Words from Colorado

    Death, just five letters that are harsh, that strike a chord deep within us, that reverberates with sadness, fear, and an acute awareness that no one leaves earth alive. "Since the day of my birth, my death began its walk. It is walking toward me, without hurrying." - Jean Cocteau In October of 1980 while sitting in a Hardin Simmons University dorm room the phone rang, the voice on the other end of the line, said “Mark, your Dad was hunting in Pogosa Springs, Colorado…and died.” I dissolved as a 19 year old into a pool…of little boy tears.  My first real introduction to the “Great Interrupter” (Death) was cold, and stark and deeply disturbing.  Calls were made; arrangements were made to get me back to Colorado Springs, Colorado. A plane ticket was secured on Braniff International airlines, a college friend Richard Dodder at his own expense went with me.  The flight home was a blur with one disturbing experience. My dad died on October 29 th .  A...

        Real Estate decisions if you have not made one you will. In this climate of underwater mortgages and economic duress one is wise to be very careful when purchasing a home. There was a time when it was easier, when homes increased in value, when the American dream to own your home, was worth all the effort to achieve it.  Today, the dream still beckons, but oh how careful we need to be! In the summer of 1976 our North Carolina family was moving back to Colorado. My dad much like a frontier scout went  out ahead, to Colorado and found a five bedroom brick house, with mature lilac and plum trees. It was located on a busy street at 104 South Garo, the backyard boasted an incredible view of majestic Pikes Peak, towering 14,110 feet!  The purchase price, are you ready for this? $26,500! That is not a typo, no need to put any more numbers in the calculation, it was $26,500!  104 South Garo,  is just two houses away from 116 South Ga...

       As I remember it, it was a typical Saturday in rural Naples, North Carolina. How wrong I was! Little did I know, I was about to begin a quest that would lead to the greatest invitation of my life!     As a teenager living with my family in our modest home, I remember a knock on the door that Saturday. The ones doing the knocking (A Pastor and his son) were from the Calvary Baptist Church, in Hendersonville North Carolina. They had a bus ministry and on that Saturday they "just happened" (what some people call coincidence, we know is the will of God) to knock on our door. Because of their mission heart , and invitation, my brother and sister and I began riding the church bus week by week to the church, where we heard the Word of God preached! I must confess I was more motivated by the candy they would give you if you attended!  Their kindness would set in motion my personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, and sow...

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. – Robert Frost         My first Memorial stone, which I want to write about, is my home life growing up. Our home was not unlike perhaps millions of homes in the 60s and 70s, at least I hope so. How do you begin to write about a place where you feel so valued so welcome so needed that even now having spent years away from that place, time has done nothing to diminish the memories that are rich and vibrant.... that have endured through my time on  this earth? Robert -Dad- He was a man’s man who truly loved us and provided for us even after a stroke nearly ended his life. He worked so hard to carve out a hauling business in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado that became very successful.  He was fun!    I well remember Friday night shock theater that he insisted be viewed in the dark. The cloak of darkness gave him needed cover….to sneak up on us and ...

When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. (Joshua 4: 1-7). *The monument stones were placed midway between Jordan and Jericho!  They placed their memory halfway between Gods mighty deliverance in the past, and the unknown challenges of the future! That moment reminded them that there was n...

  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105).   I have made it a goal to read through the Bible this year. So far I have not missed any days, but did have to read several days in one setting, to catch up!   I am using the “One year Bible” where there are daily readings for each day of the year.  I would highly recommend it.  What I am learning and being reminded of is God’s Word is a “Love Letter” its God reaching down to His creation to offer purpose and direction. I am being reminded that God always has a plan!   The Bible reads like a thrilling novel, and even though we know the outcome, of how things turn out, there is freshness and warmth that reminds us that God was not only faithful and gracious centuries ago…we discover, He is just the same today!   What I have seen so far:  I see His power in speaking the World into existence!   I see His tenderness in caring for the first coupl...

      No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:15-16). ESV According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, "Martin Niemoller was a Protestant pastor and head of the anti-Nazi Confessing Church. Arrested for 'malicious attacks against the state', he spent seven years in the Dachau and Sachsenhausen Released in 1945 by the Allies." He penned the moving and oft quoted poem: In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.   Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak ...