LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL

On Sunday September 23,2012, Frank Butler and Bill Butler will be starting a tandem bicycle ride of the Lewis and Clark Trail from the Lewis and Clark memorial near St. Louis to Astoria, Oregon. This is distance of about 3,300 miles. The eastern part of the trail follows the Missouri River crossing the Continental Divide in the northern Rocky Mountains. The Western part of the trail follow the Columbia River from its headwaters down to Astoria, Oregon where the river ends at the Pacific Ocean. On this first leg (about a week of riding) of the trip, we hope to cover about 500 miles. The trail follows the Missouri River across Missouri along the old Katy railroad bed. At Kansas City another trail heading toward Omaha, NE will be followed. We expect to complete the entire trip after about six segment rides. Hopefully, this will be completed in a total of four calendar years. We are hoping to average close to 100 miles per day, depending on the riding conditions. Stay tuned to this Blog for daily updates when ever we are riding. See associate pictures on facebook.

MY THOUGHTS SURPRISE ME!

Matthew 23 GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set By Scribes and Pharisees 23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. 3 So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach. 4 They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “This may be the same problem that exists today in the 21st century church and the world at large. It is particularly true in the western world and the United States. Have you noticed how we expect others (all others) to obey the law, to be independent and make a living for themselves and their families? How we expect kids to toe the line, poor people to get a job, alcoholics to get on the wagon and get a life.? We only help people we believe deserve to be helped. We criticize people for not being able to get along in this society. We may actually believe we are better than them because we have learned how to survive ( actually live quite nicely) here. Is this the burden of the “law’ Christ spoke about?” “ Brunner says this section is contradictory and controversial. What do you think? “ 5 “They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long. 6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi. 8 But don’t make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers. 9 And don’t call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Don’t make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored. "In order to be a respected member of society, what does one have to do? Do you know someone who fits the standard? What are his or her personal traits? What makes them fit this standard? I understand they are people of integrity. They are godly people. Or, are they? Do you know that? Or, do you make your judgement based on other facts and factors. Are they successful by worldly standards? Do you even check to see if they possess the qualities of Christ? Are we just acting out our destiny or are we really disciples of Christ? Are we wearing a mask most of the the time? Do we pretend to be righteous? What makes us followers of Christ? How do we turn our beliefs into action? How do we become the person God made us to be?" Be a Pharisee, send me your suggestions.

I'm back and seeking truth!

Yes, I'm back. You have not heard from me for a while. Perhaps I've been busy. More likely lazy or disinterested. Are you ready for a Blog series? There are a bunch of you I want to have come along for the ride. But, you have to be engaged and spend time commenting. The subject is what is wrong with church from our eyes. Matthew and Paul will be my main references. It is Gospel according to them that has me seeking more truth. You see, I believe God to be the singular, transcendent God of the universe. The one who created all we know and see. And, I believe He sent His son Jesus to earth as a man to pay the penalty for all our sins, granting us life now and in eternity. That's what Matthew and Paul called salvation. We are going to seek out this truth. Who wants to come along? Is there anything wrong with the church today? Let me hear it. If you like, read the first six chapters of Romans. I'm stuck in chapter 6.

Finishing the MRT

If you are interested in a bicycle ride along the length of the Mississippi follow the ride my son Bill and I are completing this March. We will have ridden about 2,500 miles. Mostly on a tandem. My other son Bob has joined us for several of the rides and is planning to join us for the completion beginning March 21st. We will be ending on Saturday and hosting a celebration in New Orleans Saturday evening. Contact me for details ensign453@yahoo.com.

MORE ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOR

Yesterday was the annual Corinthian Hill Property Owners Association meeting. Most of it went smoothly as usual. One topic is a commentary on the the state of our nation.

Owners in one of the 4-plexes in the development have encountered an issue that will plague us for some time. Two owners wanted to make changes to their units. The other two did not want to make the changes. A third owner agreed to allow the two to make the changes. The fourth fought it through the CHPOA. The CHPOA said no! The two owners made the changes anyway. The only recourse is for the single owner to sue the two who made the changes. Got the picture?

Self above neighbor, above nation and above God. We are all guilty. Had these rules been reversed the problem would have been worked out amicably Now the solution is more and stricter rules. Legal battles. This is a grass roots issue. This is not a national political issue. Christ said, “Love God, love your neighbor” Do You?

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

Just returned from "Trail West"work week. It was amazing. There were over a hundred college age young men and women there from various parts of Texas. They paid their own way. Many are just days away from finishing a semester of school. They worked hard for five days preparing TW for is summer mission of entertaining and loving on families who come because they want to learn more about “Young life”. They actually experience the love of Christ through the work of the camp staff and volunteers. Little do they know about the behind the scenes loving preparation of the work week volunteers.

During the week Grace and I experienced the love of Jesus from all the other workers. The historic Jesus who ministered on earth about 2000 years ago is still alive and well. There are three aspects of the one God of Heaven. The Father over us. The Son with us. And, the Spirit in us. We have been chosen and granted Grace and mercy.

The Son gave us two commands. They are present in several place in the scriptures. The first is "Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. And, the second is like the first, Love your neighbor as yourself." I think long and hard about how to love the Lord. Love is describe in many place in the scriptures. It is a noun and it is a verb. It is not a feeling. I have concluded the second command is a how to. It is in part, how to love the Lord.

During the past week, I experienced the commanded love from all the workers at Trail West. I have been truly loved and the command has been met. I pray that all God's children are able to experience this same love from their neighbors. Look for it. Expect it. Anticipate it. Seek out those who are working on obeying the command. The reward is enormous. Read about it in John 15 and 1Corinthians 13. Read the commands in Matthew 22:34+.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!

May 2, 2011

So Osama Bin Laden is dead. Some say that brings him to justice. What will bring us to justice? Our deaths? Some will say we are just. But, I repeat a now famous saying, "Let him who without fault (sin) cast the first stone."

How can we who are sinful bring anyone to justice?

So, what are we to do. Turn to the one who can help. If you believe as I do please speak out. We are not righteous. We are guilty of disobeying the one who created us and loves us. Seek righteousness by seeking the righteous one. Hunger and thirst for righteousness inside ourselves. No one can be made righteous by force. The death of Bin Laden has not made him righteous and it will not lead his followers to righteousness.

Turn the other cheek, trust the one who saves. The advice itself if given or taken poorly is likely to create more conflict. There will be many who proclaim these words to be wrong and stupid. If I respond harshly with angry tones, nothing will be accomplished. Words alone will not turn the tide. Witnessing actions sent from a sovereign/loving God will show the way for many. Many more will still not believe. Are we to turn away from them? No, we are to continue to love them, demonstrate compassion, listen and accept them. But, we must not accept their unrighteous ideas.

The pain of 911 will not diminish or go away until we learn to forgive. No amount of human justice will take away the pain. We will not recover from the pain of the devastation at ground zero until we understand the nature and identity of the villains. We are the guilty. Sure it was taken down by terrorist but, God allowed it because we have turned away from Him.

In OT times God told the Israelites to destroy their enemies. They tried and failed. Instead they became prideful and confident in their own capabilities and stopped paying attention to their God. They became weak and very much the same as their enemies. God was not opposed to their fighting. He was angered when they did it on their own and refused to obey Him.

I just know, that I was repulsed when I saw the celebrations over Bin laden's death. It is wrong to celebrate over an enemies death. I was feeling sad for the revelers. It is biblically wrong! The man who said he was happy that his Son's death was revenged did not look very happy. Evil is awful but, we must not try to conquer evil with evil. We must stand above it. We cannot do that alone.