Will you heed the sign?

There is an old saying: "Nothing is certain except death and taxes".  Taxes can (and hopefully will) be changed for the better, but what about death?  Even though medical science has progressed considerably over the past 100 years, still the conquest of death remains elusive.  Perhaps, someday, human beings may live two, three or maybe even 400 years (although, its hard for me to even imagine a lifespan that long).  No matter what, sooner or later, death is inevitable.  Some may say that eventually we will conquer death, but reality says that accidents still happen; no matter what we do, some people will always die.  Then what?  Some say, that's it; we experience nothingness.  But that doesn't make any sense to me, because unless you have been there, how would you know?  But, someone has and has already made a way to overcome death and life will go on for those who will really listen to the truth and do what he commands them to do.  Consider this chapter from the New Testament.

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 (WEB)
1) Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
2) by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6) Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8) and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
9) For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
10) But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11) Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
12) Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
14) If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
15) Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised.
16) For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised.
17) If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
18) Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19) If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
20) But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
21) For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
23) But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ’s, at his coming.
24) Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
25) For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
26) The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
27) For, “He put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when he says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
28) When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
29) Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren’t raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead?
30) Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
31) I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32) If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
33) Don’t be deceived! “Evil companionships corrupt good morals.”
34) Wake up righteously, and don’t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
35) But someone will say, “How are the dead raised?” and, “With what kind of body do they come?”
36) You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
37) That which you sow, you don’t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.
38) But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.
39) All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40) There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial.
41) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42) So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
43) It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
45) So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46) However that which is spiritual isn’t first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
47) The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
48) As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49) As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let’s also bear the image of the heavenly.
50) Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can’t inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
51) Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54) But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55) “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?”
56) The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Facts are facts; if only one person tells you something, it may or may not be true, if two or three people say the same thing, its probably is true.  I wonder, how many people have to testify that something is true before it is considered absolute fact; 50, 100, 200 or maybe even more?  Five hundred people or more were witness to the resurrected Jesus and that's a number that I can accept as absolute.  If life starts with a physical seed which grows, how far fetched is it to be to think that our body is but a seed for another life?  Reality is that people will believe exactly what they want to believe, regardless of truth, but I think its safe to depend on the huge testimony of the early church witnesses who saw the risen Christ.  Is there life after death?  Yes, but don't jump the fence and find out!  Death will come soon enough, so why rush things?

Some things should not change.

 

When I first saw this sign, I had no idea what it was about, then a quick internet search informed me that it was a type of rock music from the 1990's.  It also refers to a style of dress.  What bothered me about the above classification in the signs is what we see happening in the United States; that it is seemingly OK to reclassify human beings into additional categories.  Language like gay, straight, lesbian, bi-sexual, transsexual are becoming so common that we even see mutilated beings like Chasity Bono on mainstream television programs.  For those of us who want to maintain a proper sense of reality, here is the way it is supposed to be.

Genesis 2:4-25 (WEB)
4) This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.
5) No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground,
6) but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground.
7) Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
8) Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9) Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10) A river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became four heads.
11) The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12) and the gold of that land is good. There is aromatic resin and the onyx stone.
13) The name of the second river is Gihon: the same river that flows through the whole land of Cush.
14) The name of the third river is Hiddekel: this is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15) Yahweh God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16) Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.”
18) Yahweh God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
19) Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
20) The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him.
21) Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
22) He made the rib, which Yahweh God had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man.
23) The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of Man.”
24) Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
25) They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
 

God man human beings male and female, period.  The two marry and reproduce, period.  To attempt to create something other than this is an abomination and an exhibition of arrogance.  EMO is just music, leave it that way.  I believe in change, but some things should not change, no matter how "enlightened" our society becomes.

A paw can be a powerful thing!

This dog is unattractive to say the least, but, look at what its doing; consoling its master.  Somehow, it almost makes it human, because caring and consoling another is a characteristic of our species.  I wonder, if that is our trait, then what about God?  Paul says...

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 (WEB)
1) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
4) who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.
6) But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
7) Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort.

Paul is giving the Corinthians consolation; something they obviously needed.  He can do this because he has been through trials and has been comforted by God.  If you have ever suffered, then you know how much a word of encouragement can mean.  Yesterday, something unsettling happened that upset both my wife and I.  Two of my grandchildren were over for a visit and when I took them home I hardly said a word (which is a clear indication that either I am sick or something is bothering me).  Just before I dropped them off, my granddaughter, Elizabeth, started singing "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight" and it changed my whole mood.  If just a few choruses of a song can effect such a change, imagine getting a letter from an apostle of Jesus.  For that matter, I wonder what it would be like to really know that God himself was comforting me?  It probably won't be something like a paw on the knee and a tender look, but you never know...God works in mysterious ways.

ps.  Thanks again, Lizzy!!!

The progression of "Who"

This is a picture of me; the year was 1956 and westerns were "The Thing".  Those of you who have only known me for 30 or 40 years will not recognize the photo; I HAVE CHANGED!!!  This is completely normal.  We start out learning our name (our "who") and then learn what the "who" really means as we progress through life.  It happens by "what" we learn, "when" we learn it, "where" we are "when" we learn it and "why" we learn the things we do.  And we become a part of the lives of others along the way; parents, friends, our spouse and then children and grandchildren.  Our progression in life becomes part of the progression of others and dies only when that memory ceases with the death of others.  Or does it?  Is there more to life than this?  Consider the following chapters from the book of Galatians...

Galatians 1:1-24 (WEB)
1) Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),
2) and all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia:
3) Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4) who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—
5) to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
6) I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”;
7) and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
8) But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
9) As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
10) For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
11) But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12) For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.
13) For you have heard of my way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it.
14) I advanced in the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15) But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me through his grace,
16) to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately confer with flesh and blood,
17) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned to Damascus.
18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
19) But of the other apostles I saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother.
20) Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying.
21) Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22) I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Christ,
23) but they only heard: “He who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to destroy.”
24) And they glorified God in me.

Galatians 2:1-21 (WEB)
1) Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
2) I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
3) But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.
4) This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;
5) to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.
6) But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man)—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,
7) but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision
8) (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);
9) and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
10) They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.
11) But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
12) For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
13) And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
14) But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
15) “We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,
16) yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
17) But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!
18) For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.
19) For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.
20) I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
21) I don’t make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

Paul is a man unlike any other I have know; gentle, compassionate and yet uncompromising and very powerful in spirit.  God saw something in him and chose him to spread "The truth of the Gospel" far and wide.  From persecutor of Christians to evangelist extraordinaire, this devote Jew became the poster boy for Christianity.  His life is the story of what God can do with a man; how he can be molded so that the world can be changed.  Today, think about your life; how you came to be what you are today and what you hope to be tomorrow.  If God is part of the progression, then you will never really die, because you will live forever and the only thing that will change will be time.  Humm, I wonder if there are cameras in heaven?

Let the show begin!!!

An unusual "Northern Lights" display; they don't normally ascend vertically!!!  Take away the housing and it looks like an introduction for an old movie.  In other words... let the show begin...  While thinking about this, I thought of this passage from the book of 1st Peter.

1 Peter 4:1-11 (WEB)
1) Forasmuch then as Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;
2) that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3) For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
4) They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming:
5) who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6) For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.
7) But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
8) And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9) Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10) As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
11) If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Today, for most of us, practicing our Christian faith is easy compared to what Christians had to endure in the earliest centuries.  It is a rarity for someone in the United States to die for their faith.  Notice a little statement that is casually mentioned: "but the end of all things is near".  This sort of statement is found in several of the New Testament and is a problem for some.  Their problem is... if this is true, then why hasn't the return of Christ happened?  Good question!!!  Consider that God has made everything in the universe and that with HIM a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  Imagine that all time is viewed as one of the giant Egyptian pyramids and that the time of the end is as a postage stamp at the top.  The end times would appear insignificant and fleeting; a mere wisp of time.  Who says we must consider the end of all things from our perspective?  Why not God's?  Also, whether God comes today, tomorrow, or in 50 or 90 years, we are but a heartbeat away from meeting our maker.  So, let the show begin; sooner or later (in God's own time) judgment day will come!!!!!!

JOY

This picture brings back memories.  One and only one time have I seen this and that was 47 years ago.  I had just started to go steady with my Linda and was visiting her home for the first time.  Her mom (Dorothy) was giving the baby (her brother David) a bath in the sink.  That was the first time I had ever seen anyone do this and although David was not quite as happy as this baby, it still was something to see.  As for this picture, what struck me was how happy the baby is.  There is a special kind of joy associated with bathing, one that makes whatever time you have doing it WAY TO SHORT.  But, it also raises a question, and that is... What makes YOU joyful??  Take a look at the following passage and I will talk a bit about one of the ways I understand joy.

WEB: Philippians Chapter 2
[12] So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. [13] For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. [14] Do all things without murmurings and disputes, [15] that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, [16] holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain. [17] Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all. [18] In the same way, you also rejoice, and rejoice with me.

[19] But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered up when I know how you are doing. [20] For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you. [21] For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know the proof of him, that, as a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News. [23] Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

Paul was a servant of his brethren; he loved for them, cared for them, was concerned for them and prayed for them. So, because of this, he sent a man after his own heart to them.  Timothy was young, inexperienced and somewhat timid... but he did care and tried to do the best he could for others.  Nice way to be remembered!!!  The first sermon I ever heard at Northeast School of Biblical Studies was by brother Ed Healy.  It has stayed in my mind for 32 years because of its simplicity and profoundness.  Briefly, JOY means Jesus first, others second and yourself last of all.  In a way, its almost a complete definition of Christian discipleship.  If "JOY" is not a good way to characterize your lifestyle, then today is a good time to change.  You may or may not look like the baby in the picture, BUT, you will be a better person for it.  Oh, yes; I forgot one thing....Yyippee!!!

"Cute"

This image gives no doubt as to what this baby's parents think.  Even though babies have different temperaments, still, every baby is precious.  Not only are they "cute", but they don't even know how to lie, cheat, steal or do so many of the things that God calls sin.  We love them for their innocence, their purity and because they represent the future.  Over time, though, they do things that irritate and anger us; how we wish they could always remain pure!  This passage from the book of 1st Peter shows us how.

1 Peter 2:1-10 (WEB)
1) Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
2) as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,
3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
4) coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
5) You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6) Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”
7) For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”
8) and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10) who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

God has shown us the way to purity; he has done this through the living, breathing, Jesus; the one who overcame sin and has given us a way to heaven.  Imagine, being able to "erase" all the wrong (sin) we have ever done?  Being able to be looked at like the baby in the picture and feeling like that too!!!  God teaches us through "the pure milk of the word" and that word helps us to be pure.  Spiritually, we become "cute" and once again are loved as we love that little "angel" in the picture.  Nice thought for me, as its been a long, long, long time since anyone thought of me as "cute".

Rainbows, rainbows, everywhere...

The vapor trail of this jet is unusual; it looks something like a rainbow to me!!!  I know, its not REALLY a rainbow, it just resembles it.  And, yes, this is much, much higher than any "normal" rainbow would be.  It also has a different shape (a "V") but even with all that, it still looks like a rainbow.  As long as we are talking about rainbows that are not really rainbows, consider chapter 21 of Revelation...

WEB: Revelation of John Chapter 21
[1] I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. [2] I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. [3] I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

[5] He who sits on the throne said, "“Behold, I am making all things new.”" He said, "“Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”" [6] He said to me, "“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. [7] He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. [8] But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”"

[9] One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were loaded with the seven last plagues came, and he spoke with me, saying, “Come here. I will show you the wife, the Lamb’s bride.” [10] He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, [11] having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, as if it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal; [12] having a great and high wall; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. [13] On the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. [14] The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. [15] He who spoke with me had for a measure, a golden reed, to measure the city, its gates, and its walls. [16] The city lies foursquare, and its length is as great as its breadth. He measured the city with the reed, Twelve thousand twelve stadia. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. [17] Its wall is one hundred forty-four cubits, by the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. [18] The construction of its wall was jasper. The city was pure gold, like pure glass. [19] The foundations of the city’s wall were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; [20] the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; and the twelfth, amethyst.

Somehow, this multicolored foundation reminds me of a rainbow.  Perhaps its the varied colors or maybe its that this city is coming down from heaven (like the jet will), or that its a different shape (square), I really don't know, but of this I am sure; like the jet trail one above (a like to call it a "jetbow") it will sure get my attention.  Maybe that is enough for a Friday morning.  Life is good, Heaven will be BETTER!!!!!!

The biggest of the big!!!

WOW; four trailers!!!  Most of the time you just see a tractor and its trailor; sometimes a tandem trailer, but I have never, ever seen anything this big!!!  I can't even imagine what it must be like to drive such a thing; this is truly something to marvel at.  Greatness, pure and simple.  But, I wonder, what is the greatest of the greatest thing that ever was (or perhaps will be?)?  Read on...

Daniel 2:1-49 (WEB)
1) In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.
2) Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
3) The king said to them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
4) Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live forever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
5) The king answered the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if you don’t make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6) But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
7) They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.
8) The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
9) But if you don’t make known to me the dream, there is but one law for you; for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, until the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
10) The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler, has asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean.
11) It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12) For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13) So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.
14) Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, who was gone forth to kill the wise men of Babylon;
15) he answered Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16) Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
17) Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18) that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19) Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20) Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
21) He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings, and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22) he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23) I thank you, and praise you, you God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.
24) Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus to him: Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show to the king the interpretation.
25) Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.
26) The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?
27) Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to the king;
28) but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:
29) as for you, O king, your thoughts came into your mind on your bed, what should happen hereafter; and he who reveals secrets has made known to you what shall happen.
30) But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
31) You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its aspect was awesome.
32) As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,
33) its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
34) You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
35) Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36) This is the dream; and we will tell its interpretation before the king.
37) You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;
38) and wherever the children of men dwell, the animals of the field and the birds of the sky has he given into your hand, and has made you to rule over them all: you are the head of gold.
39) After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40) The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, because iron breaks in pieces and subdues all things; and as iron that crushes all these, shall it break in pieces and crush.
41) Whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, because you saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
42) As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43) Whereas you saw the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cling to one another, even as iron does not mingle with clay.
44) In the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45) Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall happen hereafter: and the dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.
46) Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him.
47) The king answered to Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.
48) Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
49) Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the gate of the king.

Nebuchadnezzar was truly a great king, with a vast kingdom and power almost beyond imaging.  His dream was very special and puzzling and his request for its interpretation unusual.  The answer can straight from God and the explanation of it showed how magnificent his kingdom really was.  Yet, his kingdom was NOT EVERLASTING!!!  Other kingdoms would follow his, but none would endure, except that which comes directly from God himself.  As wonderful as all the kingdoms of the Earth were, yet they were overshadowed by the sheer power of that which comes from heaven.  Now, that is something more wonderful than anything I can possibly imagine and somehow a four trailer truck load seems to pale in comparison.

A letter for ME!!!

Even though we are far apart, I regularly give my younger brother Dave a call.  He is retired as I am, so we both have time to follow the news.  One of the biggest changes in the Albany, New York area will be the reduction of post office branches.  Most of the branches that I went to when I lived up there are being closed.  Doesn't sound like much, but after going into the same post offices hundreds of times, it leaves a pattern in your life that you WILL remember.  I know, things change, but sometimes, NOT FOR THE BETTER.   The post office was where I met both relatives and friends alike and somehow having those branches closed will change my perception of "home" forever.  But, the letters I sent from "home" will always be the same, regardless of where they were sent from, or for that matter in what form.  Paul puts it this way...

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (WEB)
1) Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you?
2) You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men;
3) being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
4) Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;
5) not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
6) who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7) But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:
8) won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
9) For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
10) For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
11) For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
12) Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
13) and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.
14) But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.
15) But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
16) But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17) Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Communication that means something comes from the heart, from the essence of what it means to be YOU.   Whether written on stone, parchment, velim, papryus, paper or with the 1's and 0's of today's electronic age, the heart of human beings remains the same.  If that is true in human terms, consider what it means in heavenly concepts.  The love of God has never changed.  The expression of it has, from the original interpersonal connect with Adam or the patriarchs, to that of the prophets and finally with Jesus, God has loved us.  God has loved us, now that is something worth repeating, something we should always remember, something that should be engraved on our hearts forever!!!  In a world that is constantly changing, it is nice to know that some things DO NOT CHANGE.  So, even though you may be seeing this on facebook, or my blog, or in the form of a direct e-mail or a referral of some kind God still loves you and that is good news no matter how you get it!!!!!!!

Close, but so far away

Wiley E. Coyote.  I enjoy watching him because of his creativity and determination.  Think of all the ideas he has had to catch the road runner!  Whenever I open a phone book to the first page and see the word "Acme", I think of him.  Yet, for all his abilities, he continually fails...why?  Perhaps this passage from Romans will help us understand...

Romans 1:13-21 (WEB)
13) Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14) I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15) So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.
16) For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
17) For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19) because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.
20) For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
21) Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

Thinking, the answer is in his thinking.  He just doesn't get it.  The road runner is beyond his reach and he will never, ever, get him.  But, he keeps trying and trying and trying and trying; all in vain!  Why?  Look at verse 21.  Stubbornness clouds reasoning and eventually blocks all understanding.  We, as human beings, can try to know everything, try to control everything, but eventually (if we are smart enough) we realize there is someone smarter and more powerful than any human being.  Wiley E. Coyote is both smart and stupid at the same time; perhaps we can learn from his mistakes and realize all the futility around us and turn from the path that excludes God.  Until we do, we will be just like him and go nowhere, even though we may rev our motor all the way up, we will still stay right where we are.  And God is laughing!

Just a little remodeling job...

Imagine for a moment, that you are a carpenter and that you just received a call from Joe Dokes, who owns this wonderful little bungalow.  He wants to remodel the living room, but when you arrive at the address you are greeted by this sight.  What do you do?  If you have the intelligence of a retarded snail... you run as fast as you can!  How could you possibly remodel something that apparently doesn't have a straight line in it?  Think for a moment about religion in our world today; how fragmented it is, how devoid of any semblance of unity?  Could this possibly be what God wants?  Now, take a moment and read the Bible passages below... and think!!!

2 Timothy 3:1-17 (WEB)
1) But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come.
2) For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3) without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
4) traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
5) holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.
6) For some of these are people who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
7) always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8) Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, who concerning the faith, are rejected.
9) But they will proceed no further. For their folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be.
10) But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
11) persecutions, and sufferings: those things that happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions. Out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13) But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14) But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
15) From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
16) Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

1 Corinthians 3:1-15 (WEB)
1) Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
2) I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,
3) for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?
4) For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you fleshly?
5) Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him?
6) I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
7) So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
8) Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9) For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.
10) According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.
11) For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12) But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;
13) each man’s work will be revealed. For the Day will declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself will test what sort of work each man’s work is.
14) If any man’s work remains which he built on it, he will receive a reward.
15) If any man’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, but as through fire.

In a world that has become "confused" because "everyone is right", God has the answer.  It is not the teaching of some religious leader that we should be following, its not any old idea that is true, it is what God has to say though the Bible that is important.  If you take the time to read the first half of the Bible, you will see that it points to Jesus in literally thousands of ways and if you want to make sense out the world, listen to HIM!  Realistically, no one could fix the house in the picture; the best thing to do is to tear it down and build one on a solid foundation, using a rule this time.  My advise is to follow the example of the early church... start by reading Acts chapter two.  You won't be sorry!!!

The fork

I've read this before and thought it was worth passing along!

 

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her..

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly..

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel , indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share. Being friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND...and I'll bet this will be an Email they do remember, every time they pick up a fork!
And just remember...keep your fork!

The BEST is yet to come!

MMMEEEOOOWWW...?

Cats are funny creatures; they seem to have a mind of their own and are unusual to say the least!!!  This little picture caught my attention because of the intensity of it.  You can almost feel the cat in the room!!!  And if you stare at it long enough, you begin to wonder what its thinking.  Because of the contrast of the stare against the black background, it may be thinking about hunting, but that is just a guess; I really don't know.  Sometimes, something gets your attention and you begin to think....huh?

Acts 2:1-42 (WEB)
1) Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2) Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3) Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5) Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6) When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7) They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8) How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9) Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10) Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11) Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12) They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?”
13) Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15) For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16) But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17) ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.
18) Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19) I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20) The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21) It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22) “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know,
23) him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24) whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25) For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
26) Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
27) because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
28) You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29) “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31) he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.
32) This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33) Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
34) For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
35) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
36) “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38) Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39) For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40) With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
42) They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

Jews from all over came to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Pentecost and they saw something that attracted their attention; a miracle sent straight from God!  Then Peter stood up and explained the miracle and proclaimed Jesus as the long awaited Messiah it and they understood it (verse 41).  In the context of THIS PICTURE... THEY UNDERSTOOD CAT!!!  How many of us go through life not understanding, pursuing whatever Earthly goal suits us, only to eventually realize that we are going to die and our goals are meaningless in light of what faces us next.  But God, who loves us, made a way for us to advance from the concerns of this life into the next by a man, by the one who Peter talks about in Acts 2.  Yet, we might hear it, but not hear it, because it is spoken in the language of faith.  Now, for many of us, this is as strange as the language of "CAT", but, if we really concentrate we just might get it.  Only our minds need to be clear and our hearts open to what God has to say.  Wait a second, I think I understand a new sentence, but I am a little stuck on the first word... can anyone help me with "Meeeoooww"?

for Marge...

Does anybody really know what time it is?

Its early in the morning (about 1:30 AM or so) and I just can't sleep because of a little arthritis pain in my hands.  Not the kind that drives you mad, but rather the sort that gives just enough distraction to make sleep impossible.  So, I wind up looking at the clock; wondering how long it will be before exhaustion sets in and I MUST SLEEP.  Needless to say, when I saw this picture, I thought about the time even more!!  But, I wondered, "what in the Bible might be appropriate at a time like this"?  The section I found was in the book of Ephesians...

WEB: Ephesians Chapter 5

[6] Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. [7] Therefore don’t be partakers with them. [8] For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, [9] for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, [10] proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. [11] Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. [12] For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. [13] But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. [14] Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

[15] Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; [16] redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Whatever the time, its always the time to be good, proper and thinking of what God wants me to do and NOT what PEOPLE want me to do.  Now is the moment and the action is what God wants me to do.  No matter how you look at the clock, or for that matter what the clock looks like, its always time to seek heavenly direction, for it is TIMELESS in duration and pure in character.

Did you know that....

Two very different people!  One represents youth and the other age.  Each has its positive and negative aspects; strength and vitality compared to experience and wisdom.  As today is national grandparents day, it seemed appropriate to mention the benefits of growing older...

Job 12:12 (WEB)
12) With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.

Psalms 119:97-100 (WEB)
97) How I love your law! It is my meditation all day.
98) Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for your commandments are always with me.
99) I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
100) I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts.

If you are old, your body will tell you.  I don't need to describe it because I am endeavoring to make this a positive blog post.  However, there are some blessings that accompany age.  First, you have gotten this far; how many people never go beyond middle age?  Second, you have lived!  Third, perhaps, just perhaps, you may have learned a few things beyond your educational experience (read the quote from the book of Job above).  And if you are aged AND a Christian, then undoubtedly you have been exposed to even more truth and may even understand more of what life is about (see the quote from the Psalms, above).

Beyond these things, life is good for both the young and the aged, because if we just sit down and talk to one another, we can learn a great deal.  Perhaps the young man in the picture can learn what the older woman did to rebel when she was his age and maybe she can find out what it feels like to have a Mohawk haircut.  Who knows, may we all can learn something from each other!!!  How much more could we learn if we listen to what God has told us in the Bible!!!

Alone, at last!!!

 

Lately, I have been a little disgusted with the news.  It seems that very little of what I would call "good" has been happening.  Somehow, I don't think its going to get any better, with today's memorial of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and tomorrow being a decade since it actually happened.  Combine that with the state of the economy, other nations about to fail financially and the joke of politicians running for election and its enough to make you just want to go somewhere far away from everything and FORGET!!!  Yet, no matter how alone I may be, my thoughts will always be with me, so this passage of Scripture came to mind...

 

 Philippians 4:8-9 (WEB)
8) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
9) The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Back in the 1970's I sold Amway products and one of their primary sayings was "what the mind can conceive and believe in can achieve".  Even though man really isn't the center of the universe, yet there is considerable truth in this saying.  Thinking changes things; we really do become what we think about all day long.  So, why not think of the very best things and become the best person you can be.  The world may not change, but you will and in some way (however small) the world will be affected by you.  I really like what Paul says at the end of verse 9: "...and the God of peace will be with you."  Just that one thought was enough to cheer me up for the WHOLE DAY.  Maybe I will go where there are a lot of people today... who knows, maybe I can cheer someone else up.

one beautiful picture

My granddaughter Amanda came over yesterday and wanted to watch Avatar.  I always enjoyed watching science fiction, so I agreed with an enthusiastic "yes"!  I knew the plot, remembered most of the scenes, but still enjoyed it.  When the story came round to Sully climbing vines in the floating mountains of Pandora, I remembered this picture of China.  I wonder, could this really be where they obtained those images, or is it just my imagination?  I doubt if I will ever really know, but its nice to think I may have solved one little mystery among so many that are out there.  The Bible is full of them, because God's ways are so beyond our comprehension, but here is one that is solved.

Romans 14:22 (WEB)
22) Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves.(14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, (14:25) but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; (14:26) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

To be a Jew was to be someone special!!!  God had chosen your entire race out of the whole world and given you a special status.  But, a certain eleetism arose (understandable, but regretable) and the Jews forgot God chose them even though they were mere slaves.  Those who became obedient to the faith could just have became a sect of Judaism, but God had other plans.  HE loves the whole world and that means the gentiles as well as the faithful Jew.  Mystery solved.  Case closed. Welcome the whole world.  This is not some slight of hand or trickery like taking a picture of China and transforming it into an alien world, it is the culmination of literally thousands of years of the will of Almighty God.  Now, that is a beautiful picture indeed.

Between the lines

My wife grew up having ice cream every night; I didn't.  So, marriage has been an adjustment for both of us.  Over the years we have "met in the middle" so to speak and now we have ice cream in the evenings a couple of times a week.  Compromise is the stuff that working marriages have are made of.  Like most things with human beings, life is complicated, with a lot of things that are said without being said or actions not being performed witch say a lot.  A good example of this is a statement by our current president who last January encouraged those engaged in political rhetoric to be "civil" and tone the language down a bit.  Now, Labor day rolls around and members of his own party get nasty towards the "tea party" and when his speech follows this bit of not so veiled aggression, he say NOTHING.  Humm, that says a lot doesn't it?  Sometimes, you can say a lot by omission; here is a prime example.

WEB: Mark Chapter 16
[11] When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. [12] After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. [13] They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.

[14] Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen. [15] He said to them, "“Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. [16] He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?  Is it just an acknowledgement of his existence or perhaps realizing he was a wonderful man or a great teacher?  How about mentally accepting the fact that HE is God's son, or that HE is the only way to establish true fellowship with God?  Good, you already believe this...great!!!  However, take a close look at verse 16.  Belief and disbelieve are contrasted, with results for both actions.  One way results in salvation, the other leads to condemnation.  Most rational persons would naturally want salvation and not condemnation.  Yet, there many who refuse to accept the fact that true belief is linked to baptism.  Why, because someone has told them it is unnecessary.  Wrong, notice the "and" which links belief and baptism together.  This makes it part of the definition and to accept otherwise is simply a willful misinterpretation of the text.  Its kind of like the Baskin-Robbins sign above.  It tells you who there are by what they offer - 31 flavors.  Don't be deceived, if you truly believe in Jesus... do something about it... be baptized.  You will be glad you did!!!

Now, MOVE, NOW!

 

Now, MOVE NOW!  Sometimes when we least expect it...WHAM!!!  I feel sorry for the man in the chair, but even more sorry for the punishment that boy is going to get later.  The boy made a conscious decision and so will his "father".  Life is like that... we pay for what we do and then we pay some more and keep paying until, well, who knows.  Jesus talks about reckoning and it isn't pretty.

WEB: Luke Chapter 17

[20] Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "“The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation; [21] neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”"

[22] He said to the disciples, "“The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. [23] They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away, nor follow after them, [24] for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. [25] But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. [26] As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. [27] They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; [29] but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all. [30] It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

Not one of us knows exactly how long we will live.  Even the condemned man can't predict the precise second all will COMPLETELY seem to end.  So, why not live life like today was your last day; why not prepare yourself to enter heaven right now?  You only have sinful things to lose and heaven to gain.  Not a bad trade!!!  Remember; you pay for what you do, so now is the time to change, right now!!!