Step By Step with God- Words of encouragement to young Christians- Neema

Are you thirsting for a more intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father? Can you sense in your heart that God is calling you to a deeper level of Christian spiritual growth than you have ever experienced before?

God’s desire is for the two of you to share a deeper intimacy than you may have ever dreamed possible. But, like any relationship, developing this kind of oneness with God is not something that happens over night - It takes time and work. 

And it’s that four letter word - WORK - that keeps so many of us bound by the chains of religion instead of being free to experience the deeper relationship with God that He has waiting for us.

But, if the true desire of your heart is to take your Christian spiritual growth to the next level, you can start on that journey today right from where you are. 

How do you begin? One Footstep at a time...

Footstep #1 - Develop an Understanding of Who God Really Is. 

The foundation for any relationship truly knows the other person. If you do not know them - their heart and their true character - then how can you ever really trust them? If you don’t truly trust them, then what kind of relationship do you really have after all?

In order to connect with God, you have to understand the depths of who He is and who He wants to be in your life. You have to begin building a true friendship with your Heavenly Father. 

Footstep #2 - Get Real With God...And With You.

As Christians, it is easy to get in the habit of walking around in what I like to call our "Perfect Christian Mask." We pretend that nothing gets to us. Nothing shakes our faith or breaks our heart. On the outside, we look tough as nails - But on the inside, we are not as strong as we would like others to think.

The danger of the "Perfect Christian Mask" is that you are not perfect. There are times when your faith IS shaky and your heart IS broken. But, having those moments does not make you a bad Christian any more than trying to ignore them makes you a good one.

A true sign of Christian Spiritual Growth is when you can go to God and say - I need help. I fear. I hurt. And, you are the only one I can tell because You are the only one who can help me.

That kind of nakedness before God is what will move you from religion to relationship and truly transform your life.

Do you really want to experience dynamic Christian spiritual growth? 

Step out on faith. Begin your journey by taking these two footsteps. They may seem small, but you will be amazed at what God can do inside your heart when you truly know Him, and let down your guard enough to let Him truly know you too.

The Meaning of Christmas-

Why is there so much controversy and confusion in people's minds over Christmas and its meaning both in our personal lives and in the cooperate world? Some people feel it is a Christian holiday, holding no special meaning for them. Others take the viewpoint that it is a holy day that is cheapened and diminished by all the festivities there of. Yet few, if any, when really pressed, are willing to give up the Christmas holiday, in spite of their ambivalent feelings.

What is the real meaning of Christmas season?  Recently I read an article from a Christian magazine that pointed out that, “Christ is the reason for the Season.”

This being the case, Christmas becomes the season not about human kind but about Christ.  A time when we should focus on redemption (salvation) of the sinful human race. It is during Christmas we should focus away from fear and focus on joy and healing we receive from Christ.

The Christmas Season emphasizes two important redemptive issues all based on the importance of the Season; one is the rebirth of the soul (John 1:29), and the second is the return of the light (John 18:37-38) to earth. It’s therefore biblically correct to point out that Christ’s birth is the Reason for the Season that is provided for us during the darkest season, to bring us light, and provide us with salvation.

Yet even knowing the true meaning of the Christmas season is not enough to convince some people of its importance. That is why the season is full of "Peace! Goodwill! Happy holidays!" The Season becomes like so many others diluting what Christ came for.

There is a way to feel the real meaning of the season. There is a way in which your own heart can experience the love and light pouring into the earth during this time of Christmas, John 17:3. Knowing the only True God means having an intimate, personal relationship with Him – not just knowing about Him. That way you will participate in the rituals of the season and you will understand the true meaning of Christmas.

It is unfortunate that the reason for the Christmas has been overshadowed by beauty of ornamented Christmas trees, lights hanging on gutters, Santa’s visit through the chimney, or the mysterious and mythological characters such as; Rudolf the red noise Reindeer, Frosty the snow man, The  Grinch  among other fantasies and characters. Joy is replaced by sadness when choosing gifts to delight and surprise those you love. Why should we sing “joy to the world?”  Psalms 98.

There is only one way to know the true meaning of Christmas; and that is to know that it is about redemption and salvation brought by Jesus Christ, who is the Reason for the Season, and to try to bring joy to self and to every person, creating joy to every person during the Christmas.

But there is one more thing you can do to amplify this experience a thousand fold. That is to enter the season of Christmas with the intention of being a personal messenger of light and love, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by knowing Jesus in a personal way. Nothing transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary more directly than the intention to serve the Almighty.

When we celebrate Christmas with such an intention and desire to becoming massagers of light and love, we not only experience Christmas . . . we actually become  agent of rebirth of the soul and the bringer of light( light bearers).

Therefore, the best gift you can give to yourself and the world during this Christmas season is the knowledge that Christ is the reason for the Season, and let others know about it.

What God Knows about Me. Psalm 139:23f

Prayer. Why do we pay so little attention to it? Do we think that we've heard it all before? We do it--we come into contact with God--but what do we expect to happen? Could I suggest that sometimes we have become forgetful of prayer, and maybe we've not given enough thought to what there might be about prayer that we who live at the end of the end must know? I confess that I don’t pray as often as I am required to.

There are some things about us that will only be changed through prayer--Some things that need to be changed. Did you hear the prayer of David in Psalm 139:23-24? "Search me, O God?" Why was David concerned? Was there something about him that he thought maybe God had missed? Of course not. But still David pleads with his Maker, "Search me, O God." I think that David knew God's goal for him. Surely he knew that God's goal is to not to save man in sin, but from sin (Matthew 1:21). And we know that he knew about God's purpose for his end time people. Do you, Do I, Do we?

David understood that people who live for God will be changed people, Which probably accounts for his words in Psalm 17:3: "Thou hast proved mine heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tired me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."

What did David say? That verse we just read could be rephrased like this: "God, You are helping me to grow. In the end, you'll have Your finished work in my life, and I'll be a man who has ceased from sin." David didn't preach the "new theology." He preached the "old theology," the theology that God had from the beginning. When the fall of humankind took place, heaven was ready with a plan that would repair the damage; that would produce a repaired people. So I guess I believe in new creation.

God will produce a people, who although born into broken natures that are not prone to sin, don't sin. If it's true, it can only mean one thing: God has alot of work to do! And He has laid some very major claims with His gospel. He claims that it "is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). He claims that His righteousness will be revealed in His people through His gospel (Romans 1:17). That being the case, then I believe, God has quite a lot of work to do in us, and that we are still in the making, and that we are not done yet.  Satan tells Him "You can't change these people." But who is the ruler of the world?

Awake Oh Sleeper - Bible study at Friendship Church

The Holy Spirit clearly teaches us that laziness; indolence and idleness in the physical realm will bring one to poverty. He said, "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come . . . " (Prov. 6: 10, 11). But just as we can easily see the truth of this principle in physical things, we should also be fully aware of spiritual poverty that is produced by the same process. Consider at least these three matters:

Christians may often be inclined to fold their hands in slumber while immorality impoverishes the land and perhaps even the brotherhood. Read your Bible and notice that God has always respected and loved good people. Of course they must be obedient to his commands, but some seem to think they can be baptized and then live like Satan and yet be approved of the Lord. And many who would not think of engaging in immoral practices turn their face the other way, refusing to be alarmed and declining to get excited about corruption. Preachers are tempted to preach about everything else and leave divorce, adultery, dishonesty, profanity and other such things alone. Elders may be inclined to rebuke the gainsayers, admonish the indifferent and coax the complacent, at the same time folding their hands regarding wickedness. Parents contribute to spiritual poverty when they are unconcerned about dancing, drinking, and other such evils among the youth.

Some brethren may think the battle is over regarding institutionalization, and without really intending to do so, may cause many to be overcome with that dreadful spiritual affliction. We never can afford to quit teaching against instrumental music in worship, against wrong church activities, against unscriptural church organization, and other innovations. These issues are never "settled." Just a little slumber on the part of the faithful and ruin will come to many. Constant vigilance, wakefulness and watchfulness are necessary to avoid this spiritual poverty that actually means apostasy.

But when we have opposed everything that is wrong, we must stand for the things that are right. Perhaps here we "fold our hands" the most often. We are aware of the obligation, we are conscious of the opportunity and we acknowledge humanity's necessity. But we often seem to say, "Let others do it." Many of us may content ourselves with tearing down false doctrines. We join the wrecking crew and work feverishly but when it comes time to build we engage only in a "little folding of the hands." Preachers may often think of themselves as defenders of the faith instead of sowers of the Seed. The elders may sometimes be more concerned with keeping error out than they are with bringing souls in. 

And herein dies another vital error: we often utilize all our opportunities to teach the Word locally but we fail to "lift up our eyes" to other fruitful fields. In fact, we sometimes preach our heart out to people who never will obey and "fold our hands in slumber" concerning strange people, far away who are so eager to hear, believe and surrender to Christ. And while we fold our hands honest souls, precious to the Lord, eager for salvation but ignorant of the Way drift on in the worst kind of spiritual poverty that leads them to eternal ruin. And what of us? If we carelessly sleep now, will we be less poor than those whose slumber we could have stopped? "Awake, thou that sleepest" (Eph. 5.14).

The Cost of being a Disciple of Christ- Matthew 14:28 - 33

To follow Christ truly, we must consider the cost. Jesus first lays out, the costs of discipleship (14:26-27); then, He gives two parables (14:28-32) that make the same overall point, namely, that a person must give careful consideration to the cost before he rashly jumps into it.  Then He states a third cost of discipleship (14:33).  He then (14:34-35) gives an illustration about salt to illustrate the cost of not truly following Him.  He concludes by warning, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Before we look at the costs that Jesus spells out, think with me for a moment about the phrases, “sit down and calculate the cost,” referring to the man building the tower (14:28); and, “sit down and take counsel,” referring to the king considering going to war (14:31).  Both refer to careful, detailed, rational thinking in which you consider all aspects of what you’re getting into before you make the commitment. Such careful thinking is opposed to quick decision made in a moment of intense emotion, without much thought about the consequences. Our evangelistic methods today are big on emotion and little on reason. “Trust in Jesus Kind of Faith and everything will be okay”

We get people into crusades to hear testimonies from famous evangelist or preachers about how Christ changed their lives. Then they hear a eloquent speaker promise how Christ can meet the person’s every need. Then the invitation is given and counselors are primed to get out of their seats and walk forward so that people on the verge of a decision think that others are going forward. The choir or band is playing a song of invitation. Going forward feels like the right thing to do. In a swell of emotion, the person gets out of his seat and “decides for Christ.”

But did the person get saved? By God’s grace, some do. But even the well-known evangelists admit that the long-term “stick with it” rate for those who make a decision is only about 10-15 percent. All too often, their decision was based more on emotion than on careful thought about what it means to follow Christ.

Here, Jesus says to the crowds who were interested enough to be going along with Him “Consider the cost of following me. We must consider the cost of following Christ. Jesus spells out three costs: (1) we must hate our families and ourselves (14:26). We must carry our own cross 14:27 and, we must give up all our possession 14:33.

Whoa! Doesn’t the Bible say that we are to love our families? Doesn’t it say that no man ever hated his own flesh? Is Jesus contradicting the Bible?  Of course not!  But He puts it in these terms for shock value, to get us to stop and think about the stringent demand that He is making.  He means that our allegiance and love for Him must be so great that by comparison our love for our families and even for our own lives looks like hatred.

Normally, there is no conflict between loving Christ and our family members also.  But sometimes a tug of war develops, where a family member puts pressure on us to back off from or even abandon our love for Christ. In those difficult situations, we do not love either Christ or the family member if we accede to the pressure. We do not love the family member, because if we bow to the pressure, we are saying that Christ is not worthy of being followed above all others, and we keep the family member from seriously considering the claims of Christ.

We do not love Christ because we have put a sinful human being, who did not give himself for our sins, in a higher place than the spotless Lamb of God who freely offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. In his book “The Cost of Discipleship” Dietrich Bonheoffer says that “Grace is not cheap, if it were cheap it would be sold in market.” Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man’ will gladly go and self all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Following Christ is that costly if we are truly his disciples

Whoever Welcomes You, Welcomes Me- David Wiggs

Whoever Welcomes You, Welcomes Me

Recently I was sent this story. The author said, I saw him in the church building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70’s with thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him. He was well respected, honest, a man of good character. He acted much like a Christian would act, but he never came to church or professed Christ. After I got to know him well and we had talked about a wide range of subjects I asked him if he had ever been to a church service. 

He hesitated. Then with a twisted grimace told me of an experience he had as a boy. He was raised in a large family. His parents survived the depression but they struggled to provide food and clothing for the family. When he was around ten years old a friend invited him to go to church with his family. 

He went – the Sunday School class was great. The songs were fun to sing and the stories, oh the great Bible stories, were exciting to hear. He had never heard anyone read from the Bible before. As class ended the teacher pulled him aside and said, “Son, please don’t come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God’s house.” 

He looked down at his old hand me down overalls that were certainly worn and tattered. He thought about that for a moment and said softly, “No ma’am I won’t ever.” Then he looked at me, the author wrote and said, “And you know what… I never did.” It was clear that he was done with that conversation. 

The author reflected, I am sure that the Sunday School teacher meant well and in fact was representing the feeling of the majority of the folks in that church. But what if, what if she had put her arms around the dirty little boy in the ragged overalls and said, “Son, I am thrilled that you came this morning and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus because he loves you so much.” Moreover what if she would have talked with her pastor or her friends in the church and mobilized a full blown outreach effort to help this family make ends meet. 

What if that church would have thought, Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Or whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple will receive a great reward (v. 40 & 42) 

The story ended like this: Yes I saw him in the church house for the first time on Wednesday and I cried as I looked at the immaculately dressed old gentleman lying there in his casket. He was looking his best. But all I could think of were those words of an impressionable little ten-year-old boy echoing in my mind, “No ma’am I won’t ever.”

Handing Difficult Times- A Biblical Approach to Problem Solving

Problems are as old as the world itself. The creation of the earth was a solution to an existing problem. God had to face the problem and proffer a solution to it. The beautiful earth we live in today was born out of a problem; out of chaos. Problems are meant to be solved. As humans, we cannot shy away from the fact that we face problems everyday of our lives (Job 14:1). The level we are today is as a result of the problems we have solved or failed to solve. We can’t run away from problems, they existed before each of us came to be.

My wife and I had a discussion one night about the problems we are facing as a young family struggling to raise three teenage girls. According to my wife’s opinion, I fall asleep too quickly than think about the issue at hand before I fall asleep. Needless to let you know, I take less than five minutes to fall asleep once I jump on my bed at night. My response to her opinion was that it is now time to sleep, and I can solve, or think about the problems when I wake up.

It is true that problems exist in our lives and the best way to deal with them is to handle them as they manifest themselves.

SOME TRUTHS ABOUT PROBLEMS
1. Problems are meant to be solved - face it!
2. There is a solution to every problem - find it!
3. Problems existed before the world came to be - Understand it!
4. You can out-live your problems – stand firm!
5. You can be better through hard times – Endure it!

WHY? WHY? WHY?
In my daily work routine as a chaplain barely a day goes by without encountering a patient or family with the WHY question. This question is usually right on our lips when we face problems or passing through hard times. We ask questions such as “why me?”, “why now?”, “O’ God, why?” However, most of the time we do not ask such questions because we want answers; we simply ask in agony or in despair, lending ourselves to depression and discouragement. But, why does God allow us to go through hard times? Why does God allow problems to come our way?( See my article: "THE ABSENT PRESENCE OF GOD)"

1. To prove God’s sovereignty
2. To show us our limitations 
3. To bring us closer to God

HANDLING DIFFICULT TIMES
The major problem we have in hard times is not what we are going through but finding a solution to the situation. Undoubtedly, some problems appear to be irreparable; yet, we can be better through them. In order to handle difficult times effectively, we must apply the following principles in solving the problem at hand:

1. UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM (Hosea 4:6).Reinhold Niebuhr an American Theologian once prayed; “Lord, give me the grace to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Several times, we cry over spilled milk. Understand the problem: Is it something you can change? If not, trust God for the grace to accept it.

2. COMMIT IT TO GOD (Gen. 1:2, Acts 12:5). The situations in Genesis 1 and Acts 12 have something in common – God was involved. Solution came in Genesis because the Spirit of God was present; Peter was delivered because prayer was made to God. Several times, we are quick to complain and ask questions instead of committing the problem to God.

3. LEARN FROM THE PROCESS: There is always a positive lesson in every negative circumstance. No matter how bad the situation may appear to be, there is something good we can learn from it. The best time to learn and grow as Christians is in difficult times. (James 1:2 – 4).

4. PROPHECY (Ezek. 37:7, Amos 3:8). This is where most of us fail. Instead of allowing ourselves to be pitied or becoming an object of scorn and despair, we ought to open our mouth and prophecy the mind of God to the situation. “If you shall say to this mountain…………” So many “mountains” will not move until they are spoken to. As I write this article I am dealing with a major issue that, I need to speak to. For the last one year I have been hit by some crazy drivers more than 5 times, the last time being yesterday (May 22/2011) as I was leaving church. Five accidents in less than one year all hit from back?????; This is where speaking to the problem become practical

5. PRAISE GOD (1 Thess.5:18; Eph. 5:20). The most difficult time to praise God is in hard times. Yet, it is the most effective time to praise God. Everyone can praise God when the going is smooth; but, how many of us can truly praise God in difficult times (Hab. 3:17 – 18). Genuinely praising God in hard time adds to our maturity and compels God to step into the situation.

Problems are part of life. We face them every day. As Christians, we must bear in mind that God is greater than every problem that comes our way. Note however that whether we are in problems or not, God does not charge, He remains  the same God, on the Throne- HE IS IMUTABLE. Hence, let go and let God. He will carry you through. Your father Knows…….

Walking in Water, Illuminating Our Spirits.Matthew 14:22-33. Part two

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they were terrified. Jesus assured them they had nothing to fear. In verse 28 Peter asked for a sign, he wanted to be sure that it was Jesus. Note, what Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water.” In this request, we see two things, first, a request for a sign. Peter wanted proof it was Jesus. Peter was not accepting the word of Jesus. We also see true faith in Peter’s request. There was no doubt in Peter’s mind, if the one the disciples saw walking on the water was Jesus and He commanded Peter to come to Him Peter would be able to get out of the boat and walk, not swim to Jesus.  In Peter’s request, we also see an expression of observance of the will of Jesus. Peter did not attempt to go to Jesus until Jesus said, “Come” (Matthew 14:29).  The lesson taught in Peter’s request is, we must rashly and presumptuously enter into any situation. Our will to serve and even suffer, must not be based solely on willingness but on the will of the Lord. Peter's willingness to leave the safety of the boat reveals a very strong dependence upon the power and word of Christ. What difficulty or danger could stand before such a faith and such zeal?  Jesus could have condemned the request as foolish and rash. However, Jesus knew that it came from a sincere and zealous affection to Him, and graciously acknowledged the request. Note, The Lord is well pleased with the expressions of His people's love, though mixed with infirmities, and makes the best of them.  When the Pharisees asked for a sign, Jesus rebuked them. When Peter asked for a sign, Jesus gave him a sign, Peter walked on the water.  In verse 30, there is a great lesson; Jesus told Peter to come to Him that He might not only prove His great power over nature, but that Peter know his own weakness; for as he would encourage his faith, so he would check his confidence, and make him ashamed of it.  A second lesson in this verse is one we should never forget. The strongest faith and the greatest courage have a mixture of fear and nothing but perfect love can cast out fear. While Peter expressed great faith in the safety of the boat, after leaving the boat his faith weakened. We should never forget trials do not weaken our faith; it is the length of trials.  While Peter kept his eye fixed upon Jesus, upon His word and power, he walked on the water. When Peter took notice of the danger he was in, his faith weakened. Abraham was strong in faith, because he did not let the discouraging improbabilities that the promise lay under, but kept his eye on God's power; and so, “in hope he believed (Romans 4:18). Peter when he saw the wind, should have remembered what he had seen, when the winds and the sea obeyed Jesus (Matthew 8:27).  In verse 30, we see the effect of fear. When Peter’s faith was strong he walked upon the water, when his faith weakened he began to sink. The sinking of our spirits is due to the weakness of our faith.  Being a fisherman, Peter was probably a good swimmer. Although there is no Biblical support, it may have been in the mind of Peter, if he could not walk on the water, he could swim to Jesus. Peter may have done what we are often guilty of doing, trusting in what we can do. Jesus, let Peter begin to sink, to show him that the right hand of Jesus, and not Peter’s abilities was his security. It was Jesus’ great mercy to Peter, that, upon the failing of his faith, He did not leave him sink to sink to the bottom like a stone, but gave him time to cry, “Lord, save me.” Such is the care of our Lord concerning true believers.  The remedy of Peter’s situation was the old, tried, approved remedy, and that was prayer: he cried, “Lord, save me.” Note, the manner of his praying; it is fervent and urgent. When faith is weak, prayer should be strong. The realization we are in a dangerous situation will and the realization of dependence on God should make us cry to Him. Jesus is the great Savior, He came to save; those that would be saved, must not only come to Him, but cry out to Him for salvation; but we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking; sense of need will drive us to Him.  Though there was a mixture of presumption with Peter's faith while in the boat, and unbelief with his faith when he left the boat, Jesus did not cast him off; first, He saved him (Matthew 14:31). Jesus “immediately stretched out His hand and took hold of Him. Jesus’ hand is still stretched out to all believers, to keep them from sinking. Though it may seem at times, He has let go of us He has not. Our deliverance from our fears and shortcomings is due to the hand of his power and grace.  In verse 31, we are told Jesus rebuked Peter for his little faith and doubting. The lesson in this verse is, our faith may be true, and yet weak; at first, like a grain of mustard-seed. Peter had faith enough to get out of the boat, but not enough to carry him to Jesus. Our discouraging doubts and fears are all due to the weakness of our faith. The purpose of faith is to break down the barrier of doubt. What do you suppose would happen if we believed more and doubted less?  When Jesus came into the boat, the storm ceased and those in the boat worshipped Him.  The disciples knew before the incident that Jesus was the Son of God, however, faith after a conflict with unbelief, is sometimes the more active, and gets to greater degrees of strength by being exercised. It is good for us to know more and more of certainty of those things of heaven.

Work Cited:

• Henry's Matthew Commentary to the whole Bible
• Holman Concise Bible Commentary and Dictionary
• Commentary on The Gospels - John Lightfoot
• RSV bible

Hospital Visit: Dos and Don'ts. A Pastoral Care Note: Fort- Bend Church Presentation

Dos

Be cheerful and make pleasant conversation that focuses on the patient.     NB: You can visit by silence, - Ministry of presence 1.    None verbal communication. 2.    Body language, i.e., touch, nodding etc.

Display concern for the patient’s illness and respect for his or her feelings.

·         Don’t draw parallelism. “My brother had the same problem, unfortunately he died.”

·        
Acknowledge patients feelings. Avoid saying, “I Know” instead, say “I understand.”

Watch for doors that lead to the feeling level of communication and be alert for negative feelings.

Shape the tone and substance of your conversation from cues, verbal and nonverbal, offered by the patient;

1.    Has the patient signed off?

2.    “I am ready”

3.    “I want to go home” DIE?

4.    “I am ok”  “I know I have a few days to life but I am OK”

Listen attentively and be empathetic.

·         Give patient time to talk

·         Eye contact is very important

·         Avoid starring in every corner of the room.

Take notice of what is not said as much as what is said.

·         Body language

·         Eye contact

·         Emotions, i. e tears, sadness, etc

·         Sighs, heavy breath taking…

Share Scripture and prayer; ask the patient if she/he has special needs as you prepare to pray. 

·         Listen for special “unusual needs”

Don’ts

Don’t tell the patient unpleasant news including your troubles.

·         How good the sermon was on Sunday – unless the patient asks.

·         This visit is not about you, it is about the patient

Don’t whisper when talking to relatives or medical staff in the patient’s room.

Don’t assume a comatose patient cannot hear.

·         Great percentage of patients in comatose hear and are aware of the surrounding

What is the purpose of a church visit to the hospital? Here are a few:

1. To share Christ with those who do not know Him (goodwill ambassador)
2. To express Christian love to a person who may be afraid, discouraged, or lonely (fellowship and love)
3. To show friendship to a member of the Body of Christ (relational development)
4. To offer the encouragement of the Scriptures and prayer (spiritual edification)
5. To affirm that the church family is there to support the person (sympathy, empathy and solidarity)
6. To minister to the person and family in times of death, fear and uncertainty (emotional, spiritual and psychological support via one's presence); although theologically questionable, to many people the presence of a pastor psychologically and emotionally symbolizes the presence of God's care.
7. Rewarding people who have faithfully served our church by honoring them with some attention (recognition) when they feel vulnerable. Though this may sound trite, relationships are built around reciprocity.

Needs of the Dying

Spend their last days with their loved ones

Remain in control of their decisions

Be treated with respect

Have their spiritual/personal views respected

Be treated with compassion and kindness

Die with dignity

Religious support for dying and grieving Pastoral care services

Provide meaningful support and guidance for dying people and their families and caregivers. 

At the end of people's lives:

·         Represent the congregation in conveying a community of support.

·         Help individuals discuss their feelings and beliefs about death.( Case: “I am dying and I am unhappy about it)”

·         Discussions about an individual's relationship with God or any need for spiritual guidance and direction. Forgiveness, repentance, etc

·         Emotional and social support , including visits, calls, and check-ins

Case # 1

The case of a patient (mother) who wanted to die and repeatedly said she was ready, but the daughter, the only child was praying for healing

Case # 2

Case of a 98 year old female who was praying that God may “take her “but the family was praying that she recovers. Two of her children were praying that she live two more years to make it 100.

Case # 3

Case of a faithful church member who had stayed in hospital for many months, he became tied of being sick and being in hospital. He asked the church not to pray for his getting better for he was ready to die.

Walking in Water, Illuminating Our Spirits. Matthew 14:22-33. Part One

After feeding the five thousand Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat and go to the other side, while He sent the crowd away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone” (Matthew 14:22-23). 

Matthew does not give us a reason for Jesus sending the disciples to the other side of the lake and hastily breaking up of the crowds. However, In John 6:15 we are told that the crowds were about to take Jesus by force and make Him a king, to avoid this Jesus immediately scattered the people and sent away the disciples, lest they should join with them. Jesus went to a solitary place to pray. 

Although the disciples were doing what Jesus had commanded them to do they were battling a storm. Like the disciples who were battling this storm there are times in our lives when we are obeying the command of the Lord we encounter storms, obstacles. We may not understand the reason for the obstacles; however, Jesus has a purpose in permitting the obstacles. In this incident, Jesus will manifest Himself in a way that will be greater than the stilling of the storm. In the miracle of the stilling of the storm, Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, but now He is not with them. 

The example set before us in the introduction of the miracle, though the wind was contrary and the boat battered by the waves the disciples did not turn around and come back to the shore but was attempting to go to the other side of the lake, as Jesus commanded them. Here is an important lesson, though we may encounter troubles and difficulties in fulfilling the mission in life Jesus has given us they must not drive us from it; but through the midst of them we must press forwards. 

Here is the good news, Jesus going to the aid of the disciples walking on the water reveals His sovereign dominion over all the creatures; they are all under his feet, and at His command. 

It is not necessary to ask how this was done, whether by hardening of the surface of the water or by suspending the gravitation of His body. Jesus walking on the water proves his divine power, for it is God's prerogative to “trend on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). It is the same power that made iron to swim (2 Kings 6:6). Jesus can do whatever He pleases to save His people. 

In verse 26, we are told of the reaction to the appearance of Jesus; the disciples were terrified and said, “It is a ghost.” At the time of this account of Jesus walking on water, all except the Sadducees, whose doctrine Christ had warned His disciples against, generally believed in the existence and appearance of spirits. The deliverance from troublesome and dangerous situations is sometimes the occasions of trouble and perplexity to God's people. The perplexing, disquieting fears of God’s people arise from their mistakes and misapprehensions concerning Christ, His person, and offices. The source of the disciples fear could be they believed some evil spirit raised the storm. 

In verse 27, we are told Jesus silenced their fears by making Himself known. He does not name Himself, as He did to Paul, “I am Jesus.” All that was necessary for the disciples to recognize who was approaching them was the sound of His voice.

Note the words of Jesus to the disciples, first He tells them “Take courage.” If Christ's disciples cannot be cheerful in a storm, it is their own fault. Second. Jesus told them who it is who is coming to them in their present situation. Third, ‘do not be afraid.” In other word, “Be not afraid of me, now that you know it is I; surely you will not fear, for you know I mean you no hurt." Here is the good news; Christ will not be a terror to those to whom He manifests Himself. What is Jesus telling the disciples in the boat and us in our present situations? “Do not be afraid of the situations you find yourself in, though threatening; do not fear them, while I am so near you. I am He that concerns Himself for you, and will not stand by and see you perish.” Note nothing needs be a terror to those that have Christ near them, and know He is theirs; not even death itself: To continue on part two...

Work Cited:

• Henry's Matthew Commentary to the whole Bible
• Holman Concise Bible Commentary and Dictionary
• Commentary on The Gospels - John Lightfoot
• RSV bible

Check part two in is this series above :)

THE BUCKET LIST - LET'S GAVE IT A TRAIL.

Have you watched this movie? If not I recommend that you watch it regardless of where you are in your life stage. It is about a rich man (Edward) Jack Nicholson and a poor man (Carter) Morgan Freeman, who meet in an unusual place and became best friends. They develop a plan of doing interesting things before their demise which was ultimately coming soon.

Before they developed the BUCKET LIST both men have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses, both had terminal cancer. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it Hospital) and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them “heal” each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find “joy” in life.

Both Edward and Carter become friends as they undergo their respective treatments. Carter is a gifted amateur historian and family man who had wanted to become a history professor, but in his youth had been "broke, black, and with a baby on the way" and thus never rose above his job at the McCreath body shop. Edward is a four-times-divorced healthcare tycoon and cultured loner who “enjoys” nothing more than tormenting his personal valet/servant, Matthew, whom he calls Thomas. He makes Matthew serve Carter as well as him and orders his employee and doctor (Morrow) to familiarize himself with Carter's health.

Carter begins writing a list of things to do before he dies hence he calls it THE BUCKET LIST. After hearing he has less than a year, Carter folds the list carelessly and tosses it on the floor. Edward finds it the next morning. He urges Carter to do everything on the list, suggesting he add things like skydiving and offers to finance the trip. Which he did. Carter agrees, despite the protests of his wife, Virginia who thought that Jack is misleading Carter for his own gain. At some point Virginia is seen storming the hospital room shouting to Jack “ My husband is not for sale.”

In this moving movie both Edward and Carter are see in around-the-world vacation, embarking on race car driving, skydiving, climbing the Pyramids, and going on a lion safari in Africa. Both discuss a rare coffee and its unusual taste. Which sounds out of place based on the theme of the movie, but a keen ear and mind will understand it to mean their relationship with their families. They also confide about faith and family, revealing that Carter has long been feeling less in love with his wife and that Edward is deeply hurt by his estrangement with his only daughter, who disowned him after he sent some people to "take care of" her abusive husband hinting at physical assault, but ruling out murder. At this point the movie turns to be a pity to both of Edward and Carter.

One of the items in the list was to visit places like Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong Edward hires a prostitute for Carter, who has never had sex with any woman but his wife. Carter declines and asks to return home, and reciprocates by trying to reunite Edward with his daughter. Edward angrily storms off. Carter returns home to his wife, children, and grandchildren. The return home for Carter was short lived. Carter suffers a seizure and is rushed to the hospital where he dies during surgery. The cancer has spread to his brain. However before he dies Edward visit him in his hospital bed and they both are seen having light moment, which accomplished an item in the list, “laugh till I cry"

At Carter’s memorial service, Edward delivers a eulogy, explaining that he and Carter had been complete strangers, but the last three months of Carter's life were the best three months of his (Edward's). We see Edward crossing off "help a complete stranger for a common good" from the list. We see Edward finally attempt to reconcile with his daughter. She not only accepts him back into her life but also introduces him to the granddaughter he never knew. After greeting the little girl with a kiss on the cheek, Edward crosses "kiss the most beautiful girl in the world" off the list.

In the epilogue, we learn that Edward lived until the age of 81, and his ashes were buried in the top of the Himalayas Mountains. It turns out that Matthew, Edward’s servant is the one who places Edward's ashes alongside a can containing Carter's ashes, he crosses off the last item on the List "witness something truly majestic" and places it beside the remains of both Carter and Edward.

Both seemed to be happy with their endeavor to fulfill the list.

Critique: Both have terminal cancer with Carter having only one year to live. In the movie they don’t look sick people apart from the short time seen in the hospital. Edward is in remission, however his health improves daily. We don’t see him (Edward) going for checkups by his doctor which would be the case of cancer patients in remission. However it is only a movie.

In the opening of this summery I suggested that if you have not seen this movie, you make efforts to do so. It is an eye opener to doing all the things we would love to do in this life. Life is short, but if well lived there will be no regrets. Should one be sick to write a BUCK LIST? No.

This movie was suggested to me by a patient whom I was visiting, (Name and place withheld). He had watched the movie a few hours before I visited and he had his bucket list ready by the end of movie. I could remember one of the items in his list was to drive a truck (18 Wheeler) across the US. Unfortunately he died before he did this. However, he gave it a trial. The same with each one of us, let’s give it a trail and have our BUCK LIST.