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Emptiness

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That day when I looked out, the branch was bare. The green before the empty winter left And caused my woeful heart to feel bereft. I could not bear this keen and wan despair.   So there I sat, reflective of my lot And wondered at the futile course of…
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He Turned Aside

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He turned aside to see the bush, Unconsumed and brightly burning. “”Moses, Moses,” to him addressed. “Here I am,” to God he confessed.   He did not look upon the Lord In fear he would that moment die. God’s face is so resplendent and bright, No human can endure the…
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The Lower Yellowstone River Falls

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Power–surging, rushing–power. Over the brink and down the cliff To the turbulent water below. Spray fills the air–obscuring. A rainbow arches over all, A sign of promise–promising Us God’s faithfulness and strength.   Michael G. Tavella   .    
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Mysterium Tremendum–A Day at Hawk Mountain

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The perch gave such a view of the dale That I held my breath for a moment’s time In fear that I would miss the subtler of nature’s art And fail to heed important matters of the heart.   It was from that high and lofty place That I beheld…
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Musings during the Hours of Night

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He gazed into the obdurate dark, As tolled the clock the late hour of two. And then as if in a moment’s time He heard at three the horologic chime.   Between these signals in the night His soul embraced in dreamful sleep– Wherein, within–a stream of signs That points…
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At Present Revised

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I revised the poem I sent you and thought I would send you the update.   At Present The dark-rimmed clouds came sweeping in To shade the land like sullen sin. Such mirth is struck from human hearts; Such sombrous thought despair imparts!   What chance today for solar bright?…
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At Present

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The dark-rimmed clouds came sweeping in To shade the land like sullen sin. Such mirth is struck from human hearts; Such sombrous thought despair imparts!   What chance today for solar bright? What hope for coming starlit night? The forecast calls for trem’rous storms. Their rage remorselessly deforms.   “There…
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Defy and Deify

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Modern American culture defies any easy description.  Overall, one could say that it has no center that would make it a coherent phenomenon.  There are numerous hard things we can say about it.  Modern American culture defies the traditional virtues, both cardinal–courage, self-control, justice, and prudence and theological–faith, hope, and…
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Athenagoras’ A Plea for the Christians

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After a long respite, we continue our series on the early Christian apologists.  Athenagoras was a second century Christian writer from Athens.  He addresses his apology to Emperors Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus.  He reminds these rulers that nations have different customs, especially religious ones, that Rome tolerates,…
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With Gentleness and Respect

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For the purpose of review, we return to the verse that started it all.  In I Peter we read, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,…
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