A Balanced Spiritual Diet (John 6:48)

I am the bread of life.
John 6:48

The food pyramid is a recommendation of an ideal diet. In its most traditional form, the bottom of the pyramid is weighted toward carbohydrates such as pastas, rice, and other whole grains. Above this are fruits and vegetables. Above this are milk and cheese followed by meats. At the apex of the pyramid are fats/oils. But this pyramid has undergone several revisions since its introduction. Some nutritional organizations have changed the  percentages and types of carbohydrates. Other organizations have completely inverted the pyramid stating that proteins derived from lean meats and fats rich in Omega-3 fatty acids should be emphasized while blood sugar raising carbohydrates such as potatoes should be diminished. While all of these recommendations may be confusing, the overarching objective is to ensure that we all eat a balanced diet to achieve good physical health.

What does a balanced spiritual diet look like? At the base of the pyramid should be time spent with God in prayer and reading God’s Word. In fact the two actions should be inseparable because both reinforce each other. As we pray, we draw closer to God. As we draw closer to God, we desire to learn even more about Him through His Word. The next level should be fellowship; this is fellowship with believers within our family and friends, fellowship within our local church family, and fellowship with the church of the saints throughout the world. The final level should be serving with the gifts the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us; this is serving through the church of Jesus Christ and the world we live in, bringing the Gospel to seekers and believers alike. How can a balanced spiritual diet will help us achieve good spiritual health?

A balanced spiritual diet begins and ends with Jesus Christ. If He is not the only source of our sustenance, our very food and bread which we daily take to survive, the rest of our life will be out of balance. All service to God must be done in the name of Jesus Christ, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Examine your own spiritual diet and ask yourself if Jesus Christ is your bread of life. You will never have to worry about overeating or adjusting your diet if He is your food, your bread of life.

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

Hot Dogs and Rice (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When I was a fourth year medical student, I was privileged to do family practice in Micronesia. I lived in an apartment building housing several other international workers. My immediate neighbors were a Burmese man named Win and a Malaysian man named Basuran. We became fast friends and agreed to meet every dinner to share in the culinary cuisines of our respective countries. Win and Basuran were excited to prepare Burmese and Malaysian delicacies. And because I am of Japanese ethnicity, they were eager to sample some Japanese delicacies. So when I served them hot dogs and rice, they were a bit perplexed and cautiously inquired, “Is this what Japanese people eat?”

“Oh yes! We eat this all the time!”

“Wow, somehow we thought Japanese food would be different!”

At the end of our time together, I confided to both of them that I didn’t know how to cook and this was the only food I knew how to prepare. “This was not authentic Japanese food, just food that this Japanese person liked to eat”, I told them.

They smiled, nodded, and said, “We know!”

This was not the first or last time that I pretended to be someone I was not. For most of my life, I felt compelled to live up to the expectations of others and create a facade of self-confidence and assuredness. But it was not me. And I was unwilling to just let people see and accept me for who I really was.

God has been patient and merciful to me and has slowly allowed me to let go of many of these false pretenses, allowing others to see me as I really am. It is still painful and I have a long journey ahead.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, God began a transformation of my very being, a transformation that continues to this very moment. God has helped me to understand that I am a new creation through Him. I no longer have to be someone who I am not. I need only be the person that God wants me to be.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Blessings with Aloha!
 

Why Didn't Jesus Save Joseph From Death? (Matthew 12:48-50)

The Gospels do not give us insight as to whether Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ, died. Most scholars conclude that Joseph died before Jesus started His ministry. At the Cross, we are left with the sad sight of Mary watching her son die. But there is no mention of Joseph.

If Joseph died, couldn’t Jesus have raised Joseph from the dead? The obvious answer is, yes. But He did not. The Gospels records only three instances of Jesus raising someone from the dead: the Jewish ruler’s daughter, the widow’s son, and Lazarus.

Jesus loved his parents and His family. He was a dutiful and caring Son as evidenced by the last moments of His life when He asked His beloved disciple, John, to take His mother, Mary, to live and care for her in his own home. But Jesus wanted us to go beyond our understanding of earthly relationships and see that life in God’s Kingdom is based upon on new relationship, as adopted sons and daughters of God, the Father.

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:48-50

Joseph is now glorified in Heaven, forever in fellowship with Jesus, his earthly son by adoption, and now His Lord and Savior. Jesus did not save Joseph from death nor did he raise him from the dead during his earthly lifetime.  But He saved his soul for eternity. Our familial relationships in this lifetime point to the deeper and more intimate eternal relationship with God.

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

A Genetic Soul Mate (Matthew 19:4-6)

Scientists have recently discovered that married couples have more genetic similarities than random strangers. The article was published in a prestigious scientific journal and has generated a bit of controversy amongst scientists and laypeople alike.

http://consumer.healthday.com/health-technology-information-18/genetics-news-334/saying-i-do-because-their-dna-is-right-687996.html

For some of us who are married, a genetic similarity may indeed be shared with our spouse. We gravitate toward others of similar background and shared interests. Our genetic makeup may play a role in shaping our choices. But the most important choice we make in life is the direction of our spiritual life. Instead of focusing upon the genetic similarity we may share with our spouse, we should look for the God-given spiritual compatibility. If you are a believer and have been blessed with a believing spouse, then God has honored you with a spiritual mate. And although there may be a genetic similarity, it is God, and not your genetic makeup, that has brought you together for a spiritual bonding.

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh ’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6

Jesus Christ plainly spoke when He declared that husband and wife become one flesh when they enter into marriage. There will still be disagreements and conflicts in any marriage. But if the couple is committed to honor and seek Jesus Christ first in their relationship, God promises bountiful blessings. A genetic similarity may exist for some married couples, but a spiritual compatibility is what God desires.

Love and respect God; seek His will in your life.

The Real Interview (Matthew 18:32-35)

Through the years, I have had the opportunity to interview many people for a variety of positions. With each interview candidate comes a resume and letters of recommendation. These are reviewed in advance of the interview and may be used to further select out promising candidates. But at some point, I must make the decision to interview the candidate.

With most candidates, the actual interview is very revealing and if all seems well, the decision to make a job offer is next. However, once the candidate reaches this point, there is one last step I do; I interview my staff and ask them what was their interaction and impressions of the candidate. I have learned as much, if not more, from my staff interviews than the actual candidate interview. Although one would intuitively think a candidate would be very obeisant to my staff, I have encountered several who were less than cordial, even rude, saving any polite and respectful attitude for me alone. And that is a huge mistake. If a candidate cannot treat others, whom they may perceive as either their equal or inferior, with respect, then I know where their true heart and attitude lies. They are not team players and do not belong in my company.

Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.
Matthew 18:32-35 (NKJV)

In this passage, Jesus reminds us God is always aware of our true motives. The master had just forgiven the wicked servant a massive debt, perhaps the equivalent of millions in today’s dollars. And yet, after been forgiven, the servant turns around and demands payment of a debt of a few dollars from another servant. When that servant could not pay the wicked servant, he imprisoned him. When word got back to the master about the bad behavior of the wicked servant, he no longer extended his mercy to him and delivered him to be punished.

God does not need to interview us. He knows the true nature of our heart and He knows our motives. Be honest with your relationship with God. Confess your sins because He is faithful and just to forgive you.

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

A Spiritual IEP (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you are disqualified.
2 Corinthians 13:5

An IEP is an acronym for Individual Educational Plan. IEP’s are mandated by federal law and defines the educational goals and objectives for a child with special needs, facilitating the steps needed to be taken to ensure that the child achieves these stated goals and objectives. Regularly scheduled meetings occur during the school year and the participants involve one or both parents, the student’s teachers, a representative of the school district with expertise in special education. Other individuals, including legal counsel, may be included at the behest of the school, parents, or both. When the IEP is successful, a child with special needs can meet and often exceed the stated objectives and goals. When unsuccessful, the IEP can be a focal point of frustration and a trigger to assign blame to school educators.

What if there were a spiritual IEP that each of us had to participate in at least once a year? In addition to our pastors, we could have our spouse, our children, our employers or fellow co-workers, and close friends. We would review the spiritual goals that were outlined from the previous meeting. We would have objective measures to determine whether the goals were met. Suggestions could be made to find ways to facilitate achieving unmet goals. New goals could be established if prior goals were met.

Does this sound intimidating? The Holy Spirit, though the Apostle Paul, instructs us to examine and test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. To what measures could we hold ourselves accountable? While we could have objectives measures such as church attendance, participation in a small group, our time spent reading the Bible, none of these is a true measure of our faith. There are people who participate in all the before mentioned activities but may not be a believer or be a believer who has backslidden and has drifted from the pure milk of God’s teaching, leading a carnal life. No, to truly test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith needs to be much deeper and intimate than external actions. The true test must examine our heart in the light of God’s Word. Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21).

Where do our thoughts drift when we are alone, when we are in pain, when we are happy? Does Jesus Christ penetrate our very essence so that in everything we do, everywhere we go, and with everyone we meet? Our Lord Jesus Christ understood the necessity of humbling Himself, taking all prayers and thoughts to God the Father. His path of perfect obedience took Him to the cross and the glory of the resurrection. A story is told of the great english preacher Charles Spurgeon. Once when he was crossing the street with his colleagues, he stopped in the middle of the street, and began praying. After a few minutes, he proceeded to finish crossing the street. His concerned colleagues asked him why did he endanger himself by stopping in the middle of the street. Spurgeon replied, "A cloud came between my soul and Christ, and I could not remain there even long enough to reach the other side of the street."

That is a tremendous example of a humble faith and submission to God! May God bless all of us as we seek to understand His word and be obedient to His calling. Submit yourself to a spiritual IEP and find where your true treasure lies. AMEN!

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

Whee! (Psalm 37:4)

God’s Creation always has a way of surprising us, doesn’t it?

This seemingly ordinary tree is not quite what it seems to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1la5c48oT4

“Whee!” I love the glee in the observer’s voice in the background of the video.

Don’t you love the way God reveals the unexpected in His creation? He takes a seemingly ordinary event and brings out the extraordinary. It  is all there if you only take the time to stop and observe. God loves to have us delight in Him and His Creation!

Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Have you ever stopped to think just how much more amazing your life would be if you completely gave yourself to God, delighted in God, and let Him have His way with you? If it was anyone else other than God, that would be a frightening proposal. But with God, He would not only care for you, He would bless you beyond anything you could ever imagine!

Perhaps you think your life thus far is fine. After all, you may reason, you have been able to succeed this far in life without God. But our understanding of God’s blessings is limited and finite. Whether we chose to believe it or not, God is always working in our lives. And when we truly allow our lives to be directed by God by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He will give us the desires of our heart.

And when this happens, a gleeful, “Whee!” will hardly begin to describe our absolute joy as God does the unexpected and unimagined in our life!

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

Blessings with Aloha!

The Other Left (Jonah 4:11)

I love dancing, watching it and even doing it. However, I am not very coordinated and probably even worse at following directions. These two faults can combine for some serious mishaps when learning a new dance step.

Dance Instructor: “Ok, so move to your left.”
Me: “Like this?”  as I move to the right.
Dance Instructor: “No, I mean the other left!”

Fortunately, I have a forgiving wife who is an excellent dancer and partner. But my lack of direction leads to conflict, not only on the dance floor, but when I am taking directions when I am driving and my wife is navigating.

And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left —and much livestock?”
Jonah 4:11

This last verse in the Book of Jonah records the bleak spiritual desolation of the people of Nineveh. It was a state that was so extreme, they could not discern the difference between their right and left hand. This may have been hyperbole but the notoriety of Nineveh's cruelty and debauchery were well known. Their lack of direction and ignorance of their sins led to God’s wrath and judgment. 

Jonah was sent to preach a message of repentance to the citizens of Nineveh. We all know the story. Jonah disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction. But God had other plans for him and sent a great fish to swallow him. Only after praying and repenting did God spare Jonah and command the fish to vomit him onto the shore. Jonah goes to Nineveh and preaches to the people. To Jonah’s surprise and disdain, the people repent and seek God’s forgiveness and mercy.  God accepts their repentance and spares the entire city. But Jonah was angry and bitter that God did not carry out His threat to destroy Nineveh. In the end, God had to remind Jonah that in spite of their evil, He wanted to give the entire city a chance to repent, turn from their sins, and seek His forgiveness.

We may think that our sins are never as bad as some of the sins committed by characters in the Bible. And yet, we sometimes blur the distinction between right and wrong. We may conveniently explain or justify our sins as behavioral issues or due to genetics and heredity. When we begin to apply these explanations to our sins, we begin to lose our spiritual discernment. In a sense, we cannot discern between our right and left.

Our spiritual discernment can only come from accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is never too late to do this. And when you do, God will always welcome you and begin the transformation to make you more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

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

It's Time for Showdown! (Isaiah 55:8-9)

I would never want to be engaged in a debate or argument with God. First of all, does anyone seriously think they would win an argument with God? As futile as that may seen, many have tried. Recall that vivid scene in the movie, Forrest Gump, when Lieutenant Dan Taylor, played by Gary Sinise, was perched in the crow’s nest of his shrimp boat in the middle of a hurricane, shaking his defiant fist at the sky, and maniacally laughing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZH9ebAZouk

“C’mon! You call this a storm? It’s time for a showdown! You and me! I’m right here! You’ll never sink this boat!”

I suppose in his own mind, Lt. Dan felt he won the argument because he survived the storm. But it is easy to win an argument with God when you set the parameters. Making God a straw man will always guarantee you a victory. But if God were to truly engage you in a debate or argument, it would be over before it even began.

For some, challenging God is the ultimate test of strength and will. But unless you are truly willing to challenge God on His terms, it is likely you will always win. How convenient! And how wrong you would be!

Job thought he knew the answers but was humbled by God in the end. Paul was convinced that he was right in persecuting the early Christians until Jesus directly intervened in his life and showed him the truth.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9

A showdown with God? We only exist because of God’s mercy toward us. God hates sin and all of us are sinners, which separates us from God. But thanks be to God that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to reconcile man with His Creator. And if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our final showdown with God will end in victory, because God is now on our side! He is not our adversary but our Heavenly Father who has adopted us as His own children!

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

Snatching Defeat From Victory (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Some people I meet have an extremely negative view of life.   When everything is seemingly going well, they find a way to throw a monkey wrench into the situation and make it a downer, for themselves and everyone around them. It is an outlook that views the world through smoke-filled, rather than rose-colored glasses.  It is more than pessimism, perhaps even more than fatalism or defeatism.

In essence, they are snatching defeat from victory.

By expecting the worse in every situation, these individuals can make sure their lowered expectation are always met, allowing them to move forward in life.

How very different was the attitude of the Apostle Peter! He was beaten for preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, but note his reaction.

And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
Acts 5:40-41

And why could he rejoice when seemingly the worst outcome had just occurred? Many years later, Peter wrote the following in one of his epistles...

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
1 Peter 4:12-14

A person with a very negative view of life would easily have been discouraged by the trials that Peter and the rest of the Apostles faced. But Peter chose to focus upon the Glory of God rather than the despair of man!

If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you already have the victory. Any seeming defeat is a way that God will reveal His glory to you.

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

No Get Cut Off From God! (John 3:16)

God wen get so plenny love an aloha fo da peopo inside da world, dat he wen send me, his one an ony Boy, so dat everybody dat trus me no get cut off from God, but get da real kine life dat stay to da max foeva.

Wha?????

One more time...in English!

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

This is John 3:16, one of most beloved and quoted verses in the Bible. It is the Gospel condensed into one sentence. It has been translated into nearly every language. And now, it is in Pidgin English!

For those who grew up in the islands of Hawaii, Pidgin English is the local dialect, a fusion of English, Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino. It is replete with its own grammatical structure and syntax, its own unique vocabulary, and a very distinctive accent! Like many locations in the country, these local dialects may sometimes be the only way to effectively communicate.

I would occasionally read to my friends, familiar Bible phrases in Pidgin English to elicit a laugh. But this all changed when God intervened. A friend who grew up in Hawaii and is a seeker was enamored of the Pidgin English Bible. She was enjoying her time reading the Bible and, for the first time in her life, was beginning to understand the message that God has for all us-salvation is only through His Son Jesus Christ!

Praise God that His Word is not bound by language, culture, or history. It is the Truth and speaks to everyone and everywhere. God gives us plenny love an ALOHA!

Blessings with Aloha to da max foeva!

Walk by Faith Not Sight-Biology and Medicine (Ecclesiastes 11:5)

Medicine approaches the patient at many different levels.

An internist will take a history and perform a physical exam. A radiologist can procure an image of a disease and analyze it with varying radiation and magnetic frequencies. A surgeon may hold a diseased organ in his hands and attempt to repair it or remove it. But only under the microscope, can one truly understand the intricacies of the disease. At the microscopic level, the disease process is laid bare. We can observe how a disease can wreak havoc on the body, how it can spread to other organs, and how the body attempts to fight off the disease with its immune system. As sophisticated as we may be in describing and understanding what is happening, there is a gap. We may able to describe what is happening, but can we truly understand why?

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Ecclesiastes 11:5

The more one understands the biology of life and medicine, the more mysterious it becomes. And is it any wonder? God created it and designed all life to give glory to Him.

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

Our faith is trusting in the God who created life, not trusting in the mechanisms of life.

Aloha blessings!

We Had a Deal! (Proverbs 11:4)

“We had a deal!”
“Your money can't save you anymore than it can save me!”
From Titanic, the Movie

There are many memorable lines from the movie Titanic. Most of us can quote and reenact them like, “I’m the king of the world!”. The above quotes were the rejection of Cal Hockley’s frantic attempts to buy a seat on a lifeboat. Yes, the old adage is true, money can’t buy everything.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:4

The only deal that matters in the end is one that you make with God. No position, prestigious schooling, or amount of money in your bank account will ever matter with God. Why should it? There is nothing you can offer to God that He does not already have in infinite abundance. Nothing, except one thing, your faith.

You want a deal? Trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Believe upon the power of His death and resurrection and you will be saved. Your money can’t save you anymore. Only Jesus Christ can!

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

Zit 1 and Zit 2 (Psalms 60:4)

I know a dermatologist who has personalized license plates on his two cars; they are appropriately entitled “Zit-1” and “Zit-2”.

Even a casual drive will reveal a number of personalized license plates. Some are emblematic of the driver’s occupation. Others are silly statements meant to evoke a chuckle. Still others are a declaration of love for their hobbies or another. And some, are completely indecipherable! And perhaps this is what the owner intended! Whatever the reason, it is a great expression of individuality, on display for every driver to see.

You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.
Psalms 60:4

God also gives His banner, His stamp of individuality upon everyone who believes in Him. And He gives something much greater than a personalized license plate. He gives us His Holy Spirit, His seal of approval and acceptance.  If you are a believer, God has separated you to be an ambassador of faith to proclaim the love of Jesus Christ to all who are able to listen.

A personalized license plate may help you declare your uniqueness to the rest of the world. But the mark of a true individual is when we allow our identity to be defined by our relationship with God!

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

Stop My Bananas from Turning Brown! (Luke 6:17-19)

These past two years, I have been a participant in my daughter’s science projects. Generations of students from middle school through high school have partaken in this annual event. As the students prepared their protocols and outlines for their projects, one question, that each student needed to answer, has always given me pause, “How does your project benefit society?”

I don’t think we had such lofty goals in mind as we selected our project! As I perused some of the other students’ projects, I continue to be astounded by the sophistication of the projects and the accompanying analysis. Indeed, I can definitely see the merit and benefit to society with some of their projects.  Admittedly, we were sometimes seeking a project that was simple and reasonably interesting. Benefits to society? Yes, I suppose one can make a compelling case for the societal benefits of determining which packaging will best retard the browning of bananas or what music is played at fast food restaurants. But is it on the same scale as a device that can detect blood borne parasites?

The dilemma lies in how we define societal needs and benefits. We are daily faced with choices as to how to best utilize our time, talents, and money to help others. And there are no right or wrong choices. One person’s needs may seem insignificant to another but to that person, the need is very real and distressing.

When Jesus Christ walked this earth, thousands crowded around Him, in earnest expectation to be healed. The Bible records many instances of healing, but certainly not all instances. Was Jesus able to heal everyone and attend to everyone’s needs?

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.
Luke 6:17-19

Jesus was fully God; He was also fully man and limited by some of the same physical and temporal constraints that we all face. Perhaps there were times when He had to chose whom He would heal. Thankfully, the choices that He made were not biased by the kinds of prejudices or preconceptions to which I fall victim. Jesus’ choices were sovereign and perfect, directed only by God the Father, and independent of all other opinions. Although He may not have physically healed every person that came to Him, we do know that Jesus was concerned with spiritually healing each person in attendance. His healing was always accompanied with preaching of the Good News of God’s salvation. He gave His message of love and salvation to all who would be willing to listen.

Our needs are objective but the importance and significance may be subjectively interpreted by others. Thanks be to God who knows all of our true needs and invites us to come to Him with these burdens.

Trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Every one of our needs is important to Him and He will always take the time to comfort us.

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

We're Like A Superhero! (Hebrews 13:21)

Last week Sunday, I was treated to a visit and tour of Palos Verdes Fire Station #106. What a thrill it was to meet these true heroes, who daily lay their lives on the line for all of us. The Captain who gave us this tour had been at many different stations throughout Southern California and held nearly every position a firefighter could hold, including functioning as a liaison to the public.

“We’re like a superhero! Each one of us has their speciality and when we come together, we’re unstoppable!”

Indeed! All of us swelled with pride as we witnessed the teamwork at the station. From daily training paramedical updates, to doing mechanical repairs on their equipment, to maintaining their bodies in peak physical condition; they were like a superhero!

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21

The Captain’s words reminded me of the promise of God through His Word. If we place our faith in Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He will make us complete so that we have all the resources we will ever need to do His will on this earth.

We salute the brave men and women of our Palos Verdes Fire Station! They are as close to a real life superhero we will ever meet. But God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has enabled us to be more than conquerors as we live our lives. We, too, can be like a superhero, empowered by faith in our Almighty God.

Amen!

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

They'll Never Leave! (Psalms 41:9)

I have been blessed to have worked with some very outstanding individuals. In all instances, they were loyal employees who sacrificed a great deal for the companies for which they were employed. In nearly all instances, the president of each company felt they would always stay on. “Oh, they’ll never leave!” he would proudly exclaim.

And yet, I distinctly recall two very high profile employees, both in senior management, leaving our companies and going to our direct competitors, right after this statement was made about them. I never discussed the departures with the president, but I didn’t have to. The disappointment was evident in the president’s face and voice.

There was a feeling of betrayal. In both instances, the relationship went beyond an employer-employee, a friendship had developed. And now, salt was in the wound as this trusted friend had gone over to the competitor.

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 41:9

King David understood the pain of being betrayed by those whom he loved and trusted. Even his own son rebelled against him and usurped his kingdom.  David could have spent his life wallowing in self-pity or lashing out at those around him, projecting his anger and humiliation upon others. Instead, David turned to God and laid his pain and burden before Him.

As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And set me before Your face forever.
Psalms 41:12

It is not easy to recover from any relationship which is marred by betrayal. But God does not ask you to do it on your own efforts. He asks you to give it up to Him and allow Him to deal with the situation. He will uphold your integrity and give you the peace that surpasses all understanding.

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

Cue the Music Crescendo! (John 11:43-44)

Ever watch a silent movie? Many years ago, I attended a special showing of a classic silent movie. What made this showing unique was the theater where the movie was projected had music performed live by an organist, exactly as it would have been done during the original showing. It was quite an experience, hearing the swells of the organ matching the movie plot. The anxious expressions of the actors were complemented by the growing tension in the music. And then, at the climax of the movie, the organ music crescendoed into a final catharsis! Wow! Modern movie soundtracks owe so much to these pioneers of movie soundtrack production!

Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “ Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “ Loose him, and let him go.”
John 11:43-44 (NKJV)

Whenever I read this entire passage of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44), I always hear background music playing. I hear the slow, solemn notes when Jesus learns of His friend Lazarus’ sickness. I hear the pace of the music quicken as he journeys toward Bethany. The music turns mournful as Jesus speaks to Martha and Mary. It diminishes to a whisper as Jesus stands outside Lazarus’ tomb and weeps.

And then...slowly, inexorably, the music builds to a crescendo as Jesus prays before the entire crowd and raises Lazarus from the dead! Can you hear it?

This miracle was the last of the seven miracles that the Apostle John recorded in his Gospel. All seven miracles were recorded so...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31) (NKJV)

When we read the Bible, a soundtrack may be missing. But God uses the music of our lives as the background to the most amazing and stupendous story you will ever read. There may be no sound, but there is a soundtrack. You simply have to be willing to hear it and listen. And for all believers, the music crescendo will be cued when we die, pass from this life, and enter into the blessed presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

What a marvelous Savior we serve!

Blessings with Aloha!

Dr. John Dreisbach (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

Dr. John Dreisbach was a medical missionary who spent most of his life on the missionary field in Africa. From the time he was a child, Dr. Dreisbach knew he wanted to dedicate his life as a missionary. He went to medical school and completed training as an general and orthopedic surgeon. He met his future wife, Bettie, at a Bible study when she declared to the group that she wanted to go to Africa to be a missionary. Beginning in 1948, the Dreisbachs dedicated their entire lives as missionaries.

In 1987, Dr. Dreisbach was on a brief sabbatical from Africa and was assigned to Ponape, an island in Micronesia. He was one of three physicians from the United States providing healthcare to the island natives. I was a fourth year medical student and spent two months in Ponape doing family medicine. It was there I had an opportunity to work directly with Dr. Dreisbach. Dr. Dreisbach also served as the visiting pastor for the only Baptist church on the island and preached every Sunday morning.

The Dreisbachs were very kind to me during my stay in Ponape, inviting me to their home and giving me an intimate look into their life’s work. One evening after one of Bettie’s wonderful home cooked meals, I sat through nearly two hours of a slide show that chronicled their many years in Africa. During this time, he trained hundreds of medical officers and led thousands to Christ. Dr. Dreisbach helped to build at least 10 hospitals. He ordered books and tools from the Sears catalogue and taught himself carpentry, masonry, plumbing, and electrical wiring so that he could literally construct these hospitals himself. Dr. Dreisbach developed an innovative surgical tendon transfer that replaced leprosy damaged tendons with healthy tendons from another part of the patient’s body, allowing patients to use their limbs once again. Surgeons from all over Africa and Europe would visit to learn from him. The Dreisbachs saw as many as 300 patients a day with Bettie, a nurse, assisting with the triage. One or two days a week, Dr. Dreisbach would operate. On Sundays, Dr. Dreisbach would preach. After the service, he would visit neighboring villages to spread the Gospel.

The movie, Beyond the Night, focused on part of his time in Africa. As I watched this movie a few years ago, I was struck by the accuracy of the depiction of the working conditions that they both endured. One scene vividly recalled a memorable slide showing Dr. Dreisbach operating on a patient on the dirt floor while Bettie held a flashlight because the generator, supplying the electricity, had failed.

As a physician, Dr. Dreisbach was a leader, teacher, innovator, and researcher. As a Christian, Dr. Dreisbach tirelessly preached the Word, often within a hostile Muslim environment. As a father, he raised six children, under extremely difficult and impoverished conditions; in spite of this, one of them eventually became a Rhodes scholar.  Everything he did was focused upon God’s Kingdom in anticipation of receiving the imperishable crown of glory.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Bettie Dreisbach passed into our Lord’s presence in 2000. Dr. Dreisbach was called home to be with our Lord, five years ago, on November 23, 2009. His legacy lives on with the many medical missionaries that he helped to train and equip, the hospitals he built, and the many patients he treated and helped. But his greatest legacy is how he allowed God to use him to be a great Christian and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. His foremost passion was to share the Gospel and God used him to fulfill his desire like few others.

In 1987, I was a young and impressionable Christian, having accepted the Lord 5 years earlier in college. I was a nascent physician about to enter residency. My experience with the Dreisbachs showed me that God can and will use you for great work if you desire it and dedicate yourself to taking the steps to achieve it. Now, during a very busy workday, I need only recall the tireless work of Dr. John and Bettie Dreisbach to remind myself that busy is a relative term. The world will always place demands upon our time and distractions can easily avert our gaze. Our attention should be fixed and riveted upon our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who will supply all of our needs.

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Desire to be great in God’s eyes and prepare to delight in His unspeakable richness and glory.

AMEN!

911? I Need a Husband! (1 Peter 5:7)

The 911 phone call has emerged as an important lifeline for millions of people in distress. With a simple call, emergency services may be delivered to the area or person in need. And yet, this innovative and helpful system has seen some recent abuses. People have been calling 911 with non-urgent and ridiculous requests. One notorious recent example is a woman who called in and said, “Hello 911? I need a husband!”

While on the surface, it may seem like a prank, the desperate caller was truthful and earnestly seeking help. The 911 operator made it very clear to this woman that her call was inappropriate and she could be charged with a crime of abusing the 911 calling system.

The 911 system is for life-threatening emergencies. However, for some people, their definition of life-threatening may be loose and elastic. Is there anywhere or anyone that one can turn to where their needs will be immediately addressed and are not subject to a legal definition of life threatening or urgent?

...casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

The Bible shares the wonderful news that we have a God who listens to all of our needs and requests, no matter how big or small. We don’t make a phone call or send an email or text message. All we need to do is come to Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior.

You need a lifeline? Come to God through His Son, Jesus Christ. He knows your heart and deepest desires and anxieties. What a wonderful Savior we have!

Blessings with Aloha!

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