The Journal

By: Graham McVicker Have you ever stopped to admire a bird's nest? Sure, they’re not all that pretty to look at themselves, but the fact that birds were designed with the innate ability to build nests for their young is fascinating. Humanity has made so much, yet none of it can be done without practice or knowing how. But birds can weave intricate nests out of twigs, grass, and weeds on instinct alone. Many animals build homes on instinct, but none seem as intricate to me as a bird nest. It has to have the right material, be at the right...

  Dear Lord, Even in times of devastation and disaster, You are our God, You are sovereign, and You are good. We know that even though this world is imperfect and fallen, You care for Your children and Your creation. We ask You, Abba Father, to quench these Australian bushfires quickly - no matter how they were started we know You can put an end to them. We pray that You would equip the firefighters that are currently in the field trying to put out these fires; please give them the tools they need and the wisdom to know what to...

The world's two billion Christians have just completed Holy Week, celebrating the final days, death and resurrection of Jesus. This year, the global celebration of Earth Day coincided with Good Friday, giving many of us an additional perspective on this sacred and ancient commemoration. Good Friday, marking Jesus' crucifixion, is a challenging day in many ways. The original Good Friday was a day of grief and confusion for Jesus' friends and followers. Today, Christian rituals reflect that grief, even though Jesus' sacrifice is central to the broader Easter story of salvation and hope. Earth Day is also a mixture of...

Since humanity as a whole is meant to act as stewards of creation, Christians should not neglect their responsibility to the world at large. It is not just a Christian duty, but Christians are expected to recognize it and follow it, not just for the reasons the rest of humanity understand as to why they should take care of creation, but because they see their actions as a way of showing their respect to God. Thus, as Christians, we must recognize that we are called to take care of the earth and its inhabitants. We are responsible for what happens to it when it...

An Ohio Presbyterian church is planning to plant hundreds of trees in the next five years in a push toward greater environmental stewardship. Being good stewards of Creation “A goal of planting 1,500 trees in five years in Licking County did not seem to be an insurmountable project for First Presbyterian Church of Granville,” said John Weigand, who is coordinating the project, according to the Newark Advocate. “In fact, I suspect we might exceed that number if the community is energized by this gentle act of environmental stewardship,” he said. The church, which is in the PCUSA denomination and located approximately...

Written by: Andrew Tipp Ed Stafford on his Epic Achievement Last year Ed Stafford became the first man in history to walk the entire length of the Amazon River. Ed, 34, has led remote expeditions all over the world. The Englishman started running expeditions after retiring from the British Army as a captain in 2002. Whilst not leading trips Ed worked alongside the United Nations in Afghanistan assisting with the first-ever presidential elections advising on security, planning, and logistics. Prior to this journey, Ed was in production with the BBC on their conservation series Lost Land of the Jaguar. Gapyear.com caught up with him to...

By John Branch (NY TIMES) Mount Everest is the tallest and most famous mountain in the world — a global beacon and metaphor wrapped in awe and mystery. It is also one of the most accessible big mountains in the world, bringing hundreds of climbers and thousands to its base camp in a typical season. Q: How high is Mount Everest? At 29,029 feet (8,848 meters), Everest is the world’s tallest mountain. It straddles Nepal and Tibet. Q: How do you get there? Most climb Everest from the Nepal side. From Kathmandu, Nepal’s bustling capital, mountaineers take a short flight to...

Pumping weights and running marathons won’t help you beat Father Time. Instead, choose the battles that make you grow wiser. Many people see aging as something to fear or regret. On the surface, there is little fun about a body returning ever-diminishing levels of everything we hold dear, from looks to performance to health. But I see getting older as something to embrace. My son Huckleberry likes to count the lines on my face and the crow’s feet around my eyes. I like to tell him how each one of those lines holds an adventure, a memory, a friendship, an...

People often associate the Andes Mountains of South America with the Aconcagua mountain (6,960 m) in Argentina. The Andes have the highest peaks in the Americas —and also some of the highest in the world, outside Asia. On top of that, if you’re a Volcano fanatic, they have the legendary Ojos De Salado, which is the highest active volcanic peak in the world. However you don’t need to climb Aconcagua or Ojos De Salado to say you’ve conquered the Andes. What you do need is a good fitness/health level, great gear, a good guide, and picking the right mountain at...

Being outside and exploring is a time for self-reflection, new adventures, and just getting outdoors (It’s scientifically proven to be healthy for you). Whether you’re traveling across the world, going on a mission trip, or want some awesome music to fill the background of your camp packing, “Adventuring” as we call it brings with it an exciting atmosphere/vibe that requires a fitting playlist for the road. We’ve put together a few of our favorite Christian songs for those moments of exploration, inspiration, and self-reflection. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your...

The Importance of “Leave no Trace”  We all want to enjoy the wonderful beauty of our National Parks and surrounding nature throughout our lifetimes and for generations to come. That’s why when it comes to practicing resource conservation, one movement that people have taken up is “Leave No Trace”. Leave No Trace is a set of principles and best practices promoted by The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and is widely understood and adopted by outdoor enthusiasts to help ensure our enjoyment of the outdoors isn’t reduced by our own impact. The decisions we make throughout our hikes and...