In 1991, a hiker discovered a body sticking out of the snow in the Austria Alps. The follow-up investigation revealed that the body was a man in his forties who perished on the mountain approximately 5,000 years ago. After the discovery, many theories were advanced about how the man, nicknamed Otzi by researchers, met his fate.

Perhaps, he got caught in an autumn storm, or fell into a crevasse and froze to death. Others believed Otzi might have been a human sacrifice; while others insisted arthritis and malnutrition had killed him. X ray testing recently uncovered the surprising reason why this man died high in the mountains millennia ago, he was murdered, shot from behind with an arrow.

While searching for fractured bones, CT scans revealed a flint arrowhead lodged less than an inch from Otzi's left lung. Forensic experts discovered the arrowhead shattered Otzi's shoulder blade, paralyzing his left arm. The arrow tore several major blood vessels causing the ice man to bleed to death in a matter of hours. It took investigators so long to find the arrowhead because they were looking for bone fractures, malformations, and signs of illness, not for arrows.

No one can guess what the motive for the murder was. Perhaps he was killed in an ancient battle, or ambushed by a rival trying to steal his sheep. The pathologist who coordinated the investigation of the ice man says it's clear that Otzi's end was not a peaceful one. "He died not naturally, but by violence."

—Discovery Magazine, January 2002, pg 63, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

The story of Otzi is clear evidence that the intentions of man's heart have not changed in 5,000 years. A thousand years before the Biblical Patriarch Abraham was born, in another part of the world, men were using weapons to kill each other. As the years pass, mankind doesn't improve. If we have done anything, we have developed new and better methods of accomplishing the same evil things.

The next time you stop to watch an advertisement on a video screen in the mall, gym, or grocery store, beware. The video screen may be watching you too. Advertisers have begun putting small cameras in video displays that provide information about who is watching and for how long. The cameras provide information to tracking software that reports data on a viewer’s gender, approximate age, and sometimes ethnicity. In some more advanced units, the software can change ads according to the audience makeup.

Though the technology is still new, analysts say the system can accurately determine gender 85 to 90 percent of the time, and allows a company to market products directly to the viewing audience. For example, a video screen might show an ad for motorcycles to a group of men, and then switch to a minivan ad when women and children join them. Companies are already testing the technology in parts of the country.

While advertising companies are excited about the possibility of what they call “smart advertising,” others worry about an invasion of privacy. Harley Geiger, staff counsel for the Center for Democracy and Technology in Washington DC says advertisers should not use the technology on consumers without their knowledge. He says now is the time to build in privacy protection. Harley adds, ”If you don’t build it in at an early stage it becomes very difficult to build it into an already established system.”

--When you watch these ads, the ads check you out., http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090130/ap_on_hi_te/tec_nosy_ads; January 30, 2009, Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell.

Computers can only guess at who we are, and what is going on inside. The Lord knows everything we do and say. He sees our heart.

1Samuel 16:7 GW “But the LORD told Samuel, ‘Don't look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks into the heart.’"

Alisdair Allen and Peter Warden made a shocking discovery about their iPhone. It seems that it has been gathering data and tracking their whereabouts wherever they go. The phone actually records various data points that are stored and used to trace the exact path a person takes whenever they are in possession of the phone. The data could reveal all the activities a person engages in during the course of a day. Security experts fear that uncovering the whereabouts of unsuspecting spouses may cause a number of divorces, among other fears of violation of privacy.

Forget about Apple knowing about where you go, God not only knows where you are, but He knows what you are doing. He even knows the intent of your heart.

--CBS News- http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/21/eveningnews/main20056267.shtml Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Miguel Martinez

Hebrews 4:13 (NASB) 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

One of the marks of our modern culture is the belief if one will just follow their own heart they will be alright. Award winning author Steven James comments in an interview with World Magazine. “Follow your dreams and everything will be wonderful in the end. This whole idea of follow your heart—that’s not Christian either. Rapists follow their hearts. Pedophiles are true to themselves. Nazis pursued their dreams. The Bible says that the heart’s deceitful above all things. Why would you want to follow something deceitful? We believe you should follow somehthing greater than your heart, that you need Someone else to inform your dreams. We turn to God.”--Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB) "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Mt. Everest, at 29,029 feet above sea level is the tallest mountain on earth, correct? Well it depends on how your measure it. Mauna Kea is 33,000 feet tall, which is taller than 29, 029 feet by almost 4000 feet, right? Not so fast, because the base of Mauna Kea starts thousands of feet below sea level, it doesn’t quite measure up to Everest. Things are always what they appear to be.—Jim L. Wilson

1 Samuel 16:7 (CSB) “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.’”

Another in the long list of recent scandals and accusations to come out of Hollywood is that of comedian Louis C.K. C.K. has been charged with sexual misconduct and has admitted to the numerous charges. Many colleagues and fans have come to his defense or have expressed shock and surprise. Yet any aware of C.K. and his act should not be surprised at all. Louis C.K. has crafted much of his career around lewd and perverse jokes, obscene references and an overall crude and indecent persona. Those surprised by his actions have somehow separated everything that he has stood for, spoken of, and made a part of his career from his person, assuming no connection between the two.

The things that come out of our mouth and actions are actually rooted in the core of who we are. The things in our hearts will find their way out into our lives.—Jim L. Wilson and Phil Olson

A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

For better or worse, media is a big part of most people's lives and it is more than a reflection of our society: It is helping to shape who we are, how we interact, and how we see ourselves. “It turns out that what you watch, read, listen to and play can affect your mood, temper, and even how generous and kind you are to others afterwards.” People who watch as only 15 minutes of negative TV or news have shown increases in depressed mood, anxiety, and tendency to be more down about their personal worries.

Famous Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said “I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” —Jim L. Wilson & Stephen Alexander

“Either make the tree good and its fruit will be good, or make the tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.

HEART

Near the end of the film The Joy Luck Club, the protagonist, June, has a flashback to one of the last times she spoke to her mother before her mother’s death. In the flashback, June is upset that her mother just put her down in front of her childhood nemesis, Waverly. June deeply laments that her mother has never seen who she really is inside saying, “Every time you hoped for something I couldn't deliver, it hurt. It hurt me, Mommy. And no matter what you hope for, I'll never be more than what I am. And you never see that, what I really am.” Suddenly her mother surprises June by showing that she does notice and truly does appreciate her. Her mother looks directly at her and says in her stilted English, “That bad crab, only you tried to take it. Everybody else want best quality. You, your thinking different. Waverly took best-quality crab. You took worst, because you have best-quality heart. You have style no one can teach. Must be born this way. I see you.”—Jim L. Wilson & Wade Harlan

He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality;