Tom's Thoughts

Avoidance Maneuver

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Jonah 1:3

Jonah chose to run away from his assignment. His only effective avoidance maneuver was to get away “from the presence of the Lord.” This phrase is used twice in this one little verse. Jonah knew what he was doing. It was cold-blooded disobedience to God.

There is a presence-removing nature to disobedience. Isaiah said it. Our sins separate us from our God. (Isaiah 59:2) For most of us, God is not calling us to go to a cruel, sadistic, blood-thirsty group of people. But He has commanded us to go... to someone.

You don’t have to go to Ninevite-like people to experience God’s presence (unless that is where He told you to go). You do have to be where He wants you to be, doing what you are supposed to be doing.

There have been lots of “God moments” in my life—times when God showed up in a way that can only be understood in spiritual terms. Most of them have been on this side of the pond. Yet, some of the most vivid are times I have experienced overseas.

How many of us have ever really asked God where He would want us to go, or to give Him the freedom to place us and our families in another part of the world for His glory.

Note that Jonah’s call was not to move and stay in Nineveh. His was a short-term mission trip.

What About The Ninevites?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Jonah 1:1-3

My pastor is kicking off a series from the book of Jonah this week, so I have been reading ahead. (Similarities in what I write here and what he says would be a God-thing, since I am writing this before I hear his message.)

The first few verses of the book, and thus the story, imply the question, “What will happen to the Ninevites?” Think about that with me.

Nineveh was a great city, located in what is modern day Iraq, about 220 miles north of Baghdad. In Jonah’s day, it was a great city, the capitol of Assyria. Now, the Assyrians had earned a terrible reputation. They were arrogant, prideful, sinful and brutal. They didn’t just conquer. They slaughtered. An Assyrian, who was king before Jonah’s time spoke about his cruelty.

“Many of the captives I burned in a fire. Many of them I took alive. From some I cut off their hands from the wrist. From others, I cut off the noses, ears, and fingers. I put out the eyes of many of the soldiers. I burnt their young men and women to death.”*

Israel would later experience the barbarism of Tiglath-pileser (745-727 B.C.) and Shalmaneser V (727-722 B.C.), but the reputation of the Assyrians preceded them. They were disdained of in Israel. Probably most Israelites thought it a good idea for God to simply annihilate the Assyrians. God had another plan.

To get an idea of Jonah’s mindset, what if God called you to go give a similar message to the Taliban?
    Al-Qaeda?
        The leaders of Iran?
How about somewhere in the mountains of Peru?
    A remote area in South Asia?
        A struggling Eastern European country?
It would be scary, but to follow God’s call is to remain in God’s presence. God is so compassionate toward those outside the faith, even those opposed to Him, that he sends people to tell them the truth.

Most of the two billion who have never heard are not as mean and nasty as the Ninevites. They simply have never heard. Who will tell them?

*From a sermon by David Platt, Senior Pastor of the Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, AL., entitled “Fish Food and the Fourth of July.”

Seven Billion... And Counting

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:56:00 +0000

This morning, October 31, 2011, I heard the news that the United Nations believes that today is the day that our world crossed over the 7 Billion mark in population. In fact, a newborn in the Philippines was celebrated with gifts as that little one that pushed us over. How many is a billion? If you started counting, “1, 2. 3, 4…” and counted one per second, it would take you 37 years to count to a billion. That is a lot of folks.

This reminds me again that about half of the world’s people have little to no access to the good news of Jesus Christ. About one-forth are on course to never hear the name of Jesus through the course of their life.

Christ-followers everywhere need to ponder these facts. Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all peoples. (Matthew 28:19-20) Paul reminds us that faith comes by hearing the word of God, and no one hears unless proclaimers are sent. (Romans 10:13-17)

What does that mean for Christ followers? I could suggest some things for you, but the best thing for any believer to do is to ask God what He wants you to do, then do it.

Special Days

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:55:00 +0000


A brief time off from Mission Project planning at Cumberland Falls State Park, KY, It is the only place in the world, I am told, where, when the full moon is just right, you can see a "Moonbow." We have a team going from our fellowship in July to serve with Cornerstone Community Church.

It has been quite a while since my last post. Yes, I know, once every three months is really not very “I-have-a-blog” like. I will try to do better. Since my last post, there have been several special days.

In the days just before my first “Stem Cell Birthday,” March 19, I celebrated with numerous tests including the ever popular bone marrow aspiration. I’ll spare you the details, but I will say that an adequate amount of anesthesia makes it far more tolerable. A couple of weeks later I somewhat anxiously returned for the report and got a great one. Anxiety relieved. Things were good. I was able to reduce some of my medication. I could travel beyond our borders again! According to the doctors, I am neither cured nor in remission, but I do feel good. I greatly appreciate my team of physicians, PAs, NPs, RNs, and Technicians, but I credit your prayers more than anything.

A couple of other days of note, at least for me, are birthday number sixty-one in May, and the completion of my thirty-third year at the fellowship I serve. Birthdays are more significant now. Serving in one place for this long is amazing; and possible I think only because of God’s grace the grace of those whom I serve.

Most days I am positive, planning into the future and staying busy. Some days, though, I have a deep sense of foreboding. I know there is something—nearly imperceptible—lurking in my body that would kill me. These are reality-check days. I hope these times help me to “number my days that I may have a heart of wisdom.” (See Psalm 90:12) There are days when I echo Paul’s question in Romans 7, “Who will separate me from this body of death?” Now, Paul’s context was spiritual, whereas mine is physical. But the Answer is the same, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He is my hope.

Keep praying. Thanks.

Leader's Responsibilities

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:20:00 +0000

In Exodus 33:12-18 there is a very interesting exchange between Moses and God. The main point I got is that it is the responsibility of a spiritual leader to know God and His ways. Why? So that leader can continue to please God.

I was thinking. Here is Moses. He had “arrived.” He was the leader of over a million people. Granted, they were really spiritually dull sometimes. Just before this they had made that golden calf and had a “worship party” before it. Right before that they had promised Moses and God, “Everything the Lord says we will do.” But, to outsiders, Moses looked pretty successful.

Yet Moses sought God. Perhaps because of the two experiences mentioned in the last paragraph, Moses knew that his strength would come from God, and not his (Moses‘)people. Moses was an old man. 80-plus. He could have rested on what he knew of God and enjoyed the power of his position, but He did not. He wanted more.

Moses knew that without God’s presence, he, and the people who followed him, were in a mess. He wanted his own life and the life of his “nation” to evidence the presence of God. When God’s presence is present, it is obvious even to the godless.

Home
Doctors released me from the hospital today. I am home, and though a bit weak, feeling much better. Thank you for the prayers.

Willing

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:14:00 +0000

When God told Moses to collect the materials for the tabernacle, Moses took it to the people (Exodus 35). I find it interesting that it was the people who were willing—willing, who brought their offerings to the Lord. Some of those gifts were of jewelry, and items they could give. Other gifts of skill were given. But the thing that got my attention was that over and over in verses 21-29, was that these gifts came not from everyone, but from people who were willing.

So, people who come to God expecting much and giving little are not a new phenomenon. It started a long time ago. But just because there is historical precedent, being cheap before God is not a good idea.

God loves a cheerful (willing) giver.

Proverbs 3: 9-10 “Honer the Lord with your wealth and with the first-fruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Pit Stop
This being the day after the Daytona 500, I am still thinking in race terminology. Most of you reading this will already know the last week hasn’t been much fun for me. High fever from Monday AM on, and ending up in the hospital on Thursday of last week for Pneumonia.

So, from racing around from one responsibility and opportunity to another to a dead stop has been the case for the last seven days. Not sure when I will get out of the hospital. Feel really good enough to be out. No fever now for three days. But my white count is low, so not sure what that will mean as far as time served. I have had lots of IV-Antibiotics, respiratory treatments, and a few sticks. So pray I keep doing better, those little white cells multiply righteously, and God be glorified in it all.

Ground Hog Day Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Happy Ground Hog Day, 2011! (February 2) In most parts of the country, with the weather the way it is, most probably want to cover the little critter’s doorway so there is no chance he’ll get out to see his shadow.

I looked back at the calendar, and Ground Hog Day, 2010, was my first appointment at Emory. That would be the beginning of the process that culminated with my stem cell transplant on March 19. I had already had fifteen weeks (five cycles) of chemotherapy in Augusta, and now I was ready, more or less, to get on with the critical next phase of treatment. Those transplant days weren’t much to brag about. Lots of days I felt pretty rough, but that passed. I was home from Emory by the end of Master’s week, and began to slowly get back into my routine. For several months now, I have felt good, other than the battles with allergies and sinus stuff, but that is nothing new. I continue with a maintenance chemo med, and a few other things, but it isn’t bad.

My medical reports are very good; I feel well enough now to get over-committed; And I have started getting my childhood immunizations again. Most of me is sixty, but my immune system is just a tad over ten months old. I cannot travel outside the USA until I get those done, and those of you that know me know that is a definite goal of mine.

As I look back over the past sixteen months or so, there are so many people, events and things to be thankful for:

Thousands of people, some way around the world (and many I will not meet until Heaven) prayed for me and still pray for me. The main ingredient in all my cancer treatment has been and is your prayers.
The volunteers at church who kept things going while I was out for treatment.
The men who came to my house to do some needed projects that I was unable to do.
The many folks who provided meals for us during those treatment days.
Those who transported R and P when needed while we were away at Emory.
The doctors, nurses, technicians, and many other medical pros who have served me, treated me, stuck me, and cared for me during all this treatment stuff!

I have much to be thankful for.

In a month I will return to Emory for my one year post-transplant check up. It is a day of tests, including the ever popular bone marrow aspiration, along with many vials of blood given, and wouldn’t be surprised if they took some X-rays. Two weeks later I’ll go back to hear the report. Pray with me that the treatments are still doing their job, and keeping the cancer at bay.

Thanks for your prayers and support. My family and I are so blessed by what you have done and continue to do.

On a spiritual note, I have been enjoying reading a chronological one-year Bible. Reading large passages at a time is not my usual devotional strategy, but this is good. It helps remind me of the big picture of God’s redemptive work. In a few days, perhaps I’ll share an insight or two from that reading, but for now, I just wanted to get back to the blog and let you know what was happening.

Not a Crutch...

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:27:00 +0000

Not sure what triggered this thought today, but it happened in staff meeting. Random thoughts do enter my head during meetings, at times. I was thinking about how some people criticize believers with comments like, “religion is just a crutch.” I would clarify my stand this way: Religion may be a crutch, but a pretty poor one. However, considering what I have been through this last year or so, a relationship with Jesus is not a crutch, it is a gurney! I am not leaning on Him, I am totally supported by Him.

Everyone leans on something, be it faith in Christ, religion, working hard, relationships, addictive substances, or self-reliance. Only Jesus will “never leave nor forsake us.” (Hebrews 13:5) Faith is only as good and as strong as that in which it is placed. Sometimes my faith may waiver, but Jesus never does. He “loves us with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3) He is always interceding for us. (Hebrews 7:25). I’ll rest on Jesus.

What are you trusting in? Maybe a better way to ask, "Who are you trusting in?"

Shot…
Yesterday, I got my first round of immunizations. Other than sore arms and a bit of a headache (which could be just being allergic to Augusta), seems things are going well.
Pray that the immunities will build, and that the process won’t make me sick. :-)

What Is Your "House" Built On?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:57:00 +0000

Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus gives the wonderfully visual picture of two men who build houses. Yet there is quite a contrast between them. We know the first man is wise because he builds his house on the rock—on a solid foundation. We know the second man is foolish because he builds his house on the sand.

In some west coast locations, people build houses on steep hillsides overlooking the ocean. They have incredible views and beautiful homes. I am sure some of those places are solid enough, but others are not. When the rains come, they slide down the mountain or cliff. Still, people keep building in the sand. At best, unwise.

This isn’t Jesus’ version of This Old House. He is giving a “life” course. Are you building on something that cannot be taken away or lost? Most of us in the west build our lives on wealth. You and I may not be wealthy by American standards, but we still trust in the funds we have, the paycheck that is still to come, or our retirement investments. Jesus knew the temptation to put our faith in what we have or what we could get would be strong. In fact it would compete right at the top with either trusting God or trusting in wealth. “You cannot serve God and money,” he said earlier. (Matthew 6:24) Most of what we trust in can be taken away.

There are lots of things our society puts high values on, and encourages you to trust in them: Looks, Intellect, Personality, Athleticism. But the rain of time, adversity or thievery still come, and we discover all are sand. The only rock solid foundation you can have is your relationship with God through Christ. If you really have it, nothing can take it away.

The wise man (and woman) builds his house (life) upon The Rock.

Update
I am doing well. Have gotten very busy. Relating to the above passage of scripture, I note that I am the beneficiary of some wonderful health care, but my trust is in the Lord. It has to be. As someone well said, “Doctors practice. God heals.” I am doing well because God is working through, around, and beyond all the medicine—and that is a result of your prayers.

Love Better Than A Tax Collector

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:59:00 +0000

Matthew 5:42-48

Jesus calls His followers to a very high standard for loving others. It is natural to love those who love you back. It is natural to love your family (although not guaranteed).

But Jesus calls us to “love your enemies, do good to those that hate you,” and “pray for those who spitefully use you.” It is interesting that Jesus says if we do this, then we become sons of our Father in Heaven. God loves the good and the bad, and both blessing and trouble come to both. Then He draws an interesting picture.

We have to love better than tax collectors. Now, almost none of us appreciate taxes or the work of tax collectors. But in Jesus’ day, a “tax collector” was what we might call the “scum of the earth,” or the dregs of humanity.” Tax collectors were Jews who had been employed by the Romans to collect their taxes. The Romans were occupiers of Israel, thus most of the Israelites saw these collectors as traitors. Some considered them “un-redeemable.” Matthew was one of those guys, so he knew what it was like to be shunned and probably spat upon. To say someone was acting like a tax collector was pejorative indeed.

To illustrate His point, Jesus noted “even tax collectors love their families and those who love them” [Lowry paraphrase]. His listeners likely response: “Well, I must certainly do better than a tax collector!” Yep, that is right. We all must.

There will always be people that are hard to love—some near impossible! But God loves every one of us, therefore I should as well. I am reminded of a comment of a friend who lives in another country where many folks of our "enemy" nations visit.

“Another thing we have learned is that we are very mistaken when we think of the people of nations being like their governments or the leaders in their country. We are sometimes guilty of feeling like it would be easier to wipe some peoples off the map rather than tolerate and risk having their countries exist. Believe us when we say, many of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ are living in those countries and putting their lives on the line every day as they follow Jesus.”
I saw this I came to on my first trips into the Eastern Bloc. [Okay kids, “Eastern Bloc” is what we used to call the Satellite states (Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, etc) of the U. S. S. R. - The Union of Soviet Socialists Republics.] To lump all the Russians in the cold war period, or all citizens in another country today as enemies is wrong, dangerous, and, if you really think about it, ludicrous. Do you agree with everything our government does? You don’t, do you. No matter what side of the political fence you sit on, you don’t act like our government in every way, especially when it comes to foreign policy.

Loving other like Jesus outlines here starts at home, then church, office, and/or school; then those we see regularly, and ultimately—just keep extrapolating* this out—the people of the world. Yep, Jesus is giving us a missions message in Matthew 5:43-48.

[*”Extrapolate:” transitive and intransitive verb to use known facts as the starting point from which to draw inferences or conclusions about something unknown.]

Update:

I am sitting here in the doctor’s office, awaiting my latest weekly blood check report. These tests are to make sure the chemo I am taking don’t do me harm. They do not check the disease. Every few months is enough for that. Today’s blood work came back okay. The good numbers (white cells, platelets, hemoglobin) continue creeping up. Good.

Continue to pray that I will tolerate this medicine and that it will do its job. Something else you can pray about is discernment about schedules and commitments. I feel well enough now to easily get myself over committed to both projects and people, and I really need the discernment of God to know what really needs to be on my list.

A Billion Points of Light

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:01:00 +0000

Matthew 5:14-16

What if all of us in the world who profess a Biblical faith lived it? You know, a life of compassion and evangelism, joy and faith, obedience and hope. I remember a speech given by a presidential candidate a number of years ago. He spoke of people who helped others, and referred to them as “points of light.”

Jesus told his followers, “you are the light of the world.” All of us know that for many, even on a bright, hot sun shiny day, the world can be a dark place. Jesus is speaking of His light coming through us to penetrate the personal darkness of those who do not know or follow Him.

I cannot speak for you, but I want to be “light” for others. I cannot generate that good light myself. He does it through me.

What if all of us in my church reflected his light and life? Augusta—North Augusta would be different. What if the billion-plus Christ-followers all over the world shared His light and life?

Lord, shine through me today.

Been Awhile Update

I told someone the other day that I must be back pretty close to normal, because I have too many things going at one time again. So, I am feeling good, staying busy, and seeking to prioritize what are God things and what are Tom things. (The God things are higher on the list—at least, they are supposed to be!)

Keep praying. It is the prayers of the believers that have brought me to where I am.

“Melty” Salt

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:56:00 +0000

Matthew 5:13

Jesus calls his followers salt— salt of the earth. All my life I have heard that phrase “salt of the earth” to describe good people, usually in the past tense. (The past tense indicates what is probably the best time to laud folks and name buildings after them.) What does salt do? It preserves. It heals (albeit stingingly). It gives taste. It melts.

Needing to melt snow and ice would be exceedingly rare in the Middle East where Jesus spoke these words, but I do not think this function of salt escaped Jesus’ knowledge (since He created it). We should be “melters,” allowing God to use us in others' lives to warm cold hearts toward Him.

Wherever we are, we should seek to warm a heart, to bring spiritual or physical healing, to help protect and preserve, and, maybe, to just add fun (taste) or meaning to life.

Update:
I was supposed to go to Emory this week to get a report from the tests of two weeks ago. I got a call on Monday that said I did not need to come on Tuesday because, one, the doctor was out of town, and two, my numbers were good enough not to warrant the six hour drive for the ten minute appointment. (The caller didn’t say that last part. That’s my commentary.)

Now this was good news. It means the cancer is still at bay. Not gone. At bay. Good news.

The greatest concern of my doctors is that the maintenance chemo medicine, Revlimid, does not lower my immune system too much, and it has been a balancing act since I have started. Those numbers, I guess you could say, are “normal low” for folks on Revlimid. Still, it is the most effective post-transplant treatment, so I hope to stay on it. Pray we can make it work.

"Blessed Are The Persecuted" or "How Bold Are We, Really?"

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 22:08:00 +0000

Matthew 5:10-12
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

There will always be God haters, and people that hate the one true God will hate those who follow Him most closely. Those believers who walk with Christ in their hearts are already experiencing at least a bit of the Kingdom of God in their lives, and they are taking it to those they are around. Believers that care for others make a difference, and show the compassionate side of Christ that most outsiders never see or consider. (See “Teaching-Preaching-Healing” from 6/29).

“Theirs is the Kingdom.” The model prayer reminds us that the Kingdom is the Father’s. This tells us that it will one day belong to those who follow. Awesome promise.

Persecution or rejection comes to those who are living an unapologetic life for Christ. If there is not enough evidence showing, our lives get little attention. Perhaps it could be stated this way:
"Blessed are you when you get persecuted because you just won’t shut up about the Truth."
"Blessed are you when you are reviled (etc.) because you act and speak so much like Jesus that you make the anti-God ones a feel uncomfortable (or, possibly, convicted)."

This passage seems to imply the greater the persecution, the greater the reward. If so, that may mean believers in parts of the world hostile to the Way may well live in the “Beverly Hills” of heaven while us westerners may live in the Condo section – but they will be very nice condos.

The faith and boldness of believers in other parts of the world challenges me. I read yesterday of two Congolese pastors who go into the forest to share the gospel with rebel soldiers. Very dangerous, but they are certain God has called them to go. (I'll have more to say about this in my message tomorrow.) There is something about sharing your faith when it could cause you to get shot or your throat slit that is far beyond what I could imagine.

How bold are we, really?

Update
Numbers are still okay, so we may be on to something with the dosage of the maintenance chemo. My visit to both doctors, (Emory and Augusta) were mostly giving blood. I'll know my test results from Emory in about ten days. I see my local oncologist on Friday for my monthly visit. Overall, I feel good. That is a result of your prayers! Thank you.

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:25:00 +0000

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are Those Who Make Peace, For They Shall Become Sons of God.

When we are making peace, we look like Jesus. Does this mean peace at any cost? Peace in spite of injustice? I don’t think so. But we are to bring peace to others.

For years, we served orphans in Romania. Part of that is an effort to bring God's peace to lives that have been disrupted by abandonment, neglect, abuse, and violence. They need peace—external and internal peace. That peace begins with love from others, but finds permanent roots in a relationship with Christ. Believers are to be agents of peace, but realizing that God is the author of that peace.

Update
I go back to Emory tomorrow for some more blood-letting. It was ten or eleven vials three months ago. Praise the Lord for the technology that allows them to stick you once for all rather than once per vial! This is my six-month-post-transplant follow-up visit. I'll also see the doctor or one of the Nurse Practitioners, for conversations about how I am doing. The test results won't be back for a couple of weeks, but you can pray that the results are good.

Your prayers are the best thing you can do for me.

Blessed Are The Pure-Hearted

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

There is no impurity before God. His being is so untainted, without even a hint of impurity, that nothing contaminated with sin can be in his presence. It will not stand. We are born bent toward impurity. We have a natural leaning toward sin, and before we are very old, we have revealed that nature. We know this from our own children. The word we say most to our little, toddling offspring is “no,” not “yes.” That was true of our parent’s words to us. Isaiah said “All we like sheep have gone astray. Every one of us has turned to his on way.” (Isaiah 53:6, emphasis added.) Paul, in Romans 3:23, reminds us “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (emphasis added again)

Part of what makes God glorious is His total purity. I wonder what we would look like if every thought was pure, every action innocent, every word true? Hmm.

Truth is, we are not pure. How will we ever be able to stand before God? How can we get a pure heart? Isaiah finishes 53:6 with, “the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Paul tells us, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Only through Christ can we be made pure. It is His gift, from the suffering and blood of the Cross, which makes us pure. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB) Apart from Christ, I am hopelessly unrighteous. In Christ, I am made new. It is beyond my reckoning to understand all this, but my limited ability to comprehend does not make it less true.

Check out these additional passages of scripture to gain more insight. If you are reading this online, you should be able to click on each reference, as you can those above, and you'll be taken to the BibleGateway.com site, where you can read the scriptures, and look at them in their context.
Ephesians 2:1-10
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Hebrews 12:14
Revelation 22:3-4
1 John 3:2

Update: I am feeling well, perhaps a bit more tired than normal, but doing well. Keep the prayers going. They are everything.

Blessed Are The Mercy Givers

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:26:00 +0000

Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

However, according to James 2:13, the converse is also true:
"Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." However, the last part of that verse is good news, "Mercy triumphs over judgment!"

I have a hard time thinking about mercy without thinking about grace—God’s grace. If you are my age or close, that may elicit a memory of a hymn: The last verse says, "Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, freely bestowed on all who believe. All who are longing to see His face, will you this moment His grace receive? Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.”

Jesus isn’t just speaking of the grace and mercy of God toward me, though. He is speaking of the mercy I am supposed to show others. I take that is spurts. It is very little trouble for me to show mercy to a little kid, even one that is somewhat annoying—at least for awhile. Drivers who pull out in front of me elicit a less merciful response. That isn’t right, but is the way I tend to react.

Think about Jesus and the times he showed mercy. He showed mercy to those he healed. Perhaps He was showing a rather painful mercy toward the religious leaders he confronted by telling them the truth and pointing out their errors. He showed mercy to those who killed Him. He could have called down fire from heaven, and vaporized them on the spot. However, His mercy toward you and me was so strong that he willingly died, showing mercy to his immediate accusers and to us sinners far away in the future.

That is a level of mercy I know little about. I should show mercy as He does, to the homeless, to the needy, to the small, to the orphans and widows (scripture has a LOT to say about this) and toward whomever he brings in my path.

Bottom line. If I want people to show me mercy, I have to be merciful toward others, first.

Update
Went to the doctor on Friday. I get to do that every week, but I only actually see the doctor once a month. The other times are just to check in with the local vampires, uhm..., phlebotomist. (Blood letting seems to be a part of my treatment). This week, my number were back up, so I am back on my maintenance chemo, but every other day. We'll see how I tolerate this level of dosing. I never felt bad, but my platelets and white cell count dropped too low.

The only side effect I began to experience before they took me off the Revlimid two weeks ago was a little light-headedness upon standing. Not empty-headedness, just light. So, now, when I stand up, especially if I am in the middle of a room rather than near a wall which would withstand my leaning against it, I stand, and wait for, say, a ten-count. If I have my wits and my legs about me, I will move away from my chair. If not, I sit back down. You have to see the humor where you can find it.

Overall, I feel good—very good most days. That is an answer to your prayers. Keep them going up.
Thanks!

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Spiritual Food

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:32:00 +0000

Matthew 5:6

I, and most westerners, do not have much idea what it means to be truly hungry. When I think I am hungry, that means that my stomach is empty. Hunger for survival is a foreign concept to me—and I like it that way. However, all of us, if we have been paying attention at all, have seen images of people that are desperately hungry – Haiti after the earthquake, South Asians after the Tsunami, refugees from the genocide in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Rwanda. They are hungry. They need to eat to survive.

I wish I were that hungry spiritually. Oh, I feed myself daily, but sometimes it is only a snack, not a meal. Sometimes I scarf it down rather than chewing it properly, savoring the flavor and getting the most out of it. I know lots of Christ followers that are spiritually anorexic. They starve themselves because they mistakenly assume that a little food on Sunday will get them by the rest of the week. Try that physically. Go eat Sunday dinner after church, and then don’t eat again until the next Sunday’s lunch. Same principle applies.

I need to be in the Word each day, and I need God to increase my appetite for food and drink spiritual. He can do that a number of ways. During the last nine months, I have been hungrier for Him than hardly any other time in my life. Being diagnosed with an illness that ends with seeing Him face to face should make me want to know Him better. But, I would suggest that you avoid this type of appetite inducement if at all possible. Allow God to work in your life to, and take time to eat every day. The more you eat, the more likely your appetite will grow.

Update
Last week I had to deal with one of my "bi-annual sinus/chest infections," What I call "the Lowry Crud." Usually, before Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) I could get my antibiotic and any other meds over the phone. Now, post-SCT, never again will I get "doctored" over the phone. I do appreciate my allergist coming in early to see me. Not many docs will do that. My chemo has left some of my counts low, so my oncologist has asked me to hold off the chemo pill until I see him on Friday. I have. So, the infection is on retreat, and hopefully the counts are coming up.

Ask God to give my doctors wisdom as they work to keep me healthy and to find what keeps the cancer very unhealthy. Your prayers are still the critical ingredient in my treatment. Don't let up.

Blessed Are The Self-Controlled

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Meekness, I have read, is not weakness, but Spirit empowered self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The phrase, “shall inherit the earth” is quoted from Psalm 37:11.

Self-control has to be Spirit empowered, because the huge majority, if not all of us, do not have any! Oh, we do most of the time, but those are the times that any of us would be in control of ourselves. It is times of frustration, temptation, stress, grief, or even joy that we can be out-of-control.

Maybe the self-controlled will inherit the earth because they are the ones that will be able to function when others cannot, will not, or do not. It takes relying on the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit, and controlled by the Spirit for it to happen.

Update
I am feeling good. Pushed it pretty hard this week, so I am taking it a bit easier today. My biggest fear is that many will see how well I am doing, and will stop praying. Don't! Every day, something—even if it is just taking the pills—reminds me that I have cancer, and that reminds me that God is in control, and I can trust Him, with me.

Blessed Are Those Who Know Sin is Serious

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:50:00 +0000

Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Perhaps in the same breath that he spoke the words about knowing you are needy, Jesus speaks of mourning over your personal condition. This isn’t sorrow over getting caught, or fear of being found out. What does God not already know? (Perhaps we fear earthly repercussions more than heavenly ones.) It is sorrow over sin—sorrow that leads to repentance. Paul amplified it this way in 2 Corinthians 7:10:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

It is sorrow that brings about change.

The comfort he speaks of is comfort of forgiveness. If you repent—turn away from your sin and turn toward God—then you will be comforted. 1 John 1:9 reminds us “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Confess means “to say the same” and in this context means to say the same thing about a thought or action that God says about it. If He says it is sin, then call it sin. Do you ever have trouble calling something you know is wrong “sin”? I do. Seems I can call it a flaw, shortcoming, something stupid, or whatever, much easier than agreeing with God that it is “sin.” But that is the starting point to forgiveness. Confession is acknowledging what God has already said about something. It is letting myself know that I agree with God about it.

Speaking of the day when Jesus would come and make this forgiveness possible, Isaiah 40:1-2 says,

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins. (NIV)

Those were words to the entire Jewish nation of the coming Messiah. He would pay for their sins, once for all. That payment is now effective for every Christ follower.

1 Peter 3:18 says it this way, “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (NASB) Notice that first phrase. Christ died once for all sins. He didn’t deserve it, we did. He was completely innocent. We are completely guilty. He died in order that we might be brought to God. That is comforting.

An Update
I continue to feel well. People even tell me that I look good. (Yes, that rarely happened before I was sick.) Anyway, in spite of my "good" looks and feelings, I still desperately need your prayers. Unless it has been removed by the Father and we have not yet discovered that, the cancer still lurks in my bone marrow, awaiting an opportunity to rear its ugly head. More than the meds, your prayers keep it at bay. Please don't let up. Those prayers mean more than you know.

Oh, here's a view from a home I recently visited with friends up in the NC mountains. Soooo Nice!

The front porches of the house were right on this stream.

Blessed Are Those Who Know They Are Needy

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 20:12:00 +0000

Matthew 5:1-3
Jesus saw the multitudes and took the opportunity to teach them many things. I think it pretty appropriate that his first words to them are both and encouragement and an affirmation. To imaginatively paraphrase, “Happy are those who know they are needy. You know you don’t know everything there is to know. You know you need more for life. Well, you are in the right place at the right time. Listen to what I have to say hear, apply it, and you will find yourself a part of the kingdom of heaven.”

This hits me at the core of my American-Western self-sufficiency. The “I can do it” attitude has to eventually understand there are some things it cannot do. We Americans have accomplished some amazing things, but that doesn’t mean we are all knowing and able to fix everything. Other nationals developed lots of the things we enjoy, and even with their help we still cannot put everything right. What has happened, I am afraid, is that we have chosen to ignore or explain away those things we cannot fix—the things of the spirit. We have achieved much in the physical realm, from manufacturing to medicine. We have learned, through drugs, to alter or numb some of the disorders of the soul. But the realm of the spirit is God’s realm. Only He can do the work that needs to be done in every person’s life.

I would posit that the spirit of a man or woman is the foundation upon which they live, move, and have their being. If that spirit is not rightly related to God, then there is a very weak foundation indeed. My physical maladies of late remind me how fragile this body is, and how things can be going terribly wrong inside without the first “check body” warning light illuminating on the mind’s dashboard. Soul maladies—the things of the mind, will and emotions are more challenging. Why do I think the way I do? Why do I act the way I act? Why do I feel the way I feel? If my spirit is estranged from the Creator, then my answers will be at least somewhat in error.

Paul helps us understand this better in Acts 17:24-31. He is in Athens, expounding the good news to the elite: “In Him we live, move, and have our being” (emphasis added). Jesus said blessed are those who know they are needy—spiritually needy, spiritually poor—for they will seek the truth, find it, and become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven.

How needy am I? Plum needy—completely needy. I may find treatment for some of my physical issues or challenges. I may be able to treat some of the maladies of my soul. Yet, I cannot fix my spirit. It is the deepest part of who I am. Only the designer-creator knows how it works. Only He can fix it—if I allow Him to.

Health Update:
I am feeling well. So far, the maintenance chemo is not making me feel any ill effects. Keep praying that is the case. There are other side-effects that can only be followed by doing blood work, so I will be going to the doctor on a weekly basis for a tiny bit of blood letting. You can pray those tests show the chemo having minimal impact on my body while at the same time doing their job.

God's Anti Anxiety Provision

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:06:00 +0000

Matthew 6:34

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (NIV)
"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (KJV)

How many times have I said to others, and myself, “One day at a time”? If you needed a scriptural basis for that thought, this is it. Along with the verses about how God takes care of the lilies and the birds comes this one. The verse just prior reminds me to “seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things [that I worry about] will be taken care of by God. Awesome. Easy to preach—hard to live out.

I try not to be negative about things, but being a “contemplative” by personality, I am usually able to see the small negative in the midst of overwhelming positives. (Other similar personality systems may designate my personality type as a “Conscientious,” or “Beaver,”—as in “busy as a…” It basically means I am most happy to be behind the scenes with a task that I like.) When I got the VGPR—Very Good Partial Response—report from my hundred-day-post-transplant test, I focused on the word “partial.” The doctor, and most others, focused on the words “very good.”

Jesus hits right where I and my personality live. I have to take each day as He brings it to me. I cannot do anything about tomorrow. Worrying doesn’t fix anything, and it usually focuses on things that do not happen. Looking into the future to find things to worry about is counter-productive at best. The chief thing I must do is “not worry about tomorrow” but “seek first His kingdom” and trust Him to add whatever else I need for today. Is another way of saying to God, “I trust You, with me.”

Update On Things Medical...
Today I went to my local oncologist. He is a very good doctor, and he has a very good staff. We got the ball rolling on what I call my maintenance chemo, and some bone strengthening meds too. I will start the bone stuff (its an IV) next Friday, and the chemo (it’s a pill) when the specialty pharmacy gets it to me.

Pray that:
1. God will be glorified.
2. That I will be patient, trusting, and faithful.
3. That treatment will be effective
4. That side effects will be minimized.

Addendum
*If your interest has been piqued about this personality thing, you can find out a bit more at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC_assessment

There are tons of DISC type evaluations out there. Some are in books and others are administered by professionals for a fee. It is valuable to understand your personality type, but it is not the only variable in who we are and how we deal with life. A relationship with Christ deals with our bent toward sin and many of the hard edges of our personalities. Spiritual gifts given to us by God often compensate or augment our personalities. Rick Warren speaks of how five things determine how we are “SHAPEd” for ministry:

Spiritual Gifts – Received when we become a Christ follower
Heart – What do you love to do?
Abilities – These can be natural (talents that have been honed) or acquired (stay in school)
Personality – (see above)
Experience – What have you learned in life already?

[Boy this was long!]

Pre-Toddling

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:34:00 +0000

I have been reading When Life Falls Apart, by David Jeremiah. A friend gave me the book shortly after my cancer diagnosis. In the book, Jeremiah relates his struggle with cancer and what he learned from it. I started this book last fall, and then put it down about halfway through. (I am able to put almost any book down.) A week or so ago, I picked it up and began reading again. I came upon an illustration (page 122) that really resonated with me. Here is the short version.

The story revolved around a very proud grandfather and his little granddaughter. She was at the beginning stages of learning to walk. She was a "pre-toddler." You know, she crawls over to the couch, pulls herself up, and then stands there, wanting to move around like all the taller people around her, but not quite sure about the wisdom of attempting such locomotion. Grandpa did what almost every parent and grandparent has done. He got down on the floor and called to her to “come to papa.” [I don’t know why we so encourage our kids to learn to walk, because when they begin to walk, we begin to chase!]

After a bit of coaxing, she would leave her steadying grip on the sofa and head his way, only to fall each time. After a couple of attempts, grandpa arose and went over and took his little granddaughter’s hands in his. He helped her stand. Next, he raised her up just a little and positioned his feet under her feet. Then, together, grandpa and granddaughter proceeded across the room with little baby steps. She really wasn’t walking. Grandpa was doing all the work. She was completely dependent upon her grandpa’s ability and strength to get across the room. She was attempting to do what for her (at least at this stage of her development) was impossible.

I am a spiritual pre-toddler, and I must rely on my Heavenly Father to get me to the other side of this and whatever else life may bring. I am dependent upon His grip, dependent on His ability to guide my feet, and dependent on His strength to hold me up. Here are a couple of verses I hang on to (especially the first one). Proverbs 3:5-6 – "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths [my personal application: guide my feet]. Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Health and Prayer Requests:

I got a haircut this week. Yep, its short and gonna stay that way. I have decided that I like getting up in the morning and my hair is "done."
Found my notes from my meeting with the oncologist in Atlanta on July 6, and was reminded that along with the low-dose chemo (pray that side effects are minimized, please) I will be taking something to strength my bones. That will be by IV, but may only be monthly, and takes an hour to get it in. (Side effects of this one are minimal, but you can still pray that they really are.)
I feel really good. Have lots of energy. One more prayer request: Pray that I will be able to keep this energy level or close to it, once I start the chemo. I have an appointment with my oncologist here on Friday. Then I'll know when I will start and what my schedule will be with it.

Near the end of the book (page 276), Jeremiah says, " …From my vantage point, there was one powerful factor that went the farthest to explain the success of my ordeal. I attribute my healing to the faithful prayers of the people of God—so many of them in scattered places. "

Your prayers still are the most important ingredient in treatment of my cancer. Doctors practice. God heals.

Backing God into a Corner is Not a Good Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:45:00 +0000

Matthew 4:5-7
The devil starts off like he did with the first temptation. “If you are the son of God…” trying, perhaps, to instill a bit of doubt in the head of Jesus. This time though, the devil even quotes scripture related to the Son of God. However, he takes verses about God’s protection and trusting Him and twists them into an invitation to presume on or test God.

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 this time. “You shall not tempt [test] the Lord your God.” This passage is recalling the Israelites grumbling against God when water was in short supply. They got the water, but Moses named the location Massah (“test”) and Meribah (“quarrel). It will always be known for the people’s doubting of God: “Is the Lord among us, or not?” (See Exodus 17:1-7)

Presuming on God’s protection, provision, blessing, and deliverance is a bad idea. The “One time won’t matter,” or, “He’ll forgive me anyway,” mode of thinking is very dangerous spiritually and physically. Sort of the spiritual and physical equivalent to, “Hey Bubba, watch this.” The Israelites got water, but they’ll always be known as a whiny, quarrelsome bunch.

The Report from the Doctor (Tuesday, July 6)
My evaluation was “VGPR-Very Good Partial Response.” That means I am not healed, nor am I in remission. It means I will start a regular low-dose chemo to keep it beaten down.

How do I feel about all this? Mixed. I was hoping and trusting for healing, or at least remission. However, I am glad the response was good. The doctor likes my numbers, and that is encouraging. I continue to walk this road, trusting God for each day, and relying on you to continue to lift me up in prayer. Thanks!

Teaching-Preaching-Healing

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Matthew 4:23-25

I am probably going to open a can of worms here…

Jesus began his ministry with a focus on the region of Galilee. The primary foci of his ministry was teaching, preaching, and healing. OK, Southern Baptist born and bred Tom, healing was one-third of his ministry. Even MacArthur agrees with that three-fold focus. If this was His focus on earth, why should it not be His focus, and the focus of the church (uh oh) in this present time? You know, it is just way too easy to say the manifestation of healing was given during Jesus’ ministry and the early church, but is no longer for today. I have never bought such explanations for the God who is “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). How God chooses to do the healing is up to Him: Medicine, Miracle or Meeting. I have heard of or seen all three.

Healing is more than an outdated (“not for the church age”) visual aid to display the power of God. It is a necessity. Most places in the world do not have the medical advances that we do, so believers must look to God for healing. There are limits to medicine. I know this to be true in my own experience. Obviously, healing Multiple Myeloma is beyond the reach of current medical ability, and so are the aggravating allergies that have coexisted with me for nearly the entire time I have lived in Augusta. (I call this place “The Allergy Capital of the World.” The newspaper has put us in the top five worst places to live as far as allergies are concerned.) Medicine can only do so much. We tend to trust it far more than we should. I am very thankful for the medical care and expertise I have received over the last nine months. I expect it to continue for a long time! But healing comes from God.

The other two foci of his ministry are critically important. Physical healing relieves distress, pain, suffering, aggravation, and postpones death. But, for us, even God’s healing is rather temporary. Unless Jesus returns while we remain, we will, eventually, die. Ask Lazarus. Salvation comes through the “foolishness” of preaching (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21 KJV). Discipleship comes through the teaching. All are important.

Now, whether God chooses or has chosen to heal me is his realm. Whether I am healed on earth, or even in long-term remission, is up to Him. I know that when I am in heaven I will be completely healed. However, that does not mean we should not pray for healing, learn more about healing, and leave the faith door wide open to God’s working in ways we are not used to.

Update

THE APPOINTMENT is at 9:30 AM tomorrow, and they are usually running late. We will hear the report of the hundred days after the transplant. This is big. It will tell us what they have accomplished and what God has done. Just keep praying for a good report. We'll update you as soon as we can. God being glorified is what we desire (right along with a miraculous report)!

Soon I hope I'll have some cool July 4 pics up for you, but for now, just words. :-)

Words That Count

noreply@blogger.com (Tom) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:28:00 +0000

This morning I got up and put out the trash so the North Augusta waste warriors could come pick it up. While at the curb I decided to pick up the free paper tossed weekly in the driveway (can you say “unsolicited litter”?) as well as today’s edition of the newspaper.

I came in, got my coffee, and had a seat in my Quiet Time spot, but first I read the papers. Probably spent thirty minutes or more scanning through them and getting a fix on what was going on around the world and in the community. I read about a number of things and felt like a better-informed citizen. I was also entertained, since I always read the comics, or “funny papers,” as my granddad used to call them.

Then, I picked up my Bible. My reading was Matthew 4:1-4. This is the start of the passage about Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. The devil’s temptation and Jesus’ response grabbed my attention.
We, in the “information age,” are inundated with words. Many of us could spend all day answering emails, updating Facebook or Twitter, texting and talking on the phone, listening to music, talk radio or TV, and (when we can fit it in) conversing with people—thousands of words every day. Most of these words will make little difference a week from now, much less years from now, but they demand our time, and may keep us from the words that count: God’s words.

Jesus' response to the tempter, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: saying, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” God’s words are the words that count.

Here are some things I try to practice that help me give God the proper place:

Bible first. No other media before it.
If you use your computer along with your Bible as I do, stay away from your email inbox. Email has a way of getting my workday started, and that gets me distracted from the most important thing.
Write. You may use a notebook. You may use a computer. Writing helps me process what I am reading, and to dwell on it a little while. Many times as I write, God will open my eyes to a new truth about himself or a truth about me—both of which I need.
Make the time to let God speak to you. That may mean getting up earlier, which probably means going to bed earlier. Give God you best brain time, when your thoughts are uncluttered and you’re the least sleepy.

May we focus on words that count.

Quick Health Update
I feel great. All the poking and prodding on Tuesday went fine. I do wonder if blood-letting may be a secret part of the treatment. So many vials... We get the report on July 6.

Thanks for your prayers. They are the most important part of the treatment and my healing.