Aunt Bytes - The Church of the Front Porch

The Aunt Hill

The Church of the Front Porch

This is not your Grandma's church!

This is where you will find a pinch of my original articles, mixed with a smidge of articles from guest authors, folded into a generous handful of articles that I find inspiring or thoughtful.

You can submit articles to be featured here once you become a registered user. Just email the article to me (put "Aunt Bytes Article Submission" in the subject line).

Original articles are very much appreciated, but if you find an article by another author that seems to "speak for you," submit that article along with your own personal "blurb" about how it helped you. Please include a link to the original so we can give the author credit.

He Weeps

Written by Rea K. Fielden

Written in 2000; still applies today......

He Weeps

As the whole world sleeps, He weeps.

He weeps for the diseases we've spread,
For the things we've killed, for the paths we tread.

He weeps for the morals we've lost
For our infidelities, for the lives we've tossed.

He weeps for the lies we've told
For our tales of violence, for our greed of gold.

He weeps for the war we've wreaked
For our fountains of blood, for our prey on the weak.

He weeps for the terror we've instilled
For our rape of faith, for our hate revealed.

And still, when the dawn breaks, He smiles
He opens His arms, He closes the miles

He spreads forth His light from above
He fills us with peace, He offers His Love

And as the world sleeps, He weeps.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

Still

Written by Rea K. Fielden

STILL

I am so still.
Night before last,
I ate cake beside her grave
And rifled through vivid memories
In the mausoleum where he lay curled up.
Clear understanding nudged at me gently
While I reached for the comfort of knowledge.

I am so still.
Last night, I sat beside her grave
And she accompanied me to the mausoleum
Where he lay curled up among his memories.
The window opened wide to the cool night air
Where I played as a child and, now, I watched me.
Understanding came from her but naught from her lips.

I dreamed of cake and it was sweet.
I dreamed of memories and they were clear.
I dreamed of knowledge and it was poetry.
I dreamed of me and I was the child.
I dreamed of Death and it was gentle.
I am so still.

By Rea Fielden
© Copyright 2001

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

The Treachery of Tradition

Written by Aunt Brenda

This is an excerpt from a message delivered October 19, 2007 by Pastor Ricky Kurth.

Think about the implications of this in your daily life. How many things do you do just because, without knowing why. Begin to question your motives, because ultimately YOU are the one who is to be responsible for your own actions.

"The danger of tradition is well illustrated in the story that is told about five monkeys who were placed in a cage, with a banana hanging from the ceiling, and stairs placed underneath it. When one monkey climbed up for the banana, however, all five were immediately sprayed with water, treatment apparently not welcome among primates! This chastening was repeated so frequently and so immediately that soon if any monkey tried to climb the stairs, the others would begin to beat him. Eventually the group would take action against a perpetrator even without being sprayed with water.

"At this point one of the monkeys was replaced, and the new arrival of course headed straight for the banana. He too was beaten and soon learned that reaching for the banana was unacceptable behavior. Then another ape was exchanged, and when he too reached for the banana, the others pummeled him, even the first replacement. Eventually all the apes were replaced, and all would batter any monkey that dared offend, even though none of them had ever been sprayed with water! They acted simply in obedience to a deeply entrenched tradition, passed on to them by those that came before them, without knowing why they were enforcing it."

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Yikes!

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

The Traveler's Gift

Written by Aunt Brenda

Bruce and I listened to this book on an audio tape while traveling. There are some key points that I wrote down and wanted to share with you. These are good guideposts for life.

1. The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and future.

2. I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others.

3. I am a person of action. I seize this moment. I choose now.

4. I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured.

5. Today I will choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.

6. I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself.

I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

Do You Believe in Fairies?

Written by Auntie Di

My very good friend Diane, who was pursuing her Master's in Creative Writing at the time, wrote this story for publication in a local magazine. It is the story of how Bruce and I met and fell in love.

***The story you are about to read is true, and no names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Do You Believe In Fairies?
by Diane Batts
October 7, 2006

Every little girl dreams of the fairy tale. Someday, we believe, someday our prince will come. By the time we've reached our twenties or thirties though, we think that Prince Charming is: dead, gay, or imprisoned by some evil power somewhere. Because, dear readers, 99.8% of the men we've met have definitely not been of his caliber.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

Message in a Bottle

Written by Aunt Brenda

I am a message in a bottle
floating on a stormy sea
Will anyone notice this bottle
will anyone care about me

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

Awakening As One - Uniting the Way to the New World

Watch this in full screen

"The Call" from keith wyatt on Vimeo.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

The Time of Testing Is Here

The End of the World

Richard C. Cook
May 24, 2010

While skeptics mockingly point out that the “end of the world” has been prophesized over and over again for centuries with nothing happening—the latest being Y2K, they say, and another likely bust coming up when the calendar hits 2012—it’s obvious that mankind faces an increasingly unsustainable future.

The world’s economic, technological, agricultural, and political systems are breaking down. While the causes are debated, it’s certain that the human assault on the natural world has wiped out vast numbers of species and polluted the land, the air, and the oceans. After the past 100 years of history, with two world wars and low-grade but vicious warfare going on almost continuously somewhere in the world since World War II ended, it seems impossible for human beings to live together in a state of harmony either among ourselves or with the planet we call home.

Are we at “the end of the age?”

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

Quiet Time

Written by Aunt Brenda

Baby Sleeping

Be Still
This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
Let's always pray for one another.

The prayer:

Heavenly Creator of All That Is,
Thank You for each and every day You have blessed us here on earth.
Thank You for Your tender mercies.
Thank You for giving us friends and family with which to share these Internet joys.
I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and those I care deeply for who are reading this right now.

Where there is joy, give them continued joy,
Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy.
Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence.
Where there is need, fulfill their needs.

Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings

In Jesus' Mighty, Mighty Name I Pray,

Amen.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

Lighthouse Wisdom

Written by Aunt Brenda

Humanity Healing International is a humanitarian, nonpolitical, nondenominational spiritual organization promoting Spiritual Activism as a means to foster Healing for communities around the world that have little or no Hope.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

The Wooden Bowl

boy racing grandpa

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson.

The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

One Flaw in Women

Illustration by Matt Collins

Women have strengths that amaze men.....

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy..

They smile when they want to scream.

Published in The Church of the Front Porch

End

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Hillbilly Housewife

Hillbilly Housewife Blog

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This is another in our summer re-run series. I’m bringing up a few topics from past posts that not everyone got a chance to see the first time around. Many of you have told me that they appreciate not having to scroll around searching for topics they’ve missed. So, this seemed like a good time [...]
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I started a little “summer re-run” series for our daily posts and have gotten some very positive response. It seems not everyone has time to scroll around into the archives to find interesting challenges or topics. Yes, there are several items from the archives that should be brought forward again so you busy folks can have [...]

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He Weeps
Written in 2000; still applies today...... He Weeps As the whole world sleeps, He weeps.…

in The Church of the Front Porch
Read more...
Still
STILL I am so still. Night before last, I ate cake beside her grave And…

in The Church of the Front Porch
Read more...
Sour Cream Pound Cake
You will need: 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened1 1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup sour cream3…

in Desserts
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The Treachery of Tradition
This is an excerpt from a message delivered October 19, 2007 by Pastor Ricky Kurth.…

in The Church of the Front Porch
Read more...
The Traveler's Gift
Bruce and I listened to this book on an audio tape while traveling. There are…

in The Church of the Front Porch
Read more...