Miracle Mindset

 I just wanted to quickly share this very powerful and inspiring message I watched yesterday by Pastor Leanne Matthesius of Awaken Church in San Diego. She was actually preaching this message as a guest speaker at Legacy Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I feel that her core message is that the church and Christians in general should be emboldened in this time of crisis in our nation. Check this out: 1 Samual 11 Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh 11 Nahash[ a ] the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. And all the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will be subject to you.” 2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” 3 The elders of Jabesh said to him, “Give us seven days so we can send messengers throughout Israel; if no one comes to rescue us, we will surrender to you.” 4 When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul a...

 Written By Ken Hulsey If you have been following this blog over the past few months, you have likely seen several posts about how much Terri and I have enjoyed watching documentaries about our nation's breathtaking natural parks. If you're interested in starting to explore these documentaries yourself, I recommend beginning with Ken Burns' PBS documentary, The National Parks: America's Best Idea. In this series, you will learn how each park was chosen for preservation and the significant roles that influential figures like John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt played in their development. Like Terri and me, you will likely find yourself captivated by the stunning scenery and nature footage.

 Trust, desire, and rest are three powerful concepts that can significantly impact our lives when approached with the right mindset and perspective.  When it comes to trust, it's natural to want to place our faith in those around us, relying on their strength and support. However, as much as we care for others, the reality is that humans are fallible and will inevitably let us down at times, even with the best intentions. That’s why the Bible wisely advises us to place our ultimate trust in God, who is steadfast, reliable, and never disappoints us. By anchoring our trust in the Lord, we can navigate life's storms with greater resilience and peace of mind. Similarly, when it comes to our desires and aspirations, dreaming big and working diligently towards our goals is admirable and can bring immense satisfaction. However, we must be careful not to become so consumed by these pursuits that we lose sight of what truly matters—our faith and connection with God. When we become over...

 Written By: Ken Hulsey Many of you are undoubtedly familiar with the legends of Bigfoot and all of his ape-like kin who are reported to dwell in the numerous remote wilderness areas and swamps throughout North America. These vast areas where man seldom treads provide a perfect refuge for these creatures, where food and water are plentiful and protection from the elements is readily available.

Written By Ken Hulsey This has been a profoundly sentimental week for me. It all started when I discovered that an old friend from my church congregation used to live in my hometown of Whittier, California. Before the first service, I found myself reminiscing about the local landmarks with her, which stirred up a deep sense of homesickness. From that point on, everything I encountered seemed to trigger memories of my California roots. It probably doesn't help that I frequently wander around Louisiana wearing my Dodgers baseball cap.

What happens when God shows mercy to someone you don't think deserves it?  Jonah chapter 4 presents one of the most challenging endings in Scripture. After Nineveh repents and receives God's mercy, Jonah becomes angry—not because God failed, but because God forgave. This message highlights the dangers of resentment, the struggle to extend grace to those who have hurt us, and how God desires to transform our hearts just as much as He transforms others.

 Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey For most of my young life, I believed that somewhere out there was some undiscovered island, secluded jungle oasis, or even a vast underground cavern that had been preserved for millions of years. The main inhabitants of this primeval world would be none other than real living dinosaurs waiting to be discovered by some explorers or a team of scientists .

Written By Ken Hulsey In this hilarious Mel Brooks spoof of Westerns, crafty railroad worker Bart (Cleavon Little) becomes the first black sheriff of the frontier town of Rock Ridge, which is about to be destroyed to make way for a new railroad. Initially, the townspeople harbor racial biases against their unconventional new leader. However, they warm to Bart and his perpetually drunk gunfighter friend (Gene Wilder) after realizing they are the only defense against a wave of thugs sent to rid the town of its population. This ribald and irreverent classic pokes fun at the Western genre and its tropes, sparing no one and nothing.

Written by Tina Martin If you made it out the door in the pursuit of being a productive human…. I’m proud of you! If you didn’t yet……. I’m rootin for ya; I believe in you! If you just decided….. nope, not today! I’m happy that today you chose YOU. One day at a time, my dear, one day at a time. One decision at a time!

 Photo and Story by Ken Hulsey  About ten years ago, I prayed a very deep and heartfelt prayer for God to change me. At that particular time in my life, I was very unhappy with how my life was going, and I was honestly seeking a new direction and purpose. It was without a doubt the most honest and straightforward prayer of my life.

 Photos and Story By: Ken Hulsey Back in 2020, during our whirlwind trip to Los Angeles and Hollywood, we packed up the family into a rental SUV and traversed the winding roads out of Griffith Park to the historical Griffith Observatory. When Terri and I lived in California, we often traveled up to the observatory to soak in the history and enjoy the amazing vantage point where you have an unprecedented view of downtown Los Angeles as well as the famous Hollywood sign.

 Written by Ken Hulsey Over the past several months, I've begun to realize that our local Walmart has become a true second home to my wife and me. Hardly a day goes by when I don't find myself popping in to pick up something. In fact, I often find myself popping into Walmart for reasons other than shopping. With the heat and humidity so extreme here in the South, I have actually gone to Walmart to take a walk for some exercise. There I am walking around the store in a pattern, passing the pharmacy, then the hardware department, then electronics. You get the idea. Anyone who may have observed my actions might have thought I was out of my mind, but as anyone who has ever set foot in a Walmart knows, my behavior was not the craziest thing going on in that store at the time. 

Written by Ken Hulsey Yesterday, while driving home from work, Randy Newman's 1983 hit "I Love L.A." came up on my Spotify playlist. As I listened to the lyrics, I was hit by an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. It's amazing how music can transport us back to the time when we first heard a song. These moments become part of our collective memory and carry a sentimental significance that evokes cherished feelings and memories.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey I've actually had these photos in the queue for over a month now. I took these during the Rock the Red celebration on July 4th. Naturally, I posted the pictures of the fireworks but neglected to feature any other images from the event.

Photos and Story by Ken Hulsey This past week I was granted special permission to photograph the Ouachita Railroad facilities in El Dorado, Arkansas . The Ouachita is a small railroad that switches cars from a chemical plant south of town and exchanges them with the Union Pacific . The railroad used to operate over former Rock Island Railroad trackage into northern Louisiana through the nearby town of Junction City. In fact, the facilities that the Ouachita now occupy once belonged to the Rock Island.

 Written By Ken Hulsey Have you ever felt like the universe is trying to send you a message? For me, it’s been all about Del Taco over the past three days. It all started when my wife was reminiscing about Taco Tuesdays, where you could snag three tasty tacos for just $1.49 (I still remember when it was only 99 cents!). Then, yesterday, I was listening to a radio station from Albuquerque, KDRF 103.3 eD FM, and I heard a commercial bragging about how Del Taco now has twenty items for under $2. Crazy, right?

 An old abandoned truck sits rusting away in the weeds in Ferriday. Photos and Story by Ken Hulsry Over the past few months, I have been taking a ton of photographs as I travel all over Louisiana. I have been wanting to share these images for some time, but I just couldn't make up my mind on just which ones I wanted to do individual posts about. As I perused all the images that I amassed, it became clear that it would be way to time consuming to share them this way. Instead, I took the time to weed through them and pick out the ones that really spoke to me and conveyed what I believe to be the essence of what summertime here in Louisiana really looks like.