Partner's for life...

I looked across the porch this morning and saw the tears in her eyes.  These past few years have been very hard on my sweet wife.  I didn't know that I was suffering from an undiagnosed battle with Parkinson's disease.   This was stealing my ability to think through problems and decisions clearly and decisively as I have most of my life.  She suffered through being the lone voice of both "somethings wrong" , and the need to protect me from criticism.  Meanwhile, I was floating off into some kind of mental fog that comes with this disease, and insisted on staying involved in what is clearly one of the most easily criticized professions you can work in...I was the Pastor of a local church. She was living in a no win situation.  It might have been easier if I had been involved in some moral failure because than she could have left me without being criticized.  In the Christian world women can never leave, they are just expected to suffer on in silence.  This has been the price that she has paid to be my partner and I am sorry she has paid it.  I have seen the pain in her eyes.  Apparently when she said till death do us part, she really meant it.

A challenging diagnosis.

A few months ago my doctor told me that I have Parkinson's disease.  This is a challenge to say the least because it answers some questions that I had over some symptoms I had been experiencing physically.  There was no doubt that I had been going downhill for many months but I just didn't want to see it.  Please understand that I am one of those crazy, radical Jesus lovers who has prayed for people, horses, and even a few sick cars over the years.  I have seen God heal many people with worse symptoms than I have...but this one thing I know and that is no one ever gets healed by ignoring a symptom.  It is time to apply God's promise to my life.  I Peter 2:24 by His stripes I am healed...Today I am reminding myself that God is not a man.  Numbers 23:19....check in with me from time to time and see how I am doing.

Disruption

The average married person in North America spends more time on the internet than with their spouse.  If facebook was a country, it would be the third largest country in the world.  I have a droid phone and it makes a droid sound every time I get a facebook, email, or text message.  Disruption is the word for the way our lives go today.  But in the middle of all the disruptions I must find a way to experience peace and hear the still small voice of God leading me through the day.  We must not let all the disruptions disrupt us on the inside.  This is our challenge today.

A water emergency

Do you ever have problems that spin out of control, and cost more than you can afford?  I had one this weekend when we called a plumber to help solve a small problem that became a big problem.  This all started with the first plumber coming on Saturday and should be done (I'm told) by next Monday.  When he left late Saturday night nothing was solved and I had less running water than before they started.  I brought in a second plumber Monday night with the same results, and then brought back the first guy on Tues. and Wed.  By the way we had no hot water for the entire weekend.  In the end I have hot and cold running water again for which I am very grateful.  I also have holes in two walls that I need to find help getting repaired...Anyone out there know how to repair drywall...The lesson I learned is that I still have a way to go in the patience department, and I have taken an awful lot of things for granted.  Thank you Lord that stuff doesn't break down very often...I'll try to remember these important lessons.

Being alone?

I'm alone this week while Cindi is in Miami helping our son find a place to live.  Being alone is a hard gig.  I can't wait for someone else to share the remote with.  I can cook what I like, but then I have to eat alone.  No conflict  this way, but no one to share with or snuggle with or work with or talk with or be with.  Being alone makes me grateful that I'm married.  It makes me grateful for family, and community.  Being alone makes me realize that I was not made to be alone.  God said about Adam "it's not good that man should be alone."  He was right.  There is so much more joy in a life that is shared.  I need people...this is what I am learning this week.  How about you?

Man up...2

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  I just read that our government spent over 900 million dollars of stimulus money on a study to determine the effect of "penis size" on a man's quality of life.  I am tired of seeing all of the commercials about "penis enlargement" and other drugs designed to enhance your sex life.  Now don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the sexual relationship that I share with my wife, but I refuse to allow my life to be controlled by my sexual appetites.  A life that is controlled by it's appetites is bondage, and not a life that is really enjoyed.  It's time for godly men to rise up against the darkness that is seeking to control their lives.  It's time for men to guard their hearts against Internet porn, or sexually explicit movies.  You can live a life free from the control of lust.  You may be weak in your flesh, but you can be strong in the Lord.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come on guys, let's make purity a priority...it's time to man up.

Man up

I wish that men everywhere would lift up holy hands without wrath or doubting.  Come on guys, it's time for us to remember what it means to be a real man.  Real men aren't weak, and they don't make excuses. This world needs to see strong men.  Character is the willingness to demonstrate strong moral courage.  We need men who will protect their families, and won't prey on young women.  The number of girls in our nation who are physically assaulted is outrageous, and it is because our nation is filled with men who are controlled by weakness instead of strength.  I have a vision of men who have strong moral convictions.  They don't tolerate pornography in their lives because they believe God has called them to a better life.  I am praying for a new movement of strong men,and I hope that you will join me.  It's time to man-up.