What the Bible says about Mothers...

• Gen 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
• Exo 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
• Lev 19:3 "'Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God.
• Deu 5:16 "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
• 2 Ki 4:30 But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her.
• Prov 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
• Isa 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem."
• Ezek 16:44 "'Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: "Like mother, like daughter."
• Luke 1:43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
• Luke 2:51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
• John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

(source)

"Cross-Shaped Ruin to Stay at Ground Zero"

The foundation in charge of developing ground zero's memorial and museum pledged to permanently display the two pieces of steel left standing in the shape of a cross after the World Trade Center collapsed. WTC Memorial Foundation President and CEO Gretchen Dykstra agreed to find a place for the artifact at the site, though she acknowledged it's a delicate issue and viewers should be allowed to draw their own conclusions about whether it has religious significance (Yahoo! News).

Draw your own conclusions, of course, but if this isn't a sign of some sort, then I don't know what would be a sign.

Inspirational Scripture

Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

This passage is the basis for The Way of the Master, a training series by our friends Ray Comfort (Living Waters) and Kirk Cameron. Well worth a look if you are interested in evangelism. For more day-to-day efforts, the resources from The Pocket Testament League are fabulous.

I believe it

"Despite Billy Joel's claims, the good do not actually die young. According to U.S. Census data, on average, clergy members live about 11 years longer than those who have been convicted of at least one felony crime" (Gullible.info).

Consider the Seven Deadly Sins in terms of health (source w/my additions in green):

• Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. Pride may help us look good on the outside, but the stress that it can cause in this pursuit can damage our overall health.
  
• Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. Again, stress plays a factor, disrupting digestion, keeping hormones out of balance, and more just because we feel inadequate. If more people would realize that God loves all the same then envy could very well fade away.
  
• Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. You know, I might not be a diabetic if it weren't for gluttony and Sloth. 'nuff said.
  
• Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. Examples of physical affects would obviously include disease, but for me this sin keeps my eyes off the prize: salvation. Lack of same is the ultimate disease that results in death.
  
• Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath. High blood pressure, increase in poor judgment, yadda yadda yadda. This is a no brainer.
  
• Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. Have you noticed how many of these sins increase stress? Greed is no less responsible for its part. "Keeping up with the Jones's" is like Pride and Lust in one package.
  
• Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work. My muscle weakness and cramps are a direct result of lack of exercise. I know I really need to get more,
  

Do the "good" live longer and have better health? Yes, they do. They gain eternal life. Almost as importantly, with the time they have on this mortal plain the good and righteous will have more time to help others along that path for the ultimate in good health.

In Tune with the Lord

Luck? No, I don't believe in it any more. Serendipity? Maybe, though I think this concept is more along the lines of the Lord demonstrating His sense of humor. Coincidence? Merely observational phenomena. So how do I explain that today's Daily Wisdom on this blog (pictured here) is so in tune with my thoughts in a recent post in my other blog -- when I hadn't read the quote before writing? Clearly my heart is in tune with the Lord. Let's hear it for sympathetic vibrations and their ability to alter life!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Wikipedia "Christian Eschatology"
Bible Gateway "Book of Revelation"
Evidence Bible "Book of Revelation"
Evidence Bible "Is Repentance Necessary for Salvation?"
Left Behind Series "You Don't Need to Be Left Behind"

The Truth Shall Set You Free

"Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy." George Carlin

The comic genius may have found the gist behind Psalm 52:3 "You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth." The simple idea behind of Christianity is choosing God's Word as Truth or not. Those that deny His Word accept dishonesty by default and siding with Lucifer, the Father of Lies.

Not sure where I'm going with this. The inspiration has faded, but maybe I will be fortunate enough to explore it again.