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The Stations of the Resurrection--Eighth Station--Jesus Strengthens the Faith of Thomas

("The Incredulity of Thomas," by Michelangelo Merisi da Carvaggio)

The Eighth Station--Jesus Strengthens the Faith of Thomas

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You allowed Thomas to believe in the way he understood best.

Thomas had been absent from the other disciples when Jesus had breathed the Holy Spirit upon them. When they told him of their encounter with Jesus, Thomas just glared at them and did not say anything for a long time. He had no doubt his companions had experienced something--but wondered if their desire and wishes to see Jesus again had not clouded reality for them. Perhaps they had met someone who reminded them of Jesus and they wished it so. Perhaps someone had played a cruel trick on them. Perhaps they were so grief-stricken they were having delusions.

Thomas was still grieving terribly himself. He simply did not want to hurt any more than he was hurting already. He didn't want to hear these stories--it did not make his own pain any better. So finally, he growled back, "You know what? I don't want to disagree with you, but I just can't buy it, as much as I love and believe in you. I won't believe it until I see it--and I'd have to feel the nail marks and the hole in his side myself before I could even begin to believe it."

A week later, the disciples were again behind closed doors and Thomas was among them. Suddenly, Jesus was again in their midst! "Peace be with you," repeated Jesus. He looked squarely at Thomas, holding out his hands. "Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe."

The Gospel of John doesn't say whether Thomas actually did touch Jesus--that is left up to our imaginations--but whatever did happen caused Thomas to exclaim, "My Lord and my God!" What is clear, though, is that Jesus understood exactly what it took to come to Thomas on his own terms--and he was perfectly willing to do that.

Leader: Jesus came to Thomas to the way of his own understanding,
People: Just as Christ can come to us in the way of our own understanding.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

Lord God, perceiver of all things,
Sometimes it hurts too much to simply accept and believe your truth.
Sometimes when our worries and fears overtake us,
the gentle touch of your loving hand sears our flesh like acid.
It becomes easier to doubt than to believe.
Remind us in those moments
that we are loved by a Son with nail holes in his own hands
and a gash in his side, a Son who cries and bleeds,
and will not ask anything of us in our pain
but to simply touch his own wounds and feel one with them.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Heading Back to New York

Well, the fun couldn't last forever. It was a good but quick stay in Vancouver and even briefer at the cabin. I spent time with some friends and completely missed others. The weather was very nice and it is always nice to sleep in my own bed either in Vancouver or the cabin, although the cabin was a little crowded.

Who knows, I may be back in Vancouver sooner than most think. If the apartment landlords where I stay in New York decide to redo the apartment roof in the next month or so, then I'll be back in Vancouver. I am on the top floor and it was shear hell last year when they did the building next door. I can't imagine actually living in the apartment while they take 2-3 weeks to redo the entire roof. Can you imagine the dirt and debris falling each day from the ceiling? Can you imagine the noise and irregular hours, working through the weekends? That isn't for me, better to be free and travel home to a noise free environment without dust, dirt and bricks coming loose and falling from the walls.

In New York anytime they say a job will take a week or two then it means it will actually take several months. You should hear New Yorkers talk about this stuff - it makes them crazy!

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Tough, Wobbly Kneed & Steep to the Step: A Trip to the Cabin for Spring Maintenance & a Little Rest

We headed up to the cabin last Friday early and with beautiful weather. It didn't take us long to connect with Jeff N. and Shelby. We texted our coordinates every so often and re-adjusted our schedules. Stopped at the bakery in Princeton and picked up some donuts. The bakery has been operating since the 1920s and I have been a customer since the mid 70s.

Jeff, daughter and Kita, the half husky trail dog, were at the trail-head at 1:00 and ready to go. We arrived and parked. Looking at the river, gauging the depth, colour and speed, I on the other hand had not completely said it out loud but new it in my mind - the river was beginning to be in flood. We would not be able to make the eleven water crossings necessary to get to the cabin. Some crossings are easier than others but I knew that some would be 3 feet deep with a high velocity of speed. The general rule is you only cross water that is less than half your height and not strong enough to knock you over. Shelby and Kita couldn't make it let alone the big folks.

After a short discussion it was decided that we would do the over the mountain climb. This approach to the cabin involved driving back out to the highway and backtracking about 5k then turning north off the highway we drove up about 7k into the mountains on a very steep logging road that provided a glorious panoramic view of the Similkameen Valley far below. Using both an old Gps unit and eyeballing the terrain we parked the two vehicles and readied our packs for the arduous hike on unmarked deer trails down a steep two thousand foot slope to the valley floor and the cabin that awaited us. Part of our goal was to avoid the cliffs on either side of the known route.

I first climbed out from the valley floor in the early 80s when I had been staying at the cabin through the beginning of spring run off one year. Again, during the set up for a spring/summer retreat in April of 1994, Jeff N. and I were forced to hike down to the cabin to take in the necessary supplies. We then hiked up two days later for me to retrieve the remainder of the food supplies and to send Jeff on his way back to Vancouver. Returning to the valley floor, two thousand feet below, with a hundred pound pack - I was delirious and close to exhaustion.

However, back to 2010 and this trip, the four of us and one dog headed over the edge of the ridge with a general idea of where we were going and how long it would take to get there. At first we had a tree canopy, but leaving the forests of the Thompson Plateau, it wasn't long before we had to stop for the obligatory snap shot photos of the spectacular views of the entire valley in front of us and the creek far below in the narrow valley below. The hike down the mountainside took approximately 2 1/2 hours. My knees and legs were rubber at the bottom. Thank god for walking sticks, company, and a good trail dog. [In the photo above I am standing with the Thompson Plateau behind me. The cabin lies in one of the many steep and hidden valleys that crisscross the plateau. The Thompson Plateau lies inland from the Pacific Ocean and over the Coast Mountains on the eastern side. Moving west, after the Thompson Plateau are the various mountain ranges such as the Selkirk, Purcell, and Kootenay all on the west side of the Rocky Mountains].

Arriving at the cabin we found it in use. Not by a person physically in it but by somebody that wasn't currently there. We investigated the signs of habitation and determined the squatter had left some days earlier. They had left all of their belongings out, but neat, as if still there, or returning shortly. We carefully packed all of their belongings away and unpacked ours. We were four and a dog, they were one. We needed space to sleep, prepare food and cook.


Using both a camp stove outside and the cast iron stove inside we were able to quickly boil water and prepare some food of pasta, beef jerky, cheese and tea. When traveling to the cabin we always have snack foods of chocolate, trail bars, real licorice, and more. The first night was spent with some tossing and turning as the cabin is not really meant for four people and a dog, three is doable and can be fun, two is great, one is pure pleasure and extremely restful.

Saturday was a day of mixed weather. We ate breakfast, washed, talked, napped, ate, cut wood, watched the weather, talked, finally Gio went out with Kita for a walk down to the last crossing where there was once an old concrete dam built at the turn of the century, small, long destroyed with only remnants of its existence.

Upon Gio's return Jeff and I also felt like a little hike to stretch out the legs from the hill descent of the day before. Shelby was content to stay in the cabin next to the stove and under the blankets. Off we went with Kita in tow as well, for her it was the 2nd time. The walk was fast paced and we made it to the last crossing in about a half hour. The water was high and brown. I knew that I would have tremendous difficulty crossing if I had a pack on my back even if I was using two over-sized walking sticks. The real danger, especially with a pack on the back, is that if you are knocked over in the water while crossing you can not recover - you are taken away by the swift current until you can grab onto a rock or regain your footing - if possible. It is an ugly scenario all round, I've been there, I've tried. The feeling is the same as white water swimming (swimming down rapids) except without the intention of wanting to be white water swimming. On the way back up the trail it hailed heavily. It seemed more like a snow shower.

Dinner on Saturday night was quinoa, my favourite, with cheese, meat, soya sauce, and whatever else we had. It was delicious. Quinoa cooks beautifully on a cast iron stove. When I am alone or we as a group are at the cabin longer then I often cook a sweet curry to go with the quinoa, but alas those days do not come as often now as they did in the past. The second nights sleep was better than the first probably because of some re-adjustment in the bedding and shifting of bodies.

Saturday night we decided to all leave together on Sunday. This was mostly for safety reasons. It would be easier for all of us to hike up the mountainside together knowing that if there were any problems we would all be there to help. Remember, it had been some years since Jeff and I had hiked that route out from the cabin. The mountainside is also known for mountain goats, deer, bears and cute brown rabbits.

The hike was horrendous, long and steep. The day on the other hand was magnificent, beautiful, with clear blue skies and thick sunshine like the clearest honey. Once again we had beautiful views of the mountains, ope meadows, and the valley below as we climbed higher and higher. As an added bonus we had drinking water the entire way up the mountainside. There were pockets of hail every so often in the shade of trees and rocks that were left over from the day before. The pockets of hail continued all the way to the top of the mountain. After that there was the remnants of the winters heavy snow and brackish ponds. Neither of these were to my liking, nor as clean as the hail - Kita didn't care.

The hike from the cabin to the top of the mountain (ridge) and then to the vehicles took approximately 4 hours. I was tired and ready for some serious rest. Packed up and ready to go we drove down the mountain road passing local kids with trail bikes and 4x4s farther along. Arriving in Princeton we said our goodbyes to Jeff N., Shelby and Kita who headed north to Williams Lake via the old Princeton/Merritt Road - the preferred route of bikers. It was about four in the afternoon and we headed straight for the pub to eat and drink. Leaving Princeton for Vancouver the last leg of the trip was relatively uneventful except for the very large numbers of deer grazing in small herds alongside the grassy areas of the highway outside of Princeton. There were also two black bears, not together, in the Manning Park area noteworthy for their beautiful thick shiny black fur.

The Stations of the Resurrection--Seventh Station--Jesus Gives his Disciples his Peace and the Power to Forgive Sins

("Jesus Breathes His Spirit Upon the Disciples," by Hanna Cheriyan Varghese)

The Seventh Station--Jesus Gives his Disciples his Peace and the Power to Forgive Sins

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You breathed your living Spirit upon those who loved you.

The disciples sat in a locked house, discussing a million things with each other, in a slightly more hopeful tone of voice, but things still felt dangerous--so they discussed the events surrounding the Resurrection in a locked house. The rest of the world still seemed pretty uncertain to them.

Suddenly, in the middle of their discussion, Jesus appeared. "Peace be with you," he told them. As he revealed his hands to pull part of his robe aside to show them his wounded side, they recognized him, and as he put his hands out to them to be welcomed they literally rushed towards him in the biggest group hug one can imagine. Even in a locked house, he had come to them. Imagine all the embracing and hair-tousling that probably ensued--and some probably simply held his hand in both of theirs, looked in his face, and cried.

Jesus very likely hung on every embrace, feeling their hearts beat within their chests, hearing them breathe, and feeling their wet tears on his own face. He probably cried a few joyful tears of his own--he SO loved this group. Suddenly, a warm gentle breeze surrounded them, and they felt the breath of the Holy Spirit in each exhale of Christ's breath. Yes, they were still in a locked house, but they began to feel less "locked up" themselves.

Leader: Each time Jesus exhaled, the Holy Spirit wafted across the room,
People: Each time the disciples inhaled, they felt the Holy Spirit within them.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

O living and breathing God,
Sometimes when we are locked within
the prison of our own fears,
we forget that all we have to do is breathe,
to discover you are with us.
We think we have to come up with elaborate ideas
to serve you and do your will,
when all we had to do
is simply inhale what is already in the room.
Remind us, dear Lord,
to simply breathe and recognize your presence in our breath.
As our breath, mixed with yours, leaves our bodies,
teach us to merely follow it where it goes,
leading us to be where we need to be,
in a life led for your Son's glory.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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An Order of Worship for the Post-Liturgical Nap

Lately, I have noticed my Episcopalian Facebook friends, especially those of the collared set, to be posting on their status updates that they are participating in the "Post-Liturgical Nap." So just for them, I've created an order of worship for it!

An Order of Worship for Post-Liturgical Napping

By Kirkepiscatoid

(with apologies to The Book of Occasional Services of the Episcopal Church, particularly pages 166-173)

The service begins as appointed following returning home from a celebration of Holy Eucharist, particularly after one with an obtuse, disjointed sermon, a painfully tense Coffee Hour, or a long drawn-out vestry or committee meeting following worship.

Celebrant: Grace and peace be with you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

The Celebrant says this or some other appropriate Collect:

O God of peaceful slumber, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in sleeping and napping shall be our strength: By your Holy Spirit, allow us to snooze in your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever,

Celebrant and People: Amen.

One or two Lessons are read before the Gospel. A Psalm, hymn, or anthem may be sung or said between the lessons.

For the first Lesson, one of the texts below or another suitable text may be used.

If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully, I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and the vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and live securely in your land. And I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid; I will remove dangerous animals from the land, and no sword shall go through your land. Leviticus 26:3-6

Or this

Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Or this

“Do not human beings have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a laborer? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like laborers who look for their wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I rise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing until dawn. Job 7:1-4

Suitable Psalms include:

Psalm 3 (“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me”)

Psalm 4 (“I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you, alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety”)

Psalm 23 “(He makes me lie down in green pastures”).

For the second Lesson, one of the texts below or another suitable text may be used:

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. II Corinthians 6:1-10

Or this

Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you. Philemon 1:20-22

Or this

For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this place it says, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day—“today” —saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:4-10

For the Gospel, one of the following texts or another suitable text may be used:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29

Or this

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:30-31

Or this

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. Luke 9:28-36

A meditation or period of silence, or both, may follow the Gospel.

The service continues with the Creed, or the Prayers of the People.

For the Prayers of the People, a Litany of Napping, as follows, may be used.

Litany of Napping

The Celebrant introduces the Litany with this bidding

Let us name before God those for whom we offer our prayers before napping.

The People audibly name those for whom they are interceding.

A Person appointed then leads the Litany

Leader: God the Father, your will for all people is sufficient rest for our health and salvation;

People: We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

Leader: God the Son, you came that we might have life, and nap more abundantly;

People: We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

Leader: God the Holy Spirit, you make us on our best behavior when we are asleep;

People: We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

Leader: Holy Trinity, in you we sleep and snore and have our dreaming;

People: We praise you and thank you, O Lord.

Leader: Lord, grant your healing grace to all who are insomniacs, weary but cannot unwind, keyed-up, and wound up, that they may nap and be made whole;

People: Hear us, O Lord of life.

Leader: Grant to all who seek the healing powers of sleep, and to all who are constantly interrupted by the phone, spouses/significant others, small children and pets at nap time, a knowledge for them to leave us alone in our few hours of slumber;

People: Hear us, O Lord of life.

Leader: Mend the annoying details of the things that keep us awake, and restore those in metabolic distress from too much coffee, tea or soft drinks;

People: Hear us, O Lord of life.

Leader: Bless quiet background music, the mute button on the TV, and those bedroom clocks with ambient sounds of nature that help us fall asleep;

People: Hear us, O Lord of life.

Leader: Grant to those who are so tired they feel they are about to die, the ability to “sleep like the dead” for a short time and awake restored and refreshed in new life;

People: Hear us, O Lord of life.

Leader: Restore to wholeness the dirty dishes in the sink, the dirty laundry in the basket, and all the things of this life we left undone simply to take a nap;

People: Hear us, O Lord of life.

Leader: You are the Lord who does wonders;

People: You have declared your power among the peoples.

Leader: With you, O Lord is heavenly rest;

People: And in your arms we find divine rest.

Leader: Hear us, O Lord of the Holy Nap;

People: Restore us, and make us whole as we sleep.

(Note: It is permissible to fall asleep during the Litany, if the spirit of sleep overtakes the people, or if spirits overtake the people should they have imbibed a couple of tequila shooters prior to the service.)

Leader: Let us pray.

A period of silence follows (if the People are not already asleep.)

If the Celebrant is not also already asleep, the service concludes the Prayers with one of the following, or some other suitable Collect

Almighty God, giver of life and naps: Send your blessing on all who are awake yet weary, and upon those who snuggle up to them, be they human, canine, or feline, that all insomnia be vanquished by the triumph of the risen Christ; who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Leader and People: Amen.

Or this

Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son; Accept and fulfill our subconscious as we dream, even though some of the dreams may seem a little weird; you are able to sort out the Jungian manifestations of them and discern what is truly in our hearts; not as we dream in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Leader and People: Amen.

Or this

O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your sleepy people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon our weary, tired selves and all who turn to you in a semi-somnolent state; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

Leader and People: Amen.

The Celebrant then dismisses any still remaining awake with this blessing

May God the Father rest your weary head, May God the Son close your eyes with his love, and may God the Holy Spirit fill your upper airways with heavenly snoring. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your door while asleep, save your ears from extemporaneous noise, and bring you in somnolence to his heavenly country, where he lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Leader and People: Amen.

All are dismissed with the following

Leader: Nap in peace to love and serve the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

A hedge-y endeavor

Ecclesiastes 10:10:

"If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed."

Well, that is pretty much the sum total of what the Bible has to say about splitting logs.

In the last couple of weeks, I've had the fence builders out here, totally rebuilding my pasture fences. My long-eared equines (mostly my mule) have taken a toll on my woven wire fence. I opted for a taller fence, and seven strands of barbed wire. The other flaw in the previous fence was that the previous builder put the staples and clips on the OUTSIDE. Equines simply lean against the fence and pop the staples and the clips bend open. It doesn't take much for determined long-eared equines and their belief that the grass really IS greener on the other side of the fence, to wreck one.

One of the decisions I made was to put hedge posts in for my corner posts. Hedge is one of the densest, sturdiest, most resistant to rot and decay woods available in this part of the world. It's even better than many of the treated posts available. The sidelight has been there are little "leftovers" of the posts given to me so I can burn them in my chiminea later on. Seeing as how hedge is also one of the highest BTU delivering woods out there, this is a bonus.

There's only one problem--some of them are too big for my chiminea. I had to break out my axe, my splitting maul, and my wedge, and revisit something that used to be a real pain in my life--but this time, as a tourist, as a pastime.

Let me share a little history. I grew up with a wood stove being the major source of heat in the house where I lived the bulk of my junior high/high school years. I grew to hate the wood stove and everything associated with it. I hated being dragged along to cut and split wood. I hated stacking wood, hauling wood in the house, and lugging out the ashes. I hated how the house was cold in the early mornings, I hated how I often had to get dressed in front of the wood stove in order not to freeze, and I hated how it seemed the entire set of activities of daily living revolved around feeding and maintaining that wood stove every winter. I hated how wood heat dried my nose out, I hated how all my clothes seemed to have a smoky smell to them, and I hated how we had a propane furnace and never used it, being told we couldn't afford it.

I vowed never to have wood heat in the house, and I have kept that promise.

Yet I love sitting outside by my chiminea fire. Go figure.

Most of the wood I use in my chiminea has been cut by someone else. But I kept all my woodcutting tools because once in a while I still have to deal with an oversized log.

As I looked at the little pile of hedge logs that was growing by my driveway, I made a radical decision--I would use splitting them as a form of meditation. I would simply split them and see what popped in my head as a result.

I pondered the first log. Suddenly it dawned on me that I was 30+ years older than when I used to do this all the time. I used to have well-tuned muscles for this task. I was younger, slenderer, better muscled, and more flexible. What am I doing? I could throw out my back or miss and cut the end of my foot off. Out of all the types of wood I could have taken on, I took on the densest, hardest wood in NE Missouri. Am I NUTS?

Just the same, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, opened my eyes, reared back and let fly with the axe. It landed pretty much where I intended it to go, scoring the log. I took a few more whacks with the axe, then grabbed the splitting maul and started in with it. Pretty soon, after a few swings, a big chunk of that log came flying off with a pop, and I felt the rush of feeling the maul peel right through 18 inches of solid wood.

I wish I could have seen my own grin.

Over the next half hour, things came back to me I did not even realize were buried in my memory banks. Layers of clothing started to peel off as I felt myself sweat. My hands found the right spots on the handle. I automatically used already split pieces to prop up the piece I was working on. Before you know it, I had a little pile of split logs, just the right size. Realizing one little pile was enough, I quit, and got a soda and sat down to think about what had just happened. I was tired, but not sore. I wasn't sore the next morning, either--I'd done it about right.

But as I sat and drank my soda outside in my "post-splitting" phase of the exercise, I realized just how GOOD it all felt. Something I used to hate to do became pleasurable. I felt very physically and spiritually "connected". I felt empowered. I found myself saying, "God, I can't believe I'm telling you this, but I'm glad I had learned how to do that, all those many years ago."

I'm sure God laughed.

It brought me to some other interesting spiritual awakenings. Nothing that happens in our lives is for naught. It made me realize that things we hated, things that hurt us, things we discarded as "no use to us," can eventually come to good. Mistakes aren't mistakes, and things we came to regret only remain regrets if we choose to leave them there. Left the size they are, they are useless--but if we dare to take them apart, no matter how hard they are, they can come apart through the power of things we forgot we have or never knew we possessed--in other words, with God's help. Most importantly, we can turn loathing into gratitude. We can take what seemed inert, dead, and useless, and turn it into heat, light, and warmth.

That in itself, is a form of resurrection, isn't it?

The Stations of the Resurrection--Sixth Station--Jesus Appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem

("Jesus Appears to the Disciples After Resurrection," by Imre Morocz)

The Sixth Station--Jesus Appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem

Leader: O Risen Christ, Light of the world, we adore you;
People: You appeared and ate fish with your disciples.

A lively discussion ensued between the eleven and the disciples who had seen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. All of them had been afraid to tell what had happened to them, until each had admitted their story to the other. What could this mean? It was still hard for them to keep it all straight in their heads. The images of the crucified Jesus, the memories of wrapping him in his burial cloth, were still incredibly fresh, and confusing.

Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the midst of them. All of the conversation suddenly stopped, and all eyes turned towards him. The speechlessness of the disciples threw a heavy silence into the air.

Jesus broke the silence with a loving voice. "Peace be with you," he smiled, as he held out his hands and showed his feet to them, drawing them near with his hands, encouraging them to touch his wounds. "Don't be afraid." One can only imagine their joy as they reached out to him, held his hands, and hugged him. "Do you have anything to eat?" he asked. Someone gave him a piece of broiled fish. Again, all eyes were upon him as he ate it. He was really swallowing it and eating it--he MUST be real! This can't be a dream, a figment of the imagination, they thought. After enjoying the fish, Jesus began teaching them again. It felt like the good days before the crucifixion. The disciples smiled at each other as they listened. It felt too good to be true.

Leader: As Jesus stood before the disciples to teach,
People: They could scarcely believe the moment was real.

Leader: Let us pray.
(a brief period of silence is observed.)

Almighty God,
we read your words, we attend worship, we speak your name,
but what we really crave is your true Presence
and the true Presence of your Son.
Enable us to see Christ's true face,
his wounded hands and feet,
and his resurrected body.
Help us to feel his true presence in us
during those times we partake of his body and blood.
Create in us his real Presence--
as real as the fish he ate in front of the disciples,
and renew us in our own resurrections.

People: Amen.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Trend Tattoo 2010

This trend tattoos 2010 for you all...........

Tattoo Fonts - Know What Font You Want and What They Mean

One of the many well-known designs of tattoos which most people are obtaining is a special tattoo executed in Ancient English lettering. A group of people use their last or surnames, some expression or perhaps a Bible verse which signifies something memorable or extraordinary to them executed in Ancient English in the process. A person can improve his or her own personal tattoo by simply carrying

Miley Cyrus Has First Tattoo All Planned Out

The Disney star can't seem to keep herself out of scandals and she is only 16 years old. First it was the topless photo shoot that caused some much drama, even though she had a bed sheet covering herself and all you could see what her back. She is also involved in a law suit regrading all the Asians in CA , due to a photo of her pretending she was Asians. She is also ridiculed for her close

Jesus on the Cross Tattoo Design

For a significant portion of the world's population, Jesus Chris of Nazareth is the end-all, be-all when it comes to devoted religious worship. Put succinctly, for these folks, there's no one more important than Jesus. When they want to show their devotion, therefore, one of the most creative and powerful ways they go about it is with a tattoo of the Son of God up on his cross. There are

Tribal Feather Tattoo - Tips on Getting Your New Tattoo

Once you've finally come to the decision to get a new tribal feather tattoo, you need to do adequate research to find the right design you want and tattoo parlor that you would like to visit.Remember, tattoos are permanent; therefore, you need to be 100% sure that you are going to be happy with the design that you choose to ink on your skin. Where do you find tattoo designs? A Google image search

Tattoo Care for a Foot Tattoo

Regardless of whether your new body art is an arm, back, or foot tattoo, you want to follow the same tattoo care guidelines as outlined below.After receiving a new tattoo, your artist will apply an ointment, usually A&D, and wrap your tattoo in saran wrap or a medical bandage. This is to keep any foreign materials out of the tattoo. A new tattoo is a wound, an abrasion on the skin, and can be

Turtle Tattoo Designs

Many people now are very much engaged in having tattoos on their body. One of the major factors for this is the freedom to express personality and individuality through the choice of tattoo designs. Another reason is the wide acceptance of the world's culture regarding having tattoos on the skin. Because of all these, there are many designs available for tattoos, and the variety of designs will

Free Tattoo Designs Online

The art to decorate yourself with tattoos is one of the most ancient and it exists for more than 6000 years. Tattoos appeared by accident: having noticed that after burns or cuts, in which soot or paint gets accidentally, fanciful and indelible pictures are left on the skin, people started to hurt themselves deliberately. In such a way tattoos have appeared.Tattoo art started in Egypt and owing

TCA Tattoo Removal - Can You Use it While Pregnant Or Breast Feeding

When using any new product or simply using a product for the first time, one should always know the ends and outs and risks associated with that particular product before use. This goes for everyone, especially women that are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. For obvious reason you never want to ingest anything that pose a potential threat to an unborn child. You never want to be involved

Blue Sky, Bright Sun & Flowers Everywhere

It's a beautiful day with a bright blue sky and cherry blossom petals (sakura) everywhere in the yard and in the house. The five hour flight last night was uneventful although a half hour late. I didn't know any of the flight attendants and it was a pretty sleepy compliment of travelers. I was content to sleep and muse. I skipped the beverage and dinner although they did appear to have changed the three entree menu choices on this New York to Vancouver flight. The movies I also chose to skip. Likely they were the same fifty or so new releases and classics from the previous couple of weeks and my recent flight from Hong Kong to New York. I watched Avatar on the previous flight a week and a half ago. For this flight I just relaxed and dozed in the comfort of the exit row aisle seat.

Waking up this morning was a pleasure with the bright blue sky and cherry blossoms right outside my bedroom window. With luck the weather will hold through the weekend and for the trip to the cabin. Below are some quick images of the flowers growing in the garden outside my window.

I recall some years ago, after a conversation with Nicole while up at the cabin, that I photographed many of the wild edible and medicinal plants and flowers of the dry interior - an area in British Columbia known as the Okanagan. All of the photos were from the trails and meadows immediately surrounding the cabin within a four or five hour hike. I will try and locate these images again. My intention was to upload them to a website and describe their nutritional and medicinal uses and changes through the seasons.

Oh, Yada, Yada....

Yada.

Who would have thought three little Hebrew letters, Yod, Daleth, and Ain would have caused so much trouble? Put 'em all together and they spell Yada--not the "Yada, yada," of Seinfeld fame, but the Hebrew word, "to know."

In those three letters, we sure place a lot of assumption.

The online Hebrew Lexicon I often use has about 20+ meanings for the word yada. ONE of them is "to know carnally." The word is used 983 times in the Hebrew Bible. In 973 times, it means "know" in the ordinary ways you and I understand the word "know" in English. Only in ten of those times do text scholars believe yada means "to have sexual relations," and even in some of those times it probably doesn't mean "consensual, loving sex." For instance, in the Genesis 19 story--the famous "Sodom" story, the implication is "forcible sex"--gang rape in particular.

So, it turns out, that our little aside, "He knew her...you know...in the Biblical sense," is pretty much urban legend. Ninety-nine percent of the time, when the Old Testament says "know," well...the "Biblical sense" is "know means know"--just like you and I mean "know" when we say, "Oh, I know so-and-so." Whaddya know.

Yet on this little Hebrew word, some folks hang the moon and stars on so called "Biblical" notions of homosexuality. Go figure.

Genesis 19 is a lousy story to hang that on anyway. Lot doesn't exactly handle the situation in a manner we would now want to champion for modern family values, anyway. When the angry mob shows up, demanding they want to "know" the two strangers (angels) at Lot's house, what does Lot do? He basically tells them, "Oh, no, you can't have these two guys, they're my guests. But ya know what? I got a couple pre-teen daughters out back that y'all can have your way with--how's that instead?" Oy gevalt.

Couple that with the fact ancient Hebrew is, as is modern English, rife with colloquialisms. We find them in the Hebrew scriptures all the time. A Hebrew word for foot (regel) is translated as "genitals," in some passages. Some Hebrew words are used in their exact opposite context. There's a lot of room for getting things lost in translation.

Yet the moment we find a hidden or sexual meaning in some of the words, we totally go "Beavis and Butthead" over it. "Heh heh. He said "foot." he said "know." Heh heh."

So much of this, I think, is what Louie Crew describes as "the ick factor." He often points out that if we personally think something is icky, it's our tendency to have our feelings of ickiness validated. I would take it one step further and add, "If we think it's icky, we'd prefer our projection of God to think it's icky too." But I kind of find it all a little bewildering. There are plenty of sexual practices that are legal in this country, that I personally find icky, yet I don't feel a huge need to have God pass judgment over the ickiness.

All I'm saying, is, "There sure is a lot of yada, yada about yada."