The tomb is empty. That is an image that greatly appeals to me. As I get older and deal with the accompanying aches and pains I like the idea that someday I will abandon the tomb of this body for something new.
Jesus is risen! It is true! He lives today!
Alleluia!
As Peter Rabbit, our courtyard Easter bunny, might say -- have a great Easter meal...
...followed by good drink...
Have a blessed and happy Easter.
It's always been hard for me to understand why God's sacrifices required the blood of innocents. Yet, what sacrifice could be enough to cover all of my sins and all the sins of the whole world?
When I stop to think what Good Friday really means to me, I am overwhelmed. I do not deserve the blood that Jesus shed when he took my place on the cross.
I guess that's why they call it grace.
In the traditional church calendar today is Maundy Thursday, the celebration of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. When he did that, he told them he was giving them a new commandment, to love one another.
Maundy is derived from the Latin, 'mandatum,' which means 'to command, order.'
As we remember how Jesus humbled himself to be a servant to others, I pray that God will change my heart to be more like his so I may love others as he did.
This past weekend was an interesting one. First, Saturday was one of our windier days. When it gets this windy Sugar and Morgunn get their dander up and like to run, kick and buck. Here's a short video...
On Sunday it was a cold, but sunny day with little or no wind (at least until the late afternoon). The 7th annual Corrales Tractor Show was held at our local feed store, Village Mercantile. In addition to the tractors, different groups were invited to showcase the rural aspect of our little village. There were cows, horse rides, a farrier demonstration, and Galloping Grace Youth Ranch was there with two miniature horses and four goats for kids to feed. It also gave us a chance to talk with the parents about GGYR and it's vision to expose kids to farm and ranch life.
Here are some pictures...
We finished our time on Sunday by buying a couple of pulled pork sandwiches from Bad Sass BBQ and they were delicious.
Stupid question, I know. All of us adults can tie our shoes. But, do you tie them correctly?
Here's a video that shows the difference between a weak knot, which most of us learn, and a stronger version that comes untied less often.
Today is Palm Sunday, the start of Easter week.
Easter week, to me, is the perfect example of human nature and human frailty.
Today we remember and celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem when all the people proclaim him as the coming King. Yet, less than a week later many of these same people will be crying, "Crucify him."
Despite our human failings, God's plan is still at work. As he rode that donkey with all the people crying, "Hosanna," I believe Jesus knew that they would soon turn on him. Yet, he continued on to follow the will of his Father.
For God so loved the world (including these who would call for his death later in the week) that he gave his only Son.
Happy Palm Sunday!
A little boy, a big dog and a puddle. What's there not to like. I especially like how patient this dog is as he waits for his friend.
The movie has German subtitles. Just turn down the sound and enjoy.
Betty and I worked with Morgunn and Sugar again this morning and they both did pretty well. We were both happy with their responsiveness and softness.
On our way out to halter them and bring them in for tacking up, we noticed something in the fence behind where Sugar was laying.
If you know anything about horses, this is the time of the year when they shed their winter coat. It feels better to them, but it gets all over us when we're brushing them.
It's pretty obvious that it felt good to Sugar to get some of that heavy winter hair off her butt.
I can sure understand. I hate it when my hair gets too long and it feels so good to get it cut back.
Finally, here's a picture of my sweetheart with her sweetheart.
Yesterday, Betty and I worked with Morgunn and Sugar in the back and they both did pretty well. Both were responsive and soft in our hands for the most part. We took them to the vet in the afternoon for their Spring shots and to have their teeth floated. The best part is they both loaded into and out of the trailer both at home and at the vets with no problems.
At least we don't have to teach them how to catch. Watch this puppy's first catch lesson.
I have no idea what the Pentatonic Scale is, but I do know who Bobby McFerrin is - "Don't Worry, Be Happy."
Watch as Bobby 'tunes' an audience at the World Science Festival - and I bet it will make you feel a little better.
Like many others, Betty and I watched the televised announcement of the new pope, Pope Francis I, last Tuesday night from the Vatican plaza.
We're not Catholic, but we were interested for several reasons.
First, the choice might tell us something of the future direction of the Catholic Church which is still an imposing force in the world.
Second, much of our spiritual growth has come from Catholic sources. We were pleased to see that he took the name of Francis as St. Francis has been one of our spiritual models over the years.
We were members of the Franciscan Third Order for many years in the Episcopal Church. St. Francis started the 'first' order for men who wanted to follow his life of poverty and service. Several years later he formed the 'second' order, the Poor Clares, for women who wanted to follow the same kind of life. After that the 'third' order was formed for lay people who were not called to leave their life in the world, but still wanted to live a life of simplicity and service. Our time in the Third Order was a time of growing and gaining an appreciation of what God wanted to do in our lives.
Our Episcopal Third Order group had a great relationship with a Catholic monastery in the area and several of the Franciscan Friars were our friends and mentors. We learned a lot from them.
Third and finally, even though the Catholic Church has had it's problems over the years and not always made the best decisions, it has maintained a solid (if not politically correct) position on the sanctity of life and the sacredness of a marriage between a man and a woman. This has been important to Betty and me and we honor the Catholic Church for it's leadership in these areas.
I wish the the new pope all the best and pray God's blessings for him.
(PS: Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone. I hope you wore green today.)
Here are some of Betty's pictures from our visit with Wade Daniel, Marie, Juliet and Leah. A video follows.
First, playing with bubbles in the wind...
Juliet eating popcorn while watching a movie...
Leah and her Papa watching a movie...
Juliet watching another movie...
Leah playing with her Red Robin balloon...
Juliet in her new Easter dress...
Leah in her new Easter dress - she doesn't like to stand still...
Papa and Leah playing in the car...
Finally, Betty's video of the girls wearing their Easter dresses while they play with their Red Robin balloons and dance to a Barbie video.
It was a good visit and a lot of fun.
I'm writing this Monday night for Tuesday's post, the day we're planning to drive home. We just went to Red Robin for dinner.
On our way to the restaurant it started snowing. Now they're predicting 1 to 4 inches of snow by tomorrow morning. If it's 4 inches (or more) then we may stay over an extra day in Fort Collins. Hopefully, we will make it home.
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