APRIL  2007 In this issue... The American Way One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.  He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.  One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.  The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."  The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:  "Which wolf wins?"  The old Cherokee simply replied,  "The one you feed." Previous Newsletters    (Archives)  Website Home Page  (Trailheads) * Contact  Hiking the Trail of Truth,  PO Box 1443, Crestline, CA, 92325-1443 Mark's Trail Phone # 707-477-2460, or e-mail   hikemark@hotmail.com Page 2 From The Editor... Hello, and Welcome to the April 2007 Newsletter!  We here at Hiking the Trail of Truth sincerely hope this day 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 this year on a great adventure of learning... Knowing God is first seeing Him through the things He has made. 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 Lake 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 Lake Trail will be well worth your time... Just click on the Lake 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 the most truthfully informative Christian site on the web. Please, be our guest; explore this truth for yourself and discover! WEBSITE NEWS: Our most recent trail addition to the website is the Discovery Trail.  Along this trail, you can immediately add to your knowledge of truth through some most profound discoveries... The Discovery Trail is an eye-opening place for you to begin the adventure of exploring Hiking the Trail of Truth, a most informative and unique website. 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 opportunity this year 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 write, e-mail, or phone 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... April Letter From the Editor :  The American Way Of all the nations of men in the world today, I believe the Native Americans truly honor God more than anyone else. Their respect for His creation surpasses that of any other nation, and, after all, the things of creation are what draw us to nearer to God in the first place. Through their demonstrated love of the creation and their in-depth understanding of human weakness the Native Americans have gained much wisdom. Here are some guidelines which originated from their profound insight that hopefully will serve to draw you closer to God: There are always changes you need to make in your life. As you journey down life's path these changes need to be made in order that God may fulfill His promises to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. Because of all God has done and continues to do for you, this is really very little to ask of you. On your journey it would indeed then be wise to follow these guidelines: 1. Do not worry: Life has dealt you a blow and all you seem to do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that God is here to take all your burdens and carry them for you during your journey on earth?  Or is it that you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way. If there are things which need done or taken care of, why not put them on the list? —No, not your list, but on God's to-do-list.  Let Him be the One to take care of the problems you have encountered. He cannot help you until you turn them over to Him. And though His to-do-list is extremely long, He is, after all, God. He can take care of anything you put into His hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, God takes care of things that you never even realize. 2. Trust in God. Once you have placed your burdens upon His shoulders, you need to quit trying to take them back. Trust in Him. Have the faith that He will take care of all of your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with your children?  Put them on the list. Problem with finances?  Put it on His list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster?  For His sake put them on His list. He wants to help you. All you have to do is ask.— And don't wake up in the morning and say, "Well, I am feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here."  Why do you think you are feeling stronger now?  It is simple—you gave God your burdens and He is taking care of them. He also renews your strength and covers you in His peace. Do you not know that if He were to give your problems back to you that you would be right back where you started?  Leave them with Him and forget about them. When things seem most impossible is when you need to truly believe and keep on believing. Trust, let go, and let God do His work. 3. Talk to God. Do not forget to talk to God—often. He loves you. He wants to hear your voice. He wants to hear your side of the things going on in your life. He wants to hear you talk about your friends and family. He wants to hear whatever is on your mind, good or bad. As you journey on in life prayer is simply your having a conversation with God. He wants to be your dearest friend. He sees a lot of things from His lofty position that you can't see from where you are. Trust Him. You would not want the view from His eyes. Have faith in Him that He knows what He is doing. He will continue to care for you, watch over you and meet your needs. He will lead you around, over or through the rocks on your pathway. And do not be bitter when your petitions are not immediately answered. God's waiting list is indeed long; He has many children who petition Him day and night. You only have to trust in Him. — Although He has a much greater task than you, it seems as if you have trouble just doing your simple part. Indeed, how hard can trust be?  Learn to listen to the wind; It blows where it will, yet, always completes its work. 4. Were you not taught to share when you were an infant?  When did you forget?  That rule still applies. Share your time and possessions with those who are less fortunate than you. Share also your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have been broken by life. And share your faith with those who have little or none. God has arranged that in just one lifetime you have had many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, change direction many times, perhaps have children, perhaps learn many trades, travel to many places, meet hundreds of people and experience so much in life!  How can you then be so impatient in caring and sharing?  Have you not seen the plight of the poor?  How can you be so impatient when it takes God a little longer than you expect to handle something on His to-do-list?  Trust in God's timing, for His timing, throughout your lifetime, is perfect. Just because He created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks He should always rush, rush, rush. We therefore judge Him without having any understanding. 5. Be kind to others, for God loves them as He loves you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but He still loves all people. Try to get along with others for God's sake. He created each of us to be different is some way, giving each of us a particular purpose. Think how boring it would be if we were all identical. God loves each of our differences and, again, there is a reason for them. You were created by God to love and to be loved in return. He is a God of love. Love Him. Love your neighbors. It makes God's heart ache when we do not practice love. We are very precious to Him. Don't ever forget Him or His wisdom found in these guidelines. Focus not on the thorns in your life—smell the roses and count your blessings. Be patient and wait on the Lord. I say again, wait on the Lord. You shall mount up with wings like an eagle, you shall run and not be weary, you shall walk and not faint. Page 3 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, E-mail or write to 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... Everyone...  Below you will find a letter from a dear friend who's grandaughter is going thru a serious infection. Will you please put her in your prayers. Thank you so much. Noreen... Dear Noreen, My granddaughter, Courtney, 16 years old, contracted the most serious E-Coli bacterial infection in her stomach during the family's trip to Kauai. Health Authorities in both states are trying to find the source. They believe that it came from unwashed hands handling vegetables, etc. She also has another type of colon infection along with E-Coli so she is fighting hard to heal. No treatment for this.  Anyway would you please keep her in your prayers?  The main concern is the effect on her kidneys. Guess kidney failure can happen.  Thanks, with love, Doreen Morrison. Please remember all of the homeless and the poor of the world during this special time of year. Try to locate a homeless person and help them in any way that you can, encouraging the spirit of Christmas... Continue to pray for all of those in need of daily bread, 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 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, 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 April issue of the Hiking the Trail of Truth Newsletter. Until May 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 (707) 477-2460