Earth Day & The God Who Made Moose

In light of Earth Day, I thought I would give it a go - as the kids say these days – to blog on the issue. I could easily write about how it’s not enough to just honor creation, we must honor the Creator. I could easily write on the fact that Christians should be the ones caring most for the planet – after all, when God made the physical world, he declared it good. I could write on the forgotten Dominion Mandate and offer a feeble attempt at a theological treatise on the groaning of a fallen yet still irrevocably good planet we call home. Instead, I want to tackle something bigger. MUCH bigger. I want to talk about moose. Or mooses. Meese?

Why? Because they’re dadgum glorious, that’s why. I have two seen in the wild before, one from a steam train, which made the experience almost holy. Now, it’s not like I sit around all day and think about Moose. I DO have a life. Really. Heh.

Here’s why I have Moose on the mind; they’re equally majestic and wonderfully goofy. Recently I have been reading Psalm 104. In it, David speaks to the fact that God created the beast identified as Leviathan (presumably a whale, considering the context). What’s really interesting is that God created this creature, apparently, for the reason to PLAY in the sea. God creates animals so they can PLAY. What’s more, our response to the whimsical fact of the Almighty’s taste in creating such beasts and wiring them to sport is to REJOICE. We are called to look at creation, and rejoice. Not ignore it, but rejoice at it.

One of the errors we often make in talking about creation, nature, the great outdoors and the ‘environment’ is that we so easily fall into an over-zealous posture incapable of rejoicing at the design of it all. Let me offer you some thoughts on why we shouldn’t view creation from a negative lens, but rather a positive (and fun) lens.

Everything we see in nature is the handiwork of God, and God is an artist. We can’t help but admire great works of art, can we? There is something powerful and moving when we experience masterpieces, especially when we can discern how intricately designed they are. An inspiring painting, a rustic hand-built cabin, a feast put together from days of preparation, an innovative technology, a revolutionary sports car, even the simplest of things like an oak tree and a small pond - these all inspire us. This takes me to Genesis 1 and God creating all things.

We make a tragic mistake by portraying God as a lonely being somewhere in outer space with nothing to do but snap His fingers and create planets. God could have created any kind of Universe He wanted to, and He could have created all the inhabitants any way He wanted.

In other words, He didn’t HAVE to make Moose – but He did. The fact that He created all the inhabitants full of various sizes, specific shapes, functions and abilities shows us that God is not only good, but that He is an artist. Nobody points this out as well as John Eldredge in his book on the artistry of Jesus, Beautiful Outlaw:

“Sunlight on water. Songbirds in a forest. Desert sands under moonlight. Vineyards just before harvest. These all share something in common – they reflect the heart of a particular artist. They are his masterpieces, his expression, and his gift to us. The Artists name is Jesus.”

When God created the cosmos, he did it through and for the Son. God the Son, prior to becoming God incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth created the cosmos.

You know what’s so great about this? This means that Jesus is not a passive person who just shows up one day in a manger with Christmas lights flickering; he’s been there all along (see John 1). It also means that Jesus is not bland. He is full of creativity, creativity that blows our minds. The fact that Jesus is an artist means that as a Christian, I’m commanded to behold the beauty of the artist, and to adore the artist himself.

As Calvin put it so well, “There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” Jonathan Edwards said, “Nature is God’s greatest evangelist.”

We are so used to certain features of nature because they have always been around us, we don’t think about the fact that there was a time that those features didn’t exist. Think with me for a moment, that there was a time when mountains didn’t exist. They had to be thought up. Once upon a time, the ocean wasn’t there. It had to be imagined. The animals, smells, sights, colors - all of these at one time didn’t exist, then all the sudden, WHAM, they did. This means that God wanted them to come into being. God wanted mountains, lakes, watermelons, rocks, streams, rainbow trout, coyotes, Bermuda grass, sand, tigers, roses, Neptune, strawberries, ponderosa pine trees, salt, waves, and all the things nature bears witness to.

Yes, it’s true that this world is indeed fallen and damaged. But it’s necessary to differentiate the fact that nature is God’s handiwork and that this world is full of brokenness and suffering, even in nature (for example, COVID-19). But this is not a design flaw on His part, it’s a disruption by mankind, who were supposed to take care of God’s creation.

The truth is that although God cannot fit neatly into a box, He is absolutely a God of order. God doesn’t do things haphazardly. Consider water. The roaring ocean is wild, but the chemical makeup of water is exquisitely intricate and ordered. Consider lions. They are wild, and that is good. God didn’t create them wild in the negative sense, but in the positive sense. There is a purpose and order to their wild nature.

Let’s pontificate - why do you and I name animals? Here’s a bigger question; why do we even talk to animals? When God created the animals, He brought them to Adam to see what he would name them. God loves organizing, and He wanted Adam to share in that same joyous activity. Don’t skip past this too quickly, let it marinate - it brought joy to God for Adam to name and care for the animals. God creates us to exercise dominion. Whether it’s felling timber to build a shelter or naming a beagle and teaching him to roll over or building a swimming pool and jumping in or planting a rosebush and tending to it, these activities all point to the need to organize, which comes from God.

When God made the physical world, he declared it good. There was a false teaching which first appeared around the time of Christ called Gnosticism. This belief was the opposite of the teachings of Jesus, but sadly, traces of it are still in circulation today. Parts of it were even promoted and brought about by well-meaning Christians over the centuries, which has resulted in horrible false teachings. It’s the view that the physical world is bad, the body is worthless, and nature is something to desire escape from. This view is not biblical, and Jesus was not a gnostic.

This view comes from certain verses taken out of context. When God created the world, he called it good. At the end of the Bible, all Christians will receive a glorified, brand new body. We will not be eternal spirits forever, floating around some Sky Castle Theme Park around Jupiter. We will be eternally, physical beings, in the literal presence of God, surrounded by His wonderful creation. And lots of Moose.

It’s tragic that people who love to spend time outdoors, work up a good sweat, care for an animal, lay in the sun, go for a swim, they think to themselves that all of those activities are fleeting or novelty. But remember, the Bible does not end with all of us spending eternity in a nonphysical state. God creates a New Heaven and New Earth in which all of those activities will increase, not go away (see Revelation 21 & 22).

So, ladies and gentlemen, Adam and Eve were meant to care for all creation, to exercise dominion and steward nature with the same love and heart for it that God has. Animals, then, are not merely utilitarian objects for an epoch of time prior to eternity kicking in. Even in God’s judgement on the world after man’s continual rebellion, He called a man named Noah to build an ark. Low and behold, we see God commanding Noah to care for the animals. Read the last verse of the book of Jonah and ask yourself why God ended the book with that question…  

This is not some sappy environmentalist tree-hugging sentiment - far from it. Those folks worship creation, not the Creator. The reason why we watch shows with big cats is not just to indulge in some redneck soap opera, but because deep down in our soul and in our wiring, God has made us to come alive when we encounter His creation.

You see, in Genesis, man and beast were meant to be together. Because of a now-fallen world, we cannot. At least, not in full. But the promise of the victory of Christ is not just forgiveness of sins and eternity with Him. That is the great hope, and what we most value, but there is so much more. The promise of the victory of Christ is that WE ARE HEADING BACK TO THE GARDEN ONE DAY, in God’s redeemed Universe, the New Heavens and New Earth.

So, why do we farm? Why do we ride horses and kick up dust and feel the wind and sun on our faces and pat the beasts and speak softly to them and look them in the eyes and smile? Why do we spend billions of dollars a year on pet food? Why do we get absolutely livid when we see animal abuse? Why do we name animals and talk to them, whether it’s a German Wire-haired Pointer or a Liger? Because God created us to dwell together, and for the time being, there will be an ache and disconnect between us and awaiting the restoration of all things.

As we await that day, we should care for this planet as best we can, and leave the rest to God. So, this Earth Day, honor creation, but worship the Creator. And please, look at some pictures of a Moose. And rejoice.

For further reading…  

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. – Isaiah 11:6-9

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” - Genesis 1:26-28 

Manhood & The Glory of Danger

Manhood & The Glory of Danger

 Last year I was invited to a lake in Montana. Stunning surroundings, breathtaking views. While we were out on a boat, several of the guys were cliff jumping. I was invited to join in, but I declined the offer. I don’t think it was really fear, but rather a numb feeling of disinterest. The fellas did it, I clapped, and we went on our way. Now, looking back, I wish I had done it. Why? Because I need to take more opportunities to do something dangerous.

God created the masculine heart to be wild, free, and bold. Too many guys are busy trying to arrange life in a way that cancels out all risk, all danger, in order to play it safe. But the masculine soul was not created to play it safe. There is a particular glory in danger that men ought to seek with all their heart.

Now, before we get off course, let me explain what I mean by dangerous. The modern word danger has lost its meaning. Danger has two possible meanings. One would be treacherous, unhealthy, inconsistent and abusive behavior or situations. That’s not the kind of dangerous man I’m talking about - that’s a bully or a coward. The other meaning of dangerous is being a risk-taker, adventurous, courageous. That’s what I mean by dangerous. And, I’ve chosen that word precisely because it is jarring – it makes us squint our eyes and say, Danger? A good thing?

The reason for using this word is that men in the American church are facing an identity crisis, where we are, among other things, abandoning our mandate to seek danger, to forsake adventure. The willingness to fight for truth, the willingness to get out of our comfort zone and the desire to follow Christ no matter what the cost, has greatly been set aside.        

In short, we have bought into the idea that guys are just supposed to be nice, polite, obedient, frankly boring, who don’t take risks, don’t rock the boat.          

The desire for safety and wanting nobody to get hurt is out of control. From politics, to education, to even the homes. We see this in a whole generation of young people. They get offended at the drop of a hat and men, especially, avoid anything that might single then out as ‘dangerous’ or someone who just might make others uncomfortable.          

As followers of Christ, and as men, out task is not to be jerks and not to be abusive, but it IS to be strong, to be firm, and to live life knowing we are going to get hit, and that’s good. It’s GOOD to live in a world of risk where you might fail. I heard recently that fewer young women are being asked out by guys face to face. Instead they text, or have a friend of theirs ask them out for them over social media.

Why is that? Well, what is every guy’s greatest fear? The fear of failure. Do I have what it takes? Too many guys have bought into the belief that they don’t have what it takes, that the only way to live is to eliminate risk or the possibility of failure. But It’s good to live in world of risk, it’s good to face situations where she might say no, the boss might say “what were you thinking?”, and you yourself might think, well, that’s didn’t work out.

Because if you live in such a way where you are courageous and willing to be tested, she might say yes, and it might make you look very attractive. The boss might be very impressed. It’s GOOD to live in that world, it’s GOOD to live for something greater than yourself, even if it cost you your own safety and security. Danger, in that sense, is good. And not only is it good, it’s glorious. It reveals the heart of God, which the masculine soul reflects.

At this point someone might think, wait a minute, timeout, I thought Christians are supposed to be people who love. Aren’t we supposed to be known by our love? Well, yes. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, goodness, faithfulness. Where’s the danger or masculinity in that?

It’s true that men ought to be loving, caring, and gentle. But that’s NOT the whole picture. Don’t reduce your life to just that. Saying that a man of God ought to be defined by his politeness and kindness is like saying a soldier is someone who’s really good at making their beds and ironing their shirts.

No. Soldiers who sign up, who risk it all, who learn to fight do so out of the motivation of love. You cannot love someone or something without being willing to die for it. Paul says in Ephesians for husbands to love their wives - plain enough right? Doesn’t that mean buy her flowers, take her out to eat, make love occasionally, and kiss her on the cheek on your way to work? Paul says, husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church who gave His life for it. THAT’S what true love looks like.

Even good-hearted men can fall prey to giving the Enemy exactly what he wants. The Enemy of your soul wants you to be spineless, to stand down and to let him have his way. 

We think this world is safe and secure, and yet there are enemies in this world who do not fear God and who are coming for everything you love and hold dear. You better be ready.

Now, lest you think I’m putting us men on a guilt trip, let me encourage you. Here’s the good news in all this - the battle to which you are called is already won. This war is over. When Jesus rose from the grave and declared universal victory, the battle was over. He’s on his throne, and he’s the King of kings. Heaven and earth are his. And if we are God’s sons, we have the inheritance of the King. What does that mean? It means you’re not fighting a battle that depends on you, your strength, or your courage. He’s already won, and his strength will be your strength. And because of that, who are what are you afraid of?

Go after God and be dangerous.

- Jonathan Yandell

Who Is This Guy?

Who Is This Guy?           

I wake up to the serenading of birds searching for food and greeting each other. It’s cool in the sleeping bag so I nestle in a little more. On the side of the tent there’s a screen where I see that the sun is still asleep. Lucky sun. I can hear the rustling of pine trees outside, towering above me like spires pointing to the heavens. It’s early for a 9-year-old boy, but not too early for catching fish.

We dress for the day in my grandparents RV. We walk outside the front door, past the grill, down the deck where we threw bread to the raccoons the night before. After loading up the gear, far above us the open sky turns a deep foggy blue. We’d better hurry, the fish are waiting.

My grandpa, my dad and I make the short drive to Roaring River, a gem in the Ozark Mountains of Southern Missouri. I cannot hold back the excitement. Somewhere in my vivid imagination I envision catching the biggest one ever caught. We arrive and unload. This is the spot – our spot. We’ve been here before, caught fish here before, and I know the drill. I’m a pro now, thank you very much. I know how to put a hook on (sort of), and I know how to put the salmon eggs on (more or less). I look out at the stream where the down-rush forms the quiet pool before me. All we have to do is wait. And wait.

Wait? What for? The siren, of course. There are hundreds of little boys and girls with their dads and grandpas standing on the edge of the river, poised and positioned, and not a single line is wet. There is a signal we are waiting for, like a tornado siren of splendor. The morning is cool, but nothing I can’t handle. The sun is rising over the tree line, an orange tone of graceful fire. Dad and Grandpa are talking about God knows what. Phooey. We are here to catch fish, not chit chat. Stay focused!

Something catches my eye up stream. I am facing east but looking north. Several of us see a trout escape the water and do a microsecond dance, taunting us. Whoa.

Just when I think I can’t stand it any longer, the sound lets out. Hundreds of poles begin to swing. I cast my line into the water. Not a bad cast, if I do say so myself. The water is clear, so clear in fact, I can see my chartreuse eggs in the water with the onlooking fish nearby. There’s about a dozen close to the bait. It’s only a matter of time. None of them are biting. I wait. Nothing. I reel it in, pretty sure I can land it in a better spot.

Cast. Splash. One of them comes up to the bait, and I just know that he’s gonna bite. He nibbles, then moves on. Pass. Dadgum fish.

Third cast. Splash. I see it happen. One of them comes quickly and hits it hard. The sound fills my ear and warms my heart, the sound of line tightening. The battle is on. My grandpa comes to help, and I reel it in. I step to the edge and see it. It has to be one of the biggest trout ever caught.

The sun is well up now to illuminate the river and the fish I have just conquered. Either myself or one of the guys (but, probably me) unhooks it and I hold it. For a moment, I’m the king of the world, a rugged frontiersman, never mind the fanny pack. In that moment I look into the eyes of a beautiful rainbow trout, speckled with countless dots and a scrambling line of glossy pink. In that moment, the drifting sound of water on rocks against gravity and the awakened sky weaves together a holy moment as I hold a fish in my little hands. I’m holding more than a fish - I’m holding victory, and one of God’s creations. I’m fully aware that I’m holding something wild.

A week or two later, I’m sitting in church and listening to dad preach about Jesus. I’m thumbing through a hymn book when he says something that catches my attention, which is no easy task. He talks of a time when Peter tells Jesus that they need to pay somebody something called a tax (which sounds boring). What strikes me is Jesus’ response. Now, I’m familiar with many miracles of Jesus – turning water into wine, raising Lazarus from the grave, and healing sick people. But this miracle is fascinating. Jesus tells Peter to go fishing. Seriously. He tells him to cast a line into the water and that the first fish he catches will have the exact coin in his mouth, and that he can use that coin to pay this thing called a tax.

Um, what? I know that Jesus can do all kinds of things; heal sick, walk on water, etc. But this is so, well… strange. How in the world does Jesus even know that there is a fish somewhere in the water that has a coin in his mouth? And how in the world does he know that it is the exact coin that he needs? And how in the world does Jesus know that this particular fish will be the very first one Peter catches? I’m overwhelmed with questions by this story.

Something comes over me in a flash. I’m recalling holding the fish from Roaring River and trying to process the story dad just told. This feeling I have all of the sudden is a brand-new feeling; sheer wonder and awe. In this moment I ask the question, who is this guy? Although I know the answer intellectually - I have already made the decision to be a Christian, and know he is my Lord - this is new territory in my relationship with him. Jesus has just surprised me. Turns out, many people have been asking that question for centuries - who is this guy?

 Like me, you have probably had a “who it this guy?” moment. In the Bible, there are people who encounter Jesus and reacted in a similar way to what I did as a little boy. Their responses are quite remarkable. Let’s look at the gospel of Mark chapter 4:

            On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"  And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

It would be helpful to have a little background to the disciples here. These guys were not weekend warriors who occasionally went out on the boss’s yacht for cocktail parties. These guys, probably very young and capable, were well acclimated to sea life. They had their sea legs, all right. Not all of them were professional fishermen, but some of them were trained and skilled in the ways of water and handling all the conditions that accompany the activity. In those days, you would have had many successive generations going into the family business. These guys learned from their dads who spent their whole life on water and passed down tremendous amounts of insight about the craft. These guys were real fishermen. There’s a difference between people who fish for a hobby and those who do it in order to put bread on the table (or, more accurately, fish). They would not have been bothered by a small rainstorm and some moderate waves. In fact, it’s to be expected if you’re used to being on the water.

Marks tells us that the disciples were in a boat and a storm comes through that genuinely makes them afraid. They didn’t think they were going to make it out alive. The picture here is not a small obstacle for a few scaredy cats. This was a stormy storm, one to make you wet yourself. They were fearful, and who could blame them? It’s not surprising at all that they were caught up in fear. The boat is rocking, and it’s filling up with water. What is surprising, is Jesus.

He’s asleep. Like, completely able to sleep through all that is going on. He’s out. I imagine the disciples were more than a little perturbed by that. I mean, Jesus was the one who suggested they go out on the boat in the first place. It would have been easy to blame this all on Jesus. “If he really were all that wise, he would have known that a storm was coming. He would not have told us to go out on the boat in these conditions.” The disciples find him, moments from capsizing, asleep. What kind of guy, especially one who claims to be wise and powerful sleeps through a storm like this?

Back to the disciples. They knew this storm was about to do them in, and in a matter of moments they’d be in the water. In the dark. Drowning in not a glorious way to go. Nobody sees it happen, you just disappear. The water fills the lungs and you pass out as you look around seeing your friends drowning too. Not only that, your family would never be able to find you, which means no burial. You’d become fish food. This was a serious fear.

Now notice Jesus’ response when they wake him up. He doesn’t even address the question, “don’t you even care if we perish?” He starts talking to the weather. That’s right, he talks to the wind and the waves. Immediately the storm goes away and there is a great calm. A storm that was about to kill them all just went away do to three words spoken by a guy who seconds earlier was asleep in the boat. Jaws dropped.

Jesus then turns to them and asks them the most obvious question in the history of questions, “why are you so afraid?” Silence. “Have you still no faith?” I love this response, because we get to see Jesus’ personality on full display. Jesus is still yawning probably, then he turns to the ‘professionals’ and says, in effect, “what’s the big deal you guys? Don’t you trust me?”

 This is an amazing story, but the shocking thing is what the Bible says happens next. The disciples after the storm were filled with great fear. Did you catch that? It’s after the storm that they became seriously filled with fear and say, “who is this guy if even the wind and the waves obey him?” Before the storm they were afraid because they were about to die. That fear, the fear of death, is a natural fear that all humans possess. But it’s after Jesus says just three words and the storm goes away in an instant that they become awestruck with a new kind of fear.

But this type of fear is different from the first. This is the moment when they realize that the guy in the boat is NOT like them. The wind and the waves obey his voice. What exactly did they see in the boat that day which brought about this new kind of fear? They saw the wildness of Jesus.

To see Jesus at work, to accurately behold his majesty, will result in a type of amazement and wonder than will produce a healthy type of fear. This type of fear, however, is not the type of fear that something bad will happen, but the type of fear that results from seeing something magnificent. There’s a great illustration of this in C.S. Lewis’ the Chronicles of Narnia. The second book of the series, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is about four sibling children, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, who enter into Narnia for the first time. Large elements of the Narnia stories are allegorical, and Aslan is the obvious Christ-figure of the story.

Early on in the book, the children find themselves in Narnia by entering through a magical wardrobe. After the initial appeal begins to wear off, they become keenly aware of certain dangers all around them. They find themselves hiding out and learning about Narnia from Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who explain everything to them. After dinner one evening, they hear about Aslan. Listen to what Mr. Beaver says about Aslan:

Wrong shall be right, when Aslan comes in sight,

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,

When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

Lucy, intrigued by all this, asks the Beavers if Aslan is a man. Look at how Mr. Beaver replies:

“Aslan a man!” said Mr Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or just silly.”

“Then is he safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Here, Lewis is giving us a fictional account containing enormous theological truth. Jesus isn’t safe. But he’s good. What do I mean by Jesus isn’t safe? I mean you can’t control him. You can’t manipulate him. I don’t mean that he isn’t to be trusted - just the opposite. And I don’t mean that Jesus is unreliable - just the opposite. He is indeed completely trustworthy and reliable. He’s absolutely good and kind and compassionate, yes. But, remember what we just read. How many of the disciples felt ‘safe’ after realizing who they were dealing with? None of them! They were shocked beyond shocked, filled with a glorious and wonderful fear, a new kind of fear. However, and this is very important, notice that Jesus does what is good. He calms the storm, he saves the voyage. You see, he is not ‘safe’, but he is good.

Some people think that following Jesus automatically ushers them into a safe life, free from struggles or storms. Not at all. In fact, following Jesus, though an incredible joy, is filled to the brim with adventure and danger and incredible risk. Yes, Jesus did say that the weary can come to him and he will give them rest. But the same Jesus who gives us rest also calls us to take up our cross and follow him. So, in that sense, he isn’t safe. But if you see Jesus, truly see Jesus, it will fill you with such a burning passion to follow him, there’s no way you could say no.

When was the last time you had a “who is this guy?” moment? If you can’t remember, ask Him for one, and I promise, He’ll give you one. He is good after all, He’s the King I tell you.

- Jonathan Yandell

Welcome to Basecamp

Welcome to Basecamp. Our mission is to provide resources, training and experiences for those who love God and the outdoors. Basecamp began out of a dream by some church leaders who wanted to teach people how to become adventurous disciples of Jesus. As much as we love connecting with each other in a normal church setting, we believe there is something powerful about getting outside. Our experience has been that God can restore us and rekindle the flame within us when we are hiking, fishing, camping, or sitting around the campfire with fellow believers.

In the blog section, you can expect to find treatments on topics ranging from practical adventure tips, theology, Christian living, book reviews, and devotions.

We hope this website will be a helpful resource for you as you become an adventurous disciple of Jesus.

Enjoy!

- Jonathan Yandell