Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • my world

    —

    Dana

    A famous person (I can’t remember who) once said, “The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.” Several have asked about my health lately. The bad numbers have been steadily increasing for about 8 months and seemed to take a bigger-than-usual jump lately. So, my world has involved testing, waiting, meeting with doctors, waiting, more testing, waiting… Perhaps patience is being produced!

    “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (II Cor 1:3-7)

    We have received much comfort and love through your prayer, kindness, and encouragement. Somehow the difficulties we endure can carry the benefit of helping one another. And if God can use all these things to mold us into the image of his Son, we can truly praise him.

    It looks like we are going to add one more drug to the two I have been taking. Your prayers have more effect than any drugs, so Susan and I appreciate your intercession on our behalf. The doctor at Emory is investigating the possibility of another stem cell transplant, but none of us are sure that is the best route. We trust God will give his peace in decision-making. Meanwhile, we are not to worry but live the life God had given us. We decided before Thanksgiving to use all our Sky Miles to purchase airline tickets to some places we’ve never been, so April 3rd, Lord willing, Susan and I will travel to Europe for a week. We will hang out with our school soccer team in London, visit Paris one day, then fly to Geneva for a couple of days before returning home. Karlyn is going with a school mission team to Haiti the same week. She will be serving a needy community and sharing the love of God with children. We appreciate your prayers.

    On a lighter note, I got kicked out of a state tournament basketball game last Thursday night. Our #2 ranked boys were playing the #1 ranked Dublin team in Macon and a controversy arose over a silly rule stating that fans had to stay seated most of the game. Our students have been very enthusiastic all basketball season and this ‘new rule’ was unsettling. I really think our kids tried their best to keep seated, but how do you sit while you’re excited? As the rule was being enforced in a close contest, I tried to reason with several policemen… and most agreed with my logic. One officer, however, declared there would be ‘no negotiations’ and I knew he was intent on kicking several of our kids out of the gym. So Gary Schofield, our strength and conditioning coach (a strong dude), and I (not a very strong dude) stood behind our student section hoping the game would end before trouble arrived. With about four minutes to go and our team down ten points, several policemen emerged at our cheering section. Gary and I tried to talk with them but then I saw the ‘non-negotiator’ calling several of our boys out of their seats. I hustled down to ask that he allow the game to conclude without dismissing our fans. He did not like my appeal and grabbed my arm and escorted me up the steps and out of the gym. Gary came to my defense and two officers grabbed his arms and led him out. Soon the hard-fought game was over and things settled down… except for the rumors. I’ve heard all these things (that didn’t take place): I punched an officer; an officer punched me; we were handcuffed; I was tazed; a gun was pulled on me; I was beaten to a ‘bloody pulp.’ I was not mistreated at all… I simply found myself in the midst of another story. I hope you’re not too disappointed…

    “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.” I Peter 4:15

  • your world

    —

    Dana

    “Have It Your Way.” “Your World – Delivered.” We’ve gone from hamburgers to the whole world… just the way we want it. This is what the commercials tell us anyway. Of course there’s nothing wrong with ordering a hamburger with a pickle and no onions, and there’s nothing wrong with a cell phone, but I sometimes wonder if the enemy uses various ‘propaganda machines’ to his advantage as warring nations often do. Propaganda’s intent is to throw the opponent off track with a mix of truth and lies.

    Recently, Lady Volunteer Coach Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee, was interviewed after her record-setting thousandth win. “What is the biggest change you’ve seen in players over your career?” Of all the things a basketball coach might say, she answered something like this: “Today our kids are in their own worlds. When we’re on the road, I don’t see the card playing and interaction I used to see because every player is listening to her own i-pod or working on her own computer or texting someone on her own phone.” Coach Summit was not issuing a criticism (her teams are still quite good); she was simply stating what she has observed.

    Our culture may be different from other cultures in history, but Satan’s strategies are the same. If he makes ‘me’ the center of thinking, he claims victory. “You are most important.” “Please yourself first.” “Look out for number one.” “Do as thou wilt” was the promoted philosophy of nineteenth century Satanist, Aleister Crowley, who was admired by many of the ‘rock and roll heroes’ of my generation. The Christian must recognize this anthem of the world opposes the message of the Cross.

    Jesus’ teaching goes the opposite direction: “Take no thought for your life.” “Seek God’s Kingdom first.” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” The Master asks the most logical question: “How do you profit if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?” The Holy Spirit helps us see properly as we humbly seek righteousness. “Your Father in Heaven knows what you need before you even ask, so don’t worry like those around you.” “Instead of being consumed with your own interests, look out for the interests of others.” “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” “Love one another deeply from the heart.”

    No one needs to tell us this world is unstable. The hamburger I order may not always taste good. My new phone can’t solve my problems. The network of hundreds of people that follow me around don’t have the answers. But God will not fail those who trust him. The only message that brings hope is the word of truth that points to the One who has the whole world in his hands. “Turn from anything that is wrong.” “Look to the One who died for you!” “Put your full faith in Jesus!” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

    “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves…” II Timothy 3:1-2

  • Satan’s world

    —

    Dana

    “The devil led him to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me it will be all yours.’” Jesus didn’t deny Satan’s claim of ownership but he did resist the temptation. “The prince of the world is coming,” Jesus said on another occasion, “but he has no hold on me.”

    Satan constantly invites us to venture into his world. There, like those who have walked before us, we succumb to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Sin tangles us up and prevents us from running a good race. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” We can’t run in Jesus’ world with compromised affection for Satan’s world. He’s a master at getting the child of God to split allegiance. “You don’t need just one true love. It is OK to love God and love the world. You can be a Christian and be like everyone else.” The enemy likes us to be double-minded.

    Two strategies the devil has used throughout the ages are quite apparent today. One is to produce fear. Someone once told me (I have not counted to confirm) that there are 365 occasions in the Bible where we are told not to fear – one for each day of the year. Why so many reminders? God knows the devil uses fear to draw us into his world of worry, inactivity, and chaos. Jesus is in the boat with me; a storm comes up; it looks like I am going to sink; Jesus sleeps; what do I do? I’m not sure how to keep the heart from thumping a little harder as the wind howls and the waves splash, but Jesus clearly says, “Don’t be afraid.” That’s the voice I want to heed. I know too well the other voices: “He’s left you. You can’t really trust him. What’s going to happen to your family? His promises weren’t really for you. He won’t blame you if you abandon ship and look elsewhere for answers.” Fear causes us to lose our bearings. We react to circumstances rather than keep our feet fixed on the Rock. I don’t want to give in to fear.

    The other strategy the devil loves is confusion. Notice in the Gospels how many times Jesus was accused of being demon possessed. Demon possession is not uncommon in one of the towns we visited in Brazil this past December. Three members of my family saw things that shocked them. They prayed for a woman who had given herself to the devil through the witchcraft that is very prevalent in the region. They saw and sensed evil and were greatly disturbed. So why was the Son of God accused of being inhabited by Beelzebub? “You are demon possessed!” The devil’s tactic is confusion. “No one can deny this Teacher’s power. No one can hide the healings taking place. So let’s just get people discussing his source. If the seed is planted that makes them think a demon is at work then perhaps people will discount his words.” “How preposterous!” we argue. But confusion is effective in Satan’s world.

    A spirit of darkness will pose as an angel of light… and the angel of light will be accused of being a spirit of darkness. The false prophet will pretend to be a spokesman for God… and the true spokesman for God will be accused of being a false prophet. A bad thing will carry the name ‘good’ in our society… and something really good will be labeled ‘bad.’ Partial truths, white lies, planned deception… the ‘father of lies’ knows how to confuse and there’s not one of us smart enough to figure it all out. But there is One smart enough – Jesus calls Satan’s hand every time and he offers us instruction, grace, and wisdom. May we walk closely with the Master and far away from Satan’s world.

    “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” James 1:5-8

  • Jesus’ world

    —

    Dana

    As Jesus walked the earth, his world was all wrapped up in his Father. Jesus received pleasure and nourishment from his Father, not man. “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” When we see the way Jesus served, loved, taught, warned, healed, and sacrificed we see a picture of the Heavenly Father who was (and still is) misrepresented by so many. “I can do only what I see my Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” Men would argue with Jesus and try to trap him or make him look bad, but Jesus would say, “This just proves that you really don’t know my Father.”

    The secret for Jesus’ constant focus was this powerful truth: “The Father is in me, and I am in the Father. It is the Father living in me who is doing his work.” Who is man compared to God? Jesus remembered men were confused and separated from God. He knew he was sent to make things right, to bring man back to God. So when people opposed him, Jesus was not deterred. When one of his best friends, out of genuine concern, tried to tell him he should not be killed, Jesus rebuked him. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Neither did flattery impact Jesus. “I do not accept praise from man.” Once people wanted to make Jesus king, but it was the wrong type of king… so Jesus simply left them.

    Jesus’ world depended totally on his Father. “I cannot do anything by myself.” “I do nothing on my own.” “I do exactly what my Father says.” “My teaching is not my own, it comes from him who sent me.” Love, trust, purpose, fruit… everything was tied to the Father in Heaven.

    We may say, “Well, of course, that was Jesus… He is God.” But was not Jesus human? Did he not face all the temptations we face? Did he not have the same demands on time and energy? Did he not have to empty himself before he could live the way he lived? None of us are to that place of surrender, humility, and obedience that we would claim to be walking on earth exactly as Jesus did, but we also know God desires to mold us into the image of the Son. Jesus tells us the path: “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” (Jn 6:57) As Jesus’ world was all wrapped up in his Father, so our world must be all wrapped up in Jesus. This is foolishness to people who don’t know Christ, but that simply means things have not changed. Jesus was called a fool… and worse. He predicted the same criticism for his followers. But since Jesus’ satisfaction rested not in man’s opinion, he was not overcome with worry or fear or poor self-esteem.

    Our secret for success should be this powerful truth from our Savior: “I am in you and you are in me.” Maybe we could remember this… one day at a time.

    “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

  • our world

    —

    Dana

    One time a teenage student, speaking for her high-tech generation, argued against using mandatory rules of logic while solving a particular type of problem. “Oh, we have progressed far beyond having to do it that way.” No matter how far the student thought she had progressed, she couldn’t get the correct answer.

    Surely God looks down on ‘progressing’ mankind and sees similar foolishness. As we boast about our expanding discovery of knowledge and the incredible speeds at which we can access information… and any other progressions we seem to be making, the Creator says, “I’m not impressed.”

    “This is what the Lord declares: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

    So who knows the Lord? It is a simpler question, but who knows you? Is it not the one you are often with? Intimacy requires time, communication, quest for understanding, and the involvement of our emotions. As we read the writings and examine the lives of saints of other generations, I’m afraid we are tempted to think like the naive teenager: “We have progressed far beyond that.” What substitutes for time in the Word… or hours in prayer… or fasting… or simply sitting at the feet of Jesus? This is not a dry defense of the spiritual disciplines, I’m asking why so few seem to echo the heart of the apostle who walked with God, yet wrote passionately: “I want to know Christ…” (see Phil 3)

    Just as it is vital that children have wise parents and teachers to lead and instruct the immature, so Jesus knew we would need the greatest Teacher to lead and instruct us. Our challenge is to realize our need… which requires humility. God wants us to know that we can do much out of our own human wisdom and effort and resource (remember the tower of Babel?), but we can’t produce eternal fruit without his Holy Spirit. Who wants to exchange the temporal for the eternal?

    “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (Jn 14:25-26)

    “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” (Jn 16:13-14)

    “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)

    “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” (Jn 17:25-26)

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