The Bereans Blog

Many couples like to tell friends and family they chose their partner because they allow them to be themselves. This is an admirable trait. No more facades. No more pretenses. What could be wrong with this reason? Nothing, but it needs to be clarified.

I treasure the honesty and sincerity when I communicate with my partner. God has blessed me with a helper, a soul mate. There are no barriers to communication when I am with her. And that is part of the problem. I lose the filters of communication that I normally have in place when I speak to others. Many times, I simply unload the frustrations of my day upon her, mating them with angry or bitter emotions. They are not directed at her but it could easily be interpreted as such. Is there a better way?

The most precious relationship I have is with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When I am completely transparent and open to Him, I am bringing my true self to the real Jesus. He listens to me, guides me, and most importantly, transforms me to become a better person, a person more like Him. 

Any relationship should allow honest communication, leading to making each person a better person. The ultimate relationship and satisfaction can only be found in a saving relationship through faith and belief in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior. Each person becomes a better person by drawing closer to Jesus Christ, allowing one’s true self to be manifest and ultimately glorified.

Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 

1 John 3:2-3 (NLT)

Being myself. Only in a relationship with Jesus Christ can we realize our true balance of truth and honesty with ourselves and others. 

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

The manilla folder contained several yellowing documents. As I opened them, I was surprised to discover these were various documents of my paternal grandmother and grandfather. After she passed away, they were given to my father and when he passed, he gave them to me along with a box of other memorabilia. It was the first time I critically analyzed the documents and one of the pearls I gleaned was the maiden name of my grandmother and the names of my grandfather’s parents. Inspired, I created a simple family tree. Both were born in 1904 in Hawaii. Their parents emigrated from Japan, from cities in Southern Japan. This was the first time I learned of my great-grandparents, my father never spoke of them. Studying the chart, I wondered how far back I could go. If I visited the home villages in Japan where they grew up, would I find clues about them or even distant family members? Perhaps someday I would have this opportunity.

I have never been obsessed with learning about my family tree. Although I teach my children about the accomplishments of their grandparents and how their sacrifices enabled us to live the lifestyle we now enjoy, I never thought of going further back. I have always been more focused on the present and how they should be thankful for the resources and talents God has given them and use them to bring glory to His Kingdom. 

The Bible painstakingly records the genealogy of many of its Saints. Establishing lineage was critical for inheritance. Since King David, all the Kings of Israel came from the tribe of Judah. Jesus Christ was a direct descendent of David. His earthly mother, Mary, was also from the tribe of Judah. Because of His ancestry, He was uniquely qualified to be the King and Messiah of Israel and our Lord and Savior. 

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:11-13 (NKJV)

Our ancestry is important if we choose to honor these relationships. In my family, my great-grandparents left Japan for Hawaii, seeking a better life for their family. I, and my family, are the beneficiaries of their sacrifice. Jesus accepted God’s calling for His life. He left the comfort of His home and for three years, taught the Good News of the Kingdom of God. By dying on the Cross and being resurrected three days later, Jesus Christ gave us eternal life and salvation for all who confess their sins and place their faith in Him. 

How far back do we need to go to trace our ancestry? God created all of us and we are related to Him through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Our true family begins when we join the family of God.

Amen.

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

It was a 45-minute bus ride to Chinatown. Several times a year, my friends and I eagerly made the trip. We were only eight years old when we made this journey to Liberty Theater. It was dirty and smelly, and an occasional rat would scurry under our feet. Was it worth it? No question. It was the only theater that showcased Chinese Kung Fu movies in Honolulu during the 1970’s. Even before Bruce Lee, my friends and I loved to watch this genre of movies.

Source: TheatresOfHawaii

We are willing to put up with many inconveniences to achieve our goals and pleasures. As I grew older, bus rides to Liberty Theater were replaced by the pursuit of my career. Kung Fu movies were replaced by playing the guitar. All of these new activities required time and sacrifice but like my pilgrimages to the movie theater, it was never a burden.

Why is my spiritual life sometimes not pursued with the same passion? At times, the daily activities of my life push aside the invaluable time I need to spend time with God, reading His Word, and spending time in prayer. Instead, instead of prioritizing God, I supplant His relationship with my own selfish desires. The Bible records a similar scenario,

As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” 

Luke 9:57-62 (NLT)

Like the various followers of Jesus Christ, have I truly counted the cost of following Jesus Christ? If Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, nothing else should matter. No activities, not my career, not even Kung Fu movies! Why? God created me and it is only in a relationship with Him will I find true satisfaction. I fail to prioritize my relationship with Him because I allow my old nature to control me instead of His new nature that has reborn me as a child of God. I need to renew my faith in Him because His steadfast love never ceases even when my love fails.

Amen.

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

The dusty dresser had not moved in twenty-five years since I first placed it in the garage. Hidden behind several boxes and bicycles, I managed to reach it. I knew we had used this dresser to store several household items such as handbags and other personal accessories. However, when I went through all of the shelves, I was astonished to find some important documents. On one shelf, there were several framed documents certifying my time as a medical resident and other certifications that I had completed, nearly thirty years earlier. I always wondered what happened to these documents. Now I knew! That’s where I put it! 

On that same shelf was a framed photograph of a grinning man. He was one of my professors during my fellowship and we developed a great bond, always joking with one another. When I completed my training, I wrote to him and jokingly asked him for a photograph. Ever the comedian, he obliged and sent a black and white photocopy with the words, “You are a great pathologist when you’re not on drugs! All the best! Mort.” I chuckled as I remembered my many interactions with him. 

I vaguely remembered the day I placed those documents and photograph there, thinking it would be an easy retrieval. I was mistaken. Why did I forget where I placed them? Out of sight, out of mind? Certainly, that is one explanation. The obvious explanation is these documents and photographs were less important to me than they once were. Even Mort had long disappeared from my life and active memories. 

What about my spiritual life? Objects and many people have been forgotten. The other day, I found a collection of dirt placed in a bottle that a brother in Christ gave me when I left my home church in Denver and moved to Los Angeles. He gave it to me as a reminder of Denver, my home for a year. It, too, was hidden in a drawer of a forgotten dresser. As I reminisce over my life, I recall individuals who were an important part of my life for a few months or even years, yet I quickly forgot them. It is a stark reminder of how selfish I am and how fleeting my memory can be.

The Bible records an instance of such an encounter. A fellow prisoner of Joseph was troubled by a dream.

“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.” 

Genesis 40:12-15 (NLT)

Did the chief cup-bearer remember?

Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought. 

Genesis 40:23 (NLT)

However, two years later, while Joseph languished in prison, the Pharaoh had a disturbing dream that no one could interpret. It was then the chief cup-bearer remembered Joseph.

Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.” 

Genesis 41:9-13 (NLT)

One would think that the cup-bearer would remember a man who assisted him in saving his life and regaining his position in the Pharaoh’s court. Like my faulty memories, it would not be the case until an unexpected encounter reminds us of the previous relationship.

Thanks be to God that He never forgets us. He numbers the very hairs on our heads and knows every creature that He ever created or ever will create. I pray that God’s Holy Spirit will continue to bring to my remembrance the many Saints who have helped to guide my life and encouraged me to draw closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

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

“I want to address a common misconception and stereotype.” My college English professor announced to our class. “I grew up in India and have lived in many cities. I can assure you, there is no poverty. Everything you see on television, in the movies, and in the media is simply made up.”

We all shifted uncomfortably in our chairs and glanced at one another, no one wishing to challenge her. It would be useless and frankly, fatal to our final grade if we dared challenge her assertion. Even if we had never visited India, we were all quite certain she was wrong, Many objective sources of information could effectively refute her statement. Nearly every country in the world has poverty, including the United States. Whether it is through political manipulation of the press or corporate malfeasance to hide an uncomfortable truth, poverty is everywhere. However, in some countries, it is far worse. In the example of our English professor, she was proud of her native country and wanted to present the best image to the world. 

How different is the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible records the plain Truth about His life. He was born in poverty. His childhood was spent as a refugee in Egypt. He was the poor son of a carpenter. When He began His ministry, even His brothers and sisters did not believe Him. His detractors called Him unlearned and even mocked His birth, alleging He was a bastard. On the Cross, He died a humiliating death, reserved for criminals of the Roman government. No sugar coating, no obscuring of facts, no glorified narrative. Everyone witnessed it. And three days after He was crucified, everyone witnessed His Resurrection. The world had seen the worst of our Lord. Now, they were seeing the glorified Christ, the very best image to the world!

…“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. 

Revelation 1:17-18 (NLT)

In this life, many facts will be obscured by political or cultural agendas. Thanks be to God that He presents the glorious Truth of the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is fully Man and fully God!

Amen!

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

“Here’s another load!”

The attendant at the library immediately recognized me. “This is even bigger than the last one.”

“I know!” Grabbing the books that I had piled in the trunk of my car, she quickly brought a cart to receive the load. “I am thankful you are willing to accept medical textbooks. The medical libraries I contacted are unwilling to accept anything before 2000. Most of their textbooks and journals are online. Unfortunately, most of my textbooks were acquired before that year.”

“Well, we know many good places that could use these valuable resources. Thank you.”

In total, I donated nearly a thousand pounds of medical textbooks. I was downsizing my medical office. I didn’t stop there. Over the next several weeks I expanded my downsizing to my home and I donated hundreds of books, CDs, DVDs, and clothes to local charities. There were times that I lingered over different items, reliving the memories. Should I keep this? Oh, that was a great day! I can still smell the meal of that day! Ultimately, I was determined to stick with my original plan and discarded everything except my essentials.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)

What about my spiritual life? What additional things would I remove? Many spiritual hindrances weigh me down. Why is it not as simple to shed them? Bad habits like losing my temper. Grudges I may hold against those who have hurt me. So many things I continue to cling to, ignoring what my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, says to me. He will supply all my needs from the exceeding abundance of His glorious riches. I do not need to regret letting go of my previous life, a far better one awaits all who place their trust and faith in Him. 

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

Our neighborhood has been the unfortunate target of numerous home invasions; nearly fifteen in the past two years. What is disturbing is we live in a guarded gated community that supposedly gave us and the other homeowners we would be relatively safe and protected. Instead, we have become a target. Numerous theories abound as to why this is happening. No one knows when the thieves will strike and no home seems immune from attack. It is a stark reminder of our Lord Jesus Christ and His prophetic words to His followers.

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

Matthew 24:43-44 (NKJV)

When Jesus spoke these words, the readiness He was speaking of was the assurance of a person’s relationship with God. Many of us think we have time to accept Jesus Christ, and when the moment of death approaches, we can make that decision. However, like the thieves who have indiscriminately invaded our neighborhood, one never knows when that may happen. 

The end times are upon us—wars and rumors of wars. Natural disasters. Famine. Economic crises. A worldwide pandemic. Satan, like the thief that he is, seeks to rob us of our eternal salvation. Jesus is always extending His invitation for you to enter into a sacred relationship with Him. If you have not confessed and repented of your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, now is the acceptable time. 

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

She leisurely stretched, arching her back and bringing her feet to touch the small of her back. Easing out of this position, she formed a bridge, chest to the sky. On cue, a baby goat walked on her. 

This is goat yoga. Here is an example. 

Source. Mad Lavender Farm

Just when I thought I had heard it all, there is goat yoga. It began in 2016 as the brainchild of Lainey Morse, who owns a goat farm in Oregon. She found comfort in the time she spent with her goats. When she shared this with a friend who is a yoga instructor, the two decided to combine their two passions, and goat yoga was born. It was an immediate sensation and has gone viral with new locations in nearly every state. 

It’s the latest fad. Will it last? No one knows. However, the history of the world is littered with similar fads. The Bible gives a humorous account of the philosophers in ancient Athens.

He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.” Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) 

Acts 17:18-21 (NLT)

Today Goat Yoga. Tomorrow? Who knows? God created us with a curious nature. That nature was given to us to encourage us to seek our Creator. God created us with an emptiness in our hearts that can only be filled and satisfied when we accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. 

Let His presence fill your lives.

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

I was viewing a popular show about a popular matchmaker. Each participant, seeking a marriage partner, was asked a variety of questions. “What are you looking for in your partner?” “Do you want children?” “Where will you live?” None of these are surprising. However, one question did stand out. 

“Would you marry yourself?”

This self-reflection may seem obvious but how one answers may give insight into one’s personality. Answering too quickly and affirmatively may indicate narcissistic tendencies. Answering too slowly or with hesitation may indicate low self-esteem. What about a middle ground? Psychologists and marriage counselors have a field day analyzing this answer. Is there an ideal answer to this seemingly simple question? Once again, God gave us the answer, thousands of years ago.

In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body. 

Ephesians 5:28-30 (NLT)

God created marriage and defined the boundaries and expectations for each partner. The ideal marriage focuses on Jesus Christ and His example of how He loves us and His Church. If a husband loves Jesus Christ, then He will love his wife as himself since we are part of the Body of Jesus Christ. No obscure psychology. No outside pressures of finances or children. The only question that one has to answer is, “Do you love Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?”

Would you marry yourself?

If you have placed God at the center of your relationship, the answer is an unequivocal yes!

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

The Lazy Susan.

It is a familial and practical piece of furniture or cupboard accessory. Here are two examples of this common household item. 

Source: Pinterest

Many stories attribute it to President Thomas Jefferson who invented the device as a dumbwaiter for his daughter, Susan. Numerous other historians and pundits have challenged this story, stating that a similar piece was used in England. Ironically, such a common and important piece of furniture with a distinctive name has its origin lost in history, even though its history is less than three hundred years. Yet, it is in use worldwide and no one questions the odd name because it has become an important item in many homes.

Not all names are so easily dismissed. Mention the Name of Jesus Christ and it always evokes a very strong reaction, both positively and negatively. Why? Unlike a common piece of household furniture, His Name has the power to change lives. As the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon stated, “I have a great need for Christ. I have a great Christ for my need.”

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:12 (NLT)

Lazy Susan. No one gives it a second thought.

Jesus Christ. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

You ignore His Name at the risk of your salvation and eternal destiny.

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