Adios and Good Night

This is my last blog. There just doesn't seem to be much interest. There have been no comments posted for several months. So, say goodbye to the blog. I post every day on Twitter and Face Book, so you can keep up with me on those two places. I try to use those accounts for spiritual encouragement by using Scripture, famous quotes etc. more than just socializing. So, Blog Spot, adios and good night.

I am with my wife Debbie at Miami County Hospital in Paola, KS. She had a partial knee replacement the other day and is recovering from the surgery. The 'torturers' (rehab therapists) come in several times a day and work with her. I usually write this blog from the Country Bean coffee-shop, but, today I have to write from my wife's hospital room. Deb wonders how she can be walking fine on her knee one day, and the next she can hardly put pressure on it. She wishes she had been playing volleyball, basketball, or ice hockey so she has a good explanation! The only explanation I can give is that these bodies we are in are not redeemed. Our soul and spirit is redeemed if we know Jesus Christ, but not our bodies. Our bodies are dying. When we get to Heaven we will get a new glorified body. That body will never feel pain, disease, or sickness. That body will be perfect. People often ask if we will be recognizable in Heaven. God's Word says we will "know as we are known". Yes, we will recognize others and they will recognize us. Even our personalities will be similar, but without the sin, weaknesses, and iniquities. Though this life can be a real struggle at times, it is comforting to know that this life is not all there is! I am looking forward to Heaven some great day!

In EVERYTHING Give Thanks

In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thess. 5:18. That is a great verse and I think it has been my motto this year. The only thing I have a problem with in the verse is the word everything. It is easy to be thankful for the good things and the neutral things, but not so easy for the negative things. And I'll be honest, this year has brought a host of negative things. I'm not complaining, just being honest. This has been a tough ol' year. Not just for me, but most people I know. And yet, God's Word tells us we must be thankful for these things, no matter how negative. There have been problems with marriages in my church, a general apathy and carelessness in the attitudes of some of our people, and a disunity among some. I dare not leave town, because everytime I have left town this year, I returned to a major crisis to deal with. I'm not going anywhere for a good long time! But, in EVERYTHING give thanks, and so I will. There have been personal problems to deal with as well as dealing with my grandson Bryce's rare genetic disease. We just learned that my wife Deb needs a partial knee replacement. Needless to say, she is not looking forward to that! And yet, in EVERYTHING give thanks, and so we will. I don't want to leave the impression that everything was negative this year. We have seen many people saved through the City Union Mission and State Hospital services. We praise the Lord for these victories. We may not be able to give thanks FOR everything, but we can give thanks IN everything.