In your wildest dreams

Imagination; it is the stuff of wonder, the memory of a mind set free to soar above the confines of reality.  Sometimes our imaginations are dreadful and others they are fantastic beyond description.  So it is with this beautiful picture; fantasy become reality.  I really would like to meet the person who drew (painted, photo shopped ?) this.  Can you imagine what he or she would be truly capable of.  There are times though, when reality sounds like fantasy.  Take Jesus for instance.  Walked on water, transmuted water to wine, healed the sick, raised the dead and remembered for over 2000 years... right.  Right, indeed, and true.  Read on...

2 Peter 1:3-18 (WEB)

3) seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;
4) by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5) Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;
6) and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;
7) and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.
8) For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9) For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.
10) Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
11) For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
12) Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth.
13) I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you;
14) knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
15) Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.
16) For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17) For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
18) We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

Today, Christians are ridiculed in public.  Whatever you believe is OK.  Everyone is right; no one is wrong.  Ethics is what you decide it to be.  We live in a society devoid of truth because how can there be truth (I mean THE TRUTH) when there are no standards.  Yet; Jesus lived; Jesus is NOT A MYTH.  There were many, many witnesses.  Untold numbers suffered and died for what they knew to be true.  Christianity is not fantasy land; IT IS TRUTH!!! Believe it, defend it, and hope for heaven.  You won't be sorry a thousand years from now!  God will bless you beyond anything you can think of in your wildest dreams!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

To the point

I like this mouse!!!  If you look at the bottom of the maze you will notice that the entrance really wasn't an entrance at all; the mouse had to chew his way into this problem.  What does he do? He ignores the problems ahead and chews a path right to the cheese.  I think I will name this little guy "Alexander the Great" because of his tactics.  He really knew how to get to the heart of the matter (the maze).  Jesus did too and here is one example:

Matthew 19:16-24 (WEB)

16) Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

17) He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18) He said to him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder.’ ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ‘You shall not steal.’ ‘You shall not offer false testimony.’

19) ‘Honor your father and mother.’ And, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

20) The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21) Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

22) But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions.

23) Jesus said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty.

24) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus saw the man's problem and gave him the opportunity to overcome it.  Too bad he didn't listen!  Life presents many chances for change, for improvement.  Its up to us to look for the way to victory.  By the way, if you want a bit of interesting reading, check out Alexander the Great's victory over the Persians at Granicus; truly unorthodox.  He was a great man; the mouse deserves the title as well, but neither can compare with the greatest of all: Jesus!!!

Marvel

Photo shopped or real?  Good question!  As soon as I saw this I was reminded of the book of Ezekiel, which I am currently reading and the vision in the first chapter.

Ezekiel 1:3-24 (WEB)

3) the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him.
4) I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.
5) Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
6) Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.
7) Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.
8) They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings thus:
9) their wings were joined one to another; they didn’t turn when they went; each one went straight forward.
10) As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side; and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side; the four of them also had the face of an eagle.
11) Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.
12) Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn’t turn when they went.
13) As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14) The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
15) Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.
16) The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
17) When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn’t turn when they went.
18) As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.
19) When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20) Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21) When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
22) Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.
23) Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.
24) When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.

Difficult to explain, harder to understand.  For me, perhaps the best explanation is the inexplicable.  That is, God wanted to communicate the impossible and this would be the only way humans can understand.  God works in ways we will never comprehend, no matter how hard we try and sometimes the best thing we can do is just to MARVEL!!!  I haven't a clue as to how either the bubble in the picture was made or the EXACT MEANING OF EZEKIEL'S VISION.  One thing I do know and that is they both are beautiful and maybe that is enough for now.

What's in a name?

Remember the Batman TV show?  In retrospect, it was stupid and simplistic and even the dullest amongst us could get the message of good against evil.  This "Batman name" picture has to be one of the most stupid things I have seen on the net so far.  But, don't worry, I sure something will come along that will be worse than even this.  Which reminds me of the stupidity of the Corinthians; read what Paul has to say in chapter 10 (especially verse 12)

2 Corinthians 10:7-12 (WEB)


7) Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also we are Christ’s.

8) For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

9) that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

10) For, “His letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”

11) Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12) For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

Dumb, really dumb; no, beyond dumb, its sheer stupidity.  The Corinthians were thinking more of themselves than they should, even to the point of putting an apostle of Christ down.  Duh, how dumb is that!  I especially like verse 12 because it gets to the heart of the matter.  They were just to wrapped up in themselves to be of any good to OTHERS.  So, just as your Batman name will always be "Batman" according to the chart, so will those who are self-absorbed be just like the Corinthians-- worthless.  By the way, if you want to here something really irritating, listen to the theme from the Batman TV show; its right up there alongside the picture---stupid!

Pictures, postcards and Vitamin E

A picture beautiful enough to be a postcard.  I have never been to California or seen this scenery in person, but its beauty shines through.  Its wonderful to visit new places, to see magnificent vistas that take the breath away and leave one with a memory that lasts for years.  As I was thinking about how wonderful this picture was, I thought of this passage from the book of 2nd Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 4:2-6 (WEB)

2) But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3) Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;
4) in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
5) For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;
6) seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

You can tell a lot about people by just looking at their face. Lines on it show stress, happiness, grief and joy.  But what I like most is to see the look of love; I was taken aback yesterday, when my wife put vitamin E on my incision scar and then gently massaged the surrounding muscles.  I can't explain it, but I have never felt more loved in my whole life.  The only way I can explain it was that it was more beautiful than the picture, but even that doesn't really do it justice.  Perhaps when I see Jesus face to face I might really be able to capture the feeling.  Until then, I will keep looking at pictures, postcards and sunsets and look for love.

Mooo

Turkey day has come and gone.  Millions upon millions of us ate way too much and then fell asleep.  I enjoyed this cartoon because the turkeys were clever enough to make like they were cows and of course, everyone knows you don't have beef for Thanksgiving.  By their cleverness they probably made it through their most dangerous time of year, but sooner or later...  Then I thought of these verses from the Bible.

Hebrews 9:27-28 (WEB)

27) Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment,
28) so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for salvation.

Sooner or later we all come to grips with the fact that we will not live forever.  Those who follow Christ have a blessing after death and that is worth waiting for.  In the meantime.... moooo!