Coming to the Still Waters

  Here is the little bit of history.  I couldn't believe it when the Facebook Marketplace ad said this wooden pew was from the Stillwater Community Chapel; it was free; and could be delivered!  I have only seen pictures from the back of the sanctuary of the old chapel so this beauty now sits in an alcove of the hall just opposite my office.  The owner was just thrilled that the pew was going back to the church.  It has been out in the elements so a sanding and refinishing might be in its future.   Another bit of history is my almost 95 year old father went to be with Jesus a week ago Saturday.  I was able to sing songs we sang at the Turner Free Methodist Church from the Melodies of Praise and also read to him highlighted verses from his Bible.  He went peacefully to be with Jesus.  His decision back in February 1958 affected so many others up and down the family line.  At the 18:45 time stamp in the video below I give a 10 minute t...

  A belated Father's Day greeting to all the dads out there.  This is a picture of my father and his father.  Dad had signed up for a tour in the Navy when the Korean Conflict broke out.  I see his left hand here that I never saw in person because of a sawmill accident 65 years ago.  Dad was the middle of 5 children just as I am the middle of 5 with my older sister dying at birth.  I found out this week that dad had a daughter named after him, along with a grandson, a great grandson, and also a middle name to one of his nephews.  His passing as the last of his generation of the family has caused me to reflect a lot this week about life and what it throws at you at times.  I admit that sometimes I don't handle it as well as I should.  I could make excuses but really it is me not relying on the trust I have in my God more than the trust I have in myself. I don't like flying but the circumstances had me making back to back trips to Florida from ...

  This picture made me think of the old Simon and Garfunkel song published in January of 1970 titled, " Bridge Over Troubled Waters ".  Then I had to bring it up to listen to it, a great piano intro to the song.  The lyrics read, When you’re weary, feeling small, When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all I’m on your side When times get rough And friends just can’t be found Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down --------------------------------------- When you’re down and out When you’re on the street When evening falls so hard I will comfort you I’ll take your part When darkness comes And pain is all around Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down -------------------------------------- Sail on, silvergirl Sail on by Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way See how they shine If you need a friend I’m sailing right beh...

  I found this moose shed on an unmaintained trail in the RMNP last week.  It made me think of what I need to shed.  I snowshoe in the winter but not as much as I hike in the summer so I need to shed a few pounds I also found through the colder months!  It has been great to be back on the trails and also explore some that I didn't last year.  I am trying to fill in my new trail map for 2025.  But it also made me think about other things I need to shed that deal with my spiritual life. Our Sunday passage took us into chapter 13 of the Gospel according to Matthew.  The disciples notice right off that Rabbi Jesus is using a different teaching technique.  He is telling stories called parables to communicate spiritual truths.  To some they will just hear the common story with a " wow " factor in it while others will connect it to a spiritual truth.  The " wow " factor of the parable of the sower or the soils is the outcome of the seed that fe...

  Snow still at 10,000 ft but manageable to get where I was going.  This is probably one of many trips this spring, summer and fall to the Grand Ditch Road.  I followed this up with a hike the next day to the summit of Shadow Mountain.  I don't think I have my " trail legs " yet so I am thankful for a couple of days before heading out again.   In the title of this post I used the word " whoever " to stress the invitation offered to the scribes and Pharisees who wanted to destroy Jesus and also called His driving out of unclean spirits as of the devil and also the words " harsh but heralding " to stress His attention getting words ( brood of vipers and evil and adulterous generation ) used to again warn them of a coming judgment and they were on the wrong side.  Jesus is speaking the truth in love.  A judgment is coming; this is how they are responding; and this is the solution out that will cost Him His life.  No greater love than this, that ...

  Here is looking at you just outside the main entrance of the church last week.  It looks like a mother and last year's child.  They were munching on a bush that had some green on it and maybe some fiber content.  You can see our outside cross in the background.  Moose are large and can be aggressive so keeping your distance is a good thing.  Thankful for many doors out of the church! This week is a hard one for me.  We are helping my dad (94) transition again to a more suited situation for his needs.  These situations make you look back to the man who raised you and what he could do and also look forward to see some struggles you might face.  The state of your mind seems to be so important in walking through these later years.  I know sometimes what happens up there is out of your control (like my mom) but I hope to keep being curious about the world around me. Jesus gets right in the faces of the Pharisees (brood of vipers) and thei...

  Spring is coming to the mountains.  These are some of the first flowers to appear even before the snow has receded.  These are flowers in the burn scar that were protected by their time in the earth when the fire of 2020 raged above them.  Spring is also time for the elk and moose to seek out the new greens provided by nature. Jesus knows that the religious leaders are out to destroy Him.  It is 2 years before He will hang upon a cross, the finality of their plan.  He continues on with His ministry in this section of the Scriptures and is surrounded by great multitudes who are going to give one response to His actions while the religious leaders give a totally different one. As I was studying this passage and the next I saw a trilogy appearing.  In the passage with the healing of the man with the withered hand I saw an extreme plan , the destroying of Jesus.  In this passage with the assessments of who Jesus is, I saw an extreme conclusion , He...

  Sometimes being a small congregation pastor means making sure all the lights are of the same color.  24 canister lights with 4 bulbs each.  48 times up and down the ladder not to mention the switching out of the indirect lighting on the sides.  Also, it might mean switching out the faucet at the kitchen sink in the fellowship hall that has been there for 25 years.  I always have a new appreciation for plumbers when I am partially in the kitchen sink cabinet.  It does say on the packaging that this is easier to install if the sink has yet to be installed.  Yes, I am one of those people who do read the instructions. We are back to Matthew 12 after spending two weeks on the Palm Sunday passage and then the Resurrection Sunday passage.  Jesus is now preaching what His kingdom is like and it is very different than the one we and they are living in.  He is instructing them that they need to change their way of thinking to line up with His. In day...

  See the bike in the foreground?  Pumped up the tires and have been making trips to town and back a couple times now.  The mountain in the background is locally called Mount Baldy but officially Mount Craig.  The bridge is over the canal between Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake.  A lot of wedding pictures are taken here.  I am itching to get up into the mountains and see the roaring waterfalls and the beautiful springtime mountain flowers. Another Easter/Resurrection Service has come and gone.  Covering the same material each year can be a challenge at times and especially when you are in front of some of the same people.  Thankfully there are typically visitors on this special Sunday from the area and from afar.  Last year I handled the whole of Matthew 28 and focused on which story we were following.  Was it the pre-made  cover-up story fueled by a bribe from the religious leaders to the soldiers that the disciples overtook ...

  I squeezed in another snowshoe hike above 10,000 today.  Up the Red Mountain Trail and then off to climb to the Ditch Road and then down the Hells Hip Pocket ravine to the trailhead.  My snowshoes became skis a couple of times.  You can start to see the creeks emerging and also plenty of sign that elk and moose have been out and about.  You can access the Ditch Road from at least 3 different trails and it offers such views of the different mountain ranges.  It is also a break in the summer if you are heading up higher.  Howard and Cirrus above and Specimen below. I pulled out 4 points from the passage this Sunday. 1.  The requirement of the Christian to practice simple obedience to the commands of Jesus.  The 2 disciples went and did as they were told and they found it just as Jesus had said.  Simple obedience in what seems the little things of life prepare us to be obedient in the big things of life.   2.  The need of ...

  After slugging up 5 miles and 1100 elevation gain I made it to Farview Overlook Curve to get a panoramic view of the Never Summer Mountain Range.  A goal met to make it there this winter season and another to go above 10,000 ft in the snowshoes.  When I was coming back down I met a reality that this season is coming to an end.  The large snowblower was starting to clear the road I had just traversed up.  This blower is so big that there is a separate diesel motor just to run the snow throwing tines.   Jesus is at a season change in His ministry.  He has shown us the teaching Jesus with the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7 of the Gospel of Matthew and also the discourse in chapter 10.  He has also shown us the healing Jesus with the many miracles that we find in chapters 8 and 9.  Now we venture into the preaching Jesus section.  Jesus is going to point out what is wrong directly with naming names of cities and religious...

Stephanie sent this picture to me with the heading " 2 blockheads. "  Understandable as I convinced her to go with me up the Green Mountain Trail that has a very steep ascent right out of the gate.  The trail was also very hard to negotiate at this time of the year with melting snow and post holing from those who didn't use snowshoes.  Fresh snow this week and colder temps so the snowshoes are not put away yet. We finished chapter 10 of the Gospel of Matthew last week so chapter 11 was our destination last Sunday.  Jesus spent a lot of time instructing His disciples about the pressure, push back and persecution that they might face from religious authorities, governing authorities, family and all of society.  Jesus goes from speaking of the persecutors to someone being persecuted, John the Baptist, JTB.  It is almost like " here is exhibit A." Highly regarded JTB is in prison for standing on God's Word and he sends 2 of his disciples to meet with Jesus to a...

  You meet all kinds out on the trails in the RMNP!  This one was a friendly face I saw after snowshoeing from Coyote Trailhead to the Bowen/Baker Trailhead.  This one was a good turn around point.  Thank you to whoever took the time to create this smile maker.  The trail made by me behind our little friend was filling back in already from the wind whipping down the Kawuneeche Valley. It was a great Sunday gathering to end Jesus' sermon in Matthew 10.  Here are my bullet points for the chapter. Jesus draws to Himself and names the 12 disciples. (at His feet) Jesus gives them the authority of being His apostles. (sent out ambassadors) Jesus gives them practical instructions for their mission. (where to go, who to speak to, what to say, where to stay, what to take and not take, etc.) Jesus tells them of 2 responses and what to do (receive you so stay, reject you so shake the dust from your feet and move on) Jesus spends more time on the rejection response. Je...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OXZH-4VN2Q&t=266s The link above is for the service given last Sunday on this passage of scripture from the Gospel of Matthew.  Jesus is nearing the end of His instruction to His disciples/apostles that He will be sending out.  Here is a crude review of chapter 10 so far. Jesus names His disciples. Jesus moves them from disciples (learners) to apostles (official sent ones). Jesus gives them the ability to do what He has been doing. Jesus tells them the message to give. Jesus tells them what to take and not to take. Jesus tells them where to go and who to go to. Jesus tells them where to stay. Jesus tells them of the responses of receiving and rejecting. Jesus tells them how to respond to the responses. Jesus focuses on how to deal with rejection. Jesus tells them of the 4 areas of persecution:  religious authorities, governing authorities, family and all of society Jesus tells them not to fear them. This passage focuses on this ...

  I will get back to this picture in a little bit.  Just enough to say this was my snowshoeing guide for a new ridge one morning last week. Jesus is continuing to instruct His disciples, now apostles, on what they will find on their missionary journey.  They have went from being students and learners of Rabbi Jesus to being official representatives of His being sent out on a mission with a message.  They would speak on behalf of Rabbi Jesus with His very words.  What would they find? After telling them what region to go to; what people to speak to; what to take and not take; where to stay; and the responses they will get; Jesus zeroes in on the rejection response.  Being received would be easy, just stay and set up camp.  The rejection response to them as an official ambassador of Rabbi Jesus and also rejecting His very words was to shake the dust from your sandals and move on.  Don't come home and don't give up but rather let it be a testimony to...