C28.com — “Bold Christian Apparel” — the C28 stands for Colossians 2:8, one of my favorite verses, which says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” They have a logo, “notw”, which stands for “not of this world.” I just like this ministry for so many reasons! But I’ll elaborate later.

 

Yes, I voted for Mike Huckabee. I became sold on him after watching his responses to debate questions, CNN attacks, and many other YouTube videos.

Click here for Mike Huckabee.com

NOTE: My old static webpage called “Promotions” has been converted to be a category in my WordPress blog. I modified the date to be 2007 instead of 2008 so that it doesn’t appear in front of my newer 2008 blog/journal entries. Here below is the text from the original static webpage:

I’ve always wanted to do this. Just have a page listing some of the places that I shop and the products that I use, and maybe a few words reviewing the places and products.It isn’t that I’m anyone special, that is, with special credentials for reviewing places. Regarding technology I’m known for knowing at least a thing or two, and I do almost all my shopping on the internet for two very good reasons: my disability makes it difficult for me to go out shopping, and the price of gas makes it expensive for me to go out to shop. Other reasons I shop on the internet are the convenience, the selection is great, and most often the prices are better than a “brick and mortar” storefront. A lot of my friends are “unplugged” from the phone company; I’m just “unplugging” from “brick and mortar” storefront shopping.

You may ask, am I promoting some of these places and products? You bet! If I think they are good and worthy, then I would want to tell others of the great deals, quality, selection, etc., and I would want those businesses to stay in business for the same reasons. For instance, the first one that I’m going to list is C28.com. I like them for several reasons: They have the best selection of the type of products they sell that I have seen anywhere on the internet, and they are more than a business – I would say they are a ministry of blessing to believers, seekers, and others. You can read about the ministry aspect of their people here.

So here goes! My list of places and products beginning with C28.com! I will add links and my thoughts as I’m able to do so. Sorry there isn’t much on here at the moment. But check back again! I’m sure to add lots more!

Edited: (When I converted my static “Promotions” web page to a category on my WordPress blog I accidentally put Mike Huckabee before C28.com.)

Ed

There’s no way that I can address or expose much on such a lofty topic, but something came to my heart today that I must share with you.

It seems that it’s when we are confronted with death that we gain some perspective on life. I’ve been so confronted in several ways over the years. The death of a loved one and a personal “near death experience” causes one to reflect and hopefully gain a better understanding of life.

I just have a few short things to share here about life and death. I think that they could be useful to someone. I hope that they are.

As a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ I know that I will live eternally with my Savior in Heaven. Until then I live out and hopefully enjoy and appreciate my life here in this world for the short time that I’m here. After all, I am called by God for a purpose-His purpose-while I live out this life. Pain isn’t really relevant (no matter how distracting) compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

In fact, most of the things that we pay attention to in this world are not as important as we make them out to be. It is simply life that is important now and I find it elusive to define it other than it is a gift from God: Life, and the lives that we share with one another: relationships. It is almost comic how we make such things as money so important even while we neglect the best part of life: The beautiful lives of those so close to us, our spouses and children. It would be funny if it wasn’t so terrible. Money, after all, won’t go with us to heaven. (Luke 12:16-40), however what we did with/for/to one another-relationships-our lives will “go with us” into eternity.

Even while we are still here, and, from our current perspective (as people who are still here) it is so very important to lay hold of life as God designed it to be, one of love for one another.

Let me pose a thought to consider: We grieve over the loss felt when a dear one dies and that is okay. But we must not neglect to accept the words of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians:

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Grieve, but not like the rest of men, who have no hope. This is one of the Truths about God’s will, plan, and Kingdom that we must take hold of. It isn’t the death of a loved one that we should overly concern ourselves with but the life of that loved one. To explain this I need to mention a dear friend the I miss, (but only for a short while!)

I miss many people that I will soon see again. My dad, my aunt Teti, a dear friend Leo Jett, and a brother who lived near me, Bob Pryor. Bob was so unique, at least I think so. He was a farmer who had done it all. He even worked on a steam boat, as I heard it, as a river boat captian. His life was colorful, fascinating, ..almost unbelievable. He passed on to Heaven, it seems, recently. I don’t really remember when.

There is a choice before me every time I think of Bob: Dwell on what I am missing or revel in the life that we shared, no matter how short of a time it was. And even more important, I must remember that I’ll see him again very soon when I, too, make that journey to Heaven. I don’t know what it will be like when I get there, but I know that it will be a time of rejoicing! Praise God!

We mustn’t dwell on our loss; we must remember and even revel in the life that we shared with one another and, (again), hold on to the hope that we have based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

This is my viewpoint on life and death: Death is only for a short time; it is life that is eternal. And I hope that I can “encourage each other with these words.” God has conquered sin and death. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:51-55)  Praise God and rejoice in the life and relationships that we have with one another no matter how short our time is with them. For believers, we will praise God and rejoice together again for eternity.

It is life, not death, that is important. Let’s make the most of it with one another! Love one another!

Love In Christ,
Ed

It is so important to accept change. Partly because it is inevitable – change will occur no matter what we do to try and stop it. We also need to recognize that so long as we hold on to things the way they are we are not allowing God to work His miracles. A baby, as beautiful as they are, will not stay a babe but grows up, gets married, and passes the way of all mortals. Death is part of the cycle of life as God has allowed it on this world. Ironically those who frantically attempt to hold on to things cease to enjoy them. Embrace change and we become part of the life that God intended for us.

Cleaning the summer room is all about change. I can’t work on my beloved projects anymore. We can’t take it with us not even to our downsized town home and certainly not to Heaven.

I could say more about change but I want you to know that I don’t grieve over the functional loss of my hands, feet, or bladder. I have repeatedly said that if I never worked on a computer again the rest of my life I would still find something to enjoy, something to distract me from pain, something to make me feel useful, something to worship my Heavenly Father.

So it is very easy for me to say that the end of an era has recently occurred and I have no regrets. I will not seek to hold on to something that God has ordained I should cease from enjoying. I’m talking about the camera that I purchased over 7 years ago. Can you believe it? That I’ve had this camera that long?* It is damaged and cameras are usually not something that can be fixed by the consumer. I have received, I feel, far more enjoyment from this camera than most people are able to have, far more, I know, than I ever expected. I loved taking photos of events at church and in the home. But God is calling me to new and different things.

I’m not really all that great with people as compared to, say, technology. God has given me mercy and has taught me many things. But I can see more and more that for me to focus a camera instead of focusing on the people near me would be a mistake. I feel like a terrible evangelist, but I’m called to evangelize. I feel like a terrible mentor but I’m called to mentor. I’m pretty sure that I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. (Of course, I’m very sure of this!) I will still have technology. Helping the church every once in a while is still a joyful activity for me and I don’t think that will change anytime soon. But forgetting the camera that I’ve enjoyed for so long is a clear change that is needed in my life.

Last summer, when I dropped the telephoto lens and watched it descend in slow motion onto the concrete sidewalk, I wasn’t shaken at all by it. It was sort of a sign of the change that had already began even though I didn’t notice it yet. Seven years ago that lens cost almost as much as the camera. Now both are broken. (No, I didn’t drop the camera. It just seemed to have worn itself out.) I’m worn out in some ways. To continue to expend my energy taking photos, even though it has been such a joy, would be a serious mistake. Would we hold on to this world at the moment that God is calling us to be in Heaven? Most people seem to do so even when Heaven is their real home.

The era of my taking photos is over and I don’t regret it. Instead, I am looking forward to what God has called me to next. He is my loving Heavenly Father and I trust Him to lead me. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul. The Lord is God.

Thank you, God, for such love, mercy, grace, and more that you have given me and my family especially these last 7 years of my disability. Who could ever imagine that there is such joy in the midst of such trials.

“Yea, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,  I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Amen!”

* I purchased the camera when I found out that I had cancer. It was, for me, a way to document life. It wasn’t about cancer but what life can be in spite of cancer. I didn’t focus on my cancer. I focused a camera on the life around me. 7 years of fighting cancer and 7 years of enjoying my camera. I don’t want a new one. I only want Jesus.

Our pastor delivered a great message last Sunday at our church, as usual. The message was on the prodigal son.

The prodigal son parable has such appeal to me. Billy Graham preached on it many times before and I never got tired of hearing him tell it.

At Sunday’s service, one man gave a testimony of his good relationship with his dad, how his career and life were molded by his dad’s. Another man told how he ran away from home and lived as a runaway until he heard God calling him. You can hear the message and these testimonies by clicking here. (The file isn’t up just yet.)

The runaway told how he realized, much later in life, that God was waiting for him, watching for him, and calling for him all along but he didn’t know it. Just like the prodigal, he had to make that decision to go to the Good Shepherd. He wrote a very moving song about this.

How This Relates to Me

God had His Hand on me all along in my youth and adulthood. This is clear to me and I rejoice in amazement at His great love for me-unconditional, everlasting. But I seem to have forgotten this attribute of God still in place for us today.

Last Sunday, Father’s Day, they were giving out free hamburgers to all the men of the church after the services. It was really cool, sort of like an ad-hoc men’s picnic right in front of the church. I knew about this the previous week being on the inside of such things sometimes. So I planned to wrangle two burgers from the grill man and give one of them to my son. This was in my mind and heart all week.

As we were leaving the service, my son, who also has his sources, told me that they might give out a burger to him, too, and asked if he may have one. I told him not to ask and he looked down trodden. Things got a little busy, so instead of my plan to get two burgers and give him one, I just told him to get himself a burger. (I ended up getting two burgers myself after all.)

On the way home, my son asked for something else. I took the opportunity to help him realize that his needs and even his desires are always on my heart, and that I am always looking for good things to give to him. He hardly has to ask for anything. He must learn to trust me more. I also explained that I withhold things from him sometimes because I love him. Sometimes what he wants would be harmful to him somehow. I used the example of bad movies. When I get our Netflix in, I always preview it first. If it would be bad for our family then I return it without watching it.

Even as I was talking to my son I realized that this is how God deals with us in love. He withholds things that would not be good for us; and He already has in His Heart and Mind to give us those things which are good for us, even before we ask for them or realize that we need them.

The Very Personal Gift

Thursday morning the “Joni and Friends” devotional was about the parable of the wedding where the groom invited people who made excuses and wouldn’t come which angered the groom. Friday morning the devotional was on the same subject. Very rarely does Joni cover a subject twice in a row. Even though I spent time with God after reading these devotionals and felt that I understood them, I didn’t see how they could relate to me. After all, I am one of the poor, blind, cripple, and lame people in the alleys that were later invited and did come to the wedding.

Friday afternoon a man came to tell me that someone gave me a valuable gift. There are several aspects of this event that were so personal to me that I felt very shaken when I heard of it. How did this person know the importance of this gift to me? How did they know that I needed it? (I didn’t tell anyone about it except my wife. My children probably overheard, too.) No one outside the family heard me complain that I needed this gift. And it is a gift of some value. I have trouble receiving gifts of value because I feel that I am being a burden to others.

The selfish part of me was going “woo hoo!” but another very dominant part of me was stubbornly and stupidly considering refusing the gift. I knew that this would be wrong and later figured out that refusing a gift could actually be offensive just like refusing to come to the wedding banquet. Forwarding the gift to the church is not receiving the gift.

The parable of the wedding came to mind finally. I was invited. I was given a gift. It is important that I receive it. But I continued to wonder how on earth someone knew about this need in my life? Had I expressed my need to anyone outside my family? Was there a “leak”; did someone in my family tell someone else about it? I didn’t think so.

Then, Sunday, I heard the testimony of how God was watching, waiting, and calling long before the man heard His call. And I thought of the conversation with my son, how his need/desire was in my heart and mind long before he even had the desire. (He didn’t know that there would be burgers after the service.)

God, through His saints apparently, knew that I had this need before I knew it. I’m beginning to realize how stubborn I am about receiving. I figure that I spent the first half of my life chasing, manipulating, conniving, and even stealing what I wanted. Now I just want to let go, give away, and learn to live with less. But God still wants to bless me not because I deserve it but because He loves me.

It has taken days, from Thursday to Sunday, two morning devotionals, a testimony on Sunday, several burgers, and a discussion with my son for me to finally, (I think), accept the gift from God.

Sunday was Father’s day. It was a very good day. I accepted in my heart the gift that was given to me on the previous Friday, a gift that was prepared even before then. My needs and even my desires are always on God’s heart, and God is always looking for good things to give to me. I hardly need to ask for anything. I must trust Him more.

I’ve much more to write but unless I stop and post this I’ll never get anything out. (This is what usually happens and partly why you don’t see more posts from me.) God is teaching this old dog new things. God is refining me (Isaiah 48:10), pruning me (John 15:2), preparing me. I can no longer stay on this plateau of satisfaction. I must allow Him to mold me according to His will. Does this mean more trials for us? Truly, I speak with Paul, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”(Philippians 1:23) I’m tired; I don’t want to learn new things; I want to be left alone; I want to go home to Heaven. “…but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body” (Philippians 1:24)

I guess I’ll be here a little longer, eat a few more burgers, and, maybe, write again in this journal.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE:
See www.wbpdt.com and www.wbpdt.com/bbs  !!!

It’s now been about three weeks since I had my chemo treatment in Florida. Many people have been asking how I’m doing since the recovery period is estimated to be about four weeks. Here is a blow-by-blow account of what’s been happening.

On April 1st Georgia, David, and I flew to the Gainesville Florida VA Hospital so that I could participate in a clinical trial. There were two parts to this treatment. On Monday I was injected with a chemical agent that would make my whole body and extremely sensitive to light. According to warnings even a few minutes in direct sunlight could cause blistering and severe burns. This sensitivity could last 31 days or more. On Wednesday, April 4, a laser was put inside my bladder to burn off the inside surface.

We flew home on April 5th. By that evening the effects of the treatment had become quite severe. I would describe the first week after treatment as horrible miserable excruciating constant pain. Even though I took the strongest pain medications that I could tolerate I was very, very miserable. I didn’t eat a morsel of food that entire first week but I did drink several gallons of Gatorade. The second week was horrible miserable intermittent pain. I left off the word excruciating and stopped taking the strong pain medications which made me ill.

By the beginning of the third week I was just starting to feel like I was becoming normal again. Since I still need to use a bathroom about every 20 to 30 minutes I can only tolerate a short trip out if necessary.

Technical stuff that you can ignore if you don’t find it interesting:

While working as a software engineer, I often had to figure out how to quantify data in a new, completely unexplored way. That just means that I had to figure out what data meant in terms that could be consistently and accurately measured. It was one of the more enjoyable things that I did.

Well, I figured out a way to quantify my recovery from WBPDT. Normal for me is a number greater than 300. This is according to doctor’s notes that I obtained. An average range is, I think, between 200 and 300, maybe even narrowed to 250-300.

The first week I measured between 1-5. The second week, 15-30. The third week I didn’t measure as consistently but I think that my range averaged 50-75 during the week. This forth week I am currently at 100 and it doesn’t seem to be increasing as I would hope. (As I write this section I am at the end of my 4th week.) If it is my goal of achieving “low-normal” measurement of 200 then I’m half-way there after 4 weeks and the growth is painstakingly slow.

If you would like to know what the data is that I used to quantify my recovery then you can ask me personally via email, phone call, or in person.

But I am getting out these days but only for short periods of time.

Which pretty much brings us up to date. Tomorrow will begin my fourth week of recovery. I’m feeling all a lot better than I did a few weeks ago. But to be honest I’m still not feeling all that good. My appetite is better but I still only eat one small meal a day and a few snacks. I only go out when I have to and I need to be near a bathroom since I still need to go about every 20 or 30 minutes. And I’m still photosensitive.

The good news is that I’m beginning to get a few things done here. I help pay bills, I made a few phone calls, and I’ll probably tinker with the church website today. Throughout all of this time I kept up with my morning and evening devotions. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to maintain this discipline in one’s life. If my relationship with God was weak then I don’t think that I could have coped with all I’ve been through. I screamed at the top of my lungs as they tried to do a spinal nerve block during that first week. I was in the emergency room twice during that first week.

I’ve been disabled for seven years now. The first time that I noticed any muscle weakness was about a year ago. I work very hard at maintaining my health the very best that I can even with all that I have to deal with. But for the first time in this past year I’ve noticed that I can be come very weary of my constant pain. Pain causes fatigue. So I decided to do something to fight these new problems. I picked a particular verse of scripture to meditate on.

Now, on a regular basis, I will pick a portion of scripture to meditate on for a time. It may be for a few days or even a few weeks. But I have never picked out a scripture that I plan to meditate on for a year. So in addition to the other scriptures that I meditate on, I now have a 2007 Scripture meditation plan. I particularly liked Hebrews 12:3 which says, “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you do not grow weary and lose hope.” I do not want to grow weary and I deftly do not want to lose hope. So to try to keep this verse in context, my Scripture meditation for this year is Hebrews 12:1-3.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “run with perseverance the race marked out for you.” Since I acknowledge God in all things, I recognize that this new life of disability and pain is the race marked out for me. What I didn’t know was that the Greek word for “race” is “agon” which means “difficulty.” In fact, it is the word from which we get our word “agony.” Could the literal translation of this verse be “run with perseverance the agony marked out for you”? Boy oh boy. That says it all for me.

I find these verses extremely encouraging. I will run with perseverance this agony marked out for me. I will consider the Lord Jesus so that I don’t grow weary or lose hope. God is good and I will worship him. I will praise him in the assembly.

Please don’t think that I am anyone special. God has lovingly led me to this place. I am simply exercising faith I have in Him. I have my weaknesses and my sin. It is my desire to trust and obey God fully. It is a process of sanctification that occurs as I yield to God’s Holy Spirit within me. I have my will and my pride but these must die so that God’s life in me will yield fruit. I must decrease: He must increase.

Thank you for asking about me. Forgive me that I am writing essentially a form letter. I am simply not able to answer everyone directly.

UPDATE: See www.wbpdt.com and www.wbpdt.com/bbs  !!!

I get what you’re saying, it is a strange paradox; but God is so far above us and I think both are true.  If the Bible says it, we do have free will and God does choose us, His Spirit ‘woos’ us.  Hard to understand but easy to Trust HIm and not fret.  If great theologians can’t grasp it (and have been arguing for centuries)I’m not going to worry about.  God has given me enough things to dwell on (my husband,children, mortifying my sin and living a righteous life that will glorify my Father).  It is very thought-provoking, though.

That’s exactly my point–both are true! Just like the suffering servant and reigning Messiah!

You know, Calvin was just a man, a godly man non-the-less,
the main thing really is the Gospel. Jesus dying on the cross for a sinner like me; is overwhelming and allows me to have a grateful heart so that I can serve Him and obey Him, live for Him, die to my flesh, to truly pray for humility so that He won’t oppose me, but give me Grace(one of my pastors says we should agree that “we are the worst sinners we know”); these seem to be some of the main themes of the Bible and living a life pleasing to HIm?  Don’t you think so?

I have absolutely nothing against Calvin. Just like Wesley and Luther, Calvin was appalled that followers called themselves by his name. He was a great man and I, myself, might even be a “5 point Calvinist” although I’m not entirely sure I understand the tenants fully.

My point is that Calvinists have made a religion of their own apart from God’s Word. The Bible is profitable for doctrine; doctrine is not the source. “Some say I follow Paul, some say I follow Apollos.” It wasn’t Paul’s fault or Apollos’. It was the followers who were the problem. Paul ends by saying, “follow me as I follow Christ.”

Paul instructs me here because as a Dad I could begin to think that my children should follow me. That’s true when they are young. But as they grow older I must help them to see that they are to follow me only as I follow Christ.  I will follow Calvin as he follows Christ. I will even follow a Calvinist as he/she follows Christ. But I would never call myself a Calvinist. I am a Christian.

Most, (not all), Calvinists that I know tend to be legalists in varying degrees. Maybe I, too, would be considered a legalist by some. With all their “correctness” of doctrine Calvinists sometimes seem to miss the sweet, sweet grace of God.

It is almost humorous to alternate attending a Wesleyan and a reformed church. Although I tend to agree with the Calvinist doctrine a little better than the Wesleyan, I would much rather attend the Wesleyan church! They are more relaxed (sometimes contributing to their downfall), and more fun to be with. This, of course, just my opinion! ..and it isn’t always true. Some of my best friends are Calvinists (no kidding). But really, this is not the point.

Some Calvinists can be arrogant and oppressive. Usually their children hate it and rebel. There are many exceptions. Actually, one of the more humble men that I know is a Calvinist, but the humble ones are still the exceptions, IMHO.

I have nothing at all against Calvin or his followers. But I have a problem when someone puts their doctrine above God’s sovereignty (how ironic) or His love. And I’m pretty sure that Calvin would agree.

Disabled due to chronic pain I’ve been particularly interested in Scripture regarding pain. There are many verses and even whole chapters relating to pain. Many may be familiar with the “consider it pure joy when you encounter various trials” verses in James chapter 1. But one can gain better understanding when in a painful situation as referenced in Scripture than just reading about it detached from the experience.

Take 1st Peter chapter 4 for instance, almost the entire chapter referencing pain: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Even though my pain level is higher most evenings than anything I’ve experienced before my disability I rejoice and have that “peace that surpasses understanding” (Philippians 4:7) and the “life more abundant” (John 10:10) that God’s Word says a person can have in this life–all in spite of sin, suffering, loss, and pain.

As for my pain, I can “scorn its shame” and try to reduce or eliminate it, but I don’t know that I should ask God to take it away. I bear my soul to God regarding my pain-only He knows how much I’m suffering. (He suffered much more!) But if my pain is “the race marked out” for me, then who am I to ask God for a different plan?

At times feel myself growing weaker and so I chose the following as my meditation verse for this year. Note especially the “joy set before Him” part:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)

My eyes are on Jesus. Although I feel so weary at times I will not grow weary and I will not lose heart. Rather, I will rejoice and be overjoyed! Praise God!

I’ve been asked, “if I don’t believe in Calvinism, then what am I?” Great question!
First, I never said that I don’t believe in the tenants of Calvinism. I do but only with qualifications.

As for the question, “What am I?”, I am a disciple of Christ! I am His servant!

I love what Paul wrote to the Corinthians, how when he came to them “I resolved to know NOTHING except Christ and Him crucified.” When all is said and done, (and I do mean all in the very broadest extent of the word), that is where I stand, that is what I believe, in Christ and Him crucified.

I won’t say that everything else is fluff, meaningless. But we will have our disagreements and often we will argue even when we are in agreement. (Come on! You’ve seen that happen before, too! Haven’t you?) I won’t and can’t disagree with Calvinism but I won’t accept that as all there is. God can have it both ways and we are blinded to it.

Consider the reigning Messiah and suffering servant problem in Isaiah. The very teachers of the law, those who hold the very oracles of God, they missed it big time as did Jesus’ own disciples even after Jesus said that He would be crucified and rise in three days. I just don’t believe that I’m smarter than the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and so rather than hold to a doctrine which could cause me to miss the grace of God; I will follow Christ, not a doctrine.

Do I sound harsh? I don’t mean to. I feel the same about when Jesus will come back. I have a viewpoint but my opinion is meaningless. Jesus will come back according to His plan, not my perception of it. I trust Him in life; I trust Him in death, and I trust Him in the rapture whenever it happens to take place. Discuss it if you want. Maybe that’s fun for you. I’m hanging on to my Savior and I know that I’m not going to miss out on that great and terrible Day.