Who Sinned?

 

I’ve always been fascinated with the story in John 9 when Jesus was presented with a man who had been blind since birth. The big question was “Who sinned – that this man was born blind?”  Did his parents sin? Are they being punished?

We ask similar questions when we fall ill or someone close to us falls ill. Or it may not be a sickness but a hardship – like a job loss or a big financial bill.  What did I do to deserve this?  What am I being punished for?

Jesus’s response was great “It’s not that this man sinned or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed through him.

I’ve wrestled, as I’m sure you have, as to why God allows bad things to happen to good people.  But sometimes, may more often than we know, God just wants to display His works through us.

Now that may be hard to accept sometimes.  I mean who does God think he is to cause us to go through all this hardship just so He can be exalted?  But if you know the character of God, He is not like that at all.  All that He does is also meant for our good.

Remember the situation in Mark 2 (or Matthew 9) when a paralytic’s friends lifted the paralytic to the roof top and then lowered him through the roof so that he could be healed by Jesus?  And Jesus first words were “Your sins are forgiven”.    Wait…what?  That is not why we went through all this trouble.  We want healing!  And healing they got.  But Jesus wanted them to understand that their primary need was not physical, but spiritual.  Jesus came to save us from our sins.  Jesus is first and foremost concerned with our spiritual conditions.  God loved us so much He sent His Son (Jesus) to die for our sins.  He wants us to spend eternity with Him, not to just be comforted, happy, and healthy in this life.

So in John 9, Jesus heals the blind man – who now has a testimony.  “I was blind, but now can see!” More importantly – the works of God were displayed through him so that others were blind spiritually might also see.

So, I still wonder why I am going through what I’ve been going through.  What did I do to deserve a brain tumor? Why does healing take so long? What does God want to teach me or prepare me for? Or maybe how does He want to display His works through me?  In any case I need to yield to His will and trust in Him that He is doing a great work in and through me.  How about you?  Maybe what you are going through is simply because God wants to display His works in your life and help bring you and others closer to Him.

Update:  This week I have an MRI to make sure that the residual tumor that was left is behaving itself and not growing back.  I also have a “swallow test to see if my swallow function is in fact getting better and if I’ll be able to expand my diet (what I can eat by mouth).  I also see if my vocal cords are waking up or if I’ll need another injection so I can continue to be able to talk (and be understood and heard).

 

I was amazed by the reaction to two Facebook Posts this week.  I appreciated the response to me finally being able to eat a little bit of yogurt.  After more than 2 months of nothing but feeding through a nose tube it was great to actually taste something and I’ve been able to add to that by eating applesauce, pudding, ice cream and even mashed potatoes.  I still have a way to go but encouraged to finally have some progress.

 

The other post was Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

33 likes and 6 comments is more than 3 times more than I normally get for a verse – so I know that this struck a chord.  

But what does it mean?

It is comforting to know that with all that is going on in the world today that one thing remains constant.  One thing remains that we can count on and that is the Word of God.  We have been through a global pandemic, political, social and racial unrest.  Some of us have faced sickness, either ourselves or loved ones. Others have faced job losses or other unexpected financial troubles.

Where is God in all this?

Where He has always been.  Ever present, always unchanging, never shaken.

If it were not so, what hope would we have? 

In Genesis 1-2 God created a world that was good.  When he added man and woman His creation was “very good”.   But sin came on the scene in Genesis 3 and we have been suffering the consequences ever since.  But God has never changed.  His desire for His creation has not changed and the Bible is His redemptive story to draw us back to Himself – culminated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 I don’t know how I could have gone through the last few months without the certainty of God’s love for me. A brain tumor, like cancer, or a job loss, or something equally devastating that you might have gone through, is all part of a fallen world. Not part of God’s original design in Creation and not part of the end state – but we go through it now to (hopefully) realize our dependency on Him. Because ultimately His concern for us is not in the here and now, but in eternity.

No matter what you and I are going through, and no matter what is happening in the world – God’s love for us is unchanged. His desire for us is unchanged – that we will accept the fact that we are sinners and in need of His salvation – and realize that we are totally dependent on Him – whether things are going great right now or if we are struggling.

The context in Mark 13 puts it all into perspective.  Jesus is talking about the tribulation and His second coming. Despite all that will be happening during that time God’s words will not pass away.  After all the uncertainty, struggling, calamity, sickness, and disease – Jesus will come back and restore all things to the original creation design. That is where my hope is.  That is why we can go through what we are going through now, with Jesus’s help. Because we know what is waiting for us.

So, the progress in my swallowing is very welcome.  The renewed strength I have in my body is very welcome.  I do have a way to go and I look forward to being restored to greater health (and maybe running that half-marathon).  But in the meantime, I have comfort in God’s love and care for me.  I have comfort that He is preparing me for something far greater – and that even now He is using me to bring Him glory and maybe a few people closer to Him.

I hope that in whatever you are going through right now you will also find comfort and strength.  God's words will not pass away. We can count on that.

Time for some applesauce.

Thanks!

 

Having brain surgery and being held up in a hospital and rehab facility for 5 weeks there is so much I don’t remember (or possibly never knew).  But there is one thing I will never forget – and that is how blessed I and my family have been to have great friends and a great church. I mentioned earlier that I would not be surprised if I was one of the most prayed for individuals on the planet. 

My brain tumor came as a surprise, I’d been battling for answers to symptoms that kept me tired, sluggish, headache prone, and blurry-eyed. Finally, numbness in my right-ankle caused me to change direction in my searching.  A Thursday afternoon trip to the Air Force base hospital led to a CT scan and the discovery of a tumor. An MRI the next morning confirmed it and I was on my way to the University of Cincinnati hospital for treatment. 5 days later I was having it removed (at least most of it).

In the meantime, you all were springing into action. My sister-in-law (thanks Carol) headed over from Eastern Pennsylvania to help take care of the household activities so Karyn could be free to be near me. My church and small groups began to pray and a schedule to provide my family meals was set up and filled up quickly. For over a month my family did not lack in meals or gift cards, nor did I lack in cards of encouragement.  Your response was overwhelming.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35

When people face trials in their lives they usually respond to God in one of two ways.  They get angry with God and believe God is punishing them or just picking on them – or they draw closer to God believing God is working in their lives and preparing them for something better.  I have chosen to do the latter and it is the support that that I’ve mentioned above that has helped maintain that decision.

I still don’t know all of Gods purposes in this, but I have learned to trust in Him more and rely on His provision to sustain me through it. You all have been a big part of His provision and for that I am profoundly grateful.

Update: Next Friday I undergo minor surgery to have a feeding tube placed in my stomach (peg tube). This will replace the ng tube in my nose and hopefully make feeding time easier – and alleviate the annoyance of a tube in my face and down my throat. I still long for the day when I can eat normally.  But this week I have been able to eat a little bit of yogurt and applesauce - so progress is happening!   Praise God I can be back at my work, walk every day, go to church, enjoy time with my family, and write. 

Have This Same Attitude

I’d love to say that I am taking this whole thing with an attitude of praise and complete, peaceful, confident trust in God.  But my wife would be the first to tell you that it is not so.  I want it to be so.  I want people to marvel in how well I am doing through all of this – not so much for my sake but to glorify God.  I want people to believe that God is doing a great work and that I am fully on board.  But that is not always the case. 

Case in point.  As many of you know I currently have to be fed through a nose tube – 6 boxes of Jevity 1.5 a day. 

I won’t complain about the taste because the feeding process bypasses my taste buds (thankfully).  But the feeding process is not fun.  I push about 550 ml of Jevity/water through a tiny tube 5 times a day. 

If all goes well this process takes about 15 minutes each time.  Occasionally the tube backs up and Jevity goes everywhere.  Then I get frustrated, smell the bacon that one of my kids just cooked or some other heavenly food scent coming from the kitchen and begin to wonder “why me?” or “when will I get to eat normal again?. I haven't had a real meal in 2 months.”  Or I’ll get into what seems like a never-ending coughing fit that disrupts whatever I was doing at the time.  

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

 - Phl 2:14

Ouch.  Let’s back up a bit:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be galrasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

 - Phl 2:5-8

 

Key words – mind (or attitude), emptied, humbled, obedient. 

Jesus, God Himself, demonstrated the attitude I should have.  One that resulted in complete obedience to God by humbling himself.  He emptied Himself.  Of what?  I expect it was of everything that His position as the Son of God entailed.

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

 - Phl 2:13

Because God has purpose in accomplishing something that will bring Him glory and advance His kingdom.  His purpose may not be clear to me at this time – but I have to trust that an all knowing all-wise God knows what He is doing.  I also don’t want to go through all this for no good reason.

holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

Phl 2:16

So I’ll do my best to keep a positive God-centered attitude as I go though this. Your encouragement and prayers as always are appreciated. I will probably struggle – the meat loaf and potatoes smelled awfully good …

and I don’t know why I can’t just have that piece of apple pie. 

For God’s glory.

I Can Do All Things - in 2021

I started 2020 like most of you - upbeat, optimistic, enthusiastic about the year ahead. Excited about the upcoming graduation for 2 of my kids. Looking forward to a trip to the Dominican Republic with my 4 teenagers and the church youth group.  I just finished reading Urgent by David Platt and had a renewed zeal to see God work in my life and that of my family.

We then suffered the same changes most of you did when the virus hit – trips cancelled, working and schooling from home, social distancing, toilet paper shortages.  All our lives were changed practically overnight.  

One of the things I held to during this time was my running.  My alone, stress relief time.  I was working on a 100 mile/month streak.  In May I finished my 46th month – on my way to 60 months before my 60th birthday. But in June – due to what I thought was a hamstring pull - I had to end it.  Though I was able to do some running in June and July and I was never able to fully recover.  Towards the end of August, I ended up in the ER due to exhaustion, almost passing out before I got there.  Due to my family history with heart disease, I underwent a heart catheterization.  My heart was fine, my arteries not so much.  I was diagnosed with high blood pressure that has probably been an undiagnosed issue for some time.  I was put on BP meds and blood thinners to help control and sent home after a 2-day hospital stay.  But things didn’t get better.  At first, I thought it was just needing to adjust to the meds and get the right mix.  But in early November – after adding numbness in my right ankle to the mix I decided to go see what else might be going on.  That’s when we discovered the brain tumor.  Five days later I was in surgery to have it removed - a surgery that took 12 hours.

Now before continuing I need to acknowledge the great support provided to me and my family during this time from friends, family, and my church.  I wouldn’t be surprised if I was one of the most prayed for people on the planet.  A meal train was set up for my family and we had no lack of meals and gift cards.  We got to experience the body of Christ at its best in action.

As I mentioned earlier, the surgery lasted 12 hours.  The recovery continues.  I spent 2 more weeks in the hospital and then 2 more at a rehab center.  I can honestly say that I totally underestimated the recovery process. The biggest challenge is that I lost the ability to speak (audibly) and to swallow.  One of my vocal cords is paralyzed.  With the help of an injection my voice has returned to where I can be heard and understood.  I have an ng tube through my nose to my stomach so I can be fed. I have not had a normal meal since November 10th.

10  I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.   11  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.   12  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.   13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 - Philippians 4:10-13

Philippians 4:13 is probably one of the most out-of-context quoted verses in the Bible.  So I’ve included context in verses 10-12.  I believe that Paul is claiming that it does not matter what circumstances he finds himself in,  good or bad, he is able, through Christ’s strength, to accomplish what God wills to be done.

Since my surgery I’ve found myself in circumstances that I have found less than desirable.  Among other things, my speech has been impaired, I can’t swallow, my balance has been shaky and my strength has been zapped. It’s easy to just feel useless. It's humbling to have to rely on others for help.  I’ve prayed numerous times for God to intervene and restore me to full health but He has chosen not to.  But what He has shown me is that Philippians 4:13 actually does apply to me.  In my current circumstances, if I rely on His strength, I can do all things – I can be used by Him to accomplish his purposes.  But the strength comes from Him, not from me.

Or as Paul also wrote:

9  But he said to me,  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   10   For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So that’s where I find myself entering into 2021, relying on Christ’s strength and not my own, surrendering (or at least trying) to His will and plans and not my own. And I’ll still be praying to be restored to full health – which will happen – in His timing not mine.

By the way, my tumor was a schwannoma. They managed to remove 95% of it, but left 5% to try to avoid any permanent nerve damage. It was benign. It probably had been growing for some time and was pressing down on my brain effecting certain nerve functions – including those which effect my vocal cords and ability to swallow. It should not grow back but I will have an MRI in early February to make sure. The loss of swallowing ability should be temporary- just don’t know for how long.  Therapy, including swallowing exercises should help in getting that ability back.

Thoughts at Midnight

I usually don’t have trouble falling asleep, but last night I woke up before the midnight hour and was contemplating all the that was going on with the coronavirus and its impact on our country and on my family.  Our lives have been changed, seemingly overnight, as if some foreign power had invaded our land and turned it upside down.  Now, when the activities of tomorrow used to seem somewhat in our control, now not so much.  We don’t know how long this will last, and what that means to our lives going forward and the plans that we have made or have been making.  With two high school seniors and two juniors in the household – plus the changes occurring at my job – uncertainty abounds!

So God brought me to 2 Chronicles 20:10

“O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

Jehoshaphat, Judah’s king, faced not only uncertain times, but scary times.  The Moabites and the Ammonites, among others were staring them down in battle.  Judah was outnumbered.  These nations should have been destroyed long ago, probably when the Jewish people were beginning to enter the promised land.  But they were not – and now here they were on Judah’s doorstop.  I imagine all activities were cancelled as they contemplated how to handle this crisis, but all Jehoshaphat could do was to cry out to the Lord and say “We don’t know what to do.”  Therefor he did the only thing he could do – he focused his eyes upon God so that God could do what only God can do.

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
    his understanding is beyond measure.

There are many passages in the Bible that talk about God’s wisdom and knowledge.  Although Jehoshaphat did not know what to do – God did.  Although I don’t know what to do, God does.  And I need to look to Him in these times of uncertainty because as much as I would like to think I can figure it out, I can’t.  Sometimes things are, as they say, beyond my pay grade.  I think we are living in those times.

God is also abundant in power.  Not only does he know what to do – but He can do it!  He can get us through this. 

2 Chronicles 20:20-22

And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

"Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

God came through for Judah.  Against impossible odds – because well, God is God.  He is all-knowing and able.

Which leads me to this conclusion -

Ephesians 3:20-22
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We don’t always have the answers because we don’t have all the knowledge – and even if we did, we don’t have the power to carry it out.  But praise God – He does!

Now if I can only act accordingly.


All passages ESV.  Shared from PocketBible for Windows Store (http://www.laridian.com)

Finding Truth in 2020

I just finished teaching a 4 month study on Psalm 119 for the adult Sunday School class at my church.  Yes – you read that correctly;  4 months over 1 chapter in the Bible.  Psalm 119 is the longest of the psalms and at 176 verses, is also the longest chapter of the Bible.

What is the focus of Psalm 119?  God’s Word, or as we know it today, the Bible.   I encourage you to read Psalm 119 for yourself.  In it you will see the psalmist’s delight for and dependence on God’s Word.  You’ll read about the trust he places in God’s Word, to keep him from stumbling, to help him in his battle against sin, and to find strength when faced with struggles – especially those caused by other people.  The psalmist talks about how God’s Word makes him wiser than his enemies – and more than that – it makes him wiser than his teachers and those who have been experience life for a long time.

Of all the 176 verses – verse 160 struck me most of all; 

The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

The sum of God’s Word is truth.  Did you catch that?  For those that know me, you know I have been posted a daily Bible verse on social media for years.  Those verses are typically ones I came across in that day’s reading or have been meditating on.  But those postings can be dangerous.  Any one of those verses taken out of context can yield the wrong interpretation.  The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over a time period of 4,000 years yet containing one central theme – God’s plan of salvation for man.   It is meant to be taken in the context of the time periods it was written along with the style (or genre) of each individual book.  And in a time such as today, when the “truth” seems hard to find or is different for each person or groups of people it is comforting to know that we have a standard for truth.  But it’s not contained in any individual verse or passage, but in the sum of God’s Word.

Today, Bible verses are used by well-meaning (and in some cases not so well-meaning) individuals to instruct us on God’s views on things like climate change, immigration, gender issues, and so forth.  But if not viewed in the context of the whole Bible, where we learn of a loving, holy God who grieves overs us and cannot tolerate our sinful actions, yet provides a way for our sins to be dealt with so that we can experience an everlasting love relationship with Him, then these individual Bible verses and passages can lead us further away from the truth not towards it.

So this year, may it be your goal and your desire to know the God of the whole Bible and not just a part.  May you know and experience truth and may that truth set you free!