In my reading of the Bible from cover to cover I read in Job 31:4 not long ago:

“Does he not see my ways and

count my every step?”

In our local phone book I noticed a page  advertising “Neighbourhood Support.”

“Neighbourhood Support is a community initiative working to: Create Safer Communities.”

I am asking myself:

What does create safer communities?

What does create more caring communities?

What reduces the incidents of criminal offending?

What reduces the effects of criminal offending?

What strengthens communities’ networks?

What improves quality of life?

I am reading again:

“DOES HE NOT SEE MY WAYS AND

COUNT MY EVERY STEP?”

“SUENDE, DIE MIR KLAR WIRD, SOLL MICH NICHT IN VERZWEIFLUNG, SONDERN NAEHER ZU JESUS BRINGEN.” – Corrie ten Boom

“Not great deeds alone, but the smallest, the most obscure, write their records in fadeless lines.” – J. R. Miller

“The lazy man aims at nothing and generally hits it.”

“Your work is an excellent commentary on your character; for as you ARE, so you LABOUR.”

“What’s on your BUCKET LIST?”

What is your most inspirational movie? That was the question. One reader answered “THE BUCKET LIST (2007) made you realise  how much we still have to do before we pass on.”

I am reading that in the October 2010 Reader’s Digest.

“What’s on your bucket list?

An advert in a Travel Magazine is asking that question. A tour to the South Island is suggested.

It says, “Experience the SOUTH ISLAND with UNIQUE Holiday Tours… and be in the draw to win FREE excursions on each tour.”

Yes, what is on your bucket list?

Is it PLEASURE or is it GOD?

In the Bible we read about the “Godlessness in the Last Days.” In Second Timothy 3:4 it says, “People will be…………………..,lovers of pleasure  rather than lovers of God -“

I want to serve God!

“YOU DON’T MAKE ANY FOOTPRINTS IN THE SANDS OF TIME WHILE YOU’RE SITTING DOWN.”

“A little piece of Paradise……….” says the advertisement with the beautiful picture in the Travel magazine.

I am alert!

It’s all about a “Motel resort on spectacular headland,…..”

“YOU CAN ALMOST SEE HEAVEN” says another advert. (Far North Real Estate)

I am fully alert!

It’s all about a four bedroom house  with two bathrooms for almost $600 000.

The word paradise means heaven. We find the word paradise only three times in the New Testament, namely in Luke 23:43, Second Corinthians 12:4 and finally in the last book of the Bible in Revelation 2:7.

Have you ever wondered why we read about HEAVEN in advertisements. I have.

Is it because we know that this world is not our final destination? The hymnwriter says it so beautiful:

“This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through,….” I understand that the writer of the hymn is not known.

“You can almost see heaven.”

The Bible tells us about a man who saw heaven open. He says so himself. His name is Stephen. In Acts 7:56 he says, ‘”I SEE HEAVEN OPEN AND THE SON OF MAN STANDING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.'”

Stephen saw heaven open.

We can do the same. All those who know that the Lord Jesus Christ has pardoned them from guilt and shame see heaven open. All those who trust His saving grace while travelling here on earth see heaven open.

Do you see heaven open?