simple beauty

One more "reflection" ...this photo calms my soul with the blending of water, rock and color. How about you...what is your reaction?

REFLECTIONS 3

Perhaps it is unfair of me to not show you what caused the reflection in this lake... indeed you see it "poorly" compared to the actual building structure. Many times we see a blurred image of our future or even how to understand our past. But doesn't the reflection have beauty in itself? God creates the future and even the reflection. {I Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."}

Baptism by Fire

"Water Reflections" ... John the Baptist said that Jesus would come to baptize with not only water but also the fire of the Holy Spirit or the power and passion of God within us through the Holy Spirit. {picture taken at Epcot... water fountains and light...}

REFLECTIONS

While I was on vacation for a few days last week, I found a new photographic passion ... finding unique reflections in water. Finding the simple patterns and color reflected off water can be so soothing to the soul. In the days ahead, I will share some of these quiet moments with you. I pray God soothes your soul as you look deeply into the water. {taken in late afternoon with the reflection of a ruddy red condo building, coloring the lake}

Space Travelers?

These heroes may look like space travelers. but instead they traveled into a basement to shovel out sewage and muck from the great flood in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Serving along with other Presbyterians in "Presbyterian Disaster Assistance", they spent a week cleaning out houses that needed to be stripped to their studs, in order to rebuild. And they tolerated my cooking for the week!  I was proud to serve you as you served the people of Cedar Rapids!

Christie, Lou, Kathi, Sam, Marilyn and Jeff!

WORSHIP MEANS SERVICE

Tonight at Orlando Presbyterian, we celebrated and dedicated a mountain of shoes for the homeless in downtown Orlando. Park Lake Presbyterian and Orlando P, C. have collected these for the past three weeks. Also tonight our children learned about packaging meals for hungry families in Haiti, Honduras and in Central Florida. We have 16 people already signed up for the "Presbyterians of Orlando's Downtown" meal packing event on November 2. What a joy to be working alongside, Park Lake, Grace Covenant, Washington Shores and College Park PCUSA brothers and sisters!  We certainly put smiles on many faces tonight...including God's! 

Lunch

Animal Kingdom at Disney -"I ordered salad dressing for my salad, not duck!"

BUBBLES

The Bubble contest at the Orlando Presbyterian Church picnic was won with this 30 year old bubble making tool. Mary handled it well with the kids underneath fanning the giant bubble to make it rise in the air. What a team effort! Yes Presbyterians know how to have fun!

OPC Picnic

We had our second annual October picnic at the Robinson's "Brown Cow", which is the name for a brown painted lake house next to the Robinson's on Lake Conway! Over 40 attended with almost half coming from the neighborhood around the Lake. Some left early before the official picture taking, but all had a great time with food, good conversation and some awesome bubble & balloon creations. Orlando Presbyterian knows how to have a good time!

Grace passed along ..

It was 2010 and on the way home from a road trip to Yellowstone, we pulled off the main highway at a small town in Nebraska. Finding an old drug store that was turned into a restaurant, we settled in for lunch. I noticed a sign that offered "gift cards" for dinning.  As we paid the bill, I asked to purchase a gift card. I filled it out as given by "the love of Christ" and handed it back to the cashier. She looked puzzled, until I told her to give the gift card to someone that came into the dinner ...someone who looked like they needed a gift of grace. I wonder who received this gift? Lord, whoever it was, may their lives continue to be blessed by your grace even as You continue to bless me with your grace every day!

DIMPLES

And I thought I had dimples on my fat hips!

Taken at the Sanford Zoo

THE MAJESTY OF GOD'S CREATION

"O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! " Psalm 8:1

from a garden pool in St Petersburg, Florida

a Mountain of Compassion 2 Shoes at a Time

Park Lake and Orlando Presbyterian Churches are building a mountain of gently used shoes! The homeless men and women of downtown Orlando desperately need warm supportive shoes for this winter. They are on their feet and moving for most of the day and therefore need good shoes. So for the next two weeks we are collecting shoes and not just the old worn out kind, but a shoe one would give to  Jesus Christ... for in the face of each homeless person you can see the face of the Savior. "If you do it to the least of these, you do it unto me." Tennis shoes that are washed, with the laces tied together and a pair of new socks ... we hope to collect 500 pairs for the men and women of Orlando's "Compassion Corner" ministry. Here is the beginning of the mountain after week one! Bring your shoes Sunday to either the 10:30 am or 5:00 pm worship services. Let's make a difference in our city for the love of Christ!

"Vacation is a comin"

Only fourteen days to a vacation in Disney! Days away with friends and family... the hotel is amazing...maybe I will even venture into the home of the mouse!

Birthday Brother

Today is the DAY! My brother, Lee is now officially 10 years older than I am. I am thankful and proud of him, his family and all that he has accomplished for Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday, Lee! Keep that bell ringing!

My Brother's Birthday Week continues!

Another photo of  brother Lee and his family .... There must have been  a sale on white men's shorts!  

BROTHER

This is my brother's Birthday Celebration Week! So here we go ...Lee McCardle!