Karen Butler hasn’t been the same since she had oral surgery a year and a half ago. While the swelling and numbness didn’t last too long for the Newport, Oregon woman, an unexpected side effect has remained. Butler came out of anesthesia with a foreign accent. That’s right -- this native Oregonian now sounds like she grew up in the British Isles or Australia. Doctors have diagnosed her with a neurological condition known as “foreign accent syndrome.” It is quite rare, with only 60 recorded cases over the last 100 years. Normally, it is caused by strokes, but it has also been linked to migraines, head injuries, and multiple sclerosis. In Butler’s case, doctors are puzzled over what brought it on, since the normal factors don’t appear to be present. Regardless of the reason, oral surgery changed Karen Butler’s life. She no longer speaks like she once did.
When God operates on our hearts, our speech is expected to change. “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices” (Colossians 3:8-9). “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6). “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). “...(A)nd there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:4). “...(F)rom the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:10).
May we all be afflicted with spiritual “foreign accent syndrome.” May the words we choose and the way we talk reveal us to be foreigners (Philippians 3:20).
God loves you!
Mike
Monday, May 16, 2011
Rivalries
“After having dug to a depth of 10 meters last year, Scottish scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors had a telephone network more than 100 years ago. Not to be outdone by the Scots, in the weeks that followed English scientists dug to a depth of 20 meters. Shortly thereafter, headlines in the English newspapers read: ‘English archaeologists have found traces of 200-year-old copper wire and have concluded their ancestors had an advanced high-tech communication network a hundred years earlier than the Scots. One week later, The Kerrymen, a southwest Irish newspaper, reported the following: ‘After digging as deep as 30 meters in peat bog near Tralee, Paddy O Droll, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Paddy has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Ireland had already gone wireless’” (Glad Tidings of Good Things, Vol. 30, May 6, 2010).
The humor in this fictitious story is strengthened by the real-life rivalries between the countries involved. Most of us have a competitive streak at one level or another and a good-natured rivalry can be beneficial in many ways. But rivalries can also become unhealthy. Jesus had to deal with an unhealthy attitude of rivalry among His own disciples. “John said to Him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us’” (Mark 9:38-40).
In the midst of our efforts to advance the kingdom of God, let’s remember that every disciple of Jesus Christ is on the same team. We are not rivals. There is no need to oppose or denigrate the efforts of a teammate. If you are not against me, you are for me. Serving Christ is a community effort, not a competition.
God loves you!
Mike
The humor in this fictitious story is strengthened by the real-life rivalries between the countries involved. Most of us have a competitive streak at one level or another and a good-natured rivalry can be beneficial in many ways. But rivalries can also become unhealthy. Jesus had to deal with an unhealthy attitude of rivalry among His own disciples. “John said to Him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us’” (Mark 9:38-40).
In the midst of our efforts to advance the kingdom of God, let’s remember that every disciple of Jesus Christ is on the same team. We are not rivals. There is no need to oppose or denigrate the efforts of a teammate. If you are not against me, you are for me. Serving Christ is a community effort, not a competition.
God loves you!
Mike
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Little Is Much
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Do not deceive yourselves, saying, “The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,” for they will not go. For even if you have defeated the entire of Chaldeans who were fighting against you, and there were only wounded men left among them, each man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire’” (Jeremiah 37:9-10).
We are impressed when we read the biblical stories of how God’s people were able to win unlikely victories over more numerous and better equipped enemies. By the power of God, they were able to overcome great odds. I’m thinking of men like Gideon who, with God’s help and a small army of 300 men, routed the combined forces of the Midianite and Amalekite armies (Judges 7). Who can forget the young shepherd boy who, with God’s help and some skill in handling a sling, became a giant slayer (1 Samuel 17)? In fact, during the reign of King Hezekiah, God defeated the entire Assyrian army without a single soldier of Judah going to battle (2 Kings 19)! The size and strength of the enemy doesn’t matter when God is with you.
But we also need to remember that the opposite is true. The size and strength of the enemy doesn’t matter when God is opposed to you. In the time of Jeremiah, God brought the Chaldean army against His own people to discipline them for their rebellion. Jerusalem was under siege and the people of Judah were doing what they could to survive the onslaught. For a brief time, the Chaldeans lifted the siege to engage the Egyptian army that was coming to Judah’s aid. Those in Judah were encouraged by this turn of events. Maybe they would escape! But God warns them not to get their hopes up. He tells them the Chaldeans would accomplish their God-given task even if their army was reduced to just a handful of wounded soldiers.
Little is much when God is in it...regardless of whether you are for Him or against Him.
God loves you!
Mike
We are impressed when we read the biblical stories of how God’s people were able to win unlikely victories over more numerous and better equipped enemies. By the power of God, they were able to overcome great odds. I’m thinking of men like Gideon who, with God’s help and a small army of 300 men, routed the combined forces of the Midianite and Amalekite armies (Judges 7). Who can forget the young shepherd boy who, with God’s help and some skill in handling a sling, became a giant slayer (1 Samuel 17)? In fact, during the reign of King Hezekiah, God defeated the entire Assyrian army without a single soldier of Judah going to battle (2 Kings 19)! The size and strength of the enemy doesn’t matter when God is with you.
But we also need to remember that the opposite is true. The size and strength of the enemy doesn’t matter when God is opposed to you. In the time of Jeremiah, God brought the Chaldean army against His own people to discipline them for their rebellion. Jerusalem was under siege and the people of Judah were doing what they could to survive the onslaught. For a brief time, the Chaldeans lifted the siege to engage the Egyptian army that was coming to Judah’s aid. Those in Judah were encouraged by this turn of events. Maybe they would escape! But God warns them not to get their hopes up. He tells them the Chaldeans would accomplish their God-given task even if their army was reduced to just a handful of wounded soldiers.
Little is much when God is in it...regardless of whether you are for Him or against Him.
God loves you!
Mike
Monday, April 25, 2011
Burning Words
“Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it to the king as well as to all the officials who stood beside the king. Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, with a fire burning in the brazier before him. When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier. Yet the king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments” (Jeremiah 36:21-24).
King Jehoiakim of Judah heard difficult words on that cold winter day long ago. As Jehudi read God’s words of warning to His people, the king was faced with an important choice. Would he listen to the words and make the necessary changes in his life as his father Josiah had done (2 Kings 22:8-20) or would he continue to ignore God’s appeal? Sadly, Jehoiakim chose the latter. In fact, he brazenly displays his defiance by destroying the scroll itself -- as if destroying the words would somehow alter his responsibility to heed them.
The authority of the word of God is not found in the ink or the paper on which it is written but in the God Who spoke it. You can shred every page and burn every book in which the words of God are recorded, but you cannot evade the God behind the words. Isaiah reminds us that “...the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). You can’t change the word of God by slicing it, burning it, or ignoring it. “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). You can ban the word of God but you can never ban the God of the word. Instead of burning the word of God, let it kindle a fire in you!
God loves you!
Mike
King Jehoiakim of Judah heard difficult words on that cold winter day long ago. As Jehudi read God’s words of warning to His people, the king was faced with an important choice. Would he listen to the words and make the necessary changes in his life as his father Josiah had done (2 Kings 22:8-20) or would he continue to ignore God’s appeal? Sadly, Jehoiakim chose the latter. In fact, he brazenly displays his defiance by destroying the scroll itself -- as if destroying the words would somehow alter his responsibility to heed them.
The authority of the word of God is not found in the ink or the paper on which it is written but in the God Who spoke it. You can shred every page and burn every book in which the words of God are recorded, but you cannot evade the God behind the words. Isaiah reminds us that “...the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8). You can’t change the word of God by slicing it, burning it, or ignoring it. “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). You can ban the word of God but you can never ban the God of the word. Instead of burning the word of God, let it kindle a fire in you!
God loves you!
Mike
Monday, April 18, 2011
I Am An Addict
I attended a seminar hosted by a local church recently that was designed to share information about how concerned individuals and organizations can be involved in reaching out to hurting segments of society in El Dorado county. Presentations were given by county agencies, support groups, private enterprises, and churches about how they were helping those who were homeless, those who were suffering with mental problems, and those who were battling addictions. Speakers included some with advanced degrees in their field of expertise as well as others with no letters after their name but with a wealth of experience in reaching out to help others in desperate circumstances. Each one spoke about their specific efforts to help and shared practical information regarding what works well and what doesn’t work very well.
I was particularly impressed by the group representing Narcotics Anonymous. Their presentations weren’t as polished as some of the others. In fact, you could tell that they were nervous but they still did a great job of telling us about how they help those who are fighting addictions. But as good as their information was, I was most impressed by how they introduced themselves. The first words spoken by all three were these: “Hi, my name is ________________ and I am an addict.” I realize that such statements are part of their recovery process, but what courage it must take to stand before others and admit to your own struggles! It appeared that they had all made great strides in conquering the addictions that had nearly ruined their lives. But they remind themselves and others often that they will always battle the temptation to relapse.
Would my life as a Christian change if I started introducing myself like this: “Hi, I’m Mike and I am a sinner”? Perhaps an on-going reminder like that would make me more vigilant against temptations, more patient and forgiving when wronged, and more thankful for My Savior. I just might be less prideful, less impatient, and less judgmental. What do you think?
God loves you!
Mike
I was particularly impressed by the group representing Narcotics Anonymous. Their presentations weren’t as polished as some of the others. In fact, you could tell that they were nervous but they still did a great job of telling us about how they help those who are fighting addictions. But as good as their information was, I was most impressed by how they introduced themselves. The first words spoken by all three were these: “Hi, my name is ________________ and I am an addict.” I realize that such statements are part of their recovery process, but what courage it must take to stand before others and admit to your own struggles! It appeared that they had all made great strides in conquering the addictions that had nearly ruined their lives. But they remind themselves and others often that they will always battle the temptation to relapse.
Would my life as a Christian change if I started introducing myself like this: “Hi, I’m Mike and I am a sinner”? Perhaps an on-going reminder like that would make me more vigilant against temptations, more patient and forgiving when wronged, and more thankful for My Savior. I just might be less prideful, less impatient, and less judgmental. What do you think?
God loves you!
Mike
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Man's Best Friend
On Friday evening, April 1, a toddler (not quite two years of age) wandered into a densely wooded area near his South Carolina home. Young Tyler Jacobson was dressed only in a T-shirt and diaper. When his mother and her boyfriend discovered that the child was missing, they called authorities and a frantic search was begun. The search effort continued throughout the night as temperatures dropped to within a few degrees of freezing. It was Saturday morning before a volunteer heard the youngster crying. He was found some 200 yards from a road about a quarter of a mile from his home. Other than a few scrapes, he seems to be doing fine.
How did he survive his ordeal? Apparently, you can thank the family pet! When Tyson was found, the family’s Labrador mix was by his side. It is surmised that the toddler curled up with the dog to keep warm during the long, cold night. “I think the dog wanted to make sure the boy was all right,” said Chief Marvin Brown from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s office. “We found the boy and the dog was right there with him. The dog went missing the same time the boy did” (source: “Dog Credited With Saving Missing S.C. Boy,” Edmund DeMarche, Foxnews.com).
There’s something to be said for a friend (human or animal) who won’t leave your side when you need them most. But it is even more important to have a God Who promises to never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You see, every so often I wander off, spiritually speaking. It seems like a grand adventure at first, but then the forest closes in around me and, suddenly, I can’t find my way home. Its then, like little Tyson Jacobson, that I cry out for help. What a comfort it is to know that the God who was near in times of safety is also near when I have wandered off. He hears my cry and gently leads me back home.
God loves you!
Mike
How did he survive his ordeal? Apparently, you can thank the family pet! When Tyson was found, the family’s Labrador mix was by his side. It is surmised that the toddler curled up with the dog to keep warm during the long, cold night. “I think the dog wanted to make sure the boy was all right,” said Chief Marvin Brown from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s office. “We found the boy and the dog was right there with him. The dog went missing the same time the boy did” (source: “Dog Credited With Saving Missing S.C. Boy,” Edmund DeMarche, Foxnews.com).
There’s something to be said for a friend (human or animal) who won’t leave your side when you need them most. But it is even more important to have a God Who promises to never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You see, every so often I wander off, spiritually speaking. It seems like a grand adventure at first, but then the forest closes in around me and, suddenly, I can’t find my way home. Its then, like little Tyson Jacobson, that I cry out for help. What a comfort it is to know that the God who was near in times of safety is also near when I have wandered off. He hears my cry and gently leads me back home.
God loves you!
Mike
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Spoiler Alert!
If you read movie reviews, you have likely encountered the phrase “SPOILER ALERT” at the beginning of some articles. In case you haven’t seen the particular movie under discussion, the writer is warning you that he or she will be revealing details about the plot that may “spoil” your experience as a first-time viewer. So be forewarned! If you don’t want to learn of the movie’s twists and turns ahead of time and if you don’t want to know how the movie ends, do not read any farther!
If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, I have a spiritual “spoiler alert” for you. But I dare you to read on because this is knowledge can actually help you. Okay. Get ready. (Stop reading NOW if you don’t need any assistance in your spiritual life!) Here it comes.... GOD WINS!!! In the on-going battle between the forces of good and evil, God wins. In spite of all the struggles of this cinematic drama we call life, God wins. When it appears that the “bad guy” has the upper hand, God wins. Just when the scenes get dark and scary, God wins. There you have it. The cat is out of the bag.
If we are children of God, that makes us winners as well! When we know how the movie ends, it can change the way we live. Because God wins, we have an antidote for fear in the scariest of situations. Because God wins, we have hope even when all hope appears to be gone. Because God wins, we have an anchor point that will hold in the roughest storms of life. Because God wins, we have a power source that strengthens us in times of desperate weakness.
Isn’t it great to learn that God wins before the movie is over? Now we can enjoy the show! No matter what happens, we know how it will all end. When the credits of our lives begin to roll, we know that God gets all the credit. Isn’t it great to be spoiled?
God loves you!
MIke
If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, I have a spiritual “spoiler alert” for you. But I dare you to read on because this is knowledge can actually help you. Okay. Get ready. (Stop reading NOW if you don’t need any assistance in your spiritual life!) Here it comes.... GOD WINS!!! In the on-going battle between the forces of good and evil, God wins. In spite of all the struggles of this cinematic drama we call life, God wins. When it appears that the “bad guy” has the upper hand, God wins. Just when the scenes get dark and scary, God wins. There you have it. The cat is out of the bag.
If we are children of God, that makes us winners as well! When we know how the movie ends, it can change the way we live. Because God wins, we have an antidote for fear in the scariest of situations. Because God wins, we have hope even when all hope appears to be gone. Because God wins, we have an anchor point that will hold in the roughest storms of life. Because God wins, we have a power source that strengthens us in times of desperate weakness.
Isn’t it great to learn that God wins before the movie is over? Now we can enjoy the show! No matter what happens, we know how it will all end. When the credits of our lives begin to roll, we know that God gets all the credit. Isn’t it great to be spoiled?
God loves you!
MIke
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