Recently, several suicides have occurred right here in my own hometown of about 16,000 people. The latest of these involved a friend of mine who was, among other things, the leader of a Christian Business Fellowship which I attend. He was a lawyer with a terrific wife, two young kids, very prominent in his church, coached little league baseball. As one can imagine, speculations abound - everything from possible chemical imbalances to unfair, unfounded comments which…well, small town gossip can be so mean-spirited.

These local suicides also have Christians from various camps wondering and discussing what happens after a Christian commits suicide. Some eMails I’ve received on this subject have included words like “unsettling”, “confused” and “disturbing.” Since we are the Body of Christ, “a body fitly joined,” as Scripture declares, when something happens here, it’s happening there. If it hasn’t hit your community square in the face just yet, chances are it will.

I’m reminded of the theme song from the TV series “M.A.S.H.” It was called “Suicide is painless.”

No, it’s not. It hurts a lot.

It’s hurting me.

Personally, I was raised believing that a Christian who killed themselves received a quick ticket to hell. The concept being that, since murderers would burn in hell, what was suicide but self-murder with absolutely no time for repentance?

Apparently, “Thou shalt not kill” referred even to the killing of oneself. This concept now strikes me as quite silly, for all sins…murder, suicide, gossip, slander, rage, infidelity…are all forgivable by the sacrifice of Christ on the

Recreational paintball players have known for a long time what most of us should. Sometimes it is just necessary to get out into the woods, run around like a bunch of lunatics, and try to take out the other team with as much messy paint as you possibly can.

“Lunatics” is really not the best description for the players, but the analogy represents the state of mind that the author has at least experienced with the sport.

Paint and Guns, hmm

The paintball forefathers knew what they were doing. They took paintball dispensing guns and decided to play capture the flag. The first organized game of paintball was played in New Hampshire. The year was 1981, and the young men were onto something. A sporting goods retailer, a stock broker, and a writer put there heads together and decided to have a little fun.

Paintball guns, commonly called markers, were used originally by farmers and ranchers to mark trees and cattle. But wouldn’t they be much more fun if they were used to shoot other people? Of course.

The Paintball Experience

Everyone should experience the intense action of paintball at least once. Anyone can play. My first experience took place on a steamy, rainy day in July. Some friends wanted to get back at me for some stuff and cordially invited me out to the local paintball to play.

Trying to catch my breath and remove myself from the forest floor, I realized I was having more fun than I had in a long time.

There is virtually no difference between costume jewelry and antique jewelry. Costume Jewelry dates back to the 1930s. By the definition of antique that would also make it antique jewelry. However, most jewelry experts have come to agree that antique jewelry predates the 1930s.

Costume Jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap disposable jewelry meant to be worn with a specific outfit, but not meant to be handed down through generations. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, out date itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit purchase, or with a new fashion style. It became available in large quantities during the 30s.

Cheap jewelry also existed prior to the 1930s. Paste or glass jewelry as far back as the 1700s. The rich had their fine jewelry duplicated for a variety of reasons, using paste or glass stones. By the mid 1800s with the growth of the middle class there were now different levels of jewelry being manufactured using fine, semi-precious and base materials. Fine jewelry of gold, diamonds, fine gems such as emeralds and saphires continued to be made. Jewelry from rolled gold, which is a thin layer of gold attached to a base metal, entered the market for the middle class. This jewelry was often set with semi-precious gems such as amethyst, coral or pearls, and was much more affordable. And then there was jewelry that most anyone could afford, consisting of glass stones and base metals made