Yesterday I went to my surgeons office for the final sign off on my back operation. I've really grown to like and appreciate  this man. We always open with light conversation talking about anything but the medical issues at hand. Sometimes I slip in the gospel, sometimes I don't.

       He is a personable man with great communicative skills and a really great bedside manner. I have  always have lots of question, daily at first for a couple of months, three or four times a week as I was rehabbing and then every time I show up for a checkup after our initial banter. He has seen me in some extremely  depressing times, always there to reassure, often to just listen as  I cried. He even answered me while he was on vacation. I'm going to miss him.

       When we looked at the final CAT scan going through it frame by frame, he explained in detail every one. The bones lined up perfectly, fused completely as if they had always been that way. He also showed me an old injury where my spine had fused and healed itself over time. This must have been from my motorcycle accident over forty years ago. I was truly amazed at His skills and the proof that God is in control.

        I had an MRI done seventeen years ago as I experienced crippling back pain before going to Hungary for my first missions trip. My spine was injected with an epidural to relieve pain and pressure. This injury was never discussed. God is in control. How else can we explain the forty year old injury restored and healed that no other doctor ever knew about?

       As I began to drive home I began to praise the Lord for His healing grace, for the evidence of His love for me. I had just had a miracle confirmed; in fact two were manifest. I had prayed for healing. I had pleaded for healing. I had questioned healing. God showed me two healings decades apart yet so evidential. Prayers of the saints and myself were answered. He provided more

       Many look to the spectacular, the sign, the wonder...well, there all here. Miracles happen spectacularly every day. God gives us signs every day...and we miss His wonder. God uses His creation to display His miracles every day. He also uses His creation to perform those miracles. He used my doctor to perform a miracle as I think He does daily, hourly, minute by minute around the world; nothing spectacular only if you aren't able to see.  He performs miracles that we never even know about that are not spectacular also; grace. These are all physical miracle that we judge God by, that we judge grace by.

       Some of you know the deep isolation, the deep fear of thinking God wasn't hearing me, even listening to me in that hospital though I cried out for answers. Truth is I have felt that way often. Far from God, knowing the truth yet listening to the accuser; condemnation and conviction can be tricky in the middle of fear. Truth is, the Father was calling me closer, into a closer relationship with Him; Jesus is full of truth and grace. The heart is both a physical and spiritual reality according to God's word. One is easily understood. One takes the Holy Spirit The spiritual miracle is having the eyes of our hearts opened to see the truth of grace that heals in ways we see and may never see...until we see Him.

just a thought                 March 2019

Where does the seasonal symphony start?

Where is that end that begins afresh,

that once more anchoring of our fickle flesh?

Is it in summer next with its certain fullness of joy,

enveloped in glimmering, sun sapping days,

becoming the mantle of a chasing of rays?

Or does fall start this oeuvre with its copious rewards,

its plenty profuse, its harvests e'er sating,

in fullness and contentment and continued baiting?

Is winter then the etude embracing refuge and dread,

a harmony confronting our will, assessing our consent;

neither before nor after nor always present?

And yet it is spring that speaks of a promise, of a hope prepared,

with its fullness of joy and rewards perceived;

it is an agreement in of faith of things believed.

Most start their opus in winter's etude,

thru movements, thru seasons, and times of assent;

neither before nor after to discover the present.

Today is the day of salvation, if...                  just a thought

just a thought          February 2019

I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree. 

Joyce Kilmer

       In September of 2007 I wrote a 'just a thought' entitled 'Apologies to Mr. Kilmer'. It was an apologetic inspired by the cadence of Mr. Kilmer's original poem, 'Trees'. As I was taking my kids to and from school last week I was reminded of this opening line as we passed by the park and saw tree crews 'trimming' fifty foot plus majestic oak trees.

       I was horrified at the needless butchering of these trees, at the unneeded damage done to them by this hack and slash 'maintenance' practice. The contract specifications for this work are unknown. Experience tells me they looked at simple costs that disregard how future maintenance costs will actually rise and tree health decline from this myopia. The health, beauty and longevity of these trees was being ignored. Yet there is knowledge available.

       I was a certified arborist for many years in the states and we arborists have a bible, 'A New Tree Biology' by Dr. Alex L. Shigo. This bible tells us the who, what, when, where, why and how of trees...and more. Trim here so it will grow using its natural design to remain healthy and strong. It tells us what happens if we go against nature and try to force or shape them for a purpose they are not intended for. It teaches about the joints and marrow if you will, about the causes and healing of diseases. There is even a chapter on radical pruning; when to drastically cut the crown of the tree for its continued survival. It is the whole counsel of tree care. After studying and reading it I have never looked at trees the same way since. Dr. Shigo once signed my 'bible' with his trademark line, 'touch trees'

       Now as this horror was unfolding during my taxi service I thought back to my offering in 2007. It brought to mind James 3:1, "...let not many of you become teachers knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.", a reminder to all Christians who teach, pastor or lead in any way. Stick to the bible, to the truths therein. Use it to help shape a brother or sister to remain healthy. Trim only what may be needed. Don't force them into your purposes. Cause healing. And before any drastic cut be sure God has told you to do this; don't react as we often do with a hack and a slash. It is best to just 'touch them' ...with God's word. He will do the rest. His knowledge, His whole counsel is available! Stay strong!

...just a thought

...just a thought   January 2019

"Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, 'What did these people do to you

 to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?'

'Don't get so upset, my lord,' Aaron replied.

'You yourself know how evil these people are.'

They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us.

We don't know what happened to this fellow Moses,

 who brought us here from the land of Egypt.'

So I told them, 'Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.' 

When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire...out came this calf!'" 
    Ex 32:21-24 NLT

       I finished my daily bible reading this morning and completed the book of Exodus. These verses jumped out at me, I highlighted them. I rarely do any highlighting when simply reading the word to keep my train of thought; but these were alive, demanding I listen and meditate upon them.

       Yesterday evening until midnight I had been studying the end times; listening to a current teaching, remembering teachings I had done earlier in the year and digesting CNN. I say digesting because the news feeds us a lot of stuff. It has an obvious agenda that we should be able to discern as it panders and peddles; and as it fulfills bible prophecy. Truth can be covered over by it and revealed by it.

       I came of age in the late sixties being exposed to its politics at the ripe old age of twelve, walking Democratic precincts for Jesse Unruh for governor, seeing the unrest of college campuses first hand, the injustice of civil rights in America, etc., etc. Truth and conspiracy swirled everywhere. I learned at an early age to see through, past and around. I gave up on conspiracy theories long ago and prophecy is not theory.

"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child.

But when I grew up, I put away childish things." 1 Cor 13:11-12

       I listened to this panel talk about Syria, Damascus and Ezekiel's war. They talked about how Syria is really a proxy state ready to be run over by Russia, Turkey and Iran; the prophesied players in Ezekiel's war. They talked about the imminent destruction of Damascus, that most likely Israel will do in some way. They reasoned this prophecy soon fulfilled because of the president's announcement that he was pulling American troops out of Syria thereby clearing the way for Ezekiel's war. Seen the news? God's plan is real.

     I had focused six of ten hours of teaching on this last May, of biblical prophecy being played out over the years and is clearly now in our day today. I too said the trigger to imminent fulfillment was an American abandonment of Syria. I am not a bible scholar. I am a bible student. This panel was much more learned and experienced than I; but I remember the importance placed on knowing the times made so clear to me when I first believed. What God told us would happen has happened and will happen. God said test me to see if what I say will come to pass. Jesus told us to watch; then and now. These things prophesied scream so loudly as to be unavoidably heard. Judgment is coming, as is peace, and will come just as the bible tells us.

"So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,

 know that it is near, even at the doors.

Verily I say unto you, 

This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Matt 24:33-34

"What did these people do to you

 to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?"

       Many in the church have stopped teaching on these things yet call themselves pastors and bible teachers. As prophesied, false leaders and teachers (some of good reputation) are embracing the doctrine of demons, prosperity, false ideas of faith; healing if you have it, none if you don't. And not just the known ones who fleece the flock needing private jets and suites to be seen and heard, but those who've changed what they first believed into another, a nicer gospel; also flying all over the world to be seen, heard and to confer (Malachi 3:8).

These will surely say, "Lord, Lord, look what I did in your name". They just may hear, "I never knew you".

"They said to me, 'Make us gods who will lead us.'"

       This is that prophesied falling away from the word of God; that paring of the truth that says, "Let's just talk about what sounds good, what feels good, don't be too offense or too defensive, tolerate much, tickle my ears." Or, "We need new strategies for church growth, better sound stages and decorations. We need a new sensitivity because the old sensibilities are obsolete. We need a new plan to lead us into this new world." The hippies wear coats and the coats wear jeans with manufactured rips and tears. Reform, conform, misinform. The bible tells us that we are not to mimic or to assimilate this world? Just as doctrinal distortions lead many astray these new stratagem and culture identities lead many astray. Who is leading you...your church?

"'When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire —

and out came this calf!'"

       I ask, is the whole counsel of God still being taught? It is not just grace upon grace but true confession, true repentance and a coming judgment for both believer and unbeliever. You define the later part of that sentence anyway you want to but it is biblical; search the scriptures. And if a believer there are more questions to ask. Are you helping the widow and orphan, not demonstrating against injustice but helping, teaching, feeding? Are you witnessing, trying to open eyes to the true gospel that speaks of God's love, manifested in His Son, who died and rose again for our sin that we might have everlasting life; and will come again to judge? That last part is more urgent every day. This is the true gospel, the complete gospel that is crucial to declare! So what have you thrown into the fire pastor, teacher, believer? What do you expect to come out of it?

"Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control,

much to the amusement of their enemies." Ex 32:25, NLT

       In the KJV it says the people were naked, that these actions had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies. The word naked means to be exposed. When we neglect the word of God, when we ignore the whole counsel of God we are exposed, naked before the enemy...ultimately before God.

"Awake to righteousness, and sin not;

for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

 1 Cor 15:34

     Is this too harsh or melodramatic? Too convicting, condemning or simply contrived? Does it make you angry because you see it or because you indentify with it? Is it dramatic enough to cause you to look at yourself and if need be repent, to throw yourself before the Lord and ask for mercy; to cry out Lord, "Help me, help us. Bring us back to Your word, Your ways, Your truth."? Use whatever personal pronouns you would like here; you, me, I, us, we. I seek not to lay blame, assign guilt or condemn as I check my own heart. I claim no authority but that which is through faith. I am but a voice chewin' on some locusts. Stay strong!

...just a thought