Bunk Beds for All

My wife and her sisters went on a two week vacation out west. They flew to Las Vagas and then proceed to Lake Tahoe, then further north to Seattle, from there they went south onto San Diego. They finished their trip off at the Grand Canon.

While that was happening I was home taking care of the house and dogs (the girls were in New York with my mom for one week and Rebecca's mom for the second week). So I thought of an idea that would be a good idea to build the girls' bunk beds.

While, I can say that I learned a couple of things

one: bunk bed building is not a one man job.
two: the girls love their beds.

three: my life is never going to be the same!!!!

At Home with 80,000 Strangers

“ I want to feel sunlight on my face, I see the dust cloud disappear without trace. I want to take shelter from the poison rain, where the streets have no name” (Where the Street Have No Names)

Last Wednesday, I got to the chance to go see an amazing band. Probably, my favorite band... I was among 80,000 plus screaming people. I was singing along to lines like:

"I believe in the Kingdom come, and then all the colors will bleed into one, bleed in one. But yes I’m still running. You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains, carried the cross of my shame, oh my shame. You know I believe it”
(Still Haven't Found What I am Looking For)

and

“See the world in green and blue, See China right in front of you, See the canyons broken by cloud, See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out, See the Bedouin fires at night, See the oil fields at first light, And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth, After the flood all the colors came out" (Beautiful Day)

It was right about at this moment that I had a God moment. One of those times that it is undeniable that God visited with me. I felt so close to Him and felt so loved in His midst. Now, please don't miss interpret what I am saying. I don't believe that U2 had much to do with this other than they wrote the songs and were preforming them. What I am saying is this: U2 is one of the only bands or concerts that I believe that this would have happened at. For one reason or another I felt close to God during the concert and I guess I am just saying don't put God in box. You never kn0w when and where He might visit with you. Of course, I realize that God is all places and all times, but there are times that His presence is stronger or at least we realize presence more than others. Last Wednesday night was a

night like that for me. Here are a few other shots that I took during the concert.

So in short... Please don't box God in where and when He is allowed to visit with the People He loves. We don't need a building to experience the Love of God. However, we do need each other! God, loves to be where His people are gathering!

Photo of the Day is BACK!

After taking a few months off, I am starting my Photograph of the day.

So please feel free to stop by my photography site.

http://focusingonlifephotos.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/bride-among-flowers/

Please feel free to leave comments. Either here or there...

It Ain't Easy...

I am learning to love my neighbor and to live by the golden rule

But it’s so hard when I’ve been lied to

I feel like a fool forgiving a fool

It ain’t easy learning to love like you

I am learning to be faithful with the little that I have

To do like Jesus and turn the tables

To give it all to get nothing back

It ain’t easy learning to love like you
~It Ain't Easy by Jason Upton

So all day, today I have been having a problem with this Osama Bin Laden news. Like most Americans I remember exactly where I was when the towers were hit and eventually fell to the ground. I remember seeing the plane crash into the Pentagon. I remember! I will never forget the events of 9/11 and all the people who lost their lives. I remember the weeks of not knowing what was going to happen next. I remember being proud of my brother who signed up for the Army all because someone had to go over there find those who were responsible for those innocent people who lost their lives.

Now, I will always remember the events of last night. I will remember where I was when I first heard the news of the death of the man who was responsible for taking those innocent lives. I will remember where I was when I first heard "Ladies and Gentlemen, I can announce to you that Osama Bin Laden is dead"

Now, here is where it gets a little difficult for me. On one hand I want to celebrate this man being brought to "Justice". This man who took responsibility for the events of September 11, 2001. Not only did he take full responsibility, but he celebrated his actions. However, as a Christian I can not help but feel remorse for a soul that is bound to hell (if he didn't come to the truth about Jesus Christ). To steal a line from a friend of mine: To think Jesus loved him (Osama Bin Laden) as much as Mother Theresa." ~ Joe Dibella

So here is the problem...

As an American I want be like:
"OH YEAH! We got that blah and blah...

and He got what was coming to him... Don't mess with the U.S."

But when I read verses like this:

Ezekiel 33:11a Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.'

or this:

Prob. 24:17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.

Or when I read what Jesus said:

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I can't help but think that a human is going to place where he was never meant or designed to go. Hell was never created for us. We were only meant to glorify God, and reflect His image, love, and grace. Instead... Osama (apart from Christ) is going to eternal destruction.

Please don't get me wrong I am not condoning the actions of September 11, 2001. I am not trying to belittle the lives of all the people who died because of the actions of the Al Qaeda. I am not trying to belittle the lives of our soldiers or their sacrifices. However, I am not going to celebrate when a human soul is bound for Hell (unless he came to the knowledge of the truth of Christ). Until, I am able to figure out what I am suppose to feel... I will feel: sad...

Today, I think the only thing celebrating is: Satan!

I for one refuse to side with him...

Please feel free to challenge me on my opinions or to offer your own.

And most importantly, I would like to say a

BIG THANK YOU TO OUR SOLDIERS, FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!!!!

The Veil!

Recently, I was watching the Passion of the Christ (you know the one directed by crazy Mel Gibson). I watch it every year on or around Good or Holy Friday. Anyways, I was watching it and again in the movie it came to my favorite part of the crucifixion scene. It is right after Jesus cries out for the second time saying "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit" and he dies, the Bible states in Matthew 27:50-51

50 “And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His Spirit. 51 and at once the curtain of sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split." (Matthew 27:50-51)

I started to think about the veil and where it came from and what its purpose was. I wondered how thick this veil was. So I did some digging. In Exodus 26:31 we read for the first time what God had in mind when He first came up with its design.

33 “and you shall hang the veil form the clasps and bring the ark of the Testimony into place withing the veil; and the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. (Exd. 26:31)

In this verse is an 8 letter word that is only sthe cariest in the Bible: SEPARATE. "It shall separate for you" I remember has a child (I was maybe 6 or 7) I used to go shopping with my mom and she would be looking for something for herself. I would start hiding in the clothing rack because that is what little bored boys do. Of course the inevitable happened. I lost track of where I was or where my mother was and I would panic. I started running up and down the aisles looking for her. I was separated from her. This is what we received from our first parents (Adam & Eve). I call it a gift of separation.

Once they (Adam & Eve) realized they were naked they tried to cover themselves up or separate themselves from each other and God's judgement and wrath.

Finally, God has to put something that will separate us (sinful man) and Him (Holiest of Holy). Otherwise we would be consumed within seconds of coming before His throne.

"The wages of sin is death..."

So God gives Moses the plan to make sure that this doesn't happen. God tells Moses to hang a veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. I have read that there is a note in The Ryrie Study Bible that expounds on the veil and states:

"Josephus reported that the veil was four inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart. It bared all but the High Priest from the presence of God..."

When Jesus cried out "it is finished" He was saying "No more separation, no more hiding, no more not knowing where we (humans) are" We are free from hiding, separation, sin, and death. What mighty horses, countless spotless lambs, and numerous High priests were unable to do... Jesus did with three words "IT IS FINISHED"

So if you find yourself trying restitch the veil because you have missed the mark or messed up, please put the needle and thread down... Jesus has already won... There are no more victories to be won. If Jesus is victorious and I am found in Jesus then

I AM VICTORIOUS (I wanted that to sound like a great warrior). Honestly, you don't have to struggle anymore. You cannot hide yourself or things that you have done from God... Jesus won't allow you too, because if you could then His death, the cross, and whipping was for nothing! We can't trick God into forgiving us of sins... Jesus did it willingly! I am grateful! I hope you have had a wonderful Easter...

Oh Boy!!!

Coming to a Heim family near you.... One Jackson Robert!!!!

This past Tuesday my family (grandma Heim included) went to discover our 3rd baby's sex. Almost everyone besides me and my mom believed that this baby was going to be a girl... Even the night before Rebecca kept referencing the baby as her or she. I would interrupt her with "you mean him or his?"

Well, sure enough we are having A BOY!!!! Baby's name: Jackson Robert (named after Rebecca's grandfather and father)

So I have been thinking.. Come late August, September, and October I will be watching baseball with my son. I am little excited in case you can't tell. P.S. I love that JR is sucking his thumb!

My Favorite

A couple of years ago I went to funeral of a very important and influential man. I didn't know this gentlemen very well, if at all. He was influential to me because of my wife and the people who spoke at his service.

You see, at the service of this man his children (all girls) all stood to speak about their father. Almost every daughter started off their speech with "I was my dad's/his favorite..."

I loved watching all these people celebrate the love that this man showed them and others everyday. I loved how they all felt like they were his favorite. I have no doubt that it is true that they indeed were this his favorite for one reason or another.

This past Sunday I realized something: Madilyn Hope and Abigail Grace are my favorites. Each for her own reasons, but my favorites none the less. It all started the other night when we were watching the Oscars and Madi started dancing to the music that was playing in between the winners and speeches. It was so cute... I am blessed and these girls (and "the one in the oven") will always know that they are my favorites!!!! These are the photos that I could get... Enjoy the photos and