Monthly Archives: May 2015

Weekly Photo Challenge: On the Way

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I will never again make a trip to the Grand Canyon from Iowa in only two days. There are just too many things to see on the way. However, because we were on a time crunch with last-minute reservations in Grand Canyon Village for Saturday night and a long-standing commitment with friends to go to a concert, we left our home on Thursday afternoon and went a little out of our way, west and north to Sioux City, Iowa. However, it was well worth the detour as we were able to see Crosby, Stills and Nash in concert!

Crosby, Seals, and Nash in concert at the Orpheum, Sioux City, Iowa

Crosby, Seals, and Nash at the Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City, Iowa

We spent the next day driving through rain in Nebraska and Colorado, arriving in Colorado Springs in time to see prom goers arriving at our hotel. However, our unexpectedly upgraded room, far from the revelers, gave us a refreshing night’s sleep after a 12-hour drive. We awakened to watch the sun rise on Pikes Peak.

Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs, Colorado

From there we began our trek across Colorado on Highway 160, passing the Four Corners into Arizona and seeing mountains and natural monuments as we pressed on to arrive at the Grand Canyon that evening.

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Blanca Peak and Mt Lindsey, Hwy 160 near Ft Garland, CO

Coming down from Wolf Creek Pass, we rounded a bend and drove past Treasure Falls. Fortunately, I was able to make a quick u-turn and spend a few minutes enjoying the beauty and the wildlife.

Treasure Falls, San Juan National Forest

You can tell these chipmunks are often fed by humans since this one came right up by my leg as I focused my camera on the hoary comma butterfly.

We missed the turn to the Four Corners (the point at which Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona meet), but I wouldn’t have seen Chimney Rock if I had followed directions. By the way, I left my GPS at home and was relying on my smart phone that was having battery issues. So, it was not the only detour we took.

Chimney Rock near Cortez, Colorado

Chimney Rock near Cortez, Colorado

Once we made it into Arizona, I took lots of windshield photos, wishing we had time to stop

Red Point Mesa, Dennehotso, AZ

Red Point Mesa, Dennehotso, AZ


Baby Rocks Mesa, located 15 miles from Kayenta.

Baby Rocks Mesa, located 15 miles from Kayenta, Arizona.


Church Rock

Church Rock

Finally, we were on the home stretch, only about 30 miles to the East Entrance of the Grand Canyon. Seeing the Little Colorado Gorge gave us a little twinge of excitement for what was about to appear.

The Little Colorado Gorge east of the Grand Canyon

The Little Colorado Gorge east of the Grand Canyon

Well, those were the sights “on the way.” For a few of our Grand Canyon pictures you can check them out at the Weekly Photo Challenge: Forces of Nature.

This post is in response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “On the Way.”

Weekly Photo Challenge: Enveloped

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Yesterday was National Peace Officers Memorial Day in the U.S.A., and flags were flown at half-staff. I returned the flags to their full height on the church’s flagpole this morning and took a moment to enjoy watching them unfurl in the breeze. The invisible force of the wind, gently enveloping the light, nylon fabric of the U.S. and Iowa flags and pushing the clouds overhead, gave me a joy in the beauty of God’s creation. wpid-img_20150516_075640199_hdr.jpg

It also reminded me of the mysterious nature of the wind of which Jesus spoke in John 3. As Jewish leader, Nicodemus, inquired of Jesus about spiritual things, He told the inquirer that he must be born again. A bit confused, Nicodemus asked for clarification. Jesus illustrated his point with the wind.

5 Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”    John 3:5-8 HCSB*

While we do not see the wind, we hear and see its effects. Likewise, the wind cannot be controlled as it goes where it wills and does as it wishes. The Spirit’s regenerating work is like this. While unseen and beyond man’s control, the Spirit brings about new birth, resulting in lives that are transformed, enabling Christians to live differently than they did before. Thank God for the unseen role of the Spirit, enveloping lives and allowing them to unfurl in newness.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB

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This post is in response to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Enveloped

*Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Forces of Nature

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I just returned to Iowa from a 3,100 mile (4989 km) trip to the Grand Canyon (with a visit to the grandkids in Texas, too). This was the second time I’ve been able to stand on the rim, but the first for my wife. It’s immensity, 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and more than a mile (6,000 feet / 1,800 meters) deep, is without a doubt the result of erosion. The Colorado River (seen in this picture) is now that force of nature.

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Desert View Point (Colorado River in center)

With ever-changing shadows cast on the Canyon walls, our last sunset on Monday evening was the best.

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Sunset at Grand Canyon Village

This photo taken from Bright Angel Trail shows the forces of nature as trees and other greenery spring forth from rock, finding the smallest of a foothold to germinate and grow.

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View from Bright Angel Trail

While the theories of the Grand Canyon formation range from occurring over millions of years to happening as a result of the more recent cataclysmic world-wide flood recorded in the Bible, no one can attest with certainty but God. Therefore, for this humble rural pastor, my observation of the Grand Canyon elicits praise for His handiwork as this plaque attests from Psalm 104:24.

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Scripture plaque at the Lookout Studio entrance.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Forces of Nature.”