I saw a stunning painting a while ago. It was done by a man whose work reflects a lot of religious themes, but I think this is one of his best. It is a portrayal of one of the encounters with Jesus told in the book of Luke, chapter 17. Ten lepers had cried out to the master for healing and he did not disappoint them. But they disappointed him. The painting shows the group, all dressed in rags, but turning away, renewed. All except one. That one is turning back, his hands outstretched, the look on his face a picture of ecstasy. Ten sought and received healing but only one returned to say thank you.
The stories of how Jesus healed are powerful. I believe they touch a place of longing in us, because we all need healing in some way. Some of us need it physically, for our bodies are vulnerable to the diseases of this earth. All of us need it spiritually, for our spirits are vulnerable to the distractions and sin of this world. Most of us have experienced healing in our lives in one way or another but sometimes we fail to recognize it. We pass it off as normal, something accomplished by the skill of a doctor or the effectiveness of drugs, something that slips by within the passage of time and almost goes unnoticed.
My mother-in-law was in a car accident some time ago and suffered a serious back injury. When she went for her first physiotherapy appointment, she stared at a short sloping ramp leading to the area where she would be treated and thought to herself . . .
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In 2000, there were two documented attempts of soul selling.
A Salon.com article titled ?eFaust eFoiled? reported that 18-year-old Sterling Jones ?put his soul up for auction on eBay. Within a few days eBay removed Jones? offer and alerted him that eBay did not allow the auctioning of human souls.
?According to eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove, there's no proof Jones can make good to the winning bidder. 'this gentleman would have to make a pretty strong case to us that he could deliver his soul.??
Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university communications instructor was successful in his attempt to sell his immortal soul. After a 10 day bidding war, a New York real estate agent purchased it for $1,325. The seller said, ?In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it. That's what makes this country great.?1.
It seems to me that $1,325. is a tad undervalued. In fact we know a human soul is priceless. Priceless means that it is impossible to establish a price for it because it cannot be bought or sold. Ebay is right: Mr. Jones could not deliver his soul even if he wanted to, and a purchaser could not take possession.
On another level, people do mortgage their souls, though usually . . .
A Salon.com article titled ?eFaust eFoiled? reported that 18-year-old Sterling Jones ?put his soul up for auction on eBay. Within a few days eBay removed Jones? offer and alerted him that eBay did not allow the auctioning of human souls.
?According to eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove, there's no proof Jones can make good to the winning bidder. 'this gentleman would have to make a pretty strong case to us that he could deliver his soul.??
Wired magazine reported that a 29-year-old university communications instructor was successful in his attempt to sell his immortal soul. After a 10 day bidding war, a New York real estate agent purchased it for $1,325. The seller said, ?In America, you can metaphorically and literally sell your soul and be rewarded for it. That's what makes this country great.?1.
It seems to me that $1,325. is a tad undervalued. In fact we know a human soul is priceless. Priceless means that it is impossible to establish a price for it because it cannot be bought or sold. Ebay is right: Mr. Jones could not deliver his soul even if he wanted to, and a purchaser could not take possession.
On another level, people do mortgage their souls, though usually . . .
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How does a gecko manage to walk on a ceiling, or across a sheet of smooth plastic? Do they have tiny hooks on their feet? No. Do they use small suction caps? No. Do they squirt something sticky from their toes? No. Do they use a static charge? No. They have dry feet, yet their toes stick fast to whatever surface they walk over ? even polished glass.
The Scientific American magazine, January 2004, ran a small item about gecko's feet, and pointed out that the feet have millions of microscopic hairs, called setae. Each setae is just the head of an even smaller array of nanostructures, called spatulae, which are so small in fact, that they make contact with the molecules of the surface they are placed on top of. A gecko may have about 6.5 million setae, and if all of them were in touch with a surface the gecko could lift 133 kilograms!
Why is the gecko's foot equipped with so much weight-bearing potential, when its body is so small and light? It never needs to hold colossal weights so why would it have the potential to do this? Because it walks over some rough surfaces, and does not always make contact with the whole area of the terrain it touches its feet against. The small area which does make contact is sufficient, and the area which misses the surface is . . .
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It is October 2005, months after the tsunami - we listen with deep sadness to accounts of the earthquake devastation on the Pakistan/India border. Our hearts break as we hear tales of horror--children trapped under buildings that have caved-in under the forces of nature, families split apart in unbelievable stories of sorrow and pain. Death all around--and in the midst of it, tiny glimpses of life...a child or a baby here and there--found alive and well.
Cave-ins come without warning...and perhaps a cave-in has come to your life this day. Oh, not the earthquake of an earth in physical rebellion...but the earthquake of a heart crushed by sorrow, pain, hurt and rejection. Hearts ache all over our world...and they find their way on the Web as well as walking the streets of our world. How do you cope? What do you do when you are crushed beyond measure? Is there life after death?
Ask the Savior...He who partook of hurt, sorrow, pain, rejection and death. He experienced death that we might experience life. He arose triumphantly from the grave in a celebration that's gone on for over two thousand years...a celebration of life in Him that gives "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness"...it's the divine love of God and it flows into the caved-in place where you are today--to bring you His life, to heal your hurt and to give you peace.
We have no answers to the great . . .
Cave-ins come without warning...and perhaps a cave-in has come to your life this day. Oh, not the earthquake of an earth in physical rebellion...but the earthquake of a heart crushed by sorrow, pain, hurt and rejection. Hearts ache all over our world...and they find their way on the Web as well as walking the streets of our world. How do you cope? What do you do when you are crushed beyond measure? Is there life after death?
Ask the Savior...He who partook of hurt, sorrow, pain, rejection and death. He experienced death that we might experience life. He arose triumphantly from the grave in a celebration that's gone on for over two thousand years...a celebration of life in Him that gives "beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness"...it's the divine love of God and it flows into the caved-in place where you are today--to bring you His life, to heal your hurt and to give you peace.
We have no answers to the great . . .
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Many of us face troubles throughout our lives. We are met with debts we cannot pay, family problems we cannot solve, sickness we sometimes cannot overcome, or prayers that seem never to be answered. We sometimes get desperate, get into fear, and lose our sense of perspective. Our mental view sometimes takes over when we should be resorting to the spiritual view.
Our problems are sometimes made worse by ourselves. My husband is one that can testify to that! He has had problems with his gall bladder for years, but, as the pain would subside each time, he would decide he didn't need to go to the doctor. Well, the time came three weeks ago when the pain would not let up, and he had to resort to the ER. Well, he didn't have to decide; the doctors decided for him, which resulted in a 10 day stay and surgery! But, thank goodness, they made the decision and kept him, because he is better off today than he was then. It could have been much worse!
But, our indecisions can get us into a heap of problems! Had he layed around here much longer, in the pain he was in, today might be a different day. We sometimes don't look at the long picture, when we deal with a given problem. We think a ?cure? today is what we need. His would have been ?pain medication? and being sent home, but he didn't . . .
Our problems are sometimes made worse by ourselves. My husband is one that can testify to that! He has had problems with his gall bladder for years, but, as the pain would subside each time, he would decide he didn't need to go to the doctor. Well, the time came three weeks ago when the pain would not let up, and he had to resort to the ER. Well, he didn't have to decide; the doctors decided for him, which resulted in a 10 day stay and surgery! But, thank goodness, they made the decision and kept him, because he is better off today than he was then. It could have been much worse!
But, our indecisions can get us into a heap of problems! Had he layed around here much longer, in the pain he was in, today might be a different day. We sometimes don't look at the long picture, when we deal with a given problem. We think a ?cure? today is what we need. His would have been ?pain medication? and being sent home, but he didn't . . .
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The Spur Article Count: 92
Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada. Her devotional book The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others. To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Wonders of Creation Article Count: 37
Written By Richard Gunther.
Harris Dvores Article Count: 1
Harris Dvores is a corporate lawyer in Orlando, Florida. But only from 9 to 5. For more than 20 years, he has pursued his passion to create: everything from Christian music and church skits, to Star Trek scripts and board games. His new website, www.harrisdvores.com, is a playground for the mind and spirit. A Jewish believer, Harris has been given truly amazing stories to share about the power of God.
Rev. Spence Laycock Article Count: 49
Rev. Spence Laycock pastors at Church of the Open Bible, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.
Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis Article Count: 2
Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis is the interim pastor at Somerset Bible Chapel, Manitoba, Canada.
Diane Davis Article Count: 1
Diane Davis, a former policewoman in Toronto, recently retired from a lengthy career as a civilian member of the Ontario Provincial Police. Amongst many things, she is now turning her attention to writing, music, and her 5 grandchildren. She is also Pastor Tim's mom.
Melva's Devotions Article Count: 48
Blog Writings by Melva Cooper.
Melva Cooper is a wife, mother and grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. God has given her, in her retirement years, the ministry of writing for HIM. "Even in old age, you will still produce fruit" is a verse He has given her (Psalm 92:14). And it is her desire to serve Him all the days of her life.
Barb's Mantle Article Count: 59
Barbara, a Christian homemaker, began her Web Site through encouragement from her son, and a dream. It quickly became a ministry for the Lord. She began writing devotionals to encourage, inspire, and build up spiritually those coming to her site. Barbara is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
Sandra Boyte Article Count: 10
Writing poetry that brings glory to God is Sandra's passion. No matter where she has lived, or what she has gone through, she has found that God is always there before her to lead her in His paths and to catch her when she falls. Married, with two sons two granddaughters on the way, Sandra's future goals include writing more poetry trying her hand at writing short devotionals for children.
Dr. Harold McNabb Article Count: 98
Dr. Harold McNabb pastors at Westshore Presbyterian Church in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Peggie's Den Article Count: 77
"Ever feel as though life is a lions' den and like Daniel, you're right in the middle of it all? Enjoy these "Devotions from the Den" (Lions 'n Life at Peggie's Place) and delight in God's promises of love, joy and peace for whatever is happening in YOUR den today!"
Misc Article Count: 77
Miscellaneous archived items.