The End

There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. -Daniel 12:1

We do not like to talk about The End. The Endo of All Things frightens us into silence. It seems to be an unspoken agreement amongst Christian that sermons, devotionals and conversation should always steer clear of the terrifying reality of The End.

But The End is very real indeed, and the thought of what is to come should frighten us. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (Rev. 9:6) This is a promise of agony for those who do not come to know God! It should frighten us; we should be God-fearing people. Yet, we cannot allow our fears get in the way of our growth and knowledge of the Lord. He has given us but a glimpse into The End in hopes that we might use it as a tool to motivate us to prepare ourselves for His second coming.

While He has given us a glimpse into The End, He has not revealed all to us. We simply wouldn’t be able to handle it. Even those like Daniel and John (the author of Revelation) that received a very real sneak preview of The End Times couldn’t understand it. Despite their strength as Christian leaders, they were ill prepared for what is to ensue during the great battle. For Daniel, what he saw was appalling, exhausting and beyond understanding. (Daniel 8:27) The End, just like the true nature of Heaven and Hell, is beyond our comprehension. No movie, book, or human will ever be able to accurately describe or guess what will happen during those days other than what has been given to us in Scripture.

God does promise that believers will know of the day of Christ’s return. We mistakenly assume we will wake up one day and it will be the end of the world and Christ will have returned. This isn’t true. We learn through the Revelation to John that it is those who live in darkness that will be surprised by the Second Coming. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief and you will not know at what time I will come to you (Rev. 3:3)

How do we go about readying ourselves for The End? As believers, we are given ample instruction throughout the Bible but here is a good plan to get us started: We must fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7) We must work every day as if working for the Lord. (Col. 3:22) To prepare for battle, we must put on the full armor of God every day. (Eph. 6:11) We must seek to spread the Word, so that when the day comes all who have had heard it might be saved. We must be fishers of men. (Matt. 4:19)

Above all else, we must repent. In the Book of Matthew we find that the very first time Christ begins to preach He simply states: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. (Matt. 4:17) This is the Son of Man and His first words to the public are already about His Second Coming!

Do not fool yourself into thinking that The End will not happen. It has been promised to us and we have been given the tools to ready ourselves for Christ’s arrival. Obey His Word and He will guide you through The End.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

The Lonesome Valley

Salvation is found through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. -Acts 4:12

There is only one way to experience the majesty of His kingdom and it is through the salvation found in Jesus Christ.

The stark reality of our journeys as Christians is that no one else on this earth can save you. No one else here can go to heaven for you. We need the fellowship we find with our brothers and sisters in Christ to sustain us on our journey, but that trip through the valley is ours and ours alone.

David, in Psalm 23, does not mention a “we” but instead his song sings only of an I and the Lord. Even though I walk…I will fear no evil for you are with me…they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4). This is not a trip a mother can take for her son, nor is it a journey to be led by one friend for another. The destination of salvation through Christ can only be reached by the individual; a loved one cannot will it upon them. As individual followers of Christ, we must each take our own trip through the valley.

Although our journeys must be made as individuals, we must pray for the salvation of others. We must continue to hope that they too will see the Light of the Lord. Like so many of us, Paul prayed fervently for the conversion and dedication of others. (Romans 9:2,3) He knew however, that the salvation of the individual, despite fervent prayer on his part, was ultimately up to that person and God. Even the mighty Paul could not go to heaven for someone else! Despite his years of service and dedication, even Paul could not save someone by proxy!

The journey must first begin with the individual confessing that Christ is Lord, with belief in their heart that He is risen and that we are saved. (Romans 10:9) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:10) You cannot confess the sins of another or lay claim to their heart for Christ!

Do not despair, for there is always hope: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) God does not want to lose any of His sheep. He has not forgotten about your sister. He will not forget your coworker. His patience is endless and He is willing to wait as long as it takes for those that are lost, to find Him. He so desperately wants to be found.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. (John 14:3)

Does your heart break because someone in your life might not know the way? I encourage you to continually engage in fervent prayer for them.  Pray that they will be able to begin their own journey with Christ. Share with them the map to salvation but understand that you cannot force them down the road. I pray that the day Christ comes back to take us with Him, that you will know the way.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

He is Jealous

For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. -Deuteronomy 4:24

We belong to the Lord. Our worship, service and faithfulness belong to Him and Him alone. When we choose to devote ourselves to something other than God, He becomes the consuming fire as described in Deuteronomy.

When God sees us slipping away to something other than Him, He becomes zealous in His protection of what is rightfully His. God paid the ultimate price for us when He sent His son to die for us on the cross at Cavalry. He literally bought us with the life of Christ.  This gave us a new life and second chance, so when He sees us devoting what should be our time with Him to something else entirely, He becomes a raging fire.

He is jealous for us because He loves us so much. God expects and demands exclusive dominion over our hearts, minds, and souls. His love for us is infinite and boundless, He only asks for a fragment in return. Should we ever find ourselves letting our love for God grow quiet, He will grow jealous of what ever it is that is taking His place. Our love is God’s and we should never let something replace Him as our one true Love.

Is there something in your life that is distracting you from God? Are you giving your time or heart to something other than God? Are you freely giving away something that rightfully belongs with the Lord? For us to be anything but totally devoted in worship of Him would be denying God what is rightfully His. Don’t fall into the trap of serving or worshipping something other than God. If you’ve let an activity or person take God’s place in worship, be warned that God simply will not stand for it.

His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). Our jealous God is avenging (Nahum 1:2). Should you choose to exalt others before Him, His anger will burn against you and you will be destroyed (Deut. 6:15). God knows the plans He has for us (Jer. 29:11), so He becomes jealous when we devote our love to anything but Him. His love is so great for us, He becomes a raging fire when something takes our attention away from Him. How awesome is it, that the Lord of All Creation loves us this much!

The Lord our God is sovereign. He is the Redeemer, the Life-Giver and the Holy One. His name should be given honor and glory (1 Chron. 16:29). If He gives His glory to no other (Isaiah 42:8), shouldn’t we do the same? Stop making God jealous with those other, foreign gods in your life! (Deut. 32:16)

I encourage you to evaluate your life and where you devote your time and worship. Do you spend most of your days devoted to the things and people of this world? Be wary of a jealous God, for He is a consuming fire! Give worship back to the Lord; for it is rightfully His and His alone.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1 Corinth. 10:21-22) No, we are not.

God’s jealousy for us is unnerving, awesome, and wonderful. Praise Him, for He is jealous for us.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

Humility

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
-Proverbs 11:2

It’s easy for us to get wrapped up in our daily accomplishments. It’s even easier for us to boast to others about a life goal or milestone recently we’ve reached. We will often get into a “groove” either at work or in a relationship and think that it is because of all the work that we are doing.

Why do we only begin to recognize the work of the Lord in our life, only after He has humbled us?

Have you ever been humbled by the Lord? If so, I’m sure you’ll agree that it can be one of the most harrowing and powerful experiences for a Christian. Not all pride is bad, however. It’s good to be happy with your accomplishments and proud of your faith. It’s important to acknowledge the rewards of hard work and dedication and this comes from appreciating the blessings and gifts God has given you through that. Pride can be a great motivator. You want to make your mom and dad proud. You want your boss to be proud of the work you have done.  It is important, however, to remain humble in spirit and not boastful in our words or actions despite whatever it is we have accomplished.

We have no better guide than Jesus Christ the Lord. As Christ called to the weary and burdened, inviting them to place their troubles on Him, he clearly states, “…for I am gentle and humble in heart…”(Matt. 11:29) If the Lord is humble in heart, should we not be also?

What will happen to those that refuse to humble themselves before the Lord? How will the man that has no shame in the boasting of his accomplishments be dealt with? The answer is not hidden from us, but delivered straight for the Son’s mouth: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matt. 29:12) You see, there’s never going to be any question: The Lord will humble you. Surely this puts the fear of God in you!

I encourage you to take a moment and thank God for all that He has done for you. Take pride in what you have done, give the Lord His credit, and continually humble yourselves before Him! He is there to care for you. He will lift the humble high.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

Be in the Light

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12

Are you afraid of the dark? As a follower of Christ, you shouldn’t be. We have, as our leader, the ultimate light…the literal Light of the World.

As children we would often see shadows “moving” or monsters under our bed, but only while the light was out. Overcome by fear and unsure of our own strength, we would call out to our parents knowing they would rescue us by turning on the lights.

We treat our relationship with God and the demons we face, in much the same way. Quite often we can find ourselves happy and strong when we are surrounded by other Christians, but disturbed and weak when we it is time for us to be alone. Don’t let the fear of the darkness over take you and cause you to succumb to temptations. Remember, you have the Light of the World on your side!

After he was delivered from his enemies and from the hand of Saul, David sang to the Lord, “You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” (2 Sam. 22:39) David knew that it was only God that could turn the darkness that surrounded him, into light. What better way to describe what the Lord had done for David, other than to say that He was his lamp? Will you be like David and cry out when you fear the darkness? Let the Lord be your lamp as David did. Seek Him out and be in His awesome light!

If you find yourself surrounded by darkness, His word will light the way through it: “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105) To be rescued, you must do your part. By studying the word of God, we can begin to understand how to battle against the darkness. In fact, the Word of God acts as a beacon for us and as a weapon we can use to battle the dark, “The unfolding of your words gives light…” (Psalm 119:130). Study the Word and use it to flip on the “light” switch when you are faced with darkness!

Should you ever find yourself faced with a situation of total darkness, do not hesitate to call out to God. Whatever monsters you are facing or shadows that are creeping in on you, call out to your Father for help. Be in the light. Only God can rescue you from total darkness.

…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. -1 John 1:5

…And Listen

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” -1 Samuel 3:10

What you do in your solitude with God will change your life.

Wrestling yourself into a submission of silence is not the end goal, however. Our goal, once we reach that state of humility where we allow ourselves to strip away all outside distractions and selfish ambitions, should be to simply listen.

What does it mean to listen to the Lord and how do we go about accomplishing such a thing?

We must be quiet. For just a moment, stop pleading to God and stop being consumed by the world. Rest and just be.

We must hear the Lord. It wasn’t until the Lord had called him a fourth time, that Samuel finally responded appropriately. Prior to his calling Samuel did not know the Lord and to hear the word of the Lord was rare; despite this, Samuel still heard the Lord’s calling. Is there a possibility the Lord is speaking to you in some manner, yet you are so focused elsewhere you can’t hear Him? The Lord speaks to us in countless ways and shows Himself to us in an unfathomable amount of variety: friends, family, Bible studies, praise and worship, a cardinal on your tree, or even a rainbow in the sky. Hear the Lord when He speaks.

We must attune ourselves to God. Despite not knowing the Lord, Samuel adjusted and attuned himself to His call so that he could properly hear the Lord and respond. We must do the same. If you find yourself struggling to hear God’s calling for you or are wavering in your dedicated worship of Him, begin cultivating a God focused prayer life. To become more aware of God’s presence in your life, I encourage you to genuinely seek God’s will and re-center your life’s focus around God. Has God responded to you and you have heard Him, but you are fighting what He is trying to tell you? Adjust yourself to the Lord’s will and know that His plans will always be greater than your plans.

We must wait. God will not always immediately respond when we desire; nor will He respond every time we sit to engage in a quiet time with Him. We must grow in our self-discipline, hope and patience as we also grow with the Lord. It’s important that we ready ourselves so that we can better hear the Lord when He speaks and be ready to take action if we are called to do so. After going to Eli upon hearing the Lord call a third time, Eli instructed Samuel to go back and wait. Samuel waited and was prepared for when the Lord called to him a fourth time. It’s a startling and humbling thought: This young man who had not known the Lord previously or been exposed to the word of the Lord, was ready to respond when He heard the Lord! Ready yourself so that you too may say, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Could I say the same thing about you? If the Lord were to call to you, would you be ready to receive His message and respond?

To be quiet and listen has become almost unnatural for us. Listening can be the most difficult challenge many of us face in our Christian lives but it is imperative to our growth as believers. I encourage you to follow Samuel’s example and be quiet and focused on God, attune your life to the Lord, be patient as you wait for Him, and hear Him when He calls to you.

Listening for the Lord will change your life.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

Be Quiet

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…” -Isaiah 30:15,16

We live in an age when everything has an on/off switch. We are constantly checking our email, voice mail, stock picks, and sports scores. Many of us can’t go an hour, much less a day, without checking out our favorite social network to see what our friends are up to at that moment. For others, our televisions and radios are in a constant state of “on.”

When was the last time you turned the world off, just to be with the Lord?

Quiet time spent with the Lord is essential to our spiritual well being. Christ would often rest, even amidst what some would say were his busiest days. He knew the importance of a renewed and refreshed spirit. Christ also led by example by taking time out of his every day to retire to a quiet place so that he could be alone with his Father. This time with the Lord was as important as anything else Christ was doing at the time and He let his schedule and devotion reflect that.

Have you ever sought to spend time with just one other person, so that you could build your relationship with them, grow closer to them and learn more about them in the process?  Of course you have! You should also have this same desire in seeking to build your relationship with the Lord. A quiet time devoted only to Him provides you with the nourishment your relationship needs.

Find strength, alone with God. Set aside a time every day that is free of distraction and devoted only to the study of His Word, the worship of His name, and the gratitude for His awesome grace. If you have five minutes to give to email, social networks, or your loved one, then you have time to give only to God.

I encourage you to set aside some time starting today, that you devote only to God. Set a game plan for study: This can be something as simple as reading the entire Bible front to back, the New Testament first, or maybe a more specific Bible study you have found. Then remove yourself from all distraction and worship, praise, and thank Him. We need this rest. We need the quiet.

Be still and listen. Be quiet and take refuge. Turn everything off and just be with the Lord.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

Lust: Part Two

But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. -1 Corinthians 6:17,18

Although it is very clear in the Bible that men are to take a leadership role when it comes to matters of faith, women play an equally important part. While men are called to be leaders, we need women to support us and help keep us on the straight and narrow path of righteousness.

Generally, when it comes to the opposite sex, men say, do and try to do stupid things. We sin not only against the Father with our lustful thoughts, words, and actions, but also against you. We say we can’t help it, but we can. We just have to step up and take that leadership role Christ calls us to. He leaves it up to us to make that decision: it’s the decision to pass up the earthly pleasure, for the Righteously Heavenly one. As faithful leaders, men are compelled to make decisions that call on them to sacrifice selfish pleasures.

Women must also make such decisions.

Women show their affections and flirtations in a different manner than men. Over-reassuring words, light touches, little gifts like cookies and candy, and that special ability every woman has of giving one of those looks that could drive a man insane for days, weeks and months: The wink of the eye, the biting of a lip, the playful toss of hair. These are what most of us call “harmless” flirtation but they are definitely more than harmless.

There’s simply no getting around it: All of these things lead to sexual temptation and evil subconscious thoughts. Remember, it takes two to tango. There has to be two bodies there, two lips, two of everything. Sisters, if a guy is talking in a manner that is slightly or more than slightly demeaning to you or makes you feel uncomfortable, say something! Although men are called to be the leaders, we are also to be servants to women, as Christ was to the church. So this Christian brother of yours should take a step back and listen to you. It’s his job!

Ask yourself this: Why is the subject of lust and temptation rarely spoken about publicly among Christians? Why is this subject, a subject that every single Christian man and woman deals with, be it through unfaithfulness, sexual promiscuity, pornography, or one of the other countless worldly forms it takes on, rarely addressed from the pulpit or in Christian circles? We are letting the devil win by allowing our shame to keep us from opening ourselves to the honesty and faithfulness that is required of us when we ask for forgiveness. We can’t begin to overcome the world, without overcoming our shame first. Shame is just another tool of the devil to thwart us on our path of righteousness.

If you’ve been knocked down, ask for forgiveness and get back up. Don’t think you’re alone in your sin and don’t let your shame defeat you. I sin every day, but I lay my sins at the feet of Christ and He sees fit to bless me with His wondrous Grace. I sinned today. I’ll probably sin tomorrow. I still trip, and stumble. And so do you. But that’s okay. Do not be ashamed. Do not let the devil embarrass, belittle, or shame you into submission.

Encourage one another daily. It is through encouragement, support, and fellowship that we can together, men and women, overcome the temptations of the world.

Men, I encourage and pray that you shall take your proper role as leader in Christ and treat your Sisters as just that, your sisters in Christ. Women, I pray that you too shall overcome your troubles, whatever they may be, with the temptations that Satan has sent you in the form of lust. I pray too that you shall encourage and help your Brothers.

Do not let sin be your master. You were saved through grace and forgiven by God. Flee from sexual immorality.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. -Romans 6:14

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

Lust: Part One

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.  -1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Lust and sexual temptation are tough topics most people shy away from. Why? These are two temptations and evils that the greater majority of us deal with on an everyday basis. We may not want to admit it, or even realize it, but we are fighting the sins of the flesh on a daily basis.

There are the beer commercials during football games, the love scenes in movies and on television, the lingerie ads in the mail and the men’s magazines advertising beautiful women in very little clothing. We are assaulted everywhere we turn.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 6, Paul handles the topic of sexual immorality. That’s exactly what it is. It’s immoral.  You might think, “There’s nothing wrong with admiring a hot girl in a bikini, or a hot guy with a six-pack,” and I’d think you’re wrong. In saying such a statement we are giving in to temptation; we are dishonoring God by looking upon His Creation with such physical scrutiny and unholy lust.

Men especially, are charged throughout the Old and New Testament to lead serving lives to honor God. We are charged with the responsibility of honoring our Christian sisters by straying from sexual immorality. Job, for example, went so far as to make a covenant with his eyes to never look lustfully upon another woman, ever again (Job 31:1). Imagine the difficulty! Yet, he remained faithful to his covenant with God and served humbly.

We should follow Job’s example and honor those around us with our minds and hearts. We are not doing so by “messing around” with girls, or dishonoring them with harmful talk behind their backs, or dirty jokes in their presence. Men, as Christians, we are given the job of taking leadership roles in our households and everywhere we go. We must lead as strong, faithful, Christian men. But we must also serve. A harmless kiss? Just a one night stand? It didn’t mean anything? How is pressuring our Christian sisters into positions that dishonor them or cause them to give into temptation help us prove ourselves as worthy of God’s grace? A kiss doesn’t hurt anyone? You might be right, but is it serving God’s purpose? Not really? Then it hurts you.

We’ve all given into these temptations at one time or another. All of us have stumbled and struggled at some point. What matters most is what you did after you stumbled: Did you continue in your ways or did you get on your knees and ask for God’s forgiveness? Take the opportunity today to start anew and realign your thoughts and actions with God’s purpose. We are not our own. Our very existence was bought with a sacrifice. Honor that sacrifice with your fight against lust.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.

The Restless Evil

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. -James 3:9,10

This passage confronts us on several levels. First, it challenges our “Sunday-selves” and our habit of shedding that persona for what we consider a more “practical” us, when Monday rolls around. Second, the passage challenges our notion of filling the dead air of conversation between friends with senseless gossip and inflammatory remarks. Third, the passage challenges us on our continued use of foul language. Finally, the passage admonishes us and directs us in the simplest of manners: …this should not be.

It’s very easy for us to go to church on Sunday, sing songs of praise and worship, and greet one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, but then on Monday attack, tear down, and belittle the people around us. What changed? How can we justify such behavior? Do we think it is okay to tear down a coworker because we went to church the day before and glorified God? This is not how it should be.

Gossip is something every one of us struggles with on a daily basis. It’s the sin that we accept. Too often we find ourselves in the middle of a social situation or in conversation with a long lost acquaintance with nothing to talk about but other people. How is this better than silence? Ask yourself: Do you want to be whispered about amongst groups of other people? Surely your answer is no, and if it is then you should make every effort to stop accepting gossip as a way of life and start growing comfortable with a Godly silence.

Quick: What’s the worst curse word? Whatever your answer, why have you assigned that much meaning to that particular word, but not the others? Are the others truly any less foul? How can we sing songs of joy, praise, love, and mercy on Sundays, but with the same mouth, use the words that are so bad, we call them curse words? It may be difficult, but it’s time to rethink your use of the language God’s given us.

The tongue is a dangerous weapon. You will face a lifelong war as you try to tame your words. You will find it one of the most difficult battles you will ever face. You will wage this war every day, as James 3: 8 states, “…but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

Your tongue is a restless evil. You must fight this battle, but do not expect an overnight victory. You must remember our mouths were made for praise, not cursing.

My brothers and sisters, this is how it should be.

This is a weekly devotional that I write and send out via email. Previous devotionals will be reprinted here, but if you’d like to sign up to receive the newest ones every week, please send me an email by clicking the envelope on the front page of this site. All text posted here is written and owned by me. Please link back to this site if posting elsewhere and give appropriate credits.