And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. – Luke 2:39
They did what they had to do and then, the adventure began.
It was an adventure which Matthew elaborates upon, but about which, Luke chooses to remain silent. It would lead through Egypt, a detour that would save the life of Jesus. It was a long road home.
It would lead back to Nazareth to a period of silence that would be punctuated only by a visit to Jerusalem when He was 12.
But the long road home would continue because Nazareth was only a temporary home. He was progressing on for the glory set before Him.
Our lives take twists and turns and move through mountains and valleys, over rough seas and through caves and along the streets of cities. We are going somewhere and it is not always an easy road.
Necessity is only a starting place. When we have done what is required, the journey begins. Then we start to learn and grow and exercise faith. That’s when it gets messy and mundane.
People don’t write stories about all of those details. We skim over them.
It is not that the gospel writers left out anything God wanted us to know. It’s just that there is so much more about the journey home to glory than we can recount or account for.
The journey of Jesus began when the necessities were done.
We sometimes take a “what can I get by with” attitude toward life. We want to do the minimum and quit, meet the basic requirements, get a pat on the back, and sit down in our easy chairs.
We get saved and collect our ticket to Heaven and think we are done. We haven’t even started. There is a journey ahead of us, an adventure, a plethora of unknowns, and a lifetime of wonder.
When we’ve done what we have to do, the adventure begins.
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. – Luke 2:38
Anna showed up at just the right moment.
It was not all that surprising, because she had devoted the years of her widowhood to prayer and worship. She was in the temple so much, that she might have seemed like an anachronism to some and an annoyance to others.
She was just “always there.”
Yet, she could have missed the moment if not for one thing. God wanted her there and arranged for her to be there to see the Baby King.
She hoped for the redemption of Israel and, once she had seen Him, she told people who were like minded.
There is always an audience for the message that God entrusts to us. There are always those who share our longing, hope, and dissatisfaction with the status quo.
God prepared Anna and He prepared her audience.
Have you been so infused and enthused with redemptive hope that you know you have to share it? He has prepared some people who are ready, willing, and anxious to hear your testimony.
Do not grow discouraged thinking no one is interested. You just haven’t found them yet.
Do not expect everyone to be responsive. Some folks have grown cold and indifferent. Others have never thought beyond the present time with all of its thrills and carnal gratifications. They are living for now and are satisfied with their listless lives.
That very well may change for them, but for the moment, they are at different stages of listening and longing.
You are looking out for those who are thirsty. Keep your good news handy, because when you are willing to share, they will start appearing.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Luke 2:34-35
Simeon is an example of a biblical character who loved his country and prayed for its well being. He was devout and he was waiting for a promise that God would deliver to his people, Israel. He was a patriot.
He was also a man who understood that what his country needed most was a baptism of truth and righteousness and that only God’s Messiah could do for his nation what it really needed.
It must have seemed like a strange sort of blessing to Mary and Joseph as he spoke it. Many would rise. Many would fall. As a sign, the babe would be spoken against. He would bring out the best and worst in people as their very heart thoughts and motives were revealed. As parents, they would have their hearts pierced. It was a strange blessing indeed.
Freedom itself can be a mixed blessing. It comes at a price and required continuous vigilance and responsibility.
When Jesus comes, sweet and unassuming, precious, cute, and giggly as a little baby, it is hard to imagine that the planet has just been invaded by a force to contend with. He does not tread lightly. There will be no lasting indifference in His regard. He will not be non-controversial. He defines controversy. He confronts us, shattering our prejudices, exposing our biases, showing us what our religious hypocrisies really look like in the light of His truth.
And so He comes to you and to me, dear friend, amid the noise of confusion and the beating waves of doubt an anxiety. His words speak truth and courage to our hearts, but it is His touch that is life giving and life affirming, Fear not! He threatens our stasis. He shatters our well-formed opinions no matter how many proof-texts we have arranged to support them. He is Lord of all and every notion is subject to His interpretation.
We are not guaranteed safe passage through the sorting out process. We may well be sifted. Nor are those close to him guaranteed that we will not be broken on the wheel of pain and discomfort.
And yet, He is blessed and we will be blessed through Him. By being in His circle of relationships, the sifting experiences will be blessings and the piercings will be blessings too. We need His awful mercy and His harsh healing to be made whole. Strange as the blessing may be, a blessing it is. He is the blessing that our nation most needs today.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation ... – Luke 2:29-30
Sometimes it seems that we are just hanging on, waiting for something big to happen.
We hang on to money because we know that either a great opportunity or a rainy day is on the way.
We hang on to an idea because we know that someday, it will be useful. Some day, other people will buy into it and come alongside of us.
We hang on to life because we know that God is not done with us and that all He has promised has not yet come to pass. We hang on because He is hanging on to us and because to shortcut the process would be to cheat Him and to cheat ourselves.
We hang on to hope because we believe that God is the God of hope and that everything He promises will come to pass. We know deeply that He is not forgetful, nor is He remiss. He will fulfill His Word.
Therefore we live on tiptoe. While resting in His promises, we do not entirely relax. We stay alert. We watch. We pray. We actively seek any sign of His coming, any indication of His acting out of His purposes in our time.
We may not know what our roles may be, but we stand at the ready to play them. If it is only to witness His power and trustworthiness, we will do so with joy and gratitude.
Simeon could not depart in peace until the moment came and when the moment came, he knew it.
“Any time now, Lord. I have seen what you told me I’d see before I died. I’m ready now.”
There were no regrets in Simeon’s life, no unfinished business, no unfulfilled plans, no lost dreams. God had done the great thing for which he had been “hanging on.”
Maybe he lived many more years; maybe he died the next day; we don’t know. What we do know is that when the time came for him to make the final departure, he was ready. He was ready from that moment on.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.– Luke 2:28
What has the Holy Spirit shown you?
Is it audacious to make claims of divine revelation? Is it theologically correct to do so? Might it not be considered presumptuous?
In the first place, this was not general revelation for all people. It was personal disclosure for Simeon’s personal consumption and encouragement. The Holy Spirit had assured him of the promise and he had embraced it.
There is no indication that Simeon had gone about bragging on his “special revelation.” He had not used it to elevate his status or to appear hyper spiritual.
He had not developed and marketed a seminar entitled, “How I Received a Revelation from the Holy Ghost and How You Can Too.”
He simply received a promise through the still, small voice of God and he clung to it with all his might. He did so in complete trust and confidence that God would bring it to pass.
Perhaps you believe that the Holy Spirit has shown you something about your future. It is OK to entertain the thought. None of us is a perfect receptacle for words from God, but He does still whisper promises in our ears in the form of assurance, calling, and encouragement. Do not be afraid to receive these words.
Could you be wrong? You might, but if you are, God will clarify that for you and show you something better in due time.
You will most likely discover that God was indeed speaking to you, but that you did not fully understand what He was trying to say. It stretched you and challenged you and through the experience, you grew.
If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you, it is most likely about you. It was about Simeon that he would live to see the Lord’s Christ and it was about Christ Himself. There were many ways God could have chosen to fulfill those words, but the way He did turned into a blessing for all who believe. What is He whispering in your ear?
"And, behold, there
was a man in Jerusalem,
whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the
consolation of Israel:
and the Holy Ghost was upon him."
– Luke 2:25
Simeon was in the right place, in the right frame of mind, living a righteous life, and doing so in right relationship with God.
He was a ready receptacle for God into which God could deposit a gift. He was also ready to be used to make a great declaration to the world.
The Holy Ghost was upon Him – what a magnificent state in which to be!
To be in Jerusalem, the city of God was the first of his blessings. That meant that he lived within eyesight of the temple and could go there regularly to worship, pray, and hear the Torah. Proximity to God and His people opens us to blessings beyond our imagination. Stay close.
He was just. When given a choice between doing the right thing and the wrong thing, he chose the right thing. He did not ask, “Which is easier or has a better payoff?” He asked, “What is right?”
He was devout. His heart was turned in the direction of God and He was an earnest God-seeker. Such a man or woman is ready for God to move.
He was waiting for the consolation of Israel. He was not a grumbler about the times, but he knew that something better was coming. He lived in anticipation, waiting for a great movement and intervention of God in history. So may we.
The Holy Ghost was upon him. Whatever else might be said of him, there was this invisible, unexplainable, beyond-the-ordinary dimension to his life that nothing could account for but the Holy Spirit. It was the S Factor – S for Spirit.
The Christian life is a spiritual life. It is to be lived spiritually in the power of the Holy Spirit and under His constant influence. When that is the case, whatever else might be said of us will not be enough to explain the extraordinary hope, confidence, insight, and authority of our lives.
The S Factor is available to each of us. Are we available to Him?
"And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him." – Luke 2:33
God isn’t calling know-it-alls to play a significant role in His program.
He is not looking for those whose motto is, “Been there, done that, got the t-shirt.”
God is calling men and women who are capable of marveling over that which is marvelous.
“Business and usual” is not in His order of the day. He is full of surprises. The mundane is not His domain; He shakes things up.
When God speaks directly through His prophets to us, His Word goes straight to the heart with recognizable veracity and piercing honesty. We are amazed.
Joseph was a man capable of relishing the marvels of God. He was not jaded by boredom or dulled by cynicism. Joseph was caught completely off guard by the wonder of God’s power and He basked in it.
To marvel at the spoken word means that we have truly received it – deeply and with a willingness to let it shape us. We have rejected the superficial responses that tend to dismiss the unusual as a something merely strange and we have chosen to let God speak.
It is no small thing to receive such a word.
It is no small thing what God wants to do in us, through us, and within proximity of our lives.
When God sends a Simeon or an Anna into our lives, He has a reason. While no human being is capable of a consistently infallible representation of divine will, God is able to speak through the frailest, most errant person to say what we need to hear.
And while we are not witnessing the creation of new scriptures in our time, the Lord is still taking His scriptures and placing them on the lips of men and women He chooses to apply them to our lives in ways that cause us to marvel.
“For unto you is born this day ..” – from Luke 2:11
For the most part, Christmas is past. The season
continues, even on the Christian calendar, the lights are still up, and the
malls still resound with carols, but something has passed of the wonder,
excitement, and joy. In fact, all artificial joy has faded and most of the
world is experiencing an emotional letdown at this very moment.
But the Christian is not subject to deflation in the
economy of joy. Real joy is something deeper and non-circumstantial.
A New Year is about to dawn. Assessing the old year
may bring a feeling of disappointment, but tomorrow is filled with hope and
promise. Resolutions for how this fresh opportunity will be embraced are even
now forming in our minds. Our hearts are turning slowly to the promise of
tomorrow.
But what of today? The psalmist declares that this
is the day that God has made. Yesterday is passed. Tomorrow may or may not come
as we expect it. Today is now. It s a new creation. It is full of promise and presence.
God’s promises are eternal and His presence is a cause for celebration. It is
still Christmas and will continue to be Christmas every day we awaken with a
heartbeat. Then someday, we will awaken without a heartbeat and we will be in
His perfect presence. That will be Christmas indeed.
In the meantime, we have one great task each new
morning before any other is performed. We are called to rejoice and be glad, to
offer up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, and to meet God in the day
as if it were the only day He had ever made.
This is the day He has made. Let us rejoice! Let us
be glad!
“ … I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all
people.” from Luke 2:10
God’s joy is of universal
application. There is much talk today about “inclusiveness.” We are told that
the church must use inclusive language and that inclusiveness means accepting
certain behaviors as within the realm of “normality.” That is not what the
gospel proclaims. The gospel declares that something outside of ourselves,
outside of language and theology, outside of our political beliefs, outside of
our self-worth and self-justification has invaded the world with good news.
The good news is that whoever you
are, whatever you believe, whatever you have done, whatever your opinion of
yourself may be, however you choose to identify yourself, you are the object of
God’s love and grace. The news is that Jesus has come to and for you and that
you are no different than anyone else in this regard.
The news is a call to respond in
faith and obedience. It is a summons to come and worship, to bow down, to seek
out the stable and the manger and the child and fall down before Him. It is a
call to leave behind our false pride, self-sufficiency, and stubborn ways and
follow the way of the cross.
Inclusiveness means, for the
believer, a missionary calling. It means that this good news must be heard by
every human being. It means that when we tell it, we are not condemning people,
but affirming their value to God. When we tell it, we are not excluding them,
but inviting them to the table of grace. When we tell it, we are not being
obnoxious, but following the clear and gracious compulsion of love.
This kind of inclusiveness does
not mean condoning sin, but seeing sin as a common condition that separates men
and women from the God who passionately loves them and deeply desires their
healing and restoration. There is no day on the calendar with any greater
missionary relevance than Christmas. When God said, “for all people,” He meant
it. Can we mean less? Let us reach out with joy to spread the goodness of joy
to all people.
“I bring you good tidings of great joy.” - from Luke 2:10
The literary giant, C.S. Lewis
said that joy is the serious business of Heaven. There is no sadness, nor are
there tears, or pain in Heaven. Every moment is an occasion for rejoicing and praise.
Joy is, indeed, the serious business of Heaven.
The angel brought news, and it was
goo, but it was goodtidings with a
specific end in sight: Great Joy!
To continue the theme from the
previous portion of the verse, there is an appropriate emotional response to
the message of Christmas. It is joy!
If we do not jump for joy at this
news, we have somehow missed it. We cannot embrace the Word of God that came to
the shepherds without an overwhelming experience of joy. If we refuse joy, we
refuse grace; if we refuse grace, we refuse God. It is the harsh but simple
truth of the matter. Joy is built into the equation and is as clear and
compelling evidence of spiritual conversion as exists.
Christmas, though not biblically
mandated on the calendar, is clearly a God ordained, ongoing response to the
incarnation of Divinity into the realm of humanity. It is not a day; it is a
frame of mind. It is not a season; it s an attitude of the heart. It is not an
event; it is an emotional response to God with one’s whole being.
Joy to the world; the Lord is
come!
Where do you get it? You receive
it in the exercise there of. Confess joy and express joy and God’s joy will
fill you. Like any act of faith, the sensation may tarry, but act in joy from
the depths of your spirit and you will begin to experience its manifestation
within. Fully engage yourself in the worship of Jesus Christ this season.
Rejoice. We have some great news!
Christmas is about good news. It
is the gospel message delivered by God’s messenger to all who will hear.
There was nothing frightening or
negative about the message the angel brought to these shepherds Nor was there
any indication that they received the word because of any particular merit or
worthiness on their part. It came to them by grace and God knew that they would
respond with spontaneous, childlike faith, and inquisitive wonder.
God knew that they would receive
the message as good tidings.
How do we receive words from God?
To be more specific: How do we receive the Word of God that comes to us with
great regularity and is always available to our eyes, ears, and hearts? Have we
grown cold, indifferent, and spiritually grumpy in our familiarity with the
good news?
It is no mere concession to
secularity that we should say, “Merry Christmas!” It is the ancient wisdom of
the Word of God that says,”a merry heart doeth good like a medicine …”
(Proverbs 17:22) God has
diagnosed the essential disease of humankind and has sent forth His healing
balm in the person of His only begotten Son.
The very presence of Jesus is good
news. It is cause for celebration, merriment, and singing. It dispels fear and
brings smiles to the faces of all that honestly and openly receive the news. It
is good tidings in that it overshadows all the bad news of the day. It
crucifies the curmudgeon inside each of us and wipes out our negativity. Even
the Ebenezer Scrooges of the world have to confess that we live in the day that
the Lord has made.
Receive God’s Word today as good
tidings to your soul. Even if it brings correction, rebuke, and conviction, His
good news is sent to bring you healing and grace.
And the angel said
unto them, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings…” Luke 2:10
We live in a generation beset with fear where security has
assumed a greater value than freedom. We want secure stocks, secure airports,
and secure streets. We seek out secure jobs, secure families, and homes so
secure that no one can get in or out.The same bars that lock burglars out, entrap residents in the even of a
fire. We are obsessed with safety, security, and fear.
It was an uneventful night when an angel invaded the
darkness of complacency, security, and safety that defined the shepherds’
existence, Explosive light called them to attention. A voice they had never
heard summoned them with these words, “Fear not!” Their restless contentment
had for too longed masked their anxious resignation that things would always
continue as they had been. They rested secure in the routine existence to which
they believed they had been assigned until they were disturbed by a great light
and an authoritative voice that called them to revive their expectations and
renew their hope.
Life would become delightfully
dangerous and spontaneous again as they redefined peace and realigned their
hopes with a promise they could neither control nor verify. They were being
called to a new kind of life where they would sneer at fear and move out in
faith to a place they could never find on their own. In a few moments, they
would receive all of the evidence they needed to say, “Let us go even unto Bethlehem
and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto
us.”
And so, they would move out with a
new kind of urgent haste – unlike the haste of other days. This urgency would
have no root in fear or distress. It would be the haste of child to the
Christmas tree on Christmas morning, the hurried pace of a soldier returning
home from battle to his loved ones, the sprint of an athlete in the last lap of
a race for Olympic gold. It would be the end of fear for the shepherds and for
all who would embrace the promise given to them and to us that night: “Behold!”
(Luke
2:7)And she brought forth her firstborn
son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn.
Everyone
knew what a manger was and it was no place for a king. Everyone knew what
swaddling clothes were and that they were unfit garb for the Lord of glory. Nor
should he have been relegated to a barn.
But
they just didn’t understand and we are still having a hard time “getting it.”
“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.”
This
is His poverty, His willing emptying of Himself, His lowliness and love to
identify with the least and the lost among us.
No
crib - no bed – no amenities – no
sanitized conditions – just a trough where the livestock were fed, just rough
clothes to cover Him and keep Him somewhat warm. He became as the lowliest
among us.
“The little Lord Jesus lay down His
sweet head.”
He
was there, helpless and sweet, all God and all man, emptied of all the riches
and prerogatives that were rightfully His, poor and needy like us. Who couldn’t
love such a baby? Who wouldn’t?
“The stars in the sky looked down
where He lay.”
No
one standing by would have known how all of creation that night was subject to
that little bundle of new life. Humanity has no capacity tonotice when millions of angels bow and
worship. And yet, it was happening all around them.
“The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the
hay.”
God
grant that we not miss Him lying there. May we not overlook Him, take Him for
granted, or minimize His importance. He is so easily discarded and disregarded,
but He cannot be ultimately ignored.May
your heart today become His manger, your flesh, His swaddling clothes, and your
heart like the stars in the sky that bow before Him
Life has been filled with details ... the sorts of things one usually takes for granted ... but it is about adjusting to a body that has changed. I give thoughts to things that I put into my body. I am looking for balance and wholeness.
In the process, not only appetites, but attitudes are being reshaped.
Fears and pain are generally passed now. I am making friends with my one ounce sized new stomach and am enjoying experimentation with flavors and savoring each bite.
I am taking walks.
I am drinking water and broth and whatever is good and helpful.
I am easing back into work and ministry.
What is surprising me is that, while I am writing, I am not writing as much as I thought I would during this respite. I will, but there is no frenzy or desperation.
Instead, I am thinking ... praying ... wondering.
In preparation for the new year, I have decided to read, yet again, "My Utmost for His Highest" daily. The December readings are speaking to me as if I had not read them many times before.
Next week, I hope to return to hospital ministry and a few other activities. I have already conducted one funeral and will do another on Friday. I have been driving for a week.
One reality in post-gastric-bypass-surgery that is surprising is how meaningful it has been to me to stop before my meals and give thanks. It is with new meaning that I thank God for the very nutrients of life and ask Him to bless them to my body for His glory.
I finally read "The Shack" and realized what some of the criticism may have been about, BUT ... I think it was about the images. And the images were merely the vehicle to communicate the deeper realities. The theology was orthodox and the story ignited something in me that has been very refreshing for my faith.
Story often does that for me.
I have lost over 30 pounds.
I am not hungry.
I am listening to Paul Potts sing "You Raise Me Up" in Italian. One day over a year ago, I went on YouTube and listened to that contemporary "hymn" by every artist who had recorded it in recent years.
I may have a new favorite.
I have an indelible picture in my mind of this gentle man, Potts, singing in that competition and audaciously proclaiming his dream to sing opera. He was undaunted by the derisive laughter and presented himself with precision, grace, and heart .... whole-heartedly.
As I prepare to turn 55 in a few weeks, I am looking at a new day of physical and spiritual health.
The true meaning of Christmas? I may not use that phrase this year. Perhaps the Incarnation is most about what it means for the Christ to be born in each of us in ways that are so personal, intimate, and immediate, that there are no words or ornaments to express the significance of it all.
If the essence of Christian theology is found in encounter, then Christmas is an in-your-face opportunity to gaze upon the face of God and make of it what one will. In turn, we encounter ourselves and each other.
Deo Gloria!
December 13, 2009
"Life yields only to the conqueror. Never accept what can be gained by giving in. You will be living off stolen goods, and your muscles will atrophy." Dag Hammarskjold
There are 34 references to the word, "taste" in the New International Version of the Bible.
While several boos used it three times, the most frequent user was the author of Job. Job uses the word four times:
Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg? Job 6:6
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? - Job 12:11
"As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul - Job 27:2
For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. - Job 34:2-4
The book that is most about sorting out who and where God is in our experience of pain, speaks the most about this sense that can detect sweetness or bitterness.
Nothing really counts ultimately as a conclusion in Job until near the end of the book (and beginning of his new journey) when he discovers, experientially, what the psalmist proclaimed:
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. - Psalm 34:8
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
An Ongoing Bariatric Journey - Day 5
It is strange to awaken with such a diametrically unique set of feelings about nourishment and hydration.
Instead of waking up thirsty and hungry, I am somewhat dreadful of the first few swallows. I don't really want to drink fluids, but I know I must.
There has been no shortage of food smells around me. I have prepared meals for my grandson and even watched a couple of cooking shows with the family.
It doesn't smell bad and it doesn't smell particularly good.
My goal today is really the absolute standard: 67.6280452 ounces. That is basically 8 cups. I could have guzzled that much in 3 sittings in the past. Now it is a struggle.
Tomorrow, we start adding protein.
This is for my body, Christ's temple. The pleasure will come later. The desire will reemerge. For now, it is about the basics of cognitively knowing that I must do this and reminding myself to do so.
With all disciplines in my life, there are times when I would rather not bother. Then there are times when they are accompanied by great and serendipitous joy. This is true of scripture, prayer, reading, writing, serving others, and sitting down for meaningful conversation.
Our attitudes toward food, at least mine, have gotten stuck in gratification mode ... until now.
The glory of God is an upward call to a higher purpose. For those whose world-view does not embrace an eternal perspective, higher purpose is still a relevant concept. Behind every something is something greater. The closer we align our own purposes with what is higher, deeper, greater, stronger, and more intrinsic, the greater our genuine joy.
In the hospital, my doctor represented the law, setting the standard below which I should not go (on fluid consumption). A very reassuring nurse represented grace. Her words did not discount the truth of law's standards, but encouraged me to measure progress toward the goal, do what I could, and believe that it would get better.
I have talked to some folks who have taken the grace factor beyond its own functional boundaries and have abused their lee-ways. They have either returned for more surgery or returned to their previous conditions.
I did not do this thing to survive or to return to normal. I was aiming for glory and that is what will get me through it: eating and drinking to the glory of God. That will also work for my good.
On Thursday, I became the proud new steward of a one ounce pouch to substitute for an over-inflated stomach that had ruled my life and undermined my health for a long time.
Now, I am home making adjustments.
I sent the following report to a group of friends who requested an update. I post it here in hopes that it might be a help and encouragement to others:
Thanks for check-ins and continued prayers.
I am home and working at the new regimens that require thought and
discipline such as:
2 liters of fluid a day (one can't get behind and
catch up with a 1 oz pouch!
Breathing treatments to prevent pneumonia.
Walking
Not sitting for more than 45 minutes
Vitamins, calcium, and iron supplements staggered through the day
"Meals" (jello, broth, and tea)
The biggest challenge in the first few days was swallowing. I was
having severe reflux (not expected), but coming home, I used my
instincts (with doctor's permission), and took my Prilosec. That seems
to have gone away ... and some of the swelling has subsided as well.
I discovered that laporascopic surgery does not mean painless
or non-invasive. It is just how they enter. There are six small
incisions, but once inside, you are filled with gas and all of the
cutting and tying is essentially the same.
The staff at Clovis is ready for bariatric patients, professional,
supportive, and attentive. I could not ask for better doctors, nurses,
aids, and educators. The camaraderie with fellow patients in the halls
was also encouraging as we took walks, told our stories, and cheered
each other on. One fellow even said he might drop by the church to
visit a service.
Spiritually, I have been developing dependence on God for the biggest
fear of not being able to take in enough fluids to avoid dehydration
and the new attitude toward the food all around me. I never realized
how much food there was in the house, on television, and in our culture
- and how much was unhealthy. Some that is healthy is no longer healthy
for me.
It is not that I am being tempted or even repulsed. It is just getting
used to what really is a new life.
I had chided myself a bit that this was the "easy way out." I would
never tell anyone that now. It requires all the discipline and adds a
few things to that. In addition, it adds the dimension of pain that
reminds you that you have made an investment that should not be taken
for granted. I have a sense of "no-turning-back."
I knew all of these things going in as I counted the costs, but I know
them better now.
I have had lots of prayer support and I am grateful for this.
In the weeks before the surgery, I had the privilege of meeting a
number of people who had experienced gastric bypass. Some had
encountered complications. Most had not.
I was wondering this morning if I would advise a friend to follow this
path. I had been noticing that I could not get many people who had been
this way to say, "You should do it." I see why now. I think I will do
what they do. I will live a healthy life, tell my story, and share my
feelings about the process, but they will have to decide if it is worth
it for them. Like the path of faith, it is a hard road and I have only
begun. Unless there is a real sense of desire, commitment, and reliance
on the Source of our strength, it is not doable.
That is about all for now.
I am doing well and I believe this is the right path for me.
Being is what you were meant for, made for, and are maturing into.
You are, after all a being, human and developing.
Be yourself. Be REAL - Responsible, Evolving, Authentic, and Loving.
Be what you are becoming as in what you will COME to BE (BE -COME). Your future is as real as your past and present. There are just more obvious unknowns.
Be strong, courageous, honest, and full of wonder.
And since it is Saturday night ... Be-HAVE Be-CAUSE there is a new day tomorrow and we need you on the team.
I am shutting down online activity for a few days in order to get fired up.
At 5:30 A.M. tomorrow, I check into Clovis Community Hospital for gastric bypass surgery.
For the rest of my life,, I will eat much less and much more carefully.
I am doing it for several reasons:
1. Life is good. Long life is not everything, but I want to live as long as I am useful and be useful for as long as I live.
2. I have a calling and have not been given any authorization as yet for an early retirement to Glory!
3. Man shall not live by bread alone.
4. Getting behind Jesus means denying self, taking up a cross, and following Him. I've done a poor job at self-denial, so I am going to take a big leap all at once. Taking up a cross is bearing others burdens with and on behalf of Jesus. if is harder if I carry around too much of my own burden. Following Him requires an energy level that I have allowed to become depleted.
5. I owe too much money to die any time soon.
6. I love my family.
7. Feeling well is better than feeling bad.
8. It will reduce my rather sizable carbon footprint.
9. I take too much medicine and this will reduce my intake. My doctor told me I should and I consulted with the Lord who seems to have assured me that my doctor is right. My body is Christ's temple.
10. It may be an encouragement to others to take whatever measures are necessary to promote good health.
So, I am going to do it and I will let all of your know of my progress. See you in a fe days.
I found this inspiring and am passing it on to you:
"Many of us can recall a teacher who inspired us to make the most of our strengths and encouraged us to overcome our weaknesses. Show your appreciation by thanking a teacher with this beautiful gift book, The Heart of A Teacher, written by Paula Fox. There are inspirational stories about teachers who made a difference, Paula's beautiful original poems, quotes and a special section with “100 Ways to Encourage a Child.” Enjoy this 3 minute movie that shares The Heart of Teacher poem combined with beautiful photography and music."
"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying ... And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. ... And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word ... And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord ... " (Excerpted from Luke 1:28-46) "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? ... Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."(Excerpted from John 20:15- 16)
Once, there were two Marys, one from Nazareth and one from Magdala, a Christmas Mary and an Easter Mary. Their lives and their journeys overlapped. Each found Jesus in the midst of crisis. Each submitted to the Master in humble consecration. Each loved Him with pure and sincere love.
Mary, the mother of Jesus received an angelic announcement of Jesus' coming. Mary Magdalene received such an announcement of His resurrection - and then, she saw Him! Mary of Nazareth submitted her life as the handmaid of the Lord; Mary of Magdala as a disciple.
Both Marys were shocked and dismayed by their circumstances. Both came to the place of rejoicing and praise through encounter with the Lord. It is always Easter at Christmas for the Christian and always Christmas at Easter. In our dismay and bewilderment with the circumstances of our lives, we receive the Jesus message as a whole package and we submit our lives to Him.
Mary of Nazareth began her journey with Jesus before He was born and followed Him to the cross and beyond to the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene joined Him later in the journey, but had the same quality of encounter with Him. It is the encounter that we must have.
Come to Mary's house today and let Jesus be conceived in your heart. Come to the manger and rejoice at His birth. Come to the cross and let His blood wash away your sins. Come to the empty tomb and receive His life eternal Come to Jesus today, and worship Him.
It's Christmas! Happy Easter!
Let us design and produce a full color newsletter for you to use in your community and church. PathLight from Church Newsletters Plus.
However, when i read the printed version, I found all sorts of errors. I fixed them there and am reposting it here.
There are two roads to life. They have many expressions and
characteristics, but I want to focus today on one dimension of choice: Playing
it safe or risking everything.
Most people agree that “stupid risks,” those made in a
stupor of pleasure seeking irrationality, are worthless and possibly evil. That
is because they have no meaning, purpose, or long-term advantage.
Risking what is not yours to risk is likewise
beyond any redemptive purpose. There is no honor is taking three drinks,
getting in a car without buckling one’s seat belt, and driving 110 miles per
hour down the road against oncoming traffic.
There are no monuments to men who caused multiple fatalities
in 100 car pile-ups because they were brave enough to take a risk.
When Jesus says that we must deny ourselves, take up our
crosses, and follow Him, He is calling us to live sacrificially, redemptively,
and adventurously for a purpose.
That is why He so strongly utters these words in Matthew
16:24-26:
“ 24Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross
and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole
world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
We can lose life by clinging to it.
William Barclay said, “The man who plays for safety loses
life.”
There was a very
cautious man
Who never laughed or
played,’
He never risked, he
never tried.
He never sang or prayed.
And when he one day
passed away,
His insurance was
denied.
For since he never
really lived
They claimed he
never died.
- Anonymous (quoted
by John Maxwell)
Irrational clinging to what we think is life is as without
merit as throwing it away needlessly and foolishly.
We fail to move forward and conquer what lies ahead.
Julius Caesar landed in England about 2000 years ago to
conquer the Celts, numbering about a half million with 50,000 Roman warriors.
His men were not fully committed and many would have retreated given the
opportunity and overwhelming odds that lay ahead. So Julius Caesar burned the
ships.
The Romans stayed, conquered, and established a long-term
Roman presence and permanent influence in England.
In1519, Cortez did
the same thing off the coast of what is now Veracruz. Now, all of South
America speaks Spanish.
In the book of Exodus, the children of Israel were tempted
to return to slavery rather than face the hardships of the desert. 40 years
later they entered the promised land and well over 3000 years later we have a
nation called Israel, a people called Jews, and a heritage that brought our
Savior into the world.
Jesus went before us and gave us the gift of assurance after
His death that life can extend beyond the grave. Because He died and rose again
and gave His disciples 40 days of constant contact to verify it, They bore
witness to it and we have the biblical record today.
And we have the Holy Spirit within us.
Yet, following Jesus is risky.
John
the Baptist was imprisoned in a dungeon, dark and cold. He had been the
first to identify Jesus as the Lamb of God, but in that dank place, he
doubted and sent word to that he needed reassurance. "Are you the One
or do we look for another?"
Jesus met him in the darkness and reassured him.
Sometimes we cry out to God from dungeons of despair. As we wait for an answer, we keep on keeping on.
C.S. Lewis gave us a great gift in the fantasy land of
Narnia with the Christ-figure, Aslan to point us to truth that even emerges in
fiction.
In “The Silver Chair,” by C.S. Lewis, one of the characters
says.”I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I am going
to live like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia.”
We have assurance and hope, but we still need faith and we
must decide to exercise it and live by it.
We can win by losing.
That is Jesus’ message.
Whoever loses his life FOR HIM will find it. One might also
say that losing one’s life IN Him means finding it … not just for now, but for
eternity.
After ignoring a warning, Homer’shero, Odysseus and his men launch their ships
on a voyage that is certain to end in doom. They had no experience with losing,
but this day would be different as they crashed between some unmovable rocks in
a harsh current. While his ship and all his men are being sucked into the sea
by a whirlpool, Odysseus is somehow propelled upward and grabs hold of a fig
tree on one of the crags nearby. He was washed ashore on the island of the enchanting Calypso,
a strange and powerful woman who compelled him to remain as her lover for seven
years before escaping.
Then, his journey continues … but first he had to be
stripped bare of everything upon which he falsely depended. All he had left was
who he was … his character.
Sometimes we have to shed our false dependencies.
Stalin is said to have taught his Communist operatives,
during the Cold War, to think of themselves as dead men on furlough. As long as
they thought of themselves that way, they would have nothing to lose.
Jesus teaches us to think of ourselves as men and women who
cannot ultimately die and whose final outcome is victory, and who will see the
His glory.
It is a pretty good trade-off.
So ...is it worth the risk?
November 27, 2009
To bear the cross of Christ is to do what He did - to bear the burdens of others.
Getting ready to be ready is as important as getting ready.
Sometimes it is the best you can do.
There are 197 instances of the words, "prepare" and "preparation" in the NIV Bible including this reference to Yahweh's preparation:
"You prepare table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Ps. 23:5)
Mark 14:12 offers us an insight into taking steps toward stepping out when the disciples ask, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
In this case, they were making preparations for a preparation. The Passover was one of the last steps in preparing Jesus for the cross and the finding a location for the meal was a preparation for that.
You will not arrive where you are going in a single leap. Whatever your goals may be, they will be reached systematically and patiently or not at all.
Step back to step forward and begin to take the steps that will lead toward stepping out.
Writers enjoy instant gratification on the internet. We expect feedback within minutes of posting an idea. Without it, we feel crippled and dis-empowered unlike our fathers who secluded themselves for years, wrote only to God, and never had any assurance that anyone else would read what they were writing.
I wonder if they hit dry spells in the desert.
If you are a writer and you don't write much for a while, you have to struggle with a certain measure of guilt mingled with fear. You feel you should be writing, that there are tens of people bereft of your wisdom and charming words.
The internet does not lend itself to seasons. It cries out for constancy.
On the other hand, despite all your advice to others to write something every day, you know that you have seasons in your life. You have times of intense productivity and times when something has to brew inside of you.
It is like one of our California rivers that rises and recedes with the flow of its water supply from the mountains.
Then comes the panic. Will I ever write again? Will I ever again be seized with a passion, desire, or creative urge?
Will I ever again have a creative idea?
Will I be forgotten? Will I lose all my readers who, as it is, cling by a thin thread?
Suddenly, we want to write whether or not we have something about which to write.
That season often arrives as a flash flood and often when ones life has been filled with things to do, places to go, and people to see. Life gets in the way of art.
... And we are far away from our computers hooked to the internet ...
It raises an interesting question. Can a man write offline?
I love the reminder and reality that we can RE-joice as an act of volition.
It is not a passive reception of an overwhelming emotion or state of external well-being. It is an available option. It is a choice. it is an act of faith. If this IS the day that the Lord hath made and I know it, believe it, affirm it, and receive it, I WILL rejoice and that is that.
There is no circumstance that can circumvent it.
There is no situation that can sabotage it.
There is no emotion that can demote it.
There is no margin that can marginalize it.
There is no stress that can stifle it.
There is no comment that can command it away.
It is the joy of the Lord and it is our strength. We choose to receive it and to exercise it - this day - the day that He has made.
I am not glad just in spite of it either. I am glad IN it.
Tom SimsI have already posted this, but I am doing so again because you don't want to miss this. It is a very fun site and is potentially profitable for you. There is great information and it is worthy of being your own personal home page - games - shopping - news - video. it is all here!
I just joined the Blastoff Network. It's a fun, free and easy way to save and make money! You can have a Blast with your own customizable homepage with the best music, video, news and games. You can Save ...
But only the way a kid hates his parents for a flash of a moment when they yank his chain and put a lid on his poor choices. The hate is really love lashing out at the boundaries.
Example: I don't want to go online and look at my bank balance ... mainly because it tells me the truth and I am not sure I want to know it ...
But I need to know it if I am going to do anything about it.
Sometimes I can't do anything now, so I don't want to look. Yet, still I need to know.
It is the shock that I really want to avoid.
But the shock does not last forever and the information goes into a pot on low heat and eventually will combine with other ingredients and produce a creative stew of possibilities.
That will only happen if I am willing to look at the truth.
That is why I just checked my online bank statement.
Ouch! I need to turn up the heat a notch.
I really don't hate truth at all. I love truth ... I think.
I miss some birthdays along the way - especially on Facebook and almost always on Twitter. All one has to do is walk away from the computer for a day or two and news and information passes one by.
It is gone and there is no catching up.
So, I wish us all joy. You on your birthday and every day - whenever it may fall.
Since a new day dawns daily, every day can be your birthday and it is never late.
Since I need a little advice here, I think I will give it to myself.
I get stuck sometimes.
It is not usually an absence of options, but a plethora of them.
One gets stuck in the process of choosing and then shuts down.
I have decided the explore the nature of being STUCK and then I can work backwards to UNSTUCK. I have no idea what i am going to write. Join me:
S = Stymied. That implies being thwarted by some outside force. Certainly outside forces influence us negatively or positively, but the reality is that most of the stymieing comes from within. The backwards step is to identify the cause and dis-empower it. However one need not over-identify, for analysis of paralysis can lead to even more paralysis. Just acknowledge the force standing guard to prevent your progress and relieve it of duty. It is at your command and, if there is a real problem, it can be dealt with at some other time. Confront the stymies with the supremacy of your own will over whatever resistance lies within you. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control. THE CURE FOR THE STYMIES IS SUPREMACY.
T = Timidity. We are afraid. We are afraid of the shame, embarrassment, and disappointment that failure will bring and the increased responsibility of success. Therefore, we are timid, tenuous, and terrorized by and decisions we might make or actions we might take. After all, we might make a mistake. We might produce mediocre work. We might open a keg of worms. Our "mights" take away our might. To extrapolate and combine two verses, we are taught to take our thoughts captive and giving them to the the One who has not given us a spirit of timidity. We are also instructed to think on things that are wholesome, beautiful, and good. So, we talk to ourselves or, as we used to say, "We give ourselves a good talking-to." THE CURE FOR TIMIDITY IS TALK.
U = Under the Circumstances. Being UNDER the circumstances means that we surrender to chance, coincidence, and happening. This, by the way, is the root meaning of "happy," to be subject to chance or fortune. That is why it is utter foolishness to place our happiness above all else in life. We cannot control our happiness. We can always choose it, but it is better to choose joy. "Joy," in the Greek, is from the same root word as "grace." Grace is a gift freely given and always available. We can receive it and choose to continue to live in it. It allows us to "go with the flow" and grow in the process. It gives us permission to fail and try again. It transcends happiness and happenstance. When we choose to live by grace and gratitude, we take whatever is given us and utilize it for good. We incorporate our pain as well as our pleasure into our goals and dreams. We use the cards we are dealt to win. We utilize our resources to live above the circumstances. THE CURE FOR "UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES" IS UTILIZATION.
C = Crisis. Something "comes up" and we freeze. We put our plans on hold and break our pattern of discipline. We get discouraged. The origins of the word, "crisis" are found in the ideas of judgment and the turning point of a disease. it can be either good or bad. Statistically, positive and negative events in our lives create similar levels of stress that can affect mental and physical health. Change is stressful. Sometimes in a crisis, we remain as we are, but that does not mean we freeze. It means we continue to "keep on keeping on." One potential benefit of crisis is confrontation. It is an opportunity for bringing our ideas and practices into account, for evaluation, and for improvement. In the crisis, we must confront all the negative forces and choose that which will move us forward toward our God given dreams and goals. We must do so honestly and hopefully. See crisis as an opportunity to grow. THE CURE FOR CRISIS IS CONFRONTATION.
K = Knowledge.But isn't knowledge a good thing? It is, but Dad always said, "Son, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." It is an old question and debating point. In the Garden of Eden, it was not "The Tree of Knowledge" that threw humanity into a tailspin. It was the fruit of the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." It was the knowledge that distorts wisdom. It obscures truth by filtering it through a haze of negative options. Knowledge is always filtered. We are always gazing through a screen of presupposition and experience. How we see the world is as much a matter of choice as the choice to eat forbidden fruit. We choose our biases either consciously or unconsciously. We could not be fully human without the choices we were given in the very beginning. When we are stuck, there is something wrong with our beliefs and understanding of reality. To get unstuck, we have to believe differently and expand our thinking to include a larger reality of unexplored knowledge. When Adam and Eve ate from the pretty tree, they were choosing to turn their back on all then other unlimited options for knowledge and growth. The knowledge they chose was extremely limited and futile. We need to grow in our thinking and think bigger more mature thoughts. We know enough to be dangerous, discouraged, and desperate, but not enough to be dominant over our lethargy and apathy. We need more knowledge. THE CURE FOR KNOWLEDGE IS KNOWLEDGE.
We can insert the "UN" in front of "STUCK" by grace through faith because these are ...
U = Universal principles. They work because they are based upon truth that is enduring and preeminent. Truth is truth in anyone's hands. When activated it takes on a life of its own.
N = Neutral. They do not require anything but application to be operative. Whatever your faith system or affiliation, you can begin to put them into practice and they will help you get unstuck. However, an experience with the author of the principles will enable you to exercise greater confidence in them and fully realize all the benefits that are yours in relationship with Him: grace, mercy, forgiveness, significance, purpose, and eternal life. Click here and on the other links to explore more about that larger reality.
Here is a little inspiration about turning up the heat:
Chuck Warnock wrote: I have been asked to offer the prayer for a new session of court, which opens Monday, October 19. The courtroom and anterooms of our 156-year old courthouse have also been renovated, and this is the first day court sessions will be held in the refreshed space. Here’s the prayer I will offer:
What follows is an informative and inspiring example of a pastor as priest in the public arena speaking truth to power and exercising the believer's power to bless and be a blessing.
Film rights to C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy secured by Beloved Pictures
by Mark Moring
Heaven has been depicted on the big screen before, but never quite like this -- as the most beautiful landscape you've ever seen, but every blade of grass is so hard it actually hurts your feet to walk on them, and a single leaf so heavy you can't lift it.
Such is the creative depiction of heaven by C. S. Lewis in The Great Divorce--great fodder for a filmmaker with a rich imagination and a love for the work. And now it appears that the story has found just that.
I have long cherished "The Great Divorce" as one of C.S. Lewis' finest and most thought provoking works.
In it, he deals with eternal choices with finesse and a depth of understanding that few of us attain in explaining the issues of heaven, hell, and judgment.
I would love to see the movie even though I cannot imagine how one could capture it nuances on film.
I can only hope that it would not suffer the same fate as the less spiritually significant "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." I wondered how those images could be adequately depicted on the screen ... and they were not.
Genesis 1 takes us back to the inconceivable to create an encounter with the incomprehensible by imagining the unimaginable in a universe of formless, chaotic, darkness.
God created heavens, earth, everything and out of the vast everything came all the individual somethings that continue to mystify the heart and capture the curiosity of the mind.
For certain, the cosmos is neither formless, void, nor dark (thought dark matter may exist in greater proportion than what we can see and know). There is a logos/logic to what is and the message of sacred scripture is that behind it all and in the midst of it all, God is.
To the man or woman on the street: Complete the sentence, "God is ..."
To many, the answer is "God is not."
So the first place to begin is the beginning, presupposing nothing in the belief system of another, assuming no establishment of faith, and asking for no nods.
We start at the beginning and build.
I believe that God is, that God acts, speaks, and relates. I further believe that the answer to the question, "Who cares?" is "I do and you might consider caring as well."
I care because if God truly is, then my significance is wrapped up in that reality around which I cannot wrap my own mind.
If God is, than my neighbor is significant. So is this world. So are our current affairs as part of a much larger whole of history. If God is, everything is significant and nothing escapes divine notice.
If God acts, then it is within time which I can notice and outside of time which is beyond my capacity to fully grasp. It is then only as God speaks that I can see some correlation between time and eternity and begin to visualize some form, order, and light.
If God speaks, I want to somehow hear and know.
The biblical witness is that God speaks and relates. It is that I and my fellow participants in the drama of humanity are like a reflective pond of God's image into which God can gaze and see reflections of His character, creativity, and love. This God walks in my garden and asks me questions. This God wants me to trust Him and know Him and that is a lifetime journey.
That is why I care, but I cannot assume that everyone I meet cares. So, I must raise the question and bear witness in respectful dialog. I must go to the edge with people and look over. And having been to the edge, I must return and take others along to see the view.
It is at the edge we encounter the larger view and are transformed.
These are records of my tweets ( http://twitter.com/tomsims ), mainly for my own use. However, you might find an interesting link here as well. I know I did. Browse them here.
I just swept a small mountain - well maybe a molehill, but you know how we make them grow - of pennies off my desk, into my hand, and into my pocket.
What surprised me was my level of annoyance at the bother of it all.
That is especially surprising since it was in July that I last posted "Lessons from a Penny."
Then I wondered and, since it has been days since I have blogged (I was BOGGED down - Now I want to get BLOGGED down), I thought I would post my wonderment:
I WONDER HOW MANY PENNIES THERE ARE IN AMERICAN LANDFILLS.
I was amazed to discover that this subject is no stranger to the world of Google nor to Snopes where one observer named BlueScale noted "I suspect that this is one of the 16% of stats that is made up on the spot." From there, I was referred to a discussion of investing in copper pennies as bullion.
Ten years ago, Time Magazine revisited Ben Franklin's adage, "A penny saved is a penny earned." It is food for thought and you can keep the change - not to mix metaphors - at least not a primary purpose. It is there that we discover the source of the much maligned quote.
"James Benfield of the Coin Coalition, a lobby group for eliminating the penny, figures that 25% of annual penny production ends up in landfills."
Not mine, James! Mine ends up in my two year old granddaughter's mouth or my three and a half year old grandson's collection if I can't get to them first and secure them safely in a can or other container.
Then, when I am really, really broke, I scrounge for enough of them to buy a cup of coffee.
It will take fewer of them on January 3 when I turn 55 and celebrate by going to McDonalds for a senior coffee and spend the entire morning getting refills and reading a book.
In fact, I think I financed two such mornings by cleaning my desk this morning.
Maybe I'll join one of those old guy clubs that meets at 6:00 A.M. every morning for tall-tale-telling and post-achievement bragging.
So, send them to me and I will take care of them. I think for 2 billion dollars I can afford a warehouse and a staff to count and catalog them. Pennies for Tom - 12638 Cumorah Dr. Clovis, CA. 93619.
No need to thank me. I just want to do my part to save the landfills of our great nation.
Do you ever check page 10 of a Google search? I did and found that we had started to degenerate into discussions of metaphorical pennies, like this excellent article of saving them and saving the environment. I will call it The Article. It is worth a look.
From the New York Times by MICHAEL T. KAUFMAN Published: October 3, 2009
Marek Edelman, a cardiologist who was the last surviving commander of the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising against the Germans, died Friday in Warsaw. He was 90.
(Photo: Pawel Kula/European Pressphoto Agency, 2006 Marek Edelman at the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes memorial)
A friend, Paula Sawicka, told The Associated Press that Dr. Edelman had died “among friends, among his close people,” at her home, where he had lived for the past two years. For many years he lived in Lodz, Poland’s second largest city.
Dr. Edelman was one of a handful of young leaders who in April 1943 led a force of 220 poorly armed young Jewish men and women in a desperate and hopeless struggle against the Germans. READ MORE: www.nytimes.com
An amazing story I have somehow missed through the years comes to my attention because of the death of its principle character.
Dr. Marek Edelman made choices no one should have to make in a time of bitter darkness. He led a stand against barbarism, tyranny, and evil with a handful of fighters and a strong will to survive.
He had the belief that he was in a race against God, where God was blowing out a flame and he and his resistance fighters were trying to save as many lives as possible before the fire went out.
Whether or not that expressed his theology, it drove his resolve. Like many who have to make tough choices in tough times, he was hard on himself in later years.
(21) Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.(2)And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.(23) But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.(24) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.(25) Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.(26) But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.(27) And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.(28) Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. - Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite woman only wanted help for her daughter. She avoided the
niceties of traditional greetings and came with desperation to Jesus
blurting out the problem and request. Since she was not in the
demographic of His initial mission, it was TARGETED strategy to at
first ignore her. She persisted and it was TRUTH He spoke when He said
He had come to shepherd Israel. Then it was possibly a TEASE when He
said that it was not right to give the children's food to dogs - an
example of the twinkle in His eye and His bantering humor. She agreed
and the upshot was that she passed the TEST of faith with flying colors
in front of all the onlookers. Her request was granted and the mission
of Jesus to the whole world was foreshadowed.
TARGET - We have to narrow our focus in life and ministry if anything is going to be accomplished. The strategy of Jesus was attuned to the purpose of God for the entire world. However, the baseline and starting place was with the Covenant people. He had come to fulfill what had begun and there was not skipping steps. This was not Jesus' only positive contact with Gentiles, but it was the only one where He appeared rude and unresponsive. She was loud, rude, and pushy and He tried to ignore her. But, in the end, it becomes impossible to ignore those who persist.
You have to admire her. At first she was met with silence and many of you feel you have been met with the utter silence of God. Some of us give up and that point, but not the Canaanite woman! Then He excluded her. He told her that His ministry at that point was not for her. Some of us who hung on after the silence would have slipped away dejected and offended then. Many have left churches for far less. Finally, He insulted her. Calling her daughter a dog might do that for many. This may have been humor, but she agreed and was ready with a comeback. She didn't want anything other than a few scraps. Jesus' words and her response were would not quit. You have to give her a high five for that.
TRUTH - Jesus was not lying when He explained that He was not called to spread Himself too thin during His earthly ministry. He had come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. i wonder if some of the Pharisees caught that subtle jibe. After all, wasn't it the Canaanites who were the lost and they were the included? You can find lost folks everywhere - even in church.
TEASE - I think Jesus was teasing this woman along. In the tease, He was teaching her and everyone else - including us - about persistence and the largeness of God's mission to the world. In Merriam Webster the fifth definition of " to tantalize especially by arousing desire or curiosity often without intending to satisfy it." He was certainly doing that and she was certainly exercising the third definition, " to disturb or annoy by persistent irritating or provoking especially in a petty or mischievous way b: to annoy with petty persistent requests :pester; also: to obtain by repeated coaxing c: to persuade to acquiesce especially by persistent small efforts :coaxd: to manipulate or influence ..." What is Jesus teasing out of you today? In what ways is He challenging and tantalizing your DESIRE for more of what He has to offer? How are you responding?
TEST - In the end, it was a test and she passed. In any sort of training including sports and military, there is a time of initiation and what you might call harassment. During that time, those without desire to succeed (among other things) are eliminated, and those who persevere move on. The time of testing produced elimination or confirmation. In faith, we can come back when we are ready, but we will not move on without deep desire and perseverance through obstacles. Jesus will not do us the disservice of removing the requirement of personal and spiritual development from our lives. He is more interested in us becoming all that we can be than in anything else for us.
This is not about a dislike of Gentiles. He came to draw all men and women to Himself and He certainly remembered Grandma Tamar, Grandma Rahab, and Grandma Ruth, his Gentile ancestors. It is about identifying a target, respecting the truth, teasing out faith, and passing the big test of great faith. In the end, that was the message. She had great faith and that faith transcended any "accident" of her birth and heritage. it was her faith that saved the day. It was her faith that both Matthew and Mark hold up as an example to the rest of us who would otherwise be excluded from promises of God apart from grace.
God grant us great and persistent faith through every trial of life.
Fears that the weak labor market could undermine the economic recovery deepened Friday after the government announced that the U.S. unemployment rate jumped to 9.8 percent in September — the highest in 26 years.
The Labor Department said U.S. employers cut 263,000 jobs last month, meaning payrolls have now dropped for 21 consecutive months. Experts had not expected such massive cuts, especially on the heels of a revised report showing 201,000 job losses in August. Last month's unemployment rate was 9.7 percent.
These are days of peril and opportunity. These are times of uncertainty and hope. We live in crisis and that can be good news or bad news. How we respond to crisis with creativity and compassion will determine the outcomes. Many of us will suffer. Some will rise from the ashes stronger and better. When we stumble in the dark, the only eyes with which we can see are the eyes of faith.
"Yea though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art WITH me."
The most neglected words in this familiar verse are the prepositions, "through" and "with."
The second speaks to the companionship, guidance, and protection of God.
The first speaks to the duration of the crisis, which is temporary.
The wounds we sustain in the valley may last, but the lessons we learn and the character we develop through our choices will also endure.
The crisis is a journey, not a destination. We pass through it, perhaps camping along the way, but we keep going until we arrive elsewhere.
As we walk, we are not alone.
The message of the church is two-fold to the anxious masses:
1) Keep walking, putting one foot in front of the other and making good decisions for the future. Don't stop except to catch your breath and nourish yourself. Don't quit.
AND ...
2) You are not alone. Don't be afraid. Fear can cripple you. Trust the One who walks alongside you.
Beyond that, we may be called to walk alongside as well, to offer tangible encouragement, and visible, priestly evidence of God's compassion. We are also called upon to exercise faith in our own personal lives and ministries where things are precarious. We are fellow travelers with the masses.
We are all going through this and none of us is alone.
A Facebook Friend, called Fred Rogers to my recollection today and that made me think of this very deep yet simple man, his profound faith, his insight into child development, and his compassionate concern for people.
Mr. Rogers loves people and saw the value in each person. His apparent naivete disguised a sophisticated understanding of theology and human psychology.
I recommend Amy Hollingsworth's book that reflects on her own friendship with Mr. Rogers and their correspondence through the years. As he did with many, Fred Rogers befriended her and her family. As with many, that friendship was enriching. Fred Rogers teaches us to value people and value into their lives.
The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers: Spiritual Insights from the World's Most Beloved Neighbor (Hardcover) FIND IT AT:www.amazon.com
A March, 2000 interview with Fred Rogers in Christianity Today is a wonderful introduction to the thinking of this great man. READ IT AT:
It seemed more like a rock concert last night than a debate about the existence of God. The gym at Biola University in La Mirada featured a sold-out crowd that buzzed with excitement at the introductions of atheist Christopher Hitchens and Christian apologist Professor William Lane Craig.
And for two-and-a-half hours, the pair put on quite a show. Craig, a gifted speaker, mostly stuck to his five, well-researched bullet points meant to prove that the God of Christianity was real. Hitchens, as is his style, was more freewheeling with his arguments, mixing in humor and biting sarcasism to make his points.
Many people with ADHD were told as children (or even as adults) that they're lazy or not good enough in some way. When you are given the same message over and over again, a cycle begins where the other person's message becomes your belief (even if it has no bearing in reality) and it can negatively impact the rest of your life.
Whenever we get a little bored or need to occupy our time, Erin suggests going to the movies. I almost always shoot down that idea. And it wasn't until very recently that I realized why I have an aversion to "going to the movies." It all has to do with my ADD.
The talk is stimulating, but the dialogue with the audience is quite engaging.
Tim Keller visits Google's Mountain View, CA,
headquarters to discuss his book, "The Reason for God." This event took
place on March 5, 2008, as part of the Authors@Google series.
It is very open and cordial conversation with a great deal of focus on the question of God and human rights.
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 25, 2009
The organizers of a Muslim day of prayer scheduled to take place Friday in front of the U.S. Capitol have come under attack from some conservative Christians.
We can't claim religious freedom for ourselves and deny it for others.
Evangelicals ought to understand this.
If we are going to confront religions on the basis of truth, let us do so in the public, not by denying people's basic rights to free expression and religious freedom.
Are there differences in our faiths? Of course. Do we feel we have a message for our Muslim friends and neighbors? I believe we do?
However, our right to be heard hinges on our commitment to uphold the rights of others to be heard.
The number of American adults who do not identify with a particular religion is growing and may comprise more than 20 percent of the population in two decades, according to a new study.
Conducted by researchers at Trinity College, the study, entitled "American Nones: The Profile of the No Religion Population," showed that people who profess no religion, or "Nones," are similar to the general public in marital status, education, racial and ethnic makeup and income.
Evangelical heads are shaking - either side to side or up and down.
Again, controlled studies are verifying what we intuitively and observationally know.
One in five ... by 2030. That would suggest that four in five will claim affiliation and that more do so now.
Identification with "a particular religion" may add some vague credibility to that religion's claims, but it transforms neither the individual nor society.
Christianity seems to want it both ways - to be radical on the one hand and respectable on the other.
I am not suggesting that it is a good thing that people are becoming more secular, or at least admitting it.I am saying that it is reality and has been for some time. Even those who claim affiliation with the Jesus movement are not necessarily creating a more compassionate society where grace is being offered liberally on every street corner.
If we are actually a majority, there is a stewardship of majority that is not being realized. There ought to be some "blessedness" spilling over into the culture as Jesus described in Matthew 5.
Instead, we hear rhetoric about the preservation of our rights while very "secular" choices are being made concerning every issue in the public arena. Professed believers are as likely as anyone else to arrive at their philosophical and political views through a process of self-interest and then "baptize them" and call them "Christian."
In business, in life, and in public affairs, people who identify with Christianity are as secular and those who call themselves, "nones."
So, let us embrace the reality and accept it as an opportunity to identify with the radical claims of our Founder and Lord. Then we can start being what we are, salt of the earth and light of the world.
Getting uncomfortable is usually a wonderfull propellant to getting up and going ...
... at least that is how my mornings usually begin.
shed: October 3, 2009 
