From The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, we headed straight to Phoenix to visit some dear friends.
“Straight” sounds fast, but there are always mountains to overcome, so everything takes longer than you’d think . . . just like all of life!
The closer we got to Phoenix, the greener life became.
The huge water resource for northern Arizona is the Colorado River, so a different system from the Rio Grande, which flows through New Mexico.
The Colorado River is about 1,450 miles long and drains nearly a quarter of a million square miles.
As a watershed for some of the southwestern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, it passes through five states and part of Mexico before entering the Bay of California.
So much of the water is used for irrigation in California’s Imperial Valley that sometimes the Colorado River dries up before it reaches Mexico (much like the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico).
As we drove north toward Phoenix, we could see that there was still some water in their creeks, although there were no raging rivers like we saw in our travels through the North.
Picacho Peak, Arizon
How to provide enough water for people is doubtless one of the most serious problems in the Southwest!
With a population of over 1.6 million, Phoenix is Arizona’s biggest city, but we really by-passed it in order to visit our friends in Paradise Valley.
Although its relatively small, Paradise Valley is Arizona’s wealthiest municipality.
It reminds me of Palm Springs, California, or Boca Raton, Florida . . . lush and tropical . . . a true oasis in the desert.
Paradise Valley has made headlines in the Wall Street Journal as a premium place to buy real estate, and it’s become one of Arizona’s premier tourist destinations.
As the locals say, “There’s a reason why we call this paradise.”
Our friends know the Lord blessed them with this home, which they bought before the real estate market went crazy.
True, it’s the most glamorous home I’ve personally stayed at in the last 50 years, but Vittal is a very hard-working pathologist with uncanny investment sense, and he earned, saved, and made his money fairly.
Theirs is a beautiful love story of two people from India who came to this country and were able to make “The American Dream” come true.
Bougainvillea
And, that’s one of the things I love about America.
It’s still possible to work your way up from poverty to wealth by giving it “all you’ve got” and using your talents and gifts.
Like the story in Matthew 25, I believe God gave them “ten talents,” but they used their talents wisely and are enjoying the fruit of their labors! “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance” (Matthew 25:29).
Maya and Vittal are incredible hosts! Maya prepared about eight absolutely scrumptious Indian dishes. (I still need to get her recipes!)
They entertained us royally for a couple of days and had a wonderful guest house where we could have stayed, although Alan preferred staying in our Sanctuary (due to their darling doggies; Alan has pretty severe asthma.)
Talk about a room with a view! (Camelback Mountain in the background)
There home was so mind-bogglingly beautiful that I couldn’t help comparing it to what our heavenly home might be like! “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so,I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Just what will heaven be like if life on this earth in Paradise Valley is so incredibly wonderful?
That evening, Vittal took us even further up the mountain to watch the sun set over Paradise Valley.
The sunset was stunning!
As night fell, I began to think about life after Paradise Valley. What about after we die?
Two nights ago, Alan and I watched an excellent documentary about near-death experiences. Whether or not you believe in life after death, I wish you’d watch this film. It’s fresh off the press (2023) and fulfills the IMDb summary, “After Death explores the afterlife with the guidance of New York Times Bestselling authors, medical experts, scientists, and survivors that shed a light on what awaits us.”
Before the night falls on our lives, let’s explore what comes afterward, as I believe there is life after death based on the teaching of Jesus who rose from the dead, and also corroborated by thousands of people who have had near-death experiences.
Will you also entrust your life to Jesus, who promises an eternal, resurrection life after this life that will make even the most beautiful homes seem like cottages?!
“Thomas said to Him [Jesus], ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’.” (John 14:5-6).
I’ve never read one of Stephen King’s horror stories, but several friends have commended his memoir on writing as excellent. On a journey with few options, I decided to try it and see if I could like it. Despite his humble self-evaluation (and some really harsh criticism from opponents), I think he’s an outstanding writer. He models how to write in a way that brings an empathetic response from the reader. He even includes valuable tips on writing in one chapter, which he delivers with the dogged flurry of Strunk’s Elements of Style (a classic must for writers that was written a hundred years ago but is still almost in style today).
If there were a Clearplay system (like they have for movies) to filter out the foul language, Stephen’s memoirs on writing would be among my favorites, because he does many things better than well. He writes with an open heart. His reflections are so clear I felt like I was seeing right into his soul. He writes with an awareness of his humanity, which is a trick for somebody who’s sold about 400 million books and has a “net worth” of over half a billion dollars. He practices what he preaches: His images are fresh and his vocabulary simple. He’s trying to say something, and he says it without saying it. He cuts adverbs.
He’s honest, or at least honest about wanting people to like him. He’s been married to the love of his life for the past 52 years. He’s just about Alan’s and my age, so we grew up in the same Americanahood. All his stories make sense because we didn’t recognize poison ivy when we were little either. Alan started college at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1968 when bombs started exploding in Ann Arbor and 200 protesters were arrested on campus for demonstrating against the jailing of the Michigan Daily‘s editor. Oh, yah. Those were the days, my friend. We weren’t sure if they’d ever end, and neither was Stephen King.
After listening to him tell his life story (yes, he reads his own book), I felt compassion. (I would probably feel horror if I read his horror, but I haven’t.) No father. Locked in a closet by an abusive babysitter until his mom got home and found him covered in his own vomit. Unattended except by an even more adventurous and dangerous older brother while his mother was trying to survive her own world of hurts and provide a living for her sons. I found myself thinking, “No wonder he writes horror stories. That’s the life ‘The King of Horror’ lived as a child.”
But, he also had some light in his life that he rejected. His mom sent him to Sunday school. He had teachers who tried to help (but were mostly horrified by his writing, which he loved). Even today, it sounds like he lives in the penumbra between light and dark. He tries to live like a good guy personally but writes like a fiend about evil. Now that he’s recovered from drug and alcohol addiction and survived a brutal car crash, it sounds like he’s a dedicated husband and father. I pray that someday he not only sees the Light but feels the warmth and starts walking in the sunshine instead of writing in the dark.
But, I digress. My topic was supposed to be “good taste” in writing. Good taste for a Judeo-Christian begins with the first of the Ten Commandments: by honoring God and refraining from dishonoring God. That is “good taste” in the ethical/moral sense. Profanity is poisonous, and strong poison can be deadly.
There are bitter experiences in life, but they don’t taste good and usually leave a bad aftertaste. That doesn’t mean we should never discuss them, but I’m guessing only for medicinal purposes, and for a written work on a bitter topic to be edible, the bitter experiences are best shared sparingly with a spoonful of emotional loft and levity so we’ll eat them. Stephen King does this masterfully. I want to write—even on difficult topics—without bitterness.
To date, we’re told there are five basic tastes that human receptors sense: bitter, and then four pleasing ones (that all start with “s”): sour, salty, savory, and sweet. How can we translate that into the elements of good taste in writing?
Sour tastes come from acidic foods, like citrus fruits and vinegarized veggies. (Ever crave a pickle? I love them!) Did you know that an orange a day gives you all the vitamin C you need? Vinegar contains Acetic acid, which kills bacteria and helps preserve foods. Hippocrates (The Father of Modern Medicine) used vinegar 2,000 years ago to clean wounds. I suppose “sour” writing is that which helps to nourish, cleanse, and preserve us, although if we ingest too much, it will definitely upset our stomachs. “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18).
The scriptures give us insight into the importance of salt, which is used both to flavor and preserve food. Most people love salty foods. A day that ends with a bowl of popcorn is likely rated “Good.” Writing that is good for the soul will also be flavored with salt: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Salt makes us thirsty for water. How can I write in a way that makes people thirsty for the water of life and leads them to Jesus? “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1).
There’s a taste that’s always been a part of our world forever but only recognized by scientific authorities in the West for the last 20-30 years. “Umami” means “good taste” in Japanese and refers to foods that have a savory quality. It’s often associated with the flavor of meat. Having some vegan children now makes me appreciate how what one person loves may be repugnant to another. Sharing the Gospel in our writing—with the gory awareness that we are sinners who have offended God and need a Savior who willingly allowed his blood to be shed as full payment for our sins— this concept turns the stomachs of all who reject the idea of God as a judge who will shed blood—even if it is his own by some mystery of trinitarian unity. “To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life” (2 Corinthians 2:16). I can avoid serving meat to my vegan children, but I cannot avoid serving the crucified Christ to those I write.
Last of all is my favorite of all: the taste of sweetness. Thankfully, the scripture has more to say about sweetness than any other taste. God’s words, found written in the Bible, are pure and sweet: “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Proverbs 19:10); “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24); “The words of the Lord are pure words” (Psalm 12:6). Here I am at rest! Pure and sweet. To write like my God. I’ll never apprehend, but I’ll keep chasing, because He has the best taste of all!
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” (Matthew 5:13)
“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Proverbs 30:5).
“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness” (Proverbs 30:12).
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him” (Psalm 34:8).
Recently, someone posed this question to me: “Do you think AI is going to take over the world? Will it eventually render humans unnecessary and inferior, kill us all, and emerge as the newest form of higher life?”
Sounds like the plot of a sci-fi novel, and there are bunches out there (none of which I’ve read) such as The Final Invention, 2084, and A.I. Apocalypse (to name a few). But, could AI robots really take over the world?
This question was one of many addressed at the most recent Wisdom Conversations seminar at Cornerstone University.
Recognizing the globally revolutionary impact of AI, Cornerstone brought together three experts in the field to discuss the implications and possible ramifications of technology that can now replicate and often surpass human capabilities in intellectual areas. For instance, ChatGPT (launched last November 30, 2022) can now produce a term paper or essay in a few seconds for you that is “original” and probably worth an “A” in most college classrooms. For someone like me, who has thousands of essays already online, ChatGPT can even write an article mimicking my style. DALL-E 2 (another Open AI deep learning model launched on July 20, 2022) can generate high-resolution “original” images based on prompts.
This is a DALL E 2-generated image in response to the prompt: “Teddy bears working on new AI research underwater with 1990s technology” (Wikipedia, Public Domain).
The panel discussion was fascinating! R. David Edelman served as the first Director for International Cyber Policy, the youngest-ever director appointed to the National Security Council. At present, he’s working for MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) as the director for their Project on Technology, the Economy, and National Security (TENS). James Meeks is an on-the-ground veteran of both the army and managing start up companies in areas including AI. Jonanna NG also has a prestigious resume, including 49 patents and a brilliant career with IBM.
What the three panelists shared in common was both up to the moment expertise on AI issues and a love for Christ. They shared openly about the incredible potential—perhaps most importantly the exponential speed of processing data—and the massive potential for these new technologies to be used for both good and evil. Wonderful advancements in medicine . . . horrifying prospects for evil.
Overall, the program was educational, uplifting, and hopeful! Will AI take over the world? No. It is not human; it has been created by humans and can be controlled by humans if we choose to do so. There is no independent life force in AI, any more than there is “life” in a computer. Our job (as humans) is to learn how to use and control the technology we create for good. I loved Joanna Ng’s take-home advice:
*Don’t be afraid
*What humans create, we can control and improve
*Be curious; develop critical thinking
*Learn to use AI tools for blessing
Amen, sister! God gave humans the mandate to be gardeners—to take care of this beautiful planet. Rather than be fearful of the future, He wants us to explore, create, and advance—all for the blessing and good of mankind and the glory of God. In the Bible, we hear “Fear not!” over 150 times. God does not want us to be afraid of evil, but to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Instead, we should fear only displeasing the Lord, because “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm” (Proverbs 19:23).
In case you’re interested, Cornerstone University hosts free seminars each semester. The next one addresses another personal fear of mine (although I do know I’m supposed to only be prompted to pray when I sense dread in my heart). This fall, on October 5, 2023, the topic will be “Christianity in America: Declining Toward Insignificance or Resurging Toward Revival?” They have a great speaker lined up, and you can already register at cornerstone.edu/christianity. Check it out!
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
A couple of years ago Alan was asked by the U.S. military for a DNA sample as part of an attempt to identify bone fragments recovered from Slovenia that may have been those of Alan’s second cousin, Clyde Armstrong.
Clyde was a bomber pilot during World War 2 who had participated in 32 successful sorties before being shot down after effectively bombing and destroying a railroad supply line bridge being used by the Nazis.
Of the eleven members of their crew, 4 were able to bail out and survive (after being POWs until the end of the war). Of the seven who died in the crash, six bodies have been identified and buried, but Clyde’s body was never found with any sense of certainty.
Last weekend, we were invited to attend a conference in Chicago by the Defense Accounting Agency for POW/MIAs.
We had a chance for a personal counseling session with a military historian familiar with Clyde Armstrong’s case and also heard a full day’s worth of fascinating seminars explaining the great lengths our country goes to in trying to retrieve and identify the remains of each of our soldiers. As much as possible, they are truly devoted to having “no soldier left behind.”
With recently developed, highly sensitive techniques for DNA research, new progress is being made. However, the challenges are mind-boggling. For instance, a bomber taken out by anti-aircraft fire will often explode before crashing. Debris (and body parts) from such aircrafts have been found in areas encompassing as many as 70 acres. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the compacted remains from hand-to-hand combat zones. Lab specialists have now discovered that graves originally thought to hold the body parts of one soldier may have up to 94 different DNA fragments interred together.
The advances in technology are both exciting and confusing. I learned a lot but also left with my mind spinning and full of questions. For instance, there were 405,399 total U.S. casualties from World War 2. 360,000 of those deaths occurred overseas, and from that vast group, 72,000 soldiers have cases that are still unresolved, either because their bodies couldn’t be found or because they couldn’t be identified. That’s just World War 2. There are also soldiers still MIA (missing in action) from Korea, Vietnam, and ongoing conflicts. That leaves a lot of grieving family members wondering where their loved ones are.
We joined a group of about 350 family members of soldiers who are still MIA. Although Alan was one of Clyde’s nearest male relatives (for DNA research), Clyde died six years before Alan was born, so the loss wasn’t as deep for him as for some, but it touched him more deeply than he anticipated. Clyde had lived across the street from Alan, and Alan’s closest childhood friend (and cousin) was Clyde’s nephew. Back in the 50s, nobody talked about the war. Nobody talked about the losses. After World War 2, everybody tried to forget the horrors and start over. Except for a few letters and diaries, little remains of the traumas and triumphs.
But, the pain and pride remain. One of the more therapeutic sessions gave people a chance to talk about their missing loved ones and honor their memories. Most of the people were elderly, and I think most of them had lost their father . . . a father they’d never really known. However, they had been told about their loved one’s bravery, and sometimes the stories were laced with humorous tales as well as heroism. It was both comforting and inspiring. It was our first “update,” but we discovered that there are occasional updates offered in various venues around the country. I think these military meetings serve two purposes—not only to reassure citizens that their loved ones have not been forgotten and the search goes on, but also to help people process their grief and find some solace in mutually suffering with others.
As a mother with a son in the military, I could empathize a little. I can’t even allow myself to imagine the grief our family would experience were we to lose Michael, but that’s what has happened to each of these dear family members . . . for years, some for decades, and some perhaps for the rest of their lives. During the course of the day, I got to talking with one of the men who helped people find their way. He wasn’t wearing a military uniform, so I asked how he was involved. “I’m a retired ranger by training but after thirty years of active duty, I’ve become a volunteer ‘pathfinder’.” So, you know me, I couldn’t resist pointing out that Jesus is the world’s best pathfinder. He beamed. “You’re so right! I’m in seminary now, hoping to help people find their way spiritually as well.”
Usually when we visit Alan’s hometown, we make a stop at the cemetery and pause to remember his loved ones who have gone before us. I don’t know if there will ever be bones underneath Clyde’s memorial plaque, but I know his spirit isn’t there. We learn from Ecclesiastes 3:20-21 that we are made from dust and return to dust, no matter where on earth our bodies reside. But, we can have hope that our spirits rise upward to meet God.
“There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust” (Acts 24:15).
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Jesus is the only true pathfinder as we search for God. He explained, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:1).
“But as many as received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13).
P.S.—If you still have any questions about heaven or how to get there, please click on the “Coming to Christ” tab at the top of this page, or leave a comment in the comment box below, or email me with questions at kathrynwarsmtrong@gmail.com.
“What are all the endemeas?” Mary furrowed her brow and looked quizzically at our beloved professor.
Dr. Smith was rarely at a loss for words, but he stopped mid-stride in his pacing across the front of the class and cocked his head, mouth open but silent. There were only three female students at Grace Theological Seminary back in the early 1970s: Mary, my sister, and I. Her outburst caused every head to turn Mary-ward, and I could see her cheeks flushing as we cringed and tried to shrink into our seats.
Hubble Telescope Image, “Pillars of Creation,” shows stars forming in the Eagle Nebula. (Public Domain)
“Come again?” Dr. Smith asked graciously.
“You know, the endemeas. What are they?”
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve heard people talk about them, and you just mentioned them again. I’d like to know what they are.”
Now both Mary and Dr. Smith looked confused. Mary was a petite young Asian and spoke with a soft accent. Dr. Smith was a tall charismatic Texan and spoke with a pronounced southern drawl. We all understood both of them perfectly, but I hadn’t a clue what Mary was talking about, nor did anybody in the room.
“You know, when God created heaven and earth, He made all the endemeas too. What are they?”
After one of those painfully long silences (that probably only lasted an eternal moment), it hit someone in the back of the room . . . I suspect a somebody who had the foresight to look back at the text. “Oh! She means “all that in them is.” “For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is” (Exodus 20:11).
There was a palpable sense of relief as we all relaxed into smiles of understanding. Dr. Smith grinned. “That’s you and me and everything else that’s just a bit smaller than heaven or earth or the sea. Everything within this universe: fish and birds, creepy-crawly stuff, mammals, plant life . . . you know—everything that exists. All the animals and minerals. Everything you can see, and even stuff so little we can’t see it!”
There is nothing visible that was not created by God, from the furthest-flung star to the smallest quarkian building block. Everything was lovingly handmade by God, and guess what?! God’s creation and all the endemeas sing his praise! In Job 38:7 we learn that “the morning stars sang together.” The whole creation sings his praises, from the starsongs scientists are just learning to hear to the whirring quarks we haven’t yet learned to hear. But, we also know that the entire creation—including all the endemeas—are “groaning and travailing in pain together” awaiting the redemption of our Earth from the ravages of sin (Romans 8:22-23).
Where are you in the tension between praising and paining? God has compassion for our cries but also delights in our praise. Whatever we do, let’s not be silent, lest the stones have to cry out for us! Let’s join the cacophony of praise produced by the singing heavens, the winding earth, the roaring seas, and all the endemeas! 🙂
“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:11).
P.S.—If you’ve got a few extra minutes to hear some fascinating sounds of heaven and earth singing together with Chris Tomlin, here’s a great link:
After nearly a generation of being taught that moderate use of alcohol is good for our hearts and helps us live longer, this myth has been debunked, and in a report that came out recently, the World Health Foundation (WHF) now says that no amount of alcohol is safe for the heart: https://world-heart-federation.org/wp-content/uploads/WHF-Policy-Brief-Alcohol.pdf
This flies in the face of the alcohol industry, which has been busy promoting “moderate” alcohol consumption as good for us. According to Monika Arora, who co-authored the above brief, “These claims are at best misinformed and at worst an attempt by the alcohol industry to mislead the public about the danger of their product.” In a news release, she spoke candidly: “The portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use, as have the frequent and widely publicized claims that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, can offer protection against cardiovascular disease.”
The facts of the matter, according to the WHF brief (above), is that “over the past several decades, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease has nearly doubled, and alcohol has played a major role in the incidence of much of it.”
To put this in perspective: Since the Coronavirus Pandemic began in 2019, there have been 5,869,585 global deaths (when I looked it up for this article; there may be more today). By comparison, there are about 3 million deaths attributed to the harmful use of alcohol each year, so since 2019, that’s about 9 million deaths: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics In America, it’s “the third-leading preventable cause of death in the United States.” Why is it that we continue to applaud worldwide freedom to drink? Wouldn’t we be wiser to encourage people to wear a mask whenever they’re tempted to imbibe alcohol??? I do not personally have a single friend (my age, who’s close enough to be open with me) who doesn’t have at least one relative who is an alcoholic and brings grief to their heart. Do you? Even if you aren’t personally susceptible to addiction, are you willing to risk the lives of those you love? Or, let me ask it this way: Are you willing to give up something you enjoy to protect someone you love?
Finally, if you’re just thinking about yourself, please consider this article that suggests there is no safe level of alcohol consumption: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/901126. So, even if you have no one but yourself to worry about, please start being concerned about your own health!
“Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly” (Proverbs 23:31, ESV).
First, what is a “polar vortex”? It’s not even listed in the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary (yet), although it’s become a very popular term in the last few years.
Strong Polar Vortex
As I understand it (and feel free to improve my understanding), it’s literally a cyclone of low-pressure air in the upper troposphere and stratosphere that rotates around the North Pole. (Ditto for the South Pole.)
Diffused Polar Vortex disrupted by infiltration of warm air
Cold air is heavier than warm air, so when the vortex is strong, all is well, but if the cyclone weakens in strength, then warm air from beneath can force it’s way up under the cyclone, knocking it off center or even breaking it into several smaller elongated areas.
I couldn’t find an exact model from 2021 yet, but this one from 2014 gives a feel . . .
The first week of January 2021, there was a profound temperature change in Siberia—from – 92°F to +8°F—a one-hundred-degree jump, known as a “Sudden Stratospheric Warming” (SSW) that seriously disrupted our happy 2021 North Polarian Vortex, shooting one leg down toward Europe and another toward Canada and America. Weather and finance prognosticators are predicting the possibility of frigid weather and economic storms: “This year, the pandemic has already hobbled travel and in-store shopping. Snowstorms, however, could be a nightmare for delivery services” (Brian K. Sullivan, Yahoo! Finance).
If you have three minutes to watch a video, I think this one shared by a Philly newscaster yesterday gives the best, most concise explanation:
What does all this mean for those of us living in the northern areas of North America and Europe? Well, if you have a few extra dollars, you might buy a few extra groceries and think twice before making plans to travel in the next few weeks. On the other hand, I notice that those weathered scientists who’ve lived through many storms are reluctant to predict whether the sky will actually fall or the polar vortex really come to town, because we all know that the only thing we can know for certain about weather is whether or not there will be weather. There will be. What we don’t know for certain is what the weather will be.
On the other hand, Jesus will becoming to town for sure! We don’t know when, but the Bible predicts it with complete certainty: “Behold, he [Jesus] is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty‘” (Revelation 1:7-8).
Are you ready to meet the King of Kings? Is it in your heart to deny Him and make war against Him, or to bow down before him in worship and adoration? He loves you and is calling you to come to Him, but he gives the choice to you. What will it be?
If you’re not certain what to believe, may I share with you “Pascal’s Wager”? Basically, he posits that humans are forced to either believe that God is or that He is not because no one can prove or disprove God’s existence. Therefore, it is more reasonable to believe the God of the Bible exists, since the gain if He does exist (eternal life for those who believe) far outweighs the loss (eternal separation from God after death), whereas the gain if He does not exist (more license to a licentious lifestyle) is of questionable value, and if there is no life after death, then there is nothing to lose after death because you believed.
“They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).
Starlight, star bright, can you see the Christmas Star tonight? I hope it’s clear where you live, because the universal studio of stars is holding a very special Christmas performance this week. For the first time since 1226 AD, the two largest planets in our solar system will align in such a way that they can be observed around the world in what is known as “The Great Conjunction.”
“The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta on July 14, 2020. Jupiter is the bright object at left, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter.” Alan Dyer / Universal Images Group via Getty Images file, ABC News
Around the time that Jesus was born, there was a “great conjunction” between Venus and Jupiter. Do you know that story? When Jesus was born, there were “wise men from the east” (astronomers?) who came to Jerusalem looking for the King of the Jews who was to be born (Matthew 2). The Bible doesn’t explain the basis on which these foreigners discerned that Christ would be born, but it had something to do with a bright star that led them to Jesus.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
This week, we will experience something similar, so this great conjunction is being nicknamed “The Christmas Star” or “The Star of Bethlehem.”
Jupiter and Saturn. Getty Images
Tonight and tomorrow night there should be especially glorious viewing as our crescent moon rises close to Saturn and Jupiter (the two largest planets in our solar system). Jupiter is not only our largest planet, it outshines every other star in our universe (as seen from Earth) and is eleven times more brilliant than Saturn, although Saturn shines as brightly as even the biggest stars. On December 21, when The Great Conjunction occurs, Saturn and Jupiter will be only 0.1° apart and will look more brilliant than any star we’ve ever seen!
The internet is full of interesting information and videos concerning The Great Conjunction, and if you find astronomy fascinating (as I do), I think it might be worth your time to study a little and head outside at night to see what you can see! I’m also including two of my favorite videos: the one above from NASA explaining what’s happening in outer space this month (including excellent viewing of Geminid meteor showers and detailed information on The Great Conjunction), and the link below will enable you to livestream the conjunction just in case it’s really overcast where you (or I) live when the time comes.
But, what’s the real relationship between The Great Conjunction and The Star of Bethlehem that led the wise men to Israel 2020 years ago? I don’t think we’ll ever really know until we get to heaven. To me, it’s like asking if “the great fish” God prepared to carry Jonah back to land without killing him was a “whale” or something special that may have been a one-time, uniquely created sea creature.
Ultimately, I’d like to encourage us all to believe what the Bible says without trying to “make it fit” with science as we understand it today. Was the Star of Bethlehem a “Great Conjunction,” or was it something else? Is it a round peg that slips perfectly into the round hole of our scientific understanding, or is it a “square peg” that doesn’t? Does it matter? Let’s believe the scriptures are true; let’s admire all that astronomers are discovering, and let’s wait for the “final verdict” on mysteries until the end of time, when we are face to face with Christ, our Savior!
“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. You have set your glory above the heavens . . . When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” ( Psalm 8:1,3-4)
Here’s an easy experiment my daughter shared with me to help kids visualize the importance of washing their hands with soap to cleanse away COVID viruses. Sprinkle pepper over a bowl of clean water. (Tell your kids that the pepper represents COVID-19 viruses.)
Dip one dry finger into the bowl, and notice how the pepper clings to your finger.
Next, dry off your finger and coat it with liquid dish soap.
Now gently lower your finger into the water and see what happens. Not only does the pepper no longer stick, it’s repelled! You can almost chase the pepper around the bowl with your finger, and the pepper ends up as far away from the soap as it can get, at the bottom and edges of the bowl!
There are other good applications for this lesson, as you can imagine! If we are spiritually dry, sin will stick to us like pepper on a dry finger! On the other hand, if we are protected by the “soap” of God’s pure word, sin won’t stick to us but will instead be repelled!
“Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me” (John 13:8). “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Are you ready for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that’s sweeping the world? Instead of enjoying a trip to San Antonio this morning for a medical meeting (which got canceled), my husband—as the chief medical officer of a local hospital— is acutely involved in preparing to meet the crisis which has come to Michigan. Two days ago (March 10, 2020) there were no confirmed cases in Michigan, although there were 760 cases confirmed in U.S. However, by 6:33 am on March 11, there were 1,039 confirmed cases throughout America and 119,476 world wide with 4,291 deaths. As of today, March 12th, there are 1,323 confirmed cases throughout America and 127,863 worldwide with 4,718 deaths. If you do the math, it’s shocking how fast this is traveling.
We also now have confirmed cases in Michigan. The schools have shut down in Grand Rapids, as they are where my kids live in California, Chicago, and New York. Belgium (where one of my sons lives) was leading the pack for new cases in Europe yesterday. I am amazed to read of people not taking this seriously. Come on, guys! Where’s your Boy Scout spirit? Semper paratus. Better safe than sorry! Don’t panic, but don’t ignore taking wise precautions, either, please!
Coronavirus is everywhere in the news, so this post may be too late to be particularly helpful, but just in case you haven’t done a lot of research yet, here’s the best up-to-the-moment coverage I have gleaned:
What are the symptoms of a COVID-19 (coronavirus) infection? Most commonly, it presents like flu and can include fever, tiredness and a dry cough, although other symptoms, such as achiness, pain, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, or diarrhea are all possible. According to Dr. Martha Blum, MD PhD: “The most common presentation was one week prodrome of myaglias, malaise, cough, low grade fevers gradually leading to more severe trouble breathing in the second week of illness. It is an average of 8 days to development of dyspnea and average 9 days to onset of pneumonia/pneumonitis. It is not like Influenza, which has a classically sudden onset. Fever was not very prominent in several cases.”
How long does it take to determine if someone has COVID-19? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “symptoms may appear anywhere between two to 14 days after exposure, with the average patient seeing onset at around five days.”
What should you do if you suspect you may be developing a COVID-19 infection ? Call (don’t visit) your doctor or your local health department. They can ask appropriate questions to determine whether on not you need to be tested. Obviously, you should not GO to the doctor’s office or health department directly, lest you expose others, but these health care locations can tell you where you would need to go for testing.
What can we do to prepare? Make sure all your immunizations are up to date. It’s still not too late to get your flu shot or a pneumonia vaccine if you are in the right age and risk group. Check with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for specific guidelines (and other pertinent information concerning COVID-19): https://www.cdc.gov/
Beyond being properly immunized, all the sites I’ve studied say the #1. best advice is easy: limit your exposure as best you can and wash your hands with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds often and specifically after you’ve had contact with people in public places. Do NOT touch your face with your hands until after you’ve washed your hands carefully. If you have hand sanitizer as a second step (AFTER washing), that’s a plus, but most stores are out of hand sanitizer. You can also use rubbing alcohol as a disinfectant. I was able to find some this morning. Have a 14-30-day supply of food and medications on hand. I liked this list from USA Today (March 10, 2020 issue, and I quote):
•Food. Fresh fruits and vegetables will likely spoil over 14 days, so canned foods that have a long storage life and need little or no cooking are recommended. Meat products, fish or beans, soups, broths and stews, fruits and fruit juices, vegetables, canned (or powdered) milk, are among good supply choices recommended by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Disaster Education Network.
Frozen foods are an option, too. Other recommended foods are peanut butter, jelly, crackers, nuts, trail mix, dried fruits, granola bars, bouillon cubes, and staples like sugar, salt, pepper. (Keep in mind you may need to include some special foods for babies and family members on special diets, as well as pet foods.)
•Medicine. You will want to have a 14-day supply of any prescription medications for those in your home. You may also want over-the-counter pain relievers, antacids, cough and cold medicines, and vitamins.
•Supplies. Many homes already have a 14-day supply of most daily items on hand. But make sure you have toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine supplies, diapers, laundry detergent and disinfectant.
•Other items. Perhaps have some board games, cards, toys books, magazines and other fun items to keep the family occupied.
Okay, back to my editorializing: To keep abreast of what’s happening minute by minute around the world and in the U.S., you can access the Johns Hopkin Dashboard here:
In case you think everybody’s overreacting, here’s a link that explains the importance of insulating ourselves and our communities as well as we possibly can. It can make a huge difference in the number of cases and the outcomes:
Below is a potpourri of various recommendations for immunizations, graphs and charts, a brief history of coronavirus, and other pertinent information that I’ve copy-and-pasted from websites, mostly the CDC.
When you are 65 years old, please get the PCV-13 first. Then you should get the Pneumovax 6-12 months afterwards. But if you’ve already had your Pneumovax, then get your PCV-13 one year later. If you are younger than 65, you might need a pneumonia vaccine if you have special conditions. Read more at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/public/index.html for more information
Shingles: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/vaccination.html “Two shingles vaccines are licensed and recommended in the United States. Zoster vaccine live (ZVL, Zostavax) has been used since 2006, and recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix), has been used since 2017, and is recommended as the preferred shingles vaccine.” My vaccine made both my sister and me quite ill briefly, and it does have transiet flu-like side effects for more than half the population, so choose a day when you don’t have much scheduled. We chose a Friday afternoon with a clear weekend.
Interim guidance is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html. As more is learned about this virus and the outbreak, CDC will rapidly incorporate new knowledge into guidance for action.
For historical perspective from the CDC: “An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, and has spread throughout China and to 31 other countries and territories, including the United States (1). As of February 23, 2020, there were 76,936 reported cases in mainland China and 1,875 cases in locations outside mainland China (1). There have been 2,462 associated deaths worldwide; no deaths have been reported in the United States. Fourteen cases have been diagnosed in the United States, and an additional 39 cases have occurred among repatriated persons from high-risk settings, for a current total of 53 cases within the United States. This report summarizes the aggressive measures (2,3) that CDC, state and local health departments, multiple other federal agencies, and other partners are implementing to slow and try to contain transmission of COVID-19 in the United States. These measures require the identification of cases and contacts of persons with COVID-19 in the United States and the recommended assessment, monitoring, and care of travelers arriving from areas with substantial COVID-19 transmission. Although these measures might not prevent widespread transmission of the virus in the United States, they are being implemented to 1) slow the spread of illness; 2) provide time to better prepare state and local health departments, health care systems, businesses, educational organizations, and the general public in the event that widespread transmission occurs; and 3) better characterize COVID-19 to guide public health recommendations and the development and deployment of medical countermeasures, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. U.S. public health authorities are monitoring the situation closely, and CDC is coordinating efforts with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global partners. Interim guidance is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html. As more is learned about this novel virus and this outbreak, CDC will rapidly incorporate new knowledge into guidance for action by CDC, state and local health departments, health care providers, and communities.
“Person-to-person spread of COVID-19 appears to occur mainly by respiratory transmission. How easily the virus is transmitted between persons is currently unclear. Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath (4). Based on the incubation period of illness for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronaviruses, as well as observational data from reports of travel-related COVID-19, CDC estimates that symptoms of COVID-19 occur within 2–14 days after exposure. Preliminary data suggest that older adults and persons with underlying health conditions or compromised immune systems might be at greater risk for severe illness from this virus (5).
“There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
“There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.”
Why is it so much more dangerous for elderly people? According to Bruce Aylward (who leads the World Health Organization’s infectious disease response team), “These people are dying of an inflammatory process in their lungs. It’s not an infectious process, like a bacterial or viral infection. It’s inflammatory, like we see with SARS. We’re not sure of the mechanism. We do know the proportion of people who die who had cancer was half compared to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is a little bit lower than those two, and cancer lower again.
Italy is currently locked down. In China, the cases are diminishing. In America, the confirmed cases are growing rapidly!
After all is said and done, I would like to remind people to prepare, but not panic! Prepare, watch, and pray: “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord ” (Proverbs 21:31). Our world, our times, and our lives are ultimately in the hands of the One who has created us. As Solomon taught, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). I am totally convinced that this current plague is intended by God for our good, to bring us all to the foot of the cross, where we can find rest and peace for our souls—and eternal life through faith in Christ—despite the present crisis. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2).
Please feel free to write a response, ask any questions, or request me to pray for you specifically.
Summer Setting 