Welcome Home and Thank You, My Son!

My son Randy returned home after spending four years in the US Marine Corps. He is officially known in the military as Corporal Randall D. Kaarre. Unofficially he is Corporal Montana or Corporal 'Mountain Man' Kaarre. I am proud of those names for him...of the awards and honors and medals he received while there. He never even let us know about most of them until he got home four days ago. Wow! But what I am more proud of is his character....of who God has made him to be. He worked with Ordnance on F18 bombers and was deployed on huge aircraft carriers. He knows his job well. He took pride in doing a great job. What he learned over those four years will transfer to many a daily endeavor. Will he load bombs daily, prepare a fighter jet for take off, manage other marines, provide for the safety of others in his care. Most likely not all those things, but the principles that governed his responsibilities will be carried out in daily life. Will he be willing to sacrifice for others? Yes! Will he take his responsibities seriously each day? Yes! Will he perform his daily jobs faithfully? Yes! And for that I say thanks for a job well done and thanks for letting this mom watch you grow and become a little Jesus to others around you. You will always be my baby boy...but you have grown into an independent young man. To God be the glory!

"WE Climbed A Mountain!"

This group arrived one fairly late summer night. It was starting to get dusk as they arrived...and in summer this far West that means fairly late. They were given a brief orientation and welcoming. Then a mad scavenger hunt scramble had them searching for their particular tent accommodations. Athelas staff provided campfire snacks and opening devotions and singing. They continued to sing and pray and fellowship long afterward. We were impressed by the youth leadership found here. They insisted on their own closing goodnight prayer...student led! Slowly as it got darker and darker, individuals and small groups wandered off to bed. The last to depart thoughtfully put away all the camp chairs and put out the fire. From the moment they came...not at all sure of what to expect..till the moment they left...full of new and varied challenges and experiences...they built community. This picture particularly expresses that community. This is the top of a mountain summit...they got their together. They did not yell "I" climbed a mountain...they instead said "We climbed a mountain." And they did...not only physical, but spiritual mountains were climbed during their eight day adventure retreat. This 16 member representative of the Body of Christ bonded as community in a way that could only happen in the presence of Christ himself. He was indeed present and helped them proclaim, "WE climbed a mountain!"

Debut of climbinghigher.org!

Climbinghigher.org--the teaching arm of Athelas Outdoor Ministry, Inc. debuted its online "Story of the Day" today. You can go to www.climbinghigher.org daily to read a new story as you climb higher in your walk with the Lord. Marty is known at Athelas as an inspiring, encouraging and uplifting spiritual leader. We hope that his daily stories will also inspire, encourage and lift you up as you journey to know Jesus better. In the days ahead Climbinghigher.org will add more features and topics to aid in our spiritual walk. Stay tuned and join us each day. Feel free to leave comments and ask questions. Marty will take time to answer them!

Purple Mountain's Majesty

Today we remember 9/11. Patriotism is on high alert. As I recall this scene out my window when I lived briefly near the Mission Mountains I hear the refrain of "America, the Beautiful" echoing in my brain. We are blessed with 'purple mountain's majesty' on a regular basis out here in Montana. Perhaps too often though, I forget the price that is paid daily for me to enjoy such sights. On this day, I remember though and am grateful for such a sacrifice. And that remembering leads me to remember the One who initiated the sacrifice of sacrifices...Jesus himself. And that remembering leads me to humility...why would he do that for me? Simply because he loves me! Awesome! And so on this day, I am not only humbled by sacrifice...but am humbled by the majesty of purple mountains that reflect and shout out the majesty of our Lord who is indeed in control of everything...even 9/11.

Joyful Servants!

Joyful Servants! I wrote an entire year's worth of parochial day school bible studies on that topic one year...four studies a week for a nine month school year. I could dig it out of a file somewhere and see what I wrote about. But somehow, what I wrote is not the point. It is the images I recall of the 40 some volunteers I had working in the school that year that sticks with me. They were indeed joyful servants...even when a particular circumstance did not warrant joy. You see they had something more to give that circumstances could not erase. They followed the example of their Lord when he knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples just hours before his arrest and trial. They followed the example of their Lord who chose to serve by dying for them...and they wanted to pass that joy on to others. It was awesome then...and it is awesome now. Not only to remember those people but to continue through the years to see it in others as well...and that is what the images below illustrate for me. JOYFUL SERVANTS who gave of their time and their abilities to see that adventure retreats happened here at Athelas. Without such servants, Athelas Outdoor Ministry could not function. Even when the circumstances did not warrant a joyful heart, they gave it freely. So to all the joyful services rendered on behalf of this ministry, Athelas extends to you a huge hug of gratitude! Thanks for teaching, mentoring, building, cleaning outhouses, washing dishes, building fires, guiding, cooking, listening, encouraging and loving all those God sent our way this past year. May you continue in HIS service with a joyful heart so that others may know better how to follow in His Steps!

Tradition--"The Wet Butt Picture"

If you should by chance ever happen to go to Glacier Park and see a bunch of people bent over showing off the wet butt of their pants, laughing and giggling the while...most likely it is a bunch of people somehow or other associated with the Kaarre tradition. Whenever one hikes the mountains in spring or summer and runs across patches of remaining winter snow, tradition dictates that you climb to the top of the patch and slide down on your butt and take a picture. So what makes it tradition? Only that as the Kaarres began their family adventures with their young children that is what they did time and time again. The tradition continues now with others who join them on adventure retreats. Does it make sense? Is it comfy? Is it beneficial? Who knows? What we do know is that it is crazy and wild and brings a sense of joy and belonging. I think that is what tradition does...brings with it a sense of joy and belonging. It is delightful to see people catch that spirit and delve into the experience not expecting it to make sense, yet somehow knowing that though they will hike the rest of the day with uncomfy wet butts, they will reap some unconscious benefit from having just participated in someone else's crazy tradition. We have lots of crazy traditions in our adventurous lives. We hope you will get to experience the sense of joy and belonging that tradition brings to our lives. What traditions do you have that do the same?

We're Back!

It's been about a year since Athelas Today has been on line. It's been a year of growing and doing and learning...so that is not all bad. Athelas Outdoor Ministry, Inc. has had an awesome summer of retreats. Praise God that in all the adventures all were safe and sound and many lives were impacted by His Word! Local groups as well as groups from Minnesota, Illinois and Utah graced us with their presence and enjoyed the sights, sounds, and beauty of camping and living outdoors in Montana. Athelas Outdoor Ministry is NOT your typical summer church camp. Based on a philosophy of adventure education, Athelas challenges each participant to be just that...a participant. Retreat-ers at Athelas are active participants in challenging and renewing adventures that result in personal growth in many areas of life. Summer 2010 is history, but it is living history in that the adventure stories and group in jokes continue to fly around the social networking sites and people are drawn together in community for having been a part of the Athelas adventures whether they have ever met in person or not. Enjoy a few images of Summer 2010 facebook, the Athelas website and those posted here. We believe they tell the story of what Athelas is about!