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Bend Don’t Break


The picture is of my 3 year old young, fragile quaking aspen trees, but it’s also a picture of the approaching storm headed straight for us in the background. Pretty little tree is about to be hit with hail, 50plus mile an hour winds, pelting rains, and more hail. Yet it will bend…….. and not break.

Not so with some of the other trees and limbs on our Higher Ground property. This Colorado storm packed a pretty good punch. A couple trees uprooted, several limbs broken, needles and pine cones everywhere,……. and I’m still looking for my bird feeder!

But the small young fragile looking quaking aspen tree has no damage. I watched it sway back and forth. I felt that at any moment it would snap. It wouldn’t surprise me if the leaves would go from “quaking” to torn to pieces and gone!

The leaves are designed to “quake”. That is, to shake back and forth as the wind blows. This movement gives aspen trees their name (Quaking Aspen). It’s also what gives them such an attractive appearance. It’s very soothing to be under an Aspen tree and hear the movements of the leaves. ( Time out for a nap 😉 )

So, my fellow Christian believers, we need to be more like that bending not breaking Aspen tree. When the storms of life are upon us we also should bend, not break.

How can we bend in our Christian witness? Isn’t that a sign of weakness? Well, let me compare your walk as a Christian to the way of my little Quaking Aspen tree.

This Aspen tree has a strong root structure. This provides nourishment,…… and stability. Strong roots allow the tree to make a stand. You have spiritual roots planted in the reading of the Bible, roots growing from praying to God, and roots being established from BEING who God has created you to be. Each and every day they grow further to provide even more spiritual nourishment,….. and stability. You have a rock solid foundation being built by your faith and trust. A tree that is all show but with no foundation is one that, ……. well, that’s the one that’s uprooted in my yard.

But your saying, “Yea, I get it, but in today’s world you can’t let people push you around. You can’t let them get away with their way of thinking when it goes against my beliefs. Take a stand! Fight back! Give them a dose of their own medicine!” Careful, Careful! That’s what happened to those other trees in my yard. Slowly over time these trees had become hardened, brittle, twisted, and hollow. They then were damaged when the storms came. Their weaknesses were shown when the storm attacked.

So how is my little Aspen tree able to withstand the storms. It stays flexible! This is not a sign of weakness, but of strength, …… Super Strength. The only way it can be flexible (above ground where everyone can see) is by having a strong immovable foundation. The roots are strong, very strong.

Those fragile branches and delicate leaves are focused on one thing……. Growing constantly towards the Sun! There’s the secret to being “flexible”. In our spiritual growth we must constantly be reaching and growing to the Son Jesus!

Sure, I myself get it. We must be rock solid in our beliefs. But understand what I’m saying. Someone who may not believe as I do will not see my rock solid trust and belief. They will only see my “fragile branches and delicate leaves”. They will see my (and your) reactions to the storms of life. If my focus is on following the Son/Sun, then my focus is not on the storms of life ( differences of opinion, hardships, insults, injuries,) Think about this…… when someone or something makes you mad, what happens? Yep, admit it. You snap! You break! You lose sight of the Son Jesus and focus on the hail/ hell that’s being thrown at you. That little fragile quaking Aspen just keeps on being God’s creation. It doesn’t try to run away from the storm, outdo the storm, or even beat the storm. It just remains “flexible”. Bending but not breaking as it grows towards the Son/Sun!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Peter 3:18

I was feeling sorry for my little tree during the storm. Then I realized how it was showing a mighty strength and power in the middle of its storm by bending not breaking. I suddenly felt a little sorry for me (and you).

We have a challenge before us. Most people can’t see our “roots”. They can’t see or understand our faith, our trust, our beliefs. But they do see our “fragile limbs and delicate leaves”. They do see how we respond to the storms of life. My prayer is that we do show them that we are growing each and every day towards our Savior.

“Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for my little Aspen Tree. It helps me to see how I should grow towards you. This will help me to withstand the storms that come my way. Help me to grow a rock solid root structure in you. Help me and my friends with our unbelief. Help us to remain flexible and not “snap” at whatever is being thrown at us. I ask that our witness to others will reflect a growing closer to you. There are times I may look like I’m weak and fragile, but may my fragile and delicate witness be for You and Your Glory! You’ve not promised to keep us away from the storms, but you’ve promised to be with us IN these storms. I thank You for that. I sure do love you God!Amen”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

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Watching The Horses “Talk”

It’s pretty much official,…. I’m a Colorado Cowboy! For a few hours anyways, as I was transporting these horses from one Christian camp to another camp several hours away but both in Colorado. Yehaw!

But I’ve always enjoyed watching horses talk to each other, and talk with me as well. You didn’t know horses could talk? Well, read on pardner.

Take a good look at the picture. What do you think the three horses are saying? Here’s what I heard. The horse on the far right, (raring up), has been at camp for months. This is his home, his place, his domain. The other horses have just been dropped off. So he’s letting everybody know that “He’s the MAN!” He’s saying that he’s “top dog” and that if any other horse disagrees, then there’s gonna be a fight.

The horse in the middle has just disagreed. Seconds before this picture, he reached across the fence and BIT, I mean took a big bite out of the other horse on his neck. In horse “talk” that means “Hey, there’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s got teeth, and oh yea, that would be me! I’m taking over!”

The smaller horse is just “egging it on” between the other two. He doesn’t stand a chance in the pecking order because of his size. My good guess is he has an alliance with the bigger horse and wants to “stay buddies” with him. Survival of the fittest right?

Horses “talk” or at least communicate with each other,….. and with me as well. (You too if you pay close attention to their body language.)

Years ago, I was at a men’s retreat in Michigan. Before our meetings began I asked the owner if I could go walk in his back pasture. There had been an early snowfall, about 4 inches and it was really a beautiful site.

As I was just crossing over the fence, one of two horses walked over to me….. and talked. He “talked” like this. He walked over to me, turned and took a few steps away, then turned and looked back at me. (This is “horse talk” for “Hey, follow me”. He wants me to follow him so I did. We walked a short distance across the field to a tree. The horse stopped. The horse looked at me, then looked up in the tree, then looked back at me! (This is “horse talk” for “come here, let me show you something”! He wants me to come closer so he can show me something, so I did. I’m standing right next to this horse that I’ve just met, yet we are communicating with each other. Cool!

He then stretches his neck and head as far as he can into this tree,…… and you guessed it, looks back at me. I look where he’s reaching into this tree and suddenly realize what he is truly wanting from me. This tree is some kind of apple tree, the horses have reached up and eaten all the apples that they can reach. But just inches above his reach are dozens of good tasting apples. So what do I do? I pull off 8 apples and set them on the ground. He immediately begins enjoying his dessert. (don’t think he ever “told” me thank ya tho 😉 )

I holler and whistle at the other horse and say “Hey Horse, you want an apple?” That’s human talk for “Hey Horse, you want an apple”! The other horse comes a trotting over and enjoys himself a sweet snack as well.

When I get back to the owners house, he asks what I’ve been doing. Without thinking about how it would sound, I told him that I’ve been talking to his horses and they had been talking to me.

Do you ever get “that look” from someone. You know, the look they give you when they are trying to decide just how “crazy” of a person you are? Well, he gave me that look,……. with both eyes!

I then explained. “Look, I was walking in your pasture when your horse came up to me and “told” me to follow him,…. follow him to the tree,…… reach up and pick him some of the apples that he couldn’t reach.

Silence…….. He then said, “My horse told you to give him those apples huh?”

My response was, “Well, he didn’t speak in English, but yes with his body language he “talked” with me,……… and he got his apples.

I won’t ever forget what the owner said. In utter amazement he said, “I’ve owned that horse for fifteen years and he hasn’t ever “told” me anything”.

Friends, you don’t have to be the Horse Whisperer to “talk” with horses. You just have to pay attention. Two entirely different creatures, yet they are able to communicate.

Kinda like you and our Heavenly Father. That’s definitely two different creatures right there. One’s an all powerful omnipotent Being, and the other is well, little ole you. But what an amazing event this is to be able to communicate with our God. How do we communicate with Him? Lots of ways. Maybe it’s through prayer, or a song, or a scripture. Maybe it’s just by walking across a pasture, or your living room.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6

Maybe it’s just by paying attention. He may be wanting us to follow Him so He can show us something. Something better than an apple. Think about following Him. It makes a lot of “horse sense”!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher part time Cowboy

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OK All You Christians, Enough Is Enough!

We are in a WAR! A spiritual war……. and it includes you too. We are in a battle against hopelessness, fear, hurt, loneliness, and downright negativity in any and every walk of life. We have to stand up and fight this battle………. And yet, here we Christians are,…….. fighting each other. Fighting to show each other who’s right, who’s wrong, and who’s better…………. shame, shame. Enough is enough!

Look, if we are in a spiritual war, that means we are fighting IN God’s army right? That means that we all have a position to guard and protect. So here’s the deal. God has created everyone of us to be His Children and His soldiers. Dan messes up a lot BEING Dan, but nobody can be better at being Dan than me. The same with you being you. We are spending too much time criticizing each other and losing focus on JESUS! The focus of His love for others, His saving grace for others, His wanting to give EVERYONE abundant life! He is so amazing!

Yet, we are too busy criticizing each other over whether you wear a mask. Criticism concerning if you go to the store instead of staying hunkered down. Downright anger that I don’t think like You do about …….fill in the blank……whatever. But remember, we are all different. Oh Yea, remember, the Devil cannot destroy us. I’ve read the whole Book,…… He can’t. But, sad to say, we seem to be doing a pretty good job of destroying each other on our own.

If we are God’s army, AND WE ARE, then that means that we all have different “positions” to take in this battle……… So here’s what I want to say to the Christian Army………….

That person that throws “hand grenades” on facebook. You know what I mean. You put controversial posts up, you share an opinion that causes confrontation. You “get in the face” of people. If that’s who God has created you to be, then carry on! I get it,……. you are on the front lines in the thick of battle against evil so “hand grenades” must be used. Just be careful out there OK? There is some “friendly fire” that is causing harm to others.

That person in the very back who’s quiet and withdrawn. You know who you are. You don’t like confrontation. Even so, you are busy “nursing the wounded”. People who are being hurt and fearful come to you. Continue to give freely of yourself. If that’s who God has created you to be, then carry on! Give till it hurts. Give what Jesus has given you. What’s that? Peace,…… peace that passes all understanding.

That pastor who has to make a stand concerning his (and God’s) flock. Your decisions are tough right now in this battle. But God has created you to be exactly where you are so carry on! We church members have your back. Pastor, you just focus on God and feed us His word. WE ARE HUNGRY!!

The other pastors and preachers who are making a stand by staying on their knees! Carry on!!!! Boo Yaa!

Me? What’s my position in God’s Army? Your little ole wilderness preacher is a sniper. Picture this. You are being held captive right now. I’ve got a bead on your who/what’s holding you down. God gives me ammunition (words), I right them down in this blog, it’s bathed in prayer, and I pull the trigger. One at a time. Who is the one? That would be you my friend! I pull the trigger, but God does the aiming. He constantly aims for the heart,….. your heart.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

So, carry on my Christian brothers and sisters. The world is caught up in a continuous non stop circle of hopelessness, of untruths, of negatives and more negatives. This virus is gonna kill us all,…. The hospitals can’t handle this,….. the world will never recover,……. it’s gonna take years to get back to normal, …… the MURDER HORNET is here,…….. biscuits are exploding and causing trauma,…… climate change,…….what’s next killer koala bears,…. clorox causing cancer????

And yet, we Christians are getting caught up in this non stop circle of being let down, being told there is no hope, being told how to think, being……. being everything EXCEPT what God has created us to be. See how the enemy/ the Devil/ evil/ anything but God tears us down……… it comes from within. Enough is Enough! Battle stations.

Be who God created you to be! If our focus is on God’s Will, God’s Love, God’s Way of Life, then God’s Army will work together in one accord. That means this………. Even though we are different and in different positions in our Christian walk, we truly are in this together. The world/media/advertising is using the phrase “we are in this together” constantly. Thing about this is……… we Christians LIVE THIS WAY!

“Hand grenade” lady……. I got your back, hopefully you’ve got mine. The quiet nurse in the back…….. you can count on me, and I’m counting on you. Preacher, I’m with ya on this Christian battle. We are counting on you to hear the voice of God. That other preacher who is on his knees, know that my arm is around you right now.

It’s a crazy world right now. Let me share something personal with you. You know why I wear a mask? 2 reasons. My sister-in-law is in the medical field. She pleaded with me to wear it. So I do. The other reason,……. the 70 year old lady that’s not in the best of health at the grocery checkout. She thanks me for wearing a mask every time I come in. See, she has to work to pay her bills. She doesn’t rely on Gov’t!! Out of respect to these two I wear the mask.

I’ve also given respect to the health organizations and my United States Government. Despite all the politics and power plays, I want to be a good citizen. The virus has changed this world. My prayer all along has been and will continue to be that this pulls people closer to Jesus and the Christian walk.

Sunday, I will be inside the church building for the first time in weeks. I hope you can be too. (If you are coming as a way to “flip off” the healthcare/ government,……. please,….. don’t come) But if you are coming to truly worship with a bunch of sinners saved by grace, THEN CARRY ON!

You will be singing and worshiping with a bunch of social distanced, hand washed, clorox cleaned, sanitized, deodorized, wiped down, disinfected, temperature checked, health monitored Children of God… whew…….. and don’t want to forget… cleansed from within by our Lord and Saviour!

(singing) My heart has no desire to stay, where doubts arise and fears dismay. Tho some may dwell where these abound, my prayer my aim is higher ground.

See Ya Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher (and freshly washed hands 😉 )