What Would Jesus Look Like If He Appeared Today?

Have you ever wondered how Jesus would look, or how He would interact with people if He were alive and on the earth today? Since I watched the two videos I talked about yesterday I've been facinated by the idea.

After I watched both of them, and as I sit here writing this, my mind goes to Luke 24:12-35 where Jesus walked and talked (after His resurrection) with two men on the road to Emmaus, and they didn’t recognize Him.

"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?" They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread." NIV

Then He appeared later (Luke 24:36-40) to the twelve in the upper room. They were terrified and thought He was a ghost. It wasn't until Jesus revealed Himself to them that their fears were assuaged and they believed.

"While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet." NIV

What kind of Jesus do we present to the world? Why would a person who is not a Christian want to come to the Jesus we present. We may "say" the right things. But, what do people see when they watch us? Do our actions and behaviors negate what we say? These are all thoughts that the films brought up in my mind. I just thought I'd share them with you. What do you think?

There is also an excellent interview with Jefferson Moore at Christian Cinema.

If you get a chance, get the videos and watch them. I think you'll like them. They will definitely make you think!

Saturday and Sunday Activities July 26-27, 2008

Well, this week it was Saturday that Todd had duty, so Yvonne and I just relaxed.

Sunday she made scallopped potatoes with ham for dinner and bannana nut bread and ice cream for dessert.

After dinner we did something a little different. We watched a movie called Another Perfect Stranger. It is the sequel to another film called The Perfect Stranger.

So, let me ask you a question. Have you ever wondered what Jesus would look like if He were to come to earth today? How He would interact with people in 2008?

Both films, are based on the book Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory. In the first film a skeptical lawyer (Pamela Brumley) has a conversation with a stranger (Jefferson Moore) who claims to be Jesus of Nazareth. In the discussion that follows, they touch on a range of thought-provoking topics, including the meaning of life, the accuracy of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus Christ. In this second film the story picks up ten years later as the lawyer's daughter, Sarah (Ruby Marie Lewis), is debating whether to attend art school. On her way to look over the campus, she befriends a fellow traveler (Jefferson Moore) whose scorn for religion matches hers.

These two films will really get you thinking, both about how Jesus would present Himself if He were alive today, and about the issues that get raised during the conversations in the films. We rented them from Netflix. And I highly recommend them!

CAPT Al Hill CHC, USN Retires

Friday morning, after 30 years of commissioned service as a Chaplain in the United States Navy my friend, colleague, and field mentor, retired from the military. Yvonne and I attended the ceremony (which was beautiful!) and I was privileged to offer the benediction.

So, what does one do after 30 years as a Navy Chaplain? You move to Pinehurst, North Carolina, one of the golfing meccas of the United States, and serve as an associate pastor of the Village Chapel. A beautiful interdenominational church in a pristine woodland setting. But, lest you think this is all golfing and lying in a hammock drinking sweet tea, think again. The "chapel" has three worship services on Sunday morning!

That will keep Al more than a little busy! So, as is usually the case with those of us who "retire" from active duty in the military, it isn't really retirement. It is actually a transition from one phase of life to another. Instead of being called chaplain, now he'll be called pastor.

God's blessings on you my friend.

Bye, See Ya At Lunch!

This morning I just couldn't resist taking this picture!


Yvonne has been working at Kinder Care, a preschool about a mile from the house, for about two months now. Teachers have to wear a uniform of sorts: a blue shirt and khaki pants. Since the preschool is so close to our house, Yvonne walks to work. So, every day she straps on her blue and khaki back pack, wearing her blue shirt and khaki pants (and the sunglasses), and goes out the front door. I think she's really cute! But you'd have to be here every day to get the full effect.

The weather has been in the upper 80s and low 90s here for most of the summer; so when she walks home for lunch her face is almost as red as the front door (ok, well maybe not quite, but you get the idea).

We've been married for almost 36 years (September 14) and she is still the love of my life!!

Saturday and Sunday - July 19 - 20, 2008

Yvonne and I drove up to Newport News on Saturday to help Brian and Sarah move some of the furniture around in their new house. We thought we left early enough, but with three accidents and the slow down in the tunnel, it took us two hours to get home! It's only supposed to take about 30 minutes...Yuk!!!!

Todd was coming over for the evening, but had to work late, so we got home before he got to the house. It was hot dogs, baked beans, and chips for dinner. Then on to a game of Settlers of Catan for the three of us. Now that is one fun game! Of all the times I've played it, this was the first time I've ever won.

Todd had duty on Sunday so Yvonne and I spent the time praying together for some of the servicemen and women who have been through the house in the past; and just spent the rest of the day relaxing. I have to confess though, when you're a Type "A" personality like I am, I took some of the time and went into my office to work on our web site. Which, if you take a peek, is coming along pretty nicely, if I must say so myself.

Brian's mom and dad flew in from Colorado and were staying with Brian and Sarah over the weekend. They came over Sunday evening for a visit; it was nice to see them again. Yvonne put together a chocolate fondue for the evening. Yummy! I even tried chocolate coating a Spanish Olive. It was an interesting flavor (not recommended!). Dick and Janet tried one too. Hey, who knows, it might have been good...you never know until you try...

Sunday Activities - July 13 2008

We had a really nice time on Sunday! Yvonne fixed Todd's favorite meal: meat loaf and mashed potatoes. Cinnamon coffee cake was for dessert. Then we watched Matthew 25:1-13 and discussed it.

It was the parable of the ten virgins. Two groups of five people were represented: one wise and one foolish.

The story was about a Jewish wedding.

The virgins were with the bride and were to keep "watch" (a pretty familiar word for military people). The groom was at the bachelor party with his friends. After the party they would come and get the bride. The bride's friends, who were on "watch" would announce his arrival; they would all go out and meet him and then process together carrying their lamps to light the way, singing and celebrating, to the wedding banquet.

There was only one distinction between the two groups of virgins: one group was "prepared" for the possibility that the bachelor party would run long and brought extra oil for their lamps. The other group did not. So they were "unprepared" for the bridegroom's return.

As expected by the five virgins who brought extra oil for their lamps, the bachelor party ran late. The bride's friends got tired and fell asleep. But finally, the bridegroom did arrive, and the call rang out to go out and meet him.

The virgins all got up and cut off the burnt part of the wicks of their lamps. The lamps were almost out of oil and the lights were going out. The wise virgins, it can be surmised, simply refilled their lamps, while the foolish virgins had to go and get more oil.

However, while they were gone the bridegroom came, and the celebration procession went out to meet him, and escorted him into the wedding banquet hall. Then the door was shut.

When the five who went to get more oil arrived and asked to be allowed into the banquet hall the bridegroom denied knowing them, and refused them entry.

That's the story.

The lesson Jesus conveys in this story is simple: we must be ready for Jesus' physical return to this earth! No one knows when He will return, but we have repeatedly been told in the Scriptures that He will return!

The question is: "How can we know we are ready?"

I believe the key is in the bridegroom's response to the foolish virgins when he said: "I tell you the truth, I don't know you."

Whether we enter into the kingdom of God or not has always been based on one criteria: whether or not we have opened our hearts and invited Jesus Christ in (Rev 3:20). That moment is the beginning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And it is that personal relationship that Jesus will either acknowlege or deny when He returns.

Are you actively keeping watch for His return? Will you be prepared for His return? Or will He say, "Sorry, I never knew you?"

Saturday Activities - July 12, 2008

Saturday turned into a real work day! My daughter Sarah and her husband Brian moved into the new townhouse they bought. Todd Williams, Yvonne and I went up to Newport News to help them move. It was hot and tiring, but it was fun too.


After moving all of the big furniture, and the truck got taken back to U-haul, Brian and Sarah took us all out to Red Robin for dinner. The hamburgers there are HUGE!


By the end of the day Todd, Yvonne and I were exhausted! We came back to our house and prayed together, and called it a day.

Sunday Activities - July 6, 2008

The Fragata Greenhalgh crew was having an all hands cookout on Sunday, so we thought none of our Brazilian friends would be able to come over. But as it turned out, they called about 12:30 and said they were free to go and wanted to come over. I jumped in the car and twenty minutes later I was pier side, picked them up, and was on the way to the house. Yea!

Yvonne was preparing Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese Casserole for dinner, and cream cheese brownies and ice cream for dessert.

After dinner we went into the living room for our worship and Bible study time. Paulo and Edivaldo led us in worship; Paulo with his flute and Edivaldo on the guitar.


What was different about today was the way we sang. We just kept on singing! Instead of watching the Matthew video I felt led to talk about what was going on among us. The love that we felt for each other in such a short time has been nothing short of divine. It was Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection that made this kind of fellowship and love possible. We were sharing our gifts with one another: Paulo and Edivaldo were giving us their gifts of music. Yvonne was sharing her gifts of cooking and hospitality. Jesus said He came that we might have life, and to have it to the full. When we can come together and fellowship and love one another, it is a small taste of what He meant!

We sang the chorus "Open The Eyes Of My Heart" several times. We all felt like we were "seeing" Jesus. Jesus made it possible for six sailors from Brazil to come to America and share their gift of music and love with us in our home. He made it possible for a man and his wife to open their home in America and love six sailors from Brazil. And in just four short weeks, He made it possible for us to love each other deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).

After I talked about our love for one anther we went right back to singing. It was great! Then out came the laptops and it was time to phone home.

Paulo showed us a worship DVD from a church in Brazil. Though we couldn't understand the language, we could participate in the worship because of the Spirit. We could all focus on Jesus, the one being worshipped.

The Brazilians' stay in America is coming to an end. The Greenhalgh will go out to sea for a month. Then they will be back for one more weekend at the end of the cruise, and then they sail back to Brazil.

We all stood and I anointed each one with oil individually in the name of the Lord Jesus and prayed for them. It was a bittersweet moment, but the presence of the Lord was so very real!

Finally, about 11:00pm I took everyone back to the ship. I stayed on the pier until they were out of sight because I knew that would be the last time I would see them for a month.

Saturday Activities - July 5, 2008

This week's activities started with an all you can eat buffet at the Pizza Hut on General Booth Blvd. It was unanimous, everybody liked the idea of pizza for dinner! The guys were quick to point out that they have Pizza Hut in Brazil too. However, it took a little convincing to get them to eat it American style (with their fingers instead of a knife and fork)!

Our waitress was from North Carolina and was nice enough to talk to us for a while so the Brazilians could hear her "Southern" accent, and then she took our picture!

From Pizza Hut it was on to a rousing game of miniature golf at the Lynnhaven Golf Park. We all hoped and prayed that the storm moving in would wait until we finished our game! We also prayed for Camillo to get the ball into the cup. The guys even lined up their golf clubs to make the ball go straight.

It was the first time our Brazilian friends had ever played miniature golf. Between an American baseball game, croquet in our back yard, bowling, and miniature golf, we gave them several new experiences to talk about when they get back to Brazil.

In case you're curious, the balls all landed in that pattern on their own, so we posed ourselves around the balls.The rain did hold off until we finished our game. It started raining just as we got to the eighteenth hole. That nixed our plans to go to the Dairy Queen after golfing, but hey, flexibility is the name of the game - right? We finished the evening at our house, praying together. All in all, I'd say it was a great night!

Sunday Activities - June 29, 2008

Sunday was another awesome day! I went to the Norfolk Naval Station to pick up Rubem and the other sailors from the Greenhalgh. Camillo, Daniel, and Tiago all had duty; and Paulo had other plans for the day. But, Rubem and Edivaldo had invited two other sailors from their ship to come over. So, Renato and Italo joined us for the afternoon. Todd Williams was here too!

Yvonne made Italian Crepes and vegetables and a spinach salad for dinner. Once a month she also has a little birthday party to celebrate everyone's birthday for the month. It's one way she tries to make everyone's day a little bit more special. Sunday she made a Decedant Fudge Cake that everybody liked! Ice cream topped off the dessert.

We went into the living room to worship after dinner, and celebrated communion together with all of us kneeling on the floor around the coffee table which serves as our altar. I emphasized the two reasons we take communion: to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross to purchase our salvation; and to acknowledge that we are looking forward to His physical return to earth one day (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Our video for the day (again in Spanish with English sub-titles) was Matthew 24, which was about the signs of Jesus return to earth. We talked about it in both English and Portuguese. That was an awesome connection with our communion service! Gloria Deus!

After our time of worship everyone's laptops came out, and surfing the Internet and calling home to Brazil began. Everyone uses Skypes as their phone service and so the international rate to call Brazil is only about 2 cents a minute. During the evening Rubem called his mother. She spoke to us in Portuguese and Rubem translated. Then we talked back in English and he again provided the translation. Then we began to try to find hymns that we knew in both countries; and we began to sing together! What an awesome worship experience!!!

Rubem's God-father was going to have to go to the hospital because of a tumor on his leg. So I suggested we pray for him. We began to pray, and the Holy Spirit filled the room. What started out as a simple prayer for Rubem's God-father turned into an old fashioned Holy Ghost prayer meeting that spanned two continents! We prayed in human languages - English and Portuguese. And we prayed in angelic languages - Glossolalia (1 Corinthians 13:1). The Spirit of the Lord filled our living room!

Saturday Night Bowling

We celebrated another first on Saturday. Rubem and Daniel from the Brazilian ship Greenhalgh went bowling with us. They had never been bowling before. It was a lot of fun; Daniel won the first game with a score of 122! I won the second game at 116, but Daniel wasn't far behind, coming in at 108. That's a great score for never having bowled before.

Afterwards we went to the Coldstone Cremery in Town Center and had ice cream. Yum!

We came back to the house for prayer and laid hands on Josue and prayed for him. He left Sunday for a six week detachment in California. Josue is the one in the middle.