Loving One Another

Archive for the ‘Montana’ Category

Ubuntu!


Ubuntu!

 

Guest Minister

Today at church our guest minister was Dan Hollard, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bozeman, Montana. Our pastor for the past 25+ years has been Rev. Jean Johnson. Jean is on disability leave right now … in a rehab facility in Great Falls, MT.

Pray for Jean

Join me in prayer for Rev. Jean Johnson’s release from pain and ability to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Sunday Surprises

Meantime, it’s a surprise each Sunday to see who is in the pulpit and to hear a different kind of message. Today’s message was titled, “Spirit of Peace.” I think Dan Hollard must have spent some time in Africa, because he put on an authentic African accent and told us the story of Ubuntu (Oooo-boon-too).

He based his message on the scripture of Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

Here’s what I heard through my filter and took away this morning:

lunch table

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

There was a woman in Africa named Dorothy
Who embodied the spirit of Ubuntu
She was all about community and humanity.
Her kitchen was open to all … she’d welcome you.

She lived the spirit of Matthew 25:
If you see someone naked, clothe them.
If you see someone hungry, feed them.
We’re all one; you should never loathe them!

Dorothy was like a mother to all
Who entered her village; she’d invite
The hungry and poor to dine in her kitchen.
The sense of community was pure delight.

Like Nelson Mandela who invited his captors
To enjoy his inauguration feast,
Dorothy welcomed one and all –
Didn’t label anyone as one of the “least.”

Instead she lived a life that demonstrated
“I am who I am because of who we are.”
She knew “We are all connected.”
Her love lifted all people to “par.”

Everywhere in the world what we need
Is more Dorothys who live out Matthew 25.
Regardless of religion or color or creed,
We need Ubuntu to spread far and wide.

We must fill our world with love and joy.
We must fill the world with God’s peace.
We must feed the hungry and show respect
And love to all. Come and join my feast!

Shalom!

Ubuntu!
Have a Matthew 25 Sunday.
“I am because we are.”
We are all connected.
colorful dancers
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See you tomorrow.

 

Category:

Bible Lessons, blessings, food, friendship, Giving, God, Living in Harmony, Love, Montana, peace, Poetry, prayer, respect, Serving One Another, writing

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Touring Homes


Today was the annual parade of homes
in Ennis, Montana.
It was a fundraiser for our local Madison Valley Med Center.
As a MVMC volunteer, I was hostess
all morning at one of the homes.
I lucked out because this was a marvelous,
gorgeous place to spend the morning.
Let me share some of the views with you.
Maybe you will get some decorting ideas.

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The design from the outside is quite square and modern. But once you step inside the front door, you see an early 1800s chair – inherited from the owner’s great-grandparents – and brought here in the early 1900’s from Germany.

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You know you’re in for a treat when you see the art work on the walls and the other family heirlooms dotted throughout.

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The owners’ almost life-sized painting in the entry gives you a clue to their vibrant personalities. And the dog by the hearth shows you their hearts of warmth and love.

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Keep going, and look out. The house seems to be floating on Lake Ennis. There are no guard rails on the deck to interrupt your view of the lake.

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The window to the right of this continues the spectacular view.

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Step outside and dream awhile.

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Sit in the hammock and read a good book.

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Choose a chair and we’ll tell each other tales of the last 24″ trout we caught in that lake.

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Wait for the next fisherman to drift by.

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Back out the front door, join me for a swim in the exercise pool in the guest house. You can rent it for a couple of nights and really enjoy this Montana wonderland.

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To your right is the bedroom with a small kitchenette and the bathroom. Do you feel like you could stay here awhile – no problem?

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I hated to leave, but life must go on. Hope you enjoyed the house tour. Oh, can’t leave wihout going back into the main house to thank the owners for their hospitality. Don’t you love this kitchen?

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All this – and nice people, too.
What a great way to spend a day, huh?

 

Thanks for visiting with me.

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See ya tomorrow.

Category:

Love, Montana

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Sleepless Moon


Sleepless Moon

moon over snowcapped mountain

Photo by Frank Cone on Pexels.com

Who can sleep tonight
With the moon shining so bright?
Go beller at it!

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See ya later

 

Category:

Haiku, Love, Montana, nature, Poetry

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Thoughtfulness


Top of Mt Baldy

Yesterday Bob & I took our ATV, our dog, our lunches, and our stamina on a ride with friends up to the top of Mt Baldy in the Tobacco Root Mountains. From my sanctuary window, I can see the snow-topped mountain off to the north-west of us.

Mt. Baldy out my sanctuary window

Hard for you to see, with the sunlight reflections on the glass, but it’s out there through the angels in the distance… the tallest of the snow capped mountains.

What does all that have to do with thoughtfulness? Well, without the help of our friends, we wouldn’t have ventured up there!

First of all, some of the trails were really, really rocky and rough. We wouldn’t chance it alone!

Rocky trail up to Mt Baldy

Secondly, I could not have made that climb up from the trail where we left the ATVs without the help of my buddies!

Jan, Caroline & Penny on top!

With kind thoughtfulness, they each took one of my arms and climbed with me. They stopped to rest when my breathing got to panting instead. God bless ‘em!

View from Mt. Baldy’s top

At the 10,788 ft. level, the view was spectacular and the air coming off the snow on the peaks beside us was crisp and fresh.

I hope you’re as blessed as we are to have such thoughtful friends!

Rex in top of Mt. Baldy

Our buddy/neighbor/guide was Rex, who (with his wife, Penny) led the way. We’d have been lost without him!

Bob, Jan & TazE

Have a thoughtful day, my friends. Who can you help with his/her climb today?

See ya tomorrow

Category:

blessings, friendship, Gratitude, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Travel

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Montana Adventure


Today was a perfect day to take Lucille (Our ATV with a red head who is a Ball), And go up into the mountains – Up on Mt. Baldy, more than 10,000 feet tall!
On our way up to Mt. Baldy (10K ft ahead of us)
Lucille is a trooper with Bob at the wheel. TazE loves riding with us on the mountain trails. Some of the roads are so rough, I cringe, But I am happy to have an “Oh My!” bar instead of wails.
Hang tight to the “Oh My!” bar. Secure TazE with her leash.
TazE crowded me as she leaned out the window of Lucille
Going with friends makes it extra fun; Five guys and three gals in five 4-wheelers. The area in the Tobacco Root Mountains Is full of rough terrain, rocks and squealers.
Me (Jan) with Caroline & Penny
Bob, Rex, Gene, BW and Chuck
The views from up on top of Baldy Are breathtaking to be sure. The sky was a little hazy today, But the air was clean and pure.
Gene, with a recent new knee, made the rigorous climb from our ATVs to the top of the mountain (a steeper climb than it looks here!)
We were above the snow level Where the clouds seem so close We felt like we could touch them. I have more pictures than I can post!
Our lovely, protected setting for lunch on top of Mt. Baldy
The view from my lunch spot
Dilapidated old mining building
Over my right shoulder a dilapidated mine Indicated that people once lived and worked In this place miles from civilization – For gold, lead, silver and copper – no one shirked.
Old mining site on Mt. Baldy
Old mines dotted the trail as we headed down. I wished those old beams and rocks could talk. They would have wonderful stories to tell – Lived through many a death and untold shocks.
Jan in Bob’s fishing cap
On down the mountain on rocky trails, We were careful to not tip over the edge. The paths were narrow with no side rails – I held TazE and tried not to look at the ledge!
Bob driving Lucille – in a rocky spot with a wider ledge than most
Bob, Jan, TazE – top of Mt. Baldy
Old mine on Mt. Baldy
Ennis Lake from the Tobacco Roots to the Madison Range
We tried to stay in view of the Polaris Traveling on the trail in our lead, But we didn’t want to be too close To eat his dust as he picked up speed. That’s our Madison Valley and Ennis Lake In the middle of this view. As we headed back, the sun was warmer And we wished we could share this trip with YOU!

Thank you for visiting JanBeek Come back soon for more adventures and inspiration.

See Ya Tomorrow!
See ya tomorrow!

Category:

friendship, Love, Montana, nature, photography, Poetry, Travel

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Dual Purpose


Dual Purpose
(Haiku x2)

Antelope family
Intent on finding water
Trek through our field

Sprinklers green the grass
Providing water and food
For neighborhood pets

See Ya Later

Category:

Animals, Giving, Haiku, Love, Montana, nature, Poetry

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