ROYAL CANADIANS

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

(This acrylic painting was done 40 years ago and is part of Paul’s retrospective series.  I thought it fit nicely with the recent blood moon from a few days ago.)

Blood moon rises high in the sky, encouraging these birds to fly,

But for a while they wait and rest, for you see they have no nest,

Their home is where they wander, where wetlands call from yonder,

They flap their wings from dusk to dawn and honking is their only song,

They take some time to rest and wait, watching the light of heaven’s gate,

Pausing to enjoy the splendor of what God’s own hand does render.

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LIFT ME UP

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

As I travel through life’s darkest moments,

When all around me is unfamiliar ground,

When the sound of silence engulfs me.

and pierces the every day sound,

There in the midst of it all,

There with wings unfurled,

With pinions uncut,

With strength and dominion,

He will lift me out of the darkness,

He will protect me from the dangers of life,

He will cover me with His power, strength and love,

I will not fear the terrors of night,

Or the dangers that lie at every corner,

He will comfort my tangled soul,

He will shield me from all harm,

And I will soar with the eagles.

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ARCHAEOLOGIST OR PALEONTOLOGIST?

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Most of you know my husband, Paul, is an established artist.  He’s worked in most mediums throughout his career — Oil, chalk pastel, watercolor, acrylic.  He’s also an accomplished sculpter, having done his very first significant piece in granite when he was a Senior in high school.  Through his career, he was in the advertising business and created logos and marketing and branding strategies for various companies. He began his own business and it was successful for over twelve years.  Art has played a significant part in his life.

What you may not know about this remarkable man, is that he loves nature and the outdoors.  From early on, he’s been a natural explorer – learning all the elements of survival in the wilderness – how to start a fire – how to provide food from natural sources.  He worked as a naturalist for a few years in one of our county parks.

Paul also wears a lot of different hats when he’s working.  For that job, he wore his Indiana Jones hat.  As he led children on tours of the park and sighted various birds and signs of animals, the kids would keep their eyes more focused on that hat, than in what he was trying to teach them.

One child asked him if he was Indiana Jones’ father?  Another called him Louisiana Jones.  Yet another asked him if he was a paleontologist, to which Paul responded, “No, I’m just a dinosaur.”

Isn’t it funny how a hat can make a difference in how people look at us?  It also puzzles me how we can form opinions about people based on what they wear or how they look.  Looking at things at face value doesn’t give us a really clear picture of the entire situation or the people we meet.  We form opinions based on what we see rather than actually getting to know them.

In our world today, we’re given “facts” before they’ve been investigated.  A news flash comes across the screen and we naturally want to know what’s up.  We want all the details before they even become available and often we’re given those details – true or not.  But I digress.

Investigating and discovery are part of who we are.  We are naturally curious.  As a young girl, I thought it would be great to be an archaeologist, but I had no idea it would require digging and sifting through mounds of sand and dirt.  I would have to put myself in danger in order to find some little hint of another civilization.  Still I think we all have that inane desire to know what came before us.  What were previous cultures like?  How did they live, dress, play, educate themselves?  What was the government like and what kind of obstacles did they face that we can learn from?

Maybe all the hopes and dreams of the past weren’t really much different than they are today.  Politics haven’t really changed in the history of the world.  We sometimes think they’ve gotten worse, but there really isn’t anything new under the sun.

So, with all this silly rambling, I will leave you with this thought.  Don’t begin writing a blog post without a purpose.  Make sure you make a point. Which I didn’t do,  but it was fun getting outside the normal box of every day, for just a little while.

 

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ALONE AT LAST

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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©,

Weary of the noise of media attention,

Exhausted by the often untrue claims,

Troubled hearts desire greater intervention,

Longing for refreshment from the flames,

Looking up is what we need for our salvation,

God alone brings peace from all our shames,

Quieting the dissidence and excitation,

Giving love instead of naming names,

Sin no more holds constant consternation,

Through His Son our guilt no longer blames,

He has paid the price of our redemption,

All our fear of death He tames.

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PROVISION

ORIGINALLY POSTED 07/07/2016

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Three precious eggs hatch one by one,

The first to arrive receiving the most attention,

Slowly the others burst through their encrusted habitat,

Longing for nourishment.

Clinging to an unstable life,

Tucked into a nest of remnants from the river’s edge,

Soft, yet not completely comfortable,

So do we enter life,

Not knowing what lies ahead,

Not feeling as snug as we did in the womb,

Desiring constant attention and sustenance,

Through it all,

God provides.

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WALLY’S FRIDAY FUNNY

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNY

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THE BATTLE IS REAL

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For the past week or so, I’ve been doing some research for my series on the missing years of Jesus’ life.  It seems that somehow, when I start something like this, I suffer from some seriously bad dreams.  Last night was no exception.  Without going into detail, I felt the very presence of the devil in those dreams.  Eventually I woke up in a cold sweat, with great difficulty breathing and pressure on my chest.  I was able to get out of bed and compose myself. At first I thought I was having a heart or asthma attack, but this was a different kind of attack.

I told Beelzebub to get lost and asked Jesus to give me peace.  Soon my chest pain left, but I was still filled with a sense of doom.  It took a while, but eventually the Lord’s presence filled the room and I was able to fall back to sleep.  This morning I woke at peace.

I tend to dream when I’m working on something that requires mental stability and digging into God’s Word.  The creative side of my brain seems to work overtime.  But the dream got me thinking. Should I continue my research?  Should I leave this subject alone?  I almost decided to shelf the whole thing, but then I realized I just needed to put on my armor.

Yesterday, while reading David Kitz blog post, I thought about how important it is for us to write our words for God’s glory and not our own.  Especially when we’re talking about God.  Often the wrong interpretation can be taken.  Since I’m relying on God’s Word to direct me, I know He will be with me in the work.  Still the enemy would have us believe that what we’re doing is wrong.  We are in a battle with the forces of this earth and the one who leads it, but we know truly that God has already won the victory.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against  the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” 

Ephesians 6:10-20

I will continue to work on this project and you can expect the first installment tomorrow, but for today you must excuse me.  I’ve got to get dressed!

 

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THE SIMPLE TRUTH

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The simplicity of the Gospel often boggles the mind.  We are expected to believe something extraordinary – inconceivable – impossible.  We delude ourselves into thinking there has to be more to it than just a childlike faith, but the truth is that God in His infinite wisdom laid out His plan for humanity so many years ago – simply.

We were created by Him – we need His divine intervention because we were corrupted by the devil – He loves us so much that He came to us in human flesh to teach, admonish and die for us – He rose from death showing His power over it – He returned to heaven to prepare a perfect place for us to spend eternity with Him.

We aren’t used to such an incomprehensible love in our world.  Today, everyone seems to be from Missouri and has to be shown before they believe.  I guess that’s why God is God and we aren’t.

Too simple, some might say.  There has to be more to the story than that.  Isn’t there something we should be doing to speed up the process – to help God along with the work that needs to be done – to work our way into heaven?

It’s not about us.  It’s about the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent Creator of heaven and earth.  When human reason gets in the way it gets complicated.  We cannot even begin to understand what God has in mind for us.  All we can do is believe that He has our best interests at heart.  He loves us with a love that is beyond our wildest dreams.  He designed us perfectly, but because of man’s desire to be on an even keel with Him, reason got in the way of that perfection.

Let’s forget about reason and just accept as children accept what their father tells them is true.  God loves us so much that He put Himself in our place to take our sins to the grave.  We can now rejoice in His salvation.  Because of that truth, we are set free of the bondage of this world and its ugliness.  We have the hope of everlasting life with our Creator. Very simple!

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TIME FOR A BATH

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Bath time for little ones is a time of great enjoyment, because it means undivided attention from a parent who needs to be on hand to make sure the child is safe. It works that way when an elderly parent needs help bathing too. This very personal time is a way to show compassion for those we care about.

Jesus demonstrated His love for His disciples when He washed their feet. He placed Himself in a position reserved for servants. Can you imagine how much grime a person would pick up walking in sandals through all kinds of filth each day? Streets weren’t paved – they were littered with garbage – cluttered with dirt and animal dung – a breeding place for disease. It was a necessary daily task to clean them thoroughly – getting deep into every nook and cranny and under each toenail.

We are exposed to similar dirt in our lives, but it goes much deeper than a need for surface washing. The only way our sin can be eliminated is through the cleansing that comes from Christ alone. When He washed His disciples’ feet He was demonstrating the internal cleansing He would provide for the entire human race.

When He died for us, the ugliness of sin was washed away. Through this ever so personal act, He also established His bond with us. We now have that perfect relationship with the Father – the one He always intended for us.

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GRACE

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

He’s like a whisper on a silent night,

His lofty wings protect me in His sight,

A voice so quiet yet it roars,

My heart ignites, my spirit soars,

He is my strength, my confidence,

Through Him alone lies my defense.

God of Creation, Redeemer mine,

Your power and your majesty divine,

Through your Holy Spirit, my soul has been freed,

You’ve given me more than I ever could need.

The Father of all things now lives in me,

He’s erased all my sin and iniquity,

He leads me and guides me in all of my ways,

His strength gives me courage for all of my days.

My Savior, my Counselor, Redeemer and friend,

When I walk with you, I cannot comprehend,

All the things I can do. For your strength lives in me,

I am blessed by your love. Your grace sets me free.

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WHERE DID I COME FROM?

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There’s a big trend these days to discover our ancestry.  You can go to a site on the internet to find out where you came from and some clues to who you are.  I think we all like to know what our background is – what is our nationality – what did our great, greats do for a living – were there any skeletons or scandals in our lineage. However, what if you found out you were descended from a serial killer?  What if one of your ancestors was an assassin?  For most of us, we’d prefer to be connected to a former president – a corporate magnate – or a shining star in the entertainment business or a famous inventor.  We hope for the best, but it doesn’t always turn out that way.

I have a curiosity about my paternal grandfather.  I know he was Irish – he was a tailor, by trade – he fathered four children with my grandmother – he deserted the family when all four children were very young.  There are speculations that he was a gambler and was being pursued by those to whom he owed money. At the time, they lived in Canada and there was no record of his death.  This curiosity has always gnawed at the back of my mind, but what if I found out the worse thing possible about this man – or what if I discovered that he went on to do great things in the world?

My grandmother never spoke of him,  It was as if he never existed, but still the evidence of his life was carried on through his children.

When we look at the genealogy of Jesus, we find all kinds of characters in the mix.  His bloodline goes all the way back to Adam and Eve – listing every begat and begotten from them until that of His own mother and stepdad.  We know that His earthly parents were Jewish and followed the traditions of the church, celebrating all the holidays and making pilgrimages throughout the years.  We know that his step dad was a carpenter and His mother was a humble, trusting, young woman, who had other children with Joseph.  We don’t know about Jesus’ years from age twelve to thirty, but as a writer I always like to find out as much about the character in a story as I can.  The Author of the Bible doesn’t go into detail, because those years weren’t the important ones.

In the next few posts I want to look at what was going on during that time when Jesus walked the earth.  I also want to take a look at those who were in His genealogy.   Sometimes there are missing pieces to a story that we feel compelled to know.  The Bible tells us the really important highlights of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, but there was so much more to Him.  He was divine yet human.  What happened during those years between?

I’d be interested to hear some of your thoughts on this subject as I continue to research this.  Since I’m not a theologian, I will be doing this simply as a believer in Jesus, Christ, Son of God and Son of man – individual, yet part of the trinity of God.  I’ll be exploring the history at the time of Jesus’ life – looking back at those in his genealogy – the political atmosphere – the various occupations of people – the financial situation and other aspects.  The beauty of having God’s Word is that the entire family line is listed for us to view.  There were kings and simple men in Jesus line.  There were evil men and those who defended Jehovah with their lives.

I think this will be a fun research project, but also maybe it will answer some questions people have regarding JESUS.

 

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YOUTH IS OVER RATED

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

What happened to days of our untethered youth
When what was required depended on truth?
When worries were few and troubles unknown.
What happened from then to the now that has grown?

Our days filled with moments both carefree and fun,
Too quickly we find nothing under the sun
Will satisfy fully or give us true peace.
We watch as our hope and delight now decrease.

Time passes in torrents. In storms it does fly.
Our laughter we mourn and often we cry.
Our tears fill up rivers, our moans sear the air,
Our hearts often give up in complete disrepair.

We come to our God with bruises and scars,
Of bludgeoning wounds which surpass all the stars.
It’s then that God finishes work that He’s done.
Our youth then returns as the victory is won.

We come to Him broken and clinging to life,
We come when no longer we can bear the strife.
We finally let go and let God do His best.
Through Him in our place, we can pass every test.

 

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COURAGE UNLEASHED

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Yesterday morning we awoke to the news that missing 13 year old, Jayme Closs, had been found alive.  For three months prior to this, people in the community of Barron, Wisconsin had been searching for the child who had obviously been abducted by the person who killed both of her parents.  It was a painful story to watch unfold, but there was a happy ending.  The child escaped her captor and found sanctuary in the hands of a woman who was walking her dog.  Her hair matted, slightly thinner than she was before and wearing oversized shoes, the young girl approached the woman for help and the mystery of her absence was over.

The perpetrator of the crime was apprehended after Jayme gave the police his description and the kind of car he was driving.  He will appear in court on Monday to face two charges of murder and one for kidnapping.  This thirteen year old child, from a small town in Wisconsin saved herself from who knows what.

As clues about the case come to light, we’ll learn more about the entire situation, but for Jayme, who is now safely in the care of her aunt, the anxiety, depression and fear experienced from this trauma will go on for a long time.

What kind of person would do such a crime? We all have questions which will be answered in time, so we must be patient and wait for the legal system to do its work.  In the meantime, our prayers go out to this little girl, who made her own rescue happen.  Had she not freed herself from this man, who knows what would’ve happened.  We also pray for her extended family as they try to patch the broken pieces together.

Even in these situations, God is present.  Some would question that, because of the heinousness of the crime, but He used this situation to bring a community together.  He brought people from all over to help.  They searched for three months without ceasing.  God was with them.  He gave Jayme strength to release herself from her captivity and made sure that she was brought to safety.  He will continue to protect her and those who love her, because He is God and even in adversity He makes Himself known.

“He will cover you with his pinions,  and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
 You will not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”

Psalm 91:4-6

 

 

 

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JULIE’S & WALLY’S FRIDAY FUNNY

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This will work for both of you today.

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MAKE SOME NOISE

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Lift up your eyes to heavens skies and flap your lovely wings,

Sing praises to the God most high and let your voices sing,

For God has given us a voice to praise and honor Him,

He loves His dear, ransomed children and will take care of them.

 

Make noise to the Creator, God, don’t hold those thoughts inside,

Sing loud with adoration to the One who does abide,

He has our back and knows our needs, He’ll never let us down,

So shout out His most glorious name, for we are heaven bound.

 

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A SENSE OF PLACE

This week has been a busy one for my husband, Paul, as he prepares to launch a one man show of his art on Saturday, January 12, 2019.  For those of us in our seventies, any kind of exertion can be both painful and stressful.  Because of his German perseverance, work ethic and attention to detail, this has been quite an undertaking.

Cataloging the over fifty pieces of art work, pricing it and deciding which pieces would best suit the title of his show, took a great deal of mental calculating.  Not to mention making sure everything was properly framed, placed to catch the light, and moved from our house to the gallery.  Twenty years ago, this would have been a piece of cake.

I started to recall my attempt at directing a play again last year, after a two year hiatus.  Somehow those physical demands, along with the mental strain and emotional attachment all played heavily on an aging person.

Paul’s show is called  “A Sense of Place,” and will include some of the writings I’ve done, inspired by his work.  Between the two of us we have more than a hundred years of experience under our belts.  I realize that in order for us to enjoy our final years together, we must accept the fact that we can’t do the things we used to do.  We are still viable human beings though and have a lot to offer the world around us.  Our sense of place has changed, but we still know there is a place for us in the mix.

Paul will rally from all the physical and mental strain and be at the top of his game when his show opens, because that’s just the way he is.

Dear, Lord, you’ve blessed my husband with so much talent.  He not only is a fine artist, but He loves you and gives you the glory for his abilities.  I pray that you will bless this work of his and that many will find enjoyment from it.  Help us both through this chapter of our lives and give us the strength and endurance to finish the race.  Amen!

 

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VIEW FROM ABOVE

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

As this mighty bird surveys the world from far  above,

He wonders how it all became filled with hate not love,

So much confusion down below, folks unsure of where they should go,

Played out each day for us to see, in newspapers and on TV,

No one gives in or will let go, the stubborn will holds tightly so.

If only they would learn to trust, in God the Mighty One,

Things might get back on track again and with it we could run.

 

 

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STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

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In Shakespeare’s play, “The Tempest,” the term “Strange bedfellows,” was coined in reference to a drunken jester, named Trinculo.  He was been shipwrecked on Prospero’s magic island.  He seeks shelter from the storm and comes upon the petrified body of Caliban.  Trinculo crawls into Caliban’s cloak and suddenly realizes that what he thought was a fish is actually a living human being.  Strange bedfellows thus was the result of unexpected partners coming together in the face of tragedy.

Today the term has evolved into political factions becoming strange bedfellows.  And strange they are, but when you think about it, in America, these elected officials are supposed to be the employees of the citizens of the United States.  Yet, because of differences of opinions and in search of getting votes, it all boils down to taking sides.

Wouldn’t it be nice if these men and women, who have achieved the positions they hold through the confidence of those who voted for them, would do what they’re being paid to do?  I’m not schooled in politics.  I have no degrees in political science.  I’m just an average American citizen who doesn’t understand the entire process.

The congress and the senate have been elected to be the voice of the people – not the special interest groups that control some of the biggest businesses in the country.  When our country was founded, President Washington had no desire to be president, because he thought the position would just become another monarchy.  The greatness of America came to be, because the population was willing to fight for its precepts.  Have we become so willing to let someone else do the work while we sit back and complain about it.  Our voice must be heard again, for I fear our patriotism is dying a quick and painful death.

As we witness the breakdown of the democratic process – the demise of a two party system – the corruption that infiltrates both sides of the aisle – the average American Joe has got to take a more active part in the future.  We must put a stop to name calling, accusations, fear mongering, corruption and hatred in our country.  The only way that’s going to happen is if we call on God to help.  He has promised to be with those who call on His name.  It’s time to admit that without Him, we can do nothing.  With Him, all things are possible.

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STIRRING THINGS UP

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ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

 

The rain ceases as quickly as it started,

Light glistens on the still water like precious gems,

Shadows from the tree lined shoreline dot the peaceful river,

A lone craft glides silently through,

Never realizing the trail of stirrings that follow,

We may enter this world in silence,

But we create pathways as we go through life,

Never knowing what an impact we’ve made,

Yet every day, with every breath,

With every word,

With every action,

We are touching another human being in some way,

Let the ripples you create make a difference,

Allow God to move mountains through you.

 

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