Hospital Charts

Actual writings from hospital charts:

1. The patient refused autopsy.

2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

3. Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.

4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

6. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.

7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

8. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

9. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.

10. Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male, mentally alert but forgetful

11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

12. She is numb f! rom her toes down.

13. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

14. The skin was moist and dry.

15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.

16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

18. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.

19. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.

20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.

21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.

22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

23. Skin: somewhat pale but present.

24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.

25. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

What Is Marriage

One of the ladies in our church is frustrated.  She is frustrated because there are “couples” in the church whom are not married, living together (in sin) and raising children.  She feels someone should do something about this for the “children’s sake”.

Talk about a loaded situation!  And, yes, I put my foot right in it…

I said we should praise the Lord that these couples are coming to church and that their children are learning a better way of life.  Of course, this brought forth many arguments concerning the poor example of the parents and how the children will naturally follow the example of the parents, rather than what is “right”.  The parents must be married if they are to attend church, period.

Hmmm, where do I find this in my Bible?  If we want to really be sticky on this issue, we as Christians have a real problem.  Our forefathers gave to the State the right over marriage – so something which is God ordained is now a right of State rather than a right of the Church.  Do we say these couples are wrong because they have not submitted to the State for the right to live together as a married couple?  Plus, since when has the Church been a home for only those meeting any standard?  Seeing the problem here?  Heavens!  Should such an idea be implemented!

So, I took the tack of defining what marriage is.  If you use the Bible as your sole source, no where will you find a license from the State, nor an approval from the Church.  We do have a very public acknowledgment of the couple coming together and parental approval.  Given both of these conditions, we have just created a marriage.  (Yes, there are a few more conditions but for sake of the audience we will not get graphic and more politically incorrect!)  Oh boy, more hoots of argument!

Yes, parental approval is just not popular in this culture!  And how could I ever state that the State and Church had no historical say-so in a marriage!  But, there is no other picture as to how a marriage is defined, at least in the Bible.  Now in reality, the Roman Emperor did exercise the right to stop civil marriage and the Bishop in the early Church was sought out to proclaim couples as married.

So, if we wish to be Biblical, have these couples identified themselves as “married” in public?  Guess what they are.  Has there been acceptance on the part of their families?  Guess what they are.  Yeah.

So, should my church talk to these couples to encourage them to stop being a bad example to their children?  Only if we want to have them to leave the Church.  Perhaps culturally they are not doing what is “right”, but I know these couples do meet a basic definition and thank God their kids are learning a “better” way…

Silver City

I love the pictures on John’s blog.  One of his latest trips has been through the Jordan Valley on the Idaho-Oregon southern border – to a place called Silver City.  I recently purchased a novel which took place in Silver City.  So, I was interested enough to spend sometime last night researching this area.  Ghost towns, mining and western tales – what more could one ask for!

One picture stays in my mind – the church of Silver City.  One of the lone derelicts of what was once been a thriving community.

Here, were hard working miners and their families.  Here, were enough people of a religious bent to build themselves a church.  That takes a commitment of time and resources; if like most church projects – more than just a little faith as well.

I found myself wondering if the pastors had been solid shepherds.  Did they lead their flocks faithfully?  What were the challenges these men faced?  Were they any different than what pastors face today?  How effective were they?  Where did they succeed?  What could we have learned from them?  What of their youth programs?

Yeah, I am always full of questions that maybe almost impossible to answer.  Yet, the church is one of the last buildings standing and remains cared for.  By whom?  Why?  Is the building still used as a church?

And what of any church, anywhere, standing today?  Will it still be standing 125 years from now?  Will any memory be found as to what the witness of that church was in their community?

And what of you?  What memory will be left behind when you are no longer among us?  Will your witness still be remembered?

Our goal is to be an impact on the world around us.  The people we interact with, the communities we live in, those we may never even meet – through the actions of missionaries we support or even through the internet.  What a humbling obligation we have been given – to be a seasoning in life to all around us.

Anyone feeling particularly salty today?

Apples and Spots

When I talked with my son last night, he was upset because he was not allowed to be a counselor on a retreat for the 11-13 year olds in the church over the weekend.  I can understand the youth pastor’s decision – my son has shown some poor judgment lately and he also tends to like 13 year old girls (heaven only knows why!).  But, here is the problem, this same pastor allowed another youth to go – whom is known for being a sexual stalker, especially of young girls!  Whatever was he thinking?  I think I have son calmed down for now over this but it started my mind on one of its rabbit trails.

I do not know American idioms well enough to know if there equivalents to “An apple never falls far from the tree” and “A leopard can not change its spots”.  But, I have long though over these to bits of wisdom shared with me by my “Uncle” Fritz.

Fritz served in North Africa under Rommel, in his intelligence organization.  Any British soldier whom survived El Alamien, never knew the debt they owed this man as he worked to not only protect his troops but those of the Allies as well.  He was an officer in the Waffen-SS.  He would have been executed had he been captured by the Americans, as were all officers of this organization, but it was the British whom got to him first.

So, what was he telling me?  He was from Hamburg and counted himself a POW in the German Army.  His rise as a officer in the Waffen allowed him to work against that occupation army which had taken Hamburg by force.  Given this, he was telling me that he had a code he lived by and he could not change that code.  He was also a committed Lutheran, as was his whole family.  His spots were not going to be coming off, no matter whom surrounded him.

And what of my church’s little stalker?  Yes, it turns out that his father is of that bent, so I guess his troubles would not surprise me now knowing this.  And he can not change.  That is to say that he can not change unless God intervenes in his life – and I really do pray He does!  But, I have not heard of any life changing event in this young man’s life – other than getting a hair cut recently.  So, I am going to go with if he has not changed – he should not be used in ministry by the youth pastor.  Conversely, had he undergone some form of change – he still should not be used until he has matured in the faith which has brought on the change.

As for son, well he should be used in children’s ministry where kids are at least 6 years younger than him.  For everyone’s safety!

And what of me?  I have struggled all my life to not be like by father.  I have prayed for years to not be a reflection of him and to be a reflection of the Godly men I have known.  As for my spots, luckily those where changed years ago and I have a new set of spots – such as my uncle Fritz.  Maybe the old ones wear through occasionally but I like the new ones better…..

VOICES

Bob Domm scores again in my book with a short message on Voices…

If Satan can't lull us to sleep with compromise, he tries the opposite tactic: pushing us into extreme action the Lord never called for.

Not every voice that speaks to your heart is worthy of trust.

The voice that calls for sacrifice.

The voice that urges heroic action.

The voice that keeps saying, "What are you waiting for?"

            They may sound spiritual, but they need to be tested.

Is this the voice of the Shepherd?

Or is this a counterfeit "angel" pushing me toward a path God never called for?

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God.

                                                I John 4:1

The Spirit of the Lord…..

…never calls for impulsive action.

…never overwhelms your will.

…never plays on your vanity, or your guilt.

…is never in a hurry.

Don't act in response to any "voice" until you are sure it is the voice of the Lord Jesus.

---Does it match his words in scripture?

---Is it confirmed by faithful sisters and brothers in the Body?

---Does his peace rule in your heart, or are you "righteously agitated"?

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand."

                                                            John 10:27-28

Embarrassment

Back home, so many of my kids were to graduate from school last week – setting out upon their journey into the real world and their futures.  Ok, most of them were kicking and screaming!  KJ (whom I baptized last year), artist girl, virtual fourth daughter and god-daughter number two (the actress) – I have all mentioned in the recent past and now are facing the uncertainty of  adult life.

KJ is now off on a trip to California as a present from his father – much to the horror of middle daughter, artist girl is working on expanding her portfolio before she is exiled by her mother to college in California, fourth daughter has no clue as to what she is going to do and god-daughter I got to see as she was passing through Seattle yesterday!  I only see her at most once a year so always an event.

Last year, I was to learn she had decided she was now Jewish.  She has gone through atheism, Buddhism and now is Jewish.  Ok, what ever.  So at the airport she was all excited to see me – hugs … kisses … embarrassment.

Yeah, it was her tee-shirt she remembered to be embarrassed of, too late.  I never said a word, nor even let on I had seen her shirt, which in large letters proudly announced to the world, “Jesus is Wrong”.

I doubt she really thought about this through.  Jesus is wrong about what? 

• He is wrong as to what Judaism is supposed to have been? 
• He is wrong that the leadership had sold out to the world? 
• He was wrong he fulfilled prophesy? 

He was wrong – about what?  It is not any easy statement to support intellectually - and still be academically honest with yourself.

The problem her shirt stated is not that he was wrong, but that those whom followed him were.  Her shirt would be best had it stated “Roman Catholicism Got It Wrong”, “Dispensationalists Have It Wrong” “Evangelicals Should Try Harder” or perhaps even “A Good Christian Is A Jew or is it Visa Versa?”.   No those would really be politically incorrect – to those whom wish to be ignorant!

You get the idea, as Christians we tend to forget that we are followers, the accumulation of the Hebrew faith.  The difference between Judaism and where we should be, and visa versa, is that our payment has been made through the sacrifice of Jesus – and his resurrection.  Not much else is different, if  you allow for the Spirit in your life.

So, I bide my time.  She is seeking, looking to shock, thoughtful enough to not want to offend me.  Yes, she and I will have our talk one day, when she is ready – and I hope that will be in the near future….

Its Not Eros

About 25 years ago I was in a meeting where we were discussing the direction and future of formal testing environments in information technology.  Now this was a fairly new idea at the time and a source of much argument.  So an expert was brought in, whom honestly scared the tar out of us – her vision of the future sort of lacked the idea of individual thought.

Similar to a scene from Frankenstein, the masses gathered to burn her at the stake.  But, there was something there.  I did not know what it was.  Just something made me hesitant to leap on the “Burn The Tester At The Stake” crowd.  My co-workers were quite unhappy with my calming effect.  And I never knew why I intervened.  It sure was not attraction as my co-workers murmured.

Advance the clock to today and I just had a meeting with this lady again.  We are now both much older and she at least wiser.  But, interestingly I found she is doing the Beth Moore series on Daniel.  And I, in year 5 of my book on Daniel.  So we had quite a wonderful meeting discussing Daniel.  I am all aquiver!

So, to quote the Newsboys, from Strong Love:

He swings to the left, she leans to the right, but that doesn't make a flight a given. And some pitch their tents in the middle of the fence, but is doesn't matter where you're living.

His spirit's in me his spirit's in you, so there's a common bond between us.

And the mission for me is a mission for you - we have a common cause to link us.

Chorus
Strong love yeah, people. Strong strong love between us. Strong love yeah, people, and you know it's true that it always must be there.

…

Therefore, God’s Spirit in me, recognized itself in her, and that was why I was compelled to intervene.  How cool is that?

Long ago I wrote on this attraction of commonality of Spirit and how I theorized that it may well cause people to think in terms of “love” rather than “fellowship” and so might be one cause of Christian divorce rates being what they are.  Just my personal opinion…