SUPERNATURAL SPIRITUALITY

Posted on April 6, 2021 by atimetoshare.me


We live in a world that is filled with a keen interest in the supernatural. There are those who search out the spirits of those who have passed away – those searching for miracles – those who seek divine intervention – those who search in all the wrong places for the bizarre and evil. Most spirituality comes from this need to figure out a world we don’t understand and come to grips with it in our own way, by inwardly searching for peace.

Our Christian faith is based upon a powerful God that expects us to be obedient, knowing we’re incapable of doing so, yet so loving that He took on human flesh to save us from eternal death. It tells of the conception of a virgin by the Holy Spirit. A pregnancy that appeared normal but was anything but. A life of poverty and oppression, a supernatural visit by the villain, Satan and the power of this man/God to defeat Him with the Word. Then the persecution of the same man/God – torture, humiliation, mockery and death. Miraculous resurrection of a dead man, free of all evidencde of His humiliation except for the wounds in His hands, feet and side. Eventually this same person will miraculously rise into heaven escorted by angels. There is nothing normal about the story. It is the most supernatural event in human history and we believe it because it’s true.

The average person, living in a world of chaos and confusion, thinks of this as nonsense. They refuse to believe the truth, because they feel the need to be in control of their own destiny. The act of salvation without any kind of payment is illogical, foolish and impossible for the rational mind. The only payment expected of us is our obedience to the Almighty and Everlasting God. That obedience and our gratitude for what He’s done will lead to a life filled with caring for others, helping them through problems, standing at their deathbed and encouraging them through difficult life situations, healing broken hearts and bringing them peace and joy.

The simplicity of letting God take the controls is a difficult concept for the majority of people today. Still our God invites us to cast our burdens on Him. He tells us to ask, seek and find – to be silent and let Him complete the work He’s started. As we push forward knowing that He has paid the ultimate price for our redemption, give Him praise and thanksgiving. His story has stood the test of time and will continue until this world ends. Then rejoice with me at the fact that heaven awaits and we will live forever.

Posted in Salvation | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

GALLERY – WATER

Posted on April 5, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Sheets of frozen shards slice through the mountain,

On its path, the ice turns into glistening, fresh, cool water,

Crashing,

Rolling over jagged rock,

Bubbling and steaming,

As it falls to still waters below,

The finger of God,

Pushing it ever forward,

Cutting through granite,

With only His touch,

As in days of old,

When waters poured down,

And raised up from the ground,

Flooding the entire earth,

Only a few survivors,

But enough to begin again,

In that flood,

God spilled His tears,

Over a fallen world,

But didn’t give up on it,

He provided a way out,

Carving new channels,

Scenic bluffs,

Canyons and pathways,

Filling the old,

with new,

Renewal,

Restoration,

Revival,

Rebirth,

A new covenant,

Never again would the world,

Be destroyed by water.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

EASTER AFTERGLOW

Posted on April 5, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

They didn’t don their Converse shoes, but some high speed sandals led Peter and John to the tomb that Easter morning. The one who had been deemed the “rock,” according to his master and the one whom the master loved, pumped up the power and ran an unsurpassable race to find out what happened to the stolen body of Jesus. I cannot imagine that this was their first thought – that someone had carried the dead body off. Jesus made no bones about what was about to happen to Him, before the horrible events unfolded in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said He would rise from the dead. Yet when you think of the reality of the situation, this undoubtedly would’ve been my first inclination too. None of this past three years made sense from a human standpoint. Yet Jesus in His divine patience knew that eventually His followers would get the message. We humans are like that. Sometimes it takes a while to sink in.

It didn’t matter who got to the tomb first. It wasn’t a competition anyway. Jesus didn’t show favoritism to anyone. When He conquered death, He did so for every single human life that was, is and will be. He didn’t differentiate between races, background, past sins. He died for all people. He took the weight of our iniquities and carried them to the cross. Then buried them in a sealed tomb and on the third day, rose in victory over the devil.

Now it’s our mission to put on our own racing shoes and shout the good news to everyone. We could sit back and wallow in the aferflow of family gatherings, beautiful weather, chocolate bunnies and egg bake, but this news saved the world from eternal death. Shout it on the mountains. Go to every hill and dale. Let everyone know that we no longer need to fear death. Our sins have been forgiven – once and for all.

Posted in Easter | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

IN THE GARDEN

Posted on April 3, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER ©

A bouquet of vibrant colors, slowly fading in the hand,

Picked fresh this very morning, plucked from the moistened land,

Our lives are like those flowers – they slowly wilt and die,

We want to intercede somehow, but no matter how we try,

Our days on earth are numbered and our lives will surely end,

But even through our darkest days, we know we have a friend,

Our loving Savior, Jesus, shed precious blood for me,

He gave His life to save me and set my spirit free,

Life never ends with Jesus, His love endures the ages,

His Word sustains me everyday within its splendid pages.

Posted in Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

JUST THE BEGINNING

Posted on April 1, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

When it seems that all is gone and the days stretch on too long,

There is hope and consolation in God’s perfect preservation,

He provides for every need, even when there’s naught to feed,

When miracles are required, He will give with love inspired,

His perfection does abound in creation all around,

Lift your hands to Him in prayer, He will calm your every care,

Maybe not as you expected, but in ways that He’s directed,

He will soothe your troubled mind, give you peace in all you find,

He will lift you to His breast, calming fears through every test,

He will breathe new life in you, when the present one is through,

As He made Himself to be known for our dying, breathless groan,

A second Adam He became, so to destroy our sin to shame,

Born in poverty without sin, the Son of God would now begin,

The greatest story ever told, fulfilling prophesy of old,

Living life in a perfect way, following His Father’s plan each day,

He took our sin on His shoulders, making songs come out of boulders,

Then He conquered all death and sin, so in heaven we could join Him,

We wait for His second coming with songs that will keep us humming,

Praising Him with all of our hearts, perceiving this is where it starts.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

HIS KINGDOM COMES TO ALL OF US

Posted on March 30, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A royal prince became a man and took on human flesh,

His kingdom left behind so that our hearts would intermesh,

It was a greater plan than any man could comprehend,

Where He would shed His precious blood and death would be His end.

The story didn’t end right there, He rose to life again.

He conquered death and brought us life eternal without end,

So lift your voices, praise His name, the King of Kings does live,

His life for ours, the price He paid, the ransom He did give.

Now we are sons and daughters of the only living God,

We’ll take our place upon the throne when our last walk we trod,

We’ll wear the crown of royalty, the robes of righteousness,

The majesty of David’s line upon our head now rests.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

GOD’S CREATION – A GALLERY

Posted on March 29, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
A COLLECTION OF SOME OF PAUL’S ANIMAL PAINTINGS

ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER ©

A lump of clay – no life – unanimated – uninspired,

Left to the hands of the Potter.

He pushes and prods with the strength of His hands

He manipulates with the tenderness of His fingers

And creates something recognizable.

He chisels details – two eyes, a nose, a mouth.

A human form, with flesh and blood.

He breathes life into newly formed nostrils with His own exhalation ,

Then He sets it aside – letting His handiwork rest for a while.

Alone – no life – unanimated – uninspired.

The creation is led by its own desires and passions.

It wanders aimlessly through its unknown existence.

Without the Creator, it cannot think clearly. Its mind is controlled by its form.

Crashing , tumbling, falling deeper into a pit of nothingness – alone and out of control.

Because it has not yet been exposed to the Light.

The Potter searches for His creation – never stopping until it is found.

He takes it into His loving hands.   He brings it closer to the Light.

He refines – turns – remolds – inspires.  He erases the blemishes,

Polishes and finishes.

This time the Creation experiences the Light. It feels the warmth of it. It bends at the touch.

Through the Potter’s loving touch the clay has now experienced real life.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, Lent | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

TOO SOON TO DIG IN

Posted on March 27, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER

When bygone days of winter pass and snow is off the ground,

I tend to think of planting things, and wait without a sound,

There’s nothing like new life I think, while pushing through dead leaves,

The natural mulch has molded some and makes me want to sneeze.

Still there is something calling me, to dig and plant and wait,

I can’t describe what’s stirring me, it just makes me feel great.

So onward, ever onward now, to find a nursery,

With COVID cash I’m going to shop, I might just buy a tree.

Then suddenly it hits me , I don’t do manual labor,

I’ll just bake some cookies for our husky next door neighbor,

But he just moved a month ago, so I am up a creek,

I best forget the gardening until my bones don’t squeak.

Posted in Art & poetry by Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

AWAITING JESUS’ RETURN

Posted on March 26, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
RELIEF CARVING BY PAUL T. BOECHER WITH POETRY FROM KATHY BOECHER©

Life is but a whisper in the scheme of things,

We take our first inhalation of air,

And begin a journey,

So far we’ve been safely encased within our mother’s womb,

Protected from the elements, in a familiar space all our own,

We go through the motions of living day by day,

Learning, trying, building, creating, thinking,

Working, striving, winning, losing, dreaming,

Each day passes slowly at first,

As we wait to pass through those early years,

When we finally get there,

The days begin to proceed at a much faster pace,

Still we push forward, sometimes gasping for air,

Sometimes choking on it,

Rarely taking time to enjoy the moment,

When we reach the final act, time has no bearing at all,

It speeds by like the wind and carries us to our final destination,

We rest in the safety of our Savior’s arms,

The glory of His loving touch,

This isn’t the end,

Just the beginning,

Come, Lord, Jesus – come quickly!

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

DEATH HAS LOST ITS STING

Posted on March 25, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Within our most desperate hours, when shadows fill the air,

When life is strangled from our souls, when nothing thrives in there,

We may see Satan’s work at hand, destruction and dispair,

But God provides the answers now, with just one word of prayer.

When we approach the throne of God, when our last breath is gone,

The open arms of Jesus wait, for us to rest upon,

The snare of death no longer holds, the king of hell is done,

Our Christ has crushed him at the cross, our victory He’s won.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, sin | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

COME FOLLOW ME

Posted on March 24, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

The painting show a dangerous. life threatening situation. It happens every day in the animal kingdom. There will be danger for us human beings when we follow Jesus as well. He doesn’t promise a life of perfection, wealth beyond compare, all the creature comforts we long for, but He does tell us we will inherit the eternal kingdom of heaven if we follow Him.

Are you ready to take up your cross, will you leave all to follow me,

Will you travel down untrodden roads, will you walk with me to the sea,

Can you lay your head under the stars, can you live with limited wealth,

Can you give up your past life of sin, will you trust me for life and health?

All I ask is to give me your heart, I will cleanse it with my own blood,

Your sins I’ll forgive and take you home, to heavenly treasures above.

Trust in my unconditional love, there’s nothing that you need to fear,

I’ll walk with you each step of the way, my presence will always be near.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

THE OLD HOMESTEAD – A GALLERY

Posted on March 22, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & INSPIRATION BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

The path to the house was lined with a brigade of tall sentries. Each pine meticulously planted and nurtured for years. It was now their duty to protect the meager house from the elements.

Once you reached the house you were greeted by a rusty old hand pump which served its purpose until it was at last replaced by indoor plumbing. The outhouse in the backyard – another reminder of times passed. A stray cat might also curl its way around your feet, begging for attention.

The house itself was modest, but held stories of a family and their journeys through tough times as well as the good. The little modified cottage grew with every new addition to the clan. As they grew so did the house.

A little window seat overlooked the massive flower garden, the fields of golden hay and the ever present line of diligent soldiers. A perfect refuge to escape and read a book or just enjoy the view.

This place belonged to my grandparents. Their eight children spent their younger years there. My grandmother watched five of them and her husband pass away during her lifetime and finally succumbed herself – never giving up the house nor the memories that were made there.

I spent many happy times on the farm. It became a kind of sanctuary for a young city girl.

Posted in Art & inspiration from Kathy Boecher, art & inspiration from the Boechers | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

WHAT’S DONE IS DONE

Posted on March 21, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & INSPIRATION FROM PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Our past sins and mistakes are over an done. He spoke it clearly as He hung from a hideous cross. “It is finished,” He spoke as life drained from his torn body, The bruises and scars He exhibited were the result of our sin – the payment for our salvation. As we approach the holiest time of the church year, let us never forget how a crowd that sang Hosanna to the King of the Jews would turn to massive chants for His crucifixion. He considered us worth dying for. We will forever sing His praise.

Posted in art & inspiration from the Boechers | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Posted on March 20, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
TRANSITIONING FROM ONE SEASON TO THE NEXT

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

We will see the thermometer rise to 60 degrees today, but can expect snow by midweek. In Minnesota, the winter takes its time leaving. In spite of it, we celebrate the first day of spring with a bang.

Remnants of a frozen past, dangling branches kissed at last,

Dreams of respite from the cold, thoughts of ever growing old,

Sapped of life and wanting more, grasping for that final door,

Then when all seems lost and done, Heaven opens with the sun,

Warmer days and star filled nights, lift you to new glorious heights,

Earth gives way to life anew, fresh, green buds are breaking through,

Smells of earth and wind and rain, dance within your tired brain.

Washing clean the pangs of death, giving you new life – new breath,

Then comes summer blazing hot, scorching, searing afterthought,

Lazy days of contemplation, dawdling in God’s sweet creation,

Thoughts of  everlasting peace, mingled with a temperate breeze,

Then the earth begins to dry, things give up and start to die,

Even then the beauty springs, colors burst and heaven sings,

The final act, the seasons done, nothing is new under the sun,

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

WE NEED TO SEE THE LIGHT

Posted on March 19, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Wars are fought in distant lands and we feel nothing.
We go about our daily activities without a thought about them.
Our path through life is narrow.
Our eyes are often shielded by blinders
and we can see only what we want to see.
Children cross borders to escape terror.
Thousands go to bed hungry each night,
As we indulge in abundance.
When will we truly open our eyes to all the injustice?
What can we do?
We feel alone – helpless – guilty.
Our minds reach out, but our hands can’t.
Where is our Christian love?
Have we buried it in the sand along with our heads?

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

ROAD TO PARADISE

Posted on March 18, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Proverbs 4:18-19   “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness”
    they do not know what makes them stumble.”

From darkest places we oft rise, to reach the morning sun,

We never seem to realize, how far from light we’ve run,

Our course has been established by our great and awesome God,

Yet sometimes we forget that fact, and through the muck we trod.\

When light leads us away from sin, the darkness disappears,

Our path becomes apparent then, as we race through our fears,

He guides us and directs our way, preventing every fall,

He knows what we will face each day, He hears our every call.

He wants to be there to the end, to reach the finish line,

He knows our every inner thought, we are His great design,

When His bright light in us does shine our race will soon be won,

He’s paid for every sin of ours, with His own precious Son.

No matter where we go in life, when we take Jesus’ hand,

We’re sure to find the perfect way to traverse any land,

The race will still be filled with bumps, but He will lead us through,

Just place your life within His hands, His light will shine through you.

Posted in Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

WELCOME TO ONE OF MY WORLDS

Posted on March 16, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART FOR THE CHILDREN’S THEATRE BY PAUL T. BOECHER

Almost five years ago, we moved from our Minneapolis home to a house half the size in the small town of Anoka. The house has a history, because it was originally built in 1875 – suffered partial destruction in a devastating tornado in 1949 – was renovated and made ready for us as part of God’s plan for our lives in retirement. In moving to this area, it also meant retiring from my children’s theatre business, which had thrived for more than ten years. I remained retired for a year and then longed for the roar of the crowd once more. I came across a sweet theatre, not too far from home. I met with the owner, shared some memories with her and discovered that we had first met when she was in college and I was a returning student of 44. Small world, isn’t it?

She had a dream of building her own theatre company and had already established a great resource for children from K-12. This forward thinking woman had big hopes for expansion and diversity. In the short time that I’ve known her, I’ve seen her business grow into a multi-faceted operation designed to bring performing arts to life and engage the entire community. We now offer classes in dance, music, theatre, on camera work, tech and set design to all ages.

Last year about this time, she decided to expand her space and with a certain amount of risk and a lot of positive thinking, she acquired almost every inch of the building. Then the world came to a halt with COVID19. Most theatre companies closed their doors and went dark for the year following, but this amazing woman wasn’t going to let her dream die. Virtual classes were established for all age groups. The additional space was built out to accommodate future classes. When the doors open again, things will be ready and in place for future development.

One of the rooms has been built out as a little theatre for younger children. The three paintings you see above were gifted to the owner by the artist for placement in that new space. Paul did a series of these paintings for our grandchildren many years ago and continued the series with these, which will now be enjoyed by more children in the future.

I have found a new place to do theatre. I love this place, not only because of how it’s fulfilled me, but for the forward thinking of the people involved in the operation. It is truly more than a community theatre, involving all age groups of all colors and inclusive of those with special needs. It is a place where all those involved have a chance to express themselves and grow.

The name of the theatre is Northern Starz Theatre Company and is located at 5300 Alpine Drive NW, Ramsey, MN 55303. The executive director and my wonderful friend is Rachel Bohnsack. They’re always looking for support, so if you’re so inclined a donation would be greatly appreciated.

Posted in art & inspiration from the Boechers | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

THE MESSIAH IS HERE – PART ONE

Posted on March 15, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

SOMEHOW THIS FIRST PART OF MY SERIES ON “THE MESSIAH IS HERE,” GOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. IT’S OUT OF ORDER SINCE I POSTED PART 15 YESTERDAY, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ENJOY IT.

I’m beginning a series of stories, based on the Passion History of the Bible. The characters are fictional. I enjoy understanding the makeup of various characters – how they dress – how they talk – what they think and how they relate to others. The stories are taken from actual events which occurred during Jesus’ ministry from the point of view of those who were witness to them. The time was right for God to send His Son into the world. It was all part of His amazing plan for our salvation. I hope you enjoy taking this journey with me.

This first day is the story of a Hebrew man named Nathaniel. He was a typical man of the day. He might have been a farmer or shepherd. The way he made a living isn’t really important to the story. What he saw when he went to see John, the Baptist is. As with everyone there, it seems indisputable that anyone present had to know that the Messiah had finally come.

NATHANIEL – A JEWISH MAN

I heard about this man for some weeks.  He seemed to be stirring up some controversy in the desert. His name was John. He didn’t seem the likely candidate for making way for the promised Messiah, but I had to see for myself. I went with a few others who needed their curiosity quenched.  We all wanted to witness what this fellow had to say and why he used water to cleanse his fellow man from the filth of sin.  He called it baptism.

He was in the Jordan River when I caught first glimpse of him.  A strange man to say the least.  He was dressed in camel skins, bound at the waist by a leather strap. It was obvious he hadn’t put a comb through his hair for some time. His beard was scruffy and tangled. His only diet consisted of locusts and honey. His home was the wilderness. His words were powerful. The voice touched a chord in my heart and condemned me for what I truly am – a sinner in need of a Savior.  I needed to be reminded of the condition of my soul from the day of my birth.  I was the inheritor of the stain of sin.  There was no way I could appear before God and His judgment.  I was doomed to eternity in hell. 

One by one, people would receive John’s blessing as they were doused in the waters of the river.  Even in the stabbing words of condemnation, I was impressed by something else in this man – the baptizer.  He wasn’t at all what I expected he would be.  Even though his words cut to the core, there was an air of hope about him.  I could tell that there was much more to his story.

John spoke these words, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Soon another man came to the river. They called him Jesus, a native of Nazareth – a nothing little town from which nothing special ever came.  When John saw Jesus, He seemed to know immediately that this was the man he had been talking about.  Jesus asked John to baptize Jesus, but John knew that Jesus was sinless.  John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 

What happened next was something I will never forget.  The sky opened up and doves descended towards the very spot where Jesus stood.  The Holy Spirit descended on him and a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Many, including myself and my friends, entered the river that day to confess our sins and ask for God’s mercy. We were confident that our prayers would be answered, because we had witnessed God’s own voice declaring His acknowledgement of His own Son, who had come to save us all.

Posted in Passion | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

BIRDS OF THE AIR – A GALLERY

Posted on March 15, 2021 by atimetoshare.me
ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©


Clouds go dancing through the sky – painted for our pleasure,
Elephants and angels fly – on canvas without measure,
The great expanse can turn to dust – its face will fill with rage,
But when the clouds dispel their grief, the tears wash clean each page,
We too can be like clouds on high, when life does overtake us,
We find surcease in tears we cry, we pray that God remakes us,
He hears our cry and washes clean the sins that sap our life,
His life for ours, His love unseen, will take away our strife.
Look heavenward, keep eyes on Him, don’t bend to Satan’s lies,
If God can keep His creatures safe – He’ll give to us His prize.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

BABY YODA WISDOM

Posted on March 14, 2021 by atimetoshare.me

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments