On the Way to Church

It was one of those dark, cloudy mornings. Storm front coming through. Geese fighting in the park. Even the dandelions looked ugly under a grayish sunrise. I was hoping to get some good color shots while walking, but a drab and dreary sky stopped me. We had a few days of spring's promise with warmer temps and blue skies, but today the pendulum swings back toward winter.

"Remember the wheel of Providence is always in motion; and the spoke that is uppermost will be under; and therefore mix trembling always with your joy." Philip Henry in the 17th century.

Harbingers of Bing

I guess this backyard plum bloom can pose for the cherry blossom. How many really know the difference? Coming soon to a tree near you, the perennial bing cherry show is in the wings, ready to inspire poets and photo takers around the world. Oh, and let's not forget all the kitchen technicians who like to bake and design other fare from the famous Bing Cherry. The California Cherry Advisory Board offers a few recipes.

Question: is a blossom's beauty a thing of art to the buzzing bee? Can an insect enjoy the shape and color of one velvety petal, much less the composition of a tree full of them? Not with that puny brain and missing spiritual link. Thank God alone that we can just stand there and say, "Wow!" Evolution can never explain Beauty --- nor Beast, for that matter.

Dropping the Gauntlet

Calling all 62-year-olds to the Little Dividend Competition. Janise Wulf of Redding is one brave woman . . . make that mother . . . make that grandmother . . . make that great-grandmother! Her twelfth child, Adam, is doing well, along with her 20 other grandchildren and three great-grandkids.

Cheering her along in her quest was her husband, Scott, who is retired and has plenty of time to take care of this new brother to their previous son who was born 3 1/2 years ago. Seems the little guy needed some company.

The icing on the cake of this story is the fact that Janise is blind, has diabetes and 'just' loves children.

Go, Granny, Go!

Don't Pray for Rain

This early spring weather has fooled some trees into early bloom, which some farmers are fearing might prove disasterous if more heavy rains and wind are on the way.

We will survive.

The Pain of Lobster Love

Unfortunately, these sea creatures feel the pain of boiling water and would cry out for mercy if they just had vocal chords like us. However, they baked Barbara's fare instead of steamed it, so the poor guy had to put up with a bit more torture than and instantaneous aquatic death. How could you enjoy a meal after that?

But relish she did, taking each deliberate bite slowly toward her open and sexy lips. Then, after a round of sirloin, baked potato, deep-fried zucchini and bread, she'd be back at the lobster tail. No guilt. No remorse. No shame. Just a big, broad, beautiful smile on her face.

I smiled back through the tears. Happy Valentine's Day, Dear.

Declaring the Glory

King David writes, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork" in Psalm 19:1. Whether day or night, the Artist's hand is busy fashioning the elegant. And this beautiful display is but a slight reflection of that beauty of purity and perfection of a glorious God, who condescends willingly and lovingly to be called Father by those who love Him.

Dostoevsky wrote, "Beauty will save the world." Not beauty created, but the Creator of beauty. Not the beauty of human love, but the beauty of the One who first loved us. Not the beauty of human wisdom, but the beauty of the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins by the sinless Christ Jesus.

Ask God to show you this glory as you read His word and see His works.

Palmy Sunrises

After 20 years of driving past this row of palm trees on the way to work, I've finally captured the scene. And this one doesn't compare to the more spectacular ones seen through the years. This used to be farmland and is now industrial/commercial/tech land except for a leftover farmhouse and barn at the end of these desert sentinels. When I first started working here, we used the barn (it's across a 4-lane street, about 1/4 mile from us) to store paper rolls for business form printing. Someone would drive a truck or van over and a forklift or clamplift would put rolls in the truck. This worked fine until someone forgot to close the rear door one day and a roll or two bounced out onto the highway. This slight incident forced management to find another place around the block from us. Goodbye, ol' barn and not-so-good ol' days.

Ageless Quotes

"To know how to grow old is the master-work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living." Henri Amiel

"A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called old for the first time." Oliver Wendell Holmes

"No wise man wished to be younger." Jonathan Swift

"Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old." Washington Irving

"History will never forget Mr. Jagger's charisma. But it will certainly question his ability to sing." Wordy Dave

This Ol' Crow

Light thickens, and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood;
Good things of day begin to droop and drowse,
Whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse.
---Macbeth Act 3, Scene 2

All the world hates a crow. Its sin-black sheen and coarse-grained caw conjure medieval memories that make us shudder. Ravenous. Threatening. Hated by its feathered cousins no less than hawks and eagles. A pulpitless bully. But smarter than the average bird. Is that its redeeming value?

God has so ordered the habits of certain creatures to mirror those of certain men. Even Jesus compares King Herod to a wily fox. And ants are to be examples of enterprise says King Solomon. Satan is compared to a beast and a lion.

So, what creature somewhat fits your personality? Just ask a good friend for a reliable answer and laugh at yourself a bit.