Category Archives: Friendship

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On the same journey, but riding a “different” horse

On the same spiritual journey, but riding a "different" horse

On the same spiritual journey, but riding a “different” horse

I met a new friend while on the movie set.  His name is Jack.  We are both extras working with the movie.  That’s about all we have in common.  You see, he’s tall, very dark, and very, very, handsome.  I’m, well, sort of tall……….  He’s the lead singer in a rock band, and he’s very, very good. He’s done this for years, has a strong following, and he makes a career playing and writing his music.  I ah, well, I play the Indian flute.  But rather than seeing how we were different, the focus from both of us was what we have in common.

As plain as the nose on my face, this is what I saw.  Sure enough, I see what you ladies see in this man.  He’s physically attractive.  He’s got the look.  Guys, He’s got the “it” factor as well.  He leads a rock band, writes music, he’s a man’s man.  I watch as he talks with other guys.  He’s easy going and fun to be around.  Other guys respond to him and his manner.  Guys, you would be envious of this man.  Seeing all of this myself, I also saw his heart.  We shared with each other about our lives, our children, how both of us try to communicate with other people.  He uses a guitar and music to get his message across to others.  I was truly surprised when from his heart he shared his frustration of being unable to “reach” some people with his music.  He gave the example of playing a song and within 15 seconds seeing people on the dance floor stop and begin texting to other people, (on the same floor).  What Jack didn’t know was how I’ve been frustrated myself with how the world today seems to make it harder to truly connect with others.  Sure we’ve got more technology, but we were in agreement that in this modern world it is becoming harder and harder to truly connect with others.  Whether a hard driving energetic singer like Jack, or a wilderness preacher like me,  lots and lots of distractions out there to keep us away from our passions to share with people.

Imagine how our Lord and Saviour must feel.  Where does He fit in all the mix of your life?  Do the distractions in your life rob you of time that could be spent with God.  Isn’t this what our spiritual journeys should be about?  Time between you and God.  The relationship (very personal) between you and Jesus.  Distractions can come from a cell phone with all it’s texting.  Life, (the very gift from God), can also become a distraction, if we allow it to be. Keep God in your life’s journey.

Acts 8:36-38New Life Version (NLV)36 As they went on their way, they came to some water. The man from Ethiopia said, “See! Here is water. What is to stop me from being baptized?” 37 (*Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The man said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”) 38 He stopped the wagon. Then both Philip and the man from Ethiopia went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Something else Jack shared with me the next day was this.  He had never been baptized.  He knows what you have to believe.  He knows what baptism represents.  He asked if I baptized people.  I was surprised, startled.  Remember, we are on a movie set.  The only thing around is a horse watering trough.  And it’s empty.  We need some water!!!!!!!

Jack, this is for you my friend.  You name the place and time.  It doesn’t have to be a baptism in the chlorinated, sanitized, compartmentalized, and sometimes impersonalized baptistry  pool of some 1st Church of wherever.  The baptism needs to be in your heart (that’s personal).  Then the water symbol of baptism can be done anywhere.  Pick a spot man.  A mountain lake in Colorado, a local river or stream, the neighbors’ swimming pool.  Just long as it’s deep enough to dunk ya!  Bring your friends.  Bring your family!  Bring your guitars, we will celebrate!  We will party!

If you don’t know that there is a God that loves you and wants to connect with you in spite of all the “distractions”,  then you don’t know Jesus.

If you don’t know that you can say Lord help me and Believe in Him with all your heart, and that He’ll be with you on your very own journey, well………. then you don’t know Jack.

See Ya!

Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

 

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Celebrate! One year’s journey and counting

 

join in this spiritual journey wildernesspreacher.com

Join in this spiritual journey.     wildernesspreacher.com

Let’s Celebrate! wildernesspreacher has been blogging over a year (4 months of that with the beard!). Some of you have been on this journey from day one.  Many of you, well, you just joined in this month.  Welcome to all.  Lots of highlights from the past year.  Take time if you will to click on the favorites(scroll down and to the right), to see what people have enjoyed the most.  Take the time each week to continue to get refreshed on this, your spiritual journey as well.

Your friendship is important to me.  We may only be sharing a story over coffee, or having a brief time of devotion or prayer together.  Sharing is what this blog is all about.  When you my friends read this and you get a refreshing thought, that’s when you yourself need to share with others on their journeys.

Proverbs 27:9 New International Version (NIV)  Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

The goal of this wilderness preacher is not to tell you what to do.  (You got enough people in your life doing that.)  My goal is to tell you not what to do, but what to BE!  So like the scripture says, here is my friend to friend advice.  It’s truly from the heart.  Be what God has created you to be.  Do you not know fully what He has created you to be?  That is the beauty, the mystery, the challenge, and yes sometimes the disappointment that you will face every day on your spiritual journey.  The disappointment?  Realizing that you must use your eyes and not God’s eyes just yet to see and understand.  The challenge? Facing each and every day what this world throws at you to make you stumble.  The mystery?  Realizing that this awesome Living and Loving God wants to have a deepening relationship with little ole you.  The beauty?  Realizing that no matter what you do, or how you look, (even a beard), or how many times you fail, or how many times you @**# up…….realizing that God has created you to be His child.  God has created you to be in a loving relationship with Him.  What else my friend has God created you to BE?

See Ya!!

Saddle up and lets travel together

Saddle up and lets travel spiritually together

 

 

 

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Growing your garden of Faith

Growing your garden of Faith

That’s a picture of the corn I’ve planted in my garden.  Every morning I check my garden and work it.  The grass and weeds need hoeing.  I check for damage from the crows, coons and deer.  Some potato beetles are showing up.  Some days it’s too wet.  Some days it’s too dry, too hot, or well, …… you get the picture.  It’s never a perfect day seems like in the garden.  Pests, weather, plain ole bad luck, why bother with a garden you say?  Well, it’s the hope of a crop of good home grown fruits and vegetables.  I’m an optimistic person.  There’s lots of potential.  Even with all the pests.  I’ll grow enough that they can have their share with plenty left over for me as well as others.

Speaking of sharing, that’s the main reason of growing this garden.  Sharing.  Two different ways of sharing.  There is a joy I get from sharing the food from my garden with neighbors.  I get a “kick” out of calling them up and saying “corns ready, or taters are ready, come get you a big ole mess”.  I’ll even carry some food to some folks unable to pick their own.  The idea of sharing good food seems a part of my being.  It’s in my blood.  It’s a reason to grow my garden.

My other reason for sharing is more on a personal level.  My earthly father gets a “kick” out of seeing how my garden is growing.  He’s 85 now.  It’s past his time for hoeing, plowing, pulling weeds, throwing out fertilize.  But it’s not past time for him to get out every day, drive his beat up white Chevrolet pickup to the garden, inspect and supervise how it’s growing.  Usually, we go together to see how things are going.  We both get a “kick” out of this.  He’s there every day.  If it’s raining, or too dry, too hot, or well you get the picture.  He’s always there.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13New International Version (NIV)12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So, let me encourage you to grow your spiritual garden.  Why bother you say?  With all the spiritual “pests”, worldly forces, evil in this world, plain ole bad luck, what’s the use.  There are two BIG reasons.  Two different ways of sharing.  There is a joy you get from sharing your spiritual food with friends and neighbors.  A harsh reality is this though.  In the spiritual world people sometimes won’t grow their own garden.  Share with them from yours.  Even then, some will use it. Some will abuse it.  Some will refuse it, some will choose it.  No matter their choice, you continue to grow.  Grow your spiritual garden.  Rows of “faith” and “hope” and have a half acre of “LOVE”.  and share…..

The 2nd reason?   Your Heavenly Father gets a “kick” out of watching you grow your garden.  I’m not sure if he drives up everyday in a beat up Chevrolet pickup, but He’s there every day.

My friend, if you don’t feel God’s presence around your everyday life, maybe you’re neglecting your “garden”.  I sense His presence everyday.  How?   By looking, listening, waiting expectantly to hear and see Him.  Shucks, you can even join me in my earthly garden so that we can grow our spiritual garden at the same time.  Bring a hoe.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

Spiritual garden rows of Faith ,hope, and acres of Love

Spiritual garden – rows of Faith ,hope, and acres of Love