How I Know There is a God

    “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” (Jeremiah 17:7, New Living Translation)

A week from today, I leave for another trip to Kenya. This will be my seventh trip, and every time, a couple weeks or a month before I’m scheduled to get on that plane, things in my personal life go off the tracks. People get sick, pets get sick, I get sick, people die, plans fall through, I don’t even remember all the dumb or tragic things that have come up. And when it gets to be crunch time – like right now – I question whether or not I should even go.  

But this is how I know that there really is a God in heaven and that His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior. Because the devil causes all those bad things to happen, and even though God could stop those things, He knows that then my faith would not grow stronger. As soon as I step off that plane in Africa, my worries, my stresses, my sorrows all melt away. I am where God wants me to be. And no matter what Satan does, God will take care of me and my loved ones.

Thank You, LORD, God, for all that You do for me and those I care about. Be with us as we return to Kenya and bring us safely home. Amen

PS. With that being said, I don’t plan on posting here until I get home after October 17.  I’ll keep you all in my prayers, and I know you will reciprocate. And also, we don't plan on doing much, if any, volunteering this time. It's mostly going to be rest and relaxation. Coz after two and a half years of COVID, I think we deserve it. 

God bless, Chris

Winging it in Port Wing, Pattison Camping Post #5

I will never get over the power of Lake Superior.

I’ll also never get over my fascination with the freighters out on the Great Lake.

But driving back inland a ways up highway 13, we came across the village of Port Wing.

This quaint little town has the distinction of being the first school district in Wisconsin to provide tax-payer-supported transportation to school.

The little memorial park had a few other places of interest.

But of course, it doesn’t take much to interest me. 

Orienteering at Orienta Falls, Pattison Camping post #4

When I think of all the waterfalls I’ve been to in northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s UP, I’m always amazed when I find a new one.

Orienta Falls is actually at the site of the Orienta Dam, south of Hwy 13 and Lake Superior on Orienta Falls Road. There’s a small parking area with an overlook to the falls, but that’s mostly covered by trees.  

A narrow trail lures you into believing you’ll have an easy hike to the bottom of the ravine to view the waterfalls at ground level.

It was a challenge, but there is no challenge too great for me when there is a waterfall involved.

It was a very nice falls and worth the trek down to it.

But, you know me. Though we couldn’t view much of the falls from the parking lot, just across the river, we spied those white things.

Yes, chairs! Oh how cool if I could have gotten to the other side, which I’m pretty sure is privately owned.

 

The Need to Stop Bickering

Some others there wanted to test Jesus. They asked him to do a miracle as a sign from God. But he knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. And a family that fights against itself will break apart. So if Satan is fighting against himself, how will his kingdom survive? You say that I use the power of Satan to force out demons. But if I use Satan’s power to force out demons, then what power do your people use when they force out demons? So your own people will prove that you are wrong. But I use the power of God to force out demons. This shows that God’s kingdom has now come to you.

“When a strong man with many weapons guards his own house, the things in his house are safe. But suppose a stronger man comes and defeats him. The stronger man will take away the weapons that the first man trusted to keep his house safe. Then the stronger man will do what he wants with the other man’s things.

“Whoever is not with me is against me. And anyone who does not work with me is working against me.” (Luke 11:16-23, Easy-to-Read Version)

This past Friday, I went on a research trip for the novel I just finished writing. Yes, I know, you should do research before you write the book, but what can I say.

One of my stops was at the Milton House in the small town of Milton, which is only five miles or so north of Janesville, Wisconsin. The Milton House was a stop along the Underground Railroad and has the distinction of being the last certified Underground Railroad Station in Wisconsin that can be toured.

The tour was great but quite overwhelming. Our wonderful tour guide had to pack a lot of information in our one and a half hours in the building. I had thought about taking notes, but I’m sure that would have just muddied everything for me further.

But anyway, I’d already chosen the above Bible verse – Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed – for my novel. And it just seems even more fitting having walked the tunnel which escaped slaves walked.

It also reminds us of how we as a nation will only fall apart if we keep bickering.

God, I know that You will never leave us or forsake us. But I also know that we cannot continue to turn our backs on You. Send Your Holy Spirit into the lives of those who are against You so that they may see Your Good and Perfect Way. Amen. 

Amnicon, not Omicron - Pattison Camping post #3

Just five miles south of Davidson Windmill is Amnicon Falls State Park. It’s also twenty miles southeast of where we camped in August at Pattison State Park.

Unfortunately, the water level was low, but it was still a pretty walk down one side of the Amnicon River and up the other side.

But people were still able to enjoy swimming in the pool below the main falls.

It was a beautiful day, and Hubby and I enjoyed our picnic lunch.

(It's scary how many mornings we look at each other and go, "we're wearing the same color shirt!")

A Little Historic Spot, Pattison Camping post #2

On highway 13, eight miles south east of the city of Superior and two and a half miles straight south of Lake Superior, is a little spot to pull off the road and see something different.

Jacob Davidson, a shoemaker in Finland, came to America in 1884. Two years later, he had bought a homestead in the township of Brule. From 1900 to 1904, he built what would become known as the Davidson Windmill. The grist mill, powered by the windmill, supplied neighbors with flour for their families and grain for their livestock. By 1926, larger mills in Superior provided these necessities, and following the death of Mr. Davidson, the windmill ceased operation.

Sadly, over the years, it fell into disrepair. Thirty years later, descendants of Jacob Davidson restored the windmill. From 2000 on, other repairs took place, but as you can see, time has not been a friend to this beautiful structure.

Also, on the grounds of this relic are the Eskolin Log House 

And the Taylor Bridge. Each of which have their histories as well, which unfortunately, I don’t have time to share today. 

 

Peace in Times of Trouble

    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, New International Version)

One week ago, I read about the attack at the Munich Olympics fifty years ago. Many of you might not remember that; some of you hadn’t been born. I remember it well and remember that it scared me. You can look up the details of the attack yourself, but it was labeled as the first major international act of terrorism. 

Today we remember the 9/11 attacks of 2001. But how many people have died before then and since then? How many senseless acts of terrorism have affected us all? How many children have been killed on the grounds of their own schools? How many innocent men and women have died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time? And where is God in all of this?

God is with us, from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun and through all hours of darkness. He sent His Son to be our Savior, to carry us home when our time has come.

God has got this. He is bigger than all of our problems and all of our disagreements. He will never leave us. But we have to believe in Him and surrender our lives to Him.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)

Camping at Pattison, Overview, post #1

 I’m not really feeling much like writing this blog post today. I rather continue scrolling online through articles about Queen Elizabeth. We all knew she had to pass away sometime; she was 96 years old, after all. But somehow, with everything we have all gone through in the last few years, all the people we have lost, we thought that the Queen would always be there, with her bright eyes and mischievous grin.

I was all reflective and deep here on Wednesday. I just can’t do that to you again, today, can I?

We went camping for the last time this year the week of August 8, only for four nights this time. We stayed at Pattison State Park, way up at the top of Wisconsin, just south of Superior.

Hubby and I drove through the park years ago when we stayed in a hotel in Superior for a few days. Before that, my sister Pat, my two kids, and I camped at nearby Amnicon Falls State Park one time and drove over to the falls at Pattison. It is a nice park; I don’t know why we’ve never stayed there before.

It’s a beautiful part of the state, isolated and full of those waterfalls I love. But I’ll stop right there because I’m starting to feel philosophical again.

Here is a quick overview of the trip. More pictures, along with their stories, to come next week. 

Interfalls Lake, at Pattison State Park 

At our campsite 

Eskolin Log Cabin near Cutter

At Amnicon Falls State Park

Orienta Falls, near Port Wing

A ship out on Lake Superior. As many times as I've seen them on Lake Superior,
they still always fascinate me.  

Heritage Hall at School Memorial Park in Port Wing

Bayfield County Courthouse in Washburn

Fairlawn Mansion in Superior

How's that for an overview? So very much more to share.