Pikes Peak, Colorado

Evidence of life.

On April 15 our nation was struck once again by senseless violence. The annual event of the Boston Marathon was devastated by bomb blasts killing three people and injuring many more.

Colorado was devastated by a massive wildfire in June, 2002. The Hayman fire burned 215 square miles of Colorado timber. Because of the drought conditions, it was also one of the hottest fires to burn in Colorado. As a result, the land has had a difficult time recovering.

When we experience national tragedies we have difficult time recovering. I still remember sitting in my second grade classroom and hearing that President Kennedy had been shot.

These fledgling aspen are a picture of hope.

"But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying? You are my only hope!" Psalm 39:7 New English Translation

I'd love to promise that there will never be another bombing like that in Boston, another terrorist attack like that experienced on 9/11 or a presidential assassination. I can't make these promises.

As I have often written in this blog, King David, who authored this psalm, knew tragedy, but it didn't stop him from putting his hope in the Lord.

You and I have even more reason than David to put our hope in God because we have experienced God's redeeming love for humanity in Jesus's suffering, death and resurrection.

When we experience any tragedy may we say with David, "You are my only hope!"

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

Sol Vista, Colorado

MY, OH, MY!!!

Wildflowers are amazing not only in their beauty, but also for their hardiness. The are found everywhere. You find them on mountain top tundras and high plain deserts. You find them in sidewalk cracks and rain gutters. Maybe this is a reason why we admire their beauty.

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock." Matthew 7:24-25 New Living Translation

The flowers in this picture endure more time of suffering, more "floodwaters," than the beauty of blossom. Much of the year they are covered with snow. They are crushed by the weight of skiers. Animals forage on these plants. Yet they blossom.

By God's grace we blossom. We are meant to blossom even when we experience "floodwaters."

Suffering is a reality, but it is not the goal of our life. We don't pray for suffering. We don't invite suffering into our lives. Suffering comes and yet we blossom, and when we blossom people take note.

Friends of mine bring Randy to church when he is in town. Randy can walk short distances but spends much of his time confined to a wheelchair as a result of Cerebral Palsy. Whenever I see Randy I see Christ. Though he communicates some with sign language, he can't talk, but he can smile. His presence blossoms with Jesus Christ.

This is what we do. We blossom in the midst of suffering. In this way, we talk about the beauty of Jesus' cross because in the agony of his suffering he shone with beauty of God's love for us.

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

The gift of Humility

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

I've never climbed Mt. Hood in Oregon, but I have been on peaks that are higher. When we first moved to Colorado back in 1999 there was a different sign here. The sign read, "Elevation 12,005 feet. Higher than Oregon's famed Mt. Hood." I have a feeling someone from Oregon stole it.

Sometimes our Christian walk is characterized by trying to be better than other Christians. As a pastor, I have tendency to compare myself to other pastors and so I sing the old Christian song, "Chief of sinners though I be, Pastor ______ is worse than me."

"Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude." 1 Peter 3:8 New Living Translation

Humility is not about saying how bad I am or that I don't do anything important. Humility is the recognition that in the body of Christ I don't possess all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Humility recognizes that I am important in the body of Christ, and, as a result of my baptism into Christ, that I have received gifts of grace to be used in the community of saints and in the world.

Humility also recognizes that I don't possess all the gifts of God and therefore I am dependent on the gifting of others in the body of Christ.

The result of such humility is not bragging or self ridicule. Instead this kind of humility celebrates the organic unity of Christ's body.

Godly humility has the ability to lift us higher than we've ever experienced.

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

Red Rock Canyon, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Gravity works.

Gravity is a powerful force in our lives. Erosion gives evidence of this power. The loose gravel and dirt that make up this slope were once a part of this protruding rock, yet because of the hardness of this pinnacle it has out lasted the surrounding area.

There are many things that weigh us down and work at eroding the grace of God that is at work in us.

"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 firm." Ephesians 6:13 English Standard Version

The gravity the bares down on us comes in two forms: external gravity and internal gravity.

We are wounded creatures as a result of sin. This sin tears away at us internally. All of us have forms of addictions to which we look to bring us happiness or a false sense of control, yet these addictions are evidence of our internal battle with sin.

There are also the external forces at work on our lives as well. These external forces, the pressures of life, would also erode our experience of the grace and mercy of God.

This pinnacle in Red Rock Canyon continues to stand because of the hardness of the rock. We stand against the internal and external forces sin because of the firmness of God's armor. It is the armor that we have received by God's grace at work in the cross of Jesus who was exposed to full force of the gravity of sin on our behalf.

May you experience today the grace of God against the gravity of sin as you wear his armor.

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

Red Rock Canyon, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Desperation.

This tree is dead but not for lack of trying to find water. For awhile it lived on the drops of moisture it found in the nooks and crannies of these rocks, but that small amount of water could not sustain its life.

What a picture of humanity. We are a thirsty lot, seeking nourishment in the nooks and crannies of life. For awhile we find what appears to be nourishment in one part of our life only to find that it runs dry. Then we seek another place to lay down roots only to find the same outcome. In the end, none of these crevices  provide life.

"But 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

Why do we human creatures, even Christians, continue to lay down roots into things that will dry up? Could it be that we're trying to escape the parched nature of life? Even those who know Christ are good at heading of into the desert seeking water where water will not be found.

As counter intuitive as it is to our sinful nature, Jesus says that he is our water that satisfies. Because he was parched with our sin on the cross, we can come to him and experience the "bubbling spring" now and for eternity.

God's gift to us in Christ is contentment and satisfaction instead of desperation.

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

Paint Mines, Calhan, Colorado

"For all to see."

Indian Paintbrush both stand out in their field and are outstanding.

Outside of the fact that this Indian Paintbrush is prominent in this picture, you wouldn't know that this field was full of this orange flower. However, as you walk these trails and come upon these small flowers you can't help but take notice. Their color stands out in contrast to the prairie grasses.

There are other plants on the prairie that call out for us to take note but some of them are noxious weeds. The Indian Paintbrush is not one of them. Not only does this flower stand out in the field of grasses, it is outstanding in its beauty. This flower adds value to the prairie.

In the same way our baptismal call is to stand out in the field of the world and to be outstanding in the beauty of God's grace with which we have been covered in Christ.

"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." Matthew 5:16 New Living Translation

I take comfort in this picture of the Indian Paintbrush. Its beauty is seen where it is planted. Draw back in this picture and you don't even know that the flower exists. Our baptismal call is to both stand out and be outstanding where we are planted.

"For all to see" means those whose lives are intertwined with our lives, not for the billions of people on earth. There are other Christians, the remnant of grace, who are blooming in other parts of the world. God's call is that those who walk past our lives today notice our faith in Jesus Christ.

Where has God planted you? It may not be where you want to be, but it is where he wants you by his grace to bloom. May others see your good works today and give thanks and praise to God because of your works, rooted in his grace.

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

To Jump or Not to Jump

Grand Lake, Colorado

All of us reach points in our lives where we must face the question whether we are to jump or not to jump.

I had my first swimming lesson when I was six, and at that point in my life I hated water. I loathed water. You did not ask me to put my head under water because I knew that if I did I was going to die.

I don't remember much of that week except for the last day. On the last day of lessons we had to jump off the low diving board. I remember standing at the end of the board looking down and seeing only the bottom of the diving pool. There was no way I was going to jump, that is, until my instructor held out a pole for me to grab. I finally jumped for the first time into water that was over my head.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't become a great swimmer after that event. In fact, I'm better at sinking than swimming, but it was a turning point for me when I jumped.

Jesus commented about the centurion's faith who pleaded for his servant's healing, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith." Matthew 8:10 English Standard Version

The centurion took the leap of faith, trusting that Jesus could heal his servant even if Jesus didn't come under his roof. The leap of faith I'm writing about is not the leap of seeking direction in life, but of leaping into the arms of Jesus.

There are pivotal points in our lives as Christians where God is calling us to jump into Jesus' arms, entrusting our lives to him in a way that we never have before.

I could not have jumped off the diving board had it not been for my instructor. Likewise you and I cannot jump into the arms of Jesus without the Holy Spirit. Yet the "Instructor," the Holy Spirit, is always with you.  And by his power, we jump into Jesus' arms.

Our lives will never be the same when we make the leap.

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

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Embracing the mystery.

Colorado Springs is a popular tourist destination. People are drawn to the Springs because of the Air Force Academy, the Garden of the Gods, and Pikes Peak. I imagine that it's frustrating for these visitors when Pikes Peak is shrouded  by clouds.  

Granted this doesn't happen all that often, not like Mt. McKinley (Denali) which most visitors to Alaska never see, but for those people who have made the journey to Colorado Springs they expect to see America's mountain.

"The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud." Exodus 24:16 God's Word to the Nations

I don't suppose that this event at Mount Sinai was normal. This is arid land and Mount Sinai isn't all that tall (7,497 ft), but something spectacular happened on that mountain. God spoke with Moses. However, for the people who camp at its foot, Mount Sinai is shrouded in mystery.

In this picture Pikes Peak is shrouded in mystery. Those of us who know the power of Jesus sacrifice and his victory over death embrace the mystery of God dwelling with us.

The day is coming when the cloud will be lifted and we see God face-to-face, but for now by faith we embrace the mystery that God dwells with us.

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

Rosita, Colorado

At rest.

"At rest in Jesus' faithful arms.

At rest as in a peaceful bed.

Secure from all the dreadful storms

Which round this sinful world are spread."

Three adjectives stick out for me on Lucinda's tombstone; faithful, peaceful and dreadful.  

The second half of this poem suggests that Lucinda didn't have an easy life. She was intimate with the dreadful storms that find their beginning in sin. It was finally the storm of death itself that took her life at the age of 21.  

Yet, supposing that her husband ordered the tombstone, while she experienced the storms of life, Lucinda also experienced rest. He could write that in her death she was at rest, peaceful rest. He might have recalled her last days of laying in their bed and the peace that often comes before a person's last breath.

However, this peace is based not on Lucinda, but on Jesus. Her rest is not some metaphor that might bring comfort. Her rest is a literal rest in the arms of Jesus. Even though Lucinda had experienced the pain of death caused by sin, she was at rest in the faithful arms of Jesus who had rested in his grave and risen triumphantly over death.

"He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young." Isaiah 40:11 English Standard Version

The golden evening brightens in the west;

Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.

Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

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

Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

Baseball speak.

There is a reason people are confused when they attend baseball games but don't know anything about the sport. Baseball is a game of endless statistics.

I know baseball. My grandfather was a Major League Baseball scout in the Pacific Northwest. My father was a standout baseball player in high school and received a scholarship to play at the University of Oregon (along with basketball). My mom taught me to keep score. As a result, I can read this scoreboard at Coors Field and understand it in a second.

I know the vocabulary of baseball, but many people don't and as a result they could care less about the game.

The language that we use as Christians can be as confusing as baseball statistics. We understand what we're talking about. Words like redemption and sanctification have meaning to us, but to many people they are gibberish.

"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Genesis 1:3 English Standard Version

The funny thing is that when God speaks he makes himself known. There is nothing confusing about speaking creation into existence. There is nothing confusing when Jesus says, "Father forgive them" (Luke 23:34).

Instead of expecting people to understand the language of the church maybe we ought to be more aware of speaking as God speaks, in language that everyone can understand. Will it take work? Yes, but it's worth the effort when someone hears God's Word and experiences transformation through that Word.

By the way, I couldn't lose the night I took this picture as I root for both the Mariners and the Rockies. It was good to see Ken Griffey, Jr. play in his last season with the M's, pinch hitting that night.  Oops!  Baseball speak.

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

"Batter Up!"

Coors Field, Denver, Colorado

Before the National Anthem is sung, the first pitch tossed and the umpire yells, "Play ball!" there is a crew of people who have worked hard to prepare the field for the players. The infield is dragged, the lines laid and the baseballs prep. We never see many of the people who carry out these tasks before the game, but they make the day more enjoyable for everyone..

Imagine the problems that might arise if there were no game balls, the lines were not marked from the previous game or the infield roughed up and rocks littering the infield. The preparation taken for each game is critical not only for the enjoyment of the fans but for the safety of the players.

In the Christian community there are many people who use their gifts in background but whose work is critical to the proclamation of the gospel.

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 4:10 New Living Translation

I could not do my job of pastoring if it were not for the many people at Holy Cross who use their God given gifts. As I prepare for a Bible class, people are visiting the sick in the hospital. As I write my sermon, people are helping the hungry in our food pantry. As I meet with staff, people are gathering and training their team for Vacation Bible School.

When the umpire says, "Batter up!" most of the work has been done. Before a sermon is preached God's people have been doing his work.

Thank God for the grounds crew!

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

Bear Creek Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Mud season.

Many mountain dwellers in Colorado take vacation in the Spring. They call it mud season. All the snow that graced the slopes on which they skied turns liquid. This liquid turns the soil into mud. And unless you're an elementary student, there isn't much you can do in the mud.

As such, it is time to get out of Aspen, Vail and Breckenridge and visit the grand kids.

What's your mud season? When do you know that a change is needed in your life? Lately I've been struggling with my tendency to be conformed to the world's standards. I've done it all my life. I'm feeling like I'm going through a personal mud season.

"Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God– what is good and well-pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2 New English Translation

Notice that Paul's focus is not on behavior but on thinking. Isn't that where transformation begins? Isn't our thought process where the Holy Spirit works the hardest? And the tool of the Holy Spirit is the Word of God. Otherwise we'll be back where we started.

Critical for me in my mud season is to stop hearing the serpent in my ear saying, "Did God really say," and trust that God really did speak his Word. And this Word brings us back to Christ and the power of the cross.

It's good to experience mud season.

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

Bear Creek Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Discovering the path.

What happened to this tree? Maybe its a genetic issue. Maybe it was wounded. What ever the cause, something messed up this tree that gave rise to all these branches heading in every direction.

This might be a good picture of your life. You might feel that your life is headed in many directions and you struggle to answer the question why this is so. You desire to prune away the unnecessary branches and discover God's path for your life, but you're not sure you can.

Most all of us have doubts about the direction of life (at least I do).

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 English Standard Version

Notice that King David did not say "the path FOR my life," but "OF life." We worry to much about what specific direction of life we ought to travel that we don't experience the life that we already have.

Take a moment an concentrate on your breathing...I'll wait. What did you experience?

The breath OF life for your life is God's Spirit, the Spirit that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has breathed on his church.

By this Spirit God directs your life today. Though his Spirit God makes know the path of life.

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

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Living at altitude.

The only mountain that I've climbed in the Oregon Cascades is Mt. Washington. Mt. Washington is 7,795 feet above sea level.  My home in Colorado is just shy of 7,000 ft. Having lived much of my life close to sea level, living in Colorado makes me feel that I'm living on top of the world.

Living at high altitude is not easy. Recently I greeted parents of premature twins who had to be on oxygen because of the altitude. A friend of mine had to move from his dream home in Divide, Colorado because of heart issues related to altitude, and cooking at altitude can be a challenge.

Yet given all these challenges, God's mercy reaches even to highest points of earth.

"He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses." Psalm 135:7 New Living Translation

It doesn't matter whether we live in Death Valley or Estes Park, God's mercy rises wherever we live. You are not beyond the reach of God's mercy.

This picture was taken at over 12,000 feet above sea level. Notice the clouds forming on the horizon. Shortly after I snap this photo I experienced a June snow flurry. In the same way, God causes his mercy to cover our lives no matter the "altitude" at which we live.

Today we pray that God's mercy would cover those who are grieving the senseless death and injury from the bombing in Boston. Even in our deepest grief, God's mercy reigns.

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

Cali

So close yet so far away.

I no longer possess this fish aquarium, but it's not because the cat ate the fish. Try as she might, she couldn't get her paws into the water, and even if she could the fish were too small and the water too deep for her to get a snack.

However, this didn't stop her from trying or often sleeping close to her prey (I think she also liked the warmth of the light on her belly).

For many reasons, we struggle with the idea of Satan and the presence of demonic forces. For most people these are entities that make for good horror movies but in our scientific worldview, there is no room for what we cannot see.

"Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 God's Word to the Nations

Satan's greatest tool is to get us to live in denial of his existence, however his presence is real and his desire is simple: To pull us away from the Lover of our souls, Jesus Christ.

The aquarium protected the fish from Cali. The very person that Satan wants us to deny is our protection from him.

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

Cali

Why?

Cali is sitting on top of my dresser, but why? The only reason Cali took a nap on my dresser was because she could. And get this, with all the junk on top of my dresser, she didn't disturb anything.

Isn't that often the case with cats. You find them walking on counters, sleeping on televisions and climbing on roofs. They love to go places and do ridiculous things but leave no trace of where they've been. No place is out of reach to a cat.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10 New Living Translation

Some of us might feel that our lives resemble the top of my dresser, a place out of reach to God. Our lives might be messed up by choices we've made or experiences we've had. The promise of God through Isaiah is true for us. There is no place absent from God's "victorious right hand."

When Janice and I leave our house the cat will play. I'd love to have a "kitty cam" that records her movements when we're not home. However, when we return to our house, it looks like the cat has slept all day.

We don't always sense the presence of God, but the presence of his right hand is always with us.

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

Cali

The choice is NOT ours.

Let me introduce you to Cali. I know that many of you don't care for cats...I've seen the bumper stickers. However Cali has been a part of our house since 2005. She was part of litter of cats that were left at the doorstep of Holy Cross. I picked her but if you know anything about cats, they make the final choice.

Cali chose my wife, Janice.

Janice grew up on a farm where cats had a utilitarian purpose. They spent their lives out in the barn. The only food they were fed was a daily dose of fresh cow milk. Other than that, cats had to do their job like everyone else.

In other words, Janice didn't form attachments to cats, but Cali has formed an attachment to Janice.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." John 15:16 New English Translation

Left to our broken sinful nature we would not choose God but he has chosen us. He has chosen you. It doesn't make sense why he would choose you and me but he has. This fact is humbling.

He has chosen you for an eternity with him and promised that he will never leave you. With such a promise we bear fruit today.

As God's chosen, let's ask for God's will to be done among us.

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

Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

Every knee shall bow.

I don't ski that much, maybe four to six times a year but once I store my skis at the end of the season I know that they aren't coming out for a while.  The end of ski season is difficult.  

Granted, I'm looking forward to hiking, gardening and watching baseball games but living in Colorado and skiing on some of the best snow in the world makes it hard to give up skiing.  I'm not a great skier, just an average skier, but there is something amazing about sliding down freshly groomed trails no matter your ability.

There is something appealing about celebrating Jesus' resurrection otherwise it wouldn't make sense that worship attendance nearly doubles on Easter Sunday.

"Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." Philippians 2:9 New Living Translation

What we experienced in our houses of worship just over a week ago pales in comparison to what we'll experience on that day when every knee bows.  We don't have a clue what that day will be like.

We might have taken the Easter lilies out of our sanctuaries, choirs might be taking a break and pastors have foot surgery but when on the day Christ's return the celebration will never end...and we'll never grow tired of it.  

We will be forever in the sanctuary of Jesus.

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

Where Are the Air Traffic Controllers?

Colorado Springs, Colorado

It must be a moment of anxiety when pilots lift off their balloons at the annual Balloon Classic at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs.  These big lumbering airships are not that maneuverable. They're at the whim of the wind.

Doesn't it seem that our lives are often blown about by different winds?

We're blown by the wind of anger.  We're blown by the wind of jealousy.  We're blown by the wind of inadequacy.

At Jesus' resurrection a new wind was blown on the disciples and is still blown on the church through the waters of baptism.  It is the wind of God's Spirit.

"After he had said this, he breathed on the disciples and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'" John 20:22 God's Word to the Nations

Though we might not always feel the breath of the Spirit, it is this Spirit of the resurrected Christ that leads and directs our lives.  It is this Spirit who will eventually brings us to our own resurrection where we will no longer struggle with the different winds of anxiety that seek to guide our lives.

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

The Story Is in the Details

Japanese Gardens, Portland, Oregon

No this isn't a monster sand trap on some exclusive gold course. This is the Flat Garden,one of five gardens within the Japanese Gardens in Portland, Oregon.

There is such meticulous care given to every aspect of this garden from the clipping of the shrubs to the mowing of the grass to the raking of the fine gravel.

Every detail is important.

Every detail of Jesus resurrection is important to our faith in this event.

At the end of his gospel and at the end of his account of the resurrection, John writes, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:30-31 English Standard Version

Every detail is important because they lead us to eternal life in Christ. We might not understand how Jesus could keep himself from being recognized by people, appear behind locked doors or invite Thomas to touch his scars, but these details are critical for us to believe in Jesus resurrection.

May we stand on the veranda of life and meditate on the beauty of Jesus' resurrection and never lose that sense of awe at what he has done for us.

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

Japanese Gardens, Portland, Oregon

Just bein' Koi

Koi have captured the imagination of many people, when in reality they look like orange carp. I'm sure that I have offended someone with that comment. Many people have discovered that koi are in reality expensive raccoon food. However, koi are just being koi.

The beauty of this koi in this picture is the feeling of suspension. Is it swimming or floating in space?

That ought to be the question that we face during this Easter season. Are we rooted on this planet or living with the reality of the promise of heaven. The answer is both.

"I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account."  Philippians 1:23-24 English Standard Version

Isn't Paul describing the life of those who understand the glory of Jesus' resurrection? Knowing his victory over death causes our hearts to yearn to be with him. And knowing the power of his resurrections means we also understand the need for his working being done through us.

So we remain suspended between the two. That's koi being koi.

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

Portland, Oregon

Not to be forgotten.

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." So wrote J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan.

Portland comes alive with roses in early June. Though the blossoms aren't as plentiful in other months, with proper care their beauty will last all summer. These roses are in the care of our good friend, Deb, in Portland. She spends hours upon hours nursing her roses.

Yet their comes a time when roses go dormant to survive the winter.

We're basking in the afterglow of the resurrection. We will continue to hear the message of Christ's victory over death for a number of Sundays but the time is coming when the glory will fade.

God has given us memory that we might see the power of the resurrection in December.

"God has spoken once. I have heard it said twice: 'Power belongs to God.'" Psalm 62:11 God's Word to the Nations

The power of Jesus' resurrection is as real for us who bask in the afterglow of Easter as well as those in the darkness of December.

May we not forget the sovereignty of the resurrection throughout our earthly journey.

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(Click on picture to enlarge.)

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