Never Alone

Newport, Oregon

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Death is a terrible intrusion into our lives. It leaves us only with memories and pictures.

This photograph is of an altar in the sailors memorial chapel in Newport at the Yaquina Bay State Park. Also located in this park is the Yaquina Bay lighthouse. There's access to a long stretch of beach from this park, yet this was the first time that I stepped inside the open air chapel.

I was surprised to see the pictures of people whose lives were lost at sea sitting on the altar. Along with these pictures are poems and letters expressing love for those who died.

There were numerous people in the park when I took this picture. One man asked me for a handout, others were walking up the steps to the lighthouse and others descending to the beach. I was the only person in the chapel.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39 English Standard Version

Each one of us could place a picture, poem or letter on this altar. We've lost someone whom we love. Though death might separate us from our loved ones, death cannot separate our loved ones from God.

Does that always seem fair? No, probably not. We wish that our parent, spouse or child were still with us. The pain might still be fresh, but it is a comfort to know that even when death separates us this side of the grave it doesn't have the power to separate us from God.

We are never alone.

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR. 

More Than a Beautiful Structure

Heceta Lighthouse, Oregon

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Okay, so you're probably getting tired of lighthouses: Yaquina Head, Yaquina Bay, Cape Meares and now Heceta Head (Pronounced ha-see'-ta).  I'm not intimidated. This will not be the last blog to include a lighthouse.  There are plenty more pics riding the ridges of my hard drive (old vinyl talk), but at least I thought I'd give you a different perspective of one of them today.

The Heceta Head Lighthouse is the most photographed lighthouse on the Oregon Coast.  If you pull off Highway 101 just south of Heceta Head close to the Sea Lion Caves you will understand why this lighthouse is frequently captured in pixels.

If the lighthouse is so photogenic then why this pic? It hardly shows anything of the lighthouse.

We ought not forget why this lighthouse exists. It was a calm day when this picture was taken but imagine six to eight feet swells filling this fissure. The power is amazing, the sound deafening.  A wave would have no problem sweeping you off the rocks if you put yourself in harms way. One of my high school classmates lost her brother because of such a wave.

The lighthouse is there to save lives.

"He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145:19 English Standard Version

That is why the Church exists. Now granted, we don't do the saving, that's the work of the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit uses the Church, the baptized, the fumbling, mumbling community of saints to bring people into the presence of the Holy God.

Let's not forget why God "calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth," to quote Luther. His desire is that we be his life giving presence in the rocky terrain of life.

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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes podcast on iTunes on the 1st and 15th of each month, as well as at SoundCloud.com by searching for "Praying With The Eyes."  

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR. 

Now This Is a Lighthouse!

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport, Oregon

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If you followed my link on Facebook to today's blog you're probably disappointed. You might have remembered the Yaquina Head lighthouse from an earlier blog which is much more majestic than this one.

If you've traveled the Oregon coast you might have thought today's blog concerned the most photographed lighthouse on the coast, namely, the Heceta Head lighthouse north of Florence.

Not! This IS a lighthouse...literally. It is also the only existing Oregon lighthouse built on top the lighthouse keepers living quarters.

Built in 1871 (quite possibly the oldest structure in Newport, Oregon) it only served Yaquina Bay for three years as it was decommissioned in 1874. Interestingly, the lighthouse was recommissioned in 1996 and burns with a steady light from dusk to dawn.

God intends that his light shine from our homes.

"Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind." Isaiah 58:7 New Living Translation

So often it seems that we travel to the lighthouse to let our light shine then return home where Christ's light appears to be placed under a basket.

God calls us to let our light shine where we reside because where we reside is where we have been redeemed, and where we have been redeemed is where God uses us to draw people to himself.

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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes podcast on iTunes on the 1st and 15th of each month, as well as at SoundCloud.com by searching for "Praying With The Eyes."  

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR. 

Ain't She a Beauty?

Cape Meares Lighthouse, Oregon

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The Cape Meares Lighthouse hosts a first order Fresnel (pronounced Fraynel) lens made in Paris, France. It arrived at the Oregon coast by way of Cape Horn.  This lens traveled over 200 feet up a rocky cliff on a ramp made of local timbers and reflected the light of an oil lamp for the first time on January 1, 1890.

The lens is made of eight panels, of which four are bull's-eye panels. These panels gave the Cape Meares Lighthouse its unique signature.

As beautiful as this lens is and as functional as it might seem over 200 feet above the ocean, it has been replace by a nondescript 57,000 candle power lamp that stands only fifteen feet higher but shines further out into the Pacific.

The sobering news for each one of us is that we are replaceable.

Or are we?

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13 New Living Translation

There are two realities for Christians. First of all we can be replaced. We are not indispensable. Someone else will take our job. Someone else will live in our home.

Secondly, and contrary to the first, there is no one like us. There is no one who can take our place now and for eternity. It is our uniqueness in Christ that we celebrate.

Inevitably we will be replaced in certain areas of our lives this side of the grave but we will never be replaced in the heart of God.

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You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes podcast on iTunes on the 1st and 15th of each month, as well as at SoundCloud.com by searching for "Praying With The Eyes."  

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR. 

Your Light Shines

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, OR

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How far does your light shine?

"[Jesus said] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 English Standard Version

The Yaquina Head lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast at 93 feet. Built at the end of Yaquina Head, the lighthouse is 162 feet above the Pacific Ocean. That height allows her light to shine nineteen miles from shore.

Your light shines farther than you think. Because of Christ's death and resurrection, you are his light in the world. And your light shines. This is not a plea to let your light shine, because it does. The question is how far does your light shine?  

Only God  knows the answer to that question. However, I believe there are people whom you don't know who've been touched by the light of Christ shining through you.

The light that shines far out into the darkness also has its own signature.

A lighthouse is identified by its signature beacon. The Yaquina Head lighthouse signature beacon is two seconds off, two seconds on followed by fourteen seconds off. Sailors know where they are when they recognize this signature.

You have a unique signature that shines God's love into the darkness of the world. No one shines God's light just like you, and it's this light that helps lead people to the harbor of God's love.

Join the conversation on our Facebook group: Praying With the Eyes

You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes podcast on iTunes on the 1st and 15th of each month, as well as at SoundCloud.com by searching for "Praying With The Eyes."  

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR. 

"You Smell Like..."

Portland's Rose Gardens, Portland, OR

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In 1905 Portland lined its streets with 20 miles of roses in honor of  Lewis and Clark's Centennial celebration. Thus Portland earned the name, "City of Roses."  

A test garden for roses was then established in 1917, the oldest continuously running test garden in the United States. You haven't visited Portland unless you've made a trip to the gardens.

And you haven't visited the gardens unless you have stuck your nose in every variety of rose.

Some roses are developed primarily for their color, others for their fragrance. Those developed for their scent are the ones I appreciate most.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It's like a fragrance that fills the air." 2 Corinthians 2:14 God's Word to the Nations

Every room we enter, every street we walk, ever personal encounter, we are the fragrance of Christ. His passion for humanity, his love for all is "smelled" through us today.

What will people smell when they bump into your life today?

Side note: If you visit Portland, and want to see the Rose Gardens the best time of year is June.

Join the conversation on our Facebook group: Praying With the Eyes

You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes podcast on iTunes on the 1st and 15th of each month, as well as at SoundCloud.com by searching for "Praying With The Eyes."  

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Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR. 

Where Are We Going?

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado

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"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." Psalm 43:3 New International Version

There are fifteen miles of trails to explore in the Garden of the Gods, and some of you reading this blog have covered everyone of them.

Some trails are accessible to everyone, and others that are not. Some are on the east side of the park and others on the west. There are trails that pass by the base of these rock formations, and others that put the hiker at a distance from their splendor.

These trails guide the visitor through the majesty of the park.

God's light leads us to that place where he dwells. We may come from different parts of the world with different gifts, passions, abilities, personalities and experiences, yet it is the one light of God that leads us to him.

That light is Jesus Christ.

We do a great deal of wandering in life. And sometimes the wandering is far from God's path. We travel a path where happiness is our ultimate goal. People, institutions, and religions are used to make us happy.Yet, the pursuit of happiness is often the journey to nowhere.

Even when we wander, the light of Christ's love leads us back to the place where we find life, and that place is where God dwells.

Join the conversation on our Facebook group: Praying With the Eyes

You can listen to the Praying With the Eyes podcast on iTunes on the 1st and 15th of each month, as well as at SoundCloud.com by searching for "Praying With The Eyes."  

(Click on picture to enlarge.)

Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012-2015 Douglas P. Brauner.  ARR.