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Showing posts from December, 2010

A Pale Church

Matthew 10:5-11,16 (NIV) These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions… "Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: `The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey... I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." The modern day reality: Jesus sent out his people with the above instructions, but 2000 years later his people go and preach to believers, largely ignoring the lost. Their message is a message of comfort and smiles. They put on pretty and polished productions at their churches, go on ski trips, and have a divorce rate equal or greater than non-believers. They horde their wealth. Many don't tithe and they run up phenomenal debts. They barely tell their friends of Chr

Faith

Faith is the secret of both peace and steadfastness, amid all tendencies to discouragement and discontinuance in well-doing.  (from "George Müller of Bristol") David 

I Blame My Training

I had a realization today. I interrupt people. I don't think my interruptions were always so... copious. I remember back in medical school, overnight call. Interviewing new patients in the emergency room. Back then, It could potentially take an hour per patient history. These old people would just ramble and ramble... and ramble... Simply not staying on task. I heard more irrelevant stories than I knew what to do with. I really had to work hard to see three new patients a night. Fast forward to my intern year. I learned to see 5 new patients a night. I found the same types of rambling tangential thinkers, but I developed one very important skill. I learned to direct them! Cut them off at the tangent, then restart the purposeful train of thought... then, guiding it in for a landing! SUCESS!! By my senior year, I could see 10 people a night! Fast forward to my career as a hospitalist. Now, I see 12-20 patients in one day. Sometimes four or so are new... and I do all of that in about

138 MPH

For some reason, my memory was jogged tonight... I remembered back to when I was 16. My parents were very generous. They purchased me a nice $6000 dollar used car. 1987 Toyota Supra Turbo. It was fun. It had room for 5 people, several sets of golf clubs, looked sporty, and felt pretty sporty too. I should know, my friends and I used to do 0-60 runs down my neighborhood street (speed limit 25), AND I drove it 138 MPH down a narrow two lane country road! Looking back on the 138 MPH run... I realized I was blessed that I didn't kill myself, or someone else along the way. My second car was even faster, though I only got it up to 120 briefly on I-44; one time only. I think its wise to get your 16 year old son a prius or some other SLOW car. David

Sunset

It has been a particularly hard week. More of the same trial. Though, some new twists, thus additional misery. As you know from past blogs, God has been giving me a new peace, greater faith, joy and hope. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something changed... though I didn't perceive any change to my daily pursuit of God in his Word and in prayer... He now seemed silent, and I... joyless. An hour of quiet time and the book of Philippians. It was amazing. It was perfect. Though I believed it all to be truth, I still trudged through the remainder of my afternoon. Where was this peace that is supposed to come from Christ alone? I felt tempted. "Sinful pleasures may make you feel better" says the father of all lies... I knew that would only heap on more pain. I clearly saw the lie for what it was. Disaster averted. Though I spoke assertively to God, I conceded that He can do with me as He pleases. I bow to His will. I belong to Him. I am His servant. Later, I wandere