Author: stevehaarman

Jesus died for our sins and opened the

gates of heaven to all of us. I think, then,

that when we condemn others with no

evidence of wrongdoing, that we are

condemning ourselves. Even when

found not guilty, we hold the condemned

one still guilty in our minds. He gets no

credit in our minds for his goodness. We

can only see what we perceive as evil. Is this

how you want to be judged. Jesus has a

purpose for everyone, even those who come up

short in critical thinking. Judge not, that

ye shall not be judged.

Stanski

July 29, 2023, ^

Jesus said follow me. Four words

Loaded with meaning. One could

Meditate on this simple sermon for

Hours and walk away filled or

Defeated. Jesus wanted us to go

To the fringes and help those in

Need, not just talk about it. Although

It sounds simple enough it is an

Arduous journey and requires stamina,

Dedication and devotion to duty.

There are those who wish to take

This journey but are infirmed and

Can only pray for those in action and

Also, contribute financially because

Miracles are not a dime a dozen and

Either are water wells and farm

Equipment and housing. People have

Been uprooted from their homes and

Are refugees many times not wanted

In already crowded situations. What

Are we to do? Those on the front lines

Administer medical treatment, schooling

Shelter along with bodily and spiritual

Nourishing. Those on the sidelines have

To dig deeper and give until it feels good.

The refugees have been separated from

Their families will likely never see

Them again. If things get better, they can

Return to their homeland and see all of

The destruction. Jesus said to us, go there

Until all is well and then move on to the

Next place of need. The fans who do nothing

Except applaud, clap and cheer, while the

Followers put on their work clothes and

Enlist for another venture. Their bodies

sometimes ache, but then they think

of the cross, and their steps and determination

increase until they get to the area of need.

They are true followers and believe in the

Words of Jesus, what you do for the least of

These, thy brethren, you also do for me.

The infirmed give all they have. Theirs is

A glorious way of life. In the end they will

Be called to their place in the Father’s kingdom

Stanski

July 29, 2023, ^

I saw a speck of dirt on my windshield,

After having just cleaned it with care.

A tiny speck triggered thoughts.

Like a single grain of sand which

Is almost insignificant, so would be

The speck. Our earth is like the speck

In relationship to the universe, which

Goes on forever without end. This is

Something we cannot comprehend.

Like many other things, we accept

The reality without any question.

We think of solar systems, life on

other planets, energy and travel.

Humility is often not the consequence

Of our gazing and contemplation.

Our little speck is called earth and

Recorded history has not indicated

Many peaceful years. The citizens in

The various countries have been

Fighting wars ad infinitum, always

Over land or religion. Any concept

Of living in peace has been abandoned.

To try to be the best planet ever

Never crosses our mind. There are

Those who desire to control and

Will do anything possible to dominate.

They do not realize that they are

Just a speck and will reap as they sow.

They are dust and will be swept away

By the slightest breeze. When will we

Ever learn.

Stanski

July 28, 2023, ^

MEDITATION FOR JULY 28

A beautiful July day has been given to us

and with it a reminder of the duties

we have as human beings serving

those on the fringes and attempting

to root out the evil which exists and

is evident in most things about us.

We have been given opportunities

to serve You in many ways. It is up

to us to follow in the footsteps of

Jesus or if we feel lackluster just

be a fan and do the talking without

action. The cross is heavy but we

do not have to bear it alone. Many

are called but there is hesitation.

It is remarkable how we hear of need

and ignore the request because

we think we have done enough.

We can never do enough and even

our first effort is by the grace of God.

We are foolish people and miss out

 on our chance to follow. It is never

too late to begin. The Supreme One

is waiting. His Son died on the cross

for our failures. The fans cheer while

the followers bow their head in shame.

Stanski

Jully 28, 2023, ^

‘When you saw me in the boxing ring fighting,

it wasn’t just so I could beat my opponent.

My fighting had a purpose. I had to be successful

in order get people to listen to the things

I had to say. I was fighting to win the

world heavyweight title so I could

go out in the streets and speak my mind.

I wanted to go to the people, where

unemployment, drugs, and poverty

were part of everyday life. I wanted

to be a champion who was accessible

to everyone. I hoped to inspire others

to take control of their lives and to live

with pride and self-determination.

I thought perhaps if they saw that

I was living my life the way I chose

to live it – without fear and with

determination – they might dare

to take the risks that could set them free.’

– Muhammad Ali

My mother thought he was a smart aleck,

A loudmouth, but I respectfully told her to

Listen to what he actually said and she might

Have a different view. I thought he was a

Wise man and a great philosopher. He spoke

The truth and one of his remarks that sticks

With me something like, “the good you do

For others now, is the rent you are paying

For your place in Heaven.” What could be

More true. I think he was a principled man.

Stanski

July 27, 2023, ^

Welcome to my world, dear

It is difficult for me to explain

I have no understanding of the

Conventional routines, but I love

You just because you are you, and

I love Jesus, and I hear distant drums

Which are His angels, so don’t let

Me cross over because I belong to

Him more so than anyone else

So welcome to my world where you

Are number one just behind Him.

Roses are red my love, so take my

Hand and you will never be lonely

As my other hand is being held by

By my precious Lord. The skies are

Blue as we are waltzing on top of

The world and where we will never

Grow old. You are my missing angel

And I can’t stop loving you. Memories

Are made of this. Have you ever been

Lonely, have you ever been blue.

I am that way when I am on the night

Watch. The dark moon seems brighter

Because I know you belong to me and

I’ll never feel alone as long as I know

That you and Jesus are with me and

Want me near. I’d fight the world to

Keep from losing you. You will never

Be the one that got away. I will take

You beyond the clouds to a land where

We will never grow old. Our trials will

Be over and we will be happy forever.

Stanski

July 27, 2023, ^

Heavenly Father,

You sent Your

beloved Son to us

so He could save us

from our sins

From time to time

the sinning was so bad

that you became angry

and punished those

who doubted you.

I do not doubt.

I believe in you

and have faith in you

but at times find it

difficult to absorb

Your phenomenal being.

It is beyond me or anyone.

If I want to follow your

precepts, I know that

I must give back all

that has been given to me.

It is this emptying that

fills me and makes me whole.

I must never neglect those

on the fringes and must

step up when you call

upon me. I pray that

You give me many

more years so that

I can continue to

serve You, all the while,

asking for your forgiveness.

Stanski

July 26, 2023, ^

I am siting here

surrounded by four

walls. I think back to

Anna Marie and of

days gone by and

Billy Bayou comes

to mind also. We

were friends, close

amigos until it finally

came to an end. I had

said that he’ll have

to go for I wondered

in my lonesome mind,

am I losing you. After

I knew that I was losing

you and even though

dismayed I rode through

a blizzard to say adios

amigo to Billy. I guess

I’m crazy because I

thought that I’m gonna

change everything.

I won’t forget you,

I guess this is it.

I keep wondering

is it really over?

Like a snowflake

in the desert I am

melting and don’t

know if I can hold up.

I hear distant drums,

but I’m on the blue

side of lonesome for

I know I’ll never find

another you. I won’t

give up, but don’t have

much hope. You were

the one and now you

are gone and probably

have already forgotten

me. That thought crushes

me, I know now that the

last word in lonesome is me.

Stanski

July 25, 2023, ^

I see one duck on this inland sea.

Swimming, and then bobbing for fish.

I wonder where his instincts come from.

He is a survivor. A Loon. Many died over

the last few years of botulism.

This one survived and is operating alone.

He goes on with his life. Humans lose

relatives and friends to death of many kinds.

They, too, must go on, only with humans

there is a spiritual side which takes us

into a state of sorrow and sometimes

depression when someone they love is lost.

Many never recover from their mourning

and grief. We can and do expect death.

We were taught how to live and reminded

that we would not be alone. We are all

different and sometimes we forget what

has been asked of us, so grief lingers

instead of our being filled with joy for

having helped others when they needed it.

We forget the basics of what we have been

taught and because of that appear to live

in a state of misery. We have a savior,

who suffered greatly and died for us,

which should open the gates of happiness

to us regardless of the circumstance.

When we trust in Jesus, we never drift alone.

We have the one who gave his life for us

And only asked that we go to the fringes

To help others and keep doing this until

We are filled with the glory and happiness 

Which He indicated would be ours.

Stanski

July 20, 2023, ^

Over fifty geese swim, float, or drift

with the waves on this great lake of ours.

It is like a ritual which repeats itself each day.

They stick together, always pooled in a pocket

that all seem aware of by instinct. It is exciting

to watch them and then think of the mother

at Target hollering at her children who are

dispersed all over the place. Her voice is not calm

or reassuring and if anything, enough to make

the little ones seek shelter if only they knew how.

At that same time another mother with six

youngsters was shopping and the children

were politely walking along with her and

listening to her every inquiry. The children

were behaved and knew the mother was

there to protect them. I complimented her

and she smiled and thanked me. I am sure

she felt glad that someone recognized the

control she had over her children. This was

not a daily event, like the geese, so she should

be proud. Too many people are obnoxious

when they go shopping. They change their

mind about some purchase and instead of

putting it back where it came from, they

throw it on the closest shelf. They block the

 aisle with their carts when they stop to talk

to a friend and complain about the prices.

Meanwhile the geese are swimming to the

shore. Their afternoon trip is over. They

probably fed on what was available in the water.

They settle down where they nest for the night.

Tomorrow will be another day they might thing

as they drift off to sleep.

Stanski

July 19, 2023, ^