Into the Woods with Curio: Winter Weeds

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…” Ephesians 2:4-5

Now that winter has finally arrived it’s a good time to go for a walk outside. Keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife, of course, but don’t overlook winter weeds. That’s right – weeds! These remnants of summer’s flowers, though seemingly lifeless now, own some fascinating features, and have interesting stories to tell. 

With its tall stalk and large pods bursting with silky seeds, milkweed is a familiar sight to many. The old soccer field is one of the best places to find it at camp. If there are still some seeds left take a few in your fingers to enjoy their softness, then let them go into the wind. This is how the plant disperses them, though not as randomly as it would seem. The pod is designed to open from the top down, with the seeds arranged to release a few at a time with the wind. This prevents the seeds from just dropping to the ground around the parent plant. The fine filaments of the seeds’ parachutes take them across the fields instead.

Another tall plant is mullein, which grows from one to two metres high. It needs an open, sunny location, but isn’t picky about the soil, even growing in gravel. Look for them along the railroad bed at camp. The spiky top of their tall stalks is covered in cup-like seedheads, from which the tiny seeds fall out when the stalk is shaken, looking like black pepper on the snow. Dried mullein stalks were once dipped in hot tallow for use as torches in Europe.

The delicate, umbrella-like tops of Queen Anne’s lace wave on their long stems in the winter wind. Resembling a bird’s nest, the expired flowerheads contain the plant’s many seeds. Each of the small seeds has several rows of spines, which attach to animals as they brush against the plants when they pass by it. Yet another clever dispersal method employed by weeds! Bite one of these seeds and you’ll experience a cooked carrot taste, which explains its other name, wild carrot. The seeds can also be used to make tea. Look for Queen Anne’s lace in any open spot along the camp road.

 If you venture down into the Inner trails, you may find a stand of tall plants with clusters of dry flowers. This is Joe Pye weed, named after an individual native American who introduced the healing properties of this plant to early settlers in New England. He was just sharing what his fellow natives had known for generations, that this ‘weed’ can help cure a variety of ailments, from fevers, colds and chills to a sore womb after childbirth. 

There are more winter weeds to be found as you walk along the roadsides or through the open fields at camp, or near your home. Each exhibits amazing traits, and are wonderful examples of God’s awesome Creation.

Monk's Musings: Trust and Obey Him

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and He will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

Today we usher in the New Year 2024. The past year, with its mixture of victories and failures has past. We should thank Him for the victories, and confess and accept his forgiveness for the failures. But now God has brought us into a New Year. We don’t know what this year will bring. Its joys and sorrows only God knows. But another year of life implies an invitation to trust the Lord and submit to His guidance. Likely there will be changes in our lives, some we look forward to, others may be unexpected. This will be a year that will bring big changes for Beacon: Today we are very glad to welcome our new full-time co-workers at camp, and look forward to serving the Beacon family together.

The verses above are a great encouragement to all of us, that we shouldn’t trust our own strength or wisdom, but actively trust the Lord and seek to obey Him. This is true for all of us at Beacon, but also for each of you, who read these lines! As this New Year begins, let us ALL recommit to: (a) read God’s Word daily, (b) be faithful in prayer, and (c) regularly attend a local church, where we can receive spiritual food and where we can use our gifts to serve others. This is the practical ABC that proves we are trusting and submitting to the Lord Jesus, and we encourage you all, and especially our volunteer staff and cabin leaders, to grow in these three simple but essential disciplines!

May the Lord truly guide us all this year and make each of our paths straight.

With all our best wishes for this New Year 2024,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Owl at Twilight

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14)

It was dusk when we drove up to our driveway entrance. As we turned in, I noticed an owl was perched in the tree on the opposite side of the road, perfectly silhouetted against the last glow of sunset. We stopped for a better look, but as I lifted up my binoculars the owl shifted its stance, then flew silently over the road and into the ravine.

Have you ever seen an owl? If so, do you recall how it happened? Did you go looking for it, or did you just come across it, unexpectedly?

You never know when you will see an owl. One of the reasons for this is that most owls are nocturnal, so are active only during the nighttime. The few owl species that are diurnal, that is they are active in the daytime, are the northern species: the snowy owl, the hawk owl and the great gray. During the summer months these owls experience almost 24 hours of daylight where they breed in the far north. This means they are used to being active in the daytime when they come south to spend the winters in our area. But these beautiful birds are rarely seen in Muskoka.

The barred owl, the most common owl species in Muskoka, and the owl most likely to be seen at camp, is nocturnal, as are the two other owl species that could make an appearance at Beacon - the great horned owl and the saw-whet owl. But you just never know when you might see one of these while at camp.

Even if you go looking for an owl, making sure to visit their preferred habitat when they are most likely to be there - the right place at the right time - there is still no guarantee you’ll find one. It’s not like going to the lakeshore and finding gulls, (or Canada geese) or to the shopping plaza where you’ll see pigeons or sparrows. You can try an owl prowl, which involves calling an owl using a recorded owl call, or your own voice. This often works, especially during the early spring, when owls are starting to nest. Because owl prowls are usually done at night the owls are more often heard than seen. Count it a special day when you do see an owl!

God gives us glimpses of His wisdom and majesty through His Creation. As we celebrate Christ’s birth at this time of year, we can also share this Good News with others, giving them a glimpse of who God is and why He sent the Lord Jesus into this world.

Monk's Musings: Walk in the Light of Jesus!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105)

Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD (Isaiah 2:5)

Beacon Bible Camp’s logo represents a beacon of light shining all around in the midst of the darkness. It reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world, and that he told his disciples that we are also to be the light of the world! Though the years, various artists have left their mark on Beacon, helping to remind us that the reason this camp exists is to point campers to Jesus and God’s Word. Only there do we find reliable light to guide us step by step though our uncertain lives. Only the Bible can keep our path straight and stop us from falling off the abyss on the one side or crashing into the mountain on the other side.

At Beacon we are invited, as a household, to walk in His light. For those of us who are parents, this is a challenge to follow the Lord ourselves, and to encourage our kids and grandkids to also know and obey God’s Word. For those who are young or single, it is an invitation to make God’s Word your guiding principle as you establish your own convictions for life. All believers are part of God’s Family, equally called to follow His light, personally and collectively. May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the shining sun of God’s radiant light, and may we reflect His light, as the moon reflects the light of the sun, to the dark world that needs Him so much. May we each have the wisdom to not trust to our own limited understanding, but to walk in the Light of God’s Word each day of our life.

On behalf of all of us at Beacon, may the Lord bless and shine on your path always.

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Fox Furs

Did you notice the two furs on display on the dining room porch this past summer? Here is their story:

These are fox furs, as you may have already guessed by the overall length and shape of the animal, along with the thickness of the fur and the diagnostic white tip on the tail. You can also tell by the face, of course, as these furs include the entire head, which is the norm for prepared furs such as these, though it’s not very appealing.

But why aren’t these furs red in colour? They ARE from the species we know as the red fox, (Vulpes vulpes). It is the most common fox species in Ontario, and the only species of fox you will see in Muskoka and at Beacon. There are a number of natural variations of fur colouration in the red fox. One is known as a cross-fox, called that because of the cross pattern of darker fur running down its back and then crossing at the shoulder. There are also silver foxes, which have a dark undercoat and silver tips on the fur, much like these two furs. A darker variation is sometime called a black fox. None of these different coloured foxes are commonly seen.

However, these two furs are from foxes raised on a ranch, maybe as long ago as the 1920s, which means they could be almost 100 years old. Back then foxes were ‘farmed’ for their fur, and their furs made into coats, wraps and other ‘accessories’. Fox farmers discovered that through selective breeding they could get different colours of fur, including many variations of silver, black, and even a lighter version that was pale blue in colour. Fox fur was in fashion back then, with women wearing fox-fur coats and sometimes just a single fox around the neck, known as a ‘stole’. By the 1950s and 60s fox fur, and furs in general went out of fashion, mainly because there was a lot of protest about how inhumane it was to raise foxes, (and mink and other fur bearers) in cages, just for their fur. But many of those old furs are still around, including these two.

Unfortunately, fur coats are still in vogue in some countries, so wild foxes are still trapped for their fur. November is when the trapping season begins, because the fur is ‘prime’ at the beginning of the winter. That’s because foxes need a coat of thick fur to survive in the cold. Come spring they will shed their long fur, and look very different with their short summer fur coat. Whether their fur coat is short, or grown long for winter, they still need it. We don’t. We can make our clothing from such things as cotton, wool, alpaca and synthetic fibres, none of which require an animal to give its life for our benefit.

There was a time an animal sacrifice was needed, when Adam and Eve first sinned. And countless animal sacrifices were made since that time, to pay for our sins, until the Lord Jesus offered His life as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Now nothing is required from us, except to believe… ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…’ (Acts 16:31).

Monk's Musings: Grandparents, Parents, and Children

He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers… I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (Malachi 4:6 and 2 Timothy 1:5)

Two of our most memorable Fall Camps this Fall Season have been “Mother & Daughter” and “Father & Son”. We were so encouraged to see parents and grandparents investing in their children, young and older, spending quality time together with their own kids and with like-minded parents. We got to see God turn parents’ hearts to their children and children’s hearts to their parents. 2000 years ago, Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother who shared their sincere faith with him, until he too believed and committed his life to following and serving the Lord Jesus. We are likewise all challenged to invest our limited time and resources in the coming generations that are closest to us. It is one of the most durable and strategic investments we can ever make! Let us be proactive in seeking opportunities while we can.

Of course, each son and each daughter must make their own decision, whether to follow or reject Jesus. We cannot force the issue. Even God does not force anyone. He is the patient Father who waits for each prodigal son and daughter to freely return to Him. And even Jesus had a Judas, who after three years of discipling, rejected and betrayed him. Nevertheless, we can and do play a significant role in instructing and encouraging those closest to us to come to Jesus and love Him, through our life example and our thoughtful words.

May the Lord help each one of us to grow in our own “sincere faith” and to be a faithful instrument in God’s hands to help the next generation to also grow in their faith and love for the Lord Jesus.

With all our best wishes for the Fall Season,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Those Red Fall Colours!

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot comprehend it. Psalm 139:6

Each fall the brilliant colours of the leaves have us talking about how they get these colours. It all starts with photosynthesis, of course, which is the incredible way in which the trees turn sunlight into energy through their leaves. Green chlorophyll is needed for this, and that is the predominant colour we see from ‘leaf-out’ in early spring until the late summer and early fall.

As the days get shorter, the trees start the process of losing their leaves for the winter. Tree leaves are like herbaceous plants, that is, they are not made for freezing temperatures, so the tree drops them before they are damaged by winter weather.

But before the leaves fall the tree re-absorbs the nutrients that are still left in the leaves, including the chlorophyll, taking them back down into their roots for the winter. The result is that the yellow and orange colours, which were always in the leaves but hidden by the dominant green chlorophyll, become visible. These are carotenoids, the same pigments that we see in such things as carrots and even egg yolks! If the fall weather is frosty there are more yellows and oranges, as the cold temperatures destroy the green chlorophyll in the leaves.

But what about the reds? This year the reds have been dazzling, and this is due to all the clear, sunny days we had in September, though the nights were not below freezing. The red, (and purple) colours in the leaves come from anthocyanin pigments, the same pigments found in different fruits and vegetables, including red cabbage, raspberries, blueberries, certain grapes and many others. Frosty nights weaken the red anthocyanins, so there are less reds when the fall nights are cold.

The tree produces these anthocyanins when there is too much sunlight in the fall, so it can protect the leaves during the re-absorption process. At least that is what we think is the role of anthocyanins. It may also be that the tree uses the red colours as a signal to parasitic insects that want to make the tree their home during the winter. Red indicates a higher chemical defense, so may serve as a warning to insects, similar to the bright colours of a monarch butterfly warning potential predators that it is not good to eat.

There are a number of other theories about anthocyanins in leaves, making it a little confusing, for sure. It may be that we really can’t know with 100% certainty why the trees produce these anthocyanins in the fall, though we certainly enjoy the show! God’s Creation is incredibly complex and amazing, demonstrating how worthy He is of our praise!

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colours of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming:
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God.

(From ‘Indescribable’ by Chris Tomlin. CCLI Song # 4403076)

Monk's Musings: Law or Grace?!

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 CORINTHIANS 3:18)

At one of our recent camps, we were challenged to live “grace-based lives” instead of “law-based lives”. The “Law” encourages us to set expectations, which as humans we fail, and then we deal out punishment, to others or even to ourselves! On the other hand, “Grace” encourages humility, confession, repentance and true change, in our own lives and those we love. Law or Grace, which of the two do we want?

The Fall colours remind us that everything is changing. Green turns to yellow, orange and red. Warm weather turns into crisp fresh days. This is inevitable change. But God, who planted His seed in our hearts, calls us to cooperate with the changes He wants to bring about in us. Whether we try “Law” or “Grace”, in both cases we are seeking positive change. However, God gave us His Law to show us our sinfulness and our desperate need of His Grace. The Law has no power to bring about lasting change, only by God’s Grace and His Holy Spirit, as we look to the Lord’s glory, can we really be transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory. Until we are like Christ. For that is the goal our Heavenly Father has set Himself: to make us like His Son Jesus Christ!

And so, may the Lord bless you this Fall, may God’s Law shine the spotlight on the necessary changes He wants to bring about in you, and may you experience His Grace as you humbly confess and allow God’s Spirit to transform you from the inside out.

With all our best wishes for the Fall Season,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Rattlesnakes at Beacon!

“For every animal in the forest is mine…” Psalm 50:10a

Have you ever seen a rattlesnake at camp? They look different than some of our other snakes, with their thick body and black belly. And their rattle, of course, though that is not always obvious, unless they are making noise with it.

Massasaugas are a pygmy rattlesnake, which may sound strange to us, as it still gets about one metre in length, though is usually smaller than that. But that is small compared to the other two rattlesnake species found in Canada, and the more than 30 species found in the US. Other species in Canada include the prairie rattlesnake, which is 1.5 metres in length and lives in southern Saskatchewan, and the western rattlesnake, which is 1.5 metres in length and lives in the dry southern interior of BC. The timber rattlesnake used to be found in Ontario and Canada, but it hasn’t been seen here for over 80 years. It is still found in the US, and is up to 2 metres in length, which is about as big as any rattlesnake can get.

Let’s be glad Massasauga rattlesnakes are not that large! And Massasaugas are quite docile compared to many rattlesnakes, preferring to hide from people.

Why are they at camp? Beacon’s property is located within their range in Ontario, which is mainly along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, including any rivers draining into the Bay, such as the Moon River in Bala.

Beacon’s property also provides excellent habitat for them, as they favour low, wet areas, though they can also be found in a variety of places, including woodlands, old fields and rocky barrens. These habitats provide shelter, and prey, which includes frogs, salamanders, small mammals such as mice and voles, and small birds.

Besides food and shelter, there are a couple of other things Massasaugas need to survive. One is a place to hibernate, known as a hibernaculum. Because snakes are cold-blooded they can’t stay active in the wintertime, so must hibernate underground, below the frostline. The same hibernaculum is often used every winter, as such spaces are not common, and the snakes couldn’t make one for themselves. Another thing Massasaugas need is a warm, protected space where they have their young – a gestation site. Massasaugas give birth to live young every other year, in late summer. But they occupy these sites for up to three months before they give birth, and don’t move from them during this time.

These reasons are why the laws protecting Massasauga rattlesnakes stipulate that they can’t be moved more than 250 metres from where they are found.

How can we live with Massasaugas at Beacon? We have always been aware of their presence at camp, and thankfully have never experienced a serious incident. Best practices include first being sure it is a rattlesnake, as water-snakes and hognose snakes also live at Beacon and look similar, but are harmless. Knowing where Massasaugas live on the property, and when they are active, helps with avoidance and tolerance. When there is a potential problem let the on-site team take care of things.

Monk's Musings: Labour for God is never in vain!

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:58).

With the Lord’s help, we have just finished the 2023 Summer Camp Season! In total, 223 brothers & sisters in Christ came as volunteers in one capacity or another. Without their help and dedication Beacon would simply grind to a halt. So we want to take this opportunity to thank each one for giving to the Lord and our campers a week or more of their valuable summer time to serve, and to grow in their faith as they did so. We know the Lord will bless each one as a result: because “your labour in the Lord is not in vain”!

At this time, we would also like to thank Susan Mikitka, Mark & Judy Vandervecht, and Suzie Rofaiel, from the bottom of our hearts for their service at Beacon. Each one has let us know that they are planning to transition out of their present role at Beacon over the upcoming months, while helping to train up others to take over their responsibilities. May the Lord bless you as you serve out the remainder of your time at Beacon, and as you embark on the next chapter of your service for the Lord Jesus! Again, remember: “your labour in the Lord is not in vain”!

We are also grateful to the LORD for the great Summer Staff team we had this year: Brio, Chief, Cuppa, Kernel and Moth. Thank you, once again, for serving at Beacon Bible Camp. And don’t forget: “your labour in the Lord is not in vain”!

Finally, to all of us, wherever we are living, and however we are serving the LORD: Let us take heart, and persevere in serving Him joyfully and with all our hearts. For “our labour in the Lord is not in vain”!

With all our love and best wishes,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn