May/June  2009 A 332 page published autobiographical edition (2009) of Hiking the Trail of Truth is now available from Xulon Press! Click on the link below to order your personal copy, or Phone 866-909-BOOK. Xulon Press * 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 May/June 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 Desert 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 Desert Trail will be well worth your time... Just click on the Desert Trail link in 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. Sincerely, the HTTOT staff. May/June's Letter From the Editor : The Wilderness of Fear Our little friend (the fox) on the cover of this Newsletter surely appears to be fearful, does he/she not? The Wilderness of Fear is full of darkened crags and dangerously steep terrain. A young servant once said to his blind, elderly master, "Of all things, to live in darkness must be the worst." The old man wisely replied, "Fear is the only darkness." Indeed fear, like all of Satan's works, is dark and deceptive. It takes on a variety of forms, but it is always cloaked in darkness. One cannot see through fear. That is because it blinds us to the actuality of what really is, or to the reality of what can actually be accomplished. It seems also to be like an impenetrable wall. Since we refuse to see beyond that wall, we often fail to get over it, around it, or through it. We usually find ourselves to have a fear of some type of failure or perhaps of loss, perhaps of pain, perhaps of heights, perhaps of closed in quarters or darkness itself, and of course there are a myriad of other things that we can fear. At present there are many who fear the future. However, I believe the most destructive form of fear is the fear of man himself. This particular natural fear gives birth to many other forms of fear. By fear of man, I am referring to our natural fear of what others may think, or of how they may react to the way we think. We naturally long for the approval of others. Because of the fear of not having their approval, we wander into all sorts of calamities that take a toll on our lives. As a result we blindly follow the majority into many deceitful forms of attitude, which lead us into sin, depravity and destruction. Rather than take a stand for what is right, we are prone to follow those who approve of what is wrong, even though we ourselves know it to be wrong. Fear of man is what causes wars among nations, who in actuality have every God-given reason to seek peace. If they endeavored to live just by what you've learned so far in this book they would surely seek peace. Fear promotes envy, jealousy, strife and hatred. Fear is always destructive, however there is one particular form of fear that leads to understanding and life. Webster defines fear in two ways—realization of danger, or reverence and awe. The second definition is usually considered as the fear of God. The Scriptures teach: The fear (reverence and awe) of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. This type or form of fear is most productive and can dispel all other fears. We are encouraged; God is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we shall not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging (Proverbs 1:7, Psalm 46:1-3 NIV). To escape the wilderness of destructive fear, you must first realize that you are within its borders. Remember, fear is darkness, and you can be blind to its existence because it can masquerade as light (2nd Corinthians 11:14). Through the knowledge of God you can understand that you are capable of fear and that some form of it will always plague you. Acceptance of this truth leads to an understanding of fear as well as a respect for it. By respect, I mean that you accept it as natural and that you deal with it according to true knowledge. Dealing with fear according to true knowledge is understanding that only an attitude that takes into consideration the many attributes of God can hope to expel fear. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1st John 1:5). An attitude that is fixed on this truth can walk through the dark wall of fear. This attitude can also stand amidst fear when there seems to be no way out. It can dispel the surrounding darkness and allow one to walk continuously on into ever brightening light. To overcome fear is to be bold and daring in attitude. It is the sword of the Spirit and the shield of Truth that protects the one surrounded by and in battle with fear. These are the only weapons that have any hope of dispelling the darkness and deception of fear. No form of human psychiatry or psychology is as effective, for they are only temporary measures erected by men and incapable of withstanding the test of time. Fear is not (contrary to popular opinion) a human weakness encountered only by the weak. It is not something that any particular form of psychological therapy can resolve in a short time, as I mentioned earlier. It is instead a reality of our nature that no one escapes, no matter who they think they are. In actuality, fear, in some form, is a lifetime defect. In dealing with fear, reading or memorizing Scripture is the most effective. What can be more powerful than the Spirit of God? Nothing! The Spirit of God enables one to stand in the epicenter of an earthquake and not fear the outcome. It enables one to not fear the roaring of the seas, the awesome power of the wind, or the crumbling of mountains. The Christian understands that these 'fearful' things will happen as long as the earth exits in its present state of decay. This particular knowledge and trust in God is, again, most effective in dealing with any type of fear—fear of the physical or fear of a spiritual nature. Many of our ancestors overcame fear; winning battles, conquering kingdoms and escaping great danger and personal tragedy through their belief and trust in God. The Bible contains many endearing stories representing the degree of faith that overcomes fear. It is wise to become familiar with these stories. When any type or form of fear overwhelms you, whether it be considered a small fear or a great fear, whether a little hurtful or life threatening, whether discomforting, devastating, or catastrophic, remember that your life is in the hands of the One who formed you. There is no way that He is going to let you down, no matter how things may appear. God's plan for your life includes everything that happens to you. When He leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only one of two things will happen; either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly. Accept that truth and fear not! Your faith in that particular knowledge is your hope of deliverance. Holding to this form of attitude is the only way to deal successfully with fear. No matter what happens, train your mind and your senses and learn to trust in God and not in yourself (Proverbs 3:5). Embrace this right attitude with all of your being. This will dispel the darkness of fear. Thanks for hiking along with me today—see you next month for another letter from the editor! Sincerely, Mark S Taylor 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