Jolted awake with alarm

Suddenly disturbed from sound sleep and a pleasant dream, Suzanne alerted me to a constant, ominous alarm linked to the Blood Moon she had been observing, earlier having left the front door open.

Leaping to my stouthearted, fearless and manly detective role, I strained my ankle. But searing pain cannot dissuade a Superhero in his relentless quest to quickly quash the threat and restore truth, justice and the American Way.

After all, my heroic wife temporarily usurped my unflinching bravery when she tenaciously apprehended my female pickpocket in Barcelona last year.

How could I do less at 2 a.m. today than to rescue my damsel in distress?

At first my superhero hearing didn't detect the alarm, my being accustomed to first listening for the click of a firearm, outside footsteps, stratospheric disorder or marauding rhinos.

Tentatively assured of global order, I inserted my threat- and sound-extending Kirkland Signature hearing aids, specially ordered for my exquisite, uniquely sensory gifts. These instruments transmit all cyber, telecommunications and YouTube sounds directly to my fearfully and wonderfully made receptors, which deceptively resemble ordinary ears.

Now the electronics, meticulously developed over decades, focused on the in-house alarm, which mimicked the shrill, stuttering ADT alarm, but disturbingly muffled.

Working my magic with the ADT brains of our central console, my racing mind immediately eliminated any connection between the disturbance and ADT.

Suzanne, clearly distraught, informed me (as if I couldn't figure this out for myself) that the sound was loudest by the front door. I opened the door, and the sound stopped, but only for a few short seconds, resuming with the dreadful, relentlessly menacing peril.

My complex mind suddenly was drawn to an obscure electronic device attached to the bottom of the door, installed six years ago (my mathematical gray matter quickly calculating) by my son, whom I immediately absolved of any needless reproach.

Accustomed as I am to getting down in the trenches I knelt down deeply to affix my hyperacuitive ear to the suspect device. No sound. If anyone could detect an emission, it was I.

An artificial plant graced the entry way. I gently lifted it inches from the ostentatious pot. The sound ceased. I released my grip. Resume alarm. 

Lift. 
Cease. 
Release. 
Resume. 
Lift. 
Cease. 
Release. 
Resume.

Do I perceive a pattern?

Immediately my analytical mind reviewed multiple internal screens of data, comparing the sound to myriad similarities in the natural universe over the last 71 years.

Faithful to my recall as always, my brain confirmed the identity.

It was a cricket.

Having served 26 years in the military and having covered 12 fatal aircraft accidents and countless threats to our global security, I maintained total command and control.

Instinctively, I ordered my adoring wife to evacuate the unreal and other-worldly plant, and its noisy occupant, banishing them to the dark and ominous garage.

The sound ceased forevermore, thanks to my incisive action and that my wife's predisposition (only in imminent danger) to instantly and willingly comply.

Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

It is, after all, my life theme.

An honest look at Mormonism - a balanced presentation

Two Mormons showed up on my doorstep again. Really. I was friendly. They were friendly. I told a Mormon joke. They said they tell Mormon jokes to each other. I asked to hear one. They told me, "Why do you want to take two Mormons with you camping, and not just one?" I dunno. "Because if you take just one, he'll drink all your beer!" I was in a chat room with Mormons for a couple years. I pointed out that there were 4,000 errors in the Book of Mormon, and that there wasn't a single shred of evidence for the huge cities written about therein, as opposed to bountiful archaeological evidence for the Bible. A historian of the church said, "That's right. There is no evidence for the Book of Mormon. You must accept it all on faith." 

I watched the PBS series, "The Mormons," which is a balanced view of the good, the bad and the ugly. Professors at Brigham Young University went to LDS leaders and told them the history they were told to teach was bogus. The professors were excommunicated. Interviewed later, in tears, they said they missed the community. One ex-Mormon bishop told me Satan informed him which houses on a block would be vulnerable to the Mormon message. This former bishop told me that Satan tells 20 truths to plant just one lie. 

I ask just one thing. Before you react to this post, please view all three videos to get a fuller perspective.
The series is here.

Short Animated

Longer Animated

I don't approve of him, but I love him.

"There's someone that I love, even though I don't approve of what he does. There's someone I accept, though his thoughts and actions revolt me. There is someone I forgive, though he hurts the ones I love the most. And that person is me. There are plenty of things I do that I don't like. But if I can love myself without approving of all I do, I can also love others without agreeing with all that they do. And as that truth has been absorbed in my life, it has changed the way I view other people."

You, yes you, skeptic, already knew God

We have no excuse. God revealed Himself throughout nature. We have no excuse.

Complexity of the eye and brain 

You must suppress evident truth to believe otherwise.

Love truth or relish wrath?

                                   How did this apply to you, the skeptic, who once knew God?

You replaced Him with the god of Self

Worshiping the created instead of the Creator. Am I missing something? 

Please tell me what sense that makes!

Unity, liberty, charity - what about a portal?

The heart of Romans 14-15 is captured in this great and fairly well-known statement:

 

In essentials unity;

In non-essentials liberty;

    In all things charity.

 

I just don't want to get wrapped around the axle over minor issues that don't make any difference.

 

In his excellent book, Deadline, Randy Alcorn speculates that one of his characters, having arrived in Heaven, is told by his guardian angel on rare occasions to look through a portal to a special happening or a target of God for salvation on earth. 

A friend argued equivalently that "there are no portals."

 

I think we get too dogmatic over items that have no bearing on our conduct. 

 

I asked my friend how she can be so sure.

 

"Because it's not in the Bible."

 

There are a lot of things not in the Bible that are nonetheless true: the word "Trinity" comes to mind.

 

Hymn: 

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
See on the portal He's waiting and watching
Watching for you and for me.

 

Come home, come home
Ye who are weary, come home
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling, all sinners come home. 

The Big Lie

Thinking more about my previous post about what to do if an atheist objects to my praying in public, I think also I would like to lovingly invite this woman to a meal/discussion about what makes one upset about another's point of view. I would ask her if she would welcome a way to enjoy a peaceful resolution and a way to calmly resolve any dissonance in her life. The way I have found best is abiding in Christ moment by moment.

On another point, I always wondered why skeptics seem to get a lot of their information from comedians and movie stars, and boldly affirm their deeply held convictions by electing Jesse Ventura, Al Franken and Marion Barry. What qualifies Bill Murray to claim special knowledge on the other 99-plus percent of all the knowledge in the universe that is undiscovered by him?

Going online, I see lots of arguments on both sides of "who killed most people, religion or atheists?" Stalin, Pol Pot and Hitler killed more people than so-called Christian crusaders (who were responding to Muslim aggression). I find online defenders of atheism who say those evil men didn't kill "in the name of atheism." This is parsing words. In one respect they are right. Stalin didn't kill while hollering, "Atheism is Great!"

But peel the onion and search for what lurks in the hearts of evil men. Do you find killers who devoutly seek to abide in Christ moment by moment?  No. I find in evil men a huge vacuum. No God. Or an idol replacing God.

I am something of a skeptic myself. Friends have encouraged me to challenge sources, even of supposedly Christian origins. Here's an example. While names were changed to protect the innocent to guilty, the principle is valid:

Einstein or someone else?

As for setting science back 1,000 years, I defer to my dear friend, Gus Broffitt, a former skeptic and head scientist at Allison. He found Christ in a dramatic way, studied the creation accounts and found that they didn't conflict with any scientific findings. His brother was head of the mathematics department at Ames (Iowa) College. Gus asked him to run the numbers for the probabilities of over 300 prophecies of Christ coming true, as they have. The brother found the odds were astronomical and, as a result, he also became a believer.  Dr. D. James Kennedy found it quite interesting that most branches of science and mathematics (e.g., Newton and Pascal) were founded by Christians.

My respected Bible teacher, Carl Johnson, pointed me to Hugh Ross and  Reasons to Believe from a scientific perspective.

Ultimately, I like what one atheist said: "I'm not a Christian, but I want to live next door to one." I'm dabbling in a writing project called "Safe Sects." Living next door to a committed Christian is enjoying the safest neighbor. With wars and rumors of wars, I want to stick with someone who abides in Christ...moment by moment.

My bottom-line, default approach: Micah 6:8 -

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

What would you do if an atheist challenged your right to pray in public?

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

Me? I would hope I could respond in love, perhaps offering to buy her meal and inviting her to chat with some questions: 1. Why does it make her uncomfortable? 2. If other atheists can practice tolerance, what blocks hers? 3. If prayer in public was practiced for centuries, why is it a fad to practice intolerance now? 4. Is her position a proven fact or a belief? 5. Why should her belief take precedence in public and not mine? 6. Has she heard atheist Andy Rooney's take? When he is in the Middle East he isn't bothered by a Muslim prayer, and accordingly, he isn't bothered by a prayer at a football game. 7. If you were wrong about atheism, would you want to know? And yes, if I were wrong about my beliefs, I would certainly want to know. 8. Would you care to hear of some of the scientific and logical evidence behind my beliefs? 9. Would you like to come to our home to learn more? 10. If you were to die today, what would happen to you? 11. If you died and discovered Jesus saying to you, "Why should I let you into my Heaven?," how would you answer? 12. Did you know that there are two ways to go to Heaven? a. Accept Jesus' offer of his gift to take my punishment on the Cross for my sin; or b. Live a perfect life. Which appeals to you? 13. Have you investigated the overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus? 14. Have you ever told a lie? 15. Have you ever stolen anything? 16. Did you know that Christianity reaches out to the whole word? For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. John 3:16 17. How much do you know of all the information there is to know in the universe? Let's say you know 1%. Could God be in the other 99% you don't know? 18. Would you consider accepting the love and forgiveness of your own personal Savior? If so, repeat after me, but only if you sincerely mean it: "God, if you really exist, I accept your gift offer. I'm taking a small step of faith in accepting Your Son Jesus as my Savior and Lord. Jesus, forgive my sins and transform my life. I understand that you do not promise an easy life, but since you now live inside me, you will see me though any situation and give me love and joy in the midst of sorrow and hope beyond my imagination. I praise you for putting me here and now with a purpose and I look forward to blissful, everlasting life with you. I want to know you more and more by reading your Word, by serving and fellowship with other believers. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen." If you prayed this prayer, message me on Facebook or email me and let's talk some more about your abundant life going forward.

The mind-blowing, out-of-reach understanding of eternity

THE INCREDIBLE MR. ETERNITY: Every once in awhile I am aroused gasping from a half-sleep stunning fright awareness of the length of eternity. DO NOT MEDITATE ON ETERNITY. IT WILL DRIVE YOU MAD. (OK, now you will try. STOP IT.)  I give up. Asking someone to stop thinking about eternity is like asking someone to don't think about a pink elephant. No use, and so I will tell you my cure: I resolve this by remembering that I could have been created as a person, or even a tse tse fly, sitting on an ant hill in Ethiopian 4,000 years ago. Because the Ancient of Days put me here...and now...means that He has conquered eternity and allowed me to win the timeless lottery. O my. Breathtaking. So, what, do you ask, does this have to do with Mr. Eternity? Mr. Eternity was one of the greatest evangelists. As my friend, Jack K, would appreciate, he didn't buttonhole people. He simply wrote "Eternity" on sidewalks and restaurants wherever he went. My brother Ivan, from Australia, told me about him. On Y2K, the famous bridge in Sydney, where I visited, emblazoned the word "ETERNITY" across the fiery lights on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2000, to honor Mr. Eternity. He was anonymous for years until discovered. Many people then told him they had embraced Jesus because of the word he wrote all over Australia.

Me? My concept was too small. Consider 2 ideas: the ring has no beginning nor ending; and time is a man-made idea. God is not bound by time. Eternity is NOW. There's no tomorrow or yesterday. You live in the NOW.

Two wonderful reads:

THIS 
and, of course, HERE






http://www.hcna.us/columns/forever_explained.htm

Is the Trinity beyond explanation?

 The Trinity is not 1+1+1=3. it is more like 1x1x1=1. Skeptics mock the One who created them and deride followers of Jesus as worshiping three gods. We often make light of what we cannot or will not understand. The links below do a decent job, but I worship (acknowledge the worth of) God, even though I don't fully understand Him.

Think of it this way. Let's suppose you know 3 percent of all the knowledge there is to know in the universe. Yes, I know it's far less than that, but use 3 percent as an example. Could it be that a fuller understanding of the Triune God could be part of the other 97 percent? Something to ponder.

Josh McDowell, a former skeptic, has found only three reasons people reject God's truths:

1. Ignorance (the less than 3%).
2. Pride.
3. A moral problem.

The Bible often explains itself and has answers for all three.

CHECK THIS OUT

AND THIS

Did Jesus claim to be God?

His enemies thought He claimed to be God

Undeniable, in many forms

Only after clicking on the above articles I would add my own thoughts: In Matthew 16, Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." What did Jesus do? He commended Peter, saying that the Father revealed it to Peter.

When doubting Thomas thrust his hand in Jesus' side and the nail prints in His hands, Thomas said, "My Lord and my God." A Jehovah's Witness told me and unbelievably demonstrated that he was looking at Jesus and saying, "My Lord..." and then the JW turned backward and said, "...and my God."

I was a media spokesman for the Department of Defense for four decades. I was accused of being a "spinmeister." But the JW's twist was the second most preposterous "spin" I ever heard! The first was Satan's to Eve in Eden.

Other JWs, acknowledging the absurdity of the twist, suggested Thomas was cursing. This, again, is beyond belief among devout Jews. Did Jesus react in outrage? No. He commended Thomas.

I rest my case.

QUEST: Top-drawer life lessons

QUEST: Top-drawer life lessons

Have I aced these tests? Nope. I live on the mountaintop, but I'm not always home! But I know this without any doubt: The longer I live, unless God is a liar, the more assurance I have that I will be welcomed in my eternal home. The Apostle John tells me, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

- Humility, Brokenness & Compassion CLICK HERE There's a song that captures my quest: I then shall live

- Works are the fruit (result) of the gift of salvation. Salvation can't be earned. Believe like a Calvinist if you wish, but conduct your life like an Arminian!  (My conclusion)  EXPLAINED HERE

- Two ways to get to Heaven FIND OUT HERE

- I found a way to comply with Jesus' mandate to make disciples: HE SAID IT Finding it difficult to "witness" to strangers, I discovered Global Media Outreach - I get to answer inquiries that people from all over the world send in. Plunge in today and be made complete!

- Transformation: The quiet power of a life transformed by the grace of God is so explosive that it can redirect the course of human events. ~Richard Foster

QUEST: Top-drawer life lessons

Have I aced these tests? Nope. I live on the mountaintop, but I'm not always home! But I know this without any doubt: The longer I live, unless God is a liar, the more assurance I have that I will be welcomed in my eternal home. The Apostle John tells me, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13

- Humility, Brokenness & Compassion CLICK HERE There's a song that captures my quest: I then shall live

- Works are the fruit (result) of the gift of salvation. Salvation can't be earned. Believe like a Calvinist if you wish, but conduct your life like an Arminian!  (My conclusion)  EXPLAINED HERE

- Two ways to get to Heaven FIND OUT HERE

- I found a way to comply with Jesus' mandate to make disciples: HE SAID IT Finding it difficult to "witness" to strangers, I discovered Global Media Outreach - I get to answer inquiries that people from all over the world send in. Plunge in today and be made complete!

- Transformation: The quiet power of a life transformed by the grace of God is so explosive that it can redirect the course of human events. ~Richard Foster

Or-tho-Dox took us to Greece-Turkey: why Thomas' book didn't make it into the Bible

                                                       Dr. James Merritt

I love this guy. He's down to earth. Why are some books excluded (or included) in the Bible?
The tale of two cities and or though dox, eh?
Signed, Sealed & Delivered - everything you will forever need to live.
1. ApostoliCITY
2. CatholiCITY
3. OrThoDoxY
Watch it all unfold HERE

Rough & tough Medical Lake healing

BREATHTAKING HEALING TRIBUTE to my good friend and neighbor, Master Chief Bob Evans, USN Seabee, Retired, who spends much of his year doing electrical work for church camps. He has been working at Medical Lake near Spokane. He told of two youth groups coming in for camp. The first was a clean-cut bunch. The second was a scruffty, unkempt group of kids. One girl, he noticed, clutched her hand to her midriff and dragged her foot. She had cerebral palsy. One night the kids were challenged to pray for one another. Several laid lands on the girl, along with a counselor. The counselor reported feeling new tissue swelling up in the girl's arm. She was completely healed, verified the next morning. Master Chief Bob, choking back tears, had observed that these were rough-looking kids whose prayer was effective. "It taught me never to be judgmental," he said.