Highlights from our travels to the West

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

We are soon to return to Kentucky from our western travels.  We have seen a bit of six states on the way:  Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Washington.  I am attaching ten pictures to give the flavor:

  1. Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon.  We were able to walk on the beach several times and had beautiful sunny weather which was a special treat for Oregon.
  2. The confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.  This was not clear due to rain, fog, and wind.
  3. Astoria Bridge which connects Oregon and Washington.  Very poor visibility at the time of our visit requires me to borrow a picture from the internet.
  4. Old Faithful in Yellowstone.
  5. Teton Pass from Idaho into Wyoming.  10% grade on both sides; enough to cause a little anxiety.
  6. The Grand Tetons; beautiful views.
  7. Tetons viewed form Jenny Lake.
  8. Bear Lake which straddles eastern Idaho and Utah.
  9. Snake River Canyon was beautiful with many colors and many rocky crags.
  10. Snake River provides water to a big part of southern Idaho and eventually drains into the Columbia.

God has made a beautiful world for us to see and enjoy.

TLT

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Grand Tetons viewed from Jenny Lake

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

Today we did some more looking around at the beautiful Tetons.  And we were able to get ourselves in the pictures at Jenny Lake.   Smile.   Here are six more pictures of this part of our trip.  Jenny Lake is a most beautiful part of God’s creation!

We are in Alpine, Wyoming, tonight.

TLT

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Wyoming and the Grand Tetons

Posted on October 7, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

Today we were blessed to see God’s creation as expressed in the Grand Tetons.  The mountains are magnificent and we even saw a bear.

On the way to Jackson, Wyoming, we managed a 10% grade both up and down over the Teton Pass (Elevation 8431 feet) near Wilson, Wyoming.  Quite something.  Thankfully our rental Nissan Rogue had AWD and that made things easier.

Here are a few of the pictures of our adventures.

TLT

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The Grotto

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

Yesterday we visited “The Grotto”, a beautiful prayer garden on a hillside in Portland, Oregon.  Here are some of the pictures from that tranquil site.  Statues of Jesus, St. Joseph, St. Francis, and many others stand among towering pines.  Jesus seems to be portrayed as beckoning us on with him.

TLT

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“Decorations” for Kai . . .

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

As the birth of Kai approached, Joyce made a number of beautiful and practical items for him.  These are now in use or ready for use.  The following pictures will give you some idea of a grandmother’s love.  TLT

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New grandson–KAI

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

Well, the long-awaited laptop finally arrived at the door here in Oregon so that I am now able to download pictures, check my email, and send you a post of our recent life.

I will not say much; just send you a couple of pictures of “Kairos Zachariah”, a.k.a, “Kai”.  He has come at God’s timing, thus the name.

I (TLT) have been rocking him quite a bit (not as much as others but a lot for me) and I noticed something that seems important.  We get him wrapped tightly to make him feel safe.  Every now and then he seems to try to burst free of his “bonds” or “swaddling clothes.”  He pushes until he meets resistance.  Then he relaxes in the comfort that there are limits to his hand and foot wiggling.

Maybe there is a theological principle here.  We often wiggle (or push) against the limits that seem to be a part of our life in this world and then we are gently reminded that the apparent limits are the boundaries that God has set for our protection and safety.

Kai was born on September 13, 2012 and he seems to be having a good time.  22 inches, 9 pounds.

TLT

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The Church Alphabet–Epilogue

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

THE CHURCH ALPHABET

TO READ ALL 26 POSTS IN ORDER CLICK HERE

Epilogue

As we conclude our look at these 26 words of The Church Alphabet, we need to note that God speaks through words.  His great and ultimate book, the Bible, is the expression of his true character in written form and is full of his holy words to us.

Jesus comes to us through the written word, the Bible, and as himself, the incarnate Word of God.  He identifies with us in both of these ways and sends his truth to change our lives and to enable us to live daily in the power of his Spirit.

  • He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:10-14 NIV)
  • But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9 NIV)

So, in the end, you must answer the questions:

  • “What will you do with these saving words?“
  • “What will you do with the ultimate word, Jesus?”
  • “Do you accept him as Lord and Saviour?”

TLT

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The Church Alphabet — Zion

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

Click here to read article:  ZION

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Wrestling with Truth — September 2, 2012

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

MALACHI (chapters 1 – 4)

IS THERE ANY HOPE?

1.                 [The people of Israel]  . . . were doubting God’s love

2.                 They were dishonoring God’s name

3.                 They were profaning God’s covenant

4.                 They were trying God’s patience

5.                 They were forsaking God’s ordinances

6.                 They were despising God’s service

7.                 Yet some began to heed Malachi’s message – Mal 3:16-4:6

  • God’s messenger (John), who would come in the spirit of Elijah and prepare people for the coming of the Lord (Mal 4:5; Luke 1:16)
  • The messenger of the covenant (Jesus), who comes to refine and purify those willing to repent, and brings judgment on those who do not fear the Lord (Mal 3:1-3)
  • God’s special people are (Mal 3:17):
    • Those the Lord would claim as his
    • Those the Lord would make his “jewels”
    • Those the Lord would spare as a man spares his own son who serves him

–outline modified from Mark A. Chapman

CONSIDER ALSO PASSAGES FROM THE MESSIAH THAT ARE FROM MALACHI

SUCH AS:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8RmuvkwGrI

THE ETHICAL, THE THEOLOGICAL, AND THE AESTHETIC

“George La Piana, the Harvard church historian, has said that every religious movement passes through three stages: the ethical, the theological, the aesthetic.  It begins as an instinctive moral reform; it goes on to the reflective formulation of its faith and practice; finally it elaborates in terms of beauty its buildings and the apparatus of its worship.  The last of these stages marks a point of intellectual arrest and often of incipient moral decay.  The movement must then be born again in a fresh reformation, primarily moral in its intention.

“There is every reason why we should give hard thought to the substance of our theology, and added reason for enriching our worship; but if these preoccupations mark a decline in moral earnestness, they are not of themselves guarantees of the survival of religion.  The burden of the prophets and the teaching of Jesus were often aimed at theological sophistication and ceremonial elaboration.  The alloy of pedantry and aestheticism needs constantly to be refined out of what should be the pure metal of morally earnest faith.”[Willard L. Sperry, “The Book of Malachi” in The Interpreter’s Bible (Abingdon, 1956, volume 6, pp. 1138-1140.]

TLT

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The Church Alphabet — Yoke

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Hillside Laughter

Click here to read article:  YOKE

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