30+ years in 120 days...

I see that the church has taken to reviewing the life of Christ each year in the choices of the scripture readings, Christmas through Easter. Good practice! Remembering is important and only happens with the retelling of the stories.

One thing that means is the stories of events in Jesus' life happen in very quick succession. We just celebrated the birth of Jesus and today we remember his family's flight to Egypt to escape the slaughter of babies ordered by Herod. A refugee, in a foreign land. As I read the news it appears that there are many refugees around today and some are right around you in this country. If you have a chance, start a conversation with one of them to get a perspective on the life of a refugee.

Perhaps you can check out some projects that Wheat Ridge has supported that minister directly with refugees. One in Denver, CO at St Luke's and one in the past in Chicago.

To Us A Child...

One of my favorite stories in the life of Christ is his birth - God became man. I must say I'm partial to "my version" of the story. The art work by He Qi is stunning.

The King has come. The King is coming soon.

iBand Christmas

I think Psalm 98 also includes this version of praising God. While this would have been amazing for my 1st Century friends to see, I'm pretty sure the angels were over the top incredible! Enjoy your celebration of Jesus' birth. Wait with expectation for his return! Live as his servant each day.

Digital Christmas Story

OK, so this is not how Mary and Joseph remember it, but it is a very 21st Century way of telling the story.

Times change. Feelings remain the same. And the need for the Savior and God's love for his creation trumps it all. Blessings to you as we remember Christ's first coming, and anticipate his coming again.

Christmas greetings from Dr Luke and from Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Sacramento, CA

I had a wonderful morning with the good people of Town and Country Lutheran Church and School in Sacramento, CA. I was privileged to deliver the message for the day and to lead the Bible Class hour.

Always a pleasure to join Christians while they worship and praise God together. That is where I feel the most 'at home' here in the 21st Century: hymns, Scripture, prayer, confession and words of forgiveness - just like we were doing back in the 1st Century.

Thanks to Pastor Russ Hess who was a great host. And blessings to the people there at T&C as they are led by God's Spirit to be "Jesus with skin on" there in Sacramento.

More on Play

I came across two interesting articles on play, specifically talking about children (although I must say, I'm very interested in learning more about play and the adult brain... judging from my observations over the past months, many adults need help with play).

Article one focuses on how "old fashioned" play helps develop self-regulation and the executive function part of the brain. By "old fashioned" it appears they mean play that is self directed rather than other or electronic media directed.

Article two asks "how much media exposure is too much?" (First I like that way of framing the question. It doesn't assume it is all good or all bad... it takes an intentional approach.) I include this under play because, from my observation, this is what many kids are doing with their "play" time.

Play is important for healthy kids. Sometimes to make it happen well you need to help the parents. That is what Wheat Ridge does with Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD in a project called Parentnet.

Looking Up...

Considering the way things work on the internet most of you have likely seen this already (I don't think that's what the Preacher has in mind when he wrote about nothing new under the sun...).

The "scale of the universe" web page is quite amazing. Things get pretty small (who knew what a yoctometer was?) and pretty large... and that is just what we know so far. The Hubble site gives some spectacular pictures of what's 'out there'. Put all of that together with my last post on brain pics and you have some glimpses of a wonderful creation. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are fearfully and wonderfully made! And in the midst of that big creation, God chose to come to earth as one of us (I'm partial to this version of the story). That's love for the little ones!

And Wheat Ridge is motivated by that love to help congregations love the little ones around them - even if they are not so young. Check out a great project in St Louis at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church.

Looking Inside the Brain

Check out some unbelievable pictures of the brain. So much more knowledge about the human body here in the 21st Century than my 1st Century counterparts... and growing all the time.

With a finite body and some amazing technology will you some day hit the end of the road and know all there is to know about our bodies? There are already many things written about the conscious self and the soul. Or is there something special about us that will defy our human abilities to understand or comprehend or dissect?

I hope the leaders in the church are keeping up with the new knowledge of our bodies, especially about the brain - pretty important stuff, with lots of implications for use for good and even not so good. Christ's followers need to be part of those conversations.

Wheat Ridge is interested. And they are also excited about partnering with congregations who are interested in focusing on heath and wellness - whole person health, body and soul, at all ages and stages of life. Like this project in Murphys CA, a Senior Center.

What Time Is It?

I'm having trouble keeping track of the time - not the hours of the day but the seasons of the year. This time of year is really mixed up for you - Thanksgiving, Black Friday (seems to have earned a special holiday status of it's own), Advent (new for me - we saw the first coming of the King), and Christmas (good reason to keep celebrating the birth of God as man!).

But they all seem to be jumbled up with each other. Thanksgiving is buried with advertisements for Black Friday which is all about shopping for Christmas and - what happened to Advent? Lost in the shuffle.

I heard some interesting sermons at what has become home church for Dr Luke - Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gladwin, MI. Pastor Matthew Schultz preached on Thanksgiving about being thankful for God's gifts instead of being discontented after being bombarded with all the advertisements - you really can't seem to escape from them... and it appears you really NEED a lot of things you didn't know about. And then this past Sunday he preached about 'Black Ops' - being ready for the mission we have as Christ's followers. An interesting comparison of the birth of Christ to a covert operation, God inserting an 'agent' behind enemy lines; and then our part as 'agents' of Christ in our world.

In the end I leave you with a favorite word I used in the Gospel (pay special attention to verse 14, 42, 44 and 58) that I wrote: agalliao and agallisis - which loosely translates to PARTY!!! Exceeding great joy! We are joyful in the extreme these days, not because we have so much, or can get so much on sale, but because we are loved so much by Jesus who joined us in our humanity and saved us from our sin.

St Mark Lutheran, Saginaw

I had the privilege and pleasure of preaching at St Mark Lutheran Church this past Sunday. A lively bunch of God's people there under strong leadership from Pastor Ed Meyer. I met a committed group of lay leaders there who work with Pastor Ed and the other staff to share the love of Jesus in creative and meaningful ways with their community. They roll up their sleeves and are ready to let the Spirit work through them to accomplish God's will.

I very much enjoyed my time among them. I think Paul would have spoken these words about God's people at St Mark: "I thank my God every time I remember you... I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel..."

May God richly bless your work there in Saginaw!

I used to live in that world.

Peter Steinke describes a 'new' world in an article from the Alban Institute: "There Once Was a World". That world is much more like the 1st Century world I left. In fact, I find it hard to understand the world that many folks are trying so hard to hang on to.

Back in the day, there was no support for the Christian 'church'. Paul preached in a world where following Jesus was likely to get you beaten up or even killed. That is still how it is in many parts of the world - and the church is growing quite rapidly in many of those places in spite of that.

Time to get used to it. And to learn from the past and from our brothers and sisters who have been living in that world for a long time. Jesus talked about this too just before he was killed. Good to remember that his power is bigger than anything we will face, and there are many saints who can bear witness to that.

Facebook or face to face friendships

It is a very different world than I left in the 1st Century. We did everything face to face. Well, we did write letters, but even that was a bit unusual and not very wide spread.

I came across a blog about facebook and face-to-face friendships. Very interesting reading. Even the telephone was a major move away from face-to-face communication. Now, the internet allows anyone to be in contact (friends?) with hundreds and even thousands of people.

The blog concluded that, even with the huge numbers of people that you keep track of online these days, people still really are close friends with only about four to seven bosom buddies and that is true in most cultures the world over.

Friends in time of need; helping you in the hard times. Sometimes people don't have the kind of help they need. That's where Wheat Ridge comes in, supporting some great ministries all over the world who are the 'friend' that people may need. Ministries like the Helping Hands Free Clinic in Columbus, OH.

Can't Stand the Cold

That is opposite of how they tell me the saying usually goes: "If you can't stand the heat...". Well, I'm used to the Mediterranean climate and I'm not liking the feel of the air in early November. It could be a long winter.

Makes me think of warmer places... like Liberia. A great Wheat Ridge project connected there, and to New Orleans - also much warmer than the upper Midwest! Check out another great Wheat Ridge health and wellness project among the Kuwaa people of Liberia.

Bethany Lutheran Church, in collaboration with the Lutheran Church of Liberia and Salem Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois, plans to address some of the major health challenges the Kuwaa people face in the Gbapolu District of Liberia, West Africa. The project will accomplish this by digging wells, providing pumps and filtration systems, and building medical clinics thereby providing safe drinking water and opportunities for residents to be treated for common illnesses like malaria, cholera and other tropical diseases.

I'm looking for warmer clothes.

Travel Time

When I get back to the 1st Century and talk to Paul about how I was preaching on Sunday morning in Milwaukee, WI and visiting with Pastors and Principals on Monday morning in Pittsburgh, PA, the very next day - he'll freak out!. That is almost the distance of Paul's whole first missionary journey... in one day.

Even with the limitations of his travel (at least from a 21st Century perspective) Paul was used in mighty ways by God. I like what he said once about doing things by God's power, not his own. God can use quick travel in a car and slow travel by walking. He can use the gifts you have to get his work done... remember those gifts came from him in the first place.

And even if they don't travel far in actual miles, the College Prep Center at St Marcus in Milwaukee will help kids go far in life. Another great Wheat Ridge project.

A Whole lot going on

I'm amazed!
Wheat Ridge has a ton more resources available than most people realize. Here are just a few:
1. Grants to congregations and non-profits for new initiatives in health and wellness.
2. A Ministry Resource Center that has things like: a congregational self-study tool for a snap shot of how you are doing right now; a guide to help plan a congregational health fair; resources for serving returning veterans;
3. A Ministry Sabbatical Grant program.
4. Health Notes - monthly, focused on specific topics, great for newsletters etc.
5. An experienced and dedicated staff who are well connected and ready to serve.
6. Great events.
7. Excellent resources for planned giving.
and much more. Check them out.

Wall Dogs and Community Pride

Back in the 1st Century I traveled all over the Mediterranean world with Paul, visiting many cities and preaching about Jesus. You could always tell where they had pride in their communities and where they did not. Still true today. I've spent some time with some friends from Plymouth, WI. They go to St John Lutheran Church and School - a Spirit filled place with a cool retreat center opportunity.

And the community obviously has pride in their town... the Cheese Capital of the world. It was home to the Cheese Exchange (you've heard of the Stock Exchange) and much more. This June they will host the Wall Dogs who will add 20+ murals to the sides of some of their buildings. The murals will depict much of the local history. Great idea. It took people with an idea and some energy who asked for help from inside and outside their community. Much can get done that way.

Wheat Ridge Ministries loves that kind of thinking: "What needs to be done around here that isn't being done yet?". When it is in the area of Health and Wellness, Wheat Ridge will partner with local congregations to be one of those outside sources of help. Check them out... and the Wall Dogs too.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

I decided I needed to get my picture up. Here it is... this is as good as it gets: hand drawn - that's what I'm used to. It is all we have back in the 1st Century.

I am still getting used to all the pictures you have access too. They are everywhere... even on your telephones (which, by the way, do actually make phone calls - although that is not what most people use them for).

Pictures of family, of vacations, of your favorite celebrity, of your children, of your spouse. I've seen pictures of the heavens through the Hubble telescope. Can you remember anything without them? Although, I understand the brain leans heavily to the eyes: processing speed... 60,000 for the eyes to 1 for the ears. No wonder so many pictures around us!

Even the book that bears my name is weighted heavily to "seeing". We can "see what has come to pass". May God grant that you see Jesus as Savior.

All of Wheat Ridge Ministries' projects are about seeing things in a new way - a health and wellness way... Check out the current projects, or perhaps the long list of past projects to see if one is in your area.

How's the Weather?

I'm surprised that, with all the advancements in technology here in the 21st Century, people are still very much affected by the weather... and even with all the advancements in technology, it is still almost as hard to predict the weather now as it was in the 1st Century.

Severe drought in Indiana and floods in the East Coast with 24" of rain. One extreme or the other affects people, and hurts people in both places.

Perhaps no business is more affected by the weather than the farmer - 1st Century or 21st Century. Wheat Ridge has been involved with a project that helps farmers with the most basic need: seeds. It doesn't matter what the weather is like if you have no seeds to plant.

Purposeless Purpose

Who would have thought play was so important? Turns out play - purposeless time, time spent without goals, just having fun, especially when it is with others - is incredibly important for the brain to develop properly and to remain healthy and functioning well and creatively. It must be important - there is even a National Institute For Play!

That's what I'm talking about! Lets go play!

Any creative ideas out there for church/community health that involves play? Wheat Ridge could be a source of help.

In Life and In Death

Connie Ore was a witness to her faith in Jesus in life, and she will be in death as well. I have posted about Connie before. She died September 16, 2010 and the celebration of her life will be this coming week, Tuesday September 28, 2010 at St John Lutheran Church in Seward, NE. Judging by her blog, the remembrance on the 28th will be a great celebration, and a great witness to Jesus.

Check out Connie's blog for a wonderful witness to living a full life, and a faithful life, even in hard times (I hope they keep the blog up for a while). And check out this other post for some additional articles and resources on faithful living and preparation for dying.

Through the ages there have been faithful followers who point to Jesus in their life and in their death as well.

Preaching the Word

I had the opportunity this past weekend to preach the Word at Mt Olive Lutheran Church in Rockford, IL. They had a "Neighborly Good Time" Fall Festival for the community all day Saturday with worship Saturday night and Sunday morning.

They are a church that is serious about 'loving people to Jesus' and they worked hard to put on a great day for their neighbors. They have a great staff and many dedicated members. Thanks for the chance to preach! And for your hard work as God's hands and feet in Rockford.

I was used to Paul doing the preaching when I was traveling with him back in the 1st Century, and I did back up and support. It was an enjoyable challenge to be the preacher. Props to those who prepare for that every week!

Stratified living...

I spent some time with a friend this week. This middle aged couple (in the 1st Century they would have been "old") had their son and daughter in law visiting for a couple days. Had supper with three generations around the supper table. In my limited experience here so far, that doesn't happen very often in the 21st Century. It is true especially for kids... small families to start with; all day with exactly the same age in their school - some large schools I've seen are all one grade - then before and after school care; many families living far from grandparents or aunts and uncles. One generation talking to the second generation above or below it seems quite rare.

Not so rare here: Wheat Ridge has supported a project in New York called Thursdays at THE LIFE that gathers people of all ages once per week. Good food and good conversation - community! Then worship. Churches seem like a natural place to make it happen with regularity. Multiple generations are already in the same space in worship... just have to find a way to help them talk to each other a bit more often. Good for all generations.

YouTube - Yikes!

YouTube blows my mind! This is just fun to watch.

I can see why the 21st Century has so much trouble with distractions... hmmmm, let's see what else is out there...

"We're Number Two!"

That's right. Number two on Wikipedia's list of "famous people named Luke". I blogged on Luke Skywalker already. I sure thought he'd be higher on the list. ("Empty your mind Luke... mooooove yourself up the list.") I'd rather that people filled their minds with the Word of God.

And to be honest I'm not sure if the list is ranked or random. The Word of God I wrote in the Gospel bearing my name talks about first and last, greatest and least. And Wheat Ridge has supported many projects focused on caring for the least.

We're number two!

No More Parts to Replace...

I'm drawn again to a blog I posted about before. Connie Ore gives witness to her faith as she battles a deadly disease. We all die - 1st Century people as well as 21st Century people, no matter how skilled the Doctor. Connie knows it will come soon and shares here journey of faith with us through the ups and downs. Thank you Connie, for the strength to share.

Replaceable Parts

I talked with a woman today in Findlay, OH who had recently had her shoulder replaced... the whole shoulder. These days your doctors are replacing shoulders, hips, knees, hearts, along with various and sundry smaller bits and pieces. Amazing! A very long way from the 1st Century health care I provided!

But one thing is the same now as it was back in the 1st Century - the need for caring for the poor and those who need extra help. Wheat Ridge has a project in Holland, MI called Healthy Body, Peace of Mind Wellness Program doing just that. Are there folks close to you who need some help?

Care for Clergy

I posted about this a while back, but found some important info and I thought is was worth revisiting "care for clergy".

The stats are quite serious: pastors suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at higher rates than most Americans. It is hard to give help when you have such a need for help yourself. Pastoral work is rewarding and invigorating - and also demanding and challenging; in the 1st Century as well as in the 21st Century.

But there are people who are watching, and providing support. I've been impressed with what I've learned about the Alban Institute when it comes to resources for ministering in the parish. They recently posted an article on Clergy Burnout that does more than list the problems. It also gives resources for help.

Here are some others: Wheat Ridge offer excellent resources for ministry sabbaticals, including grants. And they provide some of the best resources for planning available so the experience of a sabbatical is the most beneficial - for the Pastor and for the congregation.

A number of years back Wheat Ridge supported a project called Grace Place Retreats, an excellent resource for pastors and their spouses to find renewal. (More info about them from their director, John Eckrich, in the responses to the Clergy Burnout article.)

"Luke, I Am Your Father..."

OK, I know that is not the exact quote, but it is a memorable moment in the movie series. Wow! Luke Skywalker - quite a character. I'm searching out other well known "Luke" characters through the ages, real and otherwise, and checking them out.

Luke Skywalker and the Force. Luke and his sister give into the Force all through the movie series. I wrote about many who were led by a force - but a bit more specific. And that force still applies to people alive today.

While not exactly a refugee, Luke spent much of his time away from home. Wheat Ridge has been involved with projects/organizations that help real refugees. Check them out.

The Millennium Falcon sure would have made my missionary trips with Paul a whole lot faster!

Sun, Moon and Stars - and gardens

I spent the last few days on the east coast of Lake Michigan. Full moon at night, rising up over the lake and then the sun dutifully followed next morning in the exact same flight path. Spectacular. And saw a very little bit of a regular (yearly, in July and August) meteorite shower earlier in the month that I have also seen back in the 1st Century. Connected through time. Part of a big picture that works so well together.

And I also saw the work of a master gardener, planning over 50 acres of trees, and grass and flowers and vegetables and ponds and more. God, The Master Gardener, must enjoy looking at his work too. I know I love looking at it. Praise the Lord!

Wheat Ridge has a great project called Giving Gardens. Check it out. A great way to help share health and wellness in a tangible way.

Phil's Friends

I visited this morning with Phil of Phil's Friends. They are one of many Wheat Ridge projects. I've had them in a post before. A great organization helping those going through cancer with Christ centered support. They are based in Roselle, IL but making national connections, and providing a way to get involved in person or through donation throughout the country.

Check them out. Similar to my last post, Phil and his friends are taking Matthew seriously. And it is clear from the conversation this morning that Phil is moved to do his work out of deep gratitude for God's work in his life. It was a great visit. God is still at work in the world through his children today as he was in the 1st Century. God's followers have been praying it, and by God's grace doing it for years: "...your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..."

Homeless people in "unlikely" places

I spent the morning at Cross Lutheran Church in Yorkville, IL. Great congregation and school; lots of great staff and volunteer leaders; and they are taking seriously the call to be God's hands and feet in the world:

P.A.D.S. is about providing shelter for those who need it. You'd never guess driving through Yorkville that there are more than 100 children registered as homeless. It happens everywhere. And the people of Cross are doing what they can to help. They are part of a group of churches who will provide shelter and a meal on a rotating basis. They are taking James seriously.

There are many others too. Wheat Ridge has a project in Seattle that focus on the hungry poor. Much to learn - back in the 1st Century and today in the 21st Century - about how to be helpful and how to work to reduce poverty and homelessness.

Amusement Park

More things I don't understand: They call it an "amusement park" but I don't think this girl is amused. I'm guessing that is her Dad beside her. That has not changed - "It will be fine Jenny. You'll love it!" Dads scaring their daughters in the name of fun.

Parents are pretty powerful. I saw a blog where a Dad blessed his son as he sent him to College for year #1. That's powerful! Parents words of blessing do so much for supporting their children.

The Bible has many stories of blessings.

Wheat Ridge has supported a project that focuses on understanding and ministering to the generation that passes on the blessing. Passing our faith in Jesus from one generation to the next... so important. 2000 years have passed since I was telling the story with Paul. Parents must be doing their job, powered by God's Spirit.

Pitiful Praise Practices Persist

Just a personal note...

I'm aware how often my prayers are "ask" and then perhaps "thank". My companion Paul was great at the "praise". And I'd like to be better. I wrote about it often enough in the Gospel, and even in the Acts of the Apostles in a variety of places. But for some reason praising God comes harder.

I've noticed it also in the prayers of the church in the worship services I've attended. Lots of asking, and thanking... little praising.

Any suggestions for how to 'raise the praise'? God certainly deserves it! One guy I ran across told me he has started the habit of doing the praising first. And he said it felt a bit awkward, but he persisted. Praise, praise, praise. It puts us in the right perspective when we praise first. Someone else said we praise God for who he is and we thank God for what he does.

"Praise to you God. There is no one like you!"

Which reminds me that songs can be a great way to praise. A great way in worship to focus on praising God too.

Herb Brokering was a great friend of Wheat Ridge and a great hymn writer. Check out some of his writings and hymns.

Support Your Pastors

I'm getting ready to deliver my first sermon here in the 21st Century (at Our Savior Lutheran in Gladwin, MI - in fact you could say the whole time-travel, Dr Luke thing was born there).

I'm not really too nervous - I've talked (and written) about the good news of Jesus many times before and in many different places. But I'm always aware of the importance of the words a Pastor shares, as God's people gather in various places all around the world to hear again the power of forgiveness and new life in Christ. And then, the rest of the week is important as the Pastors help God's people in all those places to be witnesses themselves in their work, and family, and neighborhood.

Pastors have very important work - in whatever century they live! Wheat Ridge is committed to supporting Pastors (by helping congregations to support their pastors) through a variety of resources such as Living Well days and a sabbatical grant program.

Hug your Pastor this week! - or at least shake their hand and say thanks!

Any Last Words?

Some things don't change, and some things change dramatically over time. Death is still the end for everyone. How that death comes has changed very much since the 1st Century.

I came across two different sources for an article from the New Yorker that does a wonderful job of describing the challenges you face here in the 21st Century at the end of life. (I'll warn you it is very long, but very well written and filled with real stories about real people that help it hit home.) The article revolves around being prepared to live well at the end of life. That sentence seems to not even make sense... live well? when you are dying? The author is a physician - an insider in the medical profession - and so speaks with first hand knowledge of how things often happen at the end of life, battling whatever medical condition is hastening death.

I'd encourage everyone to read it all the way through. It can help families prepare. It can help Pastors who help families prepare. And perhaps lost in the middle is a key part of the piece that speaks of critical faith questions:
a 1415 medieval Latin text was reprinted in more than a hundred editions across Europe. Reaffirming one’s faith, repenting one’s sins, and letting go of one’s worldly possessions and desires were crucial, and the guides provided families with prayers and questions for the dying in order to put them in the right frame of mind during their final hours. Last words came to hold a particular place of reverence.

It appears that you have come to expect miracles from the medical profession. Miracles do happen, but death still comes.

And Wheat Ridge has some excellent resources available. Check out Odyssey Through Cancer from Wheat Ridge Ministries. (There are other excellent booklets in that series as well.)

The Play's The Thing!

We can be entertained watching movies in a theater, movies at home on TV, on Wii, on our computer... we can watch TV shows - on TV, and on the computer - hundreds of channels worth. But, the play IS the thing. Live entertainment was our only option back in the 1st Century. And I'm glad you still have it today.

For my money, live performance with skill in the writing, acting and producing, is very hard to beat. Something about the interaction between actors and audience that lifts the experience. I witnessed one of the better examples of that last night at Looking Glass Theater in Chicago and their signature piece: Looking Glass Alice - a remake (I'd never heard of the first one) of Alice in Wonderland. Great for all ages. The production has traveled a bit, so you might catch it in your part of the country. Don't miss it!

Wheat Ridge ministry has supported a project about parenting. I'm sure parents appreciate something you can take the kids to and not worry about what they will see or hear. Too much of what is in the list in the first paragraph is a problem that way!

Distractions

I don't know how you handle it... It is kind of driving me crazy. So many distractions coming all the time: commercials in the middle of a TV show, text messages in the middle of a conversation, advertisements in the middle of everything... Do you eventually get used to it? Doesn't it bother you?

And then there are the times that the mind is oh, so focused - like when you are in for cancer treatments. A little distraction might be a welcome thing then. But not just a distraction - a welcome connection, that brings support and encouragement. That's what Phil's friends, a Wheat Ridge Project, is all about. Check them out. Perhaps get involved.

An Odd Sense of Humor

This guy has an odd sense of humor, but I kind of like it. Here's one I can relate to:

I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time." So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance. Steven Wright.

I've been eating all my meals in the 21st Century recently. Quite a switch.

What's your favorite breakfast, and when?

The Heart of the Matter

I love learning about all the technology you have here in the 21st Century but, as a physician, I'm most intrigued by the human body - and all the things you know about it and can do to repair it!

I spent the day with a friend whose wife was in for the day so they could look at her heart - literally! They called it cardiac catheterization. They went inside her heart, took pictures of the flow of blood in the heart's arteries, examined the muscle itself, come out and sent her home - later the same day! In this case they found clear arteries but my friends are left puzzling about the reasons for a very weak heart.

The heart pumps 100,000 times each day, moving 2000 gallons of blood each day, through a series of blood vessels 60,000 miles long. That makes 2.5 billion beats over a 70 year life span. God did some good work! We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

And with so much that can go wrong, it is great to see Wheat Ridge supporting some excellent health and wellness projects like this one among the Navajo people of AZ.

Shazam!

Oh my! Amazing... I had heard a song I liked but didn't know the title or singer. Someone got me a very poor quality recording of about 30 seconds of it (amazing enough in itself). Then another friend had an iPhone (THAT is a whole amazing thing - Paul would have loved one of those on our missionary journeys!) and he said "Shazam". I thought he was trying some magic trick but no, he held the iPhone up to the scratchy recording and nine seconds later "Shazam" had recognized the song, gave me the title and singer, and where I could see them perform next. NINE SECONDS! That "shazam" sure knows music.

If you think that's amazing... Check out Luke 12:22-34. ...even the hairs on your head!

Living well to the end...

I have come across a blog that is a wonderful witness of a faithful servant, Connie Ore, who knows how to live and is learning how to die. She is doing the latter with much grace and with a strong witness to her faith in Jesus. It seems the end is near. The blog has been going for some time, since the medical community thought the end was going to be much sooner. All throughout, Connie shares her story with grace and dignity... and with an ever present sense of her Savior's hold on her life and the joy that comes from knowing that.

Bookmark the blog. Check out the earlier posts. Share it with someone who is experiencing the inevitable approach of death... in the 1st Century or the 21st Century - that includes us all. It will surely be a helpful read and a wonderful witness.

I thought I was well traveled!

So many things here a 1st Century mind has trouble with:

YouTube - keeping a detailed record of your life to watch over and over??... I'm guessing grandparents love this!

Airtravel - So far in so little time - and never touch the ground! I suspect that loyalty to country would still be strong, but you surely must be a friendly world today with so much face-to-face contact all around the world!

A well traveled world: This video blows my 1st Century mind. I thought I was well traveled with the Apostle Paul all through the Mediteranian World. We were pikers! And as a physician I knew well the science of the day. This video shows so much of God's great creation I couldn't even begin to explain it 'back home'.

And Wheat Ridge has projects in many of the countries of the world you are looking at, seeding new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ!

Here is what someone told me to look for while I watched:
Stay with the picture. You will see the light of the day moving from the east to the west, as the Earth spins on it's axis. Also you will see the aircraft flow of traffic leaving the North American continent and traveling at night to arrive in the UK in the morning. Then you will see the flow changing, leaving the UK in the morning and flying to the American continent in daylight.

This is something that everyone should see. For us old-timers it is really fascinating. For our children/grandchildren it provides a superb learning moment and an opportunity to open up what could be a very interesting discussion. How many people do YOU think are in the sky at any given moment?

You can tell it was spring time in the north by the sun's foot print over the planet. You could see that it didn't set for long in the extreme north and it didn't quite rise in the extreme south. We are taught about the earth's tilt and how it causes summer and winter and how we had to imagine just what is going on. With this 24 hour observation of aircraft travel on the earth's surface we get to see the daylightpattern move as well. Remember watch the day to night..... Day is over in Australia when it starts.

forMemory

I spent some time this past Monday with two sisters who are 'forMemory' (one of Wheat Ridge Ministries many projects). Chris and Mary Kay both have early onset Alzheimer's disease and have a mission to help those in similar circumstances. It was a wonderful visit. They were both engaging, entertaining and capable. What a blessing from God! And one they are anxious to share.

Chris had her first symptoms at age 41 (in 1989 before early-onset was acknowledged). By 1998 she was in marked decline and couldn't function well due to memory loss. Her and her sister's stories are remarkable. This last Monday she was nothing like the woman she described back in 1998.

Lots of help is available on the web site including a way to get a booklet and longer book about their experiences. You'll also find some very helpful questions to ask and many resources...

They will be a blessing to many people who are experiencing memory loss. Thanks to 'forMemory' and to Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Family Fitness

Well, I got a lot more help from this newspaper - about Family Fitness. Seems family is just as important now as in the 1st Century... perhaps a bit more challenging now with all the competition for family time (and I've also noticed that everything seems to be 'sponsored').

Keeping in shape (not something we had to really think as much about back in the day) is important for giving God our best - "Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength".

Wheat Ridge has a variety of projects that focus on health and wellness. Here's one in the Arizona desert.

Observations About Mothers

Moms... they are as smart now as they were back in the 1st Century. I'm checking out what other observers of 21st Century life have to say:
I can remember the first time I had to go to sleep. Mom said, "Steven, time to go to sleep." I said, "But I don't know how." She said, "It's real easy. Just go down to the end of tired and hang a left." So I went down to the end of tired, and just out of curiosity I hung a right. My mother was there, and she said "I thought I told you to go to sleep." - Steven Wright

So Much to Read

Picked up a newspaper to study 21st Century life. It happened to be "The Onion". Seemed like a good idea but - big mistake! Now I'm really confused!

So much to read these days...

Very clear need for having an anchor in unchangeable truth: Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1:1-11.

So Much To Learn...

I came across a young, well educated man who seems to be very interested in the brain. As a 1st Century physician it is clear that I have much to learn from 21st Century medicine, but it would appear there is something you can learn from us.

Jonah Lehrer shares about some research (I'm still totally amazed at how much you know about the workings of the body) that gives some very early evidence of how a chemical that the body itself produces (BDNF - I've read some amazing things about that in another context... more on that later) MAY be a factor in reducing cancer.

The thing that I find most interesting in Jonah's blog is what he calls the "startling demonstration of the brain-body loop". Now, we 1st Century medical practitioners certainly don't know as much as your 21st Century doctors do about the workings of the body, but Christian tradition certainly has a rich history of seeing the body and mind as a whole... no 'surprises' for us in that regard.

I'd encourage you to check out the Johan Lehrer blog, and this one on BDNF and Cancer in particular. Can't wait to see what further study shows in this area since Cancer is clearly a major disease to contend with these days.

I'm going to visit some friends of Wheat Ridge tomorrow who focus particularly on Alzheimer's Disease. More on that in another post.

Illegal Aliens

Illegal aliens. Legal aliens. We had both of those in the 1st Century. Alien aliens... that's a new one. I've been encouraged to watch "Mork and Mindy". I wonder where to look for them?

My friend Matthew wrote about some aliens - some of them who came following a star, looking for a Savior. They found what they were looking for. That visit turned the Savior into a young alien himself in Egypt. I wonder what kind of reception he and his family faced while they were there? Matthew 2.

Some getting used to...

OK - this will take some getting used to. Hang in there with me. I'll be sharing my observations about life in your world... very different from what I left as a Physician in the 1st Century - Antioch was home, to be specific. Pace, patterns, people, places - all different.

But I've found a friendly place: as a physician I've quickly come to appreciate Wheat Ridge Ministries... I'll be sharing lots more about what I'm learning about them.

For now, can anyone tell me why they call it 'rush hour'?