What is it about the ocean that captures our attention? No moment is exactly like another. The sky changes. Each wave is unlike the one before or the one after. We stayed in Navarre Beach, Florida for nearly the entire month of February and were enthralled by the scene each moment of every day.

Someone built this cabin with dreams and hopes of being able to make it on the high prairie, near the border of North Dakota and Montana. Maybe they succeeded. This building appears to have been constructed a long time ago. Part of the walls are sod. It has been in this spot for quite some time. So maybe they succeeded.

But, now, no one lives here. And, by its dilapidated appearance, it seems that no one has lived here for a long time. This building has stories to tell, if we only knew how to listen.

This Sunday's lesson from 2 Samuel1:26-12:13 follows the reading from last week, and describes the prophet Nathan's confrontation with King David about his immorality. Someone has to speak truth to power and make clear what the King has ignored and is blatantly obvious to everyone else. Nathan presents a moral issue to David where an unknown offender has stolen a lamb that was precious to its owner. David is outraged by the naked violation of ethical norms. Who is this vile person who ought to be punished? Nathan answers, "You, you are the man." I have wondered over the years about how Nathan delivered this indictment. Was it a thundering accusation? Or was it a barely-whispered, sorrow-filled complaint? I have found myself in situations, that I did not want to be, delivering a similar message to someone who was hiding their sin and had damaged their congregation. I grieved that we were caught in human failure, that neither one of us were perfect. And it was doubly painful when the other person was my friend. We all have sinned. Just admit it. There is a crack in creation to which we all have contributed. Repentance begins there at that moment of confession. 

And so does mercy and forgiveness and grace and restoration. As the words form in the heart and spill from the lips, I am sorry, a new journey begins.

I didn't become a coffee drinker until I became a superintendent. Don't know why. I can't even pinpoint the day. And I am not one who needs coffee all day long, nor does it need to be strong.

Some might say I'm not a real coffee drinker because I put sugar in it. Some of my friends would say I put a lot of sugar in. Because I'm not a real coffee drinker. I've tried artificial sweetener and I can taste every single kind and find it ruins the coffee for me.

I am struggling, since I've been on Weight Watchers now for 4 months, that it is a challenge to begin the day counting at least 3 points for my sugared coffee. I tried it without for a short time. And discovered that I was just using coffee to get my sugar fix for the morning. Since I only get 24 points per day, and it will decrease as I continue to lose weight, the sugar in my coffee has an end in sight. The question is: without sugar, will I still be drinking a cup of coffee first thing every morning?

By the way, this sign is painted on the sign of a railroad diner car in Milton, Florida.

This is an 8 second exposure which blurred the motion of the ocean waves. I do recall that there was some wind blowing on shore, and it was difficult to keep my tripod steady in the sand. 

The Old Testament Lesson for today is 2 Samuel 11:1-15, the familiar story of lust and lies. The scripture reading sets the scene with the context that it is spring, the time when kings usually go off to war. That's a disappointing observation to say the least about the normalcy of war. But the point the writer makes is that David stayed home. And notices Bathsheba, bathing on a nearby roof. Without any hesitancy, it seems, he orders her brought to him. And although the text minimizes the sexual act, most likely he rapes this married woman. She gets pregnant and notifies David. To cover what he did, he brings her soldier husband back from the battle front with the hope that he will do what husbands and wives do.
But he doesn't go to his house. He doesn't have sex with his wife because he is an honorable man who knows that the loyalty of a soldier forbids him this pleasure while the battle rages. Even when David gets him drunk the following night, Uriah still does not sleep with Bathsheba.

David takes another step that deepens this tragedy. He tells his commander to place Uriah in the center of the battle and then to fall back so that he will certainly be killed by the enemy.

Make no mistake that this is a commonplace story of adultery. Rather, it is an indictment of a powerful man who acted beyond the boundaries. While this Bible story tells of an ancient event, it exposes truth in contemporary situations where powerful men use women for their own pleasure and deny their wrongful actions. David thinks he has covered his sin but, as we hear next week, he has only deceived himself.

Imagine the grief of Bathsheba whose life was turned upside down by the lust and greed of David. Imagine the embarrassment of a nation that is trying to develop a system of ethics, morality, and law distorted by a corrupt king.

Just my idea of a joke. How does one title these daily entries? There is a star, a light, an awning. There are other possibilities. I could tell about the scar on my hand that I got from an awning. Deep cut. I was in junior high, and somehow, I cut my hand from the awning over the front door. I bled a bunch. Probably should have had the cut stitched up. I don't know if I could even describe how I cut it, if I remembered.

It may look pretty. But it is dangerous. Take it from one who knows. I have the scar.

If ever there was a road that one could put a vehicle on auto pilot, this could be a good candidate. Straight road, virtually no traffic. Ditches on either side to help correct any straying. North Dakota. Just south of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Good road to practice driving, although it would be helpful to learn to turn left and right.

And where does it go? I don't know. I had some other place to be, and this road off into the prairies was not on the itinerary. Could have been an amazing discovery if I had turned from my destination and followed this road.

Instead, I just have a photo of a road that disappears on the horizon. What if?