Category Archives: Steps Along This Journey

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Any Hope For the Next Generation?

Wondering What Their Future Will Be

I’m wondering what the future holds for my son and daughter. What does the future hold for all you guys in your 20’s and 30’s?  Even those in your 40’s.

It’s a whole different world out there.  I know, I know,……. I’m gonna sound like an “old geiser” whose wishin’ for the old days, but my oh my, how this world is changing.

I grew up making a living by mostly working on a tractor, working on a farm for my living.  Actually there have been many different careers that I have been involved in to pay the bills.  From working on the farm with cattle, gardens, and chickens to selling insurance and mutual funds, digging graves, and owning a funeral home.  What I’ve learned on this career journey is preparing me for what’s to come as I enter the final quarter of my life.

The newer generation is also learning as they begin their careers.  But whew………. what’s out there today for them to have to be involved in.  GOOD and BAD!!!

I got my knowledge from reading books (even the encyclopedias…… man I do sound like an old geezer).  They get theirs, well shoot, they just google and ask Siri.  Even gettin’ me to look things up that way.

I got the world’s news from reporters.  They get theirs from “talking heads”.  They get theirs from people who take what’s truly happening and “spin it” to meet specific goals and agendas.  Where’s the truth?  How is anyone supposed to know what is truly happening?

This newer generation spends time with a bent neck looking down at their phones or whatever devices to see who is socially interacting with them.  How many likes, how many views.  Back in the day, the only electrical device I bent my neck down to watch was the toaster!  (I know, I’m an old timer.)

Anywhere you look it seems that people are getting angry/impatient/selfish and troubled.  I guess I was too busy back in the day on the tractor with cows and the dog to notice the angry and troubled people then.

 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, evil men who push away the truth from them.   For the truth about God is known to them instinctively;  God has put this knowledge in their hearts.  Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day.

   Yes, they knew about him all right, but they wouldn’t admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care. And after a while they began to think up silly ideas of what God was like and what he wanted them to do. The result was that their foolish minds became dark and confused.  Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they became utter fools instead.  Romans 1:18-22

That scripture was written a couple of thousand years ago. Hmm……., I guess the world hasn’t changed that much after all.  Maybe things just happen faster nowadays.

Here’s some advice from someone in the 4th quarter of his life.   Someone who can say, “I have been with God on this journey,….. and He has been with me.  That makes me a HAVE been not a “has been”.  This someone is me.  My advice to the newer generations?………..

Don’t become wise without God.  This world is crazy enough without you becoming mixed up in it.  Stay above the fray.  Be in the world but NOT of the world.  Make sure God is with you.  Most of all,…….. make sure you are WITH God.  There’s not enough time in this blog to tell you all you need to know about this life and journey.  It will take time to learn,…… it will take a life time!  Make sure your life is ALIVE!  How does one do that?  That’s the mystery of this spiritual journey you and I are own.  There are highs and there are lows.  Ups and downs, but stay focused on your Lord and Saviour Jesus.

I have been and will continue to be.  Since I have been, this means that I am not a “has been”.  I firmly have hope for these newer generations.  Hope, not in worldly craziness, but in God’s eternal stability and support……. for them.

My 4th quarter has begun.  My son taught me that the last two minutes of the ball game were the most important.  All the other time in the game is leading up to this most important time.  I agree.  I say it again!  I have been and will continue to be.  Since I have been and am BEING, this means that I am not a “has been”.  My 4th quarter will involve interacting more with these newer generations.  I may not physically be on my tractor plowing new ground and cultivating the soil,……. but that prepared me for my time now of plowing new relationships with people and cultivating friendships with others on this spiritual journey we are all own.

I have hope for these newer generations.  If you don’t,……. I KNOW WHERE YOU CAN FIND SOME!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Under My Thumb

Encourage each other to hold on firmly

I’m “chinking” the log walls of my home this week.  It’s where you fill in the cracks and spaces between the logs with a type of caulking.  The caulking sticks to the logs as it dries.  A foam brush is used, ( I prefer to use my thumb), to help coat the edges of the two logs.  This caulking is elastic.  It will stretch and give over time as the logs settle.  You put a foam backer rod behind the chinking.  (see the black foam in the picture).  The idea is this.  The chinking sticks to the logs above and below, only two directions.  This allows it to stretch but still hold firmly.  If the backer rod were not behind the chinking, it would be pulled in Three directions…….and not hold!!

Try holding a rubber band.  when you pull it in two directions, it stretches!  Try pulling it in three directions at once…….. it breaks.  There must be some physics law or reason for this.  All I know is this.  I’m putting this chinking between the logs to last.  To last for a long time.  To last, well, as long as my house is standing……… to the very end.

 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. Hebrews 3:13,14

Just like my log house, we ourselves face many things that can cause us to crack.  Things that you face and are going through can cause you to come unglued.  Hold fast to your conviction.  Here’s you….. and here’s God.  Stay connected, glued, stuck, held firmly with Him.

Some kind of physics law I guess, but when we get “pulled” in several directions, we tend to snap don’t we?  Keep   that bond between you and God tight.  Let Him “pull” you in His one direction.  Under “His” thumb…… it’s a good place to be.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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I Can Sell It for $325, or It Can Be Yours For Free

Beauty in the Eyes of the Beholder

Yep, I drew it.  It’s worth $325.00.  But I want to give it away…… to you.

Suppose I told you that someone from and of the  “art world” saw my painting and told me this. “Your art is original, simple yet inspiring,…….simple, yet complex.  You take colors and weave together a story.  It has a beginning, but begs of the person viewing to continue the story as they see it.”

Huh??  I had some left over floor paint, so I drew a picture on a block of wood.  Now I’m being told that it has a value to it.  Funny isn’t it how we place a value on something.  It’s worth what someone will pay for it, right?  It’s worth what we hear someone else say THEY will pay for it.  

Funny how you yourself place a value on your own life.  Too many times it depends on what others are saying about us right?  Too many times we put ourselves down because we know our own faults, we know what needs improving.

Shucks, my picture that I drew……… I can see fifteen things wrong with it,… I can see fifteen things I need to do to improve it.  Yet someone has placed a value on it.  A value that I myself didn’t think was there.  He makes me realize that my painting has true value in spite of what I think of it myself!

I guess I’m brought up in the world of “it’s not good enough”. (You too Huh?) No matter what I do, my painting,my work, MY LIFE……. it’s just not good enough.  And then someone of the “spiritual world” comes long and says, “You, Dan, and you _______, you are very valuable to me.  I pick you.  I want YOU!

 You have been bought and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him—be free now from all these earthly prides and fears. 1 Corinthians 7:23 TLB

Don’t we do a disservice to Christ our King when we put ourselves down.  I mean if “art world guy” were to say my painting is worth $325, why should I argue him down to $15.  Only because I feel like I’m never good enough.  You say $325?  Sold!!!  It’s all yours.  Art Guy Buddy, You want me to draw ya another one?

So when Jesus says you and I are worth dying, (and living) for, do we instead put ourselves down?  He died on the cross for us.  He rose from the dead.  That’s why we celebrate Easter!  It’s how He paid the price for us!

He died so that you and I may TRULY LIVE!!   Sold!!  I’m all yours Lord. Jesus, Can I live another day for you Lord?

I’m not going to sell this picture to “art world guy”.  I want to give it to you.  Then you can take my picture with a story beginning drawn in it……. and continue the story for yourself.

Interested in owning this picture for yourself?  Private message me on this blog site, or message me on facebook.  It’s free!

Well, Dan, what if more than one person wants this picture?  Hmmm…..then looks like I got some more painting to do.  We can do this together.  Tell me your favorite three colors.  We’ll see what story that I’ll begin, but that you will continue.

YOU ARE VALUABLE!!  YOU ARE A CHILD OF THE KING!!   In spite of what “someone” says, (including yourself sometimes), you are a masterpiece in the making.  Jesus says you are worth it!!

See Ya, Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, part time artist