Is this what Jesus looks like?

In 2003, at the age of 8, Akiane Kramarik painted this image of what she perceived Jesus to look like. In the same year 4-yr old Colton Burpo almost died from a ruptured appendix. He says that the angels took him up to heaven and he met Jesus.  When shown this picture he said, yes, that is Jesus!

Now, I realize that their are a lot of hoaxes that go around every day.  And let's face it, there are many who just don't believe in God, Jesus, heaven and hell or anything else that smacks of spirituality.  Colton or Akiane do not need me to pass judgment on whether or not they are being truthful or if they are hallucinating or anything else.  But, I am a believer in Jesus Christ.  I am a believer in heaven.  I don't know what heaven looks like or what Jesus looks like but maybe Colton and Akiane do.  I see no reason to dismiss that possibility out of hand. 

Is it possible that many will dis-believe the whole Heaven Is For Real story simply because to accept it open's up a can of worms that they don't want to deal with. After all, if I believe that Colton was actually taken to heaven and returned and that he talked to Jesus directly, then I have to seriously consider committing myself to be a follower (disciple) of Jesus. And if I do that, it may force a drastic overhaul of my belief system.

For me, I will choose to believe that God can certainly choose to reveal things to certain people at certain times for His purposes. I have no basis for simply saying it is impossible just because it doesn't have a rational explanation. And next time I am anywhere near Imperial, Nebraska, I would love to stop by Crossroads Wesleyan Church and meet this remarkable family.

I submit that it is very difficult......

l submit that it is very difficult to understand who you will become until you have a firm grasp on who you are. For it is only as you turn the real you over to a holy God that He will be able to do the work in you that will enable your full potential to be realized. This is an understanding that is causing me to ask myself, who am I?

I am husband. Not a perfect one by any means but I try.
I am father and step-father to six great kids. Have I made mistakes, oh yeah.
I am grandfather to 14 and great - grandfather to three. I have not been all that I could be for them.
I am friend to many and acquaintance to many more - yet I rarely pick up the phone.
I am runner, not fast and I fall occasionally - yet I continue.
I am photographer. I am actually pretty good at it but am neglectful in practicing the craft.
I am quilter, and I have piles of untouched fabric and two expensive, lightly used sewing machines to prove it.
Most importantly I am Christian. An imperfect Christian to be sure, but it is good to know that God loves me anyway and is ok with me.

So, I think I know who I am.  And who I think I am hardly qualifies me to be an effective disciple in the kingdom of God, or does it?  The thing is I also know a couple of things about me that maybe God can use.

I am genuinely interested in other people.
I will listen to anybody.
I earnestly desire to live a life that pleases God.
I am healthy and work hard at staying that way.
I am only 68 and plan to have bunches of years to serve God.

So, God, here I am - imperfect but willing and sincere. Use me.