Spreading love, joy, peace, faith & unity

Archive for September, 2018

Share Your Saltiness!

Share Your Saltiness!

.

(If you’ve followed my blog

for awhile, you know it’s my habit

to take poetic notes while listening

to Rev. Jean Johnson’s sermons

in our Ennis, Montana Presbyterian Church.

If you’re new to JanBeek, now you know!

Here are my notes from today’s message

based on the scripture in Mark 9:38-50)

.

I take salt for granted.

I simply know it’s good.

I understand it preserves

and flavors food – as it should.

.

Salt is a part of life.

It’s here among us all.

So, why did Jesus talk

About lack of salt this fall?

.

Where’s the Good News

In Jesus’ message of salt?

If salt loses its taste,

Am I, dear Lord, at fault?

.

We, as the church, are called

To be the Salt of the Earth.

If we lose our saltiness,

We forget our Christian birth.

.

Born into the faith, we’re given

The spices of zest and grace.

We’re called to season every need,

To help each hurting face.

.

Our salt is meant to sprinkle

Both saint and sinner – the same.

Remember, we all are sinners, too,

So share your saltiness in Jesus’ name.

.

Amen?

(And this Sunday afternoon I’m wondering,

Do you s’posed Jesus might have had this

salty sharing in mind? Come on over!)

Oh goodness! Is that sacrilegious? Or just some of my saltiness spilling out?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, Poetry, Serving One Another, Sharing

Tagged with:

Heartache

The Hearings

The heartache

Of yesterday’s

Dying day

Will live on

In our memories

As cinders

In the heap

Of society’s sorrows.

Category:

Heartache, Life's Challenges, truth

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Jesus is Walkin’ on the Water Again

Jesus is Walkin’ on the Water Again!

I saw the fish ajumpin’ –

Areachin’ for my fly.

I saw the trout acomin’ –

Then turn; I don’t know why.
.

Then Jesus walked beside me –

Come right up to my boat

And skeered them fish to leavin’.

He sure done git me goat!

.

I’ll try another bugger,

And when I set me hook,

I’ll check to make sure Jesus

Ain’t there. Take a good look!

.

Cuz sure as them’s raisin’ –

Ya, sure as there is play,

I thought I seen my Jesus

Walkin’ the river today!

.

It weren’t no sacred Sunday.

I ain’t done nothin’ wrong.

But maybe He’s attracted

To the river’s bubblin’ song.

.

I sure as heck cain’t blame Him.

That river calls me, too.

I don’t suppose that river song

Has ever attracted you.
.

Huh?

Ya ain’t the only one!!

Ya got a fish story to tell!??

Category:

Fishing, Jesus

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Are We Just “Pissin’ in the Wind”?

My blogging friend, Claudia, posted today questioning the effectiveness of her blog. Essentially, she questioned, “Is anybody reading it? Does it make a difference? What’s my purpose?”

I commented on her blog, writing, “I understand your concern, Claudia. I have some of those same questions, doubts, and frustrations. How many million bloggers are out there? And for what purpose? Is it worth the time? Am I accomplishing anything? My husband says I’m just “pissin’ in the wind!” Well, my response is that every writer is doing likewise unless they have readers who are somehow encouraged, influenced, inspired, entertained, and/or educated by those written words. So, that’s my purpose… to create an audience of readers who are somehow inspired by my words to think, to reflect, to open their eyes to see something differently – and perhaps to be encouraged to reach out in love to one another a little more often, sincerely, and deeply. To know God and to thank Him more often for our many blessings – that’s another focus. But, I know we do those things better face-to-face than we do on social media. So, is my blogging taking away from the face-to-face opportunities? No, it’s late… I wouldn’t be out interacting with others at this hour anyway. Not now. Social media (blogging and FaceBook) help me broaden my reach. Don’t they? Or am I just “pissin’ in the wind?”

What do you think? Do you have a purpose for this writing activity called blogging? Do you feel your blog is accomplishing that? How do you know? Do people read and respond to your shared ideas? Is anybody out there?

Or are we all just “pissin’ in the wind” ??

Category:

blogging, Sharing, writing

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What is Truth?

T elling

R eal

U nderstandings,

T alking

H onestly

And how can we tell who’s telling the truth? How can we know who’s being honest? Each talks from his/her own understanding, right? Each tells his/her own truth. Are there any absolutes these days?

So, lie detector test results aren’t allowed in court, huh? So that means you don’t have to take one?

So, the FBI doesn’t draw conclusions, huh? So that means you should not ask them to investigate?

So, one side points fingers at the other side. And nobody believes anybody else any more.

What is Truth anyway?

Category:

Life's Challenges, respect, truth

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Music Unites but Words Can Divide

Well, not all words divide. But think about it. Words are divided into different languages and when we don’t understand our neighbors’ words, their “foreign language” divides us.

Music, on the other hand, is universal. A staff of 5 lines with a treble clef or a bass clef on it contains notes that can be understood and played world-wide. The universality of music unites us.

Earlier this week I wrote about how music and words are similar. But today I am contemplating the ways they are different. Take the words away from the music and just play the notes. A guitar speaks universally. A piano has the same black and white keys in Montana or Madagascar. A violin sings the same song in New York or New Guinea.

Tonight I almost missed the chance to publish a blog today. I was too wrapped up in my favorite TV program: The Voice. Why do I love it so much that I tape it so I’m sure I don’t miss an episode? It’s all about the sound. The music. The voice. The judges don’t get to SEE the artist until they decide they like what they hear, and they turn their chair around.

Some artists get no chair turns. He or she could be the world’s most beautiful person, but the music coming out of them is the chair-turning determiner.

A variety of musical genres are represented. Country, jazz, blues, pop, folk. Tonight the ages of the artists ranged from 13 to 40-something. Age is not the determining factor. Music speaks to every heart. We may like the sound or not, but beautiful music unites across all ages, race, gender, religions.

We may have our favorite genre. But we are united in the harmony of sound and the appreciation of a great performance.

Do you tune in to The Voice? If not, do yourself a favor. Stop and listen. Let 13 year-old Kennedy inspire you. Let beautiful Radha amaze you. Fly with “The Clark Kent” of music as you rock to the range of Patrique. This is going to be a great season!

Don’t let the judges bantering words divide you. Let us all be united in awe of the musical talent of these inspiring performers.

Are you with me?

Category:

Living in Harmony, music

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Words and Music

What do words and music have in common?

In this week’s Time magazine, Yo-Yo Ma made several interesting points. “Music is organized sound…” he said. And he continued by adding, “…just as words are organized alphabet.” We could go on to see that writing is organized words, and profound literature is carefully organized thought. Without organization, there would be chaos. Disorganized notes are noise. Words disorganized are meaningless.

Like music, words must be varied to create beauty. In today’s Daily Word devotional, the message said, “… harmony cannot be achieved if we are all singing the same note. When we add our own uniqueness to everything we do, we add depth and meaning.” Our individuality shines through our words, thoughts, and actions, as well as our music.

Music needs all eight notes on the scale and every sharp and flat in between to create great symphonies, exquisite melodies, pleasing harmonies. Likewise, our voices, whether sharp or flat, congruous or dissonant, need to be heard. Our thoughts need to weigh in.

Yo-Yo Ma said our world demands discussion if there ever is hope for harmony. Discussion can resolve discord. Democracy demands discussion. Life demands organized sound, notes of harmony, organized words, civil discourse, if we ever are to have peace.

Ponder those thoughts and join me in prayer: “Almighty Creator, may our words and our music add rich depth and meaning and peace to our world!”

Amen?

Let your words weigh in. Which of your blogs added to peace in our blogging world recently? Is that one of your goals?

Category:

Living in Harmony, Love, music, writing

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Is Resolve in Your DNA?

My husband shared with me

in a conversation this morning

that he thinks people either have it

or they don’t.

“Resolve is in your DNA,” he said.

I totally disagree.

I believe the ability to be persistent,

the tendancy to follow through,

the earnest decision to act on something,

the willingness to actually do it,

all are opportunities that are new,

New every morning.

What do you think?

Does “Resolve” need to be a part

of your DNA?

Or can you find new Resolve today?

What can you Resolve to do what

you have been putting off?

Away with procrastination!

Find and polish your Resolve today!

Category:

Life's Challenges, peace

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers

Already 2273 readers have “liked” this and 91 persons have reblogged it, but that’s okay. I will be #92. And I was #2274! All us writers are looking for ways to improve our writing, right? This blogger has practical ideas that resonated with me. I think they will touch your blogging heart, too!

Category:

Love

Sunrise

S tand

U nder

N ew

R ays

I n

S unrise

E cstasy

It’s a new day!

A new chance to begin again-

An opportunity to create a new ending.

The old is gone –

Yesterday was the best we could do.

Today we’ll do better.

God bless the sunrise!

Now step out and shine!!

Category:

blessings, Haiku, Promises

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