Today was my most extensive outing during my recovery. Charlie Simineo picked me up early this morning and we made a trip to Grand Junction where I represented the Rocky Mountain Energy Forum. This is at the District Council for Assemblies of God churches in Colorado and Utah. It was great to see many friends who have been praying for me and were excited to see me.

Of course most asked me about Debbie, and were disappointed she wasn’t able to make it. I believe those who have followed my illness and recovery closely have identified with the dedication that Debbie has shown and the load she has carried. Now that she is working she is keeping busier than ever. So, I wasn’t surprised when they would greet me and say, “boy, it is really great to see you…. is Debbie here?!”

It was good to have several people express interest in the work of the energy forum and who signed up to received information on webinars that will take place in the future as we discuss the potential of Colorado energy and its importance to our economy and issues that Christians care about.

One of those issues is related to ministry to the poor and disaster relief for those impacted by natural disasters. Hal Donaldson from Convoy of Hope spoke in the evening service tonight and shared about the challenges he faced in seeing Convoy of Hope become a viable ministry to America’s inner cities, as well as responding to disasters around the world. After 20 years they have just marked serving 65 million individuals with food assistance and disaster relief. The impact of rising energy costs to organizations like this is considerable due to transportation costs and the cost of food.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  James 2:16, 17

We do have a responsibility to reach out those in need and provide hope that their lives can be different. That applies to the homeless and helpless, those caught in the bondage of human trafficking and those in the bondage of drugs and alcohol.

I am thankful for the thousands of children, teens, and adults that are served by people of faith who put their faith in action in reaching to the “least of these.” When disaster strikes you will find people of faith in action. When there is a need you will find people of faith rising to the occasion to fill the need. The motivation is love for God and love people that God loves. That is the unique perspective that bring an impact to what they do and why they do it.

We have had a relaxing, unusual and enjoyable Easter Sunday. That is a string of adjectives that I have never put together for this day. With Debbie’s schedule lately we took a decidedly relaxing morning, ate coconut-pecan waffles for breakfast; we just needed the ocean and sand and we could have been in Cancun. I did watch a streamlined broadcast of the Easter Sunday service from Faith Bible Church in Arvada.  (We have missed our grandkids in Atlanta so here is an Easter picture of Mason, Carter and McKenzie)

I worked several hours at my computer in my office on some personal finances. I was trying to keep up with medical expenses this year and some other bookkeeping. It looks like in the first two months of 2014 we meet our out of pocket maximums for the year. Thanks to the generosity of many friends when my illness hit these expenses were covered by our medical relief fund. Thank you again, so much!!

The news of the day though, was that I used my walker to get from the family room to my office and used my regular desk chair. I even made it back from the office to the family room!

Debbie and I enjoyed an afternoon walk, I rode my racing wheelchair and she pushed and guided along the way to help me out. After that adventure we headed to the Marconi Grill for an early evening dinner. Thank you to our friends Jon and Marcia Hume for the gift card.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.   Romans 6:3 (CEV)

Newness of life is what the resurrection of Jesus is all about. On the third day He rose victorious over sin and dead. Because of His victory, we too can live a new life. A new life in this world and have the hope of eternity in heaven with Christ. As Paul writes to the Romans he explains that baptism is a symbol of death and resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from physical death by the glory of God the Father, we are raised from spiritual death by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and His resurrection to the glory of God the Father.

Christ did not come to just give us a higher purpose. He did not come to give us a new philosophy. He did not come just to be an example for us to follow. He came to give us a new life! That is why Paul would write to the Corinthians and say, “if you are in Christ…the old has gone and new has come…” 2 Corinthians 5:17

As I think of this newness of life  on Easter 2014, I can’t help but relate it to my life and events of that past nine months. I feel like I have been given a new life in many ways. Obviously I am glad to be physically alive, enjoying my family and friends. But I am thankful the new and fresh perspective that I am learning about life,Christ and what He has for me in whatever years remain for me on this earth.

In bringing this new life Jesus turned conventional science upon its head in the miracles he performed. He baffled the scholars with the words He spoke. Consider the following and as you do, you find one who is worthy of our worship and who alone can make good on His offer of new life.

 WHO IS HE?

IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.

IN PHYSICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF GRAVITY

WHEN HE WALKED ON WATER AND THEN LATER,

ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN.

 IN ECONOMICS, HE DISPROVED THE LAW OF DIMINISHING

RETURN BY FEEDING 5000 MEN WITH 2 FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD.

IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND

WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS.

IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END.

IN GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THAT HE SHALL BE CALLED

WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE.

 IN MATTERS OF FAITH, HE SAID

NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM;

SO, WHO IS HE?

HE IS JESUS!

Today was a good day. We returned from our Good Friday service and I was just hanging out relaxing and started toward bed and realized that I had not written my blog for today. So here I am racing to get it done before midnight.

We had a good day with Christian and Bridget and kids today. It was a summer-like day and we took advantage of it. We got the sprinkler system operational for the grass and Riley and Caedmon flagged the sprinkler heads for the aeration to take place in a couple of weeks. It provided them a first time to get wet running through the sprinklers.

Christian and Bridget and kids ended up on a mile and a half jaunt with me in my racing wheelchair. Eliana was on my lap and the boys were on their blade scooters and Christian and Bridget ran and pushed me.

The warm weather was inviting and we are eager to see days like today become more of the norm. In addition to a few other errands, Christian ended up building an extension on the step that goes to our patio so it would be easier for me to navigate with a walker. Once again, I found that going down is easier than coming up, so can’t do that by myself yet. Perhaps that will be the next marker of progress in m recovery. I did make my first trip to our basement. Going down on my backside wasn’t too much of a problem. Standing up at the bottom of the stairs and getting back up the stairs proved more a challenge.  But I make it and it was a good workout in the process.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads  and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders,said,  “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. Matthew 28:39-41 (NKV)

One of the most amazing aspects of Jesus trial, punishment and crucifixion was His ability to hold His tongue and not speak or react. Besides the immeasurable physical torture and abuse that He endured, He was taunted and mocked and ridiculed from soldiers, to the religious people to just those who were hanging out (passing by).

Our natural tendency when challenged is to fight back, is to defend ourselves. For me the hot button is when people criticize me for not being who I am or for not believing what I do. I want to “set the record straight” and let them know how wrong they are. But that is not how Jesus responded.

Jesus during His ministry consistently threw curves to people. That included His disciples, rulers, religious leaders. He spoke in parables, they couldn’t catch Him with their trick questions, he ate when He was suppose to fast, He went to the wrong homes, hung out with the wrong people, performed miracles on the Sabbath, ridiculed the tradition of the religious elders.

Jesus in His ministry never did what people expected of the Messiah and this is amplified in His death. “Come down from the cross…save yourself..” We can understand someone who saves themselves, who defends themselves, who proves themselves to us, because that is what we do ALL the time. Our natural response is to save our self, whether through fight or flight. That we understand. So, it is easy to say Jesus do it my way, I can understand that, I can’t understand what you are doing and why!

What we don’t understand is someone willing to die  a sacrificial death. We don’t expect someone to be that “others-centered.” We expect someone to eventually give in to the demands of people, but Jesus yielded to the will of God the Father.

What is more amazing is the power that Jesus had at His disposal; Legions of angels waiting for His Word, ready to come to His rescue, but that was the human way out. Jesus began His ministry in the wilderness with Satan tempting Him, “if you are the Son of God.” Now at the end of His ministry at His point of even greater human weakness He hears the same words, “if you are the Son of God…save yourself.”  But He knew if He saved Himself, He would not be able to save us.

 Paul wrote to the Romans,  “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:6,8 (NJV)

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross made the forgiveness of sin and relationship with God possible for all who believe throughout all time. He is not waiting for us to experience any degree of self improvement. We are to come to Him just as we are.

It is one thing to stop and consider that Christ died for us; it is another to realize that He died because of us. That is not just something to understand and to give cognitive consent to; that is something to embrace with our hearts and receive God’s gift freely extend through Christ’s death. Open your heart and seek to understand God’s ways and don’t get stuck demanding, “Jesus do my way.”

Christian and Bridget and grandkids came up this afternoon to spend some Easter week time with us. It is always exciting to have them come and be with us. I was able to show them my new racing wheelchair and Caedmon helped trail me in my power wheelchair as I used the walker outside to get some exercise. It is great to be able to walk 30-50 feet at a time.

My family doctor has submitted the referral for outpatient services to Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital, so I should be setting up and appointment for my initial visit for some time in the next week or so.

With weather feeling more like consistent spring, it is time to get the sprinkler system fired up and a spring lawn mowing. With Christian and the boys up that is a perfect time for that work.

They also brought us the finished photos from our Christmas family pictures. Thanks again to Glenn and Mary Janssen for a great job. Check out their services at www.janssenphotography.com

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…

“Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come,” Isa. 45:22-24 (NKV)

As we come to the end of Easter week, we become more aware of God’s plan of redemption for all mankind. Through Christ, God desires to bring all people of all nations into relationship with Him. This verse above from Isaiah contains…

1 – A Simple Invitation – “Look to Me and be saved, All you ends of the earth!”

As I read the Old Testament prophets I find it interesting that the prophets of God did not speak only to God’s people. They prophesied to all nations and people. God has always shown Himself as the God of all the earth. This is what we see revealed in the New Testament.

2 – A Straight Forward Declaration – “For I am God and there is no others.”

Through Isaiah God confronts Israel and Judah about the false idols they have clung to and placed their hope in. When people fill the God hole in their hearts with gods or philosophies of their own making there is disappointment and confusion. God is and has always been and will always be.

3 – A Steadfast Confidence – “…Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength”

The prophets declaration of God’s sure word that “every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath..” is reflected in Philippians 2:10,11 where Paul talks about Christ humbling Himself to come to earth as our servant of salvation.  As a result of Christ’s death on the cross and His ascension to heaven after His resurrection, Paul declares, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 When Christ returns in His glory every knee will bow and tongue will recognize Him for who He is; the risen, victorious Lord and Savior. This will include those who have trust in Him and His righteousness and strength as well as those who have resisted Him. But we have a choice to bow before Him at His coming, as a defeated foe would bow before a conquering King or submit to Him now as a faithful servant does His master, in confidence of the Master’s love and care.

Happy tax day! I actually will be getting a refund which based on the mail we received today will come in handy. I did get out on my racing wheelchair today, after having to air up the tires. In the process it dawned on me why some of my days can go so fast. It takes so long sometimes to get the easiest tasks accomplished. So my airing up the tires added an additional half hour to the work out time I had set aside. I completed my “mile” in about 27 minutes which was better than my original outing.

Thank you to those who have donated to my Colfax Charity 5K effort. So far I have received 55% of my $1,000 goal. Your support of Teen Challenge of the Rocky Mountains is appreciated.

Last Friday night I had the opportunity to connect with Bob Balink from El Paso County. Bob was very gracious and supportive and it is interesting that we both spotted each other at the dinner and wanted to connect. As a county official Bob is not as known as many who hold higher elective office. However, he served eight years as the Clerk and Recorder and the past four as Treasurer for El Paso County. He has also served in leadership positions within the State Republican party. Bob was helpful to me as a Legislator in supporting some of my bills and as a valuable resource on legislation impacting counties. (Picture above Bob Balink and myself)

One of the positive notes from my doctor’s visit yesterday was the plan to start backing off some of the prednisone that I have been on. I hope this will help as far as my ability to fight off infections as well as some of the puffiness that comes with that steroid.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…

“In the past God hid this mystery, but now he has revealed it to his people. God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery—which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26,27(GW)

This is Easter week when we are made aware of the life of Christ his death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. The Bible is the revelation of God’s plan for people separated from Him by sin to be reunited with Him. We call the Bible a “redemptive revelation.”The story of the Bible moves from the creation of a man and woman (Adam and Eve) to God selecting one man, Abraham; then from Abraham’s son’s God selected Jacob and from Jacob (Israel) He established a nation, from which would come one man, a Savior, Jesus Christ who would reconcile the world back to God.

Pastor Dick Foth recently summarized the message of good news, this “mystery” as Paul called it, in these phrases: “He left His place, to come to my place; to take my place; that I may go to His place.”  (John 3:16; John 14:1-6)

 Both parts of the Bible are important in understanding God’s ways and God’s plans. It is often said that the Old Testament, is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament, is the Old Testament revealed.

It is helpful to understand the different types of “books” in the Bible. The Bible is like a “mini-library”bound together. You have God’s law, history, poetry, books of the prophets,books of personal stories (Jonah, Ruth, Esther) the gospels (that tell of the life and ministry of Jesus written to four different audiences) Acts (the growth of the church after Jesus resurrection); the letters of the Apostles to churches or individuals. Finally, the Book of Revelation that tells, “the rest of the story and provides the capstone of God’s desire and plan for all mankind,“to be with Him.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Consider the following about the Bible…

…these 66 books were written by 40 different authors.  These authors came from a variety of backgrounds: shepherds, fishermen, doctors, kings, prophets, and others.  And most of these authors never knew one another personally.

…these 66 books were written over a period of 1,500 years.  Yet again, this is another reminder that many of these authors never knew or collaborated with one another in writing these books.

… the 66 books of the Bible were written in 3 different languages. In the Bible we have books that were written in the ancient languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic; are a reflection of the historical and cultural circumstances in which each of these books were written.

… these 66 books were written on three different continents: Africa , Asia , and Europe. Once again, this is a testament to the varied historical and cultural circumstances of God’s people.

What’s more, this collection of books shares a common storyline – the creation, fall, and redemption of God’s people; a common theme– God’s universal love for all of humanity; and a common message – salvation is available to all who repent of their sins and commit to following God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.

As the all time best seller the Bible is available in a translation style that will connect with everyone. If you haven’t read the Bible why not pick one up, go online, download an app and read the final chapters of the gospel of John or one of the gospels.

www.coloradogives.org/ksummers

www.tcrm.us