Memorial Day 2012 - Thank you..

Over the past ~236 years, many have laid down their lives for the cause of liberty and freedom. This Memorial Day, I wanted to remember those who have given their lives, and also thank their families, who suffered so much pain as a result of their loss. Because of these sacrifices, most of the rest of us were granted the liberty to enjoy the freedom associated with living in this great nation. “Never has so much been owed to so few by so many.” “Freedom is not free; somebody else paid for it...” Undoubtedly, in the future, others will be called on to serve and protect our country; if they fail to answer, and if we fail to support them, know that our enemies are willing to take it away. Pray this never happens, because the rest of us will only be able to reflect upon what we had & lost. I fellow Warrent Officer who flew with by brother Tim in Vietnam, sent me this article a few days ago. I would encourage you to read it. - Have a blessed Memorial Day.

Tom Manion: Why They Serve—'If Not Me, Then Who?'

After more than a decade of war, remarkable men and women are still stepping forward.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303610504577419973285034422.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

I have the day off today. The LORD is beating me up this morning (I must be alive!); I tought I would share the beating with you: 

“What a great deal of precious time I have trifled away and misspent in folly and vanity, and the things that do not profit. Time is a precious talent, which my Master hath entrusted me with and yet how long hath it been buried, and how much hath it run waste?” 

- THE LIFE OF MATTHEW HENRY, BY: J.B. Williams

Back From the Dead

FIRST BLOG SINCE OCTOBER 2011

Back From the Dead

Where has time gone? Hard to believe it has been 7 months since I wrote anything; but then again, the way I have recently been feeling, I am back from the dead... emotionally that is. 

It is hard to put into context how I’ve been feeling since my operation last September 26th. I’ve nothing to compare it to. If there was ever a feeling of feeling “dead”... this is as close as I ever what to come. Imagine being motivated to do everything you need to do only because that is what people are expecting from you. Wife, children, associates at work, customers, dog... you understand. Imagine feeling that way and being unsure if you will every snap out of it? Imagine you have been walking with the LORD for 34 years and you can’t “feel” anything. I have always been an emotional and passionate individual, and although I understand we walk by “faith,” I have always had an appreciation for the presence of God in my life. Yes, I feel God. “.... thy rod and staff, they comfort me...”

Not sure if comfort is related to feeling the LORD; however, I understand better now, I need to take comfort, when you don’t feel comforted. “.... and without faith, it is impossible to please him.” We move forward towards the promised, because he who promised, has demonstrated his faithfulness in the past. 

Paul said, “.... when I am weak, then I am strong...”  I say, when I am weak, I am a weakling! I understand Paul was talking about running out of his own strength and finding the LORD to sustain him. I am saying, when I got weak, I got lame. I was reminded that “.... that I am but grass...” Weak, feeble, lame, tired, worth-less to the LORD, the LORD’s service, my family and the lost. 

Thank the LORD, I've been brought through the storm, and find myself almost in my right-mind. Emotions are returning and I am feeling closer to being myself again... I like being me. I like the way the LORD has made, and I appreciate all the LORD has done for me. I appreciate, my family, the believers, and friends, and the folks I work with.

As far as the cancer, I have been cancer free since September. I thank, the LORD, my wife and children, the Saints (Believers), and all those who fear God, who the LORD has taken notice of, that have prayed for me; I pray you have a vision, and find Jesus Christ as you personal LORD and Savior.

Lesson Learned: The LORD created us. “.... we are wonderfully made,” We need all the pieces and parts the LORD created us with... to be “normal.”

I hope to wright again soon.

Blessings - Mark

SHADOW OF DEATH: A Journey There & Back

The publishing of this blog is really a post script. These are the thoughts I had from June and July of this year. As I review it, it was prior to getting the results of the biopsy and then prior of the results of the CAT scan. What I experienced and learned from that time until today, I hope to get down on this blog soon. I am recovery well, but struggling with motivation. I will try to publish soon. 

SHADOW OF DEATH: A Journey There & Back

The shadows caste by the obscurities of the unknown, can be scarier, and more unsettling, than the realities we may be facing.

The Psalmist wrote: “Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil...”

The Apostle Paul wrote: “If God be for us, who can be (or stand) against us?”

King David also wrote: “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come from? From the LORD, God the maker of heaven and earth.”

Sometimes it can be a long walk through the valley of the shadow of death. To walk through the valley, you often must walk down into the valley.  So we walk down into.. then we walk through. But what are we walking through to? To get to the other side? Or to get back to where we started from? It’s not the other side that has me worried... it’s the down and through that I am concerned about. To me down and through speaks to the process. Death is one thing...  dyeing is another. What is going to take place in the process of bringing me through to the other side? Thank the Lord it isn’t something you must do every other day. If I must walk through, I want to “.... walk and not faint.” It is reassuring to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and to have the confidence he can deliver me in times of trouble. The biggest trouble we must all face is death. I base my faith in Jesus Christ upon his past performance of raising from the dead, and the promise - he will be with me. “.... for you are with me...” 

“They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint...”

Back in July I began to let some family and friends know I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. I have learned a lot about many things since this summer. One of the most comforting points, is that most men will die with prostate cancer, but not from it. (If it is detected early enough,) In my particular case, I see doctors regularly to ensure I can live as long as I can in good health. I am reminded that a “wise man sees trouble coming and takes appropriate action, but a fool doesn’t and suffers for it.”

I was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2011, just prior to my 55th birthday. What a bummer... major B U MM E R!

“All things work for the good for those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.” When you’re facing a death-sentence, it takes faith to believe this. 

I know the Lord can deliver me, but even if he doesn’t, by his grace, I will still have hope, faith and trust in him. I have some great examples that have gone before me which have shown me the way - first, I first consider what Jesus endured... and then look at some other examples.

Meshack, Shadrack & Abendigo (MS&A) were facing a death sentence and were to be thrown into the fiery furnace. Daniel, likewise was facing a death sentence and was going to be thrown into the lion’s den. In each case, they counted on the one who they placed their faith in to deliver them... one way or the other, God was going to deliver them! In both cases, God did deliver them from the destruction of their death sentences. No one can say what their personal anticipation(s) were in these situations. The one certainty we know of is that they had to “go through”... the furnace... the lion’s den. Perhaps they were facing the “.... the valley of the shadow of death...” The word “thrown” to me, makes me consider something that took place rather suddenly. The examples cited of MS&A and Daniel are clear regarding their anticipation of the nasty consequences they faced if they continued on their course of conscience. Thrown into the fiery furnance... thrown into the lion’s den. It is not that you aren’t aware of the consequences of your actions - you just don’t expect things to happen so quickly. In psychology, it’s refereed as a type of “normalcy bias.”

Lessons learned: Just because you’re not fireproof and you would burn easily when thrown into the fire, doesn’t mean when you are thrown into the fire, you’re going to get burned. Or just because your tasty, and lions get hungry and eat tasty people, doesn’t mean you’re going to get eaten if you’re thrown into the lions’ den! I would say that both examples would qualify as “storms” they were facing.

Jesus said: “Is this world you will face tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” So how can we prepare for the storms (tribulations) coming our way in this life? Jesus gave us some good advice. Building on the rock, hearing the words of Jesus, and putting them into practice, can be very beneficial, especially when the storm comes - and it will come. Matthew Henry wrote: “.... those who have not put the words of Jesus into practice, have been building their house upon sand, and and when the storm comes, when they need shelter the most, it will fail them.” Said another way, those who put the words of Jesus into practice, have been building upon rock and when they need shelter the most, it will stand and not collapse on them, keeping them safe from sudden destruction.

Maybe we should be “walking through the valley of the shadow of death” every day - metaphorically speaking of the life of the spirit. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus said, “not my will, but let your will be done.”  We must be willing to lay our lives down for the cause of Christ. “Unless a man is willing to loose his life, he cannot save it.” It is the process of how we live our lives and how we lay it down that determine how the Lord is glorified. 

Psalm 112: “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land: the generation of the upright will be blessed.... He will have no fear of bad news: his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the and he will look in triumph on his foes...”

A steadfast heart that trusts in the LORD will have no fear of bad news. How do you determine a steadfast heart that is trusting in the LORD? 1- You fear the LORD. 2- You find delight in his commands.

I was informed a year ago, I had a moderate swollen prostate. My PSA level was 2.7. I was advised to keep a watch on it. Any change of conditions to my normal life activities.

I year later, my PSA was 4.2 - nearly doubled. My doctor recommended I see a urologist for an exam.

I saw the urologist for an examination. He reported I had moderate swelling and that he felt hardness on one side and a nodule on the other and recommended I have a biopsy.

I had a biopsy (15) and was told I have cancer and that since it was located if both sectors of the prostate, because of my age, I should have in removed.

He recommended that I have a CAT scan in order to determine if the cancer was contained in the prostate or had infected the other tissue surrounding the area. If the cancer is not contained, that would be a game changer.

I am awaiting my CAT scan. In the meantime, I am seeking the LORD for relief of this malady and researching alternative medicine remedies. I am also looking for the best surgeon, if that is the course I am to take. “All my days are in his hands.” 

For the past year, I have been numbering my days. “Teach me to number my days” King David said. I took it literally. If man’s life is three-score and ten, that’s 70 years. The example then is: 70 years x 365 days minus 55 years x 365 days will give you the number of days you have left. As of my 55th birthday this past July 12th, I have 5475+ days left. Understanding, there my be an accident or some other unforeseen circumstance, cancer as an example, my cut you short. I have been thinking that the LORD will add to my days in this life, as I serve him and follow his commands. So I believe the LORD has more than 70 years of days for me, and that I will see my children's, children in this life. (cite reference) Although I am currently being told, I may be cut short. “.... He will have no fear of bad news: his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear...”

When you consider, you have burned-up 55 years of days = 20075 of the 25500 and only have 5475 days left to serve the LORD, it brings this life into focus by framing it with the reality of your mortality! And that reality helps you focus on eternal life. Thank you LORD, “.... we are pilgrims and sojourners here...” Almost everyday, I read a Psalm that corresponds to the day of the month and write next to it the number of days I have left to serve the LORD. It helps me to remember, that my days are in his hands and that need to express my thankfulness and gratefulness to HIM for giving me another day.

I am beginning to understand why this blog by Brother Wilkerson was so close to me now back at the end of April of this year: It wasn't until June, I found out I was heading down that road...More later..

Brother David Wilkerson's last blog post prior to his death: http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/ 

"To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights," he wrote, "and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, 'I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident."'

DEATH - "Be careful to be making preparations of it." Mr. Thomas Doolittle

I was just informed of the death of Brother David Wilkerson. I am sadden and shook. I have recently read a couple of references to death this past week, and the passing of this Brother drives the point home.

Wilkerson's last blog post, on Wednesday:  http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/ 

"To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights," he wrote, "and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, 'I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident."'

QUOTES BY MATTHEW HENRY & OTHERS - THE LIFE OF MATTHEW HENRY, BY: J.B. Williams

“The gospel will never save you if it shall not rule you.”

“‘See,” said the preacher, “the necessity of regeneration. Let the thought that you will be brought to death call off your affections for the things below. Redeem the time... Be careful to be making preparations of it. We live to learn to die. Our business is not to get riches, honors, or pleasures, but that we may depart in peace with God. Every corpse is a sermon; every tomb a teacher; every funeral an oration - to persuade you to learn to die.” - Mr. Thomas Doolittle 

Matthew Henry’s father “.... placed him in the family and under the tuition of that ‘holy, faithful minister, Mr. Thomas Doolittle, who then lived at Islington.’”     

THE EMPTY TOMB -

A Easter message by Billy Graham  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/the_empty_tomb/

We worship a risen, living Savior who has promised to give immortality to all who believe on His Name. No longer do men and women need to stumble in the fog and darkness of hopelessness. A Light shines brighter than the noonday sun, offering hope to everyone who has been born again.

Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25–26).

Long ago, Job asked the great question of the ages: “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14). Death carries with it a certain dread. It has always been the enemy, the great, mysterious monster that makes people quake with fear.

Death stalks the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated. Death is no respecter of race, color or creed. Its shadow haunts us day and night. We never know when the moment of death will come for us.

Is there any hope?

For the rest of the message go to:

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/the_empty_tomb/

“I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” - Not Intentions! Rev 2:23

“I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” - Not Intentions! 

NIV - Revelations 2:23

“.... Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”   - Rev 2:23

Be assured, the LORD will repay us according to our deeds and not according to our intentions. “.... I am he who searches the hearts and minds...” If he searches our hearts and minds, he knows our intentions. He knows our deeds. Personally, I am long on (have many) good intentions and short on (have few accomplishments - actions) - DEEDs. It’s not what we intend to do that counts, but what we do, and... do not do. It is also important, that when we do something, we need to be doing the right thing. Let’s look at some examples:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” 

- Mk 9:41

“Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” - Mt 25:34-40

“They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” - Mt 25:44-46

Worth noting: “.... whatever you did not do ...”  Inaction on our part, is a deed, we do not want to be rewarded for. Clearly, the LORD has certain expectations for the righteous. Especially relating to our dealings with one another. When we find ourselves presented with a situation where we can intervene and remedy an effect for the good, the LORD’s expectation is that we will do the right thing.

One day, along time ago, I was out visiting some sick people and I came across a Muslim, a believer in Allah, the moon god, Islam and his prophet, Mohamed. I found this out rather quickly, because I told him, I was a Christian. He didn’t think I wanted to visit with him because he was a Muslim. Long story, short, he invited me in anyway and we had a conversation. He asked me, “What’s in it for you?” I asked him if he meant, since I was spending some time out visiting people, what was I expecting in return? I told him, I could only be “so-SAVED” and I was not out “earning my salvation.” I went on to tell him the things I do, when I do the right things, are a result of having a personal relationship with Jesus and having been saved (forgiven). The works were a result of my faith and affect that Jesus Christ was having in my life. It was not a result of my wanting to earn anything. It was the impact of the Word-of-God on my heart and the reflection of that power in my life. Sadly, like most people, he was not interested in what Jesus had done for him and the visitation ended.   

There were two criminals sentenced to death and crucified along with Jesus. One on his right and another on the left. One accepted Jesus as Savior, the other rejected him. One of the criminals hurled insults at him, questioned his authority and ability to save, and then tried to tell Jesus what to do. This one rejected Jesus, and would not acknowledge he was getting what his own deeds deserved. He did not want to account or be held accountable for his own sinfulness. In contrast, the other criminal realized he was under the same death sentence as Jesus. He feared God, acknowledged he was getting what his deeds deserved and that Jesus had done nothing wrong. He recognized Jesus had the authority and power to save him and asked Jesus to remember him . - Lk 23:32-43

We are all like criminals, under a death sentence, about to be punished justly for what our deeds deserve. We likewise, need to fear God, humble ourselves, and recognize we need a Savior; we do not have the power to save ourselves - There is no other name, by which men must be saved - Jesus Christ, the sinless who died for the sinful, which God has raised from the dead!