Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • resurrection

    —

    Dana

    First, I’d like to give a little medical update. I’ve not shared health news lately because everything has stayed about the same. I’ve had seven rounds of chemo this school year and the unwanted protein count has stayed exactly the same (1.3) for the last three. About a month ago, I told the doctor Susan and I were going to Italy and Namibia in February and March, which would mean longer time periods between chemo treatments. When I gave blood last Friday, I truly expected the result to be rather dreary. I admit my frequent faithlessness, but even “if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.” Isn’t that a cool verse? Yesterday a nurse called to share that my protein count had dropped to .5! I don’t think there’s going to be much of a medical explanation for this and I doubt a weeklong diet of Italian food will impress many researchers. So please give all praise to our kind Father in Heaven and please accept our thanks for your prayers. I feel there are many who often have a measure of faith far beyond mine. Oh to remember that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.

    A documentary is to air Sunday night about the discovery of the bones of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in a common burial site in Jerusalem. Some think archeological evidence of the story set forth in the best-selling book, The Da Vinci Code, will be powerful proof that Jesus was just a man and that Christianity has been a great hoax. Similar lies started the week of the resurrection. It seems the devil will never tire of trying to deceive the world about the Hope of mankind.

    Paul’s proclamation of salvation for all who put their faith in Christ hinged on the truth of the resurrection. “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…” (I Cor 15:14-20)

    Regarding the upcoming documentary about the tomb found in 1980, Lawrence Stager, the Dorot professor of archeology of Israel at Harvard said, “One of the problems is there are so many biblically illiterate people around the world that they don’t really know what is real judicious assessment and what is what some of us in the field call ‘fantastic archeology.’” The Word of God puts all arguments against the resurrection to rest and so does the Living Christ who abides in the hearts of God’s children.

    This week I’ve talked to a fifty-year-old father, a seventy-year-old grandfather, and a seventeen-year-old girl. If I tried to convince them that a guy in Jerusalem has just proven that the resurrection was a concocted story, they would be unimpressed. The father would tell me of an amazing thing God did in his family this past week. He would share of the deep work of conviction in his heart and the glorious answer to prayer that only God could have accomplished. He would say, “Dana, don’t even give those worthless claims the time of day. The risen Christ is alive and at work in all who will humbly believe and obey. Look what He’s just done in my family!” The grandfather would share of God’s mighty work through a trial that lasted exactly four months. He would praise God with all his might and through tears of joy would say, “Dana, you listen to me. The story I have just told you about the risen Christ is an example of what He will do for any soul that comes to Him with empty hands and a trusting heart. The devil is trying to snuff out faith any way he can before Jesus returns, but we must do nothing with his lies but expose them!” With a gleam in her eyes the teenager would share of God’s faithfulness on a recent mission trip. Her team faced hardship and sorrow, but God overcame with tremendous victories. This sweet girl would respectfully say, “Mr. Davis, there’s no reason for me to even watch that documentary Sunday night. I know Jesus; He is not dead. He lives in my heart and He has just performed wonders that I can’t really describe. I wish everyone could know Jesus as their best friend. He is the only One who gives meaning to life.”

    “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

  • city on a hill

    —

    Dana

    The first head coach I worked under after graduating from college took Susan and me to Italy last week. The three of us had an incredible time and Susan and I will be forever grateful. The first place we visited was Rome, the city built on seven hills. Palatine Hill, the legendary place where Romulus killed his brother, Remus, and planted the Eternal City was the place where the rich and powerful lived. As rulers tried to outdo one another with beautiful buildings, the hill eventually became one huge palace. Our word, ‘palace,’ comes from the word, ‘palatine.’

    Though despised by citizens of Jesus’ land, Rome surely fit the description of the illustration he used to teach the Father’s purpose for his children on earth. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

    A person can’t help but be awestruck as he sees the cathedrals of Rome. Priceless paintings, gold-plated ceilings, and incredible sculptures overwhelm the mind. So much points to the Bible and God’s plan to save the world. When a twenty-four year old Michelangelo sculpted his Pieta, little did he imagine the millions of people that would admire his masterpiece and be drawn to the story of the crucified Savior in the arms of his mother. As I admired all the beauty and all the history, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the light of the world Jesus spoke about. Of course, such deliberations aren’t confined to Italy, as our own country has its share of physical cities on a hill. I respect Michelangelo and other artists who use their talents to point heavenward, but surely Jesus was also thinking of the influence a common fisherman might have in this world as he lets his light shine before men.

    Henri Nouwen lived in Rome for several months before moving to serve the mentally handicapped at a L’Arche community in Toronto, Canada. The former teacher at Notre Dame and Harvard became convinced God wanted his light to shine in a place where few would notice. Most of the people he served could not even express appreciation, but Henri knew that didn’t matter. While in Rome, he discovered the most powerful spiritual light had little to do with famous landmarks or prominent leaders. He found the brightest light shining among servants that few knew, humble men and women who dedicated themselves to serving the poor and giving cups of cool water in Jesus’ name. No one paid admission to watch these believers and some even called them clowns, but the witness of Christ was unmistakable and rich praise went forth to our Father in Heaven.

    Sitting in a true Italian restaurant, our friend told us of a shining light he had witnessed while growing up in South Georgia. Teaching Sunday school class, taking food to the needy, visiting the sick, living with integrity, giving generously… these are the things that were remembered. Most have never heard of the elderly lady that impacted many, but Jesus smiles when he sees this type of ‘city on a hill’ that makes a difference.

    Of course, the only light that makes a difference is Jesus, Himself. Without such Light, we have no power. Henri Nouwen’s book, “Clowning in Rome,” is an encouragement to walk closely with our Lord. If you want your light to shine, spend continual time with Jesus. If you want the Father to receive glory, get to know the Son. If you want your life to make a difference, give up self and be filled with Christ. He is the Light of the world and all who truly meet him will be forever changed.

    “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

  • treasure

    —

    Dana

    A small group of Jewish rabbis reading the Scripture we call the New Testament came to the conclusion that Jesus was the Messiah the prophets of old had predicted would come. Studying the teachings of the Rabbi from Nazareth through scholarly Jewish eyes, they noticed truths that sometimes may escape us. For example, the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price were given interpretations quite different from what we usually consider. These rabbis explained it something like this: “God has called His people, Israel, His treasure. ‘For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.’ (Psalm 135:4) Also, a pearl does not hold the value to the traditional Jew that it holds for the Gentile. The pearl comes from a creature Moses declared unclean in the Old Testament. (Leviticus 11:9-12) So this is what Jesus meant in these parables: Jehovah God saw a treasure so valuable that He gave what was most precious to Him to purchase His chosen people, Israel. And God saw another treasure, not highly valued by many Jews, so lovely that He gave up everything He had to possess it. The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price speak of God’s incredible love for Jews and Gentiles. He loved us all so much He gave His only Son to purchase souls of enormous value.”

    Paul often prayed that believers would know God better. He reasoned that if a person could know how wide and deep and high and long His love, he would be changed. Does a King really love me so much that He gave His own life to purchase my pardon? Paul believed that if anyone grasped this reality he would be truly converted from selfish pursuits to a life of offering self as a living sacrifice to the One who deserves all glory.

    Our usual interpretations of the parable of the hidden treasure and the parable of the pearl of great price become valid as we see Jesus as He really is. He really is the King. He really is a Mighty Warrior. He really is Master and Teacher. He really is the Savior who gave Himself for me. And He calls me friend. He tells me that He chose me long before I chose Him. Why would I ever pursue anything less valuable than Christ when He is the Treasure above all else? I should be willing to give up everything for this One.

    A young lady from India shared with our seniors this week about her conversion from a traditional Muslim background to Christianity. Her talk was no lecture about world religions. She shared about the Savior who spoke to her heart when she was in the tenth grade, saying, “Put your faith in Me.” Though it was several years later that she said ‘yes,’ she knew that Jesus had revealed Himself to her as the true Christ. Though she could be killed in her village today for leaving the religion of her family, she longs to worship and follow her Savior wherever He leads. “If someone offered me millions of dollars in exchange for my Lord, I would refuse. I will never give up what is most precious to me.”

    In the days of Paul, if someone said, “I have become a Christian. I have turned from my sin and put my faith in Christ, but I’m not sure I would call Jesus my most valued Treasure,” the apostle might have answered: “I’m going to pray that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened. I’m going to pray that you see what you’ve been given. I’m going to pray the deceit of this world’s mixed up values are exposed so you can see Jesus clearly. I’m going to pray that you’ll understand why I’ve given up everything to follow my Lord and that we will all experience His full joy.”

    “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:17-19

    “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Mathew 13:44-45

  • reality

    —

    Dana

    About eight years ago, a friend had some pretty serious health concerns. He was hospitalized for a few days and I remember going to his room to pray that God would heal him. A thought came to mind recently after I saw this friend and noticed his good health. If an all-knowing Jesus had come into that hospital room eight years ago, he could have said, “Dana, the condition of the friend you are praying for is not as serious at it seems. He’s going to be OK, but I am going to tell you something about yourself. The pain you’ve been experiencing the past couple of months is not muscle pain. You have cancer and you’re soon going to begin a long battle with a life-threatening disease.”

    One of the truths that should keep us humble on this earth is the fact that we really don’t know too much. This ought to affect the way we think, talk, and live. James warned about boasting, “Tomorrow we’ll do this or that.” We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so we should say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will do this or that.” Leaving God out of our discussions leads to bragging and James calls this evil.

    To keep from making improper judgment, we must admit we don’t know the hearts or circumstances of others. A casual observer watching two men pray on the temple steps might have made this evaluation: Person A is religious; person B is not. Person A is a pillar of society; person B is a thief. Person A really knows how to pray; person B is floundering. But Jesus gave God’s evaluation: Person B went home justified; person A did not.

    More humbling is the admission that we don’t even know our own selves as well as we think we do. As a sinful woman washed the feet of Jesus with tears and anointed her Savior with perfume, a religious man thought: “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” The truth was ‘this man’ was more than a prophet and the conclusion he shared with the Pharisee was stunning: “Simon, she loves me much more than you do.” (see Luke 7:36-50)

    Would you rather walk in reality or in a façade? Would you rather know the truth or stay in the dark? Would you rather be confident in your own mind or be vulnerable before your Creator? Could God not bring each one of us revelation at any moment that would shake us to the core? Perhaps out of his mercy he keeps much from us, but the older I get the more I’d like to walk in reality. If things aren’t right on my team, I would rather problems be exposed than to coach in ignorance. If things aren’t right in my home, I’d rather know the truth so I could ask for God’s wisdom to be a better husband and father. And if things aren’t right in my heart, I want to be convicted so I can confess my sin, receive forgiveness, and walk in the Light. May this truth always keep us humble before our Heavenly Father: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

    “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord… Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:1-4, 23-24

  • humility

    —

    Dana

    Immediately after telling the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector praying at the temple, Jesus said, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” We see this truth revealed in Jesus’ own life as he “humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on the cross” after which “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.” Of all the characteristics of our Savior, his humility reveals most about what leads to a life that pleases God. How did he do it? What path did he take that he calls his disciples to travel? The familiar passage in Philippians 2 reveals a couple of things: Jesus “made himself nothing” and Jesus took “the very nature of a servant.”

    The humility of Christ stands in stark opposition to the spirit of the world. Who wants to become nothing? Who wants to be a servant? Who wants to be last? Who wants to be least like a little child? Who wants to consider others better than self? Who wants to wash feet? Who wants to be humiliated? In a society that prides itself on being proud, we are taught to strive to become important. Those often viewed as successful are served and they are considered successful because they are first. To be least equates with failure and to consider others better than myself would make me dishonest… for deep down I know I am better than most 🙂 . The practice of washing feet has little meaning and humiliation is reserved for fools.

    The path of humility is the way of the cross. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Andrew Murray, the South African pastor who ministered during the mid 1800’s and early 1900’s wrote, “This is the true self-denial to which our Savior calls us: the acknowledgment that self has nothing good in it except as an empty vessel that God must fill.” Perhaps this is what it means to become “poor in spirit” – to realize there is nothing good in me apart from God. No one can admit such a thing without His help, but once we see our sin and our need for repentance, the gospel reveals hope. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

    True humility does not come from focusing on our sin but by focusing on the One who delivers us. He paid the price and he invites us to come learn from him, for he is “gentle and humble in heart.” As he emptied himself and lived a life full of his Father, he beckons us to empty ourselves and live a life full of him. As we clothe ourselves with Christ, we clothe ourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” How different the humble will look in this world!

    “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” I Peter 5:5-6

    When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17

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