your camp with hemp rope to ward off snakes because they won’t cross the scratchy rope and do not like the smell. Snakes don't care about ropes. They will cross anything they can get over.

2. Bananas repel mosquitos

In my experience, all this hack does is draw fruit flies.

3. Put butter on a burn

This is a very old wives’ tale. Please do not do this as it will keep the heat inside the burn and cause more damage.

4. Want to stop a storm? Stick an axe in the ground

Here we have another myth. The axe is supposed to cut the clouds and ward off rain and storms. This one doesn't need any explanation why it doesn't work. Or does it? Hahaha

5. Moss grows predominantly on the north side of trees

This one is very popular, but it is not true. Moss grows on the most shaded side of the tree.

6. Garlic repels mosquitoes

This idea is based on the concept that garlic wards off vampires. Yes, you heard me right. Mosquitoes, like vampires, are bloodsuckers, so it must be true, right? Some of these just crack me up.

7. You Can Suck or Bleed Snake Venom Out of a Snake Bite

Snake venom travels through the lymphatic system very quickly, and it’s nearly impossible to suck or cut quickly enough to get the poison out.

8. Rain before 7 clear by 11

You can turn on any weather channel or open a weather app, and you will see that the weather is too unpredictable to depend on, especially in the places like Kentucky, where the weather can change every 5 min. One of our well-known quips is if you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes it will change. 

9. Bears are always afraid of fire.

This one is not 100% true for all bears. Some bears will break this rule when they smell food cooking. So it is always better to not put your guard down and look for signs before pitching your tent.

10. Irish Sring or dryer sheets soap deters mice

We all know that keeping mice out of our campers is hard. This is a constant battle due to all the places they can get in. Irish Spring and Dryer sheets do have a strong odor, but it will not deter them. Trust me. They may even nibble on the soap! 😬

11. Prevent ants from spreading and getting into your RV with a bit of baby powder

I do not know who came up with this one, but my ants didn't care that it was in their way. Maybe they think it works because ants like to hang out near water supplies. I am not sure. I have found that nothing beats Terro.

12. Poison ivy is contagious

So, I am blessed not to be allergic to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison hemlock, but my husband and boys are. The devil plant's oil can remain on clothes, equipment, and pet fur for days, even if the itch can't be spread through contact with blisters. It is an oil that is secreted, so the best thing to do when exposed is to wash with soap and water and change clothing. Remember to keep those garments in a bag or away from your others. 

All these tips or hacks can sound plausible. You must research or try it, or you will never know which is correct. Which ones will be helpful, which will be a waste of time, effort, and money or even detrimental.

Searching for the truth can sometimes be daunting. It is much easier to ask someone for advice and then run with it. Sometimes discipleship can be the same way.

A lot of, maybe even most Christians sitting in the pews on Sunday morning have not picked up their Bible all week. They expect the minister to read it and also interpret it, so they do not have to. Do you learn more about God at church than you do at home? Do you hang your salvation on a couple of hours a week you are being ministered to?

There are many Christian cliches that we have made up to make ourselves feel better. Some are excuses, some are complete lies, and some have Biblical merit but have been skewed. Just like those tips and hacks above, beware of those cliches also.

Let's see how many of these surprise you.

1. "This too shall pass."

The origin of this phrase is not Christian at all. Some time in the middle ages, it was written by a Persian Sufi. It is a wonderful saying that gives us hope, but we can't confuse it with actual words from the Bible. We can find the concept in 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2. "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."

Here is another that we have all heard a million times, but even though God says to be a good steward and He also tells us that our body is a temple, the cleanliness is next to Godliness cannot be found in the text.

3. " The devil made me do it."

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

You have the power to resist the devil. He can't make you do anything. The devil has no power that you do not allow him to have, and he can not steal anything you do not give up to him. Don't let him bluff you. He belongs at your feet. 

We must take responsibility for our flesh and the consequences of its weakness.

4. "Everything happens for a reason."

This is true and false. Everything happens has a reason or cause, but God is not to blame. He allowed free will so that we could reciprocate His love. What is true is when those things do happen because of sin or free will, He will turn it for good if we love Him.

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

5. "God is in control."

Is He? He has the overall victory but isn't in control of all the events. Why would Jesus talk about the need to drive out the ruler of this world in John 12? God has surrendered control of Earth so that we can choose to follow him or not (free will). We must surrender control of our lives individually to His will. When we allow Him, He takes control.

John 12:31-33

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

6. “God never gives you more than you can handle.” 

This is one of those phrases people reach for in difficult times, so I can understand why it’s said. Trying to comfort a hurting friend, we say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” But is that true biblically?  

2 Corinthians 1:8-9, the apostle Paul shares:  

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.

He had been pushed over the edge by whatever situation he faced. Paul's resources were beyond what he had. Paul showed us that sometimes God allows us more than we can handle. He does this to remind us that we need Him.

What God did say is He would never leave us and that He would make a way of escape. When you are tempted to give up, He will be there.

1 Corinthians 10:13

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

7. "Money is the root of all evil."

Money and Christianity seem to be at odds with one another. It isn't possible to serve God and wealth, according to Jesus. A verse from the New Testament will be used by the pastors who preach the evils of money will use a verse from the New Testament.

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Jesus clearly states He is talking about the love of money....Greed.

And then we have this verse in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

The original statement, "Money is the root of all evil," and the scripture references are different. The love of money is what motivates the writer of 1 Timothy. The difference is important.

Money is neither good nor evil. The author uses the Greek word philarguria, the definition of which means extreme greediness and self-love. When your love for money warps your sense of right and wrong, good and evil, bad things happen. Money isn't the root of all evil. Extreme greediness is evil enough to cause harm to others in the pursuit of more.

8. "God helps those who help themselves"

This quote would make sense if Jesus were a US citizen. God will meet you halfway if you work hard and pull yourself up by your bootstraps. It is not biblical, but this all sounds inspiring. There are many places in the Bible where it says the opposite.

Psalm 18:6

In my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

Ok, I think this one needs a bit of a disclaimer. I am not, nor is the Bible advocating for laziness. There are proverbs and instructions on working by the sweat of your brow. This statement goes a little deeper than that. This is the idea that you do not need to worry God about things that you can take care of all by yourself. He never wants you to do anything all by yourself.

Let's check out Sarah. Sarah thought she could fix the problem of her barren wound; her solution and consequences are still prevalent today. She caused a division that will never be mended.

Depend on God to lead you to the work you should do, and don't be caught being lazy about it. You should never think you can do anything on your own because you can't. Only by God's grace did we wake up this morning.

9. "To thine own self be true."

Ironically, any quote in Elizabethan English is usually attributed to the bible. The King James Version is written in a derivative of Elizabethan English. This prompts a lot of people to associate every quote from that time with the Bible or Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's Hamlet is where this famous saying is from. I don't think there is a parallel verse in the Bible to this. You might say that the entire concept is unbiblical. Where self-reliance ends is where Reliance on God begins.

Philippians 2:3

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

1 Corinthians 10:24

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Now there are reasons and circumstances that are exceptions. God does not call us to be doormats. But, He does not call us to be absorbed into ourselves and controlled by our selfish emotions.

10. "Red sky in the morning sailor take warning red sky at night sailors delight."

This one, though worded differently, is pretty spot on. Let's find its corresponding verse.

Matthew 16: 1-3

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

So there it is. Were you surprised by any of the quotes, myths, or hacks? If you are a camper, there are many useful hacks out there, and then there are many fails. It always pays to do your research. Just because you see it on social media videos doesn't mean it is true. 

Unfortunately, just because you hear a Christian says something doesn't mean it is in the Bible. There is a lot of misinformation being spread. So, how do you know what is true and what is false? READ the ultimate source. PRAY for guidance. Share only those things that are Bible proven.

Now about those camping hacks, I will share my favorite. I DIYed a shower lanyard. When going to the shower house, it is perfect. You can check it out by googling it. When I did it, there was not one up for purchase, but I think now you can. Also, do not forget activities for the kids. You can find tons of them online also.

Do your own research, do not trust everything you hear (or see).