The Way of the World

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

July is gone and according to all the television coverage so is Michael Jackson. Somehow or the other I missed out on the Michael Jackson phenomenon and was taken off guard with all the coverage of his death. For the week after he died, it seemed the only television coverage was about him and his unusual life. Bizarre is the word that comes to my mind, but I heard some much worse descriptions as others talked about him and all the coverage. I suppose he was a talented musician, but I clearly do not see him as the icon or the champion of black civil rights he was eulogized to be, and obviously he had “issues.” Finally, much of the coverage has settled down, and for the most part Michael Jackson’s name has disappeared from the headlines. Isn’t that the way it is with the things of this world?

Jesus became the celebrity of his time. He was on the cultural radar as early as his birth. He became well-known as he traveled around Israel with the disciples, preaching, teaching, and performing miracles. He had a following, and many relied on him to change their lot in life. Even in his death, there was confusion, mocking and sadness. But, unlike Michael Jackson, Jesus did not disappear. He was not of this world. He offered and still offers something that no mortal man can, eternal life. We must be careful of the “Michael Jacksons” of this world that get in our way of understanding what God deems as important while we are here on this earth. God will not disappear. Michael Jackson will be called to account for his life and so will we. Are we more concerned with the outward appearance or the condition of our hearts?

Time Will Tell

Well, I came home yesterday, leaving the Henson clan on their own. I had only one child and had an easy time of raising her, thank goodness. I can't even begin to imagine what it takes to take care of three children, especially three boys, on a daily basis. I know after I keep them for a while, it usually takes 24 hours for me to recoup and regroup, but they are such a blessing that I can't help but thank God for my precious family and pray for them daily. Here a few new pictures.

Enjoying some pallet time

Sweet Dreams

Look out world. Here they come!!!!

Welcome to Our Family

What you see here is the first official family portrait of the Henson family just after the birth of Reed Chase Henson. He is a week old today, and if you will indulge a grandmother's pride, I must say he is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen along with his brothers. He was born July 9th at 12:59, weighing 7.6 pounds and measuring 19.5 inches.

Less than an hour old

In the nursery after getting cleaned up and taking all the statistics

Excited big brother William

Proud grandparents

Head full of blond hair

Big brothers William and Wes welcoming Reed home

WOW! Can we keep him?!!!

I returned home yesterday after a time of cooking, washing, and playing. I am in a recharging mode to return next week, and then I think the Henson family is on their own. What can I say?!! God is so good and we are so blessed!!!!

The Path of Truth

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

Several weeks ago the “little people” were visiting us for a few days. One of the mornings William and I were sitting on the patio swing, I saw a bird splashing in the bird bath. I told him to look at the red bird taking a bath. He looked at the bird and then replied, “Actually, Kakki, that is a male cardinal.” Well, excuse me I thought, but said, “You know, William, you are right.”

As I thought about our conversation that morning I could not help but think, “That’s my grandson, the little smarty britches.” That night after I read my Bible, I got to thinking about how William is like God. God knows the truth and He wants us to know it, too. Many times we convince ourselves that what we think or say or do is okay. We do not measure our actions by God’s truth. But if we are in tune with God, He will eventually get our attention and begin with, “Actually . . .” We can choose to listen and admit He is right, or we can go on our hard-headed way, refusing to listen.

I heard Beth Moore speak on II Timothy 1:7 that says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” That self-discipline thing is a concept that often can trip us up. It truly takes self-discipline to seek God’s truth and to live our lives by it. Where do we find that truth? In the study of His word. The scripture tells us that God’s word lights our path. Let us make that path the path of truth.

Father's Day 2009

My daddy is the neatest. He is 81 years old and has so much love in his heart, along with being one of the most humble men I know. Here's to you, Daddy. I love you!

Tuesday, March 17, "Oh,no! Paula are you alright?!"

Well, what do you know? ! We get to sleep in a bit this morning. We don't have to be down for breakfast so early and will gather at 9:30 a.m. to strike out to take in Seville. As I mentioned in the last post, Paula and I are roomies at this stop, and we get along wonderfully. Although, I was so tired, I would have gotten along with most anyone.

We eat a casual breakfast, breads and jellies for me, along with juice. Violeta gathers us together to begin our day, which turns out to be a long one. We met our guide for the morning, Conchetta. She is charming and knows Seville in and out. Our first stop is at the bull ring, Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. I wasn't too thrilled about going to a bull ring since I had had my turn at one when I was a child living in New Mexico. My family lived and worked with my grandparents there, and my mamaw made sure I got to visit every site there was in the west and in Mexico too. I don't remember a lot about going, but I do have this memory that it was not that much fun.

Entrance into the bull ring

Entrance of the Toreadors

However, the bull ring was interesting, and I did learn some things I did not know. FYI-The bulls were raised specifically for the bull fights and the meat from the slain bulls was sold or given to the people for food. How about that!!! Also, there was a small chapel where the toreadors went to pray before the fights. We visited the bullfighting museum where there were all kinds of fight costumes and recognition of Spain's outstanding toreadors. Conchetta told the story of Carmen and how her dealth by a jealous lover supposedly took place at this ring. The opera is based on this tragedy, and if you have never heard this story, you need to find an audio copy of Andy Griffith doing a comedy sketch of the story. It is great!

Debbie and me with the ring in the background

The chapel where the bullfighters pray

Entrance of the bulls

Bullfighter's costume

Portrait of well-known fighters

After the bull ring, we took a bus tour of the town. We saw some of the most interesting and unusual buildings that were built by various countries during the Expo of 1929. One of the most beautiful was the building and area known as the Plaza de Espana. Not only was it a large area, but the buildings and surrounding areas were covered with exquisite ceramics and mosaics.

The Golden Tower is one of two towers that guarded the Quadalquivir River entrance into the harbor of Seville. The other tower was destroyed at some point. In old times, a large chain was stretched across the river from tower to tower to prevent ships from moving about the river. It is called the Golden Tower because of the color of the tower at sunset.

Louise and I standing at the entrance to the Plaza de Espana

Ceramic bridge railing

John, MR, Me and Debbie

Mosaic walkway made from rock in the plaza

After our tour of the city, our bus let us out at the Parque de Maria Luisa. Then after our photo opt at the Gate of the Lion, we walked around the park and the Alcazar Garden and the old district of Santa Cruz.

The Gate of the Lion

A rubber tree in the garden area of Santa Cruz

The old city wall

Gardens in old town

Patio area of a home in the old city

Cross of the Locksmiths in the Plaza Santa Cruz

Our next point of interest was the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic church ever built and the largest Cathedral in the Christian world. At this cathedral there is a fusion of Islam and Christianity and of several types of architectural design, including the Arabic design of the Muslims, the Gothic of the Middle Ages, and Baroque and Renaissance influence. The cathedral still has the original minaret of the mosque. FYI-A minaret is a tall tower. This is 34 stories high and and the original tower was used by the Muslims to announce each of the five times of prayer during the day. The eman (I think) had the job to make the trek up the tower to ring the bells to signal time for prayer. Apparently, this up and down five times a day got old, so the steps were changed into a ramp that allowed for a donkey to be ridden up and down the tower. At some point the tower was destroyed in an earth quake and was rebuilt on the same spot. All I can say is thank goodness for the ramp, which we trudged up and then ambled down. The view from the top of Seville and the countryside was gorgeous.

The Minaret. Yep. I climbed all 34 stories of this tower!

Closer view of the top of the Minaret. On the top is a weather vane of bronze called the Giraldillo, which in Spanish means something close to "revolving" or "turning around." The statue represents the triumph of faith. Notice that the bell tower part of the minaret is Renaissance architecture while the minaret itself is of a Islamic influence.

The entrance that is used by the Pope when he comes to the cathedral. In front of the door is the tenebrae candelabra.

One of the ornate altars of the several in the cathedral

It is not known where the bones of Christopher Columbus truly rest since they were moved several times. However, it is believed that they came to rest in the cathedral in Seville. This is the front view of the tomb.

We had worked up a thirst, and hunger was setting in so several of us found a quaint restaurant at which to eat. My meal of Roma tomatoes drizzled in olive oil with basil, along with bread to dip in the olive oil, was wonderful. I even broke down and had two $4 cokes.

On our way to eat lunch, Violeta pointed out that the man in the sunglasses and leather jacket was a former, well-known bullfighter. Apparently several people recognized him.

With our bodies refueled, our group gathered, and we prepared to tour the Alcazar de Seville. FYI-Alcazar is another name for palace. The palace, like the cathedral, was added on to several times, showing the various styles of Mudejar (Islamic) art and other types of architecture of later periods. Surrounding the palace and within the grounds of the buildings are beautiful gardens.

We spent a large part of the afternoon at the Alcazar and even had a moment of fright. As we are all walking around looking up at the ceilings with their beautiful workmanship, Paula missteps on a ramp and falls, hitting her head on a flower pot. I mean really HITTING her head. Her pupils dilated and she turned pasty white. We thought we had lost her for a minute. She gave us a scare and herself a large lump on her head for the next several days.

Following are pictures of the Alcazar and the surrounding gardens. My pictures do not do the palace justice. It is beautiful.

Entrance into the Alcazar

Plaza that opens after passing through the entrance gate

This is the entrance where Paula fell

The ceiling or copula called the Cuadra de la Naranja del Salon de Embajadores

Betty, Debbie, Louise, Drew, Dianne

We walked the Serpentine Street one more time, stopping for ice cream and visiting the shops for those last few purchases. We returned to the hotel and gathered on the roof-top patio for an impromptu cocktail hour before dinner.

Several of us decided to return to the hotel after dinner via the river walk and then caught a taxi back to our hotel. We prepared to leave Seville the next morning, and I fell into the bed like a stone.

Puente (bridge) de Isabell II, the first permnent bridge in Seville

P. S. Before we entered the cathedral, I turned to look over my shoulder, and across the street was this building with an American flag hanging above the door. My heart did a flutter beat so I took a pic. It was good to see a piece of home so far away.

A Quiet Heart

I know I have been a way for a while but I'm back. I have been offered a new opportunity to share my faith and my musings on God's love and grace. I write a "little" piece for our church newsletter each month, so I thought I would share what I have been writing. You have already read two of the musings in earlier posts; this is the one I wrote in the June newsletter.

Musings . . .

The Lord your God is with you, . . . . He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17

Those who know me well know that one of my favorite things to do is to sit on my swing on our back patio. When I am not working, my morning routine includes getting my cup of coffee Lance has so graciously fixed for me and going to my swing to sit with no purpose in mind other than to just sit. I watch the birds that come to our feeders and bathe in the bird bath, splashing water in such a ceremonious way. Sometimes I get to watch the hummers hovering around the feeders getting their sugar fix for the day. I enjoy the plants around the yard and patio with their colorful blooms, and in the background are the soothing sounds of the water as it trickles in the fountain close to our patio.

After I have cleared my mind, I begin to think about my day. Before I begin it, I read my devotional and pray. I wish I could start every morning this way, but as most who know me also know I am not an early starter so a morning such as this is not an option on a day that I work. Yet, when I think about this time of peace I experience, it always brings to mind Psalm 46: 10a: “Be still, and know that I am God; . . .” As I sit in the swing, I know that I am blessed with God’s grace, a wonderful gift I know I have done nothing to merit, a gift I know I can sit in my swing and gratefully accept.

Several weeks ago, I heard someone explain that when translators were working on a translation of the Bible for a group of native South Americans who spoke an unusual dialect, there was no word for peace. The closest words translators could come up with were “quiet heart.” Isn’t it wonderful that that God’s grace can give us a quiet heart, a peace that allows us to wipe out all the previous day’s stress and a peace that allows us to start a new day in His glory?

I wish everyone had a swing that could do for them what my swing does for me. But, if not, I hope everyone can still take time to “be still” and find that quiet heart that is within all of us.

Love in Christ, D.K.

P.S. Stay tuned for more postings from the Spain trip.