What Is Truth?

Ute Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

No, I didn't place this purple rock here for this picture but it wouldn't surprise me if someone else did. Then again, maybe God, through the working of nature, placed this rock here. It is hard to know, isn't it?

So what's the truth about how this purple rock settled here?

Maybe a few generations back the issue of truth wasn't as important as it is today. The idea of right and wrong has become an issue of relativity. In the back of our brains echos Pilate's question to Jesus, "What is truth?" What's right and wrong?

Jesus prayed, "Set [my disciples] apart in the truth; your word is truth." John 17:17 New English Translation

Though the world might have dumbed down the concept of truth, Jesus claims the existence of truth. God's word is true. The word that called creation into existence is true. The word that calls us to repentance is true. The word that speaks forgiveness through the bloody sacrifice of Christ is true.

For the Christian community truth is not merely a proposition, it is a person. Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, is the truth.

What is truth? Jesus Christ is the truth.

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR

Ute Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

"Red and yellow, black and white..."

What brought these rocks together? I'm sure that someone, somewhere could tell us how these different looking rocks arrived at this place. It would seem to me that various minerals have caused these rocks to look peculiar.

This sharp contrast in color is what grabbed my attention.

It's not a good vs. evil thing or right vs. wrong. This is not to say there isn't good and evil or right and wrong in the world. This picture reminds us that this is an issue of creation and redemption.

Each one of us is a unique creation of God. Each one of us has our own "mineral" makeup that makes us who we are. And at the same time each one of us has been redeemed from our broken, sinful condition. God has made us his new creations.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17 English Standard Version

We are loved by God in creation and loved by God in redemption. As such, we are a peculiar people brought together by the power of the Holy Spirit into community.

"Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world."

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR

Ute Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

NOT the Circle of Life!

I know the scientific fact that this dead tree is decomposing and feeding the living tree.  I get it.  But what these two trees depict is more than Elton John singing the Circle of Life.

Death is a terrible intrusion into our lives.  It has the habit of taking someone from us whom we love and cherish.  Death is not fair, and yet as close as these living and dead tree are to each other, so is death to life.

There is a reason why Paul told the Romans to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).  It is because we as Christians don't have to sugarcoat death.  It is a baneful reality in our lives.

Yet just as real is the promise of life.

"Your dead will come back to life; your corpses will rise up. Wake up and shout joyfully, you who live in the ground! For you will grow like plants drenched with the morning dew, and the earth will bring forth its dead spirits." Isaiah 26:19 New English Translation

Paul also told the Romans to "rejoice with those who rejoice."

I don't expect to see this dead tree planted firmly next to the living one next time I hike Ute Park.  However, I fully expect to be planted next to my brothers and sisters in Christ who are raised on the day of Jesus' return.  He has conquered death.

That is more than the Circle of Life.

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR

Life on he Moon

Ute Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

"I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow." 1 Corinthians 3:6 New Living Translation

If the moon could grow trees this is what it might look like. In this area of Ute Park it seems that the trees grow straight out of the rocks.

It was a cold day, the sky was threatening snow and I was in heaven...well at least the next best thing to heaven. Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to take pics. But I can enjoy the ones that I did take.

This rocky soil in Ute Park is a tough place for seeds to grow, yet the human heart might be even more difficult. It 's in this core of our being that God causes his seed to sprout and grow.

Nothing breaks the hardened soil of our heart like the cross of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness is more powerful than any earthly solvent. Forgiveness breaks the heart captivated in bitterness, rebellion and pride. And in the soil of the broken heart God causes his amazing love to grow.

It might be like growing plants on the moon, but nothing is impossible for God (Mark 10:27).

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2013 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR

The Gift of Rest

Wet Valley & Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Colorado

I love the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The Sangres are one of the longest mountain chains in the world running from Poncha Pass in Colorado to Glorieta Pass in New Mexico.

Sangre de Cristo is Spanish for blood of Christ. It is conjectured that these mountains received their name because of the red color reflected off the snow at sunrise and sunset.

The Sangres are a place of respite. There are no major cities close to the Sangres in Colorado, so the miles upon miles of hiking trails are places of solitude. The Rainbow Trail itself runs for 100 miles.

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.'" Mark 6:31 New International Version

Jesus' invitation to his disciples is his invitation to you.

The rest you and I need begins in the blood of Christ. We enter his rest through the gift of forgiveness. We don't have to live in the guilt and shame that for so long have permeated our lives.  His blood has washed away our guilt.

With his blood covering us we're invited today into his presence for rest. I don't know what stresses you face, but God does. Rest from all that pummels your life is found in the presence of Jesus Christ. His promise is true; he is with you to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

It's about the Water

Vail, Colorado

In the Cascade Mountains of Oregon, trees grow everywhere.  Such is not the case in Colorado.  On the shaded north facing slopes trees grow in abundance, but trees are sparse on the south facing slopes.

Given the fact that Colorado has over three hundred days of sun per year, the snow melts quickly on south facing slopes thus the moisture needed for firs and spruce to grow is not available.  Some hearty pine trees will survive the more extreme conditions on south facing slopes but not others.

"Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life." John 4:14 New Living Translation.

It seems to me that we are at time too comfortable on the wrong slope.  We wonder why we feel dry inside and don't realize we're facing the wrong direction.  Instead of facing Christ, the bubbling spring of water, we turn away from him.

Our thirst is satisfied when we face Christ.  We face Christ when we turn to his word.

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Ute Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Exposed.

I'm intrigued by dead trees. They are stripped bare of their life; no leaves, no needles and yet they remain upright until their rotting roots can no longer hold them against the forces of nature.

Stripped of their life their true character is revealed.There is no hiding how their branches reach into the atmosphere; no pretense.

"He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?'" Genesis 3:11 English Standard Version

Sin exposes us to God. It strips us of our life.

This dead tree in Ute Park is a great picture of what Christ has done for us. He was stripped and exposed by our sin. If you look closely at the tree you will see a cross. It was on the cross that Jesus was stripped of everything. It was on the cross that he died bearing the brokenness of our sin.

This dead tree is encompassed by many other trees that live. It is in Jesus' sacrifice on the one tree that we are covered with grace and mercy just as those trees are covered with needles.

This tree will one day fall, but the icon of the cross will never disappear.

Join the conversation at Praying With the Eyes on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/groups/173881749421231/

(Click on picture to enlarge.)