I love the statement that with God, 1000 years is like 1 day and 1 day is like 1000 years. As a physics teacher I imagine that he is outside of time, which makes so much sense with the big bang theory (that time was created at the beginning of the universe, but God is outside of time).

I love that even though the society at the time thought of women as "weaker vessels" Peter still gives them the same place in redemption and adoption into God's family using the same word as in Romans 8:17, translated "joint heirs", συγκληρονόμος (pronounced synkleronomos).

I understand God's majesty most when I'm atop a mountain, looking out at the vastness of the Earth, or staring at the stars reflecting on the immense universe God created. And yet, God cares about me!

It seems clear that we are to love each other!

It's nice to know that others understand my tough times, and that God hears me!

"Will you love vanity and seek after falsehood?" Vanity is defined as "excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements". I don't struggle with pride in my appearance much, but I do struggle with putting pride in my achievements. When I think about it, it's obvious that God deserves the glory for my achievements, but I still struggle with desiring the "approval of man" (Matthew & Galatians).

What do you guys think it means to be a child of the light?

The idea of death and resurrection is a powerful theme in this passage. Interesting how God sometimes heals us like Lazarus, but other times His healing comes by bringing us home to heaven.

I love it when Jesus says, "The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?". I'm assuming the cup represents suffering. When I face suffering it seems my main goal is typically to avoid it. I need to get better at focusing (during periods of suffering) on staying "in step with the Spirit" [Galatians 5] (abiding in God [John 15]).

Sometimes someone says something that you remember the rest of your life. One of my friends, Jay, was about to leave for a time in the middle east, we were just getting into the car in my driveway when he told me that God was really putting on his heart to abide in God, just like the branch abides in the vine. (I know this version uses the word "remain" instead of "abide".) I have reflected on that continually for the next 20 years and I've recognized how hard it is to constantly abide in God. It's so easy to drift back into my own selfish desires and fears. God, please help me to abide in you today (and each day)!

For anyone that doesn't know, when John 1 talks about the "Word" it is referring to Jesus.