Less than 1% (Deuteronomy 6:4)

During my recent trip to Japan, we had the opportunity to tour many temples. Japan’s native religion is Shinto, a religion that is based upon nature worship, seeing god in every living creature and every natural phenomena. Many years later, Buddhism arrived and became ingrained within Japanese society. Of the many Buddhist teachings, one overarching thought is nothing is permanent. These two religions have profoundly shaped the Japanese culture and their approach to spirituality. As our guide remarked, it is difficult for many Japanese to accept an absolute God, as Christians do.

As I pondered this statement, I remembered that Japan is a nation of over 120 million people, yet less than 1% identify themselves as Christians. The same cultural and religious influences that have shaped so many wonderful Japanese sensibilities like their attention to detail, politeness, and humility, have also hindered their acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Hear, O Israel:The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
Deuteronomy 6:4

There is only one God. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is unchanging, immortal, and eternal. As one reads the Bible, it is evident that God knew that man would very easily turn from worshipping the Creator and instead worship the creation. God knew that an ephemeral truth would replace an absolute truth.

My heart aches for the people of Japan. It is my ancestral heritage and I appreciate and admire so much of their rich culture and history. And yet, so many of them have yet to hear the Good News of the Gospel. And if they have heard it, their hearts may be hardened to the message.

I pray that God, through His Holy Spirit, will continue to open the door for the people of Japan to hear His Word.

Amen.

"I'm With My Peeps!" (Revelation 5:13)

I recently visited Japan. Because of my Japanese descent, I always wondered if I would find a connection to my cultural heritage? After a week long visit, I can unequivocally state that a connection has been made. The Japanese people are known for their attention to detail, their politeness, and their deeply ingrained sense of humility. All of these traits deeply resonated with me during the visit. I saw myself in the Japanese people. All during the trip, I proudly proclaimed, to the chagrin of my family, “I’m with my peeps!”

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13

I look forward to the day when I am in Heaven, before God. But it will be more than just a deep resonation; I will be worshipping and serving Him in the way I was created to be. And I will be worshipping with other believers who have trusted God with their eternal destinies. I will truly be with my peeps!

If you have confessed your sins, repented, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can join the family of God. You can experience forgiveness and peace. And you can be with your peeps for all eternity. Your heritage will not be determined by genetics but by God’s sovereign choice by His mercy and grace.

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

Don't Shoot the Messenger (Romans 3:10-12)

When we receive bad or disappointing news, it is easy to lash out at the bearer of the news. Our anger or frustration may be misdirected and projected upon the messenger. Hence, the adage, “Don’t shoot the messenger!” is often a reality.

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
Romans 3:10-12

This is quite a damning statement, isn’t it? The Apostle Paul is unequivocally stating why we are completely lost and helpless in our sins. We may think we are good people, lead a good life, help others, and make the world a better place. But we are fooling ourselves. God has stated that not only are we not good people, we can’t even begin to be good people.

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23

And no one likes to hear that message. We can become upset at Paul for writing this. We may turn our back on the pastor who preaches this message. But we are only attempting to shoot the messenger. The only person with whom we should be upset is ourself. We are sinners and try as we might, we will never stop being sinners.

God knows this and took action. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life. He is the only person who has ever lived and never sinned. He lived a life in perfect obedience to God. And He died to take the curse of sin upon Himself, taking the punishment that God rightfully reserves for us and all sinners and redeeming us. Jesus did this because He loved us.

Don’t shoot the messenger! Listen to the message! Confess your sins, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

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

"You're From Hawaii, I'll Take Care of You!" (Acts 28:14)

I began searching for my first job as a physician during the final year of my medical residency. I sent my resume to a number of pathology groups, leveraging any connections I had formed over the previous 5 years. One response was from a pathologist, whom I knew was also from Hawaii. We had a connection because his brother in law was one of my internal medicine professors from medical school. After a few minutes of speaking over the phone, he paused and said, “You’re from Hawaii, right? I’ll take care of you!” Although I did not ultimately obtain a position with his group, he did help me to secure my first job.

...where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days. And so we went toward Rome.
Acts 28:14

When the Apostle Paul was being transported to Rome to plead his case before the emperor, the ship stopped at several ports along the way. Just before he arrived in Rome, he stopped at the city of Puteoli, around the Bay of Naples. The Bible records the hospitality of the fellow Christian believers, whom he had not previously met, who showed him hospitality.

Like the assistance I received from a fellow colleague from Hawaii, the Apostle Paul found comfort and help from those who shared a common heritage with him. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you share a far deeper connection with other believers than any birthplace, school, or occupation. You are a Child of God, adopted by God the Father, through salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

How wonderful it is to say to a fellow believer, “You’re with Jesus Christ, I’ll take care of you!”

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

Help Me To Resist! (1 Corinthians 10:13)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

God has given us this great promise of assurance. When we trust in Him, He is faithful to give us the strength and fortitude to resist any evil or temptation. He promises to give us the way of escape.

Yet, as we read the Bible, countless examples of lives given over to temptation and sin abound: Adam and Eve gave in to Satan’s lure, Samson succumbed to Delilah’s charms, David entered into an adulterous affair with Bathsheba, Peter denied he knew Jesus. In none of these examples do we ever read of a cry, “God, save me from this temptation! God, help me to resist!” All fall to temptation and fail.

All except one.

Jesus Christ was tempted yet He was the only one who showed what a life, completely yielded and obedient to God, can be.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15

There are no more excuses. If you are a child of God, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you have the ability to resist any temptation that comes before you. By your own efforts, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. God’s promise to you is He will provide the way of escape. If you fail, it is because you did not claim God’s promise to rescue you. It is not because the temptation is too strong or God is weak.

There are no more excuses. God will help you to resist all temptations.

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

Who Would You Hire? (1 Corinthians 14:12)

Facebook’s co-founder and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has one rule for hiring. “I will only hire someone to work directly for me if I would work for that person.”

Clearly this philosophy has benefitted his company. It is sign of humility, a willingness to hire someone who may actually compete with or supplant his own position. But Mark is able to put his ego aside to do what is best for his company. If his employees succeed, they all succeed.

I have attended many churches replete with gifted teachers and pastors. When the church is in harmony with God, it is a magnificent symphony of the Holy Spirit working through that body of believers. But when personality conflicts, egos, and selfish ambitions intervene, only disaster can result. And God is dishonored.

Like Mark Zuckerberg, the senior pastor in a church must be willing to surround himself with gifted individuals, who may even be more gifted than himself in certain areas of ministry. The church cannot be a breeding ground for pride and selfish ambition. The only ambition of every church member should be to build the Body of Christ through the utilization of their unique talents as bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit.

So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12

The Corinthian church was also beset by competing egos that escalated into frank immoralities. The Apostle Paul called for unity within the Church by asking each believer to use their unique spiritual gifts for the Church and not for their glory or self interests. It is a sobering message and one that every church needs to be mindful. Egos and ambition have no place in the Body of Christ.

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

Is This a Test? (Proverbs 27:21)

When a colleague approaches you with some critical advice, to take the sting out of what they are saying, it is sometimes termed constructive criticism. They may begin their criticism with a praise but after the perfunctory remarks, launch into a diatribe of what your problem is.

We have all been there, and, with rare exceptions, do we leave feeling wonderful about ourselves. But what happens when we are praised? If rightfully deserved, a praise from another person can bring a smile to our face and imbue us with a warm glow. It may invigorate and inspire us to do more. And it may also inflate our pride and ego, thinking ourselves more special or gifted than who we truly may be.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
Proverbs 27:21

I believe praise is sometimes a more stringent test of our character than criticism because it can quickly lead to pride. And pride is at the heart of so many sins that have been recorded in the Bible. From Cain murdering his brother Abel to Saul despising the success of David, pride can eat away at our very character and subtly direct us to an ungodly stance toward others and ourselves.

The wisdom of the Bible is penetrating. We may prefer praise to criticism, but is this a greater test of our character?

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

How Do I Know It Is Working? (John 3:3)

I recently had a bout of the flu. There are several medications that are available that supposedly help to diminish the severity of the symptoms and may shorten the duration of the illness. I decided to try one of these medications but was amused when I read the potential side effects. The drug may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, and cough or other respiratory symptoms.

Basically it was the same symptoms I was experiencing at the moment. Hmmm...how would I know it is working? Nonetheless, I took the drug, slept the entire weekend, and fortunately my symptoms did abate within a few days. Whether it was secondary to the action of the drug, increased rest, or both, I will not know.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

As Jesus told Nicodemus, one must be reborn again. A birth is a traumatic event.  Nine months spent in a comfortable and insulated environment is suddenly transformed into a  chaotic barrage of the senses. If our memories were perfect, we would vividly recall the event as a very profound change. The Apostle Paul did. The Bible described it as “something like scales fell from his eyes.”

I have met some believers who have told me that they cannot point to the one moment they became a Christian. I have never doubted their sincerity of faith because what matters is not whether they state they are a Christian, but whether their heart was truly changed. Only God knows the true state of their heart. But if one is truly saved, a change should occur in their life. It may be gradual or dramatic but a rebirth must occur.

Unlike the medication that I took for my flu, the moment I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I knew that my life was different. I knew Jesus was working in my life.

Jesus Christ extends His salvation to all who call upon His name. If you confess your sins to Him, repent, and ask Him to come into your life, He will answer you to become your Lord and Savior. And if you do, you will know that He is working in your life.

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

Food Tastes Better When You Are Hungry (Proverbs 27:7)

I love a great meal. I love the selection of the recipe, the gathering of the ingredients, the cooking and plating, and selecting the appropriate side dishes. But the only thing that makes the entire meal more special is if I have not eaten for a while. After all, food tastes better when you are hungry!

One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
Proverbs 27:7

Whenever I read this Proverb, I laugh, because it perfectly encapsulates my feelings. But it is a metaphor for life as well. Indulging in our favorite pastime or food is always more special when we have not done so in a while. But is our hunger for our relationship with God as intense?

God loves to bless His people. But sometimes, we become accustomed to these blessings and take God for granted. We see this over and over again in the Bible. The Hebrews were rescued from slavery in Egypt and protected and fed manna for 40 years in the desert. Yet, after a short while, they complained about their hard life stating they missed the variety of food in Egypt! They even complained that life was better in Egypt! How ungrateful!

I am definitely guilty of taking God for granted for the many blessings He has showered upon my life. At times, I have grown complacent in my walk with God. I do not seek God in all my activities. I do not give glory to God for what happens during the day. I do not spend time in prayer simply giving thanks and acknowledging God for who He is, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. No, I have engorged myself on God’s blessings and I am no longer hungry.

I need to hunger and thirst for the true bread and living water of Jesus Christ. I need to crave my relationship with Him. I need to remain hungry!

Thanks be to God for His mercy and grace to me even when I am ungrateful for His blessings.

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

Fight To Resolve, Not to Win (Colossians 3:19)

In this hypercompetitive world we live, we hear phrases like, “Kill or be killed!” or “Survival of the Fittest!” Most of us can take this with a grain of salt but the pervasive culture that abounds sometimes carries over to our most precious relationships-our spouse.

Every married couple will have conflict. But it is how we resolve these conflicts that matters. If one listens to the ranting of the world, then a conflict can only be resolved with one side claiming a victory. But a Christian couple is called to a much higher standard. As Pastor Greg Laurie states, “Fight to resolve, not to win.”

I have definitely been guilty of wanting to get the last word in, to make sure my point is made and defended. I would even take the arrogant and vainglorious stance that even if my wife did not agree with my point, she at least understands it. It is a hollow victory at the least.

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Colossians 3:19

This word harsh can also be translated “to embitter”, literally to make a bitter taste in the stomach. When one fights to win, the results is more than a bad taste, it is bad communication. Marriage is advanced communication and advanced living. It is a relationship that is blessed and ordained by God. Thus when we fight, it should not be to embitter, but to honor God by resolving it.

Yes, it is easier said than done. But it can begin now. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He promises to give you His loving and peaceful Spirit to love your wife the way that Christ loves all of His children.

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

"There is Nothing More That I Want to Be!" (Acts 16:30)

I have been privileged to meet many excellent physicians as one of the directors of training for a dermatology residency program. One of my favorite but most challenging responsibility is interviewing prospective applicants. All of the applicants are amazingly brilliant with resumes that would be the envy of any physician or professional. Unfortunately, the competition is fierce because dermatology is a highly desired medical specialty. From a pool of over 300 applicants, only 25 are selected to interview, and, ultimately, only 2 are chosen for our program.

Thus, while our program has been fortunate to accept and train some excellent dermatologists, we must turn away many equally qualified applicants. Many of these go on to be accepted at other dermatology programs. But inevitably some are rejected by all programs and must reapply the next year and sometimes take even longer.

One resident stands out in my mind. Like her peers, she was an outstanding applicant. This was the third time she was applying, having been rejected by every program she applied to over the past 2 years. I asked her, “What will you do if you are rejected a third time?”

“Then, I will apply again.”

“And if you don’t get in again?”

“I will keep on applying until I make it!” She then turned to me and with a determined and steely gaze said, “There is nothing more that I want to be than a dermatologist!”

That year she did get into dermatology and she is now a superb practicing dermatologist, as she always dreamed and knew she would be. I admire her tenacity, passion, and strength of conviction.

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Acts 16:30

Her example reminded me of my own goals for my spiritual life. Do I have the same tenacity, passion, and strength of conviction about my love for Jesus Christ? Could I ask with the same earnestness of the Philippian jailer, “What must I do to be saved?” Could I state with unswerving conviction, “There is nothing more that I want to be than a Christian, a child of God”?

And once I am saved, would I continue as fervently in my faith, always seeking to be more Christ-like?

By God’s grace and mercy, He saved me. And by the continuing sanctification of His salvation, He is transforming me into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“There is nothing more that I want to be.”

Let me be a follower and disciple of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

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

Am I a Fool? (Proverbs 17:28)

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 17:28

The first quotation, attributed to Abraham Lincoln, is likely based upon the following Proverbs verse. It brings to mind a particularly painful and embarrassing episode in my life. I was one month into my first year as a medical resident. I was presenting the history of a patient to a senior resident. As I presented, he suddenly began chuckling. When I queried why he was laughing, he just shook his head and continued to snicker. I continued to present the case but the snickering continued. Irritated, I stopped and asked him, “You know, I don’t appreciate this. Why are you laughing?”

He looked at me in mock seriousness and said, “Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

He never did tell me what he thought was so foolish about my presentation and to this day, I still cannot discern what he found so amusing. But he did succeed in humiliating me. A few days later, he realized how callous and rude his statement was to me and he apologized. From that point forward, we became friends but the sting of his statement remained.

Regardless of his intentions, the episode does remind me the importance of choosing my words carefully. I often tell my daughter that words are very important and we must choose them very carefully when we speak or write. It is very easy to unknowingly hurt someone with a word that has a shade different tone or interpretation.

Am I a fool?

Perhaps for that day, I was. But In God’s eyes, the only person who is truly a fool is one who hears the Word of God and dismisses it, stating there is no God. If you have confessed your sins, repented, and believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are not a fool. You are a child of God! And there is no more wonderful relationship in the universe.

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

Nahnmwarki (Revelation 19:16)

Many years ago, I had the privilege to practice medicine in the Micronesian island of Pohnpei (Ponape). I loved the people who lived there. They were friendly, generous, and eager to provide hospitality to every stranger. I immersed myself in the culture and attempted to learn some of the language. One word that stood out in my studies was Nahnmwarki. It described an ancient tribal government and the leader or King was designated Nanhmwarki.

When I returned to Hawaii, I was eager to share my experiences with my local church family. I greeted the congregation with an exuberant shout, “I bring you greetings from the people of Pohnpei. I was blessed to be able to go there and return by the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the King of Kings, the Nahnmwarkien nahnmwarki!

Many years later, I was pleased to discover that God’s Word has been translated into the native language of Pohnpei. I am touched that the phrase I quoted so many years ago, was accurate and is now applied to the only King worthy of holding this title, Jesus Christ.

Nahnmwarkien nahnmwarki kan oh Kaunen kaun akan.

or, the more familiar translation…

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 19:16

God’s Word is not bound by culture, language, or history. Let His promises resonate throughout all His Creation!

Amen!

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

My Barnabas (Proverbs 27:17)

I have a dear brother in the Lord whom I have known since the first day of my medical residency. As physicians in training, we already shared a unique bond. But our relationship grew as we both went through our various life stages. Now, nearly 30 years after we first met, we meet regularly to encourage one another in our jobs, families, and most importantly, our spiritual relationship and walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We lost touch of each other for about 10 years, after we both completed our training. We became involved with our families and growing our medical practices. About 6 years ago, we began to meet on a regular basis but our fellowship was not as close and as sweet as it once was. But God intervened and rekindled our fellowship in a most dramatic fashion. During one of the darkest moments in my life, he showed up in my office at 8AM. Surprised but pleased by his visit, I asked him what brought him to my office that morning.

“I don’t know. I pass by your office every morning on my way to work. But this morning, I felt God speaking to me and telling me to stop and see you. Is everything okay?”

At that moment, I opened up and shared with him the turmoil that was surrounding my life, all because of my sinning. I expected him to be judgmental but with a kind look he said, “Paul, we are all sinners. I’m a sinner. This is why Jesus Christ came to save us. I love you and Jesus loves you. Let me pray for you.”

He is my Barnabas.

The Apostle Paul relied upon his relationship with Barnabas as he spread the Gospel to the known world. It was Barnabas who had the courage to first present Paul to the rest of the Apostles. All were afraid of him since it was only a short time since he was actively rounding up, persecuting, and imprisoning all Christians as blasphemers and heretics. Paul met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus and although his life was dramatically and forever changed, there were many who did not believe his conversion was authentic. Barnabas was the only one who stood and vouched for sincerity of Paul.

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

The Bible reminds us of the importance of having the sweet fellowship of another believer. God uses others to sharpen or bring to clear focus the issues that we may not see in ourselves. He uses others to be a source of encouragement and comfort. And He uses others to help each of us to become more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

Do you have a Barnabas in your life?

Allow God to sharpen your life with the sweet fellowship of another believer.

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

A Class Act (2 Samuel 1:25)

If someone were pursuing you intending to kill you, for no good reason, how would you respond if an opportunity arose to take revenge? How would you respond if your pursuer was killed?

David was pursued by a deranged King Saul. And although David had several opportunities to take Saul’s life, he resisted, knowing that Saul was anointed by God to be King of Israel.

David was a class act, someone who exhibited outstanding character and virtues. No matter how desperate the situation, he refused to take matters into his own hand. Instead, he obeyed and trusted God, allowing Him to deal with all situations and outcomes. When Saul met his death in battle with the Philistines, David showed grace and extended a hand of peace and protection to Saul’s family. In his eulogy, he praised both Saul and his son, Jonathan, proclaiming their virtues, not once hinting at the pain and suffering he endured.

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
2 Samuel 1:25

David was a man after God’s own heart. He was a class act by showing the character and nature of God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you can begin to experience the matchless beauty and majesty of God’s character in your life.

Be a class act!

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

"I Have Never Made a Mistake! (Habakkuk 2:4)

Several years ago, I was interviewing a medical resident applicant for our dermatology residency program. During these interviews, I like to ask questions that may give me a glimpse of their true personality. One of my favorite questions is, “I congratulate you on reaching this point in your career. Obviously you have made many good decisions but looking back upon your life, either professional or personal, are there any decisions that you have made, that, in retrospect, you now think may have been a mistake? And if so, how did you deal with it?”

Some residents were completely caught off guard by this question. In fact, one resident was so flustered that two days after the interview, I received a handwritten letter from her, explaining in great detail, why she was flustered and what she felt was her mistake. I greatly admired her courage, honesty and humility.

However, another resident left an equally vivid impression upon me. When I asked her the question, without missing a beat, she leaned across the table and stated, “Dr. Shitabata, I have NEVER made a mistake!”

Whoa.

“You just did.” I thought to myself.

Confidence is an important attribute for a physician. But humility must be mated with this confidence.

As I reflect upon this incident, I am reminded how the world substitutes the pride of intelligence and education for success. Refusing to admit to making mistakes or never admitting to making a wrong decision may be viewed by the world as a sign of success, but it is also a sure sign of pride, at its ugliest.

The prophet Habakkuk reminds us that such pride and values are misplaced. God values and justifies a person who is righteous and stands for Him in the face of evil and opposition.

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
Habakkuk 2:4

Everyone makes a mistake. And try as we might to hide our mistakes, all of our fears, failures, and trials are seen by God. He knows the deepest secrets of our heart. And He is willing to go where we may fear, into the places and memories where we are most vulnerable and weakest.

Will you let Him into your heart? If you confess your sins, repent, and call upon the name of Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will come into your heart and reign in your life. And all the sins, the painful memories, will be scattered as far as the east is from the west. You will be forgiven and sanctified by His precious blood.

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

That's Not Cool! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When I was in highschool, I, and the majority of the students, would carry our books under one arm. Sometimes this led to a lopsided posture as we struggled to keep the stacked books in order and secure under one arm. It would have been so much easier to place the books in a backpack or even a bag. But for many of us, carrying a bag was not cool!

How ironic that a few years later in college, everyone carried their books in a backpack! Now it was cool! In fact, now the majority of kids in high school carry a backpack. Many years later, I and others teased a colleague about his choice of a workplace bag. Instead of a briefcase, he carried his papers in an airline carry on travel bag with wheels. It looked as though he was ready to catch a plane on a moment’s notice. Now, I find myself using a similar bag because it relieves the pressure on my back. Instead of teasing, I now receive compliments that it is a cool idea!

We may make snap judgments of others based upon their appearance and behavior. Even if done in jest, such judgments are self-defeating, simultaneously tearing down oneself and others. And as time passes, it is clear that what may have been previously dubbed as uncool, may now become admired and emulated!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Life can become an endless parade and treadmill, occupied with keeping abreast with meaningless trends and fashions, trying to look cool. You can get off this path by taking a detour to God. If you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He will promise to make you a new creation. No longer will you be beholden to old behaviors. No longer will you have to worry about looking cool or staying in vogue. The only behavior you will need to be concerned about is living a life in joyous fellowship with the God of the Universe!

And how cool would that be?

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

Nosocomial Infections (Hebrews 4:16)

A nosocomial infection is a hospital-acquired infection. Although this may appear to be an oxymoron, it is a well-known potential complication of any hospitalization. In the news we hear terms such as MRSA and CRE. These are acronyms that represent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Methicillin and Carbapenem are antibiotics that were formerly effective against Staph and Enterobacteria respectively. The use of powerful antibiotics in hospitals has led to the emergence of microorganisms that are resistant to these previously effective antibiotics. These resistant strains of bacteria may lead to serious problems and even death in patients who are infected. Hospitals take extremely careful precautions to prevent these infections but as recent news stories have trumpeted, these infections still occur and the results may be devastating.

Hospitals are beautiful and magnificent structures, built to welcome and instill confidence in the patients and their loved ones that the health care providers and facility can treat and cure their medical problems. Ironically, a facility where medical care and treatment are most advanced may become one of the most dangerous places to be treated.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

A throne room is also a magnificent structure, built to inspire and intimidate. If we lived in a kingdom and were asked to approach the throne, such an encounter may be fraught with fear and uncertainty. The king holds absolute power over his subjects. One wrong move or errant word and one could be imprisoned or even executed. There is no more important place to make a request but it could also be the most dangerous place one could visit.

God’s Throne of Grace is set upon His Son, Jesus Christ.

We approach God’s Throne of Grace with reverence. There is no higher honor than to approach His Throne. But unlike a worldly throne room or a hospital, there are no dangers or lurking threats.

He is the Supreme Ruler of the Universe but He humbled Himself and took the form of a man to bear our sins, for which we should be justifiably punished. We approach God’s Throne with confidence knowing that Jesus understands our deepest needs and will bestow His mercy and grace upon us to help us. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He promises to do this.

Won’t you come to Jesus Christ to approach His Throne of Grace with confidence?

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

Time is Bent (Genesis 29:20)

Are you in love?

What a wonderful feeling! Butterflies in your stomach...continually thinking about what the other person is doing or thinking...planning the next rendezvous! When you are in love, everything revolves around that person. When we are anticipating the next meeting, time drags. And when we are reunited, time flies! Time is bent when we are in love!

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
Genesis 29:20

Jacob worked as a laborer for his Uncle Laban for 7 years in exchange for Laban’s daughter Rachel whom he intended to marry. Those were the quickest 7 years of Jacob’s life!

The greatest love we can ever experience is the love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we are in love with Jesus, time will be bent. He will walk with you through your darkest moments and brightest joys. And whenever He takes your hand, you will feel the exhilaration of a love renewed! And you will want that moment to last forever. Someday, you will be in His presence in Heaven and all concept of time will truly disappear. Eternal life will be ours and the moment will last forever.

Are you in love with God? Never lose that feeling and allow God to bend your concept of time! It is the briefest glimpse of a timeless eternity with Him!

Blessings with Aloha!

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

What's On Your Tombstone? (Luke 17:10)

I recently participated in an interesting exercise where we were each asked to write what we would like to be stated on our tombstone. Should I be pithy, humorous, serious, irreverent? As I pondered my answer, I recalled a time when I actually wrote out an epitaph and my own tombstone inscription. I was so wrapped up in myself that I was determined to leave a lasting legacy and lest anyone attending my funeral was unaware of my accomplishments, they would hear a litany of it, written by the best and most humble authority, myself!

But my life dramatically changed when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My life and expectations no longer revolved around myself. Instead, my life now exists to serve God. And the more I served Him, the more I realized that He must increase and I must decrease.

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”
Luke 17:10

As a follower of Jesus Christ, the only appropriate inscription on my tombstone should read, “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.” Anything that does not point to Him is meaningless.

If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, every moment of our lives should be spent serving Him in gratitude for what He has done for us. There is no greater honor or accolade that one can have except to know that you served Him in this lifetime.

So what would be on your tombstone?

Will your life be spent in service to God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, or will it be spent honoring yourself?

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