Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 38

Pictured Rocks part 2 - Camping Post #4

   Just because I am retired, does not mean I need to fill my every minute all summer long. Someone should have told me that in May.

We took our yearly camping trip to the UP from July 17ththrough the 23rd. I worked one day the following week and three and a half days the next week. The week after that, which was last week, Hubby and I went camping again. Add to that the fact that our internet was out for three days during that time, and – well – I am so far behind on blogging. At this point, I can’t remember much of that first camping trip. Maybe you don’t want to hear about it anyway, right?

But two weeks ago, I promised more pictures of Pictured Rocks. So here they are. 

Just as the boat turned around to head back to the dock, this fog rolled in out of nowhere.

And then, just like that, it was gone. 

The good thing about posting the first batch two weeks ago is that you might not remember having seen some of these.

Of course, I took 300 pictures on that two-hour cruise on Lake Superior that day, so I hope I didn’t repeat any.

Such cool colored rocks.

Except for the pictures where I played with the settings on my camera and really made the colors pop!

The Grand Island East Channel Lighthouse was built in 1868 but was put out of service in 1913, having been replaced by the new range lights across the channel in Munising.

Last, these lucky kayakers who get to see the rocks up close and personal. Maybe. 

The Second Commandment

          Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:8, King James Version)

What is this commandment all about? According to Luther’s Small Catechism, it means this: We are to fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice satanic arts, lie, or deceive using God's name, but instead use that very name in every time of need to call on, pray to, praise, and give thanks to God.

That explanation says a lot, a lot more than we want to think about. And why is that? Because, once again, this is a commandment many of us break all the time!

I’m just going to keep it simple, though, and focus on one point in all of that.

We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. (James 3:9-10, New Century Version)

Don’t swear. Don’t use the name of God or of Jesus Christ as an expletive. Don’t throw any of the names of God into your general conversation. (You know the conversations I’m referring to; we’ve all heard them in movies or even at work.) Use His names only in thanks, praise and prayer.  

And I always take this commandment a step further. Don’t use the other words which used to be banned from TV and radio. Just don’t do it. (And, again, you know which ones I mean.)

Sure, believers agree that we shouldn’t take the Lord’s name in vain, but what do all those other “bad” words have to do with it?

Here’s what those words in our daily language are doing to us as a society. Just like all the sex and violence we see in movies and on the internet, those words are desensitizing us. We are getting to the point where we don’t even flinch when we see certain things or hear certain things. And after that? Well, we lose our human-ness, our kind and gentle spirits. We become monsters tearing at living flesh.

Sorry if that sounds dramatic, but using profanity (even though it slips out of my mouth sometimes) just should not be an acceptable way to talk.

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. (Proverbs 21:23, New King James Version)

The Third Commandment

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8, King James Version)

The third commandment in the good old King James Version. But let me tell you what else God had to say about this law in Exodus chapter 20, verses 9 through 11, in the New International Version.

Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Over the last two months, I’ve been writing about the ten commandments, starting with the last seven of them. Commandments four through ten should be easy for anyone to understand, believer or non-believer. They are all about how you should love your neighbor more than yourself. That you shouldn’t do anything to harm them, but should instead help them in any way you can. The kind of stuff where if everyone was obeying them, we wouldn’t have all the crap going on that makes the evening news. Killings, cheating, stealing, people talking smack about each other. We could live in peace.

Now, however, it’s time to circle back to the first three commandments. The ones we should keep to demonstrate our love for the one Triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation (Genesis 2:3, New Living Translation)

Honestly, I’m pretty sure that God didn’t really need to rest after creating everything in the heavens and on the earth. He is God and He can just keep going like the Energizer Bunny. But He sure deserves to rest.  

But really, because He is such a loving Father, I think this commandment is for us as well for Him.

For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of sabbath rest to the Lord. (Exodus 35:2, New International Version)

We aren’t God, so we need to rest periodically, one day a week. Take a day for yourself, to put all your troubles aside. As a believer, you should attend church that day or spend time in some sort worship and praise to your Creator. Study your Bible. Pray and thank God for all He has given you. As a child of God, you should be more than happy to spend your day off remembering your Lord and Savior.

If you aren’t a believer, you still need to give yourself a break. God didn’t create us to go on and on; He knows we need a day off.

And as a side note – something that isn’t really about the third commandment, but which God does want us to do – we are to work those other days of the week.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:17, New International Version)

Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. (Proverbs 12:14, NIV)

Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. (Romans 12:11, New Century Version)

Pictured Rocks part 1 – Camping post #3

   Whenever I go anywhere, I always take too many pictures. Thank goodness for digital photography. When I was a kid, I’d always get yelled at by mom when we’d bring home the developed pictures from the drug store and she’d see all the photos I took of such random stuff. When I was younger, it was because she had to pay for them, but even when I had my own money, she’d still chide me for the waste.  

Anyway, it didn’t stop me and I think I’ve more than made up for it in my adulthood. 

Which is why I just couldn’t post, at one time, all the pictures I took of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore from the boat ride we took the Wednesday afternoon we were camping in Michigan.

The boat we rode.  

And lucky people riding in their kayaks.

I’d tell you the names of all these rock formations, but those are manmade names.

Some things are too awesome for mere human names.

Names are for people, like these two clowns.

This is as far as our cruise ship went. Next time that I share pictures of our yearly camping trip to the UP, I’ll post the pictures from the return ride.

About Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - https://www.nps.gov/piro/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm
More about the Rocks - https://www.munising.org/pictured-rocks/
The cruise we took - https://picturedrocks.com/tour-highlights/

The Tenth Commandment

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s. (Exodus 20:17, King James Version)

Sometimes the ninth and tenth commandments are combined, or sometimes people just don’t see the difference between the two. Here it is: the previous one deals with coveting another person’s things, while this one covers the living people and animals that other people have.

Luther’s Small Catechism describes this commandment this way: We are to fear and love God, so that we do not entice, force, or steal away from our neighbors their spouses, household workers, or livestock, but instead urge them to stay and fulfill their responsibilities to our neighbors.

Few of us have servants which we are worried about someone hiring away from us. And coveting our spouses seems to be covered in the sixth commandment. Some of us do own livestock or at least have chickens pecking around our yard providing us with eggs to eat.

In general, though, we live in different times. But, as with everything else written in the Bible, the words remain true for us today.

My mom once told a story about a beautiful, white, long-haired kitten she had as a young girl. Because it wasn’t suitable as a barn cat, Mom wanted it for a pet. She didn’t have it very long when some distant relative from the city came for a visit and saw the cat. He talked my grandpa into giving it to him. My mom says she hid the cat under the covers at the end of her bed, but they found it and took it away. Mom was understandably heartbroken. But on Grandpa’s behalf, it was the depression and there was no room in the budget for any animal on the farm which couldn’t pull its weight.   

I remember seeing a movie years ago with a similar plot-line and even an episode of the Waltons, involving a calf.

Working class families of previous generations, from Biblical times through the depression of the 1930s, had a hard time justifying having a pet around the house. They were more prone to fight to keep any human or animal labor and to covet their neighbors' workers and livestock. 

Today, we are blessed to have the easy life we do. And with that, many of us have pets that we love and would do anything for. And as long as we are taking proper care of our cats, dogs, and other household critters, no one should want to take them away from us.

Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. (Philippians 2:4, New Century Version)

 Assignment time! If you know of someone who has a pet that they love, but that they are struggling to keep for whatever reason, lend a hand – offer to walk their dog if they can’t get out themselves or buy them some pet food. If you don’t know anyone in that situation, volunteer at your local humane society. Do it not only for the animals, but for the many people involved in their care. 

Start at the Beginning - Camping Post #2

   Sometimes I tend to jump around when I am chronicling one of our trips. This time, though, I’m going to make it easy on myself and start writing about our recent camping trip at the beginning, at Alpha.

Alpha, Michigan, is the third smallest incorporated village in the state of Michigan, with a population of 126. The Alpha post office was established on December 15, 1913, and the community was incorporated as a village in 1914. The first census on file for Alpha listed a population of 818 in 1920. It has steadily declined every year since.

Alpha sits in the lower half of Iron County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As the county’s name suggests, iron ore mining was what started the development of the area in the late 1880s.
The George F. Porter School was built in 1914. Two single-story wings were added to the school in 1920 and 1929.

I found information on the internet regarding the name of the school in two different places. I first ran across one reference stating that George F. Porter was one of the major shareholders at the time, but it didn’t say shareholder of what. Another source stated that Mr. George F. Porter of Chicago had made a donation of 1,000 books to the Alpha school Library, more than doubling the number of books it housed, but it didn’t say what year that was.

The school building has sadly deteriorated greatly since I was here last in 2018.

That same year, however, the Alpha Michigan Brewing Company was established in the former bus garage on the east end of Porter School. 

 

On the other end of the school is the Village Hall, which was also built in 1914. 

There’s also a post office.

And a community center. I couldn’t tell if it was really being used or not.

Also, of note, but not photographed, were a bakery on the edge of town and what is reported to be the oldest traffic circle in Michigan. Circling back to the Alpha Brewing Company. One of their mottos is that “All our brews are craft brewed on the Circle”. They also claim to be the smallest village in America with a brewery!

And, yes, when they were open later in the week, we returned to try a brew and make a purchase.

My DinoReno - Camping Post #1

Are y’all having a good summer? Or is it going by way too fast?

On Saturday, we got home from our yearly camping trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. That week went by in a flash, just like it always does. It doesn’t seem to make a difference being retired – every day is full.

But then there’s this guy. My sweet Dino the Wonder Dog. At 15 years old, he probably doesn’t have many more trips left in him. But he sure loves spending the week in the camper with us.

My phone sure takes lousy pictures, doesn’t it? But sometimes it’s all I had on me.

When we are packing up to go camping, I’m glad we no longer have kids that we have to pack for. Dino has enough stuff for a whole family. And no, the Country Crock is not a plastic butter-product; it’s where his nightly Milkbones are stored.

His best day.

Hanging out at a little park in Florence, Wisconsin, after Mom and Dad ate their ice cream and gave him a treat. I think that’s really why he likes bumming with us – I give him an unhealthy amount of treats. 

This place – well, there weren’t enough treats.

Pops and I took a boat ride on Lake Superior to see the Pictured Rocks. Their website said they had a complimentary kennel where you could leave your dog while you were on the boat. I called beforehand and the gal made it sound all safe and homey. When I got there, I had to do some serious praying to God to watch over my sweet baby. 

He really did fine, though. When I went back for him, the other dogs were barking, but my Dino was like – “I knew you’d come back for me.”

He’s still my champ.

 

My DinoReno

Are y’all having a good summer? Or is it going by way too fast?

On Saturday, we got home from our yearly camping trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. That week went by in a flash, just like it always does. It doesn’t seem to make a difference being retired – every day is full.

But then there’s this guy. My sweet Dino the Wonder Dog. At 15 years old, he probably doesn’t have many more trips left in him. But he sure loves spending the week in the camper with us.

My phone sure takes lousy pictures, doesn’t it? But sometimes it’s all I had on me.

When we are packing up to go camping, I’m glad we no longer have kids that we have to pack for. Dino has enough stuff for a whole family. And no, the Country Crock is not a plastic butter-product; it’s where his nightly Milkbones are stored.

His best day.

Hanging out at a little park in Florence, Wisconsin, after Mom and Dad ate their ice cream and gave him a treat. I think that’s really why he likes bumming with us – I give him an unhealthy amount of treats. 

This place – well, there weren’t enough treats.

Pops and I took a boat ride on Lake Superior to see the Pictured Rocks. Their website said they had a complimentary kennel where you could leave your dog while you were on the boat. I called beforehand and the gal made it sound all safe and homey. When I got there, I had to do some serious praying to God to watch over my sweet baby. 

He really did fine, though. When I went back for him, the other dogs were barking, but my Dino was like – “I knew you’d come back for me.”

He’s still my champ.

 

The Ninth Commandment

           Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house. (Exodus 20:17, King James Version)

Last week, when writing about the eighth commandment, I mentioned that might be the one most often broken. And now we come to the ninth commandment, and I might have to say the same thing.

So, what is coveting and why is it so bad?

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, New International Version)

According to Luther’s Small Catechism, coveting is a sinful desire for anything that belongs to someone else. It’s more than simply wanting your neighbor’s house, or car, or anything else that belongs to them. It can become an obsession.  

To which you might ask, what is wrong with that? As long as I don’t try to get someone else’s stuff, by stealing or trickery, what’s wrong with being envious of their new boat or vacation home?

Because it will never make you happy. And even if you got all the nice things, everything you wanted, you would still want more.        

So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:8-10, Good News Translation)

I don’t know if you follow the Lottery, but the MegaMillions jackpot for next Tuesday’s drawing currently stands at $790 million. That’s $790,000,000! Which comes to somewhere around $235 million if you take the cash payout and after taxes. What would anyone ever possibly do with that much money? Why would anyone ever want that much money? Would it really make your life better or would it turn your life into a nightmare?

That’s your assignment this week – answer those questions. And then ask yourself if the apostle Paul’s verse below isn’t a better way to go.

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35, New Living Translation

This would be the only decadent luxury I covet.

The Eighth Commandment

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. (Exodus 20:16, King James Version)

I’ve been using the old King James Version for this series of blog posts, because I think many of us learned the Ten Commandments using thou and thy. But sometimes I think this commandment falls through the cracks because we aren’t quite sure about how “bear false witness” applies to us.

Here are a few other translations:

Never lie when you testify about your neighbor. The Names of God Bible

Do not accuse anyone falsely. Good News Translation

You must not tell lies about other people. Easy-to-Read Version

The original interpretation of this commandment makes it look like we only have to worry about what we say about our neighbor in a court of law. But elsewhere in the Bible, God makes it pretty clear that we need to watch our words no matter where we are.  

So you must stop telling lies. You must always speak the truth to each other, because we all belong to each other in the same body. (Ephesians 4:25, Easy-to-Read Version)

But what if the story we want to share about our neighbor isn’t a lie, but a truth? Does that make it all right to tell others?

A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. (Proverbs 11:13, New Living Translation)

Of all the commandments, I think this is one which we break the most. We spread lies and juicy little facts – which is what gossiping is – about other people all the time. We hear something about a co-worker and can’t wait to share it. We see something that no one wanted us to see, but we don’t keep it to ourselves, we tell everybody.  

And why shouldn’t we do this anyway? Oh, boy. Read or listen to any news cast and you’ll see this commandment broken. Scroll through posts on Facebook or other social media, and you’ll read gossip all over the place.

Much of what we hear or read today is put out there on purpose to hurt other people. Why do you want to be a part of that? Especially in these times, when there is so much hatred flowing around us, shouldn’t we stop whatever madness we can? Whether you are a believer in Jesus Christ or not, shouldn’t you build others up instead of breaking them down?

What are you going to do this week to keep from breaking this commandment? Not only keep from gossiping or telling lies, but speak well of others whenever you get a chance.  

So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Easy-to-Read Version)