Snow Mountain Ranch http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch en dbh3@calvin.edu Copyright 2008 2008-08-13T15:41:00-05:00 Romantic Radar with Ron Nydam http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/romantic_radar_with_ron_nydam/ We apologize for the delay in blog entries. The internet has been down for several days in Blue Ridge Lodge making it difficult to do our weekly posts. Last Monday Ron Nydam from Calvin Seminary visited with us for our large group meeting. The focus of the talk was how to make relationships work. In his stories, Ron Nydam encouraged the Calvin group to consider past experiences, accounts and pains that may affect our relationships today. It was a very good lesson on self-reflection and self-improvement. On Wednesday, a large portion of the Calvin group drove to Grand Lake for some bowling. Because the alley was full when we arrived, we had to make a short little detour to Grand Lake Chocolates for some ice cream (not a bad time-passer). When we got into the alley, we had a great time figuring out the self-scoring system and just goofing around for a few hours. Everyone had a great time for our last weekly group activity. Next comes the end-of-summer banquet on the 14th!

We apologize for the delay in blog entries. The internet has been down for several days in Blue Ridge Lodge making it difficult to do our weekly posts.

Last Monday Ron Nydam from Calvin Seminary visited with us for our large group meeting. The focus of the talk was how to make relationships work. In his stories, Ron Nydam encouraged the Calvin group to consider past experiences, accounts and pains that may affect our relationships today. It was a very good lesson on self-reflection and self-improvement.

On Wednesday, a large portion of the Calvin group drove to Grand Lake for some bowling. Because the alley was full when we arrived, we had to make a short little detour to Grand Lake Chocolates for some ice cream (not a bad time-passer). When we got into the alley, we had a great time figuring out the self-scoring system and just goofing around for a few hours. Everyone had a great time for our last weekly group activity. Next comes the end-of-summer banquet on the 14th!

]]> 2008-08-13T15:41:00-05:00 A Full Week with Ron and Debra Rienstra http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/a_full_week_with_ron_and_debra_rienstra/ This past week Monday we had a great talk from Ron and Debra Rienstra.  They first had us think about and talk amongst ourselves about how our parents had divided up work, family time, housework, etc., and if, in our opinion, this was done well or if it could have been done differently.  Then they had us think about what it will be like when we are adults, with jobs, possibly families, and other responsibilities.  They had us draw a pie chart of how our time will be divided up between all of our activities per week.  Ron and Deb then talked about how we will need to think about our priorities and what we will devote our time to in the future.  They also talked about how if there are other people in our lives, such as a spouse and children, sacrifices will need to be made and what we may have seen as our “vocation” may be different.  It was great for all of us to talk and think about these things, in thinking about our futures.  It was good to hear from Debra and Ron’s personal experiences in figuring these things out. Besides cramming in as many fun activities as possible for their family, the Rienstras had a full week because of the one-on-ones they had with many of the LCI students. For the Wednesday activity, almost 20 of the LCI-ers and the Rienstra family went to Water World in Denver.  We spent the day there, swimming in the wave pool, sliding down the water slides, floating down the lazy river, and just enjoying the warm sunshine.  Most of the group, after Water World, went to 16th Street in downtown Denver for dinner, shopping, etc.  Others went and saw “The Dark Knight”, the new Batman movie in Imax.  It was a great day! Only a couple more weeks… hard to believe!  This past week Monday we had a great talk from Ron and Debra Rienstra.  They first had us think about and talk amongst ourselves about how our parents had divided up work, family time, housework, etc., and if, in our opinion, this was done well or if it could have been done differently.  Then they had us think about what it will be like when we are adults, with jobs, possibly families, and other responsibilities.  They had us draw a pie chart of how our time will be divided up between all of our activities per week.  Ron and Deb then talked about how we will need to think about our priorities and what we will devote our time to in the future.  They also talked about how if there are other people in our lives, such as a spouse and children, sacrifices will need to be made and what we may have seen as our “vocation” may be different. 

It was great for all of us to talk and think about these things, in thinking about our futures.  It was good to hear from Debra and Ron’s personal experiences in figuring these things out.

Besides cramming in as many fun activities as possible for their family, the Rienstras had a full week because of the one-on-ones they had with many of the LCI students.

For the Wednesday activity, almost 20 of the LCI-ers and the Rienstra family went to Water World in Denver.  We spent the day there, swimming in the wave pool, sliding down the water slides, floating down the lazy river, and just enjoying the warm sunshine.  Most of the group, after Water World, went to 16th Street in downtown Denver for dinner, shopping, etc.  Others went and saw “The Dark Knight”, the new Batman movie in Imax.  It was a great day!

Only a couple more weeks… hard to believe! 

]]> 2008-08-04T17:03:00-05:00 Jonathon Bascom: Extruding Leadership http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/jonathon_bascom_extruding_leadership/ Week Eight of the Calvin program brought along with it Professor Bascom’s talk on humbling yourself as a leader by being in a “desert.” Similar to Moses in the desert, said Bascom, God extrudes his leaders in a manner that we may not fully understand. On Tuesday evening the Calvin group drove up to Meadow Creek Reservoir for its annual retreat. We were excited to have professor Bascom join us as we went canoeing, swimming and exploring. At five in the evening the guys and girls separated for dinner, reflection and sleeping. It rained nearly the whole night, but only enough to dampen our tents- not our spirits. In the morning we reconvened for some much needed breakfast by the reservoir. Overall, the retreat was a huge success. -Dave and Melissa Read on for a few Pictures, and also check the picasa site for extra retreat pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/snowmountainranch/CalvinLCIRetreat

Week Eight of the Calvin program brought along with it Professor Bascom’s talk on humbling yourself as a leader by being in a “desert.” Similar to Moses in the desert, said Bascom, God extrudes his leaders in a manner that we may not fully understand.

On Tuesday evening the Calvin group drove up to Meadow Creek Reservoir for its annual retreat. We were excited to have professor Bascom join us as we went canoeing, swimming and exploring. At five in the evening the guys and girls separated for dinner, reflection and sleeping. It rained nearly the whole night, but only enough to dampen our tents- not our spirits. In the morning we reconvened for some much needed breakfast by the reservoir. Overall, the retreat was a huge success.

-Dave and Melissa

Read on for a few Pictures, and also check the picasa site for extra retreat pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/snowmountainranch/CalvinLCIRetreat

]]> 2008-07-24T15:58:00-05:00 Bob Eames: Leading and Kayaking with Style http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/bob_eames_leading_and_kayaking_with_style/ Bob Eames was back for another exciting week at Snow Mountain Ranch. On Monday evening Bob followed up his previous lecture by delivering a more in-depth analysis of leadership styles. We were encouraged to think more about our personal leadership styles and their interaction with other styles of leadership. On Wednesday morning a group of the Calvin Staff drove to Grand Lake for some kayaking. We spent about two and a half hours exploring the waters, chasing ducks, jumping in the cold lake and just having a good time with each other and Bob Eames. Enjoy some of the pictures from the kayaking adventures.

Bob Eames was back for another exciting week at Snow Mountain Ranch. On Monday evening Bob followed up his previous lecture by delivering a more in-depth analysis of leadership styles. We were encouraged to think more about our personal leadership styles and their interaction with other styles of leadership.

On Wednesday morning a group of the Calvin Staff drove to Grand Lake for some kayaking. We spent about two and a half hours exploring the waters, chasing ducks, jumping in the cold lake and just having a good time with each other and Bob Eames.

Enjoy some of the pictures from the kayaking adventures.

]]> 2008-07-17T16:02:00-05:00 Bob Eames: steak and leadership styles http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/bob_eames_steak_and_leadership_styles/ This past Monday night we enjoyed a good talk and some great food with Bob Eames.  We were told to come a half hour early to our meeting to the cookout shelter with a knife and a fork.  This was good news.  As we hungrily waited to eat, Bob had us take a quiz about what our leadership style is and what role we prefer to be in with a group setting.  The results of the quizzes showed that each student was either a Structural/Acheivement leader, a Cultural/Affiliation leader, or an Informal/Influential leader.  Then we discussed in our small groups if the quiz proved to be correct about each other, and we also had to discuss which type of leader would take on which role in grilling food with a group of people (which only added to our hunger!).  After this, we ate to our hearts’ content: steak, barbeque chicken, grilled vegetables and potatos, sweet corn, rolls with butter, and pie!  Thank you Eames for the break from Commons food! On Wednesday for our Calvin activity, we enjoyed some more amazing food by going to Hernando’s in Winter Park for pizza with the Eames.  We have quickly learned this summer that you can never get enough of their pizza.  Following that, we had a campfire at SMR with s’mores.  It was a great evening! The weeks just fly by here at SMR.  We are having a hard time believing that most of us only have one month left!  Between work, hiking, camping, biking, climbing, Calvin activities, worship services, small groups, one-on-ones, just hanging out, getting to know people, and other things, the time just flies by.  We are having a great time! Don’t forget to check out extra photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/snowmountainranch.  There are now two albums. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support as we work and play here at SMR, and please continue to pray for and think of us! 

This past Monday night we enjoyed a good talk and some great food with Bob Eames.  We were told to come a half hour early to our meeting to the cookout shelter with a knife and a fork.  This was good news.  As we hungrily waited to eat, Bob had us take a quiz about what our leadership style is and what role we prefer to be in with a group setting.  The results of the quizzes showed that each student was either a Structural/Acheivement leader, a Cultural/Affiliation leader, or an Informal/Influential leader.  Then we discussed in our small groups if the quiz proved to be correct about each other, and we also had to discuss which type of leader would take on which role in grilling food with a group of people (which only added to our hunger!).  After this, we ate to our hearts’ content: steak, barbeque chicken, grilled vegetables and potatos, sweet corn, rolls with butter, and pie!  Thank you Eames for the break from Commons food!

On Wednesday for our Calvin activity, we enjoyed some more amazing food by going to Hernando’s in Winter Park for pizza with the Eames.  We have quickly learned this summer that you can never get enough of their pizza.  Following that, we had a campfire at SMR with s’mores.  It was a great evening!

The weeks just fly by here at SMR.  We are having a hard time believing that most of us only have one month left!  Between work, hiking, camping, biking, climbing, Calvin activities, worship services, small groups, one-on-ones, just hanging out, getting to know people, and other things, the time just flies by.  We are having a great time!

Don’t forget to check out extra photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/snowmountainranch.  There are now two albums.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support as we work and play here at SMR, and please continue to pray for and think of us! 

]]> 2008-07-11T17:54:00-05:00 Finding Your “Sweet Spot” with Henry DeVries http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/finding_your_sweet_spot_with_henry_devries/ This past Monday we had Henry DeVries come out to deliver the latest of our leadership talks. In his talk, Henry got us to not only consider how we operate as leaders, but also helped break our traditional views of leadership. Typically, we find leadership to be an administrative and organizational (from the front) kind of role. However, leaders can emerge in friendship, encouragement, team building, and working alongside others (from the middle and the back). What is important, said Henry, is finding your “sweet-spot” and incorporating that role into the various facets of your life. This sweet spot is where you’re happiest, most effective, called to be, and where you most often find yourself. We were also encouraged to look at the perfect model of leadership- Jesus Christ as a servant leader. In all, it was a good combination of the past weeks with some new insight. On Friday, we had an impromptu cookout outside of Blue Ridge Lodge. Afterwards, we loaded our cars and drove to Grand Lake for fireworks. It’s hard to top fireworks over a still lake on a clear night. Also, we’ve been asked to put up more pictures from this summer online. For space reasons, we’ve made a picasa page through Google. Here’s the link to those: LCI- PicturesWe will update these as often as we can. You can still read more for a few pictures. -Dave and Melissa

This past Monday we had Henry DeVries come out to deliver the latest of our leadership talks. In his talk, Henry got us to not only consider how we operate as leaders, but also helped break our traditional views of leadership. Typically, we find leadership to be an administrative and organizational (from the front) kind of role. However, leaders can emerge in friendship, encouragement, team building, and working alongside others (from the middle and the back).

What is important, said Henry, is finding your “sweet-spot” and incorporating that role into the various facets of your life. This sweet spot is where you’re happiest, most effective, called to be, and where you most often find yourself. We were also encouraged to look at the perfect model of leadership- Jesus Christ as a servant leader. In all, it was a good combination of the past weeks with some new insight.

On Friday, we had an impromptu cookout outside of Blue Ridge Lodge. Afterwards, we loaded our cars and drove to Grand Lake for fireworks. It’s hard to top fireworks over a still lake on a clear night.

Also, we’ve been asked to put up more pictures from this summer online. For space reasons, we’ve made a picasa page through Google. Here’s the link to those: LCI- PicturesWe will update these as often as we can. You can still read more for a few pictures.

-Dave and Melissa

]]> 2008-07-06T19:37:00-05:00 Deb and Randy Buursma Take 2: Emptying Ourselves http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/deb_and_randy_buursma_take_2_emptying_ourselves/ Week four of the Calvin LCI was concluded with a second helping of Deb and Randy Buursma’s wisdom. In the typical Buursma fashion of interactive and energetic learning, the Calvin Staff at Snow Mountain Ranch was encouraged to think about our listening skills as well as the effort involved in emptying ourselves before God. We were encouraged to think again about Jesus in Philippians 2:6-7. We were urged, using this model of servant-leadership, to empty ourselves before God and humble ourselves as leaders. To empty ourselves, we learned, comes not as a spiritual discipline, but with a broken heart in need of healing. On Saturday a large majority of the Calvin group, along with the Buursmas, spent most of the day in Denver. We went to the Denver zoo, walked around downtown and saw the Rockies smoke the Mets in a 7-1 victory. On Wednesday, we went to Winter Park to take advantage of their Alpine Slide and other activities. Overall, we had a fantastic two-week period. Almost everyone was able to take advantage of hikes, fires, meals and one-on-ones with the Buursmas. Read on for a few pictures from the week.

Week four of the Calvin LCI was concluded with a second helping of Deb and Randy Buursma’s wisdom. In the typical Buursma fashion of interactive and energetic learning, the Calvin Staff at Snow Mountain Ranch was encouraged to think about our listening skills as well as the effort involved in emptying ourselves before God. We were encouraged to think again about Jesus in Philippians 2:6-7.

We were urged, using this model of servant-leadership, to empty ourselves before God and humble ourselves as leaders. To empty ourselves, we learned, comes not as a spiritual discipline, but with a broken heart in need of healing.

On Saturday a large majority of the Calvin group, along with the Buursmas, spent most of the day in Denver. We went to the Denver zoo, walked around downtown and saw the Rockies smoke the Mets in a 7-1 victory. On Wednesday, we went to Winter Park to take advantage of their Alpine Slide and other activities. Overall, we had a fantastic two-week period. Almost everyone was able to take advantage of hikes, fires, meals and one-on-ones with the Buursmas.

Read on for a few pictures from the week.

]]> 2008-06-26T19:33:00-05:00 Something Different with Deb and Randy Buursma http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/something_different_with_deb_and_randy_buursma/ For our third Monday night meeting Deb and Randy Buursma were our speakers.  It was a very interactive meeting!  First, we sat in a large circle and they had each of us run into the middle of the circle and tell about a time in our lives that we had been a leader.  If that wasn’t enough to warm us up, then they had us separate into groups to discuss what it means to be an arrogant leader and what it means to be a humble leader, and then we had to do skits based on both type of leader.  At the end, they reminded us that being a good leader includes being a good listener, knowing your limitations, and emptying yourself to fill yourself with God.  They challenged us to remember these three things in the week to come.  They definitely gave us plenty of enthusiasm and plenty to think about.  Before we had our small group meetings following the presentation, we were left with these words: “In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:5-7). For our third Monday night meeting Deb and Randy Buursma were our speakers.  It was a very interactive meeting!  First, we sat in a large circle and they had each of us run into the middle of the circle and tell about a time in our lives that we had been a leader.  If that wasn’t enough to warm us up, then they had us separate into groups to discuss what it means to be an arrogant leader and what it means to be a humble leader, and then we had to do skits based on both type of leader.  At the end, they reminded us that being a good leader includes being a good listener, knowing your limitations, and emptying yourself to fill yourself with God.  They challenged us to remember these three things in the week to come.  They definitely gave us plenty of enthusiasm and plenty to think about. 

Before we had our small group meetings following the presentation, we were left with these words:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:5-7).

]]> 2008-06-20T16:20:00-05:00 Building Teams With Kevin Vande Streek http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/building_teams_with_kevin_vande_streek/ As the LCI moved into and through its second week, we were encouraged to understand the various elements involved in building a successful team. Kevin Vande Streek, coach for Calvin Men’s Basketball delivered an informative and interactive lesson on team building. As we led blindfolded team members, set goals and learned about how to get the best results from a group, we were also influenced to adapt these lessons to the workplace, our large group and our small group Bible Studies. On Wedesday we, along with the Vande Streek Family, drove down the road to Hot Sulphur Springs resort for a night of relaxing in the natural hot tubs. We had sack dinners and spent several hours moving from pool to pool that ranged from 98- 112 degrees. Overall, it was a great chance to slow down our busy lives and become refreshed for the rest of the week. As always, our weeks are filled with other adventures and experiences that are too numerous to describe here. As always, Read More for a few pictures of the week…

As the LCI moved into and through its second week, we were encouraged to understand the various elements involved in building a successful team. Kevin Vande Streek, coach for Calvin Men’s Basketball delivered an informative and interactive lesson on team building. As we led blindfolded team members, set goals and learned about how to get the best results from a group, we were also influenced to adapt these lessons to the workplace, our large group and our small group Bible Studies.

On Wedesday we, along with the Vande Streek Family, drove down the road to Hot Sulphur Springs resort for a night of relaxing in the natural hot tubs. We had sack dinners and spent several hours moving from pool to pool that ranged from 98- 112 degrees. Overall, it was a great chance to slow down our busy lives and become refreshed for the rest of the week. As always, our weeks are filled with other adventures and experiences that are too numerous to describe here.

As always, Read More for a few pictures of the week…

]]> 2008-06-15T17:08:00-05:00 Week 1: Mary Hulst, Adams Falls, Ice Cream http://www.calvin.edu/weblogs/snowmountainranch/week_1_mary_hulst_adams_falls_ice_cream/ Mary Hulst from Calvin Seminary followed the Sunday evening kickoff with our Monday evening large group meeting. She used the story of Elijah fleeing to the desert in 1 Kings: 19 to describe to us how to make the most out of our summer. She encouraged us to assess our various needs and goals for the LCI program and how the Lord will help us thrive this summer and with our lives. We fit those needs and goals under the headings of “physical care, spiritual attentiveness, and living in community.” On Wednesday, most of the Calvin LCI group loaded up in our cars and drove to Grand Lake to hike Adams Falls. What the (0.6 mile) hike lacks in length, it makes up for in beauty. You can tell from the pictures just how amazing the falls are. After the hike, we all got some Ice Cream on Grand Lake’s Main Street. Read More for a few pictures.

Mary Hulst from Calvin Seminary followed the Sunday evening kickoff with our Monday evening large group meeting. She used the story of Elijah fleeing to the desert in 1 Kings: 19 to describe to us how to make the most out of our summer. She encouraged us to assess our various needs and goals for the LCI program and how the Lord will help us thrive this summer and with our lives. We fit those needs and goals under the headings of “physical care, spiritual attentiveness, and living in community.”

On Wednesday, most of the Calvin LCI group loaded up in our cars and drove to Grand Lake to hike Adams Falls. What the (0.6 mile) hike lacks in length, it makes up for in beauty. You can tell from the pictures just how amazing the falls are. After the hike, we all got some Ice Cream on Grand Lake’s Main Street. Read More for a few pictures.

]]> 2008-06-07T00:26:00-05:00