Everything is never as it seems

I posted here about a guy who drove off a ledge and hundreds of feet down got hung up on a rock outcropping, and miraculously was saved. Seeing the photo, I was moved to say that this was one of the reasons I believe in God.

Turns out he is an alleged child molester who tried to kill himself.

I still believe that God's hand is in this. I just switch from thinking I know why God did something (always dangerous) to once again, realizing that God moves in mysterious ways.

2008, Year of Disasters

Huge Year for Natural Disasters

"The past year has been one of the most devastating ever in terms of natural disasters, one of the world''s biggest re-insurance companies has said. Munich Re said the impact of the disasters was greater than in 2007 in both human and economic terms."

Earthquakes in diverse places: a response to those who say "But we have always had earthquakes. It's not the end times." In one hundred and eight years of record keeping: data shows a dramatic increase in number of earthquakes the last two years:


I wonder how the Hurricane Ike victims are doing...we haven't heard a news story out of Texas since Ike's winds wisped away.

Angels among us

A news story about angels:

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A "miracle" at one local hospital has a lot of people talking. This picture was taken in the hallway leading into Presbyterian's Pediatric Cancer center.

A little girl there was taken off life support, her mother in her room praying. At the same time, a nurse noticed a man standing in the hallway. When she pushed the security button to let him in, no one was there.

According to a nurse, this happened several times -- seeing him behind the doors, then he would vanish. Someone thought he had wings, so they took the picture from the security camera. The girl is home tonight, recovering. Her birthday is Christmas Day.

Link to Video. It is only 1:30.

In the photo above, doesn't he appear to have wings? I wonder what he looked like as a person.

Hebrews 1:14- Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

I believe it was an angel. Do you think angels are sent by God come to earth and help people?

I know Bush was bad but...

...most people have no idea how bad it's going to get with Obama. The America we knew is gone and soon enough the America we used to know will wake up. But by then it will be too late.

Already Iran is making belligerent threats to the US, Russia moved missiles next to Poland and a barrage of rockets erupted in Israel at Gaza.

And so it begins!

But Christians, remember God "changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

22 He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him." (Daniel 2)

And Obama is NOT that light. Pray for our country and gird your loins America.

Lifetime markers on the road to salvation

A person doesn't just automatically become converted and accept Jesus as Savior all at once. A kid growing up in a Christian household doesn't automatically mean they will follow their parents. It is always and specifically the work of the Holy Spirit in and around that person. Choosing to be open to it, recognizing the Holy Spirit's influence when it occurs, is always uniquely individual. Accepting Jesus Christ is a personal decision, not something that can be sprinkled upon a baby or absorbed through osmosis or found through good works. It is a conscious decision made by those who understand what they are doing and why.

So how did I, a kid growing up in an atheist/haphazardly spiritual home come to Christ? I mentioned the play I went to as an 11-year old, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the effect that experience had had on me. Listening to the soundtrack over and over the events of Jesus' death and resurrection stayed in my heart. I did not reject it.

Another marker on the road to salvation was God's creation itself. I'd see a sunset over the Andes, and think, this beauty was just happenstance? I'd see a pod of dolphins cavorting in our sailboat's bow wave, and think, how amazing and diverse are all earth's creatures. These just...evolved? I'd peer into the interior of a tiny shell, and notice its growth chambers orderly progression of sizing..and later learned that is called a golden section of Fibonacci numbers. I traveled the world. The world is too delicate, too complicated, too elegant to have "just happened". I saw an intelligent Creator.

Later, after I was saved, I read the following in Romans:




Romans 1:19-21
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Praise the Lord that I saw God through His creation, and thus my foolish heart was not darkened

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

Netflix! Netflix! Netflix! Netflix!

I love it. I get movies sent to me in the convenience of my home, and there are thousands and thousands to choose from. Offbeat documentaries like yesterday's post about "Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea." Today I am watching "Helvetica." This is a riveting documentary about a typefont. Now, I know that 'riveting' and 'documentary' rarely go together. And to put 'documentary' with 'typefont' has never been done in the history of mankind. But there you have it! Helvetica rocks! Summary from the movie's website:

"Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year) as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives." How cool is that, a movie about a typeface! And it's interesting!

Another movie coming out, this one in the national theaters April 18, is "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed." Do you remember Ben Stein from Ferris Bueller's Day Off? Anyone? Anyone?



Ben Stein, in the new film EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed, coming to a theater near you on April 18, 2008

"His heroic and, at times, shocking journey confronting the world’s top scientists, educators and philosophers, regarding the persecution of the many by an elite few. Ben travels the world on his quest, and learns an awe-inspiring truth…that bewilders him, then angers him…and then spurs him to action. Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance." Needless to say, the idea that there could something more to life than simple, random, monkey chance has sparked conversations around watercoolers from Seattle to Key West.



Yes! According to BlogPulse, "Something amazing happened just over a week ago. The controversy around Premise Media’s upcoming movie Ben Stein’s EXPELLED: No Intelligence Allowed became the hottest topic in the blogosphere. According to BlogPulse, a service of Nielsen Buzzmetrics, the issue held the number one slot throughout the day on Monday, March 24th. There were also over 800 results on Technorati."

The documentary is even-handed and Stein interviewed many, many scientists, from all points of view, and let them speak freely. I understand from reading reviews of those who have been granted advance screenings, that the film is about "the merits of Intelligent Design should be on the same level playing field as Evolutionary Theory. This film is about the freedom of speech, the freedom of ideas and ability to express those ideas...not about whether God created the heavens and the earth. The film’s main point was that Intelligent Design should be taught in conjunction with Evolution" because both have equal scientific merit. Can't wait for April 18! the movie website has a theater locator so you can check to see if it will be appearing in your area.

That new show "Saving Grace"

I like it! I'm a Holly Hunter fan anyway, ever since 'Raising Arizona' and 'Broadcast News', but the show is pretty good. The main character is together professionally but a mess in her personal life, so God sends a "last chance angel" to work with Grace. I'm an angel fan too so any show with an angel from God in it has got my attention.

Quite a contrast to another favorite show of mine, "Touched by an Angel," where the clean and well-dressed angels always smiled beatifically, lit up and said "God loves you." In Saving Grace, Earl the last chance angel who spits tobacco, has a three-day stubble, and is dressed like a homeless man doesn't pull any punches. He looks at Grace and says point blank, "Grace, you're going to hell."

Monday nights at 10 after "The Closer." Boy, TNT sure has some good programming. I'm in TV heaven.