Watching and Listening

 

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ~Psalm 139:7-8

Danny and I enthusiastically anticipate our Face Time conversations with daughter, Sarah, and the grandchildren, especially our oldest, Virginia.  Consumed by work as of late, Sarah hasn't had the opportunity for any lengthy chats in the last two weeks, so we are delighted to finally connect with here this past Saturday.

We catch up on each other's news, always more on their end than ours and are especially anxious to hear about Virginia's recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg to be specific, with her friend whose family has invited her to join them on their vacation.  Danny and I have taken Virginia to the mountains with us on two different occasions where we stayed gorgeous cabins.  The first trip is in 2019,

And the second, in 2022.

Virginia is bubbling over with all the details of her recent mountain adventures.  She describes here first foray into the icy waters of Little Pigeon River via innertube, even the time or two that the rapids practically upend her.  Although they do stay in a cabin-like motel in town, she does get to visit a sprawling luxury cabin owned by a relative of the family where, she says, she had vast and breathtaking views of the mountains all around them.  What a thrill!

Since her birthday (sweet 16!) falls during the week Virginia is there, her friend and her mother even take her shopping in Gatlinburg and gift her with a beautiful, and what Sarah describes as probably expensive, bracelet.  How thoughtful of them!

But the highlight of her adventure is when they go to one of Gatlinburg's finest restaurants, The Peddler, for dinner.  I instantly recognize the name as I've heard my friends, Karen and Mike Friday at Friday's Forever on YouTube, talking about what a high-end place it is, one best suited for special occasions when it's okay to splurge.  While we're using Danny's phone for this Face Time call, he checks his computer to see the Peddler's menu.

Holy guacamole!  Those prices!!!  And Virginia tells us there were six people at dinner that evening.  Six!!!  It takes me a moment to pick my jaw up off the floor.

The long and short of it is, Virginia will never forget how special her 16th birthday was.  After chatting for over an hour, we end the call with our prolific good-byes and love-yous before shutting down the screen.  I find myself wishing, not for the first nor last time, that they lived closer to us.

After a while, I decide to check my email on my phone to see if anything important has landed in my inbox during the interim.  I can't believe what I see!  Front and center, as plain as day, is an ad for The Peddler!  What???  We use Danny's phone for the Face Time, his computer to research the restaurant, yet the ad comes to my phone!

No matter what we do, intentionally or not, our devices are always listening to us and tracking our every move.  It's intrusive, unsettling and yes, downright scary.  Big Brother is no longer confined to Orwell's 1984.  He's here, he's now and he's watching.  Sadly, it's the price we have to pay if we wish to stay in touch with family and friends over the miles.

But here is the good news - Our Father has looked over us and out for us time out of mind.  There isn't anywhere we can roam that He doesn't see us, hear us, care for us, and love us beyond measure.  We are bound to Him through Jesus and the Spirit with everlasting ties that nothing in heaven or on earth can ever unravel.

I'll take that kind of watching and listening any day of the week!

Amen!

Don't forget to visit The Christian Lounge and see what's new!

The Light of Life

 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." ~John 8:12

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. ~C. S. Lewis

My word for the year is Light.  Although I haven't written about it here in quite some time, it has been a constant in my daily life as I observe seasons transitioning from winter to spring and now summer.  Our home, nestled in the woods, tends to be darker than most during the day, so those glimpses of the sun's radiance are a coveted sight.

The top photos shows my work area for my Bible and devotional readings.  I've noticed, with great delight, that starting around 11:00 in the morning, the sun streams through the window on a clear day, providing such ample illumination that I don't have to turn on my overhead lamp.  Needless to say, that hour has become my favorite time for engaging with my Bible study.

And yes, as summer rolls on, the time of the sunshine's entrance will shift; I'll be following its progress faithfully.  Now if our Congress would decide to keep to Daylight Savings Time as I mention in my previous post, I can look forward to this reenactment next July, too.  No, I'm not holding my breath.

We enjoy a bright, sunny day just this past week, and I can't resist snapping some photos of the sunlight on the leaves.

Even on rainy days, the light that gets through the clouds shimmers and dances on the leaves in such a magical style.

As Christians, we know that Jesus walks with us each and every day.  He is truly the light of the world, the light of life, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  Even on a starless, moonless night, His light shines through us as our faith and trust in Him grows and flourishes.  Because God's Holy Spirit dwell within us, we can, and we will, experience what C. S. Lewis describes in the quote above.

We will see the world around us with the loving eyes of Jesus.

And that's the only way we can live freely and fully.

Amen!

Something We Can All Agree On

 

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.  Let all the people say, "Amen!"  Praise the Lord. ~Psalm 106:48

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8

Once again, the possibility of keeping the USA on one time year-round instead of switching semi-annually, is on the table.  The House of Representatives passes a bill just last week to keep Daylight Savings Time permanent.  There are already doubts that the Senate will vote in the affirmative.  However, I, for one, am happy that it's at least being discussed, and I'm hoping that they will come to a bi-partisan consensus agreeable to the majority of Americans.

The following quote in a July 16th press release from the AP encapsulates the essence of why time changes matter:  Currently, the shift is forward in spring and back to standard time in fall as a way to give people more daylight time in the summer evenings.  But the semi-annual change has few fans - and AP-NORC* poll last year found that only 12% of American adults were in favor of it, while almost half opposed it.  Proponents of a single time include the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine - outfits to whom daily rhythms are deeply important.

I can tell you from personal experience that those daily rhythms are of utmost importance to me.  And the older I get, the more I find my body craves a dependable routine.  Even when I was much younger, having to adjust to new sleep schedules and dealing with growing children became irritatingly problematic, especially the "spring forward" aspect of the whole ordeal.  Add to that a cat and a dog who had no concept of time, and things could and did go south in a hurry.

In the end, necessary adjustments are realized, but why put us through this mess in the first place?  I know there will be plenty of opinions regarding whether we should remain on Daylight Savings Time or permanently revert to Standard Time, and I'm sure, too, depending on where in the country you live, you much prefer one over the other.  Or perhaps, you don't have strong feelings either way.  Pro or con, I'd love to hear from you in the comments.  This should produce a lively discussion for all who choose to participate!

We can certainly agree or disagree about time changes here on earth, but I take great comfort in knowing that our God is the unchanging, everlasting Father.  Time never dictates His agenda.  He is beyond our worldly understanding of time, yet never inaccessible in the present moment.  What a blessing that is!

And I think that's something we can all agree on.

Amen!

*National Opinion and Research Center

Mom Always Liked You Best!

 

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ~James 2:1

Back in the late 1960's, audiences were treated to the music and comedy of The Smothers Brothers on various variety shows and on their own show for three seasons. Dick Smothers played the straight-man, and brother, Tommy, was the clown and upstart. One of their famed routines, which never failed to evoke laughter from their viewers, involved Tommy, slowly but surely, losing an argument with Dick and finally, in exasperation at the lack of any better rejoinder, defiantly blurting out, "Mom always liked you best!" As a child watching this, I was unsure if it was only a joke or if Tommy really felt his mother had shown favoritism toward Dick as they were growing up together. It made me wonder, quite uncomfortably I might add, if my own parents liked my brother more than they liked me. With these worries, I struggled to find this skit humorous, and always felt immeasurably sorry for Tommy.

In the scripture referred to above, James exhorts the early church to avoid showing favoritism to any of the members. It seems this church was deferring to their wealthy members while treating the poorer with indifference. This partiality indicated that worldly values were being placed above heavenly ones, and James is anxious to guide them away from such practices which lead not to glory, but to sin. He doesn't tolerate a lip-service faith, but demands one of action where belief in and the following of Christ Jesus is lived out to the letter. If Christ died for all, then all should be welcomed with the same love He showed to us.

Do you perceive partiality or favoritism being played out in your church? Do you struggle with the notion that all who walk through the doors of the sanctuary should be equally accepted? When strangers enter the Sunday service or a Sunday school class for the first time, how are they greeted? How are they treated? Do they feel like Dick, the loved one, or like Tommy, the one who isn't quite lovable enough? Today, think of the ways partiality affects your life, and if you find it does, vow to make the change which allows you to love your neighbor as yourself.

Amen!

Please take a moment to visit The Christian Lounge to read what others are saying about following Jesus and contribute if the Lord so moves you to do so.

A More Perfect Union

 

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. ~Proverbs 16:3

We spend the evening of July 4th viewing consecutive shows on Fox News highlighting events happening on the national mall and around the country as everyone is gearing up to celebrate our 250th birthday.  Danny and I know we can't possibly stay up for the grand finale of fireworks as we have church the next day, but we certainly enjoy what festivities we do see, especially the earth-shaking fly-overs, and we admire the thousands who are braving the sweltering heat to secure their place on the mall to hear our president speak and watch the momentous fireworks which will ensue.

Then the unexpected, unwelcomed interruption occurs.  A thunderstorm with lightning is fast approaching.  The news anchors who are broadcasting from an open, raised pavilion are swiftly ushered into a safe trailer, dubbed the Freedom Bunker, which also serves as protection for musical guests, celebrities and, most importantly, WWII veterans who are to be honored on stage later that evening.  In a twinkling, the carefully choreographed coverage has all but dissolved and the challenge of thinking on their feet reveals just how talented and versatile these Fox News anchors are.

The ways in which they interact so seamlessly and congenially with the people into whose midst they are thrown displays to a person their genuine concern for and interest in others and their stories.  More than once, Danny and I find ourselves exchanging looks of amazement at everyone's candor and friendliness as the coverage, now more personal and meaningful, takes on a life and energy all its own.

From the singing of God Bless America by the 106-year-old Cpl. Wilbur "Jack" Myers to Jason Crabb and Michael W. Smith belting out Awesome God in an impromptu duet, to the excellent rendition of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by a talented trio of ladies dressed like the Andrews Sisters, we are blissfully afforded a sneak peek at the entertainment we would have seen later that evening if we were night owls.  Danny and I repeatedly remark while watching this spontaneous, unscripted version of our nation's birthday is the best, most memorable, we've ever seen.

We witness, in real time, the very embodiment of American resilience.  The lightning may flash and the thunder roll along our nation's journey, but our belief in a sovereign God and the freedoms only He can guarantee will never be defeated.  United as One Nation Under God, we can celebrate our 250th birthday and look forward to the next 250 years with the hope and confidence that only comes from the Lord.

Let us pray that with each passing day, we become that more perfect union that our Founding Fathers envisioned for our great nation so many years ago.

Amen!

Happy Birthday, USA!

 

So, if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ~John 8:36

Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. ~John Adams

On July 4th, 2026, our beloved nation turns 250 years old!  I know I'm not alone when I say that I couldn't be more proud to be an American, especially during this landmark year.  I'm old enough to remember our 200th birthday, too.  Unfortunately, I was in England at that time for a summer study of British literature.  But our group was genuinely surprised and honored to witness the Buckingham Palace guards offer a royal tribute to their American brothers and sisters.

Those moments, I recall, were the first time during that monumental trip when I felt the poignant twinge of homesickness, pining for the land I love.

Fifty years later, I find it both ironic and joyful that so many FIFA fans from all over the world have descended on our great nation for the games.  Their exuberance for the American way of life, from Buckee's to Waffle House, cold beer and air conditioning, from sea to shining sea, is both infectious and inspiring.  Truly, their enthusiasm for our country reminds us how blessed we are to have the freedoms that we often take for granted.

I'm absolutely loving every moment leading up to the big day and I plan to revel in the celebrations taking place on the National Mall and all throughout the land.  But it's not just about barbeques, parades, fireworks and flyovers, although they are all fantastic in and of themselves.

It's about God.

Our Founding Fathers were immersed in His Word, recognizing it as the very cornerstone of western civilization.  When they came to the original thirteen colonies, they brought with them all the best of the Old World's ideas and ideals, and created a government like not other ever before seen or tried.  I believe with every fiber of my being that it was God's will to establish this nation as His "Shining City on the Hill."  After all, when one looks at the historical improbability of rag-tag militias triumphing over the then greatest empire in the world, how could it have possibly happened without Him?  Winning our revolution against the formidable British Empire was nothing short of miraculous!

Here, 250 years later, figures such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin loom large in our collective conscience as do countless more who contributed to the formation of our government.  But we must hold tightly to what John Adams stated above:  Our Constitution is made only for a moral and religious people.  If we lose sight of that basic premise, our country will be lost.

So let's resolve to put the Lord first in our lives always, thanking Him for all our blessings, and praying that He will ever defend, protect and inspire us to do great things that are pleasing in His sight.  And we we ever cherish and uphold the freedoms America affords us because God is on His throne.

Happy Birthday, USA, and may you celebrate many more!

Amen!

The Best Part of Waking Up

 

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ~Luke 21:33

Morning coffee in our house isn't a suggestion, it's a requirement.  Danny mentions recently that he thinks our Cuisine Art coffee maker is about eight years old, the same age as our previous one is when it gives up the ghost.  He even browses the web to see what types of coffee makers would make a reasonable, practical replacement should our current one decide to go the way of its predecessor.

Friday evening, while Danny is cooking dinner, he glances over at the coffee maker and notices that the display clock is uncharacteristically blank.  We experience several glitches in our electricity that afternoon.  Thinking that might be the issue, he unplugs the machine and plugs it in again.  Zilch.  Zero.  Nada.  The Cuisine Art has unceremoniously brewed its last.

What are we to do now?

Fortunately, we have both metal and plastic pour-over devices to use for our morning Joe.  I use the plastic one with a coffee filter in it to slow the drip when boiling water is poured into it.

While it works okay, my coffee isn't strong enough for my liking.  And for someone spoiled by simply setting up my coffee the night before which only requires me to press the "on" button in the morning, going through the extra steps when I'm not yet fully awake is a dangerous undertaking.

By the time Danny gets up, he uses the metal filter for his coffee.

This doesn't require a paper filter, but dumping out the used grounds creates another issue.  They have to actually be washed out of the filter.  Sending unwanted grounds down our kitchen sink when we are only on a septic tank is not the way we wish to go for any length of time.

It turns out that Danny's preemptive research pays off.  On Sunday, we welcome this beauty!

The Technivorm Moccamaster is a hand-crafted and individually tested coffee maker which has been manufactured in the Netherlands since 1964.  It meets the high standards that the European Union demands for all its products, so what little plastic it does contain is safe.  We do expect, too, that this machine will outlast and outperform our last two Cuisine Art purchases.

But no matter what man-made product or appliance we might acquire, we know it is only temporary.  Nothing created in or by this world can last forever.  Eventually, they will pass away.

And so will we.

With that in mind, may we cling all the more tenaciously to what Jesus tells us will never pass away - His Word.  Let us savor each one of them like we do our first, aromatic sip of a richly-brewed coffee.

He's the best part of waking up!

Amen!