timmyjohnboy.com

What Boots are Best for Hiking?

Since the season’s here, let’s continue the discussion on hiking. One question I hear come up often is “What kind of shoes should I wear?” This is a good question and it should be considered by anyone looking into going hiking.

Let’s start off by giving the ever-dreaded answer: it depends. Are you looking at going on a one hour stroll through the woods or an eight hour long haul? Are you going to be walking on generally flat ground or up a mountain? Are you expecting the hike to be on dry land or muddy and perhaps with creeks and puddles? All of these things must be taken into consideration.

1. Are you looking at going on a one hour stroll through the woods or an eight hour long haul? If you are just going for an hour, I would just chose something comfortable, like sneakers. Longer haul? Look into something a little more. Find something with better support and more shock resistance.

2. Are you going to be walking on generally flat ground or up a mountain? In my opinion, if you are going up a mountain, look for something with ankle support. If you slip, especially as you descend, you do not want to twist an ankle.

3. Are you expecting the hike to be on dry land or on muddy ground perhaps with creeks and puddles? Obviously if the latter is true, find something water resistant or water proof.

Search for Hiking Boots on Amazon.com

My own personal opinion is that for a short, flat, dry walk, I will most definitely chose something lighter like sneakers. For something longer, more rugged, and perhaps damp, I will bring my combat boots. I know many people would chose something different like a lighter and more ventilated hiking boot, but for me the combat boot is tried and true. Two years ago I went on a four mile hike in the pouring rain and almost every part of my body was wet except my feet. I love those boots!

What’s your opinion? What are some qualifiers that help you choose footwear for a hike? What is your opinion about hiking in combat boots? What kind of boot would you suggest?

Search for Combat Boots on Amazon.com

Thinking About Hiking, Once Again!

Well, it’s almost that time again here in Upstate New York! Every year I get very excited about hiking season in the Adirondack Mountains.

It seems every year, so far, my wife and I have taken the trip up to the High Peaks to enjoy our anniversary in mountains. We usually stay in this quaint B&B called Spruce Lodge (more info can be found on beadandbreakfast.com, tripadvisor.com, and travel.yahoo.com) which we always enjoy! Please note that our opinion is not based on anything to do with a typical “B&B” experience because we typically enjoy keeping to ourselves when on vacation. We enjoyed the experience because they offered several options that catered well to this preference (they have an “apartment” which is pretty separate and also some condo-style houses for rent) and the rates can be very reasonable.

This last year (2007) we hiked two of the 46 high peaks: Wright and Algonquin. Check out our photo galleries! [album=7,extend] I think the pictures say pretty much everything about the experience, but I will still be posting trip reports on them soon.

Pray for us for we are looking forward to some great hikes but are also looking forward to trying new and more challenging hikes!

Comments welcomed! Do you hike? What kind of hiking do you enjoy? Have you ever hiked the High Peaks in New York before? Do you have any good suggestions of good High Peaks hikes for us?

Has God Created His Creation to be Creative?

Today’s video is one that brings great entertainment, inspiration and perhaps motivation!

Who isn’t entertained by a painting elephant?   Isn’t God amazing that he can create such an amazing animal with such extraordinary intelligence?  Doesn’t it make you want to get up and learn how to paint, just so you can know that at least you can paint better than an elephant?

LIVING OUT – Post 2 out of 5 – David

David

The story of David starts in 1Samuel 16. Most of you probably know the story of David and Goliath. You know that he eventually became king. But do you know that he also took care of sheep, that he was anointed to be king by Samuel before slaying the giant, that he was the one that helped Saul when he couldn’t sleep, that he could have killed Saul many times while he was after him but didn’t. That he was the youngest of his family. And again there is so much more to this familiar character but again I want to make you think and challenge you.

Can you imagine having the faith to stand up to a giant and not kill someone who wants to kill you?

Can you imagine helping put to sleep and be faithful to a king you would replace?

Can you imagine being a young boy and being anointed to be king and not letting it go to your head?

Can you imagine killing a giant and not taking credit for it?

David did all of these things and more. He was a leading example of faith and conduct. He new God had a plan for him and the other Israelites and he would not do anything or refuse to do something that would hinder that plan. You can be a leader in conduct and faith just like David. Seek God’s plan for your life and the life’s of those around you and don’t do anything contrary to that plan and do everything to make it happen. Don’t let any giants in your life stop you.

Challenges

1. Identify through prayer what God has for your life and those around you
2. Ask God to give you the power and wisdom to stand up to and identify your giants and actually do it
3. Ask God for help and refuse to retaliate against those who persecute you

Memory Verse:

1 Samuel 17: 45

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”

Reading

1 Samuel 16- 24

“Ready or Not!”

http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=456&sid=1389952

I heard about this story in the news this morning. Apparently this lawyer, while eating in a local restaurant, noticed a police officer parking outside the restaurant right in front of a “no parking” sign. He continued to watch the officer as he left his car there and ordered and waited for his food.

This obviously annoyed the lawyer because he confronted him. He then decided to initiate traffic fines (I guess a citizen can do that?) so the officer will be summoned to court in May and be charged and possibly be fined for up to $540.

The officer will be fighting the charges. I hear he has grounds because, even though he was waiting for food, he was still a uniformed emergency responder who needed to be ready in case of an emergency.

As I read the article, I began it with some form of annoyance, or perhaps even distain for the police officer who would “use” his status as an officer. Who hasn’t seen officers patrolling the streets flip their lights on and off just to get through a red light without stopping, even though they were not “in pursuit”? However, as I read to the end, and I read the reasoning for it, I felt a bit better. It is true that he would have to be ready to jump into his car and tear out of there in the case of an emergency. I can see an officer needing to park his car “just so” with no obstacles in the way and close to the door so there is nothing impeding his quick response.

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

Ephesians 6:14 “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

The same way an officer, or any emergency responder, needs to be always ready, so do we spiritually. To gird up one’s loins is to be ready to run. In the first two verses, the Bible uses this phrase in reference to our minds and truth. We must be sober, nothing impeding our judgment and we must know truth. As Christians, we must “be ready always to give an answer”!

What obstacles do you have in your life that are marring your judgments? Are you searching for truth in the scriptures? Are you reading your Bible? Just the same way the officer needed to be ready to run on a moment’s notice, so we need to be ready!

Puzzle 2

Here we have 2 copies of the same photograph. However, there are subtle differences! Can you count them? The prize you get is self gratification and props for TIMMY himself!! Post a comment with a number!!

Erasmus – Post 2 – Was his Greek Text Done Hastily and only for Money?

Let me begin by stating that only the Lord knows all of the reasons Erasmus did his text. What we do know is what he wrote in the preface:

“Christ wishes His mysteries to be published as widely as possible. I would wish all women to read the gospel and the epistles of St. Paul, and wish that they were translated into all languages of all Christian people, that they might be read and known, not merely by the Scotch and the Irish, but even by the Turks and the Saracens. I wish that the husbandmen might sing parts of them at his plow, that the weaver may warble them at his shuttle, that the traveler may with their narratives beguile the weariness of the way.” – Cloud – Myths about Modern Bible Versions

Erasmus had been collecting Greek manuscripts and studying them for some time.  When the opportunity came to complete such a work, he accepted it!

It would also be fair to note that errors done in “haste” were corrected in later editions and, therefore do not play much of a part in the English translation discussion.

I should also note the ability of God to use Erasmus’s situation to have His Word first published in a future stronghold of Protestantism by a bookseller eager to get it into the hands of the people as apposed to Spain by the Roman Catholic Church who’s every intent was to keep the Word of God OUT of the people’s hands.

A few questions posed: Was Erasmus working just for the money?  Was the final product filled with mistakes or were they corrected? And, could God’s hand have been in it to have it done where and when He wanted it to be done?

Comments welcome!

“To Go, Please!”

Yesterday it happened once again. Have you ever gone into a restaurant and ordered something and the cashier asks the ritual questions? “Original or crispy?” or “With or without pickles?” or “Is this for here or to go?” Well that’s what happened to me, except the answers turned out to be useless. I was asked “original or crispy?” and my reply was “Crispy” but what I got was original anyways! THEN, they ask “For here or to go?” and I requested that I get it “for here.” When the order came, do you think I got it on a tray? Nope. Everything bagged and ready to go!

This is quite petty, I know. Did we get upset and rant and rave and demand that the order be fixed? No, it was no big deal. My only point is, what was the point to asking? It would save us all the time and aggravation if they would just tell us what’s cooking for us and that it’ll be bagged and read to go in few minutes!

Questions are a great tool if you need to get some answers. However, they are rendered useless if you are not ready to do anything with the answers you get!

Well, we know that scripture contains all the answers for life’s questions. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us all the ways that scripture is profitable to us. THEN, verse 17 tells us what all of that will do for us. Yeah, well, what’s the point if nothing is done about that? We go through all the bother to do all the “right” things like reading our Bible, going to church three times a week, and memorizing scripture verses BUT it’s all in vain if nothing is applied to our lives!

One last point. Jesus is the answer to your sin problem (and yes, you DO have one, see Romans 3:23)! What have you done with Him? (How do I get saved? – clearsight.org)

LIVING OUT – Post 1 out of 5 – Samuel

Introduction

For a long time 1 Timothy 4: 12 has been an inspiration and challenge to me. Now I would like to challenge other young people to take hold of this verse and the examples in the Bible of people who lived it out. And here it is:

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Being young is not an excuse to be bad or be immature spiritually so don’t use it as one and don’t let others do it either. I don’t know how old Timothy was but I know he was considered young and he was a leader of the early church. Never let your age be the reason not to serve God and be an example of Christ to those around you. All of the commandments in the Bible apply to you. God has a purpose for you not just in the future but right now where you are. The purpose of this devotional is to challenge and inspire you to be like the young Biblical characters I will point out to you and see how you compare to them. I will use each one of them as an example for one or more of the areas pointed out in 1Tim. 4:12.

Samuel

His story starts in 1Samuel before he was even born. His mother Hannah is praying for a son and tells God if you give me a son I will give him back to you. And God grants her request and Samuel is born. As soon as he’s old enough to not need to be nursed she takes him back to the temple and there he stays under the care and guidance of Eli. Even as a young child God uses him to minister and one night God speaks to him directly. He tells him that he is going to punish Eli and his sons. Samuel is afraid to share this information with Eli but after prompting from Eli does tell him. After this Israel is defeated and Eli and his sons die. But eventually Samuel will become the head priest and gets to anoint both Saul and David. This is obviously not the whole story but I want to point some things out to you by asking you some questions.

Can you imagine hearing directly from God?

Can you imagine being imparted to warn one of the elders?

Can you imagine being a young child and being able to minister to a priest?

These are all realities for Samuel and they can be for you too. You just have to learn to listen spiritually like Samuel. You probably want hear an audible voice but you can receive spiritual wisdom from God. Samuel was raised in a temple, which means he was surrounded by spiritual things all the time. Surround yourself with spiritual things pray, read your Bible, spend time worshiping God, and surround yourself with other believers. Put yourself in the position to grow and you can be a spiritual giant and be used of God to give messages to others.

The Challenges

- Pray and read your Bible every day for at least a hour

- If God imparts some wisdom to you don’t be to afraid to share it

- Refuse to believe that being young stops you from being spiritually wise or God using you to speak to others

Memory Verse:

1 Samuel 2:35

And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that should do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

Reading for Samuel:

1 Samuel 1-7

Erasmus – Post 1 – Was Erasmus a Roman Catholic or Humanist?

Two points often brought up in the debate over the English Bible versions are the humanism of Erasmus and the fact that he was a roman catholic. Let us discuss these charges a bit deeper. (credit duly given to cloud -Myths about Modern Bible Versions which contains much information on this subject)

1. We must come to grips with the fact that Erasmus was indeed a humanist. In order to fully understand what this means, we must also understand how the word “humanism” was used in that time period. Please look for Renaissance Humanism at wikipedia.org.
2. We must also come to grips with the fact that Erasmus was a Roman Catholic, as were both John Wycliffe and William Tyndale.

It also should be noted that Erasmus had many beliefs similar to the Anabaptists. Please check out the following resource: Erasmus, the Anabaptists, and the Great Commission

If I remember correctly, Erasmus was counted a heretic by the Council of Trent. A catholic apologist also once said, “Erasmus planted, Luther watered, but the devil gave the increase” – Erasmus by Smith.

History tells us very clearly that the Catholic Church was not very friendly with Erasmus, to say the least.

On the contrary, it seems the Roman Catholic Church has its association with the critical Greek text and the United Bible Society’s Greek Text. See these resources: All Roads Lead to Rome – Michael De Semlyen, Guidelines for International Cooperation in Translating the Bible, Rome, 1987

More posts about Erasmus are to come, so check back soon! Any feedback is welcomed. If you have anything to add or subtract, please, by all means, post a reply.