Think About It

If there were no God, there would be no Atheists. - G. K. Chesterton

O.K. Let's Settle Down

This is a British cow from the region where Wom and Jane Tigley reside. Tom is always providing us with great photos. This girl seems to be smiling at what we've been all worked up about this week. "Oh, I say. So much troubling talk about hurricanes and politics take a break, it's Sunday." All right Gertrude, we'll give it a rest. I hope you were able to exercise your right to free speech if you cared to do so. I also hope that our dialogue was beneficial in helping you cement your position on the things we talk about. I enjoyed all the comments. I know some were timid about saying anything, and I respect your decision in those matters that stir us to action. I think it is important to participate. As a nation we have rarely agreed on anything. That's why we have two political parties. Will Rogers said it very clearly, "The more you read and observe about the politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that's out always looks the best." I hope you enjoy the times when we agree to disagree. It's Sunday and I probably won't think about politics today. I am going to pray for those who were not so fortunate during the hurricane and see if there are opportunities for service in this area. I will also pray for our leaders, and our country in these troublesome times. Thanks for all who participate in this strange world of cybercommunication where we meet and discuss our lives with total strangers. Have a wonderful and peaceful Sunday.

Remembering Who We Are

It is Sunday morning, dark outside, and I'm the only one up. The ambient noises are really part of the silence because I've tuned them out. Throughout the week we share scenes captured by camera, or memory and sometimes comment on their significance. Or, we rant about things over which we feel we have very little control and draw some comfort in knowing that others have similar thoughts. I know some of you who come and read here do not share my faith in Jesus Christ, and I know on my most eloquent day I could never convince you otherwise. Just know when you feel like there has to be more to life than what you know, there is. In Psalm 46:10 we find these words; Be still and know that I am God. Words for both the believer and the non believer.
When you have exhausted all your earthly strength in trying to make sense of all you see and hear, that's when you'll find God. The difference in the message of Jesus Christ is, it calls for worship of the Creator. All the other religious messages throughout time have called for worship of some aspect of creation. So today just be still. Quit fighting life. Let yourself go. God has always known who you are, and where you are. My prayer is for all of us to have a peace filled Sunday.

Peace in Chaos

I'm of the opinion this picture illustrates the peace that can be found even in the chaos of construction. I used to travel a lot and I wrote this poem while staying in a motel room in Denver, Colorado. I awoke early and looked out the window before the business of the big city reached its peak. I wrote the following poem to illustrate my feelings. I hope you can find a peaceful place today to think on things greater than yourself.


At Dawn in Denver

The moon, full.
Solitary reference
in ice blue sky
that fades to
misty pink
over shadowed mountains.

The sun crests.

The air crystalline.


No brown haze.

I see jagged
peaks beyond
roof tops of
look alike apartments.

Air conditioner’s
hum
holds back noise of
waking city.

Don't Worry - Be Happy

It should be Sunday morning when this posts. I am trying the new feature that allows you to schedule your post date and have it post at 12:01 A.M. on the date you select. I borrowed another beautiful photo from someone to set a peaceful scene full of color and beauty. I have a Masters degree in Psychology and have read scads of self help literature in the area of achieving peace in your inner being. I have yet to find anything to top the advice given by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. I am going to paraphrase some of his thoughts from the fourth chapter starting around verse 4. Even if you don't believe as I do, you can't go wrong with this prescription for peaceful living. He says to rejoice in the Lord. Believers will understand this concept. Then he admonishes his readers to be kind and considerate in all they do. That's certainly good advice. Those around you will reciprocate when you model unselfish behavior. He says don't worry about anything (hard) but pray about everything (easy) and remember to thank God when he answers you. Knowing and believing that God is in charge will keep your thoughts and hearts quiet and at rest. Since behavior is not static, but moving, you must replace unproductive behavior with productive behavior. If you don't, the unproductive behavior will move back into its empty house. That's why Paul tells us to think on what's true, good, and right. He says think about things that are pure and lovely and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Good advice for us all regardless of our religious leanings or beliefs. I hope your Sunday is peaceful.



A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future. Albert Einstein

Leaning into Summer

I took this title from the painting above by Barbara McCleary. It is a peaceful scene and reminds me of quiet places I've been. I can relive the experience by looking at a picture. I think most of us strive to find these peaceful places, and moments in life, where troubles can be put aside in favor of enjoying nature and quiet solitude. I have found a spiritual peace in Jesus Christ. This is not to say that life is without trouble, or that I am always peaceful in my actions or attitudes, but in the deepest spiritual sense I have filled that God shaped hole in my soul. In spite of my outward circumstances I can say as the hymn writer did "It is well with my soul."

JESUS, MAN, GOD

Jesus,
Man,
God,
He who is,
He who was.

He was sent,
But chose to die.
Conquered death our lives to buy.
Arose triumphant,
Reigns on high.

Jesus,
Man,
God,
He who is,
He who was.

Dennis Price

Paths

I am a very visual person. Pictures, live scenes, and pictorial memories stimulate my imagination. On this Sunday morning, the picture of this quiet path brought to mind peacefulness. Peace - those moments when we are sufficiently tranquil to allow ourselves to think of God. We are so busy in this information age gathering information, analyzing, and worrying about the future, we are rarely peaceful. I'm glad I was brought up in a home where Jesus Christ was presented as the way to find a relationship with God. My parents set the example and lived their lives in a fashion which later caused me to make a personal choice to follow the same path. They were not perfect. They showed me that God can use imperfect people to do wonderful things for others. I just an old sinner saved by grace and I live with my old nature. That nature comes to the surface on occasion and I'm sure if you happened to be nearby when it does, you could wonder about my sencerity. That's the great thing about my chosen belief system - God loves me in spite of my warts and moles. I intend to go to a chruch building this morning to meet with others who are seeking solace, finding renewal, wanting companionship, habitually attending, searching for wisdom, and proclaiming the worthship of our creator. We often measure ourselves by others, and sometimes they disappoint us. I like the idea of one day out of the week being set aside for rest and focus on a creator God who is much bigger than anything else we encounter, and who is able to understand this sordid mess we call life. I believe God is in charge, and although we can't understand all that we see, He does.

If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy, also we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world. C. S. Lewis (1898 -1963) Mere Christianity