Elijah

Such a tough life! But someone's got to live it.My nephew Elijah David kickin back after a long day.

Fairy Tales

A Chinese poem written by Shu Ting

"You believed in your own story,

then climbed inside it...

a torquiose flower.

You gazed past ailing trees,past crumbling walls and rusty railings.

Your least gesture beckoned a constellation

of wild vetch, grasshoppers, and stars

to sweep you away into immaculate distances.

The heart may be tiny

but the world's enormous.

And the people in turn believe...

in pine trees after rain,

ten thousand tiny suns, a mulberry branch

bent over water like a fishing rod,

a cloud tangled in the tail of a kite.

Shaking off dust, in silver voices

ten thousand memories sing from your dream.

The world may be tiny

but the heart's enormous."

Painting and Poem given to me by Emily Grimsley

The Offense

Lately I have been reading writings by Soren Kierkegaard. I love the way he writes....he really makes me think, he challenges me to look inside myself and to really grasp how I view the world....myself...everything I know as truth and to truly understand it.

I'm curious to know what you think about this writing. I have my own opinions but I would love to hear what others think. Comment, let me know!

When Christianity came into the world, it did not need to call attention (even though it did so) to the fact that it was contrary to human nature and human understanding, for the world discovered that easily enough. But now that we are on intimate terms with Christianity, we must awaken the collision. The possibility of offense must again be preached to life. Only the possibility of offense (the antidote to the apologists’ sleeping potion) is able to waken those who have fallen asleep, is able to break the spell so that Christianity is itself again.

Woe to him, therefore, who preaches Christianity without the possibility of offense. Woe to the person who smoothly, flirtatiously, commendingly, convincingly preaches some soft, sweet something which is supposed to be Christianity! Woe to the person who makes miracles reasonable. Woe to the person who betrays and breaks the mystery of faith, distorts it into public wisdom, because he takes away the possibility of offense! Woe to the person who speaks of the mystery of the Atonement without detecting in it anything of the possibility of offense. Woe again to him who thinks God and Christianity are something for study and discussion. Woe to every unfaithful steward
who sits down and writes false proofs, winning friends for themselves and for Christianity by writing off the possibility of offense. Oh, the learning and acumen tragically wasted. Oh, the time wasted in this enormous work of making Christianity so reasonable, and in trying to make it so relevant!

Only when Christianity rises up again, powerful in the possibility
of offense, only then will it need no artful defenders. The more skillful, the more articulate, the more excellent the defense, however, the more Christianity is disfigured, abolished, exhausted like an emasculated man. Christianity ought not to be defended, at least not on the world’s terms. It is we who should see whether we can justify ourselves. It is we who must choose: either to be offended or to accept Christianity. Therefore, take away from Christianity the possibility of offense or take away from the forgiveness of sin the battle of an anguished conscience. Then lock the churches, the sooner the better, or turn them into places of amusement which stand open all day long!

Happiness

Happiness is inward and not outward, and so it does not depend on what we have but on what we are.

-Henry Van Dyke-

Hope!

Such faith turns evenings skies into the glow of morning’s Eternal Day. She knew she was in God’s keeping and that the end of her earthly life would only release her from all earthly limitations to the limitless life beyond.

Think of stepping on shore and finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand and finding in God’s!
Of breathing a new air and finding it celestial air!
Of feeling invigorated and finding it immortality!
Of passing from storm and stress to a perfect calm!
Of walking and finding it Home!

Such is faith and in this is your comfort. Your heritage is a priceless one which all the uncertainties of life cannot possibly take from you.

A Clear Day

With all the smog and haze it is rare that you can see the mountains in Visalia. This is one thing I miss tremendously!!!! Growing up I use to be able to see them everyday. It's a real treat to have seen them on this day. It made me happy!