February 2008 In this issue... Responsibility At Trail Camp, on the Mt. Whitney Trail, Lone Pine, CA Visit the High Sierra Trail on 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 February 2008 HTTOT Newsletter!  We here at Hiking the Trail of Truth sincerely hope this New Year that you have allowed the 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 High Sierra 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 High Sierra Trail will be well worth your time... Just click on the High Sierra Trail link on the bottom of this newsletter, or click on that trailmarker on the left side of the website's Home page, or you can locate the marker on the website's Hiking Maps and Trailheads page as well.— 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, if not 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. 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!  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... February's Letter From the Editor :  Responsibility...   Responsibility—probably about the most significant word in the English language. It can be compared to a huge rock carried on one's back that seems to weigh a ton. Responsibility has various forms and, as children of God, we must search out these forms and act upon them. Good things do not come without working at them. I have chosen the topic of responsibility this month because, of all people, I have been about the most irresponsible throughout my life. That being the case it would only stand to reason that I would be one of the best qualified to expound on it. — When we become aware of our worst sins we usually spend much time studying how to defeat them. This usually leads to discoveries quite valuable to others as well as ourselves. With this thought in mind I would hope that what I have learned and what I have chosen to pass onto you will enlighten you regarding this matter... Responsibility simply means that we are answerable for things in our lifetime. Though we cannot do anything of value on our own without God's help or intersession, we still cannot be passive. We are to work out our salvation through obedience (Philippians 2:12). The use of human effort, far from violating God's will, is just what He commands for achieving His saving purpose (Ephesians 2:8-10). God chose us to make us holy sons and daughters, and upon saving us He has now fashioned us to be new bearers of His image, designed for the kind of life that conforms to His character. We therefore as Christians have responsibilities. Christian faith is belief put into action (James 2:14-26). To get to the end of any trail you have to hike it. Though we do not earn our salvation, we are responsible for being obedient—we are answerable to faith in this way. The only evidences visible to human eyes are the deeds of obedience. Though God can read the heart, our only view of the heart is by the sight of outward fruit. A Christian's responsibilities are like the stars—innumerable, yet, not burdensome (Matthew 11:30), because he/she is following God's plan for their earthly life. Yet, responsibility is demanding, because it goes against our natural inclination to wander. Responsibility requires discipline, and discipline requires work. Responsibility is not an easy road, as it requires one to practice the works of the Spirit, which activity wars constantly with our nature.— Believers find within themselves contrary urgings. The Spirit sustains our regenerate desires and purposes, but our fallen instincts obstruct our path and drag us back. Paul said that he was unable to do what was right, and unable to restrain himself from doing what was wrong (Romans 7:14-25). This conflict will be with Christians as long as they are in the body. Yet, by responsibility—by watching and praying against temptation and cultivating opposite virtues, they may through the Spirit's help "put to death" certain bad habits or deeds (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5). They will experience many particular deliverances and victories in their battle with sin, as well as heartbreaking defeats, while not being exposed to temptations that are impossible to resist (1st Corinthians 10:13). Responsibility helps us to increase the ratio of victories verses defeats. No one wants to lose a battle against temptation, yet it happens many times, for Spiritual victory is contrary to our nature. To war against this contrariety, we must learn to appreciate the fact that God chose us to "make a difference".  What you do or accomplish as a child of God is "important" to God.  You are important to God, no matter how small of a contribution you might make during your lifetime. Some were born for many victories, others were born for just one victory—or one reason. Through responsibility to God you fulfill His purpose for you. Therefore, before you give in to that most difficult temptation, pray for God's help and at the same time say to yourself,  "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me—I can be responsibly obedient—I can make that difference I was created for. The Christian life is not burdensome when one follows God's plan for his/her earthly life. Christian's have the gift of prayer—they are allowed to commune with their heavenly Father through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Things that cannot be fully comprehended can nonetheless be peacefully experienced by those who are in Christ. Providing requests in prayer provides an outlet for the burdens of anxiety. Doing so "with thanksgiving" is itself an antidote to worry. Peace with God indicates a spirit of tranquility and freedom from either inward or outward disturbance. This particular peace is a gift from God. We have a responsibility to accept this gift, thereby becoming more effective in our Christian walk. Bottom line, in all things, consider your responsibility to God. Through this effort you will allow His unequalled peace to grow and flower within you, no matter what external circumstances you may encounter. Sincerely, Mark...I'll see you in March with another Letter From the Editor. Encouraging Gods' Children... Here is this months' list of those who need encouragement through your prayers and letters. I hope you will take the time to encourage them... Some of their problems are personal and we will respect their privacy; leaving it up to those individuals to share at their discretion. Please pray for them and write to them (I can provide addresses for you. Please call or E-mail me for that information). Encouragement is a noble thing and a profound way to honor God through lifting up His children... Please inform me if you would like to add anyone to our prayer list. Also, please check Newsletter Archives for folks and their situations previously on the prayer list. Let us this month encourage and pray for... Please remember all of the homeless, the poor, and the hungry of this world as you go about your daily routine this Year. Try to locate a homeless, poor, or hungry person and help them in any way that you can... Continue to pray for all of those "in need" of any type, and please pray earnestly for all the people of the world in which we live—in every country—that men and women will desire to find wisdom, that they will turn and seek God's face as their true need in this world full of spiritual blindness, rebellion and increasing depravity. The Lord's coming will not be delayed much longer. Endeavor to encourage others to seek Him, in truth, while there is still time. Father, grant us the humility to seek Your face for the well being of others. Help us to reach out to them, in all seasons, with kindness in word and in deed. May our actions reflect Your character. We are, each one of us, in need of Your guidance in the use of possessions, our prosperity, our tongues and our talents. Though we are quite unworthy, we ask you to bless our efforts... In the name of your glorious Son, Jesus, we pray. Thank you so much for hiking with us through the February 2008 issue of the Hiking the Trail of Truth Newsletter. Until March then, may the grace of our Lord Jesus be upon you... Sincerely, Mark S Taylor END [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] [A Hawk's Trail] [False Trail] [Monthly Newsletter] [Newsletter Archives] [Questions & Answers] HIKING THE TRAIL OF TRUTH Mark S. Taylor (909) 549-0068