It rained a little bit this morning. The grass grew and the flowers bloomed. As the sun rose, there were fields of diamonds sparkling among the blades of grass. It was cooler. The heat of the day had extended well into the night but joy comes in the morning. For it rained a little bit. The birds were quieter, the noisy bugs from the night were silenced again. The dust of the days without moisture is washed away. The dryness and oppressive heat will surely return as the cycle of life continues. When it does we will acknowledge its mastery over our moments and long for the coolness after the rain. Today it is cooler. We seem calmer, satisfied and willing to be lost in this time without trials. It is a good day for it rained a little bit this morning. Continue reading
What Would You Say?
If I were to stand by the side of a person who has been given an assurance that their final days are numbered, what would I say?
For some it would be words of comfort and confirmation of the blessed hope they had looked forward to. For others it might be of a hope beyond their ability to believe and the opportunity they might now have to put the exclamation point on their life. For there is a finality to life. It is celebrated while it continues and mourned when it is past. That is when heart and lungs cease to move, when the mind has no cognitive electrical activity, when there will be no more sunrises to awaken unto. Knowing the joy and terror of those thoughts, I would give this one great hope. Continue reading
Fresh Take
Maybe we need a fresh take on our view of this situation. Having followed the “OH MY, the world is going to crash!” hysteria for the last few years in order to ensure I don’t miss the end of the world as we know it; I have made a few observations. 
Number one, it has not happened yet. Number two, the scenarios are still widely varied, newly painted pictures of the same old what ifs. Number three, a lot of money, and I mean a LOT of money, is being made and spent to keep the conversation alive. I am being absolutely truthful when I say that it is of little concern to me as to which apocalypse people wish to see as their possible future. Fifty years ago as a young teenager I never imagined life after thirty five. I never imagined that there really was a creator God or that someone named Jesus would have secured my future two thousand years ago. Continue reading
Buildings, Yard Sales and People
I have come to the philosophical understanding that people often think of themselves as great accomplished buildings when their lives are more accurately described by yard sales.
This past week one of the most iconic buildings in our area went abandoned. The Longaberger Basket Company office building is a grand seven story structure made to look just like the woven baskets they sold. For many years they were one of the most collectible, highest quality, greatly desired gifts available. The reality of harsh economic times and dwindling sales have turned this once famous and profitable venture into a has been. What once was grand is now a remembrance. What was once highly desired is now a common yard sale find. The cycle of life continues. Continue reading