faith

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Dana

“Miraculous healing, to be sure, is as vital a part of Christian ministry today as it was in the first century. Without it the church limps along, lame and leprous. Nevertheless, it is possible to place so much emphasis on a miraculous cure that one completely loses sight of the inestimable worth of patient, faithful endurance of disease. We like to talk about ‘having the faith to be healed,’ but what about having the faith to be sick?”

I ran into two friends from the Atlanta multiple myeloma support group at the hospital this past week. Mary fell outside after church the Sunday following Christmas and broke her pelvis. Despite being in a wheelchair, she still radiated a joyful smile that always encourages others. I’ve known Mary over twelve years and she is a true servant.

Ernestine has been on dialysis for several months as the disease has impacted her kidneys. I just learned that another complication has disabled her from swallowing. I asked how she received nourishment. “Now let me tell you how God is good…” and she recounted the story of receiving a feeding tube. I love Ernestine’s faith. Both these ladies have taught me much about living with grace and courage.

We all need the faith to believe Jesus heals, and when we doubt we should remember the father who asked the Master: “Can you help my son?” Jesus answered, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for one who believes.” The father cried, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

As I sit in waiting rooms with fellow cancer patients, I also know that Jesus can help us endure. The once-athletic man who shuffles by with no energy and less hair needs to know he can make it. The newly diagnosed patient full of fear and worry needs to know that God can give peace. The lady pushing the wheelchair of the father or husband or son needs the strength to persevere in hope. Perhaps we pray best regarding things we have experienced.

Jesus has the best perspective. He has been here and He understands everything we face. Having suffered Himself, He is the best intercessor. As we follow Him this year in loving and serving and praying for others, let’s ask God for healthy perspective and robust faith.

“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” I Peter 4:1-2

Quote from “The Gospel According to Job” by Mike Mason, ©1994 by Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, p 97

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celebration

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Dana

My dad finished a graduate class on Friday at noon then drove from Little Rock to Searcy, Arkansas in time to marry my mom. It was a small wedding that took place in the home of the one that performed the ceremony. There was no wedding cake; there were no huge festivities.  They only had the weekend for a honeymoon, but the vows shared before God and man have endured sixty years.

photophoto1We celebrated this week with a houseful of family members, a fine meal, and a wedding cake. Rex and Barbara have touched many, many lives and it was a delight to honor them. When you think of the beauty of a young couple loving one another, raising a family, being a blessing to their community, and giving all glory to God, you see the will of our Father in heaven… a Father who loves celebration.

Happy New Year!

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds. They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.” Psalm 145:3-7

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Santa

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Dana

About this time in December seventeen years ago, I went to tuck our youngest daughter Karlyn into bed. “Dad,” she said seriously, “I want to ask you a question.” “Of course,” I replied. “Is Santa Claus real?” This caught me off guard and without Susan by my side, I wanted to be careful, so I ended up stammering around with some type of non-answer.

Karlyn is just like her mother… brutally honest and quite perceptive. “Dad,” the five-year-old said firmly, “Tell me the truth; is Santa real?” I realized this was an important moment for my little girl. “Honey, your mom and I play the role of Santa Claus.” Karlyn stared at me a moment then said something I shall never forget: “Dad, don’t you ever lie to me again.”

John Turner was a little older when he asked the same question. While John has lived with us most of his life, he still has an important relationship with his mom and her ex-husband, Roger, who loves John as a son. John spends most holidays with these extended families, so we have always wanted to respect traditions and we soon learned that Santa Claus was a very important part of Christmas.

My answer to John’s question went something like this: “Do you remember the ‘Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe’ movie? (This is one of our favorites.) Do you believe Aslan is real?” John thought a minute and replied, “Well… I don’t think a lion can talk, so I don’t guess Aslan is real.” I disagreed: “Aslan is real, because in the movie and the book Aslan represents Jesus… and Jesus is real.”

“But I asked about Santa Claus,” John reminded me. “Yes. Do you remember in the movie that Santa Claus (called Father Christmas by C S Lewis) appears and gives Peter, Susan, and Lucy gifts?” “I remember,” answered John. “Well, in the same way Aslan is real as he represents Jesus, so Santa Claus is real in the way he represents moms and dads and loved ones who give gifts and spread love at Christmas time.”

Young John looked curiously into my eyes and summarized: “So… Santa Claus is real.” I thought a second and concluded: “Yes, I think Santa Claus is real.”

santa1santa2Taylor and Emma will get to decide how to answer the tough questions of life for little Wilkes, but until then (and beyond) I pray wonder, joy, and a big smile will rule the day.

Merry Christmas!!

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:6-7

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pigs

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Dana

I stopped at a red light in the city of Atlanta recently and noticed a man about my age across the street. He was pacing the sidewalk in front of some small businesses talking to himself and occasionally shouting. No one walked close to the man and as I waited for the light to turn green, I wondered if the disturbed person had any place to go or anyone to take care of him. I also wondered what the owners of the small businesses thought about his presence.

Citizens of a town in Jesus’ day tried to deal with a man with serious problems. At times people had tried to contain this man with shackles, but with supernatural strength, he would break the chains. He wandered around the tombs near the Sea of Galilee without clothes, cutting himself with stones and shouting in a loud voice. I imagine the townspeople just kept their distance and tried not to think of him.

When Jesus and his disciples landed on the shore near the graveyard, the man encountered the One who has no fear and loves all people. He fell at the feet of Jesus and cried: “What do you want with me, Son of the Most High God?” Satan was the cause of the lonely man’s troubles. “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “The name is Legion, for we are many.” Begging not to be cast into the Abyss, the demons asked to enter another location and Jesus agreed. He cast Legion out of the man and the evil spirits entered a herd of about two thousand pigs. (See Mark 5 and Luke 8)

Our son Taylor was talking to me about this story recently. “What about the owner of the pigs, Dad?” I had never thought about the owner of the pigs. The caretakers were surely upset because the whole herd ran straight into the Sea of Galilee and drowned. When the townspeople arrived and heard the story, they were afraid and asked Jesus to leave. But we’re not told about the owner. “What do you think?” I asked Taylor. “I think he had to make a big decision. He had to either focus on the pigs or focus on the person.”

If the owner focused on the pigs, it was a dark day, possibly the worst of his career. But if he could look past personal loss, he would see a life rescued from evil and a man miraculously changed. Maybe we all face similar questions. Do we focus on the person or the pigs? Are people more important to us than possessions?

The healed man wanted to get in the boat and join the disciples, but the Savior said, “No, I want you to go to your hometown and tell everyone what God has done for you.” Maybe the first person he visited was the owner of the pigs. Maybe he helped the owner recover his loss. Perhaps the owner of the pigs became a lover of Jesus too. Maybe one day in Heaven we’ll learn the rest of the story…

“[Jesus] stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’” Luke 4:16-19

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questions

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Dana

“’Come, let us reason together,’ says the Lord…” (Isaiah 1:18)

Our Father in Heaven is a God of reason and He hears our sincere questions. Jeremiah had a valid complaint: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. Yet You know me, Lord; You see me and test my thoughts about You.” (Jeremiah 12:1-3)

God answered with His own questions that revealed a higher goal for his prophet: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

If the athlete complains about tough practices, the coach tells him what it takes to be a champion. If a math student complains about fractions, the teacher explains that there are tougher things to come. If we get upset with others, God reminds us that the real struggle is “not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

John the Baptist sent a question to Jesus as he sat in prison: “Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus did not criticize but rather sent back an answer of encouragement: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is being proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.” (Matthew 11:2-6)

I want to go to God with my questions today, rather than to a political candidate or talk show host. God not only sees what is happening on earth, He knows the reasons. I need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me think and speak and love like Jesus. I think He’s telling me to be dressed and alert and always praying.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:13-18

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