no eye has seen ...

On my way home from work yesterday, I noticed that the sun was beginning to set as I approached Rehoboth. Fortunately, sunset was at 7 PM and I would have time to get home, eat quickly and rush out to see the painting that my heavenly Father was creating. Remembering that the sun sets in the West, I drove to an open field that faced toward Providence. The photograph of that golden sunset was my reward. I am now starting to understand why landscape photographers are so excited about the "golden hour."

As I worked on the image, cropping away the unnecessary details this amazing verse of Scripture came into my mind. It's from the Apostle Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth in the 2nd chapter, the 9th and 10th verses ... However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” -- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

As I was driving home, looking at the sun in the sky I knew that the sunset would be beautiful -- I didn't know just how lovely it would be. I think that the Father gave me a taste of how much greater His plan for eternity is than my idea of heaven.

If the sunset taught me anything, it is this -- I can't even begin to imagine the beauty that awaits those who are in Christ. The really neat part is that we won't have to rush through supper to see it! And like the sunset, salvation is a free gift of God.

Keep the faith.

Best Face Forward ...

Today we visited Castle Hill in Newport, RI just because the weather was so nice. There is an old granite lighthouse, built in 1890, that now has a flashing red beacon to signal the shore. This little lighthouse is only 34 feet tall. When you approach the lighthouse from Castle Hill, you actually stand at eye level with the beacon. What strikes you is that this is a petite lighthouse. It isn't impressive because of its size, but what does impress you is that it has faithfully signaled since 1890 and keeps on doing just that.

The first picture shows you the view from the coastline. This petite lighthouse stands proud on its promontory and faces the sea with its best face forward. When you approach the lighthouse from the trail side, the lighthouse shows its weary side. The metal work is rusting, the paint is chipping, and the mortar needs to be re-pointed. But this petite lighthouse keeps its best face forward and signals, rust and all. It wears its rust and its age like a badge of honor.

There's a great truth in this little lighthouse. When you are fulfilling your purpose, it doesn't matter if a little rust stains your paint. There is a beauty in doing what you were created for that exceeds what Hollywood can deliver. We call that beauty character , and to paraphrase an old commercial ... we get it the old fashioned way, we earn it!

Keep the faith

spring is coming to God's bonsai tree ...

Today was a taste of spring -- blue skies, temps in the 50's, sunshine and melting snow. We visited the state park at Fort Phoenix (Fairhaven) and this persistent tree caught my eye. It stands on a small patch of ground caught between boulders left by the last glacier and the river, and it is bent by the force of the prevailing winds. It can't stand straight and tall like the oaks and maples, but it stands. Pretty soon, it will bud and leaf out. I'm looking forward to coming back later to see what this sturdy little tree will do with sunshine, rain, and soil.

As I have thought about this tree which was crafted by the Hand of our Heavenly Father, I am reminded of the Japanese art form of bonsai trees. They are exquisite miniature trees, crafted over years, that express an inner vision for that tree. This tree has been crafted with His inner vision in mind and it has a beauty that comes from the Father's tender care. It is bent to His will and His vision. We are called to become the Father's walking bonsai trees -- fulfilling the vision that He has for us. The hard part of being His bonsai is that pruning is required! Jesus told us that I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. (John 15:1-4) This tree tells us to trust the Father's hand while He is pruning us. He has a vision for the tree that we can become, and He wants our lives to be fruitful.

When you look at the nation and all of what's going on with Detroit, Wall Street, and Main Street, it's important to remember that Spring will come. We will not continue in the current winter forever, and that all of this is about restoring us to His vision. Psalm 30 verse 5 says weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. We all can get focused on today's troubles and forget that troubles pass. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6: 34), Jesus told us Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This persistent little tree has not given in to worry -- it just keeps growing and bending. It keeps on letting the Father craft it into that final work of art. Spring will come, and I can't wait to see what the Father's bonsai looks like with its coat of green leaves.

Keep the faith!

the orignal lighthouse ...

A lighthouse has only one purpose -- to shine a light that will guide a ship safely into harbor. It is there to rescue those who are lost and need to know the way home. We're living at a time with rescue plans for banks, auto makers, insurance companies, Freddie Mac, brokerage firms, people with impossible home mortgages, and people who are out of work. It's easy to look to Washington for a lighthouse, but where does Washington look for a light that will bring this nation safely home?

There's a great gospel song, The Lighthouse, that reminds us that Jesus is the lighthouse. He told us that He is the truth, the life and the way. He also promised that He would never leave us, nor forsake us. He is that lighthouse that never goes dark and always leads us home.

Sometimes we forget that compassion wasn't invented in the New Testament -- Psalm 72 tells us that He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence ... The prophet Zephaniah wrote ... At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time, I will bring you home ...

There's a family style between Jesus and the Father -- they are both filled with compassion, they both seek after the lost and the oppressed and they are both in the lighthouse business.

Keep looking at the original lighthouse ... He will bring you home.

sit or soar ...

So much of life is about the choices that we make -- we can sit on a rock and talk about the weather, the temperature of the water, the wind, the sun, and how we just don't feel like flying anymore. Or we can spread our wings and fulfill the purpose that we were born for. Until we climb off the rock we cannot know the joy of soaring.


Each one of us is a unique creation of our heavenly Father -- He made each of us with gifts, talents and abilities. When we sit on the safety of that rock, we forgo the joy He prepared for us. There is a marvelous scene in the movie Chariots of Fire in which Eric tells his sister that " ... God made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure." What a marvelous way to live our lives, looking forward to knowing that we are exercising the gifts He planted in each of us and feeling His pleasure as we soar on eagle's wings.

We need a new perspective -- are we living our lives sitting on the rock or are we soaring? When was the last time you chose to soar and felt His pleasure?


Keep the faith

only on the green light ...

In the town of Dighton there is a old bridge that crosses the Taunton River and leads you into the town of Berkley. Its a very old and very narrow bridge and can support only one lane of traffic. When you cross the Berkley Bridge you have to wait until your traffic light is green. The spot is is pretty, but when you're in a hurry it's easy to forget to look at what's there.

Our lives can be so much like the Berkley Bridge -- there are times when we have the green light and can get on with the next thing. Then there a moments when we're facing that red light and simply have to wait. So much of the quality of our lives is tied up in what we do when we're waiting. Do we grumble about waiting? Do we ignore the red light and take foolish risks? Or do we savor the moment -- enjoy the scenery and take that little mental holiday? Are we too caught up in getting somewhere that we can't deal with a red light on a one lane bridge?

The next time that life sends you to a one lane bridge and the light is red, don't look at your watch -- look out your window and see the river! You'll be glad you did.

Keep the faith!

once there was a spider ...

Over the last few days I've had several conversations about bailouts, stimulus packages, problems with the Congress, questions about where all of this is going and are we confident that real progress will be made. Clearly no one really knows what's contained in all 1800+ pages of the stimulus bill. It leaves me, and many others, I'm sure, puzzled.

Then I remembered this photo of a little spider (click on the image to see it full screen -- it's a wee spider!) that was spinning a web in the heart of this flower. That spider had no certainty that its next meal would show up, that the flower wouldn't be picked, that the rain wouldn't wash its efforts away or that a bigger spider wouldn't move in. It simply went about its business of spinning its web in a place where lunch happens. I trust that the little guy made it.

There is a lesson for all of us here -- get on with the business of life in spite of all of its uncertainties. If we wait until we know how it will turn out or until everything is perfectly safe, life will pass us by. The flower will be gone; the day will pass and we will miss all of what is right. We need to be in the moment just as that little spider was in its moment -- just as purposeful and just as confident that there was nowhere else to be.

The Apostle Paul told us to do all things as unto the Lord. I wonder if we really apprehend that statement -- that all of our lives are to be lived for His glory and to bring praise to His name. It means that we don't work for the people who sign the paycheck, but we work to honor the One who was a carpenter and redeemed us. We do all things for the One who told us that we were not to worry about tomorrow and to let each days troubles be sufficient for that day. He told us that we were not to worry about what we would eat or what we would wear because our Father already knows what we need; He also promised us that He would never leave us nor forsake us.

There is a great gift in knowing that we are to live life one moment and one day at a time. There's a great song that tells us to "keep doin' our best, pray that it's blessed, and Jesus takes care of the rest!"

Keep the Faith!