By S M Chen, posted May 15, 2017     “A bird is three things: feathers, flight and song. And feathers are the least of these.” – Marjorie Allen Seiffert (1885-1970), American poet Swarming (defined as “moving somewhere in large numbers”) in the animal kingdom occurs with regularity. As with mating, birds do it. Bees do it. […]

By S M Chen, posted 5/9/17     “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” –Agatha Christie, British writer (1890-1976) Mother’s Day approaches. I was blest to have a mother who, […]

Poem by S M Chen, posted May 1, 2017   The good health that was visited on you When you were young, and maybe from your birth, Has made your life the richer, and your worth Is measured by the things you love to do.   It seems that few of any age can keep […]

By S M Chen, posted April 24, 2017 “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” John 8:32. “In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.” – The Dalai Lama A recent edition of the Los Angeles Times contained this column: “There’s no such thing as a […]

Photo by S M Chen, posted Apr 17, 2017 “…and the sun stood still in the midst of  heaven…” Joshua 10:13 “The heavens declare the glory of God…” Psalm 19:1

By S M Chen, posted April 10, 2017    “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” –Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962), longest serving FLOTUS [Photo by D Kovacs] Start with one comely young man of great promise: Rescues lamb from jaws of bear. Rescues sheep from clutches of lion. […]

By S M Chen, posted 4/3/2017     “How many things there are that I do not want.” –Socrates, 470-399 B.C.E. *** I recently encountered these lines by celebrated American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892), liked them and decided to share on a social media website: “Love the earth and sun and animals. Despise riches; give alms to […]

Poetry and photo by S M Chen, March 26, 2017 Sweet bird of youth has flown away From branches of this aging tree Whose seeds have fallen to the ground, And found rebirth in fallow earth.   So I will grieve, as grieve I must, But only for a little while. For Shelley wrote, “If […]

Photo by Debbonnaire Kovacs, March 22, 2017 “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” John […]

By S M Chen, March 20, 2017     “I love God’s shadow better than man’s light.”  – Madame (Anne Sophie) Swetchine, Russian mystic (1782-1857) [Photo Pixabay; free use] *** I read with interest the announcement that Adventist Today would live stream a talk from T. Richard Rice on 11 March 2017 at the Damazo Amphitheatre at LLU.   […]

Photo by S M Chen, used by permission. Posted 8-11-2016 by D Kovacs ‘The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.’ – Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997)  

By S M Chen, posted 7-7-16 by D Kovacs ~For a grandson~ Pockets are a wonderful thing. They hold a little piece of string And little balls and little jacks (They’re not so good for shiny tacks And other sharp things like small nails Or slimy things like little snails). * Pockets are good to […]