Hit By a Tacoma

Thanksgiving was yesterday but there are many things we can always be thankful for. A close friend was hit by a truck last weekend and miraculously survived with just a scratch.

Oliver was crossing the street Sunday night. Suddenly, with his peripheral vision, he noticed a huge object headed straight for him — a brand new Toyota Tacoma with the headlights turned off was about to run him down. With seconds to spare he twisted his body just enough to put both of his hands on the hood of the truck. The impact propelled him on top of the truck and then his body rolled over to the pavement.

The truck driver stepped on the brakes, jumped out and was pretty sure he had just killed someone. Oliver, was lying on the ground, was in shock, motionless and was doing a damage report in his head.

“Man, are you hurt? Should I call an ambulance?” shouted the young driver.

A voice told Oliver, to get up because he was fine … but curiously, the voice also told Oliver to ask the driver this very strange question. His exact words: “Dude, did know you ran over one of God’s messengers?!? Jesus is trying to tell you something … I don’t know what the message is … but you probably do.”

The driver didn’t know how to react to this announcement. He said he didn’t go to church. It was then when Oliver noticed the glazed look of the driver and figured the guy was high on something. A police car drove by and Oliver could have reported this DUI but he decided not to. Oliver said everything was fine. Except for a few bruises on his right elbow, he was really okay. Wherever the driver was headed, it looked like he turned around and drove back home. Of course we will never know how this story ends but hopefully, this encounter will turn this young man’s life around. Often, when we are given a mission from above, we are on a need-to-know basis — we plant a seed and leave the nurturing to others.

When Oliver shared his story, it went without saying that he was glad to be alive but more than that was this inexplicable joy to have witnessed to this stranger. Oliver didn’t even know why he said what he said. Weird, huh? You may disagree with my classification of this as some sort of miracle but how do we really classify miracles? It’s the the old glass being either half empty or half full — the same event can bless or it can curse … or it can pass as uneventful. I believe life passes by with unappreciated blessings. Whose loss would it be then?

Have you ever found yourself on a spiritual mission that you don’t understand? I have. My advice? When you feel the spiritual nudge, and you’re confident it’s legit, just go with the flow. The doors to the right path will open automatically. The results will usually benefit you beyond your wildest dreams. Like Oliver, being available for duty is an honor we should seek after. But this is just me.

Happy Thanksgiving weekend people! TGIF!

Raoul

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4: 6-7
p.s.
The start the holiday cheer, I made a very short video for you (see below). It’s a musical arrangement I made for my little band — definitely amateurish but … eh… I don’t think our group will have time to practice it so I thought I’d share it now instead of waiting another year.

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Clinton of Arizona

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Video of the Week

This is a silly video I made for Christmas. It’s my impression of Elvis’ Blue Christmas.
It’s low tech and pretty amateurish but whatever.
I added some extra silly stuff too. I hope you have fun with it.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Laers of Bear Valley Springs, CA

Thanks to Josh of Manhattan, NYC

Thanks to Janet of Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Gadolina of Whittier, CA

Thanks to Joanne of Hacienda Heights, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre. CA

I found these

The Traveling Boy

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

SUBSCRIBE

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O What a Night!

If you’ve been reading my emails, you probably remember that I was in a small town called Dalipuga last month to be with my Dad. Did you know that there was a lunar eclipse on November 8? Someone in my chat room mentioned it was coming and I shared it with my friends but it seemed like I was the only one excited about it.

So I stepped outside into the dimly lit garden (minus the distraction of the city lights) and watched the eerie orange shadow of the earth pass over the full moon. Although a solar eclipse is more dramatic, the beauty of a lunar eclipse is you can watch the cosmic show with your eyes wide open (no squinting).  

How sad that no one was there to share my joy.

Maybe this was how Mary and Joseph felt looking down at their new born son, the promised Messiah, — wrapped up in swaddling cloths in a manger. If there ever was a need for encouragement it was that night.

Scripture says the night when Christ was born in Bethlehem, there were shepherds hanging out in the open fields when “poof!” — an angel appeared in front of them and shared the great news:

“Dudes, don’t be afraid!” said the angel. “Have I got news for you! Remember the Messiah they talked about in Sunday school? Well, he’s heeeeeeere!”

The shepherds must have looked at each other wondering who spiked their drinks. But before they could start accusing each other, thousands more angels popped up in the sky singing the latest radio hit …  your favorite and mine — Joy to the world! — in high fidelity heavenly sound! It must have been an amazing concert.  (Luke 2:14)

All jazzed up, the shepherds went to check it out for themselves. They must have scoured the city of David; starting with the reunion parties that were in full swing in the rich areas befitting a king. To their surprise, the only baby born that night was sleeping in a makeshift cradle in an animal trough.

If you think the shepherds were surprised, you should have caught the look in Joseph and Mary’s faces seeing these toothless smiling strangers peering down at their baby. Definitely, a Kodak moment.

Mary must have looked at Joseph and said, “now do you believe me?”

The shepherds did what shepherds do best: they texted their buddies and the news went viral. Soon the whole town came and joined the party in the manger. I wouldn’t be surprised if the inn keeper moved his guests around and gave the family a decent room.

I can imagine proud Joseph shooing the crowd away — “Thanks for coming! We get it! Our child is the Messiah … but it’s time to go! Mary just gave birth and she’s tired and we need to get some sleep. Good night! Good night!”

It is said that Mary treasured all of the events in her heart (— the selfies, the thumbs up, and the high fives). The crowd left glorifying and praising God for the amazing evening. — Luke 2:21

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in the dark street shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.


Of course I exaggerated some of the incidents that awesome night but I hope it made you see a familiar scene In a different light. Read the gospel of Luke, Chapter 2 for the genuine story of the birth of Christ. Christmas is next weekend. Are you excited? TGIF people!

Raoul

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’” — Luke 2: 13-14

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Jose of LA county

Parting Shots

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

The post Christmas Spanish Air Disaster appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Overcoming Fear

When I was a kid, not knowing a lot about reality and make-believe, I was afraid of the dark. One night, I decided to get over my fear and locked myself inside a pitch black room and waited for whatever lurked there to come and get me. Nothing … no one … nothing … reared its ugly head. I finally got over my fear. From that point on I stopped believing in Vampires, ghosts, and monsters. But then college came.

My friends  and I were in a boring party in Arlington, VA. Someone suggested we spice things up by playing an Ouija board — you know: those demonic board games where 4 or 5 people slide a glass over letters and numbers? Touching the glass with just our finger tips we invited any spirit to communicate with us. The glass moved. We looked suspiciously at each other trying to guess who was actually moving the glass. No one admitted to it. The “presence” said she was a little girl who died of a sickness during the Prairie era and she lived on that land. The glass danced lively and we would switch off players who we suspected were moving the glass but no matter who was playing, the glass had a power of its own. In fact, when there were just 2 or 3 people touching the glass, I remember it moved so fast that the glass was went ahead of the fingers. We were all freaking out. And it was only when one of our friends picked up the glass and tossed it away that the spell was broken. No one had any answers. We all just felt uncomfortable. That ended the party. I remember going upstairs lighting a rare cigarette to an empty room that night because fear of the unknown had come back. From that day on, I realized the reality of a spiritual dimension.

Many years later, I was a young Christian illustrating manuals for a ministry project. Going home after a grueling overtime, I realized I forgot to turn off my car headlights when I parked it 10 hours earlier. So my car batteries conked out and I needed a push to start the car. It was close to midnight on a quiet road in the city. No one else was in sight everyone was sleeping. Seemingly out of nowhere a man came limping behind me and asked if I needed a push. Seeing that he had a defective foot, I said I would do the pushing and he would get in the car. He insisted to push so I let him. Surprisingly, that handicap had so much strength that he pushed the car faster than I could and I got the car started. I was so grateful that I volunteered to drive him home. He pointed his home at a poor village straight ahead half a mile away but he didn’t need a ride. So I left. Just a few yards away I decided I really should take him home and I turned the car around. There was no other way for that man to walk or run towards that village but the he was gone. Was he an angel?

Several spiritual encounters are recorded in the Bible. I don’t believe in ghosts but I believe there are good and there are evil deceptive spirits out there. To be unaware of this is to be unprepared for the spiritual battle that is constantly going on.

Some people love TO scare, BE scared and glorify death especially come Halloween. I don’t. Movies never scare me anymore. Ever since I trusted in Christ and his protection, I have regained my courage over the unknown. A wise man said: “If you can capture the element of surprise, you’re way ahead of the game.”

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
— Isaiah 41:10

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Scary Chainsaw Accidents

Owning a chainsaw does not automatically make you a logger.
Shared by Tom of Pasadena, CA

Parting Shot

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA who shared this:

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