Why Wouldn't I Do This? (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Recently, I was contacted by my cable company that supplies a phone line and internet service to my company. I assumed it was a usual cold call from their sales department, encouraging me to purchase additional services. Thus, when I answered the call, I was a bit terse and annoyed, anticipating a hard sell.

“Hi!” the cheery voice began. “Thanks for using our services these past years. You are on the last year of your three year contract and currently paying $200/month for your cable internet and phone service. We have a special offer. We can drop your bill to $140/month, increase the internet speed for your cable modem, and give you basic cable. Oh, one more thing, the contract will now be month to month. Does this sound like something you would be interested in?”

“Right.” I sneered. “What’s the catch?”

“Nothing! We want to keep you as a customer and this is our way of thanking you.”

I was still doubtful. “Why don’t you send me an email with this contract in writing. Let me review it first and then I will get back to you.”

“No problem!” Within a minute, the proposal arrived. It really did seem to be the real deal. I quickly did some checks with other associates and searched the internet blogosphere for feedback about this deal. No red flags. I called her back the next day.

“Hello? Why wouldn’t I do this?”

“Exactly!”

It was one of the few times in my life when a deal that sounded too good to be true, really was true. All the services and pricing were exactly as promised. When would I ever be given as good a deal as this?

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

Many years ago, God stood at the door of my heart and knocked. He offered me salvation and the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven when I die. What did I have to do? Perform more acts of kindness, give more money to charities, study harder and be a good son? No. Salvation is the gift of God given freely to me by the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. He paid the price for my sins and the sins of the entire world by dying on the Cross. Three days later, God raised Him from the dead proving that He is the only path to salvation and through Him, death will be conquered!

Why wouldn’t I do this?

There is no good reason in this life or the next.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

"I'm A Third Generation Melanoma Patient!" (Romans 5:12)

I received a phone call from a patient the other day. Over three years ago, I diagnosed a melanoma arising on her right  elbow. After the diagnosis, she received additional treatment at a major university medical center and has been cancer free. She was calling me to request my assistance to help her find a new dermatologist since her medical insurance had changed. As we spoke and she updated me, I was elated to learn how well she was doing.  

“Yes! I’m a third generation melanoma patient! My grandfather and father both had melanomas!’

“Oh my! Then it is very important for you to find an excellent dermatologist.”

“Yes, I go to my dermatologist every six months to get a complete body examination.”

“Wonderful! So glad you are doing well!”

It was gratifying to hear a melanoma success story. But our conversation gave me pause, so many diseases, including cancers, are familial. Genetic aberrations or mutations in one or more genes may place individuals at increased risk for these diseases. Embedded within our DNA, these damaged genes are passed onto future generations. It all began with the first humans, Adam and Eve, who disobeyed God’s commands and allowed sin to enter the human race and the world. The effects of sin are far more than pride, jealousy, and lust. Sin reworked our very genetic foundation, introducing mutations in our DNA, and damaging our genes. Disease is the direct result of sin.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Romans 5:12 (NKJV)

The human race bears the ravages of sin with disease and death. But there is hope. By confessing and repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can break the terrible cycle of death and despair. When we die, we will receive a new, resurrected body in Heaven. It is the body that God intended for all of us to have. We have this promise because Jesus Christ conquered death and was resurrected by God after His crucifixion.

For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:21 (NKJV)

This Man is Jesus Christ. Through believing in Him, there will be more disease, no death, no tears.

Praise God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

From Nothing (Romans 9:20-21)

I recently had an opportunity to review a draft of a novel written by a former high school classmate. From Nothing is a fast paced excursion through back room business dealings, rock music, and existential musings about God. These seemingly disparate themes are masterfully woven together into a cohesive and convincing tale. It is about the road not taken. It is about facing mortality at the cross-roads of middle age. It is scheduled to be published in Spring 2018 and will undergo at least one more edit.

My friend was grateful for my review indicating he would gladly share it with his publisher to incorporate some of my ideas into his final draft. He is crafting a story about life and he has the ability to change the plot to achieve his purpose. While he did not divulge his objectives for writing this novel, I thought I could discern some of his motives. He cautiously agreed with some of my observations but it was clear that there were deeper themes that he wished to convey and I may have been overlooking them.

I reflected upon his statement. Here was his chance to play god, to create a story the way he envisioned. He could change it as many times as needed until he was content. The work is fictional but my mind began to wander. Would God do the same in my life?

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Romans 9:20-21 (NKJV)

We are the clay. We are born sinners and if left alone to our free will, we will chose dishonor and eternal separation from God. Like the novel’s author, God can change the script of my life and I am thankful He did! He intervened by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. By being resurrected from the dead, God has shown that all who confess and repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will receive salvation and eternal life. A life that is headed for eternal separation and torment is now a life in fellowship with God and at peace, the way He originally intended. I do not understand all the purposes God has for my life but I am grateful that by His grace and mercy, He saved me.

From nothing, God has changed the script of my life and for everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Thirteen Reasons Why (Proverbs 13:12)

My family watched the provocative and powerful mini-series, Thirteen Reasons Why. It is a fictional retelling of the events that led to the suicide of a high school student. The title is a reference to a collection of thirteen cassette tapes, recorded before her death, singling out people who had a role in her demise. The show touches upon relevant teenage issues such as bullying, inappropriate use of social media, alcohol and drug abuse, rape and sex. No punches are pulled and many scenes are raw and intensely disturbing.

As I watched the show, I recalled a similar painful time in my high school, when I was about the same age as the girl in the series. I was the class vice president and in charge of our class shirt project. I was young and naive in business dealings and through a series of misunderstandings, I did not follow through on several key issues, notably the shirt style. When the shirts arrived, instead of the long sleeve shirts I thought we were purchasing, the shirts were three-quarter sleeves, resembling baseball or softball jerseys. Upon seeing the shirts, the reaction of our student body class was mostly negative. Many refused to pay for the shirt, potentially crippling our class treasury with a staggering bill.  People were angry with me. I was angry with me. The class president informed me that, because of our debt, we would have to cancel our prom for that year, and possibly the next year.

I was devastated. Not only did my error ruin the class shirts, I had destroyed the possibility of at least one prom, shattering the dreams of high school for my entire class. There was nowhere or no one to turn, no exit or solution. I had failed before but never with something as spectacularly awful as this. As the days passed, I  descended into a very dark place. I couldn’t face this situation any longer. I decided I would end my life. It would be easy. I would sneak out that evening and jump off a nearby twenty story apartment building. A clamminess enveloped me as I rehearsed the sequence in my mind. My sanity was snapping. I was crossing over.

That evening, as I prepared to end my life, I received a phone call. “Paul, listen. I have good news. I spoke to the president of our sister school. Her entire class loves the shirts and they want to buy more than they originally ordered.”

That was good news but I knew we still had a long way to recover our losses. “And I spoke to Jake and Stuart, on the football and baseball teams. They said they would buy the shirts and would encourage the rest of their teams to keep their original orders and buy the shirts.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “How many people are going to order?”

“I checked with our secretary. So far, we got a hundred thirty confirmed!” I quickly did the math. With our new orders from our sister school and these confirmed orders, we would nearly break even. I was shaking as I thanked him and hung up the phone.

A wave of fear engulfed me. I had nearly ended my life. If my friend had called an hour later, it would have been too late. A coincidence? At that time in my life, I thought so. But a few years later in college, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. As I looked back over my brief life, I realized that God was working behind the scenes, protecting me, saving me. He did this even when I deliberately turned my back on Him in high school, being an avowed atheist, dismissing Christianity as a fanciful myth.  During my most devastating failure, God intervened in my life and gave me hope, even when I did not know Him.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12 (ESV)

My experience may not be as shocking or traumatic as the main character in Thirteen Reasons Why. But whether it is bullying or a financial loss, one’s pain and heartache are sometimes misunderstood by others. Despair is intensely personal. If there is no one to help, no one to listen, there may be no hope. When there is no hope, there is no life. Only God can understand and intervene. He understands the deepest pain and grief we could ever face because He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins.

I applaud the producer, Selena Gomez, for her courage to call attention to the serious crisis of teen suicide. May God place everyone who is suffering and contemplating suicide, in the pathway of His grace and mercy, that they may find a friend, family member, pastor, or counselor to trust and confide. May God draw everyone closer to Him.

God loves you and has a plan for your life. He is your Heavenly Father who loves you with a love that surpasses all understanding.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Faith Based Films (1 Peter 4:3-4)

Hollywood is pushing to get rid of the term, “faith-based films.” The reasons are varied, ranging from the lack of specificity in labeling a film as such to financial, potentially turning off some moviegoers. I found one point of view from movie producer, Thurmon Mason, interesting.

“The problem with faith-based [films] is not the name; it’s the content of these films...The secular world cannot relate to on-screen faith-based characters who have been so sterilized that they never curse, make bad decisions, or engage in bad behavior like the majority of folks -- Christian or not -- in the real world.”

Source www.foxnews.com

(http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/05/09/faith-based-film-label-needs-to-go-experts-say.html)

This quotation stereotypes the Christian believer with the familiar facade of a haloed saint, who walks above the chaos and sin of the world, always doing the right actions and speaking the correct words. I wish I could be this “sterilized” idealized person!

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

1 Peter 4:3-4 (NKJV)

Christian believers are not sterilized. Do Christians make bad decisions or engage in bad behavior? Yes. Do I? Yes. What is the difference? Christians are not sterilized but they are sanctified, taken aside by God and transformed into a new life. When I confessed and repented of my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He began a new life within me and sent His Holy Spirit to indwell within me. At that very moment, He sanctified me and began the transformation. It will not be complete until I die and am in the presence of Jesus in Heaven. Until then, my old sinful nature is at constant battle with the new nature of Jesus. Sanctification is both immediate and continual. When I am obedient to God, I can live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Faith-based films may not be a moniker for this genre of movies. But living a faith-based life with Jesus Christ will never be outdated or irrelevant. A faith-based life understands the reality of our existence. Christians do live a life that is different than the world because the perfect example of Jesus Christ is always before us and within us. We understand the depravity of our sinful nature because Jesus paid the terrible penalty for our sins by dying on the Cross. We understand the futility of living the life we used to live because of the even greater pleasure and joy of living a life in fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Sanctified not sterilized.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Asking The Wrong Question (Job 38:4)

I recently reviewed a novel written by a former high school classmate of mine. His career has seen amazing successes and since retiring, he has become a successful writer. His latest novel centers around Victor, a middle aged man, searching for his faith and God as he attempts to piece together his life after being fired. The following is an excerpt from the novel.

“God was right, if only there were a God….If that made God happy, then Victor was obliged to serve.” His statement crystallizes his character. Faith is confusing and vital. It is the inevitable contradictions; the absurdities of life; he knows and does not know.

Faith is not a blind leap. It is as blind as attempting to explain why one person falls in love with another. It is real, based upon a series of encounters, of true life experiences. One could explain the encounters and revelations to another, but it would hold little meaning. God cannot simply be explained by empirical reasoning nor can He be solved by an equation, even by the most brilliant philosophers, theologians, or scholars. If He could, He would not be God. Wisdom is understanding that God must be beyond the confines and constructs of the human mind. But this does not mean He is unknowable. We cannot earn or reason our way to God.  One places their trust in Him, as one places their trust in someone they love, on a grander and far more important scale. And when we experience love for ourselves, it is only meaningful to oneself. One could describe it to others, but like attempting to explain faith and God, it would fall on deaf ears until they experience it for themselves.

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.

Job 38:4 (NKJV)

Victor’s quandary was the same debate Job had with his friends. His friends attempted to explain the reasons for Job’s sufferings. Job never arrived at an explanation for his pain and suffering but learned directly from God that, instead of seeking the right answers, he was asking the wrong question.

Like Victor, for much of my life, I have been asking the wrong question. It should not be why, but how? How should I take this experience and understand God’s will for my life? How can I learn from this experience and help others? How can I be transformed into the man God wants me to be?

The answer to my questions is Jesus Christ. By confessing and repenting of my sins to Jesus and accepting Him as Lord and Savior, the burden is lifted. Our perspective changes and we are freed from the struggle of demanding an answer and uplifted to the joy of gratitude for what God has delivered unto us. In our confusion and struggle in attempting to provide a rational explanation for God’s sovereignty, we begin to understand that we are eternally embraced and securely held by an omnipotent God.

I asked the wrong question to God. Thanks be to God that He gave me the correct answer!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Combining Checking Accounts ( 2 Timothy 2:15)

“It’s only off by $1.02!”

“It’s still off. You have to account for it!”

“Why?”

The look of exasperation that flashed across my wife’s face said it all.

During our engagement, my wife and I were planning our wedding and creating a budget. As we progressed, it became clear that we should either combine or create a new checking account to facilitate purchases and payments. It was a logical step but there was certain uneasiness that I felt. All of my accounting would be laid bare for her to review. In the era before the internet, every month, I had to painstakingly review the printed bank statements with my checkbook. While most months balanced, there were occasions when I was off by a small amount, no more than a few dollars at most. With my usual cavalier attitude, I would dismiss it and assume I made a small error in my accounting but no worries, I had more than enough to cover a shortfall of a few dollars. My new fiancee did not share my careless approach to personal finance.

“We have to go through this again!” She pulled out the bank statements and, with a yellow highlighter, proceeded to review the numbers.

“Sweetheart,” I pleaded. “It’s 2 AM!”

I was exhausted but knew she was correct. We had to reconcile and properly balance my checkbook. At that point, inspiration struck. “I would like to make a decision as the future head of this family.” My pompous declaration belied my trepidation. “We clearly have different viewpoints of personal finances. I have been sloppy...lazy. You are absolutely correct that this checkbook needs to be properly balanced. You are clearly very good at this. May I make the suggestion that you handle the everyday household finances and checkbook balancing? I will handle the longer term financial investments.”

We agreed to this arrangement, one that has been maintained through nearly twenty years of marriage. I am thankful for my wife’s oversight and compulsive attention to detail for our household finances. I have learned from her and have slowly begun to change my behavior.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

I have a cavalier attitude toward some aspects of my personal finances, justifying my actions by reasoning these are insignificant losses. This attitude is symptomatic of my laziness and lack of discipline. Sadly, this attitude creeps into my spiritual life. In the past, I did not take the time to ponder and meditate upon difficult passages of the Bible. I would simply gloss over names and places or have a superficial understanding of cultures and traditions of the day. This resulted in an incomplete and sometimes, erroneous understanding of the Bible. Through my Pastors, gifted teachers, and godly brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I have changed my behavior and become more careful in studying God’s Word. Like my laziness in handling my personal finances, God is transforming me into His child, allowing me to see the importance of rightly handling His Word of Truth.

Thanks be to God’s mercy and kindness in my life!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"You're Not Wrong!" (Matthew 16:13-16)

When I teach my dermatology residents, I utilize commonplace analogies as a springboard to introduce diagnostic concepts. The other day, I was describing the nuances of a basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer. I shared a familiar scenario with them.

“If you were to describe our colleague, Jake, to someone you don’t know, you could say he is a man with black hair. Now, is that correct?”

My residents all nodded in agreement.

“But is that sufficient information to pick him out in a room full of men with black hair?”

As expected, all the residents shook their heads in disagreement.

“That’s my point!” I exclaimed. “You’re not wrong! But it is not sufficient information to distinguish his appearance from another who closely resembles him. Now look at this microscope slide of this basal cell skin cancer. If you were to describe it to a colleague, you could state that it is composed of malignant cells that are invading the dermis. Is that correct?”

The nodding residents began to see my point.

“But not sufficient information to discern what kind of cancer, right?”

Bingo. The lights went on.

“You’re not wrong.” I smiled. “Just not enough details.”

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:13-16 (NKJV)

For nearly two thousand years, people have debated who Jesus Christ is. The answers His disciples gave are similar to some of the answers that are still given today. Jesus is great teacher; He is a great prophet; He is a good man. Yes, those answers are not wrong. But Jesus is much more. He is God incarnate!

Like the diagnostic lesson I shared with my dermatology residents, we need to have a complete understanding of who Jesus Christ is. He is Lord and Savior. All who confess and repent of their sins to Him and place their trust in Him will be saved. No man, teacher, or prophet can do this. Only God. Only Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Scorched Earth (Revelation 20:10)

War is a horror to all its participants. The numerous strategies that have been utilized are ever more devious and deadly. One particularly dastardly tactic is known as the scorched earth policy. This strategy targets and destroys anything useful to the enemy by the advancing or withdrawing force. This includes buildings, water supplies, livestock, food, and even people. History is replete with brutal examples of this strategy. In more recent times, Saddam Hussein utilized this tactic by setting fires to the oil wells in Kuwait as his army withdrew from their country in 1991. Over six hundred oil wells were set ablaze, requiring nearly a year to extinguish the last one.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:10 (NKJV)

Satan utilizes a scorched earth policy as he seeks to destroy the lives of believers and nonbelievers alike. He prowls like a lion, eager to target and destroy any hope we may have in God. The Bible is very clear, he has already lost the war and he knows this. But he is still willing to fight smaller battles, hoping to claim as many victims as possible. He seeks to persuade mankind with his lies and deceptions. His strategy is to appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Like the scorched earth policy, he takes what is useful and good in our lives and distorts or destroys them. A loving family becomes embittered over a financial inheritance from a deceased father. A harmonious work environment becomes contentious as tempers flares over a perceived unequal pay. The strategies are endless; the scorched earth policy shows no favoritism.

We can be discouraged and fall victim to his ploys or we can stand firm, confident in the knowledge that he has been defeated by Jesus Christ. When Jesus triumphantly declared on the Cross, “It is finished!” Satan’s fate was sealed.

Don’t fall victim to Satan’s scorched earth policy. He has been defeated and we will always be victorious if we confess and repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

The Toy Chest (Psalms 37:4)

A bouncing rubber ball. Fake plastic fangs. Rub-on decals.

Oh, the joys of the toy chest!

My father was a dentist and whenever I visited his office, I made a beeline for the toy chest. The chest was hidden under a sink and for all his child patients, he would reward them with a trip to the toy chest. Of course, being my father’s favorite (and only) son, I had the priviledge to visit the toy chest every time I came to his office, which was quite often! My favorite toy was a rubber ball, the size of a large marble, which could bounce over twenty feet in the air when thrown with enough force onto a cement pavement.

My wife is a pediatric dentist and yes, she too, has a toy chest. Perhaps this is what attracted me to her! When I visit her office with my son, he emulates his father, and makes a beeline straight to the toy chest. His favorite? Fake glasses and a moustache!

And we know of other toy chests-our pediatrician and orthodontist, just to name two. But unlike my father and my wife, we do not have that special privilege of venturing straight to their toy chest and taking any toy we desire, any time we visit.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Psalms 37:4 (NKJV)

Our relationship with God is like the toy chest in my father’s and wife’s office. Our special privilege as child of God is to be lavishly blessed and have all our needs supplied by Him! We don’t need an appointment. We simply need to come to Him by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. What a special privilege! The blessings of God for the desires of our hearts, always and eternally available to all believers!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Come Quickly, Sweet Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20)

I was blessed to have a spiritual godfather in my life. He was a dear brother in the Lord who was my wife’s professor and mentor in dental school. She became very close to his family who adopted her and treated her as their own daughter. When I married my wife, he and his wife became godparents to me.

Living on opposite coasts, we mainly communicated through cell phones. For nearly twenty years, he called me. We shared the joys of his children marrying and the births of his grandchildren and he visited us when our son and daughter were born. His humor and laughter were infectious and I could always see his smile when he spoke to me. His compassion and gentleness equaled his jovial spirit, always with a kind and encouraging word for myself and others.

A few years ago, my mother was diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. As she bravely faced her disease, my godfather would call and offer his support and prayers. During one particularly difficult period, I was sharing how my mother was slowly losing her battle with the cancer. His voice was firm and soothing as he whispered, “Come quickly, sweet Jesus!”

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Revelation 22:20 (NKJV)

Both my mother and godfather are in Heaven with our sweet Lord, Jesus Christ. For both of them, God did come quickly, taking them mercifully and peacefully into His presence. God will keep His promise to quickly bring us into His presence the moment we die. And He will keep His promise to return to this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to reign with all the saints who have ever lived.

I am confident and assured of His promise because I have confessed and repented of my sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. There is no other name in Heaven or on earth by which we may be saved. I know that someday when I die, like my mother and godfather, Jesus will quickly take me into His presence.

What a glorious reunion that will be!

Come quickly, sweet Jesus!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

He Was A Prophet! (1 Corinthians 14:3)

I have been blessed to have met many great Saints of the church. One man was a brother in the Lord with the church I attended when I lived in Denver, Colorado. He was in his mid-sixties  and served as an usher. Thus, he was one of the first people I met when I visited the church. During every service, there was a time of sharing and praise, which I loved. Not infrequently, after listening to everyone speak, this brother would stand up and give a word of encouragement. He often quoted the Bible then added a quotation from Shakespeare or other classic literary author. I was always amazed at his prodigious memory. But even more impressive was his choice of words, always the right word of encouragement for each person’s circumstances. It was my introduction to the truth that so many others in the church already knew.

He was a prophet!

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

1 Corinthians 14:3 (NJKV)

The Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts to every believer in Jesus Christ. Teaching, hospitality, service-the Bible illustrates so many of these gifts within the church family. I have been blessed by many saints who have used their gifts to help and encourage me in my walk with God. I will always remember this dear brother in Christ from Denver. His gift of prophecy encouraged me at an important time in my spiritual development. Thirty years later, the encouragement still burns brightly. No surprise. God’s spiritual gifts are eternal.

Thanks be to God through His Holy Spirit, equipping all believers with spiritual gifts to serve His Church.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Exercise May Be Contagious! (Matthew 5:16)

An interesting medical study was just published suggesting that exercise may be contagious! The contagion is not a virus or bacteria passed to others via sweat or dirty towels, but social media. People who exercise and share their results via social media may spread their behavior to others. The study examined running behaviors and found that when someone posts a comment indicating they ran an additional kilometer, it inspired others to run an additional 0.3 km. If one ran for an additional 10 minutes, it inspired others to run an additional 3 minutes longer!

I can definitely relate to the influence of social media. Presently, I use social media sites only for news feeds but in the past, I used to post a great deal. Most of my postings were about food-my latest barbeque or smoking creations, some restaurant I had visited, or an article about a celebrity chef. And not surprisingly, my postings motivated others to visit some of the same restaurants or chefs or attempt to recreate some of my recipes. I was influencing others regardless of my initial intentions. My eating habits were contagious!

Is my Christian faith contagious?

As often as I posted about food on social media, only rarely did I ever post something that dealt directly with my Christian faith. There are many reasons and for many years, I would convince myself of the validity and merit of my excuses. I did not want to offend anyone. I did not want to impose my faith upon others. My opinions on food were less offensive than my opinions on faith and Christianity. While well-intentioned, I could have posted less about food and more about Christian brothers and sisters helping others in this world. I could have posted positive comments about how God has worked in my life.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

My Christian faith is not contagious on social media. I have kept it in a sterile bubble, but no longer. These blogs have allowed me to reach beyond my immediate circle of friends and family. I pray that the light of Jesus Christ may be evident in my life and all believers so that all may glorify God.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Don't Tell Our Staff!" (Ecclesiastes 9:12)

A few weeks ago, the president of one of our laboratory partners requested an urgent meeting with me. When we met, she dropped a bombshell. “We are closing our laboratory. Our last day will be two weeks from today.”

I was stunned. This laboratory serviced many of our dermatology clients and was known for their excellent technical work. Our company had maintained a close working relationship with them for nearly ten years.

“Why are you doing this?” I questioned.

Her countenance dropped. “We can’t make it work financially. Ever since the Medicare cuts, we thought we could hang on, but we have been running in the red for the past year. The cuts are continuing and we see no other solution.”

I nodded and searched for a way to ease her pain. “Can I do anything to help you or your lab?”

She smiled. “Don’t tell our staff! You are the first person, besides the other owners, to know this. I wanted to meet with you first since you are our biggest customer.”

“I won’t tell, promise. I will wait until you let me know.”

I quickly called a meeting with my staff and let them know of the situation. We had two weeks to find another laboratory to service our dermatology clients. I also emphasized that this was confidential and no one could share this news with any of our clients or their lab employees when we called their lab.

“Don’t forget the couriers!”

Right! One of my staff reminded us that their lab also sends their couriers to our office everyday. We needed to be careful and discreet when we saw them.

I shook my head. “Wow, that is a sad situation, knowing these people will all be losing their jobs in two weeks, and they don’t even know about it.”

Over the next few days, I reflected upon this situation. I prayed for their company, that their employees would be able to find jobs and their president would share the disappointing news with them soon. Every time I saw one of their couriers, my mind replayed the secret I was hiding from them. Their lives were about to change for the worse and they did not know it.

For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 (ESV)

The loss of a job is devastating for anyone. As I wrestled with my promise to not reveal the truth, I reflected upon this situation and wondered, what if the information I was asked to keep confidential was even worse. What if I knew that their lives were ending in two weeks? What then? Would I break my promise to the president and tell them the truth? Of course I would. But as absurd as this hypothetical situation seemed, many people are facing the same fate. Everyone will die. Some are confident that when the moment of death approaches, they will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. Until then, they are content to live a life spiritually separated from God, completely ignorant that they are on the road to hell and eternal torment. But as the Bible states, no one knows the moment of their death. At that critical moment, there may be no time for confession, no time to reflect upon one’s life, no time to ask Jesus to save you. In a moment, you will be eternally separated from God.

It does not have to be this way. Jesus is standing at the door of everyone’s heart and knocks. But you have to let Him into your life, He will never force His way in.

I kept my promise to the laboratory president and did not tell their staff. But I will never stop telling people about their need to confess and repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Such knowledge is too important and beautiful to hide from anyone. No one knows when they will die. Why delay? Make the decision now for your eternal salvation.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Insanity (1 Corinthians 1:18)

A wise man once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Most sane people would scoff at such a statement, averring they would never engage in such nonsensical behavior. Count me within this group. Nonetheless, for years, I was rummaged through the self-help section of bookstores, desperate to find solutions to deal with bitterness toward a colleague or to fix a broken relationship. On other visits, the sections on investing beckoned me to discover a new, sure-fire method for getting rich, better than what other pundits have suggested. This tongue in cheek statement exposed a disturbing and repetitive aspect of my behavior.

For many years, I sought to correct and improve my life with the world’s solutions. But this is a fallen world and we are fallen people.  I was using imperfect solutions to attempt to correct an imperfect person. All this accomplished was to increase my frustration and disappointment. But I kept doing this, over and over again, hoping that it was only a matter of time before I found the solution, the panacea to all my woes. Truly, this was insanity.

My sins continued to lead me down a slippery path to destruction. Why would I continue to place my trust in a failed system? I was unwilling to acknowledge this lie and turn to the Truth.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

When I confessed and repented of my sins to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, the insanity ended. For the first time, I saw myself as a fallen person, blinded by sin, and utterly helpless to rescue myself by my own efforts. Only Jesus could do this because He lived a perfect, sinless life, in complete submission to God, His Father. He took the penalty of my sins and broke down the barrier of sin that separated me from God. By placing my faith in trust in Him, the futile cycle of imperfect solutions attempting to correct an imperfect person ended.

Thanks be to God who has rescued me from this insanity and brought sanity to my existence.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I Want To Take My Children To Heaven With Me!" (Proverbs 22:6)

There are two major vacation periods for our family-spring break and Christmas. Each year, our family eagerly anticipates and plans these vacations. My wife is the expert in planning and she spends hours searching destinations, hotels, travel packages, and points of interest. The centerpiece of every vacation is food and most of our destinations are renowned as culinary centers of the world. Our children are eager participants since they are as enamored of food as my wife and I. I am happy and pleased to take my children with me!

Recently, I heard an interview on Christian talk radio of a woman who beamed how thankful she was that her two children attended a Christian school. She was blessed that her children were being firmly grounded in the Bible and learning how to live as a Christian in this world. “I want to take my children to Heaven with me!” she gushed.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

There are many destinations to which our family may travel, but the most important one is set in eternity. I, too, want to take my children to Heaven with me! Everyone is accountable to God and must come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But before that moment, I, as a parent, must seek God’s guidance to raise my children in a godly home. Even if they do not feel like praying, we must continue to pray as a family. Our conversations must be directed to God, searching the Bible for the answers to deal with the complex problems of this world. And they must be encouraged to read the Bible, seeking daily nourishment from the Truth of God’s Word.

I love taking our children on our family vacations. We are creating a lifetime of memories. By God’s grace and mercy, my children have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I am comforted by His promises that they will be in Heaven with me someday.

And this is the best final destination for everyone, an eternal rest for our souls in the presence of Jesus Christ!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Betrayal (1 Samuel 23:5)

Many of us have felt the sting of betrayal. And the sting is worsened is when it is by the hands of someone you helped. The Bible instructs me in every situation of life that I may encounter and the painful topic of betrayal is prominently discussed. In the following Bible passage, I am encouraged that David did not grouse about his betrayal. Instead, he took matters to God.

And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

1 Samuel 23:5 (NKJV)

In this passage, David rescued the livestock of the people of Keilah after the Philistines had plundered them. Would they be grateful for David’s actions? Indeed, so grateful that they decide to deliver David into the hands of Saul, who is seeking to kill him! It is only by God speaking directly to David and warning him of the imminent betrayal, that David manages to escape.

Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will deliver you.”

1 Samuel 23:12 (NKJV)

If I were in the place of David, I would be fuming about the ungratefulness of Keilah. How dare they betray me after I helped them! But instead of bitterness, David turned to God in prayer and God answered him and guided him out of a painful situation.

I need to continue to seek God’s guidance during difficult times of betrayal. It is not easy and my natural inclination is to wallow in self pity. But God does not dwell on the raw emotions I am feeling or whether I perceive a situation is difficult. When hurt and confusion arise, God directs me back to my relationship with Him. He wants me to learn from the situation and present it to Him in prayer. He wants me to see that He is sovereign above all situations, all hurts, and all betrayals.

God’ Son, Jesus Christ, was betrayed by His own people and one of His disciples. Jesus did not complain about the situation but submerged Himself into the depths of His relationship with God, the Father. He obeyed Him and God delivered Him!

May God bless all who are experiencing the pain of betrayal and grant His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Sinning By Not Praying (1 Samuel 12:23)

The great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, delighted in taking visitors to his church basement, where groups of faithful were on their knees praying. He would proclaim, “Here is the powerhouse of the church!” Spurgeon knew that he owed the success of his church to the continued prayers of his congregation.

When I lived in Denver, Colorado, I joined a Baptist church. It was founded a year earlier and there was a tremendous excitement with the young pastors and growing congregation. I joined in the excitement, attending prayer meetings with the men and pastors of the church before every Sunday morning service. We also met for prayer on Wednesday evenings before our mid-week service. Our Sunday morning and evening services had a time for prayer and a call for anyone to come forward and kneel at the altar, bringing their prayers to God. After church, there were elders and deacons ready to pray with anyone who desired this.

This was a praying church and God mightily blessed it! Prayer is the powerhouse of the church!

I have seen the power of prayer work in my life and in the lives of other believers. I believe in the power of prayer. Prayer is a privilege, and regrettably, I often take it for granted. If things are going well in my life and for others, I may not pray as fervently as I should. When things are going awry, I may pray but with a resignation that nothing can really be done about.

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

1 Samuel 12:23 (NKJV)

The Prophet Samuel addressed the Israelites when Saul was coronated as the first king of Israel. His words still resonate today. Prayer is a privilege that allows us to commune with God.  But it is more than that. If we do not pray for others, we disobey God’s commands. We fail to love our neighbor as ourself, and this is a sin. Job learned this when his fortunes were restored by God after he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10). My prayers need to go beyond my needs and seek God’s blessings for everyone whose lives touch mine.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to fill every believer with the desire and fervor to seek God in prayer.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

It Made Sense! (Galatians 6:7)

It is almost with embarrassment that I admit to my residents and professional colleagues that I hated my first year of medical school. Most medical students are eager to learn gross anatomy, explore the mysteries of the cell as viewed through a microscope, and learn the basic principles of the physical examination. While I did find the material challenging, none of these classes captured my interest, except one. Neuroanatomy.

On the first day, I was greeted by a  large three dimensional display of the major central nervous system tracts, positioned at the front of the room. The tracts were labeled with different colors and the maze began in the brain. With each lecture, we learned the function of each tract. It was a great deal of memorization but unlike the other classes, it captured my interest.

If an injury or disease affected the nerve at a certain level, everything after that level would be affected. The algorithm grew more complex as one ascended the spinal cord to the brain but it was still traceable. Some tracts crossed in the brain stem and thus an injury in the right side of the brain led to loss of function on the left side of the body. There were numerous variables that affected the severity of the injury and it was easy to be distracted by these, but if I simply kept the nerve tract model in my mind, I could reduce everything to this simple equation.

It made sense!

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)

My relationship with God is no different. I can erroneously view the Christian life as a series of do’s and dont’s, about memorizing rules and acting in a certain way.  I can live my life cluttering my thoughts with small details instead of focusing upon the overriding principle that God outlines for me. What I sow, I will reap.

In the very next verse, this truth is made even more obvious.

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Galatians 6:8 (NKJV)

I may convince myself that some sins are small and insignificant, that the consequences are meaningless. But God sternly corrects my twisted and warped thinking. If I have given my life to Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I must remain vigilant to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction in my life. He dwells within me and I should yield my life to His control.

Like the assuredness of identifying the level of the damaged nerve tracts, when I commit a sin, there will be consequences. My sins will always result in hurt and pain.

It makes sense!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

A Cross Before Me (Matthew 16:24)

I was watching a movie the other evening and was intrigued by the director’s use of lighting and special effects. The main character, a detective, was seeking to solve a complicated unsolved murder, attempting to discern any possible connections between seemingly disparate clues. As he gazed upon the collection of newspaper and magazine articles, photographs, and receipts, a light illuminated random bits of data and a ray of light began to connect the different items. As the detective pondered the connections, the answer literally flashed before him, and the murder was solved.

I have never received such a graphic illustration of God connecting the seemingly random dots in my life to provide an answer or direction. No ray of light or glowing arrow has ever appeared. And yet, if I took the time to reflect upon God’s direction in my life, it is clear that He is always leading me. The constant reminder is not a glow of light but the Cross before me.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)

Everywhere one looks, there is a physical reminder of the Cross. A computer screen, a book, a shelf, the facade of a building, windows, street signs-the image of the Cross within these objects can easily be illuminated and superimposed in one’s mind, just as if a movie director were using special effects. If I seek the Cross in God’s creation, it is there. And if I seek to take up His Cross, He is there. When I am seeking God’s direction, I need to only look to the Cross. It means I need to acknowledge what Jesus Christ did on the Cross for me. None of my  diplomas, certifications, or cleverness will ever substitute for this. If I want God to give me direction in my life, I need to be willing to sacrifice all of my desires and self interests and nail them to the Cross. Only then will the illumination of God’s guidance become evident in my life.

God’s Cross is always before me. I need to daily take His Cross and follow Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.