Getting in Shape!...Day 17!

Robie at the Shop!
He is really good natured!  

Well, today... I walked anyway!

Even though I said I would probably not, do it! I did!  But I had a good excuse!

The Van needed to be taken out to Westland Auto Lube at 1112 North Wayne Road, Westland, MI to have the oil changed.  So after checking out the miles on Map My Walk, to the Oil Change shop... I thought to my self..,'why not just drive out there about 6:00 AM and just walk back!  It would all be on Ford Road which has pretty good sidewalks and that is what I did!  I tell you what... you see things when you walk that you miss totally when you are driving!

Robie and Hashim Ziren at the MHSAA State  Wrestling Championships

I will have Becky take me back this afternoon after Robie finishes!  This is a photo of him and his brother Hashim back at the MHSAA State Wrestling Finals his Sr. year at Fordson High School!  He who is one of the top ranking wrestlers in the history of Dearborn Public Schools.  Hashim was also a  One on One Wrestler who competed on a National Level and in College!  Now he is a police officer in Washington DC!  He is an awesome young man!  If any of you are in the Detroit area, Westland Auto Lube is a very good place to get your oil changed!  FYI... (734) 722-4326 ‎(just tooting their horn a bit!)

I have mentioned this before, but back in the early 70's Arthur Blessitt came through Birmingham pulling the cross that he still shoulders and preached there at a local Baptist Church.  I was saved at one of his meeting!  Then just this last Sunday night I preached on "Jesus loves you..." which is a very short sentence that has struck my interest again because of a local Radio Show host wrote on my Face Book "Jesus loves you...Trey!"  When I read that it nailed me!  I did a double take when I saw the phrase and it hit me like a ton of bricks!  Not just the sentence but the reality of it!  I have been a Christian since 1971 and we used to say to that each other all the time but it had been years since someone had directed that to me like that!

Arthur Blessitt sticker from the 1970'

So Sunday I decided to preach... "Jesus loves me...!"  It was simple but powerful!  Then after the message John Koski went and got a Bible he had from the early 80's and pulled out this sticker.  It was the exact stickers that we used to give away.  It was something I had not seen since the mid 70's!

From Robie's T-shirt to Arthur Blessitt's stickers, this message of God being proactive in reaching out to us is something that is overwhelming to me!  I am just humbled by His actions!

I want to be like Moses in front of the burning bush...

"With my feet on the ground!"

Simply Trey

p.s. I walked back from Westland and racked up more than 13 miles and felt good at the end!
To date, I have a cumulative total for the past 17 days of walking, 174 miles...
                   I MUST BE GETTING IN SHAPE!

Getting in Shape!...Day 16!

Today, I woke up late!  Gran' ma and Gran' pa Severance had spent the night with us after going to Church with us yesterday!  

Paul and Bekka were getting ready to drive to Springfield, MO to visit with Luke and Grace before they will be moving North.

Yesterday at church was an awesome time together with the folks who came to worship Jesus!  I preached on a very simple subject ..."Jesus loves you!"  Man... was it simple but boy was it powerful!

So after everyone left the house the morning, Becky reminded me that I needed to walk again, so I got my stuff together and did a brisk 8 mile circle in Dearborn.  It brought my total distance walked for 'Trey's Trek'  up to 160 miles.  Like I have said before... I want to walk 300 miles 'in practice' before we actually walk the 300 miles beginning on September 5th.  To date,  there are 5 weeks left for me to be able  stretch this mileage goal... on out.  I have still to break my record of 18 miles by pushing it out to 20... but maybe next week!

Tomorrow I will probably not walk at all, seeing that Becky and I are getting ready to go be with Ashleigh and Vesa for the birth of their first child and our first grand child!  For me this is the blessing of the Thousand!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...Day 15!

This is a short video clip of me talking about "Trey's Trek" that will begin on September 5th, (Labor Day), 2011 from Dearborn, Michigan to Mackinaw, Michigan to help us secure resources for the construction of  our new facility for Dearborn Assembly of God.

Today I woke Paul up about 5:45 AM because he said that he wanted to go walk with me this morning. He arrived home last night from Field Training at Camp Buckner near West Point where he has been living for the last month.  Today, I am still looking forward to breaking my previous record of walking18 miles at one time and thus push on toward 20!

So this morning Becky took us over to the University of Michigan Dearborn by the Interpretive Center and let us off to start our trek there instead of beginning at our house.  I wanted to see how far I could go up Hines Drive today to see what the trail was like up past the 18 mile mark that I previously walked.  I wanted to do this for the expressed reason of being able to get acquainted with the trail before we actually walked it together as a group on September 5th when we do the first leg of "Trey's Trek!"

So we started off quickly and briskly and before I knew it I blew out a shoe!  It was smoking and everything.  I even had to pull out the fire extinguisher to put the 'thang' out!  The new Asphalt track on Hines Drive gets really hot and it just mangled my shoe!!! LOL

I thought that the photo of the shoe was funny!  That is not really my new ASICS shoe and there really was no fire but it was a funny thought! 

Blown Trekking Shoe!



It was a good day to walk!  Paul and I talked about the Field Training and how Jesus kept him from stepping on a rattle snake!  Cool story! 

Although I wanted to reach the 20 mile mark today, we only went 16! 

When I woke Paul this morning, his eyes were almost swollen shut!  It looked like he had been in a fight!  So after Becky dropped us off to begin the walk she called the Doctor to get Paul in to see him.  He had something all over him and we wanted to find out what it was.  Well about 2 hours before I actually stopped for the day, Becky called and said that Paul had to be at the Doctor at 11:45 so she came and picked him and took him to the Doctor back in Dearborn and I continued on toward Northville!  So when they came back to pick me up after seeing the Doctor, I was not as far as I wanted to be but we needed to go home because Becky had an appointment and thus I would have no ride back!  I can tell at that point, walking back home was out of the question for me today! I ain't no sissy but my feet were ready to give out!  The 20 mile goal will have to wait!  But I will get 'cha' sooner or later!

So todate, "Map My Walk" says that I have racked up 152 miles in getting ready for "Trey's Trek"!  This coming Monday there will be roughly 5 weeks out from the September 5th start date and the  perparation that is needed in getting in shape are coming along just fine! 

I may be old but I remember working out in the hot sun for my Daddy in Alabama,  practicing football in August and wrestling in what felt like a sauna!  It is all a  part of my character and quiting is 'anathama!'  "Big Jim" said so!  He would rip my lips off if I quit now! 

I hope that those who are planning on walking with me, are themselves walking to get in shape to be able to walk at least as far as the leg(s) they are planning on walking with me.  They will need the confidence of knowing  that they can, for sure make at least that length of the leg they are going to walk with me and survive!  The Lord bless your steps!

With my feet on the ground "smoking!"

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...Day 14!

This morning I awoke at 5:00AM.  Had a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal.  Took care of business... loaded up my back pack with two Camelbak water bladders.  I repaired the small boots on my walking
sticks with new bike inner tubes and some duct tape and headed out!

This morning I headed up Hines Drive again (that is such a nice walk!) and covered 10 miles today!  It was very hot again but I was feeling strong with relatively few pains that morning!

But Becky this morning took me to the Office and I began my practice trekking from there!  I would like to share some photos with you of some of leg #1 for Trey's Trek that will begin on September 5th 2011... at our office on Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI

Oh, before I do that... Let me show you something that is amazing!  My friend Chris gave this to me!  It is like a small deodorant stick but it has an ingredient that you apply to places on your feet where blisters can occur or are occurring.  It is good stuff!  It really works!  It is called "Friction Block!" Check it out!



OK, Now for the photos of the trail that go to Hines Drive that begins on the property of University of Michigan Dearborn and Henry Ford Estate...

Trail near Henry Ford's House

Trail behind U of M Dearborn

Trail leading around the Garden at U of M Dearborn

Trail as it enters the woods going to the River Rouge Bridge

Trail going over the River Rouge Bridge

Trail leading to Hines Park Drive Past the Rouge River Bridge

This is where you come out of the woods  and the trail joins the Hines Park Drive!  

It is amazing to me that this park splits the whole Metro area of Detroit in two!  When you are here you do not know that there are thousands of houses to your right or to your left!  It is a piece of peace in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Detroit Metro/City life!  I really enjoy it!  Thie park is over 20 miles in length!  Thank you Wayne County Parks for maintaining such a great piece of property for us who live here to enjoy!

Getting in Shape!...Day 13!

Today I felt that I was still recovering from the day before!  These last few days in Michigan as far as the weather is concerned has been very hot with the heat index rising past 100.  


So I just decided to make a quick brisk walk from my house to the office which is 3.6 mile.  


I started out from our house at 6:30AM and reached the Office on Michigan Ave at 7:30AM sharp!  It was already warm outside but not as hot as it would get during the day!  


So for me today it was a like a 'walking sprint' to the office!  


Still trekking, with my feet on the ground!


Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...Day 12!

Today's Walk was on Monday the 18th.

This morning at 5:30 one team of people left our home and traveled back to Alabama.  It was to be an 11 hour trip for them. They blessed our socks off with their attitudes and actions in working on our church! They came on the heels of another team of folks from Burlington, NC who was with us for a whole week!  Thanks Ya'll for your sacrifice and especially to you Pastor Rob!   Ya'll  please come back!

So after they left, I readied my self to push farther up the road than I did before.  I was thinking "peace to you..". and greeting folks who were walking at 6:00 in the morning...! There are some Regulars that I meet who make walking an exercise that they do consistently!

I was asking the LORD Jesus to Strengthen my legs and feet.  The 18 mile mark that I was able to reach last week was still lingering on in my mind!  I am not sure if it's my age or just not ever doing this much walking before.  But  this day was hot!!!  I had put on a t-shirt and a hooded sweat shirt and doubled my water capacity by adding another Camelbak water bladder to the back pack that I carrying.  I was carry about 15 pounds of water!  I was not aware of it but by the end of this day I would consume over 4 liters of water!  After getting home, I weighed myself again and to my amazement I weighed the same thing after 6.5 hours of walking as I did when I woke up this morning!  I was as wet as if I had jumped into the Rouge River that runs through Hines Park.

It was hot!  95 degrees hot.  For Michigan that is rough heat! It felt alike a sauna outside!  The heat index was up over 100.  In some ways it reminds me of the 'scorcher hot days' in South Alabama, especially on the practice field down at Auburn as we would go out and practice football! But in reality,  I love Michigan Summers.  This kind of weather does not last long here and is tolerable!  My system is made for the cooler climates!  After almost a quarter century of living here that is a fact!

This morning I would pass Mc Donalds on Ford Road just East of Fordson High School.  Nature seemed to be calling again so I stopped there for a bit.  Then I got on my way again... the same thing happened just about the time I got to WalMart a mile down the road!  It was like I was being potty trained!  But I dare not... not pay attention!  I took care of business and headed out again!  Then about half mile up the road on Hines Drive, nature was yelling at me again!  'What in the world!!!  I couldn't figure it out!  So we took care of business again!  Then it was like putting my steps it into overdrive!  I took off!  But I was not moving as swift as I had felt  I was or should have been!  But plotted along with a resolve that I was going to reach 20 miles today...!

I was noticing that from the shadows that were being cast on the ground from the rising sun against the trees that were behind me that my shadow looked like my Daddy walking! Yep, Sonny Hancock!  That shadow walked just like him!  Wow!  What a lesson in life!  Being like my Daddy!  There is a lesson in that somewhere, in fact everywhere!  We will come back to this one later!

Today because of the heat, the shade alone brought great relief!  Then there were the breezes that would blow from time to time. Now just being under a shade for a brief period of time while walking brought great encouragement and relief from the scorching Sun but when the wind would blow as well and I was under the shade... man, was that ever encouraging, invigorating, rejuvenating, relaxing, refreshing...etc!!!  Then I got to thinking about it... There is a lesson there to!  "In the shadow of the All Mighty..!."  "In the wind of His Spirit!"
"Like a mighty wind...!"

Then there was this special treat just for me.  I heard the hum of four very distinct motors coming from behind me and to the right.  Not just regular reciprocating engines but radial engines that put out a unique sound!  I looked up in the air as the sound got stronger, you could actually feel the percussion of the blades beating the air.  I noticed the outline of a B-17 Flying Fortress!  It's vertical stabilizer (tail) was painted bright red!   It was an awesome sight at about 3,000 AGL (off the deck!)!  I really like air planes and that one was something special!  Maybe one day I will get to fly one of those things!

This day I was planning on pushing past the 18 mile mark in my practice walk but the heat was draining me today!  I only reached to 17 miles and asked Becky to come and pick me up!  It was a beautiful site seeing here pull up!  When I got into the car it felt like an ice box inside!   I could feel my feet sizzling from walking on that 8' wide asphalt track that runs the length of Hines Park!  I sat down in that right front seat of our Taurus and thought.... 'Thank you Jesus! ...Becky, you brought me some Gator Aide and a couple of energy bars!  I think she likes me, she sure is "purdy!"  Oh My!!!'

With my feet on the ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...Day 11!

I have to tell you that in my life time I have never paid a $100.00 for a pair of running shoes.  But Becky came home with a pair of ASICS that were just that!  But she had some sort of discount coupon and some other items that she used and was able to purchase these fine shoes for half price!  I knew that I would need a 'good' pair so I did not fuss too much but here they are!  Thank you Jesus for providing for my feet!

For the next two days, I did not walk.  I was nursing two different blisters and getting my strength back.

So on the 14th I rose early and determined that I was going to push farther this day and maybe, possibly reach the goal of 20 miles.  I did not know it at the time but it was the longest day yet for any walk that I had taken!

I started out this day right at 6:00AM and headed straight West out Tireman.  Then when I got to Schaefer, I had fully intended to go all the way over to Greenfield and cut down to Ford Road and take my usual bathroom break at WalMart!  God bless WalMart.  But when I reached Schaefer, I sensed that Jesus said to me 'turn left here...', so I did and wound my way from there over to Warren Avenue and then down Greenfield.  When I reached Paul Street which separates Dearborn from Detroit, I cut over toward WalMart because nature was calling and calling really loud!  I took about 10 minutes and headed out again Westward on Ford across Southfield to Hines Drive.

I have to say right here that when you start up Hines Drive it is really a nice view!  For me it changes my whole attitude about walking and in some ways I can relax and get into a smooth gate with my stride and just GO!  This day I was in a groove and seemed to make good time.  I consumed a bunch of water but was able to encourage myself and keep up a stiff pace.

Eventuallly I was able to pass my last place to stop at Nankin Mills.  At this point I was tired but excited that I  made it back here and still had enough stamina to push on!  Nankin Mills for me at that point was just a bit over 15 miles and I wanted to push on to 20 but I was not sure... but I kept trekking!

This day it was over 6 and a half hours from start to finish and after I got home and checked the map I have pushed to just over 18 miles!  When I left Nankin Mills I called a close friend who works in Plymouth at a sign shop called Upper Level Graphics and asked him if he wanted to get lunch.  So he came and picked me up on the side of the road on Hines Park.  20 miles today would not be had but I was really glad to see Matt!
We went and got a sub sandwich and went back to his shop and ate lunch.  Air conditioning is so nice!  I called Becky and she came and got me.

This is the the ceiling on what I have done with my walking in my life!  18 miles is a long way but I am looking forward to pushing past that mark and reaching 20.  I thought that by the end of the week I would have reached that goal but not yet!

I am mentally working at actually walking 300 miles in practice before I actually walk the 300 miles for "Trey's Trek" in September.  At this point we are a wee bit more than 6 weeks out from the start of the event so I think that I can do it!

Still walking, with my feet on the ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...Day 10!

This was a whirl wind of a week for me.  Our home has been a lodge for two teams of 6 to 8 guests from North Carolina and Alabama and they were there 'back to back'.  It has been wonderful hearing the Southern accents again. It is like music!  LOL!

This particular morning I started out from the house with the song,...   "Lord, I'm amazed by you..."!  As I walked along... those little irritants that I call 'traveling painers' went from my ankle up to my knee to my hip and seemed to move over into the other leg and sometimes my shoulder.  I know better than to give in to it, by just stopping and giving it too much attention.  So I just 'walk it off!'  Like the football coach used to say when you felt those little pains during practice.  You just pushed through it!  Then there was the heat and uncomfortableness of your feet pounding the ground hour after hour, mile after mile.   It seems that blisters just want to be a part of everything you do!  I can tell you, I pay more close attention to these blisters than I do the other things.  Without my feet... 'I ain't goin' no where!'  They are probably the most important parts of this whole  'shindig' for me!  So physically and spiritually, "Feet" are where it's at!  So if feet are the happening thing, then walking is the mode of transition for me in this event.  Without my feet it would be really hard to do any walking.  So I pay attention to them.

Also the Bible has gotten my attention about 'walking' since that is the basic function of feet! You can use them for other things like kicking people but you don't get very far in life that way!   There are phrases that I like to meditate on... like "walk with the Lord"... .  These are phrases that older Christians used to employ to ask how you were doing with Jesus or just in life.  They would say... "how's your walk...?"  And you would respond that you were either 'on the straight and narrow' or 'on the path' or something like that.  But there was an understanding that 'feet' and 'walking' and traveling was a proper metaphor for how life was going.

That is one reason why this whole event for me is so intriguing!  It deals with real life, like 'on the ground' real life!  Like, life that people lived for thousands of years ago,  up until the advent of the Automobile and powered flight, which I thoroughly enjoy!   I think  for "Trey's Trek",  I am going to learn a whole bunch of lessons just because I know Jesus and I know that He loves teaching and helping me understand what His world is really all about and how it functions and how it should function as He is the King of Kings and the Lord of all Lords!

So for me to "walk with the Lord" is to interact with Him!  "He walks with me and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own... and the joy we share while we tarry there, none other, has ever known..."  That old song is right on target with this subject and event!

So this is the day that I reached a target distance of over 15 miles.  It was a personal mile stone for me since I pushed past 14 miles the day before yesterday, which I had never done before up until that time... during one walk.

But it was this day, that I got the news that my friend Johnny Cook passed away!  In fact a text from the night before had come through but I had not noticed it.  I actually got the message about Johnny after sitting down on a pick nick table at Nankin Mills when I reached my destination.  I was waiting on Becky to come and pick me up.  I had not noticed that my phone's red indication light was blinking when I picked up the phone .  Just two hours earlier Johnny has passed while I was making my way up Hines Drive.  It was my friend Rick from Opelika who called while he was with Johnny as he was slipping away.  It was his voice that delivered the news!

So I immediately called Rick back!  It was there at Mid day after Jonny had left this world.  It was a couple of hours earlier that I got the news on my Black Berry but missed it.  To say the least, I was stunned!  It was like being hit in the stomach!  It hurt!  One of my first thoughts was... who is going to fill the ranks?  Who is going to stand in his place and fill in the gap that was left at his passing!  Johnny was unique!  He was a former Football player at Sanford University in Birmingham, a former Auburn University Wrestler under legendary Coach "Swede" Umbach!  He was a former Army Ranger who served in Vietnam!  He was a linguist who was trained in Arabic by the US Army and understood the culture like no other white man I knew!  He lived in North Africa for several years and literally laid down his life so others could come to life and prosper!  He was one of the first coaches that One on One Wrestling here in Dearborn had access to  when we began competing back in the mid 1990's!  He knew Jesus and my heart cried because we need more people like Johnny among us, who are brave and willing to sacrifice their lives for The Kingdom!  Johnny took a back seat to no one but was a servant of all!  He will be greatly missed!  But my question still remains!  Who will fill the gap that he vacated?  Who has the guts to stand in his place and make up the ranks?

Rick did say that they turned Johnny up on his side right at the end because Johnny, himself being a wrestler, in general, don't like being on his back... especially at the end of a match!!!

I thought to myself as I sat there and waited on Becky to come as  my eyes were stinging from the salt and sweat...   'Johnny's Shadow!'  Man was it long!  Those that stood in his shadow and took their instruction from him about LIFE was a winner, in life,  no matter what they did!  This was the day of Johnny's home going!  He will be missed!  I miss him!  He was my brother!

I was tired!  Baked by the sun and my heart sad!  My feet hurt and my energy was drained!   But tomorrow would be another day to push on toward my next goal of walking 20 miles!  But for now, I must rest and regain my strength.  I will be back and I will push farther!  I will win!  Jesus is Lord!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!...DAY 9

Today I was able to push past the 14 mile mark and walked 15 miles.  But I cannot report on it right now.  We have a very powerful storm passing through and will be back to report after it passes!

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The storm passed but not without mishap!  Many trees and huge limbs were ripped from the trunks of trees and littered the area.  Some streets and many yards were strewn with huge limbs.   Some the trees were just laid on their sides but others were still upright with twisted branches violently ripped off.

There was one car in the area that suffered damage that made the news.  A brand new (2 weeks old Benz) was crushed flat from a tree that was just laid over on it as it was parked in the driveway!  You gotta know that those folks are 'sick to death' over that...!

Tomorrow I will give you a report that will cover several days!
IMG-20110712-00764.jpg

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!... Day 8

Day 8!  Now this does not mean that I have walked 8 days straight without a break.  I did take a break from walking last Sunday, along with Monday and Tuesday because of a blister that I discovered under a calous as I was working on removing it!  That was strange for me!  Anyway, I picked up the schedule again Wednesday morning, Thursday, Friday and here we are today, Saturday July 9th, 2011. 

The total miles that have been Trekked in these 8 days is 74.  I do have to say that my legs are becoming stronger and my endurance is building although my feet are still a bit sore but that will come around too with time.  

Tomorrow I will 'take off ' and rest these old legs again!  I am looking forward to it! 

This morning I rose at 5 and wanted to get started at 6 because of some guest we have at the house.  I did not want to have my trek take up most of the day while they are here.  So I just went about 2.5 hours this AM covering almost 8 miles.  It was a good briks walk.  At the 1.25 hr. mark, I stopped and rested for about 5 minutes and then went toward the house. Just as a note of interest.  This morning again, there was an older person who was riding a bike.  As they rode by me they asked if I was going skiing!  What is it with the older folks and these walking sticks! LOL!

I am looking forward to next week; to be able to walk farther than the 14 miles in one day that I walked this week!  I want to follow the "Trey's Trek" Route on  Edward Hines Drive farther up than were I stopped yesterday at Merriman Road and Hines.  Hines Drive is such a nice walk that I may use it from now on out... but I have time to think that through!

One of my goals in getting ready to make this 300 mile Trek to Mackinaw from Dearborn is to do atleast a 20 mile trek on one day,  knowing that I can continue if need be.  That is a mile stone for me right now!  As a whole, I feel that if I can handle each individual leg of the trip in length 'now' as walking them 'now' (in practice) and not be worn out; I will be in good shape for the whole of the Trek.    If I can do that I feel confident that I am getting in shape for the total trip... but we will see!    That is my target at the moment.  We are still 7 weeks  out from the commencing of "Trey's Trek,"  September 5th, 2011 from our office on Michigan Avenue, Dearorn. 

So those of you who are planning on making this first leg... work for you, I want you to know that it is going to be a beautiful walk!  As you prepare yourself by walking, please pray!  Prayer is vital and necessary!  I know that in this event we are not wrestling but the Scripture says that 'we are not wrestling against flesh and blood' but against principalities and powers that are mean!  They don't play fair and your intercession can sheild all of us from unnecessary struggles betwen now and September 5!

Putting one foot in front of the other!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!... Day 7

Today I was charged up in my mind to be able 'sttrreettcchh this walk out' and go farther than I have walked on any previous days up to now! I was thinking about walking down to Van Born and Telegraph from my house on Tireman.   That would have been 10 miles one way in itself!  I had talked to Pastor Joe about giving me a ride home afterwards but today the thought came to me to go check out the first leg of "Trey's Trek" and see what it would be like! 

I had alread mapped out the route using Google Maps and it looked simple enough but when I actually set my feet on the path that goes up Edward Hines Drive, I did not realize how really nice that portion of the Trek would be!   The senery was nice, people were walking, riding their bikes and jogging etc,...! 

Running the length of Park is an 8' wide asphalt track that is brand new in the places that I walked.  In fact, one portion of the track, a work crew of men were resurfacing the track.  When I say 'Brand New' I mean like -'they are putting it down as I write this'... kind of "brand new!" 

To say the least I really enjoyed walking up Edward Hines Drive. The Park is well maintained and taken care of!

When I started out at 6:00AM on this Friday, the phrase "...every place where you put your foot..." came to mind.  It was like drinking a jar of honey!  My mind was surging!  So I just enjoyed the thoughts and allowed the encouragement to come! 

Then as I walked from my house over toward our office on Michigan Avenue an older person passed me on the sidewalk and asked me "about my skis..."  For me this is interesting and funny!  This is the second or third time that an older person has commented specifically about the 'walking sticks' in reference to skiing!  Young folks don't say anything or don't seem to even notice! 

So as I  am walking West on Michigan Avenue from Wyoming, I was thinking about asking people to come and pray with us at different locations, every evening along our route of travel for Trey's Trek.  Just hoping that the example of us walking to Mackinaw from Dearborn would translate into the thought... 'well, If they can walk from Dearborn to here, we can certaintly ride our cars to a location close to us to pray with them for their city and the planting of the church there!'  

Then, I reached the office on Michigan Ave and took a break for 10 minutes or so and then headed out again.  The Scripture "Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus..." came to mind!  Boy, is that refreshing!  HIS attitudes, which lead to HIS actions, which lead to HIS results, which lead to awesome existance!  Which is a place of  "living in HIS presence!"  Hmmmm!  JESUS!

Then I got to thinking about a song I had not thought of in years!  A song that a fellow named Walt Mills used to sing, called... "I'm on my way to Heaven", and the words go.... And the journey's geting sweeter every day, I'm walking with Jesus, talking with Jesus, all along the way, my soul get's so happy... well anyway!  Old memories!  But an awesome song!  He had such a massive baratone voice to go with it too! 

So as I passed Ford Word Headquarts just down from our property I turned up Evergreen to the entrance of the Henry Ford Mansion and walked pass that house at the back of U of M Dearborn to the beginning of the 8' wide asphalt track that is the start of Edward Hines Drive (trail).  It is a really nice place to walk, or jog or ride a bike! 

Anyway... after breaking out of the woods behind U of M Dearborn I crossed under the bridge at Ford Road and the Park opened up and followed the Rouge River (Middle Rouge) up through the country side.  This Park is amazing!  It actually cuts a path right down the middle of the Metro Area and if you were just dropped into it and started walking, you would never know that you were 'not in the country side' but in reality some where else like... the Metro Area of Detroit!  I even saw a deer that had been hit by a car sometime yesterday after I had walked through there.  On my way in...walking, the deer was not there but after Becky picked me up we noticed it driving back out!  It had been struck sometime after I had walked by!  Also This river is the main water shed for this part of Michigan.  In May and June this whole area was under water because of the 'water run off' from all of the storms and rain that we had during that time!  It may not be the most picturesque river in the world but it plays a major part in our ecology here in the area!  There has to be a lesson in that somewhere! probably... "Purdy is as purdy does!"

As I walked, I crossed Outer Drive and passed Helms Haven, a wonderful Pic Nic shelter where for the 4th of July we had a gathering there called "Oasis."  It was really enjoyable! 

The walk this day had me going in the direction away from the Sun and the back of my neck was feeling the heat! (literally!)  So I turned around my "Auburn University" NCAA Division 1, 2010 National Football Championship hat, so that the bill of the hat would throw a shadow down over my neck just enough to block the Sun from blistering me!  (Ya'll do know that Auburn University's Football Team won the NCAA DIVISION 1 Nation Football Championship this year, don't you!-Back in the mid 70's, I played football there!  WAR EAGLE!)  Just thought ya'll needed that piece of information!  It's important in the Historical scheme!!!  LOL!

So this day, I was determined to push past my previous 13 mile mark in walking....  When I got finished, I had walked from my house on Tireman Ave and Wyoming, down to Michigan Ave and up to Merriman Road on Edward Hines Drive.  It totaled right at 14.13 miles!  For this is the 7th Day of conditioning in getting ready for Trey's Trek on Monday, September 5th, 2011!

When I finished, I sat at a table on the side of the road and waited for my sweet, wonderful, awesome, beautiful, thoughtful, etc, etc, etc,... Wife to come and get me!  She did and I was able to get into the car and she brought me home so I could greet a package of SYNFLEX that was delivered to our house sometime in the AM!  Halleluia!  That stuff is very helpful in keeping this old body going (or atleast not hurting so bad afterwards)!  Thank you Jesus!

Getting there with our 'Feet on the Ground'

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!... Day 6

This AM I was back at it again.

I have been nursing a blister that I found (that I did not know was there) under a calous on my 4th toe to the right on my right foot.  So getting back to walking this AM was a first in several days. I feel good and my feet are adjusting. But it seems that sometimes the pain just travels around!  Dumb pain!  Be still!  You bug me!

This morning as I walked out of the yard, the thought hit me... it says in Revelation that 'Jesus walked among the lampstands...!'  Wooo, this is going to be good, I thought!   So I came home and looked it up. 
It is in Revelation 1:10-20... and it says
    
       On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which
    said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna,
    Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” I turned around to see the voice that
    was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the   
    lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and
    with a golden sash around  his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as
    snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and
    his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, and
    coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining
    in all its brilliance.  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right
    hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I
    was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
    “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.  The mystery
    of  the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this:
     The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven
     churches.
 
My goodness!  This is like having a whole Cold Stone's Ice Cream Story and being faced with the reality of eating all of the 'stock' in one sitting!  This is just too much!  So take a moment and think on this... Saleh!  (And that ain't just Eric's last name!!!)
 
But just to pick at it a bit... since I am walking alot these days... the idea of  'Jesus walking' anywhere interests me!  Especially among the gathering places of believers better known as the church... that is, if HE is invited!  Jesus  walking there is amazing to me.  It is energizing that HE still does this but that is another story for another day! 
 
It's almost strange, since starting this thing called "Trey's Trek."  I am more keen to anything deals with walking... like shoes, or titles of books, to conversation about walking,,, to what Scripture states about walking, especially when GOD walks... Anyway, this day as I was "walking" on Wyoming Avenue, early on this day, a guy comes out of "Superior Coney Island on Wyoming" in Dearborn.  He comes out following this one person who has already left and before he gets through the door he holds onto the door with his left hand, holding it open and says to the man who has walked out before him.  "...you gonna walk on back?"  I said to my self, 'you better pay attention, you are going to learn something here!'  So I listened but that was all that I could really hear except for "...you gonna walk on back?"  Wow... Lord what are you saying to me!   So I tried to open up my heart for what was coming today!  Right at that time ... an old song came to mind that Granma Severance used to sing to my kids..."I am walking, daily walking, and I'm talking, daily talking, to my Savior..."  She can sing it to you later...But it is a neat old song! 
 
Somewhere along the walk today it occured to me that Jesus probably walked everywhere he went except for the few times when he was in boats going here or there or preaching!  So if Jesus can walk so can I!  That is an awesome thought!
 
This day I did not walk as far, only 7.5 miles. But it was a good brisk walk!  It was a good walk considering that I had not been out for the past two days.  Tomorrow would be better...
 
"How's your WALK with JESUS?

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape!... Day 5

After this past weekend and taking Sunday 'off', I resumed my preparation for getting in shape for Trey's Trek that is to begin Monday, September 5th, 2011 on Labor Day.

My original thought was to commence the Trek 20 days before the 5th of September so we could end the Event walking across the Mackinaw Bridge with literally "Thousands" of others but Becky said that I would melt in the heat walking through Michigan in August so the start date was shifted abit!

So now its Day 5 of purposefully getting in shape for the walk to Mackinaw.  I have been increasing my miles gradually and this day I actually got up to 13 miles.  I figured that I am consistently covering about 3 miles in an hour but this Trek is not 'a sprint'... it is a walk and getting there is more important than seeing how fast we can do it!   I think that the story of the Tortoise and the Hare apply here! (that is a "Turtle" and a "Rabbit"- for all of you who don't like old Literature)

Anyway, I left the house right at 7:00AM.  I was thinking on walking over to the University of Michigan, Dearborn and then back home.  I was going to make a big loop and come back via Michigan Avenue.

It was a fine morning.  The temperature was about 70 degrees!  It was a bit overcast and there was a light breeze blowing!  It was almost a perfect morning for walking.  So when I was coming down Greenfield toward Ford Road where I was to turn West and go toward the School, I noticed something that I had never seen before!  Ford Road looked like what I see... when I get lined up on the end of the runway in the Cessna that I fly and get set to take off!  Usually this road is one of the busiest streets in our Town... and there was not a car coming by!  I had never seen anything like that!  Especially here!  For just a minute, I thought something was wrong!  "Had the Rapture taken place"  LOL!  "No! you numbskull!  It is the 4th of July!  And it's 8:00 o' clock in the morning in an Arab Neighborhood!"  What's wrong with you!  Pay attention!

Ohhhhhhh!  It was a nice thought!  Folks are relaxing!  Chillin'!  The rest of my walk was without traffic and very quiet!  Amazing!  I have lived here 23 plus years have never seen my town like this... not even in the middle of the night!

So, on my walk this day I meditated again on the passage of Scripture that says..."I will walk with you and be your GOD".  Thinking about this in reference to slaves coming out of Egypt, the thought occurred to me that this means that HE will not only deliver us from Slavery but HE will 'walk' with us in the actual 'Exodus'!  Amazing!   This is why HE is an "ever present help in the time of need!"  That fires me up, knowing that the words of Scripture are more than representing an idea but Scripture is mirroring reality!  That Book is powerful and communicates Truth like a laser!  Like Mr. Seitz, who is the most awesome 5th Grade Teacher in the Dearborn Public Schools, ever... who taught at McDonald Elementary School in Dearborn used to say!  "WORDS HAVE MEANING!"  Mr. Seitz... you are so right!

In regards to 'God walking with you...'  I have had people tell me "God is with everyone!". Granted! But as the example of God in the process of the Exodus shows...HE was with Israel, engaged intimately in the process of 'Deliverance' with them and also HE was with the Egyptian Army in the Process of judgement, carry out the tenants of that judgement because of the hardness of their hearts!  Now like Joshua said... "Choose you this day whom you will serve!". Now the choice is yours!  Be careful!  Be watchful, be vigilant in life.  This ain't a game!

While I walked along, I kept thinking about that snake that I encountered just a few days before.  The real life example in the encounter with that snake and keeping my eyes open, scanning for snakes is a living example of being "vigilant;" not letting down my guard while trekking on the way.

Snakes can be dangerous!  And if I don't know which ones to let live and which ones to kill or I get confused as to which one is poisonous and which one is not...I am in trouble!   I need to keep my distance until I'm sure... for me, its the best policy!  Then when I am sure about the threat; I take action!  If it is poisonous then I will do my best to kill it if I can! Because if I leave it, it will more than likely strike at someone else.  "That ain't good!"   Now you know, I am not talking about real snakes although real snakes can be deadly and I do deal with them seriously but... I am referring to sin!  In regards to sin, I am to be vigilant!  'Don't get bit,'  I tell myself... and stay out of areas where I can possibly get bit!  And if I know that, 'that one' is poisonous... I either avoid it at all costs or kill it quickly!  These are the types of things that cross my mind as I have been walking along! It's real life stuff!  Reality!  Jesus is reality!  Outside of HIM there ain't much!                

Then the example of Adam cames to mind...In his situation not being vigilant about the snake (temptation!) costed him dearly and as a result affects us.  Lord help me not be 'knuckle headed' when it comes to sin or snakes!  There is much to think on here!

Then the old Hymn..."And he WALKS with me and He talks with me... came to mind!

After walking on the back side of  Uof M Dearborn near Henry Ford Estate I crossed the Rouge River via a new bridge and started toward Michigan Ave. While I was walking on Michigan Avenue, headed back toward the house, I picked up a brand new quarter that was laying in the grass on the side of the road!  The light from the Sun was shinning on it and I reached down and picked it up! Then about 150 feet up the road there was about half a dozen cans that were discarded from the night before while folks were watching fireworks!  So I put the coin in my pocket, stuffed the cans in my backpack and headed to the Kroger to redeem the cans and put the money in the building!  The Lord provides!  Every little bit helps!

Then crossing over Southfield Freeway, I walked in front of Ford World Headquarters and across Mercury drive.  There on the grass right at the Comerica Bank sign at the exit drive for the bank was a small sparrow that was just sitting there on the ground under the shade of the shrub.  The sparrow seemed to wait until I was almost on top of him before he just hopped a bit farther under the shade of the bush! He didn't seem afraid of cautious like most birds are in our area.  He was just there!  Then I started to sing to myself... "His eye is on the sparrow and I know HE watches me!  This one I could definately hear Ethel Waters singing!  the Scripture says that 'The LORD sees the sparrow...' so I began to sing... "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm FREE... FREE!  I said Free!  Wow! Like Jacob's Children coming out of Egypt!  They all walked!  I am walking just like them!  Lord... Help me understand how important walking in the Spirit is!  Help me understand what Freedom means when you walk away from your slavery and the vigilent maintaining of that Freedom, which is essential in keeping you liberated in heart, mind and soul!.  Let me understand how essential that Freedom is to life in general and specifically in Jesus!  I have the distinct sense that 'Happiness' is related to 'Freedom'   What do you think?    Man..., what can we learn about life from that event in history!  History rocks!  Especially when The LORD of the Universe is personally involved! 'Alleluia!  Just a thought!

Then right at Michigan Avenue and Greenfield a man named "Troy" (I think he told me) who had passed me earlier (while I was writing a note about the sparrow) waited on me to walk up to him, right at Attorney "John L. McWilliams" office building.  When I got close enough to him I greeted him and he asked me if, "...I needed some snow for those things".  (talking about my walking sticks)  We talked a bit and he asked me what I was doing this for.  So I told him about our church and where it was and he seemed to be amazed!  Then he put his hands in his pockets and said... I will give you some money but I don't have any right now.  Then he asked me if I walked that way on a regular basis and said that he would look for me. He said that he knew were our building was and would come down to visit!  'I will give you some money for your church', he says.  "You will see me again!"

So I crossed to road and went into Kroger and redeemed the bottles and got the coins for the building project and headed on toward the house.  The rest of the trip today was uneventful! But I am building my stamina and endurance in my legs. 

I hope by the time "Trey's Trek" beings on September 5th, 2011 I will have walked at least the equilivant distance of what we will cover in total... from Dearborn to Mackinaw during the actual Trek. The distance from here to there is from 275 to 300 miles depending on which route we take!  I am working at getting my legs into shape along with my heart and my mind "ready," so that what we do here honors Jesus! 

Pray for me!

Simply Trey

Reasons... why people are needed to "WALK" along with Pastor Trey Hancock...

#1.)  "Pastor Trey,  It's not good to just lay in that ditch after you just tripped!  Here, let me help you up!"

#2.)  "Pastor Trey, when are we going to get there...? I have to go to the bathroom!!!

#3.)  "Pastor Trey, why are there no houses in this part of Michigan and where are we going to go, to get to the bathroom?"

#4.)  "Pastor Trey, why is that coyote following us?  He sure is skinny looking!!!"

#5.)  "Pastor Trey, are you faster than a coyote?  I feel like jogging instead of just walking right now!  Is that OK?  

#6.)  "Pastor Trey, are you faster than me? I didn't know coyotes could run like that!"

to be continued...!

A treat for me!

Last night I was thinking about a person who has walked around the World!  His name is Arthur Blessitt.  In the early 70's he came walking through Birmingham, Alabama dragging a cross over his right shoulder.  He ended up preaching at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham before he left town.

I was in those series of meetings with him and it is there were Jesus was first preached so I could understand that a person could have a personal relationship with God and that Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life in this equation!  I distinctly remember being taught in my local Methodist church that all you needed to do was ... 'to be good' and 'do good' to make it to Heaven...so I was a "good kid" and "did" good things.  But my heart was black as tar!  

As Arthur preached Jesus and told stories of how Jesus was working in people's lives... it made me awfully hungry to know what he was talking about on a personal level!

Arthur told us that if we would turn away from what was killing us as people... (in my case there was not much to turn from because I was a good Methodist) but Arthur was referring to sin and we know that this is a plight for everyone who breathes!

So I said to my self..."that is what I want...!"  When I did that, I discovered two very real things!  1.) Jesus was real!  2.) The devil was for real also!

Immediately I was barraged with very loud and caustic thoughts that said things like...'you are an idiot, don't do that...!  You see, as soon as I decided to ask Jesus to forgive me and come into my life, hell became irritated!  So a hail of 'opposition' kicked in!

Up to that point, I had never heard such aggravated and irritated words in my life!  This all happened as I began to respond to Jesus!  The suggestions were so forceful that I just settled back from my resolve to accept what Arthur was preaching!  Then all of the sudden, I experienced a presence that I had never known before.  I can still remember the sensation!  It was like someone coming down out of the ceiling in the middle of the room and just covered over me. It was like they were placing their arms around me in such a loving fashion that my heart and mind settled down and I went back to entertaining what Arthur was talking about!  There was peace!

Wow!  All the time Arthur was still talking, I continued to wrestle with this 'thing' that was not wanting me to respond to Jesus!  Then it started again but this time that soothing presence was there.  'People are going to make fun of you...'  it said!  'You're not going to have any more friends...',  'you are going to be all alone in this, you will be the only one...!'  It was really intense for a 14 year old boy!  But that 'presence' just remained steady over me as if having arms wrapped around me and just holding on!  Then as sweat from the emotional conflict was pouring off my face I finally said, OK, enough... 'I want you JESUS', I want what he is talking about!'  When I said that...  Those loving, comforting arms lifted me up from the place where I was sitting and I when I opened my eyes to see, I was standing...! That voice that was badgering me was now being pulled away from me in a harried protest and I can still hear the screaming and protesting!   Those loud wranglingers that had been so irritated that I would be 'so stupid' as to listen to this 'crack pot' 'hippy preacher', carrying a cross, faded away with their irritated screams until there was nothing left except 'that loving presence' holding me and waiting on my response to Jesus!

So I looked to the left and to the right and realized that I was in the middle of the pew with at least 10 of my friends on each side of me that I was going to have to step over to go down to the front of the church where Arthur was preaching.  He had asked for those who wanted to be "born-again" to come down to the front of the church where he was and that he would pray for us to accept Jesus' offer of forgiveness that would come through His blood that he shed on the Cross so long ago.

That was a start for me!  New life for a good kid!  My testimony is that Jesus saved me.... from.... uh... sin!  My 'tar black' heart was transformed!  I was made alive and good by Jesus' blood!  Earlier I was "good and dead"  There is a difference!

So, last night as I was thinking about Arthur Blessitt... because he has walked around the world carrying that Cross, I looked him up on the web and found an e-mail.  Not knowing if it would work or not...I wrote a short letter of introduction and spoke briefly about what I was doing in walking to Mackinaw and by the time I got to the office this morning, an e-mail in response was there, in my 'in-box!'  I thought to myself, "wooo!" could this really be him?

I wrote again just to make sure... and asked if I could re-post some of his suggestions about walking that he has written about on his web site to be re-posted on this blog site.

It was him!  He wrote back and said...
"...great to hear of your being saved in that meeting... Sounds like you are walking in power in following Jesus."  He also said "...we are in Poland carrying the cross just now..."
Praying for your mission,
Blessings,
arthur

So I looked at that and said to myself... 'could that really be him!  1971 was such a long time ago.  So I wrote him back again.  He said that I should post a link for the site so folks can go there instead of me re-posting all that he has written.  So that is what I am going to do right now!

For all of you who are going to walk with me at one time or another.  I am supplying a web link to Arthur Blessitt's "ADVENTURE WALKING" web site.  I have scanned over it and it has some really good suggestion in practical terms about walking!  I hope you enjoy the site and can make good use of his suggestions!  I know... that I will!

Copy this web address into your brouser
http://www.blessitt.com/AdventureWalking/AdventureWalking_Page1.html

Simply Trey!

Just a thought...while we prepare for the walk! (Levitucus 26:12)

I have been thinking about the themes for 'Trey's Trek' in  September of this year!

This is to help me focus on the task ahead, so I have chosen some passages of Scripture that are helping me keep focused on the event and the task that is upcoming!   There are two months and two days left, from today, when we will be heading out from our office building on Michigan Avenue, to begin walking up Hines Drive to initiate Trey's Trek. 

Every day I walk and each mile that I cover in getting ready for this event... my body lets me know that there are a 100 reasons why this '56 year old man' should not be doing this 300 miles trek to anywhere!!!   It's almost like sitting down to Thanksgiving Dinner at 'Gran' Ma's' and realizing that your 'your eyes are bigger than your stomach!'  So staying focused is going to be vital to not only accomplishing the task but actually doing the event in September! 

With that said, I have chosen some passages of Scripture that deal with "walking"... to think about..., to chew on mentally and to let settle down in my spirit so that my 'inner man' will be ready 'to tackle' this upcoming 300 mile trek!  So here is what I have found so far...

 Leviticus 26:12  says... "I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.  I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of  your yoke and enabled you to walk with your heads high."

Now let me tell you how this encourages me...

First, I am excited when I read this... because the truth of what is here, is living and active!  It's not just random words on a page!  These are words from THE ALMIGHTY'S mouth and as such it gets my attention!  I am so excited that I have been extended an invitation to be grafted into the vine of HIS people and as such, I have accpeted that invitation and received eternal life because of it.  Thank you Jesus!  OK...

HE says... "I will walk among you...."   in response, I say...
LORD, this encourages me, in that... as an event, YOU walked with YOUR sons and daughters out of horrendous slavery, into a GOD enfused freedom that YOU YOURSELF orchestrated and walked with them and among them as they exited their positions and attitudes as slaves.  If YOU did that then... and YOU are the same GOD now; I can be sure that YOU will walk with us as we head out from Dearborn to Mackinaw!  My hope is that our attitudes and actions as 'freed folks' from slavery (sin) will fulfill YOUR expectations for who YOU set us free to be!  And if YOU walked among them ... YOU will walk with us!  We will keep the eyes of our hearts open for YOU along the way!

He also says..."I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt..."  in response, I say... LORD, historically you stepped in and revealed YOURSELF to a whole family and YOUR actions on their behalf are stunning to me!  If YOU are the same, yesterday, today and forever, then I choose to place my confidence in YOU... acknowledging YOU as my GOD, who is The LORD of the universe!  From my personal experience, you brought me out of 'a slavery' that was as stark and as dark as what Israel experienced in Egypt. With a grateful heart, I live in that liberty that YOU provide and with a watchful eye, am careful to stay close to YOU!  Remembering where I came from and the sin that I was in, I now... with a new resolve, walk away from that judgement that condemned me and I do it by YOUR grace!  What an exodus! YOU are my deliverer! 

He says again..."so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians..."  in response, I say...
I read somewhere that HIS attitude about us is that "it is for freedom that I set you free..."  Woooooooo!  I also remember that we are to "Stand firm, then and do not let 'ourselves' (yourselves) be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  Woow again!  Man...I guess, like the Scripture says... "if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation..."  if that is our reality, then we are set!  But I know alot of folks who percieve their positioned in life, even as a new creation to be like a new toy that one would receive at Christmas... that that toy, even though it is new in the box, has no batteries in it!  But that is not the case!  God does not give and then frustrate us with the gift because it does not work!  Our gift comes with power!  It may not be in the box with the toy initially but 'The gift GIVER doesn't give to disappoint us! In reality, HE provides the batteries so that the toy will operate as it was designed!  There is Power to operate our lives in HIS authority and that reality is a present situation that we actually find ourselves in.  But the power to operate the toy must be sought, it must be asked for.  We must look for it and in turn recieve the gift of His power (the batteries), open it and place the batteries in the appropriate place so that the toy will do it's thing!  Then the power must be 'turned on'!  In our position as HIS people who have been freed... we must live in HIS presence and operate as HIS community in the power that HE provides.  This power, first of all, is to enable us, to not go back into slavery!   It is to advance us toward HIS objectives as a part of HIS plan in conjunction with HIS people in this life HE has for us, where we now live.  But slavery to whatever bound us before is not to be a part of that solution now!  HE has set us free and going back to sin and becoming a slave again, is in no way a part of HIS purpose.  Who wants to be a slave again to the same 'stuff ' we were freed from?  YUCH! HIS reason for freeing us is that we would be free!  "IT IS FOR FREEDOM...!"  'Alleluia!

He says one more thing..."I broke the bars of  your yoke and enabled you to walk with your heads high."  It is amazing to me that HE would have to remind the ones HE 'delivered' out of Egypt about this again!  Were they not living in the middle of what HE was doing for them, right then?  Just thinking back in what I know; Egypt, as one of the most powerful nations on Earth at that time was laid to waste, their economy was destroyed, their religious system was desolated, their gods were attacked and mocked and specifically shown as utter fakes.  At least 225,000 soldiers along with the best military hardward of the day was wipped out in less than probably 5 to 10 miniutes of time and all of this happened before their very eyes!  From my perspective it would be hard to forget all of this... But none the less,  HE reminds them again!  HE does it with words that are forceful, "I broke the bars of your yoke..." and he says it with no regard for the feelings of the Egyptians! Some would accuse GOD of being full of pride or heartless!  I mean they were on the short end of that stick, weren't they?  Doesn't GOD love the whole world?  Of course HE does, but we are not aware of the centuries of pleading and wooing that HE engaged in with the Egyptians before HE judged them for their blatant idolotry and refusal to listen to HIM.  There is a lesson in this for Nations today...(whole families of people- 'Ethnos') that refuse to "...Hear HIS voice...!"  GOD is definately impartial in regards to HIS love for Mankind and HE states this in  Exodus 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in any form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them;  for I, the LORD (YHVH) your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of there fathers to the third and forth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments."  John, one of Jesus' closest disciples wrote, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the work through Him."  It is here where our freedom sits at the fulcrum of history and reality.  Jesus is our turing point, our balance point, our freedom, our reality!  He sets us free, He keeps us free, if we stay locked into Him.  His very name actually means ..."YHVH is our Salvation!"  "JESUS SAVES" is an awesome proclamation and in that FACT all of us can respond to GOD in obedience and "walk with your heads high."  Not in pride but in amazement that GOD worked on our behalf!

So, here we go!  Walking!  Like former slaves out of bondage!  With new attitudes, toward a new purpose!  Walking with the ONE who says, "I will walk among you....".  With this given state of reality and the promise that Jesus made us "I will never leave you or forsake you..."  We can start our trek with confidence and joy, knowing that once we were without HIM in our sin as slaves but now we are "...no longer...slaves" but poeple who... HE says that HE "...will walk among ... and be your God, and you will be my people..."!

I am flabbergasted!  Jesus you are awesome!

Simply Trey

Getting in shape.... Day 4

{this post was written last year but not posted for some reason... I can't believe I did that!}

This morning I awoke about 6:15.

I Got up and fixed a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal. Then I repaired the rubber boots on my walking sticks. I found an old busted inner tube from a bike tire the day before that someone had discarded and it really came in handy because I took some duct tape (a real "Red Green" trick) and covered the rubber boots on my walking sticks.  Both boots on the sticks were worn out over the last 25 miles of walking!  I guess I "arta-not" strike the groud so hard!  Hopping those fences like a pole volter probably didn't help either.  LOL!  Just kiddin'!  But the extra rubber and duct tape seems to works really good!

Then I loaded up my Camelbak 'water trough,' slung it on my back and headed out right at 8:00Am.

I went this AM to Wyoming from the house and then headed South toward Ford Road. There like the day before, I turned right and unlike yesterday... I walked on the North side of the road in front of Fordson High School where all my kids graduated from.  It's an awesome structure!

When I got down to Mercury Drive I crossed over and walked along the grass until I crossed the Southfield Freeway bridge and walked on over to Evergreen.

But before I reached Evergreen just across from the Red Robin Restaurant ("they got gud hambuggers") a man named "Dale Baker" was crossing the street. I greeted him and he asked me if I was having a good day. I said 'yah' and said that "I am walking to Mackinaw!" He responded... why are you doing that...?  Are you protesting something?  I said 'no!' I told him that that I was a pastor here in Dearborn and the we were in the process of building... over on MI Ave in the old Harry Miller Flowers shop and that I was walking to Mackinaw to raise funds to help pay for the project! He looked amazed!  Then he pulled out his wallet and gave me a dollar!  Wow...This encouraged me! Thanks Dale!... every little bit helps! 

Then I crossed over Evergreen and keep on going toward Golfview when near the "Society of Engineers"  along the fense that borders the roadway was a snake that was maybe 18" long.  I coldn't tell what kind it was and I could not see it's head to see if it was poisonous.  It startled me at first because it was not moving at all.   I think that his head was through the chain link on the other side of the fence. So I took one of my walking sticks and poked at it a couple of times and it definately came alive! That head came back through the fence and struck at me twice with his mouth wide open!  (it was white as cotton too in there!)  At that point, the front part of the snake was cocked back again, ready to strike. I took out my phone at that point and tried to get a photo but after taking the photo the picture scrambled. It did not turn out but I was not going to hang around and challenge him again.  He was upset at this point!   I think that he was taking a nap!!!   So I went on down the road, 'looking for snakes,' as I walked...imagine that!.

SO in just about 5 minutes I turned South on to Golfview and met some playful squirels. When I got to Golfview and Military I turned left and headed toward MI Ave where I turned left and headed back to the office. Oh, I forgot... I saw "President" Jeff Davis at the church there on the corner of Golfview and Outer Drive.  He was loading up some stuff and I stopped and visited with him for about 5 minutes.  He even let me load up on water again! 

So when I got to the library on Michigan Avenue across from the Mongolian BB, I sat down on the bench that was there and took my shoes off because the toes on my right foot seemed to start rubing together working on a blister... so I let me feet cool off a bit, while I checked my e-mails.  (I didn't like 'um the color they were!)

From there I walked back to the Office on the North side of the street at a good steady pace and got back to the property right at 12:30. I had started out at 8:00 this morning so it took me 4 and a half hours to make this almost 12 mile trek.

My endurance is rising! About the last mile my left knee began to hurt for some reason. So tomorrow the rest will do me good!

Just thought ya'll would like to know!

Simply Trey!

p.s. the song  by Rich Mullins
                      "GOD you are my God"     
                        and I will every praise you x2
                 
                      I will seek you in the morning
                      I will learn to walk in your ways
                      And step by step, you'll lead me
                      And I will follow you all of my days...

was just flooding through my mind as I was walking... so I just sang it out, over and over again and meditated on the words.  I think that it is a good 'walking song'!!!

Simply Trey!
                 

Getting in Shape!... Day 3

Today I started out from the House on my walk 'to get in shape' for the trek to Mackinaw, MI...As I turned onto Ford Road from Wyoming walking South,  I tromped through the tall grass (I don't know why there is no sidewalk there)... and came back out on the side walk and there was a baggage ticket from "SHEPLERS" which is one of the Island Ferrys to Mackinaw Island, MI from Mackinaw City.  The ticket even had an elastic band on it that you loop around the handles of bags.  Where it lists the "NAME:_______"  the tag in handwritten form says... "MALEK" which is Arabic!  On the back of the tag "Hart's Haven" is checked.  It must be a house on the Island where you can lodge overnight.

Now for some of you, this may seem really insignificant but for me it is an encouragement!  I am getting in shape to walk to Mackinaw... to help raise resources to build our church in E. Dearborn which is 97% Arabic and this tag is for "Shepler's" which is located in Mackinaw!  Could it be a sign of some sort? It is interesting to think about!