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

Getting in Shape...Day 25

Today was the first day that more than one prson besides myself walked with me. My brother Britt, his wife Audrey and their two Sons Jacob and David went with me. We covered a distance of over 8 miles!  It was a good day to walk and talked about Family and Ministry!

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

Getting in shape...Day 24

Today I left the house and walked up by the main road and then back North through the woods to the lake.  For some reason I could not get off my mind the topic of "Forgiveness!"  There is much to think about there and right now there is no time to write down all that was trudging through my mind as I walked along.  So I will come back tomorrow or the next day and write out what was there!

It has been a beautiful time here in Finland.  After I get home I want to download the photos that I took and post them for you!  Finland is an awesome place!

I pounded out more than 13 miles today and have up to this point... reached 250 total miles, walked!  September 5th is getting close and I have just another 50 miles to go to finish my 'practice' walk before we actually begin "Trey's Trek!"  Finland is getting me ready for "The North!"

With my feet on the ground...

Simply Trey

Getting in shape...Day 23

I haven't written for a couple of days.  Thursday I walked 10 miles and I pushed up the total miles walked todate to 236.

Just been enjoying our grand daughter!  today I will go out again for a couple of hours...

I am working on an e-mail list of folks who are interested or supporting what we are doing with "Trey's Trek".  I will probably miss some folks so if you don't hear from me about what we are doing via e-mail in the next few weeks just write me on Face Book and I will respond and add you!

With my feet on the ground

Simple Trey

Getting in shape...Day 22

Today, after three days of waiting on my first grand child to arrive safe in this world... I hit the road again.  I left the apartment in Tampere and headed West out of town. I walked for 2 hours and then turned around and headed back.  The walk back was 1:55 minutes thus I was able to push just past 14 miles today after not walking at all for several days!  I am at 226 total miles practicing for "Trey's Trek"!  We have right at 4 weeks before we start on Labor Day so those of you who are walking with me... I hope you are practicing too!

I must share this with you!  It is utterly amazing to have another little one come into the world.  One who can experience the presence of Jesus with all of her heart.  Our prayer is that one day she too would follow Jesus just as her Mom and Dad, Aunts and Uncles, Grand Parents and Great Grandparents are doing and have done!  So here she is...!

My first Grand Child!  Holding hands with Grandpa Trey

Getting in shape...Day 21

The Halfords, Hancocks & Mättös

Writing from Finland is a hoot!  Right now it is 5:50 AM EDT in the States.  For me it is 12:50 PM.  Strange concept but if we all wait a bit it will be lunch where you are too!  Anyway...

I was intending on taking a short walk yesterday down by the hospital where my daughter Ashleigh and her husband Vesa are supposed to have the birth of our first 'grandchild!'  It was going to be a 'chill day' as far as training for "Trey's Trek" was concerned because yesterday we pushed it a bit! So trolling along enjoying the view and the Finish neighborhoods along the way was my plan.  So as I walked along I was thinking about becoming a Grand Parent which is an awesome thing! 

As I was there by the hospital and having walked around behind the place to look for a trail to cut over to the lake and walk back to the apartment, Vesa called.  He said that Becky and Ashleigh had gone to the hospital and were there right now... and that he was on his way to meet me!  He asked me to meet him in the front of the hospital; that he was taking a bus because they had the car, so I walked back out to the front and waited!  We went in together and visited with Ashleigh and 'Gran'ma!' (sounds great... "don't it!") 

The reason why they were here at the hospital at this time, not counting that this is her due date... the Doctor earlier in the day, was not sure about the heartbeat(s)... so they admitted her and she stayed for the night.  Everything was OK!  So as of yet there is no 'Baby Mättö... delivered!  "HE" is waiting for the right time!

My daughter Ashleigh with 'Baby Mättö!