We were comfortable and ready for our 2 ½ hour trip home from our “visit with” Mr. Jefferson. We had dinner in a sports restaurant near the University of Virginia campus--my son-in-law was driving—the rest of our group was in another car. Driving along the highway, we noticed to our left a beautiful scene.
There were the Blue Ridge Mountains, silhouetted against a sky of pale yellow and pink, as the sun was going down. The mountains are aptly named, as the fir trees there give a blue tint to them at any time of day, but especially now.
It got me to thinking about the favorite hymn, “Beautiful Savior.” Verse two:
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands,
Robed in flowers of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorr’wing spirit sing.
Taking a look around our world, there’s lots to see that’s beautiful, reminding us of our Beautiful Savior. With all the troubles in the world, it’s good to do that, because we are reassured that we are not alone, and God loves us. He gave us this beautiful world to enjoy.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Vacation – Part 2 – Mr. Jefferson
While vacationing in Virginia, we traveled 2 ½ hours to Monticello and the 5,000 acre home of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Yet Jefferson touts three other things on his tombstone: Governor of Virginia, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia.
Jefferson took forty years to build the home and other buildings—much of his life--from land he inherited from his father. Along with that came slaves, of which more than 100 lived on the plantation at a time. Of particular interest to the visitor is the slave Sally Hemmings. She apparently had as many as six children by Jefferson, which tour guides spoke of matter-of-factly, perhaps as an attempt to ward off cover-up accusations by visitors.
It is interesting to note that only members of the Hemmings family were released from slavery following Mr. Jefferson’s death. What also strikes me is the contrast between what Jefferson wrote, and how he conducted this part of his life. In the declaration of Independence he wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Owning slaves and writing these words are quite a contradiction, don’t you think? Yet our words very often are compromised by our actions. Marriage vows are broken, promises we make to God and His Church are not kept, and solemn promises we make to friends, we cannot, or won’t keep.
There’s lots of room for repentance, and correction, in all of those things, don’t you think? As for Mr. Jefferson, he wrote down the baseline by which our country, with its freedoms, was build. As Christians, our baseline is the Bible. I hope you are reading it regularly.
While vacationing in Virginia, we traveled 2 ½ hours to Monticello and the 5,000 acre home of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Yet Jefferson touts three other things on his tombstone: Governor of Virginia, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia.
Jefferson took forty years to build the home and other buildings—much of his life--from land he inherited from his father. Along with that came slaves, of which more than 100 lived on the plantation at a time. Of particular interest to the visitor is the slave Sally Hemmings. She apparently had as many as six children by Jefferson, which tour guides spoke of matter-of-factly, perhaps as an attempt to ward off cover-up accusations by visitors.
It is interesting to note that only members of the Hemmings family were released from slavery following Mr. Jefferson’s death. What also strikes me is the contrast between what Jefferson wrote, and how he conducted this part of his life. In the declaration of Independence he wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Owning slaves and writing these words are quite a contradiction, don’t you think? Yet our words very often are compromised by our actions. Marriage vows are broken, promises we make to God and His Church are not kept, and solemn promises we make to friends, we cannot, or won’t keep.
There’s lots of room for repentance, and correction, in all of those things, don’t you think? As for Mr. Jefferson, he wrote down the baseline by which our country, with its freedoms, was build. As Christians, our baseline is the Bible. I hope you are reading it regularly.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Vacation, Part 1 - Bonsai
I know this is going to sound like the first essay at school in the fall, but I’d like to share a little about our recent vacation. I’ll write about Mr. Jefferson, and reflect upon a beautiful scene, but first I’d like to write about Bonsai.
Bonsai is a method of growing things that flourishes in Japan. I’m told it can get pretty expensive, but after my experience, I think I want to give it a try.
The word in Japanese literally means “cultivation.” Bonsai came from Egypt and later China, and only in the mid-20th century has it become popular in America. While on vacation we attended a show where the creators of bonsai shared some of their stories. Although I’d seen bonsai shows before, I’m more intrigued than ever. It’s not growing miniatures, but growing trees in small spaces, and enjoying the shapes that are created.
It’s much different than planting a tree in your yard for shade, or a garden for vegetables. The reason I want to try it is because it presents a unique challenge. Everyone needs challenges, and this one is pretty harmless, except now you’ll be asking me how the bonsai are doing, and if they can see them. You will be the ones I’ll be accountable too, I suppose. I’ll let you know how it’s going.
Bonsai is a method of growing things that flourishes in Japan. I’m told it can get pretty expensive, but after my experience, I think I want to give it a try.
The word in Japanese literally means “cultivation.” Bonsai came from Egypt and later China, and only in the mid-20th century has it become popular in America. While on vacation we attended a show where the creators of bonsai shared some of their stories. Although I’d seen bonsai shows before, I’m more intrigued than ever. It’s not growing miniatures, but growing trees in small spaces, and enjoying the shapes that are created.
It’s much different than planting a tree in your yard for shade, or a garden for vegetables. The reason I want to try it is because it presents a unique challenge. Everyone needs challenges, and this one is pretty harmless, except now you’ll be asking me how the bonsai are doing, and if they can see them. You will be the ones I’ll be accountable too, I suppose. I’ll let you know how it’s going.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Picture
My daughter suggested I use my Children's Messages from Sunday morning for my Blog. Last Sunday I presented a picture of my parents on their wedding day, June 25, 1938.
The children recognized it instantly as a wedding picture, even though it is outside--Mom is wearing a bride's dress, good hint! I then said God had a plan for their life together, and through the next 48 plus years they lived in but two houses, had five children, eleven grandchildren, and lots of good memories. They were faithful to God and His plan, but they weren't all smiles, as they were on their wedding day. But God helped them through, and blessed them, just as He will help us through and bless our lives.
We can be confident in this because God has promised, and because we have examples like this marred couple and many others who can say that, too.
All of this led into the message theme for the say: "Bless This House--Both Marriage and Children." Indeed.
The children recognized it instantly as a wedding picture, even though it is outside--Mom is wearing a bride's dress, good hint! I then said God had a plan for their life together, and through the next 48 plus years they lived in but two houses, had five children, eleven grandchildren, and lots of good memories. They were faithful to God and His plan, but they weren't all smiles, as they were on their wedding day. But God helped them through, and blessed them, just as He will help us through and bless our lives.
We can be confident in this because God has promised, and because we have examples like this marred couple and many others who can say that, too.
All of this led into the message theme for the say: "Bless This House--Both Marriage and Children." Indeed.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Conspiracies
Simple explanations about things that happen are sometimes not enough for people. This, according to writer Vicki Santillano, in an article appearing in the Chicago Sun-Times[1], is why people latch on to conspiracy theories. From the John F. Kennedy assassination, to Elvis, the first moon landing, and Shakespeare, conspiracies have a life of their own, and can endure for quite some time.
At the time of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, religious leaders plotted a conspiracy theory that possibly lasted a generation. They told the soldiers guarding Jesus’ tomb to say that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body, so that they could say Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:11-15). But that theory has not endured, because the overwhelming evidence demonstrates that Jesus did rise from the dead, and later ascended into heaven.
Conspiracy theories are comfort food for people looking for some deeper meaning, a scientific explanation. Disbelieving the reports they get about events that occur, they comfort themselves with the knowledge that there is a different, darker, more sinister explanation. To say that a UFO (piloted by aliens from beyond the earth) crashed near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 can explain things like wondrous inventions and unexplained phenomena in the sky.
But Jesus came to earth, lived among us, died, rose and ascended, all as part of God’s “conspiracy theory of one,” that there is one way to the Father, and we are blessed to have faith in the One who has come for all people.
[1] “Vicki Santillo, a writer for the online women’s magazine "Divine Caroline," lives in San Francisco. Her article was reprinted in the Chicago Sun-Times, Saturday, May 30, 2009.
At the time of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, religious leaders plotted a conspiracy theory that possibly lasted a generation. They told the soldiers guarding Jesus’ tomb to say that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body, so that they could say Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:11-15). But that theory has not endured, because the overwhelming evidence demonstrates that Jesus did rise from the dead, and later ascended into heaven.
Conspiracy theories are comfort food for people looking for some deeper meaning, a scientific explanation. Disbelieving the reports they get about events that occur, they comfort themselves with the knowledge that there is a different, darker, more sinister explanation. To say that a UFO (piloted by aliens from beyond the earth) crashed near Roswell, New Mexico in 1947 can explain things like wondrous inventions and unexplained phenomena in the sky.
But Jesus came to earth, lived among us, died, rose and ascended, all as part of God’s “conspiracy theory of one,” that there is one way to the Father, and we are blessed to have faith in the One who has come for all people.
[1] “Vicki Santillo, a writer for the online women’s magazine "Divine Caroline," lives in San Francisco. Her article was reprinted in the Chicago Sun-Times, Saturday, May 30, 2009.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Dreams and Mom
Dreams and Mom
Recently I had a dream about my mom. She had decorated the house for Christmas—this was a hard task because she was “getting on in years” and it must have been difficult for her. When I told her I wished she had asked for help, she merely smiled and said she was glad to do it.
Then I found a quote in a Neil Steinberg column in the Chicago Sun-Times. He was doing a review of the recent biography Losing Mum and Pup, written by accomplished humorist writer Christopher Buckley about his famous parents, William F. Buckley and Patricia Taylor Buckley. The quote reads: “Our parents help us, then we help them. We begin as their dream, the poet said, then they become ours.”[1]
Mom would be 91 this coming June 14. She’s been gone nearly sixteen years, and I still miss her. We used to joke about people putting out their American flags on Flag Day, her birthday. This year on her birthday, I think I’ll lower my flag to half-staff for a moment and say a prayer of thanksgiving for my mother.
[1] Neil Steinberg, Chicago Sun-Times, May 18, 2009, page 22.
Recently I had a dream about my mom. She had decorated the house for Christmas—this was a hard task because she was “getting on in years” and it must have been difficult for her. When I told her I wished she had asked for help, she merely smiled and said she was glad to do it.
Then I found a quote in a Neil Steinberg column in the Chicago Sun-Times. He was doing a review of the recent biography Losing Mum and Pup, written by accomplished humorist writer Christopher Buckley about his famous parents, William F. Buckley and Patricia Taylor Buckley. The quote reads: “Our parents help us, then we help them. We begin as their dream, the poet said, then they become ours.”[1]
Mom would be 91 this coming June 14. She’s been gone nearly sixteen years, and I still miss her. We used to joke about people putting out their American flags on Flag Day, her birthday. This year on her birthday, I think I’ll lower my flag to half-staff for a moment and say a prayer of thanksgiving for my mother.
[1] Neil Steinberg, Chicago Sun-Times, May 18, 2009, page 22.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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