A Real Live Miracle

I have recently had the privilege of seeing a miracle. A genuine, only-God, miracle. Here's what happened. Friends of mine were traveling from MN to WA to see their family when they ended up in a severe rollover. Three of the seven in the vehicle had to be life-flighted to hospitals. The injuries were life-threatening, but they all survived (miracle). Not only that, but the spinal injury to one individual was so severe that it usually results in paralysis, but today (two weeks after the crash) she is walking (miracle). There have been other miracles: swelling going down around the spinal cord in another individual, no brain injury in a third individual with head trauma, and no major injuries in a fourth who had tire tracks on her arm. It is all by the hand of the Lord.

In addition to that, those who were not in the crash have been deeply affected. Faith has been built up, hearts have turned to the Lord, relationships have been restored, and lives have been changed. Other families in the ICU waiting room have experienced the love of God and presence of the Holy Spirit through this family. Praise the Lord that what was meant for evil, God will turn to good.

This incident brought me to my knees in prayer in a deeper way as well. I am so encouraged by the many miraculous answers to prayers. Seeing the body of Messiah coming together is so powerful. I continue to pray for wholeness and healing. May the Lord bring about restoration to this family, physically and emotionally, for His glory. I am in awe.

Feet first into hell?

This morning as I was walking to my office, I walked past a sign that said, "ODST, Feet First into Hell." Then there were some stanchions set up for a line to form. Three people were in lawn chairs waiting by the door. I was shocked. People were waiting in line to go feet first into Hell? Why?

I started praying for them. When I got to my office, I thought, "I should go talk to them and ask them why they are there." I made my way back (only two were there when I got there). I told them that I saw the sign and was wondering why they wanted to be in a line to go "feet first into hell." They then informed me that this was the line for the release of the new Halo game. What kind of marketing slogan is that?

I then told these men that I know a way to go straight to heaven: through Jesus. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9).

Maybe they thought I was a bit crazy, but I don't care. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

The Romans 11 Challenge

After our recent congregational retreat, I felt challenged to memorized Romans 11. I started on September 1, with a goal to memorize one verse per day. It has gone pretty well, but I am one day behind, so I better catch up. It has been a while since I have memorized a longer passage of Scripture, but I find it to be so beneficial. Letting Scripture go down deep strengthens a person's mind and spirit (and maybe even body). If you want to join the challenge, here is the passage.

Rom 11:1-36 ESV
(1) I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
(2) God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?
(3) "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."
(4) But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
(5) So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
(6) But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
(7) What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
(8) as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."
(9) And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
(10) let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."
(11) So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.
(12) Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
(13) Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry
(14) in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
(15) For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
(16) If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
(17) But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,
(18) do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
(19) Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."
(20) That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.
(21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
(22) Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
(23) And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.
(24) For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.
(25) Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
(26) And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob";
(27) "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins."
(28) As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
(29) For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
(30) Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,
(31) so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.
(32) For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
(33) Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
(34) "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?"
(35) "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"
(36) For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Getting some rest

Last January I came down with pneumonia. It really knocked me down physically, I was in bed for two weeks and on shortened days for the third week. It was a forced staycation. In between the coughing, I slept, read books, and checked out Facebook. I had some difficulty staying in bed, but I had no other option but to rest. However, one good thing came out of the midst of that trial. I learned the importance of getting sleep.

College and graduate school ruined my sleep. I became very accustomed to staying up very late, working around the clock, and cramming as much work into as little sleep as possible. The habit was very hard to break, and it wasn't until I got pneumonia that I realized how harmful bad sleeping habits can be. I decided that I was going to make a concerted effort to get more sleep. However, it wasn't until June that I really put this into practice (I decided to try to be in bed before midnight--targeting between 10 and 11 pm). I have been able to keep this habit going (with only a few random nights staying up into the wee hours of the morning).

What are the results? Well I actually feel better, more alert, and less irritable (that is good for others). I get tired earlier, and it is hard for me to stay up so late. Life seems to be a little more manageable. Funny how it took so many years to realize that God's order of evening and morning at creation (rest and then awake) works the best.

Great finds

It has been while since I have blogged. I will start with the mundane: finding precious lost items. In the past year I have become a crossword puzzler. I never thought I would get such a kick out of it. Now I look forward to the Sunday puzzles. Yesterday, a near panic occurred when we couldn't find the section of the newspaper with the Sunday crossword puzzles. My roommates and I searched until the section was found in the recycling bin. We were all pretty excited when it was found.

The day before, it was my cell phone. When I went to service on Shabbat, I had it and then it was gone. I became a bit panicky. A lot of my life is on that phone. It was difficult to focus on the worship and message because my mind would go back to "what happened to my phone?" I kept praying, "Lord, You know where that phone is, help me to focus on You." After the service, I found it after diligent searching (and by using someone else's phone to call it). It was in the bottom of a clay pot surrounding a flower pot--the phone slide to the bottom in between the two pots. I would have never found it without hearing the ringer on my phone going off. Even after hearing the noise, it wasn't easy to locate, I followed the noise with my hand, and got it out (it was in a tight spot). There was much rejoicing in my heart.

I thought of the parable of the woman who searched for her lost coin and when she found it, had a party. The Lord is calling the lost with His voice and waiting for us to respond, so he can pull us out of a dark tight spot. Then there is great rejoicing.

On second thought, finding precious lost items is not mundane. It is actually rather miraculous.

A Personal Passover

Can I share a "God moment" with you? I was driving to Vancouver last March and was asking the Lord some questions. One of the things I asked was "Are you punishing me?" As soon as I asked the question, I saw a Highway Patrol car, so I looked down and saw that I was driving 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. I was sure I was going to be pulled over. As I was pass the car, I kept watching my rear-view mirror. The patrol car pulled onto the highway, and I figured it was coming after me. Then it turned on its lights and pulled over the car three lanes away. The Lord spoke to me in the moment and said, "See I am not punishing you. You deserved to be punished, but I do not delight in punishing you." I cried (and slowed down).

Speaking the truth

The period of time between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur is know as the "Ten Days of Awe." This is a time of introspection; a time to examine ourselves and ask the Lord to show us areas of sin. This year has been particularly interesting in that I am encountering some emotionally intense situations. When emotions rise to the surface, underlying motives are sometimes more readily identified. I have also been observing how delivering the same message in even slightly different ways can produce dramatically different results.

There are a few Scriptures that I have been mulling over lately.
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." (Pro 27:17 ESV)

"but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Messiah; from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love." (Eph 4:15-16 HNV)

"For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb 4:12 HNV)

Sometimes, truth is cutting, but if it is spoken in love and humility, it is easier for the recipient to accept and incorporate the truth into his/her life. If both the truth teller and the truth receiver remain humble, the sting will be lessened. It is the difference between gently removing a sliver from the hand of a person who is remaining still, and brusquely pulling the sliver out of the hand of someone who keeps moving around. In both cases, the sliver may be removed, but the amount of emotional and physical pain present in the process will be significantly different.

Clean, purposeful, pruning hurts and may not be pretty in the moment, but the results are beautiful.

Familiar Features

Recently I was able to see relatives from both sides of my family. As our extended family expands, I am noticing strong familial traits. Of course physical similarities are present, but the more interesting ones come in the form of common behaviors, thought processes, and methods. It is quite intriguing to try to determine how much is passed on by environment or genetics. My immediate family is a laboratory of sorts in answering the nature vs. nurture question. Of us four children, two are biologically linked and two are not, but we all were raised by the same parents and lived in the same home. I see the influence of my parents on all of our behavioral patterns in one form or another. I wonder about my grandparents and great grandparents. Did they have any idea as to what behavioral influence they would pass on to the next generations? Could the familial behaviors be teased apart and be attributed to specific ancestors? What if one of the prevailing familial traits is one that the ancestor did not wish to possess and never wanted his/her children to receive?

Facing a giant

I had to "face a giant" recently. It was not easy. Actually it was with much fear and trembling that I did it. I know that I could not do it by my own strength, but the Lord was with me. The giant doesn't seem so large and looming anymore--funny how that works.

Polishing a diamond

The message at the service this weekend was very thought-provoking. In a nutshell, the speaker talked about how we are being shaped and polished as diamonds. The process is not easy. Because the diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material, it is not easily scratched or marred by its environment and it can only be polished by another diamond. Chipping away the impurities and getting to the pristine core leaves only a fraction of the rough stone. In the same way, we as believers are being refined and polished, so that we will reflect the Light of the Lord while remaining uncompromised by the world.

When God doesn't answer

I have been thinking a lot lately about a few situations where I or others have been praying, and the answer is not coming the way that I would want or expect. Clearly, I know that God has a plan that is far greater than what I could ever imagine, but I feel confused. Why do we feel compelled to pray for something when the outcome doesn't happen? Are we praying the wrong things or with the wrong motives? Maybe.

But I think about the Scripture that tells us to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." People have been praying that for millennia, but it has not been fully answered yet. Still, the Scriptures instruct us to pray for it. If we don't see the answer we are expecting, does that mean we shouldn't pray for it? From this example, I believe it is clear that we should pray for it regardless of what we see.

We are to pray God's will. The difficult thing for me is knowing God's will in a situation. Is it God's will that we should never experience pain or suffering? I know that He is a good God and does not cause harm for His children, but He allows us to be tried and tested, which we see in the book of Job. God did not forget His servant Job, but He allowed him to endure much sorrow and pain. So, how do we pray? We cannot pray according to what we see, but according to the Spirit of God. Sometimes I wonder why we even pray if God is going to do what is best anyway. But then I think of how much I have grown through those moments of deep intercession even if what I was praying was not granted.

Fragility and Resiliency

I was thinking in light of yesterday's sad news how the human body is both resilient and fragile all at the same time. These are very opposite properties (it reminds me a little of the light/particle discussion I posted a few months ago). I think of Helena and how her little body went through so many medical procedures and rebounded quite well. Then it was over, and they don't know exactly know why. Her heart and lungs seemed to be functioning fine independently, but somehow she wasn't able to maintain high enough blood O2 levels. I imagine that God decided she had endured enough, and He took her home.

Bumper Sticker Inspiration

My neighbor's car has a bumper sticker that says, "The meaning of life is to live it." This has made me think. Usually bumper sticker messages are read and then forgotten, but this is a simplistically profound statement. Sometimes we over-think our existence. Don't get me wrong, I believe God has designed us with purpose and each person has tremendous value. I just think that we are sometimes putting too much focus on doing something grand or accomplishing the "one thing" you have been placed on the Earth to do. We forget that our value is not in "doing," rather our value is intrinsic to who we are as human beings. A flower is not any more beautiful because it was in the White House. It is beautiful because it is beautiful. We are not made more valuable by what we do. The Scriptures say that those who have been redeemed by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) are children of God. By faith we can know that by living our lives to the glory of God, even in the little things, our purpose is being fulfilled.

Experience or Watch

Here is the question of the day: "Do you live life or observe life?" I must admit that my tendency is to observe rather than to be "living in the moment." The funny thing is that I have now observed myself observing. It seems safer. If we watch, we don't have to take as many risks. The problem is that observing is not as rewarding as engaging. Sometimes we can "seemingly engage," but just be going through the motions. I want to live life to the fullest and experience full joy. What about you?

Daylight Saving Time

For some reason I have been especially impacted by the change to DST this year. It could have something to do with the fact that I stayed up way too late on Saturday night/Sunday morning, but nevertheless, I feel the loss of that hour. I still don't understand why we change our time. Does it have something to do with the fact that we wish we could be like God and make time stand still? Probably not. The true reason is probably as ridiculous. People taut it as energy savings, but in today's world our schedules do not hinge that much upon daylight hours (well, maybe a little bit). Manufacturing and shopping happens around the clock. People work and play 24 hours a day. Back before working to a clock, people adjusted their day according to the position of the sun. Ok, maybe it is a silly thing to get worked up about, but the whole concept seems rather silly to me.
If we don't like the fact that it is dark at 10pm, then maybe we should just move our clocks 5 hours ahead and it would be light at 10 pm all year long.

I just saw that a new study shows that implementing DST can actually affect health. Check it out

Back at home

So now I am back to the northwest United States after being in Finland for a couple weeks, and it feels like spring here. After being in the cold and snow, coming back to 50 degrees feels very nice. It has even been a little sunny. The worst part about traveling is readjusting. A 10-hr time change can have a dramatic impact on a persons physiological responses. I am now very tired early in the evening and fully awake at 6 am. Is that what it's like to be a morning person? I am not quite sure what to do with myself so wide awake at that time in the morning. The other part of readjusting is catching up with things at work. So much to do...I even tried to keep up a little while I was away.

Such is life--full of adjustments. We like to be in a routine and tend to be creatures of habit. It is really amazing how God created us to have bodies that are programmed according to the sunrise and sunset. Physiologically we adjust to the world around us. At the same time, we have been created to be able to adjust to changes as well. There are always changes (seasons, weather, etc.) around us, which provide interesting variety. However, it nice to know that we have a God who is constant.

"for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you." (1Pe 1:24-25 ESV)

A little family history

Today I had a chance to see the hotel that my great grandfather helped to construct in the late 1880s. I understand he was some type of foreman or construction manager for the Hotel Kämp in Helsinki. Now this is considered as one of the top hotels in Helsinki. They have restored it, and it is quite impressive. It was a lot of fun for me to see how he left his mark in this part of the world. As I looked at the columns, stairways, and exterior, I thought about how much effort he put into getting it all looking so beautiful. Above is a photo from inside the lobby.


Above is a view of the stairways upward from the lobby.
My parents sitting in the lobby. Below is a view of the exterior of the building.

Does it really matter?

I have had people ask me several times "Does a President's position on abortion really matter? They can't really do anything about it anyway." My immediate response is, "Yes, his/her position matters a lot." Sure, the President might not be able to immediately stop abortion-on-demand, but there are two big reasons to vote for a pro-life Presidential candidate. The first is that his/her approach to the issue is surely telling of their view of the value of human life. Don't we want a President that will truly believe these words of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"? Shouldn't unborn children be given the right to life? The fundamental view that life is precious and given by God is something ingrained into the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. If we take away the respect for life, we have undermined one of the foundational principles of this nation. The President is also able make a significant influence on this issue through the the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. So, yes, a Presidential candidate's position on this issue really does matter. (Mike Huckabee's position on this issue is another reason I support him.)

A pro-life President alone will not be able put an end to reverse Roe vs Wade. We all need to speak out for those who don't have a voice. There is an interesting video suggesting that even the smallest voice may make a huge impact.

Wisdom is the best weapon

Yesterday at our worship service, someone made the statement "Wisdom is better than weapons of warfare" when talking about a passage in Ecclesiastes. That immediately caught my attention. I started thinking about what wisdom is and how it is demonstrated. We know that the Scriptures say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. A person who fears the Lord demonstrates a humble spirit. He/she is teachable and moldable, and is not swayed by popular opinion or the folly of this world. A wise person can look at a situation and understand the root of the issue.

I think about Gideon, and how by being obedient to the Lord he defeated the Mideanites with clay pots, torches, and trumpets. Those weapons were not so formidable, but the God behind the weapons is not one to contend with. Gideon might have looked silly to others, but because of his obedience (fear of the Lord), true wisdom defeated the enemy in a remarkable way. Likewise, the power of God was behind Joshua as the Israelites obediently marched around Jericho (and the walls fell with a shout).

Are the strong and powerful wise? Sometimes yes, but often they become foolish because arrogance creeps in. A wise person never becomes so wise that they no longer need to seek the Lord, listen, and learn. I will continue to ponder this one for a while.

Time

We have reached the beginning of a new calendar year again. Time seems to fly by. In recent months I have thought about how on this earth we are confined to 3-dimensional space and time, and how God is not limited to time or space. He is eternal and can see the past, present, and future all at the same time. When I was a kid, I would get myself worked into a vicious circle trying to understand infinity. Now, I don't even try, but it is helpful for me to not even think about eternity in terms of time as we know it on this earth. Similar to the fact that God is omnipresent and not confined to space, He lives outside of time. Heaven will be pretty cool without the constraints of this earth (gravity, time, etc.).

We have all been allotted an unknown finite amount of time on this earth. What are you doing with yours?