Category Archives: Friendship

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Growing Your Own Friends (The TomRalph Tree)

TomRalph tree

Meet two of my friends I’ve met on this journey.  Ralph, the older guy filled with wisdom and God’s love, and Tom the doesn’t look older guy who also is filled with wisdom and God’s love.  Both have been planted in my path by God himself.

I was at a men’s event where I didn’t know a soul there (including my own).  Ralph came up to me and made me feel welcome.  Nothing unusual about that is there?  What was unusual was that he asked a specific question and told me specific things that I had been asking God and expecting only God to give me the  answer.  God was “speaking” to me through some perfect stranger that was soon to become a perfect friend.

Tom came out to the cabin for a few days.  He and Ralph are writing a book about their own spiritual journey.  Many men will relate (Details when the book is published cause I want you my friends to read about their own journeys in this book).  I had never met Tom before.  But as a bunch of us guys were sitting around, I asked him a question that caught him off guard.  Just a simple question it was.  I mean Tom had traveled over a thousand miles to be with Ralph.  They would meet at my cabin to get away and focus on their book.  My question?  Tom, what are you doing here?

A simple question but usually a complicated answer.  Tom couldn’t answer.  Not right off the bat anyways.  I probably came across a little rude in the way I asked this of him.  I mean we had just met, just exchanged pleasantries.  He’s from way up north.  Told me a little about work, family, etc.  And then Boom……. I ask no, what are you really doing here in my cabin down here in little ole Mississippi.

But I felt compelled.  I felt asking to be a “God thing”.  So I asked.  He later explained what and why he was here.  This communication we had established a bond and friendship that will grow.  It will grow like the tree in the picture.

I asked Ralph and Tom to let me take a picture beside a pecan tree that I had just grafted the day before.  This tree is now the Tom/Ralph pecan tree, (or maybe the Ralph/Tom tree).  See, everyday when I hike in the early mornings, I will walk by this tree.  It reminds me of my friends.  I will pray for them when I see this reminder.

I have lots of reminders that I keep to well, remind me of my friendships.  A special knife given to me, a turkey call, a fishing lure, a fishing net, a bird house.  It’s just the way I do things.  I’m basically a loner.  Never have been a BIG social type person.  Put me somewhere in the outdoors with a couple of animals and no people and I’m perfectly happy.  A lot of you reading this now are the same way.  Not my wife Staci!  She’s a social animal.  When I take her to the Jimmy Buffet concert in a few days I’ll be thinking that I’m surrounded by a lot of noisy people.  She’ll be thinking that she’s surrounding by a lot of…..FUN!!!!!   Whoopeeeeee!!!   Everybody sing!!!!!!!!!!

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

So, maybe at times you are a loner too.  You don’t need a lot of people in your life.  People cause problems anyways right?  Well, that’s true but even the Bible is telling you (and me) that friendships are to make us stronger.  One mistake I made a lot on my journey was this.  I would ask God for something, anything,………. and I would fail to realize He was answering me through the interaction of one of my friends,……. usually one of my “it’s a God thing” friends.

Ralph is 40 miles away, Tom over a thousand.  We don’t see each other that much.  We don’t go to ballgames or play cards.  But,…… and this is important…………. we are connected.  If or When, or Because I need that other part of the rope of friendship,  I know that I can reach out to my fellow brothers.  They are only a phone call away.

In my personal life I’ve met many people on my journey.  But when it’s a “God thing”, it’s a connection that has been “grafted” into my own life and spiritual journey that grows into a lasting friendship.  Even when all alone in the wilderness, I know that there are friends that I’ve met along the way.  Some of my friends were made on a fishin trip.  Some were made with a land deal, on a movie set, a business meeting, or a chance meeting in the middle of nowhere.   Many friends have been made from the travels and writings of this wilderness preacher blog.  I’ve reached out to you, and you’ve reached out to me.  Sounds like a “budding” friendship that can only continue to grow.

Ralph, Tom, Get that book printed.  Let the readers of wilderness preacher be some of the first to get their hands on it.  But more important is that I want to thank you for including me in your spiritual journey.  I’ve seen the “horses” that you have to ride.  You’ve done well Pilgrim!!!!!!!

By the way, take a look at how the Tom/Ralph tree looks after only a couple of weeks.  This tree as well as your own lives Tom and Ralph are producing fruit in the future.

TomRalphtree2

 

 

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Fishing with The Queens of Heart

Rebekah

This Sunday School class wanted to come eat fish.  More than that they wanted to come catch fish.  They brought joy to my heart.  Why?  Cause when I’m 96 I hope to still be fishin’!

Yep, one lady was 96.   Another was ninety-two.  Then a few in their 80’s, or really they would say 39 and holding.  But they all belong to the same Sunday School Class.  They also really belong to each other.  Today, they belong to me.  I’m going to make sure they have a good time at the cabin and lake.

It was a chilly day.  The wind was gonna be bothersome.  But hey, a day fishin’ is better than a day doing whatever, right?  The ladies, (and a couple of guys) got out of the van.  Greetings were exchanged.  They looked around the place, casually walked down to the lake, and then……

There were some chairs we had placed in the yard next to the lake.  The ladies spotted them and claimed each one of them.  It was obvious they were enjoying themselves on their outdoor adventure.  Honestly, they would have been thrilled just to sit there and enjoy nature and each other’s company.  But they came to fish, so then……..

One of the ladies grabbed a cane pole.  While all her friends were still sitting (and watching), she baits her hook and lowers the cork and bait into the water.  It wasn’t ten seconds before she’s hauling out a beautiful catfish.  And then,…….

Well, those ladies were after those fish like a pack of dogs on a 3-legged cat.  I mean they jumped out of the chairs, made a bee line for the fishin’ poles, and it was on then buddy.  It looked like a mad dash at the opening of Wal-Mart.  It looked like……

Have you ever been to a picnic with a bunch of Baptists?  When someone brings out the bucket of chicken, they jump on it.  That’s what these ladies did.  They jumped on going fishin’.  Chairs were knocked over (they didn’t even notice).  Poles got tangled up as they started this adventure.  But from the bottom of my heart, they made my day.

Excitement was in the air.  All were catching fish. They caught 60. I should know because Jodi and I cleaned them.  It was a good time all around.

Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.  Psalm 71:9
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The only casting these ladies did today was with the rod and reels.  The catfish were big, so the cane poles didn’t last long.  Ladies, you come back any time.  The joy you possess in your hearts is contagious.  Everyone there that day couldn’t be helped but be renewed in their own hearts with joy.  Especially me.  I was busy “helping others”, but in turn it gave me such a blessing of joy.  Thanks for comin’ Ladies Sunday School Class.
I’m working on that alligator hunt for ya’ll.  We’ll need to include your pastor!  He can be the bait!!
See Ya!!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time fishin’ guide, full time experiencing God’s blessings

 

 

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Trouble in the Corn Patch. This Christian Talks Politics

 

 

Trouble in the Corn Field

I put these scarecrows in my corn field to see what would happen.  I’ll let the crows and varmints tell me who is for real.  The results?  Nothing but TROUBLE!!
I grow corn.  I love to grow corn.  Been growing corn all my life.  Just like my father, and his father, and his, on and on.  But in these troubling times we live in, it seems that everything has become out of order and it’s turning people against one another.
Scarecrows are propped up in the fields.  They are put there by people.  But in the political world, scarecrows have received power from individuals and groups that make these scarecrows able to tell other individuals and groups how they should grow corn. This in turn gives them more power. This in turn makes other groups and individuals want to get their own scarecrows and give them a larger power to undo what the other scarecrows have done.  A vicious cycle has begun.
I grow corn because it’s a part of my life.  I even share corn with others.  Some people look forward to these corn sharing times.  Others I’m sure don’t care for my corn as much as I.  That’s alright.  I’m not gonna cram my “corn” down their throats.  I’ve got a neighbor who grows sunflowers in his garden.  Also got a dear friend who doesn’t care for corn, but she grows flowers and roses in her garden spot.  There’s even a neighbor with an ideal garden spot, but he chooses to let it grow weeds.  We all think he’s on the lazy side, but to each his own.
But now the scarecrows have enough power and they are using their power to tell me what I can and can’t do with my corn field .  They don’t want me to share my corn anymore.  They insist that I not be allowed to grow corn even in my own garden anymore.  Not like I do it anyways.  They tell me it’s better if I do it the “scarecrow’s” way.  They can better manage who gets the corn.  Scarecrows have a way of telling you that they can do any and everything better.  But to me it’s just them showing that they have power and they want more power.  Power over you….. and power over me.  They don’t really care about me or you.
What has become hurtful to me is how scarecrows (in order to get more power) make people see their differences instead of what we have in common.  My neighbors and I are all so different.  But we also have a lot in common.  We have a genuine mutual respect for each other even though we grow different gardens.  But scarecrows see this mutual respect and love we have for each other as a weakness, (no power there).  They would rather dig and stir up divisions between me and my neighbors.
A scarecrow uses fears, and promises to protect you as a way for more power.  Crazy to me how in today’s politics people pick and choose who they want to be a scarecrow so they can prop them up in their fields.  You’ve got one candidate who lies all the time, yes people know that it’s lies.  They don’t believe what this scarecrow says, yet they still like what she says.   On the other hand you’ve got this politician who is not a politician because he can say whatever is on his mind.  People like that…….until he says something on his mind,….. and wait, you can’t say something like that…….   But they still like what he says.  Both scarecrows are after power.  Then when they get power you know what they want then?   Yep, more power.
Now I’ve got local Mississippi scarecrows that someone propped up in my field.  These scarecrows are telling me that they will protect my rights to grow corn.  I can discriminate who I give my corn to and who I choose to have in my corn field.  This is what they are saying to me……. so that they will have power as a scarecrow.
What is going on here????  I’m starting to like my Amish friends way of growing corn.  They don’t use scarecrows.  They don’t see the need for it.   Funny isn’t it, how Amish people “grow their own corn” as they see fit.  Nobody is trying to make them grow flowers.  No scarecrows are trying to “protect” their way of life.  They have a certain way of doing things.  They live their lives as they believe.  They respect you and ask that you respect them.  That’s IT!!!   That’s what’s going on here!!!  No respect for others comes from scarecrows.  That would be a weakness.  No power can be gained from this.
      My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.   1 Corinthians 2:4-5
I preach in the wilderness.  This world of concrete, bricks, roads, and buildings seems to be more of a wilderness than the mountains of Colorado or the swamps of Mississippi that I journey through.  I am a Christian. (It’s like growing corn.)  It’s a way of life for me.  My mother and father lived this way of life.  My children continue to live this way.  They may not (plow their garden) like I do.  My children read scriptures from their phone, not from a worn leather covered Bible book.  But we all (grow corn) live as Christians.  Some of my neighbors don’t live this way.  But I don’t want some government scarecrow to come prop himself up in my “corn field” and tell me how to live as a Christian.  We are putting our faith too much in human wisdom (and scarecrows).  I believe that my power to live here on this Earth comes from God’s power.  God loves me and you so much that He sent Jesus to us to cover our faults and shortcomings.  (Yes, that would be sin).  But for us to show NO RESPECT to each other is hurtful, unkind and too me, not being Christlike.
So do me a favor.  Your scarecrows will see me living a humble, gentle, caring for others life.  And yes, I’ll be sharing (corn).  I’ll be sharing with others what being a Christian is about.  Don’t sic your scarecrows on me.  Let me grow my corn (be a Christian).  Let me fly my flag of choice.  Let me sing the songs I choose.  Let me live as a free man in this great country.  I won’t sic any scarecrows on you either.  We all look different, act different, dress different.  Our political options only seem to lead to more differences.  I’m honestly sick of it.
Hey let’s do each other a favor.  No scarecrows involved.  Let’s meet for a drink and a conversation.  Bring your iced tea, or water, or beer……….. see we are already looking at our differences instead of what we have in common.  I don’t like beer, you don’t like tea…… who says we have to be like the other?…..  C’mon get out of this mindset that if you are not like me then you must change.  We have so much more in common that we realize.  Yet today’s world thrives on the strife and hurt that being different from each other causes.  It’s where politicians get there power.
I’ll be prayerfully waiting to hear from you.  Local scarecrows tell me I can discriminate who comes in my corn field.  Good.  I don’t want politicians ruining what God has given me, so no politicians allowed.  You won’t get any power from me.  I’m relying on God’s power to give me direction on my spiritual journey.  You guys come visit with me.  I’ll be in the “corn field”.
See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, trusting in God, not man