Among the Evergreens

God calls YOU "very good."

2010-02-01T14:13:00.000-08:00

This is a devotion from Toby Grady, the Camp Evergreen Chaplain. He presented it to the Board meeting last week, and it so perfectly captured the heart of our mission at camp that I wanted to share it with each of you.

I pray that you find a new sense of wonder in the fact that calls you "very good."

joyfully,

Ashley

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In looking at the creation story described by the author of the book of Genesis, we discover the great joy God received from His act of creation. On the first day, when God created light out of darkness, it says in Genesis 1:4, that “God saw that the light was good.” (NIV)

Later, as God created water, and separated it from the dry ground, the author of the creation story again says that “God saw that it was good.” (v. 10) And this process continues to repeat itself. When God created seed-bearing plants and vegetation, and later when He created the sun and the moon and the stars, He saw the goodness of what He had made. (v. 12; 18)

And this refrain persists throughout the creation story. In verse 21, God saw that His creation of all the creatures of the water and the air were good. In verse 25, God saw that all the creatures of the land which He had made were good. And then, in the last verse of chapter 31, the author of Genesis departs ever so slightly from this formula. After God finished creating man and woman in His own image, the only creatures to carry this distinction, Genesis takes special care to note that these creatures were not just good, but “very good.” All the things that God made, from the macro level of the heavenlies to the intricate design of the smallest creatures, were forever marked by His goodness.

One of the great benefits of camp and camping ministry, is that it takes us out of the realm of what humans have made, and places us in the realm of what God has made. And what God has made is good…in fact, it is very good.

In our modern, fast-paced life we spend very little time in the realm of what God has made. Social scientists and psychologists, realizing the positive effects of simply being outside on the physical and emotional well-being of humans, have grown concerned about our lifestyle. Our lifestyle keeps us inside almost all of the time, for both work and for play. This is a problem, particularly for children, and it is so serious that it has even been named a disorder. Nature Deprivation Disorder is the term used to describe the state of kids who spend too much time inside, often in front of a TV, or computer, or video game.

If God said what He has made is good, even very good, then we all benefit from being in contact with it. The very first thing that anyone notices when getting out of a car at Camp Evergreen is the sound of rushing waters and the beauty of Moccasin Creek. And there is more…the hemlock trees and the mountain laurel lining the water. The dark night skies with the brilliant glow of the stars and the moon. The creatures of the water, like crawdads, salamanders, and trout, and the birds and butterflies of the air. And the creatures of the land…black bears, snakes, deer, even fascinating little hissing horned beetles. And yet these are just creatures which we have seen with our own eyes in one mere summer at camp.

We are all blessed to be a part of a ministry that takes us out of our artificial, man-made world of parking lots and shopping centers and places us in the middle of what God gave us as our original habitat: His spectacular, fascinating creation. And, when we encounter what He has made, and see that it is good, we will draw closer to our God who is good…in fact, very good.

Frozen Camp!

2010-01-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

About 2 weeks ago when it seemed like the entire country was enveloped by a blanket of frigid weather, I went to Evergreen to help Russell give a tour to a prospective group. I was so excited to be back at camp. I got there early, and had a lot of time to walk around and check things out.

As I was walking down the Monster Plantation Trail, I noticed that there was ice on the creek. It was attached to logs that had fallen in the water. The ice looked like it was floating on top of the water. I had never seen anything like it. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but it was really cool!

Then I walked the rest of the trail onto the field and saw snow still on the ground by the canoes. I'm really not sure why it was still there...it was the only place at camp. Then I noticed that the lake was FROZEN! I'd never actually seen a frozen lake before...but it was on my list of things I wanted to see! It was beautiful. I decided to put a chair on the surface and take a picture, so y'all could see that it was really frozen. I threw rocks on the ice and they just skated all around.

It was all pretty awesome. I wish you could have seen it!

Is it Spring yet?!

2010-01-12T17:39:00.000-08:00

Today I sent an email out to our awesome retreat staff to tell them that it's time for them to sign up to work Spring retreats. I can't even tell you how excited they were! I got so many emails back from them...some within minutes. They CAN"T WAIT until Spring.

Here is some of what they've been telling me:
"I'm so excited! I miss camp so much!"
"I can do a weekend in March!!"
"I can work whenever you can use me"
"I know for sure I can do a May Retreat!"
"I can work anytime you need me!"

I pray that if you haven't had the great blessing of meeting our staff that you will this Spring! I assure you that they are thrilled to see you again...or meet you for the very first time!

love from the evergreen retreat center!

2010-01-04T11:37:00.000-08:00

welcome to the evergreen retreat center blog!

stay in touch. read our stories. be among the evergreens.

sweet peace,

ashley