“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life
Monthly Archives: May 2014
C.cada Bop Pt. 2
C.cada Artists
C.cada (Cornerstone Christian artist’s day apart) was begun in an effort to give artists from every genre an opportunity to come together to discover, develop, and deploy their talents in ways that will better the church and the community.
Last month you will remember our group project was a writing challenge using the Bop form of poetry. A few months before we were challenged to write a piece of flash fiction from a prompt. Here are some of the results.
Deb Maciorowski
C.cada writing exercise in Poetry
The Bop
That Light
The end of the month is coming
If time could stand still
All could be accomplished.
I could earn more money
Maybe an oil change
Would smooth things out
Focus, focus, distracted by the light!
Hopeful that the light goes out
Call Bob to schedule
Next Wednesday at 6pm
Drive in, light still on
How long will it take?
Where will the money come from?
Keep on praying!
Focus, focus, distracted by the light!
Disconnected the wire
Light finally out!
Picked up, turn lights on and off
Left turn signal now the right
Failed inspection again- Drive out
Turn corner at stop sign—Nooooo! Not again!
Focus, focus, distracted by the light!
Sandy Freeman
CCADA writing prompt
“Ben’s Crossing”
“Poppy, just one more story, PLEASE!!!” Eliza pleaded.
“Alright, then it’s off to bed, agreed?” Poppy sternly stated masking his grin.
“Tell me the one about Christoff,” Eliza burst out, barely controlling her excitement.
“Let see, how does it go? Oh, yes,” Poppy closed his eyes as he stroked his goatee. “School was out promptly at 2p.m., Christoff sauntered off towards “Big-Ben”. It was October; the leaves were explosive with color as if splattered across a woody canvas. Christoff loved autumn; the air was breathable, not sticky with humidity but soothing scarcely requiring a sweatshirt. He adorned one about his waist; it helped hold up his weary jeans, frayed by the treading of his red canvas sneakers, one inevitably needing to be tied. This day particularly stood out for Christoff as he grew older, his heart would be perpetually changed; though he would not acquaint the transformation till years later at a once close friend’s funeral, Pastor Quinn.
Christoff and Sean became immediate friends upon their first meeting at church. They typically met at “Ben’s Crossing” after school. Now “Ben’s Crossing” was situated deep in the woods, a place where the explosive painting became somewhat smudged due to the obvious lack of sunrays. Here is where “Big-Ben” stood.
“Do you remember “Big-Ben” Eliza?” Poppy inquired.
“It’s only the biggest, gigantic old oak tree ever made by God!” Eliza exclaimed.
“Well I guess you have been listening to your old Pops after all,” Poppy grinned with a twinkle in his eyes. “Now where was I? Oh yes, “the race”.”
Usually they would spy each other from a distance; and then “the race” was on to see who could reach “Big-Ben” first. For some reason Christoff reached “Big-Ben” ahead of Sean.
Sean usually edged Christoff out by one-hundredth of a second. But this day Christoff had victory, he outran Sean for the first time ever. Christoff pranced around Sean like a proud peacock, unable to see the lack of expression on Sean’s face.
“CHRISTOFF, PLEASE STOP!” Sean squeaked.
Christoff immediately halted, “WHAT! Can’t a guy enjoy such a historic event?”
“My parents are getting a divorce!” Sean snapped out fighting back the tears welling up in his eyes.
Christoff stood dumbfounded not really knowing what to say or how to comfort his friend. Then Christoff remembered the theme at VBS last year, “Pray for a friend in need”.
“Let me pray for you?” Christoff said softly placing his hand delicately on Sean’s shoulder.
Sean nodded with an unspoken yes, as a tear streamed down his cheek.
Christoff spoke softly with his hand still upon Sean’s shoulder, “Dear Jesus, please help my friend and his parents, let them see you in each other and in their son, Sean. Oh, Jesus they need you! Amen!” Christoff raised his head, his jaw dropped.
“What?” Sean said puzzled by his friend’s expression. He heard the crunch of autumn leaves behind him. He turned…there stood Mr. Quinn, Sean’s father tears streaming from his eyes with outstretched arms.
Our next C.cada meeting is coming up on May 24th. If you would like more information about our organization check us out at
artistdayapart.com
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Wordless Wednesday: Full Of Faith
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Share Your World With Cee Cee 2014 Week 19
This post is written in response to Cee Neuner’s blog series Share Your World. It has been a few days since I have written anything so I thought this would be a good exercise to warm up my “write” brain.
When you have finished with me here go on over to Cee’s forum to see what her other contributors have said. You can find those posts here:
http://ceenphotography.com/2014/05/12/share-your-world-2014-week-19/
Here are Cee’s questions for the week:
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I just had to answer this before I began the questions proper. The reason I could not write this weekend was because I was attending my daughter and future son-in-law’s graduation.
Amanda Lillie, graduate Northpoint Bible College
James Franklin graduate Northpoint Bible College and his future wife Melanie Lillie
Now all of my kids are college grads. It was so nice to have them all together for the graduation. We made a pretty splendid party when all was said and done.
Note how happy Amanda is to be photographed
This week I am looking forward to meeting with the Winchendon Garden Club to discuss the Ingleside project and our community garden project.
Do you prefer shopping or going to a park?
I much prefer going to the park. I was just telling my life coach the other day that I needed more time to just sit and watch the world go by. I don’t need to buy it. I just need to see it.
What is the highest score you’ve ever made in bowling? Actual or virtually played.
Oh this is embarrassing. I think my highest score was between 60 and 70.
Name the foreign countries you’ve been to.
I have been to Mexico, England, Iceland, Ireland and Holland. I am going to tour Ireland with Amanda in the fall.
Describe your own outlook on life in seven words or less.
Follow Christ. Love others. Live your passion.
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Think You’re Good? Check That Pile of Smelly Rags.
All our righteousness…
Many of us have taken missionary trips to various parts of the world–particularly so-called third world areas where cleanliness and hygiene are major problems in the spreading of disease and sickness. People live and eat from what we would call dumps or landfills. We are typically appalled and do what we can to help to improve the natives situation while we are there. We may even send money and needed items throughout the year. Make no mistake, this is a good thing.
However, we could take all of those times we went on those trips, add in all our tithes and offerings, consider the ministries in which we’ve been active, count all our visitations to shut-ins and prisons, include our church attendance and all our time of prayer and, compared to God’s righteousness, all our efforts would be no better than a pile of stinking rags. We are all infected…
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Heaven Pt. 147: In the Lion’s Den
I cry out to God Most High
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3 He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
4 I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords. Psm 57:2-4
Let’s just face it. This world is a lion’s den. Oh not everyone out there is a lion but there are enough to go around, sho’ nuff. If you make it through to your full seventy years chances are you are going to run into at least one ravening lion. I’m not talking about a skunk or a badger or even a nasty dog of a person. The lions are those who not only annoy your steps but who threaten your very existence. They have the power to steal your dreams and reduce your hopes to rubble. They are the people who stand like shadows on the edge of your nightmares waiting to pounce and take everything that seems good and gracious in life. In the Bible they are the Serpents, the Cains, the Pharaohs, the Sauls and the Judas’.
So what’s a person to do when facing a lion? Do what the psalmist did. Do what Daniel did. Cry out to God and let Him be the one to shut the mouth of the lion. We serve a God who doesn’t expect us to fight our own battles. He expects us to give the battle over to Him. If He needs our help He will be sure to tell us. More often than not He will probably tell us…
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’ 2 Chron. 20:17
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On the Move
this post was created for the Daily Posts’ Weekly Photo Challenge: ON THE MOVE
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/on-the-move/
Here are my thoughts on the subject
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- A different kind of water wheel, Kokenhof
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- Cheese wheels in Alkmaar
“Take action! An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience
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Caddo’s Seven Word Sundays 5-11-14
No matter what comes, Jesus strengthens me!
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone; yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3. There let the way appear, steps unto heaven; all that thou sendest me, in mercy given; angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise, out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5. Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly, still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
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Watching From the Window
This post was created for: A Word A Week Photography Challenge
http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/a-word-a-week-photograph-challenge-watch/
To see how others have interpreted the theme WATCH click on the above address.
“LOOKING
The world goes by, and what have I to do with it? I merely observe how the geese stretch their necks towards the orange rim of sky. I watch how light fades and children make their way home, hungry and tired. The bushes outside become ghosts while baths run and kitchen windows steam up with the cooking. This is the smell of our home, where I have a place in the wrinkled hours making beds and hugging boys awake. This is the sound of the house where I feel out lives into words, translate ragged nights and days into something whole, or try to. You may look if you wish….. The world goes by, and what have you or I to do with it, except perhaps for looking… ?”
― Jay Woodman, SPAN
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Oh, Nigeria
Paul writes powerfully about a very desperate situation. Be in prayer my friends.
Nigerian Schoolgirls
Photo from article.wn.com
what terror murders innocence
for yearning education
rips ripe flowers from their stems
to subjugate their fragrance
paternalistic arrogance flaunts
deep sectarian misogyny
it has ugly eyes for the world
bloody hands for its own
stunted ethics compel its illusions
who will stand for the flowers
and tame this abomination
or failing that kill the beast
once and for all with clean
adamant weapons of justice
who will rescue the flowers
return them to their gardens
of humane society give them
sweet nurturing reverence
oh Nigeria giant of Africa
wailing your titanic clashes of clans
let your daughters and sons
breathe of your proud ancient
kingdoms reject the repugnant
sharia of Boko Haram and let
flourish the powers that flowers
exhibit when bathed in the nutrient
peace of Eden before the great fall
it is in you since birthmother Nok
culture opened your primitive heart
Lillie-Put 