On This Last Day Of September

See, in the woodland, the leaves turning crimson;

Hark, how they rustle and fall to the ground.

Autumn, bright autumn is smiling and glowing,

Showing the treasures that now may be found.

Praise the Creator Who giveth us richly

All His good bounty to use and enjoy;

Lift up your hearts and your voice singing,

Joyful thanksgiving the days should employ.

Sheaves that are golden are housed in the garner,

Fruits that have ripened are gathered and stored.

Autumn has come with its bounteous blessing

Riches and beauty are freely outpoured.

Life has its autumn, its sheaves to be garnered,

Then we shall reap what at first we have sown;

Grant us, O Father, Thy grace and Thy guidance,

Let us be reapers of blessings alone.

"Autumn"

Julia Harriet Johnston

(1849-1919)

American hymnist

Illustrations

Denise Holly Ulinskas

"Holly Hobbie"

(1944-)

American illustrator and writer

Fifth Sunday Meditation: Facing The Giants

"Then David said to the Philistine,

You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin,

but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts,

the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied."

1 Samuel 17:45

David Slings The Stone

(1896-1902)

James J. Tissot

When David's words were heard, they were repeated to Saul and he sent for him.

David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of this Philistine;

 your servant will go out and fight with him.

And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go fight against this Philistine.

You are only an adolescent, and he has been a warrior from his youth.

And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep. And when

there came a lion or again a bear and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out

after it and smote it and delivered the lamb out of its mouth; and when it rose

against me, I caught it by its beard and smote it and killed it.

Your servant killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised 

Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God!

David said, The Lord Who delivered me out of the paw of the lion and out of

the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.

And Saul said to David, "Go and the Lord be with you!"

Then Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head

and clothed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword over his armor.

Then he tried to go, but could not, for he was not used to it.

And David said to Saul, I cannot go with these, for I am not used to them.

And David took them off.

Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of

the brook and put them in his shepherd's lunch bag, a whole kid's skin

slung from his shoulder, in his pouch and his sling was in his hand, and 

he drew near the Philistine. Then the Philistine came on and drew near to

David, the man who bore the shield going before him.

And when the Philistine looked around and saw David, he scorned and

despised him, for he was but an adolescent, with a healthy reddish color

and fair face. And the Philistine said to David,  Am I a dog, that you

should come to me with sticks? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to

the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.

Then David said to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, a spear,

and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts,

the God of the ranks of Israel, Whom you have defied.

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will smite you

and cut off your head. And I will give the corpses of the army of the

Philistines this day to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth,

that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

And all this assembly shall know the Lord saves not with sword

and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and He will give you into our hands.

When the Philistine came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward

the battle line to meet the Philistine. David put his hand into his bag and

took out a stone and slung it, and it struck the Philistine, sinking into his

forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone,

and struck down the Philistine and slew him. But no sword was in David's hand.

So he ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out

of its sheath, and killed him, and cut off his head with it.

When the Philistines saw that their mighty champion was dead, they fled.

1 Samuel 17:31-51

David Bearing The Head Of Goliath

(1643)

Jacob van Oost the Elder

The well-known story of David and Goliath teaches believers

that obstacles in our life are no match for God. Whether our Goliath

is a relational challenge or an overwhelming situation we must realize

that the Lord is sovereign over everything in heaven and earth,

and He has the power to give us the victory.

David had unshakeable trust because past experience had proven

that God was faithful. The young shepherd recalled how the Lord gave him

the victory on two separate occasions, when a lion and a bear threatened his flock.

Our faith is bolstered in a similar way by remembering God's provision in our

life and by reading about His faithfulness to men and women in the Bible.

This is why it's helpful to keep a record of God's faithfulness.

Then when facing a trial, we can looks back at what we've journaled

and be strengthened, knowing that God has proven trustworthy in the past.

Trusting in the Lord gives us the courage to face our giants. Being so armed

we can respond to challenges on the basis of three important truths:

Who Christ is in us-our Savior and Provider

Who we are in Christ-God's adopted children, eternally secure

and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

What we have in Christ-the promise of access to almighty God.

Instead of fixing our attention on how big the obstacle is, let's begin

focusing on the greatness of our God. If we'll trust and obey Him,

His Spirit will equip us for the challenge, and our faith will glorify Him.

-Dr. Charles Stanley

Golden Days Of Gratefulness

"For everything there is a season..."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

(1939)

"All those golden autumn days the sky was full of wings.

Wings beating low over the blue waters of Silver Lake,

wings beating high in the blue air far above it...

bearing them all away to the green fields in the South."

"By The Shores Of Silver Lake"
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Silver Lake today.

De Smet, South Dakota

As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand

that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives

for which we should be particularly grateful.  They are the things that fill our

lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness...just the pure air to breathe,

and the strength to breathe it; just warmth and shelter and home folks;

just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day;

and a cool breeze when the day is warm."
-Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Song Of The Michaelmas Daisy Fairy

Today is the traditional feast day of Michaelmas,

or a day to honor the Archangel Michael, the heavenly defender sent

by God to watch over and protect the nation and people of Israel.

Michael is said to be the greatest of all the Archangels in the heaven,

and is often depicted defeating Satan during his rebellion against God

when the enemy was cast down from heaven.

Michael Tramples Satan
Guido Reni
(1636)

In times past, on the Isle of Sky in Scotland, a procession in honor

of Michael was held along with sports competitions, horse racing, and

other games.  One of the few flowers still blooming at this time of the year

was the Michaelmas Daisy, a member of the Aster family of Autumn flowers,

hence the old rhyme: "The Michaelmas daisies, among dead weed,

Bloom for Michael's valorous deeds..."

"Red Admiral, Red Admiral,

I'm glad to see you here,

Alighting on my daisies one by one!

I hope you like their flavour

and although the Autumn's near,

Are happy as you sit there in the sun?"

"I thank you very kindly. Sir!

Your daisies are so nice,

So pretty and so plentiful are they;

The flavour of their honey, Sir,

It really does entice;

I'd like to bring my brothers, if I may!"

"Friend butterfly, friend butterfly,

go fetch them one and all!

I'm waiting here to welcome every guest;

And tell them it is Michaelmas,

and soon the leaves will fall,

But I think Autumn sunshine is best!"

"The Song Of The Michaelmas Daisy Fairy"

Poem and illustration by

Cecily Mary Barker

(1895-1973)

English artist and poetess

A Prayer That The Truth Will Prevail

"But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper..."
Isaiah 54:17

Judge Brett Kavanaugh and President Donald Trump on the night

the president announced his newest pick for the Supreme Court.

"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
for on You I lean and in You I do trust. Cause me to know
the way wherein I should walk, for I lift up my inner self to You.

Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I flee to You to hide me.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good
Spirit lead me into a level country and into the land of uprightness.

Save my life, O Lord, for Your name's sake; in Your righteousness,
bring my life out of trouble and free me from distress.

And in your mercy and loving-kindness, cut off my enemies
and destroy all those who afflict my inner self, for I am Your servant.

In the precious and mighty name of Jesus
Amen and Amen



Psalm 143:8-12

The Song Of The Elderberry Fairy

Tread quietly:

O people, hush!

-For don't you see

A spotted thrush,

One thrush, or two,

Or even three

In every laden elder-tree?

"These berries do us no harm, though they don't taste very nice.
Country people make wine from them; and boys make whistles  from elder stems."-C.M.B.

They pull and lug,

They flap and push,

They peck and tug

To strip the bush;

They have forsaken

Snail and slug;

Unseen I watch them, safe and snug!

"The Song Of The Elderberry Fairy"

Poem and Illustration by

Cecily Mary Barker

(1895-1973)

English artist and poetess

To Johnny Appleseed On His Birthday

Johnny Appleseed

Louis Grell Foundation

IN PRAISE OF JOHNNY APPLESEED

(Born September 26, 1775)

In the days of President Washington,

The glory of the nations,

Dust and ashes, 

Snow and sleet, 

And hay and oats and wheat,

Blew west,

Crossed the Appalachians,

Found the glades of rotting leaves, the soft deer-pastures,

The farms of the far-off future

In the forest.

Colts jumped the fence,

Snorting, ramping, snapping, sniffing,

With gastronomic calculations,

Crossed the Appalachians,

The east walls of our citadel,

And turned to gold-horned unicorns,

Feasting in the dim, volunteer farms of the forest.

Stripedest, kickingest, kittens escaped,

Caterwauling "Yankee Doodle Dandy:.

Renounced their poor relations,

Crossed the Appalachians,

And turned to tiny tigers

In the humorous forest.

Chickens escaped

From farmyard congregations,

Crossed the Appalachians,

And turned to amber trumpets

On the ramparts of Hoosiers' nest and citadel,

Millennial heralds

Of the foggy mazy forest.

Pigs broke loose, scrambled west,

Scorned their loathsome stations,

Crossed the Appalachians

Turned to roaming, foaming wild boars

Of the forest.

The smallest, blindest puppies toddled west

While their eyes were coming open,

And, with misty observations,

Crossed the Appalachians,

Barked, barked, barked,

At the glow-worms and the marsh lights and the lightning-bugs,

And turned to ravening wolves

Of the forest.

Crazy parrots and canaries flew west,

Drunk on May-time revelations,

Crossed the Appalachians,

And turned to delirious, flower-dressed fairies

Of the lazy forest.

Haughtiest swans and peacocks swept west,

And, despite soft derivations,

Crossed the Appalachians.

And turned to blazing warrior souls

Of the forest.

Singing the ways

Of the Ancient of Days

And the "Old Continentals

In their ragged regimentals,"

With bard's imaginations

Crossed the Appalachians.

And

A boy

Blew west,

And with prayers and incantations,

And with "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Crossed the Appalachians,

And was "young John Chapman"

Then

"Johnny Appleseed, Johnny Appleseed,"

Chief of the fastnesses, dappled and vast,

In a pack on his back,

In a deer-hide sack,

The beautiful orchards of the past,

The ghosts of all the forests and the groves-

In that pack on his back,

In that talisman sack,

Tomorrow's peaches, pears, and cherries,

Tomorrow's grapes and red raspberries,

Seeds and tree-souls, precious things,

Feathered with microscopic wings,

All the outdoors the child heart knows,

And the apple, green, red, and white,

Sun of his day and his night-

The apple allied to the thorn,

Child of the rose.

Porches untrod of forest houses

All before him, all day long.

"Yankee Doodle" his marching song;

And the evening breeze

Joined his psalm of praise

As he sang the ways

Of the Ancient of Days.

Leaving behind august Virginia,

Proud Massachusetts and proud Maine.

Planting the trees that would march and train

On, in his name to the great Pacific,

Like Birnam wood to Dunsinane,

Johnny Appleseed swept on,

Every shackle gone,

Loving every sloshy brake,

Loving every skunk and snake,

Loving every leathery weed,

Johnny Appleseed, Johnny Appleseed,

Master and ruler of the unicorn-ramping forest,

The tiger-mewing forest,

The rooster-trumpeting, boar-foaming, wolf-ravening forest,

The spirit-haunted, fairy-enchanted forest,

Stupendous and endless,

Searching its perilous ways

In the name of the Ancient of Days.

 "Johnny Appleseed The Story Of A Legend"

Story and Illustrations by Will Moses

(2001)

"In Praise Of Johnny Appleseed"

Excerpt from the poem by

Vachel Lindsay

(1879-1931)

American poet

Considered one of the founders of

modern singing poetry.

Here Is The Place Where Loveliness Keeps House

Here is the place where Loveliness keeps house,

Between the river and the wooded hills,

Within a valley where Springtime spills

Her firstling wild-flowers under blossoming boughs:

Where Summer sits braiding her warm, white brows

With bramble-roses; and where Autumn fills

Her lap with asters; and old Winter fills

With crimson haw and hip his snowy blouse.

Here you may meet with Beauty. Here she sits

Gazing upon the moon, or all the day

Turning a wood-thrush flute, remote, unseen;

Or when the storm is out, 'tis she who flits

From rock to rock, a form of flying spray,

Shouting, beneath the leaves' tumultuous green.

"Here Is The Place Where Loveliness Keeps House"

(1912)

Madison Cawein

(1865-1914)

American poet from Kentucky

America's First National Monument

On this day in 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt

proclaimed Devil's Tower in Wyoming as America's 

First National Monument

Devil's Tower

Crook County, Wyoming

Rising mysteriously above the Belle Fourche River,

this ancient butte composed of igneous rock is located in

the Bear Lodge Mountains, one of the three mountain ranges

of the Black Hills region and national forest, and is in association

with the Black Hills and the Elk Mountains in South Dakota.

The name "Devil's Tower" was said to have been given to

the massive table top rock during an expedition led by Colonel Irving Dodge

of the United States Army, who is said to  have misinterpreted the

  American Indian name of the structure to mean, "Bad God's Tower".

American Indian tribes who lived in the area had different names

for the "tower" which included, "Bear's Lodge or Tipi" (Cheyenne, Lakota)

"Home of Bears" (Crow)  and "Aloft on a Rock" (Kiowa)

Wooden Leg

Northern Cheyenne 

According to an old story, a member of the Northern Cheyenne

tribe named Wooden Leg, told of strange goings on at the massive rock as

related to him by an old man while they were traveling past it in the late 1860's.

The elderly man said that an Indian had decided to sleep at the base

of Bear Lodge next to a buffalo head.  In the morning, both the man

and the buffalo head had been transported to the top of the rock by

the Great Medicine and had no way to climb down.

He spent another day and night on the top of the rock with

nothing to eat and no water to drink.  The poor man prayed all

day to find a way down off the rock and then fell asleep.

When he woke up the next morning he was shocked to find that the

Great Medicine had brought him safely back down to earth again,

however, the buffalo head had been left at the top near the edge.

Wooden Leg claimed that he could clearly see the buffalo head 

sitting at the edge of the rock through the old man's spyglass.

How the buffalo head came to rest at the edge of the rock

 remains a mystery,  for at the time the story took place, 
no one had ever climbed up to the top of the rock.

His mention of a buffalo head gives this story a special

significance to members of the Northern Cheyenne tribe.

In each of their camps there was a sacred teepee in honor of

 the Great Medicine, which contained objects sacred to the people.

In the culture of the Northern Cheyenne one of the most

sacred of religious objects was the buffalo head.

Rare Ceremonial Buffalo Skull

Northern Cheyenne

The first known white men to climb to the top of the rock

were two local ranchers, William Rodgers and Willard Ripley,

who, in 1903, constructed a ladder of wooden pegs in the rock face.

Hikers along the Tower Trail at the monument can see that

a few of these wooden pegs are still intact and visible today.

Hundreds of climbers from all over the world have since
accepted the challenge and scaled to the top of Devil's Tower.

I believe interest in our first national monument, and especially

 the climbing of it, increased tremendously after the release

of Stephen Speilberg's 1977 classic sci-fi thriller,

"Close Encounters Of The Third Kind"

 in which the steep rock rising above the plains served

 as a landing base for aliens and alien encounters.

The movie also ignited a storm of interest, as well as controversy,

 concerning accounts of people gone missing who were believed

  to have been abducted by aliens, as well as wild tales of

those  who claimed to have been taken by aliens and used

  in bizarre medical experiments on board space ships.

"Close Encounters Of The Third Kind"

(1977)

 Meanwhile, Devil's Tower and the land surrounding it has always

been considered sacred ground to several Plains Indian tribes,

which include the Lakota, the Cheyenne, and the Kiowa.

The leaders of these tribes have over the years objected to climbers

ascending the monument, considering this as a desecration.

However, due to the fact that "Devil's Tower" was approved by

the United States Congress and designated by Theodore Roosevelt

as a national monument, climbers have argued that they have a right

to climb the it since it is on federally-claimed land.

A compromise was later reached between the government and

the Indian tribes with a 'voluntary' climbing ban during the month

of June, a time when the tribes hold sacred ceremonies around

the monument.  Climbers are asked, but not required to stay 

off the monument.  However, as we so often see in America today,

several climbers along with the Mountain States Legal Foundation

sued the Park Service, claiming "an inappropriate government

entanglement with religion."

An aerial view of the top of Devil's Tower National Monument