Monthly Archives: October 2018

Sometimes we humans are so blind!

We look at each other and see only the outside. We see a black man or a white woman. We see a Muslim or a Jew, a bum or a banker, a junkie or a nurse, and we form opinions, without really knowing anything about who they really are underneath.

We miss out on so much because of our tendency to judge by the superficial, seeing only our differences, rather than how we are alike. This leads to hatred, prejudice, injustice, and strife. It leads to misunderstanding, arguments, disagreements. In extreme cases it leads to violence, like we saw this weekend in Pittsburgh.

However, if we have let Jesus into our lives, we see each other differently, because “we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.” 2 Corinthians 5:16. Now, “Christ’s love controls us” (v. 14). Our eyes are open and we no longer see our differences, but only our shared identity as children of God. With Christ’s love in our hearts, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For [we] are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28.

Today, don’t settle for stumbling through life, blind to the needs and hurts of others. Stop “evaluating others from a human point of view.” Instead, ask God to open your eyes that you may see the child of God in everyone you meet.

God bless and have a beautiful day!

Yesterday a gunman burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue and murdered 11 people whose only crime was being Jewish. This horrific crimes staggers the imagination, but, unfortunately, it is becoming almost commonplace. It seems almost everyday we hear news of a new bombing, another shooting, or some other tragedy.

Looking at the world around us, even the most hardened unbeliever must wonder if Peter was not correct when he declared, “The end of all things is near.” 1 Peter 4:7. As they see events unfold, “People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world…” Luke 21:26.

But as Christians we should not be surprised, because we have been warned in 2 Timothy 3:1, “There will be terrible times in the last days.” We knew this was coming and what is still to come.

So, what should be our response?

First, we must “be alert and of sober mind so that [we] may pray.” We need to “pray continually…” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Prayer is the lifeline of the soul, our one connection which will keep us from being overwhelmed as we face the storms of life.

Secondly, we must “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” What happened in Pittsburgh was a result of fear, fear of another culture and a perceived threat to a way of life, but “perfect love drives out fear…” 1 John 4:18.

When we let Christ fill our hearts with His love there is no room left for fear or hatred, for in Christ “there is no Gentile or Jew…but Christ is all, and is in all.” Colossians 3:11.

Lastly, we must take seriously Jesus’ first command after He rose from the grave to “Go and tell…” Matthew 28:10.

Go and tell He is risen!
Go and tell of His love!
Go and tell there is forgiveness!
Go and tell He’s coming soon!

There is but one real solution to tragedies like what happened in Pittsburgh and it’s not armed guards in the synagogues, stiffer death penalty laws, or any of the other inadequate solutions which have been offered. The only thing which will finally stop the madness is Christ’s return.

“The end of all things is near”! It’s time to pray without ceasing. It’s time to love without holding back. And, most of all, it’s time to Go and Tell!

I could never be a podiatrist! Dealing with people’s feet all day? No thanks! Feet are smelly, rough, and just not very pretty. Sort of like you and me.

Yet Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God…made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,” loved us so much “he humbled himself” so that we; smelly, rough, and ugly as we are; might someday walk on streets of gold. (Philippians 2:6, 8 NIV)

When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, he was not just washing the grime of Jerusalem’s streets from their toes. He was seeking a way into their hearts. By humbling himself to be like a servant, Jesus was giving them (and us) an example to follow, showing them the only way to be truly like Him is to kneel in service to others as He did.

Being a Christian is not just sitting in a pew each week or singing along with choir. These things have their place, but real Christianity is so much more. It is bearing each other’s burdens, providing a helping hand, offering a shoulder to cry on, and, yes, sometimes washing a dirty foot or two!

This Sabbath morning all around you there are people in need of a word of encouragement, a hand up from the gutter, a place they can call their own. These are your congregation. These are who you are called to serve.

So, gird a towel around you, take a little water in a pail, and get to work. Follow Christ’s example and do as He has done for you. “Taking the very nature of a servant” go and change the world – one “sole” at a time!

God bless and Happy Sabbath!

Proverbs 18:14 says, The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Everyday I see the truth of this verse played out in the Walk-in Clinic where I work. If you come into see me I can sew up your laceration, give you something to ease your cold symptoms, or splint your broken arm. Those are easy. It’s the broken spirit that’s hard to deal with.

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. About 6.8 million adults are dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Anxiety affects about 15 million people, with women twice as likely to be affected as men. And these statistics don’t even take into account the millions dealing with OCD, PTSD or other mental health disorders.

Our treatment options for these conditions are limited. Medicine can only help so much and comes with unwanted side effects. Counseling also has an important role, but is not the full answer.. Lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise can make a difference, but when it comes right down to it there is only one real solution.

David found that solution. David dealt with depression as evidenced by his cry in Psalm 42:11, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?” Yet he continues, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Trust in God is the only real cure for a broken spirit. Other therapies may help relieve symptoms, but they can’t heal the heart. Only God can do that. He promises in Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…”

This morning, if your spirit is crushed and your soul downcast, “Put your hope in God.” He loves you with an everlasting love. Give Him your heart and let Him “put a new spirit in you” today.

God bless and have a wonderful new day!

The first workshop I went to at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference this week, was entitled “Fitness That Works”. It was one of the best lectures I’ve ever been too.

During the course of his talk, the instructor, Sean Foy, the author of The Burst Workout and co-author of The Daniel Plan, pointed out most people don’t succeed in their fitness or weight loss plans. The reason? They have not identified their “Why”.

Why did they want to lose weight? Why did they want to get in shape? Why did they want to run a marathon? Foy’s experience was, once his clients found their “why”, they found a “way”.

Victor Frankl said, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how’.”

If you know your ‘why’ you can push that extra mile, do another 10 reps, swim another lap. The impossible becomes possible. No matter what comes your way, you find a way.

Some days it can be a little hard to sit down at the computer and write another post for Encouraging Words for Today. I’m tired, have too many irons in the fire, or just can’t think of anything to say. But, when I’m feeling that way, my “Why” keeps me going.

What is my “Why”? I love you!

I love each and every one of you and I hope my little posts will in some way help you “grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:18, 19 NIV.

And why do I love you? Because Jesus first loved me. (1 John 4:19).

How about you? Have you been struggling to lose those extra pounds or get up and exercise each day? Is there a habit you’ve been trying to break or a goal you can’t seem to reach? Is there someone you just can’t seem to forgive?

If the above sounds like you, ask God to show you your “Why”. If you do, He will not only show you your “why”, but also show The Way.

Why? Because He loves you!

My meetings over, I’m headed home. Right now I’m sitting in Seattle, waiting for my connecting flight to Wenatchee. It was a good conference, but I’m glad to be going home. I missed my wife.

My mind is overflowing with facts and statistics. It is amazing what a difference a plant-based diet can make in a person’s health! Less risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression…the list goes on and on.

I also enjoyed being with a bunch of other professionals who share my passion for making the world a better place by helping their patients make positive choices about their health. These people were on fire!

Last night the American College of LIfestyle Medicine gave T. Colin Campbell, the author of The China Study, a Lifetime Achievement Award. He is an amazing, yet very humble man, who lives what he teaches. He was walking with a cane, because he’d broken his hip recently while playing racquetball with his son. He’s 84 years old!

As amazing as it is to see people like T. Colin Campbell able to stay incredibly active late into life, the fact of the matter is, no matter how well we take care of ourselves, eventually the sands of time run out for all of us.

Thinking about that sad fact made me realize it’s not enough to tell people how to live healthier, happier lives on this earth, because no matter what we do we all eventually die. But Christians have the cure for sickness and death within our grasp – Jesus Christ. John 3:36 promises, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

How can we not share this Good News with everyone we meet? To not share it is tantamount to a physician withholding a life-saving drug from a patient. It’s malpractice!

Today, everywhere you go you will meet people “without hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12 NIV. Ravaged by a terminal illness, sin, they long for a cure. You have that cure!

Lifestyle medicine offers real hope, but it is a temporary solution. Christians have the real Cure! Let’s share it with the world today!

It had been an interesting experience eating at the bar Sunday evening. While I ate I was reading in Whisper, by Mark Batterson, how God puts us in a specific place, at a specific time, for a specific reason. I thought, “Why do you have me here, Lord, of all places?” Turns out he was just setting me up for what happened on the way back to the hotel.

I’m a country boy in the big city, so I was a little apprehensive walking back to my hotel. I kept glancing down dark alleys for possible threats. Imagine my surprise, then, when a disheveled man on a bike suddenly appeared out of the dark and pulled up next to me.

Speaking rapidly, as if knowing my first inclination was to send him packing, he spun a tale of not being from Indy, needing to catch a bus to make it to a Bible study, but being $17 short.

Initially, I told him “no”, but then I remembered what I’d just read, back in the bar. Maybe this was what Batterson was talking about.

We talked a bit and I learned his name was Bob. I doubted he was telling me the truth, but I ended up giving him the last $11 I had in my wallet. Before he left I asked if I could pray with him. He enthusiastically agreed and, taking his hand, I prayed for God to guide and care for him.

As I was turning to leave, Bob shouted, “Read Psalm 91!” I laughed and replied, “And you read Jeremiah 29:11! It says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you…. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Bob waved and pedaled away.

As I watched Bob go, I wondered if I’d made a huge mistake. He was probably going to go blow the money on alcohol or something worse. But then again, maybe not. Maybe our encounter will make Bob think. Maybe he’ll take a new direction. I’ll never know.

One thing I do know – unless we are willing to give people a chance, to look beyond their exterior, to take a risk on them, we’re never going to have a chance to share God’s love with them. And that’s too big a risk not to take – even if it does cost me a few bucks!

I had an interesting evening yesterday after my meetings. I was hungry, so I went searching for a place to eat. It was almost 10 PM, so not much was open. I ended up in a bar in downtown Indianapolis.

Now most of you know I don’t drink alcohol, so this was a strange place for me to spend an evening. Don’t worry, I didn’t get soused. Hard to get drunk on a Sprite!

I did enjoy the experience, however. The food was excellent and I got to watch some football and commiserate with fellow Buffalo Bill fans over their loss to the Colts.

As I sat there, I realized I’d never eaten in a bar my life. I also realized, because of that, I’ve probably missed a lot of opportunities to get to know people and maybe even to share Jesus with them. After all, where better to reach the hurting, but where they go to drown out their pain?

I think we Christians spend way too much time hiding in our homes or huddling together in our churches, afraid we’ll be contaminated by the very world we’ve been called to help. After all, Jesus did tell us to “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 NLT. “Everyone” includes people in bars.

Galatians 6:1 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.”

Sometimes to save a drowning person you have to get into the water with them. But if you do, remember Paul also cautions you to “be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” In other words, if you already have a problem with alcohol, a bar may not be your best mission field.

Jesus was condemned by the Pharisees for associating with sinners, but I have a feeling He took that as a compliment, because He replied, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 NKJV. Their comment confirmed He was doing what He was called to do.

It’s time for us to start following His example. We need to stop spending all our time with “righteous” and go where the people are. Just make sure, wherever you go, you invite Jesus to come along!

God bless and have a great day!

I’m reaching a point in my life where the goodbyes are starting to outnumber the hellos and I don’t like it!

I had a wonderful time yesterday visiting with my aunt and uncle, Hazel and Ben Sowers. We talked and talked, probably more than we have in our whole lives. Aunt Hazel fed me great food and Uncle Ben took me on a 4-wheeler tour of their 200 acre farm. To top off the visit, my cousin, Brent Sowers, who I haven’t seen in at least 30 years, went out of his way to stop in and say, “Hello”, something I really appreciated. It was a very special day!

Unfortunately, as with all visits in this life, there came a time where we had to say goodbye. That was hard. I hope we get to see each other again soon, but with us living thousands of miles apart, that probably isn’t going to happen. The thought makes me sad, but, as they say, that’s life.

The thing is, for all of us there comes a time when the goodbyes outnumber the hellos, when we must say farewell knowing there may be no tomorrow. The older we get the more goodbyes we say and the fewer hellos. It’s a depressing thought, but there is good news. A better day is on its way!

On that day, “Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.” (Isaiah 60:20 NIV). When that day comes, God “will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

When Jesus comes again, when His glory splits the skies, “…the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) On that day there will be no more goodbyes, only hellos. That’s a day I can hardly wait to see.

This morning, if you, like me, are tired of goodbyes, say “Hello” to Jesus. Give Him your heart. Give Him your life. Accept Him as your Savior and know that, when you belong to Him, goodbye is not forever. “Hello” is coming soon!

Have a wonderful day and remember to “encourage one another with these words.” God bless!

Have you ever stared up at the night sky and considered the vastness of space? Have you looked closely at the intricate detail of a daisy? Have you contemplated a sunset or felt the blast of a winter wind? If so, you’ve caught just a glimpse of God’s power.

Yesterday I flew over majestic mountains, lifting their snow-covered peaks to the sky and vast plains which seemed to go on forever. I drove past green forests and lush fields. I felt the rain on my face. I heard a gentle whisper in the wind and wondered, was that His voice?

The beauty of this earth, the vast complexity of creation, the unfathomable reaches of space, leave me breathless at times. And yet, “these are but the outer fringe of his work; how faint the whisper we hear of him!” Job 26:14 NIV.

The wonder and majesty of God, His awesome power, His matchless love, are beyond human comprehension. All the beauty we see around us if but a “faint whisper” of who He is. No wonder David wrote, “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that you visit him?” Psalm 8:4 NKJV

Yet, in spite of our insignificance in the vast landscape of creation, in spite of our rebellion and indifference, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 NKJV

This Sabbath morning, take a moment to ponder God’s majesty and power, His creative power, His limitless wisdom, and wonder anew that He loves you.

God bless and Happy Sabbath!