CONSCIENCE
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Last night we went to see the uncut version of the Luther film, “Return to Grace. I watched the film on PBS, which was abridged, but many of the historical events and results of the reformation were highlighted.
As I watched poor Martin, observing a puppet show depicting the battle of good and evil, I couldn’t help recalling some similar events from my own childhood. Luther became obsessed with his sin and inability to do anything about it. His conscience convicted him and his frustration haunted him, causing him to beat himself and take to an austere lifestyle. Nothing he could do was sufficient.
My early experiences in church came back to haunt me as well. I grew up in a conservative Lutheran church – one that believed in all the teachings of scripture. We had a beautiful altar, complete with statuary of Jesus ascending into heaven with cherubs surrounding Him. The altar itself was in the Gothic style, complete with spires, edged in gold, that stretched to heaven. The pulpit rose above the congregation and the pastor would climb several steps to deliver his sermon. Above the pulpit there was a cross adorned dome. The church was full of beautiful stained glass windows and paintings on the ceiling – many distractions for little eyes.
I couldn’t have been more than six or seven when the words began to resonate in my brain. The Law was preached from that domed enclosure in full fire and brimstone style. The pastor would spew words of God’s wrath for what seemed an eternity, making me feel totally incapable of ever reaching heaven. It would take me many more years to hear the voice of the Gospel.
Apparently Martin Luther struggled much like I did. I never resorted to his drastic measures, but I was convinced that I was on a fast train to hell. My conscience would not let me rest. My sins seemed insurmountable.
Luther confessed his sins to another priest. How many sins could a Catholic monk have? He was confined to the severe lifestyle of the monastery, with every second filled with prayer and supplication along with hard physical labor. Yet his confession ran for hours.
As he dug further into the scriptures he finally realized that it was by grace that his sins were forgiven. No amount of works, prayers, money or repentance would salve his broken, spirit. When that fact sunk deeply into his brain, all the rest fell into place. Salvation is a gift from God. We can only be saved through faith in that wonderful knowledge. That truth comes from God’s Word to us – the Bible and is administered by Christ alone.
The rest is history. Martin Luther changed the way people viewed God – not as a fearful judge, but as One who loved them so much, He gave His own Son as the perfect sacrifice. He used the tools at hand to spread God’s Word through the printing press. He changed the politics that infected the church of the day. He made it possible for the common man to read the scriptures through the printed Word.
He was the rock star of his day, but would be the first to chastise those who made him one. He was simply a man struggling with his conscience – feeling the pangs of the law and not knowing the beauty of the Gospel.
Posted in Bible, Christian daily devotion, Faith, Uncategorized
Tagged christ, FAITH, Grace, Martin Luther, renaissance man, scripture
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BEST SELLER
Over thirty years ago, I wrote a play for my high school drama team. I’d written before, but never a full length play. The necessity for me to write was because the material out there for young teens was not consistent with the values we were trying to instill in the young people in a Christian school. The point is, this was my first big undertaking as a “writer.”
The play I wrote was a comedy of errors of sorts. It turned out to be a hit, but when I think back, this play was filled with murder, greed, jealousy, nepotism, anger and a lot more negative things I was trying to avoid. Of course it was spun in a satirical way, but still it was packed with lots of evil stuff.
This play has been written, re-written, revised and performed more times than I can recall. Each time, it becomes funnier and is well received. I even had a chance to play one of the key characters – Inspector Croissant – for one of them.
The Bible is filled with stories of guilt, hatred, murder, envy, greed and lots of other ugly things. Maybe that’s why it remains a best seller. Life is like that. We relate to the evil things of this world, because we’re all guilty at one time or another of committing those sins. The Bible tells of average Joes, just like us, who were used to carry out God’s will in phenomenal ways. These stories are not simply a book of fairy tales, however. They are true adventures of how God uses His people, molds them, guides them and saves them from their inability to redeem themselves.
We can glean something new each time we read and reread the pages of this amazing book – lessons that will encourage, inspire and motivate us to live better lives with God at the helm. The words contained in the Bible were written by men, but inspired by God Himself, so they are HIS words – His communication with us – His handbook for our lives. It’s His way of talking directly to us.
We can’t escape the ugliness of this world. It seems to escalate every day and we wonder when things will get back on track. When we turn to God’s Word, we hear about people going through much the same thing in their lives. The world will be full of trouble until the Last Day, but God’s Word remains and has power to change it.
READ IT!!
Posted in America, Bible, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged Bible, Christianity, encouragement, God's Word, Inspiration, motivation
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HYDRANGEAS
ART & INSPIRATION FROM KATHY BOECHER©
I love these magnificent, showy flowers –
The hydrangea,
Colored pink, mauve, deep indigo and a blend of all,
This year I’ve had back luck with these blooms,
Late in the season I discovered they do not do well in close proximity to black walnut trees and we have one humungeous walnut, shedding walnuts at the present. Having taken one back to the nursery for a replacement, and sticking the dead bush into the far back yard on a whim, resulted in some late blooming foliage, but no blooms. The replacement took a turn for the worse and it too has been moved.
I’m hopeful that next spring will bring new life from both of them and a plethora of new growth. As with all gardening, it’s a test in patience. Waiting and waiting and then waiting again. In the meantime, I’ll paint them.
Posted in art, patience, Uncategorized
Tagged Art, FAITH, Gardening, Hope, Patience, perseverence
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IT’S ALL ABOUT HIM!
There are days when I wonder what on earth I’m still doing here. I spend hours trying to figure out some new technology when I could have completed three loads of laundry. I wake up early only to spend that “alone” time thinking about all the things I should be doing rather than doing them. The morning speeds into afternoon and before I know it, I’m ready to go to bed and start the whole process all over again.
I should be retired. I’m aging with great resistance. I don’t want to grow up! I’m not ready to die. I know I have a few good years left in me, but as you get older you want to get everything in before you kick the bucket.
I write and write and then I write some more. I want to share some of the many life lessons I’ve acquired over time. I keep on working, because I don’t want the alternative of sitting around and bemoaning my lot in life. I have the feeling that the minute I stop, so will my life. There seems to be a pattern here – Me, me, me!
We all have doubts from time to time. God knows that too and has provided an answer for us. He tells us to lay our burdens, our fears, our anxious moments on his shoulders. He says not to worry about tomorrow, because everything in creation is in His hands. and He will take care of all of it. He also provides a way for us to spend our eternal life in paradise when the time comes.
That being said, it isn’t always easy to follow His advice. We want to be in control. We want to do it on our own. We think we’re smarter than God. The only way to let go is to have faith. Trust that God will never let you down. He loves all of us. He made each and every one of us. He knew us before we ever came to be. He has chosen a direction for our lives. It IS easy. It’s all HIM!
Posted in Faith, Family, God, Uncategorized
Tagged Anxiety, christian daily devotion, Depression, FAITH, God, Hope
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COME & WORSHIP
Hebrews 12:28-29 ESV “ Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
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UPSTAIRS BATHROOM
Last year at this time, we were getting desperate. Our old house had sold, we had downsized considerably and were still searching for a house that would suit our aging lifestyle. We had limitations. We wanted a house that was on one level – preferably no basement – two car garage – away from the hustle and bustle of city living – low maintenance. Not too much to expect for our price range.
We were at the end of our journey, when our current home came on the market at a lower price and we jumped at it. In order to make our closing dates work out, it could’ve been perceived as the last resort, but we really love our new old house.
This little gem met very few of our requirements. It was built in 1875 and rebuilt after a tornado almost demolished it entirely in 1949. It’s a charming, little, two story farm house, with 14 steps leading to the second floor with two bedrooms and no bathroom. Everything has been renovated, so there wasn’t an extreme amount of work to be done – other than electrical and plumbing. The house is located in the heart of a fairy small town, which is a hub of artistic activity. We are five blocks from the main street and our backyard backs up to the freeway. Oh and we have a one car garage which is still full of boxes. So much for a quiet country home with no steps and everything on one floor.
We joked about installing one of those chair lift thingys so we wouldn’t have to go up and down the stairs, but it occurred to us that they take quite a while to get to their destination and if one of us had to get up in the night to use the bathroom it could prove disastrous. We also talked about inserting a portable potty into the chair lift, but that seemed inconceivable too.
A couple days ago I found the answer to our upstairs bathroom dilemma at a garage sale.
FRAGMENTED LIGHT
ORIGINAL ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Fractured shards of stained glass, pour from and emptying sky,
Rain has finally arrived, wringing out the humidity of overloaded clouds,
The stagnancy of pollution from distant fires,
And the remnant of the turmoil of distant storms,
The sky opens with refreshment,
Displaying the hope of eternity in a glint of sunlight,
Streaming into heavy hearts,
Getting used to disaster,
Becoming complacent,
Atrophied,
At times hopeless,
The cross remains,
The perfect Light of the world,
He is our rock and fortress.
Posted in art, Christian Poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Hope, Jesus, Light of the world, storms
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THE KOI POND
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Carving out a path in shallow waters,
Hardly enough to wade in,
These tiny creatures of God find delight,
Surrounded by a landscape of lush vegetation,
A gentle water feature tumbling over rock and stone,
Clear and refreshing water quenches the heat of the day,
I wonder if this is how God sees us,
Tiny, helpless, hungry, thirsty and struggling,
Through the shallow water of life,
He does see us and has compassion on all,
Even the smallest of His creation.
THE DISCIPLINE OF WRITING
“Writing is the painting of the voice.” Voltaire
What does it take to be a writer? No it isn’t the flashiest computer money can buy. It has little to do with your opinion. It’s really nothing more than a discipline. So, as with all things that require repetition and thought, do it regularly. Some days are better than others. We can ignite a page with words that seem like literary genius or we can have no merit whatsoever. The fact that we continue to write is key.
I’ve been a writer since I was old enough to put words together on paper. I’m an average writer. There are far more talented people out there who know how to mesh words together into a tapestry so brilliant that they inspire, encourage and motivate.
I discovered early on that I wasn’t good at keeping a journal, but I encourage students to do so. My problem is that I can’t read my own handwriting, so I go straight to my computer to compose. However you choose to write – write. Set aside a time each day that works for you. I’ve trained myself to do my writing early morning, since that’s the time my mind seems to function best.
Find a quiet place to do it. Having many things going on around you can be a great distraction, and as we get older, multi-tasking isn’t easy. The beautiful thing about writing is that all you need is a corner of a room devoted for that purpose. I’ve found that making a habit of writing before I do anything else in a day, has worked for me. Choose what works best for you.
Take time to think before you put your thoughts down on paper. Do any research necessary. Write things you know about – your experiences as a parent, your hobbies, your talents, your testimony, your walk with God. Those things may seem mundane to you, but they may be just what someone needs to hear at the moment.
Don’t expect to become famous or rich. Being an artist of any kind is really over rated. Many think that those in the arts are independently wealthy, because the have time to pursue their “hobby.” For most artists, their “hobby” is their livelihood and if you sell something it’s great, but the sales don’t come often. There aren’t many authors who can rely only on what they make as a writer to pay the bills.
Don’t go into any of the arts with the feeling that you are the only one good at your craft. There are thousands of writers, performers and artists out there, with the same idea of success that you have. However, you should never underestimate your own gifts. God has blessed all of us with amazing talents. Our job is to figure out how to use them to advance His kingdom
Posted in Bible, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized, writing
Tagged arts, blogging, discipline, encouragement, Inspiration, motivation, writing
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DESTROYING OUR HISTORY
“The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” George Orwell
We can tear down our monuments; eliminate offensive art depicting wars of the past from public buildings; try to whitewash history to fit our agenda; but we will never completely remove the memory of it.
As the issue of taking down monuments and statues has surfaced, we’re faced with a new problem. Are we going to delete our past so we can focus on the future, or are we going to keep the memory alive so that we can learn from it? It’s easy to cover things up and expect them to disappear, but that isn’t reality. Our memories are even more competent than the most sophisticated computers.
We cannot eliminate the memory. It’s not as easy as deleting it from a computer or from the classroom. The human mind will not forget. We are quick to forgive in order to make peace on certain issues, but slow to forget. The ugliness of our past will rear its ugly head and stir emotions again.
We shouldn’t forget!. The fact that African Americans endured great suffering and enslavement will never die. It was a horrible chapter in our history. However, that chapter is over and slavery takes on new forms today. Have we learned anything from the past?
Our involvement in Indian wars to obtain more and more land was a giant black mark on the humanity of America. Are we responsible for that? Did we learn from it? Will we ever learn?
The Constitution of the United States of America, was written by wealthy slave owners – by educated men with high ideals – by those seeking religious freedoms. Do we blame them for their wealth, education and dreams of a better life, or do we learn that without their basic precepts, our country would’ve been a land of lawlessness and chaos?
I used to love watching the History Channel. Unfortunately it has become now more of a reality channel with very little history. Some teachers say that kids aren’t interested in history. Perhaps it’s because they’ve not been given the opportunity to learn it. When we expect little of our students, they usually produce little. When we give them the world, the moon is achievable.
Slowly and insidiously our past is being wiped away – erased from our data banks and soon from our minds. Will they also be taken from the memories that still exist? I hope and pray not.
Posted in America, Bible, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged America, encouragement, history, Inspiration, knowlege, the past
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WRITERS’ FUNNIES
He didn’t need twitter, facebook or the internet. God spoke and the Word was.
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BACK IN THE SADDLE
When we grow older, learning isa process that stays with us until our final breath is drawn. Yesterday I began another after school adventure with several. I decided to return to this for one more session, not only because I miss the children, but I realized I need the energy that they provide.
I’ve discovered that being inactive is not in my vocabulary. I’ve learned that I really was overloaded, but I can’t stop doing what I love. So once again I am coaching little minds in the art of drama.
When you teach, you often wonder just how much of it’s actually being absorbed. You look at the sweet, little faces and as they begin to squirm with disinterest, you imagine they’d much rather be outdoors playing on the playground.
I was surprised that many of the techniques I’d taught in the past, were remembered. For example, I often tell my kids not to have their back to the audience, because we need to hear them and see the emotion on their faces. I tell them to imagine they have a hole in their pants and they certainly wouldn’t want anyone to see it. When you put it in their terms, it seems to make a lasting impression.
I usually begin my classes by laying down the ground rules. The usual things, like not talking out of turn, listening to the teacher, respect and not hurting each other were first on the list. Then a darling kindergartner piped up, “No biting your friends. Especially in kindergarten!” I could imagine the training that went on between parent and child over the summer. It was a good point, but I added maybe we should include everyone in that rule. NO BITING ANYONE!
As the class progressed, I could see talent emerging everywhere. One child wanted to be a zombie forever. Another needed to be on stage constantly. There was the quiet one – who I’m certain will be bursting with energy next week.
As the hour came to a close, I was amazed I was still standing. I tend to underestimate myself sometimes, but there is nothing like a group of children to re-energize you. Today I’ll be working with my group of seniors. I may encounter much of what I experienced yesterday, but I hope the thought of biting your friends doesn’t come up again.
I guess there still is use for this old woman!
Posted in aging, Children, Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged AGING, children, encouragement, Inspiration, rules, teaching, usefulness
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