Micah 4.5

For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

What more needs to be said?

Amos 3.3

Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment?

One of the stranger Bible passages, if lifted out of context. Amos is telling Israel it cannot rest on its own laurels as God's chosen people, because this status comes with great responsibility. If they cannot be a good example to the nations around them, they can always be a bad example. Vss. 3-8 tell Israel they ignore the word of God at their own peril, as God has sent it though the prophets, and, "... The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?"

It is probably a good idea, as we walk to Jerusalem, if we listen for the voice of God in those around us as well.

Hosea 14:9

Those who are wise understand these things [that it is God who cares for us and from whom our accomplishments come, and not idols]; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

What more needs to be said?

Daniel 4:37

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways are justice, and he is able to bring low those who walk in pride.

This is a fascinating story. The goal is to demonstrate how helpless is even the greatest of heathens against the God of Israel. The King, very successful, believes his victories come from himself, and not from God. To demonstrate this is not so, God both causes insanity in the King and then cures it.

This is a common theme in the Bible - the first becoming last and the last becoming first, within and without Israel. Similar realizations came to the Pharaoh in Egypt and to King Cyrus, for example, and Jesus spoke of this often.

It is a good thing to walk to Jerusalem, but we must not "walk in pride." As with the King, our accomplishments are due to the Grace of God.

Kinda Sounds and Looks Like the Kenai Peninsula

Kola River -- The Destination for Trophy Atlantic Salmon. The Kola is the largest river on the Northern Kola Peninsula emptying into the Barents Sea. No wonder the entire peninsula derives its name from it.

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, "We will not walk in it."

Ah, the humanity! One of the first words we learn to say is, "No!" Anyone who has been around a two-year-old has seen this, and, in some sense, we carry that two-year-old within us until we join the Church Triumphant. We substitute ritual for obedience. That's the bad news.

The good news is the ancient paths are there, and God sends us sentinels to point the way; all we have to do is ask, listen, when we stand at the crossorads. There will be, as we walk to Jerusalem, rest for our souls.

Keep your eyes open

Are there any geologists along on this journey?

How about rock hounds?

As we walk, let's keep our eyes open for a mineral found here on the Kola Peninsula. It's called Staurolite.

Yee Haw! We found one.

Hooray! Here's another.

This week's meditation

Genesis 12: 1-3

The Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

What was Abram’s yearning?

What is your yearning?

What is Christ Church’s yearning?

Who is the WE that we yearn to be?

Isaiah 59.9

Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.

We've all felt this way at times; I have, certainly. This section, 59.1-21, tells us, however, this isn't all there is. God isn't impotent and/or deaf. God's hand isn't too short to save or ear to dull to hear. We've often placed walls between us and God's salvation; I know I have. We go down blind alleys; I know I have. Yet God is always ready for us to return. Isaiah is convinced that, when there is no human helper available, God intervenes. Christians believe, of course, the ultimate intervention is Jesus. The Chapter ends as it begins, with the assurance God will come as our redeemer. God will keep covenant, even when we do not.

I guess I can sign on again! A note of gratitude.

The last several times I've tried to sign on I was told that I "wasn't allowed" ....... Hmmmmmmmm. I guess I was supposed to just be with my thoughts and not share them with the world wide net. LOL

I just want to say that I am so proud of the volunteers who have come to the last two choir rehearsals!! They are hard-working, surprising themselves and each other (and actually not me, I figured they'd be fabulous).

If I were keeping a gratitude journal, I'd have to put the 10 people who have shown up for the last two choir rehearsals at the top of my list. They just get better every week. I'm looking soooooooooooo forward to moving the congregation with these folks' ministry in the coming months.

Soli deo gloria!

St. Christopher, Patron of Travelers

St. Christopher was martyred in Lycia, in what is now Turkey, in the mid-3rd Century.

A Walking Song for the Next Week

WALK THOU WITH ME

“Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way?” Luke 24:32

Words: E. B. Barnes, cir ca 1911.

Music: Confidence (Rodeheaver), Homer A. Rodeheaver

Walk Thou with me, nor let my footsteps stray
Apart from Thee, throughout life’s threatening way;
Be Thou my Guide, the Path I cannot see;
Close to Thy side, Lord, let me walk with Thee.

Refrain

Dear Savior, let me trust my hand in Thine,
And let me know Thy steps are guiding mine;
Life’s changing way is oft times dark to me,
I fear no ill if I may walk with Thee.

Through weary years my way hath miry been;
My bitter tears Thy pitying eye hath seen;
My fainting heart hath heard Thy voice divine;
My trembling hand asks but to rest in Thine.

Refrain

No earthly foe can give my spirit fear;
No threatening woe can quail when Thou art near;
No tempter’s snare can turn my steps aside,
For in Thy care, I’m safe whate’er betide.

Refrain