2012

Last night I saw the movie 2012 with some of the guys. Like most end of the world movies, it was great entertainment, but not much more. I mean, there was this one scene that just killed me. John Cusak is in Yellowstone National Park on the top of a mountain as the caldera is erupting. (If you didn't know, Yellowstone is a dormant volcano, and has been dormant for about 600,000 years. According to scientists, over the last few million years, the supervolcano has erupted 3 times, in period of about 600,000 to 700,000 years. So, it is due.) So Cusak, who is in the middle of this supervolcano eruption, gets into a camper and starts driving. His daughter is sitting behind him and looks in the rear view mirror and seeing something similar to the mushroom cloud from Nagasaki rising behind them. Of course, the Cusak is like "everything is going to be fine." So, John Cusak, in a camper, starts driving down a mountain as the blast from the eruption of the Caldera of the Yellowstone Supervolcano is chasing them. They make it out of course.

Anyway, the movie was filled with scenes like that. They were totally awesome, but predictable. It would have been more realistic if everyone died. But then there wouldn't have been a movie, so I guess I will just have to live with Hollywood overdramatizing everything.

So, this movie got me thinking. It starts off in 2009, as a typical day around the world. People are going to work. Kids are playing. The surfer dudes in California are surfing. Everything is normal. But in three years, the entire planet basically blows itself up.

As the movie is over, everyone leaves the theater. I go to the bathroom because that is what I do after movies. Teenagers are hanging out in the mall waiting for their parents to pick them up. All is well in New Philadelphia, Ohio as well as the rest of the country. So I am thinking, after seeing a movie like 2012, does anyone appreciate the fact that they are alive. I mean think about it. Think about how many things in the universe have to be so perfect just for life to exist. And on top of that, how many things in science have to remain perfect for life to continue to exist... For 6,000 years.

The Earth has stayed in orbit. The moon hasn't decided to fly off into outer space. No asteroids have devastated our planet because of our magnetic field. We have a magnetic field to protect us from solar flares and asteroids! Have you ever thought about that? Just like in Star Wars, our planet has a force field around it! That is sweet. Trees and plants take in what we exhale, and give off what we inhale. Because of gravity we can walk around without flying off into space. And this fact just baffles me. All molecules are held together by an intermolecular force. If that force was any different, then everything in existence would break apart and nothing would be in solid form. Our bodies would essentially fly off into space in trillions of microscopic pieces.

So I am thinking about these things and I am like, Wow, God really has to have everything under control for us to live. And I read verses like Isaiah 40:12 and Isaiah 42:5, which say


"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?"


and


"This is what God the LORD says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it"

It is absolutely incredible that we can even take our next breath. Countless miracles need to happen every second in order for us to live. This is just astounding. And the crazy thing is, we keep on living, but rarely take any time to marvel at the fact that we exist. Look at your hand. Look at how perfectly it is designed. How you can control each finger and move it to pick up stuff.

I have heard a lot of people say things like "I wonder what is going to happen in 2012." I have said that. But when I think about it, I should be thanking God every day that we are still here. And we have been here, hurling through space around a massive ball of fire on this big hunk of molten rock for at least 6,000 years. And every day I wake up, and see the sun rise in the east, and I think, "How much longer is this thing going to go on?" How much longer will we be able to live on this planet without chaos happening? I don't know the answer to that question. But I do know that with every passing day, the Return of the King draws nearer. And my spirit roars inside of me whenever I think about the Day. Until then, we will all keep living. Keep existing. Keep loving.

It may be in 2012. It may be tomorrow. It may be some other time. But King is coming.

"He who testifies to these things says, "Surely, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." Revelation 22:20-21


JN

Meditate on the Goodness of God

I was sitting in a coffee shop today and Travis said something to me that really hit me where i was at. Recently, my mind has been going about 1 million miles an hour. I feel like I am always thinking about the spiritual realm, and dwelling on it. For example, I was at the gym today, and I was thinking about how Satan attacks me and what I can do to defend it. I know realizing where Satan attacks us is vital if we are going to fight against Him through the Word. But I was working out. The gym isn't a place where I want to be contemplating the depths of spiritual warfare. At the gym, I want to get a good workout. That's it. My mind can't handle anything else.

This type of thing happens to me once in a while. It especially happens when I am surrounded by godliness and really growing in my love for Jesus. Sometimes, I can't sleep at night because I am consumed by thoughts that...well.... let me just say they aren't healthly or good right before I go to bed. So, I told Travis this, and he looked at me and said something so simple, but so true. "Meditate on the goodness of God." I was like, "wow. Okay, I can do that.... yeah..." It was the most comforting thing I heard all day. So I ask, what does meditating on the goodness of God look like? For me, it means thinking about the cross. I think about my past, all the times that I have been prideful and rebelled against God, and how through that, He 'demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us'. Romans 5:8

I think about that verse and I am like "holy crap!". I am amazed that the King of the Universe loves me and shows his love for me through the most brutal, painful, death ever invented... crucifiction. Did you know that they had to create a word to describe the painfulness of cruxifiction. Excruciating. Yeah... when i found that out I was like... 'wow'

And then I start to think about the physical blessings God has given me. A godly loving family, food, clothing, more possesions than i ever need, people in my life who love me and accept me for who I am, talents, dreams, feelings, the sky, the mountains, the ability to travel to Colorado with my family this summer, being here in Ohio.... I could go on and on.

I think John Piper said it best. "God is glorified when we are the most satisfied on Him". As I meditate on the goodness of God, I am most satisfied, and He is glorified.

I feel such a peace right now. Travis and Don are in their litte office as I am typing this. They are just enjoying each others company... something that always puts a smile on my face whenever I observe them. It makes me think of my best friend who is at Greenville College now, and how much I want to see him. And it makes me know that God is God. He is so good. All the time.

So, smell the flowers today, drink the company, and meditate on the goodness of God. And he will fill you with the peace that trancends all understanding as you trust in Him.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9


;)


JN

morning

As I stepped downstairs this morning, I was surprisingly overjoyed to see that frost had covered our lawn like a blanket. It was relatively early, about 7 o'clock, the house was still asleep... except for me. I love those moments. I love them because they are the only time during the day that I can be alone with my Lord. There is something about the morning that is so soothing and tranquil. In our living room, there is a picture of a sunrise coming over these emerald green hills. On it there is apart of Psalm 5, which says;

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectations".

I love that image. I think of myself waking up to the dawn, somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. The sky would bleed orange and red, and I would just sit there, being in a state of captivation by my Maker. I'd have a dog too. He'd be running through the little meadow beneath the mountain. I would watch him from a distance. His name would be Jonah and he would be a Golden Retriever. Just me, Jonah, and Jesus.
I get so excited just thinking about that. I daydream about moments like those a lot.

But, Ohio will have to do. It was a beautiful morning. Jesus was present in our living room, and on our porch. And that is all I need.

JN