ROOSTER ON THE LOOSE

Posted on October 30, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

rooster on looseORIGINAL ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A lone rooster is on the loose, a sign of things to come,

He struts and dances to show off under the morning sun,

Cage freed for just a moment’s time to make his presence known,

The final glow of autumn’s light, upon his feathers shone,

The girls are quite amazed by him, he is a wondrous sight,

He preens and glistens in the sun, He knows how to excite,

The days will soon grow chillier, the nights are dark and cold,

But memories of the dapper bird, the hens will still behold,

A rooster on the loose you see, will always leave his mark,

And soon the remnants of his love ignite that magic spark.

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DATELINE OCTOBER 30, 1517

Posted on October 30, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINALLY POSTED 10/30/14

The man lay motionless in his bed, wondering if what he was about to do was even remotely logical. His mind had been plagued for years on thoughts of obtaining a place in heaven. He had pursued every possible way known to insure that possibility. The greater part of his life so far was consumed with the Roman Catholic church and studying its doctrine.

It was a different time – a different place – a similar world. The church had become corrupt as had the leaders of state. Satan had wormed his way into this rock of Christian teaching and manipulated it to his own advantage. He seems to find great joy in getting into God’s house and messing things up.
This man had dedicated his life to the church, because he loved God and wanted to do His will. He was convinced that Jesus, Christ was the only mediator between God and man and he talked about it fervently.
After obtaining his Master of Arts degree his plans to become a lawyer changed when he began to delve deeper into scripture. He became a Catholic monk – gave up his worldly pursuits – felt motivated to work hard to obtain freedom from his sins
It took a while for him to realize that it simply wasn’t in his power. While studying the Latin Bible he found several verses proving that it was by the grace of God; faith in what God had already done; and the truth found in the Word of God that salvation had already been won for all of mankind.

Martin Luther struggled for sleep – his clothing drenched in sweat. He knew that his words were not only going to stir things up, but they would change the course of history. As he ran through his thoughts, rest finally came when he realized that it wasn’t his doing that would change things. God would do the work through Martin, to achieve His goals.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 27, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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TECHNOLOGY – LOVE OR HATE

Posted on October 26, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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My husband, bless his heart, says he’s an 1800s guy floundering in a world of 21st century technology.  This morning was a perfect example of that as he tried to fill out information for an employment opportunity on his phone.  I suggested he use my laptop, but of course all our information is on our own devices and he couldn’t get out of the program he was in.  It led to more frustration.

We’re both dinosaurs when it comes to today’s technology.  We grew up in a world where you’d go into an office, fill out an application and wait a few days to get called in for a face to face interview.  Now the world has become so automated, people don’t really get to meet those they’re hiring until the technology has analyzed the information submitted on the internet’ decided whether the applicant fits all the job requirements; and has enough education to do the job.  Interviews are often held online as well.

God is capable of sorting through all our information and deciding if we qualify for heaven, but He doesn’t work the way the world does.  In fact, His technology is far superior to any we have available to us.  If He were to take a look at how we stack up, based on our following His commandments for living, we’d fail miserably and wind up in the trash or spam folders or worse.  Instead, He looks at us through His Son, Jesus and the work He has done on our behalf.

Jesus came to earth as a human being -left His throne in heaven to live among us – to be tempted in every way – to live the life of perfection that we can’t.  His suffering, death and resurrection were the acceptable sacrifice that mankind couldn’t pay.  God knew this from the beginning of time, yet He had the perfect plan for the solution – one that lives on throughout eternity.

We’re not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven.  We don’t have a leg to stand on.  The only respite we have is through God’s Son, who did it all for us.  He took our sins and destroyed them in the grave.  He did this so that we could live with Him in paradise.

We may never reap the benefits of what technology has to offer – especially when it’s working.  We may never become true nerds or geeks.  Much of our information will wind up in the cloud, (where ever that is) but we can be sure of where we’re going when we leave this planet.  I’d say that beats  any technology the world can throw at us.

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 26, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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I’M A GREAT GRANDMOTHER?

Posted on October 25, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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As of yesterday, I am now the proud great grandmother of a baby.  I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl.  I wasn’t there for the blessed event.  My husband transported granddaughter and her new child home from school yesterday, so I haven’t even had a chance to get a good look at him or her.

Of course I’m kidding. The child is simply a fake baby, provided by the school, to teach teens how to care for a child – how to be responsible for another human being – how to think twice about having one.  The interactive program is designed to teach teens parenting skills; inform them of possible dangers and how to handle them; to prepare them for early childhood and health occupations.

I wonder if this is a fair evaluation for these young people.  Are they really getting a clear picture of what this whole parenting thing is about?  They aren’t going through an actual pregnancy, complete with morning sickness, cravings and size distortion.  They aren’t experiencing emotional highs and lows associated with pregnancy.  They are not sporting stretch marks and varicose veins.  They don’t have to endure hours of contractions and water breaking.  They don’t have to go through a birthing process.  They simply get handed a baby and are told to take care of it.

In a way, I guess that’s what happens.  Getting pregnant is the easy part.  Going through a pregnancy is an inconvenience, but you know it will end.  The hard part comes when you’re handed the baby, take it home and go through the process of parenting.  There is no handbook or owner’s manual.  You’re on your own.  There are no two children exactly alike, so each experience is different.

We struggle through the yuck of changing diapers, cleaning spit up off our clothes, cuddling, comforting and nurturing, but the real parenting part has just begun.  Now the parent is responsible for another life.  Now they must find a way to provide for them.  Now they must decide how to discipline and teach them.  Now they’re embarking on a roller coaster ride that has so many twists and turns, they probably never would’ve boarded it in the first place.

Perhaps when they start giving out terrible two fake kids, or adolescents, there might be a little more truth to the whole situation.

 

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 25, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

32c101d42fed1fcb90a96c72d1be56c1Only one more week of these silly memes.

 

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PERSPECTIVE

Posted on October 24, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

Halloween, in my neck of the woods, seems to be pretty popular.  I live in a small town (one of the first in Minnesota) which claims to be the Halloween Capital of the world.   I’m not a fan of ghosts and goblins, nor do I condone the practice of witchcraft, but I happen to have a plethora of costumes from my past, that beckoned to be displayed for one last time this year.  The result is my whimsical rendition of Halloween.

Parades will be held this week, people will dress in silly costumes and kids will go begging at their neighbors’ doors.  It doesn’t have to be a celebration of darkness or evil, but it’s funny how this particular holiday has ballooned into a multi-million dollar business.  Last year was the first Halloween in our new “old” house and we had one trick or treater – go figure.

Our perspective on things changes as we grow older.  Last week I had had it up to my ears with all the fuss over taking a knee during the singing of the National Anthem. I posted my dissatisfaction over it on Facebook and was immediately inundated with comments about broken or replacing body parts.  It seems most of my friends are pretty much the same age as me, and they assumed I was referring to a knee replacement when I made the post.

When we’re young, we’re always looking forward.  When we’re old, we tend tolook back.  When we’re somewhere in the middle, we simply try to maintain a steady path, which is usually impossible with all the cares of daily living.

If we dwell on the negative things in life, we can be sure that our futures are not going to be filled with joy and happiness.  Somehow how we view things changes as we pass through the decades of living.  What we used to laugh at is no longer funny.  What we used to find pleasure in, is impossible for us to do.  We grow to rely on others for help and that’s a blow to our self-sufficiency as well.

In other words, aging is the pits.  We could look at it in that way and let it eat away at us, diminish us, destroy our zest for living – or we can change the way we do things, ask for help and accept this as part of who we are now.  We don’t have to give up.  God continues to walk with us until the end of our journey, and when that is done, we have the honor of meeting Him face to face.  While we are still on this side of eternity, we just need to change our perspective.

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 24, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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BLAZING GLORY

Posted on October 23, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A shadow of the artist within the paint does fall,

The hand that guides the paintbrush reacts to beauty’s call,

He paints with simple brush stokes, caressing every space,

Designing and embracing, the shades within the place,

An outdoor painter’s palette falls victim to the frost,

He scavenges each color because of its great cost,

He works through wind and weather perfecting every stroke,

Stumbling through the elements, surrounded by the oak ,

He soon will leave this pasture and head back on to home,

Where he’ll refine the painting and make it all his own.

 

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BRINGING IN THE SHEAVES

Posted on October 23, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

autumn-harvest-pumpkin-apple-grape-fig-leaf

This most colorful season of the year in the north country, is a sign that it’s time to bring in the harvest – to gather up the fruits of the spring plantings – to enjoy the sustenance and ready ourselves for the upcoming cold days ahead.

In this month of October, most of the fields have been harvested and plowed under for a long winter’s nap.  My church is in the midst of celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation – October 31, 1517 – when Martin Luther boldly proclaimed his differences with the Roman Catholic church and set off a wave that would swell and change the church from that day forth.

Today we are in sort of a similar situation.  The time is perfect for change with the advent of the internet and other technology.  We have been blessed with amazing tools with which to share the truth of God’s Word.  You can easily put a Bible app on your phone and have it available at a second’s notice.  You can read it anywhere.  We are unlimited.

God will always give us the means to spread the Word.  In Luther’s time, the printing press was the tool of the day.  It was also a time of new beginnings in the areas of art, music, technology, science with the birth of the Renaissance.  It was the perfect time to seize the day.

Today our cup runs over with communication access. We have instant communication, even with the President of the United States via Twitter.  We have the opportunity to have a voice with our elected officials, but who knows how long that will last.

Our churches have undergone some serious changes over the past 500 years as well.  The Protestant Reformation gave way to a plethora of denominations.  In just the past fifty years we’ve seen the advent of non-denominational churches popping up all over the country. These houses of worship have come to meet the needs of the people, giving them exactly what they want – a free pass to heaven without any consequences for sin.

Sin also has become a thing of the past and rarely is mentioned so as not to “offend” anyone.  The truth is, we are all SINNERS!  We’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  If we got what we truly deserve, we’d spend eternity in the void inferno of hell.  There would be no hope for us.

My church has gone through some growing pains in the past few years.  We are now in a rebuilding process.  Our membership was at 60 last year at this time.  Most of those who are new to our church have become disillusioned with the churches of today.  They’re tired of the “feel good” “prosperity” messages and simply want to know that they are loved by God, in spite of their lost condition.

The fields are ripe once more.  It’s harvest time.  Let’s bring in the sheaves!

 

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SHAKESPEARE FUNNIES

Posted on October 23, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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Gender identity issues even in those days.

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 23, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 22, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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WWJD

Posted on October 22, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

It breaks my heart to see how so many churches have slowly but steadily turned away from the truths of the Bible. Many are becoming politically correct places for people to feel good about themselves. Without the knowledge of sin there is really no need for a savior. We must be shown our wrongdoing to continue a relationship with Christ.

Jesus associated with all kinds of low-lifes in His ministry. He ate with tax collectors, He ministered to prostitutes, He chastised th…e hierarchy of the church for their sinful behavior. He healed those with contagious diseases, raised some from death, but first and foremost He told sinners there was hope for them. None of us is exempt from the pangs of sin, but through faith in the work Jesus has done for us, we can be confident of forgiveness. We will never really be free from our sinful behavior until we pass into eternity, so we must ask for forgiveness daily and walk away from the sins that torment us.

Lord, you paid the ultimate price for my salvation. Lead me now from evil and into the paths of righteousness.  Amen!

 
Posted in Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized | 10 Comments

CHILL TIME

Posted on October 21, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

chill-out-i-got-this

When we are surrounded by mass media which hammers us with fake news, half truths, scandal, downright lies and simply too much of everything, it’s time to chill out.  My granddaughter made note of that the other day as we were out and about. In her fourteen year old wisdom, she stated that we should

stop worrying, being stubborn, cranky and chill.

I’m not quite sure where it came from.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that as we age, we tend to grow grumpy with time.  We feel we’re entitled to smooth sailing after all the years of storms we’ve faced over time. Maybe it has to do with the stress of having to still work to make ends meet.  It might even have to do with aging bodies that ache and tire out so much more quickly.

I remember my own grandparents and some of the difficulties they faced and how they seemed to muddle through, even during times of great adversity.  My maternal grandparents attended funerals for five of their eight children. My paternal grandmother was left by her husband to raise four children on her own.  Still they managed to survive with a fair amount of hope.

Our troubles have been minor in comparison to them, but somehow we feel short changed as we age.  We think the world owes us something, simply for living as long as we have.  We tend to forget that we still have things to offer this world in spite of our aging shells.

So for the time being, I have decided to take my granddaughter’s advice and chill.  I refuse to let the climate of politics and hatred overtake me.  I will not succumb to the media and all its hype. I will do my best to look at the bright side of life and forget about name calling, bullying behavior and the sticks and stones that accompany daily living.  I have no intention of becoming a grumpy old woman.

 

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GIVE THANKS

Posted on October 21, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

thanks

You may be a victim of domestic violence.  You might hold some deep dark secret that would condemn you if the world knew about it.  You may be in the throes of addiction.  Why on earth would you thank God?  Your life isn’t worth a nickel and God wants you to thank Him?

There is so much pain and sorrow in our world.  Many are at the ends of their rope because of it.  There are times when depression leads to suicide.  It may seem easier to just end it all when we can’t cope any longer.  Christians are being persecuted on a daily basis – not only in far off lands, but right here in the USA.  We are confronted with illness and even death – financial loss – indecision, hopelessness and despair.

God is worthy of our praise no matter what our circumstances.  He doesn’t cause our suffering – He is the One who relieves it.  He doesn’t kick us when we’re down – He lifts us out of the pit and carries us through adversity.  His love is so great that He laid down His life for us and promises perfection in eternity – no more tears or sorrow – no more pain.

Give thanks to Him in all circumstances – not because it is required of us, but because He is worthy of our gratitude.  He is our Heavenly Father who has only our best interests in mind.  He is the Son who showed us how to live and freely gave us forgiveness of all our sins.  He is the Holy Spirit who lives in us and gives us encouragement, faith, peace and zeal for God.

Give thanks to Him today and every day – in good times and in bad.

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HE LEADETH ME

Posted on October 21, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Slowly crossing the sands of time –  into a pasture green sublime.

I’ll rest my feet and wet my lips, with waters clear and cold that grips.

Through danger I will walk with Him.  He guards me from each foolish sin.

He takes my hand and leads me now to comfort me and show me how

To live my life and live it right and when I stray He sets me right.

When my own final hour comes near, I’ll face my death with no more fear.

I’ll trust in His unfailing love – which He bestows from up above.

With Him in paradise I’ll live.  He promised me He did forgive

Each one of my transgressions.

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REFORMATION FUNNIES

Posted on October 21, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

LutherCorona

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WHEN DREAMS DELIGHT

Posted on October 20, 2017 by atimetoshare.me
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“In my dreams and visions, I seemed to see a line, and on the other side of that line were green fields, and lovely flowers, and beautiful white ladies, who stretched out their arms to me over the line, but I couldn’t reach them no-how. I always fell before I got to the line.”  Harriet Tubman

I consider myself to be a dreamer.  My dreams have been known to scare me, to alert me to danger, to create a new character for a play, decide how to begin a day and totally confuse me.  I’ve dreamt about adopting a pet bison and raising him on Purina Bison Chow.  I’ve dreamt of a three headed queen, which allowed me to cast three young ladies for a part they were all suited for.  When I’ve been worried, I may dream of a solution to what’s troubling me.  Dreams have always been very vivid- in brilliant color and often times ridiculous.

Last night I had a dream that caused me to wake in the midst of it and then want to get right back to sleep so I could finish it and find out what happened.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could record some of those dreams?  In last night’s dream, the world was in a terrible state of anxiety, much like it really is.  Our days seem to be jam packed with things to be concerned about.

As I floated from one ugly thing to another there was a kaleidoscope of broken glass which filled my mind.  Slowly the color blue began to fill my imagination.  It was a comforting feeling. With each addition of color, the blues became indigo, aqua, turquoise, sky blue and created a feeling of peace.  It was if the world was being infiltrated with the saturation of refreshing water.

Our dreams can be an accumulation of the things we struggle with daily. They can lead us to timely decisions.  They can confuse or antagonize us, but this dream kept drawing me back in.  I didn’t want to leave it. It was in fact, just what I needed.  A time to reflect, to imagine a world without turmoil and rage. A time to simply let God bleed His precious, cleansing water over my mind and give me a much needed rest.

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