What Life Is All About

WARNING: Religious and philosophical topic. Move on to the jokes if you’re not into this.

There’s a wonderful video that talks about what life is all about. It’s only available in Twitter/X. Below is a transcript:

“In 100 years, in 2124, we will all be buried with our relatives and friends. Strangers will be living in our homes we fought so hard to build and they will own everything we have today — including that car you spent a fortune on. Our descendants will hardly know who we were. How many of us know our grandfather’s father? After our deaths we will be remembered for a few years. And a few years later our history our photos, our deeds will go into the dust bin of oblivion. We won’t even be memories.

“Maybe if one day, if we stop to analyze these questions, we would understand how ignorant and weak the dream of obtaining everything was — always having more and more without having time for the things that were really worthwhile in this life.

“I’d change all that to live and enjoy those walks I’d never taken. Those ungiven hugs and kisses to our children and our loves. That is what life is all about.” — Mindset Machines

I agree with that perspective except for the conclusion. It’s true that the love we bestow to one another and the appreciation of nature is more important than material wealth but it doesn’t address the after-life. The author probably doesn’t believe in an after-life and that is so sad. To limit the love until the end of one’s physical life is an incomplete reward. But to love and to hope for an everlasting life which you share with Christ and your loved ones — now that’s the prize I’m going for.

Jesus said this about heaven:

“There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

“No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

“Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.” — John 14:2-6

Friends are retiring and doing things they’ve always dreamed of. Many are traveling … taking on a new hobby. That’s all well and good and I’m excited for them but what happens when the novelty wears off? Where’s the adventure? Where’s the fulfillment?

I may not have a lot. But helping others understand the truth about the love of Christ and the blessings beyond their wildest dreams gives me joy that money can’t buy. How about you?

But this is just me.
TGIF people!

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Dominic of San Diego, CA

Original art by Raoul Pascual.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines

Thanks to Sharon of Connecticut

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Drew of Anaheim, CA

I found these:

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

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The post Locked Door Therapy appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Conversations With Myself: INDULGENCES

Do you know what indulgences are? They were invented during the infamous inquisition by the church fathers to allow parishioners to buy their way to heaven. This is the reason why Martin Luther, “protested” against the practice and eventually started the “Protestant” movement. So I was surprised when I received a text from an old classmate who was excited about something he learned in church. Below is an imaginary conversation I had with Me, Myself and I.

ME: “Good news! I just learned that you can earn spiritual points towards heaven whenever you kiss this golden amulet. Not only that, wearing it also gives you more points. Wait! Wait! It gets even better — attend as many processions while wearing it, and they all add up to many more points!”

I: Remained quiet. Didn’t know how to react to that.

MYSELF: “That’s great! BTW, how many total points does one need to get to heaven?”

ME: “Don’t be silly. No one really knows.”

I: “Is it a thousand points? A million points? A gazillion points?”

ME: “I can’t give you a definite number. But I know it’s a lot.”

MYSELF: “So how many points do you have already?”

ME: “Don’t be silly. I can’t even begin to count. This is automatically tabulated. Somehow, someone in heaven is keeping track.”

I: “So for sure, you are way ahead of us on this one.”

ME: “I guess so. But don’t worry, I can ask God to give you some of my points.”

MYSELF: “Well that’s mighty kind of you. But what if I need more than what you are offering me? After all, I’m so far behind that even if you give me all of your points, I still won’t have enough to get to heaven. I’ve been a very bad boy, you know.”

I: “If I carry two amulets, will that double my points? What if I decide to give some of my points to my wife. I know she’s been a naughty girl too (he! he! he!). And wouldn’t my generosity to her also add to my points? What a great deal! Who decides these rules anyway?”

ME: “My priest tells me all of this and he is beyond reproach. You can’t question him. He’s studied these things for years. It is beyond what either of us can comprehend. Besides, millions of people believe this. Millions of people can’t be wrong … can they? If you are coming to the amulet meeting tonight, you need to bring your own amulet.”

MYSELF: Looking down at his cell phone. “Hey, lookie here! There’s a sale for golden amulets at Walmart! It says they’re gold-plated … made in China … two for $10.”

WARNING: Spiritual Topic

To live by grace or to live by rules. There is a choice. You can live earning your salvation and never knowing if you earned enough. Or you can accept that it is impossible to do enough and instead latch on to the free gift of salvation by trusting in Christ. When they say “Jesus died for your sins” —- it means He doesn’t need your “contribution” to complete His sacrifice. This may sound either too simplistic or too complex. Indeed this is a difficult concept. Common sense is not enough. Much prayer is needed before this puzzle can be unlocked. Let this sink in. And yes, I’m praying for you.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 15:56 – 57

Thanks to all who prayed for my health. I’m almost fully recovered from Covid. Still have a cough. Although it was mild, I’m pretty certain things would have turned out so much worse if I didn’t get vaccinated because I’ve had flu before but this had a different sensation. Maybe it’s my imagination but I felt it was a set of foreign bionic anti-bodies that were battling with the virus. I’m just speaking for myself here.

TGIF people!

Raoul

JOKE OF THE WEEK

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena. CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Ed

Thanks to Lee of Bakersfield

These I found

The post Toilet Brush appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Today is Good Friday

As is our tradition, no jokes today. I’m sorry. And I also apologize if I will be speaking about my faith. Good Friday is the most solemn day in Christiandom; for today, Jesus, the Christ, was wrongfully accused and crucified. They decorated his head with a crown of thorns and nailed his hands and feet on a wooden cross. He paid for a debt he never owed and for a price we (all of us) could not pay.

Of course, the story didn’t end there — because in three days, on Easter Sunday, they found His tomb empty. A resurrection had taken place.

I trust you and your family are safe and keeping your social distance. I have been praying for all of you who are subscribed to this email. I hope you don’t think I am disrespectful of your beliefs but I’ve been praying that you would join me to the Easter celebration in my church this coming Sunday. Like most churches, Grace EV Free church will be broadcasting its service online on Youtube Live so you can watch in the comfort of your home. Yes, you can even wear your pajamas. 😉

During these times of Covid 19, the future of our family, our finances, our careers and even our mortality are uncertain. No other time in history have we all been so unstable. It is my prayer that you and I might find comfort and answers to many questions this Easter Sunday. Have a Good Friday! TGIF!

Grace EV Free Livestream
April 12, 9:30 am PST
CLICK HERE

Raoul

“ Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
These were the words of Jesus on the night he was betrayed. Rather than seeking comfort for the trial ahead, he was comforting others. — John 16:31 -33

Video: It Is Well With My Soul

Thanks to Don of Kelowna. B.C.

This song was written by Horatio Spafford who had lost everything yet found peace in his savior and managed to thank God for it.

Video: The Window Washer

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for this heart warming video of a window washer touching the lives of strangers. Don sent me this video just over a year ago.

Video: German Kindness

Thanks to Michael of Whittier, CA for sharing an uplifting video of German citizens leaving food out for those in need rather than hoarding like some in America are doing.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA who sent these quotations

The post Good Friday appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Ark

“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence” … so it reads in Genesis 6 … everyone partied as they pleased… doing their own “thing.” In the midst of the debauchery a “crazy” boat builder and his family hammer away. Noah probably didn’t really understand why he had to build a humongous boat in the middle of dry land. He didn’t understand why Mommy and Daddy animals followed him inside the ark. Imagine the jeers thrown Noah’s family. Quitting must have been tempting but he remained obedient. And then the rain poured.

Honestly, is the earth corrupt in God’s sight? Call me a crazy boat builder but I personally believe the current pandemic has God’s fingerprints written all over. God doesn’t play by our narratives. He is beyond the confines of natural and human laws.

The invisible dragon infects rich and poor alike. Heroes emerge amidst the cries drowning in anguish. Unbelievably, nefarious telemarketers, spammers and clueless criminals only see opportunities. Politicians still play their pretentious games. Are we surprised that the people who died in the flood were clueless till the very end?

Then I look at myself and I’m no different. I see a self-righteous, imperfect creature. There’s much to change. It’s difficult and I need help from a power beyond me. I’m searching for what I can and should do now. How about you? Let’s pray for each other. If there’s an ark to build let’s build it together.

But this is just me.

Let’s keep our distance and keep our sanity and hold on to our faith. TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

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

Video: Coughing in Bed

Thanks to Arnel of Houston, Texas for this short video.

Video: What the World Needs Now

Thanks to Ray of Burbank, CA.for this wonderful modern version of that classical Burt Bacharach hit. Indeed, the world could use a little of this now.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Cheryl of Arcadia, CA who sent this image

Thanks to Mike of New York who sent this snapshot of his neighborhood

Thanks to Michael of Whittier, CA who sent these last jokes

The post Going to Heaven appeared first on Traveling Archive.

A Boring Life

Lee said “I live a boring life.”

Lee is a student at a Christian college. He has a PHD, has a masters degree and is a few months shy of his second PHD. He was a dean of a college in Taiwan before moving here to California 2 years ago. His Taiwanese friends thought he was foolish to leave his lofty position just to continue his studies but he felt that God was calling him here. His wife also has a PHD and is going for another Masters degree. In Taiwan the two held several chairmanships. They have one teenage daughter who is very involved in church. Sometimes she is the only one her age in an event but that doesn’t faze her. She’s very well rounded. In fact, academically, she is 3rd in a student population of 400.

My wife and I were one of the first to befriend them the Sunday they stepped in our church. We’ve been friends ever since but it was only this week when I learned about his secret: Lee prays, prays, prays.

He gets up around 5:00 in the morning, half an hour after his wife who is already praying. He joins his wife and they pray. Then his daughter gets up and they all pray. They pray and read several chapters of the Bible every single day. This habit may last 3 hours or more. Then Lee buries his head in his studies. Taking a break only to cook for the family. When night falls, guess what? He prays again! He is a modern-day Daniel of the Bible.

Last year he had a toothache and he didn’t have insurance. So they prayed. A few days later, he was fine. His wife got very sick from (I believe a viral infection). They prayed and a few days later she was fine. Just before Christmas, he asked me if I knew where he could buy a $2,500 car for his daughter who was learning to drive. I thought it was even silly to ask but I did try to find him a car within his budget. All I got from my inquiries was laughter because $2.5K alone was the cost of a car repair. Any car that cheap would be junk. By January he said he found the car — a 20 year old sedan that only had 4,500 miles to it because it belonged to his neighbor, a senior citizen, who only drove it to and from the grocery store.

How would you like to be so close to God that your life is one miracle after the other? I can learn a lot from him. And I beg to disagree. His life is NOT boring. His life is blessed and joyfully unpredictable.

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” — 1 John 5:14

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena, CA  for sharing this joke.

Don’s Puns

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

FUNNY VIDEO: Mr. Know-It-All

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, BC for sharing this quick video

Assuring Video: God Will Take Care of You

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre for sharing this video. He recently had surgery and said this was the video that helped him through his ordeal.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena who sent this joke.

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