"You Want Me To Do What?!"

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

Naaman's servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”

A little background first: Naaman is the commander of the army of Aram, who had recently defeated the nation of Israel. He had come down with a bad case of leprosy, of which there was no know cure. Eventually, Naaman would have to leave his post and join the other lepers who had been thrown out of the town for being "unclean". In his battles, he had taken a Israelite girl for a slave. She told Naaman that there is a prophet in Samaria that could heal him. Desperate for any cure, Naaman set her off with gifts to find the man. After finding Elisha, he sends messengers back to the general with the request above: wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River.

Now, you've read what happens above. Like most of us, Naaman rebelled at that suggestion. "Why can't the prophet just come and heal me at my house? Why can't I just bathe in the rivers of my homeland? Why do I need to travel to Israel to do this?" Naaman carried on and on until the servant girl stopped him with this comment:

"If he had asked you to do something you thought was great, you'd rush to do it to be healed...so then why won't you obey this simple command to wash?"

You see, Naaman was a very prideful man. He'd had much success as a leader, and, I'm sure, didn't like his fate left in the hands of others. To go to Israel and bathe would put him out of his comfort zone, and show to anyone watching that Naaman couldn't fix this problem on his own. He had to humble himself in order to be healed.

Far too often I'm just like Naaman. I ask God to heal me or get me out of the valley I'm in and His answer is a path I don't want to take. It may be too hard, or would force me to be more transparent than I'm comfortable with. I'll argue with Him that there must be a better way to get there...but then I would miss His point: it's not the path, it's the obedience to choose it. God knows He can get us through anything...but in giving us free will, He must wait until we choose to follow Him first. I know in my life that the times I've learned the most and felt closest to Him were when I finally said "OK, God, I can't do this on my own. Show me what you want me to do and I'll follow."

Here's hoping we can get past ourselves to follow Him today.

We > Me

My good friend and spiritual mentor Denny Owens had a great post today tying in his coaching experience with his calling as a pastor. For me, it was a great reminder that I'm not as important as I think I am. Click here to read "More Than A Slogan"...it's good stuff!

You Gotta Live It...

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God– even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

(I Corinthians 10:31-33, NIV)

This verses, to me, are what it means to be a Christ-Follower, plain and simple.

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. Not much to interpret there...just have all your words, actions, and thoughts be glorifying to God. Easy, right? Wrong! At least for me, that is. Being God-honoring in all I do is a daily struggle for me. I'm far too often overtaken by moments of anger, pride, and other things that provoke less than glorifying responses. Like I tell my son when he makes mistakes, we can't blame them on something else...we need to take responsibility for our actions, because that's all we can control. I need to remember that in my daily life as an adult, too.

Do not cause anyone to stumble. This one can be difficult, too. When I read this verse, it reminds me of an old song by Grover Levy with these lyrics:

If you want to lead me to Jesus, you gotta find a better way,
'Cause your life is speaking so loud I can't even hear a word you say.

It's so easy to talk a good game of Christianity, yet our lives don't display any shred of following Jesus at all. This is one of the reasons I love working the the 4th and 5th graders at my church. They can tell if you're genuine or not and if you're not, they'll call you on it. They haven't yet learn to play the game like we grown-ups do. What they see and feel is what they say...and it's a shame we lose that transparency as we get older. We can't just tell people about Jesus, we have to live in such a way that they will see Him and come to us to find out how to get Him, too.

I try to please everybody. Now, this doesn't mean that everything is OK to do, and you'll be fine no matter what choices you make. What it does mean to me is this: God calls us to go and meet people right where they are. That's one of the things I love about The Compass, an after school ministry in my town. It specifically was created to reach latch-key kids in our community that DIDN'T go to our church. It gave us a chance to be Jesus with skin on to some kids who otherwise went home to empty houses. The relationships we make there carry on even when they leave the program and go home, and I love and miss each of those kids dearly. I think too often we in the church just open the doors and wait, thinking that people will just drive by and say "Oh, what a cool church! Let's go check it out!" Jesus didn't do that. Instead, he went to dinner with the tax collectors. He interceded to save a prostitute from death. He sought out the most ostracized people in the culture and specifically met them right where they were, in their sin, and loved them anyway. That's what changes lives.

Here's hoping we can live like Paul called the Corinthians to live, "so that they may be saved."

Be Content With Your Life...

Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you–although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

(I Corinthians 7:20-24, NIV)

I love reading the letters from Paul. He's such a passionate writer, pouring his heart out to each church or person that he wrote to. This passage struck me in particular with Paul's take on contentment. He said "each man should remain in the situation God called him to." That sounds pretty easy until you consider what Paul went through. He was ridiculed, beaten, jailed, and even stoned for his faith. You would think it would have been much easier for Paul to take another road than the one he was on. Instead, he knew that was the life he was called to, and he accepted that call, even with all its drawbacks.

Sometimes I love my life...and sometime I just wish I had someone else's. On those days when the stress and problems overwhelm me, when I just wish things were easier, when I look at others that have the perfect health I wish so dearly for, it's easy to become frustrated and just moan about my situation and how bad or tough it is. That's easy enough to do...but when we focus on the negative, we completely miss how utterly blessed we are. I have a family that loves me. I have a home to live in. I never go to bed hungry. A little perspective makes your outlook much different....and that's what Paul was getting at.

We need to spend less time grumbling about where we are and focus on what He's called us to be. We need to stop worry about how to advance ourselves and begin to lift others up. We need to be content in the station of life God has placed us in and do our best to bring Him glory no matter what we're facing.

I don't about you....but I needed to hear that today.

"Trusting Faith"...

Jamie Moyer and her blog, "Snips And Snails", are a new addition to my "Worth Reading" link column on the right sidebar. I've known Jamie since she was a little kid, and as I read her writing, I see a spiritual maturity far beyond her age. Yesterday, she wrote about missing her baby girl that went home to be with Jesus seven years ago. It's very powerful and encouraging stuff.

Take some time to read "Trusting Faith" today. You'll be glad you did.

"Wake Up, You Dummy!"

I say this as bluntly as I can to wake you up to the stupidity of what you’re doing. Is it possible that there isn’t one levelheaded person among you who can make fair decisions when disagreements and disputes come up? I don’t believe it.

(I Corinthians 6:5, MSG)

Hey, dummy.....wake up!


That's essentially what Paul is saying in this letter to the Corinthians. It seems harsh on first glance, but honestly, I love it.

I love it because Paul loves these people so much that he's willing to risk offending them to speak the truth into their lives. He isn't content to watch them fall into ruin and just shake his head and say, "Gee, I hope somebody stops them and tells them that's wrong". He didn't sit idly by and laugh as the people veered away from the path God had intended. No, he stood up and said this:

"You've gotta stop it. What you're doing is tearing this body apart. You're better than this...and God is bigger than this. Stop fighting like children, settle your disputes, and get back to what you're called to do: to reach others with the saving grace of Jesus."

I know, for myself, that I don't always like to hear the truth, but I'm always glad someone cares enough to speak it to me. Each of my best friends has been part of those hard talks to me at some point of my life, and I appreciate them for loving me enough to do so.

Here's hoping someone loves you enough to tell you if you're being a dummy today.

Is The Journey Too Much For You?

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

(I Kings 19:3-7, NIV)

(This post will dovetail with my post from Friday. If you didn't read it, click here and read it first...)

Well, it's good to know I'm not the only one.

Just like I wrote about on Friday, it seems Elijah felt the same way. He was tired, overwhelmed, broken, and scared. As he sat to catch his breath underneath that tree, he prayed to God just to take him and end all these troubles and trials. It just wasn't worth the battle anymore to him.

God could have fulfilled his wish. I know He has the power, and He can do what He wishes...but instead He gave Elijah a deep, healing sleep and when he awoke, there was a hot breakfast waiting for him. Take a moment to imagine that. You wake up and see your meal sitting there, the steam still rising from it, while you are alone as far as the eye can see. You wolf down the meal, and sleep again, wondering if it was a dream. Again, the angel of God awakens you for another meal, imploring you to eat it, because, in His words, "the journey is too much for you".

"The journey is too much for you..." That is the part that touched my heart today. God knew Elijah was done. He knew that he was exhausted and completely ready to throw in the towel. God knew that Elijah would be fine in the long run, and would be such an asset to the kingdom that he would be carried away in a chariot of fire to heaven one day....but God also knew, in that moment, Elijah couldn't see that far and needed his compassion, healing, and provision.

Some days, I feel like Elijah in that desert. Some days, I feel like all the bad stuff is piling up on me. Sometimes, I can't fix everything that's going wrong and it breaks my heart. In those moments I need to remember that even when it seems like He's not there, God is with me and His heart is breaking just like mine. Just because He doesn't choose to deliver me as He did with Elijah's hot breakfast doesn't mean He doesn't care. I just need to get through it as best I can and make my words, actions, and thoughts be honoring to Him.

On the way to the lake yesterday, we had a CD in of songs our children are learning to sing in church this coming Sunday. One song I've heard a million times struck me as it played:

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Just like Elijah, sometimes, when we feel down, broken and defeated, we need to fight that urge to give up and to scream and yell at God for leaving us, and just be patient and "wait upon the Lord" to renew our strength. I'm not a patient guy, so this is hard for me...and maybe this one's just for me, but I bet at least one of you reading struggles with this, too.

Here's hoping we can find the patience to wait on God as He renews our strength today.

Funny Picture Friday...

FPF is still on hiatus, but I really needed some laughs today, so here's a few that made me chuckle...do they even give wedgies anymore?



And from one of my faves, failblog.org, some fairly epic fails in...

parenting...


shoplifting...


street naming...



business ownership...



...and my favorite, babysitting...



Hope you don't "fail" and have a great weekend!!

Hard To Get...

Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”

(Jeremiah 42:5-6, NIV)

I am really struggling today.

I read this passage, and I see this tiny remnant of Israel coming to Jeremiah, asking him to intercede for them for guidance from God. They pledge to do whatever He says, whether it is "favorable or unfavorable" and to follow God without question. Of course, as is their history, they chose to do the opposite of what God said, and they were punished for it.

The part I struggle with is the "Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God". With the failure of my kidneys, I've been doing my best to keep following Him and I hope I've done pretty decent at it. It hasn't been too hard for the most part, as God's really showed up for me in the actions and words of others...but there have been moments.

The one that stands out the most is the day I had my kidney biopsy that diagnosed my disease. I was sore and very tired and wanted nothing more than to go to bed and not move. About 8 p.m. my wife came down with a severe kidney stone attack, and we went back to the hospital. As I stood outside in the rain at midnight, God and I had a talk. I basically said "OK, God...I've been taking it all in stride so far, but this is enough. My cup is full, and you need to stop."

As overwhelmed as I felt on that day, it doesn't hold a candle to what others I know are facing. Keri is still battling cancer and 5th grade at the same time. As a parent, that would tear me apart. Maggie Jernas, the cute little girl I've been praying for, is down at Riley's fighting off fevers while awaiting bone marrow transplant to treat her neuroblastoma. Rod and Rachel are trying to take care of both kids while one is here and one is three hours away in the hospital. My heart breaks daily for these families.

On top of all that, my best friend's mom is battling cancer and other problems, and is now in the hospital again. It seems like they are getting nothing but bad news, and when we talk, I can tell the pain is weighing him down greatly. I wish I had the words or a verse to make everything alright, but I don't. I just listen and pray for them and try to be there when they need someone. I wish I had all the answers, but in times like these, it's so hard to understand why God would let them go through all this. Maybe someday we'll see what all of the hardship is for, but for now, sometimes, it's just hard.

Sometimes, God is hard to get...but I'll keep following Him, whether it's "favorable or unfavorable"...

Think About This...

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.

And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

(Mark 15:15-20, NIV)

Still feel like Jesus hasn't done anything good for you today?

(If you're wondering, this passage punched me in the stomach, too...)

Here's hoping we remember and are thankful for all He's done for us.

Enough With The Favre Stuff...

(today's front page of the official Vikings website...)

I think I just threw up a little in my mouth....historic season?! Last time I checked, it hadn't even started yet. I know it's mean, but I hope he gets "Joe Theismanned" when they play Green Bay...



(Warning: the reverse angle replay is not for the faint of heart...)

Approved!

I finally got the call from IU Transplant today that I'm approved for entry into the kidney transplant program. What this means right now is that my insurance has been pre-approved to enter the program. From what I can gather, when you start this transplant process, they enter into a contract with your carrier to do the whole deal from start to finish, so it takes a few weeks to get all of that ironed out.

Now, I begin the testing process. I went to the dentist yesterday and everything was fine. (I was glad about that...I was reading some transplant forums online and saw some real horror stories. To have a transplant, you can't have any "active" dental problems. One guy got eight teeth pulled in order to remain on the list!!) I go in next Wednesday morning for a stress test and chest x-ray to make sure my heart is OK, then I have an all-morning meeting with the whole transplant team from 8 to noon on September 3rd. If all goes well and my results come back clean, then I should be approved to be a candidate and then the search begins for a donor.

I know many of you reading this have asked about being tested to see if you're a match. I don't have any test kits or details right now, but I will share that as soon as I know. Thanks again for your prayers and support.

"Pride Goeth Before A Fall..."

“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today–yes, tonight–before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”

But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

(Mark 14:27-31, NIV)

You gotta love Peter.

In this moment, he was so full of himself. Jesus had just predicted that all of the disciples would leave and deny him yet that evening. As Peter looked around the room, you know he was thinking about who would deny Christ first. He began looking down at them for their weakness, and it started to get him mad. He lept to his feet and yelled "Not me! I will die before I deny you, my Lord! I will never leave your side! I've got your back! They'll have to take us both!" Jesus again predicted Peter's fall, even telling him the exact moment it will happen. Again, Peter vehemently denies it, and again pledges his loyalty to the very end. In that moment, Peter fully believed what he said.

But, as well all know too well, our well-intentioned words and pledges lead to great failure and disappointment. We make promises to God and others and break them over and over again. Like it says in Proverbs, "pride goeth before a fall", and I've fallen too many times to count...but what I love about this passage is not the great failure, but how it sets up the forgiveness and grace that comes a few day later. No one could have felt more guilty than Peter, yet Christ met him, restored him, and sent him into service for God's glory. Yep, that same prideful fool that denied Jesus three times became the cornerstone of the modern church.

Here's hoping God can do something with a fool like me.

Modern-Day "Rudy"...

Take a little time this morning to read the story of Chris Hayes, a walk-on at the University of Miami. No matter how bad your day is going, this story will pick you up. Click here to read it.

It Should Be Easier....

“You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."

(Mark 13:9-11,13 NIV)

Jesus is speaking directly to his disciples in the passage above. One of them had asked what the future would hold for them. Jesus talked at first about the false prophets that would come in His name, and how to spot them in their lies. After that, though, He begins to tell them what their future would be like, and it's not too exciting. Jesus talks about how they will be hunted and arrested by the local government. He shares how they would be brought to trial for nothing more than sharing God's love, acceptance, and forgiveness. He told them that they would be hated for telling the truth about Him. If you look at history of the disciples, only John died of old age, but he had survived an attempt to boil him alive in oil before that. Again, keep in mind that these men, to this point, had only seen the "fun" side of Christianity. You know, the miracles, the healings, the crowds, the accolades...but Jesus knew that the long walk to Golgotha was just around the corner. He knew that the road would suddenly grow much harder for these young men, and He wanted to prepare them for the fact that it's not always easy to follow Him.

I think we fall into the same trap today. No matter what we know to be true, we often think that because we're following Christ, life should be easier. The sun should be brighter, our problems should fall away, and everything should be great. Problem is, you never find that in the Bible. In fact, it seems to talk much more about the hard, narrow road that leads to the kingdom of God.

Sometimes, this is a struggle. As I go through my current health problems and I see many around me struggling with sickness or emotional issues, I sometimes wonder why God's letting so many good people go through so much pain. Passages like this remind me that Jesus went through so much more just to provide the payment for my sins. He suffered a horrific death for me, though He was innocent of the crimes. Funny how a little perspective can change your outlook, isn't it?

Here's hoping we choose to follow Him no matter the cost.

Be Nice To Your Brother...

‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ ” So they obeyed the word of the Lord and went home again, as the Lord had ordered.

(I Kings 12:24, NIV)

I have two sisters, one about 2 1/2 years older than me that I always got along fairly well with. My younger sister, though....well, that was a different story. She was born on my fourth birthday, and I think I held that over her head for many years after that. We knew exactly how to push each other's buttons. I don't think too many days went by in our younger years that one of us wasn't in trouble for messing with the other. Now that I'm older and have kids of my own, I can see how silly most of this fighting can be. I understand that most of the things my sister and I fought about have no impact on our relationship and the world in general. Trying to get that through to my own kids, though, is tough. They both revel in the moment when they really get their sibling wound up, even knowing that they'll be in trouble for it, too.

The people of the Bible were the same way. They sometimes acted like they wanted to follow God, and sometimes even really tried hard to do so...but more often than not, they would fall back into fighting each other for the upper hand in the country. Prophet after prophet warned this would lead to their downfall, but they never stopped and eventually suffering the consequences of losing control of their homeland.

You know, the church today is not much different. While we may seem like one big happy family on the outside, quite often the real story is that quite a battle rages behind the scenes. We hold on to things that seem so important to us, and we hold grudges against those that have hurt or wronged us in the past, while God just stands in heaven, watching us, and giving us that disappointed parent look. He wonders why we spend so much time and effort fighting about things that have nothing to do with sharing His love, acceptance, and forgiveness with those that need it.

Here's hoping we don't fight with our "brothers" anymore.

How To Be Great...

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

(Mark 9:33-37, NIV)

Passages like this make me feel like I could be in the Bible...

Not that I'm some great prophets, but I could totally see myself as one of the guys arguing about who was the best disciple. Imagine all that they had seen to that point. I'm sure that each of them thought that some of the fame Jesus had gotten was due in large part to their help. After a while, the amazement and awe of the miracles would have worn off, leaving them to believe that this whole movement was based on their involvement. They weren't being jerks...just being real. We all want to take credit when things go well. Remember, these men were just kid fishermen a few years before. It's easy to get full of yourself in these situations.

Jesus realized this, and used the famous example of a child to teach them. I think we focus on the cute kid on Jesus's knee and forget about what He really meant. He was talking about that annoying kid in the nursery at church that keeps kicking you in the shins. You know, the one you'd like to just hang up on the coat hooks and let him swing there until his parents come....the one who steals everyone's toys and screams all day at the top of his lungs. Jesus said, "To truly be great and famous with me, you need to serve and love this one, the one that bothers you, that wears you out, that you can't stand...that's who I want you to serve." Talk about putting you in your place, huh? That humbling moment touched all of the young men, and showed them that to truly be great, you had to stand in the back and do the little things. He used a child to help them control their pride...what a great teacher!

Here's hoping we all find a way to serve someone today.

Too Much God...

There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.

(I Kings 8:9-11, NIV)

First, a little back story...leading into this passage, Solomon had built the temple. He had done it just as God had commanded, and bringing the ark was the final step to prepare it for use. In this time, God would come down to the temple and dwell in the Holy Place, and the sacrifices would be made there and, on occasion, one of the leaders or priests would go in and receive direction. It was a very sacred place, and if you went in there with any sin that you hadn't confessed and made right, you would be struck dead on the spot. God was pretty serious about it, as you can see...

Now, back to the passage. The temple was completed, the ark was sent, and when they came out of the Holy Place, God came down and filled the temple. The verse says his glory was so strong, the priests couldn't even get close enough to do their duties. Isn't that amazing? The presence of God in that place was so overwhelming that it consumed the entire building.

Now, can you imagine what it would be like if we had somewhere that precious and holy to God today? Imagine walking up to church and the usher says "Sorry, you can't go in today...too much God in the building. You'd be safer out here from a distance." Wouldn't that make you want to see what goes on in there even more? Imagine if you drove over to a friend's house and the light coming from inside the home was too powerful to even look at. You park a distance away, and your friend comes out and says "Sorry, we'll have to meet here...God's in our house, and I don't think you could take getting any closer." How awesome would that be if our churches and our homes would be that kind of place that God wasn't just allowed in, but welcomed with open arms to a place that fills his heart with joy, not breaks it with sin and division?

Here's hoping your Holy Place is that inviting to God today...

Update On Me...

(I guess all I need to do is go to Arby's....who knew?)

Some have been asking lately, so here's the latest on my health situation...

Really, not much has changed. I'm still getting dialysis 3 times a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for four hours at a time. Sometimes it gets pretty tedious, but more often than not I can find plenty of things to do to keep me busy. I've been reading quite a bit, playing some games on the Nintendo DS (I highly recommend the "Professor Layton" series and "Brain Age" - great logic puzzles and Sudoku puzzles!), listening to my IPod, and finding some great new shows on TV (also highly recommend "The First 48" on A&E...very interesting!). The techs and nurses at the center are very friendly and helpful, and the other patients I've had the opportunity to meet have been great, too.

As far as the transplant goes, I'm still waiting for the call from IU Med Center that my insurance has approved me for the program. Once this is completed, I can begin the battery of tests needed to find out if I'm a candidate for the program. Once I'm accepted, they we can begin the process of looking for a match. I'm hopeful that we can find one, as the wait for a cadaver kidney is anywhere from 2 1/2 to 6 years.

As far as prayer requests go, nothing specific at this point. I had an infection in my blood about two weeks ago, but they treated it with strong antibiotics and replaced my neck catheter and everything is fine now. I guess just continue to pray that I can honor Him with my words and actions as I walk down this road. Sometimes it's easy, and sometimes I'll get frustrated and mad at the whole situation. When I do feel like that, looking around at what some people I know are facing with much worse odds than mine helps me to keep it in perspective.

Thanks for praying and for your words, comments, and notes. In times like these, it's so nice to know people are thinking of you and praying for you. Thanks!

"Nothing Is Too Hard For You..."

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."

(Jeremiah 32:17-20, NIV)

No matter what you're facing, it's nice to know that it's nothing He can't handle.

In this book, the Israelites were facing exile and the loss of their homeland, and things were going really bad. In the midst of all these trials, Jeremiah spoke these words as he cried out to God. I know when I'm in the middle of a tough situation my first instinct is to just yell at God for putting me there, then I'll beg him to pull me out of it. What I often miss is that He could pull me out whenever He wished to, but He's leaving me there to teach me something that I otherwise would miss. Like my favorite artist, Rich Mullins, once wrote:

There's bound to come some trouble to your life,
but that ain't nothin' to be afraid of...
There's bound to come some tears up in your eyes,
that ain't no reason to fear...
I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life,
but reach out to Jesus, and hold on tight...
He's been there before, and he knows what it's like,
You'll find He's there.

Here's hoping you remember that when He feels the furthest away, He's closer than you can imagine.

Tweet, Tweet...Part 2...

Well...I signed up for Twitter about a year ago, but it didn't work with my old phone, so I really didn't use it. Now, I've got a new phone that works with this, so here we go...

For those of you reading that aren't familiar, Twitter is a social networking site that uses "micro-blogging", limiting your posts to 140 characters or less. For someone who likes to write as much as me, 140 characters is tough, but I'm going to give it a shot. If you want to follow me, click here, or you can just read my most recent posts, or "tweets" at the top right of this blog. I'll give it a shot and see if it's a keeper for me or not. Enjoy!

"Don't Be Afraid...Just Believe!"

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”...

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”

Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don't be afraid; just believe.”

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

(Mark 5:21-23,35-43, NIV)

The story of Jairus's daughter is just more great evidence of the power of Jesus and the miracles He performed here on earth...but I want to focus today on the verse in bold print above.

Remember, early in this chapter Jairus came to Jesus and asked Him to come and heal his sick daughter. Jairus was consumed by the idea of being able to save her, so he chased Jesus down and begged Him to come and save her. Jesus, moved by his plea, had compassion and left with Jairus to go to his house. On the way there, he performed another miracle healing of a woman that had been bleeding for years, and then he spent some time teaching the crowds, too. During this time, I'm sure Jairus was very impatient and nervous, wanting Jesus to get there soon.

Finally, word came from Jairus's home that his little girl had died. Crestfallen that he didn't get Jesus there in time to save her, I'm sure his heart broke into a million pieces. Jesus knew this, and just said five words to Jairus:

"Don't be afraid; just believe."

Now imagine you're Jairus. "Don't be afraid and just believe?! My daughter is dead! You spent too much time with other people and didn't make it there on time!!" In that moment, Jairus had to make a choice: to give up on God and go home and bury his little girl, or to hang on to the hope that Jesus offered and have faith that He would do what He promised. Jairus chose the latter, and he got his daughter back a little bit later.

What does that say to me? Lots.

God, I don't know what's ahead for me healthwise. Though I feel pretty good now, I've got to admit I'm a little scared about the future. I don't want to be on dialysis forever, and I don't know if I'll be able to match with anyone.

"Don't be afraid; just believe."

God, I know I need to be you with skin on to those around me, but sometimes it's hard. I worry about what people will think and say when I bring you up. I have too much pride and don't want to be tagged as one of "those kind of people".

"Don't be afraid; just believe."

God, I fear for my children everyday. Society is changing so much, and children are exposed to more and more stuff at an earlier age every day. As much as I try to protect them, I'm afraid that I won't be able to do enough to keep them safe and sound...

"Don't be afraid; just believe."

No matter what you're facing today, whether it's the biggest decision of your life, or something you think is so small that God's not interested in it, remember that He is there, right beside you, just waiting for you to ask Him to be a part of your everyday life...and if what lies ahead for you scares you, too, just remember:

"Don't be afraid; just believe."

Holding The Rope...

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

(Mark 2:1-5, NIV)

I loved this story as a kid. Can you imagine going to someone's house and cutting a hole in their roof?! As a youngster I dreamed of making that kind of damage to something and not getting in trouble for it. I also loved the fact that the man was healed and just walked out through the crowd after Jesus did it.

As an adult, though, I've come to love this story for completely different reasons. The four men are the key to this story for me now. Just imagine it with me....

You've been paralyzed your whole life. You aren't able to work or marry, and you spend your time just begging for enough to get by. Over the years you've made a few friends, and they do what they can to help you out. Now you hear about this Jesus and his miracles and power to heal. Your friends come and get you and carry you to the house that He is speaking at. You arrive...and see the crowd spilling out the door. Your friends try to squeeze by, but no one will let them in. You're heartbroken, knowing that your chance to see Jesus won't happen.

Then you see one friend looking at the roof of the house. He looks at your other friend and smiles. Suddenly they have you up on the roof and begin to take it apart to make a hole big enough to lower you down in. I'm sure that the owner of the house was yelling at them to stop, and everyone else below was annoyed by the noise and the mess, but your friends don't quit. As they tie the ropes to lower you down to Jesus, they tell you they love you and hope it all works out for the best.

Jesus forgave the paralytic's sins and healed his body, but those four friends did a work in that man's heart before he was even lowered down through that hole. In my life, God has put many friends to love and encourage me, to help me stand when I'm weak, to stand beside me in a battle, and to carry me when I can't carry on. I'm so thankful for the great men and women He's surrounded me with, especially during this time now with my health problems. He's shown me His presence in the many notes, cards, calls, texts, emails, and visits and it's made such a huge difference in my attitude.

Here's hoping you "hold the rope" for someone who needs it today.

"Come, Follow Me..."

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

(Mark 1:14-20, NIV)

I bet I've read or heard this story over a hundred times. From my days as a little kid sitting in front of the "flannelgraph" in Bible story time to my walks through the Bible as an adult, the calling of Jesus's disciples is a very familiar passage...but I don't think we really see it for what it was.

Imagine you're Simon, Andrew, James, or John. You are a fisherman. Your dad is a fisherman. Your grandfather was a fisherman. Your kids will be fishermen. That's what you do. You learn a trade from your father and that's how you made a living. No Monster.com job board postings or classified ads...what you were born into is what you were. If you wanted to be a priest in those days, the schooling started very early on. Only the smartest and best of the best made it through to serve under the religious leaders of that day. You spent your whole life trying to be "good enough" to serve God as a leader, and most fell short of that goal.

So here you are: on the shores of Galilee, tending to your nets and talking about this "Jesus" that's turning religion upside down. He's healing the sick, casting out demons, performing miracles, and teaching about love, grace, and forgiveness. He's attracting quite a following of "wanna-be" disciples, those hoping to be chosen to learn under this great teacher. All of the sudden, Jesus himself shows up on the shore. He walks down to your boat and, looking you straight in the eye, He says just this:

"Come, follow Me."

Those three words can change your life forever. Do you leave the safety of the family business to follow this fairly unknown prophet? What about your family...who will provide for them? Can you come back in a few weeks if it doesn't work out? Does this man know how much He's asking me for? Does He know I'm just a fisherman, with no religious education or experience? How can I help? How can I make a difference?

Those four men left everything they knew and everything they had to follow Him. Here's hoping we can show the same kind of commitment to His work today.

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Multiplication, Not Division...

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

(Romans 16:17, NIV)

President Obama is coming to my little town today.

It's a small town, only about 1800 strong, and it's been hard hit by the latest recession. The President is coming to announce grants and loans that are supposed to help the area "get back to work" and boost this sagging economy. For my town, this is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I don't think a sitting president will ever come to our little city again. As you can imagine, it's got the whole town talking...

Some are glad that he's coming, and see it as a sign that things will be better. Others grumble that it won't change anything, and it's a waste of money. Some think he's coming because he cares about the "common people"...others just think it's a ploy for re-election in 2012. As these opinions get stronger and louder in person, in the papers, and on the news, it's easy to get caught up in the drama and pick a side. Problem is, in getting so drawn up into it, I think many will miss the chance to simply see history today.

As Christians, we do the same thing. We'll find an issue to disagree on, and we'll defend our side to the death, regardless of it's importance to reaching others for Christ. Churches divide, split, and even die because people aren't willing to find a common ground, but would rather hold so tightly to their ideas that they would sacrifice the body to win. I don't think many start out intending to do this, but over time I think you begin to think that your way is the only way, and all other ways are wrong. That's when the enemy gets a foothold and can use your pride to bring down the entire church. You get so busy fighting over something that has no eternal value that you miss seeing all those outside the doors of the church that desperately need Jesus.

You may wonder why I feel so strongly about this...the fact is, I was part of a division that nearly killed my church. We got so caught up in what we wanted, we lost sight of what He wanted. Even though it's been years past, if you look closely you can still see the scars of those battles. I pray they will heal in time, but you never know...

Before you take a stand for something in your Christian walk, examine it. Make sure it's all about Him, and not about you. Here's hoping we we're in the business of multiplication, not division.

Putting Yourself On A Pedestal...

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

(Romans 14:1-4, NIV)

At this point in Romans, the early church is booming. The amazing move of God that started in Acts has exploded all over Europe and Asia. People are coming to Christ in amazing numbers and the gospel reached further every single day. In the midst of this time, I'm sure it was easy to get caught up in the moment, to let the emotion of it take over. Most, if not all, of the new Christians were excited and full of joy, wanting to spread the "Good News". Problem was, they would see their "old" friends and family and look down on them. They would think, "Poor them...they just aren't as spiritual as me. That's so sad. If only they were where I'm at, then they would be happy and good." ...or maybe this: "So and so has been a Christian just as long as I have...so why isn't he doing more? Why isn't he living better? Why isn't he pulling his weight in this battle against the darkness?"

Paul understood this frustration. He knows that even though they had accepted Christ's love, acceptance, and forgiveness, they were still human. They still struggle with jealousy, anger, and being judgemental. Paul just gently reminded them of what they were when Jesus found them, and about the grace and unconditional love He gave each one of them. Funny how a little perspective changes things, right?

Even today, in my own life, I find myself judging others for their actions, speech, or what I perceive as a a lack of service to His work. It's easy for me to find reasons to tear others down, but normally it's only to make myself look better. Putting yourself on a pedestal only gives you further to fall....and you will fall eventually. Here's hoping I can see them with His eyes today.

Book Review: "Your Own Jesus" by Mark Hall

Becky loaned me an advance copy of this book and I took it along to one of my dialysis appointments. I began reading as soon as they hooked me up, and two and a half hours later I was finished with the book! "Your Own Jesus" is sort of a how-to guide to make your relationship with God much more personal. Mark Hall, the author and lead singer of the group "Casting Crowns", found in his experience as a youth pastor that many people that have grown up in church can move well into adulthood just living off the faith of their parents and experiences at church. Those are great, but don't replace the need for that one-on-one time with God every day. Mark has a very personable style of writing, and his illustrations are top-notch. I literally could not put this book down! If this would have been my own copy I would have highlighted it all over, but since it is Becky's, I had to settle for just folding a few corners back. Here's a few parts I loved...

Have you ever sat in a worship service or prayer time when suddenly some nasty, improper scene from a movie that you didn't see pops into your hear? Of course not! We planted those images inside through our own actions. It's as though we say, "Lord, this monster is pounding me with a wooden bat. Would you please take that bat away?" The Lord helps us with that one, and then we turn around and hand the monster an aluminum bat, saying, "Try this one; it's alot harder." We arm the beast that wants to destroy us.

The god we want shows up in comfortable non-verses that we assume are in the Bible but really aren't. God helps those who help themselves. God blesses the rich so they can bless others. God wont' give you anything you can't handle. These "verses" describe the god we wish we had, rather than the God who is.
What will the real God do? He'll put us out in the middle of a sea and tell us to walk on it. He'll place us before a giant with a rock and a sling. He'll allow a tornado or cancer or a heart attack or a foreclosure or a job loss or a death to come our way. He will give us more than we can handle just just show us that only He can handle things.

Often we believe that chasing rules and fulfilling regimens equate to friendship with God. But when we slip and fall, God disappears. If Jesus doesn't become a person to us - a friend who sticks with us no matter what - then the closest we'll ever get to God is empty religion. Religion is the "holey" grail - a cup with a hole in it. It never fills us. We have to keep going back because religion stays in the sanctuary. That's why we find ourselves doing great when we're there and not so great when we're somewhere else.

Let me repeat something. It's more important that this person has a relationship with Jesus than with us. Let's reach the point where we're willing to say, "I'm laying our friendship on the line here, because this has to be said."

That's just four things that rocked me. This book will lift your spirits, break your heart, challenge your faith, and motivate you to walk closer to Him. He talks about the "slow fade" that many of us that grew up in church experience, and how to get that fire we once had back. His illustration of sin in our lives that he used at a retreat with his leaders is alone worth buying the book. I would consider it a must-read, and it's made it's way into my top 10 most influential books I've ever read. This book comes out today, and I'll be picking up my copy, and probably a few to pass along, very soon. Pick up "Your Own Jesus" by Mark Hall - you won't be disappointed...