Molten Glass

"Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?"  (Job 37:18)

I don't really know what kind of sky Elihu meant when he challenged Job and his friends with this and several other questions that illustrated how far above men God really is.  But I do love the sky.  A canvas always changing, always declaring His glory.

Union

If you look closely, the peak of our state's capitol rotunda makes a plug for national union (along with the sovereignty of the state).  The more I learn about Lincoln (of which Illinois is "the land of", you'll recall), the more I realize his guiding principle for the nation was union.  While other great causes existed at the time and no doubt inflamed the passions that led to war, it was "staying together" that motivated Old Abe to go to the lengths he did.

How can we apply this today?  When passionate voices cry out for one cause or the other.  Our Southern friends of the past, driven to preserve a way of life, used methods and "moral undergirding" that threatened and ultimately led to secession and war.  Lincoln never blinked in his resolve to preserve the union, believing that only together do we solve the great problems of the day.  And that the very founding principles of democracy were threatened if secession could ever be the answer to the challenges of any particular era.  No, the principles are validated when a people stay together and work those challenges out; however long it takes or however difficult.

I'm with Lincoln.  Because, by the way, he was with the One who said, "A house divided cannot stand..."  And He wasn't speaking of democracy, I shouldn't think.

A Mighty Fortress

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
(Martin Luther)

Never failing.  "My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." (Ps. 73:26)

Humble Beginnings

According to our tour guide on a recent visit to the Old Statehouse in Springfield, this little office tucked under a stairwell was home to Ulysses S. Grant during his first military assignment.  It reminded me of Samuel's rebuke of King Saul when the pride of position and office led to disobedience and ultimate downfall.  How true his words linking effectiveness and humility:

"When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?" (I Sam. 15:17)

High and Lifted Up

"I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple." (Isaiah 6:1)

Contemporary church architecture doesn't seek to evoke the majesty of God as it once did.  Interesting to ponder how attitudes change over the years.

Capitol

What a difference a single letter makes.  According to Merriam-Webster, a capitol is a building where a state legislative body meets.  But if you capitalize the word, it becomes the building where the U.S. Congress meets.  Then change the "o" to an "a" and it's not a building any longer but a lot of other things:

• the crown at the top of a column,
• a stock of accumulated goods,
• an "upper-case" letter (used above as in "to capitalize",
• and, just to keep it interesting, a city serving as a seat of government; where, incidentally, you are likely to find a building called the capitol.  Or the Capitol.

Got it?  Aren't you glad you learned English as a primary language?

Old State House

We enjoyed a wonderful trip this past week to Springfield, our state's capital; touring among other things the Old State House which served as the legislative seat of government from 1839-1876 overlapping a number of years with Abraham Lincoln.

It's interesting to ponder the sheer volume of laws passed over the years as men have labored to rule themselves.  It makes me think of a favorite biblical phrase in which Paul articulates God's vision for a day when His law would be written on the fleshy tables of the heart, not in tables of stone (II Cor. 3:3).  Possible today as we yield to His Spirit.

Rose of Sharon

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart;
Beauties of Thy truth and holiness impart,
That where’er I go my life may shed abroad
Fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God.
(Ida A. Guirey)

Salmon Mango Salsa

I should have taken more time with this shot but it was time to move this culinary delight from the grill to the table.  And my display was fogging up from the heat and humidity!

Anyway, credit Cindy for this delightful offering.  It tasted as good as it looks.

Geraniums

I hear that red attracts hummingbirds.  I suppose that's why all the feeders have a large splotch of red on them.  But there's no red like a geranium.  Now we need to find a feeder that doesn't leak so our hummingbirds hang around for a drink.  Then maybe I'll capture an image of one of them to share someday.