On the Rocks

Sometime in some national park somewhere we heard a ranger say, "Annie Algae and Freddie Fungus took a lichen to each other but now their relationship is on the rocks!"

Cue the teenage groan.  Works every time on any trail anywhere.  Most recently in Vermont, climbing Mt. Pico.  Abundant rain made for lush ferns and all kinds of things growing on the rocks and trees.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col. 1:17-18).

Ardent Flames

O that Thy ardent flames were kindled,
Unfathomable depth of love!
May all the universe acknowledge
That Thou art King and Lord above.
--Zion's Harp #73, v. 1

Has love's bright flame died out among us?
Nay, it shall burn intensely and with will;
Ne'er shall Thy love in us be waning,
And as it bound the saints, so bind us still.
It gives us hope where we in fear would groan,
Leads us to trust in Thy good help alone.
--Zion's Harp #192, v. 3

Wedge

I can't think of anything witty or erudite to say about this (which is not to say any previous posts have fit that description). I just really like the picture and think my wife is amazing for creating such a delightful and tasty subject for my camera and palate at Christmas!

A Hill to Die On?

We use various phrases to describe positions we take.  Like, 'drew a line in the sand', 'planted a flag', or 'it's not a hill to die on'.  Most of us never get anywhere close to actually dying on a hill.  But we can often be very passionate about the various causes we take up.  Most of the time I've heard these kinds of exclamations, it's been for issues that aren't all that important in the grand scheme of things.

But every now and then along comes a situation that sends us to the core of our being and requires a firm declaration of where we'll stand.  Like Joshua of old, we are asked to "choose you this day" (Joshua 24:15).  And it's usually best if we've ironed out our convictions in advance of the challenge.  Either way, we must shut out the "madding crowd" and seek God's face.  His Spirit will never lead outside the whole counsel of His Word.

Is the choice you are making today really a hill to die on?

Endure

"Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." (2 Tim 2:3)

I guess the impression is that we might not always be treated fairly. Might not get the credit we feel we deserve. Might be misunderstood by those we thought would understand.  Just might have to endure quite a bit in this battle.  Just might be very discouraged....until we remember..."the battle is the Lord's" and we don't rely on sword and spear (I Sam. 17:47)...or the other inventions of men.  Or their methods.

We can trust the "captain of our salvation".

On the Wheel

"Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
(Jer. 18:3-4)

This particular wheel has seen many beautiful works, wrought by a good friend of mine.  But I was struck in reviewing this image by how the light illuminated the empty wheel; evoking a seemingly wistful longing for the clay. A longing for the work to spin.  So that even if the potter should need to mar the work and start over it might be formed into a good vessel.

Are you on the wheel?  Am I?

Sometime We'll Understand

Not now, but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears,
And there, some time, we’ll understand.

"Sometime We'll Understand" (Maxwell N. Cornelius")

R.I.P. Patrick Mizwicki, 1997-2011

That's like comparing...

You could probably argue that apples and oranges have more in common than what makes them different yet we hold them out as the example of contrast, as if it were ridiculous to speak of them in the same sentence.  I wonder how often our words suggest we have focused solely on what separates us to the neglect of great similarities.

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Prov. 25:11)

In Memory

We're all missing Dad Herrmann this Father's Day.  This little angel was given in his memory by our Chicago Church family.

Welcome Winter

Winter is "welcome" when we can peer at it through the windows from the warmth of our homes.  Our recent snow day afforded that opportunity and the chance to reflect on the blessing of shelter, family, and the might of God.  Coming on the heels of Dad Herrmann's passing and Nelson's new walk of faith, we found ourselves with much to reflect upon and a welling joy and thankfulness for God's goodness and mercy.

Sweet

"How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Ps. 119:103)

Truth is I don't have that much of a sweet tooth.  But most of us can relate to the desire for something sweet. How challenging that God's word can and should have such appeal!

Ardent Flames

O that Thy ardent flames were kindled,
Unfathomable depth of love!
May all the universe acknowledge
That Thou art King and Lord above.
(Zion's Harp #73)

We had a wonderful night last evening as a church (hence the table arrangement pic from my dad and mom's retirement dinner) in which the ardent flames of Christ's love were manifest!

Alma Mater

Alma Mater; literally "nourishing mother".  That certainly evokes warm feelings as one looks back either upon their childhood--if blessed by such a mother as I was--and, in the more common usage, to the college or university from which we graduated.

This image is literally of the Alma Mater from my Alma Mater, the University of Illlinois where two of our sons now attend.  And, in recent days, our daughter has decided to attend Cindy's Alma Mater, Illinois State University.  Plenty of warm feelings to go around these days!

Have Thine Own Way, Lord

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.
("Have Thine Own Way, Lord" -- Pollard/Stebbins)

A good friend of mine has a pottery hobby/business (www.muddybrookpotters.com) and was the creator of these lovely works of art.  I'm a bit envious of his opportunity to be frequently reminded of Isaiah 64:8, "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."

Praying to be "yielded and still".

Prints in the Snow

Tracks in the snow or at the beach or in a wood...they always tell a story.  Someone has been here and now they are gone.  Their impact is noticeable yet fleeting.  Scripture says, "we spend our years as a tale that is told." (Ps. 90:9). The snow is gone in the Midwest and so the traces of this critter are long melted away.  Yet the "story" of our lives will ring in eternity.  What is being written of you? Of me?

The Union of Hearts

This covenant shall then
Endure and stand forever;
There neither grief nor pain
Shall come to part or sever
There God shall e'er abide
With us our truest friend,
Our hearts in Him unite
Forever without end.
(Zion's Harp #79)

I struggle to express how the melodic strains of this hymn combine with its words to pluck my heart strings.  Perhaps it's the countless times hearing it sung at weddings mixed with the threefold cord knit when Cindy and I joined hands and heart in the Lord.  Simply beautiful.

Trimmed and burning?

 

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.

As the children's song goes on we are admonished not to "hide it under a bushel" (No!) and to "let it shine 'til Jesus comes".  As you ponder these lampposts, consider not only the obvious obscuration of the one but the condition of its bulbs as well.

When They Ring the Golden Bells

There's a land beyond the river,
That we call the sweet forever
And we only reach that shore by faith's decree
One by one we'll gain the portals,
There to dwell with the immortals
When they ring the golden bells for you and me.
(Dion De Marbelle, 1887)

Someday the bell is going to ring (I actually like thinking of the trumpet sounding a little better) and we'll be called home.  But the waving grain in front of this bell tower reminds me of the "fields white unto harvest".  So we press on for Just One More Soul!

Let It Shine

Before Christmas is too distant a memory, I thought I'd add this entry.  It was taken when I was in that "new camera" phase of shooting pictures of everything that moved, or didn't as the case may be.

This lone bulb shining in the daylight reminds me of the Sunday School song "This Little Light of Mine".  Sometimes we may not feel like our example is seen -- but the power of this bulb after the sun sets is simply amazing.  Keep letting your light shine!

Fresh Veggies

I really don't know what the auto-focus captured on this one.  And my left brain almost discarded it for that reason.  But I keep coming back to the intensity of the colors and can't quite let it go.  Surely God could have chosen to make fruits and vegetables colorless and bland.  He must delight in not only preparing tasty treats from the good of the land but in making them beautiful too.