The Pursuit of Perfection and the Thrill of Victory!

Every few years the Olympics comes around and becomes the centerpiece of global culture. In a world filled with crime, war, poverty, and injustice, the spectacle of seeing people who have dedicated major portions of their lives to excelling at a physical discipline and rising to the highest levels of human achievement is not only a welcome distraction.  It is inspirational, uplifting, and even awe inspiring! Seeing someone spin in the air more times than you can count, then land on a slippery surface on 1/8" wide blade of steel and do it with grace is a stunning sight to see! Watching people sled on ice at 90 mph with no real steering mechanism and their face inches from the ground seems surreal... or downhill racers going at similar speeds standing on two high tech beams at the hairy edge between control and disaster...  it makes you wonder what drives them to put everything on the line with such rare abandon. While motivations vary and are often deeply personal, attaining the 'perfect run' and experiencing the 'thrill of victory' is one common fuel that keeps them focused and driven. There is something in us that longs for perfection, whether we experience it ourselves or see it in others.

There is a paradox of human experience that few people can really explain. When we see something so beautiful, powerful, wondrous and moving that we are filled with joy... why is it a very common response to weep... to be moved to tears? Tears are typically associated with sadness, yet in our most transcendent and happy moments, we often cry. While still in high school, I came across (and wrote a paper on) the writings of a French (first a Protestant, then agnostic, then Catholic) philosopher named Jacques Maritain who had the best explanation I had ever heard before or since. As I recall, his explanation was that we all long for Heaven, for God's reign, for perfection.  When we get a glimpse of perfection in this damaged world, that deep and potent connection with everything we long for is made for a moment, then broken. In that moment of transcendent joy we weep with sadness as we begin to experience the inevitable loss of what we know is slipping through our fingers, knowing that we are powerless to stop it. We have touched Heaven itself, and now we are being torn from it kicking and screaming as the world pulls us back to it's harsh reality. It all happens in a moment, an instant, faster than we can comprehend, and we are left wondering what just hit us as we wipe the tears from our eyes. 

One thing that is interesting about this is that it has a lot in common with 'near death experiences' (NDEs).  Quite often when people 'die' and go to Heaven, they are so overwhelmed with the love and joy and perfection they experience, when they are asked (or told) about coming back to their earthly existence to finish out their purpose, that is the last thing they want! Despite being separated from family and friends and all of their 'stuff', they most frequently want to stay, and are sad, and even angry, when they have to leave Heaven to come back to life. Wanting to understand and experience the joys and wonders of Heaven myself (if not experientially, then vicariously), I started collecting videos of people who have had NDEs (or waking dreams) whereby they went to Heaven and then came back to tell about it. I put together a YouTube channel (check it out here) with this collection which currently has over 50,000 hits and counting, so I guess I am not the only one intrigued by this phenomenon. 

So what does it all mean? How can we use this information to bring more meaning and purpose to our lives? How can we tap into that powerful force that drives athletes in their pursuit of excellence? How can we 'touch Heaven', achieve that 'perfect run', and experience 'the thrill of victory' again and again in our lives? The first Olympics were held in Greece in 776 BC, so the Apostle Paul (being a Roman citizen and speaking Greek) would have been well acquainted with the Olympics (although 'Winter Olympics' hadn't been invented yet). He states, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air", and "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." He also said, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace", and, near the end of his life, proclaimed, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." Paul saw himself and us as spiritual athletes striving for rewards that will last forever!

Bottom line? Jesus endured the most difficult course (of events) ever imagined... the cross. How?  Like top athletes, by keeping his eyes on the prize of the joy that was set before him (sitting at the right hand of God). We are encouraged to follow His example and keep our eyes on Him, the one who will reward us for all the good we have done as we stand on the podium. A true athlete feels reward from discipline, progress, and incremental success, but ultimately strives for that 'Gold Medal' (historically it was a victory wreath or crown). Christ reminded us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Getting to Heaven is one thing... gathering crowns and other rewards to be held until you arrive is another. Paul refers to a number of 'crowns' (or victory wreaths) to be attained for things like self-discipline, perseverance in difficulty, spiritual leadership, witnessing and discipleship, faithfulness even unto death, and looking forward to the return of Christ. Christ saves us by His grace if we make him Lord and Savior, but if we are faithful in doing good no matter what, we will have great reward in Heaven! We can strive for 'perfection' in our walk with God each day... with our ear open to the guidance of our coach, the Holy Spirit, we can live in faith, hope and love, following the example of our Lord and his most committed spiritual athletes. We can raise our sights toward our heavenly calling and keep our eye on the ​heavenly rewards that not only will outshine anything this world could offer, but they will last for eternity! Perfect everlasting rewards are within our grasp! Lift up your eyes and go for the gold!

But wait... There's more! We who have faith also have daily access to experience perfection, to get a glimpse of Heaven, to live under God's reign through a living relationship with our perfect Creator... through prayer, through study of God's Word, and through Holy Spirit inspired action. We can experience perfection every time we seek and find His holiness. When the Love of God is real to you, you will keep coming back again and again, and find strength, power and wisdom (when you need it most) by dwelling in His presence. As Isaiah said,

"He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,    

they will walk and not be faint."

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

GOD's 'Navy Seals'!

As we sit in the comfort of our warm homes, our quiet existence of 'picket fences', cable TV, home shopping networks, of fun times, parties and vacations, there are men and women who have forsaken all of that to go into months of incredibly difficult disciplined and often painful training and then go into battle, face the horrors of war, and risk injury or even death in order to confront and overcome enemies that threaten our freedoms, our liberties, our way of life. Why would they do that? When life could be so much easier, they jump with amazing courage into the front lines of the battle without hesitation. Whether we agree with their cause or not, we have to admire their courage, their bravery, their willingness to face enormous hardship in order to protect that which they believe to be right   and good.

In that context, imagine, if you will, an alternate reality where there are thousands of different races, species, and planets. Imagine that we are 'beings of light' who have been given an opportunity to enter the physical realm and either live a simple easy life of basic comfort on one of those planets, or, alternately, join the battle between good and evil, to become part of an elite force, to fight against demons, to either fall before an evil enemy or cut them down with the sword of the Spirit! What would you do? Would you take the easy road and live a simple good life, or rise up, put on the armor of God and go into battle? The few, the courageous, the willing, run headlong into battle, knowing that, if they survive, they will be rewarded with honor and positions of authority and noble responsibility, having proven that they can overcome evil and therefore having the qualifications required to rule and reign with Him.

Now imagine that YOU have made the choice to take the hard road. Imagine that you chose to be dropped into battle with the additional knowledge that you will have to face that battle with no memory of your mission, of your past, of your heritage, and that only faith in God can lead you to victory. It's a high stakes gamble, because if you lose, the consequences are severe, but if you win, the prize is beyond earthly comprehension. Imagine that you are living this now, that your journey in this evil, corrupt, magnificent, amazing world is your time to shine... your time to prove what you are made of, your time to rise up against the odds and snatch victory from the forces of darkness! What if this is not just a wild fantasy? What if you are a 'being of light' that has chosen to become part of God's 'Navy Seals'? If you became aware that you had chosen to live life on the front lines (and often behind enemy lines), if you awakened to your true identity, how would you live your life differently?

Would you be a warrior for good or just sit on the sidelines? Would you fight with all you have for love, right, truth, and justice or retreat to your sofa watching audio visual junk food while the world around you descends into chaos? Would you wake each morning seeking the wisdom and guidance needed to confront the challenges of the day or be just too busy to spend time with God? Would you stand tall as a faithful ambassador of Christ, living with honor, courage, integrity, and character, reaching out in love and helping those in need, honoring and giving praise to God, or would you live life for your own aggrandizement? Would you open the eyes of the spiritually blind, heal the spiritually lame, and lead the lost to the way, the truth, and the life, the Lord of Creation? Christ himself promised that if we are faithful in the small things given us to do in this world, we will be given great responsibility and authority in the new kingdom.

Could this be one possible explanation as to why we live in such an often difficult and challenging world? Is life tough? So is boot camp. Does life seem unfair? War is not fair... we are in an epic battle between good and evil! Are you wounded and in pain? Seek the great medic, healer and bringer of life. It's not just about you and your 'prosperity'. It is about the choices you make and how you impact those around you. Will you seek to serve God with honor, or serve yourself? Whether this is the real back story or not, we may not know until we cross over, but we do know that this life is our testing ground. We will show what we are made of... for better or worse. Worried that you have fallen short? That is why Jesus came and died for us sinners, so that we could be set free from sin by repenting and changing for the better, so stand up and get back into the fight! Now is the time. Awake, you that sleep. Arise, and fight the good fight. When that final day comes and your life is laid bare for all to see, may you, like Paul, be able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Here is a challenge...  Ask yourself right now, how would you live life differently if you knew that you were a member of God's 'Elite Force', His 'Seal Team 7'? Take out a piece of paper and write down at least 5 -10 things you would do to sharpen your spiritual skills, increase your effectiveness at overcoming evil and doing good, and be the best you can be (i.e. like New Years resolutions... if you will), then commit to it! Make this an ongoing, periodic, progressive process, becoming better every day!

You are God's Warrior!

 "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." 

II Timothy 2:3,4

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

II Corinthians 10:3,4

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Ephesians 6:10-13

Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.

I Corinthians 16:13,14

The Most Powerful Force in the Universe!

What is the most powerful force in the universe? A hurricane? A volcano? Stars? Black holes? Supernovas? Gamma bursts? The simple answer is, 'none of the above'. The most powerful force in the universe is L-O-V-E.  Why?  Stars burn out. Black holes suck. Supernovas and gamma bursts are a flash in the pan of eternity.  All are subject to the ravages of time and will eventually fade away... but Love is eternal. Love never fails. The one who made the trillions of stars, the Creator of all creation, the one who started it all identifies Himself as Love. Take it from the Good Book...'God is Love. Whoever lives in Love lives in God, and God in them.'

The idea that Love is the greatest power in the universe seems paradoxical, as we think of love as soft, gentle, kind, compassionate, and associate Love with images like flowers, hearts, puppy dogs and enamoured couples... hardly the stuff that shakes the cosmos. It is clear that we have a small minded view of Love. Why is the moon's orbit perfect, so that it does not fly off into space or crash into the earth destroying all life? Love. Why isn't the earth's orbit just a little off causing it to crash into the sun? Love. Why are the rings of Saturn 180,000 km in diameter and less than 1 km thick.. what keeps them in their beautiful form? Love. Why does the sound of crickets slowed down sound like angels singing (check it out.... this is amazing!!!)? Love. Why are flowers beautiful? Why do birds sing? Why do leaves go out in a blaze of glory, rather than just wither and die? Why are the most beautiful scenes on the planet scenes of natural beauty? Love. The invisible nature of God's love is made known by the visible beauty and wonder of the universe that He created.  Because God is Love, because God loves, He made you and me.  Whether you were your parent's heart's desire or an 'accident', God made you because of His Love... you are loved by God more than you could ever imagine! Whether you had a great childhood or suffered neglect and abuse, God loves you and has deep compassion for you.  He understands you better than you understand yourself and loves you far more than you could ever love yourself! Don't worry... be happy!!!

Having studied hundreds of near death experiences (I have a YouTube channel with virtually nothing but NDE testimonies.... check it out!), I can tell you that universally the most powerful, overwhelming, awe inspiring, humbling, enlightening awareness that people experience when they transition into the higher reality is the awesome power of God's Love. It changes people. They come back and tell about God's Love to anyone that will listen. They stop focusing on money and career and looking for 'a good time', and instead start treating those around them in profoundly new ways. Every opportunity to do something kind for another is a little victory. It is living who we were meant to be, because we were meant to be followers of God.

Feeling fearful? Perfect love casts out fear. Feeling powerless? Love. Give. Do for others. Speak encouragement to family, friends, and even strangers that cross your path... maybe God brought them near to you because they needed encouragement, a word of kindness, or just to know that somebody cares about them. Are you blessed with financial abundance? You have the opportunity to consume it on self or use it to bless others... which do you think will reap eternal rewards? One blessed young man did just this by the simple act of giving $100 to random homeless people... the results were powerful and moving. Give to the poor and help them in their distress. Can't think of what to do? Pray for others. No selfless act of kindness will go unnoticed or unrewarded. Of course the greatest gift that any person could offer another is entrance into God's holy family and eternal life by introducing them to Jesus Christ, the one who exemplified Love in his every action as an example for us to follow (a well known atheist - Penn of 'Penn and Teller' - once met a man who showed him the love of God. Penn was both appreciative and deeply moved, and said, "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible, and not tell them that?"). Tell them! It is the most powerful Love we can give!

It is only fitting that I close out with the beautiful and majestically poetic 'Chapter of Love",  I Corinthians 13:

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is Love."

"This is Love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 
I John 3:10,11

Love. Ka-BOOM!

The Most Important Thing....

Spring is one of my favorite times of year... a time when that which seemed dead 'springs' to life again. Wooden skeletons bud and the green leaves that follow bring life and fullness to the formerly sparse and barren forests and meadows. Beautiful and fragrant flowers spontaneously burst forth from trees and gardens. It is a time to appreciate the joys and wonders of God's creation... to 'stop and smell the roses', per se. It is a time of renewal, of new life, and of new beginnings. I am convinced that it is no coincidence that the Lord of Creation was resurrected from death to a new and transformed life during the spring... it is as if the seasons were invented to remind us of the new life that sprang forth from the grave outside of Jerusalem, twenty centuries ago, still so fresh and powerful these many years later.

I recently reformatted my YouTube channel to focus exclusively on people that have 'temporarily died' and visited Heaven (and sometimes hell), then were 'resurrected'... or is some cases visited Heaven/hell sans NDE. In sorting through which videos to post, I have watched countless hours where time and time again, people described a world so much more alive, present, beautiful, and full of love than the world in which we live today.  For all of its wonder and beauty, the physical realm is a mere shadow and reflection of the spiritual world that those who have been there will tell you without hesitation, is ten times more real than the world in which we currently seem to exist. It is also a world where angels and demons are in bold opposition, and where Jesus Christ is simultaneously loving and and approachable, as well as being Lord and King of the Universe. I encourage you to visit the channel and share in these amazing and telling experiences. My channel handle is Truthrabbit, as I have lived in the rabbit hole of truth for a while, and this is a dimension that many have no clue about.

The adventure and drama of the greatest movies ever made (greatest books, greatest video games, etc.) cannot compare to the power and impact of the spiritual realm. The good and evil of this present matrix is magnified a hundred trillion times in the spiritual realm. The place where God, Jesus, the angels, and the redeemed live is called 'the third Heaven'.  This is not sequential in time, but rather layered in space, as it were. The 'first heaven' is the atmosphere around earth... the air we breath, the blue sky. The second heaven is primarily the realm of Satan and his demons (though they frequent the first heaven, the earth, and under the earth), and reaches out into the stars and galaxies (Are 'aliens' actually demons? That is the subject of a separate study). The Third Heaven is a place beyond the known universe, in another dimension, and a place where Satan and his demons cannot go. Some tell of traveling through the stars to get there, while others are there in an instant, so time and space are actually made irrelevant by its unique nature.

As full of love, joy, peace and light the kingdom if Heaven is, the realm of hell is its polar opposite... full of darkness, pain, anguish, and regret, and completely devoid of love. Though I have doubted the existence of hell in the past (and still am not sure of its permanence, at least in its current state, as hell itself is cast into the lake of fire which is called the second death), I can no longer doubt that hell is real, based on the consistency of the 'eyewitness testimonies'. Once a person is there, there is no escape, no redemption, no second chances. It is a place so horrible and frightening that no description can fully capture the hopelessness, fear, agony and emptiness of this realm. What is even more alarming (per numerous accounts) is the number of people that thought they were going to Heaven that end up in hell! Our Lord was not just being dramatic when he declared, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it... Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" In this age of the church of Laodicea only a small percentage will actually make it to Heaven (one 'traveler' estimated that it worked out to about 2.5% of the population). If that is not a wake up call, I don't know what is!

People plan for vacations, they plan for retirement, they plan for the future... but few people plan for eternity. Of primary concern, above all the sandcastles of this world, is your final destination!  Commune with those who have visited Heaven and hell, and the preferred option and the importance of making sure you get there is crystal clear. One cannot take it for granted, and get lazy and lukewarm. First of all, make sure Jesus Christ is you Lord. That means you put Him in charge of your life, that you seek above all things to do His will... not (if it contradicts God's will) the will your father, your mother, your husband or wife, your kids, your boss, and specially yourself... the will of these are secondary and subservient to the will of God. How do you do this? Consistent time in His Word, consistent prayer, consistently seeking his direction, looking for opportunities to help others, to be kind, to be a blessing, to do good, to share the gospel, and then doing it. If you screw up, sincerely repent, commit to never doing it again, do your best to 'make it right', and then continue to be 'transformed by the renewing of your mind'.  Remember, only he that DOES the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of Heaven.

There is nothing more important in life than securing your final destination, and secondly, positioning yourself for the best possible outcome when you get there. Once there, your status is pretty much established, and there is not much more you can do to change it. Your choices now determine your destiny in eternity... whether you live forever in a glorious mansion living a life beyond your wildest dreams, or not. This is our 'final exam', the clock is ticking, and the bell could ring anytime, so stay focused on your heavenly treasures. The greatest achievement is bringing others into the kingdom and helping them to achieve spiritual maturity, and living a godly, holy life of praise, worship and communion with our Creator. When you finally get to Heaven, what could be more important, more wonderful, more fulfilling, than hearing the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"!  That is ultimate apex of existence!

Up, Up, and Away!

I think most of us have had childhood dreams of flying. I used to dream that I could lift myself up off the ground and float around... that I could move forward and fly just above the ground, or float up and touch the ceiling. It was a wonderful feeling, being free of the constraints of gravity, the burden of matter.

Imagination could be just that, or it could be rooted in an alternate reality, a different dimension, a future state, a passion of the soul. We long to be free of constraints, of critical, judgmental eyes, of condemning judgments by the unenlightened, to do what is right and to feel accepted and appreciated. We long to play unconstrained by the usual suspects. We want to be free, to float above the din, to have the power to make a difference.

We were meant to be enlightened souls. Our spirits do not need to be constrained by gravity. We long to fly because we are not matter having a spiritual experience; we are spirits having a material experience.

Alas, many have become lost in the clamor of existence, consumed by the material. The day to day can become crushing. Not enough time, not enough money, not enough stuff. Got to get more. Got to do more. Busy, busy, busy, too busy to pray, too busy to be still and listen, too busy to rise above. STOP! This is the road to nothingness, or worse. What are we going to do with all this stuff when we are gone? He with the most toys loses the most toys. Life is wasted. Time is up. The ride is over and nothing remains. When your life and mine is over, what we did will be tested by fire. The fire will consume anything that is made of straw and wood... only that which is built of rock (i.e. on "The Rock") will remain. Did we comfort the broken hearted, did we give when we saw someone in need, did we feed the poor, did we clothe the naked, pray for the sick, visit those in prison (literal or figurative)? Did we do it quietly, without seeking any recognition for our works? When we did it unto the least of God's children, we did it unto Him (and vice versa!). Did we pray often, praise often, study the Word of Truth daily, and seek to do His will? Those are the rocks. Those are the things that will last.

We are coming into a time in history when we are seeing many of the things the prophets foretold would happen in the 'end times'. 44% of Americans now believe the natural and man-made disasters could be (or are) a sign that this is the case. The cover of Newsweek this week boldly proclaimed "Armageddon Now". The very thought of this can be a shock to the soul... some protest violently against the idea, but if we are in the end time, things will happen, regardless of their protests. Many people 'come to Jesus' when they come down with a fatal illness, or are mortally wounded, when they can no longer deny their mortality. If we are in the end times, we may experience the mortality of all of humanity at once, and, if the prophets are right (and true prophets always are... that is the test of a prophet), it will be a violent and painful death for much of mankind. Is there an escape? Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me". According to the texts, those who are the true believers will be taken "Up, up, and away!" before the really nasty stuff goes down. They will be "rescued from the wrath to come".

Who are the true believers? I used to think it was anyone who 'confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, and believed God raised Him from the dead' that would go to heaven, regardless of how they lived the rest of their lives. It was an immature faith that is all too common in Christian circles today, much to our disgrace. The truth is that unless we daily work to purify our hearts like glass, to seek God's will with all that we have and all that we are, we have not made Christ Lord of our lives... it was just talk. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God". We will probably never (in this life) be perfect, but if we want to fly like superman before the big crash, we need to be committed. When the trumpet blows, I want to be on that rocket. By God's grace and mercy, the ticket to heaven is just above our heads. We need to reach up and hold on with everything we have, and never let go. "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we [the faithful] will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (I Cor 15). "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." (I Thes 4) If these are truely the last days, we could be the only people in history that did not have to pass through death to get to heaven. We could fly to heaven in transformed spiritual bodies! Up, up, and away!!!

Joy Unspeakable!

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” So said the Master of Life. I can tell you, He knows what He is talking about. What could be more joyful, more playful, more creative, more expressive, or more spontaneous than the heart of a child? To play, to laugh, to imagine, to sing, to dance... to experience the joy of living... that is heaven on earth. To have a pure heart that is thankful and full of reverence is more precious than fine gold. To know that we are loved by our Creator is nothing less than joy unspeakable, once we deeply comprehend what that means.

I have been reading a book called "Heaven is so Real!" by Choo Thomas. It is an international best seller, translated into several different languages, with over a million copies sold. It has transformed the lives of countless people by making real a place that people had barely been able to imagine. Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? In this wonderful book, she tells how she was taken there numerous times by the Lord of Life Himself, and she describes it in glorious detail. Streets of gold are just the beginning. There are mountains and crystal clear rivers and colorful fruit trees and playful animals and majestic mansions. It is a place beyond all that we could imagine, and it is there for those who seek after goodness and truth and the Creator of all things with the heart of a child. The author sings and dances and laughs and wonders at the joys and beauty laid out before her. It is this kind of heart that is rewarded. Selfishness, materialism, jealousy, power trips, ego, fear, worry, doubt... these lead to the destruction of the soul. Goodness and godliness are health to the soul. We choose the path we walk and bear the fruit of our choices. I highly recommend getting this book and reading it for yourself. Her testimony and the 'book on tape' are also available as videos for free on Google if you search "Heaven is so Real". Don't miss this chance!

Have you ever had a puppy? They know joy!!! They love to play and are so happy and joyful. It is a pleasure to come home and have them leap for joy when we arrive. They have such amazing love... it pours out of them like a fountain. I want to be like that. I want to have that kind of joy and love in my heart. I want to have the heart of a child, to sing, to dance, to play, to laugh and to love. What could be better than that?

Living spontaneously, joyfully, with an open and pure heart is what we were made for. To appreciate the Creator as well as the creation is our purpose. To do good, to care for the needy, to help the hurting, to heal the sick and wounded, to have compassion and understanding is our calling. To speak the truth in love to those than need to hear it is our mission. We can be creative and expressive and loving and live a life that is not only rewarding now, but also in the higher level of existence that the faithful will attain in the future. We live in the matrix... the material realm is a crumbling illusion. The true reality is spiritual. When we seem to be surrounded by earthquakes and floods and nuclear disasters and the world seems to be spinning into chaos, the answer, the freedom, the liberty, the peace we seek will not be found in matter. It is found in a simple song of praise that elevates you above the matrix. Joy unspeakable is yours if you have the heart of a child!