anut4dan's Xanga

Lingering Leaves

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:38:14 GMT

WATERFALL AT SAND RUN METRO PARK

“Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD.” (Psalm 96:12)

Sunday was an unusually warm day for November. In order to get Natalie out of her room for a few hours, I planned to take Hannah and her to a nearby park to go hiking. Before we could go, Natalie had to take her weekend shower. From start to finish, it took her four hours to shower. Four hours. This long shower meant that we went walking a lot later in the afternoon than I would have preferred.

It was a beautiful time to hike, when the sun was low in the sky. It was challenging to get good pictures, having to balance light and shadows, but I found it to be fun. Although most of the leaves had already fallen from the trees, there were lingering leaves to be found, especially since the first frost has yet to hit our corner of the woods. Until the frigid winter winds arrive, I will try to continue to take advantage of these pleasant days, getting out and enjoying God’s creation around me.

HANNAH AND NATALIE

I TOOK THIS PICTURE IN HONOR OF MARK CSEPE AND ASHLEY GRUICH'S
ENGAGEMENT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER IN THE DAY

RAILROAD TRACKS ALONG THE HIKING TRAIL

SUNSET OVER A MOUND COVERED BY LEAVES

CREEK BETWEEN THE TREES

THE SUN IS TOO BRIGHT IN THIS PICTURE, BUT I LIKE HOW THE RAYS
SHINE OUT IN THEIR BRILLIANCE

THIS GREEN LEAVE REMINDS ME NOT TO BE AFRAID TO BE DIFFERENT
THAN THOSE AROUND ME

PATH WITH THE RAYS OF THE SETTING SUN

BRANCH OVER THE CREEK

DOWNED TREE

I LIKED THE CURVED BRANCH OVER THE PATH

I LIKE THE BURNT ORANGE COLOR - I CAN ALSO HEAR THE CRUNCH OF
LEAVES JUST BY LOOKING AT THIS PICTURE

DARK ORANGE LEAVES YET TO FALL

I LIKE THE CONTRAST OF THE WHITE BARK OF THE TREES AND THE
GREEN PLANTS

LEAVES NEAR A DOWNED TREE

GREEN-YELLOW LEAVES

LONG SHADOWS MADE BY THE SETTING SUN

"LET THE FIELD BE JOYFUL, AND ALL THAT IS IN IT. THEN ALL THE TREES
OF THE WOODS WILL REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD." (PSALM 96:12)

RED LEAVES

CREEK ALONG THE WAY

ME

BENDING BRANCH

FINELY SPUN SPIDER WEB ON RED BERRIES

BRIDGE OVER THE CREEK IN THE DISTANCE

A GREAT PLACE TO END A HIKE

Computer War

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:13:16 GMT

SCENE ONE

He rubbed his hands together with a sense of satisfaction. Another item to cross off his list. Parental Controls. What a great invention this was for the computer, being easy to install and giving him a sense of security. Tonight, he would go to bed and sleep well, knowing that no fingers could access the dark side of the Internet while he safely slumbered away. He rubbed the small of his back. Ah, middle age. When did it creep upon him unawares?

SCENE TWO

All was finally quiet in the house, the moment he had waited for all day. After a boring day of classes at school, the worst being Algebra, he could barely keep his eyes open, but he somehow managed. After lying in his bed for what seemed like hours, he arose and stealthily crept down the hall, careful not to make a sound.

There it was, glistening in the moonlight, the love of his nights. He turned it on, listening to the gentle hum as it revved to life. His heart beat a little faster knowing he would soon be entering cyber-paradise. But, wait, what was this? No access? This had never happened before. Who had been messing around with the computer? No problem, he thought as his mind began to work overtime.

SCENE THREE

He hadn’t had such a peaceful night of sleep in a long time. He sat on the edge of the bed, stretching his limbs and feeling the blood flow through his veins. This would be a great day. He whistled a happy tune as he prepared himself for work. He packed himself two extra cookies. I deserve a little treat to celebrate my success, he rationalized. Parental Controls. They had made his life so much easier, enabling him to get a great night of rest. He continued to whistle as he walked out into the garage and got into his car. It would be a great day at work.

SCENE FOUR

He stealthily looked to the left and to the right. No one was in sight, not that anyone would be, with his dad being at the factory and all. He hurried to the task at hand, knowing his time was limited. All too soon he would hear his dad’s car coming home from work. There it was, behind the dresser. It was a small tangle of wires, but nothing that he couldn’t untangle and figure out.

He hurriedly got to work, realizing that beads of perspiration were breaking out on his forehead. He would have to buy more acne cream. That’s what he got for being a teenager. No bother though. Why, after he was done here, he would have access to his nightly cyber-world once again. He would be in control. Not, that crusty, brainless father of his.

Thankfully, he finished his deed before he heard the garage door going up. Tonight. He couldn’t wait for the cover of darkness to envelope the house as in nights past. His smile widened as he put the dresser back in place and quickly left the room. His job was done and another victory was scored. Let his dad rot for all he cared.

SCENE FIVE

Saturday. His favorite day of the week. Sure, he liked Sundays and all, but on Saturday, he could sleep in after a hard week at work. The past few days he had slept well, knowing the computer world was disabled and inaccessible at night.

As he grabbed his cup of coffee, he went to the computer. It was one of the more boring aspects of his day off, but a necessary one. Okay, keystroke program, where are you? As the effects of the coffee begin to permeate his brain, he relaxed and began. What was this? Access to the computer at 2 am, three nights in a row? What about those blasted Parental Controls? Those worthless computer programs weren’t all that they were cracked up to be. What software could you trust anymore? He heaved a sigh of anger and frustration as he saw what his son had been up to the past few nights. He heard his son’s snoring coming from down the hall, as he slept in after another week at school. When had life gotten so evil?

He remembered the days when his son would beg him to read books before bed. “Just one more time daddy, pwease?” The two would snuggle together and pray; then he would tuck his little one into bed. Those were the good old days, the good times before his wife had passed away. Now this. His son had been roaming the house at night, seeking out cyber-fun instead of getting a much-needed night of rest. No wonder his grades were slipping. Where had he gone wrong as a dad?

SCENE SIX

He was so glad he had quit the soccer team. Why, he could come home from school with two free hours without his dad being around. He hated those practices anyways. They made him sweat and then he had to go buy more acne cream. The investment was worth it though, for at school, the girls would smile at him coyly from under their eyelashes. They would make suggestions disguised as casual remarks that would always give him a thrill. With his dad gone at work, maybe one day after school one of those girls would like to come fix him a snack or something.

His dad hadn’t been the same since last Saturday. He had started staring at him with his beady eyes, scowling. What was up with his dad anyways? He wasn’t doing anything wrong, at least, nothing that he couldn’t cover up and hide under the cloak of the dark night.

As his mind was busy working, his hands were also hard at work. He had found it right away. It was so easy to download. Password Decoding Software. He would have his dad right where he wanted him. His fingers tapped the computer desk as his mind imagined this coming night. Yes, with the moon shining through the window and his dad fast asleep, he would put this new download to use. Who did his dad think he was anyways, imagining that he could outsmart his son?

SCENE SEVEN

What he really wanted to do was pitch the computer into the trash bin. Better yet, why not take it into the back yard and take an ax to it? This would give his tired, old arms something to do. His mind screamed out that he might be better off throwing his son into the trash bin. Let them take that worthless, lazy son of his off to the garbage dump. Quitting soccer and now this. Another night of pleasure at his expense.

Without giving it another thought, he reached behind the computer desk, yanking the cords from the wall. Heaving the computer up, he took it outside and flung it across the yard. He heard a shattering of something breaking. He ran to the broken computer and with all his strength, lifted it up and slammed it to the ground again. With adrenaline pouring through his body, he ran into the garage and got out the ax. It was the best feeling in the world as he poured out his anger and frustration over and over on that worthless heap of metal. How could a piece of junk cause him so much pain?

As shards of metal and plastic flew in all directions, he began to be aware of the thoughts washing through his brain. They weren’t totally foreign, for he remembered having similar notions when he was on the high school football team. It was that sense of having won, the knowledge that you were victorious over a huge and menacing force. With the computer out of the house, peace would once more reign in the household.

He picked up all the jagged and broken computer parts that he could find and dumped them into the garbage can. Going into the house, he began to whistle. Things would get better from here on out. Smiling, he sat down and poured himself a bowl of cereal. All that work had built up his appetite.

SCENE EIGHT

He hated Saturdays. He couldn’t go on the computer without his dad’s eagle eyes watching his every move. He rolled over and through bleary eyes, looked at the clock. 10:35 am. He had been hoping to get a few more hours of sleep. He thought about last night and his cyber-talk with Red Lips. It was everything he could imagine and so much more. They would have another cyber-meeting tonight at 2 am. He couldn’t wait. Dreamily, he thought of Red Lips. She promised him so much fun and pleasure, things his worthless, no-good dad couldn’t give him. He would do anything to be out of this place, away from his dad and his controlling ways. How he despised his father. He would do almost anything to get away from him.

He began to think. Would he truly do anything to escape this trash heap of a house? Hmm… Maybe he could run away and go live with Red Lips. This thought brought a smile to his face. Tonight. Tonight at 2 am he would ask her. With new resolve he didn’t know he had, he flung his feet over the side of the bed. He would get his Algebra One homework done, write that English essay on “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo,” do the dreaded chores for his dad, and before he knew it, the clock would strike two. He couldn’t wait. “O Red Lips, Red Lips, wherefore art thou Red Lips?” He smiled at his cleverness.

He walked to the kitchen to see his dad chomping away on his daily ration of bran flakes. How could he eat that cardboard, so-called cereal? There was so much more to life. He was just about to comment, when he saw it, the empty space on the computer desk. The computer was gone; his link to fun and pleasure had disappeared.

His dad, seeing his son’s stricken and shocked looked, said, “If you are looking for something son, go look in the trash can in the garage.” His dad looked back at his newspaper and nonchalantly took another bite of cereal as if nothing had been said. The computer in the trash? He ran out to the garage and sure enough, there it was, smashed to smithereens. He heart sank. What would happen tonight at 2 am? Red Lips would be waiting and he wouldn’t show up.

Angrily, he ran into the house, down the hall, and into his bedroom, making sure the door slammed good and hard. His dad thought he was something, but no. His old man wouldn’t get the better of him. Didn’t he know that there were many more computers in the sea? Why he would save his money, buy his own computer, and put it under lock and key where his dad could never reach it. As soon as he could, he would be out of this rat-hole, for good. Who did his dad think he was anyways? Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes Master Controller of the Universe. He would show his dad who was really in charge.

He carefully erased all traces of anger from his face, replacing his countenance with silent resolve. He would be quiet about this issue and just wait it out. His dad may think that he had won, but he would soon learn that the computer war was only beginning.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

THIS STORY IS A PRODUCT OF MY OWN IMAGINATION BASED ON TRUE EVENTS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER IN MANY HOUSEHOLDS.

YOUNG PERSON, BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT. DON’T LET TEMPTATION OVERTAKE YOU. IT WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE.

PARENTS, SATAN IS OUT TO DESTROY YOUR FAMILY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?

Critter Visitors

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:35:06 GMT

RACCOON AT THE BIRD FEEDER

“And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:25)

Having said goodbye to summer, it is also time to say goodbye to the critters that have visited our yard in the past few months. Some have gone into hibernation, some are still eating birdseed, but most will not come around again until the warm weather returns. I always enjoy the critters that come around, for they bring me much joy when I watch their antics. I suspect that God smiles every time they come around also...

Until next year…

“In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:10)

TURKEY FAMILY THAT VISITED OUR YARD EVERY DAY

ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE TURKEYS

ONE OF THE MANY DEER THAT CAME IN OUR YARD

SQUIRREL POSING FOR ME

SQUIRREL EATING BIRDSEED

BABY GROUNDHOG

CHIPMUNK

WILD RABBIT

Funny Old Movies

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:25:40 GMT

DAN IN THE 1970'S

“A merry heart does good, like medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22)

Not long ago, some old movies of Dan and his Phoenix buddies were posted on the Internet. These movies were made when Dan was in his late teens in the 1970’s. Dan and I had so much fun laughing at these old movies. They are even funnier if you know the other guys involved. Dan is in every movie; you just might not recognize what he looked liked when he was a teen. I can always use laughs that make the tears roll down my face!

THE DORK - PART ONE

THE DORK – PART TWO (Dan is the mad scientist)

MAURER FUNNY SHORTS

THE DIGGERS (This was done at the house where Dan grew up)

THE GOLFERS

DAN (HE LOOKS LIKE PHILIP IN THIS PICTURE)

Peace on the Journey of Autism

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:46:01 GMT

TREE ON THE CHURCH GROUNDS

“The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

Natalie has now been in post-secondary (13th grade) at the high school for two months. I am thankful to say that life is going relatively smoothly with her. In the past, some of her extreme autistic behaviors have made for quite intense blog entries. Now, my writing about autism has slowed way down. She will be age nineteen in a few weeks; perhaps she is beginning to show signs of maturity.

When I wake her up at 6:15am for school, she eats, she grooms, she dresses, she packs her bookbag, and nine times out of ten, she makes the bus on time. This is a night and day difference from the past seven years. I am very thankful for smoother mornings.

When she comes home from school, she is pretty relaxed as long as her dad isn’t around. Once he is home, it is a given that she will lock herself in her room. She has lingering hatred towards her father since he is the authoritarian in the house. She can’t quite figure out how to deal with this. In spite of my prayers that she would reconcile with her dad, it has been nice to have her in her room in the evenings so that we can have a “normal” family for a few hours.

On the weekends, when she spends sixty hours straight in her room, I cringe and my heart cries out for her. After I give her food as I leave the room, it feels like I am closing a jail cell. It shouldn’t be this way, yet it is, for she will not make peace with her dad. I try to get her out of her room at least once or twice during the weekend for it seems like those four walls would be suffocating and claustrophobic, adding to her moans that nobody cares, nobody calls, nobody has me over to their house, and nobody likes me.

After nineteen years of severe autistic acting out, screaming, aggression, yelling, throwing things, destroying everything in her path, we have a relative peace. Peace. Peace. Peace. Sure, things are not perfect and she has the occasional meltdown, but there is peace in the house. Peace. Peace. Peace.

Say a prayer of praise and thanks to God! You have prayed us through all the hard stuff. Pray an easy prayer, one of thanksgiving to God! Amen!!!

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." (Psalm 145:3)

Restful Walk

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:26:36 GMT

I TOOK MY WALK DURING THE TWO HOURS BEFORE THE SUNSET

“…And God rested on the seventh day from all His works…” (Hebrews 4:4)

Yesterday, in the late afternoon, I took a long walk down our road. I managed to take two hours to walk the two miles. Some might call it a lazy stroll, for I continually stopped near many plants and trees. I would try to get the best angle to take a picture, which was difficult with the sun, low in the sky. Much of autumn was gone, but there were a few brilliant trees that were waiting for me to photograph them before they shed their leaves.

I take the “day of rest” (Exodus 16:23) literally, trying not to do any work, other than the necessary. I see the mess all around the house and without guilt, I let it lie until Monday. Dan makes dinner for the family and cleans up the kitchen every Sunday evening, which gives me a day off from kitchen work.

I appreciate the extra time and try to get out and photograph the world around me. All too soon, nature will be brown and dead, with little to take pictures of. Knowing my propensity for photography, I still will manage to find spots of winter nature to take pictures of.

“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3)

OAK TREE

OAK TREE LEAVES WITH ITS ACORNS

CRAB APPLE

THIS MAPLE LEAF WAS UPRIGHT IN THE GRASS

MAPLE TREE

ONE OF THE LAST TREES ON OUR ROAD THAT WAS STILL BRILLIANT
WITH ITS GOLDEN LEAVES

MAPLE LEAF

THIS MAPLE TREE SITS ON THE EDGE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY -
THERE IS NO MORE SOCCER AND BASEBALL TILL AFTER WINTER

LONE MAPLE LEAF UNDER A PINE TREE

SUNSET ON THE EDGE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PROPERTY

RED LEAVES

OUR NEIGHBOR'S WILD CAT WILL NOT COME NEAR HUMANS - THIS PICTURE
WAS TAKEN FROM SO FAR AWAY - I AM SURPRISED THAT IT TURNED OUT

GOLDEN FRUIT WITH A SPIDER WEB

SUNSET OVER OUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

SUNSET THROUGH THE GRASS

THIS TREE HAS YET TO SHED ITS LEAVES

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FIELDS ON OUR ROAD - NOTICE THE MOON
ON THE RIGHT

THE MOON AT SUNSET

THE MOON THROUGH OUR BACK YARD TREES

Battle for the Bell

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:37:05 GMT

A DATE NIGHT AT THE GAME

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…” (Ecclesiates 3:1)

Last night was the last high school football game of the season. It was a warm evening in the 70’s, which is very unusual for late October in Ohio. We were playing our rival team. The winner would receive the tradition BELL. This bell was bought in 1968 for our two schools to fight over in the last football game of the season. Whoever won the game would get to keep the bell until the next year.

The highlight of the evening was that the seniors were honored, the football players, the flag team members, and the band members. This meant that Dan and I went down on the field at halftime to congratulate our senior son, Philip. When the announcer called our names, Philip came forward and was given a white rose.

Our friend, Anthony, graciously took our picture from the sidelines. After the ceremony, since I was out on the field anyways, I got my camera back from him and decided to take advantage of the situation, taking some football pictures from different vantage points. This meant that I had to walk the perimeter of the field.

I felt a little bit out of place as I went on the visiting team’s side of the field and took a picture of the bell. I felt very conspicuous as I walked to the end zone and got a picture looking down the length of the field. Wouldn’t you know, the visiting team was kicking a field goal straight at me at the very moment I was under the goal posts? Yipes, I almost got hit, all for just for a picture! I blame it on the photographer personality in me. I was tired of the same old photos every Friday night and wanted to capture the evening from a different angle.

The bad news is that we lost the game and the bell will not sit in our school’s office for another year. The good news is that I had a date with my husband. Yes! After nine Friday nights apart, with one of us taking care of Natalie and the other going to the game, my mom graciously offered to watch Natalie so that we could be together and so that we could be there to honor Philip.

Another football season has gone down into the history books. Unless Seth joins band in the next two years, I will not be a marching band mom again for four years, (unless Hannah chooses not join the marching band when she gets to high school.) You will not have to put up with the tedious accounts of my game insights and the repetitious pictures over and over. On the other hand, you might just miss them. Ah, next Friday night, I get to stay home with my husband and family. Can’t wait!

DAN AT THE STADIUM

THOMAS WITH HIS PARENTS ZOLI AND SHERI - HE IS HONORED AS A SENIOR
FOOTBALL PLAYER - HE FINISHED HIS SENIOR YEAR WITH AN
INTERCEPTION - WAY TO GO THOMAS!

THE BAND SPELLS OUT SCRIPT C-O-P-L-E-Y

THE RIVALRIES GOING AT EACH OTHER

PHILIP BETWEEN DAD AND MOM - HE IS HONORED AS A SENIOR BAND
MEMBER - EVEN THOUGH HE PLAYED TRUMPET FOR SEVEN YEARS, HE
PLAYED THE CYMBALS IN HIS SENIOR YEAR

DURING HALF TIME, THE BAND SPELLED OUT 2010 - THE GRADUATING YEAR
OF THE SENIORS - THANKS TO MARK C FOR THIS PICTURE

LOOKING THROUGH THE INFLATABLE HELMET ONTO THE FIELD OF PLAY

LOOKING THROUGH THE FIELD GOAL POSTS INTO THE STADIUM - THE FIFTY
YARD ZONE IN THE STADIUM HOLDS A LOT OF MEMORIES, FOR IT IS THERE
WHERE WE SAT, FRIDAY AFTER FRIDAY

THE BELL SITS ON THE SIDELINES WONDERING WHO WILL WIN THE GAME
THIS YEAR

AT THE END ZONE

I WAS STANDING BEHIND THE END ZONE WHEN A FIELD GOAL WAS KICKED
STRAIGHT AT ME

THE STUDENTS HAVE THEIR OWN CHEERING SECTION IN THE STADIUM

THE FINAL SCORE - NO BELL THIS YEAR FOR US

THE TEAMS HIGH FIVE EACH OTHER WHILE THE REST OF THE VISITING TEAM
CELEBRATES GETTING THE BELL ON THE RIGHT

HANNAH PLAYING WITH HER SLINKY

I LIKE THIS PICTURE FOR IT SHOWS DAN, THE STADIUM LETTERS, AND
THE MOON UP ABOVE

PHILIP'S ROSE AND TRUMPET

Compassionate God

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:57:04 GMT

TREE IN OUR YARD

“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” (Psalm 116:5)

Do you weep when God weeps? We hear such tragic news all the time that it has almost become commonplace. Yet, one news story that I heard this week made me weep.

A small seventeen day-old-baby was admitted to the hospital with severe head trauma and hemorrhaging of the eyes. The father was watching the baby while the mother was at work. When she came home, the father left for work. The mother then found the baby, bruised and listless. Now the mother is at the hospital watching to see if her son survives while the father is in jail.

Here I am, helpless and weeping. I pray for this little baby and his family. I pray for healing for the baby and salvation for the family. But, is prayer enough?

Tragically, similar stories happen every day. Every day, I feel helpless. I am here at home, doing my housework, and taking care of my family while such tragedies are happening all around me.

The follow gives me a little hope. I cannot save the whole world, but I can help people, one at a time as God brings them across my path. As I hear the news, I can pray for people. When you pray, you are not helpless. Instead, you are empowered, asking God for the supernatural to take place, even in the case of the little babies.

In the Bible, compassion is sometimes worded as mercy. As Jesus walked this earth, He had compassion on those around Him. People with all manner of affliction were crying out for mercy from Him. “Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ " (Luke 17:12-13)

Our God is a God of compassion. He cares. He weeps over the little seventeen-day-old baby boy in critical condition, fighting for his life. He isn’t blind to what is going on. He doesn’t ignore the helpless, even though it may seem that way.

We are the feet and arms of Jesus. He has chosen us to be Jesus to others here on this bruised and broken planet. Can you echo the following verse in your heart of hearts? “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Where is your heart today?

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1:3)

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15)

In, Out, and About

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:25:36 GMT

STRETCH OF ROAD NEAR MY NEPHEW TIMOTHY'S HOME

“…the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD…” (I Chronicles 16:33)

The season of fall is so fleeting. If you don’t drop what you are doing and deliberately go outside and enjoy it, you will have missed it. A few days ago, it was so beautiful outside with the sun shining through the colorful leaves on the trees. I grabbed my camera to try and capture the beauty I was seeing through our windows. I thought that when the gray, drab days of winter were upon me, I could look back at the magnificence of fall. Unfortunately, the pictures just didn’t do justice to the resplendence that I was seeing with my eyes. Fall needs to be experienced with the five senses: the crunch of the leaves, the sound of the geese honking, the wind blowing through your hair, the taste of cider and pumpkin delights, the smell of burning leaves, and all the brilliant colors on the trees.

I couldn’t erase everything on my calendar just so I could go take pictures, so I took my camera with me on my errands, taking pictures through the van window or in a variety of places where I stopped. My nephew Timothy told me that I “needed to” take a picture of a stretch of road near his house. Since it was near my Moms in Touch location, I was able to take a few pictures as I was driving.

I leave you with these pictures taken through our house windows and when I did my errands. Thank you Lord for the brilliant colors of the leaves, for the bright colors of the mums, for the reflection of the trees in the lake, and for the season of autumn!

A LAKE ALONG THE WAY

LADY BEETLE ON A MUM

LADY BEETLE GETTING READY TO FLY

BEAUTIFUL RED LEAVES

BUMBLE BEE

SPOTTED CUCUMBER BEETLE ON A MUM

COLORADO POTATO BEETLE - (WHAT'S IT DOING IN OHIO?)

BARN ALONG THE WAY

VIEW FROM OUR FRONT WINDOW

VIEW FROM OUR SIDE WINDOW

GIRLS GETTING OFF THE BUS

In One Accord

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:03:23 GMT

THE NORTON GOSPEL QUARTET - CARL, MARK, ROGER, ROLAND

“…they lifted up their voice to God with one accord…” (Acts 4:24)

There is no perfect church on this planet. Churches are comprised of sinful people who are flawed and forgiven, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. When I read about the churches in the beginning of the book of Acts, I wonder what it would be like to be a part of one of the first churches.

Sometimes, I think about what it would be like to eliminate all church institutions on this earth and begin all over again with the first churches in Acts as the standard. Since that is impossible, the next best solution is to take the church that I am in and look to God as my Leader. If I follow a favorite preacher, a certain church affiliation, or a selected group of leaders, they are prone to fail, for they are human beings. If I keep my eyes on the Lord and look to Him as my Leader, there will be no disappointment.

In knowing that the earthly churches aren’t without its flaws, once in a while a service will take me by surprise. This was the case Sunday evening as we heard THE NORTON GOSPEL QUARTET. It was like a taste of heaven on earth, a foretaste of the unity between believers in worship of the Lamb who was slain for our sins. It was a glimpse into heaven and into the heart of Jesus. It was as if the church were like the church in Acts, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” (Acts 2:1)

“One accord” in the Greek is translated as “with one mind, with one passion.” We were a group of believers gathered together, all at different places in our walks with the Lord, but unified together in worship. When the Holy Spirit is present at a gathering, hearts and lives are changed. This was the case Sunday night.

The Norton Gospel Quartet began in 1990 with four men who had a passion for singing and a young woman with creativity on the piano. The group was very active for a decade or so, but with the onset of kids and grandkids, the group changed and was disbanded. Sunday night was a reunion of the quartet, a type of reprise of the singing of the “oldies but goodies.” It was a time for reflecting on the past and how God had been faithful to individuals. Testimonies were given on how the songs had changed lives and made an impact on souls. It was a taste of heaven on earth. We “were all with one accord in one place” like the early church in Acts.

Music has the ability to penetrate souls where words cannot. Music has the ability to satisfy that empty spot in your soul that is longing for refreshment from the Holy Spirit. Music has the ability to take God-breathed Words and make them come alive in your heart. Music has the ability to make you weep in joy.

Spiritual songs aren't discounted in the Bible, but are put on a close parallel with God’s Word itself. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16) It is almost as if we should take the Word of God and put it to music, using it for teaching or for admonishing (warning or exhorting), yet done with grace (joy, sweetness, delight, and pleasure) to the Lord.

I am thankful that I was able to be a part of the service, worshiping together with the Norton Gospel Quartet. I hope that they can have another service in the future, for we all can use glimpses of heaven from time to time. It makes us yearn for the day we are (to quote some of the gospel songs) stepping on the clouds, walking the streets of gold, with our reservation in hand, in sweet Beulah land, gazing at our Champion of Love.

“…fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2)

NORTON AC CHURCH GROUNDS

TWO TREES NEAR THE PICNIC PAVILION

TREE NEAR THE PICNIC PAVILION

GOLDEN MAPLE LEAF

PICNIC PAVILION

SUNDAY SCHOOL WING

ENTERING INTO THE CHURCH

CARL - THE BASS AND GRANDFATHER OF THE GROUP

MARK - THE LEAD SINGER IN THE GROUP

ROGER - MY BROTHER AND THE BARITONE IN THE GROUP

ROLAND - THE TENOR IN THE GROUP

SONG LIST

BRENDA - THE PIANIST AND "MOTHER" OF THE GROUP

CHAMPION OF LOVE

WALK ON

SIN WILL TAKE YOU FARTHER

I'VE GOT A RESERVATION

GOD IS ABLE - SOLO BY MY BROTHER ROGER

DAYSTAR

THE WEDDING DAY

PEACE IN THE VALLEY

HOLD ON A LITTLE LONGER

MOVING UP TO GLORYLAND

GETTING READY TO LEAVE THIS WORLD