Sunday's Comin' (Video)

I have been a fan of this ever since I first heard "It's Friday but Sunday's Comin". I was surprised and happy to find it on You-Tube. It inspires me every time I hear it.



I had another post that was named this that was getting hits by people looking for this video. I have since changed the name of that post because I thought it was misleading. I did have the video as a feature at the bottom of the posting section when I first found it at the beginning of Lent but pulled it because I thought it made more sense to post it closer to Good Friday. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

The Family of God (An Answer to Prayer)

It's the phone call or in this case the text every parent dreads ("Your child is hurt"). My wife text me instead of phoning because she knew I was in a meeting and while I probably wouldn't answer the phone, I might sneak a peek at a text. I flashed the message to the person who was sitting next to me and said I have to go.

In my haste I forgot that my wife had dropped me off at the meeting. So I'm scrambling around the parking lot looking for a car that isn't there. Of course I feel stupid once I remembered, but all I could think about was my son being rushed to the ER. I could of just ran back into the meeting and asked for a ride, but I don't know if at that point I was too embarrassed to do so or my mind was still muddled with concerns about my son. Instead I took a brisk walk to the ER. It's a small town and the hospital wasn't far. I made it in less than 10 minutes. Note I said brisk walk not run. No need for both of us to be in the ER.

My son had just arrived and had just came to. He had been out/unresponsive for over 20 minutes. He was groggy and not very coherent. All kind of wild thoughts were running through my mind on what could be going on with my son. In the long run after a battery of test including a spinal tap. We knew nothing. The good news was that Nothing BAD showed up in the test. The frustrating part was nothing conclusive showed up either.

The short story and good news is all is well with Tyler. We are chalking-it-up to a nasty virus and lack of proper rest. However during the course of his stay in the ER an amazing thing happened. When I arrived I was greeted by the former pastor of a church my son had recently visited and done some youth activities. Tyler's name had gone out on a prayer chain before he even made it to the hospital. The former pastor was joined by the current pastor and his family and a youth worker and several youth from the church. Five of Tyler's Classmates were there as well as a teacher. Our own youth pastor rounded out the list. The response of the Family of God to my son's illness was overwhelming.

I am thankful to God and the people He has put into my son's life and for their many prayers. I am positive they are what led to his speedy recovery.

Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23 (NIV) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear." The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

Check out this link on a great article by Dr. Marcellio D'amrosio "Farming the Seeds of Faith". The Parable of the Sower and the Seed - a Double Meaning

Wikipedia Link Parable of the Sower

Picture of stained glass window taken at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church Anna Ohio. You can left click the picture for a larger view.

The Way, The Truth and The Light

This is actually a combination of two versus from the book of John. John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." and John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

The window is simple as far as stained glass windows goes but the message is huge. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can gain salvation and have a relationship with God.

This window was at the bottom of a set of stairs. I had to shoot it from the top of the stairs. This caused a distortion problem that I was able to correct in PhotoShop.

This is just one of many windows from the Saint Jacobs Lutheran Church, Anna Ohio.

Reflections of Christ

I wasn't so sure how well this was going to come out. Seeing something and capturing it with your camera sometimes comes up short.

I had stopped by the church on my lunch hour to snag a few pictures when I spotted this on my way out. What you are seeing is not PhotoShop. This was the reflection of the stained glass windows reflecting in the glass of a large display case on the opposite wall.

This is my new favorite capture of the year and will be added to my Picture of the Week Gallery.

On a spiritual note it reminds me of how we are to reflect Christ in our lives and how we should be a living witness to the Lord.

Picture taken at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church, Anna Ohio.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

Jesus told this parable after he'd told another one with a similar message about a shepherd who cares for 100 sheep and loses one. He searches for the one until he finds it and then rejoices. Jesus told these two parables in response to the Scribes and Pharisees who criticized him for spending time among and eating with publicans and sinners.

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10

Check out this link for an interesting insight into this wonderful parable. Woman And The Lost Coin

Picture of stained glass window taken at St. Jacobs Lutheran Church Anna, Ohio.

Hang It On The Cross

If you have a secret sorrow, a burden or a loss,
an aching need for healing ...
HANG IT ON THE CROSS
If worry steals your sleep and makes you turn and toss,
if your heart is feeling heavy ...
HANG IT ON THE CROSS
Every obstacle to faith or doubt you come across,
every prayer answered ...
HANG IT ON THE CROSS
For Christ has borne our brokenness and dearly paid
the cost to turn our trials into triumph ...
HANG IT ON THE CROSS

Picture taken at St. Remy Church Russia Ohio

Saint Aloysius Church (Carthagena Ohio)

The last wedding I shot was in the church of St. Aloysius in Carthagena. I was so focused on the wedding that I took little notice of the church. That was last fall. It took me till spring to make it back to take pictures for the blog. Some of the churches are rather dark even in daylight. I was very pleased to find this one fairly bright for only being lit by window light.

This statue of the risen Christ above the altar was an unexpected find. Most often its a Crucifix. There is a really great shot that I missed of the ceiling above the altar because I lost the light that I needed. I know it seems I am always looking for an excuse to come back.

I found the High Altar ready for Palm Sunday and the Altar/Portrait of Saint Joseph with the Cross of Lent. I caught two great window lit shots. The baptistery and three statues of saints. The church also had a very nice set of the Stations of the Cross. See Pictures Below.















I am always on the hunt for an artistic shot or two when I am exploring the churches. This grouping of worship elements fit the bill nicely.



I was very happy with this picture of the table of palm leaves. I know its centered but to the left and right are two very nice looking fire extinguishers (Ugh).



Of course the church had stained windows and a few other surprises but those will have to wait for another post.

The Death of Jesus

It was late afternoon almost evening when I took this picture. It was an overcast day and I caught the sun just glimmering through from behind the Crucifix. I immediately thought of this passage from the Gospel of Mark as I saw the picture form before my eyes.

Picture taken at the cemetery Saint Remy Church, Russia Ohio.

Guardian Angels

"See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10).



I found this beautiful window in the balcony, hiding behind some blackboards.

Related Link:
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia Guardian Angel

Picture of stained glass window taken at Saint Jacobs Lutheran Church Anna, Ohio.