Bittersweet Farm

Bittersweet Farm

Travel the Road

Filed Under: Current Thoughts

Travel the RoadTomorrow morning I will open my Thanksgiving message with the story of Timonthy Scott and William Decker , two young guys who have traveled all over the world preaching the gospel and documenting their travels on film. Their films have motivated the believers and captured the attention of others, too. You can read about them here.

Here is an example of one of their fascinating films. It’s just the two of them. They travel with two backpacks, no crew, no support. They stepped it up a couple notches since the missionary slide shows I remember.

A Lingering Memory

Filed Under: Current Thoughts, Faith and Family, Read Aloud Stories

The old man rests in his chair in the corner of a shady porch. He lives there in the tasteful house alone surrounded by his books and his memories. He is a happy man loved by family and friends. His children and their families often visit on weekends but he spends much of his time alone reading and writing. Every morning and every evening he walks along the lakeshore drinking in the seasons like a child gathering shells on the beach. He prays on those walks and feels close to God by the big water and under the vast sky.

The soft breeze and the fading sunshine of evening lull him to sleep like a baby in his mother’s arms. In his sleep he goes back and back over the years, even the decades to a late spring night. Before him is a young woman in a summery, sleeveless, blue dress. Her skin is darkened by the sun. The breeze blows her long brown hair. Her dark eyes look steadily on him. She never looks away for a fraction of a second when she kisses him. Her mouth is hungry for his. She is in no hurry. She makes no attempt to pull away as he tenderly tugs her to himself. Her soul is deep and her heart is loyal.

Wordlessly he sweeps his young wife into his arms and carries her over the threshold. From the waterfront the sound of a band wafts on the gentle wind. The atmosphere is influenced by the sound of it like the scent of lilac and the pale purple twilight. White curtains rustle in the window. The moon shines on the hardwood floor. Stars blink on the in the heavens. Crickets sing somewhere out in the cool night.

Out on the porch the corners of the old man’s mouth turn up with the lingering memory of a lingering kiss.

Advice for the Lonely

Filed Under: Current Thoughts, Faith and Family

The family sang at a funeral in Kentucky this week. The chapel was packed. Over five hundred people signed the guest book. We wound up the hill to the cemetery for the graveside service and military rites, then we gathered at the Baptist Church for diner with the family. As a small girl Lois lived in a small house just across the creek from the church. I went to the food table hoping to find scalloped corn. There was none, but the green beans were like nothing you will ever eat out of a can. We sat down and Lois gave me a bite of her banana pudding and said, “This is the way they make it down here. You’ve never had better.” [Read more…] about Advice for the Lonely

Not Here, Not Now

Filed Under: Current Thoughts

A few years ago we lived in a place where natural beauty was sparse. There were usually birds in view, some geometrically placed trees, plants clinging to life, and the ever-changing sky. There was a river that ran by at the foot of the hotel in which we lived. On a clear day standing on a footbridge you could see that the river really is, amazingly, teaming with life. Waterfowl floated on its surface. Big fish prowled the bottom, Catfish and Suckers – Bottom dwellers. City dwellers. They are evidence of lower forms of life that make up their diet. They say a peregrine falcon was nesting on a ledge high on a building across the river. The boys saw it dive and attack it prey. They say it was almost pitiful to watch the falcon dive with such velocity and force killing its prey in mid air.

There were plants, flowers, flowering ornamental bushes and trees here and there and they were real even if they were synthetically arranged. They were not in the wild. They were still beautiful enough to stir life in your heart when they caught you by surprise in a shaft of sunlight on a brisk morning run or mellow in the fading evening.

One morning we got a glimpse of nature up close. It was interesting. There was a rat in the restaurant one morning. [Read more…] about Not Here, Not Now

Chuk’s Resume–you gotta read it!

Filed Under: Current Thoughts

This is the only resume I have ever read that makes me cry. If you know someone who is looking for a pastor or youth pastor, you might want to have them take a look at this. Chuk is gifted in preaching and in people. He has uncanny insight into situations and unusual ability to express his heart. He has a deep and sincere love for God. I’m not ashamed to beat the drum for him.

Here is a link to his bio
Here is a link to his resume

They are both good reading.

Jerusalem on the Lord’s Day

Filed Under: Current Thoughts

We are in Jerusalem on the Lord’s Day. The birds have been singing for hours in the courtyard outside our room. I can hear bells ringing and smell bread baking. it should be a wonderful week. The dining room looks out on the walls of the Old City. I hope they have good coffee. 🙂

Follow Ken Here