Category Archives: Experiencing God in nature

Seeing God in America’s National Parks

Posted on April 15, 2014 | 1 comment

Note: I wrote and posted this piece on my Facebook page back in fall 2009, right before the premiere of “National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” This was several months before going on my first backpacking trip and long before starting Reboot. I stumbled upon it recently and found it interesting that the main idea behind this idea is at the center of Reboot. It’s interesting to look back now and see how God had already been working in my heart about connecting to him through nature with many of the distractions of the modern world removed.

West Thumb basin at Yellowstone National Park.

West Thumb basin at Yellowstone National Park.

Starting Sunday, PBS is airing the newest Ken Burns documentary, “National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” I am really excited to see the documentary because I agree wholeheartedly with the title. I am thankful that our ancestors had the wisdom and foresight to preserve these amazing wilderness areas for “the benefit and enjoyment of the people” instead of commercialization. It got me thinking about something:

I love technology as much as the next person. I check my e-mail about 900 times a day it seems. My cell phone is always on, and I love keeping up with friends on Facebook. But our increasing reliance on technology leaves us disconnected with something that is around us but seems too often forgotten: Nature.

Many times I never felt closer to God than I have when out in nature marveling at His creation. My favorite place in the world is Yellowstone National Park where it is routine to find hiking trails blocked by herds of buffalo, come upon a bear or moose grazing for food near the road and see geysers shooting hot water thousands of feet in the air or hot springs colored deep blue and brilliant yellow from microscopic algae . That’s not to mention the miles of lodgepole pine forests, an immense lake, a canyon whose beauty is only surpassed by the Grand Canyon and several peaceful, grassy valleys carved by glaciers that give way to rugged mountainsides.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in Experiencing God in nature, Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Going outside is good for your physical, mental and spiritual health

Posted on March 11, 2014 | 1 comment

It is pretty obvious that spending some time in the outdoors is good for your body. But while preparing for our spring Reboot trips recently, I realized that the benefits of exploring nature extend far beyond your physical health.

Time in the outdoors improves your physical health
Backpacking on the Pinhoti Trail.

Backpacking on the Pinhoti Trail.

You get fresh air and great exercise while doing something fun like hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking or rock climbing.  For example, hiking is a great cardio workout. Add in a slightly rocky trail and a little elevation change, and you’ll really be burning the calories. Even more so if you are backpacking with 25 or so pounds of gear on your pack. It also gives your leg muscles a great workout. Plus, it just feels good to smell the fresh forest air, feel the sun on your skin and hear the leaves rustling through the trees. An extra bonus: exercising outdoors is much more scenic than a trip to the gym.

Time in the outdoors improves your mental health
Spring in Yosemite National Park, California

Spring in Yosemite National Park, California

We are addicted to screens. Hardly 10 minutes goes by without me checking my phone for e-mails, text messages, Facebook notifications. We expect and are expected to be reachable 24/7. Add on top of that the normal stresses of everyday life, and if we are not careful we find ourselves in a tidal wave of trying to keep up. It can get exhausting and drain your mental energy by the end of the day.

Sometimes we need a break. Spending time in the wilderness offers a chance to temporarily unplug from the tide of social media and technology. There are no computers in wilderness areas. Cell phone service is often spotty at best so forget about checking Twitter or Facebook from your smartphone.  Instead we can go at a more measured pace, relieving stress and anxiety.

This study published in 2013 suggests that spending more time in nature and away from our computer screens, smart phones and tablets can actually improve attention span, problem-solving ability and multitasking ability.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in About Reboot, Experiencing God in nature

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fellowship, fresh air and fun at Smith Mountain

Posted on March 4, 2014 | Leave a comment
The group from the day hike to the Smith Mountain area of Lake Martin on March 1, 2014

The group from the day hike to the Smith Mountain area of Lake Martin on March 1, 2014

We had a great start to our 2014 spring season with a day-hike trip to Smith Mountain fire tower area of Lake Martin on Saturday, March 1. The weather was just about perfect, and we had a great time of fellowship, fresh air, exercise and unplugging from our day-to-day lives to focus on God while enjoying His creation.The theme of the day was perspective. We shared and discussed several examples from the Bible of how God has a much greater perspective than our own. The whole experience served as a reminder to remember and trust in God’s perspective on our lives especially when we are faced with a challenge or struggling to see how he is working in our present circumstances.

Here is what one participant had to say after the trip that sums it up the best:

“We enjoy getting to know other fellow believers in Christ along with hiking through the beauty at Lake Martin. It is awesome to take time and enjoy the outside beauty created by our Lord. Like you said during one of your devotional stops during the hike, it is necessary for us to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to reflect.”

Check out some more trip photos from hiker John Boyd.

Sharing some of God’s word at our first break on the trail up to the Smith Mountain Fire Tower.
The 90-foot tall Smith Mountain Fire Tower.
At the base of the Smith Mountain Fire Tower.
Mike climbs to the top of the tower.
It’s a long way down from the top.
The view from the top of the Smith Mountain Fire Tower on March 1, 2014
Sharing a story from the Bible about a fisherman, Peter from Luke 5, on the shores of Lake Martin.
Some real hiking on the Little Smith Mountain Trail.
Hiking the hillside of Little Smith Mountain.
Sharing a brief devotional and discussion at the top of Little Smith Mountain.
Taking a rest break at the top of Little Smith Mountain

Leave a comment

Posted in About Reboot, Experiencing God in nature, Trip reports

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Gaining a new perspective from the Smith Mountain fire tower at Lake Martin

Posted on February 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

Climbing a 90-foot-tall fire tower in a cold, stiff January breeze was a tiny bit nerve-racking. But the spectacular view from the top made it well worth the effort and was highlight of our recent visit to Smith Mountain, the highest point along Lake Martin.

At the base of the 90-foot-tall Smith Mountain Fire Tower.

At the base of the 90-foot-tall Smith Mountain Fire Tower.

Reboot partner Chris Bowden and I spent one chilly Saturday morning exploring the trails around Smith Mountain in advance of our March 1 day hike trip.  Chris is the person who got me into backpacking a few years ago and has been an instrumental partner in taking Reboot from a prayer and idea into a reality. After spending a year in Kentucky, Chris and his family recently moved back to the Montgomery area and this was our first chance to hike together since his return.

After driving about an hour and a half from Montgomery, we arrived at the trailhead which is along the shores of Lake Martin west of Dadeville. Back in 2012 the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association, or CRATA, restored the fire tower and opened it to the public. This is the latest project for the group which has done excellent work over the past decade to bring quality hiking trails to Lake Martin.

We started by hiking uphill about a half mile to reach the base of the fire tower and remnants of some old buildings. Here is a little history behind the property from the CRATA website:

“Standing majestically atop Smith Mountain is the historic 90-foot fire lookout tower.  Erected in 1939 as a cooperative agreement between Alabama Power Company, Tallapoosa County Forest Conservation Association and the Alabama Forestry Commission, the tower was a sentinel for locating forest fires for 40 years.

Decommissioned in 1980, the fire lookout tower fell into neglect and disrepair.  The office building was dismantled along with other facilities.  The property (10 acres) reverted back to Alabama Power Company and had been abused by dumping for the last 30 years.”

In late 2010, Alabama Power deeded the land and tower to CRATA which worked to repair and restore it for visitors. They have done a wonderful job.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in About Reboot, Experiencing God in nature, Trip reports

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As we plan for spring, a look back at an outstanding fall

Posted on January 3, 2014 | Leave a comment

Fall was a great season for Reboot and an outstanding cap to our first year as a ministry. We had the privilege of leading two overnight backpacking/Bible study trips to Cheaha and a day hike trip to the Deadening Trail at Lake Martin. With crisp autumn air and beautiful foliage, fall is the perfect season to explore and enjoy God’s creation, and our trips didn’t disappoint.

Cheaha backpacking
Taking a rest during our September Cheaha backpacking trip.

Taking a rest during our September Cheaha backpacking trip.

Gorgeous sunny weather greeted our first overnighter Sept. 28-29. The Pinhoti Trail was a little busier than normal which really wasn’t too much of a surprise because of the wonderful weather. Our usual campsite along McDill Point was taken but we found a wonderful large campsite on top of a short hill opposite from the turnoff to McDill Point.  After setting up camp and enjoying a dinner of Conecuh sausage and rice, we had a great discussion focused on Luke 12:22-24 and how God is our provider and as long as we are seeking after Him, he will provide everything we need. We capped off the night listening to the end of the Alabama/Ole Miss football game on a small backpacking radio (This is Alabama were college football is king, after all). The next day we hiked the Pinhoti to the intersection with the Chinnabee Silent Trail and took Chinabee down the mountain and ended the hike at Cheaha Falls.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in About Reboot, Experiencing God in nature, Trip reports

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why combine Bible study with outdoor adventures?

Posted on July 10, 2013 | 2 comments
Seeing the forest from a new perspective along the Pinhoti Trail.

Seeing the forest from a new perspective along the Pinhoti Trail.

Why outdoor adventures? It’s a question I get quite often about Reboot. Some people think it’s a novelty, but I believe it’s a very effective way to reach people and help them grow as Christians as well as have some fun.

Here are six reasons why I strongly believe spending time on a short adventure in God’s creation can be significant to your spiritual growth. We incorporate all of these concepts into each of our Reboot trips.

1. Change of place = change of perspective

The wilderness provides a chance for a mountaintop perspective. We often get so wrapped-up and focused on the routine of our day-to-day lives down in the valley that it’s easy to lose that big-picture perspective. Getting away from the busyness of our day-to-day lives for a short backpacking or camping trip or even just an afternoon of hiking can give us time to pause, reflect and focus on God’s voice and what He is calling us to do.

Also, the views from the top of a mountain or a spectacular sunset on the river are the type of very humbling reminders of our Creator that are easy to miss when we are stuck inside our homes or workplaces during our day-to-day lives.

 2. A break from technology

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed at the amount of connectivity at our fingertips. I love social media and how it allows us to connect with our friends, family and co-workers but sometimes it is just too much and can even add clutter to our days. Out in the woods, there is no Wi-Fi. It gives us a chance to unplug and recharge. Plus, it is a lot easier to focus on the word of God and hear His voice in the wilderness away from the constant noise and distractions.

Continue reading →

2 Comments

Posted in About Reboot, Experiencing God in nature

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Moonrise at the beach

Posted on June 25, 2013 | Leave a comment

English: Moon

All of the talk about the recent supermoon reminded me of my own encounter with the moon about a month ago. The encounter was a reminder that the astounding is all around us, but I’m often too busy to notice. Fortunately on that night at the beach, I took the time to stop and be amazed by God’s glory.

In late May my wife Amy, young son Benjamin and I traveled to the Alabama Gulf coast to spend almost a week with her family at a beach house along Alabama Highway 180 close to Fort Morgan. It’s become a very welcome yearly tradition to enjoy the beach with Amy’s parents, her older brother and younger sister and their families.

As we get ready for the vacation each year, it always seems like a bit of a challenge to wrap up everything at home, pack and actually get to the beach house. This year we traveled down there on a Sunday. I spent the week prior to the trip trying to wrap up several projects at work. On Friday Amy and I traveled to Atlanta for an overnight trip to see her brother receive his master’s degree. Then we returned home Saturday to pack for the beach. I played drums in Frazer’s Wesley Hall that Sunday morning and promptly returned home to pack our vehicle to the gills with our luggage and beach gear. Then, we drove three-plus hours to get there.

Needless to say, I was a little spent by the time we got to the beach house in the early evening. After dinner and Benjamin and my nephews went to sleep that night, I stepped out alone onto the beach house’s front deck to just be still and enjoy a little down time after a busy week. Much to my surprise, I ended up having an intense worship experience  thanks to an incredible moonrise, an iPod and a pair of headphones.

The house is right across from the gulf along a road dotted with several other beach houses. While there are plenty of people around, it’s about 15 miles from Gulf Shores so it is, thankfully, much quieter than at a big condo.

As I soaked in the breezy, cooler-than-usual late May evening, I put on All Sons and Daughters incredible live album. Listening to the music, I enjoy the chance to be outside and notice the clouds dotting the otherwise clear night sky. Looking eastward, I notice that the clouds near a taller beach house are tinted an amazing silvery orange. The sky around the nearby beach house grows a little brighter minute-by-minute, promising a stunning moonrise.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Posted in Experiencing God in nature

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

An Unexpected Adventure: Reboot’s May 2013 Cheaha Wilderness trip (part 2)

Posted on June 16, 2013 | 4 comments

This is the second of a two-part series about encountering many surprises during our May 2013 backpacking trip, including 7 inches of rain.. Read the first part here.

Part 2: 9 p.m. Friday – Saturday

Another storm rolls in.

Another storm rolls in.

It’s close to 9 p.m. when we emerge from the tent to assess the situation and our gear. The storm blew the rainfly about halfway off my tent leaving behind a huge puddle of water in the center and soaked gear. We reluctantly decide to pack our waterlogged gear, return to the car and rent a room at the nearby Cheaha State Park Lodge. Though I think Josh and I would have been probably been game to take our chances on the trail, God granted Jeff the wisdom to push for staying at the lodge.

The storm left the trail a muddy mess, and a heavy fog only enhanced the eerie atmosphere as we hiked the remaining 20 minutes to the car by headlamp.

We make it to our room at the lodge and cook our Conecuh sausage and rice dinner outside using our butane backpacking stoves (I’m not sure if we are technically allowed to do this at the lodge but it was 10 p.m. and the restaurant was long closed). Though we are not out in the wilderness, we continue our discussion well into morning hours about the meaning of adventure and how God is calling us to do much greater things than the 8-5 routine. Then we turn in for the night. At this point, it has rained only slightly since we rented the room.

At about 2 a.m., I wake up to what sounds like cannon fire outside of our room. Another vicious storm is upon Cheaha. This time, the lightning and thunder are striking simultaneously. The storm is right on top of us. A couple of times the power surges as lightning strikes. At this point, we all realize we made the right call about the lodge room. The rain continues to pour the rest of the night.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Posted in Experiencing God in nature, Trip reports

Tagged ,

Image

Happy Father’s Day

A few pictures from my first trip to Yellowstone National Park with my mom and dad in 2002.

A few pictures from my first trip to Yellowstone National Park with my mom and dad in 2002.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads out there. We need you now more than ever — to teach your children, to encourage them, to spend time with them, to love them and to model for them what it means to put Christ first in your life and your family.

I’m so thankful for my dad, David Presley. He continues to be there for me all the time. Today, I’m especially grateful for the sense of adventure he instilled in me. He always encouraged me and my sister to try new things and explore new places. He worked hard to take us on many adventures — the Grand Canyon, New York City, California and Alaska just to name a few.

But one trip stands out above all else. In 2002, he took me on my first trip to what is now my favorite place: Yellowstone National Park. Even though I was a pre-Christian then, it was at Yellowstone that I first remember being in truly in awe of the power and magnificence displayed in God’s creation. There is something magical about that place. Here are a few pictures of me with my dad from that trip.

Leave a comment

Posted on June 15, 2013 in Experiencing God in nature

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

An unexpected adventure: Reboot’s May 2013 Cheaha Wilderness trip (part 1)

Posted on June 13, 2013 | 1 comment

This is the first of a two-part series about encountering many surprises during our May 2013 backpacking trip, including 7 inches of rain. Click here for part 2.

Part 1: Friday, May 18

The basic idea behind Reboot Wilderness Adventures is to help people reconnect with God while studying His word and exploring His creation in the Alabama wilderness. It’s designed to be a short overnight backpacking/camping adventure where we are just enough removed from civilization that we experience a real sense of wilderness but close enough to assistance if any emergencies arise. While I usually plan the route, take precautions and plan what themes and Bible passages I feel like God is calling me to share, I always leave room for and expect that we will encounter God’s presence on the trail during our trips.

The view from our planned campsite along the Pinhoti on a much sunnier day.

The view from our planned campsite along the Pinhoti on a much sunnier day.

On our May 17-18 overnight backpacking trip to the Cheaha Wilderness in east Alabama, we expected to hike the 7.5 mile Cave Creek Loop and spend a night on the trail. But God gave much more of an adventure than we ever thought possible. It was an adventure full of lightning, storms, soaked gear and washed out roads and trails. About 7 inches of rain later, we loved every minute of it.

The Reboot ministry is very new. We are still spreading the word about our men’s trips around Frazer and around Montgomery. While many expressed interest, May seemed to be a busy month. Two men joined me on the first trip, my old friends Jeff Thomas and Josh Razavi. This is a key fact and something that God in his wisdom and much greater ways had obviously planned.

Jeff and I have been backpacking in Cheaha several times, but this was the first time for Josh. The three of us were roommates for a couple of years in college.

Earlier this year, Josh committed his life to Christ after straying from his faith for several years. We reconnected soon after, and I remain in awe of how strong his faith is even after the deaths of his mother and stepfather within weeks of each other earlier this spring. Jeff and I were excited to hang out with Josh and hear about how God is working in his life.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Posted in Experiencing God in nature, Trip reports

Tagged , ,