Tag Archives: Christianity

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I agreed with the Atheist, and then……

bible - food for the heart

Last week, I was an extra on the movie set again near Baton Rouge.  My role this day is to be a Confederate soldier.  Being an extra in any movie requires a lot of “hurry up and get ready, then wait “.  All the extras were told to wait in building #2 (basically a huge circus tent).  What’s the reason I’m being in the movies ( three so far) as an extra?  It’s on my bucket list.  I want to see the “behind the scenes” activities of the movie industry, and to meet people that I wouldn’t normally meet. Today I met the Atheist!

O, he was a nice guy, but from the get go he was wanting me to know how and what he thought.  We were sitting across from each other (waiting) so I struck up a conversation.  Just small talk.  Where do you live?  Why are you being an extra in the movie?  Wife? Kids? etc.etc.  Then when I said that I was a preacher he changed gears on me.  Like going from 1st gear in an old Ford pickup to grinding them gears all the way to overdrive in a Mac dump truck.  He was loaded for bear.  I was in the line of fire and he let me have it with both barrels.

His conversation went from normal to a very loud.  He changed from his Cajun accent(which I liked) to a California accent.  He must have picked this up from his days at University of California, Berkeley.  I know all this because he told me where he came from.  He also told me how he is known for his intelligence, his ability to understand anything from business models, to structures related to polymer something or another.  Also he let me know he is extremely proficient with communication.  I interrupted him long enough to say that I definitely believe him. (But I’m wishing that he wasn’t “communicating” so loud….. 4 other guys around me have been drawn into his communicating because he’s loud enough for them to hear). I also let him know that I have trouble communicating sometimes.  Why, I even get tongue tied when ordering at the Mcdonald’s drive thru.  I’m not sure he hears me,….. he is too busy “communicating”.

I’ll save you guys some time.  He basically was telling me his educational background, and his intellectual accomplishments to give him the authority to say this to me.  “Preacher I don’t believe in your God!”

He shares that as a child, he was active in the Catholic Church.  But he quit going and now…….. Well, let me give a shorter version of what he said.  “You people believe in a God.  A god who keeps up with all that you do wrong.  He then punishes you for being disobedient.  You aren’t supposed to do this or that.  You can’t hang around certain people because you think you are  better than them.  You think that if you are good enough that your god will reward you.  You people spend your whole life scared of what a god will do to you.  You people are not smart enough to question anything.  You follow a God because  other people tell you to do it.  Besides if you did ask a question about anything in life, your religious leaders or God himself would tell you to “shut up””.

TIME OUT  While this guy is talking I can sense that he is definitely a man with a very high intellect. But I also sense that he is now talking from his heart, not just his head.  And his heart is hurting.  I say a quick prayer, “Lord help me, I don’t know what to say.”   He finishes his remarks by saying, “That’s why I don’t believe in God.  Who needs it?  Why live your life afraid of all you do wrong and worried about trying to do right?”

And then the unthinkable happened………….    “I agree with you“, was my reply. ” You have expressed your thoughts very well.  In fact I will say it myself.  I don’t believe in a God like that”.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.   Jeremiah 24:7

“The God that I know is a living loving God who dwells inside of me.  I see God and His Glory in all things, especially the outdoors.  My God is a forgiving God.  There is no list of Bad things I do.  My Heavenly Father doesn’t punish me, but he disciplines me because He loves me. (I know, this takes time to comprehend).  I stay away from certain things of this world for my own good.  I’m learning to love everyone.  Religion may shun my questions about life, but not my Lord and Saviour.  Each day is another mystery full of questions that I’m blessed to live through. How and why Jesus came to this Earth for me and you is something I can’t explain to you in a way that your intellect would understand.  (I can’t even explain it to myself.)  The God you don’t believe in, you know of him and about him in your head.  My God that I do believe in, I know Him in my heart.”

I’m sharing from my heart.  He’s listening from his head.  I never know how well that works, but I continued.  “I can’t argue with a man of your intelligence.    There is a God.  You know of him and about him in your head.  My God that I do believe in, I know Him in my heart.  Where and how do the words faith and trust exist in your life?”  He stopped talking and you could tell he was in deep thought.  His reply, “I’ll have to ponder and think on what you’ve said.”

That’s where our conversation ended.  There is a part of me that wonders if our chance meeting was for him,….. or for me. There is a part of me that wonders if each and every day the chance meetings, the opportunities, the problems, the situations, the moments of every day life are for me and for you.  Just in case, I’ll live each day living and learning from my heart.

 

 

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How to be successful in LIFE!

success!

Wow!  Look at all the delicious fruit on this tree!  Success!  Outstanding crop!   Who wants to produce the same success as this tree?

Remember this tree?

a separate persimmon tree surrounded by an oak

How about that! It’s the same tree!  The tree that “wasn’t going to amount to anything” is loaded with fruit.  It is having a very successful year.  The secret of being successful in LIFE?  Well, in good ole country boy terms here is the secret….  It ain’t what you got, it’s how you use it.  If you are new to wilderness preacher, of if you’ve forgotten about the story of this tree, you can read about it.  Click on the following:        Bloom where you’re planted

So, to be SUCCESSFUL in LIFE you will just like this tree, bear fruit. Producing “fruit” will bring success in your work, your family, your very own life. Not just any fruit, but good fruit.  It can be done.  You’re going to need some help.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Galatians 5:22NIV

When God’s Holy Spirit comes into your life, you now have help in producing your fruit.  You now have help in living a successful life.  But,……….there is a big problem.  It’s in how we view success.

In our “business and work world”, it’s all about the numbers.  We view success in other people as well as ourselves by this numbers game.  How much money was made.  How many sales produced. How much production.  It’s all about me, myself, and I!

In our “religious” world (let’s be truthful and admit it), it’s also about numbers.  Too many times we view success as how many times did I go to church,  how much did I give, how long I’ve been a teacher/deacon/preacher/choir member/etc.  It’s all about me, myself, and I!

How to be successful in life?  Here it is again…. it ain’t what you got it’s how you use it!   You’ve been given God’s Holy Spirit, now use it!  But if it’s all about me, myself, and I then there’s no room for God’s Holy Spirit to work.

To be successful in living requires us to focus on God.  Seek Him, trust Him, follow Him.  This cause us to care less about me, myself, and I.  It allows us to focus on these “fruits of the Spirit”.  We don’t worry about the “barbed wires” in our lives, we don’t fret over where we’ve been placed in this world.  We focus on LIVING in and with God’s Spirit.  We focus on the fruits.  Looking back on my own life the past few years, I’ve not made the “top ten” in money, sales, production, attendance, or amounts of any kind.  But I am living in a world being filled spiritually by a “PERFECT TEN” with peace, love, and joy.  I am using it(God), and He is using me?  Sounds strange?  Yep, but a loving relationship is growing. I am living a successful life.

Now go be successful in life.  With help from the Spirit you too can produce fruit.  Time to share in a pie don’t ya think?

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

 

 

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The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Jim Kilburn MasterFlyfisherman

Meet Jim,  a master at the art of fly fishing.  God put this man in my path, literally.  I was driving down a Colorado gravel road and Jim and his wife, June, were walking on the road.  I slowed down my truck, (probably was speeding), and when I recognized him my heart and soul wanted to meet this man.  I’ve known about him. Actually met him once before.  This guy knows how to fish.  I need help, I’ll confess to you.  I need help so bad, that I’m going to give Jim a call.  But I’m nervous.

See, Jim is a master at fly fishing.  He has fished with  guys that have written books about fly fishing .  Jim, himself, could probably write his own books, but honestly I think all his time has been spent fishing rather than writing about it.  Like I said, I’m nervous but I’m taking the plunge.  I ask him will he teach me how to fish.  I’m prepared to hear him say anything.  Anything like, “Well, someday”, or “you’ll have to get back with me”.  I’m even prepared to hear him say, “No, I don’t have time to teach someone like you.”  But he says, “Sure, be glad to.  I can go in the morning”.  Now I’m really nervous.  The Master is going to teach me how to fish.

jimtyingknot

Does he teach me how to fish?  Well………….first he taught me some knot tying.  I’ve tied knots all my life, but Jim had several knots that he says are the best….  and they were.  I’m all fumble fingers, but I could sense the patience from the Master as he showed me (over and over) how to tie the knots and the flies.  Does he show me how to fish?

jimbughuntin

Well,……. now we study the “bugs” that are in the creek and under the rocks in the water.  He shows me nymphs, and well, I don’t know the names of all the “bugs and worms and critters” that he is showing me.  I’m hoping that there is not going to be a test on what I’m being taught.  I don’t know the names, but I now know what they look like and I’ve got flies that match what is naturally in this river and lake and that’s what I’ll be using for bait.  I’m fixing to catch fish!!  Bam!!!

But first,…….

jimcasting

Jim shows me how to cast a fly rod.  I’m in heaven!!   Jim is in his Glory!  I’m witnessing a beautiful event.  The rhythm of his cast, the smile on his face, the splendor of the mountains and lake.  This is great……. until he says……… “Here use my rod, now you try it”.  Uh oh, uuhhhh, now it’s more like heck because I’m fixing to royally mess things up.

I’m whippin’ the rod, popping the line, but hey, I’m casting.  Jim has patience as I’ve said.  He also has understanding, a teaching heart, and even more patience with me.  It’s becoming obvious to me now, that Jim has a love for fly fishing.  So much love that he is willing to give of his time to be with me on this fishing adventure.

He has been standing far away, probably so that he won’t get hit by my hook while I’m casting,(or should I say whippin’, flappin’, jerking’,popping his fly rod).  He walks over and says the most unusual thing.  “Listen to the rod“.  Hear the whoosh the line makes as it’s being cast.  Well, knock me down with a feather, (or 8ft 6weight fly rod).  I hear it.  By hearing the “whoosh” sound I’m able to get the “rhythm” of the cast.  It’s almost magical the difference  this has made for me.  I’m “in the zone”, “in the groove”, “back in the saddle”.  I’m ready to catch fish.  Bring it on!!  But wait……..

Has Jim taught me how to fish like I asked of him?  He’s taught me how to tie knots, to see what insects are available, to cast, to read the water, how to move around and in the water to approach fish.  Now he’s teaching me how to fight!  This day had started with a terrible hard blowing wind.  I honestly expected the master to call off today’s fishing adventure because of the difficult wind.  Instead he shows me how to fight……. yes, to fight the wind.  Wind may ruin a lot of fishing days for some folks, but not Jim.  And now not me.  I’ve learned techniques to use to battle this foe.

But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.  Matthew 6:33 NIV

On our spiritual journey just like this fishing adventure, we must come to the point where we ask the Master for help.  What we sometimes don’t realize is that our Master is helping us live this Christian walk.  But it’s the small things that make the journey.  God’s time with each of us is priceless.  He teaches, (with lots of patience and understanding).  He prepares us for the big adventure of living our lives by showing us day by day, event by event, good times and bad.  He also teaches us and prepares us for the fight.  The fight against evil forces, the fight against my own self lots of times.  Does God teach us how to live?  Did Jim teach me how to fish?  I really can’t pin down the moment I learned how to fish from Jim or for that matter when I learned to live a Christian way of life from my Heavenly Father.  I think in both instances the realization came to me that it wasn’t my learning that was important, but the spending of time with the Master……. Jim in my fishing adventure…….. My Lord and Saviour in my Christian journey.

I’m sure that I should write more concerning this subject.  But I’ve got fish to catch…… and a Christian journey waiting to be explored.  Good luck.  And fight that wind!!!!!

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth apprentice fly fisherman, apprentice Christian, wilderness preacher

dantrout1

“Learning as I spend time with the Master”