Day 249- Denver coming to a close

Hiked almost 10 miles yesterday to Mardel Christian Bookstore and Barnes and Noble. Looking for post Christmas gifts. Did not find what I was looking for.

About a foot of snow on the ground made it very difficult and taxing to walk. Didn't get home until 9pm.

Pastor Josh Nelson, his wife, Emily and their 4 month old daughter, Sierra, saw me trudging thru the snow 3 miles out on Bowles and swung around to pick me up. They were headed to Mardels too to pick out a bible for Ian a new convert.

So, even though not planned we all spent an enjoyable morning talking life and things!

After Mardels I went to Tradesmart a nearby independent bookstore on Wadsworth.

Then hiked over to Barnes and Noble on Bowles. Afterward, hiked the 5 miles back home in a driving snowstorm. Haha! It was great!

Today, went to Fireside and banged out my next newspaper column.

It is -14 degrees today with wind chill! Good to be inside!

Received a check for $100 from my good friend in Quincy, IL, Jim Burns!!! He has supported me in the past on my walk here to Denver. He has also been generous with his words of encouragement and advice. Here, here! Jim!!!

Day 242- Not a good day!

Had a very bad day today. First, I spent the entire day writing my next column only to have it deleted accidentally!

Then after having dinner at Lou's Diner in Littleton I was accused by the waitress of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. She gave me 2 options, I could give her a different $20 bill or I could stay and explain it to the Police. I told her I chose door number 2.

So, she summoned the police and shortly thereafter 4 officers arrived on the scene. I showed them the alleged phony bill and they compared it with an authentic bill and could find no differences.

They concluded that it appeared it was genuine. Of course, the waitress wasn't about to eat crow and still demanded a different bill.  I turned to all 4 officers and told them I would do whatever they commanded. Mom always taught me to obey the law and she would no doubt advise me to give the waitress another bill as would presumably my brother, Judge Kirk Schoenbein of the 10th Circuit back in Illinois. Haha!

They asked me to give her a different bill just to placate her. However, I admit to a weakness of not being the world's best placater. But, I did so in order to keep the peace.

Tomorrow I am going to my bank so they can determine its authenticity by marking it with one of those special pens.

My hat's off to the Littleton Police. They used uncommon common sense and were very affable and agreeable.

That will be the first and last time I dine at " Lou's Diner" in Littleton, CO!

I don't mind being accused of ignorantly passing phony bills but the waitress told me I knew it was phony and that the police would arrest me and confiscate the bill.

They did neither knowing the bill was the real McCoy.

What I do mind is when someone won't admit to their mistake even when the evidence is incontrovertibly against them. Know what I mean?

I am now trying to recreate my next column. Yuk!

First 3 pics are of downtown Littleton a very pretty downtown and the last is well...you know.

Almost done with my expedition

Hiked from Littleton to Morrison a 12 mile hike then hiked north to the Colorado Mills Mall in Golden another 8 miles.

Had supper at Olive Garden. Now headed over to Barnes and Noble a block away. Then another 2 miles to the train station then another 1.5 miles to the house after my train gets in to the Littleton station. 

Cant wait to get home! Have two minor blisters and minor shin splints. Total mileage around 23 to 24 miles.

Found some decent camp sites a couple of miles east of Morrison but camping in that area is not permitted. So, some stealth camping may be in order. Will have to hide in the wooded lowland/swamp area where people never go.

Morrison lies right at the entrance to the road going to Idaho Springs. Talked to a Morrison police officer at the Conoco Gas Station in Morrison. Very friendly guy. Discussed my hike with him.

Got to Green Mtn just before sunset. Then around the north side it became completely dark. Had my flashlight. Spooky walking trails at night especially around the Hogback.

Tomorrow after church I think a nap is in order!

5th pic is a homeless encampment along Bear Creek. The last pic is the proverbial fork in the road. Took the path less traveled and it made all of the difference-- Robt Frost.

Day 239- Hiking to Morrison, CO to scout out the area

Its 554am and ready to leave on a 24 mile hike to Morrison and then over to Lakewood/Golden.

I am getting ready for my journey to Idaho Springs by scouting out the area for camp sites for my first night out.

After spending an hour or so in Morrison I will head north along the Hogback Ridge over to Golden and Lakewood and catch the train back to Littleton. I plan on doing some shopping at the Colorado Mills Mall and Denver West.

I finally bought a large canister of bear spray which I am taking with me. Very rare to have bears around Morrison but they do range over that entire area. Of course most but not all are hibernating now.

Well its 6am and I needs to be gettin on!

Ciao!!!

Preached/Proclaimed the Kingdom of God today

Preached my first sermon at Mercy Bible Baptist Church in Englewood, CO. Will be commissioned soon by the Church before I head out to the mountains.

I just love my new church family here. They are very supportive especially re: my new mission.

My new website is up and running, mountainpilgrimministries.com. I will be maintaining a daily blog on the website.

This blog will remain but I may allow it to be inactive. Haven't decided yet.

It is snowing here in Denver and getting cold. It was 60 and warm yesterday.

It will take me about 3 days to hike up to Idaho Springs. Going up around 3000 feet higher elevation than Denver. Its close to 8000 ft above sea level.

Tomorrow begins my attempting to get accommodations for the 2-3 months in Idaho Springs. I know the town relatively well. Bought my gold panning equipment there. Went searching for gold up in St Marys Glacier 12,000 feet up west of Idaho Springs. Mardell and I used to go up to the hot springs up there in the long ago past. Its an old west mining town.

Will be going to Cabellas and REI this week  to get some badly needed equipment. Need a below zero sleeping bag, bear spray, new staff, a four season tent, snowshoes and other sundries to accommodate the heavy snow I will encounter in the mountain forests. My current tent would collapse under heavy snow. The mountains can get 6-11 feet of snow...yes...6-11 feet.

Can't wait!!!

My website is up and running!

Emily and Pastor Josh Nelson created a website for our ministry to the small towns and villages of Colorado and all America.

The site can be found at mountainpilgrimministries.com. I will be maintaining and editing a new blog on that website. I will keep this blog going as well for several weeks then switch over to my new blog.

I have yet to post anything on my website but will begin to do so next week.

I am still preparing my message  for this Sunday's services at Mercy Bible Baptist Church.

Thanks especially to Emily's hard work, technical know-how and her dedication, the new website for Mountain Pilgrim will ensure this ministry will be a source of help/support for the mountain people of Colorado and beyond.

Pics are of Pastor Josh, his wife, Emily and their daughter, Sierra.

Day 228 - Finished my next column and worked on my Sunday sermon

Worked most of the day on my Times-News column for Dec 24 re: the true message of Christmas. Also polished my Sunday sermon for Dec 14.

Preparing for resumption of my peregrinations in the mountains starting in January.

Facing certain fears and temptations re: my upcoming journey. I need prayers. Need courage and the ability to trust God's provision and protection to replace my timidity.

Working in Eldorado Springs again tomorrow. Its good for the body and the soul to work a manual labor job. Thanks to God and my boss and host Rich Nelson for my job.

Had a nice talk with Audrey at Fireside today. Ann took a new position and therefore left her employment at Fireside. Miss her. And, will miss Audrey too when I leave Denver in January.

This second phase of my journey across Colorado/America appears daunting to me right now. But, new chapters in my life are always scary at first.

Tomorrow my column at the Morton Times-News comes out.

Growing a beard to keep warmer in the mountains camping out in the forests. Haha!

Ciao everyone!

Day 227- Dec 8 2014- Cut a 80 ft spruce tree off the roof of a cabin in Eldorado Springs

Worked today up in Eldorado Springs today helping Nelson Tree Service take an 80 ft spruce tree laying ontop of a log cabin. We had Josh, Heath and Jeff also.

Used a bucket truck with a 60 ft boom. Work was hard and technically difficult.

Cabin is nestled in a canyon with a babbling brook running through it. Large ponderosa pines, firs and spruces everywhere.

Going back Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to chip the branches and remove the logs.

Day 226 - Headed to the mountains in January

Tomorrow we are cutting a 70 foot spruce off of a cabin in Eldorado Springs. Need prayers for a safe day!

Mercy Bible Baptist Church and I agreed that I would spend the next few years traveling on foot through the small isolated mountain towns west of Denver as an itinerant evangelist.

I am in the process of arranging my living accommodations in Idaho Springs the first town I will hike to which is 30 some miles away.

I will be doing street preaching, setting up a Bible study and speaking to various church and town groups.

After 2-3 months then I will head to Georgetown and points west across the Divide, Lord willing.

The church will provide some money but of course not enough. Consequently, I am now asking for cash donations to help.

My send off will happen sometime the second week of January 2015. The church will officially commission me later this month.

Next Sunday, Dec 14 I will be preaching the sermon along with explaining my mission.

I will need your prayers greatly!

Pics are of the mountains and of the cabin in Eldorado Springs where we (Nelson Tree Service) will be working tomorrow

Day 220- First Day of December!

Today is the first day of December! It was in December of last year when 2  doors closed for me. These slammed doors drove me into God's word for comfort. But, as life would have it no comfort was to be found.

Instead, I received rebuke. Opened into Luke and read about how the disciples gave up everything family, homes, occupations all of it! Gave up everything for the Kingdom of God.

My life did not look like that at all. I spent my prime working in the insurance industry not even caring about the things of God. And, God is where all life originates. Luke quoted Christ saying " But, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added. "

I have never sought the Kingdom of God FIRST!

So, I thought I should do so or die trying after 54 years and get my priorities right. Hence my journey across America. See what God wanted me do along the way.

Well, God has revealed that to me. I am to go town to town and start up discussion groups/Bible studies, proclaim the good news of the coming Kingdom of God and to make disciples. Then leave the town after 3 to 6 months and do the same thing in the next town. When will I be finished? Don't know. Will I find success? Don't know. I am not responsible for results but for obedience to his will.

Mercy Bible Baptist Church in Englewood, CO is sending me out as a missionary to accomplish all of this. But, Pastor Josh prefers me to start right here in CO particularly the mountain towns west of Denver but just east of the Divide. Apparently, these towns are not as "churched" as the the towns in the Denver metro area. Whether that is the case or not remains to be seen. A casual look on the internet shows churches in these towns. I could partner up with these churches too, informally.

I will need to contact pastors anyway to see if I can find accommodations. I may need to secure a part time job to pay for expenses. I also plan to ask for contributions from my blog readers, the church and others.

I would start out in early January and hike to Georgetown about 50 miles from where I am staying in Littleton. It would take me 4-5 days to get there depending on weather. I would camp out in the forest and in the towns along the way.

I would use a combination of street preaching, Bible studies and handing out flyers along with just talking to people in the marketplace wherever they can be found.

I figure it would take around 2 years to get some of these mountain towns visited. Then afterwards I would head out of state and do the same thing across America.

I would ask you for your prayers and contributions for this mission.

Day 217 - Day after Thanksgiving

Celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday at the Nelson home. Various Nelson relatives attended from across Denverland.

I made my famous mash potatoes and pumpkin pie. Rich made his turkey, ham and stuffing.

After dinner Pastor Josh, Rich and I enjoyed a bowl of pipe tobacco and talked of days gone by.

Today, Rich, Marge and Jeremy took off for a day and a half at the YMCA Camp at Estes Park to stay at the lodge.

The Griders and I used to rent a cabin for several days up at the YMCA at Estes Pk each year right after Christmas. We would bring food and board games with us. Some visits depending on weather we would ice skate, hike, swim, play ping pong, pool and other games.

Cabin names we rented included Shoshone, Navajo, Lupine etc. Jonathan Mardell's son and I would strike off for Moraine Park on foot and hike through the swampy grassland and then return on Ute Trail.

We once chased a pack of coyotes across the grassy plains. We have seen elk there as well as other mountain critters.

We would all meet up later in the day to eat supper then head to the rec building and play board games and/or ping pong and pool. Jonathan was fierce competition in both ping pong and pool.

One year in fact the first year 2002 we had Andrew up with us. Andrew and Jonathan got along great together. They shot hoops in the gym together and played ping pong.

I have a lot of good memories of both sets of kids in Colorado and Illinois.

Nowadays, its pretty much just me and a mixture of old and new friends.  Plus, my new job journeying on foot proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God will be keeping me very busy over the forthcoming years.

You can read my column at mortontimesnews.com. My upcoming column on December 3rd deals with a possible change in my mission. I may head out in early January for Idaho Springs, CO about 40 miles west of Littleton where I am currently staying. The plan would be to stay there for 3 to 6 months to get to know people, start a public bible study and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. Afterwards, I would hike the little isolated mountain towns on both sides of the Divide in CO. Then after about 2 years of wandering the Colorado Mountains I would head west to the Pacific then east to the Atlantic then south to the Gulf then either back to Morton, IL or Denver, CO.

I have not yet made a decision. Once I do I shall make it known here on my blog.

Day 214 - Large tree falls on cabin in Eldorado Springs

Drove up to Eldorado Springs elevation 6000 ft to assess large fir tree felled by high winds. Tree fell onto the roof of a log cabin covering the entire area about 30 squares(3000 sq ft).

I have been to this cabin several times over the years with Nelson Tree Service.

We will need to get a bucket truck and possibly a crane to get this very large tree off the house.

Discussed future options re: my journey with Pastor Josh Nelson about my hiking up in the mountains of CO proclaiming the Kingdom of God to those living in the many small mountain towns like Nederland, Ward, Estes Pk and the like. I would start up small bible studies in these towns and stay for months at a time. Then I would move on to the next mountain town...all with the help of Mercy Bible Baptist Church.

No decisions have been made but I am considering it seriously. Then after a while I would head out of state and continue.

I have tried to be malleable and ready to change my focus to accommodate changes in circumstances. However, my primary focus of this trip or journey is still the same...being and becoming literally a disciple of the Lord.

This pilgrimage has been so rewarding already and I have been in it for only 214 days now.

I need prayers by whoever reads my blog so I can make a decision.

Feel free to make a comment. But, if you are going to be denigrating please don't do so. I will delete your comment. Anyone opposed because of differing opinion that's fine. Just don't tell me that God is not pleased by my journey or that I shouldn't be on this journey.

God has let me know in no uncertain terms that it is indeed his desire/will for me to be on this journey.

And, no God does not speak to me audibly. It's being in tune with his Spirit and the doors he opened and closed that I discovered his particular will for me.

I am just excited at seeing what God will do next!

See pics of Eldorado Springs and surrounding environs below.