Minnesota is notorious for having large amounts of snow in March. Winter isn’t officially over until June 1st.
FELLOWSHIP
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A family of fellow Christians can be a wonderful source of strength and encouragement for us. Many times though, we aren’t even aware of the pain and suffering they’re going through. We’ve all gotten wrapped up in our own lives and often forget that others need to be lifted up in prayer too.
That’s why being a part of a church family is so important to me. Even though there may be things that I might feel embarrassed to share with someone or too proud to let others know about, I realize that I have a family of friends who will pray for my needs along with theirs.
I do think it’s important for us to know what needs to be prayed for. There are many who may be suffering with a certain disease. Some have a family member who has left his faith behind. There may be divorce, separation or infidelity in a marriage. Some may be struggling with alcoholism, drug abuse or some other sin that’s drawing them away from the cross. There are many things that we Christians need to be encouraged about day by day.
Being part of corporate worship is a great place to begin. May we think like the Apostle Paul when he said in Romans 1:12 & 13, “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”
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Tagged Church, FAITH, FAMILY, fellowship, love one another, may
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JESUS LOVES CHILDREN
Some of the things I worried about as a child seem insignificant now. Today children are faced with more serious issues than I ever dreamed of. The technological age has opened a whole new world for them and along with it, temptations and fears beyond belief.
Plans are in the works for sex education to be taught in kindergarten (without any real consequences being taught along with it.) Families are breaking apart in record numbers. Marriage doesn’t always hold the same reverence to the vows once taken. Parents are struggling to keep their jobs.
For quite a while our nation had become prosperous and people were spending lavishly on their children and now they must cut back. Disease still ravages our population and many kids have to go through life without a parent who has succumbed to death.
Somehow God always puts things into perspective for us. When our lives seem to be spiraling out of control, He is consistent. His laws never change. His guidance and correction in our lives never changes. His love and care for us absolutely never changes.
Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for watching over the children of this world. Your Word tells about many instances which include them. Keep them in your tender care as they walk through life until they reach eternity with you. Amen!
A LIFE OF CRIME
In this series of biographies, I’ve been highlighting those noble men who changed the way we live, think and do things. Today, I’m going off the tracks a little, and into the life of a boy born of Jewish immigrants. He grew up on the crime ridden streets of Brooklyn, New York where Italian and Irish gangs reigned. They say your environment often defines who you become and this definitely was the case with Benjamin Siegel – or Bugsy as he was later called.
A kid born in 1906 to parents that both worked constantly to provide for their five children, probably didn’t stand much of a chance. But that was exactly the motivation which led Bugsy to a determined notion that he would rise above that life. He vowed he would make a name for himself and never have to experience the poverty his parents lived.
The gangs of New York during this time period were fierce. Turf wars existed as they do today, but soon the Irish and Italian gangs would be joined by a group of Jewish young men who had forced their right to become part of the criminal element. Bugsy had a record of criminal offenses by the time he was a teenager.
He was known by his constituents as Bugsy, because of his itinerate, violent nature, his fierce temper and his guts. He wasn’t afraid of anything and became known as being as crazy as a bed bug. He would shoot first and ask questions later.
When we think of the old days, it’s hard to imagine anything but the highlights and good things that happened, but the twenties were a time of violence that we can’t even begin to imagine today. During the time of prohibition, corruption within law enforcement and government ran rampant. Folks were being paid off to be quiet or to cover things up. New York was a hotbed of new immigrants, with hopes of a better life, soon discovering they had entered life not much different than what they left behind. This led young minds to desperate attempts to get out of poverty no matter what method it took.
The world doesn’t change really. The plot does. The characters do. The results often do. After a time of turmoil, there’s usually a time of quiet, but it doesn’t last. The age of the bootlegger may be gone, but crime remains. It just wears a different mask.
Bugsy was known as a womanizer. He had sparkling blue eyes, was handsome and charismatic. He had a long affair with actress Virginia Hill, a woman who was almost as tough as him
. They moved to Las Vegas and followed Bugsy’s dream of creating a gambling mecca in the middle of the desert. The Flamingo Hotel and Casino was the first in Vegas. He is credited for starting it all.
With funding from the eastern crime syndicate and supervision by Bugsy, building began in 1945. Originally the cost was estimated to be one and a half million, but the number quickly rose to six million. The syndicate discovered that Bugsy was stealing and mismanaging the funds.
On June 20, 1945, as Bugsy sat in the living room of his Beverly Hills home, he was killed by a barrage of bullets being shot through the window. There was no doubt that he had been murdered by the syndicate.
In life he accomplished what he wanted. He did it in violent, criminal ways, without conscience. He became rich and famous. His good looks made a celebrity out of him. He was 39 when he died. Benjamin Siegel was now summoned to the grave and most likely an eternity in hell.
“Las Vegas turns women into men and men into idiots.” Bugsy Siegel
621 words
REACH FOR THE LIGHT
ART & POETRY FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
The world is filled with darkness, the sky encased in clouds,
The grip of sin enfolds you, the weeds surround like shrouds,
You feel like God has left you, and doesn’t hear your prayers,
You question His existence when life is filled with cares,
In that deep and darkest pit, one light remains unmoved,
His arms reach out to hold you, your life will be improved,
Just ask His Light to guide you, repent and follow Him,
By giving up the darkness, new life will soon begin.
Posted in art, Christian Poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, forgiveness, Inspiration, Lent, repentance
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ROMAN CHRISTIAN RULER
Born on this day in the year 272 AD, Constantine, the Great, was the first Roman Emperor to embrace Christianity during is reign. His father , Constantius, was tolerant and skilled in the politics of the day. Being a military officer, he was often gone and out of his son’s life most of the time. He advanced through the ranks and earned a position as governor of Dalmatia. His mother, Helena, was a Greek woman and it isn’t clear if she was married to Constantius.
Not much is known about his early life, but we know that his father rather quickly advanced and eventually became one of two Caesars, when Diocletian divided the Roman Empire in 293 AD, making it possible for Constantine to inherit the title after his father’s death. When that occurred in 306 AD, Constantine was declared emperor by his troops.
Almost immediately, he became involved in a number of civil wars and eventually became the Western emperor. In the year 324, he became sole emperor of the entire Roman Empire and the establishment of Constantinople on the site of Byzantium was founded.
Constantine was the first emperor to stop Christian persecutions. He also made Christianity legal, along with all other religions and cults in the Roman Empire. In the Edict of Milan, it was stated that Christians would be allowed to follow their faith without oppression and any penalties for doing so would be lifted. The Roman Empire would also be required to return any church property obtained during past persecution.
Constantine was probably over 40 when he declared himself to be a follower of
Christ. It is not known if he followed his mother’s Christianity or simply grew into it through his early life. Whatever the case may be, he became a champion for Christianity. He was not baptized until shortly before his death – believing that he wanted to make sure that every one of his sins would be forgiven.
His influence over the early Church councils was to make sure that worship was upheld ecclesiastically. He would enforce doctrine, root out heresy, and make sure that doctrine and dogma would be determined by the bishops of the church. In 325 AD, he summoned the Council of Nicaea as the first Ecumenical Council and instituted the Nicene Creed, which is still used in churches today, to clearly define the trinity of God.
Shortly after his baptism, he died at the age of 65. His body was returned to Constantinople for final burial.
“Constantine saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing this inscription: conquer by this. At the sight, he himself was struck with amazement and his whole army also.”
― Eusebius, The Life Of The Blessed Emperor Constantine: From Ad 306 To 337
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Tagged biography, Constantine the Great, famous birthdays, history
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GOD WINS!
The Bible has lots of references to lions. Daniel was thrown into a pit filled with them and was able to survive with the protection of God. David killed one with his bare hands to save a lost sheep from destruction.
Lions are referred to as stealthy, vicious, eager to devour and strong. They’re the second largest cats in the world and when they kill they usually use their sharp canine teeth to tear at the throat and eventually strangle their prey. God also references the devil as a lion in 1 Peter 5:8 when He says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
What a vivid picture that paints. Lions lay in wait for their prey. They work in teams to surround, confuse and attack. They finally gain control and asphyxiate their victim. This is a good example of what the devil does to us each day as we struggle through problems, personal relationships, even when we’re involved in the work of the church. Sometimes it seems that Satan works even harder in God’s house, because that’s where he’s threatened the most.
There is another Lion indicated in the Bible. First in Genesis, when Jacob named his son, Judah, Gur Aryeh, which is Hebrew for young lion. Judah would be the ancestor of David, from whose line Jesus would be born. Later in Revelation 5:5, the Lion of Judah is revealed as Jesus.
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”
We’re still pursued by the devil and all his minions. We must constantly be on guard against his malicious grip on us. He is eager to sap us of our strength – to suffocate us. Our battle goes on until we leave this veil of tears and enter heaven, but with the assurance of what God has done for us, through His own beloved Son, the Lion of Judah, our eternal life is preserved. In the end, God wins and so do we.
God help me each day, each hour, each minute to arm myself with your Word. May it be my defense against the evil one who is waiting at every turn to destroy my faith in you. Amen!
Posted in Lent, Uncategorized
Tagged Defeat of Satan, devils, God wins, Jesus, Judah, Lions
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FEBRUARY FUNNIES
February is almost over and soon the birds will return to Minnesota – and turn right around and go back from whence they came.
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A MAN OF MANY WORDS
On this day, in 1802, Victor Hugo was born, in Besançon, France. His father was a military officer who later served under Napoleon as a general. Victor’s father encouraged his son to admire Napoleon as a hero.
Victor studied law, but never actually practiced it. Instead, his mother encouraged him to go into literature. Mothers often seem to acknowledge the talents of their children and prod them into following their dreams. By this time, Victor’s parents were separated, so his mother was able to influence her son in this direction.
The fact of his parents’ separation undoubtedly had to do with their political differences along with a little hanky panky going on with his mother. Victor’s father was a free thinking Republican military follower of Napoleon while his mother was Catholic Royalist who was intimately involved with her possible lover General Victor Lahorie, who was executed in 1812 for plotting against Napoleon.
Victor became one of the most important authors of the French Romantic Period with his poetry, novels and plays – the most well known being The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables.
By the 1840s he was one of the most celebrated literary figures in France.
His eldest and favorite daughter, Léopoldine, drowned in a boating accident in 1843. Her husband also died while trying to save her. Victor was devastated and wrote the following poem:
Alas! turning an envious eye towards the past,
inconsolable by anything on earth,
I keep looking at that moment of my life
when I saw her open her wings and fly away!
I will see that instant until I die,
that instant—too much for tears!
when I cried out: “The child that I had just now—
what! I don’t have her any more!”
Like most dramatists, he used what he had experienced in life to create masterpieces of literature. The best authors write what we know. He had experienced war, death, politics, music, the law and conflict of many kinds. He took all of that experience and wrote his most astounding works.
His interest in political life led him to fight for democracy in France as well. He was a firm believer in liberty, equality and fraternity. When he was 75 he made this statement:
“I am not one of these sweet-tempered old men. I am still exasperated and violent. I shout and I feel indignant and I cry. Woe to anyone who harms France! I do declare I will die a fanatic patriot.”
Les Misérables was not completed until 1862, almost twenty years after his daughter’s death. Hugo felt this was the pinnacle of his career as a writer. This work along with many of his other plays and poems have become the inspiration for musicians. The passionate story lines and deep emotional fervor is meant to be turned into music.
On May 20, 1885, Victor Hugo died of pneumonia. He requested a pauper’s funeral, but instead was honored by the state and his funeral procession included more than two million mourners.
Happy birthday, Victor Hugo. You have enriched our lives beyond compare with your words.
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Tagged biography, history, Inspiration, Literature, Vidctor Hugo
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BOASTING
It’s funny how words take on a different meaning over time. Pride – for example – used to mean an inner sense of accomplishment or a feeling we experience when doing something noble. Another word, Gay, once meant joyful and full of laughter. Words and symbols that once meant one thing, now mean something totally different.
When looking for an image to go along with the Proverb containing the word pride, all I could find was rainbow flags and people marching in protest over gay rights. Being a wordsmith, it amazes me how culture and society has the power to change even our vocabulary. With that being said, my post regarding the pride that comes with accomplishments rather than lifestyles:
Will Rogers once said, “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
I’m sure we’re all guilty of trying to make an impression with the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, etc. It’s part of our human nature. God wants us to be good stewards of what He gives us, but our pride often gets in the way.
Maybe we have lost the ability to produce an income because of disability, layoffs or a sagging job market. Maybe we still want to appear successful. Whatever the case, we should not rely on ourselves in anything that we do.
In Proverbs 30:32 He says, “If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.” Pride is one of those lies that Satan likes to use on us.
Dear, God, you are the provider of all things. You give us talents and gifts of all kinds and because of that you are the one who deserves the praise. Lead us to do the right things, with the proper motives and always having respect for you and others. Amen!
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Tagged boasting, daily walk, Inspiration, pride
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MONDAY SUNSHINE
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©
How do you harness the sun,
And capture the magnificence of its light?
Some have tried to manage the light,
That encompasses them,
Some struggle to bring illumination back into their lives,
By setting goals & dreaming dreams,
Some never find it,
Some are filled to the brim with it,
Some continue to spend their lives,
Searching for it,
God is the source,
He created light from darkness,
It was His first creation,
Separating the night from day,
Setting time into place,
He controls the sun,
The moon,
The stars,
He lights the world with His radiance,
When the world seems so ugly and dark,
When it seems that nothing will ever shine again,
When the darkness of sin has penetrated every aspect of our daily living,
Turn to the Creator,
His light shines brightly through His Word,
When we let Him, He shines through us,
Leading others to the flame of His truth,
Let your light shine.
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Tagged Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher, encouragement, Inspiration, light, Mondays
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MAKING AN IMPRESSION
Self Portrait Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Pierre-Auguste Renoir was born on this day in 1841. One of six children, he would eventually become one of the greatest artists of the early twentieth century. His father and mother were a tailor and seamstress. When Pierre was only three years old, the family moved to Paris from Limoges, France near the Louvre Art Museum.
He showed artistic tendencies when very young and was encouraged by his parents to continue along those lines. When a teen ager, he got a job as an apprentice to a porcelain painter. He started by painting floral patterns on porcelain plates. During this time he also engaged in free art classes offered at a city sponsored art school. He, like most artists, found it difficult to make a living at his art, but his passion was never deterred.
After serving in the military he returned to Paris in 1871 and began painting with friends, Edgar Degas, Monet, Cezanne and Pissarro who were experimenting with a new type of painting called impressionism. They painted outdoors, using a colorful pallet and many brush strokes. At their first exhibit, they were criticized for showing unfinished paintings. Part of impressionism is to leave some areas muted or softened for the imagination of the viewer. Light is extremely important as well.
With the support of wealthy patrons, he was able to present another exhibition. In the meantime, he made his living doing portrait painting.
As the wife of an artist, I can tell you a little about the art of painting outdoors. You have much more to contend with than a canvas, light, shadows, paint. You are also working with or against the elements – rain, snow, heat, bright sun. All this effects the way the painting will turn out. I can also attest to the fact that it is very addicting to go into nature to capture the beauty of it. Once in the field, you feel an obligation to capture light – to paint fast before it changes – to use plenty of brush strokes and to take advantage of every second, because the light will quickly change.
Impressionism became popular in the early 1900s and continues to be appreciated to this day. Renoir was one of those rare artists who actually made a pretty good living as an artist. As he aged, however, he struggled with rheumatism, which remained with him until his death. He continued to paint until his dying day.
Today, art is easily accessible to the average man on the street. It can be electronically produced to look like an original piece. It can be mass produced and placed in many living rooms around the world. It would seem there might not even be a need for original art anymore, but I believe that we still need artists. They not only fill our lives with beauty, they challenge our creativity as well. With the Impressionist Movement, we are led into a painting through the light and shadows. We have a destination to reach. We become enraptured by the work and create our own stories through it. Art is really about giving and receiving.
I hope we never lose sight of the amazing artists who set the world on fire with their work and I pray that we continue to appreciate the wonderful talent they are willing to share with the world.
Luncheon of the Boating Party – Renoir
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Tagged artist Renoir, biography, famous birthdays, impressionism, Inspiration
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COME, LORD, JESUS!
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[a] with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
PSALM 46:6-11
“Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall. He lifts His voice, the earth melts.” What a picture! All around us there are wars and rumors of wars. People continue to fight over borders and greed turns men into vultures, but all God has to do is open His mouth and everything will be gone. With one word, he can remove every tree, every rock, every drop of water, every living thing. His breath contains the power to destroy everything within our sight. Mountains will fall and seas recede. Deserts will be swept away and gathered up in a whirlwind. Then there will be a new world – a perfect world – without war – without hate – without weapons of destruction. There will be an everlasting peace.
This is power no man can comprehend. So they try to figure things out on their own.. They rely on their reason and intellect to solve the problems of this world. We look for someone to blame. We think that we know the reasons for the state of the world today. We don’t take responsibility for our own actions. There are few consequences for bad behavior. We try to feel safe in an unsafe world, but rarely turn to the One who can change everything with just one word.
Wouldn’t it be easier to let the Lord of the Universe and all creation, take the reins? With Him as our advocate, we have nothing to fear. Even when our world seems hopelessly lost, there is hope.
Help us to come to you, Heavenly Father, for all our earthly needs. Help us also to be comforted by the fact that you ARE in control and this world is only our temporary home.n Amen!
Posted in Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged encouragement, God, Inspiration, Peace, safety, trust
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LOOK UP
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
What started as a single seed reclining in the earth,
Is now a giant masterpiece with monetary worth,
The time it took to grow this tree encompassed many years,
It suffered many bruises and witnessed many tears,
Some of its limbs were withered, while others brandished life,
Its trunk was strong as iron, yet endured all kinds of strife,
As winds defiled and bent its frame, it seemed that he was lost,
Its roots exposed, its spine now bent from cold and bitter frost,
Still it survived and grew some more and pierced right through the clouds,
Its life went on and does today, evading death’s dark shrouds,
We like that tree continue through life’s discouraging path,
We place our hope in worldly things and we receive God’s wrath,
But when we put our hope in Him our life will never end,
And it will be much greater than our minds can comprehend,
The growth that we experience throughout our earthly days,
Will never reach comparison to what His love purveys,
We lift our eyes to heaven and know what waits beyond,
To see the face of Jesus and know he will respond.
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Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Christian walk, encouragement, Heaven, Inspiration
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STORY TIME
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” C.S. Lewis
Telling stories is what we do as writers. We use words to create interesting situations, to draw in our audience, to share an experience, to offer solutions and to entertain.
During His time on earth, Jesus also told stories – called parables – which were earthly stories, familiar to the crowd He was addressing – having a spiritual message. These stories could be related to by the audience. He was speaking in their terms, about things they understood and lived.
When Jesus told a story it held more than one truth. It was usually told to teach us about living and how to do it. He took an earthly situation and turned it into a lesson. When He told of the prodigal son, who had squandered his inheritance and, after all had fallen apart in his life, he returned to his dad and asked to be forgiven. This was to show us how much our heavenly Father wants us to return to Him and repent of our wrongdoing. It also shows how much He loves His children and waits for them with open arms.
Jesus talked of not storing up earthly wealth, but to look forward to heaven. He used agriculture in His story telling and often referred to shepherds. He took everyday situations and turned them into beneficial truths for our daily walk with God, the Father.
These weren’t merely stories intended to pass the time. They were filled with spiritual relevance. Through them He was teaching us how to pray – how to relate to each other – have faith in God for daily provision – prepare for eternity in heaven and how we should pass these stories on for all generations to hear.
In Jesus’ stories, we have God speaking directly to us. His words have been preserved by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The words are truth. Jesus has taken away our sin and guaranteed us a spot in heaven. That doesn’t mean sin will never enter our minds again. We will continue to struggle through life, but our forgiveness is our future life insurance policy. Forgiveness was won, once for all, but now we need not fear death. The sting has been removed and we can look forward to eternal life in paradise. The happy ending comes when we leave this earth and enter the heavenly realms.
AVID STORY TELLER
I like to consider myself an avid storyteller. From the day of my youth, I’ve been retelling some of the most famous fairy tales and folklore and have even thrown in a few of my own. With time, stories often become embellished or changed to suit the situations of the present. We can add characters, make them more or less believable, create interesting obstacles for them to overcome and dress them up to appeal to a certain audience.
In 1786, on this day, Wilhelm Grimm was born in Hanau, Germany. He was the second oldest of six siblings. His older brother, Jacob, would eventually team up with him to create the “Grimms’ Fairytales” we’ve all grown to know and love.
Both brothers followed the path of their father, who was a successful lawyer. Wilhelm entered law school at the age of 16. However, due to an illness, he did not begin work until he was 28. At that time he took a position at a royal library at Kassel, Germany. His brother, Jacob, joined him there two years later.
The two brothers studied German folklore and literature with a passion. The usual method of passing on stories was by word of mouth, and the brothers wanted to make sure they were preserved for all time. So they gathered the stories together, edited and revised them and produced “Children’s and Household Tales,” in 1812. A second volume followed three years later and culminated into what we now know as “Grimms’ Fairytales.” The volumes included the stories of Hansel & Gretel, Snow White, The Golden Goose and Little Red Riding Hood.
In the mid 1820’s Wilhelm married Dortchen Wild and they had four children. Brother, Jacob never married. They moved to Berlin in 1840 and became members of the Royal Academy of Science and lectured at university. They also took on a huge project of creating a dictionary of the German language, but Wilhelm died before its publication.
Over the years, the fairytales of German folklore have been preserved thanks to the Brothers Grimm. They’ve been tweaked, revised, retold, animated, and melded into our modern society. I’m thankful that they had the insight to save those stories. For without them, so much would’ve been lost. The Disney empire would never have been created without them. As with all stories, there really is nothing new under the sun. We simply keep retelling them in different ways with methods that combine the elements of the day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILHELM!
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Tagged biiography, Inspiration, storytelling, Wilhelm Grimm
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WINTER OLYMPICS FUNNIES
I never did understand the terminology used in figure skating. This might explain it.
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