Homecoming

 As I have shared before, coming home can be the most beautiful part of an adventure. There might not be anything as exciting as getting back to normal. Since I have a while before I'm back to normal, I should be excited for some time. Some might argue I could never get "back" to normal. Another wild ride in any case. The outlook is good. I will follow up at Duke every six months. I returned to work for my first full week since September. Hopefully, I return to the gym next week. With all the excitement, I took a break from my normal routine of writing to enjoy my homecoming but soon I'll be rambling, ranting, or squawking spiritual satire. It felt wonderful to see my girls for the first time in months. The kiss my wife gave me was WOW!. Church was a blast. I couldn't walk five feet without getting a hug. It was humbling and wonderful. I made Monday night small group despite having a wicked sinus infection. Music, food, fellowship with close friends, could you tell me, how could it be any better than this? I couldn't resist throwing something at my pal, Tony. It had been too long. While he wasn't looking, in what was reminiscent of David's stone striking Goliath, a cough drop bounced from Tony's forehead. I can't say enough about my small group. When we get together the devil has to step up his game. If there's a spiritual lesson in this homecoming, then it's that people take too much for granted. Don't miss out on telling people how much they mean to you and to God. It overwhelms me that God can give every person His undivided attention simultaneously. And He loves everyone of them.

Things Jesus Never Said

 After years of sticking my foot in my mouth, I am sort of an authority on saying stupid stuff.  Don`t worry, just because I am good at it doesn`t mean I am going to run for political office. To be honest, I`m not sure if I enjoy being on my high horse as much as I enjoy not sounding like a jackass. Opinionated comments often can`t be nailed down as right or wrong, but we can all agree their timing makes all the difference. The politically correct statements made by the President at the National Prayer Breakfast are a prime example of correctly inappropriate facts.  If you`re not aware of those comments you can watch this video. The President's facts were spot on.  However, if he was trying to communicate that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, there might have been a less divisive way to say it. There's no solace, no healing, and no relevant solution for today's tragedies in nursing 1000 year old grievances. 
 Politicians don`t have a monopoly on saying stupid things. Well meaning Christians can sound dumb as a box of rocks. Here`s an example: Start off a dogmatic theological statement followed by a meme, "Things Jesus never said" in an attempt at sounding satirical. The one that set me off was, "Everybody's eyes closed, nobody looking around ... things Jesus never said". I think the "statement is probably true. As true as, what the President recently said, people, who called themselves Christians, "committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ". These memes and statements are more akin than you think, focusing on what Jesus did not teach rather than what he did. Both are true statements, but certainly not void of ambiguity. You are getting the truth but something`s missing. Sort of like the President quoting only partially Koran 5:32. and without referencing Koran 5:33 Here is a link to his speech in 2009. Here's the rest of the story, the entire passage. Changes the whole context doesn't it? Where`s Paul Harvey when you need him? 
 Let me be clear, neither the President's statement or the meme communicates unity, regardless if born from ignorance or intentionally designed to cause division. I suppose you might learn something from what Jesus never said, and I'm quite certain, Jesus never said many things. He never said " fight and kill those who believe differently than you wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them." No, Jesus never said that, but Muhammad did. Jesus said, "love your enemies." He promoted peace with the enemy but He never said the enemy is peaceful. Neither did he say bring up a twisted distortion of my teachings, to smooth over

ideologies so you can all get along.  Hey, I'll be the first to tell you we fail to love up to Christ's example. But how, could following the words and example of Muhammad be a twisted distortion of Islam ? Once, Muhammad slaughtered eight hundred or so men and took their wives and children for slaves. Muslims played a huge role in the beginning of the African slave trade. They did nothing to end it theologically. While it is correct to say, some Christians were using the bible to justify slavery, Christ followers were using the teachings of Christ to kill it . Lest we forget, slavery is still rampant in North Africa today. Many Muslims, haven`t failed, as we have, in following words of their prophet. To pretend these barbaric executions and modern day slavery are some distorted version of a peaceful religion, is ignorance, wishful thinking, or deception. In fact, the opposite is true. While there are certainly peaceful Muslims, they have simply ignored much of Muhammad's doctrine. If you think I'm beating up on Muslims, you'd be wrong. Sin is a global problem, defeated only by the love of Christ. I equate my own sins as mass murdering the entire planet. Real love means embracing the truth and isn't always pretty.  Once the way, the truth, and the life was naked, raw, and dying on a cross. That's the only reason He could love any of us. 

 Despite our past failures, some Christians are now concerned about what Jesus didn`t say, as if, we had mastered all that He said. Never mind, the bible tells us that there`s more to Jesus than what the book says about Him. Check out John 21:25. To the best of my knowledge, Jesus never said for us to fold our hands, bow our heads, or close our eyes to pray any prayer. Still, I'll bet the farm this guy making the meme "things Jesus never said" does them. As far as I know, He never said: Go build structures in my name. Never said churches need hymnals, Never said sing along to organ music. Never said look your best at church. I'm betting he's done these too. What you can't know, is if God has ever used these things to help communicate the Gospel to first time believers. Let's face it, God has used many unorthodox approaches in revealing Himself. It wasn't exactly theologians Christ picked to deliver the Good News. Whatever method, salvation is a commitment to Christ. It brings about true repentance, and life change. If a commitment to Christ is present,  there`s, no reason to condemn the methods of how they came about. Christians, dispite their differences, and past failures, now more than ever, need to come together and live up to the standard Jesus set. That means loving everyone. See how easy that was Mr. President?

Jesus said a lot of things for us to do. Tough things. Things you and I most likely will never live up to. We most certainly will not by sugar coating half truths. For sure He said, "... whoever is not against us is for us." Mark 9:39.  I hope we figure this out soon cause Jesus also said, "every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." I figure the enemy's counting on this. There is no solid foundation in the words Jesus never spoke. Let us build our house on the things that He said. Just like He told us to.

Journeys & Storms or Heaven in a Hamburger Joint

Life is more like the weather than a box of chocolates. You never know when it`s going to change. The sun can be shinning, but suddenly, like a crippling blizzard setting in, piling up layer after layer, until nothing can move, storms can come. That`s just what being treated for cancer can be like. You just don`t really know which way the wind`s going to blow. Or who it will blow in. When my best friends, Bob and Mary Cody, surprised me with a visit midway my treatment, I was overwhelmed. Then Juno hit, the blizzard of 2015. Twenty-four inches of snow in twenty-four hours crippled the city. We were separated by only two miles but were we as far apart as we were at a 1000. They hadn`t prepared for the freak storm. They weren`t, shall we say, dressed for the occasion. Other than the Freedom Trail, that I have now dubbed the freeze`um trail, the whole ordeal kept us from seeing any of Boston`s attractions. Still, I try to learn the lessons God teaches in all circumstances.

Storms are unavoidable. Be prepared for the worse while praying for the best. Jesus teaches this in Matthew 7. Build on a solid foundation then you will stay prepared. If my parents got anything perfect raising me it was this. We`ve never been accused of traveling light but you can`t properly minister to others if you`re ill prepared. Ezekiel 38:7 says "Be ready and keep ready, you and all your host assembled about you, and be a guard for them". Storms don`t have to stop us. That`s the whole point of being prepared.

 It was in the middle of Juno, during the night, that five cancer patients  (myself included) and one care giver, ages ranging from 26 to 72, set out on a trek

 over two and half miles through the blizzard. The busy streets of Boston were reduced to a white desert and we were its wayfaring travelers. Only the occasional snowplow or police vehicle were on the roads. From within their warm cabs came strange glances of perplexion toward us. Ignoring them, we traveled on, for we were on a mission. Like Paul, we pressed on toward the prize with no concerns for the things behind us. Arriving at our destination, we entered into the warmth, discarding heavy coats. Funny how a brush of death can make you feel alive. Laughter and fellowship filled the air as we feasted on the best burger I have ever tasted. Though I was caught in the moment, I couldn`t help but think of a day when we will forever caste off these clothes and rest from this journey through storms, we call life. What a feast that will be.

 The place was small and crowded, I felt fortunate to have found it partially vacant. As crowded as it was, I wished Bob was taking up one more seat. With my chin propped in my hand, I smiled. Blissful aromas flowing from the grill sent me daydreaming of how wonderful heaven must smell. Waking up to, "Come on, Clint", I bundled myself together to resume a journey I know is only halfway complete. I turn my face back into the wind and ice with this in mind:  Now that I am full, I`ve been called to go. One little storm isn`t going to stop me.