The Answer

Obviously, this was a guess.  People will do that; reach for anything that sounds even remotely reasonable, even when it isn't.  To me, this is funny, but then, that's me.  When I saw this I thought of the book of Acts...

Acts 17:22-31 (WEB)


22) Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.

23) For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.

24) The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,

25) neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.

26) He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,

27) that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

28) ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’

29) Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.

30) The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

31) because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

Mankind longs for God, but most do not make it into a close relationship with HIM.  Why, I wonder?  The Athenians were certainly looking, but somehow didn't find God.  Its not that they weren't religious, far from the case indeed; they were VERY religious.  They just needed to know Jesus.  Simple, but true.  Jesus is the answer.  Sometimes the answer is so simple that its very simplicity seems deceptive.  Yet, God is near, God is waiting and waiting and waiting.  Look, feel, think; God is very close indeed.  Just as close as an open Bible and as near as a seeking heart.  And that is no joke, its a blessing!!!

How is this going to end?

This youngster looks a little afraid, doesn't he?  A bath can be a terrifying thing the first time and this appears to be the case here.  That's true of most things, isn't it, if its going to affect us physically, fear may be close at hand.  If its true at the beginning of life, it follows that its true at the end of it.  Then what?  We die and nothing.  Like Rover, are we dead all over?  To some of us this little saying may be true, but truthfully, if we had a choice wouldn't we want something better than a dog's life.  Consider the following:

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 (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.

The man Jesus actually lived; this is proven historically beyond all doubt.  His death is well documented and as this passage from the book of 1st Corinthians proves, so is his resurrection.  This is really good news to those of us who know we will die someday.  Like to avail yourself of life after death?  Read Acts chapter two and do what those people did!!!  Don't be afraid, there is a happy ending!

Remember when?

Wouldn't this be a lovely addition to your baby pictures.  Face it, we all do foolish things; we all make many, many mistakes over the course of our lifetime.  Just one more to add to the list.  Even as adults we continue to make mistakes, remember Rhoda in the book of Acts (Chapter 12).  She went to the door and when she heard Peter's voice, she didn't open the door and went inside to tell everyone instead.  I have always enjoyed this one, but somehow this passage from the book of Jonah came to the forefront of my mind.

Jonah 4:1-11 (WEB)

1) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

2) He prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please, Yahweh, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.

3) Therefore now, Yahweh, take, I beg you, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.”

4) Yahweh said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5) Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made himself a booth, and sat under it in the shade, until he might see what would become of the city.

6) Yahweh God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine.

7) But God prepared a worm at dawn the next day, and it chewed on the vine, so that it withered.

8) It happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

9) God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the vine?” He said, “I am right to be angry, even to death.”

10) Yahweh said, “You have been concerned for the vine, for which you have not labored, neither made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night.

11) Shouldn’t I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand persons who can’t discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much livestock?”

Jonah was a character!  When God told him to go to Nineveh, he disobeyed.  It took being swallowed by a really big fish to make him change, but finally he obeyed and went to Nineveh and preached God's message of repentance.  To Jonah's surprise, Nineveh listened!!!  Instead of being happy about this, Jonah went outside the city and sat down, awaiting its destruction.  Why?  Pride, arrogance and just plain stubborness are the best answers I can come up with.  He cared more for himself than even the young, who don't know their left from their right hand.  Baby pictures remind us of what we used to be like and that can be very cute, but stubborness to the will of God is not something I would like to be remembered for.

The cure

If this ad were to be used today, what an uproar would occur!!!  Everyone knows of the deleterious effects of alcohol, but back in the day, nobody would even bother to think about it.  If you watch health shows on TV, you will see someone promoting a different treatment or vitamin daily.  But ask your doctor and chances are he will put it down.  From personal experience, I can tell you that some vitiamins work better than pharmacy prescriptions, but hey, that's just me!!!  People do what seems best to them as they see fit.  But what do they know???


1 Corinthians 1:20-24 (WEB)


20) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

21) For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.

22) For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,

23) but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

People have all kinds of ideas as to what is best for them and when it comes to religion, solutions abound.  One thing is certain, Jesus is the only person to have been resurrected from death; documented beyond any doubt.  Since all of us will someday die, why not listen to someone who has been there and came BACK FROM THE DEAD!!!  Jesus is the answer to the really big problem... death.  And, oh yes, the solution never changes!!!

Tomorrow

What I first noticed was the brilliant colors in this picture; not just the colors, but the contrasts and combination of them, simple beautiful!!!  As I looked at it a bit more closely, I noticed that the tree was barren and that bothered me a little, because I like to think of a tree as having fruit.  But, the picture shows the dawn of a new day and with each new day there is hope.  So, I thought of this passage from the book of Revelation....

Revelation 22:1-5 (WEB)


1) He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,

2) in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3) There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

5) There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

Just as a new day begins, so eras change.  Eventually, things will be restored so that there is fellowship with God as before the fall.  All things will be made right, all things will reflect the perfection of God.  I forgot to mention that the picture reminds me a little of the old movie "Gone with the Wind" and just as the antebellum life in the South is gone forever, so will Sin and its effects someday end.  Nice thought on a warm Spring day; who knows what tomorrow will bring...

Oh, NO!!!!!!

This reminds me of a situation I faced in Februrary 1977.  I had just finished work and it was about 5:30, so it was completely dark.  The ground was covered with about 6 inches of snow and so was my brand new ford Pinto (yes, I was one of those fortunate few who actually owned this bomb on wheels).  I was in a hurry to go home because my youngest daughter was having a birthday party, so I just wasn't as careful as I usually am about the car.  After I started it up and began to scrape the snow off the windshield, I thoughtlessly closed the door.  Then in horror, I realized I had locked my keys in the car and to make matters worse, the engine was just warming up, so it was on high idle.  Ever been in a bad situation?  What did YOU DO?  Here are a couple of examples from the Bible.

1 Samuel 31:1-6 (WEB)

1) Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.

2) The Philistines followed hard on Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

3) The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.

4) Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.

5) When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.

6) So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.


Philippians 1:12-26 (WEB)


12) Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;

13) so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;

14) and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.

15) Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.

16) The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;

17) but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

18) What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

19) For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20) according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.

21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22) But if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet I don’t know what I will choose.

23) But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

24) Yet, to remain in the flesh is more needful for your sake.

25) Having this confidence, I know that I will remain, yes, and remain with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

26) that your rejoicing may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.

Saul gave up, and Paul didn't.  The difference... faith.  Paul put his life in God's hands and that made all the difference.  So, the next time things look bleak, (and sooner or later they will) remember these two people and make the right choice.  Oh, as far as my car is concerned... I managed to short out the battery and stop the engine so it didn't do any damage.  Some bystander just happened to have a coat hanger, so I was able to open the car.  I was three hours late for the birthday party and that wasn't such a good thing....

Just a number

How would a president of one of the major drug companies feel if he (she) saw this?  Would it cause any pain, sorrow or regret?  There is no way for me to know, but based on the actions of the past, they would get over it and move on; after all, its all about money, isn't it?  If I had only one chance to share something of the Bible with them, the first would be something in regards to becoming a Christian and the second would be.....

1 Timothy 6:10 (WEB)


10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

America has become a land where people are no longer important, only profit is.  I have no idea who the sign refers to, except that she was a human being.  Therefore, someone of importance!!!  Somehow, there must be found a way to change things or one day it could be your name on a sign just like this one.