Heaven is For Real

As most of you know, I read alot. I read fiction, non-fiction, Christian living, kids books, all kinds. I really enjoy reading. I love learning and imagining and books are the perfect avenue for those activities. In the course of my life as a reader I certainly have my favorite authors and books. In all of my reading, though, I don't know that any book, other than the Bible,  has quite impacted me the way this book has.

It's a short read. I read it in one sitting in under 3 hours. It's very easy to understand. However, it will rock your world! I feel like my passion for my Savior has been renewed a hundred fold and I am in love with this amazing God/man who redeemed me and waits to greet me one day.

I had heard about this book and have always been a little skeptical of near death experiences or people who claim to have died and had these "experiences" and then come back. So naturally, I was skeptical of this book as well. However, nothing in this book was contradictory to scripture. In fact most of what was shared was very much consistent with what the Bible teaches about Heaven. The evidences for the reality of this little boy's trip to heaven are astounding and I am choosing to believe them because there is no other choice, logically. There is no way he could have known some of the things he shared. If you are a Christian, you will be encouraged and dazzled by his story. If you're not, all I can say is what Colton said, "you really, really, need Jesus."

Throughout the book, as the story unfolds of his visit to heaven, his family would play a game and show him all these various pictures of Jesus to see if they could find one to match the likeness of the Jesus that Colton saw in heaven. Of course, none fit the bill. Towards the end of the book they show him one more picture thinking it will be wrong too, but this one is right. Not only is this one right, but unbeknown to him, this painting was done by a young girl who claimed she went to heaven as well. Could this be what Jesus actually looks like? Granted, I don't think any picture can do justice to his Glory and Majesty in Heaven. But still, is this what Jesus the man looked like? This picture took my breath away and I find myself longing to be with Him. It stirred something in me, passion. My husband was taken with it in a similar manner.

Oh that we may have the faith of children and the boldness to proclaim what we know to be true. Jesus is alive! Heaven is real! And there is only one way to get there! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

What History Forgets

One of my least favorite subjects growing up was History. That's kind of ironic considering I married a History buff. Nonetheless, I just couldn't see the relevance and more to the point, I just couldn't remember all those dates.

However, now that I am a bit older, and out of school, I find that I am fascinated in regards to the stories of history. I still am not good with dates, but I am intrigued by things that happened in the past. I think that if History class was presented as more of a story time instead of facts and figures then I would have relished that class back in the day.  I also think there are tons of things you don't learn about in history class that are so relevant and so interesting.

More to the point, I just finished an enlightening read, Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. It's the story of the World's Fair that took place in Chicago around 1893. What struck me the most was how little I knew of what this fair entailed. My knowledge was limited to the fact that the Museum of Science and Industry building was a product of this world fair. But that is a grain of sand in the desert of knowledge and information that has eluded me until now.

This fair was a huge event. I mean, it changed Chicago and the whole country. It influenced architecture and engineering and pushed them to new heights, both literally and figuratively. It captured the imagination and captivated a country hit hard by recession. It was a phenomenal feat that it even happened at all. I wish I could have seen it. And that, my friends, is just scratching the surface. The story of how it came together is somewhat of a miracle, though not without hard work, sacrifice, and many hardships along the way.

The other part of story is that of a serial killer, H.H. Holmes that resided in Chicago during the building of and duration of the fair. Sadly, his is not a pleasant story and though he did hang for three murders committed in another state, Chicago will never know the extent of his rampage here. He was a sick, sick man, with the charm and beauty of the Devil himself, hence the title.

This story, this history, was completely intriguing and made me wonder why all history cannot be presented as such. It made me want to learn more. And I think I shall do some more research at the library when I get a chance. I want to see some pictures from this unbelievable fair! It also made me wonder how such a momentous event in the history of America seems to be omitted from history learned in school. I don't ever remember hearing about this. It's a shame!

Fun Gifts

Christmas has come and gone but the remnants will last a long time. We still have many cookies left over, which I am not complaining about. It's rather nice in fact. I know there will come a day when I go to have my tea and cookies and find that the there are, in fact, no more cookies. That will be a sad day. But for now, that day seems quite far away. Of course we have the wonderful memories. We also have some gifts.

I was rather excited this year about giving John his gift because I know it's something he's wanted for a while. And he loved it, which just made my day!

So here is my ode to three gifts we received this year that I thought were rather fun:

Here's to my "Little Drummer Boy", now you can use an actual drum at home.

Here's to the smiles that my Muppet's Snuggie brings to my face every time I put it on. Thanks Jen.

Here's to the most creative gift we received...cold hard cash! Thanks Mom.