The six week journey to Binsfeld, Germany for Melanie has begun. We left Lake City around 12:30 with her 48 pound suitcase and a ten pound carry-on bag. Thinking we had plenty of time for the 4:51PM flight, we set out at my usual slow pace. Looking closer at her flight schedules around Olustee, Melanie let out a Oh My. The Oh my meant she had read the schedule wrong, and her plane was to depart at 2:51PM for Washington, DC.
At that point, the little PT cruiser with Jordon,Melanie and I was upped to around 80MPH, a realm of speed unheard of since pregnancy days. After a few near wrong exits off I-295, we made it to the concourse, then to the parking garage. The United Airlines check-in was inside the terminal. We got her checked in, and walked her back to the point of no entry. My taking a few snaps drew the attention of a plainclothes security officer, and I thus assured him my interest was not in the security officers. He believed my story of Melanie going to visit Heather in Germany, and thanked Heathers husband John for serving in the Air Force in Afghanistan.
Jordon got us a Burger King in the airport restaurant, and we made a slower trip back to Lake City. Tonight we plan to go out to Alligator Lake and kayak around in the evening. Perhaps we shall catch that elusive turkey going for the roost, or the ten foot long alligator that swam ahead of the kayak last week. We shall return in the darkness to a lonely home, void of warmth and happiness, as we miss Melanie and pray for her safe journey to Germany.

Behold how good

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard;
that went down to the skirts of his garments;

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for the LORD
commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Sing Out

I Chronicles16:33

Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.

His glory covered the heavens

Habakkuk 3:3


God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran.
Selah.
His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

Ye So Foolish

Galatians 3:3



Are ye so foolish? Having began in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?






Hymn 161. C.M. Reading,[b]
Christian virtures; or, Difficulty of going to Heaven.
Isaac Watts

Strait is the way, the door is strait,
That leads to joys on high;
'Tis but a few that find the gate,
While crowds mistake and die.

Beloved self must be denied,
The mind and will renewed;
Passion suppressed and patience tried,
And vain desires subdued.

(Flesh is a dangerous foe to grace,
Where it prevails and rules;
Flesh must be humbled, pride abased,
Lest they destroy our souls.)

The love of gold be banished hence,
The vile idolatry;
And every member, every sense,
In sweet subjection lie.

The tongue, that most unruly power,
Requires a strong restraint;
We must be watchful every hour,
And pray, but never faint.

Lord! can a feeble, helpless worm,
Fulfull a task so hard?
Thy grace must all my work perform,
And give the free reward.

Last evening was spent in the kayak upon Alligator Lake, sitting for the longest time in this dark lagoon, watching for this beautiful blue necked turkey to return. I used the turkey call several times, but no response. The turkey first appeared when I was busily photographing cypress knees next to the shore. Perhaps the flash attracted her attention. Sensing something in the hammock, I looked up, and there she was, then just as quickly, she was gone.

I had this dream last night, that we were at the final judgement. It was like a gator game, with thousands streaming down the walkways, into these huge convention halls. The line I was in kept breaking down into smaller, then smaller lines, until I was directed into this little tent off to the side and given a ticket. I came back outside, thinking, what now? Thinking perhaps I had entered the wrong line, I again got back into the long line and entered this grand arena, where thousands were happily cheering and waving, as on the jumbotron, they were listening to a speech by Glenn Beck and others. A man from the audience came up to me and we compared tickets.
I looked on his ticket, then mine, and said to him, perhaps you have been deceived. Where on your ticket is it written, Salvation by grace alone? I hurriedly left the large arena, returned to the small tent out of the way from the lights and the crowds, got it punched and entered in.

Be My Shield

Psalm 3:3

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

LM Worship. Armley[b] ver. 1,2,3,4,5,8
A morning Psalm
Isaac Watts

O Lord, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of flesh and blood!
But my defence and hope is God.

Tired with burdens of the day,
To thee I raised an evening cry:
Thou heard'st when I began to pray,
And thine almighty help was nigh.

Supported by thy heavenly aid,
I laid me down, and slept secure;
Not death should make my heart afraid,
Though I should wake and rise no more.

But God sustained me all the night:
Salvation doth to God belong:
He raised my head to see the light,
And make his praise my morning song.

Riding along the familiar pathway at a slow pace, a brisk breeze pulling me along. Weak in the flesh from the previous days efforts,
today was a relief not to push the pace. Coming to the tracks leading into the pine wood barrens towards Olustee, I stopped to raise an evening cry. Down the tracks toward town, the sunset glistened off the steel and my thoughts returned to those in need, in desperate places. This journey is not just for the inner man, but for those residing alongside tracks, broken, weary and worn, laying down their head at night, sleep eluding them. May they have their heads raised to see, to make his praise their morning song.

Saw Ye Him?

Song of Solomon 3:3

The watchmen that go about the city found
me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my
soul loveth?


Banquet of Love Hymn 68
Isaac Watts

Behold the Rose of Sharon here;
The Lily which the valley's bear;
Behold the Tree of Life, that gives
Refreshing fruit, and healing leaves.

Amongst the thorns so lilies shine;
Amongst wild gourds, the noble vine;
So in my eyes my Saviour proves,
Amidst a thousand meaner loves.

Beneath his cooling shade I sit,
To shield me from the burning heat;
Of heavenly fruit he spreads a feast,
To feed my eyes, and please my taste.

Kindly he brought me to the place,
Where stands the banquet of his grace;
He saw me faint; and o'er my head
The banner of his love he spread.

With living bread and generous wine,
He cheers this sinking heart of mine;
And opening his own heart to me,
He shows his thoughts, how kind they be.

O never let my Lord depart!
Lie down, and rest upon my heart;
I charge my sin not once to move,
Nor stir, nor wake, nor grieve my Love.

By the rail tracks of Still Road this evening we met and conversed. The shining rails disappearing into the distance, bringing to mind the journey towards Taboric light. The days turmoil a distant thunder, the calming presence of evening light sending rays of comfort.
Tomorrow holds anticipation of direction, of a journey under the banner of love, to an coming victory.

The Tumult

Isaiah 33:2-6
















At the noise of the tumult the people fled: at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.

Today the journey admist the tumult continues. Arising in the calm,still quiet of morning.
"Is what you have to say more interesting than silence?"

In my chatter, in my loud thoughts, vanity prevails. Thoughts of things material. Thoughts of things physical,carnal.
To quiet the mind, to lessen the endless words. Today I venture forth and practice the presence of stillness. Waiting upon the strong arm to deliver in the morning, my salvation in the time of trouble.

May your day find you seeking the still, small voice.

An offering in righteousness

Malachi 3:3

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

As predicted, the first days upon the journey will be most difficult. Determining to arise before day, I overslept and woke with just enough time to prepare for work. On the twenty-mile ride this evening, a hard pace was sought. In the first miles from home, the body, not used to the effort, strained to keep pace with the intention. By the final miles with dusk fading into the darkness, the pace quickened and the body found the effort less taxing. Yet, compared to the years of yore, a far cry.

The ride of silence was a continual prayer. A prayer to refine this body of sin, to purge the dross, the dregs. My only offering an offering that I cannot even produce. Righteousness. Thus, my efforts to offer to Him my life, my time, my talents, all but foul smelling stench.
My righteousness vain. Nothing can I bring. Nothing can I boast. Resting quietly in the hands of one who shall refine, who shall supply, who shall provide the offering in righteousness.

I shall simply leave you with another hymn from the old Methodist Hymnal, page 33.

All beautiful the march of days
Francis Wile 1878-1939

All beautiful the march of days
As seasons come and go;
The hand that shaped the rose hath wrought
The crystal of the snow,
Hath sent the hoary frost of heaven,
The flowing waters sealed,
And laid a silent lovliness
On hill and wood and field.

O'er white expanses sparkling pure
The radiant morns unfold;
The solemn splendors of the night
Burn brighter through the cold,
Life mounts every throbbing vein,
Love deepens round the hearh,
And clearer sounds the angel hymn,
"Good will to men on earth."

O thou from whose unfathomed law
The year in beauty flows,
Thyself the vision passing by
In crystal and in rose,
Day unto day doth utter speech
And night to night proclaim,
In ever changing words of light,
The wonder of thy name.
Amen.

Stand Forth

Stand Forth
Mark 3:3
Upon the first light of mornglown we met. The first day of the resurrection from the darkness. The first day of the journey. Leaving the darkness of the cemetery, the withered hand finding restoration. This first day found us meditating upon Psalm 33. The poetry of Isaac Watts on Psalm 33 from the old 1858 Watts and Select Hymns was read. The first half went thus:
Rejoice, ye righteous in the Lord,
This work belongs to you;
Sing of his name, his ways, his word,
How holy, just and true!

His mercy and his righteousness
Let heaven and earth proclaim;
His works of nature and of grace
Reveal his wondrous name.

His wisdom and almighty word
The heavenly arches spread;
And by the Spirit of the Lord,
Their shining hosts were made.

He bade the liquid waters flow
To their appointed deep;
The flowing seas their limits know,
And their own stations keep.

Ye tenants of the spacious earth,
With fear before him stand;
He spake, and nature took its birth,
And rests on his command.

He scorns the nations rage,
And breaks their vain designs;
His counsel stands through every age,
And in full glory shines.

After meditating and in a continual state of prayer, I journeyed down to the little Price Creek Cemetery and awaited the morning light.
I felt compelled to visit this location and photograph the entrance gate with the giant oak in the background. From there, I returned home and went to work until six pm. The first days of any journey are the most difficult. We fret over things we forgot, things we should not have taken, not sure of our route, the cares of life. For this journey, I am as a man undertaking a journey having been sent with nothing more than the grave cloths in which he was laid. It will be a journey that shall find me clothed entirely in His righteousness by the end of days. The first week shall find me weak, the temptations will abound, the call to return to the coolness of the cemetery will beckon.
Walk along in prayer for my family in our journey for only by grace shall we make it.

Journey to Thirty Three

Exodus 33:3
Unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

In the next thirty-three days, we shall undertake the journey to thirty-three. A thirty-three day journey to recovery.
A thirty-three day seeking the spiritual land flowing with milk and honey. This time last year, this journey began. It began with my heart stent and then pacemaker. The journey continued into October and Melanie contracting H1N1. The loss of my job, her job. The financial loss, the loss of health insurance, the dipping into retirement funds, the leaning on the everlasting arms deeply.
In a recent post on Facebook, I wrote the heartfelt quote:
"God, I am giving you my too weak notice."
Through a year spent upon the floor prostrate looking up, I have grown weary in the spirit and the flesh.
Thus, for the next thirty-three or however many days it does take, I am going to journey back to the persistent,fervent state of being that existed when Melanie lay upon her hospital bed in Orlando upon death's door.
There, while in daily prayer, the death angel hovered as a buzzard, but never was allowed to enter.
As then,the journey will not be easy. The flesh is woefully weak. The obstacles many. Darkness does not relish the seeking of the light.
The theme of thirty-three was chosen, as for me, thirty-three was the physical age that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
Thirty-three was my age when Melanie and I married. The number three has always been an important number to me. The scriptures used will relate to the number three. I invite you to journey with me the next thirty-three days and believe for a recovery to financial stability, for a spiritual stability, for an entrance into the land that flows with milk and honey.

In a By Gone Era

This evening we made a return journey to the Columbia
County town of Lulu. Lulu is located approximately seven miles from Lake City on SR100. If you ever traveled through Lulu, on your way to Lake Butler, about a quarter of a mile past the Lulu General Store, on the North side of 100, you may have noticed the Mt.Zion Slaves Cemetery sign.
In all the years that I have traveled past this sign, I never stopped. I do remember in years past seeing this elderly gentleman working in the cemetery, raking and keeping the weeds in check. That man was the Rev. Joseph Anthony Sr. who now rests from his labors. It was said at Rev. Anthony's funeral in Oct of 2000, his casket was carried from his house approximately four miles south of Lulu on CR241, all through the streets of Lulu, so Joe could see his beloved Lulu one last time. It appears his wife Lenoria died in January of 2009 and is now buried next to him.
The old rake I am sure he used to keep the grounds now rests on his grave. With no one to maintain the cemetery with the care he did, it is difficult to now see any slaves graves, if any indeed, are located here.
The sign read: Mt Zion Slaves Cemetary. Established 1910. Erected:1996.
In memory of Joseph Anthony's relatives and friends who lived and picked cotton for their livlihood. In a by gone era. Columbia Co. Lulu, Fl.