'Now'...Staying in Shape... Day 32!!!!

Becky and Trey Hancock

Today is Saturday!  It is the first day of College Football Season.  Yes, I did watch the last 3 minutes of Auburn University getting beat by some team out West... Then they remembered who they were supposed to be and picked up the pace and pulled the cat out of the bag!  It was good to see the field that I used to play on over 30 years ago.  The same grass, the same uniforms but the stadium was a bit bigger!  Brings back a bunch of memories!

Luke my Son in Law decided to walk with me this morning as we made our way over to the office where we will be starting out toward Mackinaw City just two days from now on Monday the 5th of September, Labor Day, 2011!  We rested for a bit and then headed back home.  It was hot!  Over 90*F today!  The sweat shirt that I was wearing was soaked!  It was good to get the exercise as we walked 7 plus miles today.  This will be the last day of walking before we start on Monday.  I have trekked a total of 311 miles in practice, getting ready to make this walk to Mackinaw!  Sometimes I can't believe it but I was there for every step and I attest to the fact that it actually happened!  So no matter what my feelings say about this being impossible... I know better!  I am going to walk to Mackinaw City, MI... Lord willing!  But I am ready!

Trash? 

Almost every day that I walk, I see something or someone that is unusual or catches my attention.  As I walk I usually pray and as I talk to Jesus, I listen and anticipate... either answers or responses to my prayer!  Sometimes while I am in that mode, I see, I notice what is around me.   Some things are unusual and some things are just ordinary or common but nothing is just 'there' by accident or hap-instance!  Even what seems like trash on the ground has significance.  At least today it did for me!

I walked passed this piece of paper on the ground on Michigan Avenue just up from the Pantheon ("all gods" club!)  and noticed the titles printed there!  "Limited Warranties", "Disclaimer" and "Remedy and Claim Procedure."

Wow!  I thought..."Warranties!"  "Disclaimer!"  "Remedy and Claim Procedure!"  OK!  my mind starts reeling about what I could say about these words in a message if I were preaching.  But this is not in a church out here!  It is out on the street!  So technically, this is not preaching but just plain good old street language that can communicate truth in a way that takes it's categories from the world we live in!  It just so happens that down by the 'all gods' club where the content shows up, Jesus can speak!  In reality He can show up anywhere, anytime, anyplace without notice and needs no permit, license or permission from any of us here in this town to do or say anything He pretty well pleases!  No place is off limits to Him!

You know?  I want to finish this but I gotta go!  If you are interested just write me... I will get back to this later!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

'Now'...Staying in Shape... Day 31!!!!

This is my friend "Jerome!"

Today, as I got back out and 'stretched my legs' again, I saw my friend "Jerome".  

Today he was on Michigan Avenue just across from Starbucks near Miller Road.  Like always he had all of his belongings with him.  We had met before over on Ford Road near McDonalds about a month ago, early one morning.  I stopped and greeted him again and he remembered me! He remembered the place where we first met.  He remembered the time when we met.  He even remembered that I was going on a walk to Mackinaw.  He remembered that I was the guy with the "walking sticks!"  Jerome has a great memory!  He talked to me about where his home church was and how someone not long ago had given him a Bible and that he has it with his belongings.  In the conversation he even told me how old he was, which he is a bit over 10 years younger than I am and he almost guessed my age to the year!  Jerome is sharp!  There is nothing wrong with his mental capacities!

But there is a problem with Jerome!  He has physical issues.  He did give me permission to ask anyone who reads this blog to consider praying for him.  

Jerome has some form of diabetes that plague his feet and he has a real hard time walking.  He told me that he has lost a considerable amount of weight in the last months, which helps... but he still needs healing for his feet, for his whole being!

So I am writing about my friend Jerome so those of you who read this will pray for him with me.  You know, in my mind, I ask myself sometimes, 'where is Jerome's  family?'  Why is he out here on the street like this?  I can't really answer these questions and they do bug me!  But I know that Jesus said..."the poor, you will have with you always..."  But I can say with confidence that... Jesus knows Jerome and I am sure that Jesus is willing to heal him!  If that is the case, then we should be willing to pray... for him!  

I am sure that there is more to Jerome than meets the eye but he has gotten my attention and I know... like Jesus who notices situation like this; it catches His attention too!  So I want to pray that Jesus heals Jerome!  Please take a minute and pray for him!  I am pretty sure he would appreciate it!

While I am writing this, I remembered the story of the starfish that have been washed up on the shore and the sun had started drying them out.  So this one guy starts throwing them back into the ocean.  Another person noticed that there were tens of thousands of star fish that were on the beach and was amazed that the other person was throwing them back into the ocean.  In his mind it was a useless task because there was so many of them.  So the one man says to the other, 'why are you doing that?  What good will it do to save so few?  It is overwhelming... the amount of star fish that have been washed up on the shore and you cannot, in a lifetime save all of these star fish!!!'

The other person just looked up and said, 'it matters to this one'...as he threw it back into the sea!

"Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost!"  If He is doing that, I think that I want to do that too!  Jesus said that the Father is working!  WOW!  He should know!  So if the Father is working and Jesus is working then I think that I would like to work...like Him!  What an example!  He has the right idea about this kind of thing!  If I take the chance and imitate Him... then I'll bet you, that I will be doing the right thing too!   "What cha thank?"

With my feet on the Ground....

Simply Trey

p.s. I am really looking forward to this walk to Mackinaw!  I got a feeling that there will be some folks just like Jerome along the way!   We will see... 

Getting in Shape... Day 30!!!!!

New Life from what was violently cut down!!! 

300!
This morning I did it!
I crossed the finish line!  
I reached my goal of actually walking 300 miles 'in practice' to be able to walk the 300 miles to Mackinaw starting next Monday September 5th, 2011! 


For those of you who are planning on beginning this trek to Mackinaw with me next Monday the 5th of September, "Labor Day"... please be at the office no later than 9:00am so we can prep you about the route and any particulars for the walk on that day and ask Jesus for His help!  


Our target time to leave Dearborn will be 9:30AM.    For any particular questions you may have about the Trek, please e-mail me at  thancock56@gmail.com  and I will respond ASAP with any particulars needed.  


This morning when I started out, I walked a different route than I usually walk, although I have been this way before.  For me, it is hard to actually go this way because of memories associated with the neighborhood.  


As I worked my way down Horger Street from Ford Road, I came to Colson.  I crossed that intersection and just looked across the empty lots that were there.  Just South of that intersection there is a stump between the road and the sidewalk.  The stump is evidence of an elm tree that was there!  It was the only tree on Horger near the church that was on this property.  It had been cut down because it was 'in the way' of those taking down the building.  This structure was one of Dearborn's most useful and beautiful historic structures.  It all ended up in a dumpster!


All that remains of a place that was once a center of life and activity for the neighborhood and Dearborn in general, is a flat grassy lot and one stump!  One stump!  That is all that is visible from what remains!  


But today as I walked by, I noticed something that I had not seen before!  In the photo above, you can see it for yourself!  It is a shoot for a new tree coming out of the old stump!  I stopped and looked at that with amazement!  I thought to my self....'they can cut it down but they can't make it go away!'  What a thought!  I have to tell you that this really encouraged me!  Like a friend of mine that usually says "Jesus gets what Jesus wants!"  Look out ya'll!


With my feet on the Ground!


Simply Trey

Getting in Shape... Day 28 and 29

It happened... I was there!  I saw it with my own eyes!  

These legs are tired but looking forward to trekking NORTH!

The 20 miles that I had determined weeks ago to walk after actually walking 18 miles... at one time, on one day, was realized!


Now I know that I can walk 20 miles!  I can because I really did it!  


Granted, my brother Britt and I did stop at a Subway on Ford Road on the way back and eat lunch... we actually walked 20 plus miles!  20 MILES! Our legs carried us that far!  WOOO!  


That all happened yesterday!  


So Afterwards... we picked up Becky from the Airport after she flew in from Finland.   We all crashed relatively early (10:30 pm or so-after having some ice cream!).  So this morning, I thought that I would just stretch my legs a bit and I set out for the office.  Surprisingly enough, I was not too sore!   The short 4.6 miles that I walked this AM pushed up my personal total mileage for the 'practice walk' to 293 miles!  As I have written before, I had determined for myself to actually 'do' 300 miles before we set out for Mackinaw City, MI beginning on September 5th which is Labor Day 2011!  I think that I am going to reach my goal and some!  


I am excited to see how many folks are going to come and walk that first day with us!  


With my feet on the Ground!


Simply Trey


p.s. Becky is home!  Halleluia!

Getting in Shape... Day 27

This morning I was determined to push past the 18 mile mark for a single day of walking with out actually stopping except for a couple of minutes to adjust a shoe or shift my pack or something.

I had determined last night that I would get to bed and walk up around 5 and get my self ready and leave the house by 6:00AM.  But when I awoke up the weather looked kind of strange outside.  So I checked the National Weather Service report and it stated that there was to be severe thunderstorms with large hail and tornadoes!   So I made the decision not to 'get out there' and get caught in some bad weather that could be dangerous.  So I waited about an hour and then just decided to walk to the Office by going down Greenfield which would be a short 4.5 mile jaunt!  So Britt and both  Jacob and David went with me!

After making the turn and heading down Greenfield, we saw the 'man who carries the flag'!  He has been doing this on Greenfield since 9/11. I first heard about him through the local news paper and have seen him many times, as I would drive by in the mornings!   I did not know the extent of his trek but when we caught up with him, I asked if we could walk with him and he said "Of course!"

So he told us that he does this Monday, Wednesday and Friday!  It was neat walking along with him and him  telling us his story!   Evidently he was raised in Dearborn because he said that he played football at Fordson High School!  He said that he was 79 years old and that his name is Matthew!

It was a real treat to meet him, walk with him and get to know him a bit!  I was able to tell him why we were walking and at the end of our time with him at the corner of Greenfield and Michigan where we turned left to go to the office... He gave me a big ole' hug and we parted!  I appreciate men like this!  Thanks Matthew!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Today was a day to give honor to whom Honor is due!

Dick Stefis (with mic) being honored for his faithfulness!

Scripture instructs us to honor those folks who are honorable in their work and faithfulness to the task that they are called on to perform.

This past year, Jesus sent us a worker who for three months worked tirelessly on our electrical installation and issues.  He was a genuine "God send!" He analysed the task at hand in interpreting the plans for our construction project and made it work!.

He worked the plans like a giant jig saw puzzle;  putting the pieces in place so the functionality of our building would work correctly.   Were there problems?  Yes, most definitely!  But not once did he complain about potential,  real or perceived problems but stuck to the task for many days until late at night!  He fit the classic saying..."He burned the mid night oil!"  Dick simply 'stayed on task' because his work mattered to every other part of the project and he knew that!  It is amazing how such common construction projects can carry such strong spiritual implication and applications in real life!

One reason why folks have such a hard time in their Christian 'walk' is that they have no base in reality to fit life into!  They have never held a job!  Any job!  They have never had to deal with reality in the form of "thangs" in life that can and do hinder you and will make you think that, 'this is not working... it is too hard!' 'Why am I beating my head up against this wall?'   If they quit... they will never find out that they need to 'use their heads' instead of banging their heads...!  They don't allow the circumstances to help develop their work ethic that assist them to 'figure out' what needs to be done besides banging their heads against a problematic wall!  Of course... if you just keep banging your head, you will not ever get anywhere but if you quit trying to accomplish what you are suppose to be doing then you will fail ... every time!

One of the many reasons why Christians fall short in their lives is that they simply "quit" because it seems 'too hard!'  I face this every time I go out and walk!  So I FORCE myself to put one foot in front of the other and take the next step toward my destination!  It is tiring!  Yes!  Do my feet hurt!  Yes!  Do I have pain  in my legs and joints? Yes!  Do I get hungry? Yes!  Do I get thirsty? Yes!  So should not all of those things be enough to make me quit?  Yes!  So what do I do?  I keep going!  Yep!  I just keep putting one foot in front of the other!  Does it hurt at times?  Yes!  So what do I do?  I push through it!   So what happens?  It hurts!  So what do I do?  I just keep putting one foot in front of the other!!!  Does the pain go away? ...  Sometimes and eventually...maybe!  There is much to think about here!  Yes!  But I will write about this later...

Dick Stefis,  you are deeply appreciated and loved!  The Dearborn Assembly Revitalization Project would not be where it is today without you!  Please come back!  We need you;  both your attitudes and your actions!  You are a walking example of what Jesus is to us!  Keep living it Brother!  Thank you for your heart!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in Shape...Day 26

After traveling to the Thumb of Michigan, I was ale to pound out another 5 miles in a hour and a half.  As I briskly strolled along, I was able to pray and think!  Jesus is Awesome! His Mercy is inexhaustable! I am amazed, that so often I seem to loose the sense of that reality.  At times my memory is so short!  It seems that the 'crude' of this world's system, which is rotten the core, has a louder voice than God's!  At times it seems to be more conviencing!  But Jesus' voice through his Spirit will not be drounded out! I like to think of It like this... Jesus' voice is like the roar of a Lion, piercing the darkness, absolutely shutting up the ranglings of the darkness!  When He roars, my heart comes alive and is emboldewned!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey