Month: October 2022

With Hollywood’s penchant to make sequels of popular movies or television series, it is common to reintroduce the original actors to a new generation. The original Karate Kid movies from the 1980’s is now the popular series, Cobra Kai. Nearly all of the original actors are present in the new series, to the delight of viewers, like myself, who watched the original movies. While there is always an effort to have the original actors, some may have passed away whereas others choose not to participate in the sequel. Depending upon the producers and writers, another actor may be chosen to portray that person. There is always an effort to match the physical likeness of the new actor to the original and many times the resemblance is remarkable. Aware of this fact, sometimes, I am still fooled when I see the original actor, now much older, and do a double take and exclaim, “That’s not the same person!”

The Bible gives a sobering example of a great saint who was barely recognized by his own friends after a very trying ordeal.

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him. When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky.  Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great. 

Job 2:11-13 (NASB)

Job was one of the wealthiest and most prosperous men of the ancient world. In a sudden turn of events, he lost all of his children, his wealth, and his health. When his three friends came to comfort him, they barely recognized him. Many of us have met others who have been through challenges in life. Divorce, illness, financial problems-all of these may lead to a dramatic change in the appearance of someone whom we previously knew. We feel their pain as we witness the physical changes. We may even wonder if they are the same person. Perhaps we may wonder the same thing about ourselves when we encounter similar trials? What reassurance can we have?

If we have confessed and repented of our sins and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our salvation is assured and eternal. What a comfort to know that God is unchanging and He is the same eternal Creator. While we may not be able to reverse the physical changes that age and stress bring upon ourselves, we can cling to the promise that God will care for us and bear our burdens until we pass from this life and stand in His glorious presence. 

Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your  graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

Isaiah 46:4 (NASB)

Amen!

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

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The empty laundry basket was positioned next to the washing machine. I bent down to pick it up but didn’t complete the action as a searing pain shot through my back, causing me to lose my balance.  For the next two days, I hobbled around, back bent, attempting to minimize the stress and pain. A visit to my orthopedic surgeon confirmed what I already knew, my lower lumbar vertebrae were continuing to degenerate, compressing the spinal cord and accompanying peripheral nerves. 

My story is not unique. Many people with lower back pain will often recall a similar episode of some minor activity which triggered a massive acute attack. While there is no denying the temporal association, it is highly unlikely that the minor activity caused it. This was the final straw in a long history of trauma and stress. It had been over a year since I had such an acute attack and, although I am very careful with my posture and activities, diligently performing core strengthening exercises, the additive wear and tear on my back had overwhelmed my lower vertebrae. 

As I reflected upon my situation, I realized that many stressors in my life are similar to this. It is the physician who yells at my office staff, demanding tomorrow’s result yesterday. It is the driver distracted by texting on his cell phone who nearly sideswiped me. Alone, each of these incidents may not be enough to make me lose control of my temper, but unless I successfully resolve each one, the tension builds until one day, a small incident ignites the fuse and I explode. It isn’t pretty or responsible but, like my back pain, it results in devastating consequences. 

The Bible is replete with verses that warn about the dangers of keeping one’s temper under control. One that always resonated me is the following verse:

A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back. 

Proverbs 29:11 (NASB)

While I keep this verse in mind and attempt to hold my temper back when a stressor occurs, it continues to build up. The lesson I needed to learn was what to do with this temper after I held it back.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)

God asks me to take all my anxieties and incidents that I am holding back and give them to Him. He knows me better than I know myself and He will properly care for me. If I fail to do this, I give Satan an opportunity to encourage me to lose my temper, leading to an explosive result. 

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NASB)

God’s Word is never wrong. I am wrong when I choose to berrypick Bible verses to deal with my sins. God’s Word is complete and I will only be at peace when I study His entire Word.

Amen.

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

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Every few years, the medical literature swings in one direction or another with regard to the health benefits of caffeine. A recent review now touts the medical benefits of caffeine on the heart and kidney. While this information is not new, what I did find interesting was that even if one drinks decaffeinated coffee, there were definite health benefits. Decaffeinated coffee still contains a small amount of caffeine, but the article also pointed out that coffee has other biochemical compounds, such as polyphenols, that have measurable health benefits. 

What about our relationship with God? The most important result of a relationship with Jesus Christ is the forgiveness of our sins leading to salvation and eternal life. Are there additional benefits that may not be as readily observable? The philosopher, scientist, and Christian theologian, Blaine Pascal, wrote these words many years ago. “Either Christianity is true or it’s false. If you bet that it’s true, and you believe in God and submit to Him, then if it IS true, you’ve gained God, heaven, and everything else. If it’s false, you’ve lost nothing, but you’ve had a good life marked by peace and the illusion that ultimately, everything makes sense. If you bet that Christianity is not true, and it’s false, you’ve lost nothing. But if you bet that it’s false, and it turns out to be true, you’ve lost everything and you get to spend eternity in hell.” Although somewhat tongue in cheek, there is truth in what Pascal wrote. Even for someone who does not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, if one lived their life by Christian principles, there would be definite and measurable benefits. But why stop there?

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 

Galatians 5:22-25 (NLT)

We can attempt to live a good life, separate from God by following godly principles. Yet, if one has experienced peace and positive feedback, why stop there? A good life does not lead to salvation. Only a relationship with God through faith and belief in Jesus Christ can do this. When we do this, we are empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and He brings forth true fruit in our lives because we have been forgiven of our sins through the power of the Resurrection. 

What are the additional benefits of a life in Jesus Christ? Everything. All of life makes sense when we belong to Jesus Christ who took our sinful passions and desires and nailed them to the Cross.

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

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In an era before photography, death masks served an important purpose to preserve the facial features of the deceased so future sculptors and artists could create accurate reproductions. Made from wax or plaster, the mask was made soon after death. Here is the death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Source: Wikipedia

Death masks can be traced to the ancient Romans and possibly ancient Egyptians. So although the technology and technique existed during the time the Bible was written, there is no record of death masks made of the great saints of the Bible. Of course, the face that many would like to see is that of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For thousands of years, artists have speculated as countless works of art can attest. Yet, the truth is no one really knows, and perhaps that is a good thing.

My servant grew up in the LORD’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 

Isaiah 53:2-3 (NLT)

The prophet Isaiah wrote these words over a thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The Gospels do not give a clue to His physical features. This description provides a somewhat unflattering description. This was the plan of God the Father. We are drawn to Jesus, not because of his physical beauty or appearance. We are drawn to Jesus Christ because of our faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing is by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Our sins blind us to the true beauty of Jesus Christ. It is His glorious presence which we should seek. We will someday see His true physical beauty when we gaze upon the face of our Lord and Savior in the unimaginable glory of Heaven.

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to  meditate in His temple. Psalms 27:4 (NASB)

Amen!

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

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My wife and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. As I searched for an appropriate gift for her, I researched the traditional precious metals and gemstones that celebrate different anniversaries. I was intrigued but not surprised that most traditional gifts stop at the 70th wedding anniversary which is platinum. I wondered what the fortunate couple that remained married for 80 years or longer would choose to celebrate? I found one reference that cited oak for 80 years and granite for 90 years. One reference even suggested a 10K diamond for 100 years. But why stop there? What about the longest marriage ever recorded? 

When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died. 

Genesis 5:3-5 (NASB)

Adam and Eve were the first man and woman and the first husband and wife. When Adam celebrated his 930th wedding anniversary, he undoubtedly had a huge gathering. After all, everyone alive in the world was descended from him and Eve. I don’t know when the traditions of anniversary gifts began but I suspect that if Adam and Eve started it, all precious metals and gemstones would have been exhausted after a few hundred years of anniversaries!

Perhaps this is why God reminds us of the precious treasure He bestows us with our wives.

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. 

Proverbs 31:10 (NASB)

Indeed!

Regardless of whether you have been married for 1 year or 100 years, thank God for blessing you with a helpmate and your soul partner who completes you. 

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

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“Hey, Happy Birthday!”

“Thanks! Yup, getting up there. My body is definitely feeling it!”

“Well, everyone must answer to Father Time!”

I was listening to a conversation between two radio hosts. Of course, it was all pleasantries and good natured, but as I reflected on their references, I wondered, “What is this almost universal need to anthropomorphize concepts such as time and nature?”

Father Time. Mother Nature. Mother Earth. 

These are only a few personifications. 

It harkens back to ancient civilizations creating gods and goddesses that represented similar concepts. The ancient Greeks and Romans personified time as Cronus and Saturn. The ancient Incas referred to the mother earth and nature as Pachamama. Some pundits suggest that ancient humans did this to provide a rational explanation for phenomena they did not understand. Others have suggested that it was a way to elevate themselves to give some element of control over such events. Some of these same pundits also claim that Christianity is no different from these ancient religions that worshiped a pantheon of gods and goddesses. Christianity is simply mythology.

The desire to anthropomorphize abstract concepts is a distortion of the original Truth that God created. The Bible clearly explains how we arrived at such a state. 

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 

Romans 1:20-25 (NLT)

Christianity is not mythology. It is a personal relationship with God, the creator of the universe and us. God revealed His Truth to us, His greatest Creation. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile the relationship that sin had ruptured. However, He does not force us to obey and worship Him. This is not love. True love is a choice and an active decision to embrace one’s object of affection. 

We do not answer to Father Time. We chose to love and obey our Father God.

Amen!

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

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Many years ago, it became popular to wear a band that had the acronym, W.W.J.D. It stood for the rhetorical question, “What Would Jesus Do?” While the popularity of the wrist band has faded, I believe the message of the phrase is very relevant, particularly with the moral relativism of modern society. 

Recently, I was alerted to an advertisement that the state of California was displaying on billboards in several neighboring states. I was in disbelief even when I saw the actual advertisement which supported abortion and welcomed women to come to California to obtain an abortion, if the state they currently resided had restricted or banned this medical procedure. In small letters below the invitation was a quotation of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel of Mark. What would Jesus do? According these political operatives, He would support a woman’s right to an abortion.

Source:SF Examiner.com

Where is the outrage? Of course, it is muted and muzzled by the popular press and social media who overwhelmingly support abortion. Politicizing religion is nothing new. For centuries, malevolent individuals have twisted and usurped God’s Word to support their nefarious causes. The Apostle Peter records such actions by opportunists who distorted and manipulated God’s Word as written by the Apostle Paul. 

And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction. 

2 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)

What would Jesus do?

Jesus quoted scripture to rebuke Satan when He was tempted. He quoted scripture to the Pharisees when they exhibited hypocritical behavior when they falsely attempted to live a holy life. The Gospels are replete with many examples of our Lord Jesus Christ, quoting the scriptures to justify His viewpoints and actions. However, Jesus Christ never quoted scripture to support sin. To use a quotation of Jesus Christ to justify abortion is ludicrous and blasphemous.

For those who chose abortion, this is their decision. However, for those who advocate for abortion, God’s Word is sacred and holy and cannot be used to support their cause. 

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

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Experts warn that the most dangerous time to drive is at dawn and dusk. During these periods, the sun is low in the horizon and the glare may make it difficult to navigate. In addition, adjusting to the light changes may also be challenging. I would like to add one additional time-5AM.

I awaken very early each weekday morning and am on the road by 5AM to go to my office. There is an advantage to driving this early; there is minimal traffic and the traffic lights appear to be synchronized much more efficiently. The danger appears in the form of other drivers and pedestrians. Nearly every morning, I encounter impatient drivers who are unwilling to wait for the traffic light to turn green. They will cross an intersection when their light is red or run a red light if they perceive there is no one coming from the oncoming cross traffic. I have encountered numerous pedestrians walking or jogging on the street, usually in the direction of oncoming traffic. The vast majority are not wearing any reflective clothing or carrying any lights. On more than one occasion, I have nearly hit one of these pedestrians who ventured too far into my lane of traffic. Other pedestrians will jaywalk across 6 laned highways, confident that the traffic flow is light and any driver would see them. The worst near miss I had was a car that was parked in a lane that was hidden because of a blind turn. The car did not have their hazard lights on and thankfully, I swerved into the adjacent lane to avoid hitting them. Had another car been in the lane next to me, I would have undoubtedly hit it, causing a serious accident. While most of these situations could have occurred in broad daylight, I feel the early morning hours lulls many into thinking they can take dangerous risks that would be unacceptable at other times. 

Is there a most dangerous time of the day for spiritual attacks? I am certain many of us can recount certain times of the day when they are more prone to attack by Satan. One of my former pastors related that he and his wife often get into tense discussions and sometimes even argue while on the way to their Sunday service. It was a time when the pastor was the most spiritually prepared, about to shepherd his congregation with a sermon and Satan instigated a conflict. I was astounded when I heard this? How could this happen? How indeed!

 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

1 John 1:8 (NASB)

The most dangerous time of the day for spiritual attacks is when we grow complacent and believe that we are not sinners. That couldn’t happen, right? After all, we all know we are sinners, only saved by grace and mercy of God. This is true. Yet it is the times when we feel confident and spiritually filled and prepared when we should be most wary. Like my former pastor, this has happened to me many times. Satan preys on this overconfidence, deceiving us into believing that we can stand firm to any temptation. In reality, we may be allowing an opening for Satan to work his deceptions and malicious intents.

Be aware of the most dangerous time of the day, when sin crouches at your door. 

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

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Over thirty years ago, I interviewed for my dermatopathology fellowship. I joined other applicants as we sat around a multi-headed microscope. The chairman of the department was showing microscope slides of interesting cases and was quizzing each one of us to gauge our knowledge and the efficiency of our diagnostic skills. The first two applicants had relatively straightforward cases. Good, I thought! Perhaps I will get an easy case. When it was my turn, the chairman placed a slide on the microscope stage and said, “This one is a bit of a challenge!”

Great! Just what I needed for this crucial interview! I examined the slide as he moved it around on the microscope stage. It was odd. It reminded me of a condition I previously saw, a rare manifestation of lupus, but it was not classic. I wasn’t sure whether I should mention this disease.

“What do you think?”

I began to describe what I saw with hesitation. The chairman smiled and then chuckled. “Well, this is a bit of a trick question! It is a biopsy of a Shar Pei! A veterinarian friend of mine gave me this slide. There is no disease. This is what the normal skin of the Shar Pei looks like under the microscope!”

Oh my!

Many of us are familiar with the characteristic appearance of the Shar Pei with the numerous wrinkled folds of its coat. What is less familiar is what causes these folds. Under the microscope, the cause is revealed. All skin contains something called the dermal ground substance, comprising what is known as the extracellular matrix.  Composed of water and organic molecules, it provides support for the different elements of the skin as well as an environment that allows the diffusion of important biochemicals. The Shar Pei breed hasan  increased production of this ground substance. 

Source: Breedadvisor.com

Several diseases may present with increased dermal ground substance in the skin of humans. Lupus erythematosus is one and without the clinical history and proper setting, the histopathologic changes are nearly identical and may lead to an incorrect interpretation and diagnosis. Same ground substance but completely different interpretations depending upon the setting. One is a normal variant found in a rare breed of dog. The other is a rare disease with potentially life-threatening implications. What is true in medicine may also be true in our spiritual walk with God. 

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who  substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! 

Isaiah 5:20-21 (NASB)

Many ideas and concepts were previously considered evil but are now considered good. Politicians and social scientists manipulate language, attempting to render it gender neutral. Businesses may not refer to their bosses as owners since it evokes memories of slavery. Terminology that was never inflammatory or divisive has become just that for a growing chorus of dissenters. And they will not stop until all groups, including Christians, walk in step with their beliefs. If not, Christians and all who disagree with them are immediately labeled as bigots and divisive.

What do I think? 

We need to be wary of everything we hear from the popular media and press. Subtle changes in tone and shifting contexts may lure us into believing good is evil and evil is good. We need to cling to the Word of God and hold everything to the light of His Truth.

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

“Take an educated guess!”

I was in elementary school, and my teacher was attempting to help me learn to think critically. “When you don’t know the answer to a question, you need to learn to make an educated guess.”

I was confused. “How do I do that? Isn’t that still guessing?”

My teacher patiently nodded. “It is guessing, but instead of simply throwing out any random answer, you use your knowledge of the situation and eliminate answers that are unlikely.”

We proceeded to dissect the question he had posed to me. Guiding me, we narrowed the answer to two choices. He then reminded me of the lesson we had covered the previous week. “Now, based upon what you have learned, what would be the most likely answer?”

“B.” I confidently declared. 

“Very good! You have learned to make an educated guess.”

“Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon. They cannot be tempted by silver or bribed with gold. The attacking armies will shoot down the young men with arrows. They will have no mercy on helpless babies and will show no compassion for children.” Babylon, the most glorious of kingdoms, the flower of Chaldean pride, will be devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah when God destroyed them. 

Isaiah 13:17-19 (NLT)

Cynics aver that the great prophets, such as Daniel and Isaiah, wrote their prophecies after the events occurred. In a rebuke to these accusations, the verses from the Book of Isaiah completely debunk them. When Isaiah prophesied this, Babylon was at the height of her power. The only other kingdom that could have legitimately and successfully challenged Babylon was Assyria. This would have been the logical educated guess, and undoubtedly most of Isaiah’s contemporaries were expecting him to finger the Assyrians. Yet Isaiah prophesied that the Medes would one day conquer and destroy the Babylonians. This surely would have invited ridicule and derision. Why? The Medes were a nomadic tribe and an unlikely threat. Yet, two hundred years later, Isaiah’s prophecy would come true. The Medes would ally themselves with the Persians and conquer Babylon. Once again, the wisdom of God trumps the wisdom of man!

In life, we may utilize the skills of an educated guess to assist us in arriving at the correct answer. With God, we do not need an educated guess. God’s Word and commands are the unquestionable, absolute Truth. 

Amen!

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