OH, WHAT A VOICE!

Posted on April 8, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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Young voices seem to excel on the playground, when having a tantrum, in church and in countless other ways. However, put them in front of an audience and that giant vocal cavity seems to close up instantly. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, confidence is necessary to produce good vocal communication skills. Theatre is great for doing that, because we have a captive audience and the crowd is listening with ears wide open.

Can you imagine what it was like to be in the audience of Jesus, Christ? His voice is said to have been filled with compassion, love, peacefulness, power and I imagine volume. He could speak for hours to hungry crowds – who not only longed for food, but for encouragement in times of great poverty and political corruption. He had audiences of at least five thousand at times and that’s not including women and children. He often would escape to the middle of a lake and still be able to capture the attention of those almost a mile away from His voice.

Oh to have a voice with such power – such love – such influence. He stated once that He is the Good Shepherd and that the sheep of His flock hear his voice – they recognize it – they react to it. Even when the man, Jesus, hung helplessly on a cross, His words were recorded for history to remember. He spoke to a dying thief and assured him of paradise. He put the care of His mother in the hands of one of His disciples. He begged His Father to forgive His enemies. He showed His humanity by stating that He was thirsty. He spoke of feeling completely abandoned by His heavenly Father. He strongly declared that His mission on earth was accomplished and He commended Himself into the hands of His Father.
Jesus was like no other man. His voice is greater than any other human being. Even in the softness of words of comfort, He can be heard by those who believe in Him as their Savior.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“My Father’s house above
Has many mansions; I’ve a place
Prepared for you in love.”
I trust in Jesus—in that house,
According to His word,
Redeemed by grace, my soul shall live
Forever with the Lord.
“I Heard The Voice of Jesus Say,” Horatius Bonar

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THE EMPTY CHURCH

Posted on April 8, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

467198_2001857703148_244069897_o (2)Three generations of our family eight years ago.  Taken at the front of our church in Minneapolis.

The thought of not celebrating Easter in church is almost impossible for me to imagine, but this year will be a first for all of us.  The church we used to attend would adorn the altar area with potted, spring flowers, ferns and a statue of the risen Savior.  It made the perfect backdrop for family photographs such as the one above.  My daughter is now a blond.  My granddaughter is now a Junior in high school and I’m a retired drama teacher, living the dream.

We’ve changed during those eight years.  We still possess the ability to smile.  We still go to church together.  We still love each other dearly, but even the life of my teenaged granddaughter is so different than what I experienced growing up.

This particular Easter, eggs will be painted and hunted for but not beyond the confines of our own backyards..  There will be chocolate bunnies and peeps.  There will be jelly beans galore.  There will be special dinners, but there will be no church – at least not as we knew it.  We can still tune into the internet and observe from afar.  We’ll be able to play inspirational music and FaceTime or Zoom each other, but it won’t be the same.  Someone suggested that we all sing Amazing Grace in our limited space outside at the same time of 10 AM.  Those voices would not only be a way to thank God for life everlasting, but to fill our hearts with even more joy.

The thought of an empty church on Easter is unthinkable, but it will happen this year.  While feeling bad about that, I couldn’t help being reminded of the first Easter.  That Sunday morning when Mary went to anoint the body of her Savior and was met with the unthinkable.  The stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty.  EMPTY!  Jesus no longer was held captive to the grave.  He’d risen indeed!

Our churches may be empty this Easter, but so was the tomb which held Jesus’ bruised and smitten body since Good Friday.  The unbelievable had happened.

Dear, Lord, Jesus,

As we come to the end of the Lenten season, fill our hearts with excitement.  You alone are the reason for this precious season of Easter.  Your passion for us was immeasurable.  Your sacrifice so great that it’s impossible for us to comprehend.  Our places of worship have been closed, because of this pandemic, yet our hearts are full and ready to praise you for what you’ve done.  Help us to make this an Easter to remember – one that mimics the first one.  The church is empty, but so was your tomb.  You overcame death and with that we have the assurance of eternal life.  Amen!

 

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SPRING IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

Posted on April 7, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

A few years ago, Paul and a few other men observed the nest of a pair of osprey. The birds busied themselves with refreshing the nest before the eggs were laid, oblivious to the watching eyes below.  When the baby birds hatched it was an exciting sight indeed.  All the men chronicled the events in various ways.  Paul of course, did so with his paintbrush. 

The winter blahs have gone away, but still we remain inside,

Though cabin fever seems our sway, new life will emerge outside,

Baby birds will peck through their shells, while opening their beaks,

As mom and dad search endlessly for food to fill little cheeks.

 

A mother bear wakes up again, from winter’s eternal rest,

Two baby cubs will follow her as she gives them their first test,

She turns a lifeless log aside, revealing a luscious treat,

They fill their bellies to the max, not one more bug can they eat.

 

The swamp becomes an orchestra, filled with loud and croaking sounds,

The buds burst forth in freshest greens, a wealth of beauty abounds,

New life emerges everywhere, the air is cleaner it seems,

The symphony from countless birds, creates such wonderful dreams.

 

Though we may be cocooned right now, our fears have forced a retreat,

We still have this glorious season, to mature, to live and entreat,

The One who made the sun to shine, who caused the seas to divide,

The One who shielded us from harm, and held us close to His side.

 

When we live to help each other, when we kindle fires of love,

We’ll emerge from our distanced space, with the freedom of a dove,

We’ll soar to heights ne’er seen before, on eagles wings we will soar,

For God has freed us from the grave, to heaven opened the door.

 

 

 

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MASKS

Posted on April 7, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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Masks can be used to hide our own personality and project an entirely different one.  Those are the imaginary masks we use to create a character in acting. Artificial masks can be purchased for just about any occasion.  Masks have been used down through history to hide, to recreate, to reenact, to entertain and to frighten.

When I was twenty one, I was in the planning stages of my wedding.  I was just beginning a new adventure in life. I’d be loosening the apron strings of my youth and forging ahead to a freedom I’d never known.  I wash working as a cashier for a loan company. Large sums of cash were not usually on hand as things were generally handled by check.

That didn’t deter the two armed thieves that entered our office that dreary, grey afternoon. They both wore ski masks and brandished firearms, demanding that I open the cash drawer and give them all the money.

In that brief moment, my life flashed before me. It was like watching a re-run of my short existence being played in slow motion. I struggled to open the cash drawer, but for some reason, the key wasn’t working. One of the men grabbed it from me and told me to lay down on the floor with the other two women in the office.

It was a terrifying experience, but it didn’t end there.  I was called on to view a lineup at the police station.  Of course, identifying masked men, was impossible. Obviously, by the grace of God, I was spared and lived to share this story with you.

We’re all used to seeing masks on doctors, nurses and other health care providers.  Thieves are usually masked and even some heroic super heroes wear them.  Zorro, Batman, The Lone Ranger, Cat Woman, etc.  I never understood why the Chinese were often pictured wearing masks as they came and went about their daily business.  I now realize the environment they live in requires it.  I never dreamed we would follow suit some day.

Today there is a need to cover up, not only for our own protection, but for those we come in contact with, because of this pandemic. We’re masking ourselves to fight an invisible enemy which is causing the death of many.

Death seems to be at our doorstep.  It will come to all of us in one way or another.  Eventually the “grim reaper” will visit and our bodies will return to dust.  If there is one thing we can learn from this epic event, I pray that we will realize the necessity we have for human interaction.  We’re not meant to be alone.  When the masks come off and the pandemic ends, let’s rejoice together that we endured it.  Let’s thank God for getting us through it.  Let’s never forget.  Let’s use the lessons we’ve learned for the benefit of each other.

 

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A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Posted on April 6, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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Well, here we are going into the fourth week of isolation. I still make a trip to the grocery store once a week.  I’ve given up using gloves, because they make my hands sweat profusely and eventually fall off anyway.  I tried to wear a bandana over my face, as per the latest suggestion.  It too caused me to sweat and slipped down to my chin almost instantly.  There’s something that psychologically plays tricks on the mind and body of an elderly woman.  Hormones make us heat up like a frog on a hot skillet.  I’ve grown accustomed to that change.

Still in venturing out, I feel almost like I’m committing a crime.  There are other ways to get my groceries, I suppose, but I still like to see what I’m buying before I pay out any of my Social Security income.

Yesterday we ventured out for a drive.  It appeared that many others were doing the same thing.  The further into the country we got, the more traffic there was.  Gas prices have dropped, but we haven’t had to fill the tank in over a month.

The only thing I’m sad about is not being able to physically be with family, friends and those I work and pray with.  I enjoy hugs.  I love being able to look in a person’s eyes and communicate one on one.  Technology has its benefits, but there’s nothing like the personal touch.

I’m sure many families are feeling overwhelmed by the closeness of family right now.  Sharing work spaces, togetherness to the max, sleeping too long and spending even more time in front of a computer.  It reminds me of some of the family vacations we took in our van.  Close quarters for hundreds of miles, singing camp songs, making disgusting sounds and well – too much us.  However all that together time is something our children will remember for a lifetime.

Yesterday, being Palm Sunday and not singing “Hosanna in the Highest,” was difficult.  Having just the memory of children marching into church waving palm branches wasn’t the same.  This week is Holy Week on the Christian calendar and it’s like no other Holy Week we’ve ever observed.  We’ve spent most of the Lenten season in the wilderness.  It’s been a time to contemplate, to re-evaluate our lives – repent and ask forgiveness from our God and focus on the  Savior of the world.  That’s a good thing.

I heard someone suggest that on Easter Sunday at 10AM, we should all step outside, stay on our front lawns or porches and sing “Amazing Grace,” at the top of our lungs.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that went viral and hearts were changed because of it.  We may be cloistered now, but when this is over, I pray that life as we knew it will change for the better.

 

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NO TABLE LEFT UNTURNED

Posted on April 6, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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The Sabbath day before had been a day of excitement and glory for Jesus. He was hailed, the King of the Jews.  Though honored as a king, Jesus entered the city in humility on the back of a donkey.  On Saturday, they were laying palm branches at His feet and praising Him with loud songs of Hosanna to the King.  The next day things started to change.  As He entered the temple, a new side of this normally quiet, gentle and peaceful man erupted.

There were thousands of citizens present that day, along with many from outlying areas of the city to celebrate the Passover – the time of remembrance of the Jewish deliverance from their oppressors in Egypt. Every year pilgrims would make the journey to the Holy City to make their sacrifices. The streets were lined with animals, money changers and vendors. It had become a time not only of sacrifice, but one in which to make huge profits.  Jesus had seen this the last time He was in Jerusalem.

Merchants of all kinds were within the temple gates – those who sold animals and birds – food vendors – and purveyors of memories for the people to take home with them. When Jesus saw it, He became enraged. The holy house of God was no longer a place to worship, but a huge market place. His face became reddened with anger as He began to turn over the tables. He said to them,

“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

His anger turned into rage as he dismantled every evil activity from the place. God is definitely a jealous God. He wants our full attention and Jesus was showing those folks that what they were doing was nothing short of idolatry.  The leaders of the church weren’t happy about this either, since they would receive a percentage of what the merchants made.

Jesus displayed His anger to show the power of God – to show His humanity – to show His disappointment – to cleanse the temple of all wrongdoing. By so doing, He was opening Himself up for all kinds of questions. Many asked who this man was. What authority did He have to do such a thing? He even referred to His Father as God.

He awoke the next day and was hungry. Yes, the Son of the most high hungered. He was not only God, but God in human flesh – with the same nature of man, but without sin.
He approached a fig tree to gather some fruit for His breakfast, but there was none.  He then cursed the tree and it withered before their eyes. The disciples wondered how this could be and Jesus informed them that even they would be able to move mountains with prayer and faith.

The next few days, the Sanhedrin would be a busy place. The power behind the Jewish religion would now begin plans on how to get rid of this heretic.  To them Jesus had become a threat to the church and its teachings and He needed to be done away with.

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HOME BOUND

Posted on April 6, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

It seems like an eternity since freedom has been stilled,

When those who drove to work each day, and had their pockets filled,

Though time surrenders to the will of germs from far away,

We listen to the instructions, and in our homes we stay.

 

When will this torment end, we ask, when will our lives return,

We’re longing to hug each other and wanderlust does burn,

It’s only been three weeks, you say, it seems so much longer,

But character and patience grow making us much stronger.

 

We’re not alone though it may seem, our walls are closing in,

Our eyes are being tested now, the screen time just might win,

But if we use the time we have to nurture and to love,

Our God will be right at our side, with blessings from above.

 

 

 

 

 

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AN EXTENDED WILDERNESS?

Posted on April 5, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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February 26, 2020 was the beginning of our walk through Lent – a trail that would traverse over a mountainous wasteland – a time to re-evaluate our lives and focus on what God has so richly blessed us with.  His own Son, Jesus, spent those first days of His ministry, walking through a barren land.  He fasted and spent time in quiet contemplation, communing only with His Father and the enemy He’d come to defeat.

He was tempted by Satan. That crafty father of lies, used God’s own scriptures to try and cause Jesus to stumble, but the Son of God fired back with His own scriptural responses.

Many years prior, Moses led the Children of Israel across the Sinai desert in search of a promised land of milk and honey – a land that they could call their own and allow them to be free at last.

Most times spent in the wilderness are reserved for testing, sharpening, shaping, redesigning and redirecting.  We’re experiencing a sort of wilderness right now and it isn’t restricted by a desert.  This world we live in is infested with a virus that has no cure. It has no boundaries.  It plays no favorites.  It is a deadly disease that has forced us into isolation.

Back on Ash Wednesday, COVD19 was localized to one area of the world.  During the entire season of Lent, it has become worldwide.  Did God bring this to the world to punish us?  Is it a wakeup call for us to return to Him?  I don’t believe so.  God doesn’t work that way.  He will use this situation for good even though we can’t begin to imagine how that can be.  What good could possibly come from this?

It’s already begun.  Families are communicating with each other in a whole different way.  We’re using the tools available to us now to “meet,” check up on each other, order food and supplies, do business, work from home and so many other ways.  Our children are using technology to learn and us elderly are finding out why the internet is so useful.

We’ve been reminded how important we are to each other.  We’re not taking anything for granted like we used to.  We’re using our minds to come up with solutions.  We’re putting others first.  We’re beginning to make the most of every moment we have.

We will come out of the wilderness some day – hopefully sooner than we expect.  In the meantime, we can rest assured that God is in charge.  He will give us the means, the wherewithal, the gumption and spirit to survive.  He already did, in fact.

Today as we think about Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, let’s remember the love of God and the perfect lamb who went uncomplaining to His death for our benefit.  The wilderness will soon come to an end and paradise awaits.

HOSANNA TO THE KING OF KINGS!

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BEHOLD, A KING COMETH

Posted on April 5, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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WOOD SCULPTURE & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

You are my Lord and King. Without you I am lost.
My praise to you I bring, for paying the great cost.
You died upon the cross to save a wretch like me.
You suffered pain and loss upon that dreadful tree.

You gave your life for me, and others who believe.
You died to set me free. Your truth I’ll never leave.
Help me to mirror you, to walk within your light;
To share all that you do – your power and your might.

You’ve given me your Word – a manual for my life.
With it I now have heard the answers for my strife.
Prepare my heart for you. Let me your servant be.
May everything I do reflect your love for me.

 

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COME ON SPRING!

Posted on April 4, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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Wind spirits itself through the trees, while a few white flakes fall delicately, whimsically, often laughing at us as they pass by our windows.

Dormant tulips had already pushed their little heads through lifeless soil.

What once was blanketed in white is now smothered in new life.

Green grass burrows through some late falling leaves.

Buds are ready to pop as their freshness reaches for the sun.

Dew glistens on the skeletal branches which will soon flourish,

Spring is in the air,

Birds have found their way back,

Squirrels actively search for food from their winter stockpile,

Wondering where they placed it.

The sun takes on a stronger heat, warming the land,

Preparing it for the months to come.

Spring!

 

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ZOOM!

Posted on April 4, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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Here’s the story …..

The Brady Bunch aired on TV from 1969 to 1974, just about the same time my children were in their growing up years.  The reality TV situation comedies had not yet hit the airwaves.  The Brady’s were the perfect family – the next step up from Father Knows Best.  The mother stayed at home while dad went off to corporate scene dressed in a suit and tie. They had a maid to take care of the important things, like cleaning, doing the laundry and cooking.  The children were often at each others’ throats, but Alice would often take charge there too.  Mrs. Brady did some domestic things, like put away the towels, but I think her job was really just to be cute.

Yesterday was my son’s 52nd birthday.  We celebrated together with him, his girl friend, other two children, their spouses and our three grandchildren.  On most birthdays we have gotten together and been able to hug and to physically be in the presence of one another.  Yesterday we all gathered around our phones and computers to sing happy birthday, via Zoom.  This new app is allowing families to “get together” even though we’ve been placed in isolation.  We were isolated in little boxes on the screen, kind of like the Bradys.   We laughed, shared how we were doing and laughed some more, but the physical part of being together is something that can’t be digitized – at least not yet.  Maybe in another 50 years.

Times change, but who would’ve thought we’d be forced into isolation for our own good? Today we’re experiencing a new kind of loneliness as part of the senior community.  Those who normally work from home are feeling even more trapped, while those with children at home are almost overloaded with family time?

I have no idea where we’ll be in the next few weeks, months or longer.  I’m confident that God has a plan.  Man will continue to search for answers.  Vaccines will become available.  Families will grow closer.  Time and space will divide us for a while, but the unknown is still in the hands of our Creator.  He can take a time of chaos and turn it into something beautiful.  He can plant the seeds of knowledge in the minds of scientists to find a cure.  He will bring good out of what seems an impossible situation.  His plans are unknown to us, but we can be confident that they’re always for good.

Someday this pandemic will come to an end.  I pray that we will have learned to love one another again – to appreciate how important we are to each other – to try an employ some of the lessons we’re learning for the good of community and the world.

We will never see families like the Brady Bunch again.  They were a stereotypical family of the time.  The families of 2020 will be remembered as bonded, strong, caring, helpful, loving and serving.  We will also be known as the Together Generation, because God will use this disaster to unite once more.

 

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WHAT TO DO DURING A PANDEMIC

Posted on April 3, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

This time of isolation has opened up my kitchen to all sorts of new things – like actual meals made from scratch.  I started posting these delicacies on Facebook and my sister tells me I should open a restaurant once this is over with.  Another person asked if I offered curbside service.  I found it interesting that the spaghetti and meatballs won first place in Likes.  That one was created by my husband.  He’s such a show off.

There is one problem with all this.  I’m certain to gain back all 23 pounds I lost at the end of last year.  It seems so long ago, doesn’t it?  I mean, we’re only in the beginning months of 2020 and it seems an eternity.  I consider myself a homebody, but this is getting ridiculous.  I can’t imagine what it will be like in a couple months.

I’m growing my own fingernails.  My hair is also growing.  The stuff on top of my head as well as my chin.

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I have been staying up later at night watching old “Murder She Wrote,” episodes and sleeping longer in the morning.  I used to rise with the sun, but now the sun is rising much sooner.

I don’t have to really worry about getting dressed or putting on makeup.  I seem to have a weird looking stare upon my face these days.

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This week I began teaching some drama classes online to K-5th graders.  For that I do need to put on a better face, but I still can wear sweat pants.  Don’t want to scare those little ones off.

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Some of our meals turn out to be failures.

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But the preparation is quite creative.

We try to eat healthy, but the way it looks, we could both have heart attacks before this is all over.

And so it’s back into the fray.  Today I’m going to tackle some deep cleaning.  It’s raining outside and the perfect excuse to get something productive done.  Nah!  Maybe tomorrow.

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PUTTING PLANS INTO ACTION

Posted on April 3, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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Up until that time, Jesus was nothing more than a nuisance to the rulers of the Sanhedrin, but once this so called blasphemer had raised Lazarus from the grave, He became much more.  Now He was a definite threat to all those in control of the church.

Caiphas was the acting high priest of Judaea. His father in law held the title from the time of Quirinius, when the Romans took over rule of the Jews. The Jews venerated their priests. Things were rapidly changing from a political standpoint. The Pharisees and Sadducees were still allowed to worship as they wished, but now there was this new fellow who was stirring things up among the people.

The council was convinced that the people were beginning to believe in Jesus. They felt if Jesus were allowed to continue, the Romans would come and take away their place and nation.

Caiphas replied, “You know nothing at all, nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He didn’t say those words of his own accord, but by doing so, he actually prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and also to gather the children of God together who had been scattered abroad.

Caiphas was the chief interrogator at Jesus “trial” which was nothing more than an opportunity for them to gather false evidence which would give the government the means to execute Jesus. During the trial, Jesus remained silent until asked by Caiphas if He was the Christ – the Messiah promised by God. Jesus calmly affirmed that He indeed was. With those words, Caiphas declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy and had him beaten.

Are there times when we doubt that Jesus is true God? Do we consider Him just a man with no power to save Himself in this time of great sorrow? Jesus proved His divinity throughout His entire life and even into His death and resurrection. He indeed is true God and true man – a concept that is one that requires faith to believe and even our faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. We can’t possibly reason any of this out with our intellect. When we try to figure it out, we’re lost.

SIMPLY BELIEVE!

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

Posted on April 3, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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THINK WE CAN ALL USE SOME SNUGGLES RIGHT ABOUT NOW!

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ONCE UPON A TIME – PART TWO

Posted on April 2, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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There once was a place that flourished with great bounty.  Fields of wheat blew softly in the wind as corn pushed its way through the fertile soil. There were those who lived in poverty, not by choice.  The division in the two classes of rich and poor was wide and those in the middle remained stagnant.  They worked hard to achieve wealth.  They spent money like they had it. They lived out of their means, but for a time they were happy.

Their leader was different than any they had before.  He was controversial.  He said things that made no sense to the legislators or representatives, but he wasn’t like them at all.  He made his fortune in the world of business.  He wasn’t a king or a dictator. He was a man who worked his way up the ladder of success and knew how to delegate jobs to those who knew what they were doing.  He had an air of arrogance about him, but he was also confident.  Sometimes confidence comes off as arrogance, so his attempts at running the country seemed narcissistic to many. They didn’t like this new way of running things.  They didn’t like being judged for their own political influence.  They didn’t like being reminded what they had become.

The leader began his job by fulfilling many of the claims he made during his time before being chosen to rule.  From the beginning of his tenure, he was criticized, made fun of, harassed by those who thought he wasn’t fit for the job. He was investigated, interrogated, attacked, bullied and eventually put on trial.  During the entire time, he continued to run the country.  He slept little, but maintained his energy.  He fought back with words equally critical as those who accused him of wrong doing.   This behavior was also considered unseemly for his position.

Then everything came to a halt.  A little germ created chaos all over the world.  People were told to stay in their homes until this virus was conquered.  Not since 1918 had a disease of such magnitude covered the world.  People were confined to their homes.  They had to resort to things like educating their children, being creative, finding outlets for their energy.  They turned to reading some of the books that had collected dust on the shelves.  They even opened their Bibles.  Many thought that was a waste of valuable time, but many had not laid their eyes on those words before.

During the time of the current pandemic, weeks of waiting turned into months and at last the pandemic came to an end.  People were finally allowed to leave their homes and get back to their workplaces.  Schools reopened and kids were actually excited to be back in the classroom.  Restaurants, concerts, theatre performances, art galleries and sporting events were again available to them.  They could hug again. They could work again.  They could live again. It all went back to normal, or did it?

Is that the end of the story?

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UNDER TONES

Posted on April 2, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A swampy mass of algae filled water,
Crusted with swarming gnats and flies,
Deemed a place to avoid,
Yet within the muck and slime,
A plethora of lily pads abounds,
Reaching the sky with enchanting, elegant blooms,
Even as we walk the perils of earth,
Through danger, evil and the pull of sin,
God looks at us and finds beauty,
Our ugliness has been shrouded by a greater love,
The blackness of our souls has been purged,
We are restored,
Made new,
Through His power,
Through His cleansing,
Through His Son.

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THE PLOT THICKENS

Posted on April 2, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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The plot was well underway from the day they left Bethany until they reached Jerusalem. Mary heard murmurings of it within the crowds. Some thought Jesus was the Messiah, but there were those who couldn’t believe it. This was just another prophet to them. Yes, He performed some pretty spectacular miracles – He walked on water – He changed water into wine – He even fed the crowds with a mere pittance of food, but this man was claiming to be the Son of God. That was too much to comprehend.

Word spread, dissention mounted and by the time news got to the Sanhedrin, the high priest and others had already determined that this man had to be stopped. Now all they needed was a reason to have Jesus put to death. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Caiaphas, the high priest declared, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

Jesus would be the scapegoat.

Mary watched as Judas began to weaken in his faithfulness to her Son. She knew there was something different about this man. She had the feeling that he was more concerned with the money they collected than anything else. Would Judas be the one to sell her Son out? Would this end before the work was finished? Time would prove her right. All the pieces of God’s mysterious puzzle for our redemption, were being set into place.

It wouldn’t be long before these questions would be answered.  The plot was coming to its final climax.  As it unfolded, the prophesies of old were also coming to pass.  It was all part of a greater story – one that shows us that God is in control of everything in our lives.  He has already planned it all out.

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LIGHTS & DARKS

Posted on April 1, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

The sky glows with brightest reds tonight.
They soon will dissipate – clear out of sight.
The brilliant colors once shone brightly
Are now replaced with dark unsightly.
A black intensely hovers over and
Dips into oblivion ever.
Blessed peace has flown away,
Erased by nights lone dismal grey.
It crushes mind and faith and spirit.
It covers all the sins that fear it.
Just when it seems that all is lost
A new day dawns amidst the frost.
The crystal glow, the diamond cloak
Spreads over fields of pine and oak.
The sun begins to kiss the earth
With love it gives new life and birth.
The Son has risen now to save –
To move us from death’s ugly grave.
With love He’s given life to me.
A life of light to set me free.
KATHY BOECHER

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JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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I may be getting ahead of myself with Joseph of Arimathea, but I think he began to follow Jesus before the crucifixion took place.  He was a well respected member of the community, wealthy beyond most standards and a leader in the Sanhedrin. A native of Arimathea, he now called home Jerusalem. He undoubtedly knew that his life was soon coming to an end, because he had a tomb waiting for his arrival. He and Nicodemus were followers of Jesus and believed Him to be the long awaited Messiah.   He was educated in Moses and the Prophets and knew all the signs of the coming Savior. Because of tensions amongst the leaders of the Sanhedrin and the popularity of Jesus,  Joseph followed Him in secret.

Joseph, being witness to the death by crucifixion of Jesus, boldly approached Pilate and asked for the body so he could give it a proper burial. Pilate consented even though most criminals were left to rot on the cross to be devoured by predators and birds of prey. It was meant to serve as a lesson to those who would think to disobey Roman law.

Joseph and Nicodemus carried the body to the tomb and prepared it with 75 pounds of spices which Nicodemus donated. This in itself was a symbol of great wealth. They were, after all, burying a mighty King – the Son of God.

Joseph knew that he was defying Mosaic law by touching a corpse, but he did so with complete confidence. He was taking a huge risk by doing this act, but he was honoring a fallen soldier who had given His life for the salvation of the world.
May we have the same honor and courage for our Christ – when we are faced with persecution because of Him – when we need to stand up for our beliefs – when our lives depend on it. Joseph came out of hiding to bury His Savior.

On the third day, Jesus conquered death by coming back to life and changing the world forever.

 

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PROGRESSIVE GRANDMA

Posted on April 1, 2020 by atimetoshare.me

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I never thought it would happen, but it has.  Technology has overtaken our lives and I mean that in a good way.  Today, children are learning their lessons on specialized classes performed by their teachers from thee “comfort” of their own homes.  These teachers are used to a classroom setting. They’re used to order and regimentation.  They are not used to having their own families looking over their shoulders while they’re teaching.

Conference calls have replaced staff meetings.  Zoom has taken the place of informal get togethers. Most social media is at an all time high, because we are people who need people.  We’re the luckiest people in the world ….. whoops, sorry , I got caught up in the moment.  Isolation is not a normal thing.  We feel frustrated when we can’t get into an app or link up to a link.  Some of this is totally new  for most of us.

With the influx of COVID19 our lives have changed significantly.  The theatre where I   work is striving to keep a positive face and make classes available to those who want to jump on board and participate via the internet. The classes are free and available to various age groups.  Yesterday was my first experience teaching a class this way.  Needless to say, I’m going into uncharted areas. It should be the easiest thing in the world and it is for anyone under thirty, but for us old timers, it’s brand new.

The class was designed to last for thirty minutes, was geared for grades K-5 and I was going to teach how to create a believable character.  Four eager students arrived on time, but the teacher was about ten minutes late. This wouldn’t happen in a regular teaching environment.  Of course I was about a minute late for an after school class once and one of the students replied, “We thought you died and went to heaven.”

I had some basic fears about this new technology for me.  I was a bit frightened about the up close and personal aspect.  I mean I’m almost 78 years old. I possess a roadmap of lines upon my face.  I worried they would see every imperfection, every nose hair and the teeth that were missing from my aging mouth.  Fortunately once I got onto the site, I didn’t realize I had to hit a button to show my face.  I didn’t and therefore all they knew about me was my voice.  I was redeemed from all potential ridicule.

I have another class tomorrow and hope to show up on time.  Since this is a class about building a character, my face will also arrive so they can actually see a face doing what I will try to teach them.  Once the class started to roll along, I felt better about the entire experience and I look forward to more.

I do worry about those teachers who are now confined to their homes with their own children hounding them for attention and the perils and frustration of those educators.  It can’t be easy for them.  They’re used to their students.  They aren’t used to being with their kids 24/7.  Teachers need a place to escape to right now, just as everyone else that has been cloistered and will be for a long time. At least they’re tech savvy.  I’m just an old woman trying to stay in the realm of the living.

 

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