Into Every Life

Into every life a little rain must fall! Isn't that one of those old sayings? Sometimes I wonder if I'm remembering lyrics or something that I've heard or read.
My wife, Cheryl, and I were at the Post Office when I saw what had happened to this innocent bush. A line for summer watering had broken on the side of the building and the aftermath of the deluge froze(probably very fast)all over, around, and through the now hidden bush. Parts of it had broken and parts were crushed. As I moved about with the camera for different views it occurred to me that in places the same water that had broken some branches encapsulated and protected others. The whole presentation looks ominous at first and then takes on a surreal beauty under closer inspection.
Our lives can be a lot like that little bush when we are caught in the throes of life's "happenings." At first the water just gushed all over like rainfall, and then it began to freeze. Parts of us are all wet, other parts break away and are washed aside by the storm, and yet that same destructive force is busy protecting and preserving all that is left. It will be some months before the bush is seen again, and the ice may be the death of all that it was. Right now there is water washing away at lives around us. I pray that the fridgidity and ridgidity of folks does not cause them to shatter. Perhaps if the bush could have moved a little it might have suffered less. Thank God we can get out of the rain once in a while and let God protect us from becoming broken, brittle, and totally frozen. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Smiles

January 14, 2007

Happy New Year

Our season of celebration ended last evening for 2006. Whoosh, what a year! Throughout the festive days of December on the Great American Desert we had an opportunity to rejoice with friends(old & new)and family. What a time of blessing for my wife, Cheryl and I! We hosted our first ever "open house" with food and fun for everyone. We decorated more extensively than ever before and as of tonight we are basking in the afterglow of days and nights well spent. It doesn't end here. Tonight we will be hosting Crusaders from Wisconsin on their way south to minister for the winter. Others are off to the north working in the venue of music. I am quite content to be where I am, finally. I suppose the best part of being somewhere this long is the knowledge that everyone knows where to find us. The phone number has not changed in years, and the address is on labels we haven't used for a long time. Sitting here in front of the screen I can only share that which is on my heart. God has blessed our lives together! I pray for all as we begin another journey toward spring. It cannot be too far away, I can hear the birds singing when I lie down at night. Maybe that is just me, though. Happy New Year to all, and may this year exceed your greatest expectations of peace, love, and harmony. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

A Break At The Well

 
Listening to the sounds of Duke Ellington and tossing thoughts back and forth in my mind this morning. It feels somewhat like a tennis match as I watch the flickers of ideas stream through the visions of color on my monitor. Windows Media 10 is installed and functioning flawlessly. Amazing what we can do with these 21st century beasts of entertainment. Cheryl is busy about the task of paying the "bills" which is something I have not done for a long time(at least not so you would notice)and she is having a good day. Our family has grown, as you may have noticed, we now have a "Mexican Healer" which is another term for a little bitty dog that acts like a cat. Sometimes he thinks he is a squirrel, but that is mostly when he's out back eating nuts. My guitar playing friends are not far away from me as I listen to the strident tones of "Big Band" as it was meant to be.
It is that time of the year when we have to put away the cycles and 'hunker' down for the winter. The fireplace in the backyard is seeing daily use, as is the grill on the patio, but it will not be long before the snows encompass us and we will have to dig our way out to the cars. This is the time of the year when one can truly appreciate the convenience of a car. They provide shelter from the cold as well as taking us from place to place in a heated environment that is comfortable. I suppose that is another reason why I really need God in my life. He keeps me from getting too uncomfortable with the circumstances I am presently in. That is cool.
Then, a few days ago, I was talking with a friend on the phone about faith and the thought occurred to both of us that maybe in fact man was not created by God, but God was created by man to fill the void of human experience. Nah! But it does give one pause to thing. In Christ's Love, Preacher. 

No Running And No Hiding

This was last year. Winter hit the Great American Desert with a vengeance. We were pretty tight to the house for a few days. This year we are basking in sunshine and enjoying(that is tongue in cheek)the continuing yardwork. Our spot on God's earth has never enjoyed better "eye" appeal. I feel very good about that portion of our lives. Others that we love are not doing so well. One broken wrist. One interred for the winter. Another with a stainless steel screw that popped out of a knee operated on many, many years ago. Some with severe depression and others with the loss of their lifelong mate. Need I continue? That is the part of life that is hard to get past. We can deal with the winter storms, the summer's heat, and everything else that nature can throw our way. It is the people with whom we suffer that turns life from the never-ending carnival into the....ride that has ended.
I suppose it has always been this way. The ups and downs of life inflicting their pressence on those who are sensitive enough to hear. Last night we had a young possum in the back yard trying to threaten our Mexican Healer. He was so mad! The police and the animal folks came and took the critter away. I informed them that I had a .410 that could have done the job a lot more swiftly, at which they laughed. That's life out here for today. I pray that in your world the snow doesn't get to deep and the animals aren't interfering with the peace of your backyard. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

A Reminder For Us

Late night, very little sleep, computer did not cooperate very well, so I did little "combat" naps in between working the programs. I'm smiling! It is all back together(not mine, but a friends)running at full tilt. Cheryl got home this morning earlier than anticipated and what a welcome sight she is! We don't have enough time for just the two of us. Does that remind you of song lyrics?
Today has been a drizzled on mess outdoors. Therefore I can't work the yard or ride my cycles, I have to stay in with the dog. That isn't so bad, though, I get to tap out a message to you. The picture you see above is sent out from the Great American Desert, it's one that my sister-in-law took about six weeks ago. I had a lot of fun with it and sent it via E-mail to about a hundred folks today just the way it is here(well not all of them). I pray the rain is not depressing folks as it oftimes does out here. It will clear, and the sun will shine, and we can once again rejoice in the beauty of God's creation. As if we weren't even now! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Year Number Seven

Nobody told me this was Friday the thirteenth. That's better than it could have been because of some of the superstitious bones in my body. It has been an absolutely wonderful day! I spent the greater part of it raking(again)and then mulching the south side. For the very first time in my life I am experiencing the wonderful feelings of "HOME." I've never been anywhere for this long. Today I found myself redoing the raking task and finding within myself a peace which surprised me. I have another place of peace, that is the one which I share with my Creator. Today has got to be the be-all, end-all, for feelings of belonging, though. I realized that it is up to me to make the very best of my circumstances, and they are sooo good. Yeah, I know, it is only 160 feet by 60 feet, and the house on it has problems, but then what home doesn't?
What I have is a peace of knowing that life is working out as it should. Eleven grandkids, now, and more to come, and a wife that knows me and loves me in spite of myself. A faith that seems to remain unshakeable no matter what, and a sense of belonging to a community of faith inspired folks that love God much in the same manner that I love God.
At the present time I cannot locate a job that allows me to be me and make a living, other than preaching. I play an enormous amount of music, and I could probably enter again the secular world and prostitute my talent and gifts for the sake of monetary remuneration, but that is not necessary, yet!
All any of us really desires is an opportunity to be of use in this world. My Dean of Divinity in the seminary I attended lost his daughter to the world of unbelief. In an instant she was gone, but she knew in her heart, even in the final moment, that she was right. You and I live in a world that has so much that is wrong. We cannot combat it at the level of politics, or censures, we can only stand firm in the faith we have received in Christ Jesus. Think about where you stand in terms of the world today. Is your backyard a place where you can find total peace and harmony?
In Christ's Love, Preacher.