Attended bible study tonight at Mercy Baptist-Englewood.
Pastor Nelson asked me to think about starting a ministry to Englewood's homeless community. We will be discussing particulars later. I told him I had been thinking about a homeless ministry today also. Will come up with a plan and discuss it with the Pastor.
Felled 3 trees today, 1 pine and 2 elms.
This job kicked my butt. Too old for this work. Had to call in at SAME Cafe in order to help out Rich at the tree business.
After a long day went to Fireside to edit my Oct 8 column. My Oct 1 column coming out tomorrow.
See it at mortontimesnews.com.
Tomorrow working at Nelsons again. Bible study at 630pm.
Celebrated Rich's 57th birthday at the Texas Roadhouse tonight.
Rich's son Josh, his wife Emily and their little girl, Sierra hosted the celebration.
This is Rich's first birthday being a grandfather.
Attended church at Englewood Mercy Baptist. This was their first Sunday worship. Joshua Nelson, Rich's son is the pastor and started the church a few months ago.
Josh went to Bible College in Ok. He works part time at his dad's tree service as do I.
Looked like about 35 people attended service. A sumptuous meal followed afterwards.
After services and lunch went to Fireside to complete editing my Oct 8 column.
Bible exposition/ sermon was on John 3 where Christ told Nicodemus he had to be born again to be saved.
Admonished by my good friend from Quincy, Jim Burns for failing to post here on my blog the last few days. Seems like since I got to Denver interest in my trip has waned which makes sense since I am on a hiatus until I get started for the Mexican border.
So, hey Jim thanks for the kick in the butt! I needed it!
Writing my October 8th Morton Times-News column while drinking a Coca-Cola.
I already sent in my Oct 1 column but read it again today. Wouldn't you know it, after hours of editing the darn thing I found a misspelling. Will need to correct it and send it to Adam my editor to see if its not too late.
Read parts of a book Audrey at Fireside dug up for me. It concerns a man from Ohio who accepted the editorship of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper. He decided to forego taking a train and instead walked the 3000 some miles. Not totally unusual these days but this was back in 1884! There were very few amenities for travelers and lots of danger. Bandits, rogue Indians, animals and the like.
Also read about a 42 year old lady who hiked 10,000 miles across Siberia, Mongolia, China, Australia and other places carrying little or no food. Unbelievable NY Times story.
Live music going on not 10 feet from my alcove at Fireside. Older man playing an acoustical guitar. Played some hymns. Not sure the Mohammadens 20 feet away appreciated Rock of Ages. Haha! Hope there are no be-headings here tonight! Haha!
Sometimes you gotta slow down. That's why this picture I took of a sign in Denver tickled my fancy!
Finished writing my column for October 1. Will edit it tomorrow after my shift at the SAME Cafe.
Looking east from my perch at Fireside Books and Cafe a huge thunderhead has formed. Appears to go up 30,000 feet or more. Stunning. There was a double rainbow an hour ago.
Visited my all time favorite place to pray, to hike, to talk to myself and just wander the scores of trails on this craggy, barren high ground covered in rocks, buffalo grass and rattlesnakes.
I rarely hike this mountain with a companion. This is the place I go when problems need sorting, when I need to yell at myself or at God without intrusions.
The mountain sits atop 2000 acres of grassy plains at an elevation of 6800 feet and which abuts the Rocky Mountain Range. Golden, CO sits at the northern base. Golden was once the capital of Colorado. Now its a sleepy little western town, a tourist attraction.
There seem to be no more than 7 or 8 trees on this mountain. The sky is a dark violet hue showing the lack of atmosphere.
Denver and it's environs sit along the eastern side of the mountain.
Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs can be seen clearly even though its 70 miles to the south. Longs Peak in Estes Park can be seen as well if one looks north. It is 75 miles away.
Green Mountain was essentially Buffalo Bill Cody's back yard and he rode his charger throughout this mountain.
Yesterday, I encountered many wild daisies and goldenrods as well as prickly pear cacti. Up on the jeep trail as I trudged slowly to the summit my walking stick alerted me to a western diamond back rattlesnake on the north edge of the trail. I hadn't seen a rattler since the time I killed one on Hogback Ridge just a stones throw west across Rooney Road.
The snake was sitting in the middle of the very narrow trail with cliffs on both sides so I couldn't circumvent the serpent. So, I began tossing smallish boulders at it and finally one found its mark and did away with this vermin.
I remember carting its carcass home to scare the girls. It worked! Miss those days with my Griders!
It was an arduous climb even after walking across the country. The air was thinner too. It was hot and dry.
I really missed my mountain so it was good to be back home.
