SCRIPTURE GARDEN EXPEDITION!

I recently had the opportunity to visit the (somewhat) new addition to the outdoor campus of College of the Ozarks (www.cofo.edu), in Hollister, Missouri.  The arch in this photo marks the beginning of the sacred space.

 This close up photo of the sign shows that one is entering a "Scripture Garden".

The photo below shows that the sign can also be read by looking at its shadow on the sidewalk.  I would like to think that the metal artist who fashioned the sign, knew this would be a benefit of cutting the letters out of the metal, instead of just painting them on the sign.

I am part of a healthy living program (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) that encourages memorization of the Holy Scriptures, in that we are given the challenge of learning one new Bible verse by memory each week.  This "Be still"verse is always a favorite for young parents to learn, so they can train a fidgety youngster "in the way they should go"!

There is a gazebo on the property, and the view it provides is breath-taking!

 

 

Ever wonder about the definition of the word "faith"?   This Hebrews verse answers that question!

Every garden needs a water feature, and this one has a lovely pond, with a butterfly sculpture within it.

I need lots more Godly wisdom, so I ask God for wisdom very often.  And even though my lack of wisdom sometimes causes me to make mistakes, God does not point out my faults in condemnation!

If a student wants to "get away from it all", to study or meditate, all they have to do is tie up their hammock to one of the numerous trees adjacent to the scripture garden!

This verse is a reminder that I should be pure in heart, not prideful.  

When I was doing photography at the scripture garden, this pretty lady came strolling through.  When I saw that she had on a College of the Ozarks shirt, I asked her what her connection was to the school.  She told me she is a volunteer ambassador for them, perusing the campus to help visitors find what they are looking for, and to answer their questions. She is also happy to take photos for people who want to remember their visit to this amazing campus, but do not want to try to do it by taking a "selfie"!

The dedication plaque at the garden, lets me know the name of the "human" behind the gift of these scriptures carved in stone.  Thank you Helen D. McVey!

I want my bones to be healed, so it is better for me to speak pleasant words, than mean words, according to Proverbs 16:24.

This verse from Proverbs 5:5 references "directing our path", which is what the black fence is doing near the edge of the bluff---directing out path!

 

Directing my path was this decorative black fence, that silently tells visitors, "Do not go past this fence"!

 The body of water one can see behind me is called "Lake Taneycomo".  Although it may sound like an Italian word, it actually comes from abbreviating the words "Taney County Missouri".  (The standard abbreviation for the state of Missouri is "MO".)

How thankful I am for this promise, that no matter what happens, God can turn it around for good, for those who love God, and are called according to his purpose.

This verse from the Psalms tells the reason we memorize scripture:

 

 

Beside the gazebo, is a pleasant seating area, that looks down on farm property managed by the College of the Ozarks. 

The way I remember the digits of the verse below, is by saying "to 911", as in when one calls 911 to get help.

This reference of Jeremiah 33:3 is sometimes called "God's Telephone Number".  I use this admonition so frequently to help me find "lost things", that I finally realized, this could also be a reminder to pray for "lost people", who have not yet made the decision, to accept the salvation provided by Jesus.

Saying the Philippians 4:13 verse out-loud, over and over, has gotten me through some very touch situations, including the time I got stuck in my kayak on the edge of a small waterfall in a Missouri river. God answered my prayers for help, and his Divine Strength, finally enabled me to free myself from the torrents of fast-moving water, that were on either side of my kayak!

The Scripture reference of this Bible verse from the Old Testament book of Numbers, is the one I am using as the visual aid to help me remember one of our First Place 4 Health memory verses for our current session.  Numbers 12:11 says, "And he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed."  It refers to when Moses' brother is asking to be forgiven for making the golden calf to worship, while Moses was up on the mountain for forty days with Yahweh.

The First Place 4 Health name originated from the verse shown here, of Matthew 6:33. That is because the verse advises what people should seek FIRST!  In the program's beginning, it was simply called "First Place", because its mission was to train people what was the FIRST, and most important, goal for a healthy life. 

The Hebrew word for praise means, "Hands upward toward God", which is what I am doing here---praising God for the beautiful world he has created! Seeing the College of the Ozarks Scripture Garden gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia

LOST CANYON CAVE EXPEDITION!

It doesn't take much for me to get lost, so when I passed through the log cabin structures above, with only "make shift" signs indicating where I was, it seemed that this second attempt for me to find the Lost Canyon Cave  was going to be as unsuccessful as my first attempt a month ago.

Fortunately, on this attempt, the one-way road leading into the woods was not blocked by heavy equipment at work, the way it was on my first visit.  The narrow, paved roads through the woods finally came out into an opening where a sign pointed me to the Welcome Center (upper left of collage).  The building was surrounded by dozens of golf carts, lined up like soldiers, as if they were guarding the building.  However, since I had read that golf carts were an integral part of the cave tour, I thought I must be at the right place!  The weather on the August day I visited was more suited to rocking on the porch, than gathering around the outdoor fireplace---either of which are available to guests at the welcome center.

It was shortly before 8 am when I arrived, and not surprisingly, I was the first cave tour guest of the day, so I was able to take photographs of the rustic, lodge-style decor of the Welcome Center.  The Welcome Center is where you will purchase your $20/person ticket for the cave, and also sign the Waiver of Liability, acknowledging that you could die while you are on this tour. 

This is also the place where you will need to use the rest room one last time before you embark on your quest to find the lost cave, as there are no potties at the cave or along the route.  However, it is a unique restroom, and deserves a "look-see", even if you do not need to actually use it!  The Welcome Center is also the place where you will be instructed on the use of the 4-person golf cart, which you will drive yourself, on the paved pathway to the bottom of the mountain.

The paved trail to the cave has more of the "amateur-looking" signs, that reassure you that you must be on the right road.  Since the preserve covers a 218 acre forest in the Ozarks, it would be possible to get lost, if it were not for the trail!

Even though television weathermen will caution you to NOT DRIVE OVER A FLOODED LOW WATER BRIDGE, that is exactly what you are expected to do, as you pass beside one of the roadside ponds, that serves to collect the cascading stream coming from the waterfall that starts at the top of the hill.

Since I was still the only guest on the cart path at this hour, I stopped to take lots of photos!

This wrought iron fence has a lovely oval in it that makes a perfect frame for the woodland landscape.

You will have the opportunity to cross several artistically  designed overpasses, as you wind your way up and down the two and a half miles of paved trail around the  mountainside.

When I got to the flat platform just outside the cave entrance, the attendant there was very gracious to take a photo of me driving the snazzy Top of the Rock golf cart, complete with a front headlight (which you have to turn on when you go through the cave).

Once inside the cave, you will go through a short tunnel to get out into the larger room.

When you arrive in the main part of the cave, there is a railing that will keep you from driving off into the small lake at the center of the main room.

Some pretty stalagmites and stalactites are visible in the main room.

I could even see a column, where the ones growing from the top, had joined the ones growing from the bottom!

After the main room, you go through another short tunnel to the exit of the cave.

I have been through many caves, but this one is the first one with a bar in it, that was selling alcoholic beverages.  If one plans on partaking of the selections at this bar, I would recommend that you pay the extra $8 to purchase the liability insurance on the golf cart you are driving!

This old-fashioned barn door marks the end of the tunnel at the exit.

Once you are outside and back on the large platform, you will see some wood frames placed around the space.  The attendant told me these were "skeletons" of possible future structures that owner Johnny Morris may build at the cave entrance.

Since I was still the only guest taking the tour so far, the attendant said I could drive through again, which, of course, I did!  This time I got a photo of the entrance, with a reflection of its entrance sign being captured in the puddle of water in the front of the doors.

On my second trip through the cave, I tried some different settings on my camera, and was able to capture a glimpse of the four-story waterfall that is the highlight of the cave tour.

The attendant said the Lost Canyon Cave is not very big, but it is very tall! I read on their website that Johnny Morris had first explored this cave as a child, when his family's friend, Dr. Graham Clark, owned the property. 

Seems like this would be a beautiful 

location to spend the night!

From the large platform at the entrance of the cave, one can see the magnificent covered bridge, that was handcrafted by Amish craftsmen.

When one is down at the covered bridge, you can look back at the cave entrance, and see the wooden framing of future structures, as well as two magnificent waterfalls, gushing out from beneath the entrance way to the cave.

A guest takes a different loop out of the valley to get back to the Welcome Center, so you get to see some new and different vistas, including another gorgeous waterfall!

And once again, you are expected to drive through the water.  I remember when my husband and I were riding our Harley-Davidson motorcycle through Big Cedar Lodge property, and we were always a bit leery about going on two wheels through a slippery, cobblestone pathway similar to this.  However, we made it then, and I made it through with my golf cart as well.

I

noted a lovely stone arched bridge at the top of this waterfall, high up the hillside.

The steep "hills and hollers" of the Ozarks make it a great location for waterfalls---whether they be natural or man-made!

Notice how the cart path (outlined with a metal railing) is built right into the side of this mountain.  Keep your eyes on the road!

I hope I can return to take the tour when the leaves are changing colors, as the one red-leafed tree in the upper right of this photo gives a hint of the hues to come!

I had a nice little shower of water to cool me off when I went through the turn beside these waterfalls.  That is because I was trying to drive with one hand and take photos with another hand, which prevented me from taking the turn wide enough.  That meant I had to put my camera away, put the cart in reverse, and try to make it again---all the while feeling the cool spray of the waterfall on this hot summer morning!

The curves of the cart path make for a pleasing composition, in the rock bluff area shown in this photo.

The

trail development of the road to and from the cave is still a "work in progress", as shown by these guys working on a section near the end.

I would recommend that you not have a fear of heights if your job involves working on the side of a cliff, as this guy is doing!

The cart path has a pullover area near the top, where you can stop and take in a view of the lake and the Ozark Mountains.

Once you get back to the Welcome Center, you can take the free shuttle over to the main buildings of the Top of the Rock campus.

This lovely outdoor seating area and stone fireplace is located adjacent to the Arnie's Barn Restaurant, and the General Store.

The Top of the Rock golf course, restaurants, museum, and cave all make up what Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris is calling the "Ozark Heritage Preserve".  And this really IS the "top of the rock", as it is the highest elevation in all of Taney County!

On the edge of the hillside is the three-story Chapel of the Ozarks, which Johnny Morris added as a salute to country churches.  It comes complete with arch windows, copper roof, steeple, and bell tower.  Since the chapel is at the Top of the "ROCK" property, it naturally brings to mind the phrase in Matthew 16:18, that says "and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."  I am hoping that this Chapel of The Ozarks will be an enduring symbol of God's blessings on the people of the Ozarks! If you would like to plan a visit to this new attraction in the Branson, Missouri, area, just log on to www.bigcedar.com  .  This is a gorgeous venue that will give you "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia