Jesus said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you" (Lk.11: 10). Things are happening to all of us; but are they the things we have asked for?

The sons of Korah, choir members in Salomon's Temple, wrote these words, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps.46: 10). These were noisy musicians that learned in order to get to know God one had to become still. King David himself had to learn how to be still before God (Ps. 37: 7).

In difficult times, we wish we were in heaven. We imagine that in heaven all things shall be set right. Perhaps we may even believe that in that eternal life Jesus promised, we shall fare much better than we did on earth? I am apprehensive for not having listened to Jesus' explanation of life in heaven.

Many Christians crave to be like Jesus. It has something to do with being spiritual or Spirit filled. For many years I envisioned a being that had his head in the clouds, his heart in heaven and his feet in the world. For my mother it had to do with Bible reading, prayer and abstaining from everything she considered sinful or worldly. My brother, by natural birth, believed that feeling high, talking in strange tongues and praising the Lord was being spiritual. There is some truth in the three of us; but none of us qualified in being that extra terrestrial creature.

In difficult times, we wish we were in heaven. We imagine that in heaven all things shall be set right. Perhaps we may even believe that in that eternal life Jesus promised, we shall fare much better than we did on earth? I am apprehensive for not having listened to Jesus' explanation of life in heaven.

It is when man begins to taste the fruits of life that he or she becomes exposed to the knowledge of good and evil (Gen.2; 17; 3: 22). Adam and Eve had that experience but the rest of mankind just has not been able to decide which is what. Beginning with Cain, evil became good, but not so with God (Gen.4: 8-12). Case after case in the Bible regards evil actions as being good for man. By the time of Paul the Apostle, evil had replaced what was good in the eyes of God (Ro.1: 24-32). In our present day, it has become politically correct. Evil has become good and the Good is now offensive to the human kind of good. Even those of the old Good are no longer sure because evil is prosperous (Ps.73). God's own people are being destroyed for their lack of knowledge (Ho.4: 6).

Socialism advocates " the greatest good for the greatest number." Just how applicable is such a premise?

We all have dreams. Just how valid are they? The Preacher had this summation: "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless," (Ecc.5: 7). Dreams and visions frightened Job (7: 14). They do not supply food or drink (Isa.29: 8). They can also be very deceptive (Jer.29: 8). Joseph for his dreams was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery (Gen.37). Daniels' dreams still puzzle Bible interpreters. A dream saved the baby Jesus from being killed by Herod (Mt.2: 13). The first Christians linked Pentecost to Joel 2:28-32 when old men shall have dreams and young men visions (Ac.2: 16-21). These Christians expected the Day of the Lord to accompany the outpouring of the Spirit. Two thousand years later, Joel is still a dream. Zechariah concluded that those that follow dreams are people that wander about for lack of a shepherd (10: 2).

America, a miracle itself is also the land of miracles. Her people are the most forgetful citizens under the sun. They cannot remember from one election to another. Where others have failed, they try to succeed. By trial and error they do manage to come out on top. From time to time some one rises to the occasion and instills new hope and national pride. And as the nation ages so do her formats and young voices chime of another utopia.

Jeremiah, 580 B.C. wrote: "Your eyes are open to all the ways of man; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve," (Jer.32: 19). Jesus held that there were two kinds of rewards, a public recognition and an unrecognized act of having done what was right. One seeks to gain the praise of man the other wants to remain unanimous. For the latter there is a reward in heaven (Mt.5: 12) and a personal recognition by Jesus (Mt.25: 34-40).