Debbie and I just returned from the McKee Hospital Emergency Room. We went there after my Urologist appointment and my Urologist appointment was preceded by my visit to one of the Kaiser Primary Care Doctors at 9 a.m. this morning. So this ended up being a long day of doctor and hospital visits.

I had mentioned before some of the fatigue I experienced at the end of last week and this weekend. One of the persisting symptoms has been some upper chest pain when I take a deep breathe. My primary care doctor ran a EKG and did some blood work and a UA. After comparing my EKG to some previous tests she felt that it showed enough variance to cause some concern. So we made a trip to the ER on her recommendation for some “rule out” tests and evaluation.

The good news is nothing really abnormal showed up. I am back on some medication that I took the last time I had pericarditis symptoms. My white blood count was elevated so I am waiting on the culture results to see what they reveal. Thank you for your prayers. I would like to avert another infection.

(Above is a picture of me and Spencer Swalm one of my weekend guests)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” Mark 6:56

In a day when doctors and medicine as we know it today was nonexistent and the physical needs of people were great, it is easy to see why people thronged Jesus in hope of being healed.

We are familiar with the person in the Bible only known as the “woman with the issue of blood.” Mark 5 records how the woman (whom the doctors had given up on) believed that if she could even touch the hem of his garments she would be healed. (Many believe that this could have been one of the tassels on Jesus’ prayer shawl that was thrown over his shoulder.)

When the woman in faith touched Jesus, she was healed and Jesus knew that someone had not just brushed against him but touched Him in faith and healing power had been released to that individual. When the woman came forward Jesus simply said, “your faith has made us well, go in peace…”

I found it of interest today as I was reading Mark 5 and 6 how that there where others who also  experienced a healing touch from Jesus through touching His garment. Mark 6:56 says that as many as touched the fringe of His garment were made well.

Touching Jesus in Faith brings miracles. Today, we often view that as our commitment to prayer and seeking the Lord.  I believe many have “touched Jesus” in faith on my behalf and their prayers have been answered.

David exclaimed in Psalm 65:2 “O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.” Then we read David’s words in Psalm 66:19,20 “…truly God listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because He has not rejected my prayer or removed His steadfast love from me!”

Let’s be willing to “touch Jesus” in faith as we pray and bring our needs to Him. He will listen and we will know the reality of His steadfast love.

This morning it was 75 degrees before 8 a.m. I made the Sunday morning trek to Lamar’s donuts. After a while I think they will just start putting aside our order before we call and arrive!

Our son Christian was speaking today at the four services of Mile High Vineyard. We were keeping him in our thoughts and prayers and wish we could have been there. I needed some time this morning to get moving after some of my normal morning routine. I awoke with some upper chest discomfort, but fortunately it went away after a while. We did enjoy our coffee and devotional time on the patio.

This afternoon our friends Former State Representative Jim and Patsy Kerr stopped by to visit. We enjoyed our visit and lunch together. We were able to send them off with some of the strawberries from our garden. I served with Jim my entire six years in the legislature. Patsy served as our bookkeeper at Teen Challenge for several years and demonstrated a great heart for our work there. It was great to reflect on our years of together and share some of the joys and challenges of legislative service. Jim was one of those who knew how to take on tough and challenging policy issues.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  Mark 1:35-38

The Gospel of Mark is viewed as the oldest gospel. It is also the shortest. Mark is about action and he gets right to the point. He touches on some key events in the first chapter that take several chapters to cover in the other gospels.

When Jesus comes to Capernaum the home of Simon and Andrew He taught in the synagogue, drove out demons and then went to Peter’s home where He healed his mother-in-law of a high fever (what many historians believe was actually the bubonic plague that was raving the region at that time.)

These events get people’s attention, we read,  ^“The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases…” Mark 1:33,34

1 – We need time with the Father

We see into Jesus’ personal relationship with God the Father when scripture records that he got up while it was still dark and went to a place of prayer. If Jesus as the Son of God needed to have time with the Father to be in step with the Father’s directions and plans for His life, how much more do we today.

Jesus ministry was close to only three years. I’ve heard of some “church plants” that have experienced rapid growth and high impact in a relatively short time; but I don’t know of any single leader who amassed the following and impact in less than three years than Jesus did. His time was limited and He had only 24 hours in each day. So what He did each day was important and strategic.

2 – Jesus did not give in to the demands of the crowd

Jesus ministry was off to wild acclaim. The needs were great, the number of people were large and the anticipation was high. When Jesus disciples found Him they exclaimed, “everyone is looking for you!” There response made it sound like Jesus missed a curtain call. But Jesus was not into following the demands of the crowd, but fulfilling the will of the Father. This was not a time for an encore, it was time to move on.

3 – Jesus knew His purpose and destiny

Jesus was quick to tell His disciples that it was time to move on. “Let’s go elsewhere…that I may preach there also, for that why I have come.” Those words are words of direction, purpose and destiny. I do notice Jesus did not say that I may “heal there also” or that “I may perform miracles there also” but that I may “preach.” Jesus message, like John the Baptist’s was calling people to repentance, preparing them for the kingdom of God, sharing with them good news. Healing and miracles verified His deity but the “good news” is about a  restored relationship with God the Father through Christ.

In modern day leadership lingo, “Jesus kept the main thing, the main thing.” Jesus was following the road map the Father had laid out for Him. But just like you and I, He needed to spend time with the Father to discover the next step, the next priority.

We can find a lot of books about how to be successful, how to manage our lives and our time. It seems that in a simple way that Jesus models the basics of what that takes. Understand your purpose and priorities and seek the Father daily for His guidance. As you do He will give the wisdom, strength and favor that is needed.

Today I was experiencing some of the ramifications of my lack of water intake. It seems that I can become dehydrated so easily which makes me vulnerable to infections. I was experiencing some persistent fatigue and while other vital signs were normal, my resting pulse was 100 to 110. I went to a weekend clinic this afternoon and my pulse was better, but my temperature was up. After a returning home and getting in a good nap I felt better and we were able to make our regular Saturday night service.

It was good to have my friend and fellow State Representative Spencer Swalm up for a visit. We enjoyed lunch together and had the opportunity to get caught up and for Spencer to see my progress. Last time he was up to see me, we needed to use our handicap van to get around and this time I drove my car to the restaurant for lunch.

After church this evening we had our friend Charlie Simineo and Sue and Sam (my brother and sister in law) over for dinner. We enjoyed a nice meal on our patio. However, it did delay me finishing my daily post. I told them that my disclaimer was going to be, “any mistakes or typos are due to the distraction of the conversation while I worked on my blog.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”                 Genesis 50:19,20

As the story of Joesph ends we find his brothers concerned about Joesph holding a grudge and getting revenge for the way they treated him. Joseph had already told his brothers that God was using what had happened for His purposes and that he did not harbor any resentment. Even with that, there was still a nagging concern about whether Joesph really had forgiven his brothers.

There are two aspects of this account that are important about forgiveness.

1 – Joesph accepted God’s perspective and refused to take God’s place

We see that Joesph’s initial response to hearing of his brothers concern of retaliation was to weep. The news caused him sorrow. The scene was a fulfillment of Joesph’s dream as a teen. It would have been easy for him to gloat and remind his brothers of his dream as they bowed before him. But instead he responded in sorrow over their concern.

“Am I in the place of God?” he asked them. Joesph realized that to take revenge was placing himself as  God over his brothers. A friend of mine helped me with this concept by using the judicial process as an analogy. He said that forgiveness is like a lower court judge turning over a ruling to a higher court. That means the lower court judge allows the “higher” court to make a decision as to what happens and when. So forgiveness is releasing my right to judge another for their actions.

2 – Accepting forgiveness is freeing, but can be challenging

Sometimes it is difficult to forgive and it can be difficult to accept forgiveness and for someone to forgive themselves. It seems like Joesph found it easier to forgive his brothers than for his brothers to accept that forgiveness or to forgive themselves for their past treatment of their brother.

In Matthew 18:21-35 we find the story of the “unforgiving servant.” A servant who owed his master an unpayable debt is forgiven of his $2,000,000 debt that he owed. As soon as the servant leaves his master he finds a fellow servant who owes him $20 and demands that he be paid back and now! One author points out that the issue at the root was that the “unforgiving servant” did not understand that he had been forgiven the great debt he owed. Those who understand the forgiveness they have received from God find it easier to forgive others.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Some times people have a hard time understanding that this can really happen. As a result they keep “looking over their shoulder” not fully trusting the Lord and possessing the confidence and joy that comes through the freedom of receiving forgiveness. They believe they still need to “do” something to earn the right to be forgiven.

It is God’s desire for us to know the joy of being forgiven, both from God and from others. When you forgive and when you receive forgiveness, walk in that freedom, and live in peace.

Last night I got out and attended the “Allies” men group at Timberline Church. I was one of 120 men joining to listen to Pastor Dick Foth and begin a study of Mark Batterson’s book, “All In.” 

Today Debbie was able to come home before noon and was home the rest of the day. This provided us the opportunity to run some errands and have lunch together. We picked up some paving stones to place in the garden to keep from getting stuck in the strawberry patch. This was the first time that I drove with Debbie along. As fate would have it all the driving issues that I criticized Debbie for while I was eager to drive, I committed in one outing! Ouch.

I began to reflect on our days in Strasburg many years ago. During a special occasion (probably Pastor appreciation day ironically) the youth group in a skit lampooned my church van driving skills. They then presented me with an “Official Backseat Drivers License.” I’m trying to remember if they were “laughing with me, or at me!

(For those not following me on FaceBook, above is a picture from Sunday and my first sermon in well over a year.)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.Many are the woes of the wicked,  but the Lord’s unfailing love  surrounds the one who trusts in him.Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”  Psalm 32:7-11

I entitled this blog as “blessings for the forgiven” because David begins this Psalm with the words, “Blessed is the one
 whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” (Psalm 32:1,2)

A new life in Christ begins with turning to Him in repentance and receiving the forgiveness of sin, but that new life is lived out each day was we place our trust and confidence in the Lord.

David says of the Lord, “He will protect..surround…instruct…teach…counsel..surround with unfailing love…”  He doesn’t do those things because we earn them or deserve them, but because we trust in Him; because we reject our natural tendencies to “do our own thing.”

You see trusting in the Lord takes on meaning when we understand what we place our trust in instead of the Lord. We are use to trusting in ourselves, our own strength, our own wisdom, perhaps the wisdom of the world, fate…..the list could go on. Trusting in the Lord is the confidence that we place in Him regardless of what is happening in our lives and the timing of what we want to see happen.

Trust is a decision we make. If we can trust the Lord to forgive our sins, we can grow in our trust in Him as the One who knows how to protect, guide and provide for us all that we need.