Forward Ever Forward

In Jesus time, the dogwood grew
To a stately size and a lovely hue.

‘Twas strong & firm its branches interwoven
For the cross of Christ its timbers were chosen.

Seeing the distress at this use of their wood
Christ made a promise which still holds good:

“Never again shall the dogwood grow
Large enough to be used so

Slender & twisted, it shall be
With blossoms like the cross for all to see.

As blood stains the petals marked in brown
The blossom’s center wears a throny crown.

All who see it will remember me
Crucified on a cross from the dogwood tree.

Cherished and protected this tree shall be
A reminder to all of my agony.”

- Unknown
Contributed by LMMyers

Related Posts:

• FW: One Man
• FW: At the Foot of the Cross
• FW: Jesus Hugs
• FW: Follow Me
• FW: Does Jesus love Nintendo?

Have you ever had a “Jesus hug?”
Do you know what one feels like?
If you’ve never had a “Jesus hug,”
I pray one day you might.

A “Jesus hug” is different,
As far as hugging goes;
It’s a little taste of Heaven,
Here on earth below.

Only those who love the Lord,
Can give a “Jesus hug;”
It conveys God’s grace and mercy,
And unconditional love.

Those who give out “Jesus hugs”
Always seem to somehow know
Just when you’re in need of one
To make your spirit glow.

And if you ever need one
I hope that I will see,
So I can give you a “Jesus hug;”
Just like someone did for me.

Related Posts:

• FW: A Hug – Universal Prescription
• FW: “If You Were Busy Doing” Poem
• FW: The Pebble’s Ripple
• FW: The Bridge Builder
• FW: Beautiful Woman Poem

Related Posts:

• FW: The Legend of the Dogwood
• FW: Is that Grandma Planking?
• FW: 10 Profound & Spiritual Insights
• FW: Black Friday Motivation
• FW: True Courage…

A Maryland woman said she was surprised to find what appears to be an image of Jesus Christ on the top of a used Nintendo Entertainment System she purchased on eBay for $31 this week.

Brittany Wampler, 24, noticed the image shortly after unpacking two NES consoles, she purchased from an eBay seller.

“We were inspecting it for cracks/damage and when we turned it just right into the light, the image showed up,” she said. “Our reaction was mainly curiousity at first. Then as we looked at it closer and ruled out what it couldn’t be, we began to get excited about it.”

Wampler says the image doesn’t seem to have any sticky residue on it, like what would be left after removing a sticker. She said that it appears to be part of the plastic.

“There’s no discernable difference between the surface of the face and the surrounding plastic surface,” she said. “It’s not paint, it’s not a sticker; it’s basically infused into the plastic.”

While there is no way of knowing how the image got on the console, it doesn’t appear to be photoshops.

Wampler dismisses the possibility that this was done as some sort of a joke (she also says she didn’t create the image). However, she isn’t exactly sure she believes it is the result of some higher power either.

“I was raised religious, but I haven’t made up my mind really,” she said, when asked. “I would say I believe in the possibility.”

For now Wampler plans to keep the console as is because she’s not sure what else to do with it.

“If it is Jesus,” she said, “I think we can finally put the big question to bed…What Would Jesus Play?”

Related Posts:

• FW: The Real Story of How Angry Birds Came to be
• FW: A Different Type of Game Boy Music
• FW: The Legend of the Dogwood
• FW: Top 10 Signs Someone Plays Too Many Arcade Games
• FW: The Fiery Sermon

Safely Home
by Unknown

I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! but Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth–
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Related Posts:

• FW: At the Foot of the Cross
• FW: A Difficult Hill
• FW: If God Could Blog from Heaven
• FW: 10 Profound & Spiritual Insights
• FW: Jesus Hugs

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, “God is great and God is Good. Let us thank Him for the food, and I would even thank you more if mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!”

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, “That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream! Why, I never!”

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, “Did I do it wrong? is God mad at me?” As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.” “Really?” my son asked. “Cross my heart.”

Then in theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), “Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes.”

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, “Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes and my soul is good already.”

(Luke 18:16 NIV) But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

(Luke 18:17 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Note: In today’s world with crime and hate we need to be still and listen to God. I believe Jesus speaks to us through little children but we have to be willing to listen. So next time a little one is around be still and listen because they just might have a message for you.

Author Unknown

Related Posts:

• FW: 10 Profound & Spiritual Insights
• FW: A Buzzard, A Bat, and A Bumblebee
• FW: Ten Things to Always Remember
• FW: The Sunday Dollar
• FW: The Heavenly Fork

Mrs Oppenheimer decided to get away from the often inclement weather of New York and spend Christmas in the deep South. Being unfamiliar with that part of the world she wandered into a ‘restricted’ hotel and said ‘Hi. I’m Mrs Oppenheimer and I’d like a room for the next week.’ ‘I’m very sorry,’ said the manager, but all our rooms are taken. Just as he said that a customer came to the desk and unexpectedly checked out. ‘How lucky’ responded Mrs Oppenheimer, ‘Now you have a room for me.’ ‘Look, I’m very sorry’ said the manager, but this is a restricted hotel. Jews are not allowed here. ‘Jewish! What do you mean Jewish? I happen to be a Catholic.’ ‘That takes some believing’ said the manager. Tell me, who was the Son of God?’ ‘Jesus.’ she replied ‘Where was he born?’ ‘In a stable in Bethleham…..because some Schmuck like you wouldn’t rent a room to a Jew.’

Related Posts:

• FW: The Importance of a Tie in the Desert
• FW: 2010 Census for the South

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said,

‘Jesus knows you’re here.’

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.

When he heard nothing more , after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard

‘Jesus is watching you.’

Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.

Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

‘Did you say that?’ he hissed at the parrot.

‘Yep’, the parrot confessed, then squawked, ‘I’m just trying to warn you that he is watching you.’

The burglar relaxed. ‘Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?’

‘Moses,’ replied the bird.

‘Moses?’ the burglar laughed. ‘What kind of people would name a bird Moses?’

‘The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus.’

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts

It may lack the intimacy of a self-portrait by Rembrandt or Van Gogh, but this newly reconstructed coin bust provides the clearest look into the face of Herod Philip II that we will likely ever see.

Herod Philip II (4 B.C–34 A.D.), one of the sons of Herod the Great and ruler of the eastern Galilee and the Golan during the time of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, was the first Jewish ruler to have his portrait emblazoned upon a coin.

Coins with portraits of Herodian kings are extremely rare because of the Jewish religious prohibition of graven images. Only a handful of Philip’s coins have survived, and even these are well worn with largely indistinct busts.

Biblical coin specialist and researcher Jean-Philippe Fontanille has developed a new technique to recover the original minted impressions of ancient coins. Using the latest in computer imaging technology, Fontanille superimposes digital images of multiple ancient coins from the same issue, adjusting for differences in size and orientation. After keeping the best-preserved parts of each coin image, digitally removing worn or missing areas, and then merging and blending the remaining elements, Fontanille produces an “idealized” composite of the coin as it would have appeared in ancient times.

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts