Beaver do better work than the Corps of Engineers.
Month: April 2013
I wish the snow would go away. Then I could be like Linus.
Seriously. I could use a few friendly birds in my life.
Daily Faith Practices
Questions that are answered are derived from ELCA.org’s Daily Faith Practices.
The Reading
- 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Word of Life
1.) Staggering. To not find something where you know you left it is always a bit if a sideswipe, and decidedly off-putting and disorienting.
2.) Disbelief, I’m sure. Even the disciples had their doubts.
3.) The text of the bible study summed it up well. Genetics. We share a gene pool, in addition to a world history and a shared past.
4.) It can be incredibly difficult to talk about death. The idea of dying is a bit scary, and the sorrow we still feel for those we’ve lost can be intense.
5.) What would be said would differ greatly based on age. Some intricacies of the story, such as the complicated politics in place, just aren’t suitable to a child first learning the story. If it was an adult or older child I would take them through the story of Holy Week. Perhaps I would leave out a few details, and give them simply an overview, but there is a lot to learn, and a lot to know. It’s okay for a newly initiated person to take some time to come into full understanding of the depth of the story.
6.) Faith in the resurrection is difficult, but it instills death with hope, rendering a new beginning into the narrative, instead of simply an ending.
Word Among Us
1.) Here the artwork on graves is almost exclusively crosses and angels. There isn’t much creative symbology that I’ve seen. Though I don’t spend a great deal of time examining graves in cemeteries. My paternal grandparents’ gravestone has a country vista with trees and deer drinking from a lake…
2.) The angels that visited the tomb to tell the good news are about the only connection that there is…
3.) The empty cross.
4.) I like to try and encourage remembrance of the person alive, and share in my caring for them as they journey into the next life.
Faith Practices in Daily Life
5.) By being unafraid to with people a happy easter, even when there’s a chance they will not know the true sentiment behind those words.
6.) Decorations, color choices, caring for others, and honoring those who have gone before.
Bible in a Year: Day 8
The Reading
- Luke 9:1-27
- Genesis 15:1-18
- Psalms 8:1-9
Standout Passages
Abram put his trust in the Lord, and because of this the Lord was pleased with him and accepted him. Genesis 15:6
what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them? Psalms 8:4
O Lord, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Psalms 8:9
Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, thanks God for them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to distribute to the [5,000] people. They all ate and had enough, and the disciples took up twelve baskets of what was left over. Luke 9:16-17
Reading Reflections…
The Psalm today, while it had a slight bit of vengeance in it, is decidedly sweeter than the past ones, which I appreciated. and Abram’s story is getting more interesting as we progress through Genesis. I’m seeing the first hints of the coming Passover and the plight of the Jews in Egypt. It’s interesting to get this new perspective on a story I have known so well for so long.
The gospel of Luke, however, is starting to worry me. I’ve just done easter and I can feel the death of Jesus on the cross drawing nearer in the text. So I’m going to focus on the storiesI did and didn’t know as this progresses, of his miracles and good works and find joy in them rather than dwelling on the dark days I spent so long in through Lent.
There is always light in the dark.
The Heroic Beavers of Salt Lake City
(IMAGE: The North American beaver, Castor canadensis (Stevehdc, Wikimedia Commons)
A Pair of North American Beavers are responsible for preventing an 8000-gallon diesel fuel spill from reaching the reservoir in Willard Bay State Park, which supplies Salt Lake City with water on the 19th of March, 2013. Both animals were soaked with the toxic fuel but recovered in the local Wildlife Rehabilitation Center according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
As of the 27th of March the pair were making good progress. They have been joined by a third beaver who was found sludge covered but is recovering well alongside the original pair, who are suspected to be siblings. They are all suspected to be orphans, as they are yearlings and beavers of this age group frequently live with their parents, but no adult beavers have been sighted at the spill site.
Sources
- Heroic Beavers Save Salt Lake City – MAR 21, 2013 10:09 AM ET // BY TIM WALL
- Salt Lake City’s Beaver Heroes Now Orphans – MAR 27, 2013 01:05 PM ET // BY TIM WALL
Unknown
Let’s make sure our harmless prank doesn’t cause long-term psychological damage to scores of innocent civilians.
Bible in a Year: Day 7
The Reading
- Luke 8:26-56
- Genesis 14:1-24
- Psalms 7:1-17
Standout Passages
I will take nothing for myself. I will accept only what my men have used. But let my allies, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, take their shame. Genesis 14:24
I thank the Lord for his justice; I sing praises to the Lord, the most high. Psalms 7:17
“Go back home and tell what God has done for you.”
The man went through the town, telling what Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39
Reading Reflections…
It’s nice to have had the stories from Luke in this reading. Jesus’ healing of Jarius’ daughter is one of the greater miracles, and it’s accompanied by so many other miracles in the same section of the text! And still both Genesis and Psalms are those of revenge and holy fire. I hope that at least the Psalms will change their tone to one of love, soon.
