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1 Peter 3:13-18
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you
Yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit
Yesterday, Edward and I returned home from cruising the Alaskan Inner Passage on a smaller cruise ship. The pristine quality of sunrise, sunset, mists, the clarity of the sky even in cloudy days. The intense color of the green trees.
We saw this the first time, not this time.
The ship had a 45-year Geologist Veteran of Glaciers. Climate Change in Alaska began about 200 years before the invention of the first automobile. Hubbard Glacier is the size of Rhode Island and continues to grow consistently. Many Alaskan Glaciers do. And others shrink. Clusters are the name of small Glaciers at the top of rock mountains. The earth will have Glaciers even into the next Ice Age, when most of the Glaciers will be gone and reform.
Alaska has 126 Volcanoes named by their Parks Department. And over 600 named Glaciers. 27,000 Glaciers is another estimate.
Water!
Green water, from glacier, being in an enclosed harbor, blue sky day. The grey water reflected in the grey skies, bringing to mind winter in Alaska. The blue water on a day seeming likely to stay blue forever. Reminds me of the world we glimpse in the Genesis beginning of the Word, Light, Life, and changes seen even in Genesis.
This is our second trip.
And the changes before the Pandemic and today? 150 Cruise ships in Alaska. Now, Post Pandemic, 352 Cruise ships. And the seasons have extended from May to September, becoming April to October.
What changed in this visit? The internet capabilities are way down. Perhaps by the sheer number of ships. But our smaller choice cruise company is putting in a whole new internet system as this season closes.
If you missed our Posts... the ends of the earth found the internet was not as reliable. And I came down with whooping cough during the Cruise. I missed our Posts and the health of vacation. Usually, mood falls when challenged to breathe. I did not! I did really enjoy the vacation. Enjoyed seeing the sights, going back to hiking the Alaskan Rain Forest every stop we could take in hiking. We saw a whale... while hiking. The noise is unmissable, unmistakable, of the Humpback whale. Edward is taller, he saw the whale through the 300-year-old Sitka Pines. I saw the water blow and heard the incredible breathing, the splash. We saw Bald Eagles. Glaciers. Seals. Salmon, salmon, salmon, salmon, salmon, you get the point. And an incredible number of huge Jelly Fish.
We met friendly people from Arizona, Texas a few times. NJ. Boston. Cruise ship workers. Bali. Europe. The kind of good people who hunt through the disembarkment gigantic crowd, on the mainland, to bring back Boise Headset left behind. We had tea over here, there and everywhere. And to combat gaining weight, we took the 10 flights of lovely stairs about 95% of the time. And used 99 gallons of hand sanitizer to only get coughing and nose blowing.
We saw plenty of people in their 80s making life move into the adventure with joy direction. Some had walkers. And up the gangplank they went forth. Facebook keeps saying Baby Boomers have houses. They also have get up and go, with an incredible number of hopeful and happy faces. Very positive attitudes. Really saw only a few people complain. One looked like me. Om. (Fortunately, not in anyone's depreciation face!) Don't write off the older generation. There was plenty of dancing on the ship.
We came home to a slumber party.
I even took photos I won't share. The Standard Poodles had to get up on the bed. Then the Orange Cat, who complained for 8 hours in a loud, demanding voice. Everyone jumped on the bed at once. Had to plaster up next to me. And the tiny Orange Tomcat, about the size of a Yorkie smaller dog, found the pajama drawer was open and settled in for the night. The gang rejoiced. Oh, my heart!
We went up a little early for this cruise. Last time, we had been so confident all our travel plans would line up without delays. While we were there, hackers hacked into Alaskan Air and the Seattle Airport. Those who want to govern by chaos, are not in our best interests.
As we saw Large cities, we saw people who looked unhappy. It was Seattle. We had breakfast in the window of a major downtown street. Not so much in Victoria. The people there have arrived with an idea of improving whatever and however they land. The people in Victoria were glowing. As we ate, the waiter was interested in art in LA and heard us remarking on the unhappiness. He got caught up in the conversation and said since the Pandemic, he had seen this unhappiness in faces. Hard times. When media scouts for Downtown photos, they move cautiously. Even in NYC. Downtown Seattle condos are full ish. But downtown buildings are not so full and need repairs. We should face what we have and see what needs to be done. Embrace the idea of improvement instead of settling into grim.
As we sailed out of Seattle, a man took ropes and chains and climbed up 7 stores. He was on the balconies of Pier 66 Harbor Condominiums with large verandas and huge metal pipe railings. Prime and expensive and empty real estate. Suddenly, the climber disappeared. We had dire concerns. Had he fallen? As we returned, we saw he was a mid or lower graffiti artist and was defacing the condominiums. We need to see what needs doing and embrace what can improve.
During the Cruise, we ran into a patch of rainy days and the warmest temperature on land was 50'. But so many took time, to read, to walk out, to enjoy their time to see the sights. The time was joyously used.
And just as we reached ports we really wanted to see, the weather was perfect. Sunshine forever. Winds were steep. Everyone wanted to watch the water in the Harbor. How was the wind doing.
Not using binoculars
And Finding the Gift, the Joy and the Pleasure in the Day The Lord Hath Made.
2 Thessalonians 2:14-17
To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Abba, Father,
Praise the LORD,
O my soul;
all
my inmost being
Praise His Holy Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and
forget not all His benefits -
Who forgives all your sins
and
heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you
with love and compassion
The Crown of Life
is just revealed to be
Love and Compassion
Help us, Father,
Helper
and Comforter.
With Your Help,
we will look to the Windows of Heaven in our life
and see a blessing overflow
believing all things work together
for those who Love You.
With Your Help for ourselves and the ones we love,
our prayer concerns.
We will act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with You, our God.
Dwell in me,
Dwell in us,
Dwell in those we Love,
Help us to seek You first.
And we will finish well, in Jesus Christ.
Help us find and bring
to become
more Heaven
to this earth.
And the Nations of the world,
Your Good Creation,
Calling upon You.
In Jesus Christ is
Our Love, Joy and Hope.
Bless those working for
Post Pandemic Healing
and Care.
Bless us all,
worldwide
with Healing
Safety
Prosperity and
Peace.
Worldwide
Peace!
We ask healing
of Your Good Creation
The fullness of the earth is Yours.
The healing of those we pray for
in our heart and soul.
The safety of Your people.
The safety of those
helping the earth
to heal.
Let evil and practicing evil
depart far from us
and our children.
The Healing
of the Nation.
Wholeness
Holy.
Goodness.
And in Jesus - this Hope,
Faith and Love - we will rise up believing Jesus.
Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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