I Stand All Amazed

For as long as I can remember, this has been one of my favorite hymns. After a particularly poignant experience, it has been on my mind almost constantly over the past few months:

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, He suffered, he bled and died.

I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebelous and proud as mine;
That He should extend His great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

I think of His hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.

Oh, it is wonderful
That He should care for me enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

Olympic Moment

There are few places on earth that I find more breathtaking than the Pacific Northwest. This is Ruby beach in Olympic National Park.

Utah's Redrock Country

For so long I held to the belief that the desert was a barren wasteland void of any beauty. What was I thinking?

Wasatch Color

Forty-five minutes out my front door and here I am!

Veiled Beauty

Near Point Reyes, just north of San Francisco. I love the tranquility of the pastoral landscape. Its calming effect on the soul is good medicine!

Fools, Liberty, and the Loss of Character

My first post--and not a thing that resembles intelligence or wit pops to mind. Yikes. Abraham Lincoln once said that it's better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. Hmm. Words to live by. Wise man, that Abe. Wish I could give heed to such good advice, but alas, I just gotta talk. Especially when there's so much to be said.

Which brings me to an important point. Wiser still were a few words spoken by Benjamin Franklin:

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

OUCH!

That stings just a little, don't it, post-911 America? I wonder, what ever happened to the Patrick Henry in all of us? You know, the "Give me liberty or give me death!" guy? I think he'd be rather, well, ashamed of what we've become. It's sad, really, to see such an incredible heritage--as we Americans have--sold for the equivalent of a mess of pottage.

And so I wax political, as I am wont to do.

But this is 21st-century America. And waxing political--in my style of politics, anyway--is a very dangerous thing. So, like some wise guys that went before me, I think I'll go home by another way.

Which brings me to this: Since the beauty of her character has been somewhat tarnished, I am left admiring only her skin. But so be it. I love America's skin! (And her character, I know, is still intact in the hearts of a few stout souls.)

Above are a few of my favorite views of this Lady's veneer.