Welcome, Claira!

Claira Susan Tittle was born on April 21, 2008 at 3:33 P.M. (CST) in Searcy, AR to my son Brandon and his wife Joy. This was their first. Claira came in at 8lbs 7oz. She was 21 1/4 inches long.

My wife and I did not make it to the hospital from NM before Claira was born as her mom had a speedy and relatively easy delivery.

Mom and baby are dong great and we brought them home today from the hospital after a one night stay.

This makes grand baby number four with two girls and two boys. As far as we know there are no more on the way.

At this point I plan on returning home on Monday, April 28, while my wife will make up her mind later when she will come back to NM.

This will be a great experience as we will get to be together with Joy's parents for several days.

We are very thankful for the successful delivery of a very healthy baby and praise God for His goodness.

MDA Lock-up

Well that was an interesting and not so terrifying experience. I had been "tagged" to raise $1,000 for MDA or be thrown in the MDA jail until I did. Of course I tried to raise the money before jail day, but was unable even though I made several appeals to family and friends.
However, the experience convinced me that I would like to do it again next year. I think I can do better.
My connection with MDA, or at least this lock-up, was quite by accident and random because someone submitted my name to be locked up.
However, I have another connection that goes back to my dad. He suffered from what is commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease or you will see it abbreviated ALS. This is one of the diseases that MDA furnishes research funds for.
There is no cure but they have been able to sustain patients' lives and quality of life for longer than was available when my dad had the disease.
I don't know the technical explanation, but ALS moves up the spinal cord and destroys muscles until finally the patient succumbs. For my dad it was about a year from diagnosis until his death in 1961.
At one time in my life I thought I wanted to be a doctor and somehow do something about this debilitating condition.
For now, I will try to raise money every year for MDA.

Who is Jesus? #124

I guess all good things must come to an end. No, I am not halting my blogging and I am not changing the subject.

I am just going to move away from the book of Revelation, though I reserve the right to come back any time, and take thoughts from other areas of the New Testament.

The journey through the first chapter in Revelation has been a revealing one as we tried to answer the question, "Who is Jesus?"

John gave as comprehensive a description as is possible. I still wonder if we lose something by having to read it in words rather than seeing it as John did in his glorious vision.

More to come.

Who is Jesus? #123

"And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18)

I wonder if we ever wonder as to where it will all end or where eternity will begin for us after we die.
Do we doubt? If we do, are we not giving the key holder enough credit?

John told us, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13).

Knowledge and confidence in the one who holds the keys is essential. He is not willing that any should perish. (II Peter 3:9).

Who else would we want to be holding those keys? Doesn't it build our confidence that the one who holds the keys is one who has experienced death Himself? This is not new territory for Him!

No matter what is behind that last door, I know Him who holds the keys.

Who is Jesus? #122

"And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18)

When we acknowledge that Jesus has all power and authority, even over death, then we can join Paul is his affirmation of faith, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

Relinquishing control of life means also relinquishing control of death - not that we have any control over death in the first place.

Yes there are things we can do, and should do, to live healthier lives. Our physical well-being is important but not just to add more years to our lives but to have more time to serve Him who has all authority.

If we are willing to let Him guide our life, we need also to remember He will guide of death, also.

Don't be afraid for Him to put the keys into the lock.

Who is Jesus? #122

"And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18)

Oh, I know that Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead. His good friend, Lazarus, died and Jesus brought him back. There is Peter's mother-in-law and others.

What I don't know is why we have come to believe that Jesus will lengthen our lives when it is time for us to go. For Jesus to have "the keys of death" does not mean that He is going to keep us from dying. The Christians of the first century could testify to that.

He is the one who will guide us through that door. He is the one who has prepared the "other side" for us. He is the one who has preceded us in death. He is the one who has promised to lead us through that door. He has not only shown the way, but is waiting for us over there.

I should not be afraid to go where Jesus has gone. The one who has the keys is the one who has the authority. That's Jesus!

Please, Jesus, unlock that door as only you can.

Who is Jesus? #121

"And I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18)

For those who are into the Jurassic Park movies, you might remember the second one where the evil corporation captures a T-Rex along with her baby and endeavors to bring them into the U.S. We are to assume that during transport the T-Rex gets out of the hold of the ship and everyone on board is killed. The problem is that the ship is on autopilot headed for the harbor and there is no one to steer it much less slow it down.

She is totally out of control and slams into the harbor and everyone goes crazy and the T-Rex escapes and wreaks havoc in the city. The ship was out of any one's control.

I wonder if we feel that way about life and death. Do we think death is out of our control. Well, it really is, and that is a good thing considering who is in control of death. HE has got the keys in His hands.

Our brothers of the first century may have thought that the persecuting Roman powers had the keys of death. No way! Not only did Jesus have the key, He had the Master key!

We shouldn't be afraid for Him to unlock the doors of death and allow us to slip through.

It's all under control.