Any speed limits?

One cool car! You don't even have to look underneath the hood to know that this baby is going to fly!! Why? Because no one is going to paint an auto like this, put racing wheels if its performance is like a pinto MPG! I would guess this little "chariot of fire" would go at least 130. When I saw this car it reminded me of Elijah going to heaven. The passage from the book of second kings tells the tale.



2Ki 2:9 It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you. Elisha said, please let a double portion of your spirit be on me.
2Ki 2:10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
2Ki 2:11 It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. WEB



I would really have liked to see that happen! Even better, imagine being Elisha! The fantastic spectacle was confirmation that he was to be literally twice the prophet of his master Elijah. Talk about encouragement! I have always wondered about Elisha, though; why ask for a double portion of the spirit? I like to think he just wanted to serve Yahweh better and not because he wanted a chariot with more "horse power" than Elijah. I wonder if there are any speed limits when entering heaven?

A very powerful force

He is neither the Great-grandfather nor the Grandfather, but rather the father. This man was 90 years young when this photo was taken and plans to father children until he is 100. I can not even fathom his optimism. When others are dying all around him, HE wants more children. Strange, isn't it? Well, not so strange. There was a man in a similar situation in the Bible; lets read from the book of Genesis.

Gen 15:1 After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Don't be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
Gen 15:2 Abram said, "Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
Gen 15:3 Abram said, "Behold, to me you have given no seed: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir."
Gen 15:4 Behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir, but he who will come forth out of your own body will be your heir."
Gen 15:5 Yahweh brought him outside, and said, "Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." He said to Abram, "So shall your seed be."
Gen 15:6 He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness. WEB

Abram believed he would be childless, but God had other ideas. If someone told me that I would be a father again, I would simply not believe it. Abram did and Yahweh reckoned that belief as righteousness. The man in the photo and Abram have one thing in common; they had belief that it could happen and belief is a very powerful force indeed. As for me, well, I don't think I would have the patience to do it all over again. Besides, the thought of all those dirty diapers... whew!

The sunset of our lives

Imagine your most perfect of perfect days. Everything that you did seemed wonderful and every moment was treasure. At the end of that day you saw the most spectacular sunset ever and now that wonderful event was deepening to a beautiful purple sky. And the stars were just beginning to appear, and what stars they were. You sit on your porch and relax with your loved and discuss what you did that day; your work. To be able to see this and enjoy these times are a blessing almost beyond description. But, what if you couldn't see... or worse, what if you never could see. This was the situation of the blind man, until he met Jesus at least. John puts it this way....

Joh 9:1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
Joh 9:2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Joh 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." ESV



Today I didn't feel 100%. An old illness has come back to haunt me and this time I think it will stay and although I didn't say anything to anyone (until now) it still bothered me and took the edge off my day. Then I thought of a family I see ever so often. They are a ragged group, very average, with one of the daughters mildly (or maybe not so mildly) retarded. When I saw them, I greeted them warmly and realized how glad I was to see them. Then, it hit me: You can only do what you can do, Rose, so be happy, and rejoice in this day.... regardless. The passage from John and the picture are one thought because while we are here we need to share every bit of the love within us with others. As the sunset of our lives transforms into the beauty of the stars the time for work will be over. Don't waste a minute, seek the light of the world while you can and rejoice in the fact that you still can work. Jesus did!

If we will only look

Several weeks ago I changed my laptop background to this picture. So, every single day I see this more than once. I noticed it has a calming effect on me; somehow my day was better and it wasn't until I came home from work this evening that I realized what it was. Peace, this picture says peace to me. It makes me reflect on my day and put things into perspective just like the Bible does. I look at the sky and the mirror of the scenery on the lake and think. No matter how bad things were during the course of my day, this simple picture reminds me that there can be peace if I will just LOOK. When I do, God gives me the encouragement I need. The apostles needed a their spirits lifted the night before Jesus was betrayed and so Jesus said these words to them:

Joh 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." ESV

I learned recently that about 50% of our brain is devoted to vision. Its plain to me that God wants us to use to use our brains to see. Unfortunately, the world we see around us can be a dangerous, very difficult place in which to survive, but God wants more for us than that. He wants us to really live and enjoy life. True life means restoring a genuine fellowship with God, so Jesus did what he had to do to make this happen. Difficult, yes, but then restoring something that is broken is more difficult than making something new. So, the next time you look at one of the pictures that I post, reflect a little and go beyond the obvious; see the magnificent interaction that God wants with us... if we will only look. Who knows, you just might see something beautiful and remember the creator. For me, this means peace and I pray it will for you as well.

Way beyond speech

When someone wants to curse someone or something, they use the name of God and the word Damn and then list the desired person or thing. But wait a minute, what about the following verse from the book of Deuteronomy?

Deu 5:11 "'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. English Standard Version

A person's name represents that person; their appearance, character, and really everything about them. So, when someone curses, invoking the name of God they are taking HIM very lightly indeed. God is not to be ignored, trifled with or referred to without respect. So, this commandment goes way beyond speech because in fact it really permeates every aspect of our life. I like what Max T. Neel used to say:"God is closer than hands or feet and nearer than breathing". Because I accept that as truth, I know God is watching what I do and I need to be careful. Respect is respect, and a lack of it has consequences.

Ready to respond

When I left work today I noticed I needed some gas, so I stopped at the Circle K. A very pleasant man came up to me, informing me that there was a problem with the pumps and what I had to do about it. We had a long conversation, which ended with my suggestion that he read the book of Acts. Why, because its always a good idea to start at the beginning and that's where I consider the first century church started. After I left, it occurred to me that it was the most straightforward, plain suggestion I have given in awhile. NOT EVERYTHING IS COMPLICATED; SOME THINGS JUST ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND THAT IS THAT! Please play the video at the top and you will see what I mean. Afterwards, glance at the verses from the book of Matthew and I think you will see the connection.

Mat 19:13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,
Mat 19:14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." ESV

There was a time when we were all young; when the world was new and even the simplest things fascinated us. We were open minded, ready to respond without all the social filters we develop over the years. If we want to follow Jesus, we need to be as genuine as the baby in the video and reach out to Jesus. I think he will reach out to us and when that happens just try to stop smiling, I dare you!

ps. I have been thinking about babies a lot lately as Linda and I will be grandparents to baby number eight in the next few months!!!!!!

The bright morning sunshine

This picture of a sunrise from Iceland is amazing! There is a special quality about it that awakens the senses and begs the question: What is next? I remember the first time I presented a sermon; how nervous I was and thought I would never be able to speak in public again. To my complete surprise those who critiqued what I did had very positive comments. There were however, a couple of comments that blindsided me. I didn't know gee whiz meant Jesus' whiskers and that Golly wasn't much better. It was a real eye-opener, something like the following passage from the book of Ephesians.....

Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Eph 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Eph 5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Eph 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
Eph 5:14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." ESV

It dawned on me that some of the language that I had taken for granted as being acceptable really wasn't and I needed to change. If anyone has ever worked the graveyard shift, you know that when you come out into the bright morning sunshine it hurts your eyes for only a little while and then you see everything with a new clarity. When the SON OF GOD wakes you up, believe me, you see sonshine indeed! Then you really ask the question: What is next?