King's Crown II

1.  "literal" hell and heaven?

Is hell a hot furnace?  Is heaven a cloudy place with harps and golden streets?  The Bible says little about the physical attributes of either place.  The book of Revelation pictures heaven as a praise-filled city with streets of gold and pearly gates.  Revelation uses these images to communicate the ideas of beauty and fellowship with God.  Revelation also refers to the devil and evil people being destroyed in a lake of fire.  Jesus Himself spoke of the fire of hell--the idea being that the person apart from God is in agony.  Is it a "literal" fire?  That question misses the point.  The point is that the person who chooses to separate himself from 

God is in the worst possible circumstance.

Hopscotch

#86  Ezekiel's living creatures
The book of the prophet Ezekiel opens with a bang, the prophet's bizarre vision of four unearthly beings.  In the midst of an ominous whirlwind were "four living creatures."  They were human in shape, but each one had four wings, and their feet were like calves' feet.  They sparkled like burnished bronze.  Each had four faces: a lion, a man, an ox, and an eagle.  They moved, and they gave the impression of fire and lightning.  More impressive than the creatures was the glory of the Lord Himself above them.  This stunning vision caused Ezekiel to fall on his face, whereupon the Lord commissioned him as a prophet to the people of Israel.  We learn in Ezekiel 10 that these "living creatures" are cherubim and the guardians of the Lord's throne.  Since this vision took place in Babylon, where Ezekiel was in exile, one message seems to be that the Lord's throne is anywhere He wishes it to be, not necessarily tied to a location in Israel.

Does Double Duty

378.  Anthony the hermit (c. 300)
Anthony, a wealthy Egyptian, experienced a spiritual crisis when he heard a sermon on Jesus' command to the rich youg ruler:  "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor" (matt. 19:21).  Anthony gave away his land and donated his money to the poor.  He lived a simple life, sleeping on the ground and existing on one meal a day (bread and water).  He lived for years in an abandoned fort, yet he attracted followers, who believed Christianity had become worldly and materialistic (it had).  The Egyptian wasteland was wild and desolate, but not empty, for Anthony claimed it was filled with demons.  He spoke about how he did battle with all sorts of ghastly devils.  Thanks to the popularity of the Life of Anthony, and thanks to the challenge of painting a saint afflicted by monstrous demons, Anthony has been the subject of thousands upon thousands of paintings.  The life of self-denial and resisting demons must have been healthy.  Anthony lived to be 105.

Foxy Grandpa

1,001 things you always wanted to know about Angels, Demons, and the Afterlife

J. Stephen Lang

274.  The best inheritance

The New Testament often contrast eternal treasure with the worthless treasures we pursue on earth.  For those who believe in Christ, there is "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you"  (1Peter 1:4).

Father's Choice

She walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes;

This mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less.

Had half impaired the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress,

Or softly lightens o'er her face;

Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,

The smiles that win, the tints that glow,

But tell of days in goodness spent,

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent!

Lord Byron (George Gordon)

Chocolove bar

PRETZEL

Pretzel

from  The First Kiss of Love

Away with your fiction of flimsy romance,

Those tissues of falsehood which folly has wove!

Give me the mild beam of the soul-breathing glance,

Or the rapture which dwells on the first kiss of love.

Ye rhymers, whose bosoms with phantasy glow,

Whose pastoral passions are made for the grove;

From what blest inspiration  your sonnets would flow,

Could you ever tasted the first kiss love!

If Apollo should e'er his assistance refuse,

Or the Nine be disposed from your service to rove,

Invoke them no more, bid adieu to the muse,

And try the effect of the first kiss of love.

George  Gordon Lord Byron

another chocolove bar

Double Basket Weave

Whatever truth promises, 

Count it as money

in your pocket.

6/5/2009

from my Dad