Monthly Archives: May 2015

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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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How to fill ‘er up spiritually

The one thing that keeps our vehicles running, and we act like it’s a hassle to take the time to “fill ‘er up”.

While making a trip to Houston to see my son, I stopped a few times to get gas.  I like to watch people going about their everyday activities.  What was amazing to me was how everyone at the gas stations were in such a hurry.  They obviously needed gas as they were all filling their cars.  But while filling, they also were texting, cleaning out trash, washing their windshields, etc., etc.  I mean let’s be efficient with our time, but c’mon people, have we gotten in that much of a rush?  Hey. Hey. HEY!!!  Lady, I wouldn’t set the gas nozzle on and leave it if I were you.  I guess it’s important that she goes and talks with the guy 3 pumps over.  (Looks more like they were in a heated argument!)

I have fond memories of when I was very young and going to my grandfathers house to get gas.  This was years ago and in a different way of life.  But papaw had a gas pump that you had to hand pump to put gas in the car or tractors.  I got to do this myself.  It made me feel all grown up.  I would crawl up on the tank itself after I put the hose in the car and pump away.  I wouldn’t stop until the gas overflowed!  Filling the car and tractors back in the day was an activity that I truly enjoyed.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope FILL you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, I’m not saying that when you fill your car with gas you should stop doing everything else, stand there, and shout and sing as loud as possible the song “Cause I’m Happy……..”  nope, nada, ney, ney.   I’m saying spiritually that we need to focus on this loving , living, Lord and Saviour that is filling our lives with love and hope.  Take the time to just be with Him.

Has life gotten you in such a rush that when the time comes to be filled with the Spirit, (by the Spirit), that you are too busy doing other things?  Too busy to be filled to overflowing from a Living, Loving God?  You call this a hassle?  Well, you act like it is.

How do we “fill ‘er up” spiritually?  Prayer time is high octane.  A quiet time alone with God is a great way to get you on down the road.  Worship in your church fills “your tank” so that the rest of the week can be traveled through.  Basically, any time spent with God is a time of renewing,  a time that we get to “fill ‘er up“.

Don’t let your “fill me up” time with God become as a hassle to you.  Stay forever young as a child in His presence.  Enjoy filling up until it overflows.  God will put a “tiger in your tank”.  The other activities in your life, especially dealing with trash and heated arguments, can be put on hold.  So “fill ‘er up”.  By the way, God’s paying for it.

See Ya down the road!!    Dan Ainsworth wildernesspreacher

 

 

 

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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