No posts for two years!?!? I guess I've been on FB.  See Darrell Hart, esp. under The 4,000 Footer Club:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/16316918492/?pnref=lhc

The background for my blog is Pack Monadnock, viewed from the Spellman Trail on Grand Monadnock.  Taken around 2009 when I began my frequent assaults on my favorite mountain. One hundreth hike 12/16/2015

Criticizing politicians is so easy it's almost not worth the time.  But since Googling this phrase produced no hits, let me be the first to say this about Sen. Ted Cruz and his Obamacare filibuster:
"Cruz missile drones on"

Adapted from Dietrich Bonhoeffer

1.

By loving power silently surrounded

. . .Comforted, protected by Your grace.

We choose to live these newest days together:

With You to enter in the coming years. (Refrain)

2.

Since by Your will today You make us joyful

Into this world Your brightest sunlight shines.

We think of former times and now we're certain:

You hold our future in Your loving hands. (Refrain)

3.

Profoundest silence still around us gathers

From it emerges God's almighty song.

His world, His vision now to us are open;

His children shout their hymn of highest praise! (Refrain)

Ref.

By loving power won-derf'l-ly surrounded

Awaiting fearlessly, whatever comes.

God is with us in the evening and the morning

He's here, for sure, in every dawning day

On his first visit to the German church where Carmen was baptized & confirmed,

Darrell was moved by this hymn by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He has translated and adapted three of the verses, and dedicates them, with deepest love, to Carmen on their wedding day, July 6, 2013

“Christmas in Newtown”

 The link below says too many words are being spoken, and much too quickly, on the Newtown tragedy.  So I’ll respond here, on a blog that few if any read. . .

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/december-web-only/media-and-massacre.html?utm_source=ctdirect-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=9457670&utm_content=146431871&utm_campaign=2012

Why did this event happen at Christmas?  Because Christmas happened for events like this.  This is a sinful world.  Smaller tragedies happen every day.  God, who is infinite, is present among all those who suffer even now—not just because he is big, and therefore  “has to be” everywhere—but because he chooses to be present, in inscrutable wisdom and mysterious majesty.  And he is present as an innocent, helpless Child.  The Christ Child entered this world, and took on the suffering, AND TOOK ON THE SIN! Christmas isn’t about nice feelings, it’s about the pain: the slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem AND Newtown.  It isn’t about denying reality and feeling good for a short while.  God embraced reality, and ushered in the reign of Christ, the King, so that sin may be banished.  One day there will be no more weeping, anywhere!  Tears will be turned to dancing, sin will be gone, and a little child will lead them.  And it has begun, even now.  In the last days GOD HAS SPOKEN THROUGH HIS SON.

”Christmas is here, best time of year”

A Lesson in Latin and Theology

(Theologica) a deo docetur. deum docet. ad deum ducet

 Erick Liddell, 1924 Olympian, famously said:

"I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."

Well, God didn't make me very fast at all, but I LOVE to hike.  So may I make my own paraphrase, and put it into practice later today:

. . . .  when I hike, I feel His pleasure

Every rock that supports my steps obeys God's laws.  

Every budding tree and flower shouts his glory!  Amen.