Monthly Archives: August 2014

Belief and Action

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After a big day with the family, we actually slept in today for a little while. With my mid-morning antibiotic treatment, we decided to go to the late service at Timberline Church. This provided us an opportunity to connect with our friends Gwen and Phyllis Kovak. Phyllis went through some hip surgery and a challenging recovery in recent weeks. She is doing well and was walking with just a cane. I gave her a hard time about making me look bad, especially considering her rebound as someone in her early 90’s. After the service we headed out to lunch together and enjoyed a nice meal and good time of conversation.

With the holiday weekend our neighborhood pool will be closing down. My hospitalization and the IV line in my arm has kept me from my pool activities in the past two weeks. The grandkids did make it down to the pool and I took the opportunity to get an “end of the season” picture with Harrison one of the lifeguards. Harrison is a junior at CSU and has been a lifeguard at our neighborhood pool for five years.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…. Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” … for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him…For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”       Romans 10:4,9,11,13

A few months ago a friend of mine expressed the difficulty for him in understanding the Bible. I then recall the words of a famous preacher of old who would say, “it is not the parts of the Bible I don’t understand the cause me the greatest concern, it is those parts that I do understand.”

While the book of Romans can contain some challenging passages, these verses above are clear to understand. The core of the gospel and a personal relationship with Christ is built on the foundation of “belief.” Belief in the person of Christ, belief in the claims of Christ is what makes the difference. What you believe results in a righteousness that comes from Christ. What you believe about Christ is key to forgiveness of sin. We are told that this commitment to believe in Christ and His death and resurrection from the dead does not result in shame or regret.

But we see that what we believe must be acted upon. Belief and action go hand in hand. As it is in so many areas of life and it applies to our spiritual life as well. When we believe in Christ it calls us to “confess with out mouth” that belief. It brings courage to “call on the name of the Lord.” And when we call on the name of the Lord we experience forgiveness and blessing.

That is about as simple and straight forward as it can get. Simple enough for a child, powerful enough to change the life of an adult. Believe, confess and receive. What do you believe? You take action on what you believe everyday. So, do your actions support what you believe?

 

 

Signs of Moral Decay

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We have had an enjoyable day with Christian and Bridget and Riley, Caedmon and Eliana. They did make it down to the pool for some time in the water. Eliana joined me and Andy (the dog) for a nap. She also helped me with my morning IV antibiotic infusion.

Last night we did make it for our outing with the grandkids to the McDonald’s playground and then to Sonic for milkshakes. Their parents beat us home before we returned. I was surprised they were up as early as they were this morning after the late night for them. But they were up and at ’em and ready for waffles. In all it made for a good time with grandpa and grandma. Now they have to return to the regular home routine.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…  “….And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.”  Judges 2:10  “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”   Judges 21:25

These two verses above, one from the early chapters and one from the last chapter of Judges summarize the moral and spiritual decline of God’s people one generation after crossing the Jordan River and entering the promised land. They stand before us today as an epitaph for any family, people or nation that has roots in a commitment to God’s ways.

The generation that was in Egypt saw the miracles, crossed the Red Sea, but rebelled after the spies brought back the report from the promised land are dead. The generation that renewed the covenant before the death of Moses and followed Joshua and crossed the Jordan in another miraculous display of God’s power and had seen God defeat enemies stronger and larger than they were are gone.

The next generation was to be the promised land conquering and occupying generation, but something happened. The children of Israel were unsuccessful in complete victory over the people in the land of Canaan. They began to oppress but not conquer, they began to accommodate but not separate themselves from the customs and gods of the people of the land. As a result, a generation arose that did not know the power of God or the ways of God as had previous generations.

Such is the fragile nature of spiritual allegiance and the critical value of the faith being passed on from one generation to the next. This is a challenge that Moses said rests with parents and then the community as a whole. Unlike Elisha (who succeeded Elijah as prophet) who cried out “where is the God of Elijah?” This generation did not know enough about the wonders of God to cry out for Him to “do the same again in their midst” as had been done in the past.

The next verse is as telling, “No King…everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” They had rejected or did not know they were to follow the Lord’s leadership in their life. There was also the absence of a King or a consistent governmental authority to maintain law and order and moral judgment, so everyone did what they thought was right. This condition is not only a consequence of the absence of leadership, but it is also the consequence of the failure of leadership and a culture that demands of its leaders, “we want to do our own thing, in our own way.”

This reminds me much of our culture today. One of the key roles of government is to protect its citizens not only from outside forces, but from themselves. That is why we establish laws and punish those who break those laws. At the core of all human laws are God’s laws. We need to understand that it can make all the difference even in a “secular society.” Someone once observed that our country was based on biblical law and ethics not because of a desire to force a certain belief system as much as an understanding that this foundation would permit the greatest order, freedom and blessing for all people.

In my life we have seen media reflect the idealized family in “Father Knows Best” to the other extreme of modern shows that portray  “Father as a Jerk.”  We find ourselves searching too few and too far between for any positive reflection of family life in the midst of the all the negative and dysfunctional models as “everyone does what is right in their own eyes.”

One thing that you can count on whether you were living in the times of the Judges or today is that our “Heavenly Father does know what is best.”

 

 

Let Grace Be Grace

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This morning I had an appointment with my neurologist. This was timely in light of my recent hospitalization. Dr. Bondi was pleased with my progress. I am always surprised how much he remembers about my early hospitalization and the evaluations that he did then compared to now.

He does want me to have some follow up MRI’s on my neck and head and will do some nerve damage assessment on my legs and arms. The good news is that he feels the weakness and lack of response in my right leg will improve with time. This deficit is part of the West Nile Virus damage to nerves. He did say that I do show the presence of Myasethenia Gravis but it is not as active as it could be due to the removal of my thymus gland. I should be able to eliminate or drop back on some of my meds over the next few weeks. He performed a fairly extensive exam and I was surprised how tired I was after returning home from the appointment.

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a reception for Laura Woods, candidate for the State Senate in Jefferson County. I also met Donna Walter who is running for State Representative in Fort Collins. (picture above) Both these ladies are committed Christians stepping into the political arena.

We are looking forward to Christian and Bridget and grandkids coming up this evening. Christian and  Bridget will go out on a “date” and we will take the grandkids to Sonic for milkshakes. (after 8 p.m. of course for half price special)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”  Romans 11:6 (ESV)

As Paul writes to the Romans he is confronting the difficult issues of adherence to the Law of Moses and salvation by grace through faith in Christ. This can difficult for us to grasp or appreciate. But if you were a Jew who was instructed, like Paul, to live your life in strict adherence to the Law of Moses and now you are hearing that is not necessary; there are all kinds of questions racing through your head.

Paul addresses many of those. He was on the look out for those who took the view that if we are “save by grace” it doesn’t matter how we live. The more sin, the more grace! Paul responds with a resounding, “God forbid!”                   (Romans 6:1,2)

Paul explains that we now have available to our lives a righteousness (right-ness before God) that is not based on what we do. He says, all have sinned (Jews and Gentiles) and all have the opportunity to experience forgiveness through the grace of Jesus.

Consider the full context of Paul’s explanation that contains a familiar verse…

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”  Romans 3:21-25

We see the key words, “‘righteousness” “faith” “grace” “believe” – Paul in writing to the Ephesians places this words in another way to show the relationship between “faith” and “works.”

” For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8,9

Our right standing before God is all possible because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. There is no competition for this status, there is no initiation or “hazing ritual.” It is a gift; a gift received by faith. It is not a result of our work for Christ, is a result of Christ’s work on us. As we follow Him, we walk in “good works” that God has prepared for us to live in, so that we can glorify Him and be His agents of change and life  in a dark world. Let grace be grace in your life.

You Asked for a Sign….

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A fall like day here in Fort Collins with cool temperatures. My nurse came and changed out my IV line. I went ahead and removed the old one myself after my morning antibiotic dose. This gave me a few hours without a needle in my arm and provided me an opportunity to take a shower without having to wrap my arm with plastic.

If nothing else, I can take note of the signs of independence in my care. Every once in a while, I have to stop and remember how limited I was in my ability to move my arms and legs. I was recalling recently when I was in the Acute Care Hospital lat year having to remind the aides that I needed certain items in an exact spot. If they were just an inch of two either direction, I was not able to reach them.

Debbie and I have marked certain “small steps” forward in my independence as signs of progress. Ones that for most people would easily be unnoticed or taken for granted. For me those “small steps” were big signs. Some of them Debbie even had to point out to me in order for me to appreciate the progress.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”   Matthew 27:51-54

There are certain verses in the Bible that we read and out of familiarity or the fact that after-all it is “The Bible” that we fail to understand the significance. The religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign. He told them the only sign they would receive would be the “sign of Jonah.” He explained that as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days so He would be in the grave for three days. I am always surprised that the religious leaders remembered and had greater concern over this prediection than did Jesus followers. That is what made them go to Pilot and make sure the grave was secure.

When Jesus died these signs of His Deity above had great significance. The curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This curtain had separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies to offer the blood of the sacrifice for the sins of the people. When Christ died and the curtain was torn it was a signal that God was hosting an “open house.” The blood of Christ became the sacrifice for the sin of the world and a new day had arrived! A day of grace and forgiveness for all who would place their faith in Christ.

Then there was the earthquake that shook the city. Since not everyone was at the cross it would have been interesting to hear the talk among the people about this event. One person that did not miss the significance was the centurion and others standing guard at the cross. He confessed, “surely this was the Son of God.” What role this man had in the punishment Jesus received we do not know. He at least would have been overseeing the punishment Jesus received. Perhaps he was in the crowd on the day of Pentecost just over 50 days later when Peter gave his sermon; on that occasion thousands confessed Christ as savior.  (Acts 2)

The last sign is to me one of the greatest. The graves of dead saints were opened and they came out of their tombs, went into the city and “appeared to many.” Which saints? What did they say? How did people react? Did they return to their graves? Here is an event the evokes a lot of questions, but is often skimmed over. For whatever reason we are not filled in on those details. But it was a sign that “Jesus was [is] the Son of God!” It is a clear indication that Jesus death on the cross means life for all who place their trust in Him.

The religious leaders asked for a sign. They received many signs in God’s way and in God’s time. They had to decide what do do with the signs. Many of them rejected the signs and they tried to suppress the greatest sign, Jesus resurrection. The centurion saw the signs and believed. When you read the gospels, don’t miss the significance of these events, don’t miss the signs.

 

When What I Fear Happens

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Today I have had more energy and strength then in the past two days. The last two evenings Debbie has helped me with my walking with my walker. I have been able to make it the length of our property line which is almost a block, more than that for my round trip after a rest break. I have had to delay my outpatient appointments until after my antibiotic doses are completed. I will have two outpatient therapy appointments in early September before we take a trip to Orlando.

I was pleased that I was able to get out and get the lawn mowed between the morning and afternoon rains. The grass was long enough I will need to rake up the trimmings in some spots.

This afternoon I stopped by Timberline Church to catch Pastor Jay Pathak from Mile High Vineyard. My son Christian is on staff at this church and Jay was in town sharing “The Art of Neighboring.” This was a seminar for community leaders based on his book by the same title.

I received an email from some people in Texas with a friend in his mid-70’s with West Nile Virus. He is hospitalized receiving some of the same life support and experiencing some of the same symptoms as I did. Please pray from Lloyd that he recovers and is strengthened in his mind and body.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.”  Job 3:25

This statements is from Job’s first “discourse” after not just losing children, servants and live stock but also his health. It is Job’s physical suffering that makes his wife say, “why don’t you curse God and die.”

This verse contains an idiom that we still hear today. “What I feared has come upon me.” I am not sure if modern psychology would attribute this to some “self-fulfilling prophecy” or just a bazaar occurrence. It is true that 99% of the things we worry about don’t happen. That is why worry is unproductive. But there are those scenarios that all of us have in our mind that we would not want to face.

For me an extended hospital stay with tubes running out of all my body cavities was one of those. As a pastor I had seen people in all types of serious conditions in ICU units and hospital rooms. That exposure was probably the reason for my “I-don’t-every-want-to-be-in-that-situation”  list.

When I received the email this morning about the man with West Nile his situation was similar to mine. With the exception of his diabetes (not sure how serious) he played golf, was an active member of his church and in good physical condition. I am sure the for a man in his mid-70’s he would have expected some other health crisis other than one from being bit by a mosquito. I am use to men like this outplaying me on my senior softball team.

When we face the unexpected our faith is put to the test. Faith is only revealed in the midst of the test or the fight. Peter talks about the trying of our faith. (1 Peter 1:7) Paul writes about the “shield of faith” that distinguishes the enemies (Satan’s) arrows. (Ephesians 6)

When we face the unexpected we find strength to meet the need . Paul in pleading with Jesus about his “thorn in the flesh” received the message of reassurance from the Lord, “my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul goes on and makes a statement of contrast, “…when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Corinthians 12:9,10) I like the adage that says, “God doesn’t give dying grace on non-dying days.”  

When we face the unexpected it reveals our character. Job’s wife asked him, “will you still hold on to your integrity?” The reality is when all is is stripped away, that is all that you have. A recent issue of Readers Digest contained an article by retired Navy Seal Mark Divine entitled, “Learning to Take a Stand.” Divine, speaking from a career in the military to business, says, “I’ve noticed that leadership is not skill. It’s character. Successful, happy, and fulfilled people embody core values such as honor, courage and commitment to personal excellence…”  This applies to whether you are leading a troop, company, family or yourself. Just as hot water brings out the flavor and color of the tea, so the “hot water” circumstances of life bring out what is inside of us.

I am thankful that the Lord is faithful to give strength in the midst of the tests of life that build and reveal our character. Just as the Lord’s love and faithfulness endures forever, so our faith must endure in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health.

 

A King for God’s People

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I was looking at my grass and it seemed that it needed to be mowed already after my Saturday evening mowing. But it is raining again and it looks like more rain will come tomorrow. I am glad that this morning Ted Grizzel was able to come over and help with some trimming of our peach tree which looks like it is on its last leg after 15 years. He also took time to help me remove the bottom plate off my power wheelchair so I will keep from catching my garden hose, electric cord and dog’s leash underneath on a bolt designed for locking the chair in place when driving the van.

I accomplished my assigned duties of making follow up doctor appointments for the next few weeks and adjusting my outpatient therapy sessions. With my IV port and the rain it has restricted me from getting into the pool for my normal workout. Christian and family are to return this weekend. My hope is that I will have my IV port out of my arm long enough on Friday to go swimming with the grandkids. (That means I may need to remove it myself, but don’t tell Debbie!)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…“Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship…Saul went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. But some worthless fellows said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace.”  1 Samuel 10:24-27

The story of Saul is an interesting one. It is an important one. As the Children of Israel move into the promised land, they demand of Samuel a King to rule over them. They wanted someone to “lead them into battle” and they wanted to be “like other nations.”

While the Lord raised up Judges who would lead Israel for certain periods of time, it was obvious the Lord was the One leading and fighting for His people. God told Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.” (1 Samuel 8:6)

Just think Samuel has the duty to select a human King to replace God as the King of His people. And the one chosen has an apparent inferiority complex, which is in part due to his family and tribal history and his own awkward physical condition of being “head and shoulders taller than anyone.” I have this mental picture of Saul being the “Jethro Bodine”  (The Beverly Hillbillies clan) of his family and the tribe of Benjamin.

When Saul is anointed and presented to the people they have to find him hiding in the baggage. After the coronation ceremony Saul returns home and with him “men of valor whose hearts God had touched.” But in spite of their demand for a King and the divine selection by God through the prophet Samuel there were still some, “worthless fellows [who] said, “How can this man save us?” And they despised him and brought him no present.” Anyone involved in politics today, has to chuckle at that reality. Even if you are hand picked by God you will have your detractors! Makes me feel better about my critics when I served in elected office.

However Saul’s first expression of wisdom is seen in that, “…he held his peace.” A leader has to realize that regardless of what you do or say, you can’t win over those who are adamantly opposed to  you for whatever reason. Perhaps the Lord allows that to keep us all humble.

Earlier when Samuel first encountered Saul there were (by my quick count) at least twenty-two details that the prophet articulated in his instructions as to what would happen. The passages goes on and says “all of them happened on the same day.” It also reports something else of significance. It says that “God gave him another heart.” I believe that was the heart of a leader. A heart of wisdom, courage and strength.

There is an old well-worn adage, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” I believe we see that in scripture and I know that I have experienced it in my own life.

The leadership lesson, the life lesson is that God uses people to accomplish His plans and His purposes. Those He chooses may seem unlikely and view themselves as unqualified. But when God calls them and they respond in faith, He empowers them to do His work. As He empowers them to do His work, it is critical to realize that which is happening is from the Lord and not from our own wisdom and strength.

 

Faith for Others

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I am continuing my self-administered IV antibiotics. My home-care nurse came by today to draw blood and check my blood pressure. I also had a conversation with my case coordinator from Kaiser following up on my hospitalization and the discharge instructions.

I did get outside for a short time today. I have been experiencing greater fatigue than what I have been used to since being home. I am glad my infectious disease doctor warned me that this is a normal side effect of the antibiotics. I’m glad this regimen will only be for ten days instead of thirty.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven”….But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” Matthew 9:2,7

This miracle of Jesus is noteworthy for several reasons. We first of all see the tenacity of the paralyzed man’s friends (four in number according to other gospels) in getting him to Jesus. They were committed to get their friend to Jesus and would not let any obstacles stand in their way.

Jesus commends the faith of the friends and then responds to the need to the paralyzed man. We do see a centurion coming to Jesus in behalf of a servant and a mother beseeching Jesus in behalf of a demon possessed daughter. But this miracle contains a different dimension. Four friends who so believed that Jesus was the answer to their friends healing that they did everything they could to get the man in front of Jesus. And when they did, Jesus did not comment on the man’s faith but the faith of his friends.

Then we see that the first thing Jesus does is to say, “your sins are forgiven.”  This order seems odd to the casual reader. The greatest and most obvious need is the man’s ability to walk. But Jesus’ view is different, it is deeper. Is it better to leave a man a cripple but for him to be spiritually whole? or is it better for him to walk and to live in spiritual darkness?

Jesus demonstrates His spiritual authority and His power to heal. As he heals the man, He addresses the Scribes (who are whispering to each other), “that you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins….” He says to the man, “rise pick up your bed and go home.”

I am thankful that faith for others is possible. In a day when we see an emphasis on personal faith as the key to receiving from God, I am glad that when an individual’s faith is weak or wavering they can be “carried” to Jesus by the faith of close friends. The faith of others still moves Christ to compassion and action.

We may think we know what our greatest need is, but Jesus is the one who has the greatest insight into our lives. This man’s friends were anticipating his healing, Jesus forgave His sins first. Spiritual wholeness is the priority for our lives. At some point we will all experience physical death due to something or from something. However,  “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17)

Once again with my recent hospitalization, I am personally thankful for the concept of Jesus healing because of the “faith of others.” I am here today, because one year ago, when I couldn’t pray, believe or respond, there were friends praying for me. Thank you to those who have prayed, are praying and will continue to pray for the Lord’s completed work in my life.

 

Charging God with Wrong

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I have enjoyed my first day home from the hospital. Last night late my home care nurse paid us a visit to get me going on my first home antibiotic dose. This is the third time I have done home infusion, and this is the third method we have found for doing home infusion. I guess that keeps you on your toes. The good thing is that I avoided a PICC line, but will require more nursing visits to change out the peripheral line every three days.

I have taken it easier today and tried to get as much rest as possible. This afternoon my mother and her friend Sue came for a visit. We enjoyed a nice mid-afternoon lunch. Before she went home we were able to cut some of our roses that are in full bloom. I shouldn’t mention that I got myself stuck in the rocks of the flowerbed and probably punctured a drip line for the roses, but I am thankful for Dom our neighbor coming right over to help us out. I think this is the fourth time, I’ve gotten myself stuck, but who is counting? I think Debbie is! So I promised that it would be the last time.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”                 Job 1:20-22

Family, wealth and health. These three constitute our life; the quality of life, the ability to enjoy life and the connection to our lineage that makes life worth living. Job in the end lost all three. Or I should say that Job lost all of these and because of His faithfulness to God, in the end they were all restored in abundance.

The first phase of loss, Job lost his children, servants and his wealth. His wife would soon call on him to curse God and die. I used to be hard on Job’s wife until, I learned from my illness the stress and toll hardship can take on family members, especially a spouse. Job’s wife’s response was probably more normal than not.

Job’s response is instructive. His well known response in verse 22, can make it sound like Job, “just took everything in stride.” But we see that he showed the signs of intense grief, yet in his grief he turned to the Lord. Out of his focus on the Lord we see that he hung to that which is eternal, and he showed that what he had, even his own children, he held loosely. He recognized all that he had came from God. He realized that God gives, God takes, but in it all God is to honored.

What caught my attention was the statement, “…Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.” When hardship comes in whatever form and in whatever intensity, it makes people vulnerable to become angry with God, which is often expressed in sinful behavior or to blame God for the source of their problems and failing to keep them from any harm, loss or difficulty.

I recall reading an account of a pioneer missionary over a hundred years ago who went to the Congo with a young wife. After his wife gave birth, she contracted malaria and died. The missionary gave his daughter to another missionary couple, returned to the U.S. and turned to a life of alcoholism, forbidding anyone to talk about God in his presence.

I recall visiting with a medical staff member during my initial hospital stay, who confessed to me that she was “still mad at God” over the death of her father. (I wanted to asked her, “how’s that working out for you?!” but kept my traumatic brain injury thoughts from being spoken out loud.)

Obviously the examples are endless. I just wanted to share these bookends to demonstrated that the challenge of a proper and healthy response to hardship and difficulties did not end with Job. Unfortunately, it seems the shipwrecks of faith outnumber those who strap themselves to the mast and ride out the storm to safety.

The bottom line to remember is that loss hurts, the pain is real, the grief must be confronted. It is okay to question, it is okay to be mad at God, He can handle it. But in the end after the storm waves begin to calm you can find assurance in the words of Job “…blessed by the name of the Lord” and the words or Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Jesus had no immediate family, He had no wealth; in the end He suffered gruesome torture and death as one betrayed and falsely accused; but God gave Him new life and God can do that for you.