A Timely Message

In the preface to the "The Message" (the Bible in contemporary language) the author Eugene Peterson says... he taught the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek in a theological seminary. He expected to live the rest of his life as a professor and scholar, teaching and writing and studying. But then his life took a sudden vocational turn to pastoring a congregation. He was plunged into a different world. Nobody seemed to care much about the Bible, many knew virtually nothing about it, had never read it, and weren't interested in learning. Many others had spent years reading it but for them it had gone flat through familiarity, reduced to cliches. Bored, they dropped it. They found newspapers and magazines, videos and pulp fiction more to their taste.
He saw a great need for getting an understandable version to his congregation and so after ten years of arduous work, "The Message" was born and published.

My reading through the book of Romans took on new meaning when I read Chapter 12 the way Peterson interprets it. I wrote in my journal, "This is for me!!!"


vs. 8 ...if you help, just help, don't take over......if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy. (ouch)

Just can't miss that message!

New Old Song

Faithful one, so unchanging,
Ageless one, you're my rock of peace.
Lord of all, I depend on you;
I call out to you again and again.

I have always loved this song. It was sung at a funeral I attended today, by two very talented young people.
At the onset of the next part of the song, their voices literally exploded,
"blew me out of the water".... moved me to tears.

YOU ARE MY ROCK IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!
YOU LIFT ME UP WHEN I FALL DOWN!
ALL THROUGH THE STORM YOUR LOVE IS THE ANCHOR!
MY HOPE IS IN YOU ALONE!

It was truly a moment of praise and worship.
Thank you Jackie & Nate

Who Am I

In this case, it's not the game, Who AM I, but the first line of a song.

A secluded lakeside campsite, a comfortable reclining lawnchair, pinescented warm desert breezes, afternoon shade, the bluest sky...birds twittering, ospreys diving for fish, canoes gliding over the calm water. Ah.

Drinking in the incredible beauty and the vastness of God's creation made me feel so small.

This very well-written song came to mind.

Who am I? That the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name ,
would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I? That the bright and morning star, would choose to light the way,
for my ever wandering heart.

Not because of who I am, but because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind,
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling and you've told me who I am.
I am yours.

written by Hall, John Mark & Casting Crowns

A Lilac Lesson

Lilacs are special to me. Why? The fragrance is intoxicating. I am told that on the day my parents got married, my mother just went out in the yard, picked a few white lilacs and drove to the church. No fussing, no huge cost. Things were so simple then.

For years I have jealously eyed every lilac bush that I passed and vowed that someday I would have so many bushes that I could pick as many as I wanted and you would not be able to notice.

When we moved to our present home 13 years ago, we planted 2 bushes and friends gave me two more and this year they are full of glorious blooms. Why are they exceptionally beautiful this year?

Lilacs bloom best after a harsh winter.

So in life, those who go through hard difficult experiences often blossom, bloom and bless our lives with deeper sensitivity, strength and genuine kindness...... like a sweet fragrance.

2 Corinthians 2 : 14-15 (The Message)

God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God.

This is how it should be! I wonder... is my life sweet - smelling?

Do I have to?

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.

The wisdom of life comes in the elimination of the nonessentials.

How do they Know?

Ahh... Beautiful Springtime.
As I am getting down and dirty in the soil I ponder on the wonders of nature...


How does the grape hyacinth choose its shade of blue?
How does the snowdrop know when to bloom?
How does the mole design his underground subway?
How does the frog know it's time to start croaking?
How does the hummingbird find my feeder?
How does the crow know that he can crack walnuts by dropping them on the pavement?
How does the tulip bulb know how to multiply?
How does the big dipper stay in place?
How can an earthworm still live if I chop him in half with my spade?
How does the salmon know where to spawn?
How does the rooster learn to crow?
How does the bear know when it's time to wake up?
How can a snail carry his shell-house upside down?
How does the clematis vine know how to climb and cling?
How does the liatrus flower bloom from the top down?
How can potato eyes grow new plants?
How does the robin sing the same song every spring?
How does the oak know when to change from green to red & orange?

Genesis 1:31
God looked at all that He had made, and it was very good.

The fight is not over

This story is true but the names have been changed.

My friend Cindy, travelled 500 miles to attend Rob's funeral.
Years ago, on a wintery night, her son brought Rob home because he had just been kicked out of his house. His single Mom, Debbie, could not cope anymore with his insolent violent behavior, his bad habits and disrespectful friends.
He stayed with Cindy's family for a little while, but soon went his own way. However, Cindy and others reached out to help and encourage his mother with Christ's love and soon she accepted Jesus into her life and continued to follow him in simple faith.
As the years went by Rob got caught up in criminal activities and was tragically killed a little while ago during a drug-related altercation.
It was a very difficult memorial service. Debbie's pastor spoke words of comfort, hope and the need of forgiveness. When the congregation left the chapel, another group of Rob's friends marched in for a second memorial for Rob. They were clad in black steel studded leather. Clenched fists sporting knucklebuster rings portrayed the anger they were feeling. The father of Rob's girlfriend strode up to the pastor and said, " I'm an atheist and I don't believe in this God stuff. You can bet on it, Somebody's gonna pay!" Revenge!

My friend said, it was like two worlds colliding... the forces of evil versus good, darkness against light, hate against love. The presence of darkness was oppressive, almost touchable.

Satan is fighting hard for turf and dragging many with him because he knows his time is running out.

Ephesians 6: 12 -13
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the whole armor of God...