Small things...

Mother Teresa said, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love."

I think about the heart to which Jesus gave Himself, and it was to the small things not the great things. He said "Consider the lilies..." "The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed..." "If you look upon another woman..." "blessed are the meek..." "Someone touched me..." etc. These are little things that make up the whole thing.

It is the little things that make a difference. A note saying thank you, not a banner; a single red rose is more romantic than a dozen roses; "I love you" is better said in intimacy than a diatribe on why I love you; remembering, not knowing; a smile and a kind word to the cinema ticket agent; a clean window; a cup of tea; a quiet walk; an oboe;...

It is a new litany that expresses the heart not repeating tradition for tradition's sake; speaking the quiet truth of God in worship, not using the Lord's name in vain; telling a story that will be passed on to the next generation, not another book on how to be a better man or woman of God; hearing a Word from The Voice, than all of the spam from christian booksellers, event organizers, TV evangelist, bumperstinkers, etc.

We are a vapor, here for a season, to connect the dots of believers who pass on the Truth of the Love of the Obedient One who came that we might have life, an abundant life of "small things with great love."

This gives me a peaceful, easy feeling...

Not since 1979 has the Eagles come out with a new album with new materials. Yes, they wrote Hole in the World in 2003 but it was only a single release.

I think these guys have gotten better as they aged and quit doing drugs and alcohol. Now it seems the music is central.

Some of the greats are still great and still have a few years left in them. The number is dwindling...

Cos, I would see these guys in a large venue!

The hills are alive...

The forest around Calvin Crest is getting logged and brushed out which will make it healthy again and not a timberbox. As the picture above shows the forest is overgrown and not very healthy. Some were saying that it won't look the same, but it will look healthy, which is better. We are seeing some change already in some of the areas where the responsible logging is taking place. It feels like there is more air in the forest which will bring more wildlife and less wildfires. I will do a compare photograph when they get to that area. It is a two year endeavor.

Popi Update...

photo by Natasha Biaselli

“On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies’ straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping God may wake someday and take offense, or the waking God may draw us out to where we can never return.” -Annie Dillard in Teaching a Stone to Talk

Gee...

I make a lot of assumptions out of hurt, fear, insecurity, and ignorance.

I am near Atlanta...

...without a car. And I am getting email, comments, and other forms of communication telling me of some of the best places to go in Atlanta and I am just far enough out of town so that I cannot get into town and it is driving me nuts. I can smell the BBQ, the mint julep... Pray, please pray...

Blogcasting from Atlanta...

I am at the Presbyterian Church Camps and Conferences (PCCCA) Gathering in Atlanta, GA.

There are some people, that I didn't know before this, who are asking the same questions that I have been. We connect quickly in the seminars that we attend. Some of us are on the same track and give opinions and ask questions that bring out a perspective that is more Kingdom oriented than denominational bound. However, there is a real push by the denom to be relevant to us. They are not asking as many questions as they should but at least they are showing up.

I am enjoying the time and temperature here in, what some people call, Hotlanta. People are friendly and hospitable and the sweet tea is destroying my diet...

Popi Update...

I love living in this community where they have Tarantula Festivals, Chocolate Festivals, Chukchansi Pow wows, Peddlers Fair, School Carnivals, Mountaineer Days Parade, Honorary Mayor (who is elected by raising the most money for a local charity), Art Tours, Car Shows in the park, and many more.

Above is an article on the Tarantula Festival, which received front page, above the fold placement in the Sierra Star Newspaper. And then there is the newspaper, which I must tell you about soon.

Oh, gee, by the way, umm, did I forget to mention that that is Jack and Ben in the Dalmatian costumes.