Reaching the Summit

Photo taken on March 20, 2011 just before sunrise on the Spring Equinox

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it."

Matthew 7: 14

Not necessary an awarding winning photo since I took this when the sun wasn't even up. However, a symbolic photo since we see in the foreground  a strait and narrow path that leads to the top of the mountain. It should be our highest priority in life to climb and follow the strait and narrow path that eventually reachs the summit. Unfortunately there are few who find it.

Standing on Holy Ground: The Burning Bush

Photo taken on the Spring Equinox, May 20, 2011

Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet:

for the place where thou standest is holy ground.

Acts 7:33

Eastern Christians and Muslims always remove their shoes when they enter a church or a house. To sit down uninvited when in the presence of a ruler or a high government official is a breach of etiquette. But to enter a church, synagogue or mosque with shoes on it considered sacrilegious. Therefore it is not permitted. This is because the people believe that in church they are standing in the presence of God.

Moses was born and reared in Egypt. He was educated in the knowledge of all Egyptian sciences and religion. When at the palace, he had sat in the presence of Pharaoh, attended national ceremonies, and worshiped at the Egyptian shrines and temples. Moses had seen men taking their shoes off and bowing before the emperor and before the images in the shrines…

Reverence to God is man’s highest expression of respect. God does not want man to bow and beg, but it is proper to revere God and to enter into his house and before his presence clean, both inwardly and outwardly. To remove the shoes is symbolical of the removal of the earthly things and readiness to accept things of the spirit.

(Lamsa, George. New Testament Commentary, A.J. Holman Co., Philadelphia: 1945, pgs 53-54)

from my friend Donna Nielsen's blog

LOOKING EASTWARD VS LOOKING WESTWARD

Photos taken on top of mountain on the morning of Spring Equinox on March 20, 2011

Facing Eastward to the rising Sun

Facing Westward to the setting moon (the lesser Light) and man made artifical light of the City.

I woke up early on the morning of the Spring Equinox with the hopes of seeing the full moon and taking some pictures of what was being called the "super full moon"..The moon was approximately 50,000 km closer to the earth this weekend.  The moon appeared about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than normal. The last time it was this close to the earth was back in the early 90's.  Unfortunately it was cloudy and stormy. The storm had left several inches of snow, but that didn't stop me from my annual Equinox hike to the top of a mountain. However,  I was able to witness the greater light rise in the East.. the Sun. The brillaint colors of indigo, violet, magenta, and midnight blue left me awestruck. Looking to the west at lesser lights of the city lights and a possible glimpse of the lesser light of the moon paled in comparison to the powerful colors of our Creator. We can learn important lessons and it all depends in what direction we are facing.

BALANCE between Winter and Summer: The Spring Equinox

Photo taken March 2011 of a Mountain above the Salt Lake Valley.

 This Sunday is the Spring Equinox. I wrote about my climb to the top of this mountain last year on the Spring Equinox and then on the Fall Equinox. It is important for me to continue to acknowledge these days. My mother was born on the Spring Equinox. I have since learned that the first day of Nissan which starts the First Month of the Jewish calendar begins on the Spring Equinox. Dates, The Sun's Positions, alignment never used to interest me much.. but I am now having a greater appreciation for them.

This photo shows the symbolic balance between the winter (snow) and the dry (summer). The dark left side of the mountain is still cold and has snow. The sun hasn't been able to shine yet on that side. The right side is warm and has the light shining on it. The snow has melted and life begins to grow.  This is what Spring is.. balance between the two season when life is resurrected. During the 24 hour period of the Spring Equinox is when there is EQUAL LIGHT  and EQUAL DARKESS in the world. 12 hours of light , and 12 hours of night. One more interesting observation..  3 months ago was the Winter solistice in December of 2010 and we experienced a solar eclipse, complete darkeness. This spring equinox we will have a full moon. Which suggest more light appearing, which I hope will balance the scales in favor of the light.

The Usual appearing Unusual

Photo taken today March 10, 2011 of a solitiary cloud in the sky

I looked out my window at work and saw this cloud alone in the sky. It is not unusual to see clouds in the sky, but it is somewhat unusual to see one like this. It almost looks like a UFO. LOL. This cloud however was significant for me. It is a personal story which is probably not appropriate to share on this blog. I am grateful for the tender mercies from the Lord .  I testify that the Lord is very mindful of each of us in our lives. He wants us to learn and grow and exercise our spiritual muscles to perform miracles.

In like a LION, out like a LAMB

Photo taken of sunset on March 1st, 2011.

Yesterday was March 1st, 2011

We've all heard the old saying: "If March roars in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb."

But is there truly any validity to this old proverb?

March is a very fickle month with a lot of changeable weather, due to the fact that it occurs during a time of transition as our weather is shifting from Winter to the Spring season.

So, in some respects, this idiom makes sense. The weather can flip-flop, going from a late-season snow storm one moment to unusally warm spring-like temperatures in just a matter of days. Figuratively speaking, the weather can at times switch from being harsh like a lion to being calm and docile like a lamb.

It turns out, though, that the actual saying may be more derived from astronomy than meteorology. During the beginning of March, the constellation Leo (the Lion) is more prominent in the night sky, while at the end of March, the constellation Aries (the Ram or Lamb) is more visible.

Regardless of its origin, the old proverb is certainly curious and, in some instances, it actually rings true. But, scientifically and meteorologically speaking, there is no concrete evidence that if March comes in like a lion, it will leave like a lamb.

On a spiritual level, Christ has been referred to a both the Lion and the Lamb. He came in the meridian of time as a lamb, but will come in his glory as a Lion. The Millenium will be a time when both the Lion and the Lamb will lay down together.

Protected from the stormy sea

Photo taken July 11, 2010 of Crystal Cove Beach in California

I have been wanting to post this photo for sometime. Been so busy, I am now just getting around to it. The photo is of the open sea, the waves, the turbulence, and the currents. In the foreground is small pool of water that has found safety and refuge. This remnant of water from the sea is surrounded by solid rock, protected from the stormy sea..