Shelf Life?

The other week I was in our local grocery store and realized Christmas was on it's way.  How did I notice this you ask?  Look closely at the picture and you'll see that our store has started selling Christmas fruit cakes!

WOW! Four months before Christmas!  I have one question: what's the shelf life of fruit cake? 

So, for those of you who want to get their Christmas shopping done early...FRUIT CAKE is the only way to go!  In fact, I think I'll stock up not only for this Christmas but the next 5!

That's All,

Marty

Passion & Paradise

PASSION. Here's one word that brings so much to mind. By definition, it means a strong and barely controllable emotion: a state or outburst of such emotion, intense sexual love, an intense desire or enthusiasm for something.  What or Where is your PASSION?  Do you recognize it when you see it?  Are you experiencing life with it? 

Another definition is: the suffering and death of Jesus.  Interesting.  For some, PASSION and Jesus just doesn't seem to fit.  I think mainly because the word carries with it a sexual / romantic bent.  As I have thought about this I am amazed at how connected it is to God.  He is PASSIONATE...about people. It was demonstrated as Jesus willingly gave up his life so we can experience real life with PASSION!  

What do you think of when you hear the word PARADISE?  Some immediately go to a deserted beach, a day of relaxation without kids, or time with a special person.  Jesus referred to PARADISE on the cross.  He turned to the thief who had asked to be remembered and said: today, you will be with me in PARADISE.  What is it?  Will there be PASSION in PARADISE?  YES.  I think we will be filled with such PASSION and be completely whole, the way God intended us to be.  Think about it, living every moment with extreme PASSION in PARADISE.  You may be thinking, great Marty, get me all excited about that somewhere over the rainbow place, what about now?  Here's the good part, I think God wants us to live today with PASSION in anticipation of the day we live it in PARADISE!  Jesus says it's a place where he is making all things new again.  Wow, that process has already begun and we can live with PASSION now and bring a part of PARADISE here, even with the limitations of a broken world!

Last week I came across a music group that plays with, well, PASSION.   Click on the link to see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgovv8jWETM&list=UUmKurapML4BF9Bjtj4RbvXw&index=12&feature=plcp 

Why wait for somewhere? Go LIVE with PASSION today!

Marty