Cultivating a Heart of Thanks

Psalm 106:1-2 says, "Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare His praise?" When we give thanks to the Lord we proclaim His awesome acts. He is most worthy of our praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving promotes not only the glory of God, but humility in us. It is the tendency of the sinful human heart - even the regenerated heart - to usurp credit that rightly belongs only to God. Thanksgiving stimulates our faith. It promotes contentment. I would recommend making a list of things for which you are thankful and make reference to that list frequently. Perhaps the following items would be a good start: your personal salvation, your opportunities for spiritual growth, the availability of the Word of God, the fellowship and instruction of the church, the abundance of helpful Christian books and broadcasts, opportunities for ministry and service, a godly spouse. Paul made frequent statements in his letters, such as, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you." (Colossians 1:3) Later in the same letter he instructs the Colossians, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." (4:2) As you meditate on these verses, ask God to give you a genuine attitude of thanksgiving. At the Atkins' home we are rejoicing and giving thanks today that the 9th MRI was clear, and showed no harmful development.

Card Carrying Aliens

The Bible contains many designations for believers in Jesus Christ who at one time or another are referred to as "the way," "strangers," "pilgrims," "disciples," "believers," "saints," "members of God's household," "a royal priesthood," "living stones." The one I've been thinking about lately is Peter's designation in 1 Peter 1:1 as "aliens." C. S. Lewis, who I hope to meet someday, said in "Mere Christianity" that we live in occupied territory. That is what this world is. "Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery." I remember from reading one of A. W. Tozer's books years ago that one chapter was titled "The World: Playground or Battleground." The recipients of 1 Peter clearly knew that the world was a battleground. As we have noted from "Mere Christianity" Lewis understood that this was enemy occupied territory. Believers need to awaken to the fact that the conflict is real, that the armor is provided and the campaign of sabotage continues. Leading people to Jesus Christ, to be their Savior, discipling men, women, and children and transforming our minds by the Word of God will tilt the battle in Christ's favor and sabotage our adversary.

On a medical note: my 8th MRI is scheduled for Monday. Please pray for a clear. My bilirubin was at 1.6 at the last count 2 weeks ago, and will be tested tomorrow. Thank you for your visit to the blog.

Simple Truths for Young and Old

Tonight during council time at Awana, I reminded the clubbers of several things that I felt were important when facing difficulty and hardship. The first reminder is that we are loved. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" There is NOTHING that shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. The second truth is that we are part of a plan, as Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The third truth is you are never alone. Zephaniah 3:17 states, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love." Of course, the last words in Matthew's gospel are the memorable words of our Savior, who said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Young or old, well or ill, joyous or despairing, we should remind ourselves daily of these three truths: we are loved, we are part of a plan, we are never alone.

Medical update: Our cup is overflowing with praise to God Who is our Help, our Deliverer, and our Shield, because the 7th MRI results today revealed that the image was clear. All praise, glory and honor to our Heavenly Father for His lovingkindness and help.

Beyond All Measure

Fernando Ortega has a beautiful song with these lyrics,
"How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He would give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How deep the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory."
Who could ever contemplate or imagine the intimacy of the Father's and Son's relationship? They are one. Who could ever imagine the deep pain of having this relationship interrupted? Maybe a preposition within the original Greek will help us understand better. John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God..." The word "with" means face to face. John could have selected a different preposition for the word "with." It is "meta" which means "in the midst of." "Sune" means "in closest association." "Para" means "by the side of" but "pros" means Jesus was facing God the Father, acting with God and acting in closest intimacy and fellowship and communion with God the Father. This was interrupted when "He who knew no sin became sin for us." So when Ortega asks how deep is the Father's love for us, his reply is totally correct in that it is vast beyond all measure. This should elicit praise from the believer without interruption for all eternity.

Acknowledgement and medical update: I wish to thank people who have read my blog faithfully and apologize when I haven't submitted an entry in a timely manner from the previous one. Your prayers also mean the world to me, as my 6th MRI was clear of tumor activity. My 7th MRI is right around the corner and we've asked our Heavenly Father for another clear. I praise God not only for my salvation, but for my saliva, which continues to be a relief to the dry mouth condition. I also praise Him for repair of the liver, as the last bilirubin measurement was 3.7! Enzymes dropped somewhat. Have a blessed and safe Labor Day. Love, Chris, McCook, Nebraska

The Hope Diamond of Scripture

I have been thinking a lot about numbers lately. One of the reasons is the flack that I have been given (in jest) over the Jayhawk jersey of Mario Chalmers hanging in my study. Not too popular in Cornhusker country! So I simply relate the numbers that justify its hanging there. The Rock Chalk Jayhawks have won the national championship in basketball four times. They have been to the final four twelve times. They have won the conference championship 50 times and have had 22 all-American players. When your team can come close to those numbers, I'll hang your jersey up - ha ha! Max Lucado has written a book entitled "3:16 - The Numbers of Hope." Most people that read the blog are familiar with this verse and some of the sharpness of it has worn smooth with familiarity. I challenge you to read it slowly and meditatively, to observe how God loved us. Lucado writes, "He didn't love in order to get something from us, but to give everything of Himself to us," paraphrasing Ephesians 5:2. He knows that our goodness cannot win God's love, nor our badness lose it, but you can resist it. I am simply staggered once more by the awesome reality that God loves. That God gave. That we believe. That we live. The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to take the reality of this verse to those who continue to resist it - the lost. He does not desire people to perish, but to have eternal life.

On a medical note - We thank and praise the Lord daily for 5 clear MRI's and a bilirubin count that reached the single digits - 8.5. Our next MRI is August 17th, and we covet your continued prayers. May God richly bless you.

Attending Worship

Not long ago, the world watched as three gray whales, icebound off Point Barrow, Alaska floated battered and bloody, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice. Their only hope: somehow to be transported five miles past the icepack to open sea.

Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes about twenty yards apart in the six-inch ice. For eight days they coaxed the whales from one hole to the next, mile after mile. Along the way, one of the trio vanished and was presumed dead but finally, with the help of Russian icebreakers, two of the whales swam to freedom.

In a way, worship is a string of breathing holes the Lord provides his people. Bruised and battered in a world frozen over with greed, selfishness, and hatred, we rise for air in church, a place to breathe again, to be loved and encouraged, until that day when the Lord forever shatters the ice cap. How is your attendance at worship these days?

On a medical note: the good news to report is that my bili-rubin is now in the single digits at 8.5 and we give thanks and praise to our God for this!!!!!!! My next MRI is scheduled for August 17th. Thank you for all of your prayers and concern.

Venting, Whining and Complaining

Reportedly, we spend a third of our life eating, and a third of our life sleeping. I believe we spend the last third of our life complaining or venting about everyday grievances. When we complain it is with a sense of discontent with people, things or circumstances. We imply that God is not doing His work properly, that if He would only trust us with His work, everything would be solved - and in quicker time, too. Are women the complaining sex? Well, everyone complains, but in one study, when a doctor (female) asked subjects to write down as many personal annoyances as they could come up with, women jotted down nearly four times as many as the men did. I am certain that the Israelites in Numbers 11 were made up of men and women who complained about the absence of fish, cucumbers, melons, onions, garlic and more. God was totally displeased with their attitudes. If you and I are to be blameless sons of God in the midst of a crooked country, we need to take serious God's command in Philippians 2:13 to do all things without murmuring and complaining. Maybe the best antidote is to read Psalm 103 daily until the habit of complaining is broken.

On a health note, blood was drawn today. We are hoping that the results will show continued movement in the right direction in respect to the liver.

Flesh and Spirit in Opposition

I heard some dog owners recently tell their dogs, "Stop barking." This was followed up by further commands such as "stop scratching." Some dog owners lengthen the list with orders to stop chasing. We often tell our own dogs to stop eating solar lights, water sprinkler heads, plants from the greenhouse and more. I have a tendency not to recognize that dogs will be dogs and engage in dog-like behavior. People are the ones created in the image of God and Christians have a new nature and should manifest a different standard of behavior. We don't have to yell at our children with the excuse, "I'm just tired." We don't have to engage in envy with the excuse that I wasn't really coveting those things. Paul states in Galatians 4:17, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." We need to rid ourselves of the illusion that personal freedom is the paramount priority. We need to subordinate our fleshly responses to the Spirit-controlled temperament. Believers need to stop making excuses, rationalizations and justifications for wrong behavior. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Gal. 5:25)

Medical update: the good news we received today is that my 5th MRI showed no change from those previously - it was clear! We give thanks to God for His loving kindness and answer to our prayers.

Homesick

Music camp, tennis camp, Bible camp. My daughter has had many options this summer for participation in various camps. The most recent camp experience has seen her come down with a case of real homesickness. I remember when I first went off to college suffering terribly as a freshman wanting yet to be back home. When Jesus told the disciples that He was leaving, He also reassured them that He was going to prepare a place for them. (The Greek word actually means "dwelling place" not mansion.) I have had one church member scold me for not using the word mansion that Jesus was preparing for her. Somehow she missed the point of the passage in John 14, that He was going to come and take them home so that they could be where He was. I am hoping and believing that my young daughter is homesick because of her mother and I (ok, her kitty too!) and not because of the big house on the tree-lined street. Are you homesick for heaven? If so, isn't it because of the Father Who dwells there and the Son Who is set to come at any moment? Is it not wonderful that Jesus takes up residence in us now, as He states in verse 20, that "I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." I guess heaven will be that place where this reality is not distracted from by all the trappings that surround us now. If you are not homesick for heaven and the Heavenly Father, you may need a spiritual check-up.

Prayer request: elevated bilirubin sure causes a lot of itching. Please pray that it continues to drop along with the liver enzymes so I can get some relief.

Acknowledging Christ in Everything

Many Christians memorized Proverbs 3:5-6 while they were yet children. Yet, we can spend all of our lives somehow escaping the action that we are exhorted to do...acknowledge Him in everything. Roger von Oech in his book "A Kick in the Seat of the Pants," suggests: "Take a look around where you're sitting and find five things that have blue in them. Go ahead and do it. With a "blue" mindset, you'll find that blue jumps out at you: a blue book on the table, a blue pillow on the couch, blue in the painting on the wall, and so on...In like fashion, you've probably noticed that after you buy a new car, you promptly see that make of car everywhere. That's because people find what they are looking for. At times in our lives, God seems strangely absent, but the problem is not that God has disappeared. We simply lack a "God" mindset. When we develop our sensitivity, we soon begin to see his work everywhere." How imperative it is for us to maintain the sensitivity to His presence and work in our lives.

On a medical note: The liver seems to be in a holding pattern presently, with the bilirubin level and enzymes moving up slightly. Please pray that the trend will be reversed again. I wish that there were something I could do to facilitate the liver's self-repair, but since I can't, I cast this constantly at the feet of the Great Physician.

The Greatest Word Uttered

The three words that Jesus spoke in John 19;30 is a single word in the original Greek text, that has been called "the greatest word which ever broke upon the ear of man." Frequently preachers look for a single word or thought to drive a point home with power to the hearer. The one word that Jesus uttered was "tetelestai." This means "It is finished." It is a declaration of victory. It was said to be an artist's word. When the painter had put the finishing touches to the vivid landscape, he would stand back and admire his masterpiece and murmur, "tetelestai." It is impossible here to exhaust it's depths, but we can make some observations. It was a word that indicated suffering was ended. The physical agony and mental anguish now culminated in his death for us. The word also indicates that revelation was finalized. Early in John's gospel we read that "no man has seen God at any time."
In Jesus, God became visible and tangible. In His humanity He interpreted the Father to us. The word also means that shadows became substance. Centuries of sacrifice revealed their insufficiency, but now the perfect sacrifice was offered. Finally, "tetelestai" means: the Father's will was fulfilled, Satan was defeated, and redemption was accomplished. An unknown author stated, "It is finished was His last voice, the sacred accents over. He bowed His head, gave up the ghost, and suffered pain no more." Truly that one word was the greatest word ever uttered.

On a medical note: The last MRI was clear, and showed no tumor activity. We give praise to God for answered prayer!

Jesus and Children

We read in the gospels that the disciples ran interference against young children trying to prevent them from the time and attention of the Master. Jesus quickly reversed their action and invited the children to come close. After a week of Vacation Bible School some of our disciples were ready to send the children away also! There were over 100 each day, and our three and four-year olds numbered close to 40. There were lighter moments, such as when one lad with a cherub face defined who Jesus healed. He healed the blind, who could not see. He healed the mute who could not speak. When asked about the lame he said they were the "totally uncool!" Children must have strongly appealed to Jesus for their honesty of reply and observation. I'm sure He would smile to hear the way the word lame is used in our culture today. We should do everything we can to bring children to Him at an early and tender age.

On a medical note: There is nothing to report concerning the MRI - we are still awaiting the results. However, the bilirubin count is as low as it's been, at 12.5! We rejoice that some enzymes are lower too. We continue to covet your prayers. Love, Chris

Truth and Love

I am neither chemist nor cook, so verification of the following may be necessary. Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form. It always links itself to another element. Chlorine, on the other hand, is the poisonous gas that gives bleach its offensive odor. When sodium and chlorine are combined, the result is sodium chloride - common table salt - the substance we use to preserve meat and bring out it's flavor. Love and truth can be like sodium and chlorine. Love without truth can be blind and sentimental and carries a tendency to soften the sharp edges of truth. On the other hand, truth by itself may be overly offensive, sometimes even brutal. Spoken without love it can turn people away from the gospel. When truth and love are combined in an individual or church, then we have what Jesus wants His church to be - the salt of the earth. It is then we are able to preserve and bring out the beauty of our faith. The church and the individuals in it are the repository and pillar of the truth. The love of Christ has been shed abroad in our hearts and therefore we can love as He loved. I don't always keep these two elements in balance, and I know the result is diminished effectiveness. I can only say that I am a work in progress - Christ is not finished with me yet, and I hope to be saltier as time goes by. I hope you will be also.

On a health note: The bilirubin count now stands at 15.7! Our prayer is that the enzymes and bilirubin will continue to fall. The fourth post-surgery MRI is scheduled for Wednesday. Please pray that there will be what is known as a clear report - no new tumor activity. God bless you.

Noisy Small Town

I am amazed at times how a quiet, sleepy, rural community such as McCook can generate so much noise. Certain nights of the week in the summer permit Nascar-like racing at the fairgrounds. Train whistles and connections continually penetrate the night. Late night motorcyclists seem to be gunning their motors to reach their destination. The occasional ambulance and the chimes of several churches waft through the night air. Dogs bark at the alley cats. Psalm 46:10 instructs us to "Be still and know that I am God." It is significant that the Psalm in which the words "be still" occur is filled with noise and commotion. The earth shakes, the waters roar and are troubled, the mountains threaten to tumble into the midst of the sea. The nations rage, the kingdoms are moved and the sound of war is heard throughout the land. Then a voice is heard out of the silence saying, "Be still and know that I am God." Go back sometime and read I Kings 19, where Elijah stands at the entrance of a cave waiting to hear from the Lord and receive His commissioning. The point that I'd like to make is that today, we must listen until our inner ears hear the words of God. When His voice is heard, it will not be as shouting in a stadium of a nervous world. Rather, the reassuring call of One Who said He shall not always strive or cry or speak loudly in the streets. It will be heard plainly enough in the heart, and in the end that is all that matters.

Medical update: We are praising the Lord that my bilirubin level has dropped to 17.2. Enzymes continue to show downward trends as well, many of them nearing normal. I feel some strength returning, as I was able to get the front lawn mowed this week for the first time!

The Nature of True Worship

The archbishop of the Church of Canterbury once stated, "Worship is the oil of the spiritual life. It is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, it is to purge the imagination with the beauty of God, it is to devote the will to the purpose of God, it is to open the heart to the love of God. All this is gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion which the human nature is capable and the remedy for self-centeredness." There have been occasions as I was leaving the worship service,that I overheard someone say, "I didn't get a lot out of this today." This shows a misunderstanding of what our purpose is in being there, which is to offer up to God "worth-ship" for all that He is and all that He has done. We forget that worship is about God - it is not about us. To worship as the archbishop has suggested and renew our minds with the Word of God would certainly transform us from glory to glory as the apostle Paul noted in one of his letters.

On a medical note, we were glad this week to hear that my bilirubin count went to 19.5, and we would like to see it under 5. All liver enzymes continue to head toward normal. We are giving thanks and praise to God for these lower numbers and we are praying for no tumor activity in the MRI scheduled in early June. Thanks for reading the blog and for your continued prayers.

Absent: A Sense of the Sacred

One of the distinct characteristics and nonetheless disturbing of our age is an absence of the sacred. Many places of worship still have a book in the back of the pew called the sacred hymnal, but few consider the music within "sacred." Paul told Timothy that from a child he had known the sacred scriptures, yet people today treat their Bibles and the reading of it with contemptible casualness. When two young people get married this act was at one time referred to as "sacred matrimony." Now it is considered getting hitched or tying the knot, but is seldom referred to as a sacred and solemn occasion. Worship has become shallow and superficial. God's name is often used in a vain and repetitious way. Kneeling is a posture never taken within the service and that which should command respect is often treated as a triviality. We need today to recapture a sense of that which is sacred. There are subjects and matters that are majestic and we should be "lost in wonder, love, and praise" as the hymnwriter said, instead of having LOST our wonder, love, and praise.

Medical update: the next MRI is scheduled for June 10th. We continue to pray for lower numbers related to bilirubin and liver enzymes. Thank you for all the encouragement you continue to bring our direction.

The Sign That You Follow Christ

In John 13:34-35 Jesus states, "A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." The sign that you followed Abraham was circumcision. The sign that you followed Moses was keeping the Sabbath. The sign that you followed John the Baptist was that you were baptized. The sign that you follow Jesus Christ is that you love one another. A message that I heard some years ago and using the letters as an acronym, defined love as Listening - what the other person has to say is just as important as what you have to say. The O was for Overlooking - everyone has things in their life that we should look past, and simply love them as they are. V was for Value - we demonstrate love when we affirm the other person's value as one for whom Christ died. The E is simply Expression - that love finds tangible ways to meet needs, show concern, convey encouragement. If love is the sign of a true disciple how vivid is this sign currently in your life? Is it plainly visible for others to see? Or is it distant, unclear, and not much of a sign at all?

Medical note: One of my concerns has been loss of weight, and I am glad to report that after a weight loss of 50 pounds, my weight has stabilized, and in fact I have gained 5 pounds back. Blood work is still done weekly, and the last one showed that enzyme levels are continuing to improve. My saliva is greatly improved, for which I give daily thanks and praise! I continue to counsel, teach, and am scheduled to preach May 24th. As chairman of the National Day of Prayer in our community, which is the first Thursday in May, please join us or a group in your area to pray for our nation on May 8th.

Brief Is Best

Oftentimes the best teachers can say the most by saying the least. Jesus was a master teacher and often spoke in pictures of lilies, foxes, widows, sheep, and other subjects. Dr. Charles Ryrie was known at Dallas Theological Seminary for having that gift. In reading Psalm 28 recently, it struck me that David used two words to describe what the Lord was to him, his shield and his strength. So his response to those two characteristics of the Lord was for his heart to affirm it's trust in Him and confidence...I am helped. It is good to know that amidst so many circumstances, adversaries, and clear opposition, we have a Protector. Our response is simple in that we are to trust and understand we are helped.

Medical update: Bilirubin has come down to 23. Dismissal from Nebraska Medical Center was welcome news. The hospitality of my brother Kevin and his family was graciously enjoyed, but it is good to be back in McCook, back to ministry, back to family, and back to what we love.

Update 04-25

(1) I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
(2) I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. - Psalm 9:1-2
We have some great thing to rejoice in today! Dad is doing much better as the doctors continue to search for answers. His bilirubin levels continue to drop and we are now in the mid 20's. (A long way from the 40's!) He has also been able to eat and get some much needed sleep. Continue to join me in prayer over his body and the doctors wisdom.

On a side note: For those of you that don't live in the great state of Florida, here is what your are missing today :)

Update 04-23

Hello everyone, this is Andrew, Chris and Eunice's middle child. I wanted to take an opportunity to give a short update on how dad is doing and request everyone to spend some time today to pray for them. Dad is on his way to Omaha where he will receive specialized treatment/tests. Although not confirmed, there are signs of Hepactic Encephalpathy- a disorder affecting both the liver and the brain. We are grateful he will be in good hands and have faith God is in complete control.

On a side note: I want to say how amazing it was to meet so many of you this past weekend. It was truly a blessing to see your love and friendship first hand. I am so thankful for each and every one of you. God bless.