Service is a word that can have many different definitions to us today. It can mean someone who brings us our food, someone driving us from place to place, providing the ability to have an online connection; the applications of the word service are plentiful. The service industry is full of stories and experiences of those who are underappreciated, mistreated, overlooked, and walked over. Some of us have perpetuated these situations, some of us have been on the receiving end. Sometimes we have received “bad service”. Service or serving takes on a new meaning when we look at it from a Christian perspective, as it should. I’d like to take a look at what Jesus taught about serving and how we can integrate serving into our lives.
Serving can be an uncomfortable concept for some today because we are taught to look out for ourselves at every opportunity and to only act in ways that will benefit us, either immediately or in the long run. The thought of giving MY time and effort to serve someone else? Are you crazy? I have way to many things to do. I have to work to provide for myself, I have to incorporate some physical activity into my day to make sure I am in shape and feel good, and I just have to watch the new Marvel show tonight. I don’t have enough time. This is what is heard all the time from those presented with opportunities to serve. What the person is actually saying is “I don’t want to give the time.” Breaking this down from a molecular level I believe this stems ultimately from pride. Often times we are taught to only look out for #1 and with that comes only caring about what we have an interest in or what will serve us. We usually spend our time on things that will benefit us. The adage ‘You make time for what is important to you’ holds true.
Changing the way we look at service and serving others can take time. Any positive lasting change does. Jesus’ mission on Earth is explored in Matthew 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Now this shows two distinctions for followers of Jesus. One: if our savior, the one who is the bridge for our salvation, came down here to serve us and not to be served himself, why do we have a hard time serving each other? And two: He gave His life for us to be with Him for eternity. The ultimate act of service. In Romans 12:11 Paul tells us “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” I love that the depiction of serving Him in this verse is juxtaposed right next to being fervent in spirit. As in when we are the most fired up for God we should be serving Him. I really like picturing that. Going back into the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 13:4 states “You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” That last part could be a basic blueprint for all Christianity ‘serve him and hold fast to him’. 1 John 4:4 says “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” So just to recap: Jesus came to serve, being on fire includes serving, we are commanded to serve and hold fast to Him, and God within us is greater than anyone or anything in this world.
I know that is a lot of jumping around but I just want to introduce the idea of living for someone besides ourselves. When we are living for Jesus and letting Him work through us, we will in turn serve our brothers and sisters. The whole idea being our life is not our own. It is given and a blessing. If you accept that, it becomes easier and easier to serve. I believe all of us can benefit from looking around our lives once in a while and recognizing different areas we can serve, whether it be relationships with family or friends, our stewardship over our environment, our own bodies, etc. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.” This verse is speaking in the context of sexual immorality, but taking the principal and applying it to serving is like a puzzle piece that fits in perfectly. We are meant to be reflections of God’s love and we are able to show it through the Holy Spirit, which it even states is given to us only from God. And it is capped off with stating we are not our own. Chef’s kiss.
Now I don’t think there is a blueprint for serving others, it will look different for mostly everyone. There are some general areas that always need people to serve around every community, for example helping the homeless population get food/shelter, but for some it can be difficult to know where to take that first step. I would encourage you to start with your circle, the people you come in contact with the most on a weekly basis. Something I’ve noticed is that people will actually tell you what they need most of the time, whether directly or sub textually. Listen for these hints the next time you talk with them and then be willing to serve them in whatever form that looks like. Let’s make the time. Let’s pour ourselves out for the Lord.
]]>Last year, my brother and I travelled to Boone, North Carolina for his birthday. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to make a temporary escape from the world. It was my hope that this sojourn to the mountains would be a place of re-centering, that when human institutions and intuition continue to wrestle and fall short, that I might find a moment of peace and clarity. The journey there was particularly beautiful, given the bursting colors of autumn throughout the road to Boone.
One of the places we visited was Grandfather Mountain, one of the tallest peaks East of the Mississippi. It was a place I had longed to go to for years, and with limited options due to COVID, it made for a comparatively safe venue. The trip up the mountain was beautiful, as with the ascent came a beautiful view of the Carolina landscape. Arriving at the top, we were greeted with ripping wins that gave our COVID masks an extra use in helping to keep our faces warm.
Part of the Grandfather Mountain experience is walking along the Mile High Bridge, which is measured as being one mile above sea level. While the bridge was held by multiple cables, the winds still made the bridge feel uneasy while walking across. Making it to the other side, I continued a little further, working my way through the ice-cold winds ripping at my face. I briefly wondered if bearing the winds that high up was worth it. I was answered not with words, but with miles of natural scenery.
Upon establishing a good place to stand, I scoped around as the winds continued to rage about me. Miles of autumn blue skies complimented the vast landscape of miles of mountain ranges that could be seen from the peak. I was aghast at the vast beauty my eyes attempted to process in a cold that was now made worth it in seeing the vastness of creation. It was as if the winds gave a slight pause to allow creation to speak what words could not, as my eyes surveyed miles of majesty.
This moment of creation speaking through the winds reminded me of 1 Kings 19:1-18, where after a great victory, Elijah finds himself on the run. While God had prevailed against the prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened that no matter what, she would deal with Elijah. In anguish, Elijah decided to flee. Discouraged, Elijah sojourned to Mount Horeb, where God had once given the Ten Commandments to Moses. When the Word of God came to Elijah, from the depths of his broken spirit spoke words of loss, that the Israelites had turned away, and he was the only one left.
God told Elijah to wait there for him to speak. We are told that a great wind tore through mountains, that an earthquake occurred, and a great fire raged, but the Lord was not present in any of these displays of nature’s power. Instead, it would be through a whisper that the omnipresent Creator would speak to his prophet. Despite these great displays of power, and even with the softness of a whisper, the words of the Lord could not shake Elijah from this sense that all was lost. Instead, God would command him to go forth and anoint a successor.
How many of us are like Elijah, perhaps discouraged and feeling rejected? How many of us went from a great victory to a great trial? Perhaps God has tried to speak to us, but we have lacked the capacity to listen. The beauty of God is that he can speak in various ways. While he sometimes uses powerful means to express his Word, there are times where he may move with a whisper. Perhaps not in the sense of what we hear as a whisper, but perhaps a sense where, when removed from distractions, God speaks something to us that we have needed, a word of hope or encouragement.
This scene upon the mountain for me felt like such a moment. While the wind was rushing and roaring, and I crouched in hopes that I would not blow off the mountain, that removed from distractions, I could for a second feel God speak through his creation. That he is a God of beauty and majesty, and that even the forces of nature are subjected to him. When God speaks, he will do so in a manner and using the means he deems necessary to speak to us. Whether with a burning bush or a whisper, God will establish his majesty when we are in his presence.
This trip, which was to celebrate my brother’s birthday, also became an opportunity to celebrate one of God’s gifts, the majesty of his nature. When we are weary, when we find ourselves without hope, or when we fall from the peak to the valley, God will reestablish us. Scaling Grandfather Mountain gave for me words I could never conjure for myself for a sermon. God’s very creation speaks for us great words of restoration and hope, that compared to our perceived stresses, that the vastness of God and his creation far extend any temporary struggles that may overwhelm us.
Written By: Cody Marks
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However, I didn’t spend much time fishing recently until I was invited by two friends. It was funny. I hadn’t been fishing in 6 years, and wanted to seem like I knew what I was doing completely, even though I had forgotten a lot. Not much humility in that.
Then, after only catching a bunch of the smallest fish in the pond and not being able to use the more effective baits, I had to confess that I wasn’t quite the outdoorsman I tried to sell myself as.
Humility is key. The Bible tells us about how those who exalt themselves will be humbled and that those who humble themselves will be exalted. Heaven will not be filled with “Do It Yourself” people. It will not be filled with those who believe in themselves.
It will be filled with those who knew that they had nothing to offer other than what was given to them, and who cast themselves fully into the hands of a loving king. The Gospel is humiliating because it tells us that we can do nothing to save ourselves other than give up trying and trust someone else to do it for us. The Gospel is not about us. It is about the God who redeemed us. We are not the heroes of that story.
In humbly accepting this truth and throwing ourselves into the care of Jesus, we are exalted to relationship with God and adoption into His family. Those who exalt themselves as their own savior will realize what a miserable savior they are, and soon be humbled. Those who humble themselves and admit they can only ask for mercy and grace will be exalted as Children of God.
The Gospel is humiliating. The Gospel is beautiful. The Gospel is powerful.
Also, I did finally end up catching the biggest fish of the day. Beginners luck, I suppose. "
-The Wannabe Outdoorsman
Brandon Blevins
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About 21 miles from Ellijay on Hwy 52 is a spectacular 729-foot falls, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. Also, a strenuous 8.5-mile approach trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the start of the famous Appalachian Trail.
There are two falls on Helton Creek near Blairsville. A short trail descends to the first waterfall then climbs to the second larger waterfall. Beware – the rocks are slippery.
From Blue Ridge, take Hwy 515 north to Blairsville. In Blairsville, take US 19/129 south about 11 miles. Turn left onto Helton Creek Road, the first road past the entrance to Vogel State Park. Go 2.2 miles; the road turns to gravel. There will be a small parking lot on the right in a curve, and the trail is marked.
It is beautiful place to hike. But waterfall was dried. There is super mounter view and amaizing nature. It is 40 minuts one way from parking. There is a cave.
The DeSoto Falls of Georgia are located in Lumpkin County, Georgia along Frogtown Creek. There are actually three waterfalls on Frogtown Creek, called Upper DeSoto Falls, Middle Desoto Falls and Lower DeSoto Falls
Beautiful! Definitely a must see during your visit to Helen or surrounding areas. If you are new to this fall make sure you wear good shoes, and pace yourself. It’s absolutely beautiful.
I like this waterfall better than Cherokee Falls (the one just upstream). You can walk behind it, take a dip in the pool, or just look at it from the deck by the stairs.
It is a moderate or easy trail that ends at a large cliff. This alone offers stunning views and a relaxing space as the water runs over and through the cliff.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is a 2,689-acre Georgia state park adjacent to Tallulah Falls, Georgia, along the county line between Rabun and Habersham Counties. The park surrounds Tallulah Gorge, a 1,000-foot deep gorge formed by the action of the Tallulah River, which runs along the floor of the gorge.
The falls can get very crowded despite the secluded route it takes to get there. It’s a great place to backpack, hike, and swim. First come, first serve camping spots. You cannot camp that close to the river. It’s a pretty easy hike. Worth the trek out here.
If you're not that into history and the legacy of those that came before of, you can kick back in the Downtown Art District which is filled with galleries and museums, and in the nearby River Arts District, where former factory buildings house artists' studios.
Here's some of the coolest things you can if you're in town in Asheville, NC
This enormous French Renaissance-style estate of George Vanderbilt has a storied past dating back to 1889. Considered America's largest private home, the 250-room estate – with 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and a whopping 65 fireplaces – took six years to construct. The 8,000 acres of gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (the same landscape architect responsible for Central Park) and feature 2 ½ miles of walking paths.
Weaving through downtown, the 1.7-mile-long Asheville Urban Trail walks visitors through the cultural and architectural history of the city. Created by the city of Asheville to showcase its unique past, each of the trail's 30 stops is marked with a public sculpture that captures an important person or moment in the area's history.
Offering more than 500,000 acres of land about 40 miles northeast of downtown Asheville, Pisgah National Park is jampacked with activities and breathtaking vistas. With hundreds of miles of trails and numerous waterfalls and swimming holes, the forest provides ample opportunities to appreciate the great outdoors.
One of the first national forests in the country, created partially with land that once belonged to the Biltmore Estate, the park is home to the first forestry school in the United States as well as the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute and Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
The North Carolina section offers many of the Appalachian Trail's highest peaks, several above 6,000 feet. Hiking enthusiasts can set out on a multiday or weeklong journey (keep in mind that you'll need permits to camp and hike in some areas, especially inside the Great Smoky Mountains).
If you're just looking for a little taste of Appalachia, you can venture about 35 miles northwest of Asheville to the town of Hot Springs, where the Appalachian Trail runs right through town on Bridge Street. From there, park at the Silvermine trailhead and follow the Appalachian Trail until you reach Lover's Leap Ridge. You can continue to hike along the Appalachian Trail or follow the orange blazes to complete the Lover's Leap Loop.
The 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway begins in Virginia and meanders through about 250 miles of western North Carolina. With a maximum speed of 45 mph, the highway offers drivers numerous opportunities to stop at overlooks, quaint mountain towns and hiking and biking trails. The parkway is divided by milepost markers that increase as you drive farther south.
The headquarters and main visitor center is located in Asheville at milepost 384. There, travelers can learn about the natural and cultural history of the region, as well as the outdoor activities available along the parkway.
Those with green thumbs will want to put the North Carolina Arboretum on their to-do list. Located about 10 miles south of downtown Asheville off of Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 393, the arboretum is a 434-acre public garden within Pisgah National Park.
Visitors can wander through 65 acres of gardens, including the National Native Azalea Collection, the Bonsai Exhibition Garden and a Heritage Garden that celebrates Southern Appalachian horticulture, plus much more. Affiliated with the University of North Carolina, the gardens also offer more than 10 miles of hiking and biking trails that vary in levels of difficulty. (Recent visitors said the walking trails were an unexpected highlight of their time at the arboretum.) Kids can take part in a variety of interactive youth activities, such as loaner discovery backpacks (available for free) and hands-on lessons from Shelly, the arboretum's resident box turtle.
At milepost 382 off the Blue Ridge Parkway, you'll find the Folk Art Center, home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The guild dates back to the 1890s and still represents the artists and craftsmen of Southern Appalachia.
One of the most popular spots off the Blue Ridge Parkway, welcoming 250,000 visitors annually, the center displays traditional and contemporary crafts in three galleries, and is home to a bookstore, a parkway information desk, a library and the Allanstand Craft Shop – the oldest of its kind in the nation. From March to December, the center also features daily craft demonstrations, and hosts special events that highlight materials (such as glass, fiber and clay) used in Southern Appalachia crafts.
So what do you think? Did we miss any hidden gems? Asheville is a true gem here in the South and gets overlooked many times.
]]>Here's some of our favorite tunes we enjoy!
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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 do next. May there be collaboration among all the different departments helping, the volunteers, and the government. Give them the strength and grant them encouragement to continue on in this harrowing ordeal. Please lift up new volunteers from many different places so that those currently serving would not grow weary.
Please bless the 2000 people and growing who have lost their homes, may they look to you in their hope to start over. We pray for the families that lost loved ones to this fire, may they be surrounded by your peace at this time. And we pray for the wildlife that is being devastated. This is Your creation Lord, and You have granted us stewardship over it. May we be good stewards of the earth you have given us and all the creatures in it. We pray for all of the wildlife care volunteers who are working around the clock to rescue animals and provide help to those injured.
Many organizations are accepting donations to help with these devasting fires; donations to help communities rebuild, to help injured wildlife, and to keep the amazingly brave firefighter teams going.
Samaritan’s Purse – Spearheaded by evangelical pastor Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse has had boots on the ground in Australia for the past three months. According to the Samaritan’s Purse website, the humanitarian aid organization’s mission is to provide “spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.” Samaritan’s Purse has a location-based in Sydney that works with local churches to set up command centers near disaster zones. Donate here.
Victoria, Australia Fire Departments – The Victoria Government has partnered with the Salvation Army and Bengido Bank to create the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. One hundred percent of the funds donated to the appeal go directly toward communities in need. Donate here.
New South Wales Rural Fire Service – Known for being the largest volunteer fire service in the world, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service is comprised of 2,100 rural fire brigades with a total of about 72,000 volunteer firefighters. Donations made to the NSW Rural Fire Service or local Rural Fire Brigade will directly benefit the organization's volunteers. Donate here.
Article was originally written on CrossWalk.com
]]>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 hope and sadness. The environment continues to remind us of the consequences of the selfish and short-sighted actions we often take against God's creation. Air and water pollution, deforestation and many other reminders threaten our own well being and the well being of other animals' habitats and survival. But Earth Day is also a community celebration of our planetary home and our commitment to caring better for it.
In recent years, Christians from across the theological and political spectrum have begun to give more serious consideration to our collective impact on the gift of God's creation. A creation care movement has given a voice to many younger Christians who believe that responsible stewardship is about far more than simply exercising dominion over the earth and maximizing the exploitation of its resources. In The United Methodist Church, through our God's Renewed Creation project, many congregations and individual members are addressing a set of interrelated threats to creation: endemic poverty and disease, widespread environmental degradation, and the proliferation of weapons and violence. This broadly ecumenical concern for creation is a cause for hope.
Unfortunately, there are other voices distorting the intentions and efforts of environmentally-minded Christians. Some religious leaders and political commentators have attacked the environmental movement, equating environmentalism with paganism and earth-worship. Others go even further, suggesting that the "Green Dragon" of environmentalism is actively anti-Christian, anathema to the Gospel of Christ. These criticisms will further delay collaborative efforts to care for creation and create greater risks for our fragile environment.
We also see these distortions of faith and reality reflected in the views and actions of too many elected officials, many of whom are in a dangerous state of denial about the scientific consensus on the threats posed by climate change. Some explain their opposition to changing our consumption habits as concern for the poor, who they say would be disproportionately hurt if new regulations resulted in higher energy prices. But the scientific consensus is overwhelming that it is precisely the world's most poor and vulnerable individuals and nations who will be most adversely affected by climate change and its impact on everything from agriculture to rising sea levels and regional resource-related conflicts.
The crucifixion and resurrection remind Christians of the full range of human possibility. We see fear and self-centeredness and betrayal, but also courage and self-sacrifice and redemption. We learn that God's grace allows us to overcome our despair and doubt. Indeed, our faith really begins after Easter, when the good news begins to spread and believers are challenged to take it to the far ends of the earth. Let us demonstrate our love for God, for creation, and for our fellow human beings by facing up to our huge and immensely complicated challenges and acting as if we believe that we are both recipients of God's grace and stewards of God's creation.
Written by John R. Schol. More information about God's Renewed Creation can be found at http://www.hopeandaction.org.
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 is under our care, and this responsibility is not just for us now, but for those coming after us who will inherit what we have left behind.
This is not an easy task, especially when it becomes evident that by taking care of the earth, and its environment, we sometimes have to make prudential decisions which might inadvertently cause harm to some creatures dependent upon the status quo. That is, we often have the impossible task of supporting life, all life, being open to it, by trying to protect it all. In trying to live out our role as stewards, we will find out that we will sometimes, if not all the time, negatively affect various forms of life as we try to manage and improve the environment. While the responses we make will sometimes appear to be, and sometimes will actually be, utilitarian, in that prudence we engage will seek for the greatest benefit, we should still take care to help those who would otherwise be negatively affected by our actions, and in general, have a sense of compassion for all involved. The problem lies with the taint of sin which finds itself infecting every created thing so that all things have been adversely affected by it, all things have been corrupted by it, making it nearly impossible to act if we want to avoid any cooperation with evil. Morally speaking, we should seek for the most remote material forms of cooperation with evil as is possible, and when forced to act, to seek to heal the harm which is the result of our best prudential decisions.
The way we are to act as stewards often becomes a matter of debate between environmentalists and animal rights activists, with environmentalists often “system oriented” seeking for overarching solutions which tend to ignore the plight of particular individuals, while animals rights activists tend to be concerned with individuals over systems, and so they might do good to individuals while ignoring the systems in which those individuals act, allowing, therefore, the over-arching structures put in place by sin to remain in place if not end up being reinforced.
But, to be sure, another problem is that environmentalists, especially Christian environmentalists, often focus on environments that are good for humanity, ignoring the needs of the rest of creation. That is, they are concerned with what is good only for humanity. Animals are welcome, and needed, because of the function they play in the environment which humans need in order to survive, but beyond such an instrumental view of animals (and the environment at large), care and concern for creation is lost. Jay McDaniel explains this problem well:
Christians have sometimes equated stewardship with the prudent management of natural resources for human consumption. Furthermore, when we have thought of stewardship in relation to future generations, we have often thought only of future human generations, forgetting that an appropriate ethical stance must be directed toward the well-being of future nonhuman generations as well. Deep ecologists remind us that stewardship, too, must be deep. We rightly preserve wilderness areas, not simply so that future humans can enjoy them, but so that future species with value in their own right can dwell in them. From deep ecology we learn both to affirm our kinship with fellow creatures and to allow evolutionary history — past, present, and future — to serve as a frame of reference through which we understand ourselves.[1]
Pope Francis, therefore, made an important point when he told us that each creature, indeed, everything in creation which has been given existence by God, has its own value which must be recognized and respected by us: “Our insistence that each human being is an image of God should not make us overlook the fact that each creature has its own purpose. None is superfluous. The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.”[2] Christian environmentalism, indeed, environmentalism as a whole, must take into consideration more than humanity and its interests, because all things have their own value, a value which must not be reduced to being an instrument for our own enjoyment. Desiring to care for the earth is a good concern, a concern which Christians should take as an important part of their role of being a Christian, should lead us to preserve and protect as best we can the needs of all other forms of life. Thus, as Jay McDaniel, in his book, Of God and Pelicans: A Theology of Reference For Life, indicates, Christians must truly follow God in affirming the value of life, all life, and not just human life:
To be life-centered is to be respectful both of life and environment. As a way of looking at the world, biocentrism is an antidote to that human-centeredness that sees humans as the measure of all things and that believes humans, and humans alone, are worthy of our moral regard. Inasmuch as human beings are members of the family of terrestrial life, and perhaps even its most precious members, life-centeredness involves a deep and abiding commitment to their wellbeing. [3]
Environmental concerns should come from this kind of respect for all life because it helps make sure the prudential decisions made for the sake of the environment are based upon a solid moral ethic. When we reflect upon our actions and judge them, this ethic, this concern for life, can be used to make sure our actions truly took into consideration the full range of our responsibility to life, and when we have not, to indicate areas of moral failure. This will be the least we can to do make sure our environmental concerns do not end up being based upon some self-seeking principle that ignores moral objectives. Environmentalism should not be some theoretical system which uses the creatures of the earth as tools for its construction, but rather, it should be a system which sees those creatures as subjects for which the environment is to be managed. This does not mean prudential decisions will not come into conflict with the desires of particular animals and animal species living within a particular habitat, but it will mean that those desires should be properly considered and weighed when environmental decisions are made.
While Christians must be willing to look at the diversity of animals, and recognize they each have their own particular value all to themselves, this does not mean all animals need to be looked at as having the same value. The differences which exists between species should indicate their different potentialities, different levels of personal and moral autonomy, giving them different levels of claims to the environment. Looking purely at animal rights, pointing out all animals have rights which must be respected, can lead us to ignore such distinctions, causing difficulty in determining which species should have its rights affirmed and which should not when conflict arises between them. This is not to say it will be easy to determine the right course of action when various rights come into conflict with each other: it should not be. Sometimes, indeed often, the response is to take on the role of a neutral observer, letting animals act naturally without any intervention from us; but even when we do that, we are making a choice not to act and to do that, we must have sufficient grounds for our decision. At other times, we might note that the good of all animals will be hindered by the actions of one or another animal, so that for the good of all, we must act (for example, when a particular animal species overruns a particular habitat, they can ultimately destroy the biodiversity which they need to survive; to fix the situation, we will have to intervene for the good of all). The key is to remember why we act, and why we act is to be stewards of the earth, looking to care for and show concern for the interests of all the best we can. We need compassionate conservation such as what David Ramp and Marc Bekoff have written about: “Compassionate conservation is challenging decisionmakers to have clear objectives where the lives of animals are affected. If interventions are necessary, the range of values of different stakeholders (human, nonhuman) should be articulated so that trade-offs may be transparently evaluated.”[4] This, then, is why Pope Francis said:
Greater investment needs to be made in research aimed at understanding more fully the functioning of ecosystems and adequately analyzing the different variables associated with any significant modification of the environment. Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another.[5]
We make the decisions based upon what we know at the time we make them. In order to make better choices, we need better information, and so we must invest our time and energy to understanding both animals and the environment around us better, so we can then act properly. Prudential decisions must, therefore, be made not only with the best moral principles, but the best scientific knowledge. The more we know, the better decisions we can make; the more resistant we are to science, the more likely we are going to reject our moral responsibility and cause undue harm to the world. Is that not what we have learned with climate change? But it is not just climate change; it is the way we have managed, or mismanaged, animal species, allowing many to come to extinction due not only to our carelessness but by our outright moral failures (because we have often been interested only in the welfare of humanity and not the world which we have been called to protect and serve).
Being stewards of the earth requires us to be concerned both with overarching ecological concerns but also with the animals living in the environment. We should not ignore the plight of the animals which are affected by our environmental actions. We must recognize that even the best decisions can and will benefit many, but many others will not experience those benefits, indeed, they might perish because of them. We should be concerned about both, and act with basic moral principles guided by the best scientific understanding we have of the situation, creating solutions to problems on a case by case basis. Each habitat will have a different mix of rights and concerns to deal with, which is why there will not be one solution to all environmental concerns. With no preconceived solution being enforced before we judge the details of the problem and look to the various possible outcomes and weigh them out according to what justice tells, we will more likely come upon a better, if not the best, possible solution, than if we tried to predetermine our actions before investigating the problem thoroughly. It will not be easy. We want simple, overarching answers to follow. But when making good, ethic choices, the decisions rarely will be easy.
[1] Jay B. McDaniel, “Land Ethics, Animal Rights, and Process Theology” on Religion Online. (Originally published Jay B. McDaniel, “Land Ethics, Animal Rights, and Process Theology” in Process Studies vol. 17, no. 2 (1988): 88-102).
[2] Pope Francis, Laudato si’. Vatican translation. ¶84.
[3] Jay B. McDaniel, Of God and Pelicans: A Theology of Reverence For Life (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1989), 14.
[4] David Ramp and Marc Bekoff, Compassion As A Practical And Evolved Ethic For Conservation” on The Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy Animal Studies Repository (2015).
[5] Pope Francis, Laudato si’, ¶42.
Article written by Henry Karlson and published originally on Patheos
]]>“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 30 miles northwest of Columbus, has been recognized as an “Earth Care Congregation,” one of six churches in the state to earn the distinction.
“Being intentional in becoming an Earth Care Congregation designation inspired us to think more broadly about how we could make a difference in Licking County, not just Granville,” said Karen Chakoian, the church senior pastor.
That the tree-planting project would impact on the community for subsequent generations energized the church, she said.
To become certified and receive an Earth Care Congregation designation within the denomination, a church fills out a pledge and "tracks its commitments to earth care in the areas of worship, education, facilities, and outreach," according to the denomination's mission page.
Designating Earth Care congregations is part of a long-term effort within the denomination.
Official guidelines for greening Presbyterian congregations show that in 1990 the 202nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA adopted a resolution called "Restoring Creation for Ecology and Justice," calling on the denomination to emphasize restoring creation as a "central concern of the church to be incorporated into its life and mission at every level."
Such emphasis on environmental issues come with "major implications for infusion into theological work, evangelism, education, justice and peacemaking, worship and liturgy, public witness global mission, and congregational service and action at the local and community level," the document reads, grounding the task in Deuteronomy 30:16.
Last summer, some parishioners at the Granville church read and discussed The Gospel According to the Earth: Why The Good Book is a Green Book by Dr. Matthew Sleeth, which outlines the benefits of planting trees.
The church began its five-year tree-planting initiative at a November 24 service, where Sleeth preached, by planting 25 young maple trees that had been donated by a local nursery.
“We wanted to learn from a less ambitious planting,” Weigand said of the effort, “before we launch the aggressive community campaign in 2020!”
]]>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 find out about flesh-eating maggots, being arrested for murder, living off the jungle and what it means to be an inspiration…
So Ed, first the obvious question: why did you decide to do this?
I’ve always had a tendency to get bored with the norm. I had a burning desire to do something massive – potentially dangerous – that would make me feel like I was getting the absolute maximum out of life. I had already been running jungle expeditions but when I did some research I found that no-one had done this before. That meant that it would be a world first and I was hooked.
28 months is a long time, how did you keep yourself going?
I would imagine going home to my local pub as a failure and having people slap me on the back and say, “We don’t think any less of you.” They would of course – and it would be such a humiliating scenario that I knew I could never accept it. Even though much of the expedition was unpleasant in some form – I knew I could never give up once I started.
No doubt from conception to partway through the challenge people told you that it couldn’t be done. What was your response to them and what’s your advice to others taking on tough challenges who might be receiving the same negative views?
Trust your own gut and your own capabilities. If you think it is possible, and you are honest about your own abilities to make that decision, then you can smile inwardly at the negative people and even use them as a driving force to spur you on when things turn nasty.
What was the lowest point of this challenge?
It was a period of about three months in Peru. Luke, my original partner, had gone home. Oswaldo, my original guide had left as he was too scared for his life, and I was walking through the drug trafficking area of Peru – the Red Zone – with various local people, many of them various Ashaninka Indians. My Spanish was still poor at the time and I found the whole experience so unrelaxing that I was pretty down and paranoid for much of it.
Any life-threatening moments?
I perceived them to be at the time yes, although on reflection I think that we were never that close to being killed. We were given a direct threat over the HF radio by a village that if we come through they would kill me. We snuck around the edges but were then confronted by some very angry Indians who detained us and took us back to their community at arrow point. We were told countless times that we would die with an arrow in the back of the head or would be eaten by jaguars but there are many melodramatic people out there who like telling stories and scaring people.
Many high points no doubt, can you identify the best point on the challenge?
When we ran out of food in the middle of the jungle over a hundred miles from the Amazon River main channel we were forced to live directly off the jungle. This was utterly enthralling as it meant our senses heightened as we foraged to seasonal fruits and nuts, fished for piranhas and, in extreme circumstances, sacrificed a tortoise to keep us going. We came out of that leg so much more confident in our capabilities.
24 months walking with Cho. That’s one helluva game of ‘eye-spy’! I guess ‘A’ for Amazon went pretty quickly? What did you talk about for 24 months? Or did the awkward silences go on for days?
Silences were never awkward. We chatted when we wanted to and had no need to think up things to talk about. We allowed our minds to dream in our heads for much of the time and conversed over the practicalities of the day: fishing, firewood, route selection, etc. He deserves a lot of credit for being a very easy, complimentary character to get on with. He had loads of patience and at times when I was finding days tough, he would understand my strains and stresses and just give me enough space.
Who inspired you early on in life? Who are your heroes nowadays?
In the early days, it was rugby players such as Dean Richards and Dusty Hare. Figures such as Martin Johnson still continue to act as non-flashy role models for me but in my arena, I am very respectful of the adventures of Mike Horn and Borge Ousland. Those guys are the real deal.
Many now see you perched upon the inspirational pedestal as you once saw Sir Ranulph Fiennes. How does that feel? (…and what will you do with that position to inspire others?)
I’m not there yet and may never be. I do think that people thrust into these positions have the power to do good though. If everything works out I would enjoy a future where I could help inspire kids to be as adventurous as possible and to learn as much as they can about themselves by getting outdoors more.
As more and more youth stay indoors locked away on Social Networks caught up in an online world, real-life explorers and adventurers might start becoming thin on the ground. Does the influence of social media on youth concern you at all?
I’m emailing this response to you and I’ve tweeted and updated my Facebook profile only seconds before. Its the new world and it should be harnessed rather than feared. I had the ability to broadcast my expedition through the Amazon virtually live using Twitter, Flickr and Vimeo. I think the juxtaposition of new technology and old school adventures works well.
“At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.”
-Chico Mendes
The most amusing thing that happened to you on this challenge?
I was arrested for murder by a Shipebo tribe who were convinced that because I was white I must be the culprit. They grilled me (not over a fire) for about three hours about my purpose for being there and then told me my passport was not valid as the Queen had not personally signed it. It was a farce but we had to play the game and pretend to take them seriously.
…and the most embarrassing?
It takes a lot to embarrass me. I suppose there were a couple of navigational blunders. Due to the difficulty of procuring good maps in Brazil we used Google Earth for much of the latter part of the walk. It’s not that easy to tell the difference between a logging rd and an oil pipeline overgrown with razor grass from a satellite image.
Anything to make our toes curl and hair stand up on end?
The obvious bot fly maggot living in my scalp and eating my flesh? The weepy leishmaniasis wound that could have mutated into a version that eats away at your soft palette leaving you with a permanent hole in your face? The machete would that cut right down to the tendon? None of them were that serious to be honest – the jungle is not as bad a place to live for two years as people think.
Knowing what you know now, would you walk the Amazon again …or is it slightly easier by boat? If yes, what would you do differently?
Of course, I wouldn’t do it again. Why would you? It was a grueling ordeal for much of the time. That said I’m proud of it and glad I’ve done it. It was a sort of self-challenge and I’ve ticked my own box now. I learned huge amounts from it including that it's much more pleasant to take a boat.
What’s next for you?
A secret – sorry.
You are obviously a man who never gives in, good skills to have in such tough times for many. Do you have any simple advice you’ve learned from this experience to give to those seeking inspiration in their life right now?
My dad used to say that if you start something then you have to see it through to the end. Its good advice and means that if you stick to it then people around you can rely on you. You become dependable – and that’s a good trait to have.
And finally… what do you want to do when you grow up…?
Become an accountant.
Source: gapyear
]]>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.
At 29,029 feet (8,848 meters), Everest is the world’s tallest mountain. It straddles Nepal and Tibet.
Most climb Everest from the Nepal side. From Kathmandu, Nepal’s bustling capital, mountaineers take a short flight to Lukla, then trek about 10 days to Everest Base Camp (17,500 feet). Most will spend weeks there in the spring, acclimating to the altitude with rest and day hikes, waiting for the route to Everest’s summit to open in May.
In 2017, six people died, a typical number, including a cook in Base Camp and an Indian man near the summit. A seventh, famous mountaineer Ueli Steck, died in a fall on a nearby mountain while waiting for Everest’s route to open.
Nearly 300 people are known to have died on Everest. Nepal’s government estimates that most of them, perhaps 200, remain there.
Most famously, as depicted in popular culture, climbers die from exposure to the elements — the subfreezing temperatures and the high altitude, especially after running out of supplemental oxygen and getting caught in sudden storms. But many climbers die from falls and avalanches, and others from health problems like heart attacks. Increasingly, climbers worry about the role of the crowds on Everest, where routes can be jammed with people desperate to reach the summit. More than 20 years after it was published, Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” remains the cautionary tale.
The area above 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet), from Camp 4 to the summit, is called the “death zone,” because of its thin air and brutal weather. With gains in altitude, each breath draws less oxygen for the lungs and bloodstream, which is why most climbers, including guides, use supplemental oxygen.
Typical effects of altitude include headaches, nausea, and exhaustion. But in the death zone, high-altitude cerebral edema can create a lack of muscle control, impaired speech, confusion, and hallucinations. High-altitude pulmonary edema results in coughing and breathing problems. Frostbite, snow blindness and hypothermia are major threats.
Source: nytimes
The primary barriers are money and fitness. While Nepal’s government has placed restrictions on foreigners — expensive permits, the necessity of hiring an outfitter with guides, and an age requirement of 18, for example — it is only now considering ways to restrict attempts to highly experienced mountaineers.
The range is wide — from nearly $30,000 to $100,000 or more. Foreigners must buy an $11,000 permit from the Nepalese government, plus pay other fees, but the variance has to do with the outfitters hired. Some offer Western guides for Western clients, which can be more expensive than local ones, or some hybrid in the ratio between climbers and guides. (For example, 1 local guide per climber, plus one Western guide for every four climbers.) Other substantial costs include travel, gear, oxygen and weeks of food and camping while acclimatizing at Base Camp (17,600 feet).
Guides in the Himalayas are often called “sherpas,” though not all are part of the ethnic group of Sherpa, from which many take their surname. Most are young men, living anywhere from small villages to the chaotic city of Kathmandu, who find they can make more money as a guide than in other lines of work. The Nepal government said that most guides earn about $6,000 per expedition, but the range is broad, from camp cooks (perhaps $2,500) to lead guides ($10,000). They are not immune to the dangers; nearly half the people who have died on Everest have been sherpa guides.
]]>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 achievement, a lesson and an experience, which is why I like them.
We all have our physical quirks (my nose gets increasingly wonky with the years and my left foot is so mashed it is ridiculous), but all these things remind me that I’m a survivor. Think of it like this: over the hundreds of thousands of years that we have existed, the average human rarely lived much beyond the age of 35. When you make it past that age, you’re already in the elite.
The other aspect of aging, for me, is that all my near-death experiences have made me incredibly grateful for life. Those that haunt me are not always the dramatic, well-documented ones. For example, when I was preparing to paraglide over Everest I did a test flight in the UK with our new supercharged paramotor. The director who was filming the mission asked me to do a second flight so he could get one final shot. My instinct was to say no, but I agreed and foolishly made the flight without a reserve chute. When the filming helicopter passed in front of me, at 3,000 feet, I flew straight through its wake, somersaulted over the top of the parachute and started tumbling to the ground with half the chute wrapped around itself. The paramotor smashed as I hit the ground, but somehow I survived. I remember being curled up on the ground in the middle of a field, tears filling my eyes, knowing I should have died, that I’d been stupid and incredibly lucky. And not for the first time.
Such moments remind me that life is a gift never to be taken for granted. Our response should be gratitude and joy. My Christian faith also reminds me that we are on a journey and we shouldn’t fear the road. I’ve had my fair share of scars and bruises and I don’t regret any. (Well, maybe the odd one.)
The Bible talks about our bodies being like clay jars “which are wasting away on the outside, so it often looks like things are falling apart on us. But on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.” That’s a great promise to hold on to as we get ever older.
With age, however, we need to develop an awareness of our bodies’ limitations and keep ourselves injury-free as far as we can. I found it inspirational spending some time in the wild with Roger Federer, who even towards the end of his career is outperforming and outlasting so many younger players. We agreed that it’s all about pacing yourself; about understanding, as my mum always used to say, that life is a marathon, not a sprint.
I try to incorporate this attitude into my own training by making it sustainable. Pumping massive weights all day or doing ultramarathons is never going to be good for your body in the long term. Extremes aren’t good for longevity. That’s why I train using short, sharp 30-minute bodyweight-type exercises that keep me lean, fit and flexible. This approach is important for ensuring that you can still adventure as you get older. (I’ve written a book about this, called Your Life: Train For It, which explains the approach in more detail.)
In life, as in the wild, we have to choose our battles. The battle against aging is one we are never going to win, so don’t fight it too hard. Instead, see the years as a chance to gather wisdom and skills, friendships and experiences. See it as an opportunity to grow braver, kinder, more resourceful, more sensitive and more respectful as each year passes. These are qualities that can only be developed with age. Embrace that.
The Bible talks about our bodies being like clay jars “which are wasting away on the outside, so it often looks like things are falling apart on us. But on the inside, where God is making a new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.” That’s a great promise to hold on to as we get ever older.
Source: QG
]]>All main guides that we recommend are the folks over at Andes Mountain Guides. They will be there to help you every step of the way in order to make your experience all the more safe and enjoyable. We only ask that when you reach the tippity top, to give us a shoutout on your social media flex!
We start our trip at Mendoza, famous for its wines and culture before getting up to the mountains. Later we get to the winding path of the Ruta 7, which connects Argentina with Chile, making our first stop at Penitentes, an old ski village where we prepare the loads for the mules and start our acclimatization process. Although brining Oxygen tanks is a uncommon practice around here, we do recommend you use/bring one in the case of having any problems acclimatization.
Ciudad De Mendoza, Argentina CC: Jorge Gobbi
From here we begin our trek that will take us to witness the impressive South Face and later to Plaza de Mulas, our base camp. After summiting Cerro Bonete at 5000 meters we start moving up slowly though several camps on the northeast flank of the mountain until attempting Aconcagua’s top.
While not a technically demanding climb, Aconcagua’s Normal route is a true mountaineering classic offering a great challenge to climbers getting into high altitude. It’s regarded as the least difficult “highest” peak in the world for this very reason.
Remember, while climbing the highest mountains can be pure bliss for some of us. The danger is very real for everyone, no matter how experienced you are. Such moments remind us that life is a gift never to be taken for granted. Our response should be gratitude and joy. Another cool thing you could do on your way to to the Aconcagua peak is visit the “Christ The Redeemer Of The Andes”.
The Christ of the Andes, a symbol of eternal peace, is commonly believed to have been made from the cannons of war, pretty cool huh? Engraved at the feet in Spanish are the words, “Sooner shall these mountains crumble into dust than Chileans and Argentinians break the peace which at the feet of Christ, the Redeemer, they have sworn to maintain.” This is a must visit if you’re someone of faith, or not.. It’s still a spectacular thing to appreciate!
“Sooner shall these mountain crags crumble to dust than Chile and Argentina shall break this peace which at the feet of Christ the Redeemer they have sworn to maintain.”
In the next stop, we’ll look at the highest volcanic peak in the world, the Ojos Del Salado. Ojos del Salado is on the Argentina-Chile border, at a mind boggling height of 6,893 m (22,615 ft). Did we mention that this Volcano is active? However the last time it erupted was 1,300 years ago. But watch out, they saw some ash emissions as early as 1993. Maybe we’re due for quite the event.
Due to its location near the Atacama Desert, the mountain has very dry conditions with snow usually only remaining on the peak during winter, though heavy storms can cover the surrounding area with a few feet of snow even in summer. Like Acongacua, Ojos Del Salgado is considered not a “technically” difficult climb since depending on the route you take, you don’t have to use ropes, axes, etc. There’s even a competition to see how fast you can get up the mountain in a vehicle!
There’s so much more this amazing mountain range offers. Did you know that the Andes also has some of the best skiing in the world? Yes, the Andes has arguably some of the best skiing views on this hemisphere. Las Leñas is one of the largest Andean ski resorts in Argentina, located in the western part of Mendoza Province, together with Cerro Catedral in San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro province. It is well known for its powder snow, good climate and excellent opportunities for extreme and off-piste skiing.
–Far away from large cities, the center is seldom crowded except during weekends, making the lines on the lifts usually shorter than in other ski centers of Argentina. If you’re just in it for the view, well the Andes has some of the most beautiful mountains in the world as well, even rivaling the Himalayas.
While the Alpamayo (pictured above) was voted the most beautiful mountain in the world, you actually can’t ski on it, but you can climb it!
So as you can see, the Andes has so much to offer than just climbing the highest peaks. Millions call it home, and tourists, adventure seekers, and explorers come in the thousands each season to catch a glimpse of some of the best landscapes on God’s beautiful blue planet.
What do you think about the Andes?
]]>For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands, I sing for joy. Psalm 92:4
1. Call Your Name
Rivers & Robots
3. Protector
Lion of Judah (Our fav)
4. Know You More
Rivers & Robots
5. Time’s Not Wasted
Josh Gauton
6. At Ease
Jonathan Gabriel Masters
7. Nothing Ever Without You
Taylor Armstrong
10. Cosmos
Hazy (Not a Christian song, but you have to listen to it!)
Music really is such a beautiful gift from God. Each song is linked to the artist’s Spotify channel, so whether you’re reading this on mobile or desktop, you can open a free Spotify account to enjoy these tunes.
]]>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 camping trips could have a detrimental effect on the wonderful parks we all enjoy. It is important to enhance the environment and try to leave our resting areas better than when we arrived.
some good practices for leave no trace include: during guided fishing excursions to the most pristine areas of the forest, pack out all flies, tippets, and leaders used on the tour. Never leave behind fishing lines that get tangled in bushes. We also encourage guests not to cut brush out of the way and to instead find another spot to fish. On every trip, be sure to bring trash containers to eliminate left-behind waste and to prevent the ingestion of food scraps by bears and other wildlife. These plastics and chemicals are harmful to wildlife and in turn the National Parks.
The seven principles to follow:
1) Plan Ahead and Prepare
2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3) Dispose of Waste Properly
4) Leave What You Find
5) Minimize Campfire Impacts
6) Respect Wildlife
7) Be Considerate of Other Visitors
We really hope you have a wonderful time on your excursions and follow the principles so that everybody could enjoy our majestic National Parks for many years to come. Please share your efforts so that the trend could also continue to spread and our parks could become clear of dangerous materials left behind by others.
]]>Instagram: @Sven_Lewis
I woke up on a cool Alaskan spring morning in the small town of Wasilla. It was 5:30 in the morning and the sun was already shining as if it were midday, a great motivation to wake up. I went to double and triple check I had all my clothing and gear that I would need in my yellow Northface duffle and camera bag. After a warm cup of coffee, I was ready to start my journey south. The highway I took is the largest in Alaska. A four-lane stretch of pothole-ridden pavement that briefly expands to a six-lane freeway in the southern district of Anchorage. Immediately after exiting the south tip of Anchorage I was greeted by the familiar sight of the Cook Inlet and the mountains surrounding the frigid salt water. Driving along the coast always promises the opportunity to see God’s creation at play. Whether it be beluga whales breaking through the icy water or Dall sheep leaping amongst the near vertical rock faces the Cook Inlet always has a world-class display of beauty. After refueling the car at a small ski resort town named Girdwood the journey continued into the mountains. Turnagain Pass is a beautifully carved path in the Chugach National Forest that bridges the gap between Anchorage and the rest of South Central Alaska. After weaving in and around the mountains for a few hours the landscape opened up to a more flat and tundra-like country. Mountains were still gazing from afar and their glaciers made small talk in the wind as traffic made its way south. After navigating what seemed like an endless straight stretch of highway my nose was pricked with the salty mist of the Pacific once again. Kachemak Bay was within sight and with it came the spectacular panorama of mountains, glaciers, and trees. Jetting out from the shore was the hallmark of the destination, the Homer Spit. Much like a small peninsula, the spit is a large formation of sand and rock that reaches out into the bay like a long finger.
Homer Alaska is one of the largest coastal towns in Alaska with about 5,000 residents that mostly rely on fishing and tourism for income. The Homer Spit is one of the most popular Alaskan cruise destinations making it an easy spot to grab a good bite to eat and meet some fun new faces. What most tourists never see are the hills above Homer. The vast expanse of trees and rolling hills that seemed to dissipate into the clouds covering the horizon. The mountain ranges that surround Homer are breathtaking. Looming volcanoes made grand appearances in the distance when the air was clear of the salty clouds and fog.The drive home was equally as beautiful as the way down. Homer will always be one of my favorite destinations in the great state of Alaska, and I’m eagerly looking forward to my next trip down.
]]>Want to start your outdoor hiking adventures but you don’t know where to start? This comprehensive guide to the outdoors will help you start hiking right away. It all comes down to three simple steps; location, choosing the right gear, and trail etiquette.
As a beginner hiker, it is important to know what trail is right for you. If you are someone who runs out of breathing easily or tends to wander off and get lost, you might want to find a short trail that is .5 – 1.0 miles long. Any good trail should have markings along the way. However, a short trail will give you a good exercise without overdoing yourself while at the same time making it nearly impossible to get lost.
There are many resources online that will help you find the perfect beginner trail for you. If you are feeling adventurous and want to take on a more difficult trail there are sources for that too. Our favorite place to find trails is https://www.traillink.com/. Trail link gives you all the information you need to know about the trails near you. Looking up trails can seem like a hassle and some of the trails can seem intimidating to beginners. Don’t discourage from going out there and enjoying a good trail sometimes the reviews don’t do it justice.
Other perks of hiking, besides getting a good exercise and being out in nature, are the many good things that go on in trails. You might catch a glimpse of some amazing scenery or you might encounter some rare animals you wouldn’t have encountered if you had stayed home. So go out there and enjoy a good trail.
Pro tip: You can still adventure as you get older, regardless of age!
Check out our article on Bear Grylls on why age is just a number: https://discoverhorizons.com/bear-grylls-on-why-age-is-just-a-number/
The essentials come first. Fancy hiking sticks and equipment are good and all but the essentials will always help you out if you find yourself in a tough situation. The first thing is a good navigation system. whether it be an old school map or a cell phone. it is always a good idea to know where you are going instead of aimlessly wandering around and eventually getting lost.
First aid is another essential item on your packing list. There are large numbers of hazards out in the trails; from straining your ankles to animal attacks. These hazards can be greatly reduced with a first aid kit in case of an emergency. Shoes are another essential item. Tired feet can completely ruin an enjoyable hike. Limping back and in pain are not good ways to begin your hiking adventures. In fact, it may make you want to quit hiking altogether. Hiking is the best thing to do if you are an outdoor enthusiast; You get to see nature in its full beauty with amazing scenery and all sorts of wildlife. Invest in a good pair of shoes so that you can enjoy the full beauty and experience of hiking.
Another thing to prepare for the outdoors is layers. Always check the weather beforehand and remember to layer up. In Cold weather, it is important to have breathable materials so that your sweat won’t stay in your back and get cold. This defeats the purpose of layering.
Layer 1: No matter how frigid the temperature, wear a light, long-sleeved base layer next to your skin.
Layer 2: Next comes a thin mid-layer—either wool, polyester, or a blend of the two.
Layer 3: A puffy, zippered jacket with a hood.
Layer 4: A shell made of a waterproof/breathable fabric with taped seams.
In warm weather, you want to wear the least amount of layers as possible to keep yourself cool.
Another piece of gear essential for your hiking adventures is a filter tube for hydration. Different variations of the filter tube can be found online to fulfill your hydration needs. Staying hydrated on the trail will make you feel cool and relaxed and greatly reduce fatigue so you can keep treading on for miles.
Pro Tip: The best part of a filter tube is that once you have filtered the water, you can enjoy it in one of our awesome mugs.
Leave no trace is the best etiquette for the trails. We only have a limited amount of land and natural park area, so it is up to us to take care of it. Read more about leave no trace principles here. Here are some more tips to know on the trails:
Pro tip: We all live in this world lets take care of it and each other. Bring a trash bag on your hike.
Now you know how to start hiking. You know how to find the right location for you, what gear you need to bring on your hike and the proper etiquette for your hike. Now go out there and begin your hiking adventures and see what wonderful destinations await you.
Tell us where you plan to go. If you are already an avid hiker, share your experience with us. We would love to hear more from you and help you out with any more hiking tips. ????
]]>Sometimes, we take our trees for granted. Living in Northwestern Georgia, we got to enjoy growing up in the woods, building mini treehouses, and collecting pine cones to throw at each other. (So stupid, we know! But hey, it was a childhood we laugh back on now)
While deforestation is a huge issue on the global level, it’s a smaller one here in the states, especially because we have laws that prohibit the abuse of the land. We do need some better ones to make sure there aren’t any loopholes. We also understand that many communities and local economies depend on logging, so we also need to help provide other sustainable ways people can continue to make a living. We can’t just expect people not to eat. This has always been a common misconception. Luckily we have had people care about our forests and environment before me and you were probably thought to ensure generations like ours could enjoy them. We now have not only a moral obligation to do this same, but here at DiscoverHorizons, a spiritual one as well that aligns with the stewardship and tending of the “Garden”. The main push today for protecting America’s forest is reducing the abuse of logging in critical areas such as protecting old-growth forests. These majestic and beautiful forests that have been on this land for thousands of years.
An old-growth forest — also termed primary forest or late seral forest — is a forest that has attained great age without significant disturbance and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. These incredible forests tend to have enormous trees of great heights. Depending on the forest, this may take from a century to several millennia to get to this level of growth.
We’ve compiled some of the most amazing photos of America’s old-growth forest ecosystems. Much of it lies in the Pacific Northwest sharing it with the British Columbia province of Canada. The first time we went to the Olympia National Park, it was almost a spiritual experience. As firm believers in God’s hidden glory in creation, we saw his fingerprint in all the beauty we encountered. The high precipitation means everything is constantly wet due to the rain and fog, giving the soil just what it needs to continue growing the ferns and moss along the surface of the forests. We highly highly recommend visiting this part of the world, wherever you are from. It’s a testament to the revelation in creation.
These photos may be beautiful, but they do absolutely no justice to actually being there in person. We definitely recommend visiting this place is you’re in the area! At DiscoverHorizons, we can deeply about our forests. They save people as well, not just the environment. We need to ensure we do everything we can to make sure future generations can enjoy God’s creation for years to come. Did you know that you have the option to make an impact when you purchase a product from us? You have the option of planting a tree if that’s your preferred impact. This is our tiny pebble in building a foundation to help rebuild Earth’s forests.
]]>As Christians, we’re told to take care of our bodies because they hold our spirit, the very temple of God. We’re told this because we were created and molded into the very image of God. Staying healthy, and respecting your body is seen as a type of worship to God. However, until recently we haven’t seen “The Creation” under the same level of respect and care. Here are some of the unfortunate facts.
Looking after the creation shouldn’t just be the responsibility of the secular world or any other groups that are pushing more agendas behind it. As benefactors of this great civilization in the West, we should feel urged to do what little we can do to avoid poisoning our rivers, endangering more species, and polluting the Ozone layer. We have a strong Christian responsibility to care for the earth and every part of creation. We also have a very biblically aligned Christian responsibility to care for each other in the world, our neighbors in other countries, and the beautiful animals God created. Stewardship of a clean, beautiful Earth so that the next generations of Christians and children of God can enjoy should be a principle everyone can follow.
Let us promote care and love for our neighbors in other countries, especially outside of the West. We need to reduce as much suffering as humanely and economically possible. Millions perish every year due to pollution. Environmental degradation can lead to poisonous rivers that destroy local ecosystems and encourage even more destruction of habitat. Christians are called to rule over creation as God’s image-bearers on earth, reflecting the character and self-sacrificial rule of God. As we still live in a fallen Earth, we’re sure God grieves with us when we lose a precious species to extinction. God gives us hope, however. In Revelation 21 and Isaiah 35, the Bible speaks of the ultimate restoration of the heavens and the earth. The language emphasizes being made new, as a person is made new when he or she becomes a Christian. We can look forward, in faith, to broken things being made whole again.
I grew up as a lapsed Catholic, and I went through a very confusing atheist phase through my teenage and early adult life. I couldn’t make sense of the Christian worldview and it’s philosophical claims to truth. However, I was always an avid hiker, explorer, and traveler. God speaks to us in many ways and reveals his promises through suffering, joy, tribulation, and creation. For me, it was always incredible that in the vastness of the universe, Earth had been made so beautifully and incredibly positioned to just be purposeless and indifferent. It was in the admiration of a beautiful world that God began to water the seeds of my coming to faith. I said that, to say this: Earth is one of the greatest revelations of a good and loving Father.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is filled with instructions on how we can demonstrate our love for the Creator by caring for the earth. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden teach us the importance of physical work in relation to discovering fulfillment and a sense of human purpose, the prophet Daniel calls us to question our dietary habits, and the story of Noah addresses key issues for life on earth. However, we must be very careful to always worship the creator, not the creation. Keeping the creation clean because it is a creation and gift from God.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
let the sea thunder and all that is in it;
let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
before the LORD when he comes,
when he comes to judge the earth. Psalm 96
At our small but growing company, we’re doing everything we can do from our part. We aren’t naive to the fact that historically, the clothing industry has negatively impacted Earth. We believe in being an eco-friendly clothing company and giving back 1% of our pre-profit sales to a mission that aligns with our values.
]]>If you live in Georgia (like we do) you can find a church on nearly every corner. Especially in small towns like Calhoun, Georgia. We probably have more churches than businesses! However, not all peoples of the world have that luxury to find a place to worship and build fellowship. In someplace around the world, Christians have built churches in the most remote areas. From Ethiopia to the slopes of a volcano in Mexico, here are some of the coolest and most remote churches on Earth!
It is situated at a height of 2,580 meters (8,460 ft)[1] and has to be climbed on foot to reach! Imagine that trek… you’ll be grateful when you finally get to service. It is notable for its dome and wall paintings dating back to the 5th century and its architecture. Visitors have to cross a natural stone bridge with a sheer drop of approximately 250m on either side and thereafter a final narrow wooden footbridge. The faith is real in Ethiopia folks!
Here’s the view to the top! It would make a beautiful sunset evening surface view.
Yes. You have to WALK all the way up there!
This is a beautiful 16th cathedral constructed by the Spanish on top of one of the world’s largest pyramids (Cholula). This archeological structure consists of several superimposed pyramids, accumulated over six centuries. The base is 450 m (1,480 ft) on each side and 54 m (177 ft) high, twice as large as that of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan (another large pyramid in Mexico) and four times bigger in volume than that of Keops in Egypt! We chose to add this one to the list because of its stunning scenery.
That’s the Popocatépetl Volcano. The second highest peak in Mexico. What a stunning view! Imagine getting out of the mass and seeing that as a sign from our creator! ????
Okay, this one is not that remote, but again.. the view! This is easily one of the most photographic friendly and most popular places to visit in NZ. It’s right off of Lake Tekapo, so the scenery is incredible. Situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains, the Church of the Good Shepherd was built to the glory of God and as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country in New Zealand.
“Somehow the setting and the church combine to speak of God to those who enter and pause in the midst of their busy lives.” – Peter Hurricks.
This is probably our favorite one and is definitely on our bucket list to go visit, pray, and reflect on God’s beautiful creation. The church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek), at an elevation of 2170 meters (7120 feet), under Mount Kazbegi.
The church is a popular waypoint for trekkers in the area and can be reached by a steep 1 1/2 hour climb up the mountain, or around 30 minutes by jeep up a rough mountain trail.
There are thousands of churches around the world, if not millions. However, some truly do stand out from the others in terms of scenery and in many ways in a position for the revelation of the creation. Of course, all of these are on our bucket lists! However, we want to know which one of these would you visit first? We’ll end this article with the words that Jesus said again. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20). God bless!
]]>Currently, nearly 40 million people in the United States go to bed hungry every single day. If you go to sleep with a full belly, you’re one of the most fortunate people on Earth. These could be our neighbors, our classmates, family members, and even fellow members of our own church! With the number of people and businesses that waste food, we could probably feed every single hungry mouth on Earth, not just the United States. Here are some shocking facts:
Source: Wrap.org
As Christians, and human beings we have to all share the burden of these shocking facts. We all are responsible for this, and with everyone’s effort, we can turn the tide against this one day. Knowing this, there’s still a myth that hunger is all going on in other parts of the world but not outside of our own doors. Back to the fact up top, more than 40 million people go hungry every day in the United States. That’s more people than the entire population of Canada. And it means that across our nation, people simply can’t make ends meet. High housing costs, rising food prices, and unexpected expenses have left millions unable to stretch their dollars far enough. Sometimes they can put a warm meal on the table after a long day—and sometimes they go to bed hungry.
One of our giving partners is FeedingAmerica.org. They do an incredible job at addressing these issues and provide millions of meals every day. Still, think you alone can’t make a difference? Well keep this in mind, Individual actions add up to make a significant impact. There are many ways you can help Feeding America fight hunger. After all, the compassion of supporters and volunteers like you enables the Feeding America network to feed millions of people every year across the United States. But there is still much more work to be done!! We’ve partnered with their mission. With every single purchase, you’ll be able to select Feeding America’s cause (Feeding The Hungry) from our list of causes to support. We know this may be small, but the collective unity of all of Feeding America’s supporters and ours, we can make a difference to someone. At the end of the month, we donate a percentage of our profits towards these causes.
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have worked.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:14-18
This mountain town is close to beautiful lakes, hikes, & trails.
Bell Mountain
High Shoals Falls
This is one of the most amazing places in the world for us. The view is just incredible up there and on a clear day, you can see the Atlanta Skyline and Stone Mountain! We would recommend going during the falls to see the beautiful changing leaves. The hike is also extremely beautiful!
This spot is only 20 minutes from us. The Keown Falls trail is an amazing route to a small waterfall deep in the woods. The views are incredible and is perfect for a day-hike.
There’s something magical and relaxing about spending a weekend in the mountains in a beautiful cabin. Blue Ridge offers this and much more. We recommend stopping by the Bigfoot Museum as you pass by.
This is one of the best gems of our amazing state. The Cloudland Canyon is a extremely impressive piece of nature, especially when it’s covered in green lush leaves or in Fall when the scenery is changing. There’s also the incredible Cherokee Falls at the bottom of the trail. Lula Lake Falls is situated on private property and is only open one Saturday a month, and it’s usually the last one. This place has incredible trails and arguably the most amazing waterfall in the whole state. If we had to choose between everything we’ve shown so far, we’d put this at the top of our list.
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2. Bali
3. Wasilla, Alaska
4. Cohutta Wilderness
Georgia’s Cohutta Wilderness is filled with lush forests, cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers and some of the most remote hiking trails in the state. This is the perfect place to hike, camp, fish, and canoe. A planned trip to this place makes for the perfect adventure.
5. Lula Lake
6. Pacific Northwest – Oregon
7. Sunset Rock on Lookout Mt.- Tennessee
This 3.5-mile trek is worth every step. The scenery is outstanding. There are clearly defined trails for the way up. These trails are full of titanic rocks which offer an excellent hike experience. Once you reach the top you will be rewarded with one of the best views Tennessee has; with winding rivers, mountain ranges that go on for miles, and lush forests.
8. California
9. St.Thomas
Instagram: @courtneygoad_
You can find these incredible giants in Louisville KY. Thomas Dambo is an artist based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thomas makes beautiful and fun projects out of “trash” / recycled materials. Dambo transforms by-products or unwanted items into new materials, thereby reducing waste. These three giants are all made from recycled and re-purposed wood – including storm debris, bourbon barrel staves and scrap from the local Louisville Slugger Bat Factory. You can find them in several states in the US and also overseas.
“I place my giant trolls so people have to go away from their smartphones and into nature to find them. I think the most beautiful things you find in life are not the things you see outside your window but find when you get lost and go on a detour on the journey to your destination. By doing this he hopes to inspire people to have fun and think of trash as a resource.” – Thomas Dambo”
While admiring the giants that Thomas Dambo had created I began thinking of how we all will face giants at some point in our lives. And by giants, I am speaking of daily life problems and circumstances. It could be a giant of fear, depression, temptation, and the list goes on. Often times, you may find yourself wondering how you will ever overcome this certain situation.
Too often, we as people define God by the size of our problem instead of defining our problem by the size of our God. Think about it, we turn to God only when we have a need and in so doing we box God into the shape and exact size of the problem we face. Our focus needs to be on Him who is far bigger and greater than anything when we can ever imagine. While we may look the part on the outside, deep inside we know there should be more victory, freedom, and joy. We are simply not overcoming the giants in our lives, something is holding us back. We face the reality of various giants all around: at work, at school at home and in all life’s adventures. They appear so big and impossible and in many instances, we have just accepted them. In doing so, we have allowed their power to become come to our bondage. This bondage becomes our new normal.
The Israelites lived in defeat for forty days until an unlikely hero arrived. Unnoticed by those around him, David was a young man whose victory over Goliath began in obscurity. His story, like most of ours, started in a place of insignificance. David’s life is a testimony to us that victory begins wherever we are right now. Goliath was not the first “giant” that he faced and he would not be David’s last. In understanding how David was victorious, we also learn how to become giant slayers in our home, our relationships, and in our workplace.
It must have been incredibly scary to stand before a giant, and even scarier to do it without a sword. If we can picture the scene, I do not know many of us that would have had the courage to do what David did and put down the sword and take off the armor. There is more than a small measure of vulnerability here! God wanting us to get victory in our lives sounds wonderful until you tell people that the key to victory lies within them. Then all of a sudden they do not really believe that a ‘sling and stone” can win the battle. People do not think they have what it takes. Their giftings are not the “right” ones. If they could only have Saul’s shiny armor they could do it. Not only do they not believe that victory can be obtained in the “now” but they are insecure about the weapons they have been given.
I wonder what David must have thought when he bent down to select the stones that would fill his pouch and be his weapon against Goliath. There must have been a brief moment of inner tension when the reality of his fight sunk in. Were there any second thoughts in ‘the calm before the storm’? God was willing and able to use David just as he was. David was all God needed, nothing more, nothing less. When we yield ourselves to God, He will use us as we are. We do not have to spend the rest of our lives looking at what God is doing in and through others. We simply have to yield ourselves to the Lord, and He will raise us up to do the impossible.
After hearing Goliath’s threats, David immediately and boldly calls forth his victory in the Lord. What is amazing to notice in the passage is that David tells Goliath that he will cut off his head. Yet, if you recall, David did not have a sword. David must have been eyeing the sword of the nine-foot giant. Not only did the sword fail to intimidate David, but he already saw it as his! David not only saw the victory over the giant, but he claims the weapon of the giant as his very own. While most people would have been afraid of the sword coming against them, David claimed that very thing for the purposes of the Lord’s victory. After Goliath fell, “David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword” (1 Samuel 17: 51). So often we fear the ‘sword of Goliath.’ It is hard to have faith when we see what is coming against us. And yet, if God uses all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8: 28), then even the worst situations can bring about something good. This is easier said than believed. It can be easy to profess faith in overcoming giants. But it is a different story when a real giant shows up with a real sword that can potentially destroy us. It is hard to balance God’s faithfulness during certain circumstances, sometimes we can only see the sword. The challenge is to take each situation and ask God how He wants to grow us and to see that He may have a good purpose for us through what we see, even when things are at their worst.
What a victory it was as David boldly defeated the giant Goliath, armed only with a slingshot and five smooth stones. And it was all because a little shepherd boy answered the call of God. So how do we apply this story to our daily life? We need to recognize that we all have giants. We all face severe hardships and obstacles. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful, He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can handle. That is why giants defeat us again and again—because we face them in our own strength and we lose. We need to realize this is the Lord’s battle. .Goliath had come into the actual territory of the Israelites. He had crossed their line. He was taunting them. And if you tolerate a Goliath, he will take over your territory. He will come right up on your doorstep. Whatever your giant may be, force it into the light of day. Stop rationalizing it. Stop excusing it. Realize you cannot defeat it in your own strength. We also learn from this story that we must attack our giants. If you tolerate a giant, he’ll take over your territory. He will come right up onto your doorstep. That’s why you do not run from giants, you attack them. That’s what David did. As Goliath moved closer to attack, David ran quickly to meet him. David did not just hold his ground; he ran in Goliath’s direction. And he did not just attack his giant; he finished him off. Every giant is conquerable. Let’s face our giants in faith and realize that God is bigger than any problem than any obstacle we will face in life
Many of us have forgotten who we are, we have forgotten that we are children of the Living God, and sons and daughters of The King. We fail to see our inheritance, which was provided through the cross. We have settled for a life that was never meant for us. The giants in our lives have become our stopping point. And the lies of the enemy have defined us. However, we do not have to let it define us forever. The fact that God used a stone in the hand of a young shepherd boy to slay a giant is compelling evidence that God can accomplish victory in any situation. He does not need things to be perfect. He does not need us to be holier than we already are. He simply needs us to believe in Him. If it is about how holy we can become before God can use us, then it was never about Him. God’s strength is indeed made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12: 9).
The story of David is the story of each of us. God used a boy to defeat a giant is a message about how God wants to use each of us individually. David did not look like a victorious giant slayer. Neither did he look like a king. In the same way, we do not see ourselves as victorious. We believe we do not have much to offer. As a result, we resign ourselves to slavery. Intimidated by the giants around us and shackled by sin, victory has become a word we use, but not a realm we live in. The bondage we find ourselves in is an affront to the finished work of the cross, and it diminishes faith in the living God. The fact that God used a stone in the hand of a young shepherd boy to slay a giant is compelling evidence that God can accomplish victory in any situation.
How long since you loaded your sling and took a swing at your giant? Lift your eyes, giant-slayer. The God who made a miracle out of David stands ready to make one out of you. Just keep in mind, there is no victory without a fight.
]]>40 million people face hunger in the U.S alone! This is a surprising number for the richest nation in the world. This is still only a small percentage compared to hunger in the entire world. No one can grow and develop on an empty stomach. Hunger affects every aspect of the community and leads to a bad quality of life. Some of the major factors contributing to hunger around the world and in the U.S are political instability, food and agriculture policy, and climate change.
Political Instability
Countries facing political instability have a drop in the economy and currency leading to a spike in staple products such as foods. This also harms the country’s relationship with its neighbors and hinders trade. With the drop in the economy, jobs are also lost making it nearly impossible to afford any food. Political instability is not specific to certain countries. natural disasters and poor policy can also have a massive effect on an area’s hunger.
There have been events in the U.S where a natural disaster, poor policy, and even protests have led to hunger in an area for a certain amount of time. If not tended to the area could become extremely unstable mainly because people are not eating, and it could be so severe as to people not being able to get jobs to afford food creating a positive feedback loop and more hunger.
Food and Agriculture Policies
The U.S has had a history of very good policies for farmers and traders. The farmers are heavily subsidized in the U.S and The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) makes sure that good nutrition is being distributed throughout the country. Unfortunately, this is not the case in most countries around the world especially third world countries. Less wealthy countries lack the resources to implement policies for more productive technologies to increase crop yield.
Outdated farming practices and policies put in place to increase crop yield sometimes result in unintended consequences. Soil degradation is a major consequence caused by bad outdated practices. Soil degrades if it is tilled and farmed over and over in the same location. This degrades the nutrients and declines the soil quality. Another reason soil degrades is through the water. watering too much causes the nutrients to be carried away resulting in lower crop yields. Many countries do not have up to date policies and technology to increase their food yield.
Climate Change
As we know, climate change has been discussed for decades and there have been many efforts to slow down climate change. Despite all the efforts, climate change continues to be a looming menace to food production all around the world. Natural disasters have been more common in the past 40 years than in the past 1000 years. Unstable weather patterns can lead to fires, frosts, droughts, and floods. Hurricane seasons have also been more devastating and have caused damage to agricultural production causing a spike in food market prices. During prolonged conditions of undernutrition, the whole country or area can become unstable. Other nations such as the U.S must send over food and first aid as soon as possible. Showing little to no signs of slowing down, climate change will continue to bring devastating natural disasters all around the world and more aid and resources will be required to maintain stability.
How Each of Us Can Help
Many of these issues seem too large to handle alone but collectively between all of us doing a small part; we can change the world. Here is a list of things you can do every day to help decrease world hunger all around the world.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
– Mother Teresa
“There’s enough on this planet for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s greed.”
-Mohandas Gandhi
We are doing our part as well. By partnering with Feeding America we donate a percentage of our monthly income to feed impoverished children. The Feeding America network is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working to connect people with food and end hunger. Donors, staff, and volunteers all play an important role in our efforts to end hunger in the United States. 40 million people face hunger in the U.S. today — including more than 12 million children and nearly five million seniors. “Hunger knows no boundaries — it touches every community in the U.S., including your own”.
For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; | Matthew 25:35
How does my purchase with DiscoverHorizons help contribute 10 meals with this organization?
“Unlike walking into a grocery store and paying retail prices for food, Feeding America works directly with major manufacturers, retailers and other partners across the country to secure safe, healthy food that would otherwise go to waste. According to a ReFED study conducted in 2016, 72 billion pounds of food is wasted in America each year.
Through our partnerships, Feeding America works to rescue this food before it’s wasted — making a difference for the people we serve and for the environment. Because of these successful partnerships, every dollar you donate to Feeding America helps secure and distribute at least 12 pounds of food — the equivalent of 10 meals — through our nationwide network of food banks. Learn more about Feeding America’s allocation of donation dollars.“
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