I do not tend to dwell on the demonic aspects of our faith - there are troubles enough without looking for them!
No, I do not believe that a Christian can experience any form of demonic possession.
But I have to admit to really wondering about some so called brothers and sisters in the faith!
eepah!
Now the mother of "my Aussie boy" from back in the 1970's, is one of those.
When I met her she was the mother of four teenagers!
eepah!
And, she was horribly broken - as were her children.
No one could understand my compassion for her.
But then it was because her history was not that different than mine.
.
I have tried to understand her brokenness for decades.
And I finally have.
But mind you, she has now been dead for decades.
Her son was trapped in Singapore.
The result of the air corridor closures in 2001.
I was able to be there, only because I was called and hopped a plane to be with her.
She died before I got there.
sigh .....
But her pastor son in-law had made it.
Had convinced her she had nothing to lose in asking for forgiveness.
And she was written off as extremely troubled.
If not demonically possessed!
Such a legacy of pain her life story left behind!
eepah!
But, in my studies last week, I came to understand why I could relate to her.
And why her life was the way it was!
By way of having examined my own life .....
Like me, she had been raped at a young age.
Like me she was blamed and no one believed us.
Like me there was no one to turn to.
Like me she did not come from a Christian family.
And, so, was defenseless.
Then one horrible experience led to a series of weird issues.
Each dragging her farther and farther from understanding and being reached.
It took me 63 years to come to terms with what was forgotten 55 years ago.
It took me until last week to break the weirdness which surrounded me!
Just as it had surrounded her.
Things that no would believe, easily written off as fantasy or mental health issues!
But in reality, demonically directed by outside influences!
So, I settled down with her son=in-law.
I did not know him well.
But he shared with me the story of her last hours.
In tears, gasping for breath, the story was told.
So, I had to ask, was there any proof this was real.
His reply was that her last words were to ask for my forgiveness
(of MANY wrongs done me!).
But, I always extended her forgiveness due to understanding her pain.
( She also cursed her ex-husband, now that was more like her!)
He left and went out to get drunk.
I prayed and sought to understand.
I do not understand humans.
I know motives.
I can see what no one else can see.
I am cursed with what I do not understand.
I spent five days packing up her life.
Her son was able to handle as much as he could by phone.
And now I fully understand how she ended up where she did.
I understand how her family was broken.
I understand how I was broken and incredibly stupid.
Yeah better late than never I guess!
I will try and type up something more in-depth for you after dialysis tomorrow.
But, I am a basket case, so we will see.
But, make no mistake, freedom and peace are credible when you have never known either!
Showing posts with label Miracle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miracle. Show all posts
May 4, 2018
October 25, 2017
Not Possible
Did you ever see a photo and wonder how did that happen?
Like the one of thr American tourist in Paris, whom launched her car on to a barge on the Seine River? And wonder ...?
Or a car standing on its nose next to a freeway retaining wall .... and wonder, what the heck!? Is that even possible?
In the latter example, let me tell you how improbable it was ....
I was just approaching the Seattle airport landing lights (over the freeway) , it is a downgrade with a merging traffic lane that runs into the exit I take. I remember signalling for lane change, checking my mirrors, slowing to move over and ... then, many minutes later, I am looking at the roadway in front of me - rather than under me!
I could not exit the car due my door not opening and the height off the ground! I tried to get my mind around this fact - how was this even possible?
It took many hours to sort this out.
I had breakfast in Orting with my grandchildren.
I drove up the hill to Bonnie Lake.
I checked out candles and used the toilet.
I then had a deep radiating pain in my left arm.
I took two nitroglycerin pills.
Pain went away/
So I headed the 40 miles home.
45 minutes later I am suspended in the air.
According to my son, I started swerving as I came down the hill by the airport.
And the car went out of control on the rain soaked roads.
The car slid in the gravel, rear to the right.
Slid up a concrete retaining wall, came to a stop,
and fell off the wall onto its nose!
So, car standing on its nose ... next to the freeway ...
A miracle of God's protection,
and I am sure obscure laws of physics ...
But not without injury.
Broken facial bones and eye socket.
Blood pressure out of control and kidney function took a nose dive!
Then the headache! Well that was a constant due to the blood pressure.
And the following four days in intensive care!
Never ending tests due to the concussion,
Heart failure and kidney disaster.
Never ending needles and blood draws.
To survive, when even the first cop on the scene was expecting no survivors.
Amazed paramedics shaking their heads in amazement.
And eye specialists willing to drive in from Seattle as there was no room at the trauma center.
And the heart team. My cardiologist flew in from Hawaii!
My kidney doctor spent her weekend caring for me!
And a dedicated team whom survived me!
LOL!
exhaustion conquers me and I must close ...
Like the one of thr American tourist in Paris, whom launched her car on to a barge on the Seine River? And wonder ...?
In the latter example, let me tell you how improbable it was ....
I was just approaching the Seattle airport landing lights (over the freeway) , it is a downgrade with a merging traffic lane that runs into the exit I take. I remember signalling for lane change, checking my mirrors, slowing to move over and ... then, many minutes later, I am looking at the roadway in front of me - rather than under me!
I could not exit the car due my door not opening and the height off the ground! I tried to get my mind around this fact - how was this even possible?
It took many hours to sort this out.
I had breakfast in Orting with my grandchildren.
I drove up the hill to Bonnie Lake.
I checked out candles and used the toilet.
I then had a deep radiating pain in my left arm.
I took two nitroglycerin pills.
Pain went away/
So I headed the 40 miles home.
45 minutes later I am suspended in the air.
According to my son, I started swerving as I came down the hill by the airport.
And the car went out of control on the rain soaked roads.
The car slid in the gravel, rear to the right.
Slid up a concrete retaining wall, came to a stop,
and fell off the wall onto its nose!
So, car standing on its nose ... next to the freeway ...
A miracle of God's protection,
and I am sure obscure laws of physics ...
Broken facial bones and eye socket.
Blood pressure out of control and kidney function took a nose dive!
Then the headache! Well that was a constant due to the blood pressure.
And the following four days in intensive care!
Never ending tests due to the concussion,
Heart failure and kidney disaster.
Never ending needles and blood draws.
To survive, when even the first cop on the scene was expecting no survivors.
Amazed paramedics shaking their heads in amazement.
And eye specialists willing to drive in from Seattle as there was no room at the trauma center.
And the heart team. My cardiologist flew in from Hawaii!
My kidney doctor spent her weekend caring for me!
And a dedicated team whom survived me!
LOL!
exhaustion conquers me and I must close ...
August 2, 2017
Consequences
Not so long ago I mentioned God Hardening Pharaoh's heart, you can read about this in Exodus. Pharaoh refused to listen to Moses time after time and finally, God had enough of this puny man and smacked him down!
Exodus 7 - 12
Pharaoh worshiped; God did:
The Nile River; Water turned to blood
Frogs; Appear everywhere!
Gnats & Flies; Everywhere!
Locust; Plaques the empire!
Sun; Drkness covers the empire!
To further make the point:
Livestock dies
People covered in boils
Hail crushes the crops
First born mysteriously die!
Who is your God?
Popular?
Cultural?
Represented by anything?
Then you have not met God yet .....
The Egyptians worshiped 80 "gods".
Idols were everywhere and worshiped with gusto!
Who is the Real God?
The one whom created you.
The whom can lead you to a meaningful life.
The one whom the world hates.
The one wants you to find Him ....
It is interesting that the tenth plaque brought the death of the Egyptian first borns.
The remembrance of this event is known as Passover.
Jesus died at Passover ......
Exodus 7 - 12
Pharaoh worshiped; God did:
The Nile River; Water turned to blood
Frogs; Appear everywhere!
Gnats & Flies; Everywhere!
Locust; Plaques the empire!
Sun; Drkness covers the empire!
To further make the point:
Livestock dies
People covered in boils
Hail crushes the crops
First born mysteriously die!
Who is your God?
Popular?
Cultural?
Represented by anything?
Then you have not met God yet .....
The Egyptians worshiped 80 "gods".
Idols were everywhere and worshiped with gusto!
Who is the Real God?
The one whom created you.
The whom can lead you to a meaningful life.
The one whom the world hates.
The one wants you to find Him ....
It is interesting that the tenth plaque brought the death of the Egyptian first borns.
The remembrance of this event is known as Passover.
Jesus died at Passover ......
August 27, 2015
Ramblings Of The Last Few Days
Last week was very much a blessing - to suddenly learn God had done a miracle ... for me, but why? It is not like I am sainted and deserve any form of blessing from God - I was ready to die, to go home, but God apparently wants to keep me here. The future holds something of value to Him I guess. I feel true happiness.
Beyond the healing of my kidneys, liver, bone marrow, destruction of the three infections, restart of the iron transport system, etc - my blood sugars are now completely and totally normal! I will still play the Type II diabetic game, but in the back of my mind I am wondering if ... I have been diabetic since I was at least 13, if not younger - but it was only 7 years ago they diagnosed the problem. I do not remember being exactly good around the time of that last blood draw, so I expected the usual mid-7's as the blood sugar level and to be yelled at - not the 5.6 they documented! Really? Too weird if true. Add to this the restoration of hearing to my right ear, lost in the second operation - and God really did something! My ear doctor (who knows how to spell what the heck they are called?) pushed his chair back on Tuesday and said slowly, "Well, it looks like everything is working ... We are done here." He had already booked me for the next 10 weeks! Yeah, weird.
*****
And to herald this bizarre and unexplainable healing of Kris: my PICC line was removed yesterday! A miserable rubber tube which ran from my arm pit to my heart, so antibiotics could be dumped down it three times a day! Of course, I knew they would be ill prepared for what was coming - so I bought a pile of 4 inch gauze pads and 80 inches of 2 inch wide hospital tape to form a tourniquet with. I was right, they did not have on hand what was needed. However, for the first time in my LIFE I did not bleed for up to 6 hours after anything involving an artery! I am quite simply stunned! As recent as three weeks ago, a simple blood draw did what was normal: four hours of heavy bleeding! It was so bad that the store called an ambulance because of the amount of blood coming down my arm when the band slipped! I was clueless and thought I was just dizzy - yeah, lots of blood! So, it seems - the Habsburg gene is defeated as well? Take that inbreeding!!!!!
Really, this is a new Kris, in a new body it seems - I do not recognize this body and no one it seems recognizes me. I will have to count my grey hairs now, maybe there has been a roll back in that department as well? LOL!
*****
Last night, I was laying in bed thinking on all of this. God is moving to get my body back together and it is working again - or maybe I would bring down heavenly land values if I got home to Heaven too soon! Night is also when I can cry and not let the members of this house mock me. I mourn the loss of friends and life being devoid of any form of emotion or warmth. I do have emotion, now, locked away in my heart, so desiring to burst forth ... but, well, it is not exactly what I can share given this environment. So, I die a little each day on the inside.
One day, perhaps one day, I can free.
*****
I thought on how odd it is that amongst my almost life long friendships, Swede is the lone one to render assistance (and I do have one whom usually messages or texts me daily). I am seeing how amongst family and friends - I sit where James was last February. I still mourn his death, so unnecessary, so much pain he brought his family because he did not want to face the loss of his foot. Admittedly, this year has been a literal hell for me, mostly because I struggle to keep that foot and leg - just as he could have done. Doing most things myself because no else will help around here. And perhaps like me, James had no one to render daily assistance for a year or so. And, yes, I did consider suicide at one point - but high fever and delirium was not enough to push me over the edge. Sorry Satan.
Is that what really pushed James over the edge? Abandonment by friends and family, whom all suddenly had no time for him. Constant pain and approaching deformity? Yeah, I could see him really easily in my situation, many of the players are the same even! Plus he had a wife whom was less than supportive, to say the least! :( Pomegranate juice, so yummy, so deadly to those on the Charcot meds - a guaranteed heart attack instantly in every glass full.
And yet, I can have no trust in Swede because he has proven he can not be deeply trusted. I pondered this. Why should he go so far out of his way for me, he lives over an hour away when there is no traffic ... I wondered if with the loss of his brother is a factor. He also spends time with his many nieces and their families. All that is left of his family is him, a sister and her four daughters and their children. I have no definitive answer, it could be as simple as guilt is driving the generosity with his time. I ponder ...
But, he is what God has provided, so I will be thankful.
*****
Yet, even in that, I have now learned, because of Swede's example, to spend time with one of my business acquaintances, Kurt, whom managed to climb a ladder last weekend, which then broke a leg. So, down he went, still attached to the ladder. Shattered left shoulder, left ankle broken in two places and he bounced his bean off of the ladder as well. So battered face, left side teeth through skin and then the teeth broke. Sigh, poor Kurt - I told him I may have to surrender my King of Klutz crown if this keep up! His spirits were high and his wife was practicing driving his little scooter chair around the room - kept us laughing! Feel free to pray for him! (He is a lawyer so he needs all the prayer he can get! LOL!)
*****
As I was walking out of the hospital, I saw a little gift shop off of the main hallway, checked the time and I had plenty, so I went into "sniff" the shop. Rather glad I did as they had some very interesting antiques in there! I picked up a formal butter dish, where the butter sits on a plate and under the plate is a storage area for ice! Very cool. An antique piece of Belleek, for the show this fall, assuming anyone has an interest in Belleek anymore. A super cool sippy-cup, made by the Thun factory in Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic for you youngin's). It is something probably used by an invalid but I just liked it since I have a strong attachment to Thun (we owned it once after all!). (still chuckling over that one!) My son in law has become addicted Seattle history, and the shop had a book published here in 1906 by one of the original pioneers. I hope it is a good Christmas gift for him! And two old Scottish buttons, which will be used as bag closures on an accessories bag for a custom gun I hope to finish this fall - if I can get a small wood working area set up. And I have to admit, were the hospital not for those of little means, I never would have bought any of it - but if it helps to fund the hospital - hence, my lawyer acquaintance's surgeries he faces and many therapies. Yeah, not all lawyers are rich.
*****
As many of you know, I have a real soft spot for orphans and impoverished children. I came across a flyer on a group called, "Roots and Wings", whom are working with children in Mazatlan, Mexico. Their goal is to help to feed impoverished child in Mazatlan, provide childcare and offer education to parents on how to work with what they have. Seems to be much like what World Vision and many other groups do - yet, I am not a real fan of those organizations - whom do not have feet on the ground in the place they work. So, I was able to spend sometime with one of those involved with this group. Now if only I spoke Spanish far better I might be able to actually do something of value ... sigh ... Kris and his allergy to languages! (My first language was German, then spoken English, French, Spanish and written English once I was 30! So, I have an excuse for my utter butchering of the language.)
rootsandwingsim.org on the internet
Roots & Wings
200 CR 36120
Honey Grove, TX
75446
P:903.378.6140
They desire $30 per month to support a child with food, clothing, care and education .
Yeah, I will be adding them to my monthly giving list since it appears that Kimmie will not be returning to Africa any too soon.
Check them out on the internet, maybe see about going down to help them, but do pray for their ministry's success. If Mexico is to have a chance for change, it has got to start with the family ... Hmm, maybe we need this in a country to the north of them ... but it is harder to implement change in an atmosphere of wealth.
I also have a man in Chihuahua, Mexico doing the exact same thing - if you are interested he could use support as well. He has been running his ministry with NO income or support, just local support - and only him as the worker bee. His daughter is a good friend of mine so I get constant updates on how it goes for him, the ministry and the general area (drug war - sigh). Prayer for him is good too ... his daughter, Veronica, could use real prayer as well, she is newly pregnant and it is NOT going well at all!
*****
Choos! (Swiss for: later 'gater!)
Beyond the healing of my kidneys, liver, bone marrow, destruction of the three infections, restart of the iron transport system, etc - my blood sugars are now completely and totally normal! I will still play the Type II diabetic game, but in the back of my mind I am wondering if ... I have been diabetic since I was at least 13, if not younger - but it was only 7 years ago they diagnosed the problem. I do not remember being exactly good around the time of that last blood draw, so I expected the usual mid-7's as the blood sugar level and to be yelled at - not the 5.6 they documented! Really? Too weird if true. Add to this the restoration of hearing to my right ear, lost in the second operation - and God really did something! My ear doctor (who knows how to spell what the heck they are called?) pushed his chair back on Tuesday and said slowly, "Well, it looks like everything is working ... We are done here." He had already booked me for the next 10 weeks! Yeah, weird.
*****
And to herald this bizarre and unexplainable healing of Kris: my PICC line was removed yesterday! A miserable rubber tube which ran from my arm pit to my heart, so antibiotics could be dumped down it three times a day! Of course, I knew they would be ill prepared for what was coming - so I bought a pile of 4 inch gauze pads and 80 inches of 2 inch wide hospital tape to form a tourniquet with. I was right, they did not have on hand what was needed. However, for the first time in my LIFE I did not bleed for up to 6 hours after anything involving an artery! I am quite simply stunned! As recent as three weeks ago, a simple blood draw did what was normal: four hours of heavy bleeding! It was so bad that the store called an ambulance because of the amount of blood coming down my arm when the band slipped! I was clueless and thought I was just dizzy - yeah, lots of blood! So, it seems - the Habsburg gene is defeated as well? Take that inbreeding!!!!!
Really, this is a new Kris, in a new body it seems - I do not recognize this body and no one it seems recognizes me. I will have to count my grey hairs now, maybe there has been a roll back in that department as well? LOL!
*****
Last night, I was laying in bed thinking on all of this. God is moving to get my body back together and it is working again - or maybe I would bring down heavenly land values if I got home to Heaven too soon! Night is also when I can cry and not let the members of this house mock me. I mourn the loss of friends and life being devoid of any form of emotion or warmth. I do have emotion, now, locked away in my heart, so desiring to burst forth ... but, well, it is not exactly what I can share given this environment. So, I die a little each day on the inside.
One day, perhaps one day, I can free.
*****
I thought on how odd it is that amongst my almost life long friendships, Swede is the lone one to render assistance (and I do have one whom usually messages or texts me daily). I am seeing how amongst family and friends - I sit where James was last February. I still mourn his death, so unnecessary, so much pain he brought his family because he did not want to face the loss of his foot. Admittedly, this year has been a literal hell for me, mostly because I struggle to keep that foot and leg - just as he could have done. Doing most things myself because no else will help around here. And perhaps like me, James had no one to render daily assistance for a year or so. And, yes, I did consider suicide at one point - but high fever and delirium was not enough to push me over the edge. Sorry Satan.
Is that what really pushed James over the edge? Abandonment by friends and family, whom all suddenly had no time for him. Constant pain and approaching deformity? Yeah, I could see him really easily in my situation, many of the players are the same even! Plus he had a wife whom was less than supportive, to say the least! :( Pomegranate juice, so yummy, so deadly to those on the Charcot meds - a guaranteed heart attack instantly in every glass full.
And yet, I can have no trust in Swede because he has proven he can not be deeply trusted. I pondered this. Why should he go so far out of his way for me, he lives over an hour away when there is no traffic ... I wondered if with the loss of his brother is a factor. He also spends time with his many nieces and their families. All that is left of his family is him, a sister and her four daughters and their children. I have no definitive answer, it could be as simple as guilt is driving the generosity with his time. I ponder ...
But, he is what God has provided, so I will be thankful.
*****
Yet, even in that, I have now learned, because of Swede's example, to spend time with one of my business acquaintances, Kurt, whom managed to climb a ladder last weekend, which then broke a leg. So, down he went, still attached to the ladder. Shattered left shoulder, left ankle broken in two places and he bounced his bean off of the ladder as well. So battered face, left side teeth through skin and then the teeth broke. Sigh, poor Kurt - I told him I may have to surrender my King of Klutz crown if this keep up! His spirits were high and his wife was practicing driving his little scooter chair around the room - kept us laughing! Feel free to pray for him! (He is a lawyer so he needs all the prayer he can get! LOL!)
*****
As I was walking out of the hospital, I saw a little gift shop off of the main hallway, checked the time and I had plenty, so I went into "sniff" the shop. Rather glad I did as they had some very interesting antiques in there! I picked up a formal butter dish, where the butter sits on a plate and under the plate is a storage area for ice! Very cool. An antique piece of Belleek, for the show this fall, assuming anyone has an interest in Belleek anymore. A super cool sippy-cup, made by the Thun factory in Czechoslovakia (Czech Republic for you youngin's). It is something probably used by an invalid but I just liked it since I have a strong attachment to Thun (we owned it once after all!). (still chuckling over that one!) My son in law has become addicted Seattle history, and the shop had a book published here in 1906 by one of the original pioneers. I hope it is a good Christmas gift for him! And two old Scottish buttons, which will be used as bag closures on an accessories bag for a custom gun I hope to finish this fall - if I can get a small wood working area set up. And I have to admit, were the hospital not for those of little means, I never would have bought any of it - but if it helps to fund the hospital - hence, my lawyer acquaintance's surgeries he faces and many therapies. Yeah, not all lawyers are rich.
*****
As many of you know, I have a real soft spot for orphans and impoverished children. I came across a flyer on a group called, "Roots and Wings", whom are working with children in Mazatlan, Mexico. Their goal is to help to feed impoverished child in Mazatlan, provide childcare and offer education to parents on how to work with what they have. Seems to be much like what World Vision and many other groups do - yet, I am not a real fan of those organizations - whom do not have feet on the ground in the place they work. So, I was able to spend sometime with one of those involved with this group. Now if only I spoke Spanish far better I might be able to actually do something of value ... sigh ... Kris and his allergy to languages! (My first language was German, then spoken English, French, Spanish and written English once I was 30! So, I have an excuse for my utter butchering of the language.)
rootsandwingsim.org on the internet
Roots & Wings
200 CR 36120
Honey Grove, TX
75446
P:903.378.6140
They desire $30 per month to support a child with food, clothing, care and education .
Yeah, I will be adding them to my monthly giving list since it appears that Kimmie will not be returning to Africa any too soon.
Check them out on the internet, maybe see about going down to help them, but do pray for their ministry's success. If Mexico is to have a chance for change, it has got to start with the family ... Hmm, maybe we need this in a country to the north of them ... but it is harder to implement change in an atmosphere of wealth.
I also have a man in Chihuahua, Mexico doing the exact same thing - if you are interested he could use support as well. He has been running his ministry with NO income or support, just local support - and only him as the worker bee. His daughter is a good friend of mine so I get constant updates on how it goes for him, the ministry and the general area (drug war - sigh). Prayer for him is good too ... his daughter, Veronica, could use real prayer as well, she is newly pregnant and it is NOT going well at all!
*****
Choos! (Swiss for: later 'gater!)
August 19, 2015
An Unexpected Miracle
So Tuesday afternoon was check-in day with the Infectious Disease doctor and to hear what he and the CDC and/or WHO had managed to come up with. The voluminous blood tests all showed I was dying if something could not be found ...
But Monday's blood draws instead of showing the same trends as the prior 6 weeks, showed me to be perfectly normal.
Really? And people question whether prayer works? Really?
Think about this - for six weeks limited or no kidneys, liver, bone marrow, oxygen carrying diminished as the red blood cells died, there was no iron because the body simply shut down that whole cycle!
And today I sit here - with perfectly normal numbers.
Oh, my body may show the effects of the damage done, my red blood cells may still be smaller than normal and cupped, but everything is working.
Pray God because we are talking miracle here.
The poor doctor was going crazy pouring over his tracking charts and NOTHING supported any idea of a reversal or recovery in any of the failing features.
He does not deal in miracles, he deals in facts and data.
He hit an anomaly and those do not exist to the practical mind.
How positive is he of my recovery as of today?
Next Friday, not this Friday, he is going to pull the catheter in my heart! And I will get my right arm back. And I will get to sleep in at 4 AM, rather than pumping myself full of antibiotics! And maybe I will get my appetite back. Maybe I can get on with life!
The worse week of my life anniversary seems to have lost some of its sting suddenly.
Thank you for your prayers, spread the word: Prayer works! And I am grateful for you, your faithfulness and another chance at life ...
But Monday's blood draws instead of showing the same trends as the prior 6 weeks, showed me to be perfectly normal.
Really? And people question whether prayer works? Really?
Think about this - for six weeks limited or no kidneys, liver, bone marrow, oxygen carrying diminished as the red blood cells died, there was no iron because the body simply shut down that whole cycle!
And today I sit here - with perfectly normal numbers.
Oh, my body may show the effects of the damage done, my red blood cells may still be smaller than normal and cupped, but everything is working.
Pray God because we are talking miracle here.
The poor doctor was going crazy pouring over his tracking charts and NOTHING supported any idea of a reversal or recovery in any of the failing features.
He does not deal in miracles, he deals in facts and data.
He hit an anomaly and those do not exist to the practical mind.
How positive is he of my recovery as of today?
Next Friday, not this Friday, he is going to pull the catheter in my heart! And I will get my right arm back. And I will get to sleep in at 4 AM, rather than pumping myself full of antibiotics! And maybe I will get my appetite back. Maybe I can get on with life!
The worse week of my life anniversary seems to have lost some of its sting suddenly.
Thank you for your prayers, spread the word: Prayer works! And I am grateful for you, your faithfulness and another chance at life ...
January 6, 2015
The Confused Woman
It was 1984 and one of the men I had led to salvation in Jesus, eight years before, was marrying and he called upon me to be his best man. Just two problems: he was a world away and it was to be a full blown country-western wedding! Yeah, white cowboy hats, western tuxedos and of course everyone had to wear white goat kickers ... It only complicated matters that his chosen was - uhm, not a good choice. She was on the rebound at the time and just wanting to prove to herself that someone would marry her. But then, no one ever listens to me, in his case not until he was sitting in jail on trumped up charges so she was free to file divorce, liquidate assets and make sure nothing could be found out about her boy toy. (darn discernment! that was supposed to be unknown by anyone!) Yeah, she dropped the charges once all of her preparations were in place.
The wedding photos were all shot at a little park on the Platte River in Wheatridge, Colorado. Given the clothing, it was a fitting setting for the photo session. I-70 was yards away but could not be seen due the tilt of the land, so it looked all so rustic with white buffoons running around! During the session, I had seen a woman sitting by herself at one of the tables and crying miserably.
When we were all done with the photo shoot, and most of those had left for a party, I walked over and sat down. She dumped her story on me like a sea lion on a salmon! and I was (due to nature) completely unable to absorb any of her problem. However that is not to say that God did not use me at the moment in time to share the Gospel, direct her to a decent church in the area and give her some general advice about what to do about long term boyfriend - whom was sitting in jail for having beat her up that morning! And here she had been thinking about marriage ...
Let us now advance 10 years and I am on a campout at Mt. Rainier, in Washington state. I did not want to be there, but it was a weird event I got roped into traveling to. I set up my tent, washed up, walked over to the picnic area and sat down. Yeah, guess whom was there! Same woman as from Colorado! What are the odds? Well, I was stunned! She had no memory of me, just living in her pain. Still with the drunk, now married, and oh by the way - pregnant with triplets! Really? What the heck? I had expected her to have left him in jail a decade before. Silly me.
I was again given the story, so quickly was caught up on where her misery is and I became her husband's long distance "friend".
Advancing 20 more years to New Years Eve 2014, whom is there? Yeah, that same woman whom keeps popping up in my life (at least once a year it seems!). So, we talked, we joked, she had a good evening. Her husband the same, but then we are old, odd friends now.
God moves people in and out of our lives constantly. You can chose to be involved or not. If you are involved, well no one will listen to you, you will be cursed by those closest, but you will be contributing to a changed life. Seed planting is just as important, as seed replanting, tending the seed or even the harvest! Everyone loves the harvest, no one likes planting and watering it seems - no glory, no numbers, no status or feel-goodism.
I think as a couple they still struggle. Their kids through the years have had their challenges but overall I think are doing well. One is now headed for college, one is thinking military and the other? Well, no sense rushing decisions ... LOL.
The wedding photos were all shot at a little park on the Platte River in Wheatridge, Colorado. Given the clothing, it was a fitting setting for the photo session. I-70 was yards away but could not be seen due the tilt of the land, so it looked all so rustic with white buffoons running around! During the session, I had seen a woman sitting by herself at one of the tables and crying miserably.
When we were all done with the photo shoot, and most of those had left for a party, I walked over and sat down. She dumped her story on me like a sea lion on a salmon! and I was (due to nature) completely unable to absorb any of her problem. However that is not to say that God did not use me at the moment in time to share the Gospel, direct her to a decent church in the area and give her some general advice about what to do about long term boyfriend - whom was sitting in jail for having beat her up that morning! And here she had been thinking about marriage ...
Let us now advance 10 years and I am on a campout at Mt. Rainier, in Washington state. I did not want to be there, but it was a weird event I got roped into traveling to. I set up my tent, washed up, walked over to the picnic area and sat down. Yeah, guess whom was there! Same woman as from Colorado! What are the odds? Well, I was stunned! She had no memory of me, just living in her pain. Still with the drunk, now married, and oh by the way - pregnant with triplets! Really? What the heck? I had expected her to have left him in jail a decade before. Silly me.
I was again given the story, so quickly was caught up on where her misery is and I became her husband's long distance "friend".
Advancing 20 more years to New Years Eve 2014, whom is there? Yeah, that same woman whom keeps popping up in my life (at least once a year it seems!). So, we talked, we joked, she had a good evening. Her husband the same, but then we are old, odd friends now.
God moves people in and out of our lives constantly. You can chose to be involved or not. If you are involved, well no one will listen to you, you will be cursed by those closest, but you will be contributing to a changed life. Seed planting is just as important, as seed replanting, tending the seed or even the harvest! Everyone loves the harvest, no one likes planting and watering it seems - no glory, no numbers, no status or feel-goodism.
I think as a couple they still struggle. Their kids through the years have had their challenges but overall I think are doing well. One is now headed for college, one is thinking military and the other? Well, no sense rushing decisions ... LOL.
August 15, 2014
If You Will
Mark 1:40 - 45
From this passage comes one of my favorite quotations, "If you will, you can make me clean ... "
Leprosy is a skin, bone and joint disease. If you had this you were an outcast from society and it was believed that this was a judgment from God due to your sin. God is punishing you. You are going to lose your identity, your community, family, everything!
Can You Care Enough To Feel Compassion?
God came to be the father to the father-less.
Jesus confronted with a leper, is moved to act.
Are You Convinced Enough To Ask?
Twice in the Old Testament, God had healed leprosy.
This leper saw that Jesus could heal.
He KNEW Jesus could heal him!
Will You Stretch Yourself Enough To Touch?
Jesus touched the leper.
He did not have to.
But, he was proving that God is not unclean!
And the leper was healed, cleansed, now ceremonially clean!
Are you even aware of the needs of those around you?
Who are the untouchables in your life?
Will You Be Bold Enough To Tell Others?
The leper witnessed to all whom would listen!
Jesus was not looking for followers based upon miracles.
Even though miracles, in this case healing, is a sign of God - it is the cross and resurrection which are the point!
Touch someone this week ....
Jesus, did and so can you.
From this passage comes one of my favorite quotations, "If you will, you can make me clean ... "
Leprosy is a skin, bone and joint disease. If you had this you were an outcast from society and it was believed that this was a judgment from God due to your sin. God is punishing you. You are going to lose your identity, your community, family, everything!
Can You Care Enough To Feel Compassion?
God came to be the father to the father-less.
Jesus confronted with a leper, is moved to act.
Are You Convinced Enough To Ask?
Twice in the Old Testament, God had healed leprosy.
This leper saw that Jesus could heal.
He KNEW Jesus could heal him!
Will You Stretch Yourself Enough To Touch?
Jesus touched the leper.
He did not have to.
But, he was proving that God is not unclean!
And the leper was healed, cleansed, now ceremonially clean!
Are you even aware of the needs of those around you?
Who are the untouchables in your life?
Will You Be Bold Enough To Tell Others?
The leper witnessed to all whom would listen!
Jesus was not looking for followers based upon miracles.
Even though miracles, in this case healing, is a sign of God - it is the cross and resurrection which are the point!
Touch someone this week ....
Jesus, did and so can you.
August 13, 2014
Obstacles and Opportunities
One of the stock childhood Sunday School stories: the lowering of the paraplegic through the roof of the house Jesus is in.
Mark 2:1 - 5 & verse 12
Work Together
What are you willing to do to bring those you know to salvation?
Consider the men, family, friends, whomever, who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing. The dug through a packed dirt roof, removed the supports below the dirt, to make a hole large enough for this man to be lowered through.
It took some effort! And I am sure that this type of activity would have been frowned upon by the responsible members of the community. And yet, without this action, this man would not have found freedom from his condition physically, but spiritually as well.
You have to be able to be friendly towards those whom need help.
You have to be willing to be inconvenienced.
Your local Church's outreach is one such way to get involved:
Your goal as a Christian is to BRING as many as you can to Jesus! Not lead a happy content life ...
2. Obstacles Are Only Challenges
A challenge does not necessarily stop us, but causes us to think of ways around whatever the issue is.
In this case, someone needed to be presented to Jesus and the roof was the only route! So, goodbye roof!
These, probably four or more, made themselves servants for Jesus in order to be able to bring this man to Him. In like manner we are all to be servants to both Jesus and our fellow man. Yet in our culture we serve ourselves not others.
Find the freedom to allow Jesus to work through you!
Find the opportunity to allow Jesus to work!
3. Let Jesus Give More Than Is Asked For
The man's desire, maybe only his friend's desires, was that he be healed physically.
But, to Jesus, whether the man was paralyzed or not, had nothing to do with the man's real need. He needed forgiveness.
And Jesus addressed that man's real need and forgave him his sin.
Then Mark 2:12, the man arose ... and walked out ...
Mark 2:1 - 5 & verse 12
Work Together
What are you willing to do to bring those you know to salvation?
Consider the men, family, friends, whomever, who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing. The dug through a packed dirt roof, removed the supports below the dirt, to make a hole large enough for this man to be lowered through.
It took some effort! And I am sure that this type of activity would have been frowned upon by the responsible members of the community. And yet, without this action, this man would not have found freedom from his condition physically, but spiritually as well.
You have to be able to be friendly towards those whom need help.
You have to be willing to be inconvenienced.
Your local Church's outreach is one such way to get involved:
- Youth Ministry
- Prison Ministry
- Volunteer for/at the Church
- Active in sports
- Missions, long or short
- Seniors Ministries
- Scouting
- Boys/Girls Clubs
Your goal as a Christian is to BRING as many as you can to Jesus! Not lead a happy content life ...
2. Obstacles Are Only Challenges
A challenge does not necessarily stop us, but causes us to think of ways around whatever the issue is.
In this case, someone needed to be presented to Jesus and the roof was the only route! So, goodbye roof!
These, probably four or more, made themselves servants for Jesus in order to be able to bring this man to Him. In like manner we are all to be servants to both Jesus and our fellow man. Yet in our culture we serve ourselves not others.
Find the freedom to allow Jesus to work through you!
Find the opportunity to allow Jesus to work!
3. Let Jesus Give More Than Is Asked For
The man's desire, maybe only his friend's desires, was that he be healed physically.
But, to Jesus, whether the man was paralyzed or not, had nothing to do with the man's real need. He needed forgiveness.
And Jesus addressed that man's real need and forgave him his sin.
Then Mark 2:12, the man arose ... and walked out ...
August 8, 2014
Lessons From A Day
Our goal, the desire we are supposed to have, is to be like Jesus. So what can we learn from just a random day in the life of Jesus?
Mark 1:21 - 34
Pay Attention
Jesus only speaks with authority!
Focus on how He preached here.
Not on what He said.
See how His presentation was accepted by the audience.
People knew that He knew what He was saying and here for!
Get Ready
Your "stuff" (the demons which plagues us!) will meet:
And He will overcome what plagues us!
Serve Jesus
It is our only way to say thank you to Jesus!
Consider that there are four parts in this section:
Make your home safe for broken people!
Peter's house was where broken people came.
They came to meet Jesus.
They brought their friends as well.
It was where they knew they would be welcome.
Mark 1:21 - 34
Pay Attention
Jesus only speaks with authority!
Focus on how He preached here.
Not on what He said.
See how His presentation was accepted by the audience.
People knew that He knew what He was saying and here for!
Get Ready
Your "stuff" (the demons which plagues us!) will meet:
- His power
- His Word
- His authority
- His victory
And He will overcome what plagues us!
Serve Jesus
It is our only way to say thank you to Jesus!
Consider that there are four parts in this section:
- Expression of need - Peter's grandmother was ill
- Request for help - they asked for help
- Healing - and she was
- Reaction - the grandmother served Jesus
Make your home safe for broken people!
Peter's house was where broken people came.
They came to meet Jesus.
They brought their friends as well.
It was where they knew they would be welcome.
June 30, 2014
Prayer Update
I have to admit I was taken off guard by this one!
As I mentioned before, Dutchman is in Holland with his father-in-law whom has cancer, his weight had fallen to 90 pounds, he was poorly responsive and they gave him to last Saturday to live. I got the call from Dutchman as to his hopelessness. What can you say? A really cool Christian man, a pastor, a missionary, someone you have known and respected for decades is slipping away.
Next day, a very excited Dutchman calls to say that things have changed incredibly!!!!! Really?
I guess even if you are dying from cancer, the doctors do not necessarily give up on you! One doctor, that first day Dutchman was there, noticed that Gene was on a medicine which causes a severe lactose intolerance. Gene's diet was heavily filled with dairy products. So, he changed the diet for the whole day and stopped that medication from being given to Gene. Dutchman called to tell me that Gene was up and walking around, talking and having albeit shaky but good time! Only 24 hours later!
What the heck!?!?!?!?!?
I am glad that Dutchwoman gets to now visit for a week with her father rather than be making burial arrangements! But, like my grandmother, whom rallied for three weeks before her death, Gene has lost so much it is sort of in the cards for him still, but not quite yet.
As for Gene's other children? Nope all no shows and that sort of says something about them ...
As I mentioned before, Dutchman is in Holland with his father-in-law whom has cancer, his weight had fallen to 90 pounds, he was poorly responsive and they gave him to last Saturday to live. I got the call from Dutchman as to his hopelessness. What can you say? A really cool Christian man, a pastor, a missionary, someone you have known and respected for decades is slipping away.
Next day, a very excited Dutchman calls to say that things have changed incredibly!!!!! Really?
What the heck!?!?!?!?!?
I am glad that Dutchwoman gets to now visit for a week with her father rather than be making burial arrangements! But, like my grandmother, whom rallied for three weeks before her death, Gene has lost so much it is sort of in the cards for him still, but not quite yet.
As for Gene's other children? Nope all no shows and that sort of says something about them ...
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