A Beautiful Crown

Fountain Creek Regional Park, Fountain, Colorado

Why do we see the elderly as expendable in America? We wouldn't think of cutting down this old Cottonwood tree but our culture seriously considers euthanasia of the elderly. If you've outlived your usefulness then it is your duty, some would say, to die and stop using up the resources that could be better used by "productive" people.

That's a bunch of crock!

"Silver hair is a beautiful crown found in a righteous life." Proverbs 16:31 God's Word to the Nations

Why is it okay to save the old growth timber, but not the elderly in our society? In his book, Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people, from a Christian community may actually mean the exclusion of Christ; in the poor brother Christ is knocking at the door."

Remove this tree from Fountain Creek Regional Park and the park is less. Remove the elderly (and the weak) from our churches and we are the less, and quite possibly removing Christ from our midst.

At your church this Sunday seek out an elderly person. Don't thank him or her for being old, but treat them with dignity and respect. Stand in awe of these brothers and sisters in Christ as you would this Cottonwood tree.

Why?  Because in Christ, "silver hair is a beautify crown."

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

Bathed in Peace

Fountain Creek Regional Park, Fountain, Colorado

There hadn't been many warm days this Spring in Colorado when I took the picture. We had snow in Colorado Springs on May 1. Yet these turtles took advantage of nice, semi-warm (at least sunny) day. They weren't going to miss this opportunity to work on their tan, or whatever turtles do when they're sunning themselves.

Some of us are so future oriented that we miss those days of grace where God calls us to be bathed in his peace.

"I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, LORD, make me safe and secure." Psalm 4:8 New English Translation

When was the last time that you had a restful night's sleep? You wake up at 1:00 am and your mind is spinning and worrying about the future.

We might lose our job. Our children might turn their backs on God. Our health might deteriorate, but God will never abandon us. Your relationship with him is secure because of Christ's promise to never abandon you (Matthew 28:20). This promise is rooted in Jesus' death on the cross and the open tomb.

With everything going on in King David's life, he could lie down in peace. With everything going on in your life, you can lie down in peace because this peace is yours in Christ. It's his gift to you.

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

Mt. Angel, Oregon

The courage to wear lederhosen.

Oktoberfest is serious business in Mt. Angel, Oregon. This small community of only 3,000 people is know throughout the Pacific Northwest for this annual celebration. Seeing this man in lederhosen and banging on  drum participating in the 4th of July parade is not only accepted but expected in Mt. Angel.

Where he might seem out of place and not accepted is in a St. Patrick's Day parade in Boston. Green lederhosen is not the same as a green kilt. (You won't catch me in either, thank goodness, right?)

Maybe we Christians feel like we're wearing lederhosen in a St. Patrick's Day parade.

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world." John 17:24 New English Translation

Trouble for the Christian community occurs when we start feeling at home in this world. This world is the wrong parade. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we Christians ought not enjoy God's creation or find joy in this life. But this creation and these joys are the appetizers for our true home.

No matter how we look at life, Christians are wearing lederhosen in a St. Patick's Day parade...and that's okay.

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

Mt. Angel, Oregon

The wonder of a child.

Children love to climb around on fire trucks. Many of us remember when the firefighters came to our school and showed off their engine. We begged them to sound their siren, then wet our pants at the magnitude of the sound.

As exciting as it was to see a fire engine, imagine what these children experienced when they rode the engine in the Mt. Angel Fourth of July parade.

What captures my attention in this photo is the look of wonder on the boy's face.

"[And Jesus] said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:3 English Standard Version

Children have a special place in God's heart, so much so that he desires that all of us become like little children.

God has a desire that everyone of us have the look of wonder on our face as we experience the unlimited majesty of his grace and mercy. Through Christ all of us have the opportunity to ride in the chariot of his love.

More than likely we'll see a child today. Rather than passing by them without a thought, or getting perturbed at their crying in a restaurant, let's remember Christ's call to become like a child.

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

Mount. Angel, Oregon

Where's your focus?

The best place to experience a Fourth of July parade is in a small city. Mount Angel, Oregon is town of 3,000 people, and I wouldn't be surprised if all of them gather along the parade route every Independence Day.

Leading the parade are members of the local VFW. What an honor for these men to carry our nation's colors.  Their faces display their pride.

What an honor it is for us to carry the colors of our God.

"This is what the LORD says: 'Tell the whole world, and keep nothing back. Raise a signal flag to tell everyone that Babylon will fall! '" Jeremiah 50:2 New Living Translation

Victory is not guaranteed for any war that our nation fights, yet our God has guaranteed our victory over the enemies that we face daily. These enemies are not the overbearing boss, the unruly teenager or the inconsiderate neighbor. Christ has defeated "Babylon."

Christ has defeated the devil. Christ has defeated a world that stands in opposition to his will. Christ has defeated your sin.

As these men took pride in carrying our nation's colors, may we with pride and humility, bear the banner of Christ that others might experience his victory.

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

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Beauty in the branches.

Like most people, I look forward to Spring when the branches of these trees will once again show signs of life. I look forward to the different greenish hues that will adorn these branches, yet I will also miss the varied patterns of the intertwined branches revealed by the lack of leaves in winter.

For me the true character of a tree is seen when the leaves are stripped away. There is no hiding the form of a tree in the depth of winter.

The winter of pain and suffering has a way of revealing our character.

On the one hand, suffering has a tendency to reveal our brokenness. When we sit on the razor's edge of pain we come face-to-face with our self-centeredness. The questions, "Why me!" "Why this!" "Why now!" form on our lips. And in our search for answers we distance ourselves from others.

"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" Mark 15:34 English Standard Version

On the other hand suffering has a tendency to reveal the mercy of God. We might withdraw from people in our pain, but God draws near. He is intimate with pain, suffering the brutality of an unlawful execution on his cross. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus was forsaken in his suffering that you might be confident that God will never forsake you n yours.

God is not only with us in our suffering, he forms our character through suffering. Even winter can be a season of growth for the redeemed of Christ.

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

Bear Creek Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

"The valley of the shadow."

Winter is not the time to figure out whether a tree is alive or dead. This tree in Bear Creek Park is dead, but I didn't know that until I revisited this tree in the summer. In the winter this picture seems more acceptable. It didn't even dawn on me that this tree might be dead. Death is what we expect in the winter.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 English Standard Version

In the Spring of 1982 my appendix burst and I should have died had it not been for the fact that my appendix was in the wrong place and it kept the poison contained. After spending ten days in the hospital I returned to our apartment, looked in the mirror and, at age 25, came face-to-face with my mortality.

We "walk through the valley of the shadow of death" everyday, yet God guides us with his rod and staff on this journey.

The rod was used to beat off the predators that preyed on the flock. The shepherd was vigilant with his rod. The cross of Jesus is our rod. With his cross Jesus has defeated our greatest enemies; sin, death and the devil.

The staff was used to bring sheep back into the fold when they strayed. The Word of God is our staff that reminds us of this path on which we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. God uses his Word, especially his Word of forgiveness, to bring us back into his fold.

Yes, everyday you walk through the death's valley, but you do not walk alone. Your Good Shepherd walks with you, that Good Shepherd who laid down his life for you.

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

Bear Creek Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado

The impact of following Jesus.

It's easy to follow someone when they've walked in the snow, yet not so easy when the path is dry.

"Jesus said to them, 'Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.'" Mark 1:17 New English Translation

It is both easy and difficult to follow Jesus.

It is easy because, like these footprints in the snow, we know where Jesus walked. Pick a gospel, any gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John and we can see exactly where Jesus walked, that is, how he lived his life. We don't have to guess about how Jesus lived.

But following Jesus is extremely difficult because where Jesus walked is not where we want to walk. We want a life of enjoyment and Jesus picked up a cross. We want to be served and Jesus wore a servants towel and washed feet.

Yet there is no other way for those of us who know the mercy and grace of God in Jesus to make a godly impact on others than to follow Jesus. I believe that those of you reading this blog want to be "fishers of people," especially of those close to you. You want to make an eternal difference in their lives. Jesus' promise is true; as we follow him he converts us into anglers.

Thank God for the mercy of Christ that still covers us on this journey for when we step out of line he brings us back with his ever present gift of forgiveness. And walking in forgiveness we follow Jesus.

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

Erosion

Pikes Peak, Colorado

Though I know that erosion is real, when I see pictures of early settlers in Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak looks the same then as it does now. The things that give the mountain a different look are the changes in atmospheric conditions and cycle of seasons. Otherwise the mountain doesn't change...much.

"Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God." Psalm 90:2 New Living Translation

Even though I might not perceive the changes in Pikes Peak, erosion is affecting the mountain. The streams that flow from her peak carry sediment to the eastern high plains. As the mountain changes, God doesn't.

The psalmist declares that God is the same God before creation, during the time of creation and after creation ceases to exist. The psalmist is not saying that we will fully understand the character of God, but we can trust that he will not change.

Erosion does not affect God.

Though society may feel like it's eroding around us, wearing away the foundations of our lives, God can be trusted. His nature never changes. The cross of Jesus Christ is proof that God never changes. The forgiveness that Jesus won for you is as real today as it was before the foundation of the world and as it will be for eternity.

"From beginning to end, you are God."

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

Brauner Backyard, Colorado Springs, Colorado

May Day?

Welcome to Spring in the Rockies. Okay, so this picture wasn't taken today. I snapped this pic on April 17. I've seen so many pics from Oregon of green grass, daffodils and tulips that I thought I'd share what it's like to celebrate Spring in the Rockies. Most everyone I know is begging for nice, warm weather.  

It's around the corner.

Soon after Mom's Day I'll turn the soil and plant seeds in my garden. Soon I'll pull out the reel mower (that's right, no air or noise pollution from this guy) and clip the grass, but not yet.

My grass is brown not green. The daffodils are an inches high and bets are being taken as to whether they'll blossom or not. I'm still waiting to plant our living Christmas tree.

Waiting for Jesus' return is much like waiting for Summer in Colorado. You wonder if Christ is ever going to return and then one day it will happen.

"It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed." 1 Corinthians 15:52 New Living Translation

As we live in the waning days of Easter may we not forget that Jesus will return, and when he returns the dead will be raised. The day is coming when the bride will meet the Groom and the marriage feast of eternity will begin.

For those of us in Colorado we wait for summer and before we know it the dog days are upon us. For those of us who are in Christ, we know that the dawn of heaven is just around the corner.

Oh, and by the way, for those of who don't live in Colorado, snow is in the forecast for Colorado Springs today.

This blog is in honor of Chris Brownlow, the gentle giant, whose life was too short, but of great impact.  It was a privilege to be one of your pastors, Chris.

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