Outdoor Object Lesson 75: A Camel's Burden

Key Text

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (WEB)

Lesson

What has four legs, a long neck, and a hump? If you guessed a camel than you are correct. Camels are instantly recognizable for their unique shape and iconic hump. They are truly amazing animals with features that allow them to survive and thrive in harsh, barren deserts. Camels are best known for their legendary ability to survive a long time without needing to drink water. Camels routinely go several days or more without drinking any water. Even more surprising is that they can go for several months without any food! How do they do that?

Many people mistakenly think camels store water in their humps. Rather, fat is stored in their humps and provides energy when they go without food. Camels do not have a large empty space in their body to store extra water like some internal water battle. Instead their body (specifically their cardiovascular system, kidneys, and other organs) is extremely efficient at retaining and managing water. God gave camels special tools to enable them to go without water for many days. This ability makes camels very important animals for people who live in desert places.

Camels are mentioned numerous times throughout the Old Testament as a means of transportation. Jesus would have been very familiar with camels. He may have even ridden one. Camels are still an important means of transportation in Israel and the Middle East today. They carry heavy burdens for their owners. But if you have ever seen a picture of a camel, then you may remember they have very long legs! Most camels are 5-7 feet (1.6-2 meters) high and are taller than many horses.1 So how does an owner put a camels burden on and take it off each day?

In the morning, the camel must kneel down so that its owner can load the days burden onto its back. A good owner knows just how much the camel can carry for the days journey. After being loaded the camel gets up again to carry his burden for the day. The camel then simply follows his owner who has the greater burden of leading the way safely through the desert. At the end of the day, the camel kneels down again so his owner can remove the burden and the camel can rest. This is exactly how it is when we follow Jesus. When Jesus is our owner he promises to bear our burdens (Psalm 68:19). In turn he asks us to bear his burdens. He will take responsibility for leading us through the desert of life. He says in the key text that when we take his burden that he will place them on us gently. He also promises to give us rest from our burdens, all we must do is simple kneel each night and let him remove them.

Questions

Have you ever seen a camel in real life? If so what did you think about it?

How do we kneel down and let Jesus remove our burdens?

What did Jesus mean in the key text (Matthew 11:29) when he said take my yoke upon you?

Do you think it is easier to bear the burden Jesus gives us?



Sources:

1: “Camel,” San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants online, accessed October 7, 2018. https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/camel.



Written by David F. Garner

Photo credit: dimitrisvetsikas1969 via www.pixabay.com

O God, This Precious Earth Thou Gave

 

O God, This Precious Earth Thou Gave 

O God, this precious Earth Thou gave 

To us to hold for Thee; 

Thou gave to us dominion over 

Land and over sea; 

Thou gave us mighty power over 

Creatures great and small; 

The Earth: we are responsible 

For caring for it all. 

But when we look around we find 

Our damage everywhere; 

The robins and the sparrows must 

Fly through polluted air; 

The rolling rivers have become 

Awash with our debris; 

The oceans slowly fill with trash 

Far as the eye can see.

The creatures once so plentiful 

Can scarcely now be seen; 

The forests are depleted now 

That once were strong and green; 

Where fish by hundreds once did swim 

In rivers pure and clear, 

The rivers now are toxic gray, 

And fish do not appear. 

Forgive us, God, for what we did 

 In carelessness and haste; 

We never did intend to cause 

Such damage and such waste; 

So as in sorrow we repent, 

We ask on bended knee 

To give us, God, the strength now to 

Restore the Earth for Thee. 

Amen.

by William E. McGinnis

Photo Credit: aamiraimer via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Object Lesson 69: A Seed's Power

Key Verse

"He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth:" Psalm 104:14 NHEB

Lesson

Have you ever wondered how a seed sprouts and pushes up through heavy soil? Or how a small root can crack rock and break through concrete? The power of nature can be marvelous. The secret of a plant’s power lies in the structure of its cells. Plant cells have strong cell walls unlike animal cells. These walls give plant cells reinforcement. When the seed encounters the proper temperature and moisture conditions the growth or germination process will begin. Water enters the seed through a small hole in the shell called the micropyle.

This process of water absorption is called imbibition. As water is taken into the cells of the plant, they swell but do not burst because of the cell wall reinforcement. This creates pressure inside the seed (turgor pressure). It is impossible to compress water, so the pressure builds due to the swelling cells until the sprout forces its way out of the shell. As the plant grows its cells multiply and fill with water through osmosis. This gives the plant enough power to push through the soil or even rock and stand up against gravity. Turgor pressure is an amazing power. It enables soft plants to move and break rock and dirt many times heavier.1,2,3 Mushrooms have even been documented breaking up through the concrete of a road.

The power of God can be seen here through the delicately yet complexly wrought process by which a tiny plant shoot can pierce rock and concrete. Only through the power of God is this process maintained as the key verse pointed out. Though science explains how this process works, it is God's power that maintains it. For all life is maintained by God's own power. All life lasts only as long as he allows. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the wind of the Lord blows upon it Isaiah 40:7 (paraphrased).

Will you ever again doubt that God is able to do what he promises? Whenever you walk out-of-doors and see the grass, or indoors and see a potted plant, you will be reminded of the power given to it as a small seedling. If God is able to care for the grass, is he not able to care for you (Matthew 6:30)? God’s power goes beyond our imagination. And he wants to use it for our benefit. All that we must do is ask. “Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Ephesians 3:20 NHEB.

Questions

What is your favorite kind of plant? What will this remind you of now?

What other examples does the Bible give of God’s power?

Why do we often fail to see God’s power in our own life?

What do we do when we ask God for something within his capability yet do not receive?

Sources

1. Michael W. Davidson. (1995). Plant Cell Vacuoles. Molecular Expressions. Retrieved January 9, 2018, from https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/plants/vacuole.html.

2. "imbibition." A Dictionary of Biology. Retrieved January 9, 2018 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/science/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/imbibition-1.

3. Mary Osborne. (September 21, 2017). How Does a Bean Seed Grow? Gardenguides.com. Retrieved January 9, 2018 from https://www.gardenguides.com/77371-bean-seed-grow.html.



Written by David F. Garner

Photo Credit: TambiraPhotography via www.pixabay.com

The Hiker's Prayer

The Hikers Prayer

Adapted from the 23rd Psalm

The LORD is my guide,

I have all that I need,

He leads me to rest in green meadows,

He leads me along trickling streams,

He strengthens me,

He guides me down smooth trails,

Reminding me of His devotion,

As I hike through valleys shadowed by storms,

I fear no misfortune, for You are my guide,

Your well-worn staff shows Your experience,

And I take comfort,

You prepare a feast for me,

At the end of a long treacherous day,

You sooth me with a hot drink,

Surely Your goodness and care,

Will always be there,

And I will follow in Your footsteps,

Every day of my life.

- By David F. Garner

Skills: Prayer

As a person in ministry prayer is something you are supposed to be good at. Or so it often seems. Everyone expects you to lead in prayer. People might ask you for tips on how to pray. The Bible says a lot about prayer and its importance. The word pray or a form of it appears in the NIV 367 times. As a comparison, the word kind or a form of it appears 250 times. Any Bible student ought to understand that to be kind to others, especially your enemies, you must pray, a lot!

Somehow, in our instant culture, our prayers often stop at the drive-through order window. We place our order and pull ahead before hearing the price. We ask or tell God what we need but we don’t take time to listen. Prayer is an essential skill to our ministry and our own salvation. Jesus prayed often and for long periods of time. Prayer is a skill you should be actively seeking to develop. There are numerous books written on prayer. If you have one already maybe it’s time to dust it off and reread it. Or check out the latest ones at your local Christian bookstore. In the meantime here are a few key steps to develop this essential skill.

1. Start by setting aside time to pray daily. I like to set an alarm to remind myself to pray at a certain time in the morning (any time is fine). Then I set a timer and pray until it goes off. This ensures that I don’t get distracted or quit early because I remembered something I need to do. This simple step has revolutionized my prayer life. I often find that I want to keep going after the timer is up, and sometimes I do.

2. Pray with a format. Use your favorite prayer in the Bible as a template for your own prayer. For example: Psalm 51, Colossians 1:9-14, or 1 Kings 3:5-15. Alternatively, pray using an acronym that is easy to remember such as A T.A.C. which stands for A Thanks, Admit, Commit prayer.

3. Keep a prayer journal. This is a great method used by many devout prayer warriors. It provides reinforcement for the power of prayer by creating a record that you can go back and look at. Additionally, experts note that it is easier for some people to express their thoughts by writing rather than speaking.

4. Pray as Jesus did. Reread the Lord’s prayer and other prayers of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. Follow His example remembering to begin with praise and thanks. No one likes it when you just come up and ask them for a favor. We are made in God’s image so I’m sure he prefers more than just requests. Be sure to model this when praying in public, not for display as the Pharisee in Luke 18:11, but because that is how you genuinely pray. Also, it will benefit your hearers as they learn by your example.

Remember that prayer is a skill that we should actively develop as we seek to minister more like Jesus. It is oh so easy to pray real quick out of habit or just when we need things. Start today by praying purposely for Jesus to revive and grow your prayer life. To read more on this check out one of these great book: Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels or my personal favorite Christ's Way To Pray by Dr. Phillip Samaan.

Written by David F. Garner 

Photo credit: Pexels via www.pixabay.com

Christian Outdoor Activity Lesson: T.A.G. Time

Key Verse

“You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 WEB

Activity

T.A.G. Time or Time Alone with God.

Note: Scouting the location beforehand is advisable.
Activity Type:

Experiential

Time:

1-1.5 hours. Include 5 minutes to brief and set scene for group, then solo time of 60 minutes. Finally, 15-20 minutes of discussion/debrief at end (this is optional).

Age Group & Size:

Participants 14+ years of age are ideal a 1-1.5 hour session. For younger participants choose a 15-30 minute session instead. This activity can be done with any group size as long as there is enough staff to supervise and keep everyone in the boundaries to avoid getting lost.

Materials:

A patch of nature. For example: night-time on a hill, sunrise, sunset, or most any natural location, especially by a river, pond, ocean or other body of water. Potentially add background music to set meditative or worshipful state. You can also pass out paper and pencils and tell participants to write something or have them use a journal or Bible. See Variations below.

Goal:

We are rarely still in nature. The goal is to encourage participants to commune with God in his creation undistracted. This is Biblical style meditation.

Instructions:

Visit a natural place that is conveniently available. Spend one hour in silence. Simply observe and be. Encourage participants to relax and enjoy the silence and connect with their Creator.

Try to ensure there are no pressing activities on people's minds (cooking, cleaning, etc.). Take care of these things in advance so participants are less distracted. Explain that participants are to spend an hour alone in nature. In today's society, just being in nature is a surprisingly rare event and most people will appreciate the experience.

Avoid giving much up front information about the experience, so that it is more "raw" and "natural". Be sure to give instructions on boundaries and distance. Tell participants to be safe and avoid being on cliff edge or up in trees as no one will come looking for them for an hour. Allow each person to find a place on their own. They can be within sight of each other or farther away and more alone depending on the space available and age group.

After approximately 1 hour, walk around and indicate for the group to come back together. Doing this is preferable to shouting as it preserves the mood for a debrief. Debrief: Form a circle and facilitate the group in sharing their experiences and thoughts about spending time in nature.

Variations:

Shorten the time to 30 or 15 minutes for various age groups or for daily personal devotions on a trip.
Have participants contemplate one or two questions. These can be connected with a theme. See this list of discussion questions and have participants share their answers in the debrief.
Play calming background music. Well-chosen music can significantly deepen the experience, helping alter people's brain waves into achieving a more calm, worshipful state. This is a great place for hymns or nature sounds music.
Allow participants to write or draw.
Besides different natural locations, try other places for an hour of silence such as church or meditation room, a playground, top floor of a building or mountain, looking over a city, etc.
Try different times like nighttime, moonrise, sunrise, sunset, etc.
Provide verbal or written "meditations", e.g., quotes, verses, etc.

For a similar activity type See Solo Walk.

Questions

How comfortable are you with silence?

Can you listen to yourself? To the Holy Spirit?

Do you recognize respectful silence?

Do you experience a silent time at home? What would it be like if you asked for some silence at school or work?

Possible lessons to draw from this activity.

Silence is an unused tool that is very effective in all kinds of ways. Most people have little true silence in their lives, yet it provides considerable peacefulness. Using the key verse talk about how being alone in nature helps to remove all the distractions that keep us from seeking God with all our hearts. Briefly describe how Jesus often spent time alone in silence and prayer with the Father, see Luke 5:16.

Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: lecreusois

Christian Outdoor Object Lessons 2: Rock Climbing and Prayer

Key Verse

“He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2 KJV

Lesson

As you cling to the rock, sweat drips off your brow, your hands are getting slick and clammy. You breathe rapidly and you can feel your heart beating in your body. You are lead climbing, 75 feet off the ground and 6 feet past your last anchor. You are still a few feet from the next bolt. You know if you fall now it will be at least a 12-foot drop. But you’re not sure if you can hold on much longer. Then the doubts start to flash before your mind. Did you place that last quick-draw correctly? Did you back clip? Did you check to make sure it was bomber? Can your belayer even see you after that last roof? Does he even know what you are going through? Or is he down there not paying attention, distracted by his new girlfriend he brought along?

Sometimes in life, we go through similar situations. We struggle and struggle up the difficulties of life. Sometimes its fun. Other times it becomes real and serious, even dangerous. We work hard to create anchors in our life. We try to set them to catch us in case we slip. We wear our seatbelt. We have some money saved aside. We have some solid friends in case our relationships don’t work out. We assume our parents will always be there to support and help us. But can we always trust those anchors to be there?

What if our friends move away? What if we don’t have enough money for an emergency? What if our parents split up, or even die? Do we have a second back up? Are our anchors in life redundant? In some situations, they may be. But if we start to think about it we may realize they are not. When the going gets tough we may start to doubt that our anchors will hold up.

As Christians, we have another Anchor. Our anchor to the Rock that David speaks about in Psalms is the Word of God. It is there to assure us that God is real and who He claims to be. Just as important is our rope, our connection to the Anchor—prayer. This is how we stay connected. When the going gets rough and we can’t double check the anchor, we have prayer at our disposal. It is the life-link to God our Rock. We can know that our God is always listening, even if our earthly belayer gets distracted by their girlfriend or boyfriend.

Questions

How do you stay anchored to the Rock?

What is your favorite verse in the anchor (Word of God)?

Has prayer ever kept you connected when everything else has fallen away?

Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: Pexels via www.pixabay.com