Truth at Easter

Hoping Your Easter Celebration was Joyful!!

What is the Truth?

I was reading one of my very favorite blogs today by MckMama. If you’ve not had a chance to visit her blog, make a point of going there sometime. Her blog is often quite interesting and fun to read, and she is an avid Christ Follower. She and her family are going through a struggle right now with the illness of their young infant son, Stellan. Prayers for healing and strength are needed and welcomed.

She inspired me today.
She made me think today. I love that.

On this EASTER, she wrote a very pointed entry regarding THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF JESUS. If you have a chance, take a read at her blog - HERE

MckMama wrote the following in her discussion of this Absolute Truth:

        "And, either Jesus is real, and He died on the cross and rose again as the only way to Heaven--for everyone in the world--or He did not.

        There are no other alternatives."

It got me thinking...... There really is no such thing as relative truth, partial truth, truth for me, or truth for you. There is no middle ground with this statement. He either DID or He DID NOT. Therefore, you have to decide whether you believe He DID or DID NOT.

Let me state now that I believe the ABSOLUTE TRUTH of Jesus Christ....

        I believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). The only way to Heaven is through Him.

You don’t have to believe in this absolute truth. That is your choice. You may have a different belief. However, just because you may not believe it, doesn’t make it any less the truth.

Absolute Truth is like The Sun

Jesus is Truth - Just as we accept that the sun rises and sets each day as an absolute truth.

Whether you can see it or not today (as in the case of stormy days), does not change this truth. We have troubled times and our Faith waivers. We begin to question. Go ahead.. question, cry out, show dismay - Jesus hears you. But even when it’s cloudy, don’t let your belief waiver from this Absolute Truth. This Foundation.

Whether you believe it or not (as might be the case for a blind person who has never SEEN), does not change this truth. It is absolute. For someone who has been blind to Jesus, the truth is still the truth - it is absolute.


Saved? Going to Heaven?

As a Christ Follower, I DO BELIEVE that Jesus is real, and He did die on the cross and rose again as the only way to Heaven - for everyone in the world. And... I choose to follow Him as my Savior. That’s it. It is finished. That’s all it takes for a one way ticket to Heaven.

Truth is Truth, right??

Lots of tough questions arise from statements like the ones above. Very hard questions. Questions that I struggle with as well. Questions like: Does that mean a serial killer who accepts Jesus in jail goes to Heaven? Does that mean a drunk driver who killed 3 innocent people accepts Jesus and he/she goes to Heaven? Does that mean that a family member who doesn’t accept Jesus will not go to Heaven?

If you believe the Absolute Truth of Jesus Christ, then the answers to these questions could all be YES. Even when you want them to be NO. Only Jesus knows the heart of a person.

Tough? Yes. Hard to swallow? Yes. Seems Morally Wrong? Yes.

In order to process these thoughts personally, I’ve come to rely on another Absolute Truth of Jesus- He alone is the final judge. He alone gets to decide how we spend our eternal lives. Are we off the hook for the bad things we do in life? No.... even for the saved, the Bible tells us we still need to live faithful, obedient lives here on Earth. Not that we won’t sin. Of course we will and do so on a constant basis. But, yet, we are still saved by His grace and our belief in Him. My comfort with the tough questions above, come with this verse in the Bible.

2 Corinthians 5:10 affirms that while eternal life is a free gift when we believe in Him (Eph 2:8-10), we each will still be judged by Christ on how we have lived our lives here on Earth and given our lot in Heaven.

        2 Cor 5:10 - For we must all [the saved] appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

My comfort with the tough questions above, come with this verse in the Bible.

If you want to know the absolute truth .... know Jesus.


As I said.... MckMama’s post got me to thinking......


On this beautiful Easter day as we celebrate the foundation of the Absolute Truth of Jesus Christ

Christ is Risen!! He is Risen Indeed!!

HE IS RISEN!!

EASTER Blessings to each of you!!  Rejoice for He is Risen!

Love to all - 

MA

Easter Weekend!!

******THANK YOU!!!********

For those of you who have graciously supported Rachel financially in her MS150 quest, she is very thankful as are we!  She has met her goal and has surpassed it with the generosity of many!!   It's not too late to make a donation to help fund the research for MS150 treatments and cures.  Click on the big MS150 Texas Flag Button on the right to go to Rachel's page.  She's very grateful for everyone's support!!  She'll be riding next weekend and I'll post pictures here when I can!!  

*****THANK YOU!!********** 

Now on to the regularly scheduled program......

As I sit here, it's early Saturday morning.  It's a little cool outside still and cloudy.  I've been up since 5:45 am!!  And good thing too as I had to wake up Miss Rachel who was supposed to have been awake at 5:30 am to be leaving at 6:00 am to go with the parents of one of her BFF's to Georgetown this morning for the Girl's Varsity Soccer State 4A Championship game to be played there at 11:00 am!!  (Make sense??!!)   Go Mustangs!!

Once I'm up... I'm usually up.  My brain starts going and there's no getting back to sleep for me.  I really wish I could just plop back in bed and go to sleep.  It just doesn't work for me.  I start thinking of all the things I want to do or need to do and a list starts forming.  Sometimes, there are so many things my brain starts going through, I forget the first one that started the whole thing!!  BUT .... just the mere fact of knowing there are so many "to do's" forces me up and out of bed.  Of course... the first thing on the list is coffee.  That's a must.  I do so much better with a cup of coffee flowing through the veins.  Not sure if it's the caffeine or just the comfort factor of a warm cup of coffee that really does the trick.   Next it's usually my computer time:  Reading news, emails, blogs, writing a blog, working on my blog design (which is still in progress because I'm trying to learn and design at the same time!).  Eventually, I'll get dressed and run a few errands I need to do before the big day tomorrow - Easter!!   

Baseball Update:  There was one game this week and I couldn't make it because it coincided with Rachel's flute lesson on Weds. night.  Stephen did well... had a couple of hits and brought a couple of runners and himself in for a score.  Still playing outfield mostly with not much coming out to him to field.   No games this Easter weekend!  Pick up again next week.

Photography Update:  This week has been really full in Karen's photography class.  We learned about composition rules this week.  Our assignments have been to look at our pictures (past and present) and think about how they do relative to the rules of composition and then spend some time taking pictures of willing subjects with certain compositional rules in play.   I've noticed a few things about my photos - 1) I tend to put the subject in or near the middle and not along the Rule of Thirds consistently, but do like the picture better when it follows the Rules of Thirds.  2) I'm not getting good consistent focusing at the right places and 3) Compositionally... i'm doing ok, but not getting a great compositional photo but maybe 1 out of 3 shots.  So.. that's what all the practice is for.... want to get a better ratio of great photos to not great ones straight out of the camera.

This one I like a lot.... (and not just the subject).

I have no shortage of willing subjects around here..... first and foremost is Rachel who basically is just a camera hog right now.  Teenage egocentricity!!!  I think she wants the pictures for her Facebook really and views this is a bonanza!!  Stephen tolerates it but then she's doing it and wants to join right in because he doesn't want to be left out.  The only one not terribly amused to be a subject is John.  Although funny enough, he semi complained about NOT being a subject yesterday.  So, maybe we'll see him show up in some practice shots later.

Here are some of my favorites.  If you want to see all the bazillion others I took, just click on my Flicker box on the right and you'll get to them.  Remember... I was practicing and not all are very good.

Rachel and Jesse the puppy.... 

Jesse posing for the picture.....

Rachel's so silly.... but this is her personality!!

Not sure what to call this one.... note the huge sunglasses..... 

Stephen's so handsome.... a rare calm moment.....

He was playing along with me... as I went around in a circle and took photos.

Thinking about baseball.....I think he discovered perhaps this wasn't a ball he should be playing with.  I believe it's signed by someone.... someone important.....

Couldn't stand his sister being in the tree and not him......

Have a Great Saturday all!!

MA

Just a couple of pictures.....

A couple of my favorites from the weekend.....playing with the camera

Baseball season is here.....

He's a handsome one I tell ya....

Sunday Updates....

I'm messing around with my blog at the moment. Figured out how to get 3 columns, but now trying to figure out how to put a background on here.  Hmmm..... 

Beautiful day here in Houston, Texas today!!  We don't get too many of these types of days here  - upper 70's, lower 80's, low humidity, and wind.  It was so nice outside.  The kids were outside playing today while I was playing with my camera.  Here are a few of my favorites!

I don't think baseball is a tackle sport.... but..... 

Going down.....

Gotcha and Sugar is coming to play....

It's all about HER you know.......  (was trying to take a picture of her brother and she just flew in with her arms wide because she's such a camera hog!!)

Have a great week!

MA

Camera Practice - Oh My!!

I bought a new camera lens today!!  Canon 50mm f 1.4 prime lens.  It's INCREDIBLE!!  I had a 50mm f 1.8 which I thought was good, but this one is amazing.  I popped it on the camera and set out to the backyard to take some pictures.  Check them out below.

I am taking a photography class from an amazing lady - Karen Russell.  I just LOVE her pictures and her teaching style!!  It started last Monday and next week, we really get into the nuts and bolts and assignments!!  I can't wait!!  I just know I'm going to learn a lot.  I have some knowledge and every time I focus on my photography, I learn something new that I can remember and put into my pictures.  10 weeks of practicing and learning... bring it on!

Don't forget to read my post below and help support Rachel in her MS150 ride from Houston to Austin!!  

The bee was helping my blackberries along.....

Pretty Wildflowers.....

Same Bee......

More to come.... 

Saturday Notes....

Yes, I know it's been almost a week since I posted anything.  Shame on me!!  The reason for this blog was to capture our daily lives .... well... daily lives this week have been crazy busy!!  So... no time to capture it in writing, just time to live it!!

The MOST important item of the week was ......

OUR ANNIVERSARY!!!  April Fool's Day

John and I celebrated our 2 year "first met" anniversary!!  It's not our wedding anniversary which will come up on July 4th, but is the anniversary of when we met!!  Yes,  we met on April Fool's Day (only) 2 years ago!! Seems like a lot longer than that, but it's true.   I think it's pretty funny that we met on April Fool's Day as well.... speaks volumes doesn't it!!      Since we're capturing memories, this picture is not from when we met, but rather from our honeymoon last July.  I just happen to love the picture!!      So.. you ask... what did we do for to celebrate our first meeting anniversary??  Ummm... as life with children goes, I took Rachel to a flute lesson and the boys hung out at home.  Fun.. huh.  Tis life!!  I think John has planned something for tonight instead.  He's keeping it secret, so shush.

SECOND Most Important Item of the Week

SUPPORT RACHEL RIDING THE MS150 from Houston To Austin April 18-19

Click HERE to go to Rachel's Site to Donate!!

Our family has a personal connection to Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  John's youngest daughter, Laila, was diagnosed with MS last summer at age 21, as well as a very good friend of mine at work who was diagnosed with MS last fall.  We know first hand the symptoms, impacts on life, and the treatments available for MS right now.  From the support for MS that has been given in the past, Laila and my friend have great treatment options for their MS.  Our hope is that with continued support for research in MS, one day there will be a way to free them and everyone else with MS from the disease and prevent it from occurring!    

Many of you may not be aware of this, but Rachel (age 15, freshman in high school) has expressed an interest into going into medicine for a career.  Specifically, she's interested in cancers and diseases such as these.  She spent last summer at Duke University taking a Biology of Cancer course to further her interests.  She's interested in helping discover new and effective treatments and cures.   

Rachel's method to give back right now is through an event such as this to raise money for the research needed for MS treatments and cures!  Please help her in this cause by visiting her site  HERE  and making a donation!  Her goal is to raise $500.00 and then get on her bike in two weeks and ride for two days and 180 miles (yes, it's not really 150) from Houston, Texas to Austin, Texas!! Just to give some comfort to those who may think I'm sending her out there alone... relax, her dad is riding with her.

THANK YOU from Rachel and all of us!!!

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The rest of the week was filled with work and life.

Started off with my trip to Galveston for our annual Treasury Management industry conference for two and half days - Sunday through Tuesday.  Always good to see my friends in the industry but a very tiring event.  Was glad to get home on Tuesday night and honestly, not feeling well by then.   

Galveston......I only live 30 miles or so from Galveston, but honestly, have not ventured down there since the Hurricane.  Really had no reason to up to this point.  There is a good deal of the hotels, restaurants, etc. up and running especially along the Seawall, but then a lot of the homes are still a mess around the area.  

I stayed at the San Luis Resort which is definitely up and running and beautiful on the outside again.  Unfortunately, while I like this hotel, they put me in a smoking room the first night.  I really didn't notice it until I went to bed that night and the pillows/bed smelled terribly.  By that time, the hotel was sold out and I couldn't move rooms.  So... I had to deal with it.  I woke up the next morning with a head full of mess!!  It was yucky.  They were able to move me the next night to a non smoking room which was good.  Apparently, I'm developing allergies in my older age because I started having problems this week and the non expert in me really believes it has something to do with mold, mildew or something like that.  Anyway.... I came home Tuesday not feeling very well which really has lasted until today.  I woke up this morning feeling better.  

Rest of the week... was busy busy.  Baseball, flute, date night, work, garden.... we've been tired around here.  Kids are off with their Dad this weekend and we're just working around the house!!  

Baseball Update: Two games this week.  They Knights lost one and won one.  Stephen's bat has gone a bit silent these last two games.  Another game today, so we'll see how it goes.x

Garden Update:  Planted tomatoes (9 plants), squash, zucchini, eggplant, cantelope, jalepenos, serrano, poblanos and herbs two weeks ago.  Luckily, last weekend's little cold snap didn't get below 40 here in my yard!!  They are all doing well and there are three little tomatoes on one of my plants already!!    Today, I am planting the remaining pieces of the garden for this spring (I think)  - lima beans and blackeye pea seeds are going in the ground this weekend.  We are also putting in the irrigation system this weekend.  Next on the list is to design a better netting system to keep birds out before the tomatoes start to really get going and then put some poles in for the beans.   

Tis all for today!!  Have a great weekend!!

MA