JUNE / JULY 2006
 |
 |
IN THIS ISSUE...
| From The
Editor........................Page 2 Along the Trail of Truth.............Page 3 Trail Tales.................................Page 4 Encouraging God's Children.....Page 5 |
 |
Previous Newsletters (Archives)
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... |  |
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 education, inspiration and lasting encouragement which you can find along the 7 hikes of 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. This would indeed be the wisest of decisions that you could make... 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 and discover!
WEBSITE NEWS:
Our newest 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.
Be sure to visit the Wilderness Trail, our next most recent trail addition. Wilderness wanderings are the times in our life when God brings about circumstances or events to discipline and train us for better things, namely, to accomplish His earthly purpose for us according to His will. These wanderings are usually the difficult times of our lives, which may or may not come about by our own choice; the wilderness of failure, the wilderness of doubt, the wilderness of affliction, the wilderness of fear, the wilderness of despair, the wilderness of loneliness, and the wilderness of anxiety. We hope you will take the time to visit the Wilderness Trail, and that you will write to us regarding your discoveries.
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, 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...
June/July Letter From the Editor: Allowing God to Build Us Up
Last time we talked about our Daily Failure Dilemma. This month we are going to discuss how to live with that daily dilemma that each of us find ourselves in. The secret or simple solution is to trust in God, however, most folks don't have a deep understanding of what that means; to trust in God.— Solomon wrote, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all you ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. In other words; trust in God, never trust in yourself. Does that clear it up a little?
By nature we do not trust in God and cannot, through our own will (Romans 8:7), trust in Him. Trust is something that He teaches us over time and enables us to do through His Spirit. No matter how many goals we set, or turning points we claim to have made, we soon find that we can do nothing without trusting in God. We have to want His will and not our own. We are impure in our hearts. Our hearts are always deceiving us regarding whose will we are in. The minute we think we are doing God's will, and we may in fact be, we still eventually end up changing course and going our own way. That's the daily failure dilemma. When you truly face that "failure fact" about yourself, then there may be hope for you. When you finally stand in front of the mirror and see a worthless individual, impure in heart, wretched and twisted in your actions and in your thinking, then, you have discovered something—you've discovered the truth about yourself.
The truth is that you have to allow God to build you up into something worth using. After all, He formed you. Has He then not the right to continue to mold and shape that which He created? Of course He does! Stop trying to mold yourself. No piece of clay can mold itself; that is naturally the right of the potter. Yet, we spend our entire lives trying to shape and mold ourselves into what we think we ought to be. Let the world do that! You are not of the world, so why continue to be a part of it? Do you like what you see out there? Hatred, jealousy, strife, boasting, arrogance, murder and war? Every type of impurity of heart that you could ever imagine! That is the world's dilemma, and it remains that way because of their unbelief—their constant shaping and molding of their own immature thoughts and ideas. The results are nothing more than a pile of dung; false sciences, false religions, damning philosophies and the like. Nothing out there is worth trusting in. Only God can be trusted.
The only thing that will separate you from the world is your trust in God. You're right out there in the middle of all that dung, so don't think that you can escape it without trusting in God. You have to trust in Him. You cannot rely on yourself. You have to learn to love what God loves, to think how He thinks, to walk how He walks; to become a part of Him. You must allow yourself to be absorbed into His being. How can this be accomplished? First of all, look into the mirror as suggested previously and realize what is really there. Once you have humbled yourself in that respect, take into account that trusting in yourself is not the answer...
Secondly, learn of God's attributes as demonstrated through Jesus Christ; kindness, gentleness, patience, justice, humility and mercy. This takes good Bible study as well as an understanding of the things God has made. When studying the Bible, bring the Scriptures to life, as if you were there during the events that took place. Consider the attitudes of the characters involved. Most importantly, consider the attitudes of Jesus. Develop these latter attitudes within yourself and put them into daily practice through diligence in prayer. Thirdly, no matter what happens, constantly consider the weakness of your own nature, and be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is; that which is good, acceptable and perfect. Strive to put to death the deeds of the flesh that are within you and constantly war against you. (Romans 12:2, 8:13)
Live life through the Spirit of God. This life is in conflict with your nature, so it will many times be a struggle, but again, lean not on your own understanding. Noah did not spend 120 years building a boat by leaning on his own understanding, nor did he challenge God in this purpose. He considered God's knowledge far above his own, which other faithful Biblical characters did as well. Consider God's knowledge as infinite as all the grains of sand on a five mile stretch of beach. Your knowledge would compare to just one tiny grain of sand on that very same beach. This is why God can accept your failures and why you can learn to accept them as well. You are just a tiny speck in the universe, yet, God shows His love for you through the sacrifice of His Son on your behalf. You can never "build yourself up" as God does. Having this knowledge will give understanding and importance to your life—far more than you could ever give yourself and far more than anyone could ever give you. So, trust in the Lord. He is the master builder.
In the next HTTOT Newsletter, we will take a profound look at yet another Letter from the Editor. Until then, I thank you for and am honored by your time. Next letter from the editor; Attitudes that work.
Back to top
Page 3
| Along The Trail of Truth |  |
 |
Along the Trail of Truth is HTTOT's newest addition to the Newsletter and replaces the former Friends Along the Trail segment. Along the Trail of Truth is a no-nonsense look at the world's latest ideas and/or publications, and 'sets the record straight' concerning them. God's word teaches us that the wisdom of the world is indeed foolishness with God, and that He has also chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the so-called wise (1st Corinthians 1:19-31). Relative to this profound reality, Along the Trail of Truth takes a look at natural mankind's perception of things and respectfully passes onto you the truth of the matter...
The Great Deluge
Recently I learned that a book has been written on the U.S. hurricane catastrophes of 2005. The book is titled, The Great Deluge. It was of course a deluge, but certainly not the great deluge. Most people forget that there was only one great deluge; the flood of Noah which took place around 2460 BC. I stand in awe of their forgetfulness. The great flood evidence is everywhere in the world—from coal and oil deposits to vast mountain ranges parallel to the oceanic ridges from which they slid. From vast desert wastelands and carved canyons to impressive rock formations and widespread groves of forest. And most profound, the telltale fossil record of unique land and sea creatures, fish, plants and animals. No, one does not have to venture out very far in this world to see obvious evidence of the great deluge, even though it is nearly 5000 years into history!
But, the world of mankind doesn't see these things because they refuse to live in the reality of our young earth. Instead, they war with one another from country to country and focus on the technologies of this age, which are in fact not technologies at all, but a mere striving after the wind. Instead of seeing the beauty of just one wildflower and thereby discovering the importance of understanding God and love, they choose ignorance and strife as their way of life. They brag of great weapons and march with them down their highways, while ignoring the simplicity and profoundness of an eagle in flight. They argue over meaningless philosophies and cannot understand the more important fragrance of a rose. Prompted by the ruler of this world they struggle and strive toward an ungodly end. Only when small catastrophes strike, such as the hurricanes of 2005, do they pause and mourn for a few days, thinking that they have lost something of value. They do not consider God's warnings and fail to fall to the ground on their faces in repentance and awe.
The only great deluge of this modern day is the great deluge of ignorance. I am exceedingly saddened by it, but all I can do is pray, for most people of the twenty-first century do not want to hear the truthfulness of the words I speak, nor the words of any teacher of profound truth. The beauty found in a blade of grass is lost to the modern mentality. The peace in a field of flowers does not teach them the simplicity and value of love and unity. A rifle in one's hands does not compare to the touch of cool water from a mountain spring. I would rather have a song in my heart than bombs on my waist. The heart was designed and fashioned to produce love, but it has become deceitful and desperately wicked. Seeking to be wise, men and women have only become fools. Where is everybody? Most certainly the deluge is one of ignorance.
Disasters have a purpose—to lead us back to the garden of God. There is so much to learn about the purpose of the human race. Help me, dear reader, to pray for the world, that their eyes will be opened...one person at a time throughout all nations. Let us strive to conquer ignorance through truth and love, which is the only solution to the world's problems.
Thanks for hiking "Along the Trail of Truth" for June and July. See you again next time. For more on the great flood, visit the Lake Trail and the Trail of Time at this website.
Back to top
Page 4
 |
Trail Tales Previous Episodes of Trail Tales can be found in Newsletter Archives ! |
 |
Last evening I had the pleasure of viewing a coyote up here on the mountain where I live. He was beautiful, still in his thick winter coat. The sighting took me back in time along my trail of life to a most memorable hike...
Death Valley in California, perhaps at the bottom of a sea in the pre flood world, is a notably vast formation of hills and buttes; an extremely picturesque mixture of multicolored sand, mud, clay and rocks. Water-carved canyons abound throughout this region and hiking among them is quite impressive, to say the least. About sixty miles wide and over one hundred and twenty miles in length, Death Valley is a true monument to God's creativity in the power of receding waters during the great flood of Noah (2460 BC). It is now however a very dry, restful place. It's a medicinal location to set up camp under the stars or to leisurely dwell in during the day. I have been fortunate enough to have spent many rewardingly quiet times within its tranquil borders...
Quietness is indeed a good thing. The Bible teaches us that; In quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15). Unfortunately life on our planet is polluted by unending noise, most of it man made. Mankind rushes on not knowing their end, but, when death comes there is truly nothing we can take with us save silence. The noise and futility of this life are left behind.— Why not choose then to learn the value of living life here and now amidst quietness? Not externally of course, for that would be nearly impossible— unless you lived in a remote section of this desert. I am talking here about inner quietness. Inner peace is developed through a learning process of trusting in God. It is a reserved quietness, not tuned to the world's noise, which results from knowing that God is in control; from accepting that life-giving fact within your heart and within your mind and within your spirit.
Lord, my heart is not proud. My eyes are not haughty. I do not concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131)
Inner peace, like all sound Biblical principles, is developed through a timely learning process. It is the utopia in mind and body control. No man made meditation practice can ever achieve it. You don't need to stand on your head in thought, nor contort your body through some man-inspired ritual, nor do you need to be an expert in Kung-fu to obtain it. If you will, notice that the psalmist wrote that he (I) had stilled and quieted himself. He had learned through experience not to be proud or self satisfied. His eyes were not haughty or arrogant or self-magnifying. He had become as a small child within his thinking, and he emphasized that...
His focus and trust was in God (Psalm 131:3). Yes, he certainly had to find a resting place for the turmoil and cares of this life, both past and present, as well as find a refuge for the natural frustration of spirit encountered in achieving that particular quietness. His trust then could have only been in God and not in himself, nor in human wisdom or philosophy. Only unwavering faith and trust in God, with patience, will develop that type of peace and quietness within. Contrary to the theories of modern psychology, there is, in pure reality, just no other way to go about it.
You may have never been to Death Valley. There are many other similarly remote and quiet places all over the earth. Yet, if you have developed the quietness within which the psalmist speaks of, you could probably sit down in the median of a freeway during rush hour and be at peace.— I wouldn't recommend that, but it is possible. Personally, I still prefer the external silence of the desert, the mountains, within a forest or down beside a quiet stream.— You might first take notice as to the silence of the rocks or the trees or the plants nearby as you wander about in these remote places. Believe me, if they could speak out in your language, they could teach you many things about God and inner quietness. (Job 12:7-10)
The Biblical book of Job teaches us in numerous passages that the creation itself trusts in God. That is why it is so quiet and peaceful within; following the natural order of life on the earth, remaining in subjection to its Creator.— The creation itself knows that God is in control and will one day restore all things... including external peace (Romans 8:18-24). Learning more then about the things which God has made, as well as the distinct peace He has endowed them with, can help you to trust in Him and to become at peace within yourself. Again, you cannot rely on the teachings of men to still your soul, unless they are founded upon the Word of God.— Allow me to share with you a "tutoring" on inner peace from Death Valley, an area of inspiration created for us by God during the great flood...
The terrain in Death Valley is indeed rough, much like the turmoil and frustration that goes with living in this world and much like who we are inside, yet, the area itself we find to be still and peaceful. It has been quieted by time since the upheaval of the great flood, some 4500 years ago. An ancient water bed, Death Valley is full of collectable rocks of all sizes, shapes and colors. Indeed a rock hunters paradise. There are hundreds of impressive water-laid canyons here. Due to the natural environment of the area nearly 1000 species of plants flourish within its borders. To date there are at least twenty-one or more different species of plants that are found nowhere else in the world. The valley is also home to many varieties of marsh grass. There are spectacular spring wildflower displays. There are numerous species of reptiles, birds and animals.— Once while journeying there, as I was occupied in a leisurely ascent of a multicolored rock butte, I was allowed the sudden honor of observing a most handsome and interesting specimen of a coyote...
As I clung to an outcropping of rock, I spotted him on the narrow ridge just ahead of me. He saw me and stopped in his track to investigate my intrusion into his domain. I felt "at one" with him for a moment; we were both alone in a remote area of exceptional inspiration.— He took a few steps away from me, then stopped and turned his head back to observe me once again. He then gracefully moved his body around and faced me head-on.— He was indeed very healthy looking for a desert coyote. His hair was coarse and colorful and his size well above average. He stood so majestically there, an air of gentle boldness about him. I was of course quite thrilled by his presence.... actually, beyond measure...
I instinctively said, "hello", to him. He perked up his ears and continued to watch me... I wasn't sure that he'd ever had the English language spoken at him before... I then climbed on around toward the ridge approaching him, just below his perch, and continued on my journey, stepping down on a somewhat lower outcrop and passing by him. I could have reached up and nearly touched him. He kept watch on me for a short period as I did on him, then he turned and moved on, crossing a sloped expanse of red rock, bound in another direction from me. He came to a dead stop once and looked back, as if to say, "farewell". He continued on after that and I soon lost sight of him among the rocks.— He had appeared the whole time to be very untroubled, not at all apprehensive like most coyotes I have come in contact with in the wilderness.
Perhaps it's Death Valley itself that inspired the behavior of this particular coyote. The valley is indeed quite captivating in nature, breathtakingly still, full of some of God's finest artwork; beyond any shadow of doubt a most adequate tutor on spiritual nourishment. You can actually take a deep breath and smell the strength of the enriching quietness in this place. Realms of quietness have distinct scents of their own, did you know that? The Apache Indians teach us that stillness is an unequalled pleasure. This is of course all God's doing... You can develop the very same quietness and stillness within yourself; an inner peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:6,7). It is a process of training your attitudes in learning to rightly appreciate God's wonders... A process of giving thanks as you learn to trust Him in and for your daily walk, carrying those wonders along with you in the valleys of your mind.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters... He restores my soul... (Psalm 23:1-3)
Our journey today comes from The Desert Trail at this website. Thanks for hiking with me today. I hope you will join me again next time for another Trail Tales adventure. Until then, may God be with you along your journey in life. Sincerely, MS Taylor HTTOT
Back to top
Page 5
 |
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...
Those in the US disaster areas...Folks from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky and Indiana still need your prayers. This is a great time to both pray for and help those displaced by the great storms. God will hear your prayers, and He will notice your gift, no matter how small. There are several countries throughout the world experiencing disasters as well, both human and natural. These disasters vary and occur daily. Pray that our Lord will continue to watch over and strengthen His children during these times, and perhaps bring those who are not His children into His family. The Lord is our refuge and strength in any type of disaster.
Update on Carli June 11th, 2006— (More information on Carli can be found in the Oct/Nov 2005 and successive HTTOT Newsletters)...
Here she is, out of surgery and in her pink below the knee walking cast. She was a trooper, as usual. Dr. Paley took the fixator off yesterday, June 9, and in two weeks she will get a waterproof cast so she can swim. The casts will be on for six weeks. They had to break her tibia, again, to reposition it. Carli was due to be released from the hospital today, and maybe come home tonight, but for sure they will be back home tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate any and all of you, for your help keeping her in Gods thoughts. I will update later, as she starts walking again. Love, Grandma Cheryl June 17th...Okay, her face is a little blurry, but take into consideration, this is only four days after her surgery and, having her tibia broken again,she is trying to balance on that one leg. She had a rough day the day after the surgery; lots of pain and swelling and they had to slit the sides of her cast because of it, so that's why there is duct tape on it. She hasn't really started to walk as of yet, only been a week, but she is standing and trying to put weight on it, as you can see in this picture. She goes back to Baltimore on the 26 of June and Dr Paley is going to put a waterproof cast on so she can swim and not miss her whole summer like she did last year. She certainly is a trooper. Keep her in your prayers, along with all of the other people you pray for each day. Thanks, all of you. Cheryl |
  |
Please remember our US Troops...who are on foreign soil defending our freedom and the freedom of others less fortunate. We have many sons and daughters engaged in this effort. Let us pray for their ability to endure, and for their safe and victorious return from a land where the one, true God is unknown.
Please remember all of the homeless and the poor of the world again this month. Try to locate a homeless person and help them in any way that you can... 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. 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 June / July issue of the Hiking the Trail of Truth Newsletter. Until August then, may the grace of our Lord Jesus be upon you...
Sincerely, Mark S Taylor
END
Back to top
[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