Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 41

Our Material Possesions

 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21, New International Version)

We had a rummage sale at our house this weekend. It always seems like a good way to get rid of a bunch of stuff and make a little extra cash. An additional perk is that Hubby cleans out the garage to get ready for this sale.

We never make as much money as we would like and, in the end, if we add up all the hours it took to prepare for the sale and the two full days I sat in the garage waiting for customers. Umm? We made less than $3 an hour.

I wonder what it would take to sell all of my possessions. How much money that would come to and how long it would take. And would it amount to enough to change the lives of any of the poor people I gave it to.

But Jesus was making a point in that verse. That anyone who is wealthy is going to have a tough time making it into heaven if he or she puts her possessions first. Actually, anyone, whether rich or poor, needs to put others ahead of themselves and material goods.  

And what about the meager proceeds from our sale? I put some of it away to go towards my next volunteer trip to Kenya and split the rest of it between Hubby and me. I’m pretty sure that he will do the same with his as I did with mine. Squirrel it away for a rainy day.

One last thing. All the stuff that we didn’t sell we are donating to our church for their rummage sale next month. Not that I’m patting myself on the back; I just wanted it out of my house.

God, Heavenly Father, thank You for all the many gifts You shower us with, gifts which do not deserve. May we always love others as much as we love ourselves and give to them what we are able. Amen.

S.P.S.P.

     For several years, I’ve wanted to visit the Sculpture Park in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It’s not far from where I live, and I actually drive past Stevens Point at least a couple times a year.

I finally made it there with my daughter last Friday, when we were experiencing record high temps and the sun was shining brightly. Good thing the trail through the park is mostly wooded.

I started out taking pictures of the signs which described each piece of art, but I quickly nixed that idea. I just wanted to enjoy each piece along with its wooded setting.

And some artwork really needs no explanation. But I do apologize to the talented artists for not recognizing them.

If you are ever in Central Wisconsin, swing by the Park yourself. As I learned from reading their website, the sculptures do change at times, so you may not see the same things I did.

But most importantly, always remember:

And there's no need to be more.         

For more on the Stevens Point Sculpture Park, click these links:     
  https://stevenspointsculpturepark.org/#1 
https://stevenspoint.com/435/Sculpture-Park
https://www.facebook.com/StevensPointSculpturePark/          

So Many Gifts

 Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. (James 1:2-4, Living Bible)

As you know, I didn’t post an inspirational message last Sunday as Hubby and I were on our first camping trip of the season.

When I wrote about the weekend here on Wednesday, I painted a rosy picture for you all. In reality, yes, it was a fine weekend, but it felt like so many things went wrong. And we all know how sometimes it seems easier to dwell on the bad instead of the good.

The refrigerator didn’t work. We tried everything we could think of (the fuse, the power cord, etc.), but nothing fixed the problem. We kept the food in the cooler and because the nights were chilly, the perishables stayed cold. It was just an inconvenience.

But also, because it was cold at night (in the thirties), it got nippy in the camper. I turned the furnace on to its lowest setting and it kicked on around 3:30 the first morning. And then Hubby turned it up higher because he was still cold. Just another inconvenience.

I won’t even tell you about the struggle backing the camper into its spot. That was more than an inconvenience. It was a nightmare.

And then there’s our poor, old dog. Who couldn’t get in or out of the truck or the camper without our help. It breaks my heart, because his heart is so willing but his body just can’t do it.

 Sigh.

 But still, I have been given so many gifts. And when I’m done complaining, I do praise God for all that He has blessed me with.  

But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and he shines forever without change or shadow. (James 1:17, Living Bible)

Happy Little Almost 5K

     Back in December, I think, I received an email from the Michigan State Parks. They were hosting a virtual 5K to support tree planting and forest protection efforts in Michigan State Parks. The challenge was to walk, hike, run or crawl a 5K anywhere you were able, as long as it was between April 22 (Earth Day) and April 29 (Arbor Day). The theme was Bob Ross Happy Little 5K Run for the Trees. Who can pass that up?

The cost was $35 and it went towards a good cause. Plus, this should be easy, right? Wrong. Stupid weather and me overbooking my schedule. I’ve been working part-time since the first of March, I should have had the time. Of course, we also shouldn't have had snow every day the month of April. 

But alas, I didn’t do my walk by the April 29 deadline. I also didn’t walk the full 5K in one day.

This past weekend, at Mirror Lake State Park in Wisconsin, I walked 1.95 kilometers on Saturday afternoon.

And Sunday morning, I walked 3.27 kilometers. So even though I didn’t do the full 5K in one day, my mileage still surpassed that.

Plus, it was just nice to be outside walking, after the winter we’ve had. 
#RunForTheTrees #BobRoss #HappyLittle5K #MiStateParks

First Camping Trip of 2022

     Last weekend, Hubby, the dog and I headed out for our first camping trip of the year. We stayed two nights at Mirror Lake State Park in Wisconsin Dells. I had been there for a day last fall and thought it would be a nice place to stay for the weekend in the spring.

Since spring didn’t come until the week before, I barely had time to get everything done for the trip. Which is why I didn’t write any blogs for a week. Does anyone miss hearing from me when that happens?

Anyway, the weather was beautiful, finally. 

Camp all set up. 

Dino loves going camping but doesn't like getting his picture taken. 
The grounds of the former Badger Ammunition Plant. I was there last October and shared about it here: https://chrisloehmer.blogspot.com/2022/03/bow-wow-which-is-not-about-dogs.html
I was also at Dr Evermore's Sculpture Park then.
I tried not to take all the same pictures of the same stuff, but this time the sun was shining and last time it was sprinkling. 
Read more about it here: https://chrisloehmer.blogspot.com/2022/04/every-evermor-foreverton-dells-post-12.html
Such cool stuff. So creative. 

This guy looks like he wants to talk.                                                                                        

But on to Baraboo, we went. And found these kayakers on the River. How peaceful. 
Later that day, walking around Mirror Lake State Park. 



The amphitheater in the Park. 
Would be a nice setting for so many gatherings. 
One gathering which at least ended well was this visitor trying to get into our cooler one night. The frig in our camper wasn't working so we resorted to the old-fashioned way of doing things. Glad our visitor didn't do things his way. 
 

The Special Kitty

     It will be two years ago this coming August that we brought home two kittens from the humane society. The story goes that their entire litter was found one morning in someone’s wood chipper. How horrible! And how lucky that the man working the chipper that morning looked inside before turning it on.

Gizmo was totally black and totally a hellion. His sister Emma was calm and demure from the start. Even driving them home, Gizmo was all over the truck while Emma sat in the back of the cat carrier not moving.

In retrospect, maybe Gizmo was so wild for the same reasons that Emma is special. Last spring when the weather got nice, he just wanted to be outside. We didn’t let him out much as he was still pretty small, but he still got away from us. The saddest part is never knowing if he wandered off and found a new family or met a tragic end. 

Just this spring, Emma is finally wanting to go outside, but that will never happen without close supervision. Emma has a neurologic deficient.

When she was still just a kitten, a few months old, she started spinning in circles whenever she was walking through the house. And if she was excited about something, she’d spin even more. She also can’t jump like a normal cat, and when she walks, her hips sashay back and forth like a cheap hooker. And though she meows once in a while, she mostly makes frequent “purr-up” noises.

Stairs really throw her off. (Sorry the video is so dark.)

You need to watch the video to fully appreciate my special little girl

At least she still has her big brother, Ches. 

Maybe we shouldn’t have been surprised, when she woke us up early the morning of March 12, shaking the whole bed, her limbs thrashing uncontrollably. After the second seizure, we took her to the vet. After the fourth one, we started her on phenobarbital.

The vet explained that sometimes if the momma cat has distemper while she’s pregnant, that it can cause part of the kittens’ brains to not fully develop. Oh, that makes me so sad. How many kittens have been born with neurological disorders because owners haven’t gotten their cats shots? Or how many unwanted litters have been born because people don’t get their pets fixed?

But I wouldn’t trade my very special Emma for anything. 

Will We Live or Die

      For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14:8, New King James Version)

Like most of you, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. We are still dealing with COIVD19 and all the uncertainty which is still hanging around the pandemic. We all want to get out and travel or be around others or just plan get back to normal. And every time we do, we hear on the news that there has been another spike in cases, or there’s another variant, or a friend is sick in bed with the virus.

Then there is the war in Ukraine. How that tiny nation is hanging on and defending itself against the giant Russia is only something God can know. But how long will this drag on, and how long before other countries get involved, actually start fighting side by side with the Ukrainians.   

And with all that going on, the world economy is rocky at best. How long before people who thought they were financially secure face homelessness and starvation. How long before the crime rate grows even faster as people become desperate.

Christians should be turning to God and opening their Bibles for the answers. When there is nothing left, there is always faith.

But what about the nonbelievers. Who argue that if there was a God in heaven, no one would have to suffer. Who have little value for human life, who would put themselves first above others.

Or what about those who think that living life is all there is and you just die when you die. Or you go someplace else or become reincarnated. My heart cries for those people. I pray they find the Lord. I pray that, if it be His will, God gives me the strength and the words to try to reach those people before it is too late.

But no matter what happens, me and my house will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). I need not fear, as God is with me, He will strengthen me and help me and hold me with His right hand (Isaiah 41:10). I will be strong and courageous; I will not be afraid or discouraged, because my Lord and God is with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). 

It's a Wrap, Dells post #14

     I promise, promise, promise, this is the last post from my stay at the condo in Wisconsin Dells last October. Which is why I am presenting a hodgepodge of pictures taken over the week. There are so many more, but I really can’t post all twelve hundred of them here.  

Just a random bathtub on the porch of the A.L. Ringling Mansion in Baraboo. 
What's not to love about an idyllic Wisconsin farm? 
St. John's Lutheran Church and cemetery in North Freedom 

Most of the headstones were in German. This one, "Through the blood of Jesus alone I go to heaven." I hope that Albert wasn't alone once Wilhelmine joined him in 1936.  Next stopped at Natural Bridge State Park.
On the way back up the road, St John's church smiled at us. 
And the Comfort Bus makes the kids at Loganville Elementary School smile. 
Man Mound Park east of Baraboo. It's named for the rare, man-shaped effigy mound found on the property, measuring about 214 feet long by 48 feet wide. Just looks like a mound to me.
Outside our condo.
The living room in the condo. 
The master bedroom upstairs was very nice.  This little one and her brother worried me because it was pretty late in the year to still have spots. 
Doing my duty as a health care worker by presenting this public service announcement. Found in the bathroom of the Badger Ammo Works museum. 
And because, yes, I will take a picture of anything. That's a wrap. 

Rocking it, Dells post #13

           I’ve still been writing about my week’s stay in Wisconsin Dells last October and thought I had finally arrived at the end of my story. But alas, I forgot about our hike through Rocky Arbor State Park. 

It was a cloudy day, with temperatures in the mid-fifties. That’s still pretty decent for October in Wisconsin. Yet, here we are at the end of April, and we had snow yesterday! 

Rocky Arbor was only a ten-minute drive from the condo where we were staying, so we figured that we wouldn’t be out much if we got rained out. As it was, the park was already closed for the season but did allow walk-ins. Which was great, because it meant that there wasn’t much activity going on.  

The park had the usual interesting rock formations, which that entire area is known for. 
Some nice Fall scenery. 

 This picture is of what my brain feels like when I’m trying to get to sleep at night – a lot going on. 

 And this is how I feel most days at work. 

 And this is how I want to feel all of the time - just rocking it.  

I promise that this Friday's blog post, I will wrap up that vacation so we can move on next week.
 

When you have no thoughts

     People sometimes ask where I get my ideas to write my blog posts. On Sundays, I rarely take credit for any of my ramblings. More often than not, God plants the seed in my head. Maybe I kind of have a thought, so I kind of start down a rabbit trail, and before long – ta-da – there’s full-blown inspiration tapping at my keyboard.

Once in a while, though, I got nothing. And God? I’m sure He’s got something to say, something He wants me to write about, but it’s not flowing to the top of the fluffy stuff in my brain.

When that happens, I scroll through random recent pictures I’ve taken and one always jumps out at me, and it has a story to tell.

This is the one that jumped out at me today. Dear little Emma. Who has a very long story to tell. But not today. Today you just get an adorable picture of her.

And on days when we don’t think that God is listening, when He’s not answering our prayers, when we feel we got nothing? Well, you have way more than you think, even if it feels like nothing more than a kitten.

 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)