Here's a neat snapshot of Old Florida, with trees in their natural state, very close to what you might have seen a hundred years ago, if you crossed south-central Florida on horseback in December... enjoy!
Friday, December 28, 2007
A look at Old Florida at sunset
Here's a neat snapshot of Old Florida, with trees in their natural state, very close to what you might have seen a hundred years ago, if you crossed south-central Florida on horseback in December... enjoy!
Looking up at the palms at Palm Gardens
Coming out of Palm Gardens Mall at twilight, the majestic palms made a striking scene against the bluescale sky and clouds... so I ran to my truck and grabbed my camera -- and here's the scene. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Yet searched and true they found it!
I sing the birth
A Christmas carol by Ben Jonson
I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light:
The angels so did sound it,
The angels so did sound it, so did sound it;
The like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
True they found it, and true they found it.
The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the world from danger,
And freed the world from danger, freed from danger,
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger,
Was now laid in a manger
In a manger, laid in a manger.
What comfort do we by Him win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!
To make us heirs of glory, heirs of glory!
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A Martyrs born in our defense--
Can man forget the story,
Can man forget,
Can man forget the story,
Forget the story?
Can man forget the story?
Selah!
A Christmas carol by Ben Jonson
I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light:
The angels so did sound it,
The angels so did sound it, so did sound it;
The like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
True they found it, and true they found it.
The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the world from danger,
And freed the world from danger, freed from danger,
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger,
Was now laid in a manger
In a manger, laid in a manger.
What comfort do we by Him win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!
To make us heirs of glory, heirs of glory!
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A Martyrs born in our defense--
Can man forget the story,
Can man forget,
Can man forget the story,
Forget the story?
Can man forget the story?
Selah!
Monday, December 24, 2007
And so this is Christmas!
Merry Christmas one and all! Here's a pic of my mother's tree... a great tribute to Christmas! Hopefully the warmth of this scene will lighten your heart with the peace of Christ this holy day... as this tree is evergreen, so may your heart find rest in the ever grace of God, made known in Jesus! The arms of God are open to you this season, thus does this tree witness... Alleluia!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
A sign of the times
Just in case I needed proof that I'm no longer in PA, this psychedelic bug floated across my radar on Saturday... hot pink, with flowers and hearts and a hood feline, and Mexican plates! quite the love machine, lol... you're not in Kansas anymore, Toto! lol. Enjoy!
Friday, December 14, 2007
A breath unseen, unheard
He comes to us as one unknown
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith
Tune: Lobt Gott
He comes to us as one unknown,
a breath unseen, unheard;
as though within a heart of stone,
or shriveled seed in darkness sown,
a pulse of being stirred.
He comes when souls in silence lie
and thoughts of day depart,
half-seen upon the inward eye,
a falling star across the sky
of night within the heart.
He comes to us in sound of seas,
the ocean's fume and foam;
yet small and still upon the breeze,
a wind that stirs the tops of trees,
a voice to call us home.
He comes in love as once he came
by flesh and blood and birth;
to bear within our mortal frame
a life, a death, a saving name
for every child of earth.
He comes in truth when faith is grown;
believed, obeyed, adored:
the Christ in all the scriptures shown,
as yet unseen, but not unknown,
our Savior, and our Lord.
Tune: Lobt Gott
He comes to us as one unknown,
a breath unseen, unheard;
as though within a heart of stone,
or shriveled seed in darkness sown,
a pulse of being stirred.
He comes when souls in silence lie
and thoughts of day depart,
half-seen upon the inward eye,
a falling star across the sky
of night within the heart.
He comes to us in sound of seas,
the ocean's fume and foam;
yet small and still upon the breeze,
a wind that stirs the tops of trees,
a voice to call us home.
He comes in love as once he came
by flesh and blood and birth;
to bear within our mortal frame
a life, a death, a saving name
for every child of earth.
He comes in truth when faith is grown;
believed, obeyed, adored:
the Christ in all the scriptures shown,
as yet unseen, but not unknown,
our Savior, and our Lord.
Selah.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Another Christmas scene...
Can anyone guess my noble contribution to the decorations? :-)
Every angle of mom's place is filled with Christmas goodness. Here's another angle, closeup, of the same scene... just click to enlarge. Enjoy!
p.s. Even the inside of the church is lit... as if to say, Merry Christmas! :-)
To do thy will, O Lord!
Our Great Redeemer
Words: Christian Hymnbook, 1865, as alt. in The Hymnal 1982.
Tune: This Endris Nyght
"I come," the great Redeemer cries,
"To do thy will, O Lord!"
At Jordan's stream, behold!
He seals the sure prophetic word.
"Thus it becomes to fulfill
all righteousness," He said.
Then, faithful to the Lord's commands,
through Jordan's flood was led.
Hark, a glad voice! The Father speaks
from heaven's exalted height:
"This is my Son, my well-beloved
in whom I take delight."
The Savior Jesus, well-beloved!
His Name we will profess,
like Him desirous to fulfill
God's will in righteousness.
No more we'll count ourselves our own
but His in bonds of love.
Oh, may such bonds for ever draw
our souls to things above!
Selah.
Monday, December 10, 2007
A train at twilight at the New River gorge
Here's a shot of New River gorge in the gloaming... notice the train snaking through the bottom of the gorge -- it will give some perspective of the height and depth: no, it's not a toy train! :-)
New River Bridge into the western sky
On my trip from PA to FL, I took some time for the New River gorge and bridge... it's just too beautiful an area to deny! Here's a shot looking into the setting sun... enjoy! Also, click below to read some bridge facts!
Friday, December 07, 2007
A Litany for Advent
Antiphons
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
pervading and permeating all creation,
you order all things with strength and gentleness.
Come now and teach us the way to salvation.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Adonai,
Ruler of the house of Israel,
you appeared in the burning bush to Moses
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm to save us:
Come Lord Jesus!
O Root of Jesse,
rising as a sign for all the peoples,
before you earthly rulers will keep silent
and nations give you honor:
Come quickly to deliver us.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Key of David,
Scepter over the house of Israel,
you open and no one can close;
you close and no one can open:
Come to set free the prisoners
who live in darkness and the shadow of death.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Ruler of the nations,
Monarch for whom the people long,
you are the Cornerstone uniting all humanity:
Come save us all, whom you formed out of clay.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Immanuel,
our Sovereign and Lawgiver,
you are the desire of all the nations and Savior of all:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Come Lord Jesus!
Silence.
Prayer
God of grace,
Ever faithful to your promises,
The earth rejoices in hope of our Savior’s coming
And looks forward with longing
To His return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts to receive Him when He cmes,
For He is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Selah.
“Litany of Advent: O Antiphons,” Book of Common Worship, 167.
O Wisdom,
coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
pervading and permeating all creation,
you order all things with strength and gentleness.
Come now and teach us the way to salvation.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Adonai,
Ruler of the house of Israel,
you appeared in the burning bush to Moses
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come with outstretched arm to save us:
Come Lord Jesus!
O Root of Jesse,
rising as a sign for all the peoples,
before you earthly rulers will keep silent
and nations give you honor:
Come quickly to deliver us.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Key of David,
Scepter over the house of Israel,
you open and no one can close;
you close and no one can open:
Come to set free the prisoners
who live in darkness and the shadow of death.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Ruler of the nations,
Monarch for whom the people long,
you are the Cornerstone uniting all humanity:
Come save us all, whom you formed out of clay.
Come Lord Jesus!
O Immanuel,
our Sovereign and Lawgiver,
you are the desire of all the nations and Savior of all:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Come Lord Jesus!
Silence.
Prayer
God of grace,
Ever faithful to your promises,
The earth rejoices in hope of our Savior’s coming
And looks forward with longing
To His return at the end of time.
Prepare our hearts to receive Him when He cmes,
For He is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Selah.
“Litany of Advent: O Antiphons,” Book of Common Worship, 167.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Abortion: the single best indicator of breast cancer trends
Study: Abortion is fueling an epidemic of breast cancer
According to a new study published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, young women had an abortion before having a child are at the greatest risk for developing breast cancer.
The British researchers state that ‘having an abortion raises a woman’s risk of breast cancer by at least 30 percent, and is fueling an epidemic of the often fatal disease.’
The study’s lead author Patrick Carroll calls abortion the "single best predictor" of breast cancer trends.
Read the whole thing here – also note the comments from Dr. Jane Orient, quality stuff. Here is earthshaking research, pure math at work, helping women and serving life.
It has never been truer to say: Women deserve better than abortion!
Selah.
According to a new study published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, young women had an abortion before having a child are at the greatest risk for developing breast cancer.
The British researchers state that ‘having an abortion raises a woman’s risk of breast cancer by at least 30 percent, and is fueling an epidemic of the often fatal disease.’
The study’s lead author Patrick Carroll calls abortion the "single best predictor" of breast cancer trends.
“An abortion in a young woman who has never had a child has a carcinogenic effect because it leaves breast cells in a state of interrupted hormonal development in which they are more susceptible…”
Read the whole thing here – also note the comments from Dr. Jane Orient, quality stuff. Here is earthshaking research, pure math at work, helping women and serving life.
It has never been truer to say: Women deserve better than abortion!
Selah.