simple identity

Goodness knows, we all run around searching for 'identities' like the woman frantically looking for her lost coin in Scripture. But in my reading today, I am again reminded that I am content with the mere identity: apprentice of Jesus

What grandeur there is in that simple intention to become one of Jesus' little learning ones.

Wouldn't it be a wonder if across the tombstones of the world we saw by the name of the departed, "Jesus' Apprentice." How different the world would be...

ballet bummer

San Francisco Ballet: This is as close as I'm getting until next April. Checking their season on-line today, it ends in May just before I swing to northern California for a few weeks of R and R with my mid-born. I'm bummed. Although come to think of it, there probably wouldn't be dance funds after Joy and Nathaniel's wedding. I'd sell pencils on the corner for a ticket to this dance troupe.

Maybe glass artist Dale Chihuly will be in town.

No words needed

Morgan's new doo

Morgan Jo, Emma - If anyone asks, "What happened to your hair?" Tell them "I washed it and it shrank!"

Mama E - Did she have the whole place in the palm of her hand? I imagine the 'barber shop' will never be the same. Ruined for the ordinary, they are, after having Morgan in their chair. wow, what a kid!

Elissa signed in with this: "You would have loved to hear what Morgan said when she walked into the salon. She said, 'My name is Morgan and I am here to cut off my hair because it is getting really old!! Hey guys, I am here!!'"

So yes, she did have the place in the palm of her wee bit of a hand! Like I said, What a Kid!

Love the doo Baby. Love you Baby

E to the A-R-T-H day:)

happy earth day.

Lightning flashing, hail slapping, thunder clapping storm

We're having a rip-snortin' storm in Watertown, SD, tonight and I'm delighted! I love a good storm! The power of it reminds me to "Fear the Lord," which is the BEGINNING of wisdom.

Dallas Willard says that fear is not the end result of our sojourn, but it is the beginning. "Only a fool, doesn't worry about God," Willard says, and I agree.

If fear is the first thing that flings me into His Everlasting Arms, then so be it; I will end up loving Him as I learn of his wondrous ways. Our Forever Relationship may start with a heart-stopping storm, but it will end with a Rainbow.

The desire of all hearts

"We all want to be known."

Perhaps if we are not known by our Designer Creator, we will reveal ourselves in other ways. Blogs like "My Space," "Face Place," and even the Murch Blog may all be fueled by the compelling need for someone to "Know all about me, and love me anyway." The humiliating expose' seen on some My Space blogs is testimony how fiercely we 'made-in-God's-image' creations desire to be known. Even if it is only at a superficial skin-deep level.

Dovetailing with this, Jesus banished those whom He never knew. "Depart from me, I never knew you." It's like Jesus was saying, "Now that you're at death's door, you want to pretend we were friends all along; we weren't - you never let Me know you."

Wonder of wonders, we have the power to reveal ourselves to our Creator. Yes, He knows all about us in and out, but we must invite Him to know us in relationship. Then we are Friends.
Isn't it that way with all friends? We might say, "Oh yes, I am acquainted with so and so, but I don't really KNOW them." To know others, they must want to be more than acquainted. Each of us allows others to truly know us.

Jesus and His Father must be the same. Jesus made Himself fully vulnerable and I guess we need to as well.


"I invite you to know me, Dear Lord, in my deepest longings and needs and heartaches."

Whew, that's a relief! Now I won't have to reveal too much on the murch blog. I am known by My Lord and Loved beyond measure. That is enough.

The First Wedding Miracle; and now we need another

I'm learning that weddings can take on a life of their own like a run-away snowball dislodging an avalanche.

But why are we fretting?

Jesus proved that He takes care of all wedding needs. When the wedding at Cana in Galilee ran out of wine - God forbid! - Jesus told the servers what to do.
"Fill the jars with water." They obeyed. "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." The master, after tasting the wine, said, "You have saved the best till now."

I also love what Jesus's mother said to the servants at the wedding: "Do whatever Jesus tells you." Good counsel for all of us dwelling on the Great Green Globe!

I once read a terrific insight by Eugene Peterson: All miracles are ordinary things of life gone wild. From water to wine is an example: water is as everyday ordinary as anything we can imagine; but water gone wild is wine. So Jesus showed, "I'm in charge of All" both the taken-for-granted ordinary and the miraculous extraordinary.

Then again, do we really think water is just ho hum? My goodness, think about it. We can't create a drop and without it, we'd perish in no time.

But just to remind us who is in charge of All Good and Perfect Things, Jesus touched the ordinary water and chazaaamed extraordinary Wine. Mercy, now I'm worshiping with Hushed Awe.

After taking care of the wedding, Scripture says, "Jesus thus revealed His Glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him."

May many see Your Glory, Dear Lord, at Joy and Nathaniel's wedding. And entrust their lives to You.

Ode to gentle whisperings

I saw a ripple from the sea
bring forth a tired response from me.

A boatman coming close to shore
with motor roaring, not an oar.

I wondered the effect on me,
that tiny ripple from the sea;

Had been an oar, and not a roar
that brought the boatman to the shore.

Last but not least of the spring break Cali pics

Now this was 'under-the-big-top' St. Patrick's Day in San Francisco. And yes, it was a bloomin' Circus. The Three Roomies - Danielle, Chelsey, and Shira - are out and about with the mom at a Jazz Eatery with terrific live music. D and I took a quick fling around the dance floor before ordering salmon. Or what did we order, D?

Then off to catch my midnight flight. I was pretty much the only sober person trying to flag a taxi on this 'freakin' holiday,' as one friend aptly described it.

But the thing is, St. Patrick was a saint. All of Ireland knows of the Dear Lord Jesus because of his contagious life. I couldn't for the life of me, figure out the connection between drunken brawl and St. Patrick's Christ-like aroma. I don't think he would have recognized his own remembrance.

nothin' like a little midwest tractor humor

The caption said: "Proof a man needs a wife."

Don't look now - that's not my Grandpa Brown is it? Dead-ringer, except that's not my precious saint of a Grandma.

Postcard beauty

Why do we tend to say, "It's so beautiful, it's Unreal?"

Why does breathtaking beauty seem not real to us earthlings? That's always fascinated me. Does 'unreal' beauty foreshadow some other world that we imagine but have never really concretely experienced? I wonder...

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror..." We truly do not see clearly, but sometimes earth's shadows from our True Home ignite some deep 'knowing' in our souls. The Beauty reminds us of someplace that exists in our wild imaginations.

Perhaps this 'unreal' Beauty is the most real place there is. And someday we'll be there.

Forever just children in the arms of our Father

It really is this simple: We sophisticated highly-functioning humans never grow past being God's children. Slipping our tiny hand into His and together walking this earth-journey.

Keeping His Sabbath, God reminds me of this. And I am at rest in His arms again...

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."