A message from the other side

Babies change everything! Suddenly your concerns are not centered on your own little needs but on the life of another. If you have more than a child or two, then you notice how differently they behave almost from the moment of birth. My oldest needed attention all the time, my middle child was calm and almost always contented and the the youngest hated to be wet and we went nuts with diaper changes. Honestly, we never thought much about their personality before birth, but in recent years photos like the one above do raise the question of what babies are like before they enter into the world. I don't know, but God does and in at least one instance I can think of God had predetermined his future life. Read on to find out a little more.

Jer 1:1-8 1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
2 to whom the word of Yahweh came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
4 Now the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, I don't know how to speak; for I am a child.
7 But Yahweh said to me, Don't say, I am a child; for to whoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatever I shall command you, you shall speak.
8 Don't be afraid because of them; for I am with you to deliver you, says Yahweh.WEB

To me, this is a bit of a mystery; how God forms an unborn child is knowledge I won't have until I reach heaven (if even then), but verse 5 says it plainly. God has a part in our reproduction and destiny whether we like it or not; whether we BELIEVE IT OR NOT! If you think about it, this little verse says volumes about birth control, because if this is God's doing, then any interference in the process could be considered as fighting against God. We can do marvelous things with the medical knowledge that exists today, but I can't help but wonder if we rely too much on what WE CAN DO and not enough on what God has set in motion. Think about it, because it won't be very long before we can not only clone people, but design them as well. I can't even imagine what God will think about those abilities. In any event, this picture is of a baby who is giving the peace sign, so perhaps this is God's neonatal message; I know it was Jesus'.

The way of the dinosaur

I have always admired the ability of scientists to be able to take a few bones and reconstruct a long dead dinosaur. Those fierce creatures who ruled the earth for so long are gone now, but inspire both respect and fear for anyone who really thinks about it. What killed them is a mystery, but they are gone and that is that. Things change; consider how much they have changed in the past 50 years alone. I played with a yo-yo as a kid, but now my grand-children play with Wii's. I was taught to add using a paper and pencil or believe it or not, to actually do math in my head, but today hand held calculators and computers have taken the forefront. Is there anything that will never change? The answer is a resounding YES and Jesus gives a very insightful answer when questioned about the Law and the Prophets.

Matt 5:17-20
17 "Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
19 Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.WEB

The Bible is usually considered in two parts by Christians: The Old and the New Testament. Jesus came to fulfill the old, not abolish it.... HIS words, not mine. If he didn't come to destroy them, then how are things different? In a word... righteousness. Righteousness is being right and doing right before God and men. Those under the Law made mistakes and sacrifice was the remedy for those errors. But their "mistakes" (or SIN) went far deeper than just actions, they went into the very heart of a human being, into the thoughts and attitudes which LED to their actions. So, while an outward action might be dealt with by sacrifice, it took a more powerful remedy to address the inward problem. This is the mission of Jesus; to help men deal with the inward first and then the outward. The human heart must be the primary goal. Just following a set of rules and regulations is not enough and this is what the Scribes and Pharisees failed to see. Their perception of God was superficial and has gone the way of the dinosaur. Jesus has brought us back to the reason for the disobedience in the garden of Eden, not the law concerning eating fruit, but the heart to obey out of love. This will never grow old or pass away, because The Love of God is the greatest motivator of all. This love has been expressed in the sacrifice that reaches into the very heart of man and supplies an eternal remedy; Jesus on the cross, given for our sins. What man could never fully accomplish by himself, Jesus did once and for all. All that remains is for us to learn, love and obey... Jesus has done the rest.

Your Choice

There are times when things have to be changed and today's post is one of them. I was thinking about what to post on the blog today while waiting for an x-ray and had just about made up my mind. When I came home I received an e-mail from Bruce Arnold with this picture in it and suddenly the choice of what to post became just as clear as the choice in this picture. Why is it that we do not think about this scenario before we do something wrong? Are we so insensitive to God's will that we only think about him one hour on Sunday? Could be, but probably not. America has more followers of God in it than anyone could imagine, we just need to remember the terrible cost of sin and our own helplessness to justify ourselves before God. There is a real need to have faith and rely on God to help us make the right choice every time. Think about this passage from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 18:9-14
9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: 'God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.'
13 But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn't even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."WEB

Ok, nobody likes to be called a Pharisee, but remember, there were good ones too. This Pharisee probably really did try to follow God as best he could, but his zeal undoubtedly led to pride and pride kills. The tax collector knew who he was and where he was going, but he was trying to do better, trying to following God. His prayer reveals his faith and the humbleness of his heart. The dean of the Northeast School of Biblical Studies (J.L. Deason) used to say that faith was a "Forsaking All I Take Him" and that reliance is something we need to remember on a daily basis. God in heaven, help us all to make the right choices; because these choices either have the truth of God in them or the consequences of pride. What next..... YOUR CHOICE!

After the flood

This time of year it rains in Florida and then rains again and again and again. It does stop, and when it does the air is clean, really clean. That's what this picture says to me: clean! The Earth had become full of sin and the flood had destroyed all life and then the rain stopped.

Gen 8:1-17
8 God remembered Noah, all the animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God made a wind to pass over the earth. The waters subsided.2 The deep's fountains and the sky's windows were also stopped, and the rain from the sky was restrained.3 The waters receded from the earth continually. After the end of one hundred fifty days the waters decreased.4 The ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on Ararat's mountains.5 The waters receded continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.6 It happened at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made,7 and he sent forth a raven. It went back and forth, until the waters were dried up from the earth.8 He sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from the surface of the ground,9 but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him into the ark; for the waters were on the surface of the whole earth. He put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her to him into the ark.10 He stayed yet another seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark.11 The dove came back to him at evening, and, behold, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth.12 He stayed yet another seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she didn't return to him any more.13 It happened in the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked. He saw that the surface of the ground was dried.14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.15 God spoke to Noah, saying,16 "Go forth from the ark, you, and your wife, and your sons, and your sons' wives with you.17 Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh, including birds, livestock, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply on the earth."WEB

God is patient, but there is a limit and then .... wham, judgment. After the judgment, God makes a way out, a clean slate for those who have been preserved. So it was in the days of Noah and this scenario will be repeated again. Not the flood, for God has promised not to do THAT AGAIN, but judgment is sure because sin is prevalent, almost overwhelming. Be preserved through the next cataclysm, read from 1st Peter chapter 3:20-21 and see what must be done.

No tricks, just Deity

When I saw this picture I did a double-take. It seems like this tightrope walker is actually walking on the lake, but if you look closely...THERE IS A ROPE!!! How many times do we think we see things and then find out someone has tricked us. Television commercials are a great example of this; they make you want to go right out and buy their product and when you see what is really being sold.... junk (with a CAPITOL J). But what if you encountered the real thing; what WOULD YOU DO? Read these two passages from the Gospel of Mark and think about it.

Mark 4:35-41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side."
36 Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
37 There arose a great wind storm, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are dying?"
39 He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?"
41 They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"WEB

Mark 6:46-51
46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47 When evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,
49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."
51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;WEB

If I SAW THESE THINGS, I would probably react just like the apostles did. I would be scared and amazed and wonder who this REALLY WAS. I included two passages because at first thought I might think the sea was calmed by accident or coincidence. But Jesus exhibited two examples of power beyond that which is given to men. Two! And in case you are wondering, he could do these things because he was so perfect he COULD WALK ON WATER and also because he had the POWER OVER IT. No tricks, just deity! You might say he was "The real McCoy" and you would be right. The next step for his followers would be genuine faith (having a steadfast belief that leads to reliance) and that is the beginning of discipleship.

Jump right in

Ok, lets hope there is nothing hidden in this pile of leaves! This boy has made up his mind and is committed to jump; he is beyond the point of no-return. Whatever happens, happens. Sometimes life is like that; you just have to do what you need to do and accept what consequences come your way. In the book of Exodus, Israel was in this sort of position, as chapter 14 shows.

Ex 14:1-30
14 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.3 Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.'4 I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh." They did so.5 It was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"6 He made ready his chariot, and took his army with him;7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them.8 Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.9 The Egyptians pursued after them: all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army; and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.10 When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh.11 They said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us forth out of Egypt?12 Isn't this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."13 Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.14 Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still."15 Yahweh said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.16 Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.17 I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.18 The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen."19 The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.20 It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one didn't come near the other all the night.21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.22 The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.23 The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea: all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.24 It happened in the morning watch, that Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.25 He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, "Let's flee from the face of Israel, for Yahweh fights for them against the Egyptians!"26 Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen."27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.28 The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh's army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them.29 But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.30 Thus Yahweh saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.WEB

God brought Israel out of Egypt with great power, but now the Egyptians were having second thoughts about the whole situation. They were a mighty power and had been overcome by mere slaves and didn't like that one bit. For the Israelites, the sight of the mighty Egyptian army must have been very intimidating! They needed to stop thinking about the "odds" and start having faith in God. Verses 13 and 14 of this chapter are among my most favorite in the whole of Scripture because God is about to show his provision of a way out for those who will trust in HIM. Its easy for us to read about this and quite another to be in a life or death situation. But God came through then and HE will again and again; just think about all that HE has done and will do for you and then go ahead.... jump right in...trust him.

The handwriting on the wall

Graffiti is sometimes beautiful, sometimes not, but there usually is a message that the painter wants to convey. You see it under bridges, on the backs of buses and in subways and I wonder why people do such things, but I guess the need to express oneself is irresistible. Perhaps this "pulse of the people" is what inspired Simon and Garfunkle (yes, I really do remember them) to sing "The sounds of silence" and grant graffiti the status of a prophetic utterance. But sometimes prophecy really is written on the wall, as this chapter from the book of Daniel illustrates.

Dan 5
5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.5 In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.6 Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation of it, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.8 Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever; don't let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;12 because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.17 Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.18 You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will.22 You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified.24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end;27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.28 PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.WEB

You would think that Belshazzar would have learned of the most high God from his father; but, he didn't. People are like that, sometimes no matter how hard you try to teach them, they just are not open to instruction. When the truth was revealed, Belshazzar was so frightened that he messed his pants (the joints of his thighs were loosened), but by that time it was too late; God judged him and he died. Those in power should take note of this chapter, because God is watching and weighing their actions at this very moment. This unknown verse comes to mind: "We all preach a Gospel, a chapter each day, by deed that we do and word that we say. So, listen my friend cause its all up to you, say what is the Gospel, the Gospel of you?" Don't wait until its too late, fear God and keep his commandments... sounds like something from the book of Ecclesiastes, doesn't it? But then, Solomon was a slow learner as well.

The trap

This is one very smart mouse. I always had the impression mice were "not so bright" and then this little fellow came along. How could he do the things he did? Motivation, pure and simple. Food is a great motivator. Somehow, I made the connection to Nehemiah. Nehemiah was also motivated, and went to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall; he led the Jews in rebuilding it, but he had to overcome a trap, just like our Wiley little mouse.

Neh 6:1-15
6 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
4 They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6 in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to these words.
7 You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.
9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, God, strengthen you my hands.
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.
11 I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.WEB

Make no mistake, the task before Nehemiah was great. But he showed courage; first in asking the king for permission to go, then in the face of danger before they even started to build and finally against his person. His determination and faith pushed him onwards until the task was completed. I think that there is a lesson here for all of us and it has nothing to do with cheese and everything to do with faith and trust in God. So, the next time you are faced with a spiritual obstacle, remember this little video and the story of Nehemiah and do the right thing. You will be glad you did and Satan will just have to work harder on a better mousetrap. Don't worry though, God will always show you a way out!

Stairway to heaven

This picture is entitled "stairway to heaven" and it certainly does point in the right direction. It made me think of the Led Zeppelin song of the same name. That song has become one of my favorites after I read an article describing it as a rock and roll song with a hidden Christian message. Whether or not that is true is up for grabs, but one thing leads to another and THAT SONG made me think of this passage from the Bible.

John 1:47-51
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!"
51 He said to him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."WEB

One thing is for certain, you can't buy your way into heaven, but there is a way there and its through Jesus. Music is probably optional.

Reflection, creation and attitude

I read the news today and frankly it was very depressing. It seems like the whole world is rotten to the core and putrefying at a faster rate, daily! Then I started my "daily" blog and saw this picture. Beautiful, simply beautiful! When we take the time to just look, sometimes that look becomes a a complete surprise. A surprise of the memory of what can be and what once was. The colors of the trees against their reflection on the water is marvelous. Add a couple of swans and somehow the old serotonin just flows and flows. Then, a scene from "Soylent Green" came to mind; you know, in the last part of the movie, where Edgar G. Robinson has his last moments of life and they are showing nature scenes and playing soothing pastoral classical music. And I thought... could the world ever be beautiful again? All this made me think of Genesis and do yourself a favor.... read all of it!

Gen 1:1-31
GENESIS 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God's Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.3 God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, one day.6 God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse, and it was so.8 God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.9 God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so.10 God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. God saw that it was good.11 God said, "Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth," and it was so.12 The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.14 God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth," and it was so.16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.20 God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky."21 God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.24 God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind," and it was so.25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.26 God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."27 God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them.28 God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."29 God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food." And it was so.31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.WEB

God made everything, lets try not to screw it all up! We have the ability, the knowledge and the opportunity to make this world like the garden of Eden once again. We lack the willpower, but with a little reflection on what is possible; who knows, perhaps things can change? There you have it... instant attitude change. What next, world peace? No, that's a blog for another day.