Category Archives: Steps Along This Journey

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Enough to make a preacher cuss!

lost keys

lost keys

You got to be kiddin’ me right?  Now what?

It started when I couldn’t find my keys.  What had started as a beautiful day here in the mountains was quickly turning into DESPAIR!!!

Headed out the door, bags packed, everything in order, all chores done, I’m gone.  The adventure begins.   I said “I’m gone” right?  Where are my  keys?  Twenty minutes of torture later, I’m still looking.  I’ve now got Staci helping me look.  Hey, if I’ve got to suffer, then someone else has to suffer too, right?

She realizes my frustration when I bark at her question.  You know the question she asked……. “Where did YOU put them?”  If I knew that, then I wouldn’t have to be looking for them. Duh!!!  Tension has suddenly built between the two of us.  “Check in your bags you packed” was her reply before she stomped out of the room.  She’s usually right, so I stomped over and unpacked my bags.  No keys, but I realized that I also forgot to pack my wallet.  Now to find my wallet,…….. and keys.

My loving wife who I’ve agitated returns with my wallet. “Found this, but no keys.”  I can’t say thanks because the dad gum keys are all that my brain can concentrate on at the moment.  Oh yea, I said I had everything in order.  While looking for my keys, I ran across some paperwork that had not been mailed.  Deadline is today.  Now I’ve got to drop by the post office!

The phone rings.  One of those chores I was to do, well, I had not done.  I’ll take care of it on my way to town.  The guy on the phone probably wondered why I was so short with him.  It was because the keys were all that was on my mind.

This is silly!  My day is ruined because of small unimportant things in my life that have caused me to turn sour and negative.  Not only that, but my actions (and reactions) have caused others to be hurt and bothered by my inability to handle what life is currently throwing at me.

Inside of my own head and hearing all my thoughts is not a good place to be right now.  You’ve been there!   These thoughts are clouding any and all rational thinking. “It’s your fault, Anybody should know where their keys are, but not you………..Why me, Why now…….Can’t I ever catch a break……I’ve got it bad.   I’ve got a case of “Stinkin’ Thinkin”.  It’s enough to make this preacher cuss!  @#**%

Found them.  They had fallen off the countertop under the cabinets.  I bet someone knocked them off.  I need someone to blame to put my mind at rest.  The glare that Staci is giving me from across the room tells me it wouldn’t be a smart move to blame her.  Besides, my coffee mug is the one sitting above where the keys fell.  Well, back to where I was twenty minutes ago.  Bags packed, everything in order, all chores done….. I’m gone…….. to the post office and that final chore……    and then I say it.  And you yourself have said it.   “@#$%, why bother.  My day is ruined”.

Welcome to the local chapter of the “Stinkin’ Thinkin’ “, everyday happening, anonymous Men’s and Ladies’ group.  Pull up a chair.  It’s a crowded organization.  You’ll fit right in.  I know, I know, there are lots of people out there with bigger problems than me, but my situation today, right now, is changing my way of thinking.  It’s causing me to bark at loved ones, strike out at others, be negative.   And don’t tell me “It’s no big deal”.  Don’t say “get over it”, cause there’s not a bridge big enough to calm and redirect this brain of mine.  I lost my keys!  It might as well be the end of the world.  It’s enough to make any and every preacher cuss. Including you!

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
I don’t think God really is that concerned with those four letter curse words that we let slip out when things go bad.  His concern is more about us becoming bad when things go bad.  I don’t know anyone who is immune to the small things in life causing them to lose control.  But friend, do we have control of anything in this life?  I can control not losing my keys from now on by placing them on the key ring (no matter what) yeah, right.  But what about the traffic, or the weather, or the next time I misplace my wallet.  It’s enough to make a preacher……wait…… realize how “stinkin’ thinkin’ ” comes from the evil one.  And it’s inside my and your head.  It’s a powerful weapon that is used against each of us. Each and everyday.  Hmmm….. now that I am aware of this.  How do I battle against it?
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  2 Corinthians 4:7-8
Realizing that the “evil one” can get inside my head is a little bit unnerving.  But realizing that God’s all surpassing power is also inside of me and you (the jars of clay) is a treasure that I truly treasure.  I’m gonna always be losing my keys, or my wallet.  I’m gonna always  be facing small problems that become huge in my mind.  I’m gonna always be having things go bad each and every day.  The question for me and you is this……….. Am I going to go bad with it?    Take care.
See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

 

 

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Hard Livin’ on a prayer

peeling bark from the logs just like the pioneers and old timers

peeling bark from the logs just like the pioneers and old timers

It’s hard work.  It takes a lot of elbow grease, literally.  I’m using a drawknife to pull and scrape the bark from these logs.  As I’m breathing hard in this thin Colorado air, I’m thinking of just how hard our ancestors worked to make a living.  The drawknife is a steel blade that I pull under the bark and slice a piece from the log itself.  It’s very back breaking, with shoulders and arms pulling in a rhythm to peel the bark inch by inch, foot by foot, and finally the whole log itself is ready to be used. (see the pile of logs in the back)

I’m using these logs to build a deck on our house here in Colorado.  I’ve got to have a place where my friends (THAT INCLUDES YOU!!!) and I can sit and look at the mountains.  It’s hard work, it’s even harder on these joints and muscles of mine. I guess you’re wondering why I do this?  Well, there is an enjoyment, a sense of accomplishment knowing that I’m doing something that will be useful to me (AND YOU!!) in the future.  With this clear conscience I feel God is pleased.

2 Timothy 1:3 NIV  I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Paul wrote this to Timothy.  I’m now writing this to you. (yes, YOU).  I’m thankful for the work ethic that was passed on down to me from my father and his father and on and on.  But I’m also thankful for the prayer ethic that has been passed down to me also.

It seems that  in todays’ world that there is not much of either the hard working or the true praying going on.  I’d like to see a change in that.  How can it be changed?  Only way this country boy thinking preacher sees to do this is by one person at a time.

As with the scripture I chose for this week, I have a clear conscience.  That means that I believe with my whole heart that I’m headed in the right direction by following Christ and His teachings.

And every day I remember you in my prayers. (yes, YOU!)  I have a list of growing subscribers that I look through.  No, I don’t read the entire list each and every day and go Lord, remember so and so from Magee, Ms.  And also remember so and so from Texas.  It’s not like back in “Romper Room” for those of you that remember that old show.  I don’t take a magic mirror and read everyones’ name out loud so they will get a “prayer treat” for the day.  But at the same time it’s not like…. “God is great, God is good, pass the bacon”.  It’s way more serious than either of these examples.

As with the scripture, I constantly remember you in my prayers. (Seriously, YOU!)  Praying can be compared to peeling the bark from these logs.  It’s time consuming, It can be considered “hard work” because of all the other things that have to be done and set aside so that you can pray.  I guess you’re wondering why I do this?  Well, there is an enjoyment, a sense of accomplishment knowing that I’m doing something that will be useful to me (AND YOU!!) in the future.  With this clear conscience I feel God is pleased.

If there is a special time or need for prayer, drop me a line.  I won’t share with others.  I’ve got a prayer request I’d like for you to add in your prayer list.  Me.  On this journey we are all on, we help each other, we support each other, we love each other, and we pray for each other.  It’s kinda like feeding each others horses.  Your horse or my horse doesn’t need feeding only when there is a crisis, or problem, or special need.  Definitely feed your horse in those times, but each and every day, make sure you feed your horse………. and feed my horse too.  Praying works the same way.

Clear your conscience.  See Ya!!!

Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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God’s handiwork, this bird……….. and you!

Watch this slow motion video of this hummingbird as it is flying.

Amazing to watch a hummingbird being what it’s created to be, isn’t it?

Amazing to watch yourself being what God’s created you to be, now isn’t it?