Tag Archives: life change

Posted on

Life In The Fast Lane

u-turn-lg

You’re kiddin’ me right?  The only way that I can cross this road is to make a U Turn?  Seriously?

In the middle of nowhere, rural south Mississippi, with very little traffic, there has been a major change.  Where is the stop sign? What’s happening here?  I mean, is there a legitimate reason for doing this?

To cross this highway involved stopping at the stop sign, looking both ways, crossing to the median, looking both ways, then driving on past.  You would leave the 4-lane behind and continue on your drive.  Not now buddy!  You can’t drive across anymore.  They (who is they?) have put a barrier up where the road intersection used to be.  NOW, you must turn right and merge into traffic.  Just a little ways down the 4-lane they give you a U-Turn lane.  To get to where you’re going, you take the U-Turn, then merge into traffic, then get in the right turn lane.  Then you’re back on track.

You got this?  Does it make sense?  Before it was this……… Stop at the stop sign.  Look both ways for any traffic on the 4-lane. (Never was hardly any.)  Then proceed with caution on your journey.  Now, now it’s like………. slow down at intersection, turn right, merge into U-Turn lane, go forward, get into right turn lane, turn right, go forward, now move ahead. (Now whip it!)

It’s all done without stopping.  It just doesn’t make any sense to me.  Was the intersection redone because of a safety issue?  Do the log trucks in this area create a problem with the (used to be there) intersection?  Has the Highway commission and public transportation seen a better way of doing things? I don’t know!  It’s confusing to me.  I don’t understand.  All I know now is that to get to where I’m going, I’ve got to turn right,make a U-Turn, turn right again and then I’ll be……….. uh….. then….. well I’ll be!!

I see a spiritual lesson here as plain as day, as plain as the new asphalt on this new intersection.  When we choose to become Christians, what directions do we take?  First, we come to God. (in a car we would turn to the RIGHT!)  Then we ask for forgiveness and change our ways. (We make a U-Turn).  Next, we turn right again (We follow God’s Will and Direction for our lives) and then……. we get to where we’re goin’.

I can make no acknowledgement that I understand this process. (either  the actual road intersection or the spiritual “intersection”)  I feel inferior sometimes when I can’t explain this process to others. (either one).  But what causes me to live my spiritual life as a Christian is the same reasoning that is used to cross this highway.  What is this reasoning?  Believe.   By believing, I choose to take a new and different path to get to where I’m goin’.  Whether I choose a new path to cross the highway, or whether I choose to follow Christ to get me where I’m goin’, it’s based on what I believe.  Not what I understand.

Isaiah 55:8-9New International Version (NIV)8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,    so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher part time highway inspector, full time believing in a Holy Spirit filled journey

Posted on

Why You Don’t Fit In

will I fit in

Well, it’s started.  My dream of building my own log house, it’s now a reality.  The first step anyways.  The first of many logs has been cut, scraped free of bark, and now marked for it’s place in the wall.  But there’s a problem.  It doesn’t fit in.

I’ve read the how to book over and over.  I marked where the chainsaw and I are going to “dance” on this log.  It’s a big log.  It’s hard to maneuver.  But one thing I’m quickly learning about cutting and crafting big logs into a log home I will call my own.  It takes time.  It takes patience.  AND,   it takes small moves a little at the time that gradually turn into a big change.

First I had to move this log about 40 yards.  How do you move 1800 pounds of wood when I can only pick up oh, about 75 lbs myself?  You use lifts with wheels, also roll bars, also cant hooks.  See, I’ve got equipment to help me roll, slide, and move these heavy logs.  But honestly what I’ve come to grips with is this.  To move this massive log several yards means that I move it several inches at a time.  Over and over, until it is where it’s supposed to be.

Then the DANCE!  Funny how a chainsaw has become my constant companion.  Over the years, I’ve had more difficult and aggravating times with a chainsaw while growing up on the farm.  Mainly cause they wouldn’t crank. They’d make me madder than a wet hen. I threw one into a lake one time.  Sold one to a friend for 5 dollars one time.  It wouldn’t crank so it was worthless to me.  Naturally he could crank it.

But the chainsaw I have now is my constant companion.  I keep it fine tuned, sharp, and ready to run.  It’ll crank in three pulls or less.  I dance with this saw as I cut and carve each log to fit.  Lots of cuts at certain angles.  Carving on each log that will in turn cause it to fit with the next log……..which cause it to fit and turn into a log house.  Again I’m seeing a trend here.  It takes small moves a little at the time that gradually turn into a big change.

What’s crazy is that I’m using logs that look straight, but are actually  crooked, bent, having all kinds of curves and crevices.  But when the chainsaw and I get finished with the “dance” on them, they fit each other tight.  Tight as skinny jeans on that worship leader guy.

I’m using what’s called a scriber.  Without boring you with details, basically it’s a contraption that you must keep level at all times.  It has two pens on it that mark where the two logs will touch.  You take your chainsaw and cut at the pen mark.  Funny thing is, you flip the log upside down to cut it.  You don’t know if it’s going to fit until you flip it back over.  Then voila!!! if all markings were done correctly, the dance was done with precision and all cuts made precisely……..you got a log that fits!!!!  Tighter than a pair of jeans on ……. well you get the idea!

a good fit

But now let’s talk about you.  You feel that you don’t fit in, huh.  What, with other people?  Those friends, or that special someone?   Or is it you don’t fit in with this spiritual walk you are on?  These logs are a good visual example of what it takes to fit in.  When you want to fit in with other people you realize that we all are different with our own crooks and crevices.  Our own personalities and ways.  Our strengths and our weaknesses.  Just like the logs, its difficult to really fit in when you try to be like the other log instead of being yourself.

I don’t need to be like the other log.  I need to let God “dance” on and with me.  Let Him carve me into what He has in store for me.  What he has planned for me.  By letting God work/carve/dance with me, this will in turn help me to fit in with my own spiritual journey.  And get this…… His will in my life will allow me to fit in with friends and even that special someone.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity Jeremiah 29: 11-14

So, if you want to fit in, then it’s you and God.  Seek His will.  Pray to Him.  Pray with Him.  “Dance” with Him.  Yep, He’ll have to carve on ya’ a little.  But it’s not to hurt you, it’s to cause you to fit in.  In your mind you were picturing two logs fitting together.  In God’s mind it’s a much bigger and better plan.  It’s in His house!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, chain saw dancer, fittin’ in with God’s plans

Posted on

Happy Year of New

Happy Year of New

Happy Year of New   Celebrating and shooting fireworks with the family!

Well Happy New Year!!!   Or better yet, Happy Year of New!!!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

We’ve just celebrated Christmas.  I’m rejoicing over the fact that God sent His Son for everyone including me and you.  He came to BE with us two thousand years ago.  He came to BE with us today.  He will continue to BE with us forever.   Oh yeah, you have to BE in Christ as well.  To Be or not to Be, that is the question.

By choosing to be in Christ, you have made the decision to live your life because of, for, and with Jesus.  It’s a spiritual thing, so it’s not easily understood.  It’s more of a Being in life than it is a doing of life.  That’s why I love this scripture.  It gives me meaning to what I’m being and doing while here on this Earth.  Accepting the Christian way of life allows you to see/live/be using God as your compass.  As a Christian you view people more from the inside than what they show on the outside.  You view your hard times and difficult journeys with the knowledge that Christ is right there with you.  You have hope.  You have joy.  You have a realization that EVERYTHING that you face both good and bad is to be experienced from a totally different point of view.  A NEW view.  It’s not like the world looks at things.  It’s not like how you looked at things even in your past.  This new view of life and how you see yourself is from God.  It’s a way of life that has been designed by God Himself.  A way of life that ultimately gives the Glory of your life, (yes you have a glory of your own), to honor and give glory to God up above.

There are copycats out there that want you to do as they do.   Positive thinking, meditation, sacrificial living, religious activities, etc., etc., but friends aren’t these all things activities that you DO?  They may be fine and dandy, but I want MORE out of life.  I WANT MORE!!!  I want to BE what God has created me to BE!  I want to be that new creature that gets to live/see/BE my own life.  I choose to use God as my Compass.

A friend, (shout out to Gary!), gave me a compass as a gift this Christmas.  That made my day!!  This compass will remind me to keep on course, the true course.  God Himself gives us a gift of all things becoming new.  All Things!!!  That just made my year!

So how can you truly live? Live by not just doing as a Christian, but BEING a Christian.  How?  This age old hymn says it best:

When we walk with the Lord in the Light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way!

while we do His good will, He abides/lives with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to BE happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

See Ya!

Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher, celebrating the year of NEW!