Sunday, February 28, 2010

Jazzy Raspberry


Jazzy Raspberry
Originally uploaded by Thundercatt99
Jazzy showing the ocean how she feels about that last wave that almost got her!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Hard to Get




This song by Rich Mullins, like nearly everything that amazing guy wrote, blesses me and makes me feel more comfortable in my own skin as a believer ...



Hard to Get


You who live in heaven
Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth
Who are afraid of being left by those we love
And who get hardened by the hurt
Do you remember when You lived down here where we all scrape
To find the faith to ask for daily bread
Did You forget about us after You had flown away
Well I memorized every word You said
Still I'm so scared, I'm holding my breath
While You're up there just playing hard to get
You who live in radiance
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in skin
We have a love that's not as patient as Yours was
Still we do love now and then
Did You ever know loneliness
Did You ever know need
Do You remember just how long a night can get?
When You were barely holding on
And Your friends fall asleep
And don't see the blood that's running in Your sweat
Will those who mourn be left uncomforted
While You're up there just playing hard to get?
And I know you bore our sorrows
And I know you feel our pain
And I know it would not hurt any less
Even if it could be explained
And I know that I am only lashing out
At the One who loves me most
And after I figured this, somehow All I really need to know
Is if You who live in eternity
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in time
We can't see what's ahead
And we can not get free of what we've left behind
I'm reeling from these voices that keep screaming in my ears
All the words of shame and doubt, blame and regret I can't see how
You're leading me unless
You've led me here
Where I'm lost enough to let myself be led
And so You've been here all along I guess
It's just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get.'

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Monday, February 22, 2010

In The Garden



This hymn I like to share was a favorite of my fathers. I was brought near tears hearing it again ...

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
I'd stay in the garden with Him
'Tho the night around me be falling
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
Words and Music by Charles Austin Miles, 1913


Miles gave the background to this beautiful hymn in his own words:

"I read the story of the greatest morn in history. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet very dark, unto the sepulcher. Instantly, completely, there unfolded in my mind the scenes of the garden, where out of the mists comes a form, halting, hesitating, tearful, seeking, turning from side to side in bewildering amazement.

"Falteringly, bearing grief in every accent, with tear-dimmed eyes, she whispers, 'If Thou has borne Him hence.'

"He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing. He said to her "Mary!"

"Just one word and forgotten are the heartaches, the long dreary hours, all the past blotted out in His presence."

Have a blessed evening everyone!

Tim

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Mystery Tree


Mystery Tree
Originally uploaded by Thundercatt99
We came across this tree along the way on our trip to the coast to see my daughter Xalina and Granddaughter Jazzy last weekend. Just had to shoot it!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

I have no idea where I'm going ...




Prayer of Thomas Merton

MY LORD GOD,

I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that
I think I am following Your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please You.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
You will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
And you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.


Have a blessed evening everyone! Tim

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Kindness




Kindness

Before you know what kindness really is
you must lose things,
feel the future dissolve in a moment
like salt in a weakened broth.
What you held in your hand,
what you counted and carefully saved,
all this must go so you know
how desolate the landscape can be
between the regions of kindness.
How you ride and ride
thinking the bus will never stop,
the passengers eating maize and chicken
will stare out the window forever.

Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness,
you must travel where the Indian in a white poncho
lies dead by the side of the road.
You must see how this could be you,
how he too was someone
who journeyed through the night with plans
and the simple breath that kept him alive.

Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend.

~ Naomi Shihab Nye

Monday, February 8, 2010

Stormbringer


Stormbringer
Originally uploaded by Thundercatt99
Another brillantly cloudy day here in the mountains!!!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Violet Forgiveness




“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”

~ Mark Twain

Friday, February 5, 2010

Oregon Outback


Oregon Outback
Originally uploaded by Thundercatt99
A little Spring fever goin' on here ... And making plans for another trip to a world of strangeness called the Oregon Outback.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Nice Things ...




I found this rather extensive list of "nice things" on a blog. Most of them are really cool ... then I got to thinking (a dangerous thing at times for sure!) There would have to be a lot more! Feel free to add ...

1. Falling in love.

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.

3. A hot shower.

4. No lines at the supermarket

5. A special glance.

6. Getting mail

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.

11. Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.

12. Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla!) (or strawberry)

13. A long distance phone call.

14. A bubble bath.

15. Giggling.

16. A good conversation.

17 The beach

18. Finding a 20 note in your coat from last winter.

19. Laughing at yourself.

20. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

21. Running through sprinklers.

22. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

23. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

24. Laughing at an inside joke.

25. Friends.

26. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

27. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to
sleep.

28. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).

29. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

30. Playing with a new puppy.

31. Having someone play with your hair.

32. Sweet dreams.

33. Hot chocolate.

34. Road trips with friends.

35. Swinging on swings.

36. Wrapping presents under the Christmas tree while eating cookies
and drinking your favorite tipple.

37. Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along
without feeling stupid.

38. Going to a really good concert.

39. Making eye contact with a cute stranger

40. Winning a really competitive game.

41. Making chocolate chip cookies.

42. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

43. Spending time with close friends.

44. Seeing smiles and hearing laughter from your friends.

45. Holding hands with someone you care about.

46. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good
or bad) never change

47. Riding the best roller coasters over and over.

48. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much
desired present from you.

49. Watching the sunrise.

50. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another
beautiful day.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Punxsutawney Phil Returns




There is a German tradition that holds that if a hibernating animal, the illustrious groundhog, sees its shadow on Feb. 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will come early.

The groundhog has spoken. And it's bad news .... Yep ... Another 6 weeks of winter!

Not the biggest surprise considering the dreary, cold, snow/rain/sleet action we got going on now here ...

Monday, February 1, 2010

Hot Water




"I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean."


~G.K. Chesterton

I found it funny with a bit of truth ...