Caregiver Chronicles: The Difference Between Living and Dying

"Well, it don't seem like this dying is working out too well for me. I've decided I might as well work on living for a while," Sam announced one morning.

"What do you mean, Sam?" I asked.

"You know. When I got with them hostage people, I thought I was dying, but I'm still here."

"We're all dying, Sam. It's just not your time yet."

"I want you to tell me when it gets close, okay?"

"Sam,you're 87 years old and in poor health. Dying is closer than it's ever been for you. I'd say it's pretty close."

He leaned back on his pillows. "Okay then. That's what I wanted to know."

"I don't think dying is on the agenda for today, though."

"Good. I might as well live, then." 

Unless the Lord comes back for us, we're all going to die. That's certain. The longer we live, the closer we are to that day. 

Sam understands that truth, but, when he was first placed on hospice care, he struggled with the idea that death was closer than he'd realized. He didn't feel well, and eating seemed more trouble than it was worth. No amount of cajoling could change his mind.

When he decided to try living again, he did it with a new attitude. He started eating more, sitting up in his chair, talking with visitors, listening to music, playing with the dogs.

His medical problems were the same as ever. The only thing that changed was his attitude. 

Sam has an attitude of life now, and it's transformed his days. He's enjoying the time he has left. Joking. Laughing. Smiling. 

If we're honest, it's easy to adopt an attitude of dying instead of an attitude of living. If we have an attitude of dying, we begin to ask ourselves, "What difference will it make?" about what we eat, about the things we say, about the actions we take. All we focus on is how we feel in the moment and what "feels good" right then. 

It's a very selfish existence. 

If we're focused on living, we pursue life. We cherish the people in our lives. We care for our bodies. We exercise, eat right, make healthy choices in lifestyle. We count our blessings as more than our problems. We try to make a difference. 

It's an outward-facing existence.

We don't have to be dying to live like we are. All we have to do is stop pursuing life. Stop investing ourselves in the world around us. 

Jesus gave us two commands that sum up how we're to live. Love God. Love others. Neither of those are inward-facing. Neither of those expire until the day we die. We're to keep loving God and others until our very last breath.

Today, let's take a close look at our own lives. Are we focused on living or dying?   No matter how close we are to the end of our days, we can still live life to the fullest, every day we have left. 

It's pretty simple, really. Just love, then let our love direct our actions. 

This day, let's love God with every fiber of our being. This day, let's love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Then, keep doing it. Every day until He calls us home.

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139"16 NLT

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: Working From Home and Missing the Office 

If you feel led to partner with this ministry (US, Middle East, the digital world), here's the link to give your tax-deductible donations: Global Outreach Acct 4841 

Or you can mail your check or money order to: Global Outreach/ PO Box 1, Tupelo MS 38802. Be sure to put Account 4841 in the "for" line

MAKING SENSE OF ELECTION 2016 - OR TRYING TO...

Wading into the election fray seemed like a good idea a few weeks ago. When I sat down to write, however, I wondered if I'd lost my mind. I dreaded trying to tackle the impossible task of making sense of the circus that Election 2016 has become. 

There's good news, though. We don't have to make sense of it. We have to find God in the midst of it. 

This morning, I did what I always do. Prayed about what I should write. Today, the only thing in my heart was, "It's time to write about the election." I'm doing it, but with a sense of trepidation. 

If you're going to read this, please read it all the way to the end.

We can probably all agree that neither of the major candidates are perfect people. None of them are ideal candidates. We can probably all agree that there's been considerable rhetoric from both sides. Some of what has been said is probably true. Some has been skewed to make truth appear less favorable. Some is likely blatantly untrue.

Can I sort it out and find the truth in the midst of the jumble? No.

There are many issues about which I care, but what I care about doesn't matter nearly as much as those things about which God cares. 

Let's stop for a few minutes and look at the things that matter to God. (This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but representative.) 

1) God cares about loving Him and loving others.

"And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it. 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 22:37-39

2) God cares about justice, kindness (or mercy), and humility.

"What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

3) God cares about life.

(I'm lumping the issues of pre-born life, care of the elderly, and end of life issues, including physician-assisted suicide, in this broad category.)

"Thou didst form my inward parts... I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:13-14 

4) God cares about the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the prisoner.

(I'm lumping the issues of poverty, homelessness, and refugees in this broad category.)

"Then the King will say to those on His right...'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'" Matthew 25:35-36

5) God cares about a servant heart.

"But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." Matthew 23:11-12

6) God cares about our dependence upon Him in matters of finance.
(This includes both personal and national debt.)

"Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:32-33 nasb

7) God cares about Israel and our response to Israel.

"Now the Lord said to Abram,... I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse." Genesis 12:1, 3 nasb 

If we are to follow Him, we must care about the things He cares about. With that in mind, I tried to look at the things the candidates care about and compare them to what God cares about. 

It was nearly impossible. 

What's written doesn't necessarily match what's been said. What's been said doesn't necessarily match the life the candidates have lived.

I've reviewed both the Clinton and Trump websites, as well as that of the Libertarian party and its candidate. 

The Libertarian Party's statement of principles says: "We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose." 

I read those words and they sent chills through me. I envisioned heroin dealers selling on the street corners without fear of arrest because they "exercise sole dominion over their lives" and "do not forcibly interfere with the equal rights of others." 

I can see so many ways that the libertarian philosophy can go wrong that there's no way I can support this party or their candidate.

I'm not endorsing either of the major candidates, either. 

With that said, here are the things I'm using to make my decision. 

LOVING GOD - 

Of the major candidates and their running mates, who professes born-again, sold-out Christianity and has the background that seems to confirm it?

JUSTICE/MERCY/SERVANT HEART/POOR/HUNGRY/HOMELESS - 

Of the major candidates and their running mates, who responded to a major disaster during the campaign (Louisiana flooding) by going to the scene, giving aid, and personally handing out supplies? (Admittedly this may have been a performance, but even a show of mercy is better than no show at all.)

FINANCE - 

There's been so much rhetoric about this area that I don't have clear evidence of either party's candidate being truly reliable, but which candidate's finances appear to be less questionable? (That's a terrible way to decide, but it's all I have.)

REFUGEES - 

There is nothing in Scripture that says to build a wall around ourselves and keep strangers out. Who has a heart for the refugee? 

LIFE - 

Who supports life in all its stages? Who opposes partial-birth abortion? (As a physician, I can see no reason late-stage partial birth abortion could be necessary, and I cannot support a candidate who does.)

ISRAEL - 

Who most clearly stands with Israel?

In the end, the two issues I'm using to choose a candidate are their pro-life stance and their support for Israel, because I believe those two issues are the ones that are most representative of what God cares about. 

You may feel differently. That's fine with me.

WITH THAT SAID...

I don't expect things to go well, no matter who wins. 

This election cycle has made me cringe over and over again. None of the candidates are ideal. None of the candidates can "make America great again," no matter what they claim. 

Only God can make a great nation, and He will do it only in response to the true repentance of His people.

"...if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 nasb

Healing only comes after humility and repentance. They are not optional, and we aren't there yet. 

I expect things will change in this country after November 8th, and in ways we don't like and won't enjoy.

If we are to balance the budget and pay off our debt, there will be a marked change in our way of life. That's not necessarily bad, but it will be very different and very hard. We'll get used to it. We'll learn to adapt. Or we won't. 

There might be chaos for a while. Rioting in the streets. Murder and mayhem. That's happening in other parts of the world right now. We'll get through it. Or we won't. 

The Revelation given to John on Patmos describes a terrible time to come, and we are closer to these events now than we've ever been. Are we "there"? I don't know. Only God the Father knows the timing. 

I hope the pre-tribulation people, who think we will be "raptured out" of all the hard times, are right, but I doubt they are. I believe we, as believers, will see at least a significant part of the hard times to come. 

I've written a lot of difficult things that may sound hopeless today, but let me end this blog with some certain truth. 

God is still in charge. 

No matter who wins the election, God will still be in charge.

King Jesus will return one day, and when He does, a better day will be just around the corner. A new Jerusalem. A new heaven and a new earth.

We have to get through the hard times to get to it, but what's coming will be worth it. 

If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, now would be a good time to meet Him. I'll be happy to introduce you. (Message me if you're interested.)

Sorting out this mess of an election is hard. I've struggled to find what God wants in the midst of it. I'm not throwing stones at anyone who views it differently. 

When November 9th rolls around, we will still be "we the people" and we still be "one nation under God", whether the majority want to be or not. No matter what our views, no matter who occupies the White House, there's one thing for certain.

God's people need to love Him with our whole hearts and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. If we want America to be great again, that's where we should start.

"He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." Revelation 22:20-21 nasb.
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photo above courtesy of freeimages.com
In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: A Different Kind of Prayer Work

#election2016 

The Value of a Life

Ole Lou is 15 years old, and he's been a great dog. Someone had found a dozen puppies in a big blue rubbermaid box at the dump and carried them to the animal shelter. I was at the shelter when they came in, looking for a puppy, and I took him straight from the dump box. We adopted him from the pound the same day. He was so little that he rode in my jacket pocket. 

We'd only had him a few days when he started coughing and vomiting. He had Parvo. Two weeks in puppy ICU and lots of good vet care brought him through. He's been a trooper ever since.

Lou's big and imposing, with a deep, intimidating bark, but the sweetest dog you'll ever meet. He's gentle with children and other animals, loves me, and loves his human, Ryan.

At 15, his health has declined dramatically. His teeth aren't in good shape, he won't eat well most of the time, and he wheezes when he exerts himself. He's dying and it's obvious to anyone who looks at him.

I intended to "put him down". I've already dug his grave and have his shroud (the sheet he slept on for years) ready. The sensible thing to do, in my foolish mind, was to "take care of it" while Ryan was home. 

Lou is still too big for me to carry, so the Hired Hand came to help. He looked at Lou for a long moment, then back at me. "I don't see how you can put down a dog that's smiling and wagging his tail."

His words stunned me, and I looked past the frail body to Lou's face. He was right. Lou's eyes were still bright. His tail was still wagging. He still looked at me with all the trust and love he's ever shown.

"His life still has value," The Hired Hand said, and I was cut to the core.

I, who have been an advocate for life for decades, had looked at this life and devalued it. I was ready to end his life before it was over, and shame flooded through me. I repented on the spot.

It was not just about suffering; it was also about inconvenience. I had crawled on my belly through the azaleas with a spoon in one hand and a can of dog food in another until I couldn't stand it any more. I wanted the crawling and the dying to be done.

I looked at Ryan and shook my head. "He's right. Lou's life still has value. All life has value."

"But he's suffering, Mom."

"I know. He's suffering some, but he's still enjoying life some, too. Life and death are issues best left in God's hands, not mine."

"He looks bad."

"Yeah. But look at those eyes. Look at his wagging tail. Suffering's not all bad, Ryan." I knew that from experience. Some of the hardest times in my life had been used to change me in ways I never expected. Lou's hard times are changing me, too.

In the midst of his poor health, Lou still finds joy every day. He still gives joy. He still wags his tail and smiles in a way only he can do.

There may be a time when we end his suffering, but it is not today. 

I'm still feeding him with a spoon, but Lou and I have reached a compromise. He's coming out from his cool resting place at least twice a day. He still walks with me, if I don't walk far. He still wags his tail. We still love each other.

When Ryan looks back on Lou's poor health, I want him to remember that Lou's life had value all the way to the end. I know some people will say, "He's just a dog. Why let him suffer?" I've felt that way, too. 

But... life is precious in all its forms. The breath of life comes straight from God for all His creatures, even dogs. 

One day, I'll be the one who's old and frail and suffering. One day, Physician Assisted Suicide, already becoming acceptable in a few states, may be acceptable here. Years from now, I want Ryan to remember that all life has value, no matter how difficult it might be. 

That's why we carried Sam down the Tanglefoot Trail in a wheelchair. He could've walked a few feet, but not the entire way. His life, though frail, has infinite value.

That's why I stop writing at 4:00 to throw bread to the fish with Sam. It's one of his favorite things to do, and the joy he has in that simple pleasure matters.

We've not more valuable to God when we're young and strong. Every day of our life matters to Him. Even when we're old, and frail, and dying.

If God values our most difficult days, so should we. No matter how hard it is, let's do more than live like we're dying. Let's live until we die, with all the fervor and enthusiasm we can muster, even on the hardest days. In that same way, let's celebrate the value of all life, no matter how difficult.

"Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written they days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." Psalm 139:16 nasb

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In case you missed it, here's the link to yesterday's post: The Soil Samples

#life #alllivesmatter #disciple

Confessing Jesus Before Men: Truth and Life

"And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:8-9 NASB)

Confess before men" is a phrase that, in Greek, means to say the same the same things about Jesus that He says about Himself. In this series, we have reviewed the I AM's, including I AM the Bread of Life, I AM the Light of the World, I AM the Door, I AM the Good Shepherd (pasture), I AM the Good Shepherd, I AM the Resurrection and the Life, and I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life (the way).

We return to the passage in John to consider it in more detail.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; 

no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6 NASB

The word translated as "truth" is alētheia and indicates truth in all matters, including the certainty of fulfillment. If Jesus is the truth (and He is), then every word He said is true. Every prophecy will be fulfilled; every promise can be claimed with certainty. 

zōē is the word translated as "life". This word is rich and filled with such depth of meaning that it deserves a closer look. Blue Letter Bible defines this word as "life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God..." This "life" is not a boring life of stone walls, dim light, and rote chants. This "life" is vibrant, active, alive. It's exciting, with new adventure around every corner and the hope of eternity in the future, where it will be even more wonderful.

Jesus was many things, but he was never boring. If our lives are boring, we're missing something vital in our Christian walk. What Jesus came to give us was LIFE and He intended for it to be abundant, fulfilling, and productive. Is that the kind of life we're living? If not, why not?

Our Lord intends life to be more than 9-5 work and a few hours of television every evening until we fall asleep on the couch. He intended us to make a difference in the kingdom of God. In what ways are we making an investment in the kingdom of God? In what ways are we spending our time for Him? How are we using our gifts for the body of Christ?

One of the exciting things we will enjoy in eternity is seeing the spiritual fruit of the seeds we have sown in this world. We won't enjoy it though, if we have planted no seeds. Let's be sure we're making a difference in this world with the life Christ has given us. Plant seeds. Make a difference. Change the world. 

He is the life, our life, and it's very exciting... IF we live it the way He intended.

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Our Father, I give you the life I'm living now and ask You to give me Your abundant life. Help me to sow seeds for You, to make a difference in the world.  Help me to see Your hand at work around me and to join in with what You are doing. Help me to live abundantly. in Jesus name, Amen.

On Life: Gaining and Losing it

Life. It seems such a huge subject but two things happened today that have been cause for considerable pondering on the topic. 

First, a patient came in for follow up. She had a tremendous improvement with treatment and was ecstatic. "I feel like you've given me my life back!" she said. 

Later this evening, an alert on my phone indicated that Robin Williams, an actor and gifted commedian, had died. My first thought was, "Wow. 63 seems young for a fatal heart attack!"  When I looked at the alert article, however, I found that he had committed suicide with the cause of death as asphyxia. He very likely hung himself. 

The two events triggered a long line of pondering on the idea of losing and regaining our lives. In every life, there are good times and bad times. Jesus said we would have trouble, and He was right.  There are some troubles, however, that seem so severe and last so very long that it seems as if we have "lost our life". What we mean, of course, is that the lifestyle we prefer has been changed to one we don't like quite as well. 

When I fractured my hand a while back, I had those horrid Frankenstein pins and that cast for so long, I felt like I had lost my life, and I was one whiny baby. I hadn't lost my life at all. What actually happened is that I gained tremendous insight into the difficulty of compliance with doctor's orders and a better understanding of how to help patients comply! The very thing that seemed like losing my life actually enhanced it. 

What is it, then, that drives someone to such despair that they would take their own life? A suicide such as Mr. Williams was not a sudden, impulsive act, nor was it an accident. It was deliberate. No one will ever know all the thoughts that went through his head at the time of death nor all the factors that led to his tragic decision.  Every death by suicide is a heartbreaking reminder that we can feel alone though we live in the spotlight, and feel as if we have nothing to live for though we own everything our heart has desired. 

The question, then, becomes one of "What makes a life?" If it's not lifestyle, fame, or possessions, what is it? Jesus had a very simple answer.  "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus IS life, and He is the one who makes a life. 

On those days when we are despairing because of one change or another in the circumstances of our lives, we would do well to remember that, if we have Jesus, we have all the Life we need.