When You're Tempted To Go All Hermit-Like

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."   ... Luke 2:19


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So did you see the story/photo yesterday where a Kentucky man took a photo of a motorcycle accident? And above the victim (who later died) it appears as though his spirit is standing over him?

Here's the article. Here's the photo (you can click to enlarge)--

Personally, I found this wildly interesting for, hey, I've read many near death experience stories which involved folks hovering over their body while doctors tried resuscitating them. Then later they amaze everyone by reciting exactly what happened in the room while they were 'out'.

Unfortunately in this case, above, the young man did not come back.

Of course, I made the mistake of reading the comments after this Yahoo News story.  Good grief--all the rampant doubt, unbelief and confusion in our sorry world. Commenters denied we even have a spirit, stated there is no afterlife, doubted the validity of the photo, said this was just a shadow/glare/tree, declared it impossible since the victim wasn't pronounced dead until reaching the hospital and asked why the guy pulled over and took the photo anyway.

Some people are just no fun. Pause, ponder awhile, consider our understanding may be flawed, ask God what He thinks then answer gently or not at all? Huh. What's that?

Anyway, after reading a zillion comments following a zillion typical news stories, I often recall this from Luke 16:

"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Gee, is that still the truth Today, or what? Go raising someone from the dead and the Doubter Crowds will yell, "He obviously wasn't really dead!" And they'll say it's all a phony magic trick, God stopped doing miracles centuries ago, and you-evil-disgusting-person-you should be sued for misrepresentation.

So what to do? What to do?

 Hate people? 

Build an Internet-free cabin in the woods?

Say or do nothing controversial to anyone, ever?

Keep all Bible verses to ourselves?

Tempting as those things are, no. What remains is that we seek the seekers. That we ask God to show us who is open, longing for Truth-- then go to them. Love and encourage them into wholeness. And that we pray for the rest: that their eyes will open, that they'll become hungry for God who fills us with joy and everything else we need in Today's complicated, sarcastic, crazy, crazy world.

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"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry..."  ...James 1:19

"You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart."   ... Francis P. Church

"And you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free."   ... John 8:32

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Here are a few sweet lines from another obituary from my CA hometown of someone I wish I'd known:

Alice was always involved in the community. She was a member of the Taylorsville Methodist church. She belonged to the quilting club. She always sewed and baked for the Fall Festival for the church. Alice loved to cook and bake. She made homemade bread for years. Everybody loved Alice's cooking. She was very much loved as a mother and grandmother. She was a wonderful wife and never forgot her husband Grobner, whom she is now with.

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Wow....Tom and I found this hilarious and so much fun! Oh, the obvious glee upon James Corden's face---if only we all loved our jobs this much.   :)

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