Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • Ed

    —

    Dana

    IMG_1045“John, if I had it to do over again, as a young man I would be in God’s Word every day. There we find wisdom and the knowledge to avoid all kinds of pitfalls.” Then Ed read the Proverb below. Thirteen-year-old John received more than breakfast on a recent Sunday morning.

    It must have been late 2001 that I went in the Dunkin Donuts near our house for a cup of coffee and saw a familiar face. “Ed?” I asked. “Dana, how are you?! Come sit with me.” For sixteen years Ed and I have met for a cup of coffee around 5:30 every Sunday morning. Now eighty years old, Ed is one who encourages me to walk closely with the Lord.

    Ed was an excellent basketball referee and softball umpire for many years in the Atlanta area. He regularly came to our gym at the beginning of a season to speak to our players and parents about the rules of basketball. Shortly after we re-connected I felt I needed to confess my own terrible rule violation in a game he officiated.

    We were playing away at a region rival who had a very strong team. We were down by at least ten points late in the third quarter when the ball was stolen from our point guard in the corner of the court closest to our bench. I was confident my player had been fouled, but there was no whistle and the quick opponent was dribbling the ball toward our basket.

    I still do not know what overcame me, but since my pleas for justice were going unheeded by the three referees, I did a very foolish thing. Standing on the sideline as their guard dribbled by our bench, I reached out and stole the ball. It was a very clean steal and I found myself holding the basketball for an awkward moment before I simply rolled it the opposite direction. The whistle blew and a referee pointed in our direction, indicating that we would receive the ball. No referee saw what happened.

    As you can imagine, chaos ensued. The large home crowd started yelling and booing. The player I stole the ball from pointed her finger at me and cried foul. The opposing coach came running down the sideline, loudly objecting to my behavior. Even my own players were looking at me with curious expressions. “Coach, what did you just do?”

    Mainly for self-preservation, I called the referees over and asked them to reverse their call. “It is the other team’s ball,” I said. “What?” one official asked. “Just give them the ball,” I replied, not really wanting to go into much detail. Though they changed the call, our team rallied and almost upset a better team. Honestly, I was thankful we lost the game.

    When I shared the story with Ed, he just shook his head and laughed. Coaches and referees have an abundance of stories… and sometimes they end up being good friends.

    “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:21-26

  • seek

    —

    Dana

    In writing to the Romans, Paul explained that all mankind is in need. Whether Gentile or Jew, no person can stand justified before God without the saving blood of Jesus Christ. He quoted Old Testament passages that painted a dreary picture of man’s state: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” (Romans 3:10-11)

    Paul then shares the Good News of the Lord’s righteousness that rescues us: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood – to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness…” (Romans 3:21-25)

    Even to those who worshiped other gods, Paul explained that God desires all to seek Him. God is near! In Athens, Paul proclaimed: “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else… God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us…” (Acts 17:24-27)

    Jeremy Riddle and Steffany Gretzinger sing a song with these lines:
    “The more I seek You, the more I find You
    the more I find You, the more I love You…”
    The Father looks down upon a world in rebellion, yet His desire is to save. “Seek Me, all who are lost and confused. Seek Me and I will let you find My Son – He is the Way to Me!”

    The Father looks down upon His sons and daughters who seem so occupied with lesser things. “Dear children, seek Me and I will reveal My heart. Do not pursue what does not matter. Draw close to Me and I will draw close to you. And as you come to know Me, you will love Me with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.”

    “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

    “The third time He said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ He said, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’” John 21:17

    “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

  • India

    —

    Dana

    On May 26, 2014, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India, the second most populated nation on earth. Since this leadership change, Christian ministries and charity organizations have been under fire. Even Compassion International, who serves children and orphans across the world, was forced to leave India this past March after decades of service.

    Prime Minister Modi is a proponent of Hindutva, a nationalistic philosophy that aims to make India a completely Hindu nation. Currently 27 million people in India (2.2% of the country’s population) are Christians, but those who embrace Hindutva are determined to convert all to Hinduism. As Christians resist such pressures, persecution results.

    Voice of the Martyrs is an organization that has supported the persecuted church for the past fifty years. Their regional director for South Asia said this: “It is true persecution is increasing in India, but that’s not the whole story. Persecution is a result of the Gospel going out, and we should celebrate the fact that today, more than ever before, Indians are coming to know Christ. Of course persecution will increase, but let’s not let that upstage what God is doing in the foreground of this story – expanding His kingdom in India.”

    Recently, our friend Prabhu Das shared the sacrifice Christians make in his part of the country. “When a person is baptized he automatically loses any benefit from the government. Many lose their jobs and all become targets of those who believe all Indians must be Hindus.” As he shared, I wondered how Americans would respond if we knew that following Christ meant forfeiture of all social security benefits, the loss of employment, and the burden of constant opposition to our faith.

    I hope we would follow the example of many of our Indian brothers and sisters. The gift of eternal life is greater than anything this world has to offer. Believers know that the saving message must spread for others to have hope. One evangelist said, “Brother, I ride my bicycle into a village and I bang my drum. The people come out and I share the Gospel. Sometimes they accept the Gospel and form a church. Other times they beat me. When I wake up, I get on my bicycle and ride to the next village.”

    Voice of the Martyrs suggest we pray this prayer: “Heavenly Father, as my brothers and sisters in India experience persecution for their bold witness, help them to remain faithful. Help them to proclaim the truth of Your name. Meet their every need and protect them from discouragement. Bring comfort to those who need it and protect them from fear. Prepare the hearts of those who will hear the Gospel next. Amen.”

    “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3

    Quotes are from ‘The Voice of the Martyrs’ September 2017 newsletter; pp 9, 11

  • solution

    —

    Dana

    Since the year 2000, I’ve been a part of a group that might know the solution to a problem our country seems to be struggling to solve. Though this group is very diverse with people from all races and walks of life, I’ve never witnessed prejudice or internal strife. What we all have in common is the secret to our harmony, but no one would choose to join… we are all dying.

    Strangers are uncomfortable but friends smile when I talk about dying because I’ve been discussing it for seventeen years. But it is true that I’m closer to the end of life on earth now than I have ever been… and so are you! Over fifty friends from our group have passed away, including dear Mary whose funeral I attended this week, but the rest of us will stay positive.

    No one really has the time to point an accusing finger when we are dealing with so serious an opponent. Instead, everyone pulls for one another. The differences among us are abundant, but we are all quick to encourage the struggling or give helpful information to the newcomer. We feel we are all in the same boat.

    As fine a solution as ‘dying’ is to societal unrest, it is still not ‘the solution.’ Our support group is quite imperfect… and we realize that even if the cure for cancer is discovered today, we’re still going to die. Though few like to discuss death, it is our common destiny. God calls it the ‘last enemy’ and He is the only One who can defeat it.

    The Holy Spirit wants every individual to know that apart from God’s solution we are already dead – separated from Him, the perfect Father. His Son is ‘The Solution.’ If we will humbly turn from our own ways and put our faith in the Lord Jesus, we will find life.

    If dying people in a support group dare not argue or fight, how much more unified should those be who stand at the foot of the cross, trusting the Innocent One who died in our place? And when we realize He took away our sin and defeated death, should we not offer ourselves as those who simply want to carry out His good plans? Praise God for the Gospel.

    “As for you, you were dead in your sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:1-10

  • Way

    —

    Dana

    “’You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:4-6)

    The Way is not connected to any political party; following the Way does not require being a certain nationality; the Way transcends human leadership. The Way is Jesus Christ the Son of God, who defeated sin and death.

    ‘Self’ is often our greatest hindrance. When tempted to think selfishly, John the Baptist replied, “He must be greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30) Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to those who would follow this path. “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:13-17)

    The Way includes Truth and Life. The enemy hates us, but Jesus overcomes. “The thief comes only to steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

    img_1026I’ve written before about an Indian brother named Prabhu Das. He and his wife Sheeba visited our home this week and he shared about finding the Way. On the run after committing violent crimes, Prabhu Das was invited into the home of a Christian family. Sensing he was in trouble, this family fervently prayed that God would speak to their guest. During the middle of the night, the young criminal heard a clear voice say, “Son, I want you.” His testimony was similar to the familiar story of Saul, an enemy of the Gospel who became an ambassador for Christ.

    Praise God for the Way!

    “Meanwhile Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ’Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,’ He replied, ‘now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what to do.’” Acts 9:1-6

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