Medical Leave

The time has come for a little intermission on CandyceLand. Unfortunately I am having surgery today, but I am hoping to return to this site soon. Please check back in a few days. In the meantime, if you are really bored, you could search the archives here. My stat counter says that I have 231 previous posts; even I don't remember what I wrote when CandyceLand was started back in August, 2009! :-)

Shadowlands

There is much talk in the world of education about the "learning curve," which my dictionary defines as "...the rate of a person's progress in gaining experience or new skills." Without going into too much detail, I would characterize myself as one with a very 'steep' learning curve. In college, I took Beginning Tennis at least three times (and I still couldn't hit a ball); and during Seminary a dear friend tried for two years to teach me how to sew (she ended up finishing all my projects).

So it was with reading and understanding the Bible. It wasn't until I was in my fourth church that I began to see Christ everywhere in the Old Testament. I had a very good pastor/ teacher at that stage in my life, and he challenged me to go searching for Jesus on the pages of Scripture before His birth. This was a radical concept for me. I had always assumed that the Old Testament was everything that happened before the birth of Christ, and that the New Testament was the story of His life, death, and resurrection. What I didn't know was that Jesus can be discovered in every chapter of the Bible, all 1,189 of them!

So it was a similar situation with Heaven. I certainly knew that Jesus spoke a great deal about Heaven, that much of the New Testament testifies to the existence of Heaven, and that the book of Revelation gave the most clues about what Heaven was like ("...neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore"). But the Old Testament? Outside of Genesis 1:1 ("In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth"), I was oblivious to the massive amount of references to Heaven, until a new teacher came along to challenge me once again. The teacher this time? Grief.

Grief has a way of making one feel desperate - desperate to feel hope and joy again. Early in my journey I began to keep a Scripture journal. Basically I wrote out - long hand - any verse that touched my soul. I read the Bible much more slowly and carefully than ever before - because I certainly did not want to miss out on any reference to Heaven that I might skip over in my hurry to be healed. And the result? I was absolutely shocked at how much information there is in the Old Testament about Heaven.

Every chapter of the Bible, if considered rightly, has something to do with the eternal purpose of God. Heaven is a big part of that, for Ephesians 1 says that God will "...unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth." Is it reasonable to assume, then, that 78% of the Bible would be silent on the topic of Heaven?

Unfortunately, I did think that - until I saw the Old Testament for what it was: a shadowland of beautiful Heavenly realities.

Words for the Weekend

"To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here."

Jonathan Edwards

A New Heart

If we don't find substantial and convincing evidence from the natural world to prove the existence of Heaven, then where do we turn next? Is there any source that speaks to the examples given in yesterday's post that would confirm the reality of an afterlife? Of course there is: the Bible. Would this convince a skeptic? Only if God intervenes first.

God has to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to the Scriptures. Once we see, hear, and believe the truth about God and Heaven from the Bible, then we can look back at the whispers of life after life from nature or history and feel something of the hope of Heaven.

For example, let's go back to the arguments previously presented from nature. Does the Bible see the seed germination process in any spiritual light? Both Jesus and Paul make extensive use of the lessons of nature that can be seen in this world in order to teach people about the life that cannot be seen. Both of them speak about a seed being planted as an analogy for our bodily death, and the life that somehow springs from that seed being a resurrection life. (See John 12:23-26 and 1 Corinthians 15:35-38.)

What about the fact that throughout history and across diverse cultures men have set their hopes on something beyond the grave? Ecclesiastes 3 addresses this: "God has put eternity into man's heart."

How about 'near-death' experiences?' Jesus' friend Lazarus was in the grave for four days before Christ called him back to this world. Moses and Elijah appeared at the Transfiguration. Christ was seen by many eyewitnesses walking the earth after His crucifixion. John and Paul were both brought up into Heavenly places and then returned to earth in order to write of their experiences.

And finally, what about the beauty of the earth, the joy of a newborn baby, the amazing creation of a human cell? The Psalmist states: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

Indeed, who am I that you are mindful of me? Why was I blessed to read your Word and then believe it? How is it that your Scriptures speak convincingly to my soul of the existence of Heaven?

Thank you, God, for taking the stone heart of a skeptic and turning it into a heart of believing flesh. (Ezekial 36:26)

Hints of Heaven?

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Who says so? Well, God says so. (Gen.1:1) In these ten brief words, the opening verse of the Bible asserts that there is a heaven, there is an earth, and there is a God that made them both at the beginning of time. But if someone is not convinced of the absolute truth of the Scriptures, is there anything in the natural world that might speak to the existence of heaven?

Many are persuaded that the events that happen around us, to believers and unbelievers alike, point to the reality of something beyond this present life. For instance, how can we explain the experience of thousands of people throughout many centuries who claim that their bodies died, but that they had some additional existence in another realm for a time before they were brought back to their mortal lives on earth? Without evaluating the specifics of what people claim that other existence was like, we can at least observe that they indicate that life beyond this life was very real. Are all of these experiences to be completely dismissed as nothing?

Then there are some who believe that the seed germination process is a story that suggests new life after death. Here is the idea behind this one: Think about all the things that grow, and the seeds from which they come. They are planted in the earth, and somehow out of the "death" of a seed, a new life will begin. Beyond the specifics of how plants grow, there are also other nature stories that whisper to us of life after death. A sunrise brings the glorious renewal of a new day, as does the beginning of spring every year. There seem to be countless messages throughout the course of our days on this earth that indicate that as one life dies away, a new life comes into being.

Other people use their reasoning powers to justify their belief in the existence of an 'intelligent designer.' How does one look at a beautiful sunset, or a new-born baby, or even the wonder of a single cell, and think that these have ultimately sprung out of nothingness? The proponents of this perspective would say that there must be an entity behind the world of creation, one who dwells in another sphere.

Finally, (though this is not an exhaustive list!), some would argue that throughout the history of the world, people of all cultures and all faiths have believed in an afterlife. How do we explain this universality of focus on life beyond this earth?

So how would a skeptic crush all these hints suggesting the existence of an after-life? Perhaps by saying that there is something within man that needs to explain away all the messiness of turmoil, grief, strife, illness, war, and other aspects of human existence. Man needs a crutch to survive life, and the supposed 'hope' of heaven provides the much needed motivation for continuing to persevere.

So do you find the above arguments from natural life persuasive? My answer? Thus far I tend to side with the skeptic...

A Very Good Place To Start

One of my favorite songs in one of my favorite movies is "Do-Re-Mi" in The Sound of Music. The reason I enjoy this particular piece of music is because it corresponds with how my mind works. Here is the opening verse:

"Let's start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
When you read you begin with A-B-C
When you sing you begin with Do-Re-Mi"

This logic (according to Maria) appeals to my sense of order. I need to learn things from the very beginning. I am not one who can jump into a subject in the middle of a lecture. I need to learn the basics of an area of interest before I can move on to more extensive study.

So it was with my thoughts of Heaven as I began to confront whether or not this doctrine could be of any help to me in my time of grief. Therefore, the first struggle was very foundational: Does Heaven really exist? Once I became convinced that Scripture overwhelmingly affirms the reality of a physical place called Heaven, I was then able to ask questions about actual life there. What do people do, day in and day out, for eternity? Next came this thought: Does knowing about the afterlife help me to live this side of Heaven? And lastly, what about the Grand Finale of human history? Ephesians 1 states that God's goal is "...to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth." What will this look like?

This progression, then, will be my outline for "Heaven's Comforts: A Guide for the Grieving Soul." Our journey together will be structured around these four themes: Heaven Exists, Life in Heaven, Heavenly Living on Earth, and The Heavenly Finale.

That may seem like "Fa - a long, long way to run." But really... Let's start at the very beginning.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

What, No Harp?

The task of writing on the topic of Heaven is daunting. Where does one begin? What facets should be included? What do people really want to know? Is there a way to organize this material that is personal, approachable, and yet still true?

We could look to our culture for help. What do we find there? To some, of course, Heaven is all about floating on clouds while playing a harp. To others, Heaven is just one long, very boring worship service. The expectation of most is that nearly everyone will be in Heaven, except for those who commit heinous crimes against individuals and societies. Being reunited with loved ones is perhaps the universal hope of all who would believe in the afterlife. Only "very religious" people express interest in seeing God there. He really does seem to be just an afterthought for most people.

Our only recourse, and obviously the very best one, is to see and read and hear what the Creator of Heaven wishes to reveal to us about our eternal state. He has done this through the pages of Scripture. Why trust anyone else's opinion on this important matter? God created Heaven, He lives there, and He beckons us to come be with Him. If we were planning on moving to Australia, we would not contact a friend in Germany who has never been there to find out what Australia is like. Surely God is the expert witness on Heaven who can and will reveal to us what we need to know about the future home that He has made for us.

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined... God has prepared for those who love Him." (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Writing an Introduction

I find myself this morning in a very ironic situation. I have been assigned the duty of writing an Introduction to a book on Heaven after struggling for more than two years with doubts about its very existence. Fortunately, I am in good company. C.S. Lewis also found himself fighting disbelief: "You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you." This is my experience; this is my challenge.

So how did I come to write Heaven's Comforts: A Guide to the Grieving Soul? I lost someone very dear to me, my twenty-two year old son. It wasn't until the initial shock of his death wore off that I could even begin to process what I believed or did not believe. Spiritual anesthesia is a wonderful mercy, but it doesn't last forever. Little by little and in various ways the notion of life after death crept into my consciousness. Did I believe in Heaven or not? Was this concept real or a figment of my imagination? Everyone around me assured me of Heaven's existence, and that my son was surely there, but was it true? I desperately needed to know. I needed to feel the truth, not just know it. And therein was my first problem.

During the last two years I have often said that I experienced a real disconnect between what I knew to be true, in my mind, and what I felt to be true, in my heart. This mind/heart barrier was so painful to experience. On the one hand, I have studied the Bible continuously for nearly twenty-five years and believe it to be God's handbook for doctrine and living. On the other hand, my heart was so sorrowful that I felt no comfort because I couldn't actually experience Heaven while I still lived here on earth. In the words of C.S. Lewis again, "Only the locked door, the iron curtain, the vacuum, absolute zero." What to do?

But then something curious happened. I began to study what Scripture said about Heaven, and found that there is so much contained in the pages of the Bible that was previously hidden from me until it "...became a matter of life and death." Surprisingly, I realized that the only times I really 'felt' the truths of Heaven were when I was teaching them to someone else, particularly to the wonderful, caring women of my church. Is it possible that convincing others of the comforts of Heaven brought me comfort as well? Could it be that God really does reward those that diligently seek Him? (Heb:11)

So now you know my secret. This book is written by someone who has struggled with unbelief concerning the doctrine of Heaven. I am not completely healed of this sin quite yet, but am convinced that writing and teaching and sharing is the only way for me to make progress in this area.

My prayer has remained the same for these many months: "I believe, help my unbelief." (Mark 9:24) May God bless us all in this endeavor.

Words for the Weekend

“God blesses us all up to the full measure and extremity of what it is safe for him to do. If you do not get a blessing, it is because it is not safe for you to have one. If our heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in his holy war, you would pilfer the crown for yourself, and meeting with a fresh enemy you would fall a victim; so that you are kept low for your own safety.

When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace, and fits us to deal efficiently with our fellow men. True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden.”

- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, April 5

Editors Needed

Okay, so here's the deal. I have reluctantly been persuaded to post my daily writings for Heaven's Comforts: A Guide to the Grieving Soul here on CandyceLand. So starting Monday, I will pass along what has been completed on this project of writing a book and study guide on Heaven. The goal, as mentioned in yesterday's post, is to ensure that the 'pressure' of daily posting will really force me to continue to work toward the completion of this task .

I do humbly request that you, the readers of CandyceLand, provide feedback on what you read. I am desirous to know whether the material being written is helpful, approachable, readable, etc... I also would appreciate editing help. If you see something not quite grammatically correct, please notify me. If you would rather do so in private by writing an email, you may send it to candymagee@gmail.com.

And if you comply with my request for help, then I will share the monetary award when this book wins a Pulitzer. Good luck collecting on that promise. :-)

Sandra Meets Candy

CandyceLand readers who know me personally understand that I am focused on 'efficiency.' I tend to time different routes to the same destination in order to save a few seconds of driving; I wait until I am sick to go to the doctor for an annual physical to get the appointment paid for by insurance; and I prefer to do cross-stitch/write emails/read/iron while watching ball games or movies in order to get more accomplished. Get the picture?

So I have decided to follow up on yesterday's blog about our study leave by occasionally posting blogs that summarize our progress thus far. This allows me to focus on just one subject, gives me a topic for each day, and ensures that I really do the writing for the book because I would surely be embarrassed to have to write a blog saying "Sorry - it didn't really work out. Steve is driving me crazy and I just can't work with him." :-)

The report thus far? We're okay. We are still speaking to one another. We were very 'efficient' yesterday during a ride to Portsmouth yesterday - I drove while Steve typed. We were able to outline the book, and even came up with a tentative title: Heaven's Comforts: A Guide for the Grieving Soul. My goal tomorrow is to write the Introduction, and Steve will work on the Appendix.

And I think Sandra Bullock should play me in the movie version of my life as a writer.

Working Together

This past Monday Steve and I embarked on a scary adventure - working and writing together for three weeks! We have never attempted such a project before, and who knows if we will ever do this again? What caused us to attempt such an activity?

We recently completed another 13-week cycle of GriefShare, the Christian grief recovery support group that we facilitate. The six current attendees expressed interest in continuing to meet, and since some of them had already been through the program twice already, we started to think of an alternative focus. It also became clear that as Steve and I would share some of the insights we had gleaned from our individual studies on heaven, our friends would begin to ask for more of what we had learned on this topic.

During the last year Steve has taught Adult Sunday School on this theme, and last year I guided two Women's Study groups through a book on heaven. For the next few weeks, then, we are attempting to combine our research into one unified resource. We have decided to write a small book/extended pamphlet/curriculum on heaven, and use this as a basis to share with our friends on Monday nights. What better way to help ourselves and others heal from grief than to focus on what our loved ones are experiencing in heaven? There are so many Bible verses that speak to the reality of the afterlife - verses that we might not even notice unless we're specifically looking for them.

Our hope is that this project might benefit us, our GriefShare friends, and others even beyond our church doors. Please pray that we might be productive as we work together!

Restless Spirits

I suppose everyone has a favorite "Bible hero," and mine would probably be Paul. He was so evil in his early days, persecuting the church and its' worshipers, then so amazingly productive for the gospel after his conversion in evangelizing the Gentile world, and yet still so troubled by his own sin in the midst of his great service, as he wrote about in his various letters. Perhaps it's the humanness of Paul that draws me to his writings. For instance, yesterday I came to this passage in 2 Corinthians 2:

"When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went to Macedonia."

I know this sounds wrong, but it warms my soul to hear that Paul struggled with a "...spirit that was not at rest." This so often describes my inner state. I have read plenty on the Biblical concept of contentment, and yet day after day I find my spirit not resting in the promises of God. What to do?

Often when I am restless and provoked in spirit, Steve will gently guide me back to something I've already written - reminding me of some helpful truth I thought would aid someone else. While I am not at all comparing my experience with Paul's, I do know that the answer for Paul's anxious spirit (and mine!) is to be found elsewhere in his epistles.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Phil. 4:6)

Any other restless spirits out there in CandyceLand? Let's listen to our own good advice and meditate upon the truths that we would share with others, "...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)

Act Like Men!

I have been told that I notice 'strange things' in the Bible. I actually agree with that assessment, proven by the fact that I found yet another phrase that I needed clarification on. I was reading 1 Corinthians 16, and the last verses fall under the heading of 'Final Instructions.'

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love."

All of this is really self-explanatory, except for the phrase "...act like men." What does that mean? I know that in our present culture there is much confusion about the roles of men and women. But I want to know what Paul meant by his words, and what meaning God intends for men and women today.

As always, my ESV Study Bible (pictured here) was most helpful in clarifying the situation. The notes explained that this phrase "...is used in contexts encouraging people, especially soldiers, to act with courage and strength in obedience to the Lord and with confidence in His power." Apparently these same words are used often in Scripture: (Deut. 31:6-7; 23; Josh. 1:6-7, 9; 1 Chron 28:20; Ps.27:14) I looked up all these references, and each one used the same language as 1 Corinthians 16. Every one of the above passages used the words "Be strong and courageous." And with nearly all of them, I noticed that it was followed up by "...and God will never leave you or forsake you."

Surely this commandment, then, is not for men alone; we all need to be strong and courageous, moving forward in life with the assurance that God will never leave us on our own.

SO - I have determined from this time forward to "act like a man." No smart-aleck comments, please :-)

Words for the Weekend

“Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace, nor are your best days ever so good that you are beyond the need of it.”

- Jerry Bridges, Discipline of Grace

Odd News Friday: Man's Best Friend (Or Not) #2!

All you pet lovers - BEWARE! World Magazine reported this week that animal-rights activists have taken on a new cause - legal rights for pets. Thankfully, some people have noticed and are protesting:

"Voters in Switzerland have finally pushed back against some of the most stringent animal-rights initiatives in the world. On March 7, voters in the European nation overwhelmingly rejected a measure that would have extended rights of legal representation to the animal kingdom. That sort of legal representation for dogs, fish, birds, and chickens already exists in the Zurich region, where animal-rights attorney Antoine Goetschel regularly sues citizens on behalf of abused dogs or, in a recent case, a dead pike Goetschel says a local angler tortured when it took him 10 minutes to reel in the fish. Goetschel, who tried to rally the Swiss to vote for the initiative, admitted his highly publicized fish case may have poisoned the well: 'Many voters might have been a bit fed up with the topic.'"

Word to the wise: Be careful not to be late with Fido's chow, or you may find yourself in the dog-eat-dog world of international litigation!

Sports Trivia Question

A good friend in our church forwarded me an article written by Chuck Colson that began with this question: which major sport was invented as a Christian evangelistic tool? Would you have known the answer? I certainly didn't! Basketball.

"In a recent Wall Street Journal article, John Murray recalled the story of the game's founding. The inventor of basketball, James Naismith, became convinced that he stood a better chance of exemplifying the Christian life through sports rather than through preaching. So he took a job as a physical education instructor at the YMCA's International Training School for Christian Workers in Springfield, Massachusetts. Naismith's vision was 'to win men for the Master through the gym.'

In 1891, Naismith set out to invent a new indoor game that students could play during winter. He spent weeks testing various games, including versions of soccer, football, and lacrosse, to no avail. 'Finally,' Murray writes, 'Naismith decided to draw from all of these sports: with a ball that could be easily handled, play that involved running and passing with no tackling, and a goal at each end of the floor.' In short, he came up with basketball."

The article ended by reminding readers of the great witness that Christian athletes have displayed throughout the years - from Eric Liddel (Olympic running) to present day Tim Tebow (of pro-football fame).

This should also bring to mind the passage from 1 Corinthians 10: "So, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." This certainly includes 'winning men for the Master through the gym.'

Now that's a slam-dunk for sure. (Sorry, I just couldn't resist!)

The Ultimate Fixer-Upper

I read some great relationship advice last week in one of Andree Seu's blog posts. The particular topic is forgiving and forgetting when others offend us - something very hard to do. Here is an interesting perspective that might help:

"The best way is if we only understood that the person who insulted us last week (especially if it is a Christian) is a constantly changing and progressively sanctifying person. The Holy Spirit has rolled up His sleeves and started cleaning out his fixer-upper of a heart, and you just happened to get in the way of some garbage being hauled out. The person you are still nursing a resentment toward is in the middle of his story, and is not yet what he will be. And come to think of it, the same goes for you."

I just love the concept of a "fixer-upper of a heart." The truly amazing and mind-boggling fact, though, is that these hearts of ours, in need of such great renovation, were actually purchased at great expense - no "bargain basement price tag" on our souls. Christ bought us with His blood, and He lives and reigns even now to transform us into what we will be. Let's not get in the way of His good work with our resentment. Let's forgive and forget.

Love is Forever. Really.

Every once in a while it is a thrill to think of something and then have it verified by an expert. It happens so rarely, but yesterday was one of those times. I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 - the chapter made famous by its constant usage in wedding ceremonies: "Love is patient, love is kind..."

The last verse is also very well-known: "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

I have often thought that the reason that love is greater than the other two virtues is because it is the only one that continues over into heaven. There will be no need for faith and hope when we are perfected in holiness. Love, however, will still be felt by us in regard to the object of our love - God Himself - and of course, to others who will be with us for eternity. So to be sure that I was thinking of this correctly, I checked out Matthew Henry - one of my favorite commentators. Here is what he thinks of the passage:

"There is no room to believe and hope, when we see and enjoy. But love fastens on the divine perfections themselves, and the divine image on the creatures, and our mutual relation both to God and them. These will all shine forth in the most glorious splendours in another world, and there will love be made perfect; there we shall perfectly love God, because he will appear amiable forever, and our hearts will kindle at the sight, and glow with perpetual devotion. And there shall we perfectly love one another, when all the saints meet there, when none but saints are there, and saints made perfect. O blessed state!"

Whew. I finally got one right! Thanks, Matthew Henry!

Of First Importance

I mentioned in Sunday School yesterday that everyone should sign up for free daily emails from http://firstimportance.org/. The name of this website is derived from 1 Corinthians 15:

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."

The short quotes that are sent to my inbox each morning are wonderful examples of focusing on that which is "of first importance" to us as believers - the good news of Christ's atoning work on the cross and the resurrection that followed shortly thereafter.

For example, Saturday I received this great insight, written by Octavius Winslow, and quoted by John Stott in his book The Message of Romans:

“Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas, for money; not Pilate, for fear; not the Jews, for envy; — but the Father, for love!”

What better way to start each day but to contemplate insights from historic and modern writers on the topic of Christ? Try this service out and let me know what you think.

Words for the Weekend

“How can we break our heart’s fixation on doing ’some great thing’ in order to heal ourselves of our sense of inadequacy, in order to give our lives meaning? Only when we see what Jesus, our great Suffering Servant, has done for us will we finally understand why God’s salvation does not require us to do ’some great thing.’ We don’t have to do it, because Jesus has. Jesus did it all for us, and he loves us — that is how we know our existence is justified. When we believe in what he accomplished for us with our minds, and when we are moved by what he did for us in our hearts, it begins to kill off the addiction, the need for success at all costs.”

- Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods (Of First Importance)

Odd News Friday

Have you heard of a 'bucket list?' Apparently it's a list that a person makes of things to do before death - usually includes items like taking the grandchildren to Disney, vacationing in an exotic location, or parachuting from an airplane. One woman in Florida, however, probably qualifies for one of the most unique desires ever - she wanted to rob a bank:

"For a Florida woman who says she suffers from non-terminal leukemia and bipolar disorder, robbing a bank was something she wanted to do before she dies, she told MyFoxOrlando.com. Patricia Edwards, 51, walked into a Bank of America branch last week in Sanford, Fla., and handed a teller a note demanding money. 'There was no plan, no nothing, just impulse,' Edwards told the Web site in an exclusive interview from the Volusia County Jail. 'I just walked by. I said, I'm gonna go in there... passed a note to gain some cash and I left.' Asked why she committed the crime, Edwards said: 'Because it was something I had on my bucket list... I think everyone should have a list of things they want to do before they expire.'" (foxnews.com)

Oh my. I sure hope spending some time in the Volusia County Jail was on her 'bucket list,' because that's where she is right now!!!

It's Time To Think About Time

Time is a strange concept for me. Think of all the cliches you've ever heard: 'In the nick of time.' 'There is no time.' 'Time flies away.' 'What a waste of time.' 'I lost track of time.' There are many more cultural expressions of time than these few. But here is what I read yesterday about time in Psalm 90:

"For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night."

This verse matches my experience: while my days sometime seem endless, the weeks, months, and years really do pass quickly. And what hope this brings to my soul! In just a little while, all the distresses and sorrows and frustrations of this life will be gone, replaced with an eternity filled with joy and satisfaction and bliss.

Hmmm. Sounds like another familiar verse:

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)

So let's all 'take the time' to meditate on the truth of these two verses for this life, and at 'just the right time' God will lift us up to Heaven. Amen to that.