"It's the Kids!" (Revelation 2:4)

During my third year of medical school, I had my clinical rotations in pediatrics. For two months, I was exposed to numerous cold and flu viruses afflicting dozens of sick children. And like generations of medical students before and after me, I got sick, several times.

One blessing from this experience was the buildup of my immune system. For many years, I was far less susceptible to catching colds or contracting the flu because my immune system had been rigorously strengthened by constant exposure.

However, that all changed when I met my wife. She is a pediatric dentist and is exposed to countless sick kids coughing and breathing on her. Although she rarely gets sick, she is carrying many of these viruses and bacteria and they inevitably find their way to me. During the first few months of our relationship, I felt like my pediatrics rotation all over again. I was repeatedly sick as I was exposed to a new round of pediatric germs. With resignation and reluctance I proclaimed, “It’s the kids!”

Sometimes, tracing the source of illness is easy. In other occasions, experts like public health epidemiologists, are needed to trace the source of the infection. In every case, it requires a careful and honest retracing of steps to identify the sources.

In my spiritual walk with God, a similar degree of honesty and sleuthing is sometimes needed for me to identify to source of my sins. My life has wildly swung from periods of intense activity and devotion to God to coldness and indifference. The reasons are many but at the heart of many of these periods was the choice I made to substitute other activities, people, or possessions for the love of Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Revelation 2:4 (NKJV)

Like the Ephesian church that Jesus addressed in this passage from Revelation, I left my first love-the love of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I left His love, He did not leave me. Thanks be to God that He is always faithful to me and welcomes me back with His endless and perfect love, even when I am so selfish to take it for granted and even reject it.

Like tracing the source of my illnesses during medical school and dating my wife, tracing the source of my backsliding ways is not difficult when I am honest with myself.

I need a Savior. I need Jesus Christ. He is my first love.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Do As I Say...!" (1 Corinthians 9:22-23)

“Can overweight doctors really help patients lose weight?”

A recent study examined this question. It probably comes as no surprise that doctors who are overweight do not inspire confidence in their patients when told they must lose weight. Many patients thought their doctors hypocrites for instructing them to lose weight when they could not do the same. It was a rehash of the old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do.”

But the results of this study are not as straightforward as it seems. The study also found that some overweight doctors may actually may have more success in prescribing diet medications to their overweight patients because these patients may perceive that heavier doctors may be more empathetic to their own plight.

There appears to be a fine line between patients accepting advice from a physician who does not appear to follow their own admonitions versus accepting advice from a physician whom they feel can empathize with them.

In my spiritual life, I have experienced a similar response from those to whom I have witnessed. Some look at me and question how I could empathize with their life situation? “Have you ever been homeless? Have you ever gone for days without eating?” With these people, I do not have any credibility nor do they feel I have the right to share the gospel or assist them. With others, they see my background and occupation and arrive at a completely opposite conclusion. “Wow, you are a physician and you are taking the time to help me out. I appreciate that.”

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV)

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV)

I understand and respect the opinions of both groups. The Apostle Paul succinctly outlined his goals when he shared the gospel. He tried to identify with all groups he encountered. Was he always successful? No. But he allowed the Holy Spirit to lead and guide him so that he could share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was more concerned about witnessing God’s grace and goodness than worrying about what others thought of him. I would do well to emulate this great saint of the Bible.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

A Reality Party (Psalms 51:4)

“Yeah, it’s really easy to get the alcohol. If you know the person at the store, they will let you buy it. And everyone has a friend who is over 21.”

The young teenaged girl cooly described how she and and her peers were able to obtain alcohol for their parties. My wife and I were attending a reality party. Held in a private home, a group of teenagers from the local high school acted out a variety of scenarios that involved underage drinking, drug use, and sex. As the groups of parents migrated from the different rooms, we witnessed drinking games, fights, medical emergencies, even discussions of rape.

I am thankful for the high school administration and concerned parents who orchestrated this reality party for our community. It is a wakeup call to every parent that underage drinking is a pervasive and deadly problem and unless parents and families work together and confront this tragedy, it will continue.

It was disturbing and alarming because it is real and happening in every community, ruining lives, sometimes for a lifetime. It was ugly.

Sin is always ugly.

We may try to sugarcoat it and cloak it under different names and banners, but it is still detestable and repulsive. We may think it is someone else’s problem or child. We may think that this would never happen in our community or home. But it is a problem for everyone and every family. When confronted with these facts, we can chose to look away or do something about it. But it IS our problem.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.

Psalms 51:4 (ESV)

Like the reality party, the Bible confronts us with our own sins. We may sugarcoat our sins and shift the blame to our parents or an abusive boss. We may blame our schools or the media. We may even blame our genetic makeup. But unless we take responsibility and acknowledge that sin is our reality, it will continue to ruin our lives and those whom we love. We need to deal with sin immediately and decisively. It is not someone else’s problem. It is ours. And we need to answer to God, who created us, and confess and repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness and direction.

This is the reality party for our life.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I Can't Wear A Hat!" (Matthew 10:30)

My voice teacher shared an amusing anecdote. Several years ago, he was invited to sing in an opera. It was a period piece and the performance required him to wear a hat with a brim. After a few minutes of singing, the musical director yelled out, “What are you doing?”

Confused, he replied, “What do you mean?”

“Your voice is completely off!”

My teacher quickly surmised that the hat was altering the way his voice sounded to his own ears. When he sang, his voice bounced off the brim of the hat in a way that subtly altered his perception of his own voice. Without knowing, he was changing the way he sang simply because he wore a hat! He confided in me, “I can’t wear a hat when I sing!”

His story reminded me of how just slight changes in our daily routine can completely throw an entire day out of balance. Recently I was ill with the flu. To fight off the nausea and vomiting, I slept for over 12 hours. The rest did me well but it completely threw off my usual routine. The evening before, I set my alarm to an incorrect wake up time. That morning, I went downstairs to make my coffee but soon realized that I had not put my contact lenses on, usually my first action when I awaken. When I got to my office, I forgot my electronic passcode to the door, one that I used for the past 2 years, and had to look it up on my smart phone. For the rest of the day, the glitches continued-all because my usual routine was interrupted.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Matthew 10:30 (NKJV)

Thank goodness that God is not susceptible to any distractions that could take His attention away from me! He is always thinking about me, praying and interceding on my behalf. The depth of His knowledge of me is so deep, so profound, that He even knows the very number of hairs on my head. And this is just me. What about the details of every living creature who lives or has ever lived or will live?

Little changes in our routines can have a significant impact upon our daily activities. Thanks be to God that He is unchanging and immovable in His attention to me and the details and direction He has for my life!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Ah, The Good 'Ol Days!" (Romans 10:2-3)

When I began my medical residency in 1988, a famous lung research institute was located next to the university hospital. This lung institute was renowned for its pioneering work in the field of lung disease. But apparently, the focus of their research may have been different several decades ago. In the office where the residents worked, a faded black and white framed photo hung on the wall. This photo, taken in the early 1950’s, showed several white coated physician researchers, enjoying a cigarette break. In the background, clearly visible, was the name and facade of the famous lung institute. One my chief residents remarked on the photo, “Ah, the good ‘ol days!”

Indeed!

Medicine has quickly evolved, even within the past few years. Ideas or habits that were once accepted are now shunned and recognized as harmful. We can laugh and shake our heads at examples like the photograph of the cigarette smoking physicians but deep down we may wonder about whether any of the activities which we currently engage in may actually be harmful.

When I first became a Christian, I was on fire and determined to share the Gospel with anyone who would listen. While this was admirable, it was also offensive to many people, including my father. I was eager to share my new faith with him but I would not stop there. My father was a dentist and I placed a number of small pamphlets explaining the Gospel in a few pages. The booklets had titles like, “Who is Jesus?” and “Can I Trust the Bible?” But I also placed some additional booklets entitled, “Are Mormons Christians?” When my father discovered these booklets, he was rightfully upset and demanded to know if I placed them there. When I admitted I did, he chastised me and said, “You know, I have a lot of Mormon patients and they would be highly offended if they read this. You should have first asked my permission before placing those pamphlets there.”

He was absolutely right. In my enthusiasm to share the Gospel, I was not sharing love or compassion. I was more concerned about sharing and not addressing the true spiritual needs of those whom I met.

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Romans 10:2-3 (ESV)

I still share the Gospel with whomever I interact. However, the Holy Spirit has allowed me to emper my sharing with love and compassion. I seek to know the person with whom I share the Gospel rather than launching into a sermon on how to be saved. I now realize that my zeal was without knowledge and, like the Jews whom the Apostle Paul was describing in the passage above, I was seeking to establish my own righteousness instead of God’s.

We are commanded by Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations. Like the good ol’ days of my youth, I still have that fervor to share the gospel, but I must continually yield to God’s direction and guidance to provide me zeal with knowledge.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

It Takes Time (Jonah 4:3-4)

“Mom! Dad’s being impatient with me again!”

“Honey, why don’t you be nice to me?”

“Dad, be gentle with me!”

The familiar cries of my family, all documenting my crude and impulsive behaviors. I fail so often, sometimes I wonder if I am really saved? How could Jesus Christ be working in my life when I exhibit such pettiness, even toward my own family?

The prophet Jonah had to be swallowed by a great fish, spending 3 days in its belly, before he finally repented of his pride and arrogance and sought God’s forgiveness and obeyed His commands. I would have thought that after such a horrific experience, Jonah would never again let those selfish thoughts enter his mind. Yet just a short time later, Jonah is bitter that God showed mercy upon the thousands of people in Nineveh and spared the city.

Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.

And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah 4:3-4 (ESV)

It is easy for me to shake a finger at Jonah and question why he would be so petty. But I need to look in the mirror. God has showered me with His mercy, countless times. After each time, the “glow” of His love remains with me for a few days, and then, I lapse into my usual selfish and prideful behavior. I am impatient with my family, inconsiderate of other’s needs, and looking to satisfy my desires first.

I am saved by grace through the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The sanctification, the setting aside of my life for God’s purposes, began the moment I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and will continue until I am in His presence in Heaven. I lament that the process is not complete or progressing at a quicker pace. But I am, once again, exhibiting my selfish desires to act like God and take matters into my own hands. I want to be completely sanctified, now, but it is my sinful nature that keeps putting up roadblocks.

It takes time.

God continues to work in my life demonstrating to myself and others, that sanctification is a lifelong process. Sometimes the transformations are dramatic but most of the time, the Holy Spirit is working within me, slowly and inexorably transforming me into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. I fail, many times, and disappoint and exasperate my family. But I pray that God will also grant to my family and other believers who interact with me, the same grace that He extends to me.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Slow Down Now!" (Deuteronomy 31:6)

My daughter learned to drive and just passed her drivers license road examination last month. In addition to driving instructors, my wife graciously and bravely assumed the responsibility of being her primary teacher. During some of these lessons, I sat in the back seat of the car, attempting to hold my lip. As a parent and experienced driver, it was difficult for me to remain silent. I saw danger lurking at every turn and I hoped and prayed that she and my wife also saw it. On more than one occasion, I blurted out, “Slow down now!” much to the irritation and annoyance of my wife and daughter. At that point, my wife would interject, “Do you want to sit here and teach her?”

Oops!

Chastened, I slumped back into silence. I reflected upon my daughter’s experiences. The driving lessons were a vivid reminder of my need to be ever vigilant in my spiritual drive through life. There are many dangers-emotional potholes, worldly temptations that clog my spiritual engine, and material distractions that curbside me. Too often, I find myself in unfamiliar surroundings, in need of a teacher or guide to alert me to the dangers that are lurking, and provide directions to successfully navigate these roadblocks.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Like my daughter who relied upon my wife and her driving instructors to guide her through her first tentative steps in driving, I need a guide in my spiritual walk. Thanks be to God that He has given me His Holy Spirit. He convicts me, through my conscience, when I need to speed up or slow down. He helps me navigate the road of life.

And just as important, He reminds me when I need to keep silent!

Love and trust the Lord; keep our family strong.

Hang Loose! (Exodus 33:14)

I grew up in the lovely islands of Hawaii, in the city of Honolulu. I try to return home at least once a year to be refreshed by connecting with my roots. There is something very calming about living in Hawaii-the pace of life is a bit slower, people are less rushed. Even the air smells sweeter. It is easy to adopt the local slogan, “Hang loose!”

When I was a medical resident, my vacation times were limited and there was a period of time when I did not return to Hawaii for nearly two years. Eager to regenerate and recharge, I took a week long vacation. It was a well-needed break and upon my return to Southern California, I was definitely in a relaxed state of mind.

Apparently, this was noticeable to others as well. Driving to work the first morning after vacation, my thoughts were still lingering upon Hawaii. A car horn shattered the tranquility. Confused, I looked next to me at the annoyed driver who passed me by in his car, waving his hand at me. That’s when I realized all the other drivers were also whizzing by me. I was driving 15 mph in a 40 mph zone! I was hanging loose...too loose!

Different environments do change me. I am an extrovert and I draw energy from my surroundings and from those whom I associate. The week in Hawaii was a rest for my body which quickly permeated my soul.

And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14 (ESV)

I am easily influenced by my surroundings. It can be a peaceful environment like Hawaii or the tumultuous cacophony of work. In either setting, my personality quickly adapts and I become as relaxed or as agitated as those around me. Knowing this, I need to continually seek God’s presence in my life.  In the eye of the storms of life, I need to rely upon His guidance to give me peace and rest. This is His promise and I will gladly seek it and claim it!

Hang loose!

It is easy when I hang with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I'm Confident In Your Abilities!" (Philippians 1:6)

I purchased an exercise machine as a Christmas gift for my wife. I wanted to surprise her and have it assembled before she came home. But I was also keenly aware that I am mechanically challenged. The vendor offered a paid service for someone to come and assemble it after delivery. When I purchased the machine, I declined the option but I began to have second thoughts. I wanted to see if I could still avail of the option so I called the vendor.

“Hi, I have a question about my recent order. I read some reviews that stated it is a relatively straight forward assembly. But I want to make sure I have a backup, just in case I start the assembly and discover I cannot finish it. Can I still order the assembly service after the machine arrives?”

“No problem,” the customer service agent cheerfully replied. “But it is a relatively straight forward assembly. In fact, all of us are required to assemble it so that we an assist other customers. Don’t worry, I’m confident in your abilities!”

It was a tongue in cheek comment by the customer service agent, but I took it to heart. I was able to assemble the machine in two hours, with the welcome and needed assistance of my wife. There was no way I could hide this behemoth in the garage long enough so that I could assemble it in secret. In the end, I was able to confirm the agent’s confidence in me. And my wife was very pleased with her Christmas gift.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

Expressions of confidence in another’s abilities may be met with uncertainty or disappointment. But God is confident that once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of His Son, and be transformed into His image. God will complete His. He is completely confident of this.

I may not always be confident in my abilities, but thanks be to God, that He is always confident that He will complete our sanctification when we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Changing Logos (Colossians 1:15)

Recently, a well-known fast food franchise announced their decision to change their logo. Such decisions are not taken lightly, either by the company management or the public. It is, after all, the symbol of the company. It points to the values and reputation of the company. A poorly executed change in the symbol could be disastrous if it distracts and/or draws attention away from the company.

Presently and for many centuries, the Cross is probably the most ubiquitous symbol of Christian faith. But it is interesting that even early Christians progressed through different symbols of their faith.  A few of these symbols included a peacock (a Greek symbol of immortality), a pelican (a symbol of a sacrificing mother that would wound itself and feed its own blood to its brood during times when there was no food), and a fish (an acrostic for the Greek phrase, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior).

All of these symbols simply point to the subject of their faith, Jesus Christ.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Colossians 1:15 (ESV)

No symbol can ever capture the essence of Jesus Christ. How could it? He is the image of the invisible God. He is the image of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. There is nothing that we can ever comprehend that could fully capture these qualities. Any symbol could be a distraction. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we enter a living relationship, not the worship and adoration of a symbol.

A logo or symbol is important. But it should direct our attention to, and enhance our understanding and appreciation of, the subject. The many symbols that have been used to represent Jesus Christ and Christian faith should direct us to the source-Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Blind Spot Monitor (Proverbs 15:3)

One interesting technological advancement that has found a home in many newer model cars is a blind spot monitor. These sensors detect cars on the side and rear of one’s car. These locations are the classic blind spots, spots where a neighboring car may not be readily seen by the side and rear view mirrors. I can attest that this clever invention does work and on more than one occasion, I have avoided a serious accident when the warning was triggered.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a blind spot monitor for our lives? We would be warned of unseen temptations of the world; we would be aware of the evil schemes of Satan manipulating events around us.

If only that were true!

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3 (ESV)

We don’t have a mechanical blind spot monitor for our lives but as a believer in Jesus Christ, we have something much greater. We have God’s promise of His presence and guidance wherever we are. He has given us His Holy Spirit to indwell within us, continually convicting our conscience when sin and temptation arise.

God’s blind spot monitor is immediately ready for everyone. All you have to do is confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Don’t be blinded by the world. Allow God to enlighten your life.

Praise God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I'll Type It For You." (Colossians 2:13-14)

It was 10PM and my term paper still had to be typed. It was 1976 and personal computers were yet to be invented. All I had was an electric typewriter. I had written the final draft and proofread it and was ready to type it, but I was tired. My father grabbed the paper from my hands.

“Go to sleep. I’ll type it for you!”

“But Dad,” I protested. “You need to go to work tomorrow! You’ll be tired!”

He smiled, “Don’t worry about me. It is more important for you to get a good night’s sleep. Go!”

I knew better to argue with my father and resigned myself to getting a good night’s sleep. The next morning, my term paper was bundled neatly on the table, perfectly typed. Typing my term papers was just one way my father sacrificed his time and energy for me. He insisted on waking up early to fix my lunch, doing the laundry, cleaning the house-I helped whenever I could, but he was always insistent that school work came first. “Don’t worry about anything else, just concentrate on school!”

So, of course, I did not want to let him down. I worked hard in school and made him proud of me. I wanted him to know that his sacrifices for me were not in vain. I never felt burdened or overwhelmed. I knew whatever sacrifice I made, paled in comparison for what he did for me. All my father wanted was to hear me say, thank you. And I did...every chance I could.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV)

My father’s example helped me to understand my relationship with Jesus Christ after I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. By taking my sins and nailing them to the Cross, Jesus sacrificed His very life to make sure that I would have eternal life. Nothing I could ever do will ever repay Him for His sacrifice. All I can do is thank Him and live my life in continual gratitude for what He has done for me. And I do...every chance I get.

Thank you, Dad, for all the sacrifices you made for me.

Thank you, Jesus. Nothing I ever do with ever repay the sacrifice You made for me.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Did You Ever Have To Fight?" (1 Corinthians 10:13)

My uncle was a black belt in judo and one of the senior members of his judo club. He trained numerous champions and was well-respected in the international world of judo. He often regaled me with tales of past matches and colorful personalities of some of the great masters. But one story he never shared with me was one of actual combat. One day I innocently asked him, “Did you ever have to fight?”

He smiled at me and shook his head, “No. Never.”

Nonplussed, I persisted. “Do ever wonder if you would be able to successfully defend yourself if you were in a hostile situation?”

He laughed. “I hope I can. But I will never know until that happens!”

I also laughed a nervous laugh, as I reflected upon the truth of his statement.  If I had all those years of martial arts training, would I be ready to successfully use it in a dire situation or would I freeze and forget all my training?

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NKJV)

My spiritual walk with God is no different. I can spend countless hours reading the Bible and memorizing God’s Word. I can spend time in prayer. But when I am faced with temptations, I know I have frozen and succumbed to the temptation, leading to sin. I need to claim and cling to God’s promise that no temptation has power over me because He always provides the way of escape. My “training” is needed but what is more important, is my faith in God. It is not by my efforts that I resist temptation, but by calling upon God in faith to strengthen and protect me.

Every moment of the day is a spiritual fight with Satan. God is faithful to see me to victory, even when I am not.

Will I ever have to fight? Every moment of my life.

Thanks be to the living God for the assured victory He has promised all believers!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"There's Another One!" (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

Modern medications have allowed the transplantation of many organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys to become a reality. The dark side of these miraculous medications is the side effects. In order to prevent the body from rejecting the donor organ, these medications must suppress the host immune system. While facilitating the implantation of the donor organ, it also makes the patient vulnerable to many infections that would not normally cause a significant disease in an otherwise immunocompetent person, not taking these medications. These opportunistic or nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections have received great attention in the popular media. But a lesser known side effect is the increased incidence of malignancies, particularly skin cancers.

One recent patient of mine had a successful kidney transplantation five years ago. Since then, he has developed numerous skin cancers. The dermatologist caring for this patient would biopsy each new cancer and send the tissue to me for diagnosis. When I called the referring physician to notify him about the new skin cancer, he replied with resignation, “There’s another one!”

Indeed, since his kidney transplantation, this patient has developed 10 new skin cancers. The body’s immune system serves as an important damper and regulator of genetic mutations and events that can lead to cancer. When the immune system is suppressed by these powerful drugs, the risk of developing cancers and life threatening infections is dramatically increased. Our immune system is an important restrainer of infections and cancers.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV)

Like our immune system, the Holy Spirit restrains evil-in this world, in my life, and in all believers. Sometimes I think that He is not doing enough. But an even more horrific thought would be if He were not doing any restraining. In this passage, the Apostle Paul warns us, through prophesy, that during the tribulation, the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence will be taken away and, literally, all hell will break loose on this earth.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, if I am alive when the tribulation begins, I will be raptured, taken away in the air, to join my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in Heaven. It will be a glorious meeting! But for many others who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ, they will remain on this earth, and be subject to a world dominated by Satan and evil unrestrained by the Holy Spirit.

No one has to experience this horrific scenario. Confess and repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The instant you do, the Holy Spirit will indwell within you and will begin His redemptive work of restraining evil and transforming you into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

Praise God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Music and Microscopes (Philippians 2:13)

Before he was a king, before he was the commander of the Israelite army, David was a shepherd. He protected his flock with his sling and herded them together with a rod and staff. Undoubtedly, David spent countless hours passing the time by honing his skills with these weapons. He learned to play several musical instruments. David’s life was the sum of thousands of different experiences. In one of his first actions after being anointed king by the prophet Samuel, he defeated the Philistine giant, Goliath, with the same sling he used to ward off predators of his sheep. He was later appointed to play soothing music for King Saul. Years later, David used his musical abilities and composed numerous psalms, pouring out his heart to God in contrition and thankfulness.  The skills he learned as a shepherd were definitely utilized by God later in his life.

God has similarly worked in my life. Some skills, such as writing and teaching, have an obvious connection to how I currently serve God. Other skills, while seemingly related, would later take on an added dimension. One skill is my music. During my youth, I played both the guitar and violin. As a right handed player, both instruments require my left hand to create the notes and chords on the fingerboard. I quickly developed the dexterity needed to play both instruments. In fact, it became very natural for me to use my left hand to perform tasks that require fine motor control. Years later, God led me to become a dermatopathologist. Everyday, I spend hours at the microscope. My left hand moves the microscope glass slide on the stage of the microscope, while my right hand focuses. When objects are magnified 400 or 600 fold, any small movement of the slide is proportionately exaggerated when I view it through the microscope. Extremely fine motor control is needed by my left hand to move and position the slide to find the lesional cells and arrive at the correct diagnosis. Without my music background, I would never have gained the left hand dexterity I now need for my occupation.

...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

God prepared David for his future role as the greatest King of Israel by using his skills as a shepherd. He was obedient to the call that God had for his life and utilized all of his skills to serve Him. Like a shepherd, David cared for the nation of Israel, leading and protecting them.

In my life, all of some skills are used by God; He does not let anything I do or learn go to waste, nor does He act in a random or purposeless manner. He brings my different worlds, skills, and interests of my life together in a unique manner. I exist to serve Him and whatever skills He has bestowed upon me, it is for His good pleasure alone.

Praise God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Intrusion (Revelation 3:20)

Several years ago, the front door of our laboratory was unlocked during business hours. Any patient or vendor could walk through unannounced and enter. I put an end to this  after an unfortunate incident.

A woman in a neatly tailored suit entered our office and presented her business card. She asked to speak to the person in charge of making purchasing decisions. My staff wisely and correctly informed her that I was busy and she could leave her brochures and contact information with them. Undaunted, she leaned over and spied my office door. Without hesitating, she whisked past my staff and entered my office, surprising me.

“Hi! Who is your current internet provider?”

I immediately shot back. “This is a private property. There is a sign on the door that prohibits solicitations. You did not listen to my staff and trespassed. If you don’t leave right now, I will call the police.”

Backing down, she was unapologetic and said, “If you want to change your provider, call me. I’ll leave the information on your table.”

Right.

The next day, I called a company that specializes in magnetic door locks, similar to the types seen in banks and high security facilities. Within a week, the lock was installed and uninvited guests would never again intrude into my business.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)

Unlike the audacious advances of the salesperson, Jesus Christ does not intrude or barge into our lives. He stands at the door of our heart and politely knocks. He will only enter if we allow Him in. Why does He want to enter? He wants us to share the very best that God has to offer all of us. Because of His sacrifice on the Cross, He is able to give us the gift of salvation if we confess and repent of our sins and place our trust in Him as our Lord and Savior.

Intrusions are never welcome.

Jesus gently knocks on the door of our hearts.

Won’t you let Him in?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"It's Real!" (Zechariah 13:9)

When we visited China several years ago, we frequented several shopping centers. Dozens of vendors descended upon myself and my wife, eager for us to purchase their merchandise. The prices were amazingly low but we were wary, having been warned by numerous tour guides and travel books that many of the products were fakes. In fact, it may require an expert to discern the difference. So while we eagerly examined the various items of clothing, we wore a look of concern as we desperately sought clues to separate the real items from fake. Our hesitation caught the attention of one vendor who immediately declared, “Why aren’t you buying? You think it’s fake, don’t you?”

We sheepishly muttered, “Maybe.”

Undaunted, the vendor pulled out a lighter and produced a flame. He then held the flame under the sleeve of a leather jacket. “See! It’s real!”

The simple test was the vendor’s way to prove to us that the jacket was made of genuine leather and not vinyl or plastic, which would have melted with the flame. Clever!

Tested with fire!

And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people”; and they will say, '”The LORD is my God.”

Zechariah 13:9 (ESV)

In this Bible passage, Zechariah prophesied to the Israelites that God would cut off two thirds of their unfaithful nation. The remaining third would be tested with the fire of trials, to refine, strengthen, and confirm their faith. In the same manner, God often tests me with the fire of trials to see if my faith is real or fake. During many times of my life, I have clung to weak and shaky doctrine. Like a clever fake item of clothing, I was duped by the outward appearance. I was enamored of the messenger but did not hold the message up the light of God’s Word and seek the refining fire of the Holy Spirit.

Tested with fire!

God’s Holy Spirit is the refining fire of my life. Only by obeying Him will I know how to discern the real truth from false doctrine and the deceivers.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Is There A Dentist In Your Family?" (Matthew 7:12)

“Is there a dentist in your family?”

The sommelier smiled as he stood before our table. It was an unusual question from a stranger, but his smile and demeanor were disarming and I answered him.

“Yes...several. My wife is a dentist. My father was a dentist and I have two cousins who are dentists. Why do you ask?”

“Was your father George Shitabata?”

I returned his smile. “Yes, he was. Did you know him?”

“Your father was my dentist when I was growing up. In fact, he took care of my parents and grandparents!”

It was a Las Vegas restaurant and our family was celebrating Christmas eve with a dinner. The service was impeccable as we enjoyed the festive occasion and dined on the delectable dishes. The sommelier had noticed my last name on the reservation list and wondered if there was a relation to his childhood dentist.

“Your father was very important to me,” he continued. “He always looked out for me and my family. He told me the truth, didn’t mince words. He was one of a kind.”

My heart warmed over as I listened, beamed, and nodded in appreciation. I introduced my family and then shared with him that my father passed away last year. We exchanged emails but not before he made sure we enjoyed a complimentary serving of four of the restaurant’s signature desserts.  

It was a bittersweet moment. We appreciated the kind words and generosity of my father’s former patient. But it brought back the pain of his sudden passing. My eyes welled up as I raised my glass and toasted my father. “Thanks Dad. We miss you.”

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

The Golden Rule.

My father never quoted this but he certainly lived his life by it. My father’s kindness and influence still touches people, whether in Hawaii, or thousands of miles away in Las Vegas. I look forward to meeting others who have equally fond memories of him. And I continue to honor his life by making sure I take his best qualities of kindness, thoughtfulness, and honesty and treat others I meet with the same compassion.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"What Kind of Black Belt Are You?" (1 Peter 5:8)

When I was taking karate lessons, I enjoyed listening to my sensei (teacher) revel in stories of his former students. He recalled a time when he was in a restaurant and saw one of his students, a black belt, standing at the bar. He crept up behind her and surprised her by grabbing her. She immediately screamed and cowered. He laughed and mockingly exclaimed, “What kind of black belt are you?”

 

He smiled at me and shook his head. “I expect that kind of behavior from a white belt beginner student. She was a black belt and should always be on the alert for an attack. She should have been aware of her surroundings and always maintain a defensive posture.”

 

I nodded and hoped that, someday, I would achieve the level of alertness that was expected of a good student of the martial arts. There is a definite parallel in our Christian walk.

 

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

 

My spiritual vigilance and awareness often flounders at the level of a white belt beginner in the martial arts. The lust of my eyes and flesh and my pride are not of the Father but of the world. I fail to recognize the insidious traps of pride, selfishness, and materialism that Satan uses to entice me and cause me to take my attention away from God. Like the former student of my sensei, I have allowed my spiritual alertness to atrophy or  be distracted and I must continue to immerse myself in God’s Word and prayer to keep the vigilance that God expects of me as His child.

 

Amen!

 

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Now I Know Where I Got That Lick!" (Isaiah 50:4)

Over these past few weeks, my daughter has been listening to many of the songs that I listened to  when I was her age. To my surprise and joy, she is enjoying many of these “oldies.” But I am particularly fond of the fact that one of her favorite groups is the Beatles. During a recent road trip, our family listened to the familiar songs, and a flood of memories returned to me. When I was her age, I listened to and read everything I could about the Beatles. I knew such obscure facts as the type of guitar that George Harrison played on a particular recording date, the number of takes that produced their first record, even the financial details for many of their famous recordings.

As our family listened in the car, I found myself smiling as I listened with a seasoned and more mature ear to the intricate guitar passages that George Harrison was playing and the arrangements of the songs. And then it struck me. So much of the way I now play guitar has been influenced by the Beatles. I exclaimed to my listening family, “Now I know where I got that lick!” Even my wife agreed, “Yes, that sounds like what you do on the guitar in several songs you play in church!” The influence was undeniable.

Like my music, in my Christian life, I have found many of my habits influenced by godly brothers and sisters whom I emulated in my younger years. I still make sure no book or object is ever placed on top of my Bible. When an ambulance passes by, I stop what I am doing and say a prayer for the health care workers and the patient they are attending. When I listen to a sermon from a new preacher, I see if he first prays before his sermon, humbling himself and asking God to speak through Him.  I learned all of these actions by the godly influence of others and their actions have become an integral part of my life.

The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.

Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)

God has blessed me with so many godly mentors. Like my guitar playing, the spiritual lessons I learned many years ago have permeated and become part of my persona. None of these individuals knew that someday I would be emulating them. But their influence continues and I intend to teach and instruct others so that they, too, may enter into a loving and saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.