Rose, a long time camper at Sunrise Ranch, poses for a quick picture with Dash-one of the horses that was donated to camp this past year.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

It’s hard to believe, but the summer is beginning to wind down in this place. A good portion of our staff left for home or school the past few weekends, and the sounds of camp these days are slightly different—a little bit less Bazerko and fewer prayers involving super heroes, but good nonetheless with the ranch going strong for three more weeks and guest groups continuing to utilize our beautiful facilities. In the midst of this, I look to my own transition back to city life and the world of academics. Transitions have never been my forte, but every time I traverse these waters I find myself a little bit better at navigating the changes that come along with a big move.

What does God say about change? What does Scripture say about seasons and transitions and how we are to embrace these things with anticipation, while still being fully present in the here and now? I find the wisdom of Ecclesiastes to be refreshing in times such as these. There truly is a time for everything in life, and the changes we go through as human beings are natural and intrinsic to our existence here on earth. The summer season at Cascades has been rich—a time of growth, amazing memories, and deep relationships that have all served to glorify our Creator. While these byproducts will hopefully continue, the outer trappings of the summer ministries at Cascades are beginning to be stripped away. There is a tinge of sadness that accompanies this, but Ecclesiastes speaks hope into saying good-bye, for in time these things will come back again. And in the meantime, we begin to look forward, anticipating the new things that God will bring into our lives as the seasons come and go.

What sort of season are you in right now? Is it a season of being built up? Of searching? Of pain or sorrow? Spend some time reflecting on what God has been doing in you lately, and pray that when you transition into a season that you will find joy both in what has been, and also what is to come! And if you think about it, please pray for all of our staff as we encounter the various stages of this transition—for those who are already at home and attempting to decompress from the summer, as well as those who still have a solid three weeks left of ministry and service to go!

Blessings to you wherever you are in this journey-

Beasley

Current Prayer Requests Include:

• We have a large guest group here using our facilities.  They have elementary aged students and we just want to pray for their program and that God would speak to their kids.  Pray also that they would have a great time while they are at Cascades.
• More of our summer staff are leaving each week.  Please continue to pray for their transition into life outside of camp.  Some of them are still working on plans for life after summer.  Ask that God would lead their hearts and open/close doors to make His path clear to them.
• Kelsey “Beasley” Holloway, our camp pastor, is leaving tomorrow afternoon.  Praise God for her presence at Cascades this summer and pray that she would have a safe trip back to Chicago.  Also pray for our staff as they adjust to working without her extra support!
• Cascades hires interns to help sustain camp year-round.  Currently we are in the process of discerning which staff would fit well into those positions.  Pray that God would lead this decision and prepare the hearts of those He wants to serve at camp throughout this next year.

Schwartz’s cabin poses for their cabin photo with horse, Berit!

The boys had a great week of Discovery camp at Sunrise Ranch.

Miramar and several Brightwood Station campers pose for a quick picture with their rockets

before the launch them off!

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning,

More than watchmen wait for the morning.”

- Psalm 130:5-6 -

Our culture isn’t very good at waiting, is it?  We want everything quickly, conveniently, and efficiently.  To this end, we have invented drive-up coffee stands so we don’t have the inconvenience of getting out of our cars and standing in line to order our beverage of choice.  We eat frozen dinners in front of the TV to accommodate our breakneck pace of life.  We run and run from one activity to the next, wanting things to happen exactly as our schedule dictates—and that usually means right now.

Even our spiritual lives can fall into similarly unhealthy patterns.  I cram time with my Creator into a quick twenty minutes, asking that God impart all of His love or wisdom for the day into the aforementioned time slot.  That allotment could certainly be blessed moments before the throne of Heaven, but a problem exists when I demand that God work within my time schedule.  We often forget what it means to pursue God in everything that we do, allowing Him to speak and move as only He knows how—unbound by our limited human perceptions of our schedules and the world.

That’s why I love these verses from the psalmist.  What would it mean for my soul to wait for the Lord with true patience and fervor?  How might my life be different if I were to free my relationship with God from the restraints of my own ease, convenience, or comfort, thereby allowing Him free reign to speak and move as He desires?  As a church in North America that is defined by busyness and action, I believe we would do well to cultivate this act of waiting on the Lord. And just as a night watchman longs for the morning to come again, what if we were to long for the presence of almighty God to enter into our lives so much that we would set aside all else to pursue meeting with Him?

Make time in this day to be still and wait on the presence of the Lord.  And even within that, recognize that He is not bound by our schedules.  Seek Him in all that you do and in every moment of your life—not as an unattainable reality, but as a person who has been changed by almighty God and who will wait on Him at all costs.

Be blessed this day in your waiting!

Beasley

Current Prayer Requests Include:

• This is the last week of campers at Brightwood Station and Camp Timber Rock.  So please pray that the counselors and other staff would give everything that they have for these last few days.  Also, pray that all the campers that are here would feel God’s love and presence in their lives.
• At the end of this week we have our first wave of staff leaving as well.  Pray that their hearts would be prepared for life away from camp.  It can be a tough transition and we just ask God to guide them wherever life may take them.  Also, pray for those staff that are sticking around and that they would be able to finish out strong whenever they are going home!
• This week we have a few guest groups here.  One of them is a group of disabled adults.  Pray for their time at camp-that it would be a fun change of pace for them and that they would be able to see God through their leaders, our staff, and the beautiful outdoors that God has blessed us with!

Freckles Cabin at Timber Rock is getting ready for the Nuke’m Tournament!

“In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed.  In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling.” – Exodus 15:13-14

I happen to be a HUGE fan of road trips.  I love the hours of conversation, singing along with the radio, and experiencing the scenery and culture of the United States.  Over the last seven years, my car and I have driven all the way from the west coast to the east coast, with many states visited in between.  Even this summer, Dirt, Aflac and I drove from Chicago to camp together, and in just a few weeks I will embark on that trip once again for my return to seminary.  Bottom line, Beasley loves the adventure of the open road.

However, even with my love of adventure, I am also a planner when it comes to my road trips.  I like to know exactly what highways we’re taking, about when we’ll eat lunch, or where we might sleep for the night.  I imagine that many of you resonate with these tendencies.  It’s not a bad thing to be organized in the things that we’re doing, but a problem exists when I try to apply those same principles to my everyday life to the point of being consumed with the knowing.  I’d like to know what I’ll be doing two years from now when I finally graduate from school again, where I’ll be living, and what people will be in my immediate community.  Unfortunately, I can’t exactly plan out my life the way I can plan out the details to a good road trip… in fact, the opposite is most often true.

This summer God has been teaching me a great deal about surrendering.  It’s something that I probably should have learned many years ago, but like certain aspects of our spiritual lives, surrender seems like a theme I may have to frequently revisit.  That’s why I’m particularly encouraged by those words from Exodus.  After experiencing the undeniable power of God in the Red Sea event, Moses and the Israelites respond in Exodus 15 with a great song of praise.  In it, they exalt in the nature of God as their deliverer, as their strength, and as the one who ultimately will lead them wherever they need to go.

In God’s steadfast and unchanging love, He promises to lead us, His people.  Therefore, even when the details seem unsure, we can take great comfort in the not knowing, for our God goes before us, making the path straight.  Be encouraged this day that God is leading you in whatever part of the journey you are on this summer!  Surrender the details of life to Him, and get ready to enjoy the ride.

Blessings,
Beasley

During Adventure Quest, some Brightwood Station campers are working on crafts and making some friendship bracelets in the Depot!