Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • born again

    —

    Dana

    According to Jesus, we can try to love God with all our hearts and we can try to love our neighbor as ourselves; but unless a miracle takes place, we will find ourselves lacking. Nicodemus concluded that Jesus had to be a man of God, but when he approached the Rabbi at night to ask a few questions, he was confused. Nicodemus was a leader in the community, a scholar of the Scriptures, a descendant of Abraham… but being “born again” made no sense.

    “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again… I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:3-6)

    Another expert in the law once questioned Jesus about eternal life. The Lord asked him what the Law said, and the man answered correctly by giving the top two commandments: “Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.” “Good,” Jesus replied,”do this and you will live.” God’s purpose of the Law is for us to come face to face with the truth that we don’t “do this.” But so often, when we see our shortcomings, we try to justify ourselves. This is what the lawyer did.

    “But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” The parable of the good Samaritan that followed expanded all definitions of ‘neighbor,’ but also pointed to our hope.

    We are the beaten and wounded traveler. The lawyer was; Nicodemus was; you are; I am. We are beaten down by life, we are unable to save ourselves, and we are in desperate need. A priest comes by, but religion will not solve our problem. A Levite comes by, but the Law is not adequate to save. Then a humble Man from a distant place approaches on his donkey. Though most of the world despises him, He kindly bandages our wounds, “pouring on oil and wine.” He takes the rescued man to an inn and gives the innkeeper money with a promise to return. (See Luke 10:25-37)

    The Good Neighbor is our Savior. He offers the oil of his Spirit and the wine of his Blood. He washes us in pure water and gives us eyes to see. We just need to realize we need him and humbly ask for help.

    “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Of if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

  • Coach K

    —

    Dana

    I heard Coach Mike Krzyzewski speak at a banquet in Atlanta many years ago. It was such an incredible speech that I wrote him a letter and sent it to Duke University. I couldn’t believe it when just a couple of weeks later I received a long letter signed by Coach K encouraging me as a high school coach. Our team was in the region tournament at the time, so I told the girls about my good friend Coach K, and read them the letter. They were quite impressed until I shared the greeting that proved we weren’t quite as close as I had boasted: Dear Ms. Davis…

    Mike Krzyzewski and Jimmy Valvano were about as different as two people could be. One was from Polish descent; one was Italian. Mike had an army background and the discipline to prove it; Jimmy was a free spirit. Mike was direct, deliberate, and serious; Jimmy was spontaneous, emotional, and fun-loving. As coaching rivals in the same league, Coach K did not like Jimmy V at all. But when Jimmy Valvano was diagnosed with cancer, Mike Krzyzewski went to visit him. As he got to know Jimmy and witnessed how openly and honestly he dealt with a deadly disease, two former opponents became best friends.

    In 1993, not long before he died, Coach Valvano was given the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPY awards ceremony presented by ESPN. Coach V was very sick that day, but he reluctantly agreed to go to the ceremony. Coach Valvano gave a powerful speech, after which Coach K helped Jimmy down the steps from the stage. Two months later, Coach K was at Jimmy’s bedside when he died.

    So why the turnaround? It takes humility to reach out to someone you don’t really like, but great blessings result. Coach K came to realize that his former coaching rival was simply different than he was. He grew to admire a person who was honest about everything and passionate about life. Jimmy V found in Coach K a man who excelled as much in loyalty as he did in coaching basketball. To this day, Coach Krzyzewski continues to promote the good work of The V Foundation for Cancer Research as a member of the foundation’s board.

    I have friends (and you do too) who are going through hard times. We are not to shy away from pain. We are not expected to solve all the problems, but we can write a note, or make a call, or hold a hand, or prepare a meal, or simply be a good friend. Humility, loyalty, compassion, kindness, honesty, and love are the qualities we need and Jesus richly supplies.

    “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:1-5

  • faithful love

    —

    Dana

    Jesus told his disciples after the resurrection, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit come on you; and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” Of course Jesus was the best witness who ever walked the earth, and yet most did not believe him. He knew most would not believe his disciples either, but witnesses are important. He gives us this purpose too, and we need the power of the Holy Spirit just like the early disciples did.

    What do you think a witness should testify about God? What do you think God wants everyone to know about himself?

    The Common English Bible translation of Psalms uses a term over and over that reflects what David wanted everyone to know about God. Here’s a handful of samples:

    “I will make music among the nations because your faithful love is as high as heaven; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.” (57:9-10)

    “I will sing of your strength! In the morning I will shout out loud about your faithful love because you have been my stronghold, my shelter when I was distraught.” (59:16)

    “My lips praise you because your faithful love is greater than life itself!” (63:3)

    “God has spoken one thing – make it two things – that I myself have heard: that strength belongs to God, and faithful love comes from you, my Lord…” (62:11-12)

    “Bless God! He didn’t reject my prayer, he didn’t withhold his faithful love from me.” (66:20)

    As a boy, David knew the Lord as his Shepherd who protected him from the lion and the bear. As a young warrior, David fought in God’s name and gained victory over the giant champion Goliath. As the youngest in his family, David was anointed by God’s spokesman as the next king of Israel. As a subject to authority, David trusted God to deal with a jealous king who tried to kill him. As a leader, David looked to God when those closest to him betrayed him and tried to destroy him. As a father, David cried to God through the horrible ordeal of the violent death of a rebellious son. As a sinner, David found forgiveness from the One he had sinned against. As a poet, David received songs from above that have inspired generations of believers.

    When a man or woman lives a life with all its ups and downs and victories and failures, then honestly proclaims: “I will tell all who will listen of my God’s faithful love,” the Father smiles and says, “There’s my witness.”

    “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power , together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19

  • Jimmy V

    —

    Dana

    Thousands and thousands of basketball fans flocked to Atlanta this past weekend for the Final Four and Monday’s championship game. Louisville defeated Michigan in an exciting contest and recent Hall of Fame inductee Coach Rick Pitino concluded a storybook season.

    Perhaps the greatest college basketball finish of all time took place in 1982 as sixth seeded North Carolina State team won a series of close games to reach the finals against tournament favorite Houston. After Lorenzo Charles scored on a dunk at the buzzer, a young coach named Jimmy Valvano ran around the court like an overjoyed kid. As they cut down the nets, each member of the team experienced the result of perseverance and a determination to never give up.

    Ten years after that exciting season, Jimmy Valvano was diagnosed with bone cancer and became a spokesman for more important things. He talked constantly about faith and family, and he urged everyone to realize that time is precious. He encouraged people to do three things every day to get the most out of life. “You need to laugh; you need to set aside time to think about what is really important; and you need to move your emotions of joy or sorrow to cry every day.” Though he lived less than a year from his original diagnosis, Jimmy Valvano loudly proclaimed what his 1982 basketball team epitomized: “Don’t give up; don’t ever give up.”

    Valvano’s motto is classic, but we all know there is a little problem in reality. Michigan did not give up on Monday night, but they still lost. Jimmy V did not give up in his fight against cancer, but he still died at age forty-seven. God wants us to have a mentality of courage and a willingness to persevere at every turn, but we will not live on this earth forever. So what is the answer for the inevitable?

    “It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) With so many things attempting to consume our attention, we cannot forget the critical appointment we each have. Jimmy Valvano and Rick Pitino and you and I and every other person will stand before God and be judged. We will not be judged by a boss or a committee or a council or by any human being. We will be judged by the One who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. Each of us will see clearly His knowledge,  His power, and His love. And each of us will eventually conclude that His judgment is perfect.

    So we all need two things: 1) A relationship with the Son of the Judge. 2) An Advocate or Counselor. And the most important advice to prepare us for eternity: 1) Get to know Jesus more and more. 2) Be filled with the Holy Spirit. “Time is precious.”

    “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10

    “Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-20

    “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” II Corinthians 13:14

  • believe

    —

    Dana

    Abraham was told the impossible. “Though you and your beautiful wife are very old, Sarah is going to have a baby.” And Abraham believed God. Isaac was born and God proved His faithfulness.

    “Though your son, Isaac, is the one through whom you will be the ‘Father of Nations,’ I want you to go up the mountain and sacrifice him to Me.” And Abraham believed God. He “reasoned that God could raise the dead” (Heb 11:9), so he put Isaac on the altar and raised his knife. But an angel stopped the sacrifice and God proved His faithfulness.

    “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” This verse is repeated many times in the New Testament for our benefit, as we “are of the faith of Abraham.” “The words ‘it was credited’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness — for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Rom 4:16 & 24)

    But what are we to believe? I’ve not been told that my beautiful Susan is going to have a baby in our old age. I’ve not been told to believe God will raise our son Taylor from the dead if he dies. But God has told me to believe the impossible.

    I am to believe that God has accomplished everything of value through His Son Jesus. He was born of a virgin; He lived a perfect life; He died on the Cross carrying the sins of the world; He was buried in a borrowed tomb and raised back to life on the third day. Now God asks, “Do you know what this means for you? When you hear My Word, do you believe it?”

    Do I believe I am forgiven? Do I believe I have been set free from sin? Do I believe I am a new creation? Do I believe the Holy Spirit lives in me? Do I believe death has no hold on me? Do I believe I am in Christ? Do I believe I am more than a conqueror? “But God, these things sound impossible!” And Jesus whispers, “Believe in God and believe in Me. Like Abraham, you will discover that We are faithful.”

    “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38

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