I have a minor surgery scheduled for next week. The pre-op is tomorrow. I have had this scheduled for several months. Yesterday I got a simple email from the surgeon's secretary. It read simply, " Can you give me your current weight? I have your BMI at 44.85 and it needs to be closer to 40."
So to say I was shocked, panicked, and totally freaked out is accurate. I curtly replied to her that, " I can't lose 28 pounds in a week. Why am I just hearing this? The Doctor knew my weight months ago! A lot fatter people than me have had this surgery!"
I fumed to myself that the insurance was probably trying to stall so they could get more deductible applied to it. I was livid, scared and ready to self-amputate to rid myself of the pain.
To put it mildly, I was terrified.
Then sanity kicked in. I decided to see what my BMI was. So, I pulled up a site and put in my age weight and height. Result 28.7 still fat but definitely not morbidly obese. I checked another 28.7, then another 28.7. I sent her each of these. Embarrassed to admit in three emails.
I got an email this morning. Someone had put my height in at 4 instead of 5 foot.
All that for a typo.
All is back on schedule. I forgive them and I hope they accept my apology.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
And yet... we are here
And here we are. The sun shines, the earth revolves, the supermoon occurred.
God is still on His throne.
Which leads me to address: In all of the commentaries of those who love Hillary or those who love Trump, I heard one voice that actually took objection to those of us who said God is in control.
I would have to think that they thought we meant that God was a fan of Donald Trump, and he may or may not be. After all, David was a man after his heart and he was far from sinless.
What we or at least I meant is that God's ultimate plan will not be thwarted. Evil may win for a season but it will not triumph. When I say God is in control, I am not being fatalistic. I do not mean to say that whatever happens was meant to be. What I do mean is that God is the one who allows.
To oversimplify, he allows things that go against him. If we only knew why that would be great but we do not. We do know that whatever evil is imparted will ultimately betray itself and end up landing right in the middle of God's final plan. So to struggle against or deny God cannot succeed in the end. So take heed
God is still on His throne.
Which leads me to address: In all of the commentaries of those who love Hillary or those who love Trump, I heard one voice that actually took objection to those of us who said God is in control.
I would have to think that they thought we meant that God was a fan of Donald Trump, and he may or may not be. After all, David was a man after his heart and he was far from sinless.
What we or at least I meant is that God's ultimate plan will not be thwarted. Evil may win for a season but it will not triumph. When I say God is in control, I am not being fatalistic. I do not mean to say that whatever happens was meant to be. What I do mean is that God is the one who allows.
To oversimplify, he allows things that go against him. If we only knew why that would be great but we do not. We do know that whatever evil is imparted will ultimately betray itself and end up landing right in the middle of God's final plan. So to struggle against or deny God cannot succeed in the end. So take heed
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Tonight's the Night
Tonight is the night. We will be told by the big electronic box in our living room who God has placed in the position of President of the United States of America. Many will be waiting with bated breath to see if there is hope of if we are doomed.
May I offer another scenario.
Let's think for a minute. Where is our hope?
Most of us live around 80 years. That means that I am closer to the finish line than to the start. Many will finish early. If today was your final day. If you were on the last page of life what would it all mean? I know many will say that is not a realistic view and maybe they are right. But what if you are in the middle of your book....there are still only so many pages. How do you want it to read?
Do you want to be worried, in despair, depressed or fearful? Angry or ready to revolt?
Do you want joy, the enjoyment of family and friends, laughter and peace?
In my view that it is up to us, whether one is rich or poor, whether one has a cupboard full of food or lives hand to mouth. One may live in a mansion or a camper. Contentment is our choice. I have seen mission trip pictures of children laughing and exuding joy who have nothing.
So the joy comes from within, not from our outward circumstances.
It takes a new focus.
It takes asking different questions.
How should my life be spent? What call do I heed? What message do I bring? What do I do today? What can I give? How can I show love and concern?
Jesus died for us. He freed us from sin and death. We are in but not of this world. Once we do not fear death there is nothing to fear. We are his. When we acknowledge that he is Lord we ask instead how do I fit in his plan. For what do we live. Often he doesn't give us a life map but we learn moment by moment. We stay focused on his words and watch. Then moment by moment we begin to see a thing to do or a person to laugh with or a word to say. As Elizabeth Elliot says we "do the next thing".
So rather than get caught up in the worries of tomorrow lets commit to the best we can be today, now, this second and let tomorrow worry for itself.
May I offer another scenario.
Let's think for a minute. Where is our hope?
Most of us live around 80 years. That means that I am closer to the finish line than to the start. Many will finish early. If today was your final day. If you were on the last page of life what would it all mean? I know many will say that is not a realistic view and maybe they are right. But what if you are in the middle of your book....there are still only so many pages. How do you want it to read?
Do you want to be worried, in despair, depressed or fearful? Angry or ready to revolt?
Do you want joy, the enjoyment of family and friends, laughter and peace?
In my view that it is up to us, whether one is rich or poor, whether one has a cupboard full of food or lives hand to mouth. One may live in a mansion or a camper. Contentment is our choice. I have seen mission trip pictures of children laughing and exuding joy who have nothing.
So the joy comes from within, not from our outward circumstances.
It takes a new focus.
It takes asking different questions.
How should my life be spent? What call do I heed? What message do I bring? What do I do today? What can I give? How can I show love and concern?
Jesus died for us. He freed us from sin and death. We are in but not of this world. Once we do not fear death there is nothing to fear. We are his. When we acknowledge that he is Lord we ask instead how do I fit in his plan. For what do we live. Often he doesn't give us a life map but we learn moment by moment. We stay focused on his words and watch. Then moment by moment we begin to see a thing to do or a person to laugh with or a word to say. As Elizabeth Elliot says we "do the next thing".
So rather than get caught up in the worries of tomorrow lets commit to the best we can be today, now, this second and let tomorrow worry for itself.
Friday, November 4, 2016
Thinking
I was listening to a respected seminary professor and pastor/teacher concerning the relationship between the church and government. In one segment he said that once a government declares itself to be no longer under God that it becomes demonized. I wonder if our President and one of the presidential candidates refusing to say "under God" and removing "God" from all government documents and landmarks is an attempt at doing that very thing.
It seems to me that our society is becoming less concerned about the will of God and more concerned about our own perceptions of right and wrong as Scriptures say we have and will until the end of days.
It is a heart break to see what used to be churches adopting views that are contrary to God's word.
It disturbs me that we think we are more compassionate than the creator and that he no longer hates evil. We still have our own view of right and wrong but reject his.
That defines us as gods in our own minds.
Watching the process of this particular election; Looking at what is accepted and what is not; Hearing the words used to make points; Seeing the divisiveness and corruption of the process is definitive of a society gone awry.
God help us. We were born for such a time as this. Let those of us who name the name of Jesus keep our ear to His heart and choose this day whom we shall serve.
I will serve the LORD. I pray he keeps me faithful until the end.
It seems to me that our society is becoming less concerned about the will of God and more concerned about our own perceptions of right and wrong as Scriptures say we have and will until the end of days.
It is a heart break to see what used to be churches adopting views that are contrary to God's word.
It disturbs me that we think we are more compassionate than the creator and that he no longer hates evil. We still have our own view of right and wrong but reject his.
That defines us as gods in our own minds.
Watching the process of this particular election; Looking at what is accepted and what is not; Hearing the words used to make points; Seeing the divisiveness and corruption of the process is definitive of a society gone awry.
God help us. We were born for such a time as this. Let those of us who name the name of Jesus keep our ear to His heart and choose this day whom we shall serve.
I will serve the LORD. I pray he keeps me faithful until the end.
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