Gordon's Writings

Upcoming Sermons

For ten days this was the view from my window. The mountain laurels were in bloom and this one "graced" me with a holy distraction right outside my study. My sermon may have suffered a bit, but I'm into the big picture right now.

Folks who know tell me this laurel has been blooming like this for 25 years. We just cleared this thicket so I may be the first person to gaze at her in wonder. God seems okay with this.

They say you can spot authentic Shaker furniture by looking at the backside. If it's a true Shaker piece, the parts no one ever sees will be crafted with as much care as the front.

God is a true craftsman, interested in beauty and the work of creation and unconcerned if anyone else notices. 

Look all over creation and you will find no veneers, no backsides, no cheap Hollywood sets. Every leaf is unique, every atom has its perfect, orbiting entourage, and every grain of sand was crafted over a million years rolling down the side of a mountain. No shortcuts. No reproductions. Every piece an astonishing original.

Our God is way into the details. He delights in them. You can smell his presence on the underside of a rose petal and see it in the smile of every child.

Looking for God? You will find Him by nurturing your own details. You will find Him in the little moments that never make the news and are gone before you can grab your camera.

Watch for beauty. Do not obsess over details, but take pleasure in them. I have seen thousands of little girl smiles over the last 11 years. God help me if I miss one because I count them as common or if I chase them away while fooling with a tripod.

Cradle the world in two hands and stop for a moment of worship. There is joy aplenty for those who ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy places.

peace,

Gordon