North Florida Writer - Blog

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: The Grandest Homecoming

4/21/2018

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
- John 14:2 (ESV)

Homecoming. The word conjures up pictures of family reunions, school reunions, military reunions and other events involving the gathering together of people who once were very close and are now scattered about. They are a time to remember, compare notes on what each attendee has been doing and to have a good time, often with food and music to dance the night away.

But often we fail to think about the grandest reunion of all, a reunion that has not been attended by any of us who are alive today but one we should all seek to make a part of our future. It's the reunion that each of the faithful followers of Our Savior will participate in when they make the trip to heaven. Family, friends and others who met the challenge and departed this life earlier will all be waiting for each of us there. And it will be joyous and beyond the realm of anything we can imagine. It will be divine and the successful travelers will inherit a new body, a body free of pain and suffering with physical limitations gone.

So what do we have to do to attend this grand reunion? Well, the steps to be followed are quite simple, it's the execution that is difficult. It's difficult because it's much easier for us to put ourselves and our selfish wishes first, but that won't get us to the reunion. No, the path to the grand reunion is by believing in Our Lord and Savior through faith, for when we do, we see the world differently and will want to carry out His wishes first and foremost. And that's it. Believe in Him through faith and get the ticket to the grandest reunion of them all.

But remember, taking that step must be done while we are still alive on earth. It's not something to put off, but it is something that is worth taking the steps he asks, for the reunion I'm talking about will last for eternity. Let there be joy forever.

BLUE LIVES MATTER: Assassinations in a Small North Florida Town

4/20/2018

Hobo's Restaurant in Trenton

Trenton, Florida is a friendly small town about thirty miles west of Gainesville. It contains some good old fashioned eateries like Hobo's shown here, is in close proximity to the Suwannee River and Fanning Springs and is a great place for anyone who enjoys small town charm. But yesterday, the community was both shocked and dismayed by the cold blooded assassination of two Gilchrist County deputies by a middle-aged resident of Bell, John Highnote.

The two peace officers, Sergeant Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey were sitting in a downtown Chinese restaurant when Highnote approached the building and fired shots through the window, killing both men instantly. It was a clear ambush with no chance for self-defense. Before the Sheriff's Department could respond, Highnote reentered his nearby vehicle and killed himself as well. No reason is yet given for his actions but the situation is under investigation.

In his press conference about the tragedy later in the day, Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz stated that he feels a big reason for events such as this one is the constant demonization of law enforcement officers and the hate that is spewed against them. I concur with that assessment, but it is clearly just part of the problem, for so many Americans today have lost their sense of right and wrong and think that it is okay to take what they want in whatever they do as long as they don't get caught. When a nation loses its way and its cultural norms, bad things happen and it has been happening more and more in all facets of society. While police bear much of the brunt because of their duty to enforce the law, we see it in education, family life and even in religious institutions which abandon their awareness of absolutes in life.

Watch groups of people in public settings and the way respect for others is abandoned, teachers in some of our schools who are afraid of their students and administrators who won't back them up and even some ministers and other clergy who water down God's laws. There are absolutes in this world, absolute truths, and when we try to say they are outmoded and no longer applicable we violate some of the most basic principles of nature, a force given to us by God. Self-control, individualism and understanding right from wrong are paramount to a society if it wants to remain both peaceful and also productive. Sadly, "group think," based on moral relativism is in so many ways replacing that and political correctness is just one of its products.

I will say a prayer for the two officers who were needlessly killed yesterday and also pray for a return to common sense and adherence to the wishes of God for all Americans and people the world over. Until that happens and politicians continue to peddle pablum instead of truth, problems like the situation yesterday in Trenton are likely to not only continue, but get worse. May God shine His guiding light on America and bring her back to her senses.

Support Business That Supports the Constitution, America

4/19/2018

In the current undeclared war between those who support the Constitution and the Left over the Second Amendment, several strategies have been used to try and do by protest what can't be done by law. Boycotts have been used, but largely ineffective particularly where talk radio is involved, but pressure against particular businesses has been more effective. It seems that most corporate big wigs are so concerned about their image that they cave to demands even before they know the degree to which the protesters are supported.

Particularly noteworthy are two or America' largest banks, Bank of America and Citibank. Bank of America has announced it has ceased doing business with gun manufacturers which follow the letter of the law, demanding that they change their policies to reflect what BofA has in mind. CitiBank is now doing the same thing, even more demanding, but a Republican Congressman from Indiana and a number of his colleagues have decided to take up the cause of fighting for gun rights using a different approach. And since money usually talks, their plan could conceivably bear fruit in the war for the minds of Americans.

It seems that Citibank currently has a seven hundred billion dollar contract with the federal government, yet the company is telling its gun manufacturing and sales clients that financing will be eliminated unless Citi's terms relating to gun products be honored. Citi wants a bump stock ban, elimination of high volume ammunition clips and the end of long gun sales to those under twenty-one. It also has established a waiting time requirement that is even more oppressive than current federal policy.

So, what is U.S. Representative Todd Rokita (R-IN) doing about it? He has prepared a letter with fifteen co-signers requesting that the General Service Administration review and cancel all contracts with Citibank until the bank rescinds its new requirements. His logic is simple and accurate. American businesses should operate under the provisions of the Constitution and honor all God-given rights for all Americans. He wants to hit them where it hurts.

Congratulations, Representative Rokita for standing up for the "Law of the Land". Keep the pressure on the GSA. It's the right thing to do. The entire Republican congressional delegation should join in your cause. We'll be watching especially to see the ones who don't. And regardless of the outcome, we're sure that there are plenty of banks that will gladly give those customers better service than Citibank.

h/t to Breitbart

THE HUMP DAY IS TRUMP DAY BLOG: McConnell Does the Right Thing

4/18/2018

For the last six months or so, a group of Democrats and RINO Republicans have been trying to put together legislation to protect Robert Mueller. They seem to be in great fear that Trump will fire Mueller and create some kind of Constitutional crisis, unwilling to admit that we are already in one.

Now I don't fault the Democrats for what they do because it's what they do. Obfuscate, stall and use name calling to try and stop the Trump Train, which despite their efforts has found ways in many instances to get done the things that the President wanted to get done. But the RINOs, or moderates if you prefer, are really not Republicans at all. Their primary goal is to maintain their positions and their prestige, foremost in everything they do. And I don't use the term moderates because, at least in my humble opinion, a moderate in politics is a do nothing, waiting to see which way the wind is blowing. I don't think Americans vote for a candidate with that in mind.

Several of these so-called Republican Senators including Lindsey Graham (SC), Thom Tillis (NC) and Jeff Flake (AZ), just to name a few, have been working with the likes of Cory Booker (NJ) and Richard Blumethal (CT) to try and coddle together a way to protect Mueller from Trump. They are fearful that Trump might fire Mueller and damage their brand since they still sit on the Republican side of the aisle.

Trump isn't likely to fire anyone, but he will fight back vigorously and use his Twitter account to get out his message. Like it or not, it is effective and with a press corps that will never say a decent word about what he does, I can't blame him. And if you are a Conservative, think about the types of people the RINOs are working with. Senator Booker is the man who grilled Secretary of State-nominee Mike Pompeo over his Christian values. He clearly has deemed being a Christian to be a problem, even though Pompeo clearly stated he will follow the law. Blumenthal, another Northeasterner, represents a state which is financially devastated by big government routinely, hates guns and loves abortion under all circumstances. He rails on in speeches short on fact an heavy on emotion, not the type of person most Republicans should be working hand in hand with.

Well, yesterday, even Senate Majority Leader "Mitch" McConnell finally reached the point where he's had enough. He stated that if a Senate committee wants to debate the issue that's fine, but he's not going to allow any such legislation to reach the floor. McConnell, certainly not a Trump supporter and a man who has slow-walked much of the President's agenda, does at least recognize that such a step as is being proposed is a real threat to the separation of power of the three branches. Setting such a process in motion would be a bad precedent in a constitutional republic. Senator McConnell may be slow, but he "ain't" stupid. So, I must give him credit for making the right call on an issue that shouldn't even be considered.

Just another day in the United States Senate, I guess. It's a body designed for vigorous debate but one which has been relegated to accomplishing nothing worthwhile. Maybe a term limitation on these windbags would do some good. At least the deadwood, the geezers who have lived at least half of their adult lives sleeping in the chamber, might finally be forced to head for the retirement homes that they need. As Rand Paul said a few years ago, the "stale and mossy" Senate could use an airing out.

Comey's Book: Better Find a Different Line of Work, James

4/16/2018

So, James Comey's supposed bombshell book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership" has now been presented to the public via ABC and George Stephanopoulos and hits the streets today. The former FBI Director, a man who thinks he is so important that he is sure everyone will agree with his wisdom, is about to face the music of public opinion full force and it is likely to be very negative. Oh, he will have his supporters, largely drawn from the group of "Never Trumpers" and the Left, but even they really don't like him. All you have to do is remember when they thought Comey was coming down on Hillary with the full force of the law and they voiced disgust with him. Let's face it, he just isn't a very likable guy with his display of arrogance and self-righteousness.

Beyond those things, the book is downright trite and filled with venom and hatred. He talks about the President's hand size (we know the connotation of that), how he had a orange glow from his tan which left white circles around his eyes where the tanning goggles. He even comments he felt uncomfortable in the presence of a man he thinks is akin to a "Mafia Boss." He went so far as to say that the President isn't morally qualified to hold the office, conveniently forgetting the sins of others in the past. Yet, he also talks about his own purity, his higher loyalty to the truth and his leadership of the FBI, but today we see an FBI that still has a number of officals who remain out of control and out of touch with their mission. A quick look back at the actions leading up to his Comey's firing and his book make it clear that this man must be on some kind of heavy duty Kool Aid, for his comments nowhere resemble reality.

Back when Hillary was getting going in her campaign and ethical and other problems were surfacing, the FBI began to look at her computer emails and server problems when it become clear she was doing something out of the ordinary. Also, of course, the Uranium One issue came up involving a seeming pay for play scheme where Russia would get rights to twenty-percent of our uranium in return for who knows what. The who came out later and it involved heavy donations to the Clinton charity to the tune of one hundred and fifty million dollars. These played out for months but the FBI was investigating and no one knew what would ultimately follow.

During that period leading up the the 2016 election Clinton was questioned by Congress and the FBI. She was never under oath and when the FBI finally decided they needed a more formal discussion she was even allowed to have her attorney and her confidante, Cheryl Mills, present with her. Again, she was never put under oath and that final meeting with her was on July 5, 2016. Now we've learned from the slowly released email records that Comey and his chief investigator on the case, Peter Strzock, were drafting her exoneration letter in May, two months before her final hearing. Contrast that with the treatment of Donald Trump's staff member General Flynn who was never even told that the discussion was an interview, conducted when an FBI agent dropped in to the White House informally.

Of course, Comey reopened the Clinton case suddenly not long before the election and quickly closed it again, saying nothing was out of order. And through it all he stuck to his original press statement that he found significant problems with Clinton's handling of the emails but, in the end, he didn't think sufficient issues were found to warrant legal action. Come on, Mr. Comey, she had an unsecured computer in her home with access to classified documents. No one in government service, elected, appointed or otherwise is granted that authority under the Federal Code. And when the documents disappeared after being subpoenaed, what should have taken place was obvious, but it didn't.

And then there is the Russia collusion problem and the appointment of a Special Counsel, something which Comey said was the reason for releasing his self-prepared memos about his confidential meetings with Trump. Justice Department rules don't authorize that; Comey was sending documents created on government time with a government computer about conversations with the leader of the Free World and releasing them to a friend to leak to the press, which was done quickly. Those documents were federal property, not Comey's personal possessions. He's admitted sending them and he's even admitted that the infamous dossier which started the Special Counsel activity wasn't even validated.

Earth to Comey, you can't use an unverified document as the basis for a FISA court warrant, yet you personally approved it. And then isn't it interesting that the man who, from that beginning, one Robert Mueller, Comey's mentor at the FBI, was selected for the job. This is just too cozy for comfort, including the make-up of Mueller's team with the likes of Peter Strzock and his mistress Lisa Page (Trump hating email partners) and Andrew Weisman. Weisman has a dismal track record in legal matters including the Enron-Arthur Anderson case over a decade ago which shuttered a large company and ended the employment of nearly ten thousand employees. And the case was overturned on appeal by the Supreme court unanimously, 9-0.

I won't even go into details on the supposedly pure Robert Mueller's past as a federal prosecutor where his actions in Boston cost the taxpayers one hundred million dollars. All you have to do is look up the Whitey Bulger, mobster extraordinaire and his service as a federal informant to put those pieces together. And all of these things and all of these people are now joined together because of one thing: Hillary couldn't face the reality of losing and James Comey wants to get even with the President of the United States for winning. Believe what you want, folks, but the case they are trying to build with little if any evidence against Donald Trump is so one-sided and biased that when it hits the fan, it will look like a block of swiss cheese which exploded. There will be extra holes in it everywhere.

And finally, why did Comey use "A Higher Loyalty" as the title for his book and to whom is that loyalty? Well, it's really simple. His loyalty certainly isn't to Truth. His loyalty is to James Comey, who thinks purely of himself and self-promotion. And it should be clear early on in this book that he should have never been made the head of the nation's premier investigative arm of the law. But, having said that I do hope he makes a lot of money from sale of his book. He's going to need it later for a very good criminal defense attorney. And it will all come in due time, all in due time.

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: God and Liars

4/14/2018

Mr. Pinocchio: His shadow knows the truth

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
- The First Commandment, from Exodus 2 (NKJV)

Perhaps no picture can be more representative of lying than the modern day representation of a Pinocchio-like character, likely speaking to his client about how great his product is while his shadow shows a growing nose. And that is a perfect representation of how the use of lies grows and it creates problems for the liar because he has to remember each of his lies so that he doesn't trip himself up. Usually, he does at some point forget what he said and then all the lies begin to show. If he told the truth in the first place, he wouldn't have to remember it.

One day recently I was in a conversation with a friend and we talked about the prevalence for lying in everything today, from students at school and people in business to politicians of all stripes and at all levels. Lately it seems as if lies are the rule rather than the exception. He voiced his view that liars need to be identified and called out, but I responded that would mean all of us had to be called out.

"What do you mean, all of us," he answered with surprise. "I'm not a liar and I hope you aren't either."

I smiled but responded, "Of course, I'm a liar and so are you. And while I don't like to tell lies, sometimes they just slip out and I work hard to correct my mistake. But if you think you've never told a lie, I feel sorry for you on Judgment Day."

After a while, he understood my drift but insisted that "little white lies" are not really lies, they just avoid pain that the truth sometimes causes. But I told him that God wants us to strive for perfection, and like it or not, "little white lies" are, after all, lies just the same. And then I said most of us have committed lies that we don't recognize as lies as we try to improve ourselves and advance in our secular society. That's why the opening quotation from the Ten Commandments is included.

In our modern world and often without knowing it, we create false gods that we worship instead of the real God. Maybe it's putting our all into climbing the corporate ladder, or maybe it's the student that will do anything to get straight A's so he or she can get into a top notch college. Often it's the drive for more money and all of the material trappings that come with it since that is such a factor of measuring success in our modern world. Whatever it is, the point is that when our focus is on such things instead of what God wants us to do, we have fallen into a trap ourselves where God is no longer put in first place as He expects.

Then, of course, there are the other nine commandments which say no to such things as adultery, bearing false witness, honoring our parents, coveting something our neighbor has and more, things which require us also to lie to cover up what we have done. And no mortal on this earth hasn't been guilty of some form of lying that he or she will have to answer for in the end.

But the good news is that God loves us anyway and if we change our ways and strive to put Him first, meaning working our hardest to do what He wants us to do, He will forgive us. He knows that we make mistakes since were are all sinners, He just wants us to recognize our errors and correct them for Him.

Telling lies or seeking truth: which direction do we want to go? It's all up to each of us individually to make the right decision. If we choose YES, and His grace and love will open the Gates of Heaven. NO will not be a good alternative, but we can make it if we want as long as we are willing to suffer the consequences. Life has meaning but it also has consequences, some can be heavenly and others can be dark. Choose wisely, my friends, choose wisely.

So, What is the Real Reason Paul Ryan Will Not Run Again?

4/12/2018

By now, any American with even a minimal interest in politics knows that Paul Ryan has decided not to run for reelection later this year. The pundits, particularly those in the main stream media, are gleeful, claiming that Ryan knows Republicans will lose control of the House in November and he doesn't want to be the Minority Leader of the House. Ryan himself says it's so he can see more of his children, yet after nearly two decades in Congress, he has been a weekend only father for nearly twenty years. I think there's much more to it than that.

Despite his eager support for the Tax Bill which became law, Ryan has been a thorn in the side of the President in almost every other endeavor. Oh, he smiled and said nice things to his face, but behind the scene he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were more interested in stopping the President's agenda than following the duly elected leader of his party and the nation. The true colors became obvious when he deceived the President on the Omnibus Budget Bill and whisked it through with nary a care for the wishes of so many Republican congressmen. Just like his predecessor, John Boehner, as Speaker of the House he gave lip service to we, the people while catering to the likes of K Street and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Much of Trump's agenda has been stymied, including the Border Wall, defunding Planned Parenthood and Fair Trade. It's only because Trump is courageous and hard charging that much of the Obama agenda has been stymied by undoing many of Obama's executive orders. And he's done it because it was on his campaign promise list which got him elected. And much of the obstacle has come from Ryan himself, quietly and with smile as he undercut the President's plans.

Now the media likes to tell us that there is a Blue Wave coming, yet it's the very same pundits who predicted a Hillary landslide that cast doom on the Grand Old Party. Now granted, there are an extremely large number of Republican incumbents who have chosen not to run for reelection, but what is the real cause? Is it because they think what Trump is doing is not palatable and there is not a winning cause or is it because they know they haven't been true to their promises? Trump hasn't failed to deliver, the Establishment has by supporting the lobbyist and political class instead of the people who are now aware of it. I put Ryan right in the middle of this group as is Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader.

The determining factor in the House will be the quality of the candidate that the GOP puts up as the replacement. If they go the RINO route, then yes, the Democrats could win, but even that could be a stretch if Trump can get the campaign committees of both Houses of Congress to realize they will be cutting their own throat if they don't wake up to the base. I will admit that could be a big if, but I can't believe that many in America, save the true believer liberal group, can really stomach the idea of Nancy Pelosi or another aging leftist like Steny Hoyer to lead the House.

And then there's the Senate, where right now five Democratic incumbents in red states are trailing in the polls. Granted, there is a long time before election day, but candidates like McCaskill in Missouri, Heitkamp in North Dakota, Manchin in West Virginia, just to name three, are in serious trouble right now. And with Trump currently five points higher in the polls at this point in his first term than Obama was in his first term(source: Rasmussen, a very accurate pollster), I wouldn't bet the farm on Democrats gaining anything in the Senate. It's more likely they'll lose ground if the national Republicans have enough sense to look a the tea leaves. That on it's own, however, is always a big if since the Party has a habit of stabbing itself in the heart frequently.

And getting back to Ryan, I'm sure he'll get a big gig from K Street and make a fortune. And with his wife a high dollar Washington attorney who decided to be a stay at home mom at least for now, they'll be rolling in the dough. Ryan's problem was he can't win because he didn't do what he said he'd do and I think he did it in cahoots with McConnell, who never sticks to what he runs on each time he's up for reelection. You see, Ryan could afford to pass a bill when he knew the Senate wouldn't also pass it. It gave him cover.

Can I predict the outcome of an election in seven months? No, I don't think so, but I know that the forgotten flyover people of American people wanted what Trump ran on. And when Ryan presented the Omnibus Budget bill to Trump with his blessing, then did his deed in the dark of night to "pork it up" even more, I think that was his final straw. You can agree with me or not but it is as logical as all of the absurd guesses that the Washington "hangers-on" can make. So, I'll just stick to it.

Sovereignty: An American National Right

4/11/2018

Starting after the Eisenhower Administration and gradually ramping up steam, the weakening of enforcement of American immigration laws and border security has been a fact of life. With the onset of the Obama Administration, the process went on steroids, leaving us today with a nation that practically has no national borders from a practical standpoint and our immigration programs have become a sham. Open borders has been the resultant order of the day with "catch and release" allowing new arrivals go on their way within the country with a promise of reporting for a court hearing later. The "no show" for the court date has been so high that we no longer have any semblance of a count of how many illegal aliens are now in the country.

One of the key campaign issues that drove Donald Trump to run for President of the United States was his desire to get our border and access through it under control, returning the nation to a nation of immigration laws not "do gooder" insanity. The President knows as do most Americans that a nation without borders is not a nation at all and that those supporting the concept of a One World Order have, as a major objective, the end of national sovereignty. And now, with Congress unwilling to do what is required, both due to Democratic opposition and the sell-out of Republican leaders for their own personal power and riches, the President has been left with the position that he must do whatever it takes unilaterally to stop the madness. Over the last few days he and key members of his Administration have done just that and while the howls are being heard from the usual suspects, the overwhelming majority of Americans are cheering him on.

The media wants us instead to focus on the collusion that wasn't (unless you are referring to Hillary) and the stormy weather that comes named Daniels that is such a waste of time. The same people who said that what Bill Clinton did was okay now profess outrage that Mr. Trump would have a one night fling twelve years ago. And while I might not agree with what he did, he certainly didn't force himself on anyone, unlike Bill Clinton on multiple occasions, but, of course, to Democrats anything Clinton did was "different," whatever that means.

So, to protect our citizens, our border, and our national sovereignty, Trump has now ordered the National Guard to the border in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, the latter of which is trying to defy him. And he's also made it clear that U.S. Attorneys will no longer be able to operate under a the catch and release concept and they have been put on notice from Attorney General Sessions. These are common sense short term solutions, short of a Congress with the intestinal fortitude to support the President and the will of a large majority of Americans. I salute him and I pray for the success and safety of our National Guard troops and the Border Patrol agents who are determined to get the job done.

God bless America and may her flag ever fly high and may she always be free and sovereign. And for those who want to come to America I will add, do it the right way and meet the legal standards and you will be welcomed with open arms. If you truly want to be an American with allegiance to the nation you would like to join, desirous of learning English and assimilating into the American culture, the opportunities are there. But you are not entitled to be here, it is a privilege to be a naturalized American. God bless those who come the honorable way. We need people like that.

Who's That Knocking at Our Door?

4/10/2018

Holding that frightened little dog in the heart of the storm.

Beginning in late afternoon and continuing well into the evening yesterday, we had a real "gullywasher" here in North Florida. It rained off and on all day, but by late afternoon the skies turned from gray to nearly black as the heavy stuff set in. The rain was as hard as I've ever seen it around here and the dark clouds were nearly stationary for an extended time. I learned this morning that the total was six inches, causing the pasture to flood while the outdoor animals headed for their usual hiding places in the garage or barn.

Just before darkness set in, my wife and I were watching a video while having a bite to eat and she decided to take a look out and see how much water was in the pasture while it could still be seen. As she opened the main door to look out through the glass storm door, she saw something running to her. It was a cute little dog, wet and afraid in the thunderstorm and he ran right up to the door. My modern day Doctor Dolittle stepped outside, scooped up the little fellow and brought him in to give shelter from the weather. After drying him, she looked at his collar which listed his name, Lucas, and a phone number. No one answered the phone when she called the number so she left a text message about Lucas.

Within a short time, she got a message back, identifying the owner as the visiting niece of a neighbor who said she would pick the dog up as soon as she could get out of the driveway. Out here where we live, entrances to rural properties often flood and preclude passage for hours at a time. It's just one of the shortcomings in an otherwise glorious place to live.

The rain went on unabated half of the night, so we fed Lucas and he quickly made friends with our own dogs. At bedtime he curled up beside our bed like he'd been here forever and this morning he followed me around like my shadow. He even accompanied me to the barn for horse feeding time, even in more rain. Having someone with him made him feel secure.

It's amazing how things work out when you love and live with a woman who has an uncanny way with animals, be they dogs, cats, horses and even birds and he occasional wild thing in pain. And after having a number of lost and frightened domestic animals show up to visit us over the years we've been together, I truly believe there must be a neon sign which follows my Doctor Dolittle wherever she goes. It must be unseen by humans, but the animals find it and know that they will be welcomed here. It must be right at the end of our lane where it reaches the paved roadway. And little lost Lucas saw it and headed down the lonely wet lane, knowing that there would be help when he followed that sign.

The happy ending came just a few short hours ago when his owner drove up to the gate to retrieve her little dog. And as I handed her Lucas and she pulled in to turn around, little Lucas was standing at the passenger side window wagging his tail at me. He was a joy for that short visit and I'm glad that we helped him through a stormy night and I'm sure that unseen neon sign will direct other poor creatures to our door when they need help. When you are married to a Doctor Dolittle, that's as it should be.

Sunday Morning Coming Down: Now You See Him, Now You Don't

4/8/2018

Mary recognizes the risen Christ.

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
- Acts 1:9-11

When Jesus arose from the dead in the tomb donated by Josepth of Arimathea, he walked out of the tomb in a new body. He was able to be seen or not seen and he was not constrained by physical limitations, now capable of walking through walls or any physical obstruction. It was as God intended, for He knew that now that His Son had died and been resurrected, it was important to leave sufficient evidence of His existence to help doubters believe by faith. The faith was the first necessary ingredient since His being alive was passed by the verbal tradition. There were no cameras or other equipment items to support the claim, but those who witnessed it spread the word for the entire world to behold.

There was Mary at the tomb that Resurrection Day morning, besieged by sadness which turned to tears of joy once she recognized Him. There were the two men on the road to Emmaus who walked and talked with Him and only recognized Him when He broke bread at an inn with them. And then, of course, there were the disciples gathered in the upper room, fearful of capture by the Temple soldiers who were looking for Him, desiring to eliminate anyone who tried to continue what they considered the nonsense of this King of the Jews, this Jesus. But then, as if out of nowhere, Jesus was beside them in the gathering room. And later He even convinced Thomas, the doubter, when he saw Him and put his hand on the miraculously healed nail marks on His hands and His pierced side.

There were a number of other occasions where He was seen before the time would come for His Ascension back into heaven. After all, He remained on this earth in His new body for forty days. But even then, He left His word about His coming return, when He would return to rule the world for one thousand years, coming back in the same way as He ascended.

The entire point was to give us enough evidence to believe by faith in Jesus as Lord and accept His gift of grace, love and salvation that He offered through death. Each of us has to decide for ourselves, but is there really any viable other reason why we would be put on this earth at birth, living in a place where so much suffering and hardship takes place, yet a place which allows us to grow in stature and wisdom if we accept what He offers. It's a free will choice, ours for the asking. What will you decide? Don't put off your decision until it's too late.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and open our hearts to the joys and the love that believing by faith in Him can bring to each and every one of us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.