Clearing the Rocks

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

How many times have you been tripped up by something as simple as a rock? These pebbles don't appear to pose any problem until you try walking on them and you're not paying attention.

This often happens to me when I'm out hiking or taking pictures. I'm distracted and don't notice that just under my feet lays the potential of falling on my keester.  

What are the rocks that have the potential to place you on your backside?

"God says, 'Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.'" Isaiah 57:14 New Living Translation

The people of God had fallen on their keester because they didn't pay attention to the rocks. They thought they could enjoy the best of both worlds: worship Yahweh and adopt idols. It didn't work.

Though the people of Israel might have slipped on the rocks, God is in the business of clearing rocks. He made a way for his people to return from exile.

God delights in clearing the rocks in our lives. We're not much different than the people of Israel. We too like to play both sides. We love being known as the children of God, but we also like living in the world. Such a life can get us into trouble.

The rocks have been cleared through Jesus. He has cleared the way back to the father. He removes our sin and brokenness. Not only has he cleared the rocks, he has brought us into the presence of God.

Though we need to be careful where we journey in life, we know that, because of Jesus, we have a clear path to the Father.

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

From Death to Life

Brauner Backyard

Do your find it interesting that one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year, Fall, is the result of things dying.

These leaves were once a bright yellow-green color. Then, in the lengthy days of summer, they changed to a darker shade of green, but with the short fall days,and the lack of production of Chlorophyll, the leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground.

Out of their death comes life.

"I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." John 5:24 New Living Translation

Every year the ground cover beneath these aspen gain from the nutrients that come from the death of these leaves.

It is out of the death of Christ that we experience life. We have eternal life now because Jesus suffered our death. So we look to the cross as if it were an aspen tree in the fall, seeing beauty in the horror of death that gives us life.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.  

Say What?

Victor, Colorado

I enjoyed my short time in Victor. It is a quirky little, seemly desolate town. You don't seem many people walking the streets or cruising the stores as you do in neighboring Cripple Creek.

This blue elk painted with the Colorado emblem on its back reveals some of the character of this old mining town.

Christians ought to be a little quirky.

We don't need a blue elk to express our world view. We have a cross. It is the symbol of the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ. He is the one who has put a new song in our mouths, like a bull elk bugling.

"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD." Psalm 40:3 English Standard Version

This new song of the Christian community is sung in the presence of those who sing a different tune. The song isn't merely sung in our sanctuaries. It is sung in the world as we live the faith that God has planted in our hearts. Our song stands out like a blue elk in the world.

And by the way, since this blue elk is across from the Victor city hall, it makes me wonder what their meetings are like. Maybe they, too, are a little quirky.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.  

Making Noise

Victor, Colorado

I don't know what a drum has to do with cigars, yet at sometime Baxter's decided it was a good logo for their product: Baxter's 5 cent cigars. I guess it was because it "beats all" as another Baxter sign declared.

I often hear beating drums in my neighborhood. I don't live far from the high school my sons attended. This time of year I often hear the beat of drums coming from that school at football games and practices. When I hear the drums I take notice.

"Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram's horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival!" Psalm 81:1-3 New Living Translation

God calls us to beat the drum of his salvation, or at least the tambourine.

The world notices when the Christian community makes music to the Lord. Martin Luther stated, "Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." It is the greatest treasure of all because among Christians it clearly proclaims the message of Jesus.

The one thing I know about drums is that they are loud. I pray that the you and I loudly proclaim God's love in music.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.  

More Than a Light

Victor, Colorado

Though this tow truck, which has served as the focus of the my latest blogs, is rather old and beat up, this light looks new and ready to be put to work. Without its light this truck is limited to working only in daylight. Turn the key, pull the light switch and this truck is ready to work 24 hours a day.

"Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous." Psalm 112:4 English Standard Version

The light of God's love for us shines in the darkness of our world. His light shines on us. How can we be sure that his light shines on us? Look at how the psalmist describes God.

He is gracious.

He is merciful.

He is righteous.

In his righteousness God cannot undo what he did on the cross for us. In his mercy we view God's heart that is always moved into action for his people. In his grace God gives us the precious gift of life and salvation through Jesus.

God's light shines in our darkness so that we need no longer fear the darkness. This light of God shines 24 hours a day for you and me.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.  

What's Our Business?

Victor, Colorado

Every time the tow truck operator climbs into this old, beat up truck, he or she is reminded of their purpose. They are in the business of picking up broken vehicles.  

Without visual reminders it's easy to lose sight of our purpose.

"May [the king] defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!" Psalm 72:4 English Standard Version

King Solomon of Israel, who is credited with writing this psalm, understood his purpose. In plain language he knew that he was to care for the poor, defend the children of the needy and deal severely with anyone who would oppress a fellow human creature.

Our purpose is clearly laid out in Scripture. We are to love God with all our being and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves.  

How did Solomon live out his purpose? The Bible doesn't tell us a lot about how he defended the poor, delivered the children of the needy or crushed the oppressor.

How are we to live out this love for God and neighbor?  The Bible gives ways that please God, yet each one of us will find ourselves in unique situations where we're called to live out this love of God and neighbor.

What we need is a visual reminder of our business. That visual reminder is the cross of Christ.  His love for his Father and his love for us is a daily reminder of our business.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.  

Hanging In the Shadow

Victor, Colorado

This tow truck looks much like the tow trucks in the children's book, How Many Trucks Can a Tow Truck Tow?, though its paint job isn't as shiny as those in the story. As I walked around this truck and took more pictures I noticed that it was still an operating tow truck. I have a feeling that when it's hauling a car to the shop people take notice.

It's waiting in the shadows until called to duty.

"Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." 2 Timothy 4:2 New Living Translation

Paul writes to his friend and pastor, Timothy, to be ready to act. Though most of us reading this blog are not pastors, Paul's encouragement applies to us. We are to be ready at all times to use our spiritual gifts to declare Jesus Christ crucified and risen.

We are to be ready even when it's inconvenient to share Christ. The weather around Victor can get nasty. Tow truck operators are busiest when it's the most difficult to do their job. So it is with sharing Christ.

When called upon to share Christ we can stay in the shadows and act like we don't know what's happening or we can do what we're tooled to do; share Christ.

The chipped paint and the dents on this tow truck are the result of being used, but if you look close, there's a smile on its face.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2014 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.