A Song for Every Day in The New Year… “You Are Here For Me”

Acadia Mountains across Frenchman’s Bay from Schoodic Point, Maine From rising sun to rising sun The days continually run Your glory rises over the mountains Your splendor sets far out to sea You hold the day between And what You intend for me From rising sun to rising sun The days all run Through theContinue reading “A Song for Every Day in The New Year… “You Are Here For Me””

The Light that broke the darkness…

Sunrise, Sullivan Harbor, Maine What will come with the rising sun? Aggravation or happiness? Dispair or hope? Disaster or blessing? Or even a long desired but barely noted and unexpected miracle? Who could have known? When the sun rose that morning “the light of the world,” the “true light that lighteth everyone” was arriving toContinue reading “The Light that broke the darkness…”

Thanksgiving

The anxiety and folly of trusting fallible men and women have been very evident during our recent election. Our country remains strongly divided over social, moral, and economic values, and mistrust has led to wide spread disappointment and even despair. However, Isaac Watts redirects us to an encouraging truth. He pulls us back to theContinue reading “Thanksgiving”

Mountains Tops

Although they lack the towering, ragged grandeur of the Rockies and the Alps, the mountains of Acadia National Park are impressive and beautiful in a more refined way. There is something satisfying, even elating, about achieving a mountain top after a strenuous climb. On the heights, one enjoys an otherwise unappreciated perspective of distant mountains,Continue reading “Mountains Tops”

Morning Songs of the Heart

Do you ever awaken with your soul singing? Matthew Redman did as he contemplated God’s goodness: “The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning. It’s time to sing your song again” (10,000 Reasons). Perhaps a beautiful dawn was the inspiration for the awaking Psalmist who exclaimed, “This is the day the Lord has made.Continue reading “Morning Songs of the Heart”

Go! Tell It!

John Wesley Work Jr. was an African American educator and musicologist who compiled, “harmonized,” and published a number of slave songs which came to light during the Great Migration of Blacks from the southern states to the north after the civil war. “Go Tell It On the Mountain” dates back at least to 1865 andContinue reading “Go! Tell It!”

Open or Closed?

Beyond the fence in the photo lies a magnificent but obscured view of Frenchman’s bay, its islands, boats, and mountains. That wonder can only be accessed through the now closed gate, and we are not invited in. Jesus used a gate as a metaphor in a rather surprising, even shocking parable about some good butContinue reading “Open or Closed?”

From Disorder to Order

We live in a magnificently beautiful, physical world from which we gather inklings and snippets of something even more grand, but these glimpses quickly fade because something is wrong! We do not live in Eden. We live with imperfections—dead trees, decaying vegetation, fading colors, dark clouds, dangerous mountain passes, rocky shores, raging waters, and tragicContinue reading “From Disorder to Order”

Why should I Rejoice and be Glad in this Day?

One day the Psalmist awoke feeling good! With gratitude in his heart and a song on his lips, he lifted his voice in praise: “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) That may not have been the attitude of the lobsterman who ownedContinue reading “Why should I Rejoice and be Glad in this Day?”

The Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earthFor the beauty of the skiesFor the love which from our birthOver and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raiseThis our joyful hymn of praise For the beauty of each hourOf the day and of the nightHill and vale and tree and flowerSun and moon and starsContinue reading “The Beauty of the Earth”