Mountains and Meadows

Click for full resolution!

Wow!  Glad to see I've been so committed to my blogging ideals.  Seven months isn't very long at all, is it?  Hard to believe it's August already.  Many things have happened since my last post- some things expected, some not so much.  I've been challenged and blessed in more ways than I can count.  I'm not about to promise that today marks the beginning of a new era of scheduled, regular blogging or anything like that; I think it's best if I merely post when I feel led to.  Hopefully, though, it'll be more often than it has been.  Or you might hear from me again in February.

I snapped the posted photo yesterday while out on the ranch where I work.  It was one of the few clear, sunny days we've seen this year.  Contrast photos have always appealed to me, and today I picked a contrast verse to match.  Isaiah 40:8 reminds us that while the things of nature will not last forever, God's Word is sure and will never fail.  It's interesting that Isaiah used grass in this analogy; other places in Scripture use grass as an image of the unrighteous.  Now, sometimes unrighteousness seems like a pretty resilient thing in this world.  We can all recognize at least a few ungodly trends in our culture, and often enough we feel helpless to fight the advancing tide of amorality.  However, we are assured here that it is God's truth, not the shifting sands of godlessness, that will come out as the victor of this war.  So never lose hope!  Continue seeking to be used by God in this battle as we take our stand for what is right.  The mountain in this photo is out of focus for artistic benefit, but never lose focus of God's Word, for it is the mountain on which we stand while everything else withers.

Blessings,

-Jeremy

Hop the Fence

I went for a walk yesterday right at sunset, and whipped out my camera when I noticed how nicely the sun hung right above this faded wooden fence.  A picturesque ending to a beautiful day.
Fences are interesting things.  We set them up to establish boundaries, to keep trespassers out, and perhaps to create a feeling of privacy and security.  Some fences are lightweight, unimposing little things that exist merely to mark a property line.  Other fences are tall and dark, cutting us off from the world around us.  One of the images that is brought to my mind is that of Tim Allen leaning over a tall wooden fence, conversing with his intellectual neighbour.  (Yes, that TV show was a bit before my time... DVD collections are a wonderful thing.)
Many of us have invisible fences, as well.  A positive example of this type of fence might be our moral boundaries.  Each of us sets a limit for himself on what is right and wrong; these days, fences such as this are often somewhat vague- perhaps merely a peg in the ground here and there.  Ironically, the fences that should be less restricting, the ones between us and those we interact with, are all too often large and intimidating.  What blessing we often miss by failing to connect with those around us!  God calls us to love our neighbours, not wall ourselves in and try to keep ourselves immune to contention and strife.
Perhaps an even more significant fence is the one between faith in God and faith in some other worldview, such as atheism or humanism.  Some of us were raised in Christian homes, but for millions of people around the world, there is a huge fence which must be crossed.  One one side lies the opinions and standards of the world- and there are a lot to choose from!  Atheism, humanism, New Age philosophies, and a host of other religions.  On the opposite side lies the brilliant joy and peace of a saving relationship with God through the work of Jesus Christ.  Crossing the fence involves sacrifice; one must decide whether he is willing to give up the temporary pleasures of the world and face opposition in exchange for fulfillment and eternal life.  I pray this is a choice you have already made, and that you are reaping the benefits of giving up a life of worldliness and embracing salvation.  If not, I would ask you to reconsider where you stand and why, and to take a good look at that fence and what lies on the other side.

Resilience

It's the middle of January, and we finally have snow!  These tough little guys are still poking up through almost half a foot of the white stuff.  Barren, minute, weak, but still there.  Made for a brilliant (in the light-related sense) shot and a good reminder of the endurance we have in Christ.  When challenging circumstances pile up and storms of life blow in, we can rise above when we keep the faith and remember our higher calling.  Jesus saves!

Solar Glare

Little bit of brightness there.  And no, there was no forest fire.  This is December and apparently somebody decided to burn some unwanted materials they had around.  Voila!  Reminds me of some weird movie where they show a scene the morning after a disaster of some sort.