Why are outdoor travel and recreation such awesome ways to build memories? Lasting memories are built from things that stand out in our minds. The natural world is so full of beauty, drama, fascination, majesty, intricacy, variety. It captivates our senses, our minds, our emotions. The wonder of experiencing a new outdoor destination and the … Keep reading…
About 2-1/2 years ago, my dad was experiencing memory-loss episodes that had my mom thinking about moving to an assisted living facility. When we were talking about it together, she said, “You know what I’d miss most about this place (their current apartment)? The red walls!” We laughed about that. But there’s this pang inside … Keep reading…
There are as many ways to fulfill the Great Commission as there are people who take on that command from Jesus. Backpacking is one of them! In 2017, my friend Renee Scheil spent her second year in New Zealand with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). She was part of the YWAM staff at the Oxford … Keep reading…
When most people think about the Bible and creation, what comes to mind is Genesis and the creation story: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… (Genesis 1:1 ASV) The author of Genesis (Moses) goes on for the first two chapters describing the creation process, culminating with Adam and Eve. But did … Keep reading…
Something incredibly significant happened in my life recently…my Dad finished his course in this world, and was welcomed into the Celestial City (as it’s called in Pilgrim’s Progress). One of the ways my dad, Ivan, lived his life was in loving and enjoying the outdoors. He passed on that love to all five of his … Keep reading…
Sometimes we tend to keep certain things in our lives separate. Things that don’t seem to go together—like Jesus and nature. But this Season is a great reminder of how Jesus and nature are indelibly linked together. I’ve always loved verses in the Bible that talk about the interaction between nature and God. So what … Keep reading…
The idea of God using wilderness experiences to shape us has been on my radar for years. Probably ever since I spent my first summer leading kids on canoe trips in the Boundary Waters back in 1987. And I don’t mean what Christians sometimes refer to as a “wilderness experience,” as in symbolism for a … Keep reading…
“For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship…” (Romans 1:20, Amplified Bible) I think that’s why I love being in the outdoors so much. I don’t even have to go to the mountains or to a wilderness area. I … Keep reading…
Did you know even looking at pictures of Nature is good for us? It’s true. Studies have shown that being in nature…looking out the window at green spaces…even looking at a book with pictures of the natural world all contribute to health benefits for us. So, why don’t you take a break right now. Less … Keep reading…
When I saw my friend Gail’s Facebook feed last fall and learned she and her daughter were running Twin Cities Marathon together, I knew I had to get their story. Two reasons — Gail is not an athlete! and… I’m a big fan of any kind of mother-and-daughter “we can conquer this” adventure. I know … Keep reading…