WONDER!

When was the last time you paused in wonder? I've been a lot of cool places in my life. I've stood in a fire tower looking over a vast pine forest. I have crossed rushing rivers. I have been inches away from creatures in creation before they knew I was there. I have crawled on my stomach into caves with only 18 inches of space in which to move. I have laid on my back staring at a country sky, black as velvet except for the meteors blazing across the heavens. I have stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon and peered into its depths. I have stood atop mountains in Alaska, stood in the middle of glaciers, hiked mountain trails, and even looked down on the world from 42,000 feet.

I have ridden in the back of a fighter jet, descended into the hold of a nuclear submarine, ridden in jet boats, harbor cruisers, gondolas, canoes, airplanes. I have heard the applause of thousands of screaming patriotic football fans, been on the Discovery channel in front of millions of viewers, shook hands with generals and statesmen, and walked the halls of the most powerful military squadrons, naval bases, and governments of the world.

I have seen the marks of history left in the ruins of old coal mining villages in West Virginia, in the museums of Washington D.C., and in the ruins of castles in Okinawa. I have seen the monuments men have built in the great cities of the U.S.A. I've seen the glitz and glamor of lights in Las Vegas.

I have watched the gift of life be given as my children were born. I have seen the incredible love of my wife and children, the dedicated loyalty of my family and friends, and the resolute focus of my comrades in arms. I have been blessed with rich relationships with my friends, my teachers, my siblings, my co-workers, and fellow students.

I could go on, but as you can readily see, I have been given great cause for wonder. I wouldn't trade the path I have walked for all the money in the world. But, I don't plan to stop walking and rest in the memories of days already spent. Rather I plan to keep on walking in pursuit of new memories, new joys, and new moments of wonder every day. Whether it be only a pause to drink in the fresh breeze of an imminent rain, or a vacation to visit some new wonder, I want to live every moment of life to the fullest. But that is not the end of it.

No matter how magnificent the wonders we view on this planet in our brief span of living, it does not compare to the magnificence of love, mercy, and grace to be found every day when one gazes into the eyes of Christ. There is such power in that gaze. It causes me to tremble and to stand in awe of Him. It is this sense of wonder that never grows old and can be a perpetual experience as much a part of living as breathing. It is this sense of wonder that truly enriches all other moments of living. It is this sense of wonder we must never lose.

How's your wonder?

A Family Celebration

Those of you who have visited my wife's blog this week probably already know she put on a little party for me for my birthday. You can visit her blog to hear the details. She fixed a great meal and we had a fun little party. We even put a few candles on the cheesecake because Julia said it wouldn't be a birthday without candles! :-) I must say that Birthdays mean less and less as one gets older...I guess they become harbingers of impending doom rather than celebrations of living! :-) However, I still feel younger than my 28 years and I intend to keep it that way as long as possible. I told my Dad it is frightening because I can remember when he was my age! :-) Just think: I am only 12 years from 40! ;-)

It really has been a great journey so far and I really would trade very little that I have experienced in my life. Granted, everyone has moments they wish they could relive or forget, but thank God, mine have been few and far between. I'm thankful for my wonderful family, grateful for my beautiful wife, and hopeful for many wonderful memories and experiences to come. Here's to another 28!

Heading Toward the Goal

Well, you all have continued to visit and that is a good thing. Looks like we will get to 2000 hits by the end of the month! Thanks for visiting!

Disturbed!

Please visit this link. Then pray. Then call your legislators. God have mercy on us.

Romans Chapter 1:16-32

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

(KJV, emphases mine)

New Books

This week I received a "new" set of books I purchased on Ebay. It is a complete set of the Harvard Classics - all 52 volumes. So far this week I have read from Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, from John Milton's poetry, from Cicero's treatise on friendship, and stories from the Brothers Grimm. These works are intriguing to me and the perspectives they give are fascinating.

John Milton's works are beautifully crafted. Cicero is a little bit deep and dry but very good when you find its rhythm. I have read the Brothers Grimm in the past, but it is a pleasure to read the unabridged versions. Benjamin Franklin was the most interesting to me this week. All my educational life I have been taught that he was a deist. His own words written in his autobiography prove this idea false. He prayed every day to the Supreme Being and even wrote the words of his prayer in his autobiography. Granted, he did lean strongly toward egotism, and tried to do much in his own strength (sound familiar to anyone?). But, his belief and even limited trust in God is undeniable. I will try to post some of his words in the near future.

In the meantime, I have National Guard Duty this weekend and will be quite busy. I trust you all will have a blessed couple of days of rest and relaxation! Enjoy!

Thank God for You!

Thank God for you, good friend of mine,
Seldom is friendship such as thine;
How very much I wish to be
As helpful as you've been to me-
Thank God for You.

Of many prayer guests, one thou art
On whom I ask God to impart
Rich blessings from His storehouse rare,
And grant to you His gracious care-
Thank God for You.

When I recall from time to time
How you inspired this heart of mine:
I find myself inclined to pray
"God bless my friend this very day-"
Thank God for you.

So often, at the throne of grace,
There comes a picture of your face;
And then, instinctively, I pray
That God may guide you all the way-
Thank God for you.

Some day I hope with you to stand
Before the throne, at God's right hand.
And say to you - at journey's end,
"Praise God, you've been to me a friend-"
Thank God for you.

- Dr. Joseph Clark

For the Thinkers...

In the context of the cross - and preserving the importance of the soul - how does one set, maintain, and teach a cultural/lifestyle standard that is God-honoring, societally relevant, and preserves the essence of holiness? (Refer to Galatians 5 & 6, and Colossians 1/2)

We No Longer Need You

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go tell Him they were done with him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well. How about this. Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK. Great!"
But God added, "Now we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure; no problem," and bent down to grab a handful of dirt.
God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt."

Quoted, Author Unknown