As this series continues, I want to go to the next expression of fear: terror. We have covered why we should fear and what happens when believers and unbelievers do not fear The Lord. So lets transition to the polar opposite of a lack of fear, and talk about the terror of The Lord.

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

For many things that is true. I would rather soak in a picture of a gorgeous landscape, than try to imagine it through a thousand words working in vain to fully describe it. I would rather be knocked back by a graphic photo of a catastrophe, than try to understand it through a thousand words working in vain to fully capture it. Pictures have a wonderful way of bringing us into an experience of things, which would otherwise be out of reach. For this reason, they have a prominent place for capturing memories and moments to be shared and passed on. However, pictures can only go so far.

This last Saturday, I was browsing the Bible section in Mardel Christian Bookstore. I picked up a hardcover NIV Study Bible and was struck funny by a gold, circular call-out declaring “COLOR on EVERY PAGE”. I thought, “Does that really need to be a key marketing point for Bibles now?” Does that really need to be a key design point for Bible design committees now, because “plain” black-and-white Bibles won’t do anymore? Do we now need to dress up the Bible, reaching a point when the Word of God is not enough of an attraction without colorful accents and accessories? These questions are not as much for those designing and selling Bibles as they are for us buying and reading Bibles.

When I was a kid I used to go to Six Flags Over Texas with my dad, and our favorite ride was the Judge Roy Scream. It was a standard traditional wooden roller coaster, no loops, no crazy twists or barrel loops. I loved this ride because of two reasons: my dad would tell me the story of why it was called the "Judge Roy Scream" before we rode it and because my dad loved the ride. The Judge Roy Scream is named after Judge Roy Bean, an eccentric justice of the peace in the 1800's known for his odd rulings and ruthless judgments. Here is an excerpt from his Wikipedia page which matches the stories my dad used to tell:

He is 76 and just a bent, bony shadow of the strong, rough-sawn man he used to be. He unsteadily shuffles instead of walking now, always looking a little uncertain about where he’s going and what’s going on around him on the way. Along with his body, his mind is fading away. He has Alzheimer’s.