Saturday's Dogwood Flower 03-26-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Saturday.  Today, the day before Easter, I have for you a Dogwood Flower.  This is the state flower of North Carolina.  The Dogwood Tree is part of an Easter Legend that states:  

  “When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew

   To a towering size with a lovely hue.
   Its branches were strong and interwoven,
   And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen.

   “Being distressed at the use of the wood,
   Christ made a promise which still holds good:
   'Never again shall the dogwood grow
   To be large enough for a tree, and so,
   Slender and twisted it shall always be,
   With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.

   “'The petals shall have bloodstains marked brown,
   And in the blossom's center a thorny crown.
   All who see it will think of me,
   Nailed to a cross from a dogwood tree.
   Protected and cherished this tree shall be,

   A reflection to all of my agony.'”

It's a beautiful poem.  I've heard it all my life and I love looking at the Dogwood Tree and its flowers.  The trouble with legends is that sometimes, they are not true - as is the case here.  Apparently, on all the websites I visited that told of the story, they verified that the Dogwood Tree has never grown in Israel, so the Crucifixion cross could not have come from the Dogwood.  I don't care.  It's still a moving poem and I will continue to think of it every time I see a Dogwood Tree and its flowers.  Maybe the tree will seem a little prettier now that I know the truth.

I hope you had a beautiful Saturday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

if you want to check out the sites I went to for the information, look at http://www.creationtips.com/dogwood.html, and/or http://www.gardenguides.com/93373-history-dogwood-tree.html.  There may be other sites as well.

Good Friday 03-25-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Friday.  This Friday, for us Christians, is called Good Friday.  This is the day when Jesus carried his cross, was nailed to the cross, and died on the cross for the sins of all who believe in Him so that they won't perish and will have everlasting life.  Many of us believe this.  (There are many people who do not believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ or God and that is their choice.  I accept that we are all entitled to learn and believe what we want.)  For me, Christianity creates a comfort to know that our death from earth will not be the end, that something better is waiting for us and that we will be reunited with the loved ones that went on before us.  It is also a feeling of love, a feeling that we are all worthy of love and that we need to love another and be kind to one another.  It really doesn't matter the color of your skin, what religion you choose, your sexual identity or your occupation.  In my Bible, Jesus loves us all, Jesus does not look for reasons to criticize or condemn.  Jesus wants only to empower people with love and kindness.  Not everyone who says they're Christian is filled with the love and kindness of Jesus - some people say hateful things to and about others.  Even some of Jesus' disciples did and said hateful things.  We are all human, after all.  But we must not allow ourselves to be hateful and judgmental of others.  Anger must not be allowed to fester within us.  We must try to be more like Jesus and give understanding, compassion, tolerance and love.  We must guard our thoughts, our actions and our words in order to recognize the love and kindness that is within all of us.  When we do that, others will also recognize the love and kindness and will, in return, share that with us and others.  I know I have a lot of work to do and am working on myself when it comes to guarding my thoughts, actions and words.  It is not easy.  I just try to take it one day at a time.  Good thing because of Jesus on the cross there's forgiveness.

Jesus carried the cross ant then died on that cross so many years ago today for all who believe that He is the Son of God.  John Brookfield believes.  He is the man carrying the cross in the photos today. John believes that God called him to be fit spiritually and physically and to carry that cross and share God's message with others.  Because of his calling, he founded God's Athletic Academy to help others become spiritually and physically fit.  You can find out more about John on his website:  www.Godsathleticacademy.com.  John is also preparing a website that is to be called Cross Carrying Challenge that should be up and running soon.  This wonderful and kind man carries a 100 or 200 pound cross up and down sidewalks near Pinehurst, NC.  He's not looking for recognition or "atta boy" from others, he is doing what he knows God told him to do.  How many of us would be so obedient?

I hope you had a peaceful, kind and loving Good Friday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.

Maundy Thursday Cross Carrying 03-24-16

Copyright 2016 AJ Horton

Hello and happy Thursday.   Easter is this Sunday and I have for you today a man carrying the cross.  Today is considered Maundy Thursday, a holy day for Christians to commemorate The Last Supper and of Jesus washing others' feet.  There are a few other things involved in Maundy Thursday and you can read it all at http://www.ibtimes.com/holy-thursday-2016-facts-history-meaning-these-5-maundy-traditions-honoring-last-2342285.

The man carrying the cross today is John Brookfield in Pinehurst, NC.  This isn't his first day carrying the cross, but it is the first day I have spoken with him and asked to take his photo.  I had been thinking about what I was going to do for this Easter - I had seen him before carrying the cross and hoped I would see him again,  It was not my usual day to be in Pinehurst, but I had a doctor's appointment and, as we were leaving the appointment (my sister went with me), guess who we saw?  We turned around, passed him and found a place to park.  I went to meet him and he was receptive and willing to talk,

It turns out that John hadn't planned on carrying that cross today in that area.  And, he expected he would be gone from that area before the time we arrived except that another woman had stopped him and they spoke for a few minutes.  When I saw him carrying that cross up the hill - and, by the way, that cross weighs 100 pounds (he sometimes carries a cross that weighs 200 pounds) - he was supposed to be gone from the area.  What a lucky girl am I?  Or maybe I'm not so lucky - maybe I'm just blessed - maybe it was meant to be?  Maybe God intervened?

In Mathew 16: 24-26, Jesus said, and I am paraphrasing, that anyone that wants to follow him should deny himself and pick up his cross and follow Jesus.  John Brookfield is doing just that.  I will give you a little more of John tomorrow, of his work, and of what tomorrow means to Christians.

I hope you had a great Maundy Thursday.  Thank you for looking.  See you tomorrow.