Online registration now available for spring trips

Posted on January 31, 2014 | Leave a comment

Online registration for our spring trips is now available on the Frazer UMC web site. Join us as we reconnect to our creator by spending a little time in His creation.  Check out the Upcoming Trips page for more details about each adventure.

Smith Mountain Spring 2014 block photo

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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.

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Hiking the Deadening Trail at Lake Martin

Posted on September 12, 2013 | Leave a comment
The high point of the trail offers a great view of Chimney Rock, Acapulco Rock and the lake.

The trail offers great views of Chimney Rock, Acapulco Rock and Lake Martin.

My dad and I recently spent a few hours exploring a scenic trail along  Lake Martin called the Deadening Trail. I’ve hiked the Cherokee Alpine Trail, which is about 2 miles south, but this was my first visit to the 3.6-mile Deadening Trail, which came highly recommended as a somewhat challenging and scenic trail an hour’s drive from Montgomery.

The loop trail begins a few hundred feet from the parking area. The first half of the hike is mostly through forest. About a mile in, there is an option for a shorter 2.5-mile loop. Here you can cut over immediately to the shoreline by taking a left or stay straight to continue the forest hike for a little longer before it loops around to the shoreline. The scenic views begin once the trail loops around to follow shoreline with granite cliffs overlooking Lake Martin directly across from Chimney Rock and Acapulco Rock, popular spots for boaters and cliff-jumpers.

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Equipment list for backpacking trips

Posted on September 3, 2013 | Leave a comment

RebootLogo-circlefinalEquipment list for Reboot backpacking trips

Here’s a rundown of what we provide and what you will need to bring if you join us for a Reboot men’s backpacking trips to Cheaha. For upcoming trips and registration info, go here.

We will provide

  1. Internal frame backpack
  2. 2-person backpacking tent (two people per tent)
  3. Compactable mummy-style sleeping bag
  4. Sleeping pad
  5. Headlamp for walking around camp at night
  6. Group first aid kit
  7. Dinner
  8. Single-burner stoves
  9. Cooking pots
  10. Instant coffee
  11. Lighter  and firestarter
  12. Insect repellant
  13. Toilet paper (just in case)
  14. Water purification tablets (only used if needed)
  15. Bible study materials (you may want to bring a small Bible or use a Bible app on your phone)

You will need

Food and water

  1. 4-5 liters of water (The Cave Creek loop has limited water, so it is wise to hike in with what you need. 4-5 should be enough for drinking and cooking along the 8-mile trail. Water bladders are usually easier to pack but you can always use old fashioned plastic water bottles ) Continue reading →

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Online registration for fall trips now available

Posted on August 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

IMG_3995Online registration is now up and running on the Frazer UMC website for our fall adventures. Space is limited, so register today to ensure your spot. You don’t want to miss this chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with God in the outdoors.

Check out the Upcoming Trips page for more details and about each adventure and a link to register for one on the Frazer UMC website.

Sept. 28-29: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

Oct. 12: Men’s and women’s day hike to the Deadening Trail on Lake Martin

Nov. 1- 2: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

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Fall 2013 trip dates

Posted on July 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

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We are very excited to announce the dates for our Fall 2013 Reboot Wilderness Adventures.  Sign-up information will be available in the next few weeks. Check out the Upcoming Trips page for more details about each adventure.

Sept. 28-29: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

Oct. 12: Men’s and women’s day hike to the Deadening Trail on Lake Martin

Nov. 1- 2: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Posted on June 15, 2013 in Experiencing God in nature

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