Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

When I think of change I think of food. Not just for the pure and simple fact that you combine a bunch of different ingredients, bake them, and something completely new emerges.  Food is tied to so many life events and changes. The smell of food, particularly fresh baked cookies, can evoke strong emotions or even change ones mood. Just walking into a kitchen where cookies are being backed I cant help but feel happy.

My photo is of a plate of Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. As life changes and we move to new careers or different parts of the world, there are things like these cookie that will remind us of who we are and where we’ve come from. Growing up my favorite cookie was Peanut Butter and made by my great grandmother, but as I’ve grown I’ve come to love Chocolate Chip as well. Fresh gooey cookies have been with me through all the different changes I’ve seen over the years and I plan on them continuing on in their role.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Lunchtime

At the first mention of this weeks photo challenge I got excited. If there is one thing I like to do it’s cook… and when it comes to photography, my first muse is most naturally food. The only questions then becomes what to cook, photograph, and post.

I often think simple is better, so today’s photo post is of a Fried Tomato Sandwich with Avocado. This sandwich is thick slices of ripe tomatoes tossed in herbs and cornmeal, then pan fried. They are then place on whole grain bread, lined liberally with Miracle Whip, and joined by fresh romaine lettuce and thick slices of avocado to make a most excellent sandwich. I know Miracle Whip is not the most healthy or natural of choices but what can I say… I like “zesty” alternative.

Guidance: Following His Presence

Over the last few months I have been reading through the first five Old Testament books of the Bible. At times I’ve rolled my eyes in exasperation at the disobedience and downright rebellion of the Israelites. They seemed to be in a constant state of discontentment. In the areas of faith, righteous living, and sacrifice they continually lacked an attitude of thankfulness.

As I continued to read, I realized the exasperation I felt was a direct correlation between my unbelief at the Israelites attitude and the spiritual reality within me. I was seeing my “inner Israelite” reflected in the pages of the biblical text. I may not be guilty of such societal disobedience or religious idolatry (that I am aware of) but I have my moments lacking in faith, full of willful disobedience, and needing a spirit of thankfulness.

Now, this self-realization is not what’s prompted me to write today. What I read in Numbers 9:15-23 (mostly verse 22-23) is. Even in the midst of their thanklessness and disobedience, the Israelites recognized and followed the presence of God. They may have been recklessly rebellious, yet, above all else they valued the presence of God.

“Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with His command through Moses.” (Numbers 9:22-23)

It was the presence of the Lord in their midst that they valued. It was He who brought them up out of Egypt, who protected them, and it was He who dwelt in their midst in the tabernacle. During the day His presence was manifest in the form of a cloud and at night as fire. It was a constant visual reminder that He was with them. There was no question of going ahead of the Lord or staying behind. As He moved they moved and when He stayed they stayed. They followed His presence, if not always His commandments.

It is true that they often questioned the His goodness in bring them into the dessert, His provision for them, and the choice of Moses as their leader. But here we read, when it came to guidance upon their journey, they only moved upon direction from God. Where His presence went they went.

As I reflected upon this in regards to my life today, I had to realize the Lord does not dwell in a tabernacles made of wood or stone (Acts 7:48), nor is His presence normally manifest as a cloud or pillar of fire. Today, He dwells in the body of those who faithfully believe (I Cor. 6:19), within me, and His Holy Spirit leads me (John 16:13) as the cloud and fire did for the Israelites. His Spirit dwelling in me is more than a visual manifestation of His presence, but a visceral one. His presence lives in me, is felt by me, and worked out in/through me. (Not to be misunderstood as limiting the many other ways the Lord may choose to work or be known)

Yet, even with this visceral, tangible connectedness to God, we are found to be disobedient, I’m found disobedient. It is often said that our faith would be so much easier if we lived in a time when God worked in such visible and miraculous ways, and yet His presence lives in us and we often do not recognize it. The Israelites camped and moved in response to the visual representation of God and yet, how often have we set out without knowing fully if God was with us. I have heard it said, and prayed it myself, that God would be with me as I moved into a new area of work or ministry. In actuality, I should not be moving at all without God first moving. As my body is the living tabernacle/temple I must only move as the presence of the Lord moves.

Today, as I find myself “encamped” within transitional stag of life, much like that of the Israelites journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, I find myself seeking to follow the presence of God. I am encamped because His presence has not moved me on. There have been times I have not moved but He has not let me. I have to recognize I a responsibility to live, work, and minister within His presence and with His power here where He has me encamped. Yet, I feel His presence may be moving me (me and my wife) soon, and I am ready to move as His moves. At least I pray I am. And I pray I do not move before He does.

How about you? Are you encamped with the presence of God? Have you pulled up camp and moved on as you have seen Him move? Or have you gone in a direction without Him and then asked Him to join you? It is easy to set our life on a course that we desire and then ask God to bless us and be with us. However, it is He that we need as a guide if we have any hope of making it to the Promised Land. The Lord lives in you. Seek His presence and His movement as you seek to live out your lives in obedience to Him.

Lord, I pray you give me the unalterable focus so I may remain fixed on Your presence. When You arise may I follow. When You descend may I set my camp. May I never move ahead of You or stay when I know you are on the move. I desire to be in your presence wherever that may be. Lord I pray You help me recognize your presence in me as tangibly as did the Israelites did the cloud and pillar.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Home

Having grown up in the mountains there are few things that say “home” to me like a wood fire. For that majority of my life my family relied on wood heat throughout the winter. Tromping through the snow to the woodshed and keeping the wood box full was part of my and my brothers job as children. We each had a number of pieces we were required to bring in and often made a competition of who could carry the most and get the job done in the fewest trip. I lost most of the time…. even as the oldest. I never found that straining myself with “large” loads was worth the one or two extra trips it would require to fulfill my quota. Even today, if I take a trip to the mountains it is not quite fulfilling if I don’t have a wood fire to tend.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

Last night my wife found ourselves talking with some friends in town after more than a year of living in Asia. It was great to hear about, and in some small ways, share their life experiences living outside the United States. As with most conversation with expats, the topic eventually made it’s way to the things one misses most when living in another country; Chocolate chips, Dr. Pepper, marshmallows, good bacon, and sliced bread. I found I could not think of many things I would “miss” once I no longer live within the united states. That is, until I went to make coffee. As I ground freshly roasted coffee I found there was one thing that I would truly miss. Good Coffee! Each cup, each roast, and every bean holds different and truly unique caricaturists. Above is a photo of 2010 “washed” coffee beans from the Aleta Wondo region of Ethiopia. A truly unique bean and cup of coffee.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Love

I must confess that I was troubled by this weeks challenge to capture “love” through the lens of my camera. Love can be represented in so many different ways, which may well be why it is our subject for the week. Because I was having such a hard time with the challenge, I played word association with myself. The first two things that came to mind were God and Family. As I have recently written about God I thought this would be a great time to write a little about my family. You may ask why a picture of a greasy hamburger represents my family and love. Well, I’ll tell you. It’s not because we are unhealthy eater, though at times we are. It is much more.

The picture above is not just of any hamburger. It’s of a “Lassen View Hamburger” from the now closed Lassen View Resort on Lake Almanor! You see, I grew up on Lake Almanor and spent my summers helping my parents and grandparents run Little Norway Resort. Lassen View made the best hamburgers I have ever had (I’m still looking for its replacement) and it was a treat when we got to have them. They were special as were the people who handmade every one of them. They may not have been blood relatives, but they will always be family.

This last summer my grandmother celebrated her 80th birthday and invited us all up the the lake for a grand celebration. It was a time to celebrate my grandma, our family, and all that living on Lake Almanor meant to us. As part of celebrating, the previous owners of Lassen View came out of retirement  and brought their grill with them. It was amazing! Out of everything they saved from their lives at the resort the hamburger grill is one of the prize positions. Not only by them but everyone who gets the chance to bite in to the product of it’s perfectly seasoned grill.

You see, this hamburger represents much more than my families love to gather around the table and eat (though we LOVE to do that). It represents a chapter in my families life as we lived, worked, and gathered around Lake Almanor. When I think of this hamburger I can’t help but think of my life around the lake. Whether it was sitting on the deck at Little Norway Resort watching the boats come in and out eating a hamburger before going back to work on the gas dock, fishing with my brother up in Hamilton Branch and working our way down the path to the Hamburger Hut at Lassen View to grab a burger (at random hours of the day), or sitting down at the PG&E camp ground after Labor Day and basking in the peace of the post-tourist season, there are so many powerful memories tied to the sight, smell, and taste of this burger.

It has been long since my family sold Little Norway and our friends sold Lassen View, but the memories still live on. Over the years I have been able to take my wife back to the place where I grew up, but until this last year I was only able share with her stories of the Lassen View Hamburger. Being able to share the real thing felt like being able to share a part of my history, a deeper part of myself with her. It’s much more than a hamburger, it’s a part of who I am, who my family is, where we came from, and the love we share. When I think about love I think about my family (past, present, and future) and this juicy hamburger brings all that love flooding back into my memory. It’s amazing how food can do that. So while my photo for this challenge is hamburger it’s really all about love…it’s all about family.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Beyond

This weeks “Beyond” photo challenge inspired this series of photos taken along the Mendocino coast in Northern California over the weekend as my wife and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. It was a great time of rest, planning, re-centering, and looking “beyond” the present to see what the Lord has for our lives. (Above is a photo of the road we walked out Pt. Cabrillo light house. If you look between the trees you will see the light house off in the distance and the ocean beyond.)

The light house serves for me as a reminder of what we center our lives around and what our guiding light is in this world. For me and my wife that guiding light is the Word of God and His will for our lives. The light house is a reminded that in the fogs of life, without the light of Christ to guide us we will be blown into the rock as countless ships have the without lighthouses. (Photo above of Pt. Cabrillo light house above)

Being in such a beautiful place it is hard not to take time for a photo or two. My wife is vary patient with me as I drag my camera case around from place to place. She has to constantly remind me that I need to put my camera down and enjoy our surroundings. She is right! This was an amazing weekend away with her that I will not soon forget. (Photo above of Martha and I)

Looking out at the coast I am reminded that while the light house was a guiding light for ships, it was only useful for those at see. It was a beacon and landmark for the traveler, the adventurers, as they made their way along their journey. For those who remained upon the safety of the shore it meant vary little, often only an annoyance with its light and resounding fog horn. But for those upon the sea it was the difference between life an death. (Photo above: Rocky Mendocino coast)

While it was the light house that drew us to the edge of the see, it is the unknown adventure that calls us beyond. As my wife and I stood looking out at the see where the heavens touched the water, I realized that the light house did not beacon us to safety but called us to a life of adventure somewhere over the horizon. Yes the light house brought ships into harbor safely, but more than that, It kept them safe on course as they made their way up and down the coast and to port unknown. A ship may dock for a season but it was never long before the wind in it’s sails and the taste of salt in the air drove it back out to see. So should be our live. God gave us His word that we may set the course of our lives by it. At times it may bring us into safe harbor but He never intends for us to remain there. The light house is set to keep us off the rocks and to help us to aline our course. It is the wind that drives us forward… and all by the great mercies of God.