January / February  2009 Happy New Year! This month... Introducing the Book Hiking the Trail of Truth, Knowing God through His creation. One of "The Monuments"...Learn more on The Lake Trail at this website. * Previous Newsletters    (Archives)  Website Home Page  (Trailheads) Contact  Hiking the Trail of Truth,  Mark's Trail Phone # 909-549-0068,  or e-mail   hikemark@hotmail.com Page 2 From The Editor... Hello, and Welcome to the January/February 2009 HTTOT Newsletter!  We here at Hiking the Trail of Truth sincerely hope this year that you have allowed the loving Spirit of God to be active within your heart, and that you are perhaps able to get out for a hike and consider many of the wonders He has made. We are uniquely drawn to these wonders because we were formed from the very dust of the earth, and, because of that relationship, we have the ability to develop the understanding that will allow us to discover our unique balance with nature. Come along with us on a most profound adventure of learning... WEBSITE NEWS: Knowing God is first seeing Him through the things He has made (Romans 1:20).  Hiking the Trail of Truth is here to help you along in your journey of discovery and sharing. If you have been or are presently unable to get out this season for a physical hike, just visit our website's feature trail for this month; The Wilderness Trail . Your mental trek there can take you where you may be unable to journey physically. The eye-opening education, inspiration and lasting encouragement which you can find along the Wilderness Trail will be well worth your time... Just click on the Wilderness Trail link on the bottom of this newsletter, or click on the marker at the website's Hiking Maps and Trailheads page. — We sincerely hope that you will hike all of our devotional and educational trails at the website this year. Again, we are here to help you in any way we can and, as always, look forward to hearing from you. Hiking the Trail of Truth is currently one of the most truthfully informative Christian sites on the web. Please, be our guest; explore this truth for yourself and discover! The most important way to begin your day is with a short reading from the Bible. Today is indeed a good time to begin that resolve. For this purpose, the Mountain and Valley Trail was built. There you will find daily Bible readings for the entire year, with accompanying photos, created especially for you. To locate this picture/Scripture calendar, simply click on the Mountain and Valley Trail marker at Hiking Maps and Trailheads. You will find a compass there that will lead you to the calendar of months, and you can then choose a month to begin your day-by-day readings. Your daily journey through life is sure to begin in the right direction!  After all, we live only one day at a time, right?— Why don't you then take the opportunity now and begin a one-year hike along the Mountain and Valley Trail. You will not be disappointed, in fact, your journey will be full of enlightening, life-changing insights! Don't forget that HTTOT offers FREE COUNSELING to anyone who wants it (Lord knows we all need it). Your varied questions are also important, and are given the utmost consideration in answering them. For you to be aware of the truth, in a world where falsehood abounds, is very important to us. Your spiritual struggles are of our utmost concern—we can help!  We serve a loving and compassionate Creator. So just phone or e-mail any time. Contact information is listed at the bottom of the cover page of this Newsletter, or you can visit Questions and Answers Trail Camp at the website, where a ''submit a question" link is provided, or you can visit the On-Line Church to submit your inquiries or learn there how to understand the Bible correctly. Introducing the Book... Hiking the Trail of Truth, Knowing God through His creation. Hello there! The new book from MS Taylor is titled: Hiking the Trail of Truth; Knowing God Through His Creation. This book has just been completed (JAN 2008) and will be professionally published sometime early this year, the exact date to be forthcoming. The book will also be published on the HTTOT website, and will be completely available for you, the website reader, by the end of March. Sandie Eisenhower, Web Artist for HTTOT, has written the following summary of the new book, which will appear on the back cover of the printed edition: The desire to know God is universal. We want to make that connection. Have you ever hiked the high mountains or explored the deserts of the American southwest? Have you wandered inquisitively through a thick forest, or just sat down beside a rushing stream? Have you pondered the intricate design of a flower or discovered the water canals in a single blade of grass? Have you considered the majesty of the birds or the way of the animals? The greatest Artist in all the universe created each of these things. They know the Artist and can teach you how deeply He cares for you as a human being. You are about to embark on an illuminating journey in the company of author Mark Stephen Taylor. A former California police officer, educated in criminal psychology, geology, and now a Biblical teacher and counselor, Mark offers us unique insights into the profound attributes of God, through His creation. He also enlightens us, with intense honesty, regarding who we are, what we are, and where we're going. He helps us to understand our purpose in life. Through his own autobiography He hikes us over a diversity of terrain, allowing us to make personal discoveries beyond any expectation. Hiking the Trail of Truth is the adventure of a lifetime. If you have what it takes to endure the journey it will be remarkably well worth your time. Whether you are an artist, a scientist, a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a preacher, an executive, an office worker or a laborer of any kind—no matter what your calling in life—you will be both physically and spiritually nourished by this hike. Do you enjoy hiking? Well, what are you waiting for? Come along—let's do it!     Sincerely, the HTTOT staff. January's Letter From the Editor : Hello from the Editor. This year I would like to tell some stories. Stories are indeed important. After all, Our Lord used a variety of stories to make practical His teachings to the cultures He visited while on the earth. Most of us love a good story. Jesus knew this, and used stories to enlighten His followers. The Bible is for the most part a library of stories—great and endearing stories. God knows what is best for us. Stories can get through to us. In light of this truth, I hope to relate to you some meaningful stories, with character studies of those involved in the stories, throughout this year in the monthly Letter from the Editor. I've been working on "the book" for some time and it is nice to get back to writing to you once again through the Monthly Newsletter. Thank You for your patience. Most of us have read or heard the story of John the baptist, found in the Gospel narratives. John was a cousin of Jesus, who from his youth spent most of his time in the wilderness. John was dressed in camel hair and his diet was locusts and wild honey. In this humility he represented the character of Jesus. He was not what the people expected as his message annonced the coming of a kingdom that the religious leaders of his day rejected. Nevertheless, he competed his mission as was regarded by Jesus as the greatest among men. John told the truth. He did not waiver in teaching all those who would listen to him the truths regarding the Messiah, the new spiritual kingdom, and the judgement to come. If John lived in our world today I am sure that he would be considered a transient and a madman, who preached things that were not according to what is taught and accepted as the norm. Many still do not understand and therefore do not believe that Jesus came to announce forgiveness and establish a spiritual kingdom; His church. Many today do not believe John or Jesus, but instead believe the kingdom do be a physical realm that has not yet arrived, however, Jesus proclaimed that His kingdom was "not of this world," and He spoke the truth (John 18:36). God's spiritual kingdom is made up of people who have been born again, and who currently reign with Christ in the spiritual realm until He returns. At that time He will deliver His kingdom up to God, the Father, and this present world will be destroyed. Yet, we of the kingdom look forward to new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells, as per God's promise. If you are not a child of God—not a subject in God's spiritual kingdom, then you can find your way into that kingdom in the Biblical book of Acts, at Acts 2:37, 38. I hope that you will embark on that journey. God's promises await you if you will just accept and believe in them. (Revelation 20:6, Colossians 1:13, 2nd Peter 3:13) Thanks for reading January's Letter from the Editor. Until March, may the Lord be with you. Sincerely MS Taylor HTTOT Questions? Please contact me. Home] [Hiking Maps & Trailheads] [Discovery Trail] [Bible Map] [Trail of Time] [New Birth Trail] [Mountain & Valley Trail] [Desert Trail] [Lake Trail] [High Sierra Trail] [Wilderness Trail] [HTTOT the book] [False Trail] [Monthly Newsletter] [Newsletter Archives] [Questions & Answers] [On-Line Church] HIKING THE TRAIL OF TRUTH Mark S. Taylor (909) 549-0068