Is Jesus Christ for real?

That is a question everyone must ask and then decide. Either you believe in Jesus or you don’t believe. There is no gray zone. God has given everyone free will to say, “I don’t believe in Jesus,” but if you are wise -- in light of where you will spend eternity -- you will check out the consequences of not believing in Jesus as the Son of God and your only ticket to get into Heaven. No one can do that for you. It is your responsibility.

So, how can you check out if Jesus is for real?

“Troublesome times are here filling men’s heart with fear.”

-- Taken from “Jesus Is Coming Soon”, by R.E. Winsett

 Beginning June 23 and lasting for nearly two weeks, the worst wildfire in Colorado’s history raged through Waldo Canyon, claiming the lives of six people, consuming 346 homes, evacuating 35,000 people, burning more than 18,000 acres of drought-parched timber and brush and costing in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Other wildfires throughout the state burned across drought-stricken Colorado.

Bamboo is pretty and striking in a garden. But planter beware.

We recently downsized and bought a house in Duluth’s east side. The neighbor told us that the black plastic over a large section of the garden area was the previous owner’s attempt at killing the bamboo that someone else had planted.

Have you ever wondered about who you are, what you’re supposed to be doing and where you’re going? Have you felt small and insignificant? Have you wondered what happens after your life on earth is done?

I have your Bible, and I’m wondering who you are and where you live. Mostly I’m wondering if you ever became a believer in Jesus Christ so that I’ll get to meet you in Heaven.

You’re probably thinking this is a very strange letter. You’re right, but let me tell you how it came about.

I love to plan.

I don’t care if it is planning for Christmas activities, a Sunday dinner for a few friends, a community event, the next issue of Living Stones News or the chores for spring cleaning -- I believe any problem can be solved with a yellow tablet and a sharp pencil. My daughter chides me about needing to plan. She has bought me yellow tablets and No. 2 yellow pencils by the gross so that I never run out.

For many years I carried a photo of Olympic speed skater Eric Heiden in my Bible. Heiden won five gold medals in speed skating at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.

The photo of Heiden was magnificent. He was competing on Olympic ice, turning the corner and his body was almost horizontal to the track, his arm outstretched to help maintain his control. In 1980, Heiden didn’t wipe out as he turned the bend. He was in perfect balance, speed in control, skating to win the gold medal. Victory!

I remember that many years ago when my dad and mom were still alive, they spent Christmas Eve in a room above a noisy bar in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D.

They had moved back to Sioux Falls and were waiting to get into a rental place on Christmas Day. I remember my mom saying the neon bar light flashed in the window all night long and being in that place was not very pleasant on Christmas Eve. Being in the comfort of their own home with family gathered around, Christmas decorations, good food and presents is quite a contrast to spending Christmas Eve in a room above a noisy bar. My heart rather aches still when I think of them being there, even after so many years have gone by.

We are selling our house. We are buying a house. We are downsizing, cleaning out and getting ready for that move.

During the 22 years we’ve spent in our four-bedroom house, we have saved every piece of clothing we have ever had, every tool we ever bought, every piece of wood left over from every building project we ever did and every Cool Whip bowl we ever emptied. We are finding stuff we can’t even identify in the deep, dark dungeons of the basement.