Category: Blog Article

When we look at the world with our natural eyes we can only see what we are looking for. A few years ago I was hanging out near a rail bridge in Fort Bragg and something about the natural bridge ties caught my eye. I snapped a photograph but never felt I caught what I sensed in that moment.

Looking at it again I am intrigued by the different ways one can see this bridge. You can see its shadow structure, its natural structure and even its structure reflected on the water. These different views of the same thing captivated my thoughts and how we look at the world every day. What are we really seeing and how much more are we missing?

I heard an older gentleman speak yesterday about his work in foreign countries and how he would share bibles by having them translated into local languages. On the surface this seemed quite wonderful and made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. When he shared more with us he mentioned a young man who had journeyed a tremendously long way in order to get a bible he could translate for his own people. “Wonderful” was all I could think. My cozy thoughts of joy were shattered by what the older man shared next; this young man was martyred! He went on to say that this man’s wife was going to carry on the work of her husband.

Living in the United States, we don’t even have a concept of what it means to be martyred for faith. We can read anything we want, go to any church we want, get together and listen to who we want. Would we be committed if we knew it was possible someone would kill us for wanting to know more about Jesus?

I keep thinking about our soldiers fighting in other countries where freedom is only a word but not a reality and I pray with more understanding of what my prayers mean.

Yesterday we went up north a ways to meet up with some of my family and have breakfast. While we waited for them to arrive at the restaurant we noticed a man in another parking lot selling honey. Being curious we decided to go and chat with him. He was so pleasant and obviously in love with what he did, it wasn’t long before we were pulling out the wallet for some treats to give to my sister.

Walking away from him I couldn’t help but just feel good having shook the man’s hand and his sharing a huge smile with us. I don’t know his name or anything about him other than he loves the honey he was selling and there was something special about him. Inwardly I want to be that kind of person and even more so. I want to leave an impression on anyone I meet. I don’t want them to remember me for my clothes or my hair or even the way I look, for all of those are outward appearances only. I want to be remembered for my heart and a kind loving smile. There needs to be more people like the honey man in the world.

I have the opportunity to spend some time with my nephew who is eleven years old. Now being as immature as I am, this is splendid fodder for my inner child to express itself in ways that the grown up world just doesn’t get. How does this expression manifest? Well for example, you have to have the “high five” in your arsenal of agreement on any given subject. I am also learning the multitude of “handshakes” with all the snaps and twists of the wrists. Mostly it’s a language to be learned anew with the latest “slang” or “kidspeak” to understand what is being said.

He is a pretty open kid and we hope to pour into him something worth remembering. So far we have chosen to introduce him to our family cat and it looks as though he may be able to hold his own.

During the last round of elections, John Kerry was not popular with many soldiers and veterans, as he was thought to be anti-military and some even said un-patriotic. They wanted him to be silent on his views. I disagreed. I didn’t care for his politics or views either, but I felt that his service to his country in the military in Vietnam earned him the right to speak his mind.

Many Christians serve in battle too, and although I don’t always agree with their theology or their presentation, I believe they have earned their right to speak.

God bless those who serve in our military, and let us bless those who serve on the front line of our Christian battles, be it in the media or in some far corner of the world.

Guest Author – Bobby (Husband of DebraBee)

One is the “loneliest” number, so why do so many people strive to be associated with that digit? We keep looking for first, independent, solo, a ‘man apart’? Why are we looking to these personality traits? Are we asking the so called ‘man apart’ if he’s truly happy or are we just admiring his position in the spotlight?

It is a Thursday and for most of us we have to work. Many would say this is just another day. I would say differently! No matter what your beliefs about eternity, one thing is 100% guaranteed for all of us equally….we are going to die! Not a comfortable topic as our own mortality can be scary simply because we ourselves have “no control” over the matter.

Since I have “no control” I want to take full advantage of this precious gift of life. Life can be big though. One’s mind starts to drift toward the great things you want to accomplish, things you want to do, places you want to see, perhaps people you desire to meet. A sense of overwhelming choices can take you off-track and make you a dreamer rather than a doer.

I have an anxious personality trait. Not in the sense I have anxiety but rather I don’t like to sit around and talk about something, I want to do the something being talked about. I am anxious to get busy about life. I can’t wait until I am rich, I can’t wait until my house is paid for, I can’t wait until I don’t have to work anymore, I can’t wait until the children are grown. Waiting is a delaying tactic and I recognize that. Waiting can be an excuse not to live.

This Thursday is not just another day, it is a gift to be opened and enjoyed. I am excited for what the day will bring but also what I myself can bring to it.

My front yard is rather simple but has a sizable tree that gives great shade, despite the tree gestapo (see article from May 29^th for the inside joke there). Off to one side is a rose bush that seems a bit out of place and in years past we tried to mow it down thinking it was dead until eventually we let it be. Every year it keeps getting bigger and I have to admit it looks more beautiful each year.

This bush has produced red roses over the years but this spring something odd happened; it sprouted one yellow rose. I called my husband out into the yard to behold this wonder with me. Of course being a writer, poetic prose tumbled out of my mouth, “isn’t that weird?” Hey, we don’t always speak the way we write!

It took a long time to draw my eyes away from this odd colored flower. My attention was captivated by this different flower and I made a mental note. Changes are happening all around us but will we have our eyes open to see them?

When the end of your work day is at hand, there is just so much temptation to hurry home to that comfortable couch and the ever ready remote control. Of course we keep wishing for that exciting life and are ready to jump into it any day now; right after our favorite show is over.

I have a confession. I am tired when I get home and by the time traffic is done with me, I barely have a coherent thought for conversation with my husband. He tends to look at me with worry if I’m not chatty.

Wandering into my small living room I have but one wish this day. Enough energy to turn around and get a life! I think I will point the remote control back at myself and change my channel.

We live in such a culture of gossip it’s hard to get away from it even if we wanted to. You’d have to live in a cave away from people altogether not to be exposed to it. I have a real bone of contention for what passes as acceptable news media in this day and age. The more someone is “messing up” the more we want to know about it. Many years back Don Henley wrote a pop song called “Dirty Laundry” which nailed commentary then and probably more so now…..

“I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose
They love dirty laundry”

There is such a thing as good gossip!

Mal 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.