Pudgy Paul (John 20:25)

I transferred to a new school when I was in 6th grade. I was a stranger to everyone there and I wanted to make friends and fit in. Fortunately, I soon became known by a quirky nickname-

“Pudgy Paul!”

The nickname stuck and it led to a quick acceptance and new friends. I soon entered adolescence and slimmed down considerably, but the name stuck for many years after that.

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
John 20:25 (ESV)

Doubting Thomas. Here is another nickname that has stuck for many years, even centuries! The disciple refused to believe his Master, Jesus Christ, was resurrected and alive. Eight days later, Jesus appeared to him and the other disciples.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:27-29 (ESV)

Church tradition records that Thomas later became a missionary to India where he was martyred. The man who was once known as “Doubting Thomas” became one of the giants of the early Christian church.

Nicknames do stick, sometimes long after the description is no longer accurate. And if the nickname is derogatory or negative, it may never completely disappear in spite of any effort or positive accomplishments on our part.

Thankfully only God truly knows who we truly are. And the only name that matters is whether it is recorded in the Book of Life. If you have confessed your sins, repented, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your salvation and eternal destiny are secure. And no nickname will ever mar or take that gift away from you.

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

An Unexpected Reunion (John 14:2-3)

On my recent vacation to Hawaii, we arrived in Oahu at 7:30 PM. Our family was hungry since we were still on Los Angeles time and had not eaten dinner, so we opted to visit a popular Honolulu restaurant. As we were being seated by the hostess, a hand tapped my shoulder and said, “I thought you looked familiar!” It was my classmate from high school!

“Wow, what a surprise! Are you here with your family?”

“No,” he chuckled. “I am here with about 40 of our high school classmates! We are celebrating our 35th reunion! We are in the next room!”

“What?” I was incredulous as I was led into the large banquet room next to our table. There they were! Some familiar faces and some that I could scarcely recognize, even after they introduced themselves. After all, it had been 35 years! Apparently my contact email information was out of date and I did not receive the invitation or updates. But by sheer coincidence, I arrived at the same restaurant. It was a pleasant and welcome surprise. An unexpected reunion!

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 14:2-3 (ESV)

Someday in Heaven, I will be reunited with many of my friends and loved ones. My mother will be there. Dr. Dreisbach, a mentor in medicine and missions, will also be there. And my godparent, Dr. Mamoun Nazif, will be waiting for me! But they are there because they, too, trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus has promised to care for all of us in His Father’s house in Heaven.

God desires to see you and everyone else there as well. He does not want anyone to perish but to have eternal life by repenting of your sins accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior. But you can only do this while you are still alive in this earth. Once you die, it is too late.

If you do this, someday in Heaven, there will be no unexpected reunion with other Christian believers. You can be assured that God is there and has prepared a place of eternal rest for you and all other believers in Jesus Christ.

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

I Deserve a Break.. (Luke 12:48)

Of the many psychological surveys I have taken during my career, one observation stands out. After the evaluation, the industrial psychologist walked around the room and stopped in front of each of my partners. Pointing directly at the woman next to me, he declared, “At the end of a very busy day, no matter how heavy the workload, you always feel, ‘I could have done more!’"

She laughed and nodded. Then he stood in front of me and said, “But you, on the other hand, when you have a had a similar heavy workload day, will seek to reward yourself and you may something like, ‘I deserve a break!’"

I also laughed. That is so true, I thought!

Two completely different responses to the same stimuli. Neither right nor wrong, simply a perception and attitude. I deserve a break after a long, hard day, right? After all, I worked harder than anyone else. Perhaps. But my attitude also reveals my selfishness. I think I deserve a break because of who I am.

...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 (ESV)

This passage reminds me that to those whom God has blessed with gifts and talents, He does expect much in return. Our attitude should be one of gratitude to Him for what He has given us, rather than the sinful attitude that God should be thankful to us and reward us for working so hard!

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, everything you do should be out of gratitude to God who has saved you and bore the penalty of the sin that previously separated you from the sweet fellowship that He always offers you. When you serve God with any long or arduous task, God will give you a break and give you rest, not because you deserve it, but because He loves you.

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

I've Heard This Before (Hebrews 4:12)

I became a Christian in college, over thirty years ago. During these years, I visited many churches. With time, I would begin to hear similar sermons on familiar Bible passages. If I did not find a sermon particularly appealing, I would take a very ungodly and dismissive attitude and think to myself, “I’ve heard this before.”

Thankfully, my attitude has matured a bit since those early headstrong and arrogant years. Although I do not visit many different churches since I have found my church home with Palos Verdes Baptist Church, I still hear many different sermons at conferences, on the radio, and via the internet. Like before, I may sometimes hear a familiar sermon or theme. But instead of dismissing the message, I now focus upon what God is attempting to teach me. And even if I do not agree with the message, I take great comfort and peace that at least I get to hear the Word of God read!

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

I must always focus upon the source of the message, the Bible.  The Bible may be praised, misinterpreted, and even maligned by whosoever quotes it. But nothing can ever diminish the power of the Word of God! By it, worlds are conquered, lives are restored, and God is revealed.

Amen!

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

Nothing On Top Of My Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

When I first became a Christian in college, a dear brother in the Lord whom God used to lead me to Him, would often take time to disciple me. One day, we entered my dormitory room and after a few moments, he walked over to my desk where my Bible lay. Another small book lay on top of it and he gently removed the book and placed it on the desk next to the Bible.

“Why did you do that?” I questioned him.

“Oh,” he sheepishly began. “Sorry, just a habit of mine. You see, I don’t like to see anything on top of the Bible.”

I nodded without any further explanation. The Bible is God’s Holy Word. There is nothing more important in the written language. When he saw a Bible in a room, he wanted to make sure that it was honored and accorded the respect that it deserved. Nothing-not a book, paper, or other object, should be on top of it. It was not idol worship; it was honoring God for what He has given us.

To this day, I emulate the example that this brother in Christ demonstrated to me. I do try to do it with consideration to whomever is in the room. Once they leave, I place the Bible on its own. I’m not attempting to be “holier” than anyone else. I simply want to honor the Bible. No one has to know what I did except God.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16:17 (ESV)

If you had a book in your possession that contained the very answers to life itself, you would undoubtedly cherish it and place it a position of respect. The Bible is that book. All the questions about life are answered by the words in its pages. Just take the time to read it. You will know that nothing should be on top of your Bible except your hands that open it.

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

"Give Me A Phone Number!" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

In high school, I played violin in our orchestra. Twice a year, we combined the band, choir and orchestra for a Christmas concert and an Easter concert. I looked forward to these concerts because the conductor of the combined performance group was also the choir director. Although I only worked with him a total of 6 times, I have very pleasant and lasting memories of this remarkable musician. He had a wonderful voice, of course, and was a gifted piano and organ player.

During one exhausting rehearsal session, he wanted to give everyone a break so he yelled out, “Someone, give me a phone number!”

Confused and a bit amused, one of us yelled out their phone number, “555-7913”. Immediately, he began playing a melody on the piano, harmonizing each note with rich chords. It was beautiful but we were all trying to discern what he was doing. Was this the number of some opus in a great work of music? Was this an esoteric numbering classification of music that we have yet to learn?

He yelled out again for another number and again, we obliged. Another beautiful melody, this time played with a ragtime-like beat. Finally, he looked up and said, “I’m constructing a song out of the notes of the scale that correspond to the telephone numbers you gave me!”

Oh my!

In an instant, we all got it! A musical scale contains 8 notes. For example, in the key of C, it would be C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. There are also sharps and flats which are half steps between most of these notes. Instead of naming each note, musicians sometimes refer to a note as the 3rd or 5th of a scale and then designate the key. Thus, in the key of C, the 3rd would be E while the 5th would be G. The ninth would be one more than C, or D. By “playing” the telephone number, he was taking the cue from the numbers and playing the corresponding note. Brilliant!

This story reminds me of how God can take the ordinary and bring forth His glory in most unexpected ways. A few loaves of bread and fish become a meal for over 5,000 men; jars of water are turned into sweet wine; a young poor girl is chosen to be the mother of the Son of God to give birth to Him.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV)

God is ready to turn our expectations upside down when He intervenes in our lives. But we first need to be willing to come to Him by confessing and repenting of our sins. And it is only by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, will He forgive us of our sins and restore the fellowship that was shattered by our sins.

God can bring forth His glory from the ordinary events in all of our lives. Just give Him your trust!

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

 

The Pastor Must Be Humble (1 Peter 5:2-3)

When I first became a Christian in college in Southern California, I attended a church where many of my classmates attended. By the time I reached my senior year, I knew I would be leaving California and returning home to Hawaii. I was a bit apprehensive since I did not have many Christian contacts in Hawaii and did not know how to find a new home church. One day before I graduated, I turned to a brother in Christ and asked him, “What should I look for in a church?”

Without hesitating he answered, “First and foremost, I always try to discern if the pastor is humble before God.”

“How do you do this?” I wondered out loud.

He nodded, “Does the pastor pray before his sermon? Does he ask God’s Holy Spirit to speak through Him. Does everything he speaks point to God?”

Good advice. The pastor’s calling is to preach the Word of God. He may be adept at church administration, a good musician and worship leader, or an expert in finances. But his calling is to shepherd the local church, the family of God. He is to preach God’s Word to encourage, exhort, and instruct.

...shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV)

Humility before God. It is essential for a pastor and it is essential for us, who are laypeople. The Church of Christ is part of His Body and works together to glorify God. There are no egos or selfish ambitions; each member works together to serve God. The pastor guides his flock and the flock dedicate themselves to glorifying God through their lives.

Seek a pastor that is humble before God.

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

He Got My Dirty Laundry (Psalms 90:8)

On the last day of my sophomore year in college, my friend drove me to the airport. On the way, we stopped off for dinner. We parked his car on the street and went into the restaurant and ate dinner. About an hour and a half later, we returned to find his car was broken into and some of the contents stolen. Missing from my possessions was a large duffel bag, filled with my dirty laundry! I didn’t have time to wash my clothes during the last week of final exams so I stuffed all my dirty laundry into this duffel bag, intending to take it home and wash it. The thief thought he was getting a great treasure, instead, he got my dirty laundry!

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
Psalms 90:8 (ESV)

For much of my life, my great fear was that someone would find my dirty laundry and secret sins. I have done many things for which I am very ashamed. I have hurt many people, trashed my reputation, and failed to live up to my expectations and those who cared for me. Even after accepting Jesus Christ, I still struggle with these fears.

But God’s promises are greater than accusations leveled against me by any man; they are greater than any guilty feelings or remorse I may carry. As incredible as it may seem, He has taken my sins, cast them away, and forgiven me. It is only because I have confessed and repented of my sins to Jesus Christ, and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior that He is able to do this. I serve Him because of gratitude for His love and mercy to me. I did not deserve to be forgiven but He paid the price for my sins.

I have much dirty laundry but thanks be to God who has washed me clean and made me white as snow.

Thank you Lord Jesus Christ!

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

"Something So Beautiful" (2 Corinthians 12:3-4)

One of my favorite movies is “The Shawshank Redemption”. There are so many poignant moments in the film but one that stands out to me was an operatic interlude. Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, was insistent on having the state send funds and materials to build a prison library. After six years of letters, the state finally relents and sends Andy a check for $200 and a collection of records and books. Andy sifts through the records and finds a copy of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”. He puts it on the record player, listens for a few seconds, then turns on the prison’s PA system and allows the entire prison community to hear the opera. Everyone is stunned and Red, Andy’s best friend, played by Morgan Freeman, commented on the experience:

“I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.”

And I know such a man — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
2 Corinthians 12:3-4 (NKJV)

In this Bible passage, the Apostle Paul recounted his time when he was taken into Paradise. What he saw there was the unspeakable beauty and glory of Heaven and the presence of God. I can only imagine what he saw was... “something so beautiful, it can’t be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it.”

If you have confessed your sins, truly repented, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you, too, will experience the indescribable beauty and joy of Heaven that the Apostle Paul once witnessed. But it will not be for a brief moment, it will be for all eternity!

Won’t you place your trust in Jesus Christ? He is altogether beautiful and lovely and more precious than the finest gold or jewels. He is God, our Living Savior!

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

Welcome to Mellowland (1 John 3:18)

My sophomore year in college was a grueling experience. I was introduced to organic chemistry which had a test every Friday. On top of this course were my biology classes which were equally challenging. All of my afternoons were occupied with labs. It seemed as though I was going from one cram session to another. After the first month, I made a sign and placed it on my wall in my dorm room:

Welcome to Mellow Land

It was the antithesis of my lifestyle and mindset, but I thought it amusing to place it on my wall, if only to remind me that I needed to relax. On one particularly challenging day, when I had 3 exhausting exams, I returned to my dorm room, only to find the sign had fallen. How appropriate!

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18

Sometimes I say or do things that appear to project a different image of who I really am. I want people to think I am some cool guy, in control of everything. Instead, I have so many insecurities and faults, failing far too many times than I succeed. Only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ am I able to portray my true self. I am a sinner that has been forgiven by God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

And someday, I will no longer have to pretend. He will welcome me to the mellowest and most peaceful of all lands, His eternal Kingdom in Heaven!

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

Work Hard, Play Hard (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

When I was growing up, my dad had a phrase whenever he saw me getting overwhelmed with studies and homework, “Work hard, play hard!” He wanted to make sure I knew that life wasn’t all work and no play. I was to do the hard work and complete my responsibilities. But if I worked hard, I could soon enjoy the fruits of my labor.

Good advice. Years later, I find myself telling my daughter the same thing. The Bible also reminds us that there is a time for work and play. But these activities are not just for our benefit. They are to bring us into a richer and more complete understanding of who God is.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV)

We do reap what we sow. If we work for our personal gain, we will reap within us an attitude of self-reliance and arrogance. But if we work for God’s glory, we will reap the eternal benefits of sweet fellowship with Him.

Work hard, play hard...but do it for God.

Amen!

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

Inside Out (James 1:2)

The other evening, I saw the movie, Inside Out. I enjoyed it immensely and found it a fresh take on understanding our emotions and the joy and pain of growing up. The movie personalizes our different emotions of joy, fear, sadness, disgust, and anger. They live within our mind known as the Headquarters and direct our thoughts and actions. The story centers upon a young girl, Riley, who must deal with the trauma of moving with her family from Minnesota to San Francisco. Along the way, there is a tumultuous struggle between her emotions, usually led by Joy.

What captivated me about this movie is the constant and humorous interactions between the emotions.  When Sadness seemed to take over, Joy would quickly intervene, attempting to rescue the moment. Joy did everything possible to make sure Riley would not be brought down by Sadness. That is all I will state about the plot. No movie spoilers in this blog!

As I reflected upon the movie, I easily saw myself in the emotions competing within Riley. How often do I want my life to be continually filled with joy? Go away sadness, anger, disgust, and fear! I just want the emotion of joy. I want to see the world through rose-colored glasses with my glass half-full and my potential only limited by my imagination!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
James 1:2 (ESV)

Yes, joy is an emotion but for the Christian believer, it is so much more. It is more than contentment, more than delight, more than the absence of anger or disgust. It is resting in the comfort and knowledge that God is in control of all circumstances and causing everything to work together for His glory. It the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.

The Apostle James reminds us that we will encounter trials. We will encounter sadness, anger, disgust and fear. But we should not seek to push them out of our mind but allow these to be used by God to strengthen and perfect our faith, so that we “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4)

And when we allow God to take us through these trials, joy will result. It is not just the emotion but the complete and fullest expression of joy, the way God intended it to be.

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

The World is Upside Down (John 3:3-4)

On the wall in my office is a map of the world. It is not the conventional view of the world; the northern hemisphere is placed on the bottom and the southern hemisphere is on top. It takes most people a few seconds to readjust their orientation. When I ask them what they think of this map, their usual reply is, “The world is upside down.”

Of course, it is all a matter of perspective. In space, there is no up or down. Maps have conventionally featured the northern hemisphere on the top since most of the history of the world has been directed by its countries and citizens. Our maps reflect an ethnocentric view of the world and this view may lock us in to a particular frame of thinking, limiting our options in decision making. The map is there to remind myself and others that when we confront a problem, it may be helpful to view the same situation from a different perspective.

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”
John 3:3-4

Nicodemus, a member of the powerful Sanhedrin, secretly came to Jesus at night, seeking truth. But his world view was hindered by his upbringing and education. He witnessed the miracles that Jesus performed but could not view the actions in the proper perspective; they bore witness that Jesus was the Son of God. And when Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again, Nicodemus could not go beyond his literal understanding of the word.

How often have I, like Nicodemus, failed to grasp the depth of God’s teaching? My understanding is limited and hindered by my preconceptions of how life should be. Too often, I am unwilling and too arrogant  to come before God in humility and ask Him to illuminate His Word through His Holy Spirit.

If you have confessed your sins, truly repented from them, and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have God’s Holy Spirit indwelling within you. It is only through His Holy Spirit that we are able to gain a new perspective on life. It is an eternal perspective with our ultimate goal to be with Him in Heaven. It is a perspective that will turn your world upside down!

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

What Difference Does it Make? (Malachi 2:17)

For the Christian believer, the seeker or atheist, trials and storms will inevitably come their way, and the outcome may sometimes be the same. There may be an apparent loss or victory. The Christian believer may comfort himself with the promise that God is causing all things to work together for God. The seeker will comfort himself with the assurance that his own internal fortitude has allowed him to weather the same storms. This begs the question, what difference does it make to believe in God?

If our perspectives and attitudes are only tied to the immediate circumstances, then from a temporal standpoint, it may not make much difference at all. We would only be looking for a bandage for the pain or suffering. But if we are able to step back and begin to view things through the lens of God’s revelation and an eternal perspective, a dramatic difference is revealed. It is no longer a bandage but the beginning of a cure.

Any outcome for the seeker or atheist becomes another notch to their perceived power of self-reliance. Any outcome for the believer becomes another notch to their need to rely upon God ever more. Same outcome but different perspective and attitude-pride or humility. Random or design. Temporal or eternal.

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Malachi 2:17 (ESV)

This question is not new. Believers and seekers alike have asked it for centuries. In this passage from Malachi, the prophet berates the Hebrews for their limited vision. Did they think that because God’s judgment was not immediately delivered upon the people who disobeyed Him, that He was delighting in their evil? Of course not! That would be absurd! Yet, from their viewpoint of the immediate circumstances and outcomes, this was the conclusion to which the Hebrews arrived. Are we any different? When we see evil seemingly triumphing over good, when we see bad things happen to good people, when random acts of violence destroy innocent people, do we not come to the same conclusion-What difference does it make?

It is an eternal difference. If we confess and repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we can have the assurance that in the end, God will triumph. Good will prevail over evil. When God is on our side, our perspective and attitude is viewed from an eternal perspective and we realize, understand, and trust that God is in control.

What’s the difference? The answer will determine your eternal destiny.

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

We Do Brakes Too! (1 Corinthians 9:22)

For many years, I have been taking my cars to a tire shop that is across the street from my office. A few years ago, one of the managers told me, “You know, we do brakes too!” Since it was time to change the brake pads, I thought, “Why not? After all, I’m here and these guys have always done a good job on my tires.” Big mistake!

From the moment I drove the car out of the shop, I knew something was wrong. There was a constant squeaking that grew worse. I was told that it would go away, but it didn’t. I brought it back and they agreed to “polish the brake pads”. While that initially did take care of the squeaking, by the end of the day it returned. Finally after several more visits, they agreed to completely replace the brake pads and redo the entire job. It did solve the problem and I resolved to never again bring my car for brake pads to this tire shop.

One stop shopping.

We see this with so many different storefronts. Fast food restaurants expand their menus to offer something for everyone. Supermarkets now offer in-store pharmacies and banks. Even some churches are expanding their services, some offering online bulletin boards advertising services as diverse as child care and landscaping. Other churches offer counseling services, art galleries, musicals, or sport clubs. These are all good but the mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And anything that takes our attention away from this mission is wrong.

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul understood the importance of being all things to all people, a one stop resource for spiritual needs. But his goal was always to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with whomever he encountered. He used his background as a Pharisee, his occupation as a tentmaker, and his Roman citizenship to identify and relate to nearly the entire known world. And he did this only to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We need to have a similar attitude. We can be try to be all things to all people, but it is only to bring glory to God and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ-the one and only stop for our soul.

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

Extending Grace (Galatians 5:13)

Working in several companies,  I have witnessed the firing of many employees. The reasons for dismissal are as varied as their personalities: insubordination, incompetence, an unacceptably high error rate. One employee was simply lazy and unproductive. Routine tasks were assigned to this person but it seemed to take twice the amount of time it took other employees to complete the same task. After some discussion with the management team, it was decided that his responsibilities may have been too excessive and this may have led to his unproductivity, attempting to focus upon too many different tasks. It was agreed to limit his responsibilities to tasks that he had demonstrated a prior history of accomplishing in a timely manner. A time schedule was outlined for him for the completion of these tasks. However, even with this reduced workload, tasks that he had previously demonstrated to complete in one hour, now took two. He took advantage of the grace that was shown to him and squandered the opportunity to improve himself.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13

As I reflect upon this employee, I wonder how often I have taken advantage of the liberty and freedom that God allows me as a Child of God? He has provided me a good education, a loving family, and a good job. He has blessed me exceedingly abundantly. How have I responded to these blessings? Do I look for opportunities to witness to others? Do I use my financial resources and seek ways to help the poor and disenfranchised? Do I use my time background to mentor and disciple others?

Sadly, the answer is often no. I, too, like the lazy employee, have taken the freedom that God has given me and squandered it. Every day, I must come before God and acknowledge how desperately I need His mercy and grace in my life. It is only by doing this will I truly begin to live the life that God wants me to live, in complete submission to His will, through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

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

You're Paying Me When You Don't Know (Romans 14:23)

During my career, I have met many CEOs of hospitals, laboratories, and medical clinics. As a dermatopathologist, I bring a relatively unique expertise to a medical center. Most welcome the opportunity to work with me and it is usually a mutually beneficial arrangement. One CEO of a major reference laboratory took a more dismissive stance toward me. When I introduced myself and informed him of my expertise, he sniffed, “Dermatopathology, huh? A dermatologist I know told me that 95% of all diagnoses can be summed up with 4 diseases. Any pathologist can make these diagnoses!”

I thought he was just chiding me but as I waited for a smile that never came, I realized I needed to defend myself. “Well, that may be an overstatement, but yes, many diagnoses in dermatopathology and in medicine fall into a few common diseases. But you don’t need me for the 95% of diagnoses that any pathologist can make. You’re paying me when you don’t know. You need me for the 5% of diagnoses that will be missed by an average pathologist. You need me for the 5% of diagnoses that will lead to a very bad outcome for the patients and all those caring for them because it was misdiagnosed.”

I don’t usually fire back like that but I was very upset by his audacity and arrogance. He wasn’t a physician, speaking from personal experience, and he was simply quoting another equally misinformed colleague. He was definitely taken aback by my reply and actually apologized. He realized he was taking our relationship for granted.

My annoyance was tempered by my own realization that I, too, take my relationship with God for granted. Too often, I think I only need God when things go wrong. The other 95% of the time, I can handle it on my own. But it is not just for the 5% of problems that seem insurmountable that I need God, it should be for 100% of life. Any activity that excludes God from my life is sin.

...for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Romans 14:23 (ESV)

Everything I do must be held up to the light of God’s Word. Every decision must first be placed before God to allow Him to direct my thoughts and actions according to His will. It is not just 5% of the time, but 100% of my entire life.

Amen!

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

"So, You've Been Playing for 30 Years?" (Hebrews 5:12)

About 12 years ago, I was inspired to take guitar lessons once again. I began playing classical guitar at the age of 11 and when I was 13, I switched to jazz guitar, which has remained my life-long passion. I consider myself an above average player and have played semi-professional gigs. But I have always desired to improve my playing. Living in Southern California, I am surrounded by some of the top jazz guitarists in the world. So I did some research and found a teacher who is one of the top in the world, living in the North Hollywood area.

During my first lesson, my teacher asked me to play any favorite song. I launched into my version of Misty, one that I had performed for many people and occasions. After I played it for him, he asked, “So you’ve been playing for 30 years?” Needless to say, he did not say it with admiration. It was clear that he expected far more of my abilities from someone who had been playing for 3 decades. I was chagrined but nodded. He then proceeded to give me valuable tips on how to improve my playing. I was grateful for the lesson but was shackled with the thought that I had wasted 30 years of my life, never improving at the rate that was expected of me as a musician.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
Hebrews 5:12

As I look back over my spiritual life, I am similarly disheartened. It has now been 33 years since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. But for the majority of those years, my spiritual growth was stagnant, even backwards, as I turned my back upon my God. I feel the sting of the Holy Spirit’s admonition in this passage from Hebrews. Long ago, I should have moved on to the mature, solid food of God’s Word, not still wrestling with and ignoring the basic principles that have occupied my life for so many years.

So many wasted years.

I am ever thankful for God’s grace and mercy that He extends to me through accepting His Son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Like my guitar teacher, I know I have disappointed Him with the lack of growth in my spiritual life. But His love, through Jesus Christ, has covered over my sins and my disobedience. And He accepts me as a fellow heir and has adopted me as His son. And for this, I am eternally grateful.

All praise to the Living God!

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

You've Become Weaker! (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Soon after I became a Christian, I was working in a research laboratory. One of the researchers was a Christian and was active in his local church and supporting other missionaries. One day, he shared with me an encounter he had with a missionary who had returned after being away for over 2 years. This missionary had discipled him prior to leaving and the two of them had not communicated since his departure. After meeting for several hours, the missionary turned to the researcher and told him, “You’ve become weaker in your faith!”

My friend’s face winced as he shared this conversation. I was taken aback by this harsh commentary. I did not ask for further clarification and simply nodded.

That episode occurred over 30 years ago but it still remains vivid in my memory. The statement was needlessly judgmental and insensitive. Even if there was some truth to the missionary’s statement, there are definitely more tactful ways of expressing the same sentiment.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

There is a time for constructive criticism but it must be tempered with compassion and encouragement. God is the ultimate judge of whether we are stronger or weaker in our faith. Our task is to actively seek ways to support, encourage, and build up our fellow brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ.

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

Dad, Control Yourself! (1 Corinthians 9:27)

When I am excited about something, I tend to overdo it. My physical expressions are animated, my speech is pressured, and my actions are put into overdrive. Call it a manic tendency, but I have always gravitated to these passionate outbursts when something grabs my attention. If others are around, I sometimes grab them and say, “Don’t you agree?” My family just rolls their eyes when I get into these episodes. My son has the perfect antidote for this. He will laugh and say, “Dad, control yourself!”

One thing is certain, I will get excited about something again, fail to control myself, and my son will need to remind me once again.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul knew the importance of self-control. He wrote to the Corinthian church to remind them that when he gave his life to Jesus Christ, he relinquished all control and disciplined his body. He willingly did this because he knew the life he now lived was out of gratitude for what Jesus had done for him. He was not working to earn his salvation but to someday receive a reward for successfully finishing the race of life. And as he ran this race of life where God had placed him, he would be willing to do anything and be all things to all people so that the name of Jesus Christ would be honored and glorified through his life.

I may not always be able to control myself but thanks be to God that He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that I could ever think, ask, or imagine! He is slowly changing me and allowing me to discipline my body and mind. And God continually reminds me of His promises to me by His firm but gentle Word.

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