Month: July 2021

Several years ago, during my first visit to Rome, I discovered the great American actress, Audrey Hepburn. Her classic movie, “Roman Holiday”, in which she won an Academy Award for best actress in 1954, was filmed on location in this picturesque city. Our Italian tour guides were eager to point out where many of the movie’s classic scenes were filmed. Photographs and posters of Hepburn were ubiquitous in every gift shop. Inspired by the adoration the Italians exuded, I later watched the movie and like generations of cinema fans, fell in love with it and Audrey Hepburn. 

After returning from Rome and sharing my experiences and newfound love of Audrey Hepburn, many of my colleagues also joined me in agreement. On my birthday that year, one of them gifted me with an Audrey Hepburn poster, one that still hangs in my office. In time, I watched all of Hepburn’s movies and was amazed and delighted to see that even up to her untimely passing at the age of 65 years, she still exuded a radiant and timeless beauty. Her humanitarian efforts equaled her physical beauty and she is remembered and celebrated for both.

When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live. Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.”

Genesis 12:11-13 (CSB)

I have always been fascinated by this description of Abraham’s wife, Sarah. At this time when they were both entering Egypt, she was about 65 years old. Nonetheless, her beauty caught the eye of the Egyptian Pharaoh who brought her into his household. The same thing happened again nearly twenty years later. By then Sarah was 85 years old and she and Abraham were travelling through a region called Gerar. The King of Gerar, Abimelech, also noticed her beauty and sought to make her his wife. Sarah was indeed a timeless beauty!

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 (CSB)

Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart —the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1 Peter 3:3-4 (CSB)

Audrey Hepburn. Sarah. I am sure many of us can add to this list with names that many of us would not recognize, perhaps a mother, wife, or daughter. God does recognize physical beauty, regardless of sex or age. If God has blessed someone with physical beauty, it should be celebrated and the recipient should be thankful. Yet, God also recognizes that physical beauty is fleeting and true beauty lies within one’s character. A truly beautiful woman is one who loves and honors God above all else. 

Amen!

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

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My family returned home from a day at the amusement park. I was asleep when they came home around midnight. The next morning, my wife shared an endearing story. “We came home and I told our son to get washed up and go to bed. I went to our office and did some work. About a half hour later, I went upstairs to check on him but was surprised that he was not in his bed. I searched the house but he was not in his bedroom or our room. Where did he go? Guess where I found him? At the kitchen table.”

“Ahh, he was hungry!”

My wife chuckled. “No! He was reading the Bible.”

“Oh my!”

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

Psalms 119:9-11 (CSB)

I am so grateful that my son is so dedicated to reading God’s Word every day. Even after a festive day, arriving home several hours after his usual bedtime, he prioritized the reading of the Bible before he went to bed. I am always praying for my son’s faith, that he would be soundly rooted in God’s Word. God showed me how my prayers for my son were answered. God also convicted me that my commitment to Him should be more like my son’s. He has prioritized God in spite of all the distractions of the day, something I definitely need to learn. 

How I wish my faith in God was as strong and pure as my son’s!

Amen!

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

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“Breaking Bad” and “Money Heist” are two recent popular television and internet series. Both series feature a small group of villains rebelling against societal norms by breaking the law and committing heinous crimes. However, each series glamorizes the villains with redeeming qualities that partially justifies their actions, making the villains the hero. 

There is a body of literature known by theologians and church scholars as Gnostic literature. Heretical and acknowledged as false teaching by the early Church fathers, this body has stirred discussion and dissent amongst religious scholars. Amongst the many works is one entitled  “The Gospel of Judas”. In this book, Judas is portrayed as the only disciple of Jesus who truly understood His mission on earth. Jesus instructed Judas to betray Him, leading to His arrest and Crucifixion. Instead of portraying Judas as a traitor and villain, it presents him as a hero, one who willingly obeyed Jesus and His true plan for mankind. Is Judas a villain or a hero? Have we completely misunderstood his role and the motives for his actions?

None of the four Gospels ever suggest that Judas had an inner or secret knowledge of Jesus, not disclosed to the other disciples. Instead, the Gospels very clearly show that Judas had his own agenda, driven by greed. He held the money box and often stole from it. He agreed to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Judas could have stopped what he was doing at any point prior to his betrayal of Jesus. Even at the critical moment when he kissed Jesus, identifying Him to the soldiers, Jesus gave him one last chance to repent. 

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived. A large mob with swords and clubs was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. His betrayer had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he’s the one; arrest him.” So immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. “Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?” Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

Matthew 26:47-50 (CSB)

Jesus called Judas a friend. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him but He still loved him as a friend. Did Judas play a role in the arrest and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ? Yes. Do we honor Judas because of it? No. God used the sinful ambitions of Judas to bring about His plan for the redemption of mankind, but God did not manipulate him. Judas ignored all of the warning signs and this last attempt of Jesus to reach his heart and repent. It was too late for Judas but it is not too late for us.

We are human beings, created in the image of Almighty God. We have been imbued with free will. We can choose to follow God and obey His teachings or, like Judas, we can reject God and follow our own sinful desires. There is nothing that can glamorize this latter choice. There is nothing that can justify or validate sin. There is only one answer, to repent and confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 

The popular media may glamorize and glorify the villain but there is nothing redeeming in sinning. Jesus Christ gave His life to rescue us from this desolate state.

Praise God!

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

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Many years ago, I was listening to a presentation by a business consultant to the hospital for which I was on staff. The medical executive committee along with the hospital administration agreed to consider a proposal by this consultant group to implement some cost-cutting measures. Some of the measures generated a heated discussion amongst the committee members. Frustrated, the medical chief of staff stood up and pointed at the consultant group and declared, “You need to demonstrate proof of concept.”

Proof of concept.

This term is used to demonstrate the feasibility of a proposed idea or method. In this setting, the chief of staff was asking for a pilot project that could quickly demonstrate the practicality and efficacy of some of the consultant group’s controversial proposals. Proof of concept is utilized in many industries including medicine. Clinical drug and vaccine trials, which have made nearly daily headlines during the COVID pandemic, are a practical example of proof of concept. All of these trials began as smaller pilot studies that first demonstrated the efficacy of the treatment in a small cohort of patients. While there is no guarantee that proof of concept will lead to ultimate success, it is an important first step in establishing confidence and credibility. 

Is there a broader application in our spiritual lives?

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

Philippians 1:29 (NLT)

As uncomfortable as it may sound, trials and suffering are proof of concept that a Christian believer truly belongs to Jesus Christ. Some new believers in Jesus Christ may believe that once they have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, their suffering and trials are over. In reality, the battles are just beginning. God uses them to mold and transform believers into the image of Jesus Christ, to become a fellow child of God. Although resisting the temptations may be difficult, God promises to walk with us, always giving us the strength to resist and be triumphant. 

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

I do not seek trials, suffering, or temptation. Yet, I can take comfort that when they occur, they are undeniable proof of concept that God loves me and desires me to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

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

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Shock and awe.

This term was first coined by the United States military to describe a strategy to use overwhelming military power and force to paralyze the enemy and cause them to withdraw or lose their will to fight. It was popularized in the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States and her allies. 

Isn’t this what Satan always attempts to do to us? When trials and tribulations confront us, when our plans go awry, when every solution we implement is stymied or fails, do we cower in fear and accept defeat? God offers us an eternal solution. 

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world…

Psalms 19:1-4 (CSB)

When Satan attacks, we do not need to be left in shock and awe, beaten into submission. We do not need to fear Satan and his wiles. Satan knows he is defeated but he never misses an attempt to lie and convince us that we have also lost and death and separation from God is our only fate. There is only one thing we need to fear and respect, the glory and majesty of God. God defeated Satan by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us of our sins. All who confess and repent of their sins and place their trust in Him will receive eternal life and salvation.

The power of the Resurrection is the greatest example of shock and awe in all Creation. It forever defeated Satan and his demons. The Heavens declare the glory of God. We are more than conquerors through faith and belief in Jesus Christ!

Amen!

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

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“Yes, they got married a few years ago.”

“Oh, how wonderful! I recall that Jake and Sally were together for many years.”

My colleague and I were discussing a mutual friend, Jake, whom I had previously met several years ago. “Yes. We never thought they would get married but their very good friend persuaded them to tie the knot.”

“Wait, what? They got married because their friend asked them to do it?”

“Yes.” she nodded. “He had A.L.S. (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and knew he didn’t have much longer to live. He loved Jake and Sally and always wanted to see them married before he passed away. So to fulfill his dying wish, they agreed to get married and at the wedding, he was there in his wheelchair alongside the couple as they exchanged their vows. It was very touching.” It was the dying wish of a friend coming to fruition in a poignant moment before he passed away. 

The Bible records the dying wishes of many saints. Jacob, Moses, and David are a few that come to mind. All looked ahead to better days of God’s promises that would be fulfilled in the future, but not in their lifetimes. Thousands of years later,  the Bible recorded the last words of Jesus Christ, a descendent of Jacob and David, and Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian Church. 

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34 (CSB)

And Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.” Saying this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23:46 (CSB)

The last words of Stephen were very similar to His Lord Jesus Christ. 

While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And after saying this, he fell asleep.

Acts 7:59-60 (CSB)

The dying wish of both Jesus Christ and Stephen focused upon forgiveness for their executioners and a prayer to God to receive their spirits as they passed away. Instead of wishing for something that would be fulfilled in the future, their dying wish was fulfilled at that moment. I am currently healthy but I do have a dying wish and I pray that it could be fulfilled in my lifetime or even on my deathbed. My wish may not be as dramatic as the friend of Jake and Sally but it is no less important. There are many family members, friends, and colleagues who do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I pray that God will draw them closer to Him, see His grace and mercy, and accept His invitation for salvation and eternal life through faith and belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

This is my wish but not limited to a dying wish. I pray that I will see it before I pass and that together, like the wedding ceremony of Jake and Sally, I will be able to celebrate its fulfillment as fellow children of God.

Amen.

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

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“Cross my heart, hope to die.”

I was overhearing a conversation between two children on the playground. I smiled as I reminisced that I often quoted the same verse when making a promise to another friend. What is the origin of this phrase? One explanation suggests it was derived from a 19th century poem by an unknown author.

Cross my heart

and hope to die

stick a needle in my eye

wait a moment,

i spoke a lie

i never really

wanted to die.

but if I may

and if I might

my heart is open

for tonight

though my lips are sealed

and a promise is true

i won’t break my word

my word to you…..

While I cannot authenticate this poem, I believe it is plausible.  Many pundits aver that “cross my heart” refers to the sign of the Cross and this is probably true. How did the sign of the Cross come to represent an unbreakable promise? Couldn’t someone swear a promise by the beating of their heart or the surety of the sun rising in the morning? Perhaps it is because the Cross represents something more than a biological or natural phenomenon. 

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11 (CSB)

The Cross is God supernaturally intervening in the events of His Creation. Jesus Christ is God but He laid aside the glory that He had in Heaven with His Father and became a man. He could have entered this world as a supreme king but instead, took the form of a servant and lived a sinless life. He obeyed God, the Father, and willingly allowed Himself to be tortured and executed on the Cross. Three days later, God resurrected Him from the dead proving that He alone has the power to conquer death and free us from the bondage of our sins. 

Cross my heart.

It is a solemn promise. It cost Jesus Christ His life to bring salvation and eternal life to all who confess and repent of their sins and place their trust in Him.

Amen!

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

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My daughter was sharing photos from her recent church retreat. Along one of the mountain trails, they found ancient petroglyphs carved into the rocks. A sign was positioned next to them with a diagram illustrating all of the petroglyphs accompanied with a short discussion suggesting these were probably religious symbols or used in an elaborate ceremony such as a burial or a hunt. As I examined the petroglyphs, I proffered my opinion. “Interesting theory. I have another. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything. What if a thousand years ago, a bunch of people were just sitting around this rock and just started drawing?”

“Or doodling!” My daughter chimed in. 

“Exactly!”

“It would be like the Market Theater Gum Wall we saw in Seattle, remember? Maybe a thousand years from now, historians will look at that wall, examine the wads of chewing gum attached to the wall, and conclude this was some sacred religious votive!”

Seattle Gum Wall-Source Reddit.com

We all laughed at the possibility. Although historians and archeologists may submit erudite hypotheses about ancient artifacts and petroglyphs, no one really knows the true meanings or intentions. What about the Bible? Is this a collection of fables and myths? Perhaps it is not a sacred Book? Perhaps it was written to entertain children, like a bedtime story? A quick search of the internet will reveal thousands of sites and pundits making such claims. Like the petroglyphs, should I dismiss any serious attempt to read a deeper meaning into the Bible’s message? The story of Noah and the arc can be found in other ancient myths. In fact, for many events that are recorded in the Bible, there is a similar event recorded in the mythology or legends of many cultures.  Does this mean the Bible doesn’t mean anything?

These observations overlook an important distinction. While there may be similarities with other stories in ancient cultures, the Bible is a single comprehensive book, internally consistent within itself. The most important centers upon the story of redemption, how God reconciled the sinful world with Himself by sending His Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The Old Testament has over three hundred prophecies about the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But what if Jesus Christ studied all these prophecies and then attempted to live a life that fulfilled these prophecies? Even if He fulfilled some, He would never have been able to control events that occurred when He was dying on the Cross or after He died. 

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.

John 19:34-37 (CSB)

The Gospel of John records this event after Jesus died on the Cross. In order to hasten the horrific death caused by crucifixion, soldiers often broke the bones of the legs of the condemned. By doing so, the victims could no longer support the weight of their body by their legs and would quickly asphyxiate. They broke the legs of the two criminals who were crucified next to Jesus. However, when the soldiers saw that Jesus was dead, one of the soldiers wanted to make sure Jesus Christ was dead and pierced his side with a spear. The significance of this was to fulfill yet additional prophecies, that not one of his bones will be broken (Psalms 34:20) and they will look at the one whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10). These were events that happened after Jesus Christ had died. How could He control this or manipulate events after his death to fit the prophecies?

Coincidence? Perhaps it doesn’t mean anything? Taken alone, one may arrive at that conclusion. However, when one takes the time to investigate all of the prophecies in the Old Testament, there is only one conclusion. 

Jesus Christ is God. 

And that means everything. 

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

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Many years ago, I reunited with Jake, a fellow dermatopathologist whom I met in my dermatopathology fellowship. During my training, we became very close friends and spent much time together outside of the hospital. After we completed our training, he took a job in Tennessee while I took a job in Southern California. I had not seen him for five years and welcomed the opportunity to catch up. He was raving about the benefits of living and working in Tennessee, including the lower cost of living and no state income tax. In fact, he even invited me to meet with his group, potentially joining him. Although I declined because of family obligations, we always hoped that someday we would work together again. 

At that time, I was in charge of recruitment for my pathology group and was seeking another dermatopathologist like myself. Although I thought of Jake, I assumed he was content in Tennessee and would not give up his job and uproot his life to join me. Thus I drafted an advertisement and placed it in a major pathology journal. A few months later Jake contacted me. “Just saw your group advertising for a dermatopathologist. How come you didn’t contact me first?”

I was surprised. “Honestly, you seemed so happy where you were. I thought you would never leave.”

“Well, the pay and benefits are good, but Tennessee isn’t really a good fit for my wife. I would welcome an opportunity to work with you again.”

“Ohhh…” I moaned. “I am so sorry. We just hired another dermatopathologist.” I should have dug deeper instead of making an assumption that he would never leave. It was not the first time I committed such an error. The Bible also records an example of making assumptions and failing to dig deeper.

When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This truly is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he? Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Messiah comes from David’s offspring and from the town of Bethlehem, where David lived?” So the crowd was divided because of him.

John 7:40-43 (CSB)

The crowds acknowledged that Jesus was from Galilee. Yet in the same passage they also acknowledged that the Messiah must be a descendent of King David and come from Bethlehem. They did not consider the possibility that both scenarios were true. Jesus was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Galilee. They should have dug deeper instead of assuming both possibilities could not both be true and mutually exclusive. 

I made assumptions about Jake and it caused me to miss out on an opportunity to work together with him. Do we make similar assumptions about God? Some believe Jesus is one of many prophets all proclaiming the same god. Others believe He is a good man and teacher but not divine. Still others believe He had delusions of grandeur believing He was the Messiah and God incarnate. All of these assumptions cannot be true. God has definitively revealed who He is through His Word, the Bible. Don’t make assumptions about who He is. Take the time to dig deeper and investigate the Truth. Jesus Christ is God, the Messiah, a Prophet, and a teacher. He is God incarnate and the only path to salvation and eternal life. It is not an assumption. It is the Truth!

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

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Jake is a physician colleague who is also married to another physician. His wife does not practice clinical medicine and is employed as medical writer/consultant for television shows and movies. I don’t usually watch medical dramas because I find myself over-analyzing the situations and usually arguing with the veracity and plausibility of the content. However, when I learned that she was one of the writers on a popular medical series, I decided to watch it. Not surprisingly, the episode I watched evoked the same critical attitude within me. When I saw Jake at a conference the following morning, I confronted him. 

“Jake, I watched the episode last night. Dude, that was quite a stretch!”

Jake shook his head. “I know. I know. My wife even consulted with me about the possibility and although I agreed it could happen, I knew it was an extreme rarity.”

“Extreme rarity?” I chuckled. “How about never?”

“Yeah, maybe closer to that!”

Even experts may stretch the truth. 

Some critics of the Bible aver that the writers exaggerated and stretched the truth. How could the entire world be flooded and only eight people and every species of animal be rescued in an ark? How could Moses have parted the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to escape the pursuing Egyptians? How could God be born as a human, live a sinless life, die on the Cross, and be resurrected from the dead on the third day?

Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?

Jeremiah 32:27 (NASB)

The Bible is not a stretch of the truth, it IS the Truth. God created everything: the universe, all living creatures, and the physical laws of science which govern all interactions. However, God is not a part of this Creation as some religions believe. He is separate from His creation and governs it. Thus, He alone is able to miraculously intervene and redefine what reality is. As God Himself declared, “Is anything too difficult for Me?”

Amen!

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

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