The Chowchilla News Pastor’s Commentary by John Parker for Jan= uary 10, 2007

DOWNHILL FROM HE= RE!

The Chowchilla News Pastor’s Commentary by John Parker for January 17, 2007

Have you ever started something a= nd then wondered what you’d gotten yourself into? That’s what happened to me o= n my walk to and from Yosemite Falls in Yosemite National Park a few= years ago.

It was one of the most beautiful = and most painful walks I’ve ever taken. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the uphill climb that brought the pain= . It brought only pleasure as I enjoy= ed the glory of Yosemite’s forest, the sc= ent of the pines, sounds of the waterfall, and the incomparable views.<= /span>

At the top of the trail thereR= 17;s a viewing ledge, with an old metal railing worn shiny by the thousands of han= ds that have grasped it, nestled into the rock cliff that allows hikers to get right out next to the massive falls. So awesome! So worth the long walk up.

Ironically, it was on the suppose= dly easy part, the downhill walk, that the pain started. About halfway back down the hill my= shins began hurting with every step. I’d heard of shin-splints but had never experienced anything l= ike them even during my high school running and swimming days. Every step hurt. I had to stop, rest, and rub the f= ront of my legs several times on the way down the mountain side.

It didn’t make sense! After all I had conquered the moun= tain! And now I, the mighty hiker, was pathetically hobbling my way down the old trai= l. “It’s all downhill from here” took on a whole new, and less happy, meaning for me that day!

Walking is the theme of our Sunda= y morning conversations at ChristChurch<= /st1:place> currently. Walking is one of = the most common pictures in the Bible for progressing in one’s spiritual life.

We are encouraged to “walk = by faith,” to “walk in love,” to “walk by the Spirit,” to “walk in the light,” to “walk in good works,” and to “walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise.̶= 1;

Walking is a step-by-step process= that simultaneously involves having one leg and foot planted and the other foot = and leg stretching out and falling---balance married to imbalance, stability yo= lked with instability, beliefs coupled with actions, faith with works.

The one who “walks by faith” plants one spiritual foot steadfastly on the promises of the W= ord of God. Then---in order to move = on into the unknown future, to obey, and to follow Jesus’ call by the Holy Sp= irit risks are taken---steps are made, and life becomes abundant! Shin-splints notwithstanding!=

That day in Yosemite coming down off the mountain I did “walk through the valley of the sh= adow...” but I lived! I made it to the= car and back home to walk yet another day.&nbs= p; The pain went away and the joy of the climb and the up-close encount= er with Yosemite Falls still stays with me….a= nd…I’m thinking about doing it again!

Likewise, when walking “by = faith and not by sight” we know “the righteous falls seven times and rises again.” (Proverbs 24:16) We read “The Lord will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.” (Job 5:19) So we get up and keep on walking, again, and again! So we can get another = great view of glory!

Happy Trails! Pastor John

The Rev. John Parker is pastor of ChristChurch of Chowchilla located at 260 N. Sixth Street, Chowchilla= , CA.= Sunday Service is at 10 AM. Email Pastor John at: = johnparker@christchur= chchowchilla.com or phone 209.726.0119

= ;

He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.

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the righte= ous falls seven times and rises again