Pearl Harbor Day

I was remembering Pearl Harbor, and the sneak attack of the Japanese, when I looked out side and saw the "sneak attack" of the sun on what was to be a cloudy and snowy day. The sunlight filtering through the clouds created a beautiful portrait.

Blue Moon

Blue Moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

Blue Moon
You know just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold
I heard somebody whisper please adore me
And then I looked to the Moon it turned to gold

Blue Moon
Now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

A Snowy Day

November 8th brought a harbinger of winter to these parts. Our first real snow storm for the season. Though here in Grant, the snow accumulation wasn't much, it did hit the higher peaks. The day was gray and dreary, but by night time, the horizon peeked out and displayed a beautiful sunset.

Reformation Sunday

I found this essay from the Billings Gazette, October 30, 2010 worth sharing.


Oct. 31 brings a conflict of interest for Lutheran Christians.

At the same time we’re enjoying Halloween, we also mark the anniversary of the Reformation on the same day.

I’ve always wondered what people would think if I dressed up my kids as little Martin Luthers to go door-to-door nailing up pamphlets challenging Christians to get over their superstitious hang-ups and be true to the Gospel of Love.

There are different ways of telling the story of the Reformation, not all of them accurate.

A popular misconception in our time is that the reformers proclaimed “Sola Scriptura” as a way of replacing unquestioning obedience to the church hierarchy with unquestioning obedience to the Bible. In this version of the story, Martin Luther becomes the pioneer of American fundamentalism.

A more accurate version of the story would be that two competing readings of the Bible came into conflict with each other.

The church’s official reading of the Bible assumed that this was a book about sin and guilt and the authority of the church to save people from damnation if they submitted to this authority.

The reformers, when they looked at the Bible, saw a different story. It was a story of God’s love for humanity becoming more important than judgment of sin, or control, or domination.

It was a story of a free gift being offered in Jesus, a gift that cannot be held for ransom by churches or manipulative preachers. They found in Scripture that God’s purpose for humanity was abundant life and love and peace, in spite of the many ways we fail to live up to these ideals.

It was another conviction of the reformers that the church must always be reforming.

The insight they gained was that a human organization that dares to try to represent God in this world will inevitably fall prey to the very worst forms of corruption. The necessary corrective is a constant process of self-critical reflection, always looking at the sins of religious people before proposing to heal the rest of the world.

A look at our religious landscape today might give the impression that the Reformation never happened.

The bad reputation of churches and religious people in our culture is well-deserved, with the most audible religious voices being voices of extremism, judgment, fear and division.

The reputation of the Christian Gospel in our time and place is not of a free gift of life, love and peace, but a gift held captive to prescribed patterns of religiosity, contempt for the poor and vulnerable and nostalgic notions of family, sexuality and marriage.

The insight of the Reformation is that the Christian Church does not have an automatic right to exist.

If it fails to proclaim and exhibit Christ’s love, the church is on its own. Jesus will be at work, even outside the church, if necessary, gathering people who really want grace, love and peace.

The Rev. Eric Thorson is the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Happy Halloween

I found this template on the History Channel website. I was looking for something a little bit different for the pumpkin other than the usual eyes and toothy grin. Though it was a challenge, and next year, I will get one of those pumpkin carving kits-my paring knife was a bit of an overkill, I am pleased with the results. I live in the country, and so this Halloween, I have not seen any trick-or-treaters, though this is par for the area. Hope your day was a fun-filled one, however you chose to celebrate it. Remember, each day is a celebration.

Sawtooth Lake

More up Barrett Creek

Sunrises, Sunsets

Summer HIkes

 
 
 
 

Svow Squall

 
 
 
 

A study of Tomatoes

 
 
 
 

Meet Me In The Meadow

Meet Me In The Meadow

Sunrise, Sunset

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears
What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?
Now they must learn from one another
Day by day
Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

More Lessons from the Lake

Friday, the Food Pantry Hiking Society finished its last hike for the season. The days are getting shorter, and thus, harder to complete an 8 mile hike and home in the day light. Our latest hike was to Boot Lake. Twice before we were foiled to go the distance. First by high water in the creek, the second rain. But the third time was a charm. Boot Lake is a man-made lake, primarily used for irrigation storage. It's depth is determine by man, and so, the levels are inconsistent. Like so many of our man-made plans-disappointing, inconsistent,empty, destructive in many ways. Unless God builds a house..., I know the plans I have for you....-God's plans. Again, outside of God's plans for us, when we are trying to fill our man-made pursuits, our lives become empty, always poured out, never being filled by God spirit-a dry reservoir. Kinda like Boot Lake

Friends

. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

I'm not sure what these photos have to with friends, other than they were taken during outings with friends. Good friends, a reminder of what kind of friend Jesus is to me.. Just like the song. gifts all

Georgia Shaffer

Georgia Shaffer

How Great Thou Art

These are pictures from our latest hiking adventure, up to Upper Miner Lake. As we walk, we marvel at how awesome God's creation is. We see the beauty of His trees, mountains, hear the songs of the birds and the rushing water, rustling wind through the towering pines, and the crystal clear lake. We walk with a sense of worship and praise. His gift to us, because He loves us. Wow!
How Great Thou Art –
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Norman Hutchins God is Faithful Music Video w/ Lyrics

God is faithful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GruQjcWzzzU

A lesson from a Lake

Today I learn a truth from Ecclesiastes 4. Yesterday I hiked up to Lake Canyon Lake, with the intention to experience God's creation and to, perhaps, do some fishing. I brought my flyrod and my trout net, both beautiful gifts from my husband. The hike was well worth it. Lake Canyon is a narrow canyon about 20 miles from my home. The walls are steep limstone ridges, Fall colors were beginning to appear, but there were still strong hints of this year's wildflowers. I got to the lake, and there was not a breath of wind, so the lake was a beautiful reflective pool. Awesome, God! But, the lake didn't look fishable-that is the bottom was densely moss covered. So, I walked around the lake, took in more of the wonderful sights, and rested by the "babbling" creek. Birds were singing, and there was a peace and calm. The only thing missing was someone to share it with-ah, that part of life is better with two. I stopped by the creek for a cookie and water and realized that my trout net was gone. I backed tracked some, and returned to the outtake of the lake along the trail I took in. No sign of the net. I ate lunch, went up the other side of the lake, took some more pictures, and convinced myself I dropped it along the trail. I headed back to the car, and couldn't see the net anywhere. "It probably is right next to the car"- well, no it wasn't. I was sad, mad, and perplexed. I prayed and pleaded. I went home. I headed back to the same spot today. I wandered around for almost 2 hours, still no net. I realized I lost my net and couldn't find it because no one was watching my back, no one to remember where we went, another mind to think and remember--Another to share and worship God.

It's better to have a partner that go it alone
Share the work, share the wealth
And if one falls down, the other helps
But if there's no one to help-tough!
Two in a bed warm each other
Alone you shiver all night.
By yourself your're unprotected
With a friend you can face the worst
.