Exploring Creation: Our Philosophy
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
—Job 12:7-10,13
Discovery 2007 Mission
- To explore the need for sustainability and focused management of our national and global natural resources.
- To develop a sustainable land ethic as a responsibility to our knowledge and our evangelical Anabaptist faith.
- To work together in faith development and community building.
Discovery 2007 Goals & Objectives
To explore the need for sustainability and focused management of our national and global natural resources we will:
- Determine what causes the variation in climates that we will experience as we progress across the plains, over the mountains, into the desert, and to the coast
- Track the changes in the night sky as we sleep under the stars
- Explore the incredibly diverse character of the United States as we hike, drive, raft, and camp our way across the nation
- Participate in discussions regarding the management of prairie lands, forests, deserts, and waterways, both public and private
- Measure the water quality of the Colorado as we travel from its headwaters along its course
- Investigate the effect of urbanization on the desert environment
- Explore sustainability in urban and corporate environments as we visit Sacramento, Davis, Portland, the Aldo Leopold Foundation, and Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
- Learn about local, regional, national, and international efforts and initiatives promoting sustainable lifestyles and attitudes
To develop a sustainable land ethic out of a responsibility to our knowledge and our evangelical Anabaptist faith we will:
- Talk with other Christians and Anabaptists about their faith and land ethic
- Learn from many people of diverse backgrounds what it means to them to "have a land ethic"
- Discuss as a group what a land ethic is, and how our land ethics are developing
- Study the Bible carefully to inform our thoughts and opinions
- Speak clearly about our land ethic and its roots
- Define and take clear actions to put our land ethics into motion as we travel as a group and as we disperse upon return home
To work together in faith development and community building we will:
- Live in community, sharing the responsibility of cooking for the group, living together in tents, and maintaining common areas at camp and on the bus
- Respect each other and ourselves by listening, acknowledging each member of the group, and acting in kindness to build each other up
- Enter into group discussions, firesides, and devotions as they occur in our daily routines
- Study the wisdom of the Bible together, with an emphasis on Proverbs
- Seek to grow in our relationship with God and with others