|
|
|
|
To see the absolute "latest news" ... scroll to the bottom. If you want to see how it came about then start at the top!
When I saw this view of part of "the heavens" off my deck ... it nearly took my breath away. God is a painter. Not only does He paint the sky ... but He paints us ... using just the right strokes at just the right time. PLEASE ... let Him paint away. Don't grab for the brush thinking you can do it better. That would be arrogant. (jrs 06/21/07) Have you ever thought about the word ... "Confluence"? I think I see one coming. Someone I consider a very dear friend ... although we don't see each other very often these days ... recorded a very fine album by that name some years back. I always loved the name he entitled it ... and the music. I wonder ... could it be true? Is this God's plan? I LOVE that I don't have to worry ... because ... if it's not ... HE has a better one ... not yet "unveiled". (jrs 06/22/07) On my walk this morning I got a real treat. I was just strolling along ... enjoying the sounds and smells and peace of the forest when I heard an unmistakable sound. Heavy and yet soft intermittent movement. I stopped ... and about 80 yards down to my left I saw a dark shadow ... and I knew ... it was a bear. I began to notice 2 ... no, 3 small "shadows" very near the large one. Yep ... 3 beautiful cubs. Very young ... perhaps only a month or two old. I spent about 10 minutes perfectly still ... just watching in reverence as the mother moved a few feet one way ... then back ... remaining perfectly still for a minute or more at a time. I think she smelled me and was being cautious. The cubs were independently in their own "worlds" ... playing quietly by themselves ... although they seemed to be aware of their mother's wary mood. As I moved quietly away I gave thanks that Our Father loves and cares for ALL his creation ... perfectly ... unrelentingly ... and daily ... according His sovereign will. Let us resolve to know Him ... daily ... and surrender our wills to the Glory of His name. Let His kingdom come ... and ours be done ... on earth as it is ... in Heaven! (jrs 06/23/07) By now ... you KNOW I'm a romantic ... and that's true ... but if there were any doubt left ... here's my next movie suggestion. It's back to a place I've never been with "An American in Paris". It stars one of Lisa's and my all time favorites ... Gene Kelly along with Leslie Caron in her film debut. Shot in 1951 right between our birthdays ... the twist is ... Gene and Leslie play "Jerry" and "Lisa". Now that just plain makes me laugh ... and then scratch my head! Lastly ... just because it actually IS "all about love" Lisa and I have been working on our dancing ... all around the house on these summer eves as we yearn for the days when "we (all) will dance". (jrs 06/24/07) It's true. Music saves my life. I live for universal language. Here are the words that "sang" to me ... among others ... today. "Could I talk to you sometime this afternoon - About some things I know I'm reading into - Because you and me come at this differently - And I'm just trying to be honest with you - Now that I've found you - In the most unexpected places - You were right in front of my face." (Bethany Dillon from her Cd "Waking Up"/ © 2007 Birdwing Music) (jrs 06/25/07)
Just thought I'd show you the "whole picture" I took earlier ... just in case you are attempting to doubt "the painter". He painted peaks and valleys I get to see from here. There is NO ONE else you can trust ... as much. Don't be afraid. (jrs 06/26/07) Just got HDTV ... and I have to tell you ... I stand amazed at what so many of you are being "subjected" to ... and yet you would not call it not subjection ... but ... your '"free" will ... being represented. WAKE UP! The "LIE" is being performed ... today ... and in HD! Bands like "Gwar" ... "Slayer" ... "Sevendust" ... and a slew of other incredibly misled "children". Never mind the tattoos and the strobe lights. You have to buy those things. What I'm trying to tell you about is something you can never buy. It is ... I am guessing ... a LOVE you have never known ... from the Living God ... who is alive as I type. He "IS" Love. You can continue to tire ... trying to tell a story that you do not know ... or ... surrender to His Story ... yes ... History. That is what the past ... and the future is ... and nothing else. It's true ... not a lie ... please ... consider the offer. (jrs 06/27/07) So what is the point of trying to communicate with those you love? That might seem obvious ... but ... what are you trying to communicate? Is it some personal "point" you feel as though you need to make ... to gain an advocate? What good would that do for YOU? Does it run deeper? Is your heart breaking? If yes ... please take comfort in the fact that ... if you believe ... you already have an advocate. In fact ... the only one you'll ever need. Stop trying to convince anyone of anything ... simply tell them the story of your heart ... and let it be. He is working it out ... working YOU out ... unto perfection. (jrs 06/28/07) TRUST in HIM. All things are becoming "NEW". (jrs 06/29/07)
"From the rising
of the sun ... to the setting of the sun ... the name of the Lord is worthy to
be praised." (from "All about
love", scc, 2003,
If you know ... or, perhaps, just suspect ... that the Lord himself has reached through the very essence of time to rescue YOU from your fears ... your doubts ... in fact, your very self ... please STOP and recognize your very own "In Dependence day". Let the celebration begin ... for He is come. Hallelujah! (jrs 07/07/07) What can we do? There are lots of "causes" and concerns all around us ... some beckoning ... some demanding ... some pleading. But ... what can we do TODAY to offer ourselves to help solve the plethora of problems all around us? Should we join some organization ... march on the weekends ... fight for some position we find close to our particular ideology? Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." I'm thinking ... that's good advice. Now ... how do we do that? (jrs 07/11/07) There is a
wonderful awareness to behold. It can be summed up in these lyrics.
" Everywhere I go I can feel you all around me. In the sunrise ... in the
moonlight ... I breathe you in like the air. Oh, I breathe you in like the
air ... you're everywhere."
(Wayne Kirkpatrick and J.D. Martin) Do I dare? Here's a lyric that "tugs" at my heart. "Kick those covers off and come to me ... out your window and down your tree. There's a chance to win at every game ... step past this point and life's not the same." If I wrote those words ... would I dare? I have to be honest and say ... if I wrote them ... I don't know. I'm pretty sure it's all a part of the "mystery". And so ... I hold on ... to who I know ... who YOU know ... we still have moonlight left. (jrs later on the 16th) And back to the instruments. Finally ... after many months I actually have a 5 Octave Grande Concertmaster w/Dampers for sale here on my web site! Last year I did this several times but it's been a long time since I've been able to make one apart from the commissions for my customers. At any rate ... if you'd like to see it ... just click here! (jrs 07/21/07) Haven't been updating this page lately because I have been preparing for my new "Apprentice" ... Sam who started his work with me this last Wednesday. It has been a thrill and feels like the beginning of a whole new life in the Workshop for me. Oh ... I have put some brand new 2 Octave Bowed Psalteries up on the site. You can see them here! (jrs 08/05/07) Sometimes I feel afraid of the mystery. But I settle in ... allow myself to "not" be in control. Our predicament has been referred to as a "fool's parade" ... and I realize that I have allowed myself to believe in "something crazy." But ... "It's all about love" ... after all. I have no other agenda. Thank you Lord for giving me dulcimers. And thank you Lord for giving each of us ... what you have provided. Forgive us for complaining. Help us see YOU in this "play ... cast in shadows". Call us to sing "with one voice." We are YOUR choir. We are "yours." (jrs (with a lot of help) 08/24/07) One of the most amazing truths to me is how Our Lord exists outside of "time" ... as we know it. I mean ... I'm all caught up in the drudgery of life as I know it ... full of questions, fears, doubts ... and yet HE continues to paint away ... His perfect portrait. Am I a pixel ... ? I, for one, am thankful that He is the artist ... and I ... if I am blessed ... am a pigment within His imagination. (jrs 11/18/07) So ... what do I, or perhaps we, do ... ? We are enveloped in our selves ... in our ... "predicaments". Is the answer "out there" ... all around us ... or, within ... ? Is there such a thing as salvation? We have all heard "the word". While we wait, work, suffer ... we write, sing, pray. We rise ... fall ... wonder ... could it be ... as I have dreamed ... ? Here's what I would say ... nothing we have experienced ... is a mistake. He ... will continue to call each and every one of our selves ... out ... of our selves ... and into Him. I just get this feeling ... we could be ... so close ... to believing ... that all is lost. We, each, hold ... to our own particular "charade" ... but we ... must release our grip ... for it is NOT we who have been given the privilege of power. So ... please ... continue to build, paint, compose, pray, listen, hope ... and, even, wait ... yes, wait ... for the miracle of which each one of us has heard. It is, perhaps, the greatest truth of all. (jrs 12/02/07) But ... what of this truth, this hope? How do we continue to ... wait ... and not let it die? Are we not tired? When we "lift" ourselves up to go on do we not feel as though we are abandoning that hope ... just a little? Sometimes the word I could best use to define my predicament is "clinging" ... but even then, if I'm totally honest, I'm not sure I possess even that strength. Ah ... now I'm close ... now I'm beginning to see. We are told to "be in" ... but not "of". Ok ... so we're "in" ... I'm pretty sure we could all acknowledge that. How to be not "of". We have to learn to change our long held focal point. We have to accept that we really are strangers in a strange land. Come on ... let's practice ... the revelation is right there ... just out in front of us ... just beyond this veil. (jrs 03/26/08)
It's taken longer than expected ... but ... Perelandra is here! (jrs 04/20/08) |
.jpg)
