What is Truth? (John 18:38)

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?
John 18:38

Was Pilate truly seeking an answer to his question?

Pilate was an opportunist. He tried to play both sides. He tried to pacify one segment of the Jews by writing the title JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. Yet, he feared the crowd who would accuse him of treason if he did claim that Jesus, and not Caesar, was their king.

There are many situations in life where the solution is clear, black and white, a yes or a no. But what happens when we are confronted with a situation where there is no clear answer or a situation that conflicts with our sensibilities?  We may straddle the difficult issues of life by compromising our positions or even sacrificing our values and morals. We may convince ourselves that such a compromise is necessary, even essential. It may be illegal but it would never be noticed and if it was, no harm done since everyone else is doing it. No one would demand an explanation for our actions. But there is only person to whom we need to answer for our decisions.

What is truth? The answer was staring at Pilate. Jesus Christ is the only truth and the only person to whom we need to answer for our decisions. All our decisions must be held up to the light and scrutiny of His teachings and what is written in the Bible.  And the most important decision that will ever confront us is whether we will accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

What is truth? Are you truly seeking an answer to this question? Turn to Jesus Christ for the answer.

Amen!

Inside Every Large Problem (Acts 11:19-21)

Inside every large problem is a small problem struggling to get out.
Hoare’s Law

This was my high school yearbook quotation. A pessimist may view this statement that conflict is endless. The optimist may aver that all problems are not as big as they initially appear. What do I think? Truthfully, I was searching for a pithy quote and thought the apparent contradiction sounded cool. Actually, for many years, I would quote this backwards, stating that inside every small problem, is a large problem struggling to get out!

One possible interpretation is that every problem we face is not always what is seems to be. When we view our problems through the lens of past experiences and how it resolved in the past, it will definitely color our present expectations.  

Stephen was the first martyr of the Christian church and after his death, widespread persecution resulted.  This persecution led to a dispersion of the believers throughout the known world.  A pessimist may view this dispersion as a deathblow to the nascent Christians, preventing them from organizing and consolidating their power. But God was working through these dark days and using these events to move His people and Church to reach the unbelieving world.

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
Acts 11:19-21

The dispersion led to the rapid spread of the Gospel throughout much of the known world. What may have seemed like a large problem was, instead, a blessing! Ask God to give you His peace and perspective to see you through whatever problems you may face. Our problems, large or small, are in His hands and in His control.

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

I'll Never Be A Pathologist! (Acts 9:18)

I still remember my first day of histology as a first year medical student. It was 2 hours of dizzying work, peering through a microscope, staring at brightly stained microscope slides, depicting varying organs of the body. Not only was this not interesting, I was getting a massive headache. At the end of the day, I let out an exasperated yell, “I’ll never be a pathologist!”

If I listened to my own rantings, I would probably be leading a far different life, probably a pediatrician rather than a pathologist. It was a series of fortunate encounters with well-meaning mentors that slowly revealed to me, over several years, my chosen specialty.

Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
Acts 9:18

I am thankful this revelation for my life’s direction was not as traumatic as the Apostle Paul’s. Blinded by light, confronted by our Lord Jesus Christ, and led away blind for 3 days without food or drink. Whew!

Something like scales! The balance of Paul’s life was dramatically shifted and reoriented. When God wants your attention, He will act! If God is asking you to act, don’t hesitate to respond.

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

Mermaids-Why the Fascination? (Genesis 1:26-27)

A recent television show depicted an earnest scientific investigation into the authenticity of mermaids. The show recounts the historical record of mermaid sightings throughout history leading up to an actual analysis of a dead mermaid.

Watching this show, one cannot help but be bewildered by the incredulous claims of the producers, even presenting ex-NOAA government workers who gave eye-witness accounts. Even a cell phone video is presented from a boy who allegedly captured the sequence of a wounded mermaid reaching out to grab him. All of this makes for an entertaining show but the question that lurks behind everyone’s mind is, is this real?

The internet is certainly a buzz with supporters and doubters. The supporters cite a massive government conspiracy that is covering up the truth of these enigmatic creatures, known and described throughout history by many cultures. The doubters dub the show as docufiction or mockumentary stating that all of this was faked by the producers to gain viewership and ratings. The doubters cite other sensationalist shows like the Roswell Park Alien autopsy, aired in the 1990’s, and later proven to be a hoax.

One theme that the producers of the show kept hammering was the alleged intelligence of these mermaids, how they were an example of evolution creating another intelligent species, another human species that has gone into hiding and co-existed with other sea creatures like the whale.  Why do people find such fascination that another human species could or does exist? And why do people attribute such wondrous traits of intelligence and self-awareness to a possible imaginary animal or evolution?

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27

God has created everything in this earth and universe. But He reserved a very special status for man, making him in God’s own image. He imbued man with His moral nature and gave man a spirit and soul with an innate desire to seek communion and fellowship with his Maker. And God made man to have dominion over all the animals. Some animals are better able to serve man’s needs and we have domesticated many species such as cows, pigs, horses, and dogs. Other species, such as sharks, are less trainable. But when God returns to reign on this earth, all animals will once again be subject to man’s rule.

Finding another animal species that is intelligent does not disprove God, nor does it give support to evolution. And no other human species will ever be found. The diversity of animal species with varying degrees of intelligence is a reflection of the magnificence of our Creator, who gave different qualities to all creatures to give glory to His creation. Only man is made in God’s image but we are all fallen because sin has separated us from God. Only by believing in Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation are we able to be in right fellowship with God. We have two natures, our old sinful nature and the new nature given to us by God and living within us through God’s Holy Spirit. We may look at one another and be disappointed if that person does not live up to our expectations, but that does not mean that God is wrong or is not working in our lives. It means that God, through His Holy Spirit, is working within each of us on His timetable and not directed by the expectations or timetables of ourselves or others. We are a representation of God’s magnificence. And because of this, we should spend our time seeking to support each member of God’s church, His family, and not looking for an alternative human species as a way to explain the failings of mankind.

Mermaids may be a fanciful creation of an overactive imagination or they may be a yet undiscovered sea creature. Regardless, they are not man and they do not represent God’s image. Only man is made in God’s image. And only man can accept the gift of God’s salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

AMEN!

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

 

A Sweet Aroma (Philippians 4:18)

Advertisers spend millions of dollars a year promoting the latest perfume or cologne. The science of perfume making is quite intricate and researchers are always looking for the next great scent. The goal, of course, is to make one attractive to the opposite sex. Fair or not, how others perceive us is very important how they will interact with us. Attractiveness encompasses all aspects of a person, from the way they smell, their attire, and their personal hygiene. To a certain extent, we are able to control these latter attributes. We may pursue cleanliness, making sure we are presentable with clean clothes. However, it is the internal attributes that are far more difficult to hide or cover-up. What about our attitudes, our demeanor, the way we speak to one another? Even when our intentions are seemingly noble and done with a good heart, our actions may go awry. We can do acts of kindness for our friends and strangers. We may think we are caring for them when perhaps the actions we are doing are interpreted otherwise by the recipient. How can this be? Even if we provide some clothes or food to a family that we perceive to be in need, they may feel insulted and patronized, thinking they are able to provide on their own and don’t need a handout. We may even share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone who is a seeker and not a believer but the hearer may feel insulted that you are judging them and not truly interested in being their friend.

Of course, these are exceptions but we must always guard against being overly zealous to do what we perceive is God’s will when in reality we are not applying God’s will in a loving manner and are being insensitive to the recipient's feelings.

Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet- smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
Philippians 4:18

When you enter and leave a room, is the reaction from others around you one of pleasure and thankfulness that you came or relief that you have left? Are you welcomed like a sweet-smelling aroma or a loathsome and putrid odor?

Take time to reflect upon how you treat others. Are you treating them with the same compassion that God has bestowed upon you or are you taking an attitude that they are not living up to your standards, rather than God’s?

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

What Will You Do with My Son? (Matthew 27:22)

Pilate said to them, “ What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Matthew 27:22

God, the Father, asks this one question that everyone in the world must answer. “What will you do with My Son?”

Pilate did not want to answer the question for himself and attempted to shift the blame to the crowd, believing that he was absolving himself of the answer to the question.

The rich, young ruler who approached Jesus and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” was unwilling to do what was asked of him, to completely obey Jesus and get rid of anything that hindered absolute devotion to Him.

Peter, after adamantly proclaiming his loyalty to Jesus by stating, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble,” would deny that he knew Jesus, a mere few hours later.

Everyone in the world must answer this question. We may think we can artfully dodge the question; we may state that we accept Jesus as God but then turn aside when we consider the cost; or we may simply turn our back and deny Jesus.

God, the Father, asks, “What will you do with My Son?”

What will your answer be?

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

The Holy Spirit Restrains the Sin in Me (James 1:13-14)

Turn the television on or look at the headlines of any major newspaper and the majority of the stories are the same: murder, disasters, wars and rumors of wars. Even the most optimistic person must agree that there is much that is wrong with this world. The Bible has made it clear that this is not the world that God created for us to indwell. God created a world where man would have absolute dominion over nature, living in perfect harmony with all of God’s creation. But man rebelled and decided that his way was better and by doing so, sin entered the world. The result has been thousands of years of pain, suffering, war, hate, and crimes.

But as tragic this world is, it could be a lot worse. It is only through the loving mercy of God, through His Holy Spirit, that we are able to exist. God’s Holy Spirit is at work in this world, restraining sin, not only in me, but in every living person. Although it is almost unfathomable to think this, if God were NOT in the world restraining sin, it is highly unlikely that mankind would even exist. Total anarchy and annihilation would result. In spite of what philosophers may aver, man’s basic nature is not good. We are sinners and are separated from God, our Creator. Thus, if we were totally abandoned by God, our demise is more than assured.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:13-14

This is not the world that God planned for us, but someday, we will live and reign with Jesus Christ, if we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Trust in Jesus and strive to become more like Him.

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

Confronting Your Fears (1 John 4:18-19)

In the movie Divergent, the main characters all need to face a grueling set of tests in order to join a team of warriors known as the Dauntless. During the final stage of training, the heroine, Tris, must face her worst imagined fears when an injected neurological serum causes her to vividly live through them in her mind.

Most of us do not need to be reminded of our worst fears. We are constantly confronted with them; risks of a broken relationship, possible job loss at a downsizing company, the imminent loss of a ill loved one. God understands our fears and does not abandon us. He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, so that if we place our trust in Him, He will allows us to cast out this fear. We can truly be dauntless when we rely upon Jesus Christ!

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19

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

Unceasing Prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

What happens when we pray without ceasing?

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Acts 12:5

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Romans 1:9

Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
2 Timothy 1:3

Prayer in this life is a rehearsal for what happens in Heaven. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is there, continually praying and interceding on our behalf.

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25

What happens when we pray without ceasing? God answers us with His perfect love and timing. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He intercedes on our behalf. The God of this Universe who holds all power in His hands, listens to our every prayer and answers them. What an awesome God we serve!

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

Delighting in God and Fearing God, the Other Side (Psalm 37:4)

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4

How do we truly delight in God?

We know God is love, the ultimate and most perfect representation of love. We take comfort in this, knowing that God’s sacrifice and forgiveness covers all of our sins.

But the other side of the delight is the fear of God. The Bible tells us that we must fear God.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

Fear often has a negative connotation. From an early age, the objects of our fear take on different manifestations: a person, a place, a time, an activity...all of these are embedded within our being, ready to be triggered and brought to the forefront by a seemingly unrelated event. But God knows that fear of God is clean or pure, and this leads to a perfect peace.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:9

False teachers claim that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament. They claim that the Old Testament God is vindictive, a jealous ruler, invoking fear. The New Testament God is love, a gentle shepherd, invoking peace. This is a false teaching. The God of the Bible is the same in the Old and New Testament.

Peter spent three years living with our Lord, Jesus Christ. He witnessed His transfiguration and was an eyewitness to His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. He called Jesus the Chief Shepherd, recognizing the kindness and forbearance of our Lord. But he also recognized that God deserves our respect and fear as the ultimate judge of all of our actions.

When we come before God, we must understand the complete character of God, not just pick and chose the characteristics we think God should be. God simply is. He is our Peace. He is our Provider. He is our Sustainer. And we know God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

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

What Will it Take? (Romans 13:11)

What will it take for God to reach your soul?

Will it be the tender moment of God using a believer to explain the Scripture to a seeker?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:31

Will God need to show His mercy by curing you or your illness or healing a sick loved one?

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11:4

Will God need to strike someone dead in front of you before He gets your attention?

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
Acts 5:4-5

Will it be the last moment of your life? The thief on the Cross recognized Jesus for who He was, the Lord and Savior. He cried out to him as he hung there dying.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “ Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43

Now is the time to accept our Lord. We can reason with ourselves that we have time to make this decision, that when the time is “right”, we will be able to make the decision. But that right time is now. No excuses can be given.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11

What will it take? It only takes a response to God’s offer. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Your eternal destiny can begin anew at this very moment.

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

Do We Deny Jesus Like Peter? (Matthew 26:69-75)

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “ Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:69-75

Reading this account of Peter denying his Lord, I wonder if I would be braver if faced with the same situation. Would Iproclaim Jesus to anyone who questioned my faith? Sadly, I know I have denied Jesus far too many times than I care to remember or admit.

What form does this denial take? It can be subtle and almost subliminal. We may deny Jesus Christ when we substitute these actions for true faith:

1. Hang around with other Christians. ("You also were with Jesus...")

2. Talk like other Christians ("...your speech betrays you...")

3. Take actions on behalf of other Christians (Peter cut off the High Priest's servant's ear Malthus, John 18:10-11)

Peter's denial is a reminder that we, too, can easily be led to think we are secure in following Jesus but not truly trusting or believing in Him. We may find a false sense of security when we surround ourselves with a Christian family and Christian friends. But it all comes down to your position with God. Are you truly following and relying upon God or relying upon others to support you?

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

A Burning Desire (Jeremiah 20:9)

When something unusual or special happens to us, we want to share the news with others. A promotion, good grades, an award-all of these are so much more meaningful when we share it others, especially with those whom we love. If something prevents us from immediately sharing the news, we may take the initiative to post the event on a social networking site, if only to allow others to learn about the event. In one way or another, we will get people to hear about what we want to say!

Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.”
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.
Jeremiah 20:9

Jeremiah loved his people and could not bear to see them punished for their sins, desperately asking them to turn from their sins and repent. God is patient but His time of patience of grace was to soon end and the wrath of God would descend upon the Jews who would be taken into Babylonian captivity.  In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is discouraged that his message from God was greeted with such hostility. He complained that everyone mocked him, saying that all he did was proclaim bad news. Out of frustration, Jeremiah stated he would not speak anymore in God’s name. But he was in for a surprise! God’s Word is living and active and cannot be held within us when God commands us to speak it to others. And Jeremiah obeyed God and continued to speak about Him. His Word was a burning fire, unable to be held back.

Do we have as much excitement within our hearts to share God’s Word and love as we do with events in our own life?  James states we cannot be only hearers of the Word but doers as well. If God’s Word dwells within us, it will burn through our conscience and be shared with everyone with whom we come into contact.

God’s Word is a burning fire. It cannot be quenched by our efforts, no matter how stubborn or hostile we may be. The more we resist it, the more intense it will burn through our soul.

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

Be Predictable (Mark 9:35-37)

Google has a well-deserved reputation for being very selective with their job applicants and developing leaders. Using the immense power of their databases, the Google team has derived a complex set of algorithms designed to sift through thousands of data points to find the best traits for a potential leader. The results are a bit surprising.

Predictability, according to Google, is the most important character trait for leadership. Google reasons that when managers are predictable, employees are free to perform knowing the established boundaries within which they are able to act. This removes the biggest roadblock for many employees’ performance.

When we think about being a leader, traits such as boldness, perseverance, and charisma all come to mind. Even the disciples jockeyed for positions of leadership when they followed Jesus. Jesus knew their hearts and conversations. But instead of discouraging their ambition, He challenged them to redefine what it means to be a leader.

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Mark 9:35-37

Predictability for leadership is important. But Jesus goes deeper. He asks us to examine our attitude and heart. What are our motives for being a leader? If we seek to be a leader to serve others, then we come closer to what Jesus expects of a true leader.

At some point in our lives, we will be asked to be a leader, whether we desire it or not. When that moment arrives, look to Jesus as the supreme example of leadership.

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

The Solution to Pollution (1 Corinthians 13:12)

“The solution to pollution is dilution.”

My chief resident in surgery used to quote this aphorism whenever we were operating. As a medical student, my solemn task was to make sure the operating field was free of blood and tissue so that the other surgeons could efficiently operate. I would hold an aspirator, a vacuum device, that would suck up the debris, and endeavour to keep the operating field clean. But sometimes, sterile saline would have to be added into the field to assist in the task. The saline would dilute the debris, making it easier to remove, and solve the problem. It would provide clarity.  “The solution to pollution is dilution.”

Clarity. We need to see clearly before we can start or complete a task. It may mean removing obstacles that hinder or distract our attention. It may mean letting go and stopping bad habits or sinful behaviors.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

God is very clear about what He requires of us. We need to come to His Son, Jesus Christ, and accept Him as Lord and Savior. In this life, we see things dimly and will not be able to see His entire plan for our lives. But the insight He gives is enough to know what we need to do to follow Him. And one glorious day, we will see Jesus face to face and all of God’s plans for our lives will never be clearer.

We carry many obstacles and debris that hinder our vision of God. We need His clearing and healing touch to give us clarity.

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

The Most Powerful Addiction (Psalm 16:11)

I recently had an opportunity to listen to David Mann, a former lawyer and recovering drug addict. Mr. Mann spoke of the power of addictions and defined it as a disease, a brain disease. The addition keeps increasing the levels of dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter in your brain. The elevated dopamine levels leads to the craving which builds and reinforces itself. The more dopamine, the more you want it. This is the science of addiction.

Listening to Mr. Mann describe the slippery slope that led to his addiction, he outlined several points that contributed to his plight. His addiction was the direct result of his denial, arrogance, pride, and greed. The motivations for his addiction were strong and immediate pleasure was the goal.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11

God promises pleasure, far more satisfying than anything we can ever imagine and more powerful than any addiction. And God does it by providing an answer through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, a transformation occurs, a transformation so powerful that no drug rehabilitation program or self-help course can ever begin to approach. And to seal the deal, He gives us His Holy Spirit that begins the process of sanctification.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25

Do you want this kind of pleasure? Do you need this kind of peace and love? All you need to do is to acknowledge that the manner you have lived your life has separated you from God’s great and unlimited love. And once you have done that, ask God to forgive you of your sins by believing in the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It is only through belief in His Name that all worldly addictions, no matter how hopeless they may seem, will be conquered.

God is here to save you if you sincerely ask Him with all your heart!

Amen!

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

The Answer Has Been There All Along! (Romans 1:20)

For many years, surgical pathologists had observed a peculiar coating of bacteria on the surface mucosa of stomach biopsies. Many dismissed these bacteria as part of the normal flora within our gut. But between 1979-1982, two prescient physicians, an Australian pathologist, Robin Warren and an Australian gastroenterologist, Barry Marshall, identified this bacteria as Helicobacter pylori and suggested a link to the development of stomach ulcers.  

In an attempt to confirm their theory, in 1985, Dr. Marshall swallowed a pure Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) culture and developed a severe case of gastritis, which cleared without treatment, proving the bacteria could cause gastritis. Later work showed that H. pylori is involved in many other diseases of the stomach, including several types of cancers.

This bacteria had been observed, for well over a hundred years, ever since surgical pathologists first examined histologic slides of stomach biopsies. The answer to many types of gastritis and ulcers was right in front of their eyes, but no one recognized the association! The answer has been there all along!

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:20

Sometimes the most astounding discoveries of life are within plain view and reach. The magnificence of God, His perfect love, His invisible attributes, are always on display before us in everything we see or do. But at times, we are unwilling or too proud to acknowledge Him. Some even attribute the beauty and complexity of nature to a series of random molecular, genetic, and chemical events that somehow came together in just the precise combination and circumstances to create life. And then, once life began, an even more astounding series of random events led to ever more complex forms of life, culminating in man. The sheer magnitude of the odds for all of this to happen and continue to happen staggers even the most imaginative, disciplined, and solipsistic of minds!

God has put His imprint upon every form of life and every chemical reaction in the universe. And the more one explores and discovers the complexity of His creation, the more it will lead one to the conclusion that only a Supreme Intelligence, an omnipotent God, could have created all of this.

The answer has been there all along!

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

Resistance is Futile (James 4:7)

The Borg were one of the great villains in the television and movie series, Star Trek. Whenever encountering another species, like humans, they recited the memorable phrase, “Resistance is futile.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZEJ4OJTgg8

Seemingly unstoppable, the Borg would “assimilate” any species and transform them into a weird symbiosis of machine and animal. The phrase, “Resistance is futile” struck fear in the hearts of all who encountered them. The Borg were the embodiment of evil.

We face a Borg by the name of Satan. But guess what? Resistance is not futile! All we need to do is call on God as our Lord and Savior!

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

Satan will flee from us when we obey God. Such a powerful and mighty God we serve! Nothing can stand in His way!

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

Not Independence but God-Dependence (Matthew 7:1-5)

Is our faith and spiritual life dependent upon the faith of others?

Do we ever allow the failings of others to influence us? If someone we interact with on a regular basis disappoints us, will that encourage or diminish our own faith or does it matter?

Disappointment has many faces. It may arrive harshly as an argument or missed appointment or slither in subtly as an unanswered question. Regardless of the reason, we may feel slighted because the offending party did not live up to our expectations. But at the heart of this disappointment is the fact is you are judging someone by your standards and not God’s. Are we in the place of God? Certainly not.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5

If we are believers, we should be looking to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as our example of how to treat others, especially if they disappoint us. We should allow God, through His Holy Spirit, to influence our every thought and action. And if we fail to do so, our spiritual life will be affected because our prayers and spiritual life will be hindered. Jesus warned Peter about what it means to truly forgive someone.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “ I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22

We cannot hold grudges nor can we give lip service when it comes to forgiving others. True forgiveness involves a change in behavior on the part of the forgiver. True forgiveness is love and love is patient, kind, and bears all things. Our faith and spiritual life are only dependent upon God and how we forgive others is the true sign of whether we are living a true God-dependent life. It is not independence but God-dependence.

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

No One Deserves Death (Romans 3:23)

“I don't care how rude someone's humor is, no one deserves death.”

This was an anonymous posting on a social media site after the comedian Joan River’s death on September 4, 2014. It caught my eye as it seemed to encapsulate so many ideals of what the world believes. First, humor is acceptable even if it is at the expense of another person’s dignity. Second, one’s opinions are their own and do not have to be justified to anyone else. And finally, death is wrong and should not be the final fate of anyone.

I disagree with the first two points but the third is deserving of a deeper discussion.

There is nothing more wrong than death, on that point I agree. It robs us of those whom we love, often far too early in their lives. It may be preceded by a painful and/or prolonged illness. However, everyone on this earth, no matter how good or great a life they lived, is deserving of death. Does this sound harsh? It should.

No one thinks they are deserving of death. Death is feared because by many people, because there is a genuine uncertainty over what happens next. For some, it means the cessation of all consciousness, of all that whatever made you unique. For others, it may mean a rebirth as another person or even as a lower animal form. Still for others, there is a vague notion that if one led a “good life” they will be rewarded and be allowed to enter Heaven.

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

God has made it very clear that sin has separated us from Him. God is Holy and cannot accept sin in a person, no matter how good a life they have led or how many generous acts of kindness they have performed. At the heart of the matter, God desires an intimate fellowship with us, His greatest creation. But unless this sin that separates us from God’s glory and love is dealt with, we are condemned to a life without Him….and that means death and eternal separation from God.

God knows that none of our efforts will ever make us sinless and restore a broken relationship with Him. Thus, He took the initiative and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our substitute and receive the punishment that we deserve. By dying on the Cross and being raised from the dead and resurrected, Jesus Christ has shown that all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior will be saved. And although we will still die, at the moment of our death, we will be ushered into His glorious presence.

Death is a door that can lead to Jesus Christ and unlimited blessings with a continual fellowship with God, who created us. But it is a door that can only be opened if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Death is wrong. God knows it and took the initiative to do something about it.

Amen!

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