Why? (Psalm 22:1)

Why?

It is the plaintive cry of anyone who has faced persecution. It is the plea for justice when evil is perpetrated upon the innocent. It is the yearning for answers in a world that does not make sense.

Evil is everywhere. Turn on the television and almost every headline story is about violence or some variation of man’s inhumanity to man. Some will say that an all loving God could not possibly allow evil and therefore He could not be all powerful. Conversely if God were truly all powerful, He would not allow evil and suffering to exist, therefore He could not be all loving. But this is wrong and assumes that God would never use evil and suffering to accomplish His purposes. In the greatest act of love this universe has or ever will witness, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross. As He hung on the Cross, tortured and dying, the weight of all sins, past, present and future were placed upon Him. This cry went up from His lips as He experienced the separation from God the Father. It was a separation that only sin could produce. God used this most heinous act to accomplish His purpose.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
Psalms 22:1 (ESV)

To the immediate cry of His only Son, God did not answer Him.  But He did answer by His actions and power. He glorified His Son and revealed His plan to reconcile the world to Him by raising Jesus Christ from the dead. The next Psalm shows us what God will do when we place our trust in Him.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalms 23:1-6 (ESV)

God does not tell us all the reasons why we face troubles and turmoil, and He is under no obligation to do so.  But He promises to lead us out of the morass as the Good Shepherd, restoring our soul and giving us peace. We may not understand all the reasons for evil but we do know how it will end, with the triumphant return of Jesus Christ and the end of all pain, tears, and suffering.

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

Spirituality, Religiosity, and QOL (Romans 5:8)

A recent abstract presented at the 168th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting on May 16-20, 2015 in Toronto, Canada, raised some interesting observations.

The study paired religiosity and spirituality and compared each category to the quality of life (QOL) testing the hypothesis whether religiosity and spirituality worked synergistically or independently of QOL. The categories were:

Low spirituality/low religiosity
High spirituality/low religiosity
Low spiritually/high religiosity
High spirituality/high religiosity

The National Cancer Institute defines spirituality as an individual's sense of peace or purpose and feelings about the meaning of life in general. Religiosity is one possible conduit for spirituality in the context of specific beliefs and practices, usually in conjunction with other people who hold the same beliefs. Thus, in the context of this study, an individual may be spiritual, religious, neither, or both. The study found that patients who have high spirituality and high religiosity have a better QOL but spirituality was slightly more important that religiosity.

I believe this study only scratches the surface of the issue and blurs definitions. What is spirituality or religiosity? This is what defines all other religions. But it is not what defines Christianity. It is more than a series of beliefs and practices, it is more than associating with others who hold the same beliefs. Christianity is a relationship between man and his Creator. It is a relationship that exists because God, not man, took the initiative to reconcile a relationship destroyed by sin.

...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

In Christianity, our quality of life is determined by God reaching out to us, not by our efforts to reach Him.

Praise the Living God!

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


 

Just Enough (John 20:30-31)

The Apostle Paul wrote four letters to the Corinthians but the Holy Spirit only gave us two in the Bible. These other letters are referenced in the following two passages:
 

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people...
1 Cor 5:9

And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
2 Cor 2:3-4

We do not know why the Holy Spirit only recorded two letters to the Corinthians in the Bible. But we can be supremely confident that the books that are included in the Bible are sufficient and complete.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:30-31

When we read the Bible, we are receiving just enough information for us to learn about God and His plan for all humanity. Some people are tempted to add to God’s Word by reading other literary religious works. Some even think there are other prophets or Apostles that should be included. But the Bible was put together by men directed by God through the Holy Spirit. It is infallible and complete.

The Bible is just enough for us to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that there is no other name under Heaven or on Earth by whom we can be saved.

Amen!

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

Panboots (Acts 17:10-11)

The first time our family played Scrabble, we were all novices. When I eyed a potential triple word bonus, I seized the opportunity with the word, “PANBOOTS.”

“What does that mean?” My daughter exclaimed in laughter.

“Panboots! You don’t know what this is?” I asked in mock seriousness. “We wore them a lot in Denver and St. Louis. When the snow is very slushy, regular boots won’t do the trick. We had these wider boots that allowed us more stability. Wider boots...panboots!”

My daughter and wife naively accepted my absurd explanation. After the game, which I handily won, I confessed my lie. To this day, panboots has become part of our everyday language in our family. When it is storming, my daughter will say, “Dad, don’t forget to wear your panboots!”

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Acts 17:10-11

If my family had been like the Bereans, I would have been caught red-handed! The Bible records how this group of Jews eagerly searched the Scriptures to make sure that what Paul and Silas were preaching was true. The Bereans held them accountable and God blessed them for their faithfulness by bringing them to salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Bereans did not need any assistance, not even panboots! They only needed the call and direction of the Holy Spirit to bring them into God’s Kingdom.

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

But It Caught Your Attention (1 Timothy 1:4)

When my daughter and I are driving on the road, we often like to comment upon the advertisements on billboards and buildings. But what always catches our eyes are people, either dressed up in costume or doing some ridiculous action. Sometimes we laugh and shake our heads over the antics. On one occasion, my daughter asked me,”That was silly! Why did they do that?”

“It is silly but that’s not the point, is it? It was trying to catch your attention and it succeeded, didn’t it?”

My daughter nodded in agreement but then I asked her, “It caught your attention, but what were they trying to sell?”

My daughter stopped to think about it and mumbled, “Something about a phone?”

Yes, something like that. Bottom line, the stunt caught our attention but we didn’t remember what they were trying to sell.

The Christian church may sometimes fall into a similar trap. Leadership may sometimes be more focused upon the type of worship music, children programs, and timely topics of discussion. All of these activities are important to address the needs of the church members. But the most important charge of any church is to teach the Word of God. Any church that is not grounded in God’s Word is a church in name only.

...nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
1 Timothy 1:4

The Apostle Paul warned his young protege, Timothy, the minister of the church at Ephesus, about the dangers of drifting from the true doctrine of God’s Word.  Distractions abound, both in Ephesus and in today’s church. We, like Timothy, need to be ever vigilant to be completely rooted in teaching and learning the pure Word of the Bible. Once our heart and focus is squarely upon God’s Word, all other church programs and activities will fall into its proper place.

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

Paper Trail (1 Corinthians 16:3)

Scandals involving money may destroy a local church. We read of laypeople, deacons, even pastors who steal and misdirect funds that should be supporting the local church but instead support their greedy lifestyle. Too often, the crime arises when there is insufficient oversight of financial dealings.

Such a crime, when discovered, should result in strong church discipline, even considering ex-communicating the perpetrator until they have repented, disciplined, and shown by their lifestyle that they have changed.

And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 16:3

In this passage, Paul planned to send money with several representative chosen by the Corinthian church. He did this so that there would be transparency in his financial dealings; there could no possibility that he could be accused of misappropriating these funds. Paul was establishing a paper trail and the Bible is the record.

It is comforting to know the Bible addresses so many dimensions of church life, including financial accountability. Sometimes, we may naively assume that such sins and crimes could not occur within a church. But the Christian, even if saved, still faces a struggle with the flesh. Unfortunately, at times, we give in to the temptations of the flesh leading to sins, including theft.

The only hope is to claim the promises that God gives us through His Holy Spirit. If we have confessed our sins, repented, and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God promises us to never abandon us and 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)

Our paper trail is the Words of the Bible which God has given to us through His Holy Spirit. This paper trail holds us accountable to God and to our brothers and sisters of the Body of Christ.

Amen!

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

We Thought You Were From NY! (Luke 12:48)

When I lived in St. Louis, our cases were transcribed by off-site transcribers. During the end of my tenure there, my associate and I thought it a good idea to drive to their site and meet them face to face. It was a very pleasant meeting and when the transcribers found out I was from Hawaii, one of them exclaimed, “We thought you were from New York! You were always dictating so quickly!”

I do have a bad habit of speaking and working very quickly. I multitask my multitasking. This leads to great efficiency and the realization that very few people can work at the same pace. At times, this has led to impatience on my part with the slower pace of some of my co-workers. But when my attitude becomes ungodly, God reminds me that He holds me accountable to utilize these gifts He has bestowed upon me for His glory.

...Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Luke 12:48

God’s Word is always sobering and cuts to the heart of the matter. If God blesses us with different gifts, His expectations are different for each of us. As a child of God, my salvation is secure. But my rewards in Heaven will be based upon how I used the gifts that God gave me. If I am productive, it is only to serve God and not to feed my ambitions.

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

I'm Crazy in Love (John 3:16)

The other day I found a bottle of perfume that I bought for my wife many years ago. It was the scent that she wore when we first met and brought back a flood of wonderful memories. From the first moment I met her, I was smitten! I loved everything about her and when I was not in her presence, I sought out reminders of her. One of the strongest was the scent of her perfume that lingered wherever we spent time. So I actually obtained a small sampler of the perfume and kept it with me, occasionally opening and sniffing it when I was missing her. I was crazy in love!

I wish I had such continued passion and intense longing in my relationship with Jesus Christ. Do I seek out reminders of my passion for Him? Do I spend hours daydreaming about my prior times of sweet fellowship? Do I actively look for ways to keep our relationship fresh and alive? Sadly, I do not. And yet, I eagerly did those things for my wife when we first met. Crazy in love? It is a romantic love that I show to my wife. It is agape, a godly love that God gives to me. It is a love that can never be duplicated or repaid. All I can do is to respond in gratefulness and thanksgiving.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Crazy in love? God’s love for us is the craziest and greatest expression of love that has ever been shown.

God loved us when we did not deserve it, earn it, or even desire it.

Amen!

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

The Fugue (John 14:26)

Most people know a fugue as a musical form. It is one or more musical phrases that are repeated and interwoven throughout a composition. Bach was a master of composing the fugue. A fugue is also a psychiatric term that describes a state of consciousness where the patient appears to perform an action but upon later questioning, has no recollection. The word is derived from the latin word fuga, which means flight. So in music, the repeated phrase appears to fly around the scale whereas in psychiatry, the patient appears to fly away from reality and their own identity.

I was privileged to work with many great professors when I was a resident. But one will always stand out. He had a photographic memory and one of the sharpest minds that I have ever had the pleasure to experience. As we daily sat around the teaching microscope, learning from his diagnostic forays into dermatopathology, we would occasionally ask him questions. He would often immediately answer the questions but every so often, he would lapse into a state that could almost be described as a fugue. He would look up from the microscope and appear to stare off into space. Sometimes this would alarm us and we would politely ask “Dr. Smith, are you okay?” But he would not answer and continue to stare. Sometimes, after a few seconds, he would continue his diagnostic sign-outs but at other times, he would abruptly get up and walk to his office which was lined by shelves containing hundreds of medical journals. Without hesitating, he would pull a volume of a seemingly random journal, flip through several pages and then exclaim, “Here it is! Here is the answer to your question!”

What was so mind boggling about these episodes was the question he was responding to was sometimes asked weeks earlier! Yet, the question was burned into his amazing mind and memory and would not depart until he adequately answered it.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 14:26

The experience with my professor reminds me of God’s provision to bring to our remembrance His continual provisions and mercy to us. The more we desire to walk with Him, the more our minds will continue to reflect and ponder the benefits and blessings He continues to bestow upon us. He does this so that we may be able share the Good News of His Son, Jesus Christ, to others who may not yet know Him. So even if we lapse into times of forgetfulness, God, through His Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance His promises and blessings.

What a wonderful God we serve!

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

A Three Day Marriage (Luke 23:42-43)

Source Buzzfeed

This is the beautiful and poignant story of the love between two teenagers, both 16 years of age. They were in love but the boy, Omar, was diagnosed with acute leukemia. Once in remission, he began dating Amie. Eight months later, Omar learned that his leukemia returned. A bone marrow transplant was his only hope but by the time a suitable donor was found, it was too late. Doctors informed Omar that he had only days to live. Undaunted, Omar proposed to Amie two days later and she happily accepted. With the blessings of both parents, a wedding was arranged in the hospital room. Three days later, Omar passed away.

This young couple was able to experience, albeit briefly, the beauty and joy of a marriage. He died with his family present and holding his wife’s hand.  As Amie recalled, “As he put the ring on my finger he said he wished he had more time with me. I really wish we had too, but I’m just so glad we had the chance to make this happy memory,”

Love is measured not only by the passage of time but by the quality of the moments spent together. For a few hours on the Cross, our Lord Jesus Christ, hung in agony, receiving the full weight of punishment for the sins of the world. And in the midst of His suffering,

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43 (ESV)

It was for the briefest of moments the lives of Jesus and the thief crossed. But it was enough time for God to extend His love and mercy to the thief and allow him to enter Paradise.

Love is truly measured by the quality of the moments spent together.

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

We Need Your Word (Amos 8:11)

In the United States, we are blessed and most fortunate to have immediate access to God’s Word, the Bible. There is no excuse for not reading the Bible. Nearly every hotel room, bookstore, and department store carries a copy of the entire Bible or selected readings. It is available but sometimes taken for granted. There are millions of people in the world who are craving to read and/or hear God’s Word. But access to the Bible is hindered by oppressive governments or competing religions.

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land —not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.”
Amos 8:11

God, through the prophet Amos, passed judgment upon the nation of Israel for rejecting the words of the prophets that were sent by God. Israel had hundreds of years to repent but continued to reject God’s commands. Finally, God allowed Israel to be captured, destroyed and taken into Assyrian captivity. And although the people desperately sought the Word of God, it was not to be found. God had sent a famine of hearing His Word by delivering Israel into captivity.

God does not want us to take His Word for granted. He has given us the Bible to learn who Jesus Christ is. We have no excuse to not pick it up and read it. God desires for all us to confess our sins, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Amen!

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

Revisiting the Same Injury (2 Peter 2:22)

When I was a senior in high school, I severely sprained my right ankle and was placed in a cast for several weeks. That ankle never truly regained full strength and over the years, I have managed to reinjure that same ankle several times. Although I thought I have taken great measures to avoid injury, it seems that I keep returning to the same habits that caused the injury in the first place. Why am I so prone to same injury?

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
Proverbs 26:11

What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
2 Peter 2:22

The Bible reminds us how some behaviors that may lead us to weakness and sin, have a nasty way of returning to torment us. Try as we might, we keep returning to this “vomit”. What hope is there for correcting such pathetic behavior?

If we attempt to change by our own efforts, we are doomed to repeat the folly. The same behaviors will return to lead us down the well-trodden path to the same sins. Our only hope is to turn to Jesus Christ. If we confess our sins and repent and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And by doing so, He gives us His Holy Spirit to indwell within us and transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

What a wonderful promise that the God of the Universe gives to us!

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

"I Loved His Writing!" (2 Corinthians 10:10-11)

A good friend of mine met his wife through an online dating site. After they were married, his wife admitted to me that after the first few dates, she thought he was not her type and was not going to continue the relationship. Her feelings completely turned around, however, when he wrote a letter to her. My friend is a gifted and intelligent person and is an excellent writer. However, he battles a stuttering speech impediment that prevents him from effectively expressing himself. Through this first letter and later writings, she saw the true depth of his character. She soon fell in love with him because, as she later gushed, “I loved his writing!”

For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present.
2 Corinthians 10:10-11

This beautiful story reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. Paul felt compelled to defend his credentials to detractors within the church. They were judging Paul as weak and inferior by only focusing upon the physical limitations of his body and speech. But Paul let his powerful writings represent his true character, a man dedicated to serving His Lord Jesus Christ. And for thousands of years, we know Paul as the mighty prayer warrior who penned so many beautiful verses of the New Testament.

God, through His Holy Spirit, spoke to us through Paul. We only know Paul through his writings but that is all we need. Like some members of the Corinthian church, we need to go beyond the physical appearances and look at the message that is being written or communicated, by writings, actions, or lifestyle.

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

Do Your Best and Let God Do the Rest! (Colossians 3:23-24)

There are many aphorisms that people love to quote. Not surprisingly some are peppered with references to God and and therefore some presume the quotations are Biblical. One example is, “God helps those who help themselves.”

Wrong! There is nothing in the Bible that remotely suggests or resembles this. The quote originated in ancient Greece and is thought to a fable or proverb of the day. Benjamin Franklin later used it in his writings. Unfortunately, for many, this aphorism has been accepted as one of God’s commandments! It is the antithesis of what God commands of us and, instead, it is an ode to self-reliance and humanism.

Thankfully, other aphorisms are not egregious misrepresentations. “Do your best and let God do the rest.” There is no exact Bible verse that states this. However, this sentiment is certainly present in a number of Bible verses.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

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.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

All of these verses point to the importance of using all of your God-given abilities to do your best. But at what point do you allow God to do the rest? When you are exhausted? When you are injured or incapacitated? No, you allow God to work from the very beginning. Before you do your best, commit your effort to the Lord. He promises to accomplish His purpose through you.

Commit your work to the Lord,and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

Do your best and let God do the rest!

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

Ridiculous (Amos 6:12)

There is a television show that focuses upon ridiculous situations. It combines the absurd situations of Candid Camera with the exhibitionist desires of an internet generation, allowing the viewer to see others in extreme and bizarre circumstances. Examples include people being pulled by a car on a skateboard, only to slam into the rear bumper; jumping from rooftop to rooftop only to miss and come crashing down.

It is indeed ridiculous, absurd and very dangerous.

Some people like to seek attention by doing the ridiculous and absurd, often resulting in hurting or humiliating themselves. They like to flaunt the conventional laws of safety and common sense but rationalize it by stating they are only hurting themselves. There are no rules and if there are, they are made to be broken and disobeyed. Who will hold them accountable? Both God is not amused when His people disobey Him. The consequences are far more devastating than personal injury.

Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow there with oxen?
But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood...
Amos 6:12 (ESV)

God, through the prophet Amos, pronounced judgment upon the nation of Israel for their perversion of justice. Amos compared their actions to something as ridiculous and absurd as a horse running on rocks or attempting to plow with oxen. It was an unflattering comparison and it was a stern warning for Israel to repent. They did not and within a few years, the prophecy of Amos would come to pass and Israel would be taken into captivity by the Assyrians.

Ridiculous and absurd...that anyone would repeatedly chose to disobey God thinking they could escape judgment.

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

"You Need a Good CFO! (Mark 3:13-14)

When I was with my former company, my partners thought it important for all of us to understand our strengths and weaknesses. Thus, we hired a business consultant who administered a test that would identify our personality types and aptitudes. My analysis was direct. I would be a good leader or CEO but would need a good accountant or CFO. No surprises there. My weakness has always been with numbers and financial forecasting. I have always surrounded myself and relied upon others with an excellent eye for financial analysis. Of course, this assumes the people I choose would also be compatible with my other advisors and managers. And this is where problems often arise.

In all my companies, I have endeavoured to surround myself with people who were adept in areas which I lacked. I have sought people who were skilled at advertising, marketing, sales, finances; and to direct everyone, a good manager. Any personal weakness would be compensated by others more talented than myself. But what looks good on paper, may not translate well into reality. Personality conflicts may arise, competing agendas may supplant the leader’s vision, and petty personal idiosyncrasies may explode into outright hostility.  We may need to find others to compensate for our weaknesses but the solution may sometimes not be worth the effort.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.
Mark 3:13-14

I marvel at the men that Jesus Christ picked to be His Apostles. These twelve men had such varied backgrounds and frankly, it is a wonder that a civil war did not erupt. Simon the Zealot was called this because he was a virulently anti-Roman agitator. Matthew was a tax collector, a Jew who worked with the Romans. These two Apostles could not have been more opposite in outlook and occupation. Fishermen, tax collector, zealot... Jesus brought them together.  Would I have picked such men? I doubt it. Jesus was willing to use men who had many personality flaws and their own competing agendas. He did not focus upon their flaws but focused upon their hearts. He revealed to them that He was the Son of God and by placing their trust in Him, He used them to proclaim and preach the Good News to all people.

I am thankful that by God’s grace and mercy, He saved me. He uses me, in spite of all my personality flaws and weaknesses, to serve Him. I may surround myself with others to help me but I first need to believe that His grace is sufficient for me. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Amen!

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

I Would Like to See My Grandchildren (Psalms 128:6)

During a breakout session at our recent church conference, I was placed with a group of 4 other adults. One woman was a grandmother, another man and woman had 3 grown children each, and one man was finishing college. The question was posed to each of us, “What would you like to see in your lifetime?” As I surveyed the group, a pleasant thought occurred to me and I stated, “I would like to see my grandchildren!”

The oldest woman, who was a grandmother, chuckled and said, “Your kids are only teenagers!”

“I know, “ I replied. “But it is still something that I wish!”

I am very proud of and thankful for my 2 children. And as I watch them both grow, it is my heartfelt wish to see them become godly adults and raise a godly family. God honors our families and also desires for us to see our grandchildren.

May you see your children's children!
Psalms 128:6

Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father.
Proverbs 17:6

I am greatly comforted that God addresses all of our desires, spoken and unspoken. On top of the exceedingly abundant blessings He has already showered upon me, He seeks to bestow further blessings through my children and grandchildren. It is never too early to seek God’s blessings within the lives of our children and hopefully, grandchildren!

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

Something Had to Change (John 3:30)

When I was a freshman in college in Southern California, it was the first time I was living away from my childhood home of Hawaii. I didn’t know anyone on the campus, I was suffering with the smog-infested air, and I was homesick. My pre-med classes were difficult and I struggled to adjust to intense pace of college and adapt to a new environment. My study habits that had previously served me well and allowed me to get accepted to this college, were now failing me. My first semester grades were three B’s and one A-, it was a good showing but not good enough. Berating myself, I uttered, “I will never get into medical school with these grades. It isn’t good enough.”

Something had to change. The courses were not going to get any easier, the environment was not going to change. No, I had to change. I had to completely change the way I studied and I needed to study harder, harder than I had ever previously done. It wasn’t easy and it meant sacrificing all of my free time during that second semester of my freshman year. But slowly, I saw progress. My new system of taking notes and studying was allowing me to be more productive and efficient. As a result, I felt more at ease with my classes and environment. The effort paid off and by the end of the second semester, I had three A’s and one B+. I was on my way to medical school!

This time in my life reminded me when I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I did not know how to grow in my faith, all of my usual methods of learning were failing me. I would read the Bible but it felt unfamiliar, transporting me to an ancient society with different traditions. I would speak to other Christians but I was overwhelmed and confused by words like “redemption” and “sanctification”. Something had to change. But instead of my usual habit of looking inward and attempting to marshall my own resources and self-determination, I looked outward and upward to Jesus Christ. I prayed to Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit and allow me to change to become more like Him. Slowly, my prayers became more focused, the words of the Bible began to resonate within my soul, and fellowship with other believers became sweeter.

He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30

When our usual methods and actions seem ineffective, we need to re-evaluate what we are doing. Sometimes the answer is change. But like John the Baptist’s revelation in the verse above, we need to be humble and admit that we must decrease and God must increase; we need to acknowledge that God is in control. God brings us into different situations in life to allow Him to reveal His glory to us. He works in our lives and through others to accomplish His will.

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

Just Don't Hurt Your Family (Proverbs 15:27)

I have a physician colleague who is an excellent surgeon and a successful businessman. When I was beginning my own medical business, I met with him for advice seeking wise counsel. After conversing for over an hour, he smiled and looked at me and uttered these sage words.

“Whatever you do, just don’t hurt your family.”

He shared that he had seen so many people make business decisions that ultimately ended up hurting their family. Some decisions were poor or risky financial investments, others took time taken away from the family, still others were dishonest and flaunted the law. Whichever the decision, the family was the loser.

Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 15:27

Running a business requires a substantial investment of one’s time and financial resources. While the owner may list a multitude of reasons for starting it, ultimately, only a business that is dedicated to serving God will honor Him. The type of business does not matter. What matters is the heart and attitude of the owner. The Bible warns against greed and unscrupulous actions in any business dealings. Your family will be hurt. And God will hold you accountable.

In business and in life, none of our decisions are made in a vacuum. Seek God’s will first by believing and trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior. If you confess your sins to Him and truly repent, He is faithful and just to forgive you and grant you eternal salvation.

There is no more important decision you can make for yourself and for your family.

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

Just Do It! (Proverbs 14:12)

Just Do It!

If it feels right, do it!

You only live once, go for all the gusto you can!

We live in a culture inundated with advertisements instructing us to follow our indulgences. Don’t deny yourself what life has to offer! Obey your instincts! Sometimes, our instincts do steer us in the right direction, or at least what seems right. Life is a complex maze of competing interests, ours and the world. And if our interests match with the world’s, we perceive that we made the right decision. After all, we often think we are the best qualified person to make that choice. This is not truth, only a relative truth for what we want it to be.  

Thankfully, there is another way.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:12

The Bible tells us that what man deems right or necessary is not always in his best interests. Only God knows what is the best path for us to take. And when we submit to God’s leading, it is not a life of denial but rather of freedom. It is living a life for which we were created. This is the truth.

Just do it!

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