tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051186389895515072024-03-13T05:38:59.258-07:00Bible Lessons From The Outdoorsdg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comBlogger209125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-66877097376937468542023-08-28T16:16:00.000-07:002023-08-28T16:16:06.184-07:00The (nearly) Unabridged History of Outdoor Ministry <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Outdoor Ministry History (Part 1)</span></b><br>
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<br>The wilderness experience is a central idea to the Christian understanding of God and how he interacts with humans. It is a period of emotional, spiritual and often phyiscal trial that God allows to afflict those whom he is trying to instruct. It is a tool he often uses with his followers to remind them of their limited control over their own circumstances, and more importantly, of their reliance on him. <span><a name="more"></a></span> The wilderness experience does not always entail physical trial or discomfort. But in the biblical narrative it is often a trail that takes place in a physical wilderness environment. The biblical definition of a wilderness refers to uncultivated regions, dry or desolate, with little human influence. In such cases this is a total body experience in which the person must trust God for both emotional courage and strength as well as physical sustenance. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The wilderness experience that takes place in remote, desolate places provides an opportunity for God’s people to harken back to the Edenic design of undistracted communion with him in nature. The outdoors and especially the wilderness have always played a key part in God's work of human restoration. It has a prominent role throughout the biblical narrative. God often uses places of wilderness to train his followers.1 God's leaders have ascertained this and used the outdoors to disciple others throughout history. One author describes wilderness as, “one of the most basic in biblical tradition, and it is to be expected that it should appear again and again as the Lord’s plan of salvation unfolded.”2 The wilderness experience lies at the foundation of all outdoor ministry.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br>
The first record we have of the use of the outdoors in organized ministry is the School of the Prophets begun by the Prophet Samuel in ancient Israel (2 Ki. 6). These schools were likely set in rural locations and on the outskirts of town. Outdoor work and leisure were a part of their routine.3,4 Other Biblical examples of spiritual training in the outdoors include John the Baptist, an Essene educated in a remote wilderness (Lk. 1:80)5; John’s disciples trained by him in the desert wilderness (Mt. 3:1-17); Jesus who was put through the wilderness school by the Holy Spirit (Lk. 4:1-13). Whenever we get a peek at Jesus' instruction to his disciples, it is almost always in rural, outdoor places where they were undistracted. Jesus spent much time in remote, natural areas to rejuvenate his spirit and to teach. [For further study on wilderness themes in the Bible see <i>Wilderness in the Bible: Toward a Theology of Wilderness</i> by Robert Barry Leal published by Peter Lang Publishing Group] <br>
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The benefits of the outdoors were not lost on the Medieval monks. From as early as the fourth century they left the cities and sought the secluded wild to connect with God. They had a close relationship with the land and the outdoors. This closeness was considered an essential part of spiritual development and maintaining purity of mind. Their monasteries were often self-sufficient requiring the monks to grow all their own food.6,7,8 <br>
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The modern concept of the outdoors in the developed world could be defined as-- a world away from human habitation that offers adventure and a chance to gain philosophical insight. This view is not universal and is decidedly contemporary. It is largely the result of centuries of interaction with nature by believers who sought to understand the Creator through the role of wilderness in human salvation. It was a significant concept for the Puritans when they first arrived in Massachusetts in the early 1600’s. They saw themselves as chosen by God to bring the Gospel to the New World, but first they must be put through the wilderness experience like the Israelites in Exodus. A dichotomic view of the wilderness developed through their experience with the harsh realities of an untamed land. It was a place of “spiritual corruption” where they were to build a garden haven. It was simultaneously seen as a place for religious refinement where they, “had familiar and full converse with [God]” with no distractions.9 They did not seek to destroy the wilderness for cities or material gain. They sought to cultivate the wild land into a garden both physically and spiritually. Their primary goal as they came to understand it was to go, “into this wilderness to see…more of Jesus Christ.”9 Their interpretations greatly influenced the development of the modern view of wilderness. <br>
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The camp meetings of the Second Great Awakening in the U.S.A. significantly shaped the concept of how the outdoors could function in the Gospel work. Camp meetings demonstrated to evangelists that meeting in a primitive setting provided a ready climate for revival. Attendants felt closer to their Creator and less constrained by societal expectations in these remote spaces.10 One camp meeting leader observed, “Christians enjoy those meetings most which cost them the greatest sacrifice.” A fifty-mile journey was “a pretty sure pledge of a profitable meeting.”11 Another expressed similarly strong feelings. "The camp meeting is one of the most important agencies in our work. It is one of the most effective methods of arresting the attention of the people and reaching all classes with the gospel invitation."11a Many of the camp meeting locations became well established sites used year after year with primitive facilities and foreshadowed the modern summer camp.10</div><div>
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Modern outdoor ministry as it is known today really began in the latter half of the 19th century. It has built on the ideas of the role of wilderness in the Christian experience that came before it and is at once a culmination of those ideas. Its development can be categorized into three pivotal eras. The youth ministry era, the reconnection era, and the experiential era. The outdoor ministry movement of the 19th century was defined by youth ministry leaders attempting to reconnect urban youth with nature. It is a direct outgrowth of the youth ministry movement. For many decades, they were one-and-the-same. <br>
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The Youth Ministry Era: 1785 - 1861 </h3>
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The Industrial Age in Europe and America caused many people to cram into tight cities where little trees or grass existed. Philanthropists noted concern for the youth who were often involved in criminal activity. Statistics show a drastic increase in juvenile crime from 1800 - 1850 justifying their concerns. As extreme shifts in populations from rural to city settings took place, social structures were upset and left many families in poverty. Poverty hurt the youth most. It was concern for these youth, for the future generations, that drove individuals and churches to take revolutionary action to confront these issues.12,13 <br>
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The youth ministry movement has its roots in the formation of Sunday School. A major figure in the Sunday School tradition was William Fox who founded the Sunday School Society in London in 1785. Originally, Sunday School was an all-day school program for poor working youth who had no other opportunity for education. Teachers taught reading and writing with the Bible as the main textbook.14 <br>
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During this era, the idea of healing and rejuvenation in nature in the modern sense began to find widespread support. It can be traced back to educator, physician, founding father, and dedicated Christian, Benjamin Rush. He observed in 1812, "It has been remarked, that [those]...who assist in cutting wood, making fires, and digging in a garden...often recover, while persons, whose rank exempts them from performing such services, languish away their lives within the walls of the hospital."15a <br>
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Shortly after the California Gold Rush began, Settlers discovered Yosemite Valley and all its beauty in 1851. The writings of James Hutchings and later John Muir and others added to a growing sentiment in the U.S. that places of natural beauty needed to be preserved from the industrial revolution and westward expansion. The U.S. Congress began preserving sites of special beauty and later established the National Parks Service. During the latter half of the 19th century, American and British working classes discovered travel and outdoor recreation as a means of leisure and rejuvenation. Travel to foreign and exotic places was on the rise in this era thanks to new transportation technology.<br>
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Thomas Cook, the father of modern tourism, who started organizing trips
in 1841 to help spread the message of temperance against alcohol,
eventually started the modern tourist industry. Cook believed travel and
tourism provided a means to keep people from drinking in the first
place and provided other benefits for society.15b A growing interest in travel and leisure in the mid-1800’s laid a foundation for interest in outdoor recreation later in the century. The spread of outdoor recreation such as camping was in large part due to Pastor William H. H. Murray who published perhaps the first self-help camping guidebook in 1869 titled Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks. Its poetic descriptions of nature drew many city dwellers towards the wilderness.15c Camping and other outdoor recreation activities grew rapidly and gained prodigious popularity by the 1880's.16 Many philanthropists saw modern humanity in the industrial cities as cut off from nature.17 The camping movement helped to change that. <br>
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The conservation movement began to form alongside the growth of outdoor recreation. Among the early proponents of nature conservation and enjoyment were many influential names who held a belief in the benefit of the Bible and its Creator God. Some kept their beliefs to themselves while others were vocal. All contributed in momentous ways, eloquently spreading ideas of the importance of nature. <br>
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These early names include: George Perkins Marsh author of Man and Nature which in 1864 helped launch the modern conservation movement;18 Frederick Billings who, inspired by Marsh, advocated for early national parks and helped set standards for sustainable forestry and agriculture;19 Sir Robert Hunter and Octavia Hill who both helped establish the Commons Preservation Society of England in 1865, one of the first organizations to promote conservation;20 preacher and author Charles H. Spurgen who advocated for the benefits and preservation of Creation throughout his ministry from 1854-1892; George Washington Sears author of the 1884 classic Woodcraft which was an early guide to camping and so influential it has never gone out of print! These and others laid the foundation of nature enthusiasm in the public mind that paved the way for outdoor ministry. <br>
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These two ideas of conservation and reconnection to nature grew and flourished throughout the latter half of 19th century. During this same period, the youth ministry movement had become a staple part of Christian ministry. It was only natural that youth workers would try to reconnect the youth with nature and use it to point young minds to its Creator. Many individuals did so. But only a few had the vision to form a ministry where the outdoors was key. <br>
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The Reconnection Era: 1861 - 1930 </h3>
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Following the Biblical model, these few began to use nature as the classroom for spiritual instruction. First to do so was Fredrick William Gunn, the “father of recreational camping”21 in the United States. Gunn was an educator who believed that nature was an inherently wonderful teacher and that learning how to manage oneself outdoors was necessary. Gunn was a deeply religious man and outspoken about his abolitionist beliefs. In 1861 Gunn led a group of his own students on a camping trip on the coast of New York City for two weeks of "sleeping in tents, boating, sailing, fishing, marching, and tramping."21 This yearly event became known as Camp Gunnery, the first official summer camp.21 <br>
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In 1876, the Episcopalian Dr. Joseph Trimble Rothrock opened the North Mountain School of Physical Culture for the express purpose of bringing together boys not already living in one place. It was more akin to a modern summer camp than that of Mr. Gunn. The program offered activities such as swimming, walking in the woods, and instruction in natural history, weather, drawing, and others.21 <br>
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The first church-sponsored camp was started by Rev. George W. Hinkley in 1880. His Rhode Island camp resembled a modern summer camp with a daily schedule including religious services, recreations periods, swimming, and evening campfires. But, unlike most modern summer camps, it had no grounds of its own. A year later in 1881 Earnest Balch founded a Christian camp on a New Hampshire island he named Chocorua. It had a similar structure to Hinkley’s camp and emphasized building life skills and Christian character. Camp Chocorua lasted only nine years, but inspired others to start similar camps sparking the summer camp movement.21 <br>
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In this pivotal time, many youth ministry organizations arose. Mark H. Senter suggests in his book <i>When God Shows Up: A History of Protestant Youth Ministry In America</i>, that this period of youth work was defined by the rise of youth societies. The Christian Endeavor Society was formed in 1881 in Portland, Maine, under the direction of Rev. Francis E. Clark as the first national church youth organization. The forward-thinking Clark established it as non-denominational enabling the organization to grow rapidly. Clark's organization set the precedent for the future of organized youth and outdoor ministry. It still operates today in multiple countries over 130 years later.22 <br>
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Among the growing interest to rescue the youth and save nature appeared the YMCA or Young Men's Christian Association and its sister organization YWCA for women. The YMCA was first established in London in 1844 and later arrived in the U.S.A. where it grew. Camping became a cornerstone of YMCA programming in 1885 when the YMCA started Camp Dudley, at Orange Lake, New York which is the longest continually operating camp.23 <br>
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In the last two decades of the 19th century, outdoor ministry began to shift into a subcategory of youth ministry. Summer camps, outdoor-based school programs, and the rise of outdoor recreation changed the way people interacted with and viewed nature. The reconnection era represents the true beginning of modern outdoor ministry as a distinct type of Gospel ministry. <br>
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After the turn of the 20th century, nature became more accessible. Enabled by the automobile, American and British citizens flocked to the great outdoors by the thousands. Clubs begin to arise to meet the demand for skills and knowledge. Perhaps the best example of the transition from general youth ministry to outdoor ministry is the Royal Ambassadors. It's traces its heritage back as far as 1883 to youth clubs organized for the express purpose of training youth as missionary ambassadors for Christ. It was officially organized as a national organization in 1908 and by the 1930's regularly included camping and outdoor activities. It went on to establish clubs and camps all over the world now present in at least 14 countries.24,25 <br>
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Probably the most influential organization to the development of modern outdoor ministry is the Boy Scouts of America (now Scouts BSA). It was founded in 1910 by William D. Boyce and modeled on the earlier British Boy Scouts Association. It was started to teach boys camping and nature craft as well as positive character traits. Duty to God is a fundamental principle of Scouting. The religious emblem programs make every effort to strengthen Scouts in their religious obligations. Clubs are often based in churches however the organization is not affiliated with any specific religious organization or creed.26 Although not overtly religious, the Boy Scouts of America and also the Girl Scouts of America created a passion for camping in generations of young kids that lasted throughout adult life. They helped to make camping not only common but a cultural a rite of passage.<br>
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Another influential club based organization is the Pathfinders. 1928 was the year in which the first Pathfinder Club was formed. It was modeled after the Boy Scouts but was overtly Christian. Pathfinders from the beginning was designed to use nature as a medium for teaching Biblical truths. It is probably the first club based organization founded on this model. Today Pathfinders is a global organization run by the Seventh-day Adventist Chirch in over 160 counties with more than 2 million members.27 <br>
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The Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, have been at the head of nearly every major social justice movement over the past 200 years. During the reconnection era many were at the forefront of helping people get back to nature and enjoy the spiritual benefits it brings. Some members significantly influenced the rise of outdoor recreation and outdoor ministry. These included several notable mountaineers such as Corder Catchpool and Eric Shipton.28 <br>
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Another, Thomas Arthur Leonard spent his life promoting outdoor activity among British citizens. He began by leading church groups on "holidays". In 1893 he founded the Co-operative Holiday Association (CHA) which operated into the current century. In 1913 Leonard founded the Holiday Fellowship as a more rustic, youth-focused, hostel-type organization. Both the CHA and HF strove to connect their clientele with nature and God in meaningful ways much like modern Christian resorts and conference centers. Leonard also helped establish the Youth Hostels Association and the Ramblers Association both of which still exist. These organizations greatly promoted the spread of outdoor recreation in Britain in the early 20th century.28 <br>
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Other influential names in the 20th century who believed in God and the importance of nature include: William C. Coleman who founded the Coleman Lantern company which produced sturdy and reliable lanterns, stoves and other equipment that became mainstays of camping;28a President Theodore Roosevelt who established many National Parks and the U.S. Forest Service; Horace Kephart nicknamed ‘John Muir of the East’ and author of Our Southern Highlanders;29 David P. Bushnell who worked with youth and who's company Bushnell Inc. put binoculars in reach of the lower classes spurring nature enthusiasm; videographer, philosopher, and author Sam Campbell who's mid-century Living Forest series has continued to entertain and inspire young nature enthusiast; Emma (Grandma) Gatewood, the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail helped to save it and create renewed national interest in hiking all after the age of 67;30 conservationist William O. Douglas who used his time as the longest serving U.S. Supreme Court Justice to promote the passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act and to preserve many locations throughout the U.S.;31 Howard Zahniser, environmentalist and primary author of the 1964 Wilderness Act;32 Jim Rayburn who helped start Young Life, incorporated camp ministry early on in 1946. Young Life now runs youth camps all over the world;33 Tim Hansel, who in 1973, began Summit Adventures, one of the first journey-based outdoor ministries in the world.34 <br>
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<h3>
The Experiential Era 1930 - Today </h3>
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The philosophy of experiential learning characterizes the next era. Many philosophers have promoted experience as the best teacher including Plato, John Lock, and John Muir. Outdoor education in our modern sense began with Kurt Hahn founder of Outward Bound. Hahn prized many Christian principles which he incorporated and these helped form the basis of outdoor education. The Biblical story of the Good Samaritan greatly influenced Hahn. Concerned with moral decline, Hahn set out to build an educational model that not only transferred knowledge, but helped develop a student’s character and convey a sense of right and wrong. In 1941, Hahn created Outward Bound in England to train seamen how to cope with the rigors of sailing on the high seas. His approach focused on leadership and character development along with fostering a sense of service and intellectual training. He believed these goals were best achieved through experience in a natural, outdoor setting using group activities and outdoor pursuits such as hiking, camping, rock climbing, and others.35, 36 <br>
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Hahn's work helped lead to the most recent trend in outdoor ministry which emphasizes journey-based wilderness experience.37 Outdoor education philosophy and the classic spiritual wilderness experience as seen in the Bible share many similarities. The experiential era represents a shift in outdoor ministry from one of traditional spiritual training happen near or in nature to a utilization of nature as a medium for spiritual training. It also sees a shift from fractured, independent outdoor ministries to a more unified movement characterized by professionalism. This era has seen explosive growth of programs and organizations that help maintain and support the outdoor ministry movement at large. <br>
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In the mid-20th century, the U.S. Congress established the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission (ORRRC) which lead to the development of outdoor spaces through laws such as the Wilderness Act of 1964. ORRRC’s work literally paved the way for park development across the country giving the general population in the U.S.A. access to wilderness places which had been nearly inaccessible to those without specialized gear, training, or experience. New roads, trails, and facilities were built and maintained to provide better access. This encouraged park development at the State and local level around the country as well as internationally. Easier access helped to popularize outdoor activities as a form of recreation on a mass scale in the U.S.A. and around the world.38 This enabled the growth of more outdoor ministry organizations and programs.<br>
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As Americans flocked to the National Parks in the later half of the 20th century, one Princeton seminary student realized the great ministry opportunity this provided. Reverend Warren Ost worked in Yellowstone in the summer of 1951 while a student. He realized the vast faith-based needs of the campers and visitors who were far from home. He also saw the opportunity to point visitors to God in the midst of his Creation. He organized a worship service for anyone interested held in the Old Faithful Inn. Later he founded an interdenominational non-profit called A Christian Ministry In The National Parks (ACMNP). Nearly 70 years later it continues to operate worship services in over 25 National Parks every summer. It is primarily staffed by seminary students who gain a taste for outdoor ministry while reaching thousands of National Park visitors annually.38b<br>
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The experiential era has seen the rise of many faith based outdoor programs, some of which emphasize journey-based experiential ministry. The era has seen outdoor ministry mature into a stand-alone ministry type marked by professionalism. People like author Lloyd D. Mattson and educator Dr. Richard Bradley Daniel helped to develop guidelines and standardize practices. Mattson wrote extensively from the 1960's through the early 2000's. His numerous books provided much needed practical advice and pro tips for summer camp staff, churches, clubs, and families on camping and outdoor ministry. Dr. Daniel helped to start one of the first degree programs for Christian outdoor professionals at Montreat College in North Carolina in 1986.39 Other similar collegiate programs ranging from the bachelor to doctoral level have subsequently arisen. Outdoor ministry has become a type of ministry in its own right. It has produced new, influential leaders such as Dr. Ashley Denton whose pioneering book Christian Outdoor Leadership has strengthened and grown the experiential philosophy and outdoor ministry in a broad way. <br>
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Arguably the biggest contributor to the professional development of outdoor ministry has come not from a person but an organization. Beginning in 1950 several Christian camping and conference groups saw the benefit of joining resources. Over the next few years their efforts led to the Christian Camping International (CCI) association incorporated in 1963 with Graham Tinning named the first Executive Director. Over the following decades, it grew to include affiliates on 6 continents. Today the U.S.A. chapter is known as the Christian Camps and Conference Association (CCCA).40 <br>
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Before the experiential era, youth groups may have taken an occasional jaunt into the outdoors for a day hike or weekend camping trip. Summer camps offered youth closeness with nature but often did not emphasize spiritual training directly from it. Summer camp leaders were often trained the same as other youth workers. Indeed, youth pastors have historically been the main source of leadership in outdoor based ministry. Outdoor skills were usually optional. Pursuit of expertise in natural knowledge, recreational skills, and the use of these in effective ministry was mostly voluntary and certainly secondary to theological knowledge. <br>
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The experiential era could be seen as reaching back to the roots of outdoor wilderness based ministry as set forth in the Bible. Its philosophy focuses on providing a challenging experience and then assisting participants in understanding how this experience contributes to their spiritual growth. An increased focus on professionalism in outdoor ministry has raised the standards for outdoor ministry leaders in all facets. Increasingly, outdoor ministry leaders are required to have knowledge and skill in the outdoors in addition to theological. These skills are moving from an optional position to a mandatory one. This has opened new frontiers in outdoor ministry. Classic summer camp ministry caters to children and adolescents. But new models of outdoor ministry that have arisen sense the '70's and '80's offer spiritual wilderness experience for adults also. Some also cater to both ages in the form of family focused ministry. <br>
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The philosophy of the experiential era has helped outdoor ministry rediscover its roots. It has led to a strong and thriving ministry model that has seen explosive growth and success. Organizations such as Christian Camps International, the Wilderness Ministry Institute, and the Christian Adventure Association help to drive outdoor ministry toward professionalism and results oriented practices. The experiential philosophy has added positive aspects to the classic summer camp model of ministry which in turn helps breed and foster future generations of outdoor ministry leaders. Outdoor ministry is vital to God's work of restoration. Understanding its history helps to understand its future and the impact it can have for God's kingdom!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
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<br>
See <a href="http://www.outdoorlessons.org/2017/06/outdoor-ministry-and-its-future.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> on the future of outdoor ministry.<br>
<br>
<div style="text-align: center;">
__________________________</div>
<br>
Written by David F. Garner</div>
<div>
Photograph by Leland J Parter<br>
<br>
<br>
<h4>
<b>Sources</b></h4>
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2. Stock, Augustine, The Way in the Wilderness: Exodus, Wilderness and Moses Themes in Old Testament and New (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1969): xii, Print. <br>
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3. Price, Ira M, "The Schools of the Sons of the Prophets," The Old Testament Student 8, no. 7 (1889): 244-49, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3156528. <br>
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11. Beougher, Timothy K., “Camp Meetings And Circuit Riders: Did You Know?” Christian History 45 (1995): 1, Accessed May 18, 2017 https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/issue/camp-meetings-and-circuit-riders-frontier-revivals/.</div><div><br></div><div>11a. White, Ellen, Camp-Meetings, Their Objects and How to Conduct, (Cooranbong, Australia: Avondale Press, 1900): 1, Accessed May 18, 2017 from https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/382.2#2.</div><div>
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15c. Perrottet, Tony, “Where Was the Birthplace of the American Vacation?” Smithsonian Magazine online, (APRIL 2013), Accessed May 18, 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/where-was-the-birthplace-of-the-american-vacation-5520155/ <br>
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17. Chettle, Jubith, “'Back to Nature' Movement Nothing New - dates back to 1880,” Christian Science Monitor, (15 Dec. 1983), Accessed May 18, 2017 http://www.csmonitor.com/1983/1215/121523.html. <br>
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18. Bristow, Preston, “The Roots of Our Ecological Crisis,” (01 Ap. 2001), Answers In Genesis, Accessed May 18. 2017 https://answersingenesis.org/environmental-science/stewardship/the-root-of-our-ecological-crisis/?sitehist=1490027536870. Originally published in Journal of Creation 15, no. 1 (April 2001): 76-79. <br>
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21. Paris, Leslie, Children’s Nature: The Rise of the American Summer Camp, (2008): 30-40, New York: New York University Press, Print. <br>
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22. Senter, Mark H, When God Shows Up: A History of Protestant Youth Ministry in America, (2010): 144-45, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, Print. <br>
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23. YMCA, “History: the YMCA in America,” YMCA. (2017), Accessed May 18, 2017 http://www.ymca.net/history/. <br>
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24. Creekside Baptist, “RA History,” Evansville: Creekside Baptist Church, Accessed May 18, 2017 http://www.creeksidebaptistevansville.org/624317 <br>
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25. Childrens Resou, “About Royal Ambassadors,” Women’s Ministry Union (WMU), (27 Oct. 2016), Accessed May 18. 2017 http://www.wmu.com/?q=article/children-royal-ambassadors/about-royal-ambassadors. <br>
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26. Boy Scouts of America, “History of Cub Scouting,” Boy Scouts of America, (2009), Accessed May 18. 2017 http://www.scouting.org/Home/CubScouts/Parents/About/history.aspx. <br>
<br>
27. Holbrook, Robert, The Pathfinder Story, SDA General Conference Youth Ministries, (Updated 2006). Accessed May 18, 2017 http://gcyouthministries.org/Portals/0/Document_Downloads/Pathfinders/Pathfinder%20Story.pdf. <br>
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28. Freeman, Mark, "Fellowship, Service, and the 'Spirit of Adventure': The Religious Society of Friends and the Outdoors Movement in Britain, C. <a dir="ltr" href="tel:1900-1950" x-apple-data-detectors-result="30" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors="true">1900-1950</a>," Quaker Studies: 14, Is. 1, Article 4 (2010), Accessed May 18, 2017 http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/quakerstudies/vol14/iss1/4.<br>
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32. Schulson, Michael, "The Religious Roots of the Wilderness Act," Religion & Politics, (September 2, 2014), Accessed May 18, 2017 http://religionandpolitics.org/2014/09/02/the-religious-roots-of-the-wilderness-act/. <br>
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33. Jeff Chesemore, Made for This: The Young Life Story, (Marceline, MO: Walsworth Printing, 2015) 16.</div><div><br>
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36. Stetson, Charles P., “An Essay On Kurt Hahn Founder Of Outward Bound,” ed. Pamela S. Blair, Joan Johnson, Kurthahn.org, (2017), Accessed May 18. 2017 http://www.kurthahn.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2017-stet.pdf. <br>
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37. Anthony, Michael J., Foundations Of Ministry: An Introduction To Christian Education For A New Generation, (1992), Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, Print. <br>
<br>
38. Gartner, W.C., Lime, D.W., Trends in Outdoor Recreation, Leisure and Tourism, (2004): 92-96, Cambridge: CABI Publishing, Print. <br>
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38b. A Christian Ministry In The National Parks, "About: Founding," A Christian Ministry In The National Parks (2017), Accessed May 18, 2017 https://acmnp.com/about/.<br>
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39. Stremba, Bob; Bisson, Christina A., Teaching Adventure Education Theory: Best Practices, (2009): 389, Champaign: Human Kinetics, Print. <br>
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40. Christian Camps and Conference Association, “History,” CCCA.org, Accessed May 18, 2017 http://www.ccca.org/ccca/Vision,_Mission,_Values.asp#.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
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dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-35861264021200643112023-06-16T09:05:00.000-07:002023-06-16T09:05:27.712-07:00The Glass Age - How Glass Invented Our Modern World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fIot0yL9Zs/XUwvaUP5Y-I/AAAAAAAABZk/pFAsj10MNl8AmDogcKeIEeH-5puz7X5ygCLcBGAs/s1600/glass-1751210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" id="id_bdf4_30c0_c6cf_d438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8fIot0yL9Zs/XUwvaUP5Y-I/AAAAAAAABZk/pFAsj10MNl8AmDogcKeIEeH-5puz7X5ygCLcBGAs/s400/glass-1751210.jpg" style="height: auto; width: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%;" width="400"></a></div>
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Glass is a beautiful and useful substance. It occurs naturally in the form of obsidian, tektites and other forms. It has been used by humans for thousands of years as tools and ornaments. It was well known in the ancient world and was highly prized because of its beauty and rarity. The Bible contains several references to glass such as, “Gold and glass cannot equal wisdom,” Job 28:17. While it has been known and used for millennia, prior to the common era it was generally only the wealthy that could afford it. Its usefulness was mostly aesthetic. During the Stone, Bronze, and Iron ages glass was a novelty. <br>
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So many new forms of technology have been developed in the last century alone we have multiple “age” names to describe it including atomic age, space age, computer age, information age, etc. While these names are descriptive of very important technologies and advancements, one substance has arguably made them all possible. Its use covers a much larger span of recent history and almost single-handedly made the scientific revolution possible over the past 500 years. What is this magical substance? Glass of course. <br>
<br><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Many people are familiar with the beautiful intricacy of artisanal Roman glassware. Man-made glass stretches back long before the time of the Caesars and even before Alexander the Great. Glass beads were being made possibly as far back as 3000 BCE. Primitive glass making arose in India by about 1750 BCE and the first glass vessels were made around the 15th century BCE. Also by the 15th century, extensive glass production was occurring in <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Asia">Western Asia</a>, <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crete">Crete</a>, and <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt">Egypt</a>. Glass was primarily made by either pouring it into a mould or core-forming. Core-formed means the glass was heated and formed around a central core that provided the shape. These processes required great time and skill and so glass was so expensive it was accessible only to the upper classes. It would have been a fairly rare substance compared to other material such as stone, pottery or metal.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">The Stone Age is often said to end around 550 BCE. The end date is not exact and varies widely by region. For example, Western and Central Europe are thought to remain in the Stone Age until about 50 BCE. This timespan aligns nicely with the transition to the glass age. While the main glass age would not begin until around the 13th century, we see several technological advances in glass making in the 1600 years prior to that. So I have termed this period the early glass age.</span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">We can date the start of the early glass age to the rise of glass making in the Hellenistic period and the life of Alexander the Great (356-323 BCE). This era marks a major shift in the role of glassware, at least in the region around the Mediterranean. Wikipedia notes, “Glassmaking at this time was based on the technological traditions of the <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity">Classical antiquity</a> and the <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Bronze_Age">Late Bronze Age</a>, but was marked by transition from limited production of luxury objects made for the social elite to mass production of affordable glass vessels used by the broader public to satisfy everyday needs.”<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_glass?wprov=sfti1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_glass?wprov=sfti1</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">So a major hallmark of the early glass age is the transition of glassware into common usage by the lower classes for everyday needs. This is thanks to improved production methods. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">During the <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic">Hellenistic</a> period many incremental techniques of glass production were introduced. Larger glass pieces, notably table wares, became possible thanks to some of these innovations. Wikipedia mentions some of the techniques developed during this period. They include, “'slumping' <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscous">viscous</a> (but not fully molten) glass over a mould in order to form a dish and '<a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millefiori">millefiori</a>' (meaning 'thousand flowers') technique, where canes of multicolored glass were sliced and the slices arranged together and fused in a mould to create a mosaic-like effect.” <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_glass?wprov=sfti1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_glass?wprov=sfti1</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">During the 1st century BC, <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_blowing">glass blowing</a> was discovered on the Syro-Judean coast, revolutionizing the industry. This technique helped bring the cost of glassware down. Glassware became cheap and expendable, a kind of Roman plastic. “the discovery of colorless glass (through the introduction of <a href="app://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manganese_dioxide">manganese dioxide</a>), by glass blowers in Alexandria circa 100 CE, the Romans began to use glass for architectural purposes. Cast glass windows, albeit with poor optical qualities, began to appear in the most important buildings in Rome.” </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Although they achieved relatively clear, de-colored glass, it was not perfect. It had a lot of inconsistencies resulting in low clarity. It looked more like quartz crystal than glass as we know it today. Some areas of a vessel may be cloudy whitish. There may be bubbles or lines that diffract light and obstruct the view. When used as a window it was ideal for letting light through but not for looking out of. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/science/alexandrian-glass-rome.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/science/alexandrian-glass-rome.html</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Another innovation that came during the Roman era was the stained glass window. In the second or third century CE Christian churches began using colored glass to make artistic window pictures. These were likely modeled after the mosaics common in Roman villas that adorned walls and floors. <a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/stained-glass-4692208">https://www.thoughtco.com/stained-glass-4692208</a> Although not a major technological leap, it had important cultural significance. It helped unify Christian teachings and spread the stories of the Bible to an illiterate populace. It highly influenced architecture and art as well. </span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Around 1000 CE, potash-lime glass (sometimes called forest glass) was discovered in northwestern Europe. It was made by using potash from wood rather than soda and ever so slowly began to replace soda-lime glass. It has a higher melting point and is significantly stronger than soda-lime glass. Thus it was more desirable. One of its first major uses was in stained glass windows. Because of its improved durability, stained glass windows could be made wider and with larger pieces. This contributed to the rise of Gothic style stained glass art. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_glass?wprov=sfti1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forest_glass?wprov=sfti1</a></span></p><p class="p2" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1"></span><br></p><p class="p1" style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1">Thus we see many important breakthroughs were made in the early glass age that were key to perfecting glass materials and science. In the next section we will look at the main glass age and see how glass technology revolutionized not only glassware, but also humanity’s fundamental ideas about the world. </span></p><br>
Glass held an important place in Medieval Europe. Stained glass was central to European Catholic life from the 13-16 century as a key part of the cathedral, the center of society. It was a means of educating the illiterate masses through narrative mosaics. Mirrors also played a key role in European aristocratic life enabling people, especially women, to spend hours a day perfecting their appearance. Mirrors also seem to have played a significant role in spiritual matters.1 In fact, after Johannes Gutenberg lost his revolutionary printing press to debt collectors, he turned to making mirrors sold to pilgrims for use in spiritual rituals. <div><br></div><div>While mirrors had historically mostly been made of polished metal, by the 11th century, French glass makers found they could lay a blob of molten glass on a spinning plate and cause it to flatten out. Squares could be cut from this and backed with a reflective material. In 1250 one writer claimed glass mirrors backed with lead to be surpiror. <font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://youtu.be/qNCUl5k02J8" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">https://youtu.be/qNCUl5k02J8</a> So theough the Middle Ages glass mirrors slowly supplanted metal ones. </font><br>
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The main Glass Age could be considered to start with the invention of turely colorless, transparent glass around 1430.2 Although glassmaking had been around for millennia, the ability to reliably make colorless glass that's highly transparent is what has led to so many technical and scientific breakthroughs. Thus we need a distinction between the early and main glass ages. Around the same time as the perfection of colorless glass, the art of blown glass grew in earnest in Venice, Italy. Blown glass had been around since about 1 CE, but in Venice, several significant breakthroughs took place in a short time. <br>
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In 1271 the glassmaker’s guild was formed. In 1291, officials passed a law that required all glassmakers and glass artisans to move to the island of Murano. It also forbade them to leave or any foreign glassmakers to make or sell glass in Venice. This concentration of highly skilled craftsman led to Murano becoming the world leader in glass making and likely contributed to the major advancements in glass technology. Around 1430 a skilled glassmaker named Angelo Barovier invented a process for making extremely transparent glass.3 It was known as cristillo, and this unclouded see-through glass led to the development of many technologies.4 <br>
<br>The most important glass tool resulting from the main Glass Age is the lens. The invention of transparent glass enabled better lenses to be manufactured for many applications. Eyeglasses were invented and became common in the 13-14th centuries, but these mostly used lenses made of quartz. Glass proved to be a superior material for making precise eyeglasses that suited the wearers needs.5 Alongside the invention of the printing press, spectacles were helpful in the spread of ideas through reading because about 75% of adults requires vision correction. Reading was a major cornerstone of the renaissance and the scientific revolution. Reading became so popular after the Gutenberg printing press the first spectacle specialty shop was able to open in Strausberg in 1466. 5a<div><br></div><div>The lens did not just lead to higher literacy rates. More importantly, it changed science and technology directly. It didn't take long before it made its way into many scientific tools to improve them. Some include the telescope for astronomy and navigation, the microscope for biology, and the magnetic compass for navigation and cartography. <br>
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In 1632 Galileo published his finding confirming the sun was the center of the solar system thanks to the telescope he perfected. In 1665 Robert Hooke first described and named the cell of living organisms after many years of observations with a microscope. The lens eventually led to the invention of the camera which enabled improved documentation. It led to revolutions in science, art, entertainment, education, history, and communication and is a central technology of the Information Age (20th - 21st century). <br>
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In 1514 Johannes Werner suggested the cross-staff, an instrument for measuring the position of celestial bodies, be used for sea navigation. It was widely adopted shortly after and played a key role in the Age of Discovery (15th – 17th century). The user was required to look directly at the sun in order to calculate its angle to help determine the ships position. Repeatedly looking directly at the sun was painful and so navigators began fixing smoked glass lenses on their cross-staff to reduce the brightness of the sun.6 <br>
<br>Transparent glass improved navigation in other ways. The basic navigation compass had been used in primitive forms for millennia. Transparent glass enabled more sensitive and accurate forms to be protected inside wood boxes and brass bezels. One example is the dry compass which could be used accurately in swaying, rocking ships. The compass was also adapted for surveying and cartography. The compass was a key part of the theodolite invented in 1571 by Joshua Habermel, an instrument that is still a part of land surveying today.7 After Habermel’s death an optical scope was added to improve visual range and accuracy. <br>
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The surveyor’s compass, also known as the circumferentor, was another adaptation of the basic navigation compass that was central to surveying and cartography for centuries. It was eventually replaced by the more portable prismatic compass in the 19th century. The accuracy of the navigation compass was greatly improved with the invention of the liquid compass in 1690 which is nearly universal today.8 <br>
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Glass prisms and lenses were incorporated into other navigation tools increasing their accuracy and ease of use. The sextant was invited in 1731 replacing the marine astrolabe and cross-staff. This major innovation allowed navigators to sight the nighttime celestial bodies and acquire their location even when the sun was not shining—a major advantage. These advancements, in turn, improved navigation accuracy reducing travel time thereby increasing trade and the spread of ideas.9 <br>
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Another key area glass changed was timekeeping. The hourglass made timekeeping easier and more precise. The exact origins of the hourglass aren't clear, but it's generally accepted that it was widely adopted in Europe by the end of the High Middle Ages (around 1500 CE). The hourglass was a popular choice for sailors who used it to mark the passage of time, which allowed them to determine their longitude. The hourglass was preferred over earlier water clocks because their sand was unaffected by the rocking motion of a ship. They were used onshore to measure time for church services, cooking and work tasks. Eventually, mechanical clocks supplanted the hourglass, though it wasn't until the 18th century that a suitable marine replacement was found. Clocks became small enough to fit in pockets around the 16th century. These early pocket watches were prone to exposure to rain. The first pocket watch to be protected by glass was in 1611. Watch makers quickly caught on the the benefits of glass for making their products more durable. Watches have been covered with a clear lens ever since to protect their delicate insides. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_watches?wprov=sfti1">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_watches?wprov=sfti1</a><br>
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The window is another great example of how transparent glass improved the modern age. Of course, glass windows have been around since the time of the Romans. The true importance of see-through glass windows was not realized until the transportation revolution in the mid-19th and early-20th century. The see-through window enabled high-speed mechanized transportation in boats, trains, cars, and planes in the modern era. Glass windows have developed alongside the transport vehicles they enable. At first glass windows were small, flat, and prone to shatter. Many advancements by numerous individuals have led to modern glass windows that are large, able to be molded into curved shapes, while being shatter-resistant and even bulletproof.<br>
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As mentioned previously, the invention of the camera provided a metaphorical window into many avenues of knowledge previously unimaginable. The picture camera was first perfected in 1837 by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, a French artist. The daguerreotype, as photographs were first called, soon became a sensation. This original camera used a glass lens to project an image onto a metal plate. It required a long, complex process to produce just one un-reproducible image. It didn’t take long for the field of photography to be revolutionized multiple times.9a</div>
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In 1851 a new technique was invented whereby negatives were produced in the camera on glass plates. This process was created by Frederick Scott Archer and could take a picture up to 20 times faster than Daguerre’s method. But the true revolution was that these images were reproducible negatives. Daguerre’s images were positive and looked like a normal image as soon as they came out of the camera. Exact copies could not be made. Archer’s method produced negatives like modern film cameras which could be used to make multiple positive prints. Dry plates were invented in 1878 by Richard Leach Maddox and again increased the speed at which photos could be taken. Exposure time was so short with dry plates that the camera could be held to take a picture and did not need to sit on a still tripod anymore. Many handheld camera models soon followed and people began documenting everything they could aim a lens at! After Archer, glass plates remained the staple of photography for at least 50 years until plastic film finally displaced it around 1900. However, glass lenses are still vital for photography from the small camera on your smart phone to the giant cameras on space telescopes.9a</div>
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Perhaps the most influential role of glass in the past 500 years is in the area of chemistry. Chemistry’s impact in all areas of life hardly needs mention. Most all the advancements of chemistry would likely have been impossible without glass in the lab. It is not just the transparency of glass that was important to chemistry. More critical is the inert property of glass which enables it to be in contact with nearly any chemical and not react. This allowed chemicals to be isolated and studied. Robert Boyle (1627-91) is known widely as the father of chemistry. Boyle used a large glass sphere to create a vacuum chamber. He observed that when he placed a burning candle inside and removed the air, the candle went out. This undermined the ancient idea that the four elements, air, water, fire, and earth combined in various ways to make up every substance. Boyle proposed a different definition for an element which we still use today and thus invented modern chemistry—all thanks to that glass vacuum chamber.10, 11 <br>
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The thermometer was invented by Robert Fludd in 1638. It consisted of a long glass tube with a bulb at one end filled with a liquid such as water, alcohol or mercury. This instrument was important to discoveries in the fields of chemistry, medicine, meteorology, and many other disciplines. Although most modern thermometers no longer use glass, their glass ancestors contributed much to our understanding of the natural world. <br>
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Better light sources improved night-time activities and extended the usable hours in a day. Metal and glass lanterns became common in the 18th century.12 Advances in fuel types helped improve their brightness and reliability in the 19th century. Coal gas lanterns helped to make cities night-time friendly. Glass panes protected the flame from wind. The Fresnel lens was patented in 1822 and made lighthouses much brighter which meant ships could navigate coastal waters more safely.13 The handheld lantern with its glass globe or lenses was critical to the railroad which began running at night in 1848. Fresnel lenses were common in railroad signal lanterns. The handheld lantern also lit many homes until the electric light fully replaced it in the mid-20th century. Handheld lanterns are still an important tool for recreational camping today. The electric light bulb was invented by Thomas Edison in 1879. In fact, Edison blew his own glass bulbs for his experimentation. <br>
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Glass bottles and jars revolutionized food, beverage, and medicine storage and transportation in the 19th century. Canning was invented by a French chef in 1806. However, their seals frequently failed. The canning jar was perfected by John Landis Mason in 1858. Several companies were producing canning jars by the late 1800's which significantly improved food storage commercially and at home. Bottle making technology experienced many improvements also. Glass bottles were in such high demand by the end of the century that the first fully automatic glass forming machine was invented to make bottles. Work began on this revolutionary machine in 1898 by Michael Owens. It was completed in 1903 and could make more bottles in one hour than an expert glassworker could make in a day. Before long many types of glass products were made by machine instead of people.14 <br>
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Glass also revolutionized mass communication. In the early 1800's the telegraph drastically sped up communication time. But it required a professional operator and allowed only two people to talk at a time. Telephone, radio, and recorded sound technology became available towards the end of the 1800's. But these all suffered from a major problem, their signal strength was faint and decreased with distance. Telephone and radio signals were only able to transmit a short distance. That all changed in 1907 when Lee De Forest invented the audion, more correctly called a triode. This device contained sensitive electrical components that could only operate safely inside a vacuum sealed tube made of glass. The triode allowed an electrical signal to be amplified or relayed to great distances. Amplification meant a radio could be played over a loud speaker rather than just headphones. Telephone signals could be carried across the country. Thus mass communication was born. By the 1920's people no longer had to depend on professional telegraph operators, they could receive news directly in their own home on the radio.14a They could call their friends or families directly and hear their voices. They could play recordings over a loud speaker as well. It was no longer necessary to wait for a famous musician to come to town or even for the songs to come over the radio.<br>
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These vacuum tubes made numerous electronics possible from long distance telephone and radio, to sound recordings, radar, television, and eventually, digital computers. The television is perhaps the most important means of mass communication invented. Television was made possible by two glass vacuum tubes. One, the Braun tube later known as the cathode ray tube or CRT which allowed electrical signals to project an image on a screen. Two, the triode mentioned earlier made it possible to amplify a visual signal so it could be projected. The Braun tube (CRT) was invented in 1897 by Karl Ferdinand Braun.14e The first electronic television was demonstrated by Philo Taylor Farnsworth in 1927.14f This technology became ubiquitous as TV's found their way into every home.<br>
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The first vacuum tube computer was produced in 1939 by John Vincent Atanasoff and Clifford Berry. These large digital computers made rapid calculations possible and were central to the war effort during WWII.14b Glass vacuum tubes were replaced only 20 years later by smaller solid state transistors that required no fragile glass. In 1959 IBM began to mass produce the first commercially successful fully-transistorized computer, the IBM 1401. These small machines helped bring the computer to the masses. No longer were they room-sized devices that only militaries or universities could afford. While glass was phased out of one part of the computer, it was not fully eliminated. It simply transitioned into the monitor.<br>
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The 1401 and other computers of the era were controlled through punch-card systems. Paper cards with specially placed holes were fed into the computer to input data, the computer then ran it's functions and output data on other punch-cards. That began to change in the 1950's when the U.S. military contracted with Michigan Institute of Technology and others to install the SAGE computer system. This is considered the first computer to use glass cathode ray tube monitors to display and input data. It was the brainchild of professor Jay Forrester.14c The cathode ray tube or CRT became the staple of visual display screens in both computers and televisions until the early 21st century.14d Although the CRT is gone for good, monitors and screens still contain glass today. Most flat screens in computers, TV's, and mobile computer devices use either LCD (liquid crystal display) or OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology. Glass is central to the operation of both.<br>
<br>
Many of the important developments in glass technology in the past 170 years have been made by the Corning Glassware company. One of their important developments was borosilicate glass which was patented as Nonex. It was one of the first heat-resistant glasses available and was adopted nationally for railroad signal lights in 1908 improving railroad safety. Further research of heat-resistant glass by Corning led to the development of Pyrex in 1915 which is still widely used in cookware and many other applications. In the early 1930’s Pyrex was used to make some of the first glass globes on Coleman lanterns. This strengthened their popularity as a reliable and sturdy light source for rural unelecteified homes and later for the campsites of generations of campers.14e Corning is responsible for inventing many modern glass technologies which are central to the Information Age including fiber optic cables which transmit computer signals at the speed of light, and Gorilla glass which is on the surface of most smartphones, tablets, handheld GPS devices, and other electronic gadgets.15 They are also pushing the development of LCD and OLED screen technology.16.<br>
<br>It could be argued that other substances and technologies are important to our modern age. It is hard to pin one as more important than the others because many modern technologies would not be possible without the wide array of materials we have. So one could argue that the glass age ended and the modern era (1800-present) be termed the Composite Age. </div><div><br></div><div>But when looking at the roles glass plays in modern times, it seems to be the basis for some of the most important technologies we have. It is on the face of every touch-enabled smartphone and in every computer. Glass is also a key component of many computer chips. Glass wafers are used in many computing applications in science and research. Glass windows and optics enable our transportation. <span style="display: inline !important; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3">Glass is more important now than ever before. It is one of the single most important substance in our modern world. Without glass science is blind, rapid transportation transportation comes to a screeching hault and near-instantaneous communication and access to near-limitless knowledge ceases. </font></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Glass has had more impact on modern society than just about any other material. And that is why it is fair to say that we live in the Glass Age. </span></div><div>
<br>
<br>
Written by David F. Garner<br>
Photo Credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/sabinevanerp-2145163/">sabinevanerp</a> via www.pixabay.com</div>
</div></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-10859075327267934672023-05-05T14:18:00.001-07:002023-05-05T14:18:00.135-07:00From the Rubble<div><br></div><div><div>“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.”</div><div>Psalms 51:10 (WEB)</div></div><div><br></div><div>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Nestled in a pine-specked valley just outside Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado sits a rustic chapel. It is built of rough-hewn stone and large timber beams. This sacred space serves a summer camp that is over 100 years old. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">St Catherine of Siena Chapel offers services year-round. Its thick walls provide a quiet refuge from frigid winter snow and scorching summer wind. Its walls carry a parable for our spiritual lives. It sits atop a large flat boulder that extends deep into the valley floor. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">This boulder was initially round and uneven, unsuitable as a foundation in its natural state. But the architect saw potential where others did not. He brought in dynamite and placed the charges strategically. After the blast, he did not cast the rubble away. Instead, he brought in skilled masons. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">The masons worked carefully. They built a beautiful house for God on the now perfectly flat boulder. The walls rose out of the rubble left after the blast. Skillful hands shaped the rubble into building blocks for the walls of the church. The builders added new materials only when needed. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">This is what it is like when God recreates a new heart within us. He could cast us off as unfit for his presence. But instead, he works with what we have to offer. He dismantles and destroys our corrupt hearts and rebuilds them carefully. He adds new material when needed. He makes our hearts into a beautiful dwelling place for himself. All we must do is sing the scripture song along with Kind David, “Create in me a clean heart oh God!” (Ps 51:10).</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Questions to ponder or discuss</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Does God give us a clean heart instantly, or is it a process that takes time?</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Name something in your life that God has broken down and reformed into something beautiful. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Name something God is currently working to re-make in your life. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Are you working with God to allow him in, or are you fighting the process?</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p>
<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Why does God bother to re-make a clean heart in us sinful beings when he could create new beings?</span><span class="s2"><br></span><span class="s2">By David F. Garner</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s2"></span><br></p></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-46395497733829468892023-02-13T10:08:00.001-08:002023-02-28T10:18:27.169-08:00The Valentines Plant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPpB9uHR-lnetv8Gljo76wVIG-Smoc5Hdx8HcZHKS1FXG6xdss0HExpm2e3qLDgfYCEoKW7T22h7fbn9o_Cjpaw6soX1D_iB0rMrFb7AUXuwyh5ZuqZumEWQqkxbXOp3kVTrsC6Qx7OW8rNeAVzPHmgC4KixZapyK97lCNJsyudm2aCzMG2epO_gBEw/s2312/Illustration_Heracleum_sphondylium0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="1462" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPpB9uHR-lnetv8Gljo76wVIG-Smoc5Hdx8HcZHKS1FXG6xdss0HExpm2e3qLDgfYCEoKW7T22h7fbn9o_Cjpaw6soX1D_iB0rMrFb7AUXuwyh5ZuqZumEWQqkxbXOp3kVTrsC6Qx7OW8rNeAVzPHmgC4KixZapyK97lCNJsyudm2aCzMG2epO_gBEw/w405-h640/Illustration_Heracleum_sphondylium0.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br />"Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'" Matthew 22:37 WEB<br /><br />No, this devotional is not about roses. Instead, it's about the origin of the heart shape that symbolizes the essence of the holiday. Have you ever considered where it came from; after all, it looks nothing like a real heart. The most likely origin is a tiny heart-shaped seed of a plant called silphium.<br /><br />The plant grew near the ancient North African city of Cyrene and was so vital to their economy that they put its heart shape on their coins. The ancient Greeks and Romans also valued it so much its was worth its weight in gold. Julius Caesar even kept a cache in his treasury.<br /><br />What was it about this tiny seed that could be worth so much? It provided many products, including perfume and tasty seasoning. It also had medicinal properties. Most famously, romantic partners used it as an oral contraceptive and aphrodisiac to enhance the romantic experience. This is one likely explanation for the heart shape's association with love.<br /><br />While the heart shape is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible, it reminds us that God has placed symbols of his love in every flower and seed we come across. Often, we are in too much of a hurry to notice. One of the important reminders Valentine's holiday provides is that love requires time. During this season of love, take some time to look for the signs of God's love for you.<br /><br /><br />Discussion Questions<br /><br />What can you do to show your love to God?<br /><br />What is one way you can show God's love to another person?<br /><br />What symbols of love can be found in the Bible?<br /><br />Describe the last time you deeply felt God's love.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By David F. Garner</div></div><div>Photo credit: <span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Original book source: Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><i style="color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">1885, Gera, Germany</span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px;">Permission granted to use under GFDL by Kurt Stueber</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px;">Source: <a class="external text" href="http://www.biolib.de/" rel="nofollow" style="background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/common/images/link-external-small-ltr-progressive.svg?2cd31") right center / 0.857em no-repeat; color: #3366bb; padding-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;">www.biolib.de</a></p>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-73674184984473353942022-10-06T03:53:00.003-07:002022-10-06T03:53:57.688-07:00Does God Care About Obedience?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKvXlKRcEVILaA8ZhUZCR4B5f7B9NEhQ3AVxebXpOFkw807bso0zKP7XOLR9_zgmN_Nj3eIXM_KsfLUX7UtjkoALYCEuH461NrfyKsnOI-UnQS7FKcaBSxlJ2iadt9BCw0u-KQFbwpgPKU2yHM3zB_WQNn1WFvsQXpcuJp3hx6J_Znxy3R6fIvOM8Vg/s864/Physostegiavirg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="486" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKvXlKRcEVILaA8ZhUZCR4B5f7B9NEhQ3AVxebXpOFkw807bso0zKP7XOLR9_zgmN_Nj3eIXM_KsfLUX7UtjkoALYCEuH461NrfyKsnOI-UnQS7FKcaBSxlJ2iadt9BCw0u-KQFbwpgPKU2yHM3zB_WQNn1WFvsQXpcuJp3hx6J_Znxy3R6fIvOM8Vg/w225-h400/Physostegiavirg.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br />Does obedience matter to God? We will explore that more in a moment. There is a beautiful wildflower native to eastern North America that has the common name of obedience plant (Physostegia virginiana). It blooms in summer with showy, pink, bell-shaped flowers. It resembles foxglove. Each stalk can have ten to twenty flowers in a cone formation. It has a faint odor some describe as mint-like.<br /><br />Why would a wildflower have a name like obedience? The essence of a wildflower is that it grows when and where it wants and is not subject to the gardener. The obedience plant has an bizarre trait. You can easily bend and manipulate the stem any way you want. When you let go, it stays in that shape. The stems have a malleable quality like wire.<br /><br />With most plants, if you gently twist the stem, it will return to its original shape as soon as you let go. Not so with the obedience plant. The stem bends to your will and dutifully faces in the direction it is placed when released.<br /><br />That is the model of obedience Christ left for us. Jesus followed the will of the Father all the way to the cross. God certainly cares about our obedience. He has left plain instructions in his Word on how we are to live and conduct ourselves in this life. God rarely speaks directly to his children to give additional instructions. It is not hard to know the will of God or what he expects of us. To know what God expects is as simple as opening the Bible.<br /><br />The hard part is following it. The Bible tells us it is impossible for us to be perfectly obedient to the will of God, on our own. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience following God’s instruction as faithfully as the obedience plant. He did that in our place because we cannot. The Bible promises to make us more like Christ every day we live. God expects us to become more obedient each day we follow him. If we ask God, he will give us the strength to follow his will even when it is hard.<br /><br />by David F. Garner<br /><br />Questions to discuss or ponder:<br /><br />1: What can you do today to show God your desire to be obedient?<br /><br />2: Does God expect that we will be able to live in perfect obedience here on earth?<br /><br />3: What does God desire, outward obedience or our desire to submit to his will? Explain.<br /><br />4. What part does grace play in our obedience to God?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br />Does obedience matter to God? We will explore that more in a moment. There is a beautiful wildflower native to eastern North America that has the common name of obedience plant (Physostegia virginiana). It blooms in summer with showy, pink, bell-shaped flowers. It resembles foxglove. Each stalk can have ten to twenty flowers in a cone formation. It has a faint odor some describe as mint-like.<br /><br />Why would a wildflower have a name like obedience? The essence of a wildflower is that it grows when and where it wants and is not subject to the gardener. The obedience plant has an bizarre trait. You can easily bend and manipulate the stem any way you want. When you let go, it stays in that shape. The stems have a malleable quality like wire.<br /><br />With most plants, if you gently twist the stem, it will return to its original shape as soon as you let go. Not so with the obedience plant. The stem bends to your will and dutifully faces in the direction it is placed when released.<br /><br />That is the model of obedience Christ left for us. Jesus followed the will of the Father all the way to the cross. God certainly cares about our obedience. He has left plain instructions in his Word on how we are to live and conduct ourselves in this life. God rarely speaks directly to his children to give additional instructions. It is not hard to know the will of God or what he expects of us. To know what God expects is as simple as opening the Bible.<br /><br />The hard part is following it. The Bible tells us it is impossible for us to be perfectly obedient to the will of God, on our own. Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience following God’s instruction as faithfully as the obedience plant. He did that in our place because we cannot. The Bible promises to make us more like Christ every day we live. God expects us to become more obedient each day we follow him. If we ask God, he will give us the strength to follow his will even when it is hard.<br /><br />by David F. Garner<br /><br />Questions to discuss or ponder:<br /><br />1: What can you do today to show God your desire to be obedient?<br /><br />2: Does God expect that we will be able to live in perfect obedience here on earth?<br /><br />3: What does God desire, outward obedience or our desire to submit to his will? Explain.<br /><br />4. What part does grace play in our obedience to God?</div><div><br /></div><div>Photo:</div><div>Hardyplants at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons</div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-18924029398919957402022-07-12T14:04:00.001-07:002022-07-12T14:04:56.437-07:00Cage of Light - A Poem<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j-uC4dHaPT7BYitgIPIsbx0ZPXSljlyvPW2YWiwQ0g4Rq2fxeWoZMkRT05knC8paA-GuZn6f8dBma5tyd566MQlx1U_AECb7DjFnYS-tH5SnfjAs2e0lKnZ46kT4nxdlsDCoAoHDq9wESZXXH1xk0HErRCkceI3lZyeDhUfIhUaVEypv6eaHACMdNQ/s600/Blackout_Todd_CarlsonTowards_Toronto_Goodwood_Ontario.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j-uC4dHaPT7BYitgIPIsbx0ZPXSljlyvPW2YWiwQ0g4Rq2fxeWoZMkRT05knC8paA-GuZn6f8dBma5tyd566MQlx1U_AECb7DjFnYS-tH5SnfjAs2e0lKnZ46kT4nxdlsDCoAoHDq9wESZXXH1xk0HErRCkceI3lZyeDhUfIhUaVEypv6eaHACMdNQ/w400-h250/Blackout_Todd_CarlsonTowards_Toronto_Goodwood_Ontario.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Before and during the 2003 Northeast blackout, a massive power outage that affected 55 million people. Photo by of Todd Carlson</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Cage of Light</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">So bright, so bright, is the city night,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Neon signs blare,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Traffic whine fills the air,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Street lamps, billboards, light light light,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">So bright, this sight, never ending blight,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Incandescent, </p><p style="text-align: center;">And dreaded Fluorescent,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Spot lights, flood lights, white, white, white,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Millions, billions, of stars in the sky</p><p style="text-align: center;">Moon shines dull,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Maybe not at all,</p><p style="text-align: center;">None here know what orbs glide by,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Millions, billions, of people walk by,</p><p style="text-align: center;">So thankless,</p><p style="text-align: center;">And oh so anxious,</p><p style="text-align: center;">None notice something’s awry,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Caged, disengaged, the night light keeps ahold,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Imprisoned in the trap</p><p style="text-align: center;">Drawn like bugs zap zap,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Who remembers the dark sky enscrolled,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Stars, mars, all cosmic luminaries old,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Their beauty only legend, </p><p style="text-align: center;">No more eyes beckoned,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Cities constrained by hedonism’s hold,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Shake, break, shatter that house of death</p><p style="text-align: center;">Run, from light into his marvelous darkness</p><p style="text-align: center;">Look, the galaxies manifest their sharpness</p><p style="text-align: center;">Constellations forgotten steal the breath,</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Awake, forsake, city light as shibboleth,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Give every town a dark sky stamp,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Exchange street lamp for head lamp,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Let darkness spread the width and breadth.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;">By David F. Garner</div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-81681934346775082072022-06-24T21:31:00.000-07:002022-06-24T21:31:01.500-07:00Electric Camping Stove, Is That Possible?<p>Have you ever wondered why there are no electric camp stoves
on the market? Ok, maybe I’m alone here. But hear me out. Electric stoves are
the norm in houses. How come there are no options sold for camping or
backpacking? It seems to make sense on the surface. With the rising frequency
of forest fires and approximately 85% of them being cause by humans, shouldn’t
flame stoves be banned wherever campfires are banned? Also, wouldn’t they be cheaper
to run? Electric cars are much cheaper than fossil fuel cars and camp fuel is often
more expensive than gasoline. At least it is if bought in small quantities like
Coleman 16 oz. propane bottles.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I decided to try an experiment. I did a search for electric
camp stove and found absolutely nothing. This tells me two things. One, yep, I’m
definitely the weirdo here. Two, maybe there is something preventing this
coming to market. In my search I found a USB mug warmer. This seemed like a
good solution to improvise a backpacking electric stove! <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gHnZ2TUulnwyiGvf6H8oXiOdKRfLGVqu2mQoKjcoOjgGBrItWra7CmpW8-PRaBuMo2tSbSRJHvNeY2OZa41yhdr08viJzK-3eHBzsxL7othUkLenKa_uEzoI-sH955-LC002WC6yl1gZPAJ3mDHaSsp7dH555gcCNb8TPCFu6T-Oj7iWgpqhe6YcEg/s4032/IMG_1861%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gHnZ2TUulnwyiGvf6H8oXiOdKRfLGVqu2mQoKjcoOjgGBrItWra7CmpW8-PRaBuMo2tSbSRJHvNeY2OZa41yhdr08viJzK-3eHBzsxL7othUkLenKa_uEzoI-sH955-LC002WC6yl1gZPAJ3mDHaSsp7dH555gcCNb8TPCFu6T-Oj7iWgpqhe6YcEg/s320/IMG_1861%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">USB (A) Mug Warmer</div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My theory was that I could run the warmer off my Aukey PB-Y7
battery pack which holds 30000 mAh. I initially tried it with a standard
ceramic coffee mug. I tried to heat up one cup starting at room temperature or
about 70 degrees. I let it warm for 45 minutes and there was no perceptible
temperature change with a finger dip test. This was my baseline test that I didn’t
expect to work. You see, because they run on such low power, you need the
maximum surface area of a cup possible to touch the warmer. So, a completely
flat bottom cup is recommended by the instructions. A metal one will also be
best as it will conduct the most heat. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6qUvl7otXsgKsG5b__ODcs5c2MkdBGpssJHDHfrKMnDExjqAfgD5uvdG-3Rf4ahHrEr3rxeAoJVeYyg12nbqd4ZGrgbQQT9uXiSOQkXWdE3iNICN9jtUqssyzvYWzMWb9MXMxv54XqT1D-BMSwHu2EHAnyXhD93o_QG2V0R0z3NUEtJe1gnn-ed92w/s4032/IMG_1837%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6qUvl7otXsgKsG5b__ODcs5c2MkdBGpssJHDHfrKMnDExjqAfgD5uvdG-3Rf4ahHrEr3rxeAoJVeYyg12nbqd4ZGrgbQQT9uXiSOQkXWdE3iNICN9jtUqssyzvYWzMWb9MXMxv54XqT1D-BMSwHu2EHAnyXhD93o_QG2V0R0z3NUEtJe1gnn-ed92w/s320/IMG_1837%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On my next test I left the metal cup warming for about 1.5
hours and it only heated to 89 degrees. Why were the results so dismal if this
thing is supposed to be a mug warmer? Well, it helps if you know a bit more
about electronics. The surface of my mug warmer only heated to about 97
degrees. So, It will never be able to boil any amount of water, which makes it useless
as a camp stove replacement. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In case you don’t know, these warmers are poorly named. They
are not intended to warm your drink from room temp or at all. Rather, they are intended
only to slow a hot liquid’s cooling. Most of the ones on the market plug into a
standard wall outlet and so can run at up to 1800 watts, theoretically.
Although I don’t think most of these mug warmers draw that much. So, you can
begin to see the issue of heating water off USB(A) which only delivers 10 watts.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What if one could run off USB C? This newer generation of
USB can deliver up to 100 watts of power. While this is an incredible improvement
for charging a phone, how would it do at heating water? The formula for energy
required to heat water looks like this. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">KWH = (4.2 × L × T ) ÷ 3600</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #202124; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I'll skip the math details and say that 100 watts is a big improvement
over 10. USB C could theoretically heat 1 cup of water from 70 degrees F to 100
degrees F in about 3 minutes. But again, what campers want is to boil water. To
boil 1 cup with 100 watts would require about 15 minutes. That still seems reasonable.
I know backpackers who don’t need to boil more than 1-2 cups per meal. Obviously,
most do need more. To boil 1 liter (~1 quart) would require about 1 hour. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And now you see why there are no electric backpacking
stoves. One more possible solution that crossed my mind is that an electric
stove could use two USB C wires. My Aukey battery bank can charge multiple
devices at the same time. Therefore, it could easily provide two cords. This
would mean we could heat 1 liter in about 30 minutes, theoretically. That is
still unreasonable to most as even the slowest fuel stoves (think alcohol) can
heat a liter in 10 minutes under ideal conditions. On top of that, my Aukey
battery bank only holds 111 Wh of energy meaning it could only heat two liters
max before it would be dead. At 1.3 pounds that is extremely non weight-friendly.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, will we ever see electric camping stoves? Well, I think
we have the technology available now to go all electric while car camping. You
can buy portable single-eye coil stoves and single-eye induction stoves (see photos
below) that work off 120-volt standard outlet. If you pair that with a Goal Zero
or other camp battery bank capable of delivering 120 volts, than voila, an all-electric
stove set up. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujcfOoE6oFn_ye9qsKG2sZfS8z1bvmc2DK3bPdCLC7DMuMRcy9LcMnuaAzBUiNoFVuIWSqB_dGCJHke6uw44Q9Zf2gPRWYdSb4U0KZfY2SVHGCS6f3o3A3uiYfA4srLu65fS78Cmt411okUNznQb_sOcjy1igbxn6A1jIVGCMyGz7iez5VDCyMb-JAg/s300/71l4EWi4L8L.__AC_SX300_SY300_QL70_FMwebp_.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="300" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujcfOoE6oFn_ye9qsKG2sZfS8z1bvmc2DK3bPdCLC7DMuMRcy9LcMnuaAzBUiNoFVuIWSqB_dGCJHke6uw44Q9Zf2gPRWYdSb4U0KZfY2SVHGCS6f3o3A3uiYfA4srLu65fS78Cmt411okUNznQb_sOcjy1igbxn6A1jIVGCMyGz7iez5VDCyMb-JAg/s1600/71l4EWi4L8L.__AC_SX300_SY300_QL70_FMwebp_.webp" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Single-eye coil stove</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5r3uTkQKm310z6mJX2_S6vNWSZKAOtLw157-kTbFgTKG-qrqlo3ZO-qzH3HQTLqDDuCYV9ZnI5TxYBmS6wyIcu0xGLhGuKEgKjUBtQR3sFTW28AHKt2u2JQilpa9UqJGqvtWtW3ocgWGjVlyYT7tIXInRV9VQtnTL6lebTB-LRb6hy391reBGiP57A/s679/61qmLHZMzMS._AC_SX679_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="679" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5r3uTkQKm310z6mJX2_S6vNWSZKAOtLw157-kTbFgTKG-qrqlo3ZO-qzH3HQTLqDDuCYV9ZnI5TxYBmS6wyIcu0xGLhGuKEgKjUBtQR3sFTW28AHKt2u2JQilpa9UqJGqvtWtW3ocgWGjVlyYT7tIXInRV9VQtnTL6lebTB-LRb6hy391reBGiP57A/s320/61qmLHZMzMS._AC_SX679_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Single-eye induction stove</div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Again, these electric stoves can deliver up to 1800 watts of
heating power! So, will we ever see an electric backpacking stove? I think so.
With the rise of electric cars, battery technology is progressing rapidly.
There are many companies now researching very promising technologies that will
be capable of storing 100-500 times that of lithium-ion in the same size
package. Perhaps USB E or F will be capable of delivering 1000 watts. With that
much power in a heater the size of my mug warmer, you could boil 1 liter of
water in 6 minutes. That would rival many of the gas stoves on the market
today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My guess is we won’t see this kind battery tech in handheld
gadgets or battery banks for 10+ years. Even when these new batteries come to market,
they will be very expensive. But I predict we will see the rise of electric
backpacking stoves in the next couple decades. If forest fire rates continue increasing,
bans on all flame stoves may force the industry to introduce such technology. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-83189606504092364882022-06-18T12:33:00.001-07:002022-07-09T21:12:13.454-07:00Why Every Church Needs A Garden<p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1uRMGsBlm5Rj8oF8y3kS7hHesnfD9Zm2b" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1uRMGsBlm5Rj8oF8y3kS7hHesnfD9Zm2b" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></font><br /><br />“Do you have any fresh produce?” asked the homeless young woman.<br /><br /><br />Hellen, the leader of our church’s food bank program replied, “Sorry, we are all out. We don’t get that kind of stuff in stock very often.”<br /><br />“How about canned fruit?” the young woman inquired.<br /><br />“No.” said Hellen, “That is usually the first thing we are out of.”<br /><br />The young woman left looking a bit disappointed. I asked Hellen why we didn’t provide more fresh food at our community food bank. She told me people don’t often donate that kind of food because it is more expensive than canned or dried goods. She also explained that canned fruits and vegetables are immensely popular, so they are often the first items to run out.<br /><br />The CDC has found that roughly 90 percent of Americans do not eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet. That is shocking considering we live in the wealthiest country in the world! Of course, for many people that is due to unhealthy choices. But for the poor, it is more often a result of unaffordable prices and accessibility. The simple fact is that prepackaged junk food often offers the highest number of calories for the least cost. And when you are pinching pennies, calories are often the number one factor. A bag of 8 apples may cost $5 whereas a dozen donuts may cost only $3. While that seems close, one apple offers a mere 55 calories while one donut can be 300-450 calories. One donut can offer the same calories as that whole bag of apples.<br /><br />Another big issue is accessibility. For those who do not own a car, getting to a grocery store or produce shop can be extremely difficult. Major grocery stores and super centers like Walmart are the norm now. These large stores are often centralized to serve several communities. It’s not a big deal to drive 5 or 10 miles if you have a car. More than 50 years ago, grocery stores tended to be smaller and within walking distance of the community they served. Large box stores have put these small stores out of business. For those without a car or driver’s license, getting groceries is a significant challenge.<br /><br />Population areas where a high concentration of residents without cars live more than one mile from grocery retailers have been designated food deserts. A food desert is an area where access to healthy food is extra difficult. Fast food restaurants and convenience stores may be present. But these do not offer healthy food choices at a reasonable price. The USDA found that about 19 million Americans or 6.2 percent of the population lived in such locations in 2015.<a href="#">[1]</a>The COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse as many small grocery businesses did not survive mandated closures.<br /><br />Food banks and other nonprofit community food programs help to fill this gap. But as I discovered, providing fresh or canned fruits and vegetables is challenging for them. What can be done about this? Food deserts have been a recognized problem for a few decades. One of the best solutions that has arisen are community gardens. Churches and nonprofits have helped communities hard hit by loss of local food stores to take initiative and supply their own fresh foods by growing them independently. Abandoned lots, spare space in church yards and community centers have become the grounds for a local farming revolution. People who have never grown a plant in their life are being taught to grow their own food. This movement is taking place in large and small towns across the country.<br /><br />A community garden is one where the land and farming supplies are provided by a nonprofit and community members tend a small plot of the garden with voluntary labor. They get to keep a portion of the produce from their plot. Usually, their plot produces much more than they need so the extra is given to other community members. This is not a new concept. It is one that Churches promoted heavily in the 1890s and early 19th century when similar food deserts plagued sprawling urban centers in the United States.<a href="#">[2]</a> They were very popular during the Great Depression.<br /><br />A community garden is a ministry every church should operate. The benefits of gardening and agriculture have been understood by many church leaders. Community gardens have been growing in popularity again at churches in North America and globally over the past 15 years. Even if your church is not located in a food desert, there are poor in your community that could benefit. My own church operates a food bank and even though we are not in a food desert, there are homeless and poor people who depend on it. So, what benefits would a church community garden ministry provide?<br /><br /> <br /><br />A Big Outreach Opportunity for Little Cost<br /><br />All that is needed to begin a community garden are a few dozen square feet of land. Many beginner community gardens are only 10 feet by 10 feet. A large size is 20 feet by 30 feet. Nearly every church has that amount of land sitting idle. In fact, most church yards are costing money to mow and maintain grass that the vast majority of the time sits unused. Why not make better use of that land for the gospel!<br /><br />A small community garden can be started for as little as $1,500. If some hand tools and supplies can be donated by church members or acquired used this can keep startup costs low. If you seek to keep costs low, pray for God’s blessing to help your endeavor become a success.<br /><br />Additionally, brothers and sisters with a talent for growing things are sitting idle in many congregations. Let their talents work for the gospel cause. Speaking, teaching and music are often viewed as necessary skills for the Lord’s work. Not so! If you have a talent for gardening, go to your church leaders and ask them to support you in starting a garden-based mission. If you are a pastor or church leader, call for those with gardening talents to lead this ministry. All the labor can be provided on a voluntary basis.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Prepare Children and Adults for the Soon Return of Jesus<br /><br />In this time of fast food and ready-to-eat snacks, the skill of gardening has mostly been lost. A church garden offers the perfect teaching space for training church members in gardening techniques so they can take the skills and use them at home. It will provide seeds from which they can begin their own garden at home. The tools could even be loaned temporarily to help families till the ground for their home garden.<br /><br /><br />The Great Recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic have demonstrated that even in the 21st century we cannot depend on modern society to reliably provide all our eating needs. Local gardens are still a vital resource for God’s people in these last days.<br />Gardening offers so many valuable spiritual lessons. That’s why Jesus taught using metaphors from the garden so often. What better place to learn about the Creator than from His creation? The garden holds lessons for both adults and children. They are waiting to be uncovered.<br /><br />Improve Your Church’s Outreach Efforts<br /><br />One of our primary outreach tools is health education. One missionary gardener called gardening an “entering wedge” that should be paired with the broader health message. It will invite interest and open doors for people to not only hear more about health but also to hear the gospel message!<a href="#">[5]</a><br /><br />How many opportunities a church garden would provide for outreach. When you speak to members of your community are they familiar with the location of your church? If you had a community garden out front it would be a fantastic public relations opportunity. It would enable your church to meet a physical need for community members. This will lead to opportunities to share the love of Jesus with them. Not only could produce be provided for those in need, but garden classes could be offered to all community members.<br /><br />Also, excess produce from your garden could provide a means of relationship evangelism. What neighbor would say “no” to garden fresh tomatoes or cucumbers? Any produce that is not used to serve the needy could be placed in attractive baskets and given to church members to take to their unchurched neighbor and co-workers. This creates an opportunity for dialogue with hardly any effort and can be the basis of forming a deeper relationship that may lead to sharing the gospel.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Build a Stronger Church Congregation and Promote Inter-generational Relationships<br /><br />A church garden project is beneficial for building a stronger local church congregation. Church congregations are often fragmented by generation. Many churches have separate departments for children, youth, young adult and seniors. Church activities like vacation bible school, senior groups, singles groups, and couples groups all encourage church members to associate with their own peers primarily. People are naturally more comfortable with similar-aged peers. Churches must promote inter-generational interaction. The wisdom of older church members needs to be passed to young adults and especially the youth. Division and disconnect between generations have led some congregations to split. Churches should regularly provide activities that foster inter-generational relationships.<br /><br />A community garden is the perfect activity. Younger generations often lack gardening skills. The older generations can share their knowledge in this area. Grandmas and grandpas in the church can become mentors to all the children and youth as they instruct them. The youth and young adults can carry out the heavy labor while the seniors plan and coordinate. Gardening is naturally inter-generational.<br /><br />Additionally, a church garden provides for endless spiritual edification to all church members who participate. The spiritual benefits are one of the biggest advantage in gardening. In 1897, J. H. Kellogg wrote in The Indicator, “The spare hours spent in the cultivation of such a crop [for mission work] may be as truly hours of communion with God as a church service or a prayer meeting.”5<br /><br />All these benefits are awaiting anyone who will work in concert with the Creator to grow food as He intended. That is why there is a revived movement within church to grow garden ministry.<br /><br />To get your church garden ministry started, I recommend referring to this free 24-page e-book by the Christian conservation organization <a href="#">International A Rocha</a>, "<a href="#">Why Every Church Should Plant a Garden and How</a>." It contains everything you need to know on how to organize and start a church-based garden.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Notes and References:<br /><br /><br /><a href="#">[1]</a> Alana Rhone, Michele Ver Ploeg, Chris Dicken, Ryan Williams, and Vince Breneman, “<a href="#">Low-Income and Low-Supermarket-Access Census Tracts, 2010-2015</a>,” United States Department of Agriculture (January 2017): 12, PDF<br /><br /><br /><a href="#">[2]</a> David F. Garner, “<a href="#">On the Back Burner: Adventists and Environmentalism</a>,” Spectrum (November 3, 2021),<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="#">[5]</a> J. H. Kellogg, “Missionary Acre Farming and Gardening,” <a href="#">The Indicator 7, no. 14 (April 7, 1897)</a><br /><font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3"><br /> </font></p><div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div id="edn5" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div><br /></div></div></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-56655947427847823582022-05-07T11:08:00.005-07:002022-05-07T11:15:08.556-07:00Happiness Now<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVB68P-hIA8YJjV5PNtXnOEgrCA705ma8i5rgizMp-OzbCZU8pYuUK99gkICl2ZaxmyIr-HK-60O3PO67LcnfVArRs8wOWQf7vFj734Q3Behx-YIHqfVmvT_S8bbvdWPQdK6uBYRnEnjaOkr7cr-WHzwZE_zvauHiJEDZ936fGvA_MVvk0mksdQgG_Q/s1920/people-gdf5ffd929_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVB68P-hIA8YJjV5PNtXnOEgrCA705ma8i5rgizMp-OzbCZU8pYuUK99gkICl2ZaxmyIr-HK-60O3PO67LcnfVArRs8wOWQf7vFj734Q3Behx-YIHqfVmvT_S8bbvdWPQdK6uBYRnEnjaOkr7cr-WHzwZE_zvauHiJEDZ936fGvA_MVvk0mksdQgG_Q/w400-h266/people-gdf5ffd929_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hear this lesson on my new podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Happiness-Now---Episode-9-e1i6g9o" target="_blank">Gleams of the Morning</a></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div>“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4 (WEB) </div><div><br /></div><div>Humans seemingly have a pretty long life span in the animal kingdom. But when you start to look at the longest lived animals, you start to realize we don’t live so long after all. Some turtles live for over two hundred years. The bowhead whale does also. The Greenland shark holds the current record for longest lived vertebrate at 400 years.<span><a name='more'></a></span> Then if we discuss trees, humans existence seems more like just a blip. Some species live for 1000-2000 years. A tree living in a churchyard of the Llangernyw village in North Wales is about 4000 years old.1 Our average lifespan of 70 years does not seem like so much time anymore. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now I want to challenge your notion of lifespan a bit. Doctors tell us that the human body is not equipped to live 70+ years on its own. Our biology does not allow it. For most humans, their true lifespan is only 2-3 minutes. After that, we must take a breath. You nor I are guaranteed 70 years. Tomorrow is not even certain. Your true lifespan is only 2-3 minutes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Remember our key text? “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Most people breathe 12-20 times per minute at rest. The Bible says each of those breaths come from Almighty God. He enables your existence from one moment to the next. On your own, you will only last 2-3 minutes. Perhaps you will last a bit longer if you’re a world champion swimmer.</div><div><br /></div><div>You see the real pleasures of life are found in every day existence. Not in waiting for things we don’t have. They are found in the small interactions we have daily. When someone smiles at us or gives a complement, when we watch an animal play, when we listen to a good song or have a positive conversation with another person we feel happy. Life consists of the smallest moments adding up to a meaningful existence. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happiness often comes from places we don’t expect. We tend to seek happiness in things we don’t have like more money, or popularity, better fitness, a vacation, a specific relationship. We easily forget the sources of happiness we do have right now, in this moment. Invest your energy in these sources of happiness that are immediately available as much as you invest in future sources of happiness. You are only guaranteed the next few minutes, so try to make them count. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Questions to ponder or discuss:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. How have you been measuring your happiness?</div><div>2. Have you been waiting for something you don’t have to make you happy instead of looking for the happiness you do have now?</div><div>3. Name three sources that give you meaning or happiness right now.</div><div>4. God extended his grace to you today to make you happy, have you shared it with someone else?</div><div><br /></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div><div>Photo credit: www.pixabay.com</div><div><br /></div><div>Sources:</div><div>1. https://www.livescience.com/29152-oldest-tree-in-world.html</div><div><br /></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-70567833832621728192022-04-30T02:46:00.001-07:002022-05-07T10:47:51.656-07:00Pruning Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfym70KCqDIBFs2iL2I4x3onX6oW2rIer8slyUZz5fbYxfea-I-hqPkUubafwUMkbb8HuFPOhg42e1PEgdctunF75pSSMNgefs02g3I74xoHFIb-xwFE9YtKqQO61F8vOLp33x4llydIgWsXcES0f6tmYevQqJX2acTI9z2jb_d7PTYUEi5b-X2VHAQ/s5600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5600" data-original-width="3735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJfym70KCqDIBFs2iL2I4x3onX6oW2rIer8slyUZz5fbYxfea-I-hqPkUubafwUMkbb8HuFPOhg42e1PEgdctunF75pSSMNgefs02g3I74xoHFIb-xwFE9YtKqQO61F8vOLp33x4llydIgWsXcES0f6tmYevQqJX2acTI9z2jb_d7PTYUEi5b-X2VHAQ/w426-h640/1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Listen to this lesson on my new weekend devotional podcast <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Pruning-Your-Life---Episode-8-e1hse04" target="_blank">Gleams of the Morning</a></div><div><br /></div><div>“Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”</div><div>John 15:2 (WEB)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Pruning has long been a practice used to shape and direct the growth of plants. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Some people mistakenly believe pruning is necessary. It’s not. Plants will grow well enough without regular pruning by humans. Pruning is beneficial when you desire specific results for example, with fruit bearing plants. Pruning fruit trees and berry plants will regulate growth, increase yields, improve fruit size and quality, and maintain plant health and vigor.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;">This has a direct lesson for our spiritual lives. <span><a name='more'></a></span>Spiritual pruning is unnecessary to attend church or call oneself a Christian. But if you desire to grow into the person God knows you can be, if you want to bear fruit for the kingdom and increase that yield, if you want to have a healthy Christian walk, pruning is vital. Pruning our character is how God directs and shapes us into Christ's likeness.<br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><div>One of the first points to learn about pruning a tree is that you want to remove competing leader stalks. Trees sometimes have a fork near the top and the two branches that point to the sky are competing to be the central stalk of the tree. A single stalk running up the center of the tree is best for the trees durability. One of these leaders will usually be the biggest. The other weaker ones just consume resources and create an unnecessary distraction for the tree. </div><div><br /></div><div>Likewise, in our spiritual lives we need to work to remove all competing leaders in our lives. There is only room for one. We cannot follow Jesus while also trying to follow other men. We need to work together with the Holy Spirit to identify and prune other leaders that are trying to distract us from Christ. These can be celebreties, friends, even religious leaders. Individuals who we come to idolize more than Jesus will keep us from becoming like him. We need to prune those who would lead us away from Jesus. </div><div><br /></div><div>Questions to Discuss or Ponder</div><div><br /></div><div>What habit in your life is Jesus calling you to prune?</div><div>Is there a habit or relationship that you pruned from your life in the past that you are glad is gone?</div><div>Have you ever encouraged a friend or family member to prune something from their life? Did they listen? If not perhaps you should try again. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div><div>Photo credit: <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@ivan-samkov/" style="font-size: 12pt;" title="Ivan Samkov">Ivan Samkov</a></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></span></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-48316210228257181442022-04-22T15:01:00.005-07:002022-04-22T15:01:49.012-07:00New Devotional Book<p>Check it out! I have published a new devotional book written just for campers! It contains 34 unique and lively object lessons that are great for your own personal devotion time or as material for your next group worship thought! It is small and light weight enough to take camping or backpacking. It contains instructions on how to display each object in a worship talk to make them more engaging and memorable. You can get it in paperback or eBook. Check it out now!</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Campground-Inspirations-Devotional-David-Garner/dp/B09WJ3GW7K/" target="_blank">Get it from Amazon</a></b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Campground-Inspirations-Devotional-David-Garner/dp/B09WJ3GW7K/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDJEZrsces1eFf4ZYkR-ppB9Yj-ScltKH9vJrm6qg2GwqolU83EQOZ3KMR3ew9pI_fftZGX8a0KYEavXJ37qZQoodGSgFq4tMzTuTfqQrNVYvWv-ZOaLUuyubecmP7UqqSbP6YVCF4uiuZ7mV5oLl7pS_D658If4d9CfrwrsUz--MOp5zaSwAjSDa-g/w426-h640/Screenshot%20(36).png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-74665003210796147812022-04-22T12:53:00.002-07:002022-04-22T15:03:01.412-07:00Be A Sea Sponge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnv71C70E27qPrfTmlS5hTbotLdhnIl4JEiI3VlJD3hZZ8tj8KiuP0eHDHproXWeaQo4hvJlACqiVLGO98PTSBjV_TNhJFeIJ3Hf191wQJ5lb-FAJrYd-Z_8Tb4LxMn_FAJoe3nvIZhHMhC5FiR61aWVuOsPQG9qb3IgFHWmE1pI3yjhzjb9IP2I8yw/s1920/clownfish-g136bd7d46_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1920" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnv71C70E27qPrfTmlS5hTbotLdhnIl4JEiI3VlJD3hZZ8tj8KiuP0eHDHproXWeaQo4hvJlACqiVLGO98PTSBjV_TNhJFeIJ3Hf191wQJ5lb-FAJrYd-Z_8Tb4LxMn_FAJoe3nvIZhHMhC5FiR61aWVuOsPQG9qb3IgFHWmE1pI3yjhzjb9IP2I8yw/w400-h226/clownfish-g136bd7d46_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Listen to this lesson on my new podcast <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Be-a-Sea-Sponge---Episode-7-e1hhi8o" target="_blank">Gleams of the Morning</a>.</p><br />Key Text<br /><br />“he who says he remains in [Jesus] ought himself also to walk just like he walked.”<br />1 John 2:6 (WEB) [word added for clarity]<br /><br /><br />The sea sponge is an odd creature. It is part of a the taxonomic phylum Porifera which means ‘pore bearer’. It’s a practical name. Scientists are not known for their creativity. The sea sponge lives in a coral reef and they are often brightly colored. They attach to rock at the base and grow upwards toward the light like some alien plant. But alas, they are not plants. You’d be forgiven for thinking they are one.<span><a name='more'></a></span> But scientists have classified them as an animal because their cells do not have cell walls. All plants have cells walls.<br /><br />That’s not the only surprising aspect of the sea sponge. While most people think of sponges as living in salt water. There are several varieties that live in fresh water as part of a fresh water reef. There’s a sea sponge species that lives in the ocean near the Antarctic that is estimated to live for several thousand years because it grows very slowly in that cold environment! Some species live near the ocean surface while others live over 5 miles deep.1<br /><br />The sea sponge has numerous pores throughout its body that maximize the amount of water that can flow through at one time. Sponges do not have a digestive or circulatory system to move nutrients around. So they must push sea water through every porous cavity so the nutrients in the water can be delivered where needed. They are quite simple but amazing creatures. Their role in the wider ecosystem of the coral reefs they live in is only recently being understood. <br /><br />This is perhaps the most amazing aspect of sponges. They are nature’s recyclers. Some species can filter as much as 10,000 liters of water per pound of body a day! As the water passes through their pores they filter out carbon, nitrogen and other substances from the water. This is important because it helps keep the contents of the water safe for other organisms living in the reef. This filtering action is critical to the survival of the entire reef community. Sponges act as a linchpin of coral reef survival. In other words, without this filtering process, the whole reef may die.2<br /><br />Sponges are so good at filtering pollutants out the water, that scientists are planting them in polluted waterways near major cities to help clean the water. They can clean a wide array of water pollutants left by humans including sewage runoff, medicines, pesticides, algae blooms or chemicals from spills. And they can accomplish this in a reasonable time frame. They can make our waterways safe again.3<br /><br />Their cleaning power does not end there. Even after the living animal has died, the spongy matrix it leaves behind makes a marvelous tool for house cleaning. The oceans natural filter is the inspiration behind your synthetic kitchen sponge. The ancient Greeks first realized the amazing ease of cleaning with this yellow porous foam. Sea sponges have been washing our dirty dishes for centuries. Although many people today use plastic imitations, some people still prefer the real thing as they are more biodegradable. <br /><br />What lesson does this hold for Christians? I believe Christ desires us to be like a sponge. He desires us to have a cleaning effect on the environment around us. Hear me out. Jesus told us we are the light of the world and salt of the earth. But what does that mean in practice? I think it means we are to have a demeanor that others desire to have around. <br /><br />Anxiety and depression are at all time highs. Loneliness is rampant despite the numerous apps that exist to bring people together. Stress is an everyday occurrence. As Christians we are called to step into the mire of people’s lives and help filter out those negative feelings. You do not need to be their therapist or pastor. You cannot fix all their problems. That’s ok. The simple act of your presence can be more healing than a therapy session. The kindness of a stranger, the understanding of a friend, these acts can change lives. Most of the time, sitting down and spending time with a person in the midst of their sorrow or pain has a much bigger effect than offering solutions. When they understand that you care, when they know you are listening, that will clean away much of their negative feelings. <br /><br />We need to share the hope we have with others. That doesn’t usually mean giving them a Bible study or even praying with them, although that is good. It means taking your time to listen, to hear their feelings and trials, to empathize. Often it means listening to someone’s simple everyday concerns rather than some major life changing challenge. We are always in a hurry. There will not be a time when it’s always convenient to stop and listen. You must choose to do this. Even if it is only for something that seems silly, it usually has a bigger impact than you will ever realize. <br /><br />We need to wear the face of Jesus whom everyone felt safe approaching with their problems, even children. I’m not talking about a false piety or a hyper-masculine stoicism. This does not mean we must always put a smile on our face even when we are falling apart inside. Just because your Christian doesn’t mean your life is perfect. So we should not pretend it is. But we do have a hope that lifts spirits in the worst of times. Even though we may not always feel like doing so, Christ calls us to share this hope with those we come across. This hope cleans away the negative feelings that overwhelm people.<br /><br />Cultivate an air of compassion and approachability about you. This is what we call in church lingo, you’re witness. This is a good topic to discuss with your family or friend group. Discuss questions such as: Do I seem approachable to others?, Do you feel heard when talking to me?, Do I often seem distracted when you talk to me?, What could I change to be more empathetic in conversations? This requires wisdom and maturity. It requires self-reflection and self-honesty. <br /><br />We can all do better at this with practice. But the key is listening. Taking the time to listen is something you can do now, whether you’re a church pastor or just a teenager. It requires no special skill. Just a few minutes of your time and a willingness to show others compassion is all that is needed. <br /><br /><br /><br />Here is a question to ponder. How did you feel the last time someone took time to really listen to you?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Written by David F. Garner<br />Photo credit: MarcelloRabozzi via www.pixabay.com<br /><br />Sources<br /><br />1. https://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Scolymastra_joubini<br /><br />2. https://www.ecowatch.com/amp/coral-reef-conservation-sponges-2655063655.html<br /><br />3. https://ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magazine/cleaning-power-sea-spongesdg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-86387277862518566352022-04-15T23:15:00.005-07:002022-05-07T10:50:26.688-07:00Pictures and the Truth<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Y3_LEHaY4z_aARC3eNGhN0h5r3is7aTlSWRXv6tAj7PCSd65J5X7-HAkYOieemHQd5pMNvmiaQPEVx6OyeUP2aeQokZXPXm7zJs0CrMVeRlTS8BwI0aTiApgCq-MSTsYQ6kTpIq8MDoKfdGFR-XGocLoRExDhQX5rQxM41tjKULfJcPtqBXaInC60g/s1920/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1281" data-original-width="1920" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Y3_LEHaY4z_aARC3eNGhN0h5r3is7aTlSWRXv6tAj7PCSd65J5X7-HAkYOieemHQd5pMNvmiaQPEVx6OyeUP2aeQokZXPXm7zJs0CrMVeRlTS8BwI0aTiApgCq-MSTsYQ6kTpIq8MDoKfdGFR-XGocLoRExDhQX5rQxM41tjKULfJcPtqBXaInC60g/w400-h268/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Listen to this devotional on my podcast <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Pictures-and-the-Truth---Episode-6-e1h8e04" title="Gleams of the Morning">Gleams of the Morning</a><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”</div><div>Psalm 34:8 (KJV)</div><div><br /></div><div>Growing up I saw numerous pictures and video of the Grand Canyon. I heard stories of people who had been there. Everyone described its deepness and vastness, its overwhelming sense of largeness. And indeed, I could see for myself in pictures and videos, it looked big and pretty impressive. I also heard stories of people who saw it for the first time were stuck dumb, they could not <span><a name='more'></a></span>produce words for a few moments as the immensity of it washed over them. This part seemed a little exaggerated to me. I mean I had seen valley and canyons growing up. Some were very large and beautiful to behold. Of course I knew the Grand Canyon was bigger, but was it really that much more impressive?</div><div><br /></div><div>In college I had the chance to take a road trip with friends across the Southwest. None of us had been to the Grand Canyon, so we decided to drop by and see it for a minute. I fully anticipated this would be like every other viewpoint or overlook I had witnessed. It would be neat, pretty, nice to see another valley from a high point. In short, I expected mediocrity. I had only ever seen a representation of the Grand Canyon in pictures. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let me tell you friend, I was in for a shock! As we walked up to the edge from the parking lot, the depth and breadth of the Grand Canyon just kept going. It never seemed to stop! As I stood on the precipice of that rocky valley, I was at a loss for words, just like the stories I had heard. I felt almost as if I had been lied to by all the pictures and video panoramas I had seen growing up. Not a lie of deception, but of omission. Pictures left out so much of the scale and vastness. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but seeing with your own eyes is beyond words. As the saying goes, you have to see it to believe it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Bible is not truth in and of itself. Yes you heard that right. Many in modern times make the error of assuming that the Bible is the ultimate truth. The Bible is a stepping stone to the manifestation of truth. Definition of truth: “A statement proven to be fact” according to American Heritage Dictionary. The Bible is a set of statements. The Bible says, “your word is truth.” John 17:17 And what is the word? Is it just some statements in a book? No! John tells us what the word is, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.” John 1:1 NET</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What makes that Word truth? That it is proven to be fact over and over. How do we know that? By testing it. The Bible also says “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.” Ps. 34:8 God is the living personification of truth. He is self evident. How? Because every statement that comes out of his mouth becomes fact. If he says something will happen it does, without fail. The Bible is just a pile of paper and ink on its own. Our salvation is not in the paper and ink. It is in the Personification of Truth. Once you meet the Personification of Truth for yourself, you will fully believe that the Bible points to the truth. A personal encounter with the living Truth is necessary to prove what it says as fact. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are some who place too much emphasis on the Bible. For them it has become an idol to replace the Author. Let me be clear here. There are some who can quote numerous verses. They spend much of their time seeking to prove this doctrine or that. They study the minutia of the text and original languages in detail. But they don’t spend time with the Truth Himself. This was the mistake of most of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day. They memorized the Books of Moses cover to cover, but as Jesus said, they didn’t understand what they meant. They didn’t know the Author. These people honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Bible is a record of the living Truth. It is the first stepping stone to knowing the capital “T” Truth. John 14:6 I am the way, the truth. The Bible was written by men who were inspired by God. But how do you know it is not just mens words? It is like those pictures I saw growing up of the Grand Canyon. The picture contained a representation, a statement about reality. How how could I be sure it was not just a fantasy or exaggeration? It was only when I stood on the edge and looked down over a mile into the rocky abyss that I knew those pictures were indeed true. It had been proved to me by fact. I saw and interacted with the truth personally. This is like the Bible. It is only when we interact with the living, capital “T” Truth personally that the statements in the Bible are verified as fact. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a question to ponder: We know even the Devil can read the words of the Bible. So how do you interact with the Living Truth Himself beyond reading the pages of the Bible?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div></div><div>Photo credit: Filio via www.pixabay.com</div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-46995487163311508192022-04-02T14:24:00.001-07:002022-04-20T17:48:42.430-07:00Tourist or Adventurer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHjViTFLB-eys9uwLnNd9V_7_EUQppVAHasOOGITeg-RsGmIZhgb8tmOMwoaQ9122L2bXK0tCrIUKK9m_2LrCSPBVEF0C2HJbeHy2BnXzPCtfXSA6-zSjZNPvNvaqTYtIpejPWvRMbqFeuOvJueHgXc-K4AxvH_pKbCBxXfNfunkQbzyuukn8km1w4A/s1920/g-e-m-g6f7aaf264_1920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1279" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHjViTFLB-eys9uwLnNd9V_7_EUQppVAHasOOGITeg-RsGmIZhgb8tmOMwoaQ9122L2bXK0tCrIUKK9m_2LrCSPBVEF0C2HJbeHy2BnXzPCtfXSA6-zSjZNPvNvaqTYtIpejPWvRMbqFeuOvJueHgXc-K4AxvH_pKbCBxXfNfunkQbzyuukn8km1w4A/w400-h266/g-e-m-g6f7aaf264_1920.jpg" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Listen to this devotional on the new podcast <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Tourist-or-Adventurer---Episode-5-e1gk6ld" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;" title="Gleams of the Morning">Gleams of the Morning</a>.</div><div><br /><br />“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)<br /><br /><br />A while ago I was stopped at an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I stood at the railing looking at the scenery as a tourist bus pulled up and unloaded. The tour guide gathered the tourists and explained they would be at this stop for an hour or so and people could stay in the parking lot and visit the gift shop. He said anyone who felt <span><a name='more'></a></span>more adventurous could follow him up a 3/4-mile trail to a better overlook. He warned that the trail was quite steep and rocky and unpaved most of the way. But he assured his hearers the short hike was worth the better view. I noticed that as the group dispersed only 5 or 6 stayed with the guide to complete the hike.<br /><br />It's fair to assume that some of the tourists on the bus could not physically manage the trail. But that experience left me wondering why many people choose the easy option when the hard option would be more rewarding. The trope of the tourist is a person who dresses in garish, out of fashion shirts and only goes along the route predetermined for them by the tour company. They are often snobby and privileged and care more for luxury and ease than anything else. The adventurer on the other hand is the polar opposite. They are someone who is bold and daring. They are often thrill seekers but fearless in the face of peril. They don't mind discomfort and are willing to sacrifice for a challenging goal. Compared to the tourist, they are often humble and willing to put themselves in danger to help another person. These tropes are exaggerated and overly simplistic.<br /><br />But I think there is some truths about humanity in them. At different times we may all act like the tourist or the adventurer depending on how much we desire to achieve a particular goal. Most of us have had some goal we were willing to work very hard for sacrificing much to achieve. Maybe that was completing a degree to trade program, perhaps that was starting your own business, maybe it was losing weight or running your first big race. Maybe it was going on a mission trip. In other areas of our lives though, we have lived as tourist, just going along for the ride. Sometimes we do that with our jobs, or our health. Too often we do that with our relationships. Far too many of us are living that way with our finances right now. We are impulsive and cruise along passively.<br /><br />When it comes to visiting nature, it is not wrong to be a tourist, so long as you are not snobby or privileged. Sometimes it's nice to have a relaxing vacation with some luxuries. Having adventures in nature have their benefits though. Sleeping on the ground during a camping trip makes you more appreciative of a house and the luxuries it offers. A long hike on a steep trail makes you thankful for cars and planes. Adventures in nature generally help you be more grateful for the simple convenience of modern life. This is not just a phenomenon of the 21st century. It is something that has been known for centuries.<br /><br />John Muir famously claimed a person could not really know nature without camping. While that may be a bit of an exaggeration, his sentiment makes sense more broadly. Can you really know something without getting intimate with it, without getting your hands dirty so to speak? A study I read, found that walking in nature reduces stress levels better than simply viewing nature such as on TV or riding in a car.1 So maybe there is something to the idea that adventures are more rewarding than touristy vacations. A growing body of evidence is showing that engaging with greens spaces is not only beneficial for reducing stress, but also for improving spirituality, specifically feelings of connection, awe, gratitude and compassion.2 Many people report feeling closer to God in a natural setting compared to an urban environment. Maybe there is a deeper reason why churches decorate with flowers beyond simply looking nice.<br /><br />Another interesting finding is that the health benefits of nature exposure increase with the wildness of the setting.3 In other words, taking a walk in a national park will reduce stress better than walking in your own manicured lawn. Perhaps that is because you have to put in more work to get to the national park. The more work you put into something, the more rewarding and valuable it tends to feel. Putting in some work to get to an overlook, such as by hiking, will probably always feel more rewarding than driving to one. See the show notes for those studies I mentioned.<br /><br />So where am I going with this? Jesus said that following him was choosing the narrow and winding path. The easy path, he said, leads only to destruction. Have you been living your spiritual life as a tourist or an adventurer? Have you been taking the broad and easy road that leads to destruction, or have you been toiling along the narrow, winding path that leads to life? Have you been letting others guide your way, or have you been blazing your own path looking for the adventure that only a life with God can bring?<br /><br />Listen, it is ok to be a tourist when you are on vacation. It's ok to be a tourist in some areas of your life. But when it comes to spirituality, you need to be an adventurer. God created adventure! He wants to take you on journeys that will be more amazing than you thought possible. He wants to help you do things you believed impossible. He wants you to follow him through the mud packed, rock-strewn, cliff-edged, sweat-inducing trails of life because he knows it will make the prize at the end so much more sweet. Comfort is ok in our spiritual life. But we cannot stay there forever. God desires to lead us out of our comfort zone. He desires to push us and grow our faith and our character to make us more like Jesus. He desires to lead us to heights and feats we never dreamed of. He doesn't want you to live as a spiritual tourist just sitting in the pew along for the ride. He wants you to stand up and take the path less traveled, the winding, narrow path that leads to life. I will end with this quote. "Rarely does the Holy Spirit lead us down the path of least resistance. You will have to climb a cliff or pick a fight with the Enemy. But you will discover this simple truth: the hard way is the best way." Chasing the Wild Goose, pg 151.<br /><br /><br />Here’s a question to ponder: Have you been living your spiritual life too comfortably?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />By David F. Garner<br /><br /><br />If you enjoyed this devotional, check out these other ones. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.outdoorlessons.org/2019/03/outdoor-object-lesson-90-value-of.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">The Value of Friends</span></a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.outdoorlessons.org/2019/01/exploring-local-adventures.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">How to Explore Local Adventures</span></a><br /><br /><br />Sources<br /><br /><br /><br />1. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916518800798<br /><br />2. https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=ma_hhs<br /><br />3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5981243/</div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-66166635495309458682022-03-25T23:46:00.001-07:002022-05-07T10:53:36.261-07:00Water of Life, And Desth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKAlHOCLVpftorxF_YG4-RdHvQ-7d2G9go-tVDXQfdcH1vM7VE29HCW_VhJYtA7Hzv_WclyR8I3LEFdrDKAmK7gXqN6-8GsPcb_rNzjw3UBq0RToIUpziqs9oPxi0aNNEcAEFqIVQ-p9KnAUHKlwscPH00BUxcAv-VFOscvq6aCvMISC7b3VSsSOC4g/s1920/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKAlHOCLVpftorxF_YG4-RdHvQ-7d2G9go-tVDXQfdcH1vM7VE29HCW_VhJYtA7Hzv_WclyR8I3LEFdrDKAmK7gXqN6-8GsPcb_rNzjw3UBq0RToIUpziqs9oPxi0aNNEcAEFqIVQ-p9KnAUHKlwscPH00BUxcAv-VFOscvq6aCvMISC7b3VSsSOC4g/w400-h266/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Listen to this lesson on my new podcast <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Water-of-Life--and-Death---Episode-4-e1fud6v" target="_blank">Gleams of the Morning</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.”</div><div>Revelation 21:6b WEB</div><div><br /></div><div>Humans cannot survive long without water. The person thought to have survived longest without water to drink is Andreas Mihavecz. He was placed in a holding cell by police in 1979. Apparently, communication between shifts was poor as he was forgotten about and left languishing in the cell for 18 days without food or water. He was only 18 years old at the time. It is thought he only survived by licking condescension off the walls which provided just enough moisture to prevent death. </div><div><br /></div><div>Survival experts suggest that survival is usually possible without any water for approximately three days. But this varies greatly depending on temperature and level of exertion. A person participating in heavy activity in extreme temperatures can sweat as much as 1.5 liters per hour. That can lead to death in a mere hours.1</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus knew the importance of water. He knew how good a glass of cold water tastes when thirsty. That’s why he compared salvation to water. It is refreshing to the spiritually thirsty. Water is not only refreshing, it is life giving. Water performs many functions in the body. It regulates body temperature, cushions your joints and brain, flushes out waste, forms saliva and mucus, and most importantly, it gives cells structure.2</div><div><br /></div><div>As you know, water can be a blessing, but it can also kill. Too much water can prevent airflow to your lungs. Drinking unclean water can cause sickness. Surprisingly, drinking water that is too clean can also be dangerous. Regular filtered water is not 100% pure H2O. Home water filters remove enough of the bad things that the water is clean and safe to drink. But it is not pure. It has a trace amount of minerals and salt. These minerals are beneficial for health and actually make the water safer to drink. They are also what give water its subtle taste. </div><div><br /></div><div>We need to go back to high school chemistry and biology for a minute. If you recall, ‘osmosis’ is the term to describe a fluid being pulled in one direction through a semipermeable membrane. It will always be pulled toward the solution with a higher concentration. This is how living cells maintain fluid inside their cell wall. They adjust the mineral concentration inside the cell to control the amount of fluid inside. If a cell needs to absorb fluid, then it must make the fluid inside a higher concentration than outside. </div><div><br /></div><div>When you drink filtered water, it still has some trace minerals in it, so it won’t affect the cells in your mouth or body too much because its concentration is not too different from that of your cells. </div><div><br /></div><div>If scientists need ultra pure water they use a process call de-ionization. This water is so pure it has nothing in it but hydrogen and oxygen. This is type 1 ultra pure water and is only used for special scientific experiments or manufacturing. It is unsafe to drink. Even drinking type 2 pure water, a step down from type 1, is not good for you. The concentration of minerals is so low that when it comes into contact with your cells, they will absorb it. Osmosis will pull in so much of this water the cells will explode and die. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a video by James Orgill on his YouTube channel <a href="https://youtu.be/FElDa62zwwE" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;" title="Action Lab">Action Lab</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;">, he tries some type 2 water.3 It leaves his tongue and throat feeling burned from all the cells that died due to excessive osmosis. Drinking type 1 water, is said to be able to immediately remove the enamel from your teeth and could kill you. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>In the Bible water represents eternal life and more specifically the work of the Holy Spirit upon us that leads to eternal life. The Holy Spirit is vital for eternal life. But God is gentle with us. He knows that full exposure to his purity would kill us (Ex. 33:20). So the Holy Spirit is ever so gentle with us in our fragile, fallen state. The Holy Spirit will never overwhelm us, but draws us gently to God as a cool drink draws us in the heat of the day. The Holy Spirit will always be the one to comfort us. It is the enemy, Satan who seeks to overwhelm and destroy us. </div><div><br /></div><div>Often times we are the hardest on ourselves. God has infinite mercy on us. But we stop ourselves from accepting it out of fear. We think we can wait and make ourselves a little more pure before we comeback to God. We try to fix ourselves. Satan encourages this lie by reminding us how good God is and that if we work a little harder, we can make ourselves acceptable to him. And so we stay thirsty for that refreshing water only God offers. When you catch yourself thinking this way, stop! You can never make yourself pure! Ask God to give you the purity only he provides. He gives it freely.</div><div><br /></div><div>When you feel overwhelmed, hot and parched by the stresses of life, turn to God and ask for the Holy Spirit. As it said in the key text, he will give freely of his water to anyone who is thirsty. He can provide the perfect water that will well up inside you as a spring that leads to everlasting life!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a question to ponder:</div><div>Have you been trying to make yourself pure on your own? Be honest. If so, ask God for the water only he can give. </div><div><br /></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sources</div><div><br /></div><div>1. https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-the-longest-people-have-survived-without-air-food-water-sunshine-or-sleep</div><div><br /></div><div>2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814#benefits</div><div><br /></div><div>3. https://culinarylore.com/food-science:is-pure-distilled-water-safe-to-drink/</div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-44674307943198960732022-03-18T21:28:00.002-07:002022-03-18T21:28:44.412-07:00Sticks and Stones and Other Art Supplies<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kUDFTIBcBhwDlIXrGHW22OhmAiIl-avM" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kUDFTIBcBhwDlIXrGHW22OhmAiIl-avM" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div>Outdoor Object Lesson 116</div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Listen to this lesson on my new podcast </span><a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Sticks-and-Stones-and-Other-Art-Supplies---Episode-3-e1fjt10" title="Gleams of the Morning" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Gleams of the Morning</a><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Key Text</div><div><br></div><div>“Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.””</div><div>Genesis 35:1 NLT</div><div><br></div><div>Lesson</div><div><br></div><div>Have you ever made a piece of art you were proud of? If you’re grown up, you may not consider yourself an artist. But as children, we all make some art or craft we are especially proud of. As a kid, I enjoyed giving my art creations to my grandmother. She collected these from me and all my cousin and decorated her house with them. She kept them for years. Even as an adult I would go to her house and see things I made when I was eight or ten. </div><div><br></div><div>Art is an indelible human trait. Some of us are better, sometimes leagues better, at making it. We can all appreciate art. It is one of the most beautiful ways we can praise God. I believe he gave us art for this reason. Art is also a medium to express feelings, or for just having fun. Humans are not the only ones that make beautiful creations. Animals, and even inanimate nature produce some of the most awe inspiring designs and images one can find. When we visit a forest or park, this beauty often inspires us to create our own art, sometimes on the spot! </div><div><br></div><div>Art is not limited to canvas or transitional art supplies. Making art with sticks, stone, leaves and other natural material is fun. Research is demonstrating that interacting with natural materials is beneficial for proper development, reducing stress, and maintaining good mental health.1 So next time you’re outside in a park, or in the yard, make some natural art! Gather some fall leaves or spring flowers, maybe some twigs and rocks, and let your creativity flourish. You could make a geometric pattern or maybe tell a picture story. You could make some stick people out of real sticks. The ground is your canvas. </div><div><br></div><div>Remember as your make your nature art that other people and animals may use the area where you are. So be careful that your art does not damage the surroundings. If you’re in your own back yard or on private property, you’re probably ok to make what you want. Not many people visit that land. But if you are in a public park or forest, it is important to remember that hundreds or even millions of people visit that same area every year. Many public lands are already overused. So we must be extra careful how we treat them. Here are some things you should avoid doing when making nature art in public parks and forests. </div><div><br></div><div>1. Never carve anything into trees or rocks. </div><div>2. Don’t disturb rocks in a stream or creek. It’s ok to pick up one or two, but gathering several to stack or build a dam destroys the homes of many little creatures that live under those rocks. Instead use loose rocks you find on the dry ground. If they are buried in the dirt, leave them. </div><div>3. Never cut branches or trees that are still standing, even if they are dead. Dead standing trees provide homes for many birds and mammals. </div><div>4. Never pick flowers off the stem. In many parks, this is illegal. Ones that have fallen to the ground are ok. </div><div><br></div><div>These rules may seem stilly or restrictive. Doing all these things in your own back yard is ok. But in public parks where millions of people visit, the land can quickly be destroyed. Even small city parks that are visited by hundreds of people every year can easily be overrun. You may have seen places like this where all the flowers are trampled or many of the trees are covered in peoples initials. It doesn’t look very nice. </div><div><br></div><div>Instead, we can create art that is beautiful without being destructive. Telling a story with nature items is fun. This is something we do every year on campouts with my church youth group. Each kids uses sticks, rocks, leaves and anything else they find to illustrate a Bible story. Once done, they present it to the rest. This is also an activity I have done with adults. It is something all ages can enjoy together. </div><div><br></div><div>Using rocks to tell stories was a common practice in the Old Testament. People would gather large stones, then carefully stack them together fitting each piece together like a puzzle as a mason would. The column would then be secure enough to withstand the weather for years. This rock column would stand as a memorial to some event or promise. Every time people would pass by they would remember the story or promise it represented. </div><div><br></div><div>Let’s read the key text one more time. “Then God said to Jacob, “Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau.””</div><div>In this verse, God tells Jacob to build one of these stone pillars as a memorial. Jacob did this several times in his life. Once was when God spared him from the wrath of Esau. Then again when God blessed him and changed his name to Israel promising to make him the father of many nations. (See the full chapter of Gen. 35) No doubt Jacobs family retold these stories every time they visited that rock tower. </div><div><br></div><div>Next time you visit a park, or maybe even your own back yard, take a few minutes to get down on the ground and make a beautiful masterpiece out of natural materials. It doesn’t matter how old you are. It is still fun! Maybe it can tell a Bible story. Perhaps you could make a small stone memorial to commemorate how God has blessed your life. When you’re done with your masterpiece, remember to take a picture of it!</div><div><br></div><div>Here is a question to ponder. Most of us wish we had more time to spend getting better at art. In the life to come we will. What art will you spend eternity perfecting to express your praise to the Master Artist?</div><div><br></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div><div><br></div><div>Sources:</div><div><br></div><div>1: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature</div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-26282984647293478002022-03-05T13:35:00.001-08:002022-03-05T13:35:55.425-08:00Outdoor Object Lesson 115: Seeing the Sublime<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RgqooIQrpQb0ZiE25shJBGZRa_Gk_m5W" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RgqooIQrpQb0ZiE25shJBGZRa_Gk_m5W" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>Listen to this lesson in my podcast <font color="#000000" face="sans-serif" size="3" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Seeing-the-Sublime---Episode-2-e1f9n8l" title="Gleams of the Morning" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gleams of the Morning</a>.</font></div><div><br></div><div>Key Text</div><div><br></div><div>“His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent.”</div><div>Job 26:13 NLT</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Lesson</div><div><br></div><div>Have you ever stood atop an overlook and seen the heart stopping beauty of a sunrise or sunset? The deep reds and yellow are unrivaled by any painter. In college I had the fortune to go on a mission trip to the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The last morning I and a friend hiked to the peak of a mountain to watch the sun rise. We set out in complete darkness and had to hike for nearly and hour. The trail was steep and winding. At points the trail wound along a knife edge peak with sheer drops on either side of the narrow two-foot wide trail. </div><div><br></div><div>As we rose higher the fog enshrouded us so that we could only see a few steps ahead. Flashlights were useless as the fog scattered the light so much the trail became harder to see. The dawn light grew steadily as we climbed higher up the peak. At the summit the wind cleared some of the fog and we could see a deep valley before us facing East. However the horizon was completely shrouded by stewy fog. </div><div><br></div><div>This was the only morning I had awakened early enough to see a sunrise. I prayed that God would grant me the blessing of seeing the majesty I had only witnessed in pictures—a Hawaiian sunrise. I little expected God to answer that simple prayer. Yet, God had already answered several prayers on our trip with clear and direct miracles. A few minutes after my prayer, the wind picked up. I watched as it blew the fog. The fog did not all dissipate, but instead a kind of tunnel appeared. Thought it shown the top of the sun that was peaking over the ocean horizon. We stood for maybe 15 minutes until the sun was up into the sky. Not long after, the fog descended again to completely cover the sky. </div><div><br></div><div>To this day I have never experienced a more beautiful sunrise. Nothing will compare with that one where God pull back the foggy curtain just so I could marvel at his creation. </div><div><br></div><div>Are humans the only creatures that can appreciate beauty? Bears have been recorded sitting at points overlooking mountain or river vistas for hours looking at the scene. Some scientists have theorized they could be appropriating the beauty like humans.1 Other creatures seem to have an aesthetic sense also. Birds appreciate music produced by human instruments just as readily as by their own kind. They also appreciate bright and colorful displays. Humans can correctly pick out the males most likely to be selected as mates based on the brightness of their feathery array. </div><div><br></div><div>Sir David Attenborough pointed this out in a lecture he gave titled Beauty and the Beasts. He said, “To me it is a delight to think we share and take pleasure in much the same sorts of things as our birds and butterflies and mammals and many other creatures in the world.”2 And I agree with him. It seems natural that God would have given other creatures the ability to enjoy all the beauty he has placed in creation. There is nothing else in nature that lets us glimpse the majesty and artistry of the Creator than the sublime. </div><div><br></div><div>Here is a question to ponder. Will you ask God this week to reveal himself through the beauty and grandeur he placed in nature for you to see?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div><div>Photo credit: Aloha_Mahalo vis Pixabay.com</div><div>Sources:</div><div><br></div><div>1: https://www.all-creatures.org/bear/b-bearintel.html</div><div><br></div><div>2: https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2018/05/21/news/sir-david-attenborough-animals-and-birds-appreciate-beauty-just-as-we-do-1337336/</div><div><br></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-66426394833339785672022-02-26T11:42:00.000-08:002022-02-26T11:42:03.889-08:00Outdoor Object Lesson 114 - Salty Salt<div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Im9XQt1_HjWP5lMF1GyBmdVkad7GpKcQ" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Im9XQt1_HjWP5lMF1GyBmdVkad7GpKcQ" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>Hear this <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning/episodes/Salty-Salt---Episode-1-e1eu9nb" title="episode" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">episode</a> <span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">on my new podcast Gleams of the Morning. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Key Text</div><div><br></div><div>“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Matthew 5:13 ESV</div><div><br></div><div>Lesson</div><div><br></div><div>“Salt of the earth” is a popular complement most people in our culture are familiar with. It is one of the most well known sayings of Jesus. However, most people are unaware that Jesus was not the first to use salt for spiritual symbolism. </div><div><br></div><div>Most all sacrifices in the Levitical law required salt to be added. (See Leviticus 2:13). In ancient times salt was used as a preservative and to add savoriness to food. According to Ellicott’s Bible Commentary, adding salt to a sacrifice symbolized the perpetuity of the Covenant God had with his people. Serving guests the best and most savory food you could offer was a sign of hospitality, friendliness and fidelity in the ancient Middle East. The saying, “To eat bread and salt together” is still a common expression in the Middle East used to mean an alliance or covenant between people. Salt was a popular metaphor for wisdom in Rabbinic literature of Jesus’ time also. Salt held great symbolism in that culture. </div><div><br></div><div>But salt cannot lose its saltiness can it? What did Jesus mean by this odd phrase? Sodium chloride, the most common mineral used for table salt, is very stable. Left in a dry place it can remained unchanged for thousands of years and will still taste salty. Jesus’ message was intended as metaphor and not as a chemistry lesson, so factual accuracy was not his goal. </div><div><br></div><div>The most common explanation given for Jesus’ metaphor is that the Dead Sea salt commonly used in the Levant, was not pure sodium chloride but a white powdery mix of several minerals. It was not unlike common salty seasoning mixtures of today, like all purpose seasoning. In the Dead Sea salt mix, the sodium chloride was the most soluble mineral. If left exposed to moisture, the sodium chloride could leach out of the seasoning powder leaving it bland. Thus Jesus’ question, “how can it be made salty again?” </div><div><br></div><div>This metaphor comes just after the beatitudes and seems out of place at first blush. In the beatitudes, Jesus spends 12 verses up-ending his listeners world-view with statements like “blessed are the meek” and “blessed are those who are persecuted”. In verse 12 Jesus lays out his point, “Be glad…your reward is in heaven.”</div><div><br></div><div>In verse 13 he then uses the salt metaphor. “You are the salt of the earth.” He is telling his hearers, You are here to bring savoriness to the world, you are here to preserve people’s life by sharing the gospel. This is your purpose as a believer. But, if you lose your saltiness, your purpose, what are you here for? Jesus wanted to remind his followers we are not here to live for ourselves. We have a reason to live for and a job to do. Don’t let the world dilute your purpose. Remember, it only takes a little salt to season a whole recipe. </div><div><br></div><div>Here is a question to ponder.</div><div><br></div><div>What are two ways you can be the salt of the earth in someone life this week?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-68728615422961641692021-12-13T19:52:00.001-08:002022-01-10T06:54:07.064-08:00The Case For Owning A Two-Way Radio<div>When I was young, communication away from home was a pain in the neck! We had only one portable option, two-way radios or more affectionately, walkie talkies. Hand-held two-way radios (known officially as FRS radios) only worked over 2-4 miles at best. So if you needed to contact someone while out on the road, you had to find a payphone and hope to God they were home. </div><div><br></div><div>Meeting your friends at the park for the afternoon or at some stellar outdoor spot for the weekend meant planning well in advance. You had to make sure everyone knew exactly where to go. You couldn’t just send them a Google Maps pin and say “see ya at dark-30.” You could give them verbal directions such as “get off at Exit 39, go 10 miles and turn left just after the 7-11. Go 4.3 miles and turn right onto forest service road 291 by the rusty gait. Keep going until you see the smoke from our fire.” The chance of needing to make multiple U-turns was high! Another option was to meet them at the Exit and have them follow you, also a pain in the neck. </div><div><br></div><div>However we went about sharing directions, it was complicated, time-consuming and there was a high chance of getting lost. One of the best ways to mitigate problems finding each other was with two-way radios. Your friend could just radio you when they were close if they had trouble finding you. And that is still true today. I frequently invite friends, and friends of friends to come along on weekend adventures. </div><div><br></div><div>These often take place in remote areas where there is little to no cell service. Recently I invited a friend who lives 3 hours away to come up and camp in the Great Smoky Mountains. Once inside the park, cell service is completely gone! The campgrounds inside the park are first come first serve. So I couldn't reserve a site ahead and tell him a site number. I got there after the ranger station closed so I couldn't use their phone to call him. He did not arrive till about midnight. Once at the campground, he drove through it looking for my car parked at a site. I was in the bathroom when he drove by the first two times. He circled the campground three times before realizing which site I was parked in, all the while shining his headlights into the tents and RV's of sleeping campers! </div><div><br></div><div>What could have avoided this annoyance? A simple, cheap two-way radio. It is an item every single outdoor enthusiast, weekend warrior, and hard-core adventurer should own. Yes, cellphones are easier most of the time, but where they don't work, a two-way radio fills in the gap. Some have argued that they are an obsolete and fading technology. That is utter nonsense! My local Wal-Mart stocks 10 different models. My local REI stocks 7 different models. Walkie talkie sales are increasing globally even as more people have access to cell phones! (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925006264/en/Walkie-Talkie-Market---Drivers-Forecasts-Technavio) Manufacturers continue to pack more features in than ever including NOAA weather radio channels, waterproofness, Bluetooth connectivity, built-in flashlights, mesh networking, and others you probably don't need but think are cool.</div><div><br></div><div>Two-way radios have so many uses in the outdoors. They are great when belaying a tall climb, backpacking with a group, paddling with friends, or hitting the slopes for the weekend. Outdoor recreation and adventure are not the only reasons to have a two-way radio. Other great uses include going to a concert or festival, road tripping with multiple vehicles, off-roading, and more vitally, in an emergency like a natural disaster. The Red Cross recommends having two-way radios in your emergency preparedness kit. (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170925006264/en/Walkie-Talkie-Market---Drivers-Forecasts-Technavio) If the power goes out or the phones go down a two-way radio is another means of communication with your family and the outside world. Rescuers often monitor two-way radio frequencies during a disaster situation. </div><div><br></div><div>Two-way radios are still a vital form of communication. You should own at least one if not a set. Even if you only use them once every year or two, when you need them, nothing can beat them. Sure, there are more fancy and expensive alternatives such as GPS messengers and two-way radio phone extensions such as the GoTenna. But that's the problem, they are more expensive. Plus they are much less ubiquitous. Don't misunderstand me, those sorts of gadgets have their place and are great options if you choose to use them. Not everyone has them though, and the cost will keep most people from getting them. Nearly anyone can afford a cheap two-way radio. You can get a pair at Wal-Mart for $14.99! They don't require a service plan, are easy to operate, and will last for decades even with frequent use! So, if you don't already have a two-way radio, go out and get one, 10-4?</div><div> </div><div><br></div><div>Get a quality set now for just $30 https://www.rei.com/product/895968/midland-t10-2-way-radios</div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-78131773158717979062021-11-28T07:27:00.001-08:002021-12-13T19:24:18.508-08:00Outdoor Object Lesson 113: Church Flowers - What’s the Point?<div>“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,”</div><div><br></div><div>Luke 12:27 ESV</div><div><br></div><div>In nearly every Christian church around the world, including house churches, you can find flowers adorning the front on worship days. Why do we bring these articles of nature into our worship areas? Is there a biblical command to have flowers in our worship? Do they have some special meaning? </div><div><br></div><div>Christian churches are not the only ones to use flowers or plants in their ceremonies. It is almost a universal tradition. Flowers have decorated sacred sites of numerous religions including the heathen for millennia. Christians have not always practiced this now ubiquitous tradition. Early Christians shunned such adornment because it was seen as decadent and vane. Roman culture heaped flowers on the rich and famous. Roman champions, generals, and caesars wore wreaths of flowers on their heads as a symbol of honor. </div><div><br></div><div>Thus many early Christians shunned the use of live plants in their worship to demonstrate humility and simplicity. Jesus was a God for the common and poor.1 After Constantine declared Christianity the national religion of Rome, Christian churches made less effort to distinguish themselves from pagans. Ambrose of Milan, a church father who lived in the fourth century, first associated the rose with Mary mother of Jesus. Across the intervening years, roses grew in prominence in Catholic Churches to the point that most now have a Rosery window. Later a traditional prayer called the Rosery also became popular.2</div><div><br></div><div>By the Middle Ages, Christians frequently placed flowers in their homes and places of worship.3 The art of arranging flowers in vases became common at this time.4,5 With the Reformation came an increased prominence of flowers in many churches. Much of the ceremonial accouterments were thrown out of Protestant churches including candles and ornate figures and art because they were seen as gaudy. Flowers became the main choice to adorn the sanctuary. After all, this was art created by God’s own hand.6</div><div><br></div><div>But why have flowers? There is no command in the Bible to have flowers at worship. Still, flowers have long held deep symbolism for humans. Nearly every culture has gifted flowers at times of deep emotion. Death, birth, marriage, feast days, anniversaries are all occasions celebrated with flowers. They represent how we feel while adding a touch of beauty to the scene. </div><div><br></div><div>For Christians, flowers are used in worship for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the sanctuary or meeting place is where we go to worship the Creator of the Universe. So we adorn this space in raiment worthy of his majesty. These flowers are an offering we bring before God as a token of our thanks and praise. Flowers require effort to grow or money to acquire, they need skill and time to arrange. God continually blesses our earth with beautiful flowers. It is only right we bring a small portion in return to Him as thanks. </div><div><br></div><div>Flowers also serve to symbolize specific important aspects in our worship services. They are reminders of key biblical themes. At Christmas time many churches decorate with red flowers to signify the reason Jesus was born on earth, to shed His blood for our sins. During Easter white flowers are often placed in prominence to indicate the purity Jesus provided us by his death and resurrection. Lilies are often the flower of choice because in the Bible they represent simplicity and humility. So white lilies remind us of the humility of the pure Son of God hanging on the cross. </div><div><br></div><div>The beauty of flowers serves an important role in our corporate worship. This quote sums up our purpose for flowers in church. “The beauties in nature are a theme for contemplation. In studying the natural loveliness surrounding us, the mind is carried up through nature to the Author of all that is lovely."—Testimonies, Vol. III, p. 377. - E.G. White</div><div><br></div><div>By David F. Garner</div><div><br></div><div>What is your favorite flower in church?</div><div><br></div><div>What does that flower represent spiritually to you?</div><div><br></div><div>What flowers would you like to plant in your heavenly home?</div><div><br></div><div>How will you make more time to spend contemplating God’s lessons in nature?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sources</div><div><br></div><div>1. https://ww2.odu.edu/~lmusselm/plant/bible/wreaths.php</div><div><br></div><div>2. https://dukeperformances.duke.edu/stroll-in-the-garden/</div><div><br></div><div>3. https://saintscatholic.blogspot.com/p/saint-symbols.html?m=1</div><div><br></div><div>4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_flower_arrangement?wprov=sfti1</div><div><br></div><div>5. https://floranext.com/history-of-flower-arranging/</div><div><br></div><div>6. https://elfinspell.com/England/Andrews/TheChurchTreasury/FlowersAndTheRitesOfTheChurch.html </div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-65064944104163122712021-10-05T20:03:00.001-07:002021-10-05T20:03:23.702-07:00The Hypocrisy of #Vanlife<div>#Vanlife snobs are hypocrites! Ok, I need to make one big caveat. My gripe is not with all vanlifers, but primarily with people who claim their #vanlife lifestyle is a means to saving the earth. #Vanlife is enticing, especially for young people. Life tends to be simpler and you enjoy the freedom of the open road, indefinitely. If done right, you can leave behind most all the bills and stresses of modern life. You can go where you want, when you want. You can see the beautiful places of the world and enjoy an endless camping trip. </div><div><br></div><div>Life in a vehicle moves one closer to nature. You cannot shut out all the natural sounds as you can inside a house. Most vehicles do not have heat or cooling when off, so you are more exposed to the temperature swings of night and day. Modern conveniences like showers and toilets are spartan or completely absent. And, because space is cramped, vanlifers stay outside more. Thus, one feels they are more in tune with nature. </div><div><br></div><div>To truly live in a van requires extreme thought and consideration about what possessions you travel with. Space is counted in square inches rather than square feet. #Vanlife shares similarities with the modern minimalist trend. It purports to be a lifestyle who’s goal is to live with the bare minimum physical possessions necessary. If it were a sport, vanlifers would be the elites athletes. Pruning ones possessions down enough to live in a vehicle is the epitome of minimalism. After all, every pound decreases your gas mileage. So there is good incentive. </div><div><br></div><div>Yet herein lies the problem. Although a vanlifer may have reduced their consumerism of material goods, they dramatically drive up their own carbon footprint (pun intended). The ICE car you drive is the single biggest contributor to global warming in your life. So living in a van is like trying to loose weight by cutting out the sodas and chips then eating dessert as the main course at each meal. You’re going backwards. </div><div><br></div><div>So if you want to do your part for creation, that’s great. Living with less is an honorable goal. It’s even considered a Christian virtue. But as the saying goes, you shouldn’t put the cart before the horse. You must reduce your carbon footprint first, then continue to live with the bare minimum. Living with the bare minimum doesn’t give you permission to burn all the fossil fuel you want. Well, I’ve laid on the horn long enough now, so I’ll wrap this up. If you want to enjoy #vanlife, great! Just don’t try to claim that’s it’s better for God’s creation. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>By David F. Garner</div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-51601039512430633202021-07-16T09:42:00.005-07:002022-08-26T13:52:21.542-07:00History of Backcountry Water Filters and Treatment<br><br> In the Bible, water is symbolic of life. But not just any water. Specifically clean water that is good tasting is used to represent the essence of life. This is a fitting analogy that any backcountry traveler can understand deeply. When you are hot and thirsty, nothing is more refreshing than clean, cool water. Sadly, safe drinking water is hard to find. That's why a billion dollar industry has grown up around treating water. This is a history of how humans progressed from drinking dirty water in the backcountry to carrying their own water treatment plant in their pocket. <br><br>During the American Civil War, soldiers drank contaminated water frequently. Due to the hyper-consecration of people in camps, sewages routinely contaminated the drinking water supply to a worse extent than it would have been in its natural state. Illness and gastrointestinal problems were rampant due to a lack of understanding of basic germ theory.1<br><br>This general lack of understanding persisted as the Western Frontier continued to be settled and as New Englanders discovered the joys of camping. Because they often did not camp in such large groups, illness was not as prevalent in camps following the Civil War.<br><br>William HH Murray ignited the camping movement with his how-to guide to the Adirondacks in 1869. Unsurprisingly, he makes no reference to filtering or boiling water. He does inform campers where to find fresh, clean drinking water from springs. Nor does George Washington Sears in his classic book Woodcraft make any reference to treating water. How did they and a multitude of other campers avoid sickness? By a combination of luck and taste.<br><br>As we saw in Murray’s book, campers, and most people in pre-modern times, would have preferred the cool, fresh water supplied by springs when they could get their hands in it. Spring water tends to be untainted and safe to drink. At least it was often so before the 1900’s and mass urbanization. So this water was unlikely to make the drinker sick. Secondly, it becomes obvious when reading through the afore mentioned books, that people in those days were obsessed with coffee and tea. This was an ideal drink for campers because it could mask the taste of bad water and provide warmth in cool conditions. These drinks had the unintended consequence of requiring water to be boiled. So, much of the water early campers consumed was either naturally safe or boiled. But without germ theory, plenty of campers still got sick. Their own lack of hygiene often contributed. <br><br>Campers finally wised up in the 1890’s as germ theory became common knowledge. George O. Shields’ book Camping and Camp Outfits is one of the earliest books to advise campers to boil their water. “If the water is stagnant or impure, it should be boiled before drinking it.”2 <br><br>Finally, doctors understood the cause of numerous illnesses acquired in camps. Some doctors experimented with sand filtration as early as 1855. But this did not see widespread adoption in the United States until the early 1900's after scientists and community leaders understood germ theory.3<br><br>Lord Bayden-Powell published his book Scouting for Boys and started the first Boy Scouts program in England in 1908. In his book he teaches readers the importance of drinking clean water. It is obvious he sought to teach them about germ theory as well for many commoners may not have understood the principles at this time. He suggests that if water cannot be obtained from a known "clean" source it should be boiled. Bayden-Powell had a long career in the military prior to beginning his youth work and probably drew his knowledge from common military practice of the turn of the century. Bayden-Powell's scouting program would go on to provide foundational camping skills for the next several generations.<br><br>Boy Scouts became a major force in the United States following its arrival in 1911. Its programs introduced generations of youth to the noble sport of camping throughout the 20th century. Boy Scouts strove to teach the latest and safest practices to its enrollees. In a 1911 issue of Boy's Life, an article illustrates how to make a water filter from natural sand and stones layered into a bucket. The point was to filter out visible sediments not pathogens. But nevertheless, we see from it's earliest days, Boy Scouts was committed to educating scouts on safe water procurement.4<br><br>Chemical treatment was first used in in the United States around this same time in 1908 when Dr. John Leal secretly began treating New Jersey's water supply with chlorine. His idea was based on systems that had already been implemented in Europe in years prior, but he kept his chemical treatment operation a secret for fear of public backlash from a general public that did not understand this new science. His solution was effective and US water systems have been chlorinated ever since.5 However, this did not help campers in the backcountry. <br><br>An easy field solution to treat water chemically was developed by Col. William Lyster. In 1913, he perfected a portable water bag system (termed Lyster bag) for chlorinating drinking water for the U.S. military. His system was deployed during WWI and used until better systems were devised for WWII. His system was used by civilian campers and recreation programs well into the 20th century. It generally used liquid chlorine.6<div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_tZvcTSLcyY/YPGyd8cCptI/AAAAAAAABsk/O46Z3kJvgScLual5QwSTaBOcOdRm6ONtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1763/lyster%2Bbag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1763" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_tZvcTSLcyY/YPGyd8cCptI/AAAAAAAABsk/O46Z3kJvgScLual5QwSTaBOcOdRm6ONtgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h266/lyster%2Bbag.jpg" width="400" id="id_6367_e91b_ad55_e8b8" style="width: 400px; height: auto;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lyster Bag (alt spelling "Lister")</div><div><br><br>Towards the end of WWI, chlorine tablets known as halazone were created and provided to individual soldiers for use when they were away from camp. It was not until WWII that these tablets saw widespread use by the military. This was lighter and easier than liquid chlorine.7 Halazone tablets were first advertised to campers in a 1933 issue of Boy's Life produced by a company called Bauer & Black.8 <br><br>Iodine water treatment was used by militaries in the 1920's to a limited extent. During WWII, Harvard University worked along with the U.S. Army to develop portable iodine tablets that were more user friendly. This resulted in Potable Aqua iodine tablets. Following the war, as camping exploded in popularity, Potable Aqua found a new market, and campers gained an easy method to make truly safe drinking water.9 <br><br>Summer camp programs also became very popular following the end of WWII. Bigger camps with established facilities used traditional means of treating their water. Smaller, less permanent camps sometimes used a Lyster bag system. In a 1949 issue of The Camping Magazine, a magazine for summer camp directors and operators, a gravity bag filter system was advertised. It was advertised as being completely portable. Sadly no photo of the system was provided. So just how portable, and how many people it was designed to support is unknown.10 <br><br>The first portable water filter durable enough to be used while backpacking was the classic Katadyn Pocket filter. It is heavy by today’s standards, but at the time was revolutionary. However, when it was introduced, the idea of water filtration was not common and thus the water filter did not become a standard feature until the 1980’s. The Pocket is still a moderately common choice for backcountry expeditions today.11</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ceX37DZZpFA/YPGzNSAKLMI/AAAAAAAABss/hmrG5xUzlSo6Dsm_LwWUbKW1Eu8IO-2aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ceX37DZZpFA/YPGzNSAKLMI/AAAAAAAABss/hmrG5xUzlSo6Dsm_LwWUbKW1Eu8IO-2aQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_1400.JPG" width="400" id="id_d6a9_ea1f_b6c_a1c9" style="width: 400px; height: auto;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Katadyn Pocket Filter</div> <br><br>For most backpackers in the midcentury, boiling or chemical treatment were the defacto water treatment. In his classic guide, The Complete Walker, author Colin Fletcher does not mention the Katadyn Pocket filter, or any other filtration process. He advices readers to boil or chemically treat water from questionable sources. He feels most mountain springs are safe, but other water sources should be suspect and treated.12 <br><br>Following WWII, a wide array of filter products became available for boaters and campers. One especially compact version called the Filopur was advertised in Field and Stream in the 1970's. It was designed for use car camping and on small boats. Most all of these products were too bulky to be carried into the backcountry on foot.13 <br><br>Today, straw-like water filter designs are common, but that wasn't always the case. Before the early 2000s, most water filters featured a pump design. However, the first known water filter designed specifically for backpacking had a straw formfactor. An ad for The Super Straw appeared in the August 1977 issue of Backpacker Magazine surrounded by ad's showing photos of the Jumar ascender and Danner's burley hiking boots. The Super Straw featured activated charcoal and was advertised as an addition to chemical treatment that could remove the foul test left behind. It does not seem to have reached widespread use as few other ads for the product could be found.14 <br><br>Surprisingly, it appears the Katadyn Pocket filter was not discovered by backpackers until the late ‘70s or early ‘80s. A 1984 article in Field & Stream warns readers about various water pathogen threats to unsuspecting thirsty hikers. The author points out the inconvenience of chemical treatment which takes a lot of time and leaves a bad aftertaste. He also laments how boiling water robs it of its cool, refreshing quality. He then introduced the Katadyn Pocket filter as if most readers had never heard of a portable water filter light enough to take backpacking. This seems the beginning of a new product market as numerous filters would be advertised in the next two decades, most not very successful, but a few that became trail staples.15. <br><br>One possible cause for the explosion of lightweight portable water filters was increasing public fear of <i>giardia lambelia</i>. Reports show that giardia outbreaks peaked in the early 1980s.15a Frequent news reports of the dangers of this dreaded sickness may have forced backcountry travelers to rethink the classic approaches to water treatment. Chlorine and iodine treatments are only partially effective against giardia, and ineffective against cryptosporidium. While boiling is generally effective, it is time and fuel intensive.16 <br><br>Ads for water filters and purifiers lauded their ability to make water safe from the dreaded giardia. One 1981 ad promotes a water filter model elegantly named The Giardia Trap.17. Water purifiers were filters with a chemical matrix stage added to provide even more pathogen fighting power. These were often iodine based. The matrix used a charged iodine ion that was highly effective against giardia, much more so than classic iodine tablets.18 These early water purifiers often had a funnel design. One had to assemble the pieces then set atop a container to catch the treated water below. A cup was used to pour water in the top and keep adding slowly as the water drained through. A few models were around as early as the mid-70s.<br><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggYnTwG6T7o/YPG44KKa6ZI/AAAAAAAABuY/E1BwYLSoAlk_EuK2AmBYCpux_O-eyQ_fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1242/IMG_8304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1241" data-original-width="1242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ggYnTwG6T7o/YPG44KKa6ZI/AAAAAAAABuY/E1BwYLSoAlk_EuK2AmBYCpux_O-eyQ_fQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_8304.jpg" width="320" id="id_9f75_f8c8_3491_2ad5" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3pWr9uhnpw/YPG49o3uqjI/AAAAAAAABuk/HHHDAVCniSQUuui75-2OiqpYLn-cZ5axQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1242/IMG_8305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W3pWr9uhnpw/YPG49o3uqjI/AAAAAAAABuk/HHHDAVCniSQUuui75-2OiqpYLn-cZ5axQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_8305.jpg" width="320" id="id_98b_c108_3d31_a95f" style="width: 320px; height: auto;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Neo Filter</div><br>By the late 80s, water filters became an essential piece of backcountry gear. More competitors were entering the market. MSR entered the industry in 1990 and released their first filter in 1991. The WaterWorks Total Filtration System, was elegant and easy to use. It was also lightweight. With this first model, MSR began to push the boundaries of water filter design and kept doing so for several decades. In 1994, MSR introduced a ceramic filter option but at a much cheaper price point than other ceramic filters. The WaterWorks filter has seen several design updates and name changes to improve it’s functionality. Yet it has remained one of the top selling filters.19. <br><br>Pump filters were a mainstay of the 1990s and early 2000s. A revolution in thinking came in 2005 with the introduction of the LifeStraw. This was a compact and lightweight water filter that required no pumping, hoses, or replacing of filters. It quickly became a filter every backcountry traveler wanted to try. It seemed so simple, just as easy as drinking through a straw, no extra work required. In practice, it was not so simple. Larger debris needs to be removed to avoid rapid clogging. Also, because it is a straw, an open water container is required to use the filter. <br><br>This is inconvenient for hikers who may prefer to keep moving while sipping water. Additionally, it does not provide a ready solution to filter large quantities of water for later use or for food preparation. Nor is it meant to share amongst a group. The straw design limits it to use by one person. These limitations kept the LifeStraw from greater popularity among backpackers and other backcountry travelers. However, it is still popular among day hikers and preppers who favor a lightweight, small filter that is primarily reserved for emergency situations rather than daily use. <br><br>While the LifeStraw has seen limited adoption, it’s design has influenced the whole industry of backcountry water filters. It has created a string of copycats as well as influenced other popular designs. Following the release of the LifeStraw came numerous water bottles with a built in straw filter. Other in-line filters have become common. One notable example is the Sawyer family of hollow fiber membrane filters. Starting in 2009, Sawyer released a small, black filter meant to be used in the line of a water bladder hose. Sawyer has since released several variations of its design but all are built around this in-line filter philosophy. They have also emphasized affordability in their products. The combination of a lightweight, reliable product, with a low price point below $50, has helped them become one of the most common brands on the trail.20</div><br><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cpR2o6FhgM/YPG3z2bpnjI/AAAAAAAABtw/JG10PN8cg3ocFaNnpd9Rv235Bg6MbOH9ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/2722820246_96b5139dd0_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3cpR2o6FhgM/YPG3z2bpnjI/AAAAAAAABtw/JG10PN8cg3ocFaNnpd9Rv235Bg6MbOH9ACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/2722820246_96b5139dd0_o.jpg" width="400" id="id_9948_e4c1_f9d3_efe6" style="width: 400px; height: auto;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">LifeStraw Filter (photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bseshadri/2722820246">Badri Sheshadri</a>)</div><div><br><br>One last honorable mention in this saga is the SteriPEN UV water purifier. It even made Time Magazine's list of 100 greatest and most influential gadgets from 1923-present. This list includes only electronic gadgets so no other water treatment items were included.21 In 1997, Miles Maiden, a solar technology researcher and self-described outdoorsman invented a handheld UV light to sterilize small amounts of water. He called it the SteriPEN. It provides a dose of UV light strong enough to kill any pathogens. <br><br>However it does have its limits. The water must be visibly clear as particles in water can block the UV rays. So prefiltration is often required. Also, it cannot remove toxic chemicals or heavy metals. So a filter is also required if this is a concern. Finally, it is limited by the weaknesses common to all electronics. So it should never be the sole source of water treatment for a backcountry traveler. Nevertheless, it is a great feat of engineering and much quicker than chemical alternatives.22 <br><br>In modern times there are certainly a lot of water treatment options to choose from. This diversity is good as it allows users to choose the best option for their unique needs and destination. Companies will continue to innovate and make their products better. The future of water treatment technology is yet to be written.<br><br><br><br><br>Written by David F. Garner<br><br><br>Sources<br><br>1. https://www.bethelhistorical.org/legacy-site/Drinking_Water_in_the_Civil_War.html<br><br>2. https://northernbush.com/wp-content/downloads/woodcraft/Shields-George-Camping-and-Camp-Outfits-1890.pdf (see pg 51)<br><br>3. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=200024H9.txt<br><br>4. https://books.google.com/books?id=GP19Dn55Qq8C&lpg<br><br>5. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2014/10/30/1331082/-How-John-Leal-Put-Poison-In-Our-Drinking-Water-And-Saved-Us-All<br><br>6. https://history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/misc/evprev/ch7.htm<br><br>7. Russell, Philip. 100 Military Inventions that Changed the World. United Kingdom: Little, Brown Book Group, 2013.<br><br>8. https://books.google.com/books?id=xQVf9FBnxdQC&pg=PA30&dq=halazone&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjM-O6JgtLxAhUHheAKHRFQCcYQ6AF6BAgLEAI#v=onepage&q=halazone&f=false <br><br>9. https://www.potableaqua.com/history/#:~:text=Potable%20Aqua%C2%AE%20iodine%20water,disinfection%20for%20over%2050%20years<br><br>10. The Camping Magazine. United States: American Camping Association, 1949. https://archive.org/details/sim_camping-magazine_1932-01_4_4<br><br>11. https://de.zxc.wiki/wiki/Katadyn<br><br>12. Colin Fletcher, The Complete Walker, 1968, pg 94.<br><br>13. https://books.google.com/books?id=749LR15uQzoC&pg=PA140&dq=water+filter&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR7rKRksrxAhUHmGoFHfI3CIk4FBDoATABegQICxAC#v=onepage&q=water%20filter&f=false<br><br>14. https://books.google.com/books?id=8N8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA77&dq=water+filter&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjVqKH7jcrxAhWFlGoFHTbiDAUQ6AEwAXoECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=water%20filter&f=false <br><br>15. https://books.google.com/books/about/Field_Stream.html?id=AQoUSNNI5h8C<br><br><br>15a. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5150856/<br><br>16. https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/waterborne/prevention/backcountry.pdf<br><br>17. https://books.google.com/books/about/Backpacker.html?id=8d8DAAAAMBAJ<br><br>18. https://books.google.com/books/about/Backpacker.html?id=o-EDAAAAMBAJ<br><br>19. https://www.msrgear.com/blog/gear-archives-trusted-source-evolution-miniworks-ex-microfilter/<br><br>20. https://sawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/UNC-Handout_2015-10-21.pdf<br><br>21. http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2023689,00.html<br><br>22. https://bangordailynews.com/2011/12/14/outdoors/blue-hill-outdoorsman-inventor-paves-the-way-to-safe-water-any-time-anywhere/</div><div><br><br><br><br></div>dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-19422772237765077192021-07-04T10:20:00.001-07:002022-05-07T10:58:34.918-07:00The Independence Tree<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjzRetkxs_41P1BwzAvgLo58TifygxK0JVUxFRuAM5KGPHyC4E47EULYLGSmzACqu4ECc1v-zwWbnoEe2lpw0IlawYkVkEkUd-K4Z9ffbPfS6cuZW0fniXkOolPPuTtRFhmhooK0yHvHqS5hRGpFfyW8Jz-uZK4TobLrwG165uwau1C8uFe36lzn6iA/s1920/lone-tree-g2262c61b8_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1920" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjzRetkxs_41P1BwzAvgLo58TifygxK0JVUxFRuAM5KGPHyC4E47EULYLGSmzACqu4ECc1v-zwWbnoEe2lpw0IlawYkVkEkUd-K4Z9ffbPfS6cuZW0fniXkOolPPuTtRFhmhooK0yHvHqS5hRGpFfyW8Jz-uZK4TobLrwG165uwau1C8uFe36lzn6iA/w400-h271/lone-tree-g2262c61b8_1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Check out my new devotional podcast: <a href="https://anchor.fm/gleamsofthemorning" target="_blank">Gleams of the Morning</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What does independence mean to you?</div><div><br /></div><div>The oak tree is the national tree of the United States. It represents strength and endurance which are qualities we prize as Americans. It is also a symbol of righteousness. </div><div><br /></div><div>It is often depicted standing alone in a field surrounded by grass. This is because of an ecological community where oak trees are the only tree surrounded by grassland. These result from fires because oaks are often the only species that can survive the fire. After the fire, grasses grow in quickly. Farmers like these kinds of fields for their livestock. The occasional oak tree located in a field provides shade for the animals on hot days. The thick bark provides a good surface for livestock to scratch their backs without damaging the tree. When growing alone as in a field, their crowns will spread wide, as much as 80 feet of ground coverage. They create an imposing image. </div><div><br /></div><div>At first glance it seems these oak trees are the epitome of independence. They are hearty enough to withstand forest fires and livestock. They live extremely long lives living to 300+ years, and are resistant to pests and rot. Their only real enemy is man who may cut them down. Luckily we tend to prize oaks so we often leave them when cutting down others around them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oak trees are mentioned in the Bible a few times. Most notable are the oaks of Mamre that Abraham camped near. Some versions say great trees but they are often called oak trees as oaks are common in that region. These trees are closely associated with Abraham and his legacy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let’s read about the most important event that took place under one of these trees. Please read Genesis 18:1-10 In this text we learn that Jesus himself visits Abraham. Here he promises to give Abraham and Sarah a miracle child through whom all nations will be blessed. Why did Jesus choose to visit Abraham in person and promise to bless the whole world through him? Was it because of Abrahams money or popularity? No. Let’s read further to find out. Please read Genesis 18:16-26.</div><div><br /></div><div>The conversation continues until Jesus agrees to spare Sodom and Gamora if there are just 10 righteous people in the city. This is the true reason God chose Abraham to be the line through which the savior would come. Abraham was a righteous man. Now read Isaiah 61:3 (note some versions simply say trees but most say oaks in this verse). In the Bible, oaks represent righteousness. Why was Abraham considered a righteous man? Finally, please read Romans 4:13. Abraham was made righteous through his faith in God. </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to share a few more facts about oak trees with you. They are considered a keystone species. If the oak trees in an ecosystem die off, this can cause the ecosystem to crash and many other species can die in that region. Just like if you pulled the keystone out of an arch, the whole thing can come tumbling down. Oak trees are believed to support at least 4000 other species either directly or indirectly. Many common native plants play host to 15-30 species directly or indirectly on average. There may be a few species of mammals that eat those plants for food also. But oaks are unique among trees in North America. They are believed to support the most species of any tree that grows here. They can withstand fire as was mentioned. They are able to withstand hurricane force winds and droughts better than many other species. They can do this because of their tap root. When an acorn falls to the ground, the first sprout does not grow up as with some seeds, it grows straight down. The sprout is sensitive to gravity and knows which way to grow. It does not grow sideways or at an angle. It boroughs straight down into the earth. It continues growing like this for the life of the oak tree. Other roots will later grow sideways and every which way. But the taproot is the anchor. It literally roots the tree deep in the earth. </div><div><br /></div><div>It also reaches water sources deep in the ground that other plants and trees often cannot reach because they do not grow deep roots. More importantly, the roots of the tree form connections with up to 40 different species of fungi growing in the dirt. This is common to many tree species. Tree roots form mycorrhizal networks with the fungi underground. The fungi break down the nutrients in the soil and pass it on to the tree roots, the tree in turn provides carbon from the atmosphere to the fungi. This symbiotic relationship is vital to tree survival. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some acorns get carried long distances from its parent tree and deposited in the middle of a field where no other trees are growing. Where do the fungi come from? After all, each tree species can only from these networks with specific fungi species. Well, the spores of the appropriate fungi are transferred near the young tree by animals, usually birds or mammals. </div><div><br /></div><div>The point is that the oak tree, symbol of independence, strength and righteousness, cannot function in isolation. We tend to picture oaks growing alone in a field, or our yard. But they are not alone. They are supported first and foremost by their long root growing deep in the bedrock of earth. Second they are supported by a vast community of fungi, mammals, birds, and other creatures. Their strength comes from the community that grows around. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was the same for Abraham, his righteousness came not from within himself, but from a deep and abiding faith rooted in the True rock. He was supported by the community of believers around him that left Ur along with him, his wife, Lot, his trusted servant. These people were flawed, but they trusted Abraham and supported him. </div><div><br /></div><div>The strength and independence of our country does not come by everyone living for himself. It comes from community. That is why God has blessed this country. That is why the United States has been a symbol of righteousness and freedom among the nations. No one can deny our country is imperfect. We know according to prophecies in Revelation that one day it will persecute the people of God. But it has been a place of freedom that has allowed the Gospel to spread to every corner of the earth to help bring about the second coming of Jesus. When you think about the independence we celebrate in this country. Remember that independence is dependent on community. Most importantly, remember that we are never truly independent agents unto ourselves. We depend on God for everything. If you want the righteousness of Abraham, you need a deep abiding faith in the Savior. </div><div><br /></div><div>Written by David F. Garner</div><div><br /></div><div>Sources:</div><div>Note, this worship thought was originally prepare for an oral presentation and no sources for the facts mentioned were kept. </div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-31515469023855502142021-07-01T09:42:00.001-07:002021-07-01T09:42:24.507-07:00Bio-agapé<div>How much do you enjoy creation? This is a question most people do not give much conscious thought to. Many people can tell you that they enjoy a good view, going to the beach, or some other place in nature. They may say they love being outdoors, or doing outdoor activities. But if you ask them why, you will often receive a thoughtful pause before being given some recycled shibboleth such as, "the sunshine", "fresh air" or "to get away for awhile." </div><div><br></div><div>Occasionally, you will encounter an armchair philosopher who can spout paraphrases of great literary genius' such as John Muir or Henry David Thoreau. It is all too rare to converse with a person who can eloquently express the deep emotional currents stirred by encounters with the natural world. It seems modern Western society prefers to consume nature as fast-food rather than a home-cooked meal. We want it now, as much of it as we can get in as little time as possible. We care little for the nutritional value and only for the taste. </div><div><br></div><div>We live indoors 90 plus percent of the time, then run to nature for a quick jaunt on the weekend. A privileged few take longer vacations in which they accrue the highlights, the best views, most iconic destinations, mostly from the comfort of a vehicle. We care for the quantity, not the quality of our nature diet. We check places off our bucket list, fill in the sticker maps on the back of our RV's. But do we take the time to get to know a place? </div><div><br></div><div>Do we stop and listen to nature? Yes, we hear the sounds, but do we listen deeply, as John Muir and Henry David Thoreau listened? Their famous writings were not the result of a 30 day west coast RV tour to see all the National Parks. No. They lived in communion with nature. They consumed it as a home-cooked meal, slowly, with thoughtful appreciation to the One who prepared it. This is the recipe for developing a personal and conscious answer to the original question, how much do you enjoy creation? </div><div><br></div><div>Over a life-time of nature study, biologist E. O. Wilson says he enjoys creation as much as he does being at home. He has come to believe there is an innate pull toward natural environments, especially those that resemble the African Savanah. He believes all humans share this attraction and he has termed it "biophilia" or a friendly love for nature. In other words, he believes we have a longing for creation, similar to a longing for a close friendship.1</div><div><br></div><div>The difficulty is that many people do not see this longing within themselves. Our reductionistic, hyperrational thinking has trained us to imagine creation as a commodity rather than a friend. We view earth in parts rather than a whole. We talk of rivers, oceans, forests, mountains as separate entities instead of portions of a totality. We often pick one as a favorite and disregard the rest. One can frequently hear questions such as, "do you prefer the mountains or the beach?" "is your favorite season summer or winter?" We can have our preferences, after all this keeps one type from being over crowded, but each one cannot exist without the other. Mountains without the ocean would be brown and barren since rain would be minimal. Summer without winter would quickly cast the global temperature balance into catastrophic chaos. The seasonal swings keep the world stable. </div><div><br></div><div>We need a change in our conscious view of how we enjoy creation. Cornell Williams Brooks suggests we need more than a friendly love for nature. Biophilia may describe an innate pull in our biology. We must develop a stronger relationship if we are to maintain creation as we have been enjoying it. Brooks suggests we need a bio-agape view of creation. Only then can we truly begin to appreciate creation as God intended at the beginning. He proclaims that when we have an unconditional love for blue and green spaces, for mountains, rivers and oceans, then we will cherish the creation as a whole. We will treat it as it deserves, as a product made by the hand of the Almighty.2</div><div><br></div><div>Bio-agape will enable humanity to regard nature as we did before the fall, as something we know and care for intimately. It is only then that we will stop using nature in a way that benefits the few at the expense of the many. An unconditional love for the biosphere will lead us to realize that all people enjoy nature and need what it provides. Some do not have more claim to it than others. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>By David F. Garner</div><div><br></div><div>Sources:</div><div>1. Chris Mooney, “E.O. Wilson explains why parks and nature are really good for your brain ,”The Washington Post online, September 30, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/09/30/e-o-wilson-explains-why-experiencing-nature-is-good-for-the-human-mind/.</div><div>2. Cornell Williams Brooks, “The Call Of The Wild In Our Cities: Morality, Race, And The Environment,” June 21, 2021, New England Aquarium Lecture Series, 57 min 30 sec, https://thecallofthewildinourcities.splashthat.com/.</div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2305118638989551507.post-8040328797094768982021-06-14T11:07:00.001-07:002021-06-21T16:16:40.304-07:00History of the Humble Disposable Bags<div>In the early 1800’s, thanks to the industrial revolution, the prices of many goods grew steadily cheaper. This corresponded to a boom in product sales and distribution. One of the products that costed less was paper. This was thanks to a 1799 invention of a machine that could mass produce it. A few vendors found that customers appreciated having their goods packaged and bound together in order to take home. Paper was the perfect material to protect items in transit. Twine was used to close the paper into a bundle and a loop could be added for a convenient handle. According to Pamela Klaffke in Spree: A Cultural History of Shopping, stores across Europe and America began to provide this packaging as a curtesy to their customers. </div><div><br></div><div>In 1852, Mr. Francis Wolle received a patent for a machine that made a paper bag. It was the birth of the disposable bag.1 Incremental changes were made to improve the paper bag over the next century. Various designs and sizes were developed to accommodate a variety of needs. Almost 100 years later, Canadians Harry Wasylyk and Larry Hansen invented the plastic garbage bag in their kitchen in 1950. Prior to this people used paper bags or simply placed their garbage loose in the trash can. These green bags ushered in a more hygienic future. They were first used in Winnipeg General Hospital to help reduce the spread of polio during the polio epidemic. These trash can liners as they were originally known, finally became widespread in the 1960’s. Trash management has been easier ever since.2</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>An interesting side note is that, Wilhelm Wendt, owner and founder of the Swedish store Perstorp attempted to find a cost effective replacement for paper bags in the 1950s. He developed what is likely the first mass produced reusable shopping bag called Shopping Bag 329. His patented bag had some success in Europe. In the 1960’s disposable plastic shopping bags led to a decline in popularity of Shopping Bag 329. Ironically, the over-prevalence of plastic shopping bags and widespread knowledge of their negative environmental impacts led Perstorp to resurrect the design in the early 2000’s as reusable shopping bags gained popularity.3</div><div><br></div><div>Another major innovation happened in 1951 when Borge Madsen invented the plastic zipper. It functioned with a slider pull tab like a conventional zipper and was expensive to manufacture. It found limited use as a closure for packages and bags. Two brothers, Max Austin and Edgar Austin, saw promise in the idea and purchased the patent to start a company around it called Flexigrip. Over the next decade and multiple design iterations, they produced the first plastic zipper bag. It featured a press and seal zip closure rather than a slider pull tab design. In the mid-1960’s Dow Chemical approached the brothers for exclusive rights to make the product. Thus the famous Ziploc was born.4,5</div><div><br></div><div>A major change in disposable bag technology came in 1965 when Sten Gustaf Thulin invented the first disposable but sturdy plastic shopping bag. His major idea was to add handles for easy carrying. The technology received mixed reviews from store clerks and was improved incrementally by various companies for several years. In 1982, grocery store chain Kroger settled on a winning design and switched from paper to plastic bags in their checkout lines. It was wildly successful and many other stores switched rapidly. This is the most common and versatile disposable bag around today.6</div><div><br></div><div>What do disposable bags have to do with the outdoors? Two major, and frequently overlooked, ways. Garbage bags have not only made our modern lives more sanitary, they have also improved the environment. Throwing trash in the street, in the river, or elsewhere was a common practice prior to the introduction of the disposable trash bag. This humble invention made trash collection much simpler, cheaper and more convenient. So, more trash is collected and disposed of in a more environmentally friendly landfill or recycling facility. Bagged trash tends to have less odor meaning wildlife is less likely to get into the trash exposing them to toxic chemicals or pathogens. In modern times, classic trash bags are seen in a less favorable light by environmentalists because they take so long to decompose. Thankfully, modern trash bags can be made of more earth friendly biodegradable plastics. Completely eliminating the disposable trash bag would definitely be worse for the environment. </div><div><br></div><div>Second, disposable bags have made outdoor recreation infinitely better. Plastic bags are inescapable for the outdoor recreator. Nearly as soon as they became widely available, backpackers and all sorts of other outdoor enthusiasts adopted them. One of the very first how-to guidebook for backpacking was The Compete Walker printed in 1968. In it, author Colin Fletcher discusses several uses for plastic bags out on the trail.7 They can be used to package food, keep clothing and gear clean and dry, double as an emergency poncho, hold your trash, or simply keep your gear organized. </div><div><br></div><div>While they are inseparable from outdoor pursuits, it is important to reuse your disposable bags as many times as possible to reduce excess waste and cost. Purchasing biodegradable bags is also an eco-friendly choice. This modern convenience did not come about by accident. It is a result of over 100 years of hard work and innovation. Next time you use a humble disposable bag, think about how much better it makes your life. Then recycle it. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>By David F. Garner</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Sources:</div><div>1. https://www.thecut.com/2013/12/bag-envy.html</div><div><br></div><div>2. https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4024908</div><div><br></div><div>3. https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/plastic-bag-1950s-hot-new-thing</div><div><br></div><div>4. https://www.whoinvent.com/who-invented-ziploc-bags/</div><div><br></div><div>5. https://www.impakcorporation.com/history-of-ziplock-resealable-bags</div><div><br></div><div>6. https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/the-history-of-plastic-bags/</div><div><br></div><div>7. Colin Fletcher, <i>The Complete Walker,</i> 1968, p. 271, print.</div> dg.outdoorlessonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09623895359458492635noreply@blogger.com