Driest summer I can remember!

   When the sky is dark and cloudy. With thunder rumbling and lightning striking. And you're still out watering the lawn, because nature is nothing but a shit talking little bitch!

Yet another day of clouds, high humidity and heat, yet no thunderstorms 😢 so disappointed this year. We did have a twister go through the ranch tearing up a tank, fence, and a few other odds and ends. First time we’ve had that happen in 10years! #desertlife🌵 #desertliving #overlandbound

Don’t you hate it when a neigh-bor comes out to talk to when your late for work. Some just want to talk for ever! I’m like hey, I have to go. #desertlife🌵 #desertliving #overlandbound #workday #wildhorses

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A word on prayer

I'm going through some old storage and found a couple of things I had written for other sites years ago, and thought I would repost them here. There are a couple posts in this series, and I will post them in sequence every Wednesday morning. Who knows they might just start a conversation...

How is your prayer life?

The focus and purpose of this paper is to give a refreshing look at prayer and its practical use in every day life. Now I know there are plenty of books, papers, and sermons on this subject. However in this paper I want to focus on some issues that are heavy on my heart. I figure if there is at least one other person out there like me then, this paper would be worth writing. I would like to start with the Lords outline for prayer. The main scripture will be from Matthew. What is so commonly called The Lords Prayer. This is an unfortunate title, a better title; fitting the context better, would be, The Model Prayer. Let's take a quick look at our text...

Mathew 6

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

My prayer life consists of the ebb and flow system. You know a few days of intense heart felt prayer followed by weeks of no activity. I try to pray. Life always seems to get in the way though. And when it doesn't, I get embarrassed. I'm a very shy person by nature. One of the reasons why my prayer life is not were it should be is I never know what to say, or how to say it.

Now it is my understanding that this is just an example on how to pray and was not to be a Prayer that was to be repeated religiously. Too often I hear pastors teaching that this is a prayer that needs to be repeated on a regular basis. I feel that does not fit in context of the scripture. Instead Jesus was teaching his disciples a format for prayer. A format that is not bound to any set of words, but rather a format for prayer in general.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

First part of this format was to hold the Lord's name in high regard. While it is true, we can come to the Lord with such intimacy as to say daddy, when we pray we are to express reverence for the name of God. We need to state in our prayers, that the Lord we are addressing is not only the Lord of heaven, but of all creation. Remember when you pray Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

In other words, whenever we use the Lord's name, whether we are praying, or just sharing the Word of God, we need to do so with his majesty in mind. Here is a word of caution to those who call themselves Christians and who do not live their lives for Christ. For the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Do not be deceived, this is taking the Lord's name in vain! To call yourself a Christian is to take the Lord's name! Not living a Godly life is taking it in vain!

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

We are to be anticipating the Lord's return, and praying for it! At the Triumphant Entry, Jesus wept over Jerusalem because “you do not know the time of your visitation.” We are supposed to be looking toward His return; we do that by diligently praying for it. We are also to align our will with His, because this is one of the top most reasons of prayer! We need to align our will with his, every day, and in every situation. We need to let Christ rule our hearts and lives. We can not do this unless we are praying!

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

The Lord promised to meet all our needs. We just need to make sure we know what they are. I need a job to care for my family. I need transportation to get to that job. I do not need a $60,000 Mercedes to do it! These are needs as much as food and clothing. To meet these needs the Lord might give you something as simple as a bicycle. Don't think that because you didn't get the results you wanted that the need wasn't met! When we pray, we need to be specific, we also need to be aware that the answer may not be what we are looking for; but rather what will teach us the most. If you need to learn humility, you may need to learn how to ride a bike!

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Wow! You want forgiveness; you better learn how to forgive! And you better learn to ask and forgive daily. I sin every day. I try also to ask for forgiveness when I do. I've noticed that when I forget to ask for forgiveness, something will happen, where I need to forgive someone else, it never fails; I'll pray "Lord, why did this person do this! Why won't you punish them?" The answer I get... "Because, then I'll have to punish you." Whoa there. Let's rethink this, salvation comes through Gods grace, what better example of Christ's love than a Christian showing forgiveness for others. Our forgiveness becomes a foreshadowing of Christ's. Now I know I am in no way anything like Christ. However, as a self-described follower of Christ, I need to live a life as closely simulating Christ as I can, followers of Christ need to be Christ like. Don't forget, we can not take His name in vain!

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

God does not lead us to temptation, but we need to ask daily for strength to overcome all temptation. We need to remember that only through prayer can we have enough strength to keep ourselves from sinning. As in Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. We need to pray daily, for this strength. Only through prayer can the Holy Spirit, fulfill our needs. Remember also John 15:5 …for without Me you can do nothing.

...For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Prayer is not only a catalyst for aligning our wills with the Lord's, but it is also the main source of understanding of the word of God. We need to also remember that our complete understanding of scripture comes from the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit can only come into us, through heartfelt prayer. We need to keep in mind as we pray that the Lord will come back, and He will set up His kingdom. Also remember that the Lord's power, and glory is also everlasting, and we need to acknowledge the Lord's attributes when we prey!

So there is my outline of prayer. Next article in this series will be how to relate this outline into our daily lives.

I haven’t done shit today! Well I made breakfast, brought lunch to my wife at work, worked on some trouble spots on our road and fixed a fence. Well I guess I did do something 🤷‍♂️ #desertlife🌵 #desertliving #lifeduties #overlandbound #itwitb

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Something to think about....

"The argument for saving time has become an end upon itself. No one is willing to ask the scary question, "save time for what?" or, "what is the cost?" Are our lives really more spiritually full and complete now that we are surrounded by "time-saving" devices that must be served by us, no matter the cost?

At the root of this deception is the question "What are we here for?" If God put me here to be perfected as I am digging post holes and planting a garden and building fences, am I really well served to be able to do all of that in 1/4 of the time with a machines that do the job for me, separating me from the lessons God intends for me to learn...?"

From Surviving Off-Grid

The author has made a point that Technology in itself has not really done anything for us. All our "time-saving" devices we have around us hasn't given us any more free time, than what we had before them. Because we have to work just that much harder and longer to afford and maintain them. No time has ever been saved from any task, but it has been shifted too doing something else, and in many occasions that something else has separated us from the God or our creation.

Really into this book... 15% into it... Talking about free time, I really have to put this down and do something today... ;)
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My insanity on display www.pioneeringaz.blogspot.com

With flash flood alerts all day, we finally got a little rain. 😂 not enough to do anything but keep the dust down. We enjoyed it all the same! #desertlife🌵 #overlandbound #wonderlust #hiking #monsoonseason #arizona

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Here’s an excerpt from an old document I found in the back of our old library

Our Valley  - Lakeview and Nuevo, 1890 to 1925

By Mrs. L.A. Wood & Mrs. G.W. Tinker

Presented at the Nuevo Women’s Club, 1926

When the San Jacinto River overflows its banks, it covers many acres of land and forms a large lake which remains for several months.  This was named Mystic Lake, and from the exquisite picture it makes Lakeview takes its name.

In 1890, the Lakeview Company purchased 5000 acres from the San Jacinto Nuevo Rancho, which was a part of the old Wolfskill Spanish land grant.  It was surveyed by Campbell and Warren.  Mr. Warren lived here for many years and after moving to Riverside called often in the valley.  Most of their surveys are still used.

Water was located and then the districts were planted to orchards of olives, oranges, apricots, and peaches.  Some of the old olive trees are still living near the foothills without irrigation.

Lakeview was laid out in two districts, business and residential, the business area being about 1-1/2 miles north of the residential.  Fine houses were built in both these districts, but most of them have now been moved away except for the old Bell home and the Warren homes.

In the business district the large hotel was named for Mr. Hansen.  Also one of the main avenues was named for him.  The hotel was expensively furnished, and the silver and the linen were of the very best quality.

Great numbers of people from the east were brought out here, and with everything looking so well and prosperous they were persuaded to invest their money in what they believed to be a paying proposition.

Across the river northwest of Lakeview, Elders, Davis and Hullformed a blanket mortgage on a large tract of land, sold it to a group of Seventh-Day Baptists without their knowledge of the mortgage.  When the Baptists had paid for the land, Elders, Davis, and Hull disappeared, so the Baptists had to pay off the mortgage or move off the land – they moved off.  They had built a church and a school, the foundations of which still stand near the road through the hills to Moreno.

A stage line was started and it carried the mail once a day to and from Perris.

In 1900, olives sold for $60 per ton and were shipped in bags.  In 1918 they sold for $160 a ton and were handled with the greatest care.

In 1897, a Congregational Church was organized in Lakeview.  In 1918 a Congregational Church was organized in Nuevo, but it was taken over by the Perris Congregational Church after two years.  

In 1899, a Women’s Club was organized in Lakeview with Mrs. H.K. Harger as president.  There were 20 members, dues were .25, and it was active for eight years.

In 1920, the Women’s Club was organized in Nuevo as the Nuevo-Lakeview Women’s Club with Mrs. E.R. Stalder as president.  Shortly after this the Women’s Community Club of Nuevo was organized from this group with Mrs. H.S. Gordon as president and it is still active.  In these early days the Club had a Child’s Welfare Committee that worked with the school and helped with the first equipment for the playground.  And I (Mrs. Wood) helped stretch the wire for the first tennis court.

The original plan for the water system was interesting and unique.  Between 1890 and 1895, the Lakeview Company purchased ten acres southeast of Pico, a hill halfway to San Jacinto, and put down 25 wells of varying sizes, some three and some four inches, and others ten and twelve inch wells.  A few were as deep as 200 feet.  The water flowed in an open flume to First Street.  There they had a cement tank that the water was turned into and pumped into reservoir Number 1 on the hill nearby.  The reservoir, tank, and the foundation of the pump remain.  A pipeline from that reservoir carried the water to another reservoir above the residential district and to Lakeview business district and on Y Avenue to the present Nuevo site.  They planned to dig a large ditch from First Street following Reservoir Avenue through Lakeview and on to this end to use as a distributing and storage line.  A part of this line was dug.

When the wells ceased to flow satisfactorily because of quicksand, the water was pumped with compressed air.  When they failed altogether, several wells were put down in the Lakeview business district.

In 1910, a group of men from Riverside and Los Angelesformed the Nuevo Land Company and opened an office in Nuevo.  They hired a large number of men to do the subdividing for farms.  This was the southwest portion of what had been the Lakeview Tract.  They put down three wells about 300 feet deep and had an abundance of water.  Each year since then they have increased their pumping.

Orchards were planted again, olives, apricots and peaches.  The parkways were planted with different kinds of trees and with American Beauty roses.  Some of these still survive.

In 1915, when we came to the valley (the Wood family), the concrete Nuevo store was just finished, the two houses on the Smith corner (?) were occupied, and Mr. Buck Porter’s house was under construction.  Between 1915 and 1917, Norman and Agnes Walker arrived, William and Amanda Honeycutt, and George and Ethel Tinker.  

By now some of the olive orchards were 30 years old.  On two occasions we celebrated “Apricot Blossom Time” and entertained many visitors.

Mr. McDonough drove the stage that brought the mail and the Nuevo mail was left at the water office and put in pigeon holes for us.  

In the summer of 1915 the school building was started and was finished in October.  A tent furnished shelter for the children until it was finished.  In the spring, 8 children had gone to school in Lakeview from the Nuevo area, walking both ways.  Sometimes an old horse and wagon furnished transportation when he was available.  People in the community went together and purchased a piano for the school.

In the twenties the Community Hall was built.  After the laying of the cornerstone we gave a dinner for the celebrities.  Our “kitchen” was the unused room at the school (later the school supply room) and we had a kerosene stove and a coal-burning stove to cook on.

In 1924 we had a big barbeque in the olive grove at Mr. Woodworth’s place.  The Women’s Club had a booth and sold lemonade and 20 gallons of ice cream.  It was with this money that the first dishes were purchased for the Community Hall.

​(The Woodworth olive grove was about ¼ or ½ mile north of the Nuevo store on the west side of the street across the street from the Denny’s house.  MTC)

In 1917, the Nuevo Water Company purchased the last of the Lakeview wells and had it equipped with an electric motor like the other plants.

In 1922, the Nuevo Land Company put out 100 acres of grapes.  They were not a success.  The next year they planted 300 acres of peaches.

We tried all kinds of wholesale gardening.  One year it was cucumbers.  A factory was set up in Lakeview and made dill pickles.

Potatoes were raised without fertilizer and without much irrigating.  When Mr. Tinker irrigated and put fertilizer on his potatoes, everyone said he had ruined his crop!  When the yield reached 100 sacks to the acre, a big banner was put over the road saying, “100 sacks of potatoes to the acre.”

There is a Hot Springs at the base of the hill north of Lakeview, and hot mineral wells across the river west of town.  A public bath house with tubs has been opened there.

There have been several wells in Brownland that show oil on the water and a number of people use the gas for lighting and cooking.  In 1923 a company drilled a well in that locality, just 5 miles from Lakeview.  They are down to 1900 feet now with every indication of success.

Our road to Perris was very bad, especially in the winter when it rained.  There was about a quarter of a mile where the river ran across the road that was extremely slick when wet and sometimes the road was impassable for several days at a time.  You couldn’t stay on it when it was wet, or get off it when it was dry as the ruts of the wheels were so deep and hard.  So when the road was paved and finished in 1925 we had a big celebration.  Mr. John Salkeld, leader of our band of eight, rode in the leading vehicle, and it was followed by every member of the community.  We all wore badges.  Perris turned out to participate in the fun and celebration.

Our local scenery is unsurpassed.  Our mountains are equal to any anywhere.  Our air and water are the very best.

Information for this history was obtained by Mrs. Wood and Mrs. Tinker from the following people:

​​Mrs. Barnasconi who came in 1893

​​Mrs. T.D. McDonough who came also in 1893

​​Mr. and Mrs. Louis Embertson who came in 1893

​​Mr. George Warren who also came in 1893

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