Picking Back Up Again

It's been a long, long time since I've come over to this blog and written anything.  Been feeling lately like it's time to pick it back up again.

Not sure what direction it will take or for how long I'll be posting, but for now, this feels like an comfortable pair of jeans.

One thing I know is that I'll continue to add some photos here from time to time.  Starting with this one.

When the Song of the Angels is Stilled

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among all people,

To make music in the heart.

- Howard Thurman

Quotable Quotes

The goal of our lives is love, discipleship is a false construct. Time management is an acquired practical skill, not a spiritual revelation. - Grendal Hanks

Haiti on my mind

These beautiful children live in a Children's home in Haiti run by our friends at Hearts and Hands for Haiti. The blankets they are holding come from my mom's former church's VBS class from last summer. Their mission project for the week was to tie the two sides of the blanket fringe together to make one blanket.

Looks like we'll be pulling together a dental clinic mission trip in the spring to go out there.

I've never in my life put something so complex together and I'm sort of "stuck" for how to do it. Have at least one dental team already sorted out, just seem to be stuck in fear about how to proceed.

Maybe blogging about it will help.

Rolling the Rosetta Stone

Earlier this week I returned from my second trip to Ukraine. This time, I was able to speak some words of Russian and read some of the signs so it didn't seem so "foreign" to me.
I've decided that since I'm very likely to go back in a couple years, I'm setting a goal of being fluent in Russian in the next two years.
Hence..the Rosetta Stone adventure.
Tonight's first foray into increasing my skills, took me 1 hour. That was just to activate the software. Wonder how you say HOLY SMOKE in Russian!!
The activation key didn't work so I spent an hour chatting with a support person on chat.
After just 3 guess..umm deductions, he hit upon the correct solution and now I'm off and running.
Only now, it's 1am and I need to go to bed.

может быть, завтра (maybe tomorrow)

Easter Saturday

From an Eastern Orthodox friend at another blog.


The main icon (illustration) for Pascha (Easter) is a depiction of Christ in Hades, standing on its shattered gates. Squashed under the ruins of the gates is a wormy little creature, Satan himself, utterly defeated. Christ is shown grabbing two people by their wrists and dragging them out of Hades. These two people are Adam and Eve. Around, also being rescued, are various righteous people from the OT such as David, Abraham, Isaiah- and John the Baptist. (The thief on the cross would be in the crowd of rescued people, too.)


Here is a song we’ll be singing later on tonight:

Today hell cries out groaning
I should not have accepted the Man born of Mary.
He came and destroyed my power.
He shattered the gates of brass.
As God, he raised the souls that I held captive.

Glory to the cross and resurrection, O Lord!

Today hell cries out groaning.
My dominion has been shattered.
I received a mortal man as one of the dead
But against him I could not prevail.
But behold, He raises all
Because of him do I perish.

Glory to thy cross and resurrection, O Lord!

Today hell cries out groaning.
My power has been trampled upon
The Shepherd is crucified and Adam is raised
I have been deprived of those I have ruled
Those I have swallowed in my strength I have given up
He who was crucified has emptied the tomb
The power of death has been vanquished.

Glory to they cross and resurrection, O Lord!

Slow your breath down- Future of Forestry

First Coming - Madeleine L'Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine.

He did not wait till hearts were pure.
In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!


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art found here

Blessing for Advent

Be praised, O God, for the blessings around us that point to you.
Be praised, O God, for the signs of this holy season that awaken us in wonder.
Praise for the steadfast green of this tree, like your love, enduring all seasons.
Praise for the light that illuminates our darkness, like Christ, who brings light to the world.
Join our voices with those of the trees and all the creation who sing at your coming:
Glory to God in the highest and peace to God's people on earth.
Amen

Human Rights Day

Oh God, all peoples have their origin in you

and it is your will to gather them
as one family in yourself.

Fill the hearts of all people with your love

and the desire to ensure justice

for all their brothers and sisters.

By sharing the good things of the earth,

may we secure justice and equality for every human being,  an end to all division, 

and a human society built on love and peace.

We make this prayer in Jesus’ name. 

Amen