Bumps in the Journey

As a person ages, losses come.

Tennis was my first huge loss after I ruptured a tendon in my leg during a competitive set of doubles between Gwen and her second cousin, John, and Pops and I. Although our opponents were much younger, Pops and I gave them a challenge. We had rally after rally and the game was close. One team would get ahead, then the other would bring it to a tie and take the lead. Then we'd repeat it.

Suddenly I heard a big "twang" in my head, and I fell to the court in agony.

I tried to play tennis after that, but the strength in that leg disappeared. I could no longer jump or push off quickly to go after the ball. I don't think I won another game. The orthopedist said I'd eventually have problems with that knee, and I did. Because I compensated with the other leg to avoid pain, both joints began to bother me. Finally, I had knee replacements and I was told to never run again.

Another big loss was wearing out joints in both thumbs. The years of writing several hundred stories a year at the newspaper, plus other wear and tear on my thumbs, caused me to be unable to turn a key in a lock and to need to use two hands to turn the ignition key in the car.

I woke one morning before work unable to move my right hand. The doctor diagnosed tendonitis, gave me a shot and ordered rest for it.

I tried to work with casts on my hands (nearly impossible), and decided surgery was inevitable. My wise editor advised me to have my left thumb done first, since I am right handed. I did that, and although the thumb joint now moved and I could grasp things correctly, it was far from as good as new. I opted not to have surgery on the other thumb since I could retire, and I'd had too many complications with surgery on the other one.

Work wasn't the only thing I had to give up, however. I'd played piano at church most of my life, then when my thumbs started giving me grief I switched to the organ because it was easier on the hands.

After hand surgery, I never played in church again. I do play for my own enjoyment, but I can't play the same way I used to.

Then we moved to another state and after singing almost two decades in a trio with a couple of wonderful women, that era was gone! No longer would we get together every couple of weeks or so, visit, laugh, pray and sing until our hearts nearly overflowed. How I remember those uplifting songs, the close harmony, the other gals' solos on verses now and then, and the joyful response of the church!

Losses keep coming. I'm no longer addicted to a beautiful yard, although I still do outside work because when something needs to be done, I'll do it. I had to give up my high heels because of my knees, and dresses and skirts are almost a thing of the past because they aren't attractive with flat shoes; and I can't seem to keep warm from the waist down.

Not too long ago, because of another health problem, I gave up swimming, something I've loved since I was a teenager when I swam in irrigation canals, floating downsteam on my back or an innertube. Now I walk a track and ride a stationary bike for exercise.

I could look at the past and weep for my losses. Or I could look at the future instead with great enthusiasm like my friend, Ruth, a missionary. Ruth told me when you know the Lord, each phase of life is more exciting than the last.

I can vouch for that. Who would have a clue that two retired people like Pops and me would have so much fun that we'd hurry to keep the work caught up in between? We're busy meeting with family, sharing our lives as we've never been able to in our younger years. We meet all sorts of interesting and terrific people. We experienced and saw things in our travels I never dreamed I'd see.

But because our lives are more relaxed, we can enjoy each other more. Sometimes we just go out for a simple meal. Other times we spend an evening watching the St. Louis Cardinals play ball, or we'll get out the Double 12 set of Dominoes and play the old-fashioned kind where you add up the dots and you score if your total ends in 5 or 0. Lately we've been playing Scrabble because our next door neighbors play Scrabble and we've played with them and want to improve our game.

We get together with friends or relatives for other games, but the favorite is Rook.

I admit I usually whine a lot if I end up with a whole evening of bad Rook cards, but if I and my partner lose, I'll declare triumphantly, "We put up a good fight--and we just spent two hours in Alzheimer's prevention!"

Of course, we spend lots of time in church and in Bible studies and prayer. Many people don't understand that, but Psalm 16:11 is true: "In His presence is fullness of joy!"

Another thing that's happened as I've aged, my love for God has grown. I have more time (or I make time) for private study of the Word and prayer. I've been a student of the Bible since my teens and I still almost gasp with the truths and amazing things there.

Most awesome is my Heavenly Father's love for me. The least I can do is to obey the First Commandment not to have any God's before Him, which Jesus said means to love Him with all my heart, all my soul, and with all my mind (Matthew 22:37).
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When you know God and accept His Son as Savior, loving God is easy. And as the song says, the longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.

Thankful

More and more I thank God for my blessings. But more and more I wonder how long some of these blessings will continue.

Sure, I know I have Salvation and God's mercy and love always will be there for me. But material blessings we in the United States have known appear to be over a trap door. I sometimes wonder when the whole bottom is going to fall.

Will I be free to attend church, read my Bible, and share my faith in the future? I've seen these freedoms yanked away from nation after nation in my lifetime.

Are our bank accounts in danger of disappearing? Will our paychecks still be there as they always have been? Will I have health insurance and care? Even prescriptions?
Will our pantry always be supplied?

During the Great Depression, bank accounts evaporated, there were few paychecks, most people already didn't have health care, and food was scarce.

Now, in 2009 there are more problems. I wonder if violence and war will erupt on United States' soil. We have been blessed that bombs and rockets haven't exploded in our neighborhoods. Thank God!

Yet, today GlobalSecurity.org says 31 countries are involved in war right now. I know the blood of U.S. soldiers continues to spill in the current wars in Iran and Afghanistan in our effort to protect America from terror and bring freedom to those nations.

We have no idea what will happen tomorrow. Jesus warned his followers when he was on earth that hard times would come, and since the gospels are for us also, we can listen. The Master said we need to build our lives on Him and His teachings, which would be like a builder erecting a house on a strong foundation. If a home is built on bedrock, when the storms come, the house will stand. Built on anything else, our lives are like a building constructed on the sand, and when the hurricane comes, the home is obliterated. You'll find the story in Matthew 7:24-27.

So, are perilous stormy times headed to the United States? Some say thunder already rumbles. So, what do we do?

Jesus advises us to take no thought for tomorrow because worrying doesn't accomplish anything. He advises us to look at the birds. Although many folks feed birds, I've never seen a reason to throw them bird seed. (I did feed an injured wild goose in the deep snow once.) Where I live, the skies, the trees and the yards are alive with all kinds of birds and they're always eating! When God made the world He provided everything the fat robin, the elegant cardinal, the beautiful blue bird--and even the starling needs.

Jesus also told us to look at how he clothes the grass and the lilies. You can't find fabric more beautiful than a flower petal!

Jesus wanted us to know he takes care of his creation (hey, Who else keeps the universe running), and added, "Not even a sparrow, worth only a half penny, can fall to the ground without the Heavenly Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-30NLT)

Son, Look in the Word!

One of our friends gave his son a new Bible when he went out of town to college and the dad strongly advised the youth to read the book.
Soon the young man phoned his dad and said, “I need money.”
“Look in the Word!” the father admonished.
The confused son argued a little, but the older man didn’t budge. He just advised his son to get into the Bible and his economic problems would be solved.
A few days later, the youth called again.
“Dad, I’m broke.”
“Son, look in the Word!” his father repeated.
The young man called his dad a third time, and Dad's answer was the same.
One night in desperation, the student took the new Bible out with the intention of reading it. A crisp $100 bill lay between the pages where the book fell open. Gasping with delight, he flipped through the book searching for a favorite scripture passage and discovered four more $100 bills tucked into the Bible.
Our friend placed the money in the gift so his son would remember the message that knowing God through His Word has tremendous value. Not only does scripture tell us God will supply our needs, it also tells us if we know God, we are “rich” in the things that count and the Lord’s words are to be desired more than fine gold.
The Apostle Paul talked to the Corinthian church about being “stewards” of the valuable mysteries of God. Stewards act as administrators of finances or property, and Paul reminded the church they were rich because of what they received from the Lord. They had something they could take into eternity with them and it couldn’t be touched by thieves.
As workers together with God, Paul also said when we share the gospel, “We make many rich who have nothing, yet possess all things.
Paul talked to the church in Rome about our Heavenly Father working with us as a potter does the clay so He might “make known the riches of His glory” to us who are clothed in earthly bodies. Paul added Christians have a “treasure” in their earthen vessels.
More than anything, our friend wanted his son to be rich toward God. That young man will never forget his dad’s advice, “Son, look in the Word!”

Is Jesus the Only Way?

One day the Lifestyle/religion editor asked whether I'd be interested in doing a "New Age," story then asked, "Don't you believe we all will end up in the same place no matter what religion we follow?"

He went on to name the world's major religions.

I silently asked God for wisdom, then answered, "If we do, God certainly did a number on His Son when He sent Him to die on the cross for our sins!"

A growing number of professing Christians today no longer believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. What does the Bible say about this?

John 3:16 tells us "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

Jesus shed His blood on the cross, then came out of the tomb alive and conquered death. All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior, believe God raised Him from the dead, confess it with our mouths, and we'll live eternally (Romans 10:9). That's the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul showed what a religion believes about Jesus is the ultimate test of whether or not the teachings are false. For instance, the Corinthian Christians were being deceived by false prophets corrupting their minds. Paul compared them to Eve when the devil came to tempt her: "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough" (2 Corinthians 11:3-5 NIV).

If we want to make it to Heaven, we shouldn't put up with false prophets as some of them did.

What did Paul and the other apostles preach? The gospel given to them by Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus told His disciples He is God and that He was there at creation and He lived before Abraham. The exact quotes: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:57-59; "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," and Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:15-17).

Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by me" (John:14:6).

False religions sometimes deny Jesus even lived, but all propaganda contains some truth. Otherwise, no one would believe their teachings. So, the major false prophets say Jesus was a prophet and a good man. They deny His divinity and often the Resurrection. After all, their long dead false prophets are still in their graves or heading there.

Paul gave this warning to the Galatian church: "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:7-9 NIV).

False prophets and antichrists are signs that Christ's return is near. In Matthew 24 where Jesus teaches about His Second Coming, He said, "Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of time..., no, nor ever shall be. Unless those days be shortened, no flesh would be saved....Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!" or "There!" do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to deceive even the elect.... Then will they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory...And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds....

Jesus says when all the prophecies are fulfilled (many of them are in this chapter of Matthew), He will come. He admonished us to be ready, for we don't know when He is coming. We stay ready by living by God's Word, the Bible, and trusting in Jesus' blood.

Some false religions try to force people to follow their teachings. In many countries when people turn away from the prevailing religion, they are killed. Even in Christianity, false prophets tried to force people to embrace it, such as during the Catholic Inquisition when "heretics" were tortured for their faith

Aa person becomes a Christian, however, when he DECIDES to accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. That's why thousands who attended Billy Graham's crusades "made a decision to follow Jesus."

The writer to the Romans asked, "Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living" Romans 6:15-17).

The truth is, God never forces anyone to serve Him, although not serving God puts us in danger of the Judgment (Matthew 5:21-23.) Freedom to choose is why the Bible is filled with stories of sinners and people who rebelled.

You can choose anything you want to believe. Anything about who we are, how we got here, where we're going takes faith. We DECIDE whether to obey God, accept the sacrifice for sin by His son, and obey the commandments to love God and others. No one can force you to be Christian.

However, I have decided to follow Jesus. I am staying on my knees, keeping in the Word, and believing in the Creator of the Universe, the One who knew me and loved me before I was born, and the One who forgave my sins and that I might inherit eternal life.

FAMOUS PERSONS I'VE MET

As a news reporter I've met and interviewed dozens of important and famous people.

The first person I interviewed that I would consider awesome was Byron (Whizzer) White, who was dubbed "Whizzer" because of his speed as a star running back at the University of Colorado. Academically a "whiz" as well, Byron became a lawyer and the day I interviewed him and covered his speech in March 1962, he was deputy attorney general of the United States. The next day, he was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served many years.

White taught me an important lesson about famous people. White didn't put on any "airs", but chatted with reporters during our interview like we were old friends. I learned that day anyone who is really important doesn't need to prove he is important. It's usually people who THINK they are important but aren't that act arrogant.

White was the first of many famous people I met. I also did a one-on-one interview with former First Lady Rosalind Carter, who was promoting children's immunizations.

I was in the press box among many famous national journalists for former President Clinton's rally in our city. Up close to the podium where he stood to speak, I could see tears pool in his eyes when the crowd cheered--and cheered, and cheered. He obviously enjoyed the folks' applause.

Before Clinton came, I wrote the pre-stories about how our hospitals prepared for a wounding or needed treatment for a U.S. President. With the help of the Secret Service, the hospitals devised a security plan.

The day Clinton came, I was assigned to cover the crowd's reaction to the President, and in doing so found myself tangling with the Secret Service. I attempted to get a couple of quotes from a girl about age 10 who was having an asthma attack and found it necessary to leave. I thought it would help her emotionally if she could tell the newspaper's readers why she wanted to see the President and it would have been another interesting facet to the story. The Secret Service agent stopped the interview.

A year or so later, I was in the press box in Denver for Hillary's speech promoting national health care. Here, I was most surprised by a woman in the crowd who wanted to take MY photo because I was in the media area.

I had a wonderful interview with Joanne Kemp, whose husband, Jack Kemp, ran for U.S. vice president with presidential candidate Bob Dole. A Christian, Mrs. Kemp was delightful.

I've interviewed many Colorado dignitaries and politicians. I talked to former Colorado Gov. Dick Lamm more than once. During the first, because Colorado was the first state to legalize abortion (even before Roe vs. Wade), I asked if he had any regrets about signing the legislation. I had the number of reported abortions that had been done so far, which if I remember right was two or three milliion. He said he had no regrets. The next time I interviewed him about his new interest: physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Not surprising.

I chatted with former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer more than once, usually about prisons in the Pueblo area since I ended up with the Department of Corrections on my beat, only because they built a prison for mentally ill inmates on the campus of the state mental institution, one of my assignments.

I interviewed the head of the Social Security Administration under Clinton who said Social Security would be safe from bankruptcy for 30 years. It's only been about 12 years or so, and we're still worrying about SS running out of money.

U.S. Congressman Ben Nighthorse Campbell, whom I interviewed more than once, and his wife who kept a large ranch running while her husband was in Washington, were both delightful. I enjoyed them more than any other politicians I wrote about.

I interviewed Denver Broncos coach Dan Reeves on the phone; and did a story with Susie Morton, wife of former Broncos quarterback Craig Morton for Aglow Magazine; Broncos wide receiver and punt returner Rick Upchurch, who spoke to my Sunday school class; 1970s Broncos cornerback Earlie Thomas; and former CU coach Bill McCartney, the day he had the idea for Promise Keepers.

I did stories with media and movie noteables Dr. Joyce Brothers; actress Mariette Hartley; Monster actor Richard Kiel; the star of an animal show that if I remember right was "Wild Kingdom." (I petted a big python.)

I interviewed fashion designer Dona Karan on the phone.

I interviewed two general superintendents of the Assemblies of God; the president of the U.S. Unification Church (the Moonies, and the only reason it was a highlight is because he said I was the first reporter who challenged him about doctrine); the lead singer of Petra, a Christian rock band; and the Katinas, another Christian group.

I covered many medical conferences and interviewed notables on everything from new treatments, new drugs, to the controversies surrounding physician-assisted suicide. I interviewed the head epidemiologist for the United States about the conquering of polio and red measles in the United States, possibly making the need for immunizations no longer necessary. I visited with him about the production of a shingles vaccine, which didn't become available until after I retired. I talked to a representative of the Food & Drug Administration when they were considering labeling cigarettes as a hazard to your health. The most memorable medical conferences I attended and wrote about revealed discoveries about the human genome, the beginning of a new era of medical treatments surrounding genetics.

I interviewed a large number of city and state dignitaries.

During my newspaper and my free lance writing career, I met many amazing people, but most weren't famous.

Although I enjoyed talking with the famous, none of the celebrities affected me as much as meeting the Lord Jesus Christ when I was only age 5. Of course, Jesus wasn't just a man, although when He came to earth He put on human flesh. He is God and no one on earth can impact a life as He can. That's why we call Him "Lord."

God is the Creator and designed us. He is the One who was and is and is to come. He's everywhere, knows everything and is all powerful because He's God. He has power to give us faith, love, peace, joy, wisdom, gentleness, patience, self control; heal our bodies, forgive our sins and give us eternal life.

No one on earth can equal that--even a celebrity!

Brrrrrrrr!

A shiny icy skin covers this part of MO this afternoon. They're forecasting another ice storm, but although our sidewalk and the street already are slick, the rain isn't coming down as it did in the 2007 storm that caused so much trouble. I'm hoping it doesn't develop.

I imagine Michelle would love it. Jaron might, too, if we had thick ice covering everything as it did before. He'd go bonkers with his camera. I even wandered out to take photos myself. How can anything so beautiful be so destructive? Springfield looked like a tornado went through in '07 with all the trees down, and folks everywhere struggled to keep warm with power lines down and no electricity. We were fortunate to have a fireplace with a pilot light and we used our outdoor propane grill to cook. We were without water a while, though,, because the city water in Battlefield (where we lived then) depended on electric pumps.

Often since that ice storm I've thanked God for heat, electricity, and the many blessings we have. Many people in the world never have electricity or the conveniences we have. God truly has blessed America. I pray he will continue to do so. But I worry. Yet, the Lord said if we seek HIs face, repent of our sins and turn from our wicked ways He will hear from heaven and heal our land.

That's a warm promise for a frigid day.

KNOCK-KNOCK

Knock! Knock!

"Who's there?"

How many times did I hear those words when the children were growing up?

One day I'd said, "Who's there?" so many times if I'd kept a grain of sand for each, I'd have a beach. So, to throw the kids off their raft of questions, I said, "Knock! Knock!"

In unision they answered, "Who's there?"

"Belle."

"Belle-who?"

"Door-belle repairman."

They weren't impressed with my ingenuity, which I thought showed genius.

I grew tired of knock-knock jokes, but I've thought about knocking lately. Knocking not only is what we do when a door is locked, we also knock as a matter of courtesy and respect before we enter someone else's home or space--sometimes even when the door is unlocked or open. We don't just barge into someone's house. If we do it to a stranger, we'll be arrested!

I started thinking about knocking one day when my siblings and I discussed our loved ones who seem to have every reason to give their lives to God, yet they haven't made peace with Him. This we know: The Lord won't barge into their lives uninvited. God will never violate their freedom to choose whether or not to accept Salvation, despite our aching hearts and fervent prayers. Because of prayer, the Holy Spirit will continue to woo them, but will never take them by force to abundant life here and eternal life in the heaven.

Contrary to some which will kill if a person refuses to embrace their religion, Jesus gently waits for an invitation.

Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

I keep asking the Lord to continue knocking on hearts of people I love. I believe many will hear His voice call to them and will open the door. What rejoicing will occur in my heart and in heaven when they do.

But they'll be excited, too. In my younger days people who accepted Jesus as Savior used to display joy that would make winners on Wheel of Fortune look like wimps.

Our church sings a rousing song, "I am a Friend of God! I am a Friend of God! He calls me 'Friend.'"

Being God's friend is awesome. I'm glad I opened the door long ago.