September/October  2007 In this issue... In the Land of the Vinyards 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 October 2007 HTTOT 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 on a most profound adventure of learning... 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 the most truthfully informative Christian site on the web. Please, be our guest; explore this truth for yourself and discover! WEBSITE NEWS: HTTOT has moved! HTTOT has relocated to Northern California. In our Letter from the Editor this month, Mark will expound on this new location; "In the Land of the Vineyards." 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 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... Sept/October's Letter From the Editor :  In the Land of the Vineyards   Hello from the Editor!  I'm retired now, and was planning on drifting over to Arizona to spend the remainder of my earthly days. Unchangeable circumstances involving the care of an elderly Alzheimer's patient temporarily altered those immediate plans, and I ended up in Petaluma California. Petaluma is a historic Bay Area town, about forty miles north of San Francisco, and a gateway to the vast, rolling fields of northern California's vineyards. I am working two days a week at security for the Kendall Jackson wine estates and also manage the "Little Woods" mobile home villa where I reside. I have a lot more time now than I did in southern California, thanks to that new Social Security income. I've been busy getting the mobile home villa back up to snuff, as the former manager had let the place run down, but I am fairly caught up now, able to do some hiking in the wine country. Since I spend two days a week in security work for the winery, I thought I would relate to you some profound insights from the land of the vineyards... Vineyards are mentioned throughout the Bible and used by Jesus and others to illustrate many spiritual truths. Jesus Himself is the true Vine and we are the branches who draw our nourishment from Him. Here in the northern California wine country the branches are lush, well cared for by the vine dressers in the area. Vineyards which are well cared for produce a fine harvest. If we are God's children we too are well cared for for the purpose of harvesting. He directs and guides us through each day of our lives... I didn't want to be up here again—had my sights set on the red rock of Arizona. But, our plans are not always the Lord's plans, and like a river, we must flow where the great Force of nature takes us. Improving our spiritual knowledge for working in God's vineyard is the foremost of God's plans for us. Whatever comes our way in life, wherever we are led—which may not be exactly where we want to go or be—there is a purpose, and that is to behave according to Christian standards, seeking the lost and showing kindness to our fellow man or woman. We were bought with a price for this reason. We are His vine dressers. Each day God's mercy is new. As we begin our day it is wise to first of all relate to the terrain around us where God has placed us and draw wisdom and strength from it. God formed it—and us. Here in the land of the vineyards I am reminded that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are indeed few. It takes effort to live and work by God's truth and to share that truth with others, yet, since it is our sole purpose while here on the earth, that effort should be our number one priority. Most of the time we forget, but we must lay aside our personal desires and concentrate on imitating Jesus in our daily activity, wherever we may be. Our actions speak much louder than our words. Like the Psalmist (Psalm 40:12), I say to myself,  'My sins outnumber the hairs of my head'.  Why God continues to guide me and bless me in His mercy I cannot comprehend. Who can know His plans?  Who can refuse His counsel?  Who can know His mind? (Romans 11:34).  I have desires of my own, yet, I am but dust. The One who formed me is so much wiser than I and seeks only my good—for eternity. Bottom line—only true nourishment comes from the Vine in the land of the vineyards. I do not wish to be broken off from the Vine, therefore I must submit and commit myself to the leading hand of the Lord, though I may not necessarily agree with where I am or what I am doing at the time. Even if I feel that I have "unfinished business" of my own in life, God knows and sees all things; past, present and future, and therefore He must be trusted. His way is the "highway"; not my way!   You cannot rely on the flesh or your earthly mind for answers. We are prone to wander and prone to failure. For this task of outreach, of commitment and of trust may He give me strength!  May He give you strength in your own circumstances. If you have difficulties in your life that you don't understand or seem unable to resolve... tell us about it/them. We can help. Please E-mail or give us a call. Sincerely, Mark...I'll see you in November 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... From Cheryl:  10/3/07... I need your prayers again. Our newest granddaughter was born with a condition that causes her trachea to collapse at times when she is breathing or eating. It is a soft trachea or Laryngomalacia. She saw a specialist today and has to have a test next week at the hospital. They will go down her throat to see the extent of what is going on. Normally they can do this test in the doctors office, but since she is so small, they have to do it in the hospital. It is very scary for the kids, as when she nurses or has a bottle sometimes it happens, and when she is upset and crying. Just imagine your new baby not being able to breath!   It is a condition that they outgrow but not until they are 12-18 months old. Please pray for her that all is okay for her, and the kids. Thank you, again, Cheryl Please remember all of the homeless and the poor of the world as you go about your daily routine this week. Try to locate a homeless person and help them in any way that you can, encouraging the spirit of Christmas all year 'round... 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 September/October issue of the Hiking the Trail of Truth Newsletter. Until November 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