Stories and other stuff

" Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."     John 14:6(NIV) So many times, we try to over-complicate things.  I think, these days, it's because it's hard to believe something can be so simple as the Gospel message.  How could God love us so much that He sent His son to become a sacrifice for our sins?  How could Jesus love us so much that He gave up heaven and all the authority He had to come to earth as a baby born in a stable in Bethlehem, only to face the cross?  How could it be just as simple as admitting to the God who knows everything that we are sinners in need of a Savior and accepting that Jesus paid it all on the cross for us and by believing on Him as Lord and Savior, we get to spend eternity with him? And yet, it's as simple, and as complicated as that.   I think a lot of people believe in their heads that this is true.  They understand who Jesus was, what He di...

    The fear of the L ORD  is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.                    Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) Tonight after an incredible football game, during a program on for noise while I was doing dishes, a commercial came on featuring a prominent atheist  Mr. Atheist (which is what we will call this person) is raising money for a group calling themselves the Freedom From Religion something or other.  In it, Mr. Atheist claims that the organization works to keep religion out of government.  I wonder, does this group really have to work at this point, but that's another topic for another day.  At the end, he signs off by cockily saying something to the effect his that he is a lifelong atheist and he's not afraid to burn in hell.  That's a pretty bold statement, there.  He's not afraid.  I thought for some context, it might be good to take a look at...

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, [a]“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29 It was a clear night here the other night, which doesn't happen a lot during the rainy season.  It was nice because I could se...

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,    because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown  it  to them.    For since the creation of the world His invisible  attributes  are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,  even  His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,  because, although they knew God, they did not glorify  Him  as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:18-21 NKJV They smell.  They're noisy.  They burp a lot.  They annoy commercial fishermen by trying to and sometimes succeeding in stealing part of their catches.  On land, they're slow and fat (like yours truly!).  In the water, they're amazingly graceful...

Shortly before Christmas, a couple I'm friends with were telling me they wanted this new kind of picture frame.  It's one where you upload the pictures to it and you can invite people to be able to upload their photos online to your frame.  I thought that was a good idea, because like me, they have family all over the place and then I didn't think about it anymore. Until:  I opened the front door shortly after Christmas and opened the cardboard box that had shown up unannounced.  I was expecting a present from #2 son and his fiance' so I was thinking it was probably that present.  I was really surprised to find the box contained the very frame my friends were telling me about. My soon-to-be daughter-in-law had pre-loaded it with lots of pictures of her and my son.  I can't call my sons kids or boys really anymore; they're grown men now and they're decent, upstanding men.  Anyhow, I have this set so it flips pictures every two minutes and my family can,...