General News

By Shelby Janes Life can be hectic. One can easily find themselves running from one thing to the next, groceries, social activities, work, cooking, cleaning, and phone calls. I’m sure you could add to this list. But there are also activities that cause us to take pause and reflect on the world and our place in it: gardening, going to church, holding a baby, taking a walk, watching a sunset, and if you are an animal lover, working with a ...

Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. Proverbs 19:4 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.19.4.NLT One of the great experiences at Warm Beach Camp is the formation of life-long friendships. Recently, at one Family Camp, people who have been coming for generations upon generations gathered to grow in God and enjoy each other’s relationships. As I have watched people connect with each other over the years, I see people truly enjoying each other for who they are. The relationship is not established ...

People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord. Proverbs 19:3 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.19.3.NLT   It’s time for confession. Have you ever blamed God for something that was clearly the result of your own foolishness? I don’t want to admit it, but I have. Dr. Henry Cloud, in a book titled Necessary Endings describes foolishness as the person who never takes responsibility for his/her own actions. In earlier years, I took way too many risks ...

Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool. Proverbs 19:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.19.1.NLT If you were given the choice of being honest and poor compared to being dishonest and rich what would you choose?  I suspect many of us would ask if we could be honest and wealthy. The truth is, some of the most honest people I know do happen to be wealthy. It is also true that some of the most honest people I ...

Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. Proverbs 19:2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.19.2.NLT I am guilty of jumping into something with enthusiasm as my primary energy. When I find out how much knowledge is needed to be effective, it is very sobering, and quickly becomes hard work to do it right. While enthusiasm can be a wonderful encourager, it is not a foundation on which to make decisions. Good decisions are based on conviction, knowledge and application. It takes time ...

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/col.4.2.NLT In this scripture, the apostle Paul is encouraging us to give priority to prayer in our lives. He gives us two challenges as part of the encouragement: Come to prayer with an alert mind Pray with a thankful heart Alert Mind: “Pay Attention!” From the parent’s correction to the coach or supervisor who is giving specific instruction, we have all been admonished to be ...

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.16.10.NLT Effectiveness and impact in life are directly related to being honest and faithful. It begins with little decisions and small choices. Taking each situation and handling it well leads to being trusted with more.  Honesty and faithfulness are quiet and effective ways to grow. Rarely, do these ...

Photo by Melody Jacob on Unsplash “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” Luke 6:27-28 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.6.27-28.NLT They waited diligently for several hours for him to be released from the county jail. A plan had been put in place. Support was set up. There was a home and a job. It was a wonderful opportunity. All ...

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.7.NLT I have never lived in a time like this. There is incredible freedom. Substantial cultural pressure to conform is intensifying. Connection with the world is increasing every day through technology. Polarization around ideology and power are pulling us apart. Much of this pressure is contrary to the ways of Jesus, as written in the Bible. As a ...

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.13.NLT A time tested favorite game on the front lawn of Cedar Lodge is Ultimate Frisbee. The name speaks for itself. Two teams. Each has a clear goal where points are scored.  Offense and defense are involved. Play with 10 people or 100 people, it doesn’t matter. There is no better form of Frisbee with a group of people. We all have ideas ...

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mic.6.8.NLT There’s a real challenge going on in the world.  It appears at many levels that we are losing interest in God. I see it in campers who are coming to Warm Beach Camp. Many have no knowledge of God, the Bible, and ...

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.5.1-2.NLT I have had the privilege of watching generations of families come through Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center. Each generation seeks to be unique, and yet, often times I see the example of the previous generation ...

  "So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.1.NLT There is a subtle challenge for all who seek God through Christ: We begin by faith knowing that God loves, met and saved us. Yet, over time we add back in structures and laws of our own that replace faith with human effort. If we are not careful, we end ...

  Cascadian Lodge is 57 years old! With many years of service since the last renovation, it was time to update and preserve this lodge for years to come. Renovation work was started on Cascadian Lodge a year and a half ago and was recently completed in June 2019. The renovations were funded through room memorials made by families who wished to commemorate family members and other loved ones while also contributing to the ministry here at Warm Beach Camp ...

  “Life changes here”…a phrase you may have heard. This phrase doesn’t just apply to our campers and guests, but also our volunteers and staff. Often volunteers come to Warm Beach Camp to be part of something bigger than themselves, to help with programming, labor and other tasks. Little do they know the experience is often just as life changing for them as it is for the campers they serve. This was exactly the case for Marcus Petterson, “Fred” here ...

"You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." Luke 6:36 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.6.36.NLT   “I only do this to people I like!” is a phrase I use after teasing someone in a nice way. When I think about the people I love and am in relationship with, it is easy to have fun, play, show love and give care. I think up ways to express gratitude and appreciation. When it comes to people I am in conflict with, that ...

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.4.23.NLT The direction of my life is at stake. So is yours. There are many things to do to encourage a good direction in life. Proverbs 4 names several: Listen when your father corrects you, develop good judgement, stay away from evil, value wisdom and don’t turn your back on it, avoid perverse talk and corrupt speech. Proverbs 4 lifts one above all ...

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26 NLT And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. Romans 8:27 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.27.NLT It’s ok to say it. “I have weaknesses in my life.” ...

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.51.10.NLT Have you ever really blown it? Have you made the kind of mistake that you know is dead wrong. A choice that is very damaging to you and all the people who trust you. And yet, knowing that, you chose to do it anyway. When the reality of these actions has sunk in, there becomes a real desperate crying out, “How does ...

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.25.NLT “That’s why…” has kick started many reminders that people often give to each other. See if any of these sound familiar: That’s why you need to brush your teeth. That’s why you need to exercise. That’s why you don’t go over the ...