Taking it back!
Pictured here is Rachel. She was adopted from China with a failing heart. Without a heart transplant, she would die. Once adopted and brought to the United States by our friends the McCary's, it took several years before Rachel could get to the top of the list and the right heart was finally available. Pictured here also is her surgeon who performed a successful heart surgery several years ago. This pic was taken after Rachel danced and performed in the Nutcracker in December 2017. Her surgeon drove several hours to watch her perform. WOW!Read more
The Two Prophets
This pic is from our first holiday season in Texas, 2002.
Revelation 11:1-14
The seven seals have been opened with the seventh seal unleashing the seven trumpets. We have seen the increasing terror of each trumpet. We are now at a pause after the sixth trumpet to provide some "behind the scenes" information and background. The sequential flow of this section of Revelation describing the tribulation are the seals, trumpets and bowls of judgement. Periodically, such as here in 10.1 - 11.14, John provides context and other information. I refer to it as a ‘parenthesis’ in the middle of the storyline.Read more
Revelation 10
I've purchased of wide variety of books over the years. While scanning my book cases recently, I noticed these two different books and the interesting contrast in titles.
Revelation 10
Here in chapter 10 we take a break from the unleashing of wrath between the sixth and seventh trumpet. We are reading about the progressive intensity of wrath upon the earth through 1) the breaking of seals, 2) the sound of trumpets, 3) the pouring of bowls of wrath. Chapter 10 is a parenthetical break from this progression. Read more
It's Going To Get Ugly
45 years ago, Lite Brite was a pretty cool Christmas gift. We thought our grandkids might still like it 2017.
Revelation 9
It’s going to get ugly
We are the midst of the unleashing of God's wrath upon earth during the great tribulation. Daily devotions are supposed to be heartwarming and encouraging. This is not. There's an apparent biblical contradiction I'm grappling with that I'll reflect on shortly.Read more
Revelation 8
This is a recent pic with my daughter Brooke! Christmas 2017 in Texas!
What in the world is happening?
There are seven seals that the Lamb breaks that unleashes progressive acts of wrath upon the earth during the tribulation. Six seals have been broken open. The seventh seal unleashes the 7 trumpets and the seventh trumpet unleashes the 7 bowls. Each one releases an increasing intensity of wrath. This stuff is not for the faint of heart.Read more
Who Is Able?
During Nate (8 yrs) and Ryker's (5 yrs) Christmas vacation with us (Pop and GG) in the Texas Hill Country this year, they both had horseback riding lessons. Nate had his first golf lesson as well.
This post is a little longer than normal but an important one. Don't miss it!
Revelation 7
This chapter serves as a parenthesis between the chronology of the opening of the seals. Specifically, it is inserted here between the opening of the sixth seal (in chapter 6) and the opening of the seventh seal (in chapter 8).Read more
Who Is Worthy?
Here is Christmas 2017 with grandsons Nate and Ryker and cousin Mason in the middle.
Revelation 6
Chapter 5 answers the question of “who is worthy to open the book and break the seven seals”? The answer was “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”Read more
Revelation 6
Matching jammies are a traditional for us on Christmas Eve! Leigh started it when our girls were young and the tradition continues!
Revelation 6
In chapters 4 & 5 John was “swept up” to a scene in heaven. It’s a scene where all things are "right". God is on the throne and He is the center of all things and all inhabitants of heaven worship Him. There are no rebels, no tyrants, no detractors. There is no diversity of opinions and alternate points of view on religion and philosophy. It is an indescribable place of peace, joy and worship!Read more
Earth or Heaven?
This is Ellie. Rescued and adopted by our dear friends from a dire scenario in China. Doug and Lori have adopted five precious girls from China. This pic is after Ellie's stunning performance as Clara in the Nutcracker performed at the theatre of University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL. The 70 plus performers ranged in age from 3 to 18 years old. Ellie is 13. In a future post, I'll tell you the whole story of Ellie's amazing adoption story.
Revelation 4 & 5
I read over chapters 4 & 5 again. As I wrote before, all things in heaven are "right". During Christ's time on earth, for a brief season of 33 years, all things were upside down, as it were. When on earth, He grew up a tender shoot, a root out of parched ground, He had no stately form or majesty that we should notice him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him; He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, like one from whom men hide their face; He was despised and we did not esteem Him; He was considered stricken of God, smitten and afflicted; He was pierced through for our iniquities, chastened for our wellbeing, scourged for our healing, oppressed and afflicted; like a lamb led to slaughter, (Isaiah 53). That was then, this is now.Read more