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.

In the Name Of Love

If you have been on social media, in the past month, you've no doubt seen post from big name news sources spotlighting an incestial relationship between a 36 year old father and his 18 year old, long lost daughter. On the outside chance you missed it, here's a link to click. Warning, if reading this makes you nauseated, don't read the detailed interview of the daughter. It will make you loose your cookies. Before social media, I remember a time when such subjects were taboo or at least shocking. Even now, the subject has brought a frenzy of comments on Facebook and Twitter. With exception to the warped mind convinced of their bleeding heart, the overall sentiment of the public is incest is totally wrong. I concur. What else would you expect from an intolerant Christian? What about the rest of tolerant society? Apparently, even the godless find incest intolerable. Top atheist writers find incest so repulsive they write about the problems of  "emotional incest". You can google it along with Patheos. If you can get around the obvious attack on Christianity, you'll find the atheist are on to something. It's a real parent trap, everyone, especially Christians, should be mindful of. Still, does any of this matter if God is nonexistent?
If there such a thing as "normal" behavior and wright and wrong when it comes to relationships, where does it come from? If man determines his own destiny, by whose authority do we condemn incest? If a god directs our paths, who are we to judge?  If it's happiness, then this couple seems to be in bliss. At least, for now, but there's always divorce once the new, I mean ick, wears off . If it is okay, as long as they are not hurting anyone, then let it go. How can it threaten "the  family " or society? Using the possibility of birth defects begs this question . Can those, not yet conceived, have the right to a stronger genetic code than incest can provide, while somehow those conceived have no right to life? Even the most tolerant are shaking their heads in disbelief of incest.  Despite the scientific suggestions incestials are born this way,  it's a safe bet you find this wrong. If being born a certain way legitimizes homosexual relationships, then certainly GSA would in turn, rationalize incest. Right?  Don't you trust the science? It would seem the smoke and mirrors of research hasn't clouded society's collective reflection of incest, pedophilia, and beastiality. For the moment, these are still just plain wrong. Well, except in the case of incest. It's  plainly wrong everywhere in the U.S. but New Jersey. Yet, many of those who can't palate incest, would swallow their own medicine where incest is concerned to spoonfeed the rest of us "we aren't on a slippery slope". No matter how much sugar you cut it with, it still tastes yucky and no one's convinced it's good for us. If marriage becomes a constitutional right, what will be the grounds for preventing incestial couples from matrimony? How long before we force pastors to marry incestial couples or threesomes? Photographers and bakers be afraid. When did we equate sex to love? Does attraction demand an uncontrollable action? Where did we loose control?

 The bible teaches "God is Love" 1John4:8. In that respect, there are no limits to love but loving relationships have boundaries. Those boundaries are clearly drawn by the inventer, engineer, and chief architect of love and sex. For now, at least in this case, the general consensus wants certain lines to go uncrossed. In a world where lines are so blurry that pedophiles can create charitable organizations demanding equality, like B4-UACT, a few more questions come mind. Like, how much more insanity will we tolerate? And what other relationship boundaries might the bible be right about ? 

Protecting Les Graham's Image

Christians are really good at putting their best foot forward. We should be, Jesus told us we "are a city on a hill". Everything about us should shine like the truth in us. Yet in our eagerness to look good to the world, Christians often present an unrealistic image. It's akin to admiring a photoshopped version of model that doesn't really exist. Laboring to keep up this image, keeps people from  wanting anything we have. If it's partially put on, they believe it's all a lie. But, it's not just potiental converts we cheat. It's everything and everybody, from ourselves to our world.

 Putting our best foot forward might be the the Achilles heal in strengthening our faith. It's a trap I've fallen into before and occasionally still fall into. Even though I try to keep it real, in ways you'll never see on Sunday or social media, I've failed as a husband, parent, and anything and everything else I am including a Christian. Saved people might be saved but they will always be in need of their savior. God loves to fix things we are too ashamed to admit to the world. 

One of the things I was too ashamed to admit was I hated Les Graham. Though I was sure he was destined for hell, I literally wouldn't have cared if he died. In my defense, he was easy to hate. After all, it's so much more pleasant to despise anyone's actions other than your own. Never mind what I was, he was a liar, thief, and crackhead. As far as I was concerned, the world would have been a better place without Les. Looking back, I realize this says more about the sorry condition of my soul than his. Of everything Les was, or wasn't that he should have been, he was destined to become the most unlikely of all things. He was to become my friend. 

While Les spent a few years in prison, I got involved in a prison ministry. By the time Les was released, both of us had done a lot of changing. In one of my 

most bizarre encounters with God, he commanded me to hire Les. I didn't want to do it. I didn't hate Les anymore but I still didn't like him. Knowing how hypocritical it would be, to tell prisoners they could change, then not help one was more like conviction than compassion. In our small town, you're guilty by association and Les had ripped off everyone or their brother. At least, that's what everyone said. It didn't matter that it wasn't true if everyone believed it. Hiring him would not be strategic business planning. It was business suicide. But, I did it anyway because God is insistent in getting His way.

 Running a business in the construction industry is tough. It gets messy. It can bring out the worst in you, and having a hardheaded convicted felon on your team doesn't do much for your attitude or your bottom line. Especially, since your clientele has abandoned you, and you doubt the new employee knows or even cares that it's because of him. More than once, Les made me roll my eyes toward heaven and throw up both hands. Les got to see the real me and he challenged my Christian charity to its limits. It wasn't a choir boy image, Les was seeing. But, it was really me, from my strengths to my weaknesses. Over the next five years, both Les and myself continued to change. Slowly, he became someone I dearly loved. He wasn't much to look at but he was a lot to talk about. He got blamed for every unsolved crime that followed his release.  I saw first hand how false accusations due to his past held him back and knew if I hadn't learned to love him, I be one of those making the accusations. I could spend hours telling of how Les and I changed each other. It would bring tears and laughter. Eventually, Les would come to be a Christ follower. I've never seen anyone more on fire for Jesus. Despite the doubts and accusations, he's impacting his community positively. At this moment, he's in Africa bringing both clean water and living water to people who have never had them. Wouldn't you know, the naysayers, so careful to protect their image, who wouldn't  lift a pinky, are still questioning his motives, methods, and ministry. Which means, he's doing something right. This man is impacting the world I once thought was better off without him.

 I went to hear Les give his powerful testimony. It's been my greatest honor to have him mention how God used me in a small way in his coming to a radical love for Christ. I'd swell up with pride except I know the truth. I know I needed fixing and God used Les to do it. Before either of us knew, God had chosen him to do mighty things.  I often think how close I came to missing a miracle just to put my best foot forward. Protecting my image would not have protected me or the church. We don't need to bear the burden of an unrealistic image . We should never forget what we have to bear, the image of the Almighty. Something Les has learned and taught others to do. Like me.

Trains, Goals, & Plans

 Proverbs  29:  18 says "Where there is no vision, the people perish:..." I couldn't think of anything else on the broken subway I was stuck in. I kept thinking how many neat metaphors I could make from the experience. I could use: missing the train, the wrong train, or stuck going nowhere. I could apply them and make a lesson about goals from the situation. But I won't.

  Proverbs 29:18, was one of the first Proverbs I learned as new believer. Sammy Johnson quoted those words from the pew in my home church the first time I heard them. It might as well been Solomon himself speaking. Sammy was the youth leader at my church, who constantly taught us the importance of planning. It was easy to see positive effects of planning not only in Sammy's life but also in his son, Scott's life. Scott is now a pastor and awesome man. No doubt a testament to the successful plans of a loving father. There's a simile, just like our Heavenly Father plans for our  future. Sammy and Scott made a special trip to Duke to see me the week of my surgery. During their visit, I remembered those faithful words Sammy had taught me years ago.

Early in my Christian walk, I learned never to make New Year's resolutions. Resolutions are proof that faith without works is dead. They remind me of some church council meetings I've attended. If you don't be intentional and set goals, it just ain't gonna happen. There's some power in setting goals. At least in my case, my resolving falls short.
 There's something about writing down a goal and putting where you can see it that resonates with you. "Fail to plan and plan to fail". There's not a successful person, in the world, who hasn't had these words drilled into them. I even found this neat link about bible verses that tell us to set goals.
The new year is a perfect time to set some God sized goals. I'm sharing some of my own.

1. Broaden my ministry's reach.Through speaking,  missions, and outreach. Stepping up my giving. Creating a family devotion time.
2. Lose another 30 pounds. Back at the gym and using the lose it app.
3. Learn to play the guitar. I'm ordering the Keith Urban deal. Never ordered off TV before .

4. Getting closer to debt free. 

Just like eating an elephant. Or maybe a couple hundred.

5. Beating Cancer. That's not up to me 

I can't help but think, Gideon wasn't planning on becoming a mighty man of valor treading wheat in a winepress. Peter wasn't planning on meeting Jesus. God only knows what Paul was planning to do in Damascus. But God has a plan of His own .

Twenty years later, I understand it not my vision I perish in lacking. Now another Proverb would burn into my heart. Proverb 16. Verse nine says, "The mind of a man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."  I set some God sized goals in 2014 and God showed up and showed off. Actually, I am wrapping up one today by launching a new website. www.clinthardwick.com .The Broken Vessel  has had well over 5000 views since July and a few changes need to happen. It has a translator button being installed since it is being read in 20 different nations on 5 continents. I can't help thinking how God has used cancer to accomplish these goals. Yesterday, I shared the gospel with the shuttle driver. She and her daughter are going to church for the first time in her 16 year old daughter's life, with me. I'm getting her a bible. I would have never been here had it not been for this disease. We've already had our first bible study.

 Getting cancer didn't fit into my five year plan. I would not have chosen getting stuck in Boston anymore than getting stuck on a train. But God did. He ordered my steps and answered my prayers. He promised He would in Proverbs 16 :3 .

Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established .He knows how to get things done. I plan on giving Him all the glory.

Proverbs 13:16

Verse Concepts

Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Goal-Setting#sthash.j4ftZt2b.dpuf

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Proverbs 16:9

Verse Concepts

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Goal-Setting#sthash.R6JCxCqK.dpuf

Proverbs 16:9

Verse Concepts

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Goal-Setting#sthash.R6JCxCqK.dpuf

Proverbs 16:9

Verse Concepts

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Goal-Setting#sthash.R6JCxCqK.dpuf

Let`s be Honest: Tumor Update

I can be brutally honest. I prefer to be that way. Even when it hurts, I love people enough to tell them the truth and want them to do the same for me. Now, I would never insult your intelligence by claiming to never lie. I have been known to tell a white lie to preserve the feelings of friends. To spare someone heart ache, I might withhold information. On rare occasions, I`ve even told some whoppers to save my skin or the skins of others. Let`s be honest, sometimes being completely honest is hard. My life, for the most part, has been an open book. I usually lay all my cards on the table but I have a poker face when I need it. Please don`t think I condone lying. It`s pride being released by the lips. Jesus hates pride.
You were invited along a journey to a joyous destination since it first began in September. I`ve been honest about my faith and condition but this vessel is a little more broken than you might think. I`d be lying if I told you I trusted the claims of Christ followers who seem to be too happy. I don`t think they have followed Christ into the garden. So, I doubt they have picked up that cross He requires we carry to come after Him. I`m not talking about intentionally keeping your eye on the prize and forcing a positive attitude because God is good all the time. I get that. I still consider myself a richly blessed, highly favored, and deeply loved child of the one true king. So while I`m too blessed to distressed and too restored to be ignored, I`m too honest to fake it. My cup runneth over but even Jesus asked for a different cup. I`d be lying if I said I hadn`t.
The problem isn`t me feeling sorry for myself. I don`t want pity from you or myself. There`s so many here worse off than me without Jesus, pity them.
 It`s not a problem of lack of faith. Faith, hope, and love are the only things I know you can increase for yourself by sharing. Like Jesus, I too have prayed the Father`s will be done. I know it will be done. But do I want it to be done? No.
If I could have things my way, I`d be spending two months anywhere else but here. There hasn`t been much that made me squirm in my seat with this. Certainly not the cosmetic effects of my treatments cause, let`s be honest, you all hate me because I`m beautiful.  Who cares if you loose a little hair, when you have so much to spare?
Hearing the treatment might cause another kind of tumor to form, or cause me to loose my memory wasn`t what I wanted to hear. That`s SSWS (seat squirming worthy syndrome). Knowing it will destroy my pituitary gland, causing me to be on hormone replacement from then on, isn`t what I would have planned. I`d have skipped the news I got on Monday to have forgone the anxiety that set in on Tuesday.
If I`d have planned things here what I would have missed:
 Trimming the tree with moma, while listing to Christmas favorites, was more than just a little nostalgic. It was magical. It`s a shame it took getting cancer and traveling great distances to make that happen.
The Freedom Trail. It was a great tour that explained many things about our country`s birth and the unique role faith played in that. I`ll be worshipping on Christmas Eve in a large church that played a key role in ending slavery. The church started as a small group. How cool is that? Knowing they helped change the world and couldn`t have been nearly as cool as my small group at home, sets me on fire. Speaking of small groups, something else I would have missed, was an awesome worship with a small group, who laid hands on me. Beautiful prayers and songs filled the candlelit room where seven people, representing six different worship centers, offered praises to the one true God, from the one true church. After a day of hearing about great things that once took place in Boston, I honestly think I heard angels singing "greater things are still to be done in this city."
Truthfully, I`m still more than a little broken and more than a little anxious. I still want things my way but I `m so glad I`m not in charge. Funny, how I can`t honestly explain how that`s true, but it is.  I just don`t won`t to miss out on the good things just to avoid life`s  bumps in the road. The greatest gift God ever gave mankind, the brightest revelation of light the world has ever known, the resurrection, was given to us in our darkest moment. The day we would have stolen the life of Christ had He not freely given it to us. So even in this hour of doubt, I honestly can`t see how anything other than the best is yet to come.

THE GOD I DON'T BELIEVE IN: MY THOUGHTS ON TERESA MACBAIN

   Methodist Minister turned atheist, Teresa MacBain, was     someone I never heard of until a non-believer felt compelled to share her story with me. I probably never heard of her because I don't go looking for atheist to pick on. Even if they are the first graduate of the clergy project, a program designed to lead clergy to godlessness, I don't look for them to ridicule. I did not seek out MacBain, even though she fabricated her credentials to insure her position as a director in what amounts to an Atheist church called the Humanist Community Project. Although MacBain pulled off this deception for a year and a half, and helped lead some away from faith, it's between her and a God she doesn't believe in. MacBain got the cold shoulder from friends when she left the faith. It cost her everything to come out as an Atheist. Now that she's godless, unchurched, and been "let go" from the atheist organization she was employed by, you could say, MacBain has "nothing" to lose. In my opinion, walking away from her faith wasn't necessarily a step in the wrong direction. Simply put, I don't believe in the god MacBain doesn't believe in.

Atheist, like MacBain, and many who call themselves Christian, do not believe in the God I have a responsibilty to share with others. They don't believe in a God that wants you no matter what you've done or a God who qualifies His people by what He's done. The one described by the bible. According to a Barna pole, as many as 91% of those who identify themselves as born again, do not have a biblical word view. A biblical word view boils down into beleiving: God's all knowing, all powerful, satan is real, Jesus is sinless, salvation is a gift from God, and you have a personal responsibility to tell others about Jesus. You might expect those to be pretty standard beliefs for Christians, but Barna Research found only 51% of pastors to have a biblical world view. It certainly helps not to have one if the bible disqualifies your from holding a position to begin with. Still, it's hard to do away with the book that created the positions in the first place. Satan has been selling a feel good, half truth from the beginning. It's an easy sale to an uniformed buyer. Separate research found only 26% of Christians read their bibles regularly and 70% will never finish it.
Stats like these suggest most people don't know what they are worshipping. When atheist accuse us of worshipping a figment of our imaginations, it seems in many cases they are right. Assuming the data is correct, most people have created a god out of their feelings, skipping over the less palatable portions of the bible as if it were olives on a salad buffet. The problem is if you can't trust the apostle Paul with the stuff you don't agree with, you can't trust promises like Romans 8:28. When asked to explain, how God can be just when the law seems to support things we call wrong, I can only point to the gracious God described by Jesus in Mathew chapter 19. Jesus says because our hearts are hard God allows things that were not necessarily His original design. Otherwise, none of us would have a chance.

The bible makes many claims about itself and God. Not the least of these, is the "word was with God from the beginning."(John 1:2) It even calls the Jesus the "word" in the "flesh." (John 1:14) Once I said, "putting your finger on a page in the bible is as close as you'll could come to touching Jesus this side of heaven." My friend, Phil Adams, correctly pointed out how it's more important for the word to touch us. Faith is what Christains will walk by and live by. The bible tells us faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.(Romans 10:17) It's downright impossible to lose something you don't possess. It's equally impossible to share something you haven't got. If you walk away from the faith, it's a safe bet the word never touched you. It worries me more people remain in a false sense of security believing in something other than God than people claiming there isn't one. In Roman Chapter 1, Paul might as well have said God doesn't believe in Atheists. Even while pointing out "they are without excuse" the God of the bible is patient and wants salvation for His people.  ( 2 PETER 3:9) That will include some atheists who's minds God will change yet.  For my brothers and sisters not reading the bible, God tells us, His people are destroyed by their lack of knowledge. (Hosea4:6) For those who can't make up their minds on the bible, at least those with a biblical world view and Atheist can agree on one bible truth. "God is not the author of confusion." (1 Corinthians  14:33)

Missing Christmas

Christmas has always been a big deal to me. I love the music, the food, and the fellowship. I've heard about the Christmas rush but I've never been caught in it. For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed sharing gifts with family and friends. It`s been hard for me to get in the Christmas spirit this year. Now, thanks to a brain tumor, I will be spending Christmas in Boston, away from my family and friends. I borrowed this years Christmas theme from the Grinch soundtrack, Where are You Christmas?  I`ve never missed Christmas before.

 Tonight, I took my family to see the Pirates Voyage. It was a new experience that served as our family Christmas dinner. The cast put us in the Christmas spirit. Our family singing Christmas songs together on the way home is bound to be the most surreal moment of this Christmas. The show was highly entertaining with a unique morphing of A Christmas Carol and their regular show. It touched on core Christian beliefs. Reminding the audience of the fiery consequence of an unredeemed life, the production highlighted God's rescue mission that began long before that first Christmas. It ended in a live nativity and communicated the only hope for mankind would come by way of the first holiday travel. There are so many lessons we can learn from that first Christmas.

The first Christmas gift was The Word of God. Instead of paper, it was wrapped in flesh wrapped in swaddling cloth. Now, gifts are found under a tree but the first one was found in a stable. Mary placed our gift in a manger. Our gifts sometimes come in boxes but we can`t put our God in one.

 The first Christmas light is still burning in the hearts of men. It was born in the shadow of a cross, overcomes the darkness of the grave, and is a lamp illuminating the only path to God. It`s the ultimate gift and a miracle for it to find you. Christmas is the beginning of " it is finished" It`s the miracle of hope. A miracle I intend to share in Boston. Like I said, I`ve never missed Christmas before. I see no reason to start now.

Don`t Let the Facts Get in the Way

 Yesterday while at Duke, one of the nurses told me, how she`d go scuba diving only if she had been diagnosed with something like I have. It`s on her bucket list.  I say, life is a death sentence. If you are waiting to live until you`re dying, God gave you the green light the day you were born. Live. Jesus came that we might live life to the fullest. Check it out John chapter ten. It`s good stuff.
Jerry Clower often said, ``never listen to the facts. If David had of listened to the facts, he never would have fought Goliath.`` For believers, those are great words to live by. Faith trumps facts, but to know that, you need to know the facts. At least then you`ll know how big the miracle is.  Some atheist like to say, `` never let the facts get in the way of a good story.``I couldn`t agree more.
 On September the 12, at my first consultation with a neurosurgeon, I was told 60% debunking of my tumor was the best I could hope for. Never let the facts get in the way of hope.  They promised me a spinal drain and a skin graph. I knew the facts. I just wasn`t listening. Like many of you, I was praying too hard to listen.
While at Duke the past two days, Doctors removed crusting left over from the surgery. It was kind of like a cystoscoping the nose while you are awake. (I absolutely can`t wait to hear the the funny comments that are sure to come after that reference ) It hurt more than a little. It probably would have hurt worse except I was still on a high. Just moments before the procedure, I found out my entire tumor is gone. Doctors have been amazed at my recovery from the surgery. So far, the fact is they have been wrong about the facts and I`m not complaining. Praise God, I have had no spinal drain, no skin graft. Now, I have no tumor. It doesn`t surprise me. When people pray, God specializes in changing the facts. I had lots of prayer and covet them still. Yesterday`s second highlight was when my Doctor`s final words to me were, ``I`ll be praying for you.``Finding out I might be well enough to dive later this year had to be a close third.

I`m not out of the woods yet, but it is encouraging.  The pathology came back as the mid grade chordoma. It could have been better but it could have been worse. Much worse.
In a few days, I`ll go to Boston for 8-1/2 weeks of daily treatments. The fact is, 51% of these tumors return after total resection. Radiation is the best prevention for regrowth. I`ll follow the Doctors orders because just one cell can cause the tumor to regrow. Periodically, I`ll be screened for cancer. I don`t think anyone would think me wise to quit now. Nobody would recommend a less aggressive treatment for this sickness. I sought the best doctors, and the best hospitals. How much sense would it make to miss appointments, skip medications, or ignore follow up treatment?

We have the best of the best when it comes to Christianity. Still, we miss many appointments with God.  We skip opportunities to grow and often ignore His instructions. Apparently, we want the cure but we are afraid of the treatment. Some seem to want to get injected with just enough Jesus to miss hell. I am trying the more radical Jesus everyday treatment since I don`t want to miss life. He`s assured me there`s room for more and the treatments are free. You coming?