'The door will be opened'

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

-Luke 11:9-10

God wants the persistent prayer. People pray all the time, but persistent praying is not the norm.

Just before the verses above, Jesus tells how you might open your own door to a friend who persists knocking, even late at night.

So when you pray, don't stop at once or twice - pray with persistence.

'You are worth more than many sparrows'

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

-Luke 12:6-7

Lately, I've been collecting some Bible verses that speak to me for this blog. The Luke passage above talks about your importance to God.

Many people who know me also know I'm a fan of the BBC program Doctor Who. I even own a sonic screwdriver.

Several months ago, I saw an episode that spoke to me, too. The Doctor is in a room with a cranky old man and a young women who is in a coma-like state. The Doctor studies and stares at the woman. The cranky man asks why - telling the Doctor that the woman is unimportant.

The Doctor ends his reply with "I've never seen anyone unimportant before" - or words to that effect.

If only we all had that attitude. God certainly offers that relationship with you - to God, we're all VIPs.

(Photo from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

'The door will be opened'

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.


"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

-Luke 11:9-13

It seems, so often, that the gifts of life are passing us by. Think about material gifts - a bigger house, a new car, expensive clothes. We see people ask and ask and ask for these gifts. I've done it myself, in my unguarded moments.

The question is, what are we supposed to be asking for? What are we seeking? Why are we knocking? The Scripture above, the words of Christ Jesus, is about asking for his gift, seeking his gift, knocking on the door for his gift.

The gift of all gifts - a relationship with God, a discipleship with Christ. Comforting for those afflicted. Rest of those who are fatigued. The confident knowledge that with Christ, you are never alone.

All of this world's material gifts will turn to dust. The gift of all gifts, though, never ends.

'Worth more than many sparrows...'

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

-Luke 12:6-7

Ever have some trying times?

Trick question - of course you have. I remember the days shortly after my stroke in 1998 - struggling with speech, seeking unsuccessfully finding the right words, fighting to read. Trying times indeed.

On my better days during that time, I found these and similar words comforting and helped keep my recovery going. A mantra to remember when times get rough: You will not be forgotten.

(Photo from the National Park Service)

Take up the cross and follow

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."

-Luke 9:23-24

Life would be easier, wouldn't it, if we didn't have to take up that cross?

Surprise answer: No! It would not.

As hard as this life's crosses are to bear, consider how bad it would be if you did not have the promise "whoever loses his life for me will save it." Fact of the matter is, we will all lose this life. Your choice: it will end with meaning or end without meaning.

The cross gives the meaning that, at the end of it all, counts.

(Photo by Jeff Porter in Seoul, South Korea)

He has risen!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"

-Luke 24:1-6

On this day, in this world - despite its pain, suffering and desperation - the word remains: He has risen!

On this, Resurrection Sunday, he remains risen, remains with us. He will remain with us tomorrow, next week, next year, into all generations. He comforts those afflicted. He is ready and waiting to comfort you.

Consider the open tomb - it wasn't open so Jesus could get out. Instead, it was open so that people could seen in, could literally see the good news. The tomb was empty. Death defeated.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all, the Word

Words of comfort in a world we only visit - strangers in a strange land.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in
cloths and lying in a manger. "

-Luke
2:8-12

* * *

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. ...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

-John
1:1-2,14

* * *

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

-Matthew
11:28

Words to consider on this, the day we recognize and celebrate the great gift open to all. Have a glorious Christmas season.

Living with imperfection – for now

In these post-Easter days, some notes to consider about our all-too human condition. From Luke 24:1-12:

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the thers with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Perfection required?

Thank God – and I mean God – the answer is no.

Consider some of the witnesses of the first Resurrection Day, the greatest day in human history, the day Christ rose from the grave, and the day he redeemed us all: Mary Magdalene and Joanna were among those described as afflicted with evil spirits and disease (Luke 8:1-2). Peter denied Christ to witnesses before the Crucifixion (Luke 22:60).

They were imperfect,flawed sinners. As are we all. What did these sinners do? Mary and Joanna, and others, delivered the news. Peter ran to the tomb. In Acts, he becomes the Rock of a faith that we follow to this day. The other followers finally came to understand Jesus' words in Galilee: "the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." (Luke 24:7)

Like Jesus came to the cross in the face of death, those early followers came to faith in the face of their own imperfection. Consider that day, that Resurrection Day. It began as a day of bitterness and misery for a small band of people who might have been quickly forgotten. The day turned bright indeed, though, for the women who visited the empty tomb, for Peter, and, thank God, for all of us who celebrate that day.

A stroke can be a physical sign of imperfection. For the moment. In his own time, God prepares perfection for us. That is our hope and strength.

Be a Good Samaritan - call 911

The Los Angeles Times recently published an interesting article about the lag time between strokes occurring and the arrival at emergency rooms.

From the LA Times article:

"Time is so important. Every minute counts," says Dr. Yousef M. Mohammad, the author of a second stroke study, presented last week at the American Stroke Assn.'s annual meeting in Florida. "There is a significant difference in what happens when you arrive by ambulance and when you arrive some other way."

In his analysis of 630,402 stroke patients, about half arrived by ambulance; 43% were walk-in patients (who arrived on their own or were driven by someone else); and 4% arrived some other way, such as by police transport.

The study found that those who arrived by ambulance were seen by a doctor sooner, were more likely to undergo tests to diagnose the stroke and were more likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit -- all factors that increase the use of tissue plasminogen activator. When arriving by ambulance, stroke patients were admitted to the hospital 93% of the time; walk-ins were admitted 58% of the time."

Those statistics can give a modern twist to the story of the Good Samaritan indeed. From Luke 10:25-37:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

For those who have the chance to be a Good Samaritan to a stroke victim, the task is even easier: Call 911. As the statistics show, a ride in the ambulance can save a life. Using that as a guide, go and do likewise.