Independence Day 2024

Vacation Cabin on Serpent Lake, Deerwood, MN

Display in cavity of Tree Trunk by White Bear Lake in White Bear Lake, MN

Spring 2024

After a no-snow winter, the blossoming signs of Spring are finally here in White Bear Lake, MN with White Bear Lake very nearby. Lilacs have not yet emerged in full bloom. 

Easter Monday

 

Jesus is here now and forever!
(Photo 13776442 © Astankino | Dreamstime.com)

What is that bright light?

I always hoped you would ask.

"I am" who loves you!

Easter Sunday

 

The empty tomb.  He is Risen!!
(Photo 213614411 © Yuliia Chyzhevska | Dreamstime.com)

"When the sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices with which to go and anoint him. And very early in the morning on the first day of the week they went to the tomb, just as the sun was rising. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?' But when they looked they could see that the stone, which was very big-had already been rolled back. On entering the tomb they saw a young man in a white robe seated on the right-hand side, and they were struck with amazement. But he said to them, ‘There is no need for alarm. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified: he has risen, he is not here. See, here is the place where they laid him. But you must go and tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going before you to Galilee; it is there you will see him, just as he told you”.’ And the women came out and ran away from the tomb because they were frightened out of their wits; and they said nothing to a soul for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)

Note: Scripture passage is from the  Jerusalem Bible copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York,

Good Friday 2024

 

Jesus dies on a cross for all humanity
(The Crucifixion painted by Jean Baptiste van Eycken (1809-1853) in Notre Dame
de la Chapelle Photo 43692875 © Jozef Sedmak | Dreamstime.com)

They then took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city to the place of the skull or, as it was called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him with two others, one on either side with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross; it ran: ‘Jesus  the Nazarene, King of the Jews’. This notice was read by many of the Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city, and the writing was in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. So the Jewish chief priests said to Pilate, ‘You should not write “King of the Jews”, but “This man said: I am King of the Jews”’. -Pilate answered, ‘What 1 have written, I have written’. (John 19:17:22)

Note: Scripture passage is from the Jerusalem Bible copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York,

Holy Thursday 2024

 

Jesus Shares a Last Supper with His Disciples
(Vienna - Fresco of Last supper of Christ by Leopold Kupelwieser from 1889 in nave of Altlerchenfelder church. Photo 32628454 © Jozef Sedmak | Dreamstime.com)

"My little children, 
I shall not be with you much longer. 
You will look for me, 
and, as I told the Jews, 
where 1 am going, 
you cannot come. 
I give you a new commandment:
love one another; 
just as I have loved you, 
you also must love one another. 
By this love you have for one another, 
everyone will know that you are my disciples."

Simon Peter said, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ Jesus replied, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later". Peter said to him, 'Why can’t 1 follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ "Lay down your life for me? answered Jesus. I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times."

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  
Trust in God still, and trust in me. 
There are many rooms in my Father’s house; 
if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you, 
and after I have gone and prepared you a place, 
I shall return to take you with me

so that where I am 
you may be too. 
You know the way to the place where I am going." 

( Beginning of Jesus' Farewell discourses at his Last Supper John 13:33-38 through 14:1-4)

Note: Scripture passage is from the  Jerusalem Bible copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York,

Palm Sunday 2024

 

Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time
(Painting in a Jerusalem church.  Photo 177126955 © Vojtech Vlk | Dreamstime.com)

"When they were approaching Jerusalem, in sight of Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go off to the village facing you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you , "What are you doing?" say, "The Master needs it and will send it back here directly”.’ They went off and found a colt tethered near a door in the open street. As they untied it, some men standing there said, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?'  They gave the answer Jesus had told them, and the men let them go. Then they took the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on its back, and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, others greenery which they had cut in the fields. And those who went in front and those who followed were all shouting, "Hosanna! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in in the highest heavens!" He entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple. He looked all round him, but as it was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve." (Mark 11:1-11)

Note: Scripture passage is from the  Jerusalem Bible copyright 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York,