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The sun was shining as three women saddled their horses at the Warm Beach Camp stables, but this ride was not for campers. They had a much different purpose. The ladies mounted their horses and made their way up the hill toward the Warm Beach Senior Community.   The COVID-19 crisis has meant that the Senior Community residents have been quarantined since early March. As for many of us, lock-down has led to feelings of isolation and sadness. The ladies from ...

Photo by Shwa Hall on Unsplash Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Psalms 68:19 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.68.19.NLT  When I was kid, there was a popular song titled He ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother. My sister Susie and I used to sing it for fun and because it spoke to the value of walking through life with each other caring and sharing the challenges that come along our way. If you want ...

It is a time of silence. The chapel is empty. I walked into a lone piano and worshiped with God. I played and praised to an audience of one. As I worshiped the One it was if He himself reminded me… We will Gather Again… My heart soared with hope. Not because of any physical evidence. There are still no people and the end of this Pandemic does not seem to be in site. There is a promise from the ...

Photo by Julentto Photography on Unsplash Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalms 90:12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.90.12.NLT Brevity means, “shortness of time,” and, “concise and exact use of words.” Growing in understanding of both definitions offers help to living every day. Life is short. Even as one hopes for 90 years, placed in the time frames of human history and eternity, it is at its best short. There is a real opportunity ...

Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.3.NLT Let’s be honest with this scripture. Here are two facts: You and I are selfish. You and I try to impress others. This is our starting point. The Apostle Paul is reminding us that there is great joy, community and unity in living and working together. We need to keep pursuing love and ...

Horses provide a unique opportunity to reflect, moderate, and restore people. Warm Beach Horsemanship offers therapeutic classes that help people in the following areas: disability/mobility impairment rehabilitation (recovery from surgery, illness, accident) restoration (trauma, emotional, spiritual) Therapeutic riding and/or vaulting strengthens core muscles in a non-weight bearing environment. The horse’s gait at the walk mimics a human’s gait. It is unimpeded and allows for full range of motion. This unimpeded walking motion supplies a sensory stimulus up the spinal column ...

Photo by Yannis Papanastasopoulos on Unsplash "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.2.10.NLT  You are a masterpiece. Not just any masterpiece. You are God’s masterpiece. The creator of the universe declares that you are His masterpiece. You are created new in Christ Jesus. When you live in Christ, there is a complete renewal of your life that ...

Photo by Jean Lakosnyk on Unsplash Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.5.18.NLT  Do circumstances drive gratitude and thankfulness? Perhaps it is something much deeper or someone that is in all of it. Recently I got up in the morning “ticked off” within my spirit. To be honest, I was upset at nearly everything that was in front of me that day. Thankfully, the Holy ...

On any given Thursday afternoon during the summer, if you drive into Camp towards the big tent you can hear the music and elation flowing from Special Friends campers, volunteers, and staff. The band is playing, drums are hit, tambourines and maracas are shaken, air guitars are strummed, and campers and staff alike are dancing and singing with joy. The moment the music begins to play, the dynamic changes, everyone seems to understand the common language of music, and the ...

Photo by www.zanda. photography on Unsplash He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:2 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.2.NLT  Jesus tells us that, in vineyard terms, that He is the vine, our lives are the branches coming off of the vine, and God the Father is the gardener taking care of keeping the vine and the branches healthy and producing. When it comes ...

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash You can make many plans, but the Lord ’s purpose will prevail. Proverbs 19:21 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.19.21.NLT  Planning is an important part of life. It encourages engagement with others, reflection on what is, what needs to be, and how to get there. By nature, planning is a process and continuous. Our planning is different than God’s purpose. Planning describes how we envision getting from point A to point B in our lives. God’s purpose is ...

Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.1.19.NLT  “Be quick about it!” is a phrase many of us are familiar with. Essentially it means HURRY UP!!! When it comes to listening, we don’t often associate the ideas of quickness with listening, yet that is exactly what James is saying: "Hurry up and listen, would ya!" We ...

Photo by Benjamin Lambert on Unsplash So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.7.NLT Have you ever found yourself caught up  in an argument or defending a position that you really don’t have deep convictions about, and yet, you still argue away with others? Have you ever focused only on achieving pleasure at the expense of doing what is right and best for you? My answer to both questions is ...

By “keeping the path clear to the cross,” lives can change and, in turn, communities can be transformed through the programs at Warm Beach Camp. One key element to all of this is to have well-maintained and beautiful grounds and facilities that are not a hindrance or distraction from the good people experience at Camp. Two major projects were completed in 2019. The remodeling of Cascadian Lodge and the repaving of Cedar Lodge loop. These significantly improve the quality of ...

Photo by Michael Fenton on Unsplash This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. John 15:12 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.12.NLT  How does Jesus love us? It is an important question for one simple reason: Jesus told His disciples to love each other in the same way He loved them. This short reflection will only get us started on how Jesus loves us for another simple reason: Jesus’ love, and the understanding of it, grows in ...

Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.12.9.NLT The apostle Paul was a very accomplished person. He had a high degree of learning. He was articulate. He had a unique and life changing encounter with God. All that Paul learned was ...

Photo by S&B Vonlanthen on Unsplash Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.13.20.NLT My mom told me that who I associate with matters. She wanted me to choose people who would be a good influence on my life. She wanted me to stay away from people who would get me into trouble. Now, as a father and grandfather, I appreciate the words of my mother. Such wisdom. As a ...

Two years ago, Warm Beach Horsemanship Director Lisa Tremain had a severe crushing injury resulting in permanent nerve damage in her left leg. Today, she is riding and working confidently, largely thanks to therapeutic vaulting. After a year and a half of physical therapy, Lisa plateaued in her recovery. She was frustrated with her working and riding limitations. Seeing this, Ginger Reitz, Warm Beach’s Therapeutic Horsemanship Coordinator, approached Lisa and suggested therapeutic vaulting to supplement her physical therapy. Lisa saw ...

Photo by Ryan Fish on Unsplash After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/rev.7.9.NLT There is a day coming, the timing of it is unknown, when Jesus returns to the earth and begins the full restoration and redemption of the world, ...

Photo by Francesco Gallarotti on Unsplash This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.17.NLT The reality of life in Christ is amazing. Literally, I am becoming a new person. At some point, when this body dies, I even get a “made new” body that lasts forever. So, my character is made new. My mind is made new. My body is ...