Hanging Lake in Glenwood Canyon

Where to start?

So much has been happening. We have been to a family reunion in Denver. We watched with pain from the nosebleed section as the Rockies lost to the Padres in the 9th inning. (They went on to win the next 5 games) The company I work for is being bought out by a larger company. Not sure yet what this will mean for us. They have said they will hire everyone. We will see what they offer when it comes down to the end. Tommorrow we are going to Glenwood canyon to make the hike up to Hanging Lake. Family from PA is out visiting. The church here in Hayden had its first Sunday service last week. This is a restart. The church has been closed for three years. We had about 40 in attendance. Pastor Ditges had about 9 family from out of town there, but that is still a good turnout for the locals. Some was just curiosity, I’m sure. We will see in the coming weeks. Since there is no PM service, we will keep going into Craig for choir practice and the evening service. They want to keep the choir going so we have agreed to help for awhile. So we will have 2 churches for awhile. Interesting life we lead. More later when I get time. There are some great pictures I have to post and some topics I want to address, some serious and some not.
Tim

A Tribute to My Father

This is a belated tribute for Father’s Day. Last week I posted a poem prompted by my father-in-law. This week, I want to share a poem I wrote about my father. I have the privilege of having two men to look up to. Both are men with incredible strength, neither will quit, and both have a genuine love for their families. I hope I will exhibit those traits into my later years. When I wrote the poem, “Hats Off”, I was sharing my admiration for my father and the example he was to me. Now four more years have passed. These words are more true now than when I first wrote them. Since that time, Dad has continued to write and publish ministry materials. This last year, when my brother was unable to continue as Pastor in Grantsville, UT, Dad once again returned to pastoral ministry. Even though ministry is more difficult now, he doesn’t quit. As long as ministry is available, and Dad is able, he will be serving the Lord. Once again, I take off my hat to you in admiration. Thank you!
Tim

Hats Off

The cowboy life is not for all.
But everywhere I go,
I think I see some cowboy
In all good men I know.

“So, although you’re not a cowboy, Dad,
You’ve ridden hard and long.
You’ve faced the trail with all its bends,
But always with a song.”

“Dad for many years now
You’ve been ridin’ for the brand.
True and loyal to the Lord,
Ready to give a hand.”

“You’ve served the Lord through many years,
As tall in the saddle you’ve sat.
You’ve not been ashamed of the Lord or His Word.
To you, Dad, I take off my hat.”

“So as you approach the end of the trail,
There’s really no call for fear.
When comes the voice to light and set,
Your rest is almost here.”

Tim Parish
Nov. 2004

Cowboy Poetry

This one was prompted by my father-in-law. Every time I helped with branding, I heard him say this simple phrase that became the title to this poem.

That’ll Bring ‘Em Home

The day was hot, the ground was parched; the dust rose in the air,
As we pushed the herd toward the corral and the work that was waitin’ there.
The older cows seemed unconcerned; they’d been this path before.
The younger steers seemed anxious-like and lookin for the door.

The calves were busy runnin’ round as if they had no care.
They had no idea what was comin’ or why the crew was there.
I think they started to wonder some as we sorted off their mothers.
And left ‘em in a pen with just their sisters and their brothers.

The crew was ready; the iron hot, the knife was close at hand.
The boss man said, “Let’s get to work; the time has come to brand”.
One by one we put ‘em down and quickly went to work.
Each man among us knew his job, and not a man would shirk.

The ear was notched, the shot was giv’n, the cuttin’ was all through.
The time was come to make the mark. A brand that’s clean and true.
The boss man watched his son approach the calf with ease and care.
The iron hot was firmly pressed upon the matted hair.

The iron burned down to the hide, the smoke was blowin’ free.
Whether I was at the front or back, it always came at me.
The boss man said with an approving nod, “No matter where they roam,
That brand is clear, that brand is clean, that’ll bring ‘em home.

This reminds me of another time. A time that’s long ago.
Of another Boss who has a Son; the Bible tells us so.
God watched His Son approach a cross; He watched Him hangin’ there.
He watched Him groan in agony, and watched Him gasp for air.

The reason He was on that cross was pure, unselfish love.
He wanted us to be with Him, up in His home above.
When Jesus Christ died on that cross, He satisfied a need.
We were lost in sin, without a hope. We needed Him to lead.

You see, we’re like a bunch of strays wonderin’ round in sin.
Without His brand we’re doomed to an eternity without Him.
The brand of Jesus Christ alone is the only one that’ll do.
Just put your trust in him, and then He’ll put His mark on you.

That brand will tell where you belong; and what you ought to do.
For you belong to Him, and He belongs to you.
And the Father will say with approving nod, “No matter where you roam,
That brand is clear, that brand is clean; that’ll bring ‘em home”.

So when the final round-up comes, and the gatherin’ is at hand,
When God begins the sortin’, He’s lookin’ for His brand.
And when He sees His mark on you, you’ll never, ever roam.
The Father will say, “The brand is clear, my child, Welcome Home”!

Tim Parish 9-15-04

The Grace of God

Amazing words about the Grace of God from an amazing woman. She also wrote ” He Giveth More Grace” and God Hath Not Promised”, and many other poems. Knowing her life story, I understand why she wrote so much about grace. Each stanza elaborates on each word of the statement by our Lord, “My Grace is Sufficient For Thee”. “For Thee” are together on the last stanza. This poem has been set to music.

The Grace of God
By Annie Johnson Flint

My

“My grace,” ’tis the God of all grace who hath spoken,
Whose word in the heavens forever is set;
Whose covenant promise hath never been broken;
Who never can fail or forget;
Who knoweth my needs and who seeth my sorrows,
However so many and great they may be;
Who heareth my prayers for the days and the morrows;
His grace is sufficient for me.

Grace

“My grace;” all His blessings this work is unfolding,
His love and His power in harmony blend;
‘Tis grace that hath saved me, and grace that is holding,
And grace that will keep to the end;
‘Tis grace that hath written redemption’s glad story,
And grace all the song of the ransomed shall be;
‘Tis grace that transforms me from glory to glory;
That grace is sufficient for me.

Is

“My grace is,” not “was,” and not “will be;” ’tis flowing
Each hour and each moment my need to supply,
The deeper I dip, still the deeper ’tis growing,
No drought can diminish or dry;
My heart from the future no trouble shall borrow;
Eternal this present provision shall be,
Assured for today and as sure for tomorrow,
Such grace is sufficient for me.

Sufficient

“My grace is sufficient.” Oh, help without measure!
An ocean of riches no plummet can sound,
A storehouse unfailing of infinite treasure,
A gift without limit or bound;
Exceeding abundant for all His creation,
Enough for the thorn that is buffeting me,
The fulness of God for earth’s brief tribulation -
“My grace is sufficient for thee.”

For Thee.

“Sufficient for thee,” for my utmost salvation,
As though ne’er another had owed Him a debt;
For my special grief and my special temptation,
My cares and my sins that beset;
He giveth more grace for my humble endeavour;
His power and His majesty daily I see.
I am praising Him now, I shall praise Him forever;
His grace is sufficient for me.

Annie Johnson Flint

2Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me,
My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect
in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Separation

“Be ye holy, as I am holy” The doctrine of separation is rooted and founded in the nature of a holy God. Specifically, personal separation from the world is referenced in I Peter 1:15-16. In studying out separation again, I am brought back to God’s character and nature and my response to Him. A proper understanding of God is necessary for me to fear Him. (Psalm 119:120; Isa 66:5) Those who know God best, fear Him most. Rev. 15:4 says, “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord and glorify thy name?” I read somewhere the following statement, “I think heaven wonders at those who do not fear him.” If I am to properly separate from the world, I must fear Him. And if I am to properly fear Him, I must understand that He is a holy God.

Family Update

This last weekend was a reunion of sorts. Our daughter Heather graduated on Saturday and we had a ceremony at church for her and Derek Willshire, another homeschool graduate in our church. Shirley’s parents and my parents were able to be here, and my Dad gave the challenge to the graduates at the ceremony. My brother Philip and his family were also able to attend (and got in a round of golf). Our children were able to be here as well. It was a lot of fun having Jeremy and Regina here for a little while. Jeremy had to return to Denver on Saturday after the graduation because of obligations with his ministry at his church. We hated to see him go early, but glad to see his commitment to his church. Regi will be with us for a week. We wish her husband, Josh could have come as well, but glad to see Regi. Of course, she is bigger than last time we saw her, but she has a good reason. She and Josh are expecting their first child and our first grandchild. The Lord willing we will be going to South Carolina in August to take Heather to college and see our grandchild. She (or he) is due August 25. I’m sure we will have pictures to post after the birth. Anyway, congratulations, Heather!

Christmas 2007

Merry Christmas

For those involved with ministry, the hectic part of the season is over. Christmas programs are done for another year. (Unless you have a Christmas Eve Service) So now we can concentrate on the important things. Things like Christ, family, rice soup, silly string wars, snowball fights. Of course Christ should be utmost in our minds at Christmas time.
This last week in SS we looked at the Magnificat in Luke 1. Mary begins with “My soul doth magnify the Lord”. To make great or increase is the definition we have for magnify. Of course, there is no way we can have that affect on God. But we can magnify Him in our minds. This requires three things: first, we must have a genuine desire for God, second, we must think of Him or meditate on Him, and third, our thoughts of Him must be true according to His nature. In other words, we must think accurately about our Savior. As we magnify Him in our hearts and minds, we come to know more about Him. When you are hunting, you might see some movement, but not be sure enough of your target to shoot. But when you put the scope on it, then you magnify the animal and you can see the details. When we magnify man, we generally see more faults. But when we magnify God, we see more of His nature and character. To see Him more clearly is a true need of every child of God. So we can magnify Him in our hearts and minds by our estimation of Him. We can also magnify Him by our words and actions so that others can see him more clearly. May we accurately portray our Lord this coming year. Have a Merry Christmas.
Tim

So teach us…

Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
I started teaching the adult Sunday School class at our church 2 weeks ago. The hardest part was to decide what to teach. Our Pastor has preached through the entire Bible over the past 2 years. So what is left for me to teach? Since he has done it as book studies, that option did not seem the best for me. Prayer is a topic that I keep coming back to in my life. Probably because of my constant need to come to Him. I have been more impressed with my need to just commune with God. When I stop to think of my prayer life, at times it seems very petty and selfish. I know God wants us to bring our requests to Him, but what about our desire for Him. What part does communion play in our prayers? So I wonder and think about prayer. But I didn’t want to just study the topic of prayer. So instead, we are studying various prayers recorded in Scripture. We spent the last 2 weeks on Moses prayer in Psalm 90. (Yes, I think Moses wrote it) The first 11 verses are the thoughts of Moses on the frailty and brevity of human life, as compared to God’s immutability and eternality. Then he comes to verse 12. “So”, in light of the musings of the first 11 verses, Moses asks to be taught (translated “make me to know” in Ps. 39:4) regarding our days and the number of them. Compare this verse to these: Ps. 39:4; Deut. 32:29; Eccl. 9:10 (read the whole verse); John 9:4; and Eph. 5:16-17. One last thought, notice how he talks of numbering our “days” not our years.