Whitefield Academy Devotional

I realize most of our blog viewers visit this site to look at the photos so this entry may be a bit of a disappointment for some.  For the others, celebrate with me the challenge and the reward of being asked to deliver a comprehensive talk on a tiny little subject - CREATION with an outside time limit of 20 minutes.  After overcoming a number of technical glitches before the students' arrival, I spoke with the speed of an auctioneer delivering a four-point lesson on CREATION and then following up with a number of living parables and photos from previous OWLS Adventures. 

     What a blessing it was on the following night to have several of the students in the chapel program take the time and effort to look me up during the football game to tell me how much they enjoyed the discussion and the way they were looking forward to participating in a future OWLS Adventure.

Reflections and Campsites

It is during those times of rest, sitting around the campfire, taking a lunch break or a stop to catch our breath during a long active day that transformations really take place. When discussing, meditating, and reflecting upon what the Lord has let us observe during these OWLS courses, participants can search for the life lessons hidden in these experiences, determine applications for their lives, and then develop and refine "Living Parables" which will help them share the love of God and His plan that is continually being revealed through all of creation. Seeing how one OWLS participant can grab onto an idea or theme mentioned by someone else and clarify the truth revealed therein by relating it to the Scriptures and then how others will chime in with names of friends with which they intend to share the lesson is one of the greatest rewards I get from being the director of the Outdoor Wisdom Leadership School.


Sandy Springs Mission at the Etowah waterfall campsite just upstream from Amicalola Creek

Paddle GA gives lots of opportunities to camp with others and share with others.

Making new friends while relaxing in a group campsite.

A more peaceful campsite near the swinging bridge over the Toccoa River

When spending days in the swamp, you take breaks any way you can.

Here's a neighbor checking us out at one of our Okefenokee campsites.

Refreshing drink and restoring talk with David, one of the OWLS mentors, at a campsite

Prayer for "Paddling Mercies" at the start of a day on the Ocmulgee

A great place to be, especially since it was 102 in the shade that day

A view of one of our riverside campsites from the mountaintop trail above - way above

A beautiful view from one of the Buffalo River campsites

Bill's boys discuss how the "Living Water" can wash the nastiest, ugliest "dirt" away leaving a spotlessly clean result.

Throwing stones all the way from SC to GA along the Chattooga River trail

Time for rest and reflection near High Falls in Dupont State Forest

First opportunity to speak and be heard (listened to)

Reynoldstown had never known a Bible study like this before, seven of this group prayed to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord on this day.

Speak it out, Girl - or something like that

Listening and hearing is so effective in new surroundings

Reflection time as we discuss pattern recognition and the intended pattern for living our lives