Art by Paul Boecher©
A murky expanse of vegetation – branches arching and bending to fill themselves with nourishment – the morning dew glistens as fingers of light pierce through the emerald temple. Shades of yellow and gold mingle and play upon the swamp. Every shade of green caresses the glistening mosaic. Life begins to sing a melody that only God can inspire. A spotlight falls upon a lone egret as she wets her feet. The stage is set. The star has arrived!
It was a steamy summer night in the city of Rome. The wind picked up, bringing some relief, but before the night was over a large portion of the city was engulfed in flames. It started in the poorest part of town, where the merchants set up their wares each day. It didn’t take long for the fire to spread through the wooden marketplace. With encouragement from the wind, it spread quickly and destroyed almost 70% of Rome.
Rumors spread that the emperor, Nero, was responsible for the disaster. Did he actually give the order or start the fire himself? Was it true that he sat on the balcony of his palace, fiddling away as the city was consumed? It was reported that Nero hated the ugliness which had infected the majesty of his town and dreamed of creating a more beautiful Rome – with his name attached to it.
Nero needed someone to blame and the perfect scapegoat would be the Christians. Their beliefs were infiltrating Rome like the wildfire that spread that night. In order to satisfy the rumors about him, the Christians were taken to the amphitheater and fed to the lions.
There was no truth to the fact that Nero fiddled while his city burned. In fact, he sent his troops to assist in dousing the flames. He also invited the victims to take refuge in his palace. He was not playing a fiddle as is often depicted – he was known for his talent on the lyre – the fiddle had not even yet been invented. There was truth in the fact that Christians would now become the object of even greater persecution.
So the media doesn’t always get it right. Some things never change!
Art by Paul Boecher©
It was nothing more than the skeletal remains of a deserted old building. The facade bore scars on its sun bleached boards. It had become pock marked by the bullets of hail. Remnants of a large bird nest topped the crooked chimney. Windows, soiled by years of lost memories, were now clothed with the silver threads of spider webs, glistening in the light of day. Within the empty walls, you could almost hear voices from the past. Wallpaper barely clung to the mildewed walls. The floors creaked. A few dishes lined the sink- now coated with dust. A broken rocking chair sat at the center of the open space. How many babies had been rocked and comforted in that relic? A tree branch crashed through the roof at some point and now seemed to belong there. The new life, budding from that seemingly dead branch, presented some semblance of hope in the midst of misery. It seemed that the bones were still in place. The foundation was solid. When the sun cast it brilliance on it, I knew this is where I should be.
An artist is a unique human being, often spending years learning their craft, perfecting and making a living at it. Unfortunately, the artist is up against much competition and most of them aren’t acknowledged for their work until they die.
You must continue to invest in supplies. You market yourself, compete in art shows, spend hours, money and creative energy to get noticed. If you’re fortunate, you may sell something. Without art, our walls would be bare, the creative vision they possess would never be seen and the beauty of creative expression would become a thing of
the past. Art can also define a civilization.
John F. Kennedy once said, “I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.”
During WWII, Hitler, who was turned down as a student of the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, had his forces confiscate or steal magnificent works of art to be used for his own pleasure or to be destroyed if he felt it was decadent or abstract. Some 70 years ago, the now famous Monument Men rescued a large portion of these priceless treasures.
I’m proud to say that my husband is an artist. Many look at his work with admiration, but they have no idea how long it took to get to this point. His body of work is huge and someday will be the legacy he leaves our children. In the meantime, we both press on, knowing that our creative endeavors are a gift from God – a means for us to express our gratitude for what He’s done for us.
Here’s a small sampling of some of his work.
I’m going to preface this post with the fact that I’ve lived seven decades and I’ve not only seen a moral degeneration over the years, but I’ve seen some of the most basic manners disappear from society. Most children are taught to say, “please and thank you,” they know to cover their mouths when they cough, but with the dawn of the electronic age, some of the simplest courtesies have been lost to texting, tweeting or social media. I’ve listed ten easy ways for you and your children to be more interactive.
This is just the beginning. The Golden Rule states, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” Here’s ten more that state God’s expectations for us.
Even though we’ve become a very casual society, our kids need to be taught how to relate to others in all settings. The Ten Commandments were carved in stone so they should be engrained in our hearts as well.
Originally posted on 8/13/14
When fears and worries are so real,
We sometimes wonder why we feel,
The pangs of deep depression.The weight’s extreme – we lose all hope,
Our hearts grow sad – for strength we grope,
To lighten this progression.We look within and try to cope
There are no answers in our scope
It now becomes oppression.We try so hard to rise above,
We search in vain for any love.
To deal with this obsession.We cannot do it on our own,
We need one advocate alone,
To bring our full confession.God takes our hand and leads us out,
Relieves our pain – our fear – our doubt.
He is our best possession.God’s love is great – it sees us through
When there is nothing we can do.
Our words hold no expression.He lifts us from the pit of death.
He died for us to give us breath.
He paid for our transgression.KATHY BOECHER©
Acts of civil violence, leadership that has taken away the voice of the people, city streets full of anger and hatred, an anything goes society, loss of spiritual involvement by the citizens, a people that has lost sight of God, a nation of sexual perversion – a society that condones the death of the unborn. It sounds like the days before the fall of Rome. As most of you know, this is America today.
I love this country. I grew up placing my hand over my heart to pledge allegiance to her. I stood up in honor of her flag. I remember a time when everyone loved her but things have changed so much in just one lifetime.
I’ve seen many fall away from the practice of worshipping in God’s house. I’ve seen that even in the church there is division and tension. I’ve experienced the hatred of black against white – white against black, bubbling to the point of eruption and the race riots of the 60s. I’ve watched as 13 presidents since 1942 have done their best to get things back on track. Instead each of their governing left a lot to be desired and none could control the insurgence of evil which has descended on this God endowed country.
We need to get back to the business of a democracy. We’re supposed to be a self-governing country. We’re the boss. Our elected officials are OUR employees. They work for US. Somehow that’s been forgotten along with the absence of God as the ultimate leader. If we allow our country to be taken over by people that are only out for themselves, we need to fire them.
There has to be a stop to the upside down approach to morality as well. Even though our nation is diverse and getting more so all the time, it’s time to work together to build a great America again.
Dear, Almighty, God, only you can change hearts. You have shown throughout history, that there is redemption and restoration in your name. I call on you to heal our nation. You are our only answer. Amen!
Today is national town criers day. Now that’s an occupation you don’t hear much about these days. In olden times a town crier was the only source of information to the community. Things have changed radically with the invention of the printing press. Think of those poor unemployed town criers. Talk about disgruntled workers. These guys were wiped out in just a blink of an eye. I wonder if they had unemployment benefits or pension plans. Maybe they just went to the Town Criers Old Folks Home and are currently playing shuffleboard.
Today is also National Gruntled Workers Day. The town crier may have been eliminated, as many other careers have been taken over by electronics, and this of course created a lot of disgruntled workers. So someone thought it might be a great idea to celebrate the gruntled workers. I’m not sure what gruntled is, but it must be the opposite of disgruntled. These would undoubtedly be those who love their jobs, are devoted to their careers and don’t complain about anything. I’m assuming these folks are none other than the Geeks out there, since they seem to be the only ones with gainful employment. I suppose that’s why today is also National Embrace Your Geekness Day.
Everything these days is run by computer technology. Some of us are the underlings who spend hours on our PCs but aren’t really well versed in all the terminology or use them to their maximum potential. We are called nerds. To be considered a Geek, you must base your entire life around technology. Not only do you know the lingo, you have a job that excites you and is a necessary evil. Just think – someday National Embrace Your Geekness day will be obsolete!
If none of the above applies to you, go to McDonald’s and order ten super size French fries, because today is also National French Fries day. Of course you’ll have to sneak by Michelle Obama and her food police.
So Happy National Town Criers, Gruntled Workers, Embrace Your Geekness and French Fries Day. Isn’t it great to live in America?
This past week we had visitors from Utah, Oklahoma and Wisconsin – cousins I’ve not seen in over 30 years. We’ve all become older, and the hair that remains has turned gray. A few laugh lines have appeared (in my case an entire road map lines,) but memories of times past were readily available.
My cousin, Mike, was competing in the National Senior Games held here in Minneapolis this year. The event consists of games of badminton, cycling, swimming, cross country, pickle ball and much more. There was a man of 102 who participated in the bowling event. My cousin, in his late 60s, did a triathlon, several runs and biked. I’m so proud of him.
When we test ourselves to the limit, there can be obstacles, but when we finish the race there’s always a prize – a feeling of accomplishment if nothing else. We need to set goals, push on, move forward.
As far as our spiritual growth is concerned, we’re in a race towards our heavenly home. We can condition ourselves, by getting deeper and deeper into God’s Word. We can arm ourselves with His power. We can reach heights we never dreamed of as long as we keep our eyes on the cross and the love that spilled from it for all humanity. This is a race that brings a medal more precious than gold. Our trophy is not for our achievements, but for what Jesus did for us. What a prize!
My cousin inspired me so much that I’ve decided to participate in the games next year – that is if there is a quarter mile event for slow walking. No matter what, I know that even though I’m still pushing my way through my life, the best is yet to come.
Being shovel ready has a lot of connotations today, but here’s one I’d like you think about. Our job as Christians demands that we dig in to the Word of God for knowledge on how to pray – how to relate to others – how to serve God – how to live – morality – business dealings, and much more. I once heard someone say we should ransack the scriptures. To ransack means to tear it apart and search diligently until you find what you’re looking for.
I attended Christian schools, but I never really digested the meat that lay within the Bible’s pages, but the more you get into it, the more you want of it. It’s like a thirst that longs for refreshment and the only satisfaction comes from the words God breathed into the pens of men. I think it comes from years of experiencing life and the ups and downs that get in the way of our Christian walk. As time went by, I really began to dig into the Word. It isn’t just a book of fairy tales and myths. It’s filled with things that can change your attitude, your ability to go on in difficult times, a handbook for life – plus it’s a direct communication with God Himself.
What a blessing to open that book and rummage through it – highlight certain passages – study it. It has withstood the sands of time. It remains a best seller and you can even get an app for your Ipad. An entire banquet waits for those who open it and inwardly digest it.
” Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
Gone are the days when we’d pack three children, a dog and half our worldly belongings into the car and take off for a family vacation. Oh the joys of the open road – where you can leave all your troubles behind and just enjoy the blessings of God’s creation . . . well almost.
Our early Christmases were often spent driving from Minneapolis to Milwaukee during a blizzard and icy road conditions. We’d pack up the playpen, (one of those devices that would now be considered child abuse,) Christmas presents (often homemade) and enough snacks to satisfy everyone for the 5-6 hour trip.
Our first camping excursion taught us how to put up a tent, build a fire, cook over it and wash dishes in the open air. I’d never been camping in my life, but my husband – and avid outdoorsman – loved it and wanted his children to experience the rich rewards. The tent was set up, car unloaded, we ate under the tall pines and it was lovely – until a tornado came spinning through our campground in the middle of the night.
The children were fast asleep when the tent started to sway in the wind. My husband scurried outside in his underwear to secure our habitat to a tree, as I held it up from within, with water dripping down into my armpits. The kids slept through the entire thing.
Family time together can make for some wonderful memories. Through those times, we had an opportunity to learn more about each a chance to enjoy each others’ company, but as for me, I much preferred doing it in a Holiday Inn.
Time you spend together is never wasted. BTW, this was before smart phones and other electronics. “Never leave your children to their own devices,” a quote from my husband.
Fairy tales can come true – it can happen to you, if you’re young at heart … Old, blue eyes, Frank Sinatra made that dream seem possible when he released “Young at Heart” in 1963. It was the same year that Camelot fell and President Kennedy was assassinated. I was only 21 and just at the beginning of my life’s adventure. In less than a year I would marry my Prince Charming and live happily ever after. I didn’t have a clue how that one event would change the country I love forever.
Youth is really over rated. Those early years are filled with all kinds of new ideas, hopes and dreams. It takes years of time, struggle, building, breaking, rebuilding and the love of God to become mature. By the time you’ve reached the golden years, you’re not only falling apart, the world assumes you’re too old to contribute much of anything.
I suppose, if Washington has its way, anyone over 70 will soon be on the endangered list.
One thing I’ve learned in my life is that we can’t change God’s plan for our life. We can try to alter it in some way, but He’s in control. To many that doesn’t seem right. We should be masters of our own domain, right? To those of us who have chosen to put our lives in God’s hands, it is not only a comfort, but the best possible place we could be. Knowing this, we can be confident of eternal life — a life that will never fall apart, ache, suffer or be sad – a perfect life that will last forever. This is the best part. We have a head start if we are among the very young at heart. Jesus made that possible!
Over the past weekend, I thought about what it took to establish this great nation. Within its short history, we’ve seen a steady decline in morality, a lack of trust in God and a change in attitudes towards a government that was built through the blood, sweat and tears of its inhabitants. In my lifetime alone, there has been a shift in patriotism that I never thought would happen.
I remember waving the American flag proudly as a child. Now there’s a flag for everything imaginable flying in the hearts of men. I remember, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day. I remember a country that never would’ve approved of the taking of unborn lives – disrespect God’s institution of marriage – dishonor the flag – turn wrong into right and show disdain to those who protect us.
Our world has turned upside down. If we look at history, we can see why nations fall. As soon as the One true God is left out of the equation, the results can be disastrous.
We replace God with our own reason – our own lusts and sins – and we crumble. When we choose to follow the world instead of the One who created it, we’re on the road to destruction.
Every week at church we pray for our nation and its governing officials, because government was instituted by God, but when our government is endorsing things that are completely against what our Bible tells us, we must stand for what we believe.
As Christians, we cannot judge others or their beliefs. All we can do is to approach them in love and continue to pray for them and ourselves, because we are all equally guilty of spitting on Jesus. God has promised to give us the victory without any intervention from us. It’s time to return to our country’s motto – In God We Trust!
Samuel Francis Smith wrote the lyrics to “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” in 1831, only 55 years after the Declaration of Independence had been signed. Marian Anderson performed the song at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Martin Luther King, Jr. recited the first verse of the song toward the end of his famous, “I Have A Dream” speech at the same location, on August 28, 1963. Crosby, Stills & Nash performed the song on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, following the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The song has raised a patriotic fervor whenever sung. Maybe we should start singing it at the beginning of every day. The words continue to instill hope when we realize that God is really the founder of our nation. His miraculous intervention with the events leading up to our independence were apparent, as a ragtag army of everyday men went up against the most powerful nation in the world.
That small group grew into a great nation itself, and though it has problems of its own, it remains the best country, where freedom continues to ring.
My country, ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty,Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountainside Let freedom ring!
Our fathers’ God to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
When I visited New York several years ago, there were cows everywhere. I ‘m not referring to herds of them running through the streets. Artists had painted these whimsical creatures to highlight some of the landmarks. My sister and I took photos standing in front of them, (before selfies) but I lost my camera so never had a chance to see them.
We place a lot of stock (not talking about cows here) in some of our famous landmarks here in the USA. The Golden Gate Bridge, the Paul Bunyan statue, the monuments in Washington, DC, Mt. Rushmore, but they’re just monuments to the achievements of some, for the glorification of others and for destination spots for travelers.
The Statue of Liberty is one of those colossal monuments. It sits in the harbor welcoming newcomers to our country. She has been there since 1886 and was a gift to our country from France. The plaque at the base contains the words of Emma Lazarus and have served as a greeting to immigrants as they journey to Ellis Island. This man made structure is just that – man made.
Like all sculptures, exposed to the elements, they eventually needs repair or reconstruction, kind of like us. Our rebuilding takes place on the inside.
When we place our trust in God, He will constantly repair and rebuild us. Our human nature will lead us to believing the lies of this world, but He will keep us on the road to heaven if we let him. He’s given us the promise of an open door to His kingdom – a place where we will never grow weary, feel pain, experience sorrow. All sinners – the wretched masses yearning to be free – will know the glory of God.
MAY GOD ONCE MORE BLESS AMERICA!
Please forgive my reposting this post from 4-3-14. My garden is keeping me busy so I’m cheating and using an old one. It’s still pertinent in light of all thEchaos in our country.
I am very concerned about the state of our nation.
The ones suffering are not the Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians or the Tea party. The American people are being held captive by a government that has forgotten all about the constitution and the running of the business of government and I’m not referring to any political party.
People are fearful of losing their jobs, rising costs and loss of insurance benefits. It is becoming necessary for more and more people to rely on government entitlements. Our president once rightly stated that the government is the largest employer in the nation. That is a scary thought. Will the day come when we are all employed by the government? Shades of the novel,“1984.” In fact, George Orwell, the writer of that novel said, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
The rift between parties is dividing those parties as well as the people they serve. Could this lead to another Civil War or rebellion of some sort? I hope not, but when you look at what’s happening, you can’t help wondering.
We have lost faith in our executive, legislative and judicial branches which were designed to keep things running smoothly. Our elected officials seem to have forgotten that they are working for the American people and not for themselves or special interest groups. I consider myself a conservative Christian, but there isn’t room for conservative views in today’s world. There doesn’t seem to be room for Christian views either.
So what’s the answer to this terrible mess? Maybe it’s time for us to make room for those values again. We should stand up for what we believe in and voice our opinions instead of trying to be politically correct. We can begin to work as a united group of Americans rather than individuals with personal agendas. Maybe as the employers of the branches of government, we should fire all of them and start over. Unfortunately that would be unconstitutional so we have to depend on the one right we still have – the right to vote for people to take their places.
When we follow the precepts of the Bible, governments will be blessed by God. He is the one who established government. As His children we should respect our government, but we don’t have to sit idly by while it falls apart.
When we stray from Him, we are setting ourselves up for disaster and defeat. Unfortunately our society has gone way beyond God’s plan for our lives. We have become selfish, rude, immoral, greedy, impatient, thoughtless, dependent, needy, etc. etc. etc.
I know that God is in control of our future. He will protect those who love and believe in His teachings. Our country and our beliefs are worth fighting for. Too much blood has been shed in defense of her. To stand by and do nothing is tantamount to ignoring those who sacrificed their lives for her.
I am proud to be an American!
Originally posted 3-11-15
I need to be wrapped in the protection of God’s holy wings.
Each pinion gently lays over me – cuddling and nurturing.
The softness and strength are overwhelming.
He breathes His presence upon me and gives me life.
He speaks and I am comforted.
His touch is gentle yet full of power and strength.
His steadfastness feeds me – nourishes my soul – guards me from all evil.
His love for me is unfailing. A love so great that it’s indescribable.
His tenderness is equal to His might.
I will never be alone as long as He is with me.
Be in my heart – my mind – my understanding.
Be with me in life so that I will know you fully when I meet you after death.
KATHY BOECHER©
I’m tired. I need to be renewed. My strength is waning. The world is making me faint. I feel I can’t take another step. Then I realize that I can’t take a single step forward until I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I could stand in judgment of all the ugliness occurring in the world today, but I’m just as guilty for the state that it’s in as anyone else.
We’ve all sinned. We’ve fallen short of God’s expectations. We shouldn’t be surprised by the events of the last week. We shouldn’t sit back and say the world as we know it is doomed to the same destruction that befell Sodom and Gomorrah. As with every generation from the beginning, we have all been marked with the darkness of sin. It’s part of our DNA.
Sin is sin, no matter how great or small. If it weren’t for the grace of God, each inhabitant of this earth would be facing an eternity in hell. There is not one thing we can do to change that. God is the only one who changes hearts. He alone is the master of our life and eternity.
When Jesus said, “Let those without sin, cast the first stone,” He was referring to all of us. I have to repent every day for the wrongs I’ve committed. I can’t begin to itemize them, because I sin without even realizing it. God promised a way out for sinners. That way – the only way to be clean in God’s sight – purified of every dark blot – is Jesus, Christ. Once forgiven, it’s our obligation to invite others to this knowledge.
We can’t hide in the walls of our churches or the safety of our own homes. We need to be warriors for Christ. It’s time to bring the Gospel to a sin driven world and restore what belongs to God.
Dear, God, heal our nation!
SHED BLOOD
Crimson stains the sand. People running, hiding, covering themselves and others,
Fear ensues, then pain, followed by anger and rage,
Faces and heads shrouded in black, too cowardly to show themselves,
Thoughts of waging a righteous war against those who don’t believe as they do,
Brainwashed into thinking they are doing this for their god.
Misdirected, searching, groping for something to believe in – something to hang on to,
Do they find peace in causing others pain or in ending lives?
Where is the righteousness?
Blood flows from a beaten, smitten corpse, hanging on an instrument of torture,
This One not taking life, but giving it through His own precious blood.
That is righteousness, bought and paid for the ugliest of us.
KATHY BOECHER©
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