Be still

Lily pads kissing
God's mirror, blushing pink-red
at beauty twice seen

* My favorite part of the Denver Botanic Gardens was the water garden. I gazed upon it for a long time, praying I could somehow be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10).

Garden wanderings

It was free day at the Denver Botanic Gardens yesterday. Though there were a lot of people, it was still a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I was reminded why working in a greenhouse was one of my favorite jobs of all time. Enjoy...

There were markers and balloons...

My coworker and I were at the warehouse today -- away from all our office mates.
We missed them.
But fortunately there were markers and balloons....

Ride on!

Ever since I met my friend Josh Cunningham, he's told me of this dream of his to ride his bike through all 50 states in one year. Last weekend, he visited me in Colorado, arriving on the two wheels that will roll him toward completing this goal. I'm so proud of him.

Here he is pictured with all his gear about to take off for Oklahoma and beyond. If you want to follow his journey, check out http://joshcunninghamsride.blogspot.com.

Ride on, Josh!

Away from it all

My friend Sarah and I packed the car and headed for the mountains a few weekends ago. For me, the weekend was simply -- sweetly -- going home. I am home in the mountains; and I am home in Wyoming. Here life is slower. For Sarah, the weekend was a new adventure in a new state. Funny how getting away from it all can look so different.

I built a fire. I boiled water. I made some amazing oatmeal. And I ate it. Gladly.

Lake Marie nestled below Medicine Bow Peak in the Snowy Range Mountains west of Laramie, Wyoming.

We begin our ascent of Med Bow.

These piles of stones marked the trail.

Near the top. Sarah and I were both impressed by the boulder fields we had to scramble over. We think God threw giant boulders from heaven to create Med Bow.

Thunderstorms rolling in. Amazingly, it didn't rain until we were down the mountain and in our car headed for coffee in Laramie.

At the summit -- 12,013 feet. What a view!

Mountain climbers need energy. I used to dislike Clif Bars, but they tasted strangely good on this trek.

Fellow hikers at the top. Sarah and I both work for Operation Christmas Child and were amazed at how many people we met on the hike whose church participates in the ministry. How encouraging. Go God! Fill those shoe boxes, people!

View from the top -- away from it all.


View from the bottom. The hike is an 8-mile loop through an amazing array of landscapes.

Wyoming. Land that I love.

Tap-tap

Saw this while I was perusing the Tattered Cover Book Store in downtown Denver. It just made me happy.

Lest you forget...

THIS IS BRONCOS COUNTRY!

My friend Josh is on a year-long, 48-state bike tour. He left Nebraska just over a week ago and stopped in Colorado for a visit. We headed into town today to see what we could see. Eventually we ended up at Invesco Field at Mile High. That's where the Denver Broncos play, in case you didn't know.

But it's not like you could forget with orange and blue plastered everywhere. This is, after all, Broncos Country.

We took a tour of the stadium, learning various sundry facts along the way. Mainly I learned that I'm not rich enough -- nor do I drink enough beer -- to be a true Broncos fan. An Executive Suite at Invesco Field costs anywhere from $85,000 to $185,000 each season, with a 3-year contract required. That's a lot of mullah. A Party Suite to entertain/schmooze your pals or potential business partners costs $9,000 to $22,000 per game -- not including drinks or catering. At any given game, 800 kegs of beer are consumed. That's a lot of beer.

We also saw the visiting team's locker room, learned that the cheerleaders make $150 per game, and discovered the owner's suite is akin to the Bat Cave -- with a secret elevator hidden behind a wall with a button known only to the owner. That way he can go straigt to the field and avoid the commoner crowds. Still, I must admit, it was fun to view the field from the press box (go press!) and stand on the grass/astro-turf mix beneath the goal post. Definitely an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

Josh in an executive suite.

This is where all the cool people hang out.

I was cool in a former life. This is me in the press room.

This is one of five giant coolers where kegs and kegs of beer are pumped to over 500 beer stations.

This is Broncos Country!

We're standing in Broncos Country!

They make touchdowns in Broncos Country!

Have we mentioned this is Broncos Country?

Invesco Field at Mile High -- in Broncos Country!


GO COLTS!

Satisfied

I sometimes think that writing Bible commentaries or devotions would be one of the hardest tasks a writer could tackle. Who wants the responsibility of elaborating on God's Word? Won't my words merely get in the way of God's expression of His character, promises, beauty and love?

But, alas, we try anyway. And there is something awkwardly admirable about our efforts. After all, we are created in the image of God. Just as He sculpted mountains and splashed yellow onto daisies and inspired poets to exalt him in written word, we sculpt and color and write. Our imitations seem hollow next to creations that carry the glory -- the weight -- of God, but I think they bring Him honor.

This last weekend, my friend Sarah and I packed our car and headed to Wyoming to do some camping and hiking in my old stomping grounds. We had a wonderful time, and I will share more about it later (with more photos, of course). Right now, though, I want to talk about Psalm 104.

Each day at work, all the office staff gather to read a Psalm and pray. On Monday, after Sarah and I had returned from the Snowy Range and summiting Medicine Bow Peak, we read Psalm 104. A captivating depiction of God as Creator, its words will not leave me. I read them throughout the day. I think about them. I feel like they have planted themselves in my heart and produced something beautiful where so often there is only weeds.

* O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. (Verses 1-3)
* He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. (Verse 13)

Friday night, Sarah and I slept in our tent beneath the starry tent flung over us by God. Wow.

Saturday, we watched God water the mountains from his upper chambers. We saw earth satisfied by the fruit of his labor.

Now if only I can be satisfied by the fruit of God's labor in me.