Walking along the path on my parents' patio the other day, I was amazed to see that weeds had become overgrown in certain areas and the yard had a bit of a disheveled feel to it.  This was certainly not how remembered it from years past.  The garden had always been well maintained and manicured by my parents to the highest level of perfection.  Then I got to thinking - in quite simplistic terms actually.  My parents are getting older and with that, they are not as active as they once were.  Besides moving slower, they have also begun to decline in other areas as well; so the garden may not be the priority it once was to them. 

This overall scenario I suppose can be looked at in a few ways.  I must  prepare myself for the inevitable.  I have been exceptionally fortunate and blessed in that, I have not had to experience the loss of someone extremely close to me.  Eventually, that will change.  The weeds will continue to grow.

As we mature and grow in our walk with Christ, sometimes we let "weeds" crop up.  Distractions, frustrations, and hidden sins destroy the beautiful garden that once was our walk with Jesus.  Maybe we grow old and tired and just do not have the desire to "weed them out," or perhaps we have grown accustomed to watch them grow amon the roses.  The weeds will get taller.

As summer is rounding the corner toward fall, now might be a good time to get the garden ready for next spring - where roses will bloom.

Matthew 13:24-30

People will ask, "How can a Christian write about horror - the ugly, the brutal, and the evil?"  "Shouldn't you be writing about the beautiful, loving nature of God?"  My reply - "Oh, but I thought I was?"

Society's idea of "horror" in general is related to movies or other media that depict people being brutally murdered or tortured in the most grotesque or gruesome of ways.  To me, this is a very warped and completely one-sided view on what horror can actually be about.

As a Christian, I am quite familiar with horror- it is written all throughout the Bible- right next to the love, grace and everything beautiful that is God.  Isn't life full of both good and bad- the lovely and the ugly?

The cross and death of Jesus was probably the most brutal and horrific events recorded, and yet in the midst of the blood and pain and suffering, something beautiful was happening.  Sickness and disease were made obeddent becuase of the stripes that were torn into his back.  Death, hell and the grave was no longer master because of Jesus' savage execution on the cross.  Indescribable, beautiful, eternal life granted at the most horrific and violent scene imaginable.  Without the death, there would be no resurrection.

An that is my point; without the pain suffering and decay, how would we know what beauty, healing and salvation are all about?  When I see or read "horror" that seems to only glorify the evil or the diabolic, I know they (the author, writer, producer, etc.) are missing the point all together.  Are you?