Alright everyone, the camping season is literally days away and I am already tired :-)
Last weekend was the mini-mission weekend and most of my family came up to help. It was nice to see everyone's talents being used! My dad helped clean and may come back up this summer to help paint. My mom helped with organizing the craft barn, canteen (new t-shirts are in!) and cooking. Emma took over the dishwasher in the kitchen and even trained another volunteer on what to do. My husband came up too for a little while and did some plumbing work on the Director's cabin.
The other people that volunteered were amazing! Many hands make light work. We didn't have too many hands, but the work was definitely lighter overall and it takes things off the to do list for Mark and Deb.
Thank you to all who came up and shared their talents!
This is my last day in the office and I am trying to tie up loose ends. I read a devotional this morning and the verse really stuck with me:
And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work He had done for Israel. Judges 2:10
This is what Camp Tamarack is all about! If you aren't a part of Camp Tamarack - you are an honorary camper just by reading this blog in my opinion - this is what witnessing is all about.
Emma and I had long talk in the car up to Camp about what it means to witness and I know there are many different approaches, but for her I said it was about walking the talk and showing others we are trying to be good Christians even though we don't always get it right. At least we are trying. We don't want anyone to forget God's goodness and we want to show those who haven't seen it how good God is.
In Judges it took a few generations for people to forget, during our time on this earth, let's see if we can help people to remember!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Continuing the Journey
It seems like I just started this blog and this new role for Camp Tamarack and in about 2 weeks I will be moving up to camp for the summer. The past few months have flown by and I have learned a lot already - I am sure there is more to come!
Recently I watched the movie "The Book of Eli" with Denzel Washington. He is in a post apocalyptic world and has a very sacred possession. He is told to walk west by a voice and he did it. He didn't know what he was walking towards, only that a divine providence was leading him. Being that this is a post apocalyptic world you can imagine the journey wasn't easy. He needed to find food, shelter and ran into evil forces as he tried to move west. In about 100 minutes the story wrapped up and the quest was completed, but this got me to thinking. We all start journeys and are pushed and prodded along the way and run in to road bumps and blockades. The trick is to not give up, to continue forward knowing there is a destination...sometimes without knowing what it is!
I feel this camp season and this job is a journey and one that maybe I needed more prodding than normal to take on for various reasons, but I am here and excited to see what happens! I hope you will all stay with me during the journey :-)
Recently I watched the movie "The Book of Eli" with Denzel Washington. He is in a post apocalyptic world and has a very sacred possession. He is told to walk west by a voice and he did it. He didn't know what he was walking towards, only that a divine providence was leading him. Being that this is a post apocalyptic world you can imagine the journey wasn't easy. He needed to find food, shelter and ran into evil forces as he tried to move west. In about 100 minutes the story wrapped up and the quest was completed, but this got me to thinking. We all start journeys and are pushed and prodded along the way and run in to road bumps and blockades. The trick is to not give up, to continue forward knowing there is a destination...sometimes without knowing what it is!
I feel this camp season and this job is a journey and one that maybe I needed more prodding than normal to take on for various reasons, but I am here and excited to see what happens! I hope you will all stay with me during the journey :-)
Monday, May 7, 2012
Staying connected
Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
Yesterday in church Pastor Karen talked about connections. Our passage was John 15:1-8. We had a reminder that we are connected to the vine, but it isn't always easy as some are pruned back to help facilitate more growth and some are pruned off as they are not productive at all.
I spent a lot of last night and today thinking about connections. I thought about friends, I thought about co-workers, I thought about family, I thought about places and so on. In class this past weekend we talked about the Hebrew idea of heaven...there isn't one. The legacy and connection is your family and the generations to come. That is why stories are so important and making sure things and people are remembered.
When I travel, I don't buy a lot of "stuff". I don't need more "stuff". Instead, I take a lot of pictures. I want to remember the time I spent there and when I look at those pictures I am connected to a different time and place.
Since this is about Camp Tamarack and I have heard from several people the last few months about how disappointed they are that they can't come to camp this year for one reason or another...my question is where else do you feel connected to God?
I feel connected watching my daughter play and learn, I feel connected with family, I feel connected in the barn as I work and talk with the animals, I feel connected when I sit in the beautiful space at Green Lake Federated, I feel connected on the water. I truly feel connected when I take the time to just be and breathe in where I am and breathe out where I was.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.
Yesterday in church Pastor Karen talked about connections. Our passage was John 15:1-8. We had a reminder that we are connected to the vine, but it isn't always easy as some are pruned back to help facilitate more growth and some are pruned off as they are not productive at all.
I spent a lot of last night and today thinking about connections. I thought about friends, I thought about co-workers, I thought about family, I thought about places and so on. In class this past weekend we talked about the Hebrew idea of heaven...there isn't one. The legacy and connection is your family and the generations to come. That is why stories are so important and making sure things and people are remembered.
When I travel, I don't buy a lot of "stuff". I don't need more "stuff". Instead, I take a lot of pictures. I want to remember the time I spent there and when I look at those pictures I am connected to a different time and place.
Since this is about Camp Tamarack and I have heard from several people the last few months about how disappointed they are that they can't come to camp this year for one reason or another...my question is where else do you feel connected to God?
I feel connected watching my daughter play and learn, I feel connected with family, I feel connected in the barn as I work and talk with the animals, I feel connected when I sit in the beautiful space at Green Lake Federated, I feel connected on the water. I truly feel connected when I take the time to just be and breathe in where I am and breathe out where I was.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Random thoughts
My brain is a jumble of many thoughts today so try to stick with me:
I stayed in the newly renovated Basile Retreat Center this past weekend and it is a GREAT space. The Missional Group had their meeting there and I brought up the food and stayed to visit. Sounds like some great conversations are being had!
B) Still looking for two full time accredited lifeguards for the summer!
*) Before starting to write today, I looked at the stats for this blog and the pages have been viewed over a 1000 times in the continental US plus Alaska! Next I conquer the world! Ahem, or maybe share my message with my friends in different countries. :-) Thanks everyone for the support!
4) I started ordering for the craft barn this summer - that was FUN! Plus Lauren has some cool new ideas.
C) I am working on my paper and project for Hebrew Bible II and picked Amos 5:18-24. I love this passage and have gained a lot of insight already into the prophet and his message to the people of Israel. I actually have too many ideas and need to pick one. (Or two??)
&) I follow a blog on FaceBook that asks a question every day - thought I would share this one with this group since I have gone through many changes with work, school, family, friends.7) In a month I will be up at camp!!!!
Hope everyone is having a great Monday - Shalom~ Carolyn
Monday, April 23, 2012
Gardening 101
Isaiah 58:11 And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
Last week a friend (pretty sure we are friends, never really talked about it :-) ) and I were talking about different things and she was telling me about a message she heard during Holy Week and the gist was something along the lines of "what gets watered grows". In my corporate world there is also a saying that what gets measured gets done. That has stuck with me the last few days as I have been thinking about what I have been watering and measuring the past few months.
Part of me is ashamed to list out all the things I have been watering and shouldn't have been. My garden has the following things growing in it: worry, too much work, too much time on the computer, too much TV. I have updated my list of what needs to be watered and what really should be measured and my relationships with my husband and daughter are on the top of the list. Next on the list come things like all my critters and farm work, time outside, school, family & friends and the positive parts of work. To me, if I water and nurture those aspects of life my relationship and faith will also grow.
I am really looking forward to my first summer at Tamarack and seeing all the campers and leaders have water dumped on them. You know what I mean :-)
What are you watering that shouldn't be and where should the watering can be focused?
Part of me is ashamed to list out all the things I have been watering and shouldn't have been. My garden has the following things growing in it: worry, too much work, too much time on the computer, too much TV. I have updated my list of what needs to be watered and what really should be measured and my relationships with my husband and daughter are on the top of the list. Next on the list come things like all my critters and farm work, time outside, school, family & friends and the positive parts of work. To me, if I water and nurture those aspects of life my relationship and faith will also grow.
I am really looking forward to my first summer at Tamarack and seeing all the campers and leaders have water dumped on them. You know what I mean :-)
What are you watering that shouldn't be and where should the watering can be focused?
Monday, April 16, 2012
Where you go I'll go, Where you stay, I'll stay - I will follow you
Numbers 9:18 At
the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the
LORD they camped. As long as the
cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.
What's up at Camp Tamarack this week?
I am getting lots of registrations starting to come in for the summer! It is great to see names I know and new campers. Pretty sure we have all our Directors and Pastors lined up. We will probably need volunteer cabin leaders for some of the weeks. Let me know if you are interested.
I am starting to worry a little as I don't have all my full time staff hired. By Friday I anticipate having all positions filled except for the 2 full time lifeguards....that seems to be an elusive position to fill. Know anyone??
Starting this Sunday I will be on a "speaking junket" for camp at several different churches and was working on my children's sermon material and presentations. I decided to "open" with the Numbers verse posted above. This past summer shopping in Minocqua, WI at the Monkey Business store we found different shirts that said things like: God said - Go Running, God said - Go to the Lake, God said - Go Fishing, etc...well, there was one that had God said - Go Camping quoting Numbers so of course I bought it. Then for Hebrew Bible I we had to pick a passage and write a paper/give a presentation on the passage. I decided to use Numbers 9 and included this verse.
It is easy to use this as a joke and say that God said we should go camping. As I did my research and really delved in to the passage where it led me was the idea of the pillar and the cloud. When the cloud or pillar stayed put, the people stayed put, but when the cloud or pillar moved - the people moved! I started to think, if I was in the middle of something I thought was important and the cloud started moving, would I be able to immediately pack up and start moving? I think I may have ignored a few clouds and pillars in my life. I think there is a pillar/cloud moving right now and I am afraid to follow it.
Anyone have a pillar or cloud staying put and you are itching to move?
Anyone have a pillar or cloud moving and you are afraid to move?
What's up at Camp Tamarack this week?
I am getting lots of registrations starting to come in for the summer! It is great to see names I know and new campers. Pretty sure we have all our Directors and Pastors lined up. We will probably need volunteer cabin leaders for some of the weeks. Let me know if you are interested.
I am starting to worry a little as I don't have all my full time staff hired. By Friday I anticipate having all positions filled except for the 2 full time lifeguards....that seems to be an elusive position to fill. Know anyone??
Starting this Sunday I will be on a "speaking junket" for camp at several different churches and was working on my children's sermon material and presentations. I decided to "open" with the Numbers verse posted above. This past summer shopping in Minocqua, WI at the Monkey Business store we found different shirts that said things like: God said - Go Running, God said - Go to the Lake, God said - Go Fishing, etc...well, there was one that had God said - Go Camping quoting Numbers so of course I bought it. Then for Hebrew Bible I we had to pick a passage and write a paper/give a presentation on the passage. I decided to use Numbers 9 and included this verse.
It is easy to use this as a joke and say that God said we should go camping. As I did my research and really delved in to the passage where it led me was the idea of the pillar and the cloud. When the cloud or pillar stayed put, the people stayed put, but when the cloud or pillar moved - the people moved! I started to think, if I was in the middle of something I thought was important and the cloud started moving, would I be able to immediately pack up and start moving? I think I may have ignored a few clouds and pillars in my life. I think there is a pillar/cloud moving right now and I am afraid to follow it.
Anyone have a pillar or cloud staying put and you are itching to move?
Anyone have a pillar or cloud moving and you are afraid to move?
Monday, April 2, 2012
What have you got?
Psalm 71:17-18
17 Since my youth, God, you have
taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
I was out last week and didn't get a chance to blog, but the above verse is what I read in a park in Harrogate, England. I was sitting in the sun with daffodils and tulips blooming around me and as I read the Bible this verse spoke to me. Now, to be honest, the first reason it spoke to me was the line...even when I am old and gray. See, I am pretty gray - started when I was 16, but anyway that line made me laugh and I don't think I will ever consider myself old.
I kept coming back to this verse during the week and it spoke to me again when I was shopping for souvenirs in a store in Ireland. I was wandering around and a song was playing in the background. It was the song - All God's Creatures. It is a pretty catchy tune and before I knew it, I was singing along in the store and downloaded it the first chance I got. Clink for link to YouTube of All God's Creatures
It is amazing to me where the Lord speaks and how he speaks. In my head I am putting this verse and this song together and want to recreate the fun I had in my youth learning and singing new camp songs and I want to share this song with the campers! I still sing One Tin Soldier and The Unicorn Song. It will take some practice, but I think it is a good message - everyone has a place in the choir and clap your paws or whatever you got. Come to the Lord with whatever you have!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)