greetings from the road

this was shared with me by one who stopped and shared worship at our church ... most times, he is on the road with Jesus. It blessed me; I'm sharing it with you. "Bless the Lord! How great is our God! As I travel back and forth across the face of this great land. I am struck with shock and awe, not at the wonder of nature itself, but at the Greatness of our God. I am captured and held prisoner in the hi-tower of the cab of my tractor, as my Father, and therefore my God shows me the strength of His Awesome finger. Only that I could but spend all of my days just in Worship of His Greatness, (some day I will), but for now I am takin by my Fathers hand back and forth across this land. Time will not permit me to share with you all that I see thru my eyes, (which He made out of dust), for others with a more poetic strain have already spoken of this countries beauty in fairer words then I could. How I wish all of you could see however, the things that I see on a daily basis. I have spoken about the power of God to many of you as it is seen in the San Raphael swell. The painting that God made and then puts you in it, we call the Grand Canyon. The thunder of water as it is turns into the mist of the Niagra falls. The feeling of smallness as you stand under the Natural Bridge in Virginia, or the eagle's wings on which you mount to achieve the height of the Rockies. If I had more time I could speak to you about the desolation of what we call Death Valley in Ca. Which is a warning to all who will listen about the fury of hell. I could talk to you about the rolling hills of Kansas. Who ever gave us the notion that it's flat? How Rich, How Full, How Wide, is the Greatness of our God! Praise Him! Bless Him! Swim in His Glory!!! On and on I travel! Thru the woods of Maine, a countryside filled with signs of "buy my amish cheese in Wisconsin". The beauty of Baton Rouge on a clear night in the distance from I-10. The wonder of when will Texas ever end? The Glory of God reflected in the lights of the city of Las Vegas as you come in off the desert at night. On and on! Beauty after beauty. The hand of God in the painting hand of the Master painter our Lord and Savior JESUS Christ! All of this Power, all of this beauty. Given to us to Declare to us His Greatness! And yet! He speaks to me. Thru His awesome Word. And he says to me. "Gary, My Greatest work my loveliest masterpiece was not cut from rock on the ground. No! Not from fields of flowing grain. No! My greatest work is the human heart. A heart Gary, especially like yours. A stony and cruel heart, a selfish and self centered, and self willed heart. A heart that I have chosen to sculpt on a more glorious canvas then Rushmore! Gary, my Greatest work is the chiseling away all these years the hardness of your heart". Now I write this to you my dear friends, not to draw attention to myself. No! my desire is that no matter where you are today as you listen to my words. That you would bow with me your hearts and think if even for a moment of the true wonder of God's Creation. The Re-creation, the eternal beauty of the Work of God in this a sinners Heart. A heart far from a finished work. That though lovely now in it's intent. Will at the trumpets sound beat completely in time with His own. A heart like yours my friend? I hope and pray He's molding and spinning it on His wheel right now! Because He Cares for me. Gary" It reminds me to be mindful when entertaining strangers (Hebrews 13:2). Mitzpah Gary!

type of Judas

Hmmm... someone was trying to find the answer to 'Who was the O.T. type of Judas' in the Bible and they asked me to use my search skills (as I hadn't any idea). From my efforts, I made some guesses. The first answered I derived was incorrect. Then I had a recollection which benefited me ~ being at our C'King Women's study which is going through Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself (on the Fruits of the Spirit). The lesson a week ago Tuesday gave me a clue about '30 pieces of silver'. I found it, and my friend was glad. It was a fun exercise of Biblical information. Just wondering if you knew ;-) "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea; who coming thither went into the Synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts 17:10-12

unadorned

unadorned
Originally uploaded by normzrib

wishing all the moms a Blessed Mother's Day celebration this weekend!

unprofitable servant

you can't just do nothing! It's right there in the Word - the parable of the talents. I was reminded tonight, reading Beth Moore's book on Fruits of the Spirit. The Lord's remark's to the 'dug in' servant were scathing. Called Him and 'unprofitable servant'. The other two had rewards coming; Heavenly rewards. This one did not - in no uncertain terms. Have we been given things from the Lord - those gifts He gives - and done 'nothing' with them. Have we hid them fearing some outcome of our efforts. He has purposed us with 'good works'; are we otherwise occupied? It was food for thought for me and, so like God, a reminder of Sunday's message 'Answering the Call'. Ever get a call from someone you know, and you don't feel like talkin' to them just then - maybe tired, maybe not up to what you suspect the call is about. I'm guilty! What Calls aren't we Answering ... (wishing to just bury the ringing so it can't be heard). If we are unprofitable ... if we don't answer ... we won't be hearing 'Well done though good and faithful servant!

The QA; Quieted Angst

In Beth Moore's 'Living Beyond Yourself' workbook she mentions her son Michael of disproportionate physical structure because prior to his adoption he was emotionally challenged. Her description of his inability to cry and how it had mis-shaped his body moved me. I remember my own stubbornness as a child; my insistence on not crying. She shared the verse in Zephaniah 3:17 that tells us that God will quiet us with his love. How utterly awesome is that. He keeps our tears; should I value them less? As children grow up they begin to shun the hugs and displays of 'cords of kindness' of their parents; cast away emotional signs of weakness. But God doesn't discontinue being our parent. Often there is a longing to return to those childish allowances of such love - that assurance of quiet. This place we visit is full of angst, like some wearisome stalker from day to day - with worry for tomorrow, for ourselves, things of this world. Some drown in it while others shut themselves away more imprisoned than before. Some wash away in the swell of it never to return or perchance to get beached on some distant shore. I like walls. But I find even if they have windows, I am disabled from participating - a self-condemned vicarious voyeur, window shopper, wall flower. When did I think I could quiet my spirit better than God? It is neither to get washed away, hide nor lose ourselves in this heaven bound journey, but to take the hand of the Master and allow ourselves to be led with 'cords of kindness and ties of love'. "Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. Before our Father’s throne pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one Our comforts and our cares. We share each other’s woes, Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart, And hope to meet again. This glorious hope revives Our courage by the way; While each in expectation lives, And longs to see the day. From sorrow, toil and pain, And sin, we shall be free, And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity." Lord I bring before you my day to day angst as a child lost. Oh for your quiet I pray. Let me find comfort in your quieting; a place to cast my cares. Teach me to seek you out as my hiding place and return to thy healing cords of love. To you be all praise, glory and honor.

Live the Life

Building upon and practicing the Spanish I initially began a study of years ago, I find myself thinking with it and listening to the nuances of the meaning. Just the other week the co-pastor friend at church and also today my co-worker friend and I in each instance were discussing how 'Escucharme' can substitute 'Oirme'. Similar intricate subtleties exist in all language, even for the counterpart of these same words. As a writer, I don't read a book or watch a movie; I climb into the mind of the writer who has stepped inside and experience his story. From fingering the keyboard and singing at church, I've begun to let the music play me. As I re-immerse myself in photography, I find myself seeing through a lense without the camera to my eye. Today coming home with my fellow-commuter friend, I saw the perfect take, again and again and again. I was driving and I had forgotten my camera at home. But I saw the sun balance itself within the vortex of two hills in a San Dimas horizon. I saw clouds release their moisture as if exhaling a sigh and nearby also keep it in as if angrily holding breath, and how a glint of sunlight touched a shrouded airplane. I took in the double rainbow, seeking its origin from end to end. My friend showed me how the colors reversed from the inside rainbow to the outer one; I hadn't noticed that detail before. Yes, I was watching the road too ;-) When you talk; speak! When you listen; hear! When you look; see! When you smell; envelope the aromas! When you touch; feel! Savor when you taste! When you live; be alive! I'm realizing that God doesn't want me to half-exist. I've got some work to do. I've grown up protecting myself from hurt, from getting angry and, in so doing, from the fullness of an total spectrum of emotion. It has been a disservice to myself, to my loved ones, and to my First Love. I'm remembering a verse "with ALL your ...." and '...you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot'. From us He wants wholeness; He wants entirety. Paul learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself. That can so easily fit the existence described above. Our salvation reminds me of the movie 'Toy Story' in that what is a toy that spends its existence boxed upon a shelve instead of enjoyed by a child. I don't think that God asked, nor Paul resolved to, de-sensitize life. Imprisoned disciples sang. God joined us here on this earth in the person of Jesus and felt our pain, hurt our hurts, rejoiced in our joys! I think Paul's contentment was Christlike. Lord help me to live Christlike; move me from any and all marginality. Help me to know and live 'for me to live is Christ'.

Dying

I was reminded this morning while discussing with a friend how enjoyable the movie "Bucket List" was, that dying equates to stopping living. It is not death we want to avoid; simply to whatever extent possible live until you die. The movie stars Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, and is excellent. You laugh, you sigh, you look for a tissue and cry.