Tag Archives: heaven

Holy Zamboni!

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This week was a first for me. I taught my son how to use the riding lawn mower.

It was cool to see him drive the tractor. He is 16 so maybe this will inspire a driver’s license push?!?!

Riding Mowers & Lawn Tractors | Troy-Bilt US

He didn’t want to learn last year when I asked him about it. But the other day, he said he was ready.

It was fulfilling to pass along this little part of living to my son.

After all, I won’t be here forever.

I am not trying to be morbid here. Just realistic.

As parents, don’t we have the responsibility (and ability) to pass along what we have learned?

What have I learned? Time will tell.

Heaven does not have grass which needs to be mowed. The knowledge my son now has about the mowing will not have any bearing on his soul.

But the idea that I can pass along lawn mowing experience means that I can also pass on life and spiritual knowledge as well.

I just pray that any eternal truths will take root in his heart.

As an encouragement, pass along the right, true, and beautiful things that you know.

P.S. I wonder if…instead of riding lawn mowers there are riding gold polishing machines?!?! Holy Zamboni!

24/7/365

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In the USA, yesterday was Memorial Day. This day (going back to the Civil War) is a day when we remember/celebrate/honor fallen soldiers.

These men and women have given their lives in service of this country.

They died so we could be free.

It is fitting that we, as a country, recognize this sacrifice.

Freedom has cost the lives of millions of soldiers throughout the years.

To experience that freedom is somewhat humbling. Even more so because I have never been in the military.

I am certainly not saying that we are perfect and that our country has it all together.

But I am thankful that I am living here.

There is another place that is experiencing freedom as well.

This place has tremendous joy. All of its citizens are perfect.

In fact, there is no crying, pain, or hardships of any kind.

You may have already guessed it but I speak of heaven.

Heaven will be my future home. This home, earth, is just a stop on the road of eternity.

The bible references heaven numerous times. So much so that there is not time in this post to look at all of those passages.

But what I do have time for is to explain why I am going to heaven.

Jesus fought and died in the ultimate war. He is a fallen hero.

His death paved the way for freedom and ultimately, heaven.

That battle is over now. Jesus is not in the grave anymore. He is risen!

The bible explains how Jesus is now in heaven preparing for us a place.

For eternity.

We will be with Him for all of time.

And so when Memorial Day comes around and we honor those who have fallen, let’s not forget the One who died for our spiritual freedom as well.

For those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, everyday is memorial day.

Monkey and Banana

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YOU have probably heard about a rather interesting method they sometimes use when trying to catch a monkey for the zoo. It seems that trappers take a small cage out into the jungle. Inside the cage they place a bunch of bananas and then they close it, locking the bananas inside. Now a monkey coming along and spotting the bananas, will reach through the narrow rungs of the cage and grab a banana. But he can’t get it out. And no matter how hard he tries – twisting his hand back and forth – he can’t pull his hand through the rungs while hanging on to the banana. And even with the approaching trappers he won’t let go of the banana. For the trappers, it’s simply a matter then, of coming up and grabbing the monkey. Now if you were standing there in the jungle, watching all of this happen, and wanted to save the monkey, you might yell in exasperation, “Drop the Banana!” 

 

 

 

This was taken from an article on Foundations Magazine. Here is the link for the entire article: “Drop the Banana!”

I wanted to start with article because it reminds me of me. I am the monkey.

The banana represents things that I want. It could be anything I desire. And, if I happen to obtain it, I don’t want to let go.

I would suggest that all of us can be like the monkey.

How much of our life is spent in pursuit of the banana? Just for fun, write down how you spend your hours and days. You just might be surprised or even shocked.

If you feel you want to let go of whatever banana is in your hand, good thinking.

If you can’t let go, now is a great time for the Word

I Peter gives some much needed insight.

Here are verses 3-5 in the first chapter:

“3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”  I Peter 1:3-5

We have a new birth.

We have a living hope.

We have an inheritance.

Why in the world would we want a banana?!?!

As much as I write this for you, the reader, I write it for myself.

If I could sum up the Christian life, it might be something like this:

Keep letting go of the banana and turning back to God.

But why would I want to let go when the banana is so fulfilling?

We have a place that is being prepared for us. That’s why.

It can’t be spoiled, ruined, or removed. There is a guard watching it. The enemy cannot taint it in anyway. It is under God’s protection.

And it is reserved for us.

heaven

I don’t really know what heaven looks like but I don’t need to know.

I just need to let go of the banana and trust God in the rest.

 

 

Lent, pt. 36

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Long day for me.

long day meme

It was one of those days that was full. Nothing bad, just full.

I watched my daughter get honored in a D.A.R.E. graduation.

There was a board meeting at church.

I also waited tables at the Olive Garden.

All of this made for a crazy day.

So now, I just sat down on the couch to write this blog.

Feels good to sit down.

Resting here reminds me of someone else who sat down.

“1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV Underline mine

These are some of my favorite verses.

In short, Jesus did his work and then he sat.

Sat down at his place in heaven.

In my opinion, this means that the work is complete.

Purification from sins…that is what Jesus did.

That makes me happy.

Thank you Jesus and good night!

 

Lent, pt. 21

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,” NIV I Peter 1:3-4

These verses were on my mind today.

I am going to put Lent aside for a while.

Day-to-day living can be so many things.

Today was pretty good. My students were lively and entertaining today. We seemed to accomplish much in the way of learning.

I went to Smart Cow with my wife and daughter after dinner.

smart cow

Some days, life is good. This reminds me of the inheritance that is spoken of by Peter in those verses above.

Heaven will be completely fantastic. Nothing on earth can compare.

But it is days like these that I get a small glimpse of what it will be like.

Thank you Lord for making a place for me.