My book, "Death: Swallowed by Life," will be published soon. The book talks about the miracle of life, and the wonder of coming from an egg no larger than the dot at the end of this sentence. Also, when we think about our bodies and who we are, we realize we're more than a body.
How we arrived on earth is as astounding as the miracle of leaving our bodies here and our spirits going to heaven.
Two weeks ago, my wonderful older brother passed away. So sad to see a body we loved put into the ground. By faith we know he lives, as Jesus said we could do if we accept Him as Savior. Yet, I loved his body as well. Scripture says the saints who are with Jesus will come back with Him when He catches away the church:
"But I would not have you to be ingnorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not prevent them which are asleep.
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of Go; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
"Wherefore, ciomfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
"While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 5:3-5).
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Spelunking
The first explorers of Carlsbad caverns did their spelunkiing in a dangerous place.
But they knew what they were doing and carefully discovered room after room of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and eventually opened the underground so others could enjoy their discovery.
I've been through the caverns several times, and while viewing the awesome beauty, I almost tremble at the open holes along the designated paths for tourists. Without lights, we would surely perish by stumbling into the jaws of an abyss. Visitors are warned to stay on the paths or they may be swallowed into the caves below and their bodies never recovered.
The path, the lights and the dangers remind me of the narrow way Jesus talked about that leads to everlasting life.
In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow and only a few ever find it" (Matthew 7:14 NLT).
I learned at Carlsbad it's easier to see a path if it's well defined and illuminated. David taught us that God's Word would be a "lamp for our feet and a light for our path" (Psalm 119:105).
Recently, I compiled statistics about agony reaped by our society in recent years because of risky living. Nearly 50 million babies have been aborted in the United States since the early 1970s. An epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases bring misery, but also ruin health, lives and can kill. (AIDS isn't the only one that kills. Hepatitis B and C, and human papilloma virus also can kill). The inability to build life-long loving relationships affects not only the rich and famous, but a large portion of the population. Too many lack supernatural joy, peace and purpose. Heartache too often is masked by liquor, drugs, anger and even murder.
One by one, wonderful people fall into sin's chasm because they wander in the dark without the light provided by a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.
Why not turn on the light? Connect with God? Ask Him into your life and read His Word. Start with the Gospel of John and watch the flame chase away the darkness. Don't be surprised if you feel Someone's hand guiding you through the danger. David prayed, "Lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake."
All it takes is one step at a time.
But they knew what they were doing and carefully discovered room after room of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and eventually opened the underground so others could enjoy their discovery.
I've been through the caverns several times, and while viewing the awesome beauty, I almost tremble at the open holes along the designated paths for tourists. Without lights, we would surely perish by stumbling into the jaws of an abyss. Visitors are warned to stay on the paths or they may be swallowed into the caves below and their bodies never recovered.
The path, the lights and the dangers remind me of the narrow way Jesus talked about that leads to everlasting life.
In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow and only a few ever find it" (Matthew 7:14 NLT).
I learned at Carlsbad it's easier to see a path if it's well defined and illuminated. David taught us that God's Word would be a "lamp for our feet and a light for our path" (Psalm 119:105).
Recently, I compiled statistics about agony reaped by our society in recent years because of risky living. Nearly 50 million babies have been aborted in the United States since the early 1970s. An epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases bring misery, but also ruin health, lives and can kill. (AIDS isn't the only one that kills. Hepatitis B and C, and human papilloma virus also can kill). The inability to build life-long loving relationships affects not only the rich and famous, but a large portion of the population. Too many lack supernatural joy, peace and purpose. Heartache too often is masked by liquor, drugs, anger and even murder.
One by one, wonderful people fall into sin's chasm because they wander in the dark without the light provided by a loving Heavenly Father and Savior.
Why not turn on the light? Connect with God? Ask Him into your life and read His Word. Start with the Gospel of John and watch the flame chase away the darkness. Don't be surprised if you feel Someone's hand guiding you through the danger. David prayed, "Lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name's sake."
All it takes is one step at a time.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Life: Death's enemy
If you've ever wondered about life and death issues, this might be the place for you. You are much more than a body. You are a special living organism that is continually changing, dying and coming back to life. Every cell in your body, possibly with the exception of the brain and central nervous system, has died, but that death was swallowed by new life.
You can do without most parts of your body and still live. You can weigh 300 pounds and lose 150 of what you thought was you, but when it's gone you're still you.
Your Creator made you to live forever--but the real you isn't your body. There's much more to you. That's what this blog will be about.
Consider what you've just read and rejoice! We have good news for you.
You can do without most parts of your body and still live. You can weigh 300 pounds and lose 150 of what you thought was you, but when it's gone you're still you.
Your Creator made you to live forever--but the real you isn't your body. There's much more to you. That's what this blog will be about.
Consider what you've just read and rejoice! We have good news for you.
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