tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-360431262024-03-13T04:58:33.397-06:00Vine and FigOriginal Christian poems plus other comments.Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.comBlogger1337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-83040134564582781932023-10-03T14:11:00.000-06:002023-10-03T14:11:03.067-06:00Hollow Heroes<p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhXX8nSfSLVYJfcqsY9qJoUgTJ9JBEKZihdx1F4VcDAkftuM9S3KWyo2pWvJGyw0gibvU00jSpfscfz7cpNEKMuYfzyoHkuewTZTJS78J2mP8OC8IbmQYPNfpImsWxcm4afds2nFizAtRhTRHno5SO35JFtUiY0HKrJ4uppMAYNLZaSQMsbos/s1079/20230830_152232-03-EDIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1079" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhXX8nSfSLVYJfcqsY9qJoUgTJ9JBEKZihdx1F4VcDAkftuM9S3KWyo2pWvJGyw0gibvU00jSpfscfz7cpNEKMuYfzyoHkuewTZTJS78J2mP8OC8IbmQYPNfpImsWxcm4afds2nFizAtRhTRHno5SO35JFtUiY0HKrJ4uppMAYNLZaSQMsbos/w640-h358/20230830_152232-03-EDIT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>Are your heroes hollow, <br />Empty down within, <br />Nothing you should follow, <br />Empty as the wind? </p><p>Do you worship idols <br />That can't hear or walk, <br />Man-made imitations <br />That can't think or talk? </p><p>Are they huge as mountains--<br />Giant, super-size? <br />They're still deadly fountains <br />Built on damning lies. </p><p>Keep your heroes simple. <br />Honor what is good, <br />Knowing the true hero:<br />None else is like God.</p><p>__________</p><p></p><p><b><span class="text Isa-44-8" id="en-MEV-18542">Do not fear, nor be afraid;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-44-8">have I not told you from of old, and declared it?</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-44-8">You are My witnesses!</span></span><br /><span class="text Isa-44-8">Is there a God besides Me?</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-44-8">There is no Rock; I know not any.</span></span></b> </p><div class="poetry top-1"><p class="line"><b><span class="text Isa-44-9" id="en-MEV-18543">Those who make a graven image are, all of them, vain,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-44-9">and their delectable things shall not profit;</span></span><br /><span class="text Isa-44-9">and they are their own witnesses;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Isa-44-9">they do not see nor know, that they may be ashamed.</span></span></b></p></div><p>(Isaiah 44:8-9 MEV)<br /></p><p><i>I realize that most people do not literally worship their heroes, but there's a temptation to regard our favorite people more highly that we ought, ignoring their sins. We should honor people for their good deeds, but not make them into idols.<br /></i><br /></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-52818955545184608232023-05-15T08:10:00.000-06:002023-05-15T08:10:42.335-06:00Strong, True Faith<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei-r5qsV1Jkr9Z9Aw75zCc3UtyWWqhzK0SlADPQUa8jlKOXeLQN09Xs8Yc3izJoY1PIFhxfjIARSLJEM6dTwBV5zk1i5x6N-9ziY_MZRswkbimenaTYajou7HZn66RiMYCSMPDifO1tbNvzJ3emLXsPPdTeLG7vxesubrmLwZuYy_-K40oQ/s3024/20230404_101708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="2268" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei-r5qsV1Jkr9Z9Aw75zCc3UtyWWqhzK0SlADPQUa8jlKOXeLQN09Xs8Yc3izJoY1PIFhxfjIARSLJEM6dTwBV5zk1i5x6N-9ziY_MZRswkbimenaTYajou7HZn66RiMYCSMPDifO1tbNvzJ3emLXsPPdTeLG7vxesubrmLwZuYy_-K40oQ/w300-h400/20230404_101708.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>Lord, I long for stronger faith,<br />For faith that fights well in the night--<br />For faith with wings, that soars and sings. <br />But I am scared of false, sham faith. </p><p>Keep me, Lord, from self-made faith <br />With its own idol on the throne. <br />The faith that's true is faith in you. <br />Lord, you're the source, the goal of faith. </p><p><b>“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."</b><br />(Jesus, in John 14:1 NKJV)</p><p><b>So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” </b><br />(Acts 16:31 NKJV)</p><p><b>And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.</b><br />(1 John 3:23 NKJV)</p><p><b>Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. </b><br />(Acts 13:48 NKJV)</p></div><p></p><p><br /></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-33505115593375256222023-03-21T09:01:00.000-06:002023-03-21T09:01:04.486-06:00My Book of Christmas & Easter Poems<p> My book of Christmas and Easter poems is available from Amazon. The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Us-Poems-Christmas-Easter-ebook/dp/B0BPB1BN5Q/ " target="_blank">Kindle ebook version</a> is free through this Thursday (March 21, 2023). The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/God-Us-Poems-Christmas-Easter/dp/B0BXN94KRS/" target="_blank">paperback version</a> is $3.99. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSgFL0DTzZd18qecm0mzfeby5gdVxcvvGQlgUayP2W9HUXqcd9L2qBD4MG_uLJbRN66wLokqHWUbkIOsF0BHywOK8-RYzuIHwi73krx8G393mynx7pLVwqoLwzf2wklM4WxSC6dxEoMW2f6KIdjf60HsX1--JhOMdJdpKwgvv_DYGdVer4aw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhSgFL0DTzZd18qecm0mzfeby5gdVxcvvGQlgUayP2W9HUXqcd9L2qBD4MG_uLJbRN66wLokqHWUbkIOsF0BHywOK8-RYzuIHwi73krx8G393mynx7pLVwqoLwzf2wklM4WxSC6dxEoMW2f6KIdjf60HsX1--JhOMdJdpKwgvv_DYGdVer4aw=w225-h400" width="225" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-7652917774748608062022-12-12T15:44:00.001-06:002022-12-12T15:44:00.184-06:00How He Came<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaqf0v1L0Cz-xaQwZZ9gST7rKuQDuL551ekzVWV3I-TgtsX8itGQOwCT-K6BEYRSPi-DeoM_Of2Qg9tMP-VXQa0cxw6Sc6I0DRl1ZvvIHeEY8-_C5-MAysx4dhaoT5J2Z30im3RjSNJYZc9gR9s1QHsEhrNZJSEZARYvVsosHCCreHrQT6w/s1920/greyson-joralemon-dDvR7eD6pf8-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaqf0v1L0Cz-xaQwZZ9gST7rKuQDuL551ekzVWV3I-TgtsX8itGQOwCT-K6BEYRSPi-DeoM_Of2Qg9tMP-VXQa0cxw6Sc6I0DRl1ZvvIHeEY8-_C5-MAysx4dhaoT5J2Z30im3RjSNJYZc9gR9s1QHsEhrNZJSEZARYvVsosHCCreHrQT6w/w400-h225/greyson-joralemon-dDvR7eD6pf8-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@greysonjoralemon?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Greyson Joralemon</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/manger?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></p><p>God the Son, all Spirit, became flesh.<br />The all-wise Word <br />Became a baby needing to learn to speak. <br />The source of wealth<br />Became a pauper. <br />The all-powerful<br />Became too weak to hold up his head. <br />The all-glorious<br />Became a messy infant wrapped in cloths. <br />The eternal<br />Became mortal. </p><p>He did all this for sinful rebels like us. <br />All praise to His holy name!</p><p><b>Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him .... </b>(Philippians 2:5-9 NKJV)</p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-21013442644758851722022-11-28T09:33:00.001-06:002022-11-28T09:33:22.118-06:00Dark Days, Bright Days<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_GTIX9nJQwAyYDJvSr1PsrBzQZzVpWdFHKpxd1WPieW-0617HNNaob4ZOgS2TfZq_x0fvC1p-IQrRQzua1nRqj1WuLW4us9QreHA3Bn4LerhbP70KB56tfcLJLktWQdLMFD-3Jj8Y0e0zeKnwaRe_WO-IRQtD1bEx1OINcRCRxy3vMdCnQ/s3146/20221124_101243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2183" data-original-width="3146" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_GTIX9nJQwAyYDJvSr1PsrBzQZzVpWdFHKpxd1WPieW-0617HNNaob4ZOgS2TfZq_x0fvC1p-IQrRQzua1nRqj1WuLW4us9QreHA3Bn4LerhbP70KB56tfcLJLktWQdLMFD-3Jj8Y0e0zeKnwaRe_WO-IRQtD1bEx1OINcRCRxy3vMdCnQ/w400-h278/20221124_101243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>At times, O Lord, you give us peace<br />And things seem perfect and serene. <br />But in this life hard times must come--<br />The bitter days, the crushing grief. </p><p>We ask your comfort now for those <br />Whose dreadful days are dark, are now. <br />Please give endurance firm as steel. <br />Give faith that clings with child-like trust <br />To you and all your promises. <br />Give faithfulness right to the end <br />And hope that sees eternal joy <br />Is laid up safe for all your sheep--<br />For all your own who follow you. </p><p>And now, for those whose days are bright, <br />Whose ev'ry hope seems coming true, <br />We ask humility and grace <br />To lift the broken and the weak, <br />To show them joy and truth in Christ--<br />The privilege to serve with cheer--<br />To pour the best days out for you, <br />To revel in your holy yoke. </p><p>You have the right to rule our days. <br />You merit all our souls' best songs, <br />Our joyful or our painful praise. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>O LORD, what is man, that you care for him? <br />Or the son of man, that you think of him?<br /></b>(Psalm 144:3)</p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-66637431850193466212022-10-15T15:43:00.000-06:002022-10-15T15:43:04.353-06:00Smooth Stones<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYZOJjWBe-BJhPHuOkOPKT8qMVS7BlkSHN4FlP7mKOTtBmNYvK027RFbzfp2M8BYx_9d9Xx2uXt2K2eu5Kplr1oLDzZpYDOlIMCRiwAeAELUAaZ2fhqzQPZW5CA2vKceFXirismaL6FvuDi4wAHB1MoJR6m-LZbblMTz2nAMLhLFRFFC3WVg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1170" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYZOJjWBe-BJhPHuOkOPKT8qMVS7BlkSHN4FlP7mKOTtBmNYvK027RFbzfp2M8BYx_9d9Xx2uXt2K2eu5Kplr1oLDzZpYDOlIMCRiwAeAELUAaZ2fhqzQPZW5CA2vKceFXirismaL6FvuDi4wAHB1MoJR6m-LZbblMTz2nAMLhLFRFFC3WVg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Smooth stones speak of comfort,</p><p style="text-align: left;">But start jagged. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Years of tumbling make them smooth. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Jagged stone smooths jagged stone. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Thank God for the jagged stones</p><p style="text-align: left;">He uses as he wisely </p><p style="text-align: left;">Shapes his people</p><p style="text-align: left;">Into stones all shiny, smooth. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://bible.com/bible/3034/jas.1.2.BSB " target="_blank">James 1:2 </a>BSB</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@wilstewart3?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Wil Stewart</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/stones?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-63535923054181372162022-09-05T04:26:00.001-06:002022-09-05T04:28:50.862-06:00Darkness Is Falling<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdQzPqSG7BBTQLVYF3f8X2K4oOXUZ1iH35OPAeOyHpqsjp__zn9DUvG8-6FHK1d-3H3QEaHGTgMAHXf1utQW2W1VjOxo3bKSSTQlEQ9cI8Ec4N0RB6tltny4EwfHVjCAjmGh1IAgz1EcfCgYPCoAvo3jm-7tM3MDaups_bmsnUGlGXXhfmw/s1885/IMG_20220822_122201433_Maple%20Syrup.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1885" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGdQzPqSG7BBTQLVYF3f8X2K4oOXUZ1iH35OPAeOyHpqsjp__zn9DUvG8-6FHK1d-3H3QEaHGTgMAHXf1utQW2W1VjOxo3bKSSTQlEQ9cI8Ec4N0RB6tltny4EwfHVjCAjmGh1IAgz1EcfCgYPCoAvo3jm-7tM3MDaups_bmsnUGlGXXhfmw/s320/IMG_20220822_122201433_Maple%20Syrup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Darkness is falling not just on the valleys</p><p>Not just on forests, or cities or plains.</p><p>Darkness is falling on people, on millions</p><p>Who don't look to God but to self in their pride.</p><p>They think are wise. They think they're enlightened.</p><p>They call out for justice and yet hate the truth.</p><p>Blinded and foolish, increasing in evil,</p><p>They pile up their guilt and celebrate it.</p><p>Unless God awakes them, unless there's repentance,</p><p>Damnation's ahead. Black darkness forever.</p><p>They hated the light, and soon light is gone.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.</b></p><p>John 3:19-20 ESV</p><p>https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.3.19-20.ESV</p><p><br /></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-10374049281072788392022-08-21T03:25:00.000-06:002022-08-21T03:25:34.292-06:00Out of Shame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bzYkBfDiKWiEDjPYeDNEOG36f1-JwZONEG8RpVaukRBlhoa4AIAY5E8niieMYe-_V2Wt6Q7WlTSx9UVV7OzZv5NUZOJ8jq87GIacEpo-imHx4Y8WjCuFJOByGMTx9IBFMbuWITx-mhC1GU1WuzWObndFTIwLOPO_FW1vZB19Ooxq8kjUjw/s4032/20210617_045308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bzYkBfDiKWiEDjPYeDNEOG36f1-JwZONEG8RpVaukRBlhoa4AIAY5E8niieMYe-_V2Wt6Q7WlTSx9UVV7OzZv5NUZOJ8jq87GIacEpo-imHx4Y8WjCuFJOByGMTx9IBFMbuWITx-mhC1GU1WuzWObndFTIwLOPO_FW1vZB19Ooxq8kjUjw/w480-h640/20210617_045308.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Walking out of crushing shame<br />Out of dark of self-made night<br />Walking into Jesus' name<br />Into glory, into light<br /><br />Not by doing what he can<br />But by grace--pure mercy seen--<br />This the path of every man<br />Who is rescued and made clean<br /><br />Firm within, convictions bold<br />Living fully, he can see<br />What was hidden from of old.<br />He's at peace, released, set free.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><b>For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—</b></div><div>(Ephesians 5:8 MEV)</div><div><br /></div></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-67918011746041732902022-07-21T15:48:00.001-06:002022-07-21T15:48:29.914-06:00Final Assignments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-gmGsNU6axBk2JqLg-yZzAzhU1hqr8RUzbTczildmNufu-Ia-5CHXmZgVeyNfsqKiy3coCiFaNTzmLRDy5LTJU5FWJmIqS4u97AKLOQSO3NT54cKgOxlZe9g19HgLmd14mh9rs1jyVhyZug1Ir0ni98ii2XEDChNo4fAi0ipHTMa_YfSgg/s4032/20220702_102240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-gmGsNU6axBk2JqLg-yZzAzhU1hqr8RUzbTczildmNufu-Ia-5CHXmZgVeyNfsqKiy3coCiFaNTzmLRDy5LTJU5FWJmIqS4u97AKLOQSO3NT54cKgOxlZe9g19HgLmd14mh9rs1jyVhyZug1Ir0ni98ii2XEDChNo4fAi0ipHTMa_YfSgg/w400-h300/20220702_102240.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>When my eyes are dim and pulse is weak<br />When all my vigor’s gone,<br />Then my feeble tongue may still, Lord, speak<br />And bless and sing your song.<br /><br />If my tongue can’t speak, my heart can love--<br />My prayers can still arise<br />Like the sweetest incense or a dove,<br />Still precious in your eyes.<br /><br /><b>When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”<br />Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.”<br />And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. </b>(Genesis 48:8-10)</div>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-29692752042583706802022-04-16T09:25:00.003-06:002022-04-16T09:25:35.364-06:00Goat or Lamb?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo9xLAYaeW2QzP4S5rBTuxr_RNu8oDrDYN-6eXC3jFG1JSE425Fj7RLghn7Q1_qWVfIqAUbFwS1arWV69jhu1i_87M9i4XLP06oSHUQ2ZlE4JPle5azI0nXIU-_2q4jpVKKZIZKQClLx0uHyYgyrL1zHF9dpwdjmlk-O3b41bXQCvV6rI9g/s800/luke-stackpoole-sfB_Nw9sggw-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo9xLAYaeW2QzP4S5rBTuxr_RNu8oDrDYN-6eXC3jFG1JSE425Fj7RLghn7Q1_qWVfIqAUbFwS1arWV69jhu1i_87M9i4XLP06oSHUQ2ZlE4JPle5azI0nXIU-_2q4jpVKKZIZKQClLx0uHyYgyrL1zHF9dpwdjmlk-O3b41bXQCvV6rI9g/w320-h400/luke-stackpoole-sfB_Nw9sggw-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@withluke?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="text-align: left;">Luke Stackpoole</a><span style="text-align: left;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="text-align: left;">Unsplash</a></div></div><div><br /></div>
They laid their hands on him--<div>The hands of sinful men. </div><div>They though he was a goat, </div><div>And yet he was the Lamb. </div><div>They thought that when he died </div><div>Their troubles would be done. </div><div>They didn't know he'd made </div><div>The earth...the air...the sun. </div><div>They mocked him as a king-- </div><div>A thorny crown. A robe. </div><div>They didn't know he'd bring </div><div>Eternal peace and hope. </div><div>They mocked him as the Christ, </div><div>Demanded prophecy. </div><div>Ignoring their advice, </div><div>He planned to set men free. </div><div>At last they killed him...dead. </div><div>They thought his reign would end. </div><div>They thought they'd killed a goat, </div><div>And yet he was the Lamb. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then they brought the goats for the sin offering right into the presence of the king and the congregation, who laid their hands on them.
The priests slaughtered the goats and put their blood on the altar for a sin offering, to make atonement for the king said that the burnt offering and sin offering were for all Israel.</span> (2 Chronicles 29:23-24 HCSB</div>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-86635689373397505132022-02-27T08:31:00.001-06:002022-02-27T15:51:22.846-06:00Gray Day<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsQcefi1iRRHNMizrimY-LXFsyQTouYSyZZCeBaxRGgpy5zAh0ZVWXvY725uu_888RWkNpmC053GVIVsCplAdB0mbhwAXRiqEl4xNeqQagk97fXyQ5mlqM7hoNSXQOhje-JcWdnAfp3LtVNtozmCdn7tpT2qdbCj4SdQjc0c_Vv2uxbDxTTw=s1632" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsQcefi1iRRHNMizrimY-LXFsyQTouYSyZZCeBaxRGgpy5zAh0ZVWXvY725uu_888RWkNpmC053GVIVsCplAdB0mbhwAXRiqEl4xNeqQagk97fXyQ5mlqM7hoNSXQOhje-JcWdnAfp3LtVNtozmCdn7tpT2qdbCj4SdQjc0c_Vv2uxbDxTTw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><br /><p><br /></p><p>The day dawned gray and cold: <br />No cheery sun for warmth. <br />Birds fluff their feathers, <br />Earthworms don't come out, <br />And the few remaining oak leaves shiver. <br />The spring is coming soon enough--<br />God has promised, <br />And he never breaks his word. <br />I sit inside...I'm upstairs, warm...<br />And watch the horizontal smoke <br />From my neighbor's chimney.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>As long as the earth endures, <br />seedtime and harvest, <br />cold and heat, <br />summer and winter, <br />and day and night will not cease. </b><br />(Genesis 8:22 CSB)</p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-1430129195696723152021-12-25T12:36:00.000-06:002021-12-25T12:36:02.693-06:00Christmas without Christ?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXaYNb3w-hZ0gmNMkbPZ-Cpw7BpbpvES-dG03la75K4t_m4jASiBu-ee1P4gfF-hH2rtzOzpYYNYQS7jv3AGKd80u6zmpETtfgITb6hiJ56DppOjKNUYmkghSgRQ-rjloAwlB4t-PZNxW8rzDYtf_JGORDGW0pUdTeTrWNGoj1hGzZDA6FTg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXaYNb3w-hZ0gmNMkbPZ-Cpw7BpbpvES-dG03la75K4t_m4jASiBu-ee1P4gfF-hH2rtzOzpYYNYQS7jv3AGKd80u6zmpETtfgITb6hiJ56DppOjKNUYmkghSgRQ-rjloAwlB4t-PZNxW8rzDYtf_JGORDGW0pUdTeTrWNGoj1hGzZDA6FTg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Millions, millions celebrate<br />With gifts and foods and rich decor<br />The coming of our infant Lord, <br />But most won't enter heaven's gate. </p><p>Most will perish in their sin--<br />Sons of wrath, the devil's seed, <br />They cannot see their urgent need<br />To follow him instead of sin. </p><p>Millions, millions claim his name <br />And maybe sing a carol now <br />And hope they're good enough somehow <br />To earn his grace--escape the flame. </p><p>No one, no one earns a place <br />Of mercy with the living Lord. <br />Pure grace is how men are restored, <br />Not works we do. His blood, his grace. </p><p>Do not merely celebrate <br />With gifts and lights and tree. <br />Rely on Christ. Be clean. Be free. <br />Be saved before it is too late. </p><p><b>“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” </b>(Matthew 7:21 NKJV) </p><p><b>Jesus ... said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”</b> (John 6:29 NKJV)</p><p><i>I took this photo at the home of some dear relatives who do know the Lord. </i></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-90747946763033310792021-12-06T13:14:00.001-06:002021-12-06T13:14:36.379-06:00Mausoleum<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtk2Nr0TbnF-Oi9p5ayRbIQ1RSzXcA_qVO3PjpMcNQ2l75sB6MCmbUhnZOhEz1zOZrH4GL0gP3-egR0NFumYVCWvO42nkcl5kJr8SRiaHRZhjAk3mpvnRmvSRXepYB2Itq0Q2cln-7sL00A54qchxNr5RAnzgmP-_Ufu6ihS7jsucholoZ_g=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtk2Nr0TbnF-Oi9p5ayRbIQ1RSzXcA_qVO3PjpMcNQ2l75sB6MCmbUhnZOhEz1zOZrH4GL0gP3-egR0NFumYVCWvO42nkcl5kJr8SRiaHRZhjAk3mpvnRmvSRXepYB2Itq0Q2cln-7sL00A54qchxNr5RAnzgmP-_Ufu6ihS7jsucholoZ_g=w400-h300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></p><p></p><p>Even great men lie in rows, <br />Filed away in boxes <br />Like prior tax returns <br />Waiting to be pulled out <br />And audited. </p><p>They won't sail through by fame; <br />Can't buy the Judge and angels off <br />When they face His burning glory <br />And celebrate or wail. <br />Is joy ahead? Or hell? </p><p>Are you poor? Are you rich?<br />Bring Christ's light right now,<br />Right here, to those around. <br />Soon they and you'll be filed<br />In boxes, too.</p><p><b>...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment...<br /></b>(Hebrews 9:27 NKJV)</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image credit: </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sundazed/2540918676/" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">Katy Warner on Flickr. Some rights reserved</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></p><p><br /></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-13938880279356440532021-10-11T07:04:00.002-06:002021-10-11T12:05:02.273-06:00Autumn<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P1B4sMNn7dbqnqX35dC7FXFzHGGArc7mogshM5iQuxvr2VAxajGm0s65b3fq7FmUYaQIGu8D8IExDlcPYLu4JvgspYcO3ONgC9_9dEcChqONr850yIfYOpRaMxSzRdYALEv5/s1337/Leaf_On_Car_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1337" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1P1B4sMNn7dbqnqX35dC7FXFzHGGArc7mogshM5iQuxvr2VAxajGm0s65b3fq7FmUYaQIGu8D8IExDlcPYLu4JvgspYcO3ONgC9_9dEcChqONr850yIfYOpRaMxSzRdYALEv5/w640-h476/Leaf_On_Car_0016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One old, fallen leaf,</div><div style="text-align: left;">One old, rusted car</div><div style="text-align: left;">Together speak of autumn--</div><div style="text-align: left;">Hopes faded with each scar.</div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Beauty yet remains.</div><div style="text-align: left;">(It's a stubborn thing.)</div><div style="text-align: left;">The winter will be fading,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And hope will bloom in spring.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.</b> (Psalm 39:7 NKJV)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><i><div style="text-align: left;"><i>The dark brown oak leaf was caught between two panels (the hood and the air vent) on a 50-year-old car. </i></div></i><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKuNxipXW7aS6HD1vxf3nCnw_I3xUX1I7CsG92b4e5RYoRh5mOXUKoJxGw9eKcfZpSmwSyHY9jp1mwEphWwLFR6e4cgDheXnACghGX1-0IKDv_sU1YSdkknawAR59mVUvizcw/s1337/Leaf_On_Car_0016.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKuNxipXW7aS6HD1vxf3nCnw_I3xUX1I7CsG92b4e5RYoRh5mOXUKoJxGw9eKcfZpSmwSyHY9jp1mwEphWwLFR6e4cgDheXnACghGX1-0IKDv_sU1YSdkknawAR59mVUvizcw/s1337/Leaf_On_Car_0016.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKuNxipXW7aS6HD1vxf3nCnw_I3xUX1I7CsG92b4e5RYoRh5mOXUKoJxGw9eKcfZpSmwSyHY9jp1mwEphWwLFR6e4cgDheXnACghGX1-0IKDv_sU1YSdkknawAR59mVUvizcw/s1337/Leaf_On_Car_0016.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKuNxipXW7aS6HD1vxf3nCnw_I3xUX1I7CsG92b4e5RYoRh5mOXUKoJxGw9eKcfZpSmwSyHY9jp1mwEphWwLFR6e4cgDheXnACghGX1-0IKDv_sU1YSdkknawAR59mVUvizcw/s1337/Leaf_On_Car_0016.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-39397402888204116162021-09-21T17:56:00.002-06:002021-09-21T17:56:49.851-06:00Sacred Sounds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5TUkKaGE-3m4HmIWwQeQdXB-bgCikzFUN9dhycp6TAU-Vp70tdk_IqamAfimLN6j43tqkTFy5zrzhZuRqMu8-6PFUivIe99pG5cAvAe1zmxBShzQPJKHRBzeFjfjBJUM8VS6/s1600/20181124_073707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5TUkKaGE-3m4HmIWwQeQdXB-bgCikzFUN9dhycp6TAU-Vp70tdk_IqamAfimLN6j43tqkTFy5zrzhZuRqMu8-6PFUivIe99pG5cAvAe1zmxBShzQPJKHRBzeFjfjBJUM8VS6/s400/20181124_073707.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The soft gray mist of noisy fog,<br />
The burning of a sunset,<br />
A shelf mold on a fallen log,<br />
A dog that's dripping wet--<br />
These speak of something more<br />
Than empty random chance.<br />
Come--listen to God's music score<br />
And watch some angels dance.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The invisible things about Him—His eternal power and deity—have been clearly seen since the creation of the world and are understood by the things that are made, so that they are without excuse. </b>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1&version=mev" target="_blank">Romans 1:20 MEV</a>)Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-35959389300853164482021-08-31T08:48:00.000-06:002021-08-31T08:48:01.400-06:00Bless the Beards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9as-_u6FlqztQujIuVj-OaAfwCCIo9CA1_3GpzgRIteBW7ThwWwgy2KQLZqAzWIYvvtgaOEVHITJeyyrOJ3RYu5AYPW9eoJV9QQUXiPPDMtZiDb1XxbmXnnI87JW1EqrA_0Bx/s1094/AdobePhotoshopExpress_6cbc9af071d34903a14fdd30102150ef-01.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1094" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9as-_u6FlqztQujIuVj-OaAfwCCIo9CA1_3GpzgRIteBW7ThwWwgy2KQLZqAzWIYvvtgaOEVHITJeyyrOJ3RYu5AYPW9eoJV9QQUXiPPDMtZiDb1XxbmXnnI87JW1EqrA_0Bx/s320/AdobePhotoshopExpress_6cbc9af071d34903a14fdd30102150ef-01.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Bless the beards and bless the brawn<br />
Helping make each man a man.<br />
Bless men waking before dawn,<br />
Working to fulfill a plan.<br />
<br />
Bless the instinct to protect<br />
Women, children and the weak.<br />
Bless the men who show respect<br />
Through the godly words they speak.<br />
<br />
Bless the courage, too, to speak<br />
Truth when others want a lie,<br />
Jesus' truth, though we are weak,<br />
Only truth, though we may die.<br /> <br />
Father, bless us. Make us men<br />
Who will strive to do the best<br />
By your power, Lord--and when<br />
All is done, then pass the test.<br />
<br />
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be
strong. <br />Let all <i>that</i> you <i>do</i> be done with
love.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br />(1 Corinthians 16:13-14
NKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></p><br />Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-36085687289450525502021-08-26T06:47:00.004-06:002021-08-26T06:47:59.516-06:00Martyrs Dying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKQ1-uXMQvAgLXLaass_8kPJ6F_YA-BvaOJpyt6YBpr-pLOFGSqVGlaIL4JD9XDuYu1FJDPTid963sJwIwTZwPnvmPlX1ydag2rBOVlyLQl914nN_04thlkLBRmdyhg4fLzBW/s1600/8674411631_293150638d_o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1092" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKQ1-uXMQvAgLXLaass_8kPJ6F_YA-BvaOJpyt6YBpr-pLOFGSqVGlaIL4JD9XDuYu1FJDPTid963sJwIwTZwPnvmPlX1ydag2rBOVlyLQl914nN_04thlkLBRmdyhg4fLzBW/s400/8674411631_293150638d_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/bmnstanislas/8674411631/" target="_blank">Photo by Bibliothèques de Nancy</a>. <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Some rights reserved</a>. </span><br />
<br />
I see martyrs dying,<br />
Bodies all around--<br />
Broken bodies lying<br />
Lifeless on the ground.<br />
<br />
I see blood-drops seeding<br />
Churches strong and true--<br />
Holy churches pleading<br />
Jesus' cause anew.<br />
<br />
Though the devil's sowing<br />
Hatred fierce and cold,<br />
I see churches growing--<br />
Clean and brave and bold.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><b>They overcame him</b></div><div><b> by the blood of the Lamb</b></div><div><b> and by the word of their testimony,</b></div><div><b>and they loved not their lives</b></div><div><b> unto the death.</b> (Revelation 12:11 MEV)</div>
<br />
<br /></div></div>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-16152358351609590732021-07-22T05:00:00.001-06:002021-07-22T05:00:00.220-06:00Southern California Heat Wave<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgywDd3f0Xrwc7ls6B7IeH7NkPVxLa5sPHJzUbyRQ3qlrxFy8HfHguIGIa-kbKDZFrO7VCwuqmsE7v3FxRrNIBCUsraZDYwDUPJfN6fQwxnnJSnTxUrFyhz0Uo_Nvd3gKCd0Kp/s640/scott-blake-kYYIV-uhKQE-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgywDd3f0Xrwc7ls6B7IeH7NkPVxLa5sPHJzUbyRQ3qlrxFy8HfHguIGIa-kbKDZFrO7VCwuqmsE7v3FxRrNIBCUsraZDYwDUPJfN6fQwxnnJSnTxUrFyhz0Uo_Nvd3gKCd0Kp/w400-h268/scott-blake-kYYIV-uhKQE-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sunburned_surveyor?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Scott Blake</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sunburned_surveyor?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The hot wind blew across the land</div><div style="text-align: left;">With unrelenting, burning zeal.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The blossoms fell, the green leaves sagged,</div><div style="text-align: left;">And grass was crinkly under foot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The streets were strangely empty now</div><div style="text-align: left;">As dogs and cats and sun-browned kids</div><div style="text-align: left;">Sought shelter from their former friend,</div><div style="text-align: left;">The burning sun, their enemy.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Firemen rushed from place to place</div><div style="text-align: left;">As brush fires added yet more heat.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The evening came, the kids came out</div><div style="text-align: left;">And played with hoses for awhile,</div><div style="text-align: left;">Then went to beds that never cooled</div><div style="text-align: left;">As evening breezes still blew hot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The morning brought the slightest hope</div><div style="text-align: left;">As sleepy heads popped out of doors</div><div style="text-align: left;">Like toast that's ready to be cooled--</div><div style="text-align: left;">But out-of-doors was still as hot</div><div style="text-align: left;">As afternoons now ought to be.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The whole land braced itself in dread</div><div style="text-align: left;">As blazing sun rose yet again.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. </b>(Isaiah 4:5-6 ESV)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Poem written in Glendale, California, somewhere between 1986 and 1994.</i></div>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-91080960199894678662021-07-04T06:47:00.001-06:002021-07-04T06:47:17.889-06:00Stairway to Heaven<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzZUfJmj33l0N3vsPGhmcDid5gFMjgLYJrYbuBhMTqG1E9VNcBIn-UDHdHHa_16EcgKb3mPwD-51tEENPXzKL3jCquDbN-HHQ8ayCiwHA3lfFh4Jw-86ka0j1443yblwBGEjq/s1632/IMG_Golden_Hour_20210625_093453_processed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzZUfJmj33l0N3vsPGhmcDid5gFMjgLYJrYbuBhMTqG1E9VNcBIn-UDHdHHa_16EcgKb3mPwD-51tEENPXzKL3jCquDbN-HHQ8ayCiwHA3lfFh4Jw-86ka0j1443yblwBGEjq/w300-h400/IMG_Golden_Hour_20210625_093453_processed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>There is no stairway to heaven--<br />No set of climbing works, <br />No list of special rules, <br />That will take you through the door. </p><p>There's just one way to heaven--<br />One simple living door,<br />One gate into God's kingdom. <br />Christ Jesus is himself the door. </p><p>By faith in him we enter--<br />His blood has paid our way, <br />His resurrection is our guarantee.<br />Receive the gift. Walk through the door. </p><p><b>Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."</b> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+14%3A6&version=MEV" target="_blank">John 14:6</a> MEV)<br /><br /></p><p><b>Then Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."</b> (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+10&version=MEV" target="_blank">John 10:7-10</a> MEV)</p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-49665733551136569982021-06-12T07:01:00.002-06:002021-06-12T07:01:37.852-06:00Wisdom<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE8WDsUOEO5BZrPVrSL5zWkUD0PZ43OO-z8fYi1rGmgJnfVAXJc7hJROg0ljbMm5anT1ZY6B6WICMxvqKvzaqYUcCvFnifdHmMUhO0__cNTNaV72-JVxr4gwM9fMom1ZmuOC-/s1395/IMG_Femme_20210612_072131_processed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1395" data-original-width="1208" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE8WDsUOEO5BZrPVrSL5zWkUD0PZ43OO-z8fYi1rGmgJnfVAXJc7hJROg0ljbMm5anT1ZY6B6WICMxvqKvzaqYUcCvFnifdHmMUhO0__cNTNaV72-JVxr4gwM9fMom1ZmuOC-/w346-h400/IMG_Femme_20210612_072131_processed.jpg" width="346" /></a><br /></p><p>If I'm proud of my wisdom, <br /> I'm not wise at all. <br />If I think I've arrived now, <br /> I'm far from the goal. <br />If I think wisdom's instant, <br /> I have years yet to go. <br />If I won't walk in wisdom, <br /> I'm a fool--blinded, slow. </p><p>If I ask, God gives wisdom: <br /> Step by step, line by line. <br />If I treasure his wisdom, <br /> By his grace, wisdom's mine. </p><p><b>If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. </b>(James 1:5 NKJV)</p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-83922621625825979922021-05-29T07:01:00.000-06:002021-05-29T07:01:10.204-06:00Closed Motel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_ODMmB9kMPs37NV9yMjd_KJtJyqq9Za577EBiybOVnYru2qhMQ039F-OEjYwxw8-Bod44qJUllpnGnrlQgyUdVDJaQamHDiXyHRJLzZYMoEcF7KjT_X1VEM8gp_ZDiiNQNge/s1632/IMG_Femme_20210526_163057_processed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_ODMmB9kMPs37NV9yMjd_KJtJyqq9Za577EBiybOVnYru2qhMQ039F-OEjYwxw8-Bod44qJUllpnGnrlQgyUdVDJaQamHDiXyHRJLzZYMoEcF7KjT_X1VEM8gp_ZDiiNQNge/w400-h300/IMG_Femme_20210526_163057_processed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Empty boxes once stored lives <br />Maybe for a day or two <br />Or even for a week. <br />The lives moved on, <br />Though some would circle back. <br /><br />The guests were ever changing <br />And were all the same. <br />They'd make some phone calls, <br />Get some food, <br />Watch TV, <br />And try to rest <br />While traffic rushed by all night long. <br /><br />The motel kept at it year by year. <br />The road grew wider, busier, <br />But the motel grew tired. <br />At last it closed its eyes <br />And shut its doors <br />And went to sleep. <br /><br />The lives are now stored somewhere else. <br />__________________</p><p><b>Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done <br />And on the labor in which I had toiled; <br />And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. <br />There was no profit under the sun. </b><br />(Ecclesiastes 2:11 NKJV)</p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-47142447442750631712021-05-25T09:07:00.004-06:002021-05-25T09:09:16.489-06:00Continual<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3tXZaG95nZhBqHLN4SdN82wuYc5P4mMAKahl1y0MvA-FJ4L_HizTquOKiiOOjcppecXt8OuGEnpjvVX3h8wXbf0fgwFjKJlERfREaVJx1S7_s1ORmO6UCQYDVwsESVP4tFQT/s1920/jon-tyson--bn3pm0QNm0-unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3tXZaG95nZhBqHLN4SdN82wuYc5P4mMAKahl1y0MvA-FJ4L_HizTquOKiiOOjcppecXt8OuGEnpjvVX3h8wXbf0fgwFjKJlERfREaVJx1S7_s1ORmO6UCQYDVwsESVP4tFQT/w400-h266/jon-tyson--bn3pm0QNm0-unsplash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;">Photo by </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/@jontyson?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Jon Tyson</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #111111; font-size: 13px; white-space: nowrap;"> on </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/praise?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #767676; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "San Francisco", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Ubuntu, Roboto, Noto, "Segoe UI", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-decoration-skip-ink: auto; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, opacity 0.1s ease-in-out 0s; white-space: nowrap;">Unsplash</a></div><br />
To honor God with all my heart;<br />
To love him with my ev'ry part;<br />
To praise him boundlessly, and then<br />
To come to worship him again...<br />
<br />
Amid life's duty, strain and stress,<br />
His purest peace may I confess.<br />
May this be all my joy, my song.<br />
May this engage me all year long.<br />
<br />
<br /><b>
I will bless the LORD at all times;<br />
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.</b><br />(Psalm 34:1)Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-9141149534370664482021-04-21T12:55:00.000-06:002021-04-21T12:55:13.383-06:00Babcock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZSX6UGlMqIM3FF2aevvXADj6bqRztQDRnffBPu8pQM3XZnNGcvofJps2_icK5EYitTUWynyqE2Az_ygLQ-uKdvNfm6jGreYjO5CLs17Zyhvwhw215QRl99kdupc4U7B9xU-_/s1600/Maltbie+D+Babcock.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1092" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZSX6UGlMqIM3FF2aevvXADj6bqRztQDRnffBPu8pQM3XZnNGcvofJps2_icK5EYitTUWynyqE2Az_ygLQ-uKdvNfm6jGreYjO5CLs17Zyhvwhw215QRl99kdupc4U7B9xU-_/w273-h400/Maltbie+D+Babcock.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>The life of Maltbie Davenport. Babcock (1858-1901) is a sad, fascinating tale. He made a major impact on many people. He graduated from Syracuse University and Auburn Theological seminary. Along the way, he was president of a baseball team and studied multiple musical instruments. He became a noted preacher, famous for his intellect and his oratory. He led a fund-raising effort for Jewish refugees from Russia who had fled from an anti-Jewish Russian pogrom. His salary as pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in Baltimore was reported to be $12,000 per year--a huge sum in those days. <div><br /></div><div>Unknown to most, he was institutionalized for a breakdown at one point. He eventually was on a Holy Land tour. During the return trip, he got very sick, maybe with brucellocis, which can cause extreme pain. He killed himself in Naples, Italy, reportedly by taking poison and slitting his wrists.</div><div><br /></div><div>His funeral was a major event, with a brass quartet and about 50 ushers--the young men of the congregation. Those on the program included the presidents of Johns Hopkins and Princeton Universities, the president of the Women's College of Baltimore, plus Presbyterian, Congregational and Baptist preachers and a rabbi. A church building was built in his memory. Another church put in a Tiffany stained glass window in his memory. A road in San Antonio was named for him. He's now remembered for writing the words of the hymn, "This Is My Father's World."</div><div><br /></div><div>He seemed to be a brilliant light...but was it the Lord, or just his intellect and personality? Was he forgiven in Christ? Or did this man who seemed to have gained the whole world forfeit his own soul? Is his destiny eternal blessing with the Lord, or outer darkness forever, where the fire is never quenched and the worm never dies? Either way, may the Lord deliver us from following Babcock's example...and may he deliver us from following the example of those who build church buildings in memory of preachers who were not faithful to the end. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,"</b></div><div><b>Says the Lord of hosts.</b> (from Zechariah 4:6 NKJV)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Woe to you when all men speak well of you,</b></div><div><b>For so did their fathers to the false prophets.</b> (Luke 6:26 NKJV)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Consider the words of Jesus...</div><div><b>“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” </b> (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV)</div><div><br /></div><div>And consider also...</div><div><div><b>The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,</b></div><div><b>Slow to anger and great in mercy.</b> (Psalm 145:8 NKJV)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>(For more information about Babcock, including a link to the printed program from his memorial service, see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltbie_Davenport_Babcock" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>. Also see <a href="https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19010520.2.52&srpos=1&e=------190-en--20--1--txt-txIN-maltbie+babcock-------1" target="_blank">this link</a>. You can listen to two minutes of his preaching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVyhqd1wU2M" target="_blank">here</a>; it's not a very clear recording, so you may want to turn on YouTube's closed captions.)</div>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-21963736744102663372021-03-30T08:51:00.000-06:002021-03-30T08:51:28.228-06:00Free E-Book of Poems for Jesus' Last Week<p>Click on the E-Books link above or click <a href="http://vineandfig.blogspot.com/p/e-books.html">here </a>to get a link to a small book, <i>Poems for Holy Week</i>. Maybe some of what's there will encourage you as you prepare to celebrate the Lord's resurrection. It's truly free; you don't have to give any information in order to get it!</p><p>I realize that we can celebrate the resurrection every day, and that in a sense, no one week is any more holy than another. But I mentioned "Holy Week" in the title since that's what many churches, including the one I grew up in, call it. </p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36043126.post-90486248524555400672021-03-29T08:44:00.002-06:002021-03-29T08:44:44.169-06:00In the Night<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOZnGDOIYzAEEtp-KHaSlUAJb-Z40lGbZxY26al-p26k3MY3l_4WOBeg_rX_YfDWMP7B7cRr8JNCEcPv_C0KZjCDgKbcLYImvHp8Jmh_IPw511mQaHQ-sVS-1nTC-CMwUSy57/s2048/20210328_051616.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOZnGDOIYzAEEtp-KHaSlUAJb-Z40lGbZxY26al-p26k3MY3l_4WOBeg_rX_YfDWMP7B7cRr8JNCEcPv_C0KZjCDgKbcLYImvHp8Jmh_IPw511mQaHQ-sVS-1nTC-CMwUSy57/w300-h400/20210328_051616.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It matters not how dark the night <br />If you are walking in the light. <br />The world may scream that you are wrong, <br />Because it hates God's light, your song. <br />Just keep on doing what is right. <br />Just keep on walking in the light. <br />Press on, press on and meet the test. <br />Christ's way is always, always best. <br />It matters not how dark the night <br />If you are walking in the light. </p><p><span class="text 1John-1-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span class="text 1John-1-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">This then is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.</span><span class="text 1John-1-6" id="en-MEV-30547" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>If we say that we have fellowship with Him, yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.</span><span class="text 1John-1-7" id="en-MEV-30548" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span><b>But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. </b>(<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+1&version=MEV" target="_blank">1 John 1:5-7 MEV</a>)</span></p><p><span class="text 1John-1-7" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p><span class="text 1John-1-7" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: times;">The image is of a redbud tree in a Walmart parking lot at night. Beauty from the Lord is all around us. </span></i></span></p><p><br /></p>Jim Swindlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632113399696237695noreply@blogger.com0