Friday Favorites – Music in the Zoo

SUNDAY, JULY 30
Steve Earle & The Dukes
The Cactus Blossoms
The Mastersons

Thursday Thinking - Conformity vs. Creativity

A thoughtful little video...

CLICK HERE OR ON IMAGE

Wednesday Words - Eyes to See or Eyes to Sea

The people along the sand
All turn and look one way.
They turn their back on the land.
They look at the sea all day.

As long as it takes to pass
A ship keeps raising its hull;
The wetter ground like glass
Reflects a standing gull.

The land may vary more;
But wherever the truth may be—
The water comes ashore,
And the people look at the sea.

They cannot look out far.
They cannot look in deep.
But when was that ever a bar
To any watch they keep?

"Neither Out Far or In Deep" by Robert Frost, from The Poetry of Robert Frost.
© 1969 by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc.

Tuesday Tome - Grace for the Afficted

This is the book selection for our Valley Summer Book Club on Monday nights.
Get complete info about dates and reading schedule HERE.

Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness
by Matthew S. Stanford

Publisher's description...
Each day men and women diagnosed with mental disorders are told they need to pray more and turn from their sin. Mental illness is equated with demonic possession, weak faith and generational sin.

Why is it that the church has struggled in ministering to those with mental illnesses? As both a church leader and professor of psychology and neuroscience, Michael S. Stanford has seen far too many mentally ill brothers and sisters damaged by well meaning believers who respond to them out of fear or misinformation rather than grace.  

Grace for the Afflicted is written to educate Christians about mental illness from both biblical and scientific perspectives. Stanford presents insights into our physical and spiritual nature and discusses the appropriate role of psychology and psychiatry in the life of the believer. Describing common mental disorders, Stanford asks of each: "What does science say and what does the Bible say about this illness?"

Monday Music - What Wondrous Love Is This?

Perhaps my favorite hymn. Here is a beautiful rendition from the St. Olaf Choir.
I wish this arrangement included the final verse. You can read that below!

CLICK HERE OR ON IMAGE

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS
By: American Folk Hymn

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

Sunday Supplication - Strengthen Our Hearts

O God, we acknowledge that every good thing comes from you. Fill us with good thoughts and a love for the things that are right and good. Lead us and strengthen us to do those good things you have in mind for us to do.

O God, each of us has our own struggle to be obedient to you. Help us all to remember that everyone around us has similar struggles. When others sin against us, make us as charitable toward them as you are to us. Help us all to find our way back to you. When any one of us is sinned against, give us understanding and forgiving hearts. Make us willing to forgive because you have forgiven us.

When we become downcast, Father God, strengthen our hearts to hope in you. Give us faith to trust in you and to praise you all our days. Protect us from discouragement, and encourage us by your word, your people, your promises, and all that is beautiful and true.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen.

Saturday Smile - Camping

Friday Favorites - New Cactus Blossoms Video

CLICK HERE OR ON IMAGE

Thursday Thinking - Vacation Tips

How to Get the Most Out of Every Vacation
by Catherine Jessen • The Muse

When it comes to taking time off of work , what’s worse than saving up all of your precious vacation days just to take a trip that’s, well, awful? Probably nothing.

Although it’s almost impossible to avoid pre-trip stress, that doesn’t mean the entire thing has to go to waste. In the infographic below, experts weigh in on what makes for the best vacations and what you can do to prolong that post-vacation happiness.

KEEP READING

Wednesday Words - Fishing

To go fishing is the chance to wash one’s soul with pure air,
with the rush of the brook,
or with the shimmer of the sun
on the blue water.

It brings meekness and inspiration
from the decency of nature,
charity toward tackle-makers,
patience toward fish,
a mockery of profits and egos,
a quieting of hate,
and a rejoicing that you do not
have to decide a darned thing
until next week.

And it is a discipline in the equality of  men –
For all men are equal before fish.

“Fishing” by President Herbert Hoover.

COME FISHING WITH ME ON SATURDAY - CLICK HERE

Tuesday Tome - Tekiela Field Guides

These field guides by Stan Tekiela have been super helpful and fun for me in recent years. They are simple and focused on the Minnesota region, so it's easier to find what I'm looking for. The latest addition to my set is the Minnesota tree guide. Now that I live in Burnsville among hundreds of trees, I'm trying to get a better idea of just what kind of trees they are. I use all three of these guides every week. There are two or three other Minnesota guides by Tekiela that I have yet to add to my collection. For now, birds, trees, and flowers are MORE than enough to keep me busy.

WILDFLOWERS OF MINNESOTA
by Stan Tekiela

You've seen Minnesota's beautiful wildflowers. Now learn to identify them. This is your field guide to 200 of Minnesota's wildflowers. Full-page photographs and an easy-to-read format present the information that's critical to accurate identification. And the species are organized by color, so when you see a purple flower, simply turn to the purple section of the book. Wildflower identification has never been easier!

BIRDS OF MINNESOTA
by Stan Tekiela

Make bird watching in Minnesota even more enjoyable! With this field guide, bird identification is simple and informative. There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in Minnesota. This book features 111 species of Minnesota birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

TREES OF MINNESOTA
by Stan Tekiela

Trees are all around, but how much do you know about them? With this handy field guide, you can make tree identification simple, informative and productive. Learn about 93 Minnesota trees, organized in the book by leaf type and attachment. Fact-filled information contains the information you want to know, while full-page photos provide the visual detail needed for accurate identification. Trees are fascinating and wonderful, and this is the perfect introduction to them.

Naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela is the originator of the popular state-specific field guides such as Mammals of Minnesota Field Guide. For over two decades, Stan has authored more than 100 field guides, nature appreciation books and wildlife audio CDs for nearly every state in the nation, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, trees, wildflowers and cacti. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 20 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs.

Monday Music - Jackson Browne

CLICK HERE OR ON IMAGE

Sunday Supplication - Eyes to See

O God, you are a faithful provider and you give order and purpose to our lives. We ask you to help us put aside all the things that are hurtful. Help us to seek the things that are true and uplifting and healing and beautiful.

Father, we thank you for the forgiveness of sins, and help us, in gratitude to you, to forgive those who sin against us. We recognize that our hearts are so prone to pride and unforgiveness. It is hard for us to confess our sins, even to you. Help us to see clearly how we so often offend you. And help each of us to have the humility to recognize our need for the forgiveness you give.

O God, give us eyes to see the good things you have prepared in advance for us to do. Give us hearts that delight in your will, feet that walk in your ways, and spirits that longs to honor you in all we do. Help us to wake up and get honest about any disobedience, apathy, or distractions that are keeping us from faithfulness to you.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen.