since my visit to the Middle East, I’ve been thinking about this issue… New research has shown the way Americans think about the subject… Click HERE
Category Archives: seeking understanding
Life as Mountain Climbing
this was in the New York Times morning briefing I get via email…
Straddling the border between Switzerland and Italy is the stunning Matterhorn, which at 14,692 feet is one of the tallest peaks in the Alps.
Edward Whymper, a Briton, and his party were the first to reach the summit, 150 years ago today.
It should have been a joyous occasion. But descending after a ceremonial flag-planting, four of the seven men fell 4,000 feet to a glacier below when their hemp rope broke.
Mr. Whymper and two guides from the village of Zermatt, Switzerland, were at the other end of the rope and survived. Since then, more than 500 climbers have died, mostly on the descent.
The frayed rope of the Whymper expedition is on display in the Matterhorn Museum in Zermatt, which has become Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations, with nearly two million visitors each year.
To commemorate the anniversary, a new $9 million base camp at 10,695 feet is unveiled today. And the mountain is closed to climbers for the first time ever.
Mr. Whymper never returned to the Matterhorn. In his 1871 book, he advised: “Do nothing in haste; look well to each step, and from the beginning think what may be the end.”
… I’m not going to spiritualized this cuz it’s about life (which is inherently spiritual)… Don’t need to… Read that quote again…
“Do nothing in haste; look well to each step, and from the beginning think what may be the end.”
Filed under seeking understanding
trust
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22 ESV)
Our trust must be in the Lord. We may celebrate a nation as it does good. But remember, a nation is a collection of people, people are fallen, they fail. Trust in God who never fails.
Excellent and honorable
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8 ESV)
Yesterday I read of some excellent and honorable work going on among refugees in Szeged, Hungary.
A beautiful city on the Serb border that is the first larger city in Hungary on the Black Route.
Earlier this week (scroll down) I noted an article about The Black Route to Europe. Szeged is on that route. CLICK HERE to read about work among those refugees.
Conflict
This is a view of Bethlehem.
I was there for 8 days in May and learned a lot about the conflict between peoples in that broken place.
Last night I watched this movie…
It reminded me of what I experienced for a week.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Love your enemy.
Love your neighbor.
One pastor said: “I have learned to love my enemy, who is also my neighbor.”
Filed under culture, photos along the way, seeking understanding
Meditate on this rich text…
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
God chose what is low and despised in the world,
even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,
righteousness
and sanctification
and redemption, so that,
as it is written,
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 1:27-31 ESV)
Filed under disciple making, seeking understanding
kingdom travelin' 