We were filled with sadness that searing hot summer’s day as we stood around the grave of Mitzi our little Shih Tzu. As we conducted a simple funeral, my grandson asked, with tears trickling down his face, “Grandpa, do all good dogs go to heaven?”

Many heartbroken pet lovers have asked a similar question. I confess that over the years I have somewhat changed my view concerning the question, “Will animals be in heaven?” In the Millennium the lion will lie down with the lamb. Much is written about horses and eagles. The Bible mentions animals many times.

Super rock star Madonna and a few other rock musicians have recently depicted themselves hanging on a cross during their concerts. I don’t know their motives or the reasoning for this. But for many followers of Christ it seems to demonstrate profane disrespect for the holy cross of Jesus Christ.

Some people wear crosses as jewelry. For them it is a reminder of the love of their Savior who willingly gave his life to suffer and die on an old rugged cross as the substitute for our sins.

People in some cultures live in terror of the “Evil Eye”. In 1946, magician Henri Gamache published the book Terrors of the Evil Eye Exposed. Gamache brought evil eye beliefs to the attention of American hoodoo practitioners. Those who believe in the “evil eye” curse have used a plethora of talismans, amulets, and cures for the “curse of the evil eye.

The evil eye has long been a part of folklore in many cultures. It is believed that envy of the good fortune of people, whether in the form of material possessions or possessing beauty, health, or children, may result in their misfortune or elicit someone cursing them with the “evil eye”.

We all face a daily cosmic battle with temptation and the tempter. The tempter knows the weakest link in our armor and usually aims his arrows at the Achilles heel of our humanity. It is not a sin to be tempted. After all, even the Son of Man, Jesus, was tempted by the tempter. Jesus knows what it feels like to be assailed by the tempter. But Jesus conquered temptation and boldly routed the tempter. That is why the Scriptures encourage us to look to Jesus. “For we do no have a priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence, to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in the time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, NASB).

In just a few short weeks we will be observing Valentine’s Day – a day we express love to our sweethearts with candy, cards, and flowers. A favorite icon for the day is Cupid’s heart with an arrow through it. But what kind of heart does the greatest lover in the universe look for? What kind of heart pleases God? Is your heart pierced by God?

One of the greatest love stories in all of literature is the story of David. The life of David is a great character study of a heart that pleases God. (I and II Samuel) David was called a man after God’s own heart. What a great distinction to be known for.

Little did the little town realize the fame that Cana’s wedding would bring. Not because of the rich and famous who attended the wedding, but because of the lowly carpenter who graced it. Most of the town came to celebrate the week long festivities. Throughout history I’m sure there have been more elaborate and extravagant weddings. But Cana’s wedding had no equal in its distinguished guest or so notable a gift or such exhilarating glee.

In over 35 years of ministry, I can truthfully say that I have never seen an ugly bride. A bride radiates a certain glow about her face. The groom, though perhaps nervous, awaits his bride with joyful anticipation as she is escorted to the altar. Some weddings could be shown on “America’s Funniest Home Videos”.

Have you seen the quirky television commercials sponsored by a wireless company? A young man walks through the swamp, over mountains, and rides a burro through a far flung, arid Mexican region with a cell phone in hand and up to his ear, he is in constant touch with the home office and repeatedly asks, “Can you hear me now?” “Can you hear me now?” I suppose the message is that this company works hard so that you can stay in touch wherever you go.

For many people, especially for the thousands incarcerated, the Christmas season is a time of extreme loneliness, pain, and despair. But the radiant hope of the good news is shining into the darkness bringing the light of life.

One of the greatest revelations of Christmas is found in the name given to the Christ of Christmas – Immanuel. Isaiah prophesied of His coming, “The Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’” (Isaiah 7:14 NLT). In Isaiah 8:8 the prophet cried out, “O, Immanuel.” Whatever battles you may be facing in your life today, Isaiah point us to Immanuel. “Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless. Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed for God is with us” (Isaiah 8:10 NLT).

The old west owes much to the horse and the cowboys who rode them. Before the west was tamed man learned how to tame and use the horse. The horse was so essential to a man on the range that horse thieves were summarily hung. When we lived out west it was amazing to see many children ride horses with ease and expertise. What enabled them to have so much control over a horse which outweighed them by hundreds of pounds? They learned how to use the bridle and bit to direct the horse.

I once saw an interesting bumper sticker that read “This car breaks for garage sales and turtles.” If you have recently felt brain dead, stressed out, or just plain worn out, you need to break today. McDonald’s made this slogan famous – “You deserve a break today!” But you need more than a quick fix or a fast food or coffee break. You need a regular, deep, quality break. You need a time of rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation. For real rest break for Jesus each day.

It was a cold snowy day when Ben jumped down into the pit and killed the lion. Visibility was poor. His feet slipped in the snow. It was either him or the lion. Ben was a valiant man, one of David’s mighty men. The scriptures give us a brief snapshot of this great feat of courage, “He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day” (I Chronicles 11:22-25). The lion was not a circus lion nor was it like a lion in the zoo. This was a wild, ferocious lion. Even today in certain parts of the world people are mauled and killed by wild beasts.

The 2002 Winter Olympic Games opened in Salt Lake City with breathtaking pageantry, patriotism, and promise of world-class competition on snow and ice. Of the hundreds competitors only a select few will win a metal. But all of the Olympians who compete are winners.

God has created and called all of us to be winners. Just as there are certain qualities found in athletes that become winners, so in God’s kingdom there are certain qualities that determine whether one wins or loses in the race of life. What are some of those qualities that all winners have in common?

I’m spending a lot more time at playgrounds lately. My grandchildren are coniseurs of playgrounds. When they come to visit, I usually ask them what they want to do. Invariably, they excitedly sing out, “Let’s go to the park!” Park to them means a playground. They can’t conceive of a park without a playground.

I’ve learned some valuable lessons at the playground. On our last trip to a playground, two of my grandchildren came along. They had just put clean clothes on and it had rained during the night. So I was a little apprehensive about the puddles of water on the playground.

A few weeks ago someone posed the question “Are we having fun yet?” to me. Many people don’t enjoy life. God wants us to celebrate and enjoy the journey of life. You may gasp at the thought, but God wants us to have fun. I believe God had fun creating the world. After each creation event in the book of beginnings, Genesis, we read, “And God saw that it was good”. Many Christians are on their way to heaven but few seem to be enjoying the trip. Jesus said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10 Amplified Bible).

It’s a breathtaking experience when over 40 hot-air balloons light up the night sky in an evening balloon glow at the annual Centralia Balloon Fest. Vast crowds of people watch spellbound at the awesome sight. Joyful smiles spread across the faces of children and adults alike. I never tire of watching the glowing tear drop shaped balloons lighting up the darkness. Mankind was not made for darkness but for light. Why? Because “God is light.” This summer while visiting Florida, my wife and I enjoyed visiting a Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery.

What we need is an old-fashioned Christmas. Oh, I’m not advocating a nostalgic, picture post-card Christmas. But a real Christmas, where the focus is on the reason for the season – the birth of Christ Jesus, Messiah, Lord of heaven and earth. Many believers are opting out of the over commercialized, secular Christmas. The glitz and gifts galore have left them tired and empty. Instead they are getting back to a simple old-fashioned Christmas where there is time to reflect on why Jesus came to earth as a babe in Bethlehem and to give devotion and worship to the Holy one, the Christ of Christmas.

More than 10 million viewers tuned in to the Fox television network’s talent search “American Idol”. Millions of teenagers went to their telephones to vote for a favorite soloist. So what does this craze tell us about America’s youth? One commentator made the observation that many young people are bored and dissatisfied with life. Given the opportunity, many young people would do almost anything to experience stardom themselves. Like their parents, they worship America’s idols – money, fame, and power.

The group of giggling kids posed the question as they boarded the bus for their ride home, “Are you an alien?” After a moments thought I replied in the affirmative. “Yes, I guess I am an alien. I’m sure many have thought that.” A few months ago a teenage, who is into science fiction, shared his theory with me. “There are aliens among us!” he said. “They have invaded the earth and have taken on human form. Who knows, the person next to you may really be an alien disguised as a human.”

It’s been said that “the clothes make the man”. Joey would certainly have agreed. As he strolled down the street, he was aware of admiring looks from passers-by. His technicolor coat made him stand out in a crowd. The coat was more exclusive than an Armani. Joey would tell you how his father had it custom designed and tailored especially for him. Joey’s brothers saw him coming down the dusty road. His technicolor coat easily identified him. “Here comes that dreamer,” one of his brothers snarled disdainfully.

Thunderstorms, fire, and floods are raging throughout the world. Even more so, people are experiencing an onslaught of personal storms in their lives and family. Theologians and philosophers have tried to answer the age old question of suffering. I don’t presume to know all the answers about why even good people suffer problems, trials, and pain, but allow me to make some brief scriptural observations. First – SIN has infected and afflicted the whole world. Because we live in a fallen world all human beings are susceptible to sin’s fall-out.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy endureth forever.” (Psalm 118:1) Thanksgiving is more than turkey, table talk, or the things we have accumulated. Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart; it’s unique to the Judeo-Christian religion. V. Raymond Edman, a former president of Wheaton College, wrote, “Paganism has no note of Thanksgiving in its worship. Its people may have prayer wheels and make pilgrimages, but they have no song of praise. They have fetishes erected for fear of evil spirits, but they know nothing of a feast of gratitude for God’s goodness. They have idols, but no ideals that show God’s mercy and grace.”

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. To many people, Christmas is a portrait of peace. We send and receive Christmas cards with serene nativity scenes of contented animals in a cozy stable. The picture of a white Christmas with a sleigh riding through a winter wonderland with happy, singing carolers fills our minds. Strains of “silent Night” bring a calm nostalgic glow to our hearts. “Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright, ‘Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”

It is the dream of a church (re)connecting people to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the dream of people being reconciled to God and each other. Is the dream of a church that lives to serve the community representing the kingdom of God on earth by bringing the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to bear upon our community, our county, our state, our nation and our world. It is the unshakeable belief in a God who uses the small things, the seemingly insignificant to bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Former Beatle George Harrison said in an interview, “There is nothing more important than finding out what is after death. What happens to us after we die?” A million years from now, where will you be? What about 150 years from now, where will you be? Believers in Christ know what happens to them after they die. II Corinthians 5:8 says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” When a believer dies, their soul and spirit goes directly into the presence of the Lord to await the resurrection. (I Corinthians 15)

How healthy is your heart? It seems that seldom does a week go by in which I don’t hear of a friend, neighbor, or family member who has suffered a heart attack or some heart problem. We all know how vital a healthy heart is to life. Although genetics is sometimes a factor, there are lifestyle changes that we can make that will lead to a healthier heart. The American Heart Association reports that eating the right foods, exercise and fitness, and educating ourselves concerning certain risk factors such as smoking and being overweight can help prevent heart attacks and heart disease.