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
Saturday, July 9, 2011
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
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
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
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
Thursday, July 7, 2011
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...!
#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...!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
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!
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!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
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
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
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