Journey into Forever

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.  Now remain in my love."             -John 15:4-9      I was 10 years old, and I remember laying on my twin bed in the room I shared with my sister.  I was looking at the ceiling, listening to a radio station out of Chicago, I can't even remember the call letters now.  Thought I'd never forget them.  Anyway, I listened to this station every day, especially since the newest sensation, The Beatles, began playing on the radio.  I LOVED the Beatle

Ok. I have to post this. Just too good not to share. It is written by the author I quoted yesterday, Tony Woodlief, as part of a piece about the beatitudes. In response to "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God", Tony writes:                "I have run, many times, from the love and law of God. Worse, I told myself it was He who had gone missing. "Where are You?" I would pray , though I was the one hiding. The state of our heart governs whether we hear His vo ... ice in our lives or see His face in creation. Purity of heart. That's an almost inconceivable concept in this world we've made. Who sees, anymore, through pure-hearted eyes?            I cannot help but think of my three-year-old daughter on her deathbed, no longer able to speak because of the tumor mashing into her brain stem But in a rare moment of lucidity and painlessness, she pointed toward the ceiling, followed something with her hand, and looked to her mo

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.....We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.,  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."                                                            -Romans 8:18,22-25      I have said this before, and I will probably say it again. Can it get any worse?  Not only are we bombarded moment by moment with threats to our economy and security of our country, we also have personal fears.  Just in the last week, I have heard of friends and acquaintances with new cancer diagnoses ....yes even children. Prices in t