Month: July 2023

In nearly every television or streaming series that have successfully completed two or three seasons, an episode is aired that is an interlude, when the characters and plot lines are reset. At times, new relationships are introduced or older relationships are ended. In others, the characters engage in team building exercises. By the end of the episode, most of the characters are able to view their lives and their world with a renewed purpose and usually positive perspective. 

Our lives are no different. Many years ago, during my fourth year of medical school, I spent nearly two months on the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia doing my family medicine elective. With no call and only seeing patients in the outpatient setting, it gave me a much needed breathing space. It was a sorely needed interlude. I was burned out from three years of medical school and I was drifting away from my faith since I rarely had time to attend church or fellowship with other Christians. In the idyllic setting of this tropical island, I rededicated myself to God, writing in my journal and reading the Bible at least two hours every morning. I returned to medical school with a renewed sense of God’s purpose in my life, reassured and reinvigorated. 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

When life overwhelms us, an interlude may be an excellent way to reset and refocus our priorities. Jesus understands our need to rest and asks us to give Him our burdens to carry. He bore the weight of all of the sins of the world upon His body and triumphantly conquered sin and death through the power of His Resurrection. He did this for us even when we did not know Him. Allow Him to give you a spiritual interlude so that you may find times of refreshing through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. 

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

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Many years ago, I was at an impasse regarding a decision about a thorny personnel issue within my professional group. I consulted with a Christian brother, an experienced and successful businessman, who gave me practical suggestions. I also received advice from another colleague, who was not a Christian believer, but was a savvy businessman. I prayed over their suggestions, and I felt God gave me peace about accepting this last colleague’s advice. However, I was unsure if I was honestly praying and seeking God’s will or allowing myself to be distracted by the recent bad news. At that time, there was a great deal of negative press regarding Christians who embezzled funds from the churches in which they served. Unfortunately, I may have been swayed by the news and it biased me to turn away from the advice of the Christian businessman. 

When we make decisions, we may be influenced by our immediate circumstances. A tongue in cheek comparison is to not go food shopping when hungry. So true. When I have done this, I have made more impulse purchases of junk food. The consequences were more serious with this personnel decision. Ultimately, the issue was resolved and I prayed that in spite of my bias, I was still faithful to God’s will. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Romans 12:2 (NASB)

God speaks to us in many ways, through believers and those still seeking Him. With the hindsight of time, I believe the advice that God gave me through this colleague was the correct option. However, it was disheartening to be distracted and potentially swayed by the egregious crimes committed by those involved in Christian ministries. I must continue to surrender to God’s will and allow myself to be guided by the Holy Spirit who indwells within me. Whether I am receiving guidance or giving advice, I must cling to the Truth of God’s Word so that I will not be swayed or distracted by the events of the world.

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

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Auschwitz. Hiroshima. Chernobyl. 

These cities are infamous for what happened in their past. We always need to remember the great tragedies that occurred there. However, by only focusing upon these dark events, it overlooks the rich histories of these cities that occurred before and after. Hiroshima was and is an important port city in Japan. For hundreds of years, it served as one the main entry points of Japan with the outside world, introducing many European foods and traditions to the Japanese people. Today, it remains a culinary destination. It has recovered from its past. This is man’s doing, rebuilding a city that was completely destroyed by man’s actions. 

The Bible describes many great cities, some of which still exist such as Damascus, Rome, and Jerusalem. Nineveh was another great city. It was the city the prophet Jonah was commanded to preach repentance to after he spent three days in the belly of a great fish. Nineveh did listen to Jonah and repent of their sins. However, nearly 150 years later, Nineveh returned to their evil ways and rejected God. This time, God used the prophet Nahum to pronounce a final fatal judgment upon the city of Nineveh.

“I am your enemy!” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “Your chariots will soon go up in smoke. Your young men will be killed in battle. Never again will you plunder conquered nations. The voices of your proud messengers will be heard no more.” 

Nahum 2:13 (NLT)

There is no healing for your wound; your injury is fatal. All who hear of your destruction

will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty? 

Nahum 3:19 (NLT)

For thousands of years, no one could find any evidence of the city of Nineveh. Critics of the Bible who averred that Jonah’s story was a fictional tale also concluded that the city of Nineveh never existed. Only in the 19th century did archaeologists discover the ruins of this ancient city. Until then, it remained buried and forgotten by the world, but not by God. 

When man destroys a city, he may attempt to rebuild it to its former glories. When God destroys a city, His word is final. Nineveh was one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. When they refused to repent of their sins, God passed judgment upon them. Their voices would be heard no more. It is a sobering lesson for all of us. Someday Jesus Christ will return and judge the nations of the world. Will we be saved through faith and belief in Jesus Christ or choose eternal separation and damnation by rejecting His grace and mercy?

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

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“Hello, this is Sally from your bank. I’m calling to thank you for your years of service and want to tell you about some of our new options for business banking.”

It was a cold call from my bank. Ordinarily I would pass on such calls but it came at an opportune time. I was looking for additional solutions to process credit card payments so I accepted the invitation to listen. But first, I need to verify her identity. 

“Thank you. I’m sorry, Sally, but frankly, you could be anyone, claiming to work for my bank. Could you answer a few questions for me?”

“Oh, of course. You are absolutely correct.”

“Ok, who is my private client banker?”

“Yes…let me look that up. Ok, it is Mary Smith.”

All right. Passed one test, but I needed more. “And what is my P.I.N. for my business checking account ending in 4564?”

“Yes…ok…2348.”

I was satisfied. The P.I.N. (personal identification number) is usually used by a business to authorize a transaction by verifying the identity of the caller. In this case, I reversed the process and verified the business. It was an intimate piece of information that only my bank should know. 

As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”

“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”

Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 

John 1:47-49 (NLT)

Nathanael was skeptical that any prophet, or any good person, could come from Nazareth. Thus, when Philip, his friend, told him about Jesus of Nazareth, he dismissed the possibility that Jesus could be the Messiah. It was only when Jesus revealed an intimate piece of knowledge about him, something only Nathanael would have known, did his perception and attitude change. 

Jesus Christ is God. He created us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He will reveal our deepest and darkest secrets so that we may acknowledge and confess them to Him. When we do, He will forgive and heal us of our sins. We can completely trust Him to do this because these are intimate pieces of information that only He would know. 

Praise God!

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

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“He nearly bit my head off.”

My colleague shook his head. “I know, something is up. He certainly seems distracted.”

Many years ago, my colleague and I were discussing our recent interaction with another co-worker. Usually affable, he was uncharacteristically moody and sarcastic. Several other co-workers were upset with his rudeness. Some attempted to give him space to work through whatever issues with which he was dealing. Several weeks later, we learned that his father had passed away and he did not want to share the painful news with any of us at that time. 

When someone lashes out at us for no apparent reason, a knee jerk reaction may be to chastise that person as nasty or rude. However, we don’t know what is going on in people’s lives and it is none of our business. All we can do is be available for them if they need to talk. 

As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 

Matthew 14:13-14 (NLT)

It was a dark time for Jesus Christ. His cousin, John the Baptist, was beheaded by Herod. John’s disciples buried his body and told Jesus what happened. John was more than the cousin of Jesus. He was the prophet whom God chose to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. If my closest cousin or relative were killed, I would be devastated and most likely would lash out at others in frustration and anger. How did Jesus respond to this tragic news? Was Jesus distracted by the death of John? He withdrew to a secluded place. What did Jesus do during this time alone? The Bible is silent on this but it would not be surprising if He needed time to reflect and pray over the events that occurred. 

Jesus needed time to be alone but the crowds did not know this and clamored for His attention. Did He lash out at them? No. He returned to the people to whom He was sent to serve. Jesus is fully God and fully Man. He experienced the same emotions and pain that we do when a loved one unexpectedly passes. However, His compassion for us is never hindered during times of personal duress. During difficult and challenging interactions with others, may we all be encouraged by the example of Jesus Christ.

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

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It was a sweltering 90F with an equivalent humidity. We stood in a line at least fifty deep. The only thing that kept us going was the anticipation of partaking in a famous dish. Several years ago, my family vacationed in Singapore and we visited a famous open air food market, known for dozens of food stands serving some of Singapore’s most famous cuisines. We were queued at the Tian Tian food stand, renowned for its version of Hainanese chicken rice, Singapore’s signature dish. The food was served on a humble plastic plate with plastic utensils and disposable wooden chopsticks. We waited 45 minutes to receive it and we ate it on a public table in the middle of a bustling market. Oh, it is also a one-star Michelin restaurant!

Source:Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice – Singapore

The criteria for a Michelin star has evolved. Instead of the past criteria of stuffy and formal restaurants with tables covered with pristine tablecloths and immaculate silverware, the new criteria introduced categories such as street food. Food served from humble food carts or street stands, like Tian Tian, can now earn a coveted Michelin star.  While the settings may have changed, the quality of the food still maintains the lofty Michelin standard. 

Michelin has changed their formally strict criteria and welcomed restaurants that would not have been considered even twenty years ago. A similar change is occurring in the Christian Church. There are some leaders and laypeople within the Church who have advocated a more inclusive theology, embracing controversial topics such as gender fluidity and even accepting deities from other religions. In an effort to be inclusive, some churches have compromised the Word of God. The Bible warns against such apostasy. 

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 

Galatians 1:6-7 (NASB)

The Church has embraced all cultures and nations of the world. There are no racial or economic barriers. The settings have changed since the first churches met in the homes of the early believers. However, God’s Word has not changed. These are challenging times for the Church. However, a different gospel does not need to be preached to those who are lost and seeking God. The same lofty standards established by faith and belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior remain unchanged.

Don’t be misled. There is only one Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

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

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The colorful display of native American indigenous costumes immediately caught my attention. A loudspeaker broadcast the voice of the pastor of the church as he warmly welcomed the crowd.

“Thank you to everyone for coming. This is the second year we have celebrated our local indigenous people who first settled in this area. We honor and worship Mother Earth with this festival, and we are thrilled to do it on the grounds of our church.”

Worship Mother Earth? On the grounds of a Christian church? I was shocked. It was a festive occasion, and the speech did not bother the rest of the participants, but I knew the truth. This was heresy. It was a man-made religion, masquerading as Christianity. This is exactly what Jeroboam did.

So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. And he made houses on high places, and made priests from among all the people who were not of the sons of Levi. 

1 Kings 12:28-31 (NASB)

Jeroboam rebelled against King Solomon’s son Rehoboam after he was anointed king. Taking ten of the northern tribes of Israel, Jeroboam created his own religion. He replicated the golden calves and informed his people that these were the true gods. He referenced their past when Aaron and the Hebrews sinned against God and fashioned a golden calf to worship as their false god. Jeroboam placed these golden calves at the northern and southern borders of his kingdom and created temples, filling them with his priests. It was a religion that appeared to worship God. Instead, Jeroboam led his people to sin and destruction. It was heresy. God severely judged the northern tribes of Israel, and in two hundred years, the kingdom was destroyed, carried off to exile by the Assyrians. 

These are dark days in which we live. Many false teachers seek to subvert the Truth of God and substitute a toxic blend of worldly values and idols for true Christianity. Man-made religions will always fail. Seek God’s Truth as solely revealed in His Word, the Bible, and through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. 

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

In the history of rock guitar giants, many familiar names immediately come to mind. Jimi Hendrix. Eric Clapton. Jimmy Page. All are acknowledged as giants in the field. However, there is always one name that stands apart. 

Eddie Van Halen.

When Van Halen burst onto the rock guitar scene in the seventies, he literally turned the music world upside down. He immediately inspired a new generation of guitarists, seeking to emulate his idiosyncratic style. He also persuaded many would-be guitarists to give up the instrument, realizing they would never equal his artistic brilliance!

Even if one does not like this genre of music, one cannot help but be awed by his sheer technical and artistic prowess. If you have never witnessed his musical genius or need a refresher, here is a compilation.

A Tribute to Edward Van Halen – YouTube

Of course, there are always cynics and dissenters. Some have correctly pointed out that Van Halen did not invent the two handed tapping technique, one of his signature styles. He didn’t. Even Van Halen admitted this. However, what he did was take this technique to an entirely different level of virtuosity. Thus, whenever one speaks of this technique, Van Halen’s name is always mentioned first. Just because he did not invent the technique did not make Van Halen any less of an innovator and maverick. 

When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 

“We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded. 

John 7:45-46 (NASB)

Critics of Christianity and Jesus Christ have leveled similar charges of unoriginality. They aver that Jesus Christ was not an original preacher and was not the first to teach with parables. This is true. However, what He did was elevate preaching and teaching to an entirely unprecedented new level. As referenced in these verses above, even His enemies acknowledged this. They had never heard anyone speak like Him! 

Jesus Christ did not invent it. No, He did not.

He perfected it!

Amen!

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

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The lights were dimmed as the monitor’s beeping increased in frequency with each passing second. “Let’s prep for the episiotomy.” I obeyed my attending physician and readied the tray for the procedure. I was a third-year medical student doing my obstetrics and gynecology rotation, participating in the delivery of my first baby. 

There were so many moving parts. The fetal monitor. The mother’s monitor. There was urgency as the contractions increased in frequency and intensity. The episiotomy was completed, and the baby’s head was crowning. My attending physician positioned me and guided my hands to deliver the baby. The mother screamed in pain as the baby was delivered. Quickly, the waiting nurse took the baby from me, wrapping it, and then motioned to the father to cut the umbilical cord. My attending physician tapped my hand, motioning that we needed to repair the episiotomy. It would be another 20 minutes before I left the delivery room. Later that day, a classmate asked me about my experience. “It was amazing!” I gushed.

“So was it a boy or a girl?” I stared at him and was at a loss for words. “I don’t know.” I participated in the delivery of my first baby. A baby boy had entered the world, blessing a family, but I was preoccupied. I missed the true miracle. 

Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. 

Luke 23:8 (NLT)

There are some who always seek the sensational or the miraculous. However, in doing so, like myself, they may overlook the true miracle. Herod was so distracted by wanting to see Jesus perform a miracle, he could not see the greatest miracle. God, incarnate, was standing before Him!

Looking for a true miracle? Look no further than your own life! We are not a random collection of molecules. We are formed in the image of God. God wants to continue this transformation by conforming us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Only by confessing and repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will a true miracle occur. We will receive salvation and eternal life!

Don’t miss the true miracle! Jesus Christ stands at the door of your heart to offer salvation and entry into God’s Kingdom.

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

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As I disembarked the plane and entered the airport lobby, I smiled and announced to everyone around me, “Tadaima!” It was over sixty years ago when I was last in Fukuoka, Japan. My father was stationed at the US Air Force base in Fukuoka. The base no longer exists, and the airport was transformed into the present-day Fukuoka International Airport. Somewhere, amidst the sprawling runways and adjacent buildings, was the original location of the Air Force hospital where I was born. Six weeks later, my parents returned to Hawaii, where I was raised.

“Tadaima” is a Japanese word that is spoken when one returns home and literally means, “I just now came home.” The welcoming return phrase is, “Okaerinasai!” which means, “Welcome home!” I was thrilled to revisit my birthplace even though I have no memory of it. Nearly twenty years later, I had another birth. This time, it was a spiritual rebirth when Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior. Unlike looking back to my earthly birthplace, I look forward to a homecoming in Heaven. Jesus has prepared a place for me in His Father God’s home.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 

John 14:1-3 (NLT)

Tadaima!

I look forward to my glorious meeting in Heaven with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, when He welcomes me home and declares…

Okaerinasai!

Amen!

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