Emergency Room

No long ago I spent about an hour in a suburban Kansas City  emergency room where we had taken Tammy to be treated for a cut to her head after she had fallen.  Two years ago I spent a several hours in a Chattanooga emergency room while my daughter was treated for a broken wrist. Observing the staff and the people in the emergency room was an illuminating experience.  Here are some reflections on that experience:

I was forced to watch a bad TV program I didn't want to watch.  The TV was blaring (making it too distracting to read or pray) and eyes were glued to the sordid and overdrawn drama of "Gray's Anatomy" -- an episode where they were treating a patient with a bomb in his chest.  Other people were watching it so I couldn't change it.  I've changed the channels before in situations like this, but you have to be the only one present to do it.  Why doesn't the staff pay some attention to what garbage is on the tube?  Couldn't some of this stuff be harmful to the viewers.  After all, kids were in the emergency room and this show was replete with adult situations and sexually suggestive scenes.  I know I wouldn't want my grandchildren watching such drivel.

It seems like many of the people who come into the ER are the dregs of the earth.  A young, tattooed, and ear-ringed woman with two young men who wore their baseball caps backward at all times and places.  A man who is told he can't go back to the treatment room, but waits for the door to open and sneaks in. Another young woman, obviously having already been treated an now waiting for a ride; attractive except for her missing teeth, using a wheelchair as a seat (she was also very capable of walking), talking on her Playboy logo cell phone and telling people how she had put some other people in their place.

An obviously pregnant woman comes to the desk.  She asks if there is where she needs to check in because she thinks it's time to give birth.  Staff asks how far along are you and then tells her that she belongs on the other side of the building.  "You can drive around or we can have them come get you."  What kind of an option is that?  She is about to have a baby, she is in a hospital, why not offer her care rather than suggestions.

A young man, part of the staff, seemed to spend all of his time either sitting behind a desk and directing people to the next desk -- even if they had to wait in line -- and occasionally walking up and down the halls, doing what, if anything, was indiscernible.

Are all emergency rooms like this? I suspect this is not unusual. What will it be like with Obamacare?


Makes me want to pray for the soon return of Christ. Maranatha!

On Business Travel

After 30 years of business travel I find myself disliking it more and more.  I still enjoy travel for fun and recreation but even that can get to be a hassle.  I find airports to be crowded, noisy, and uncomfortable. No wonder so many business travelers resort to waiting for flights in a drinking establishment.  Airplanes today are uncomfortable and noisy.  First class is somewhat better, even bearable, but not really all that "First" class anymore as the service is less attentive than formerly.  Again, many prescribe a few drinks to ease the pain.

Not only is the travel a hassle, but I do not like being away from my family, my home, and the comfort of established routine.  While it is not exotic or exciting, the homely routine fosters peace and a sense of well-being.

Then there are the meetings.  Some are valuable and interesting, but there is always an abundance of "fluff" and pure baloney.  Too much of meeting time is wasted with materials and communications that could be disseminated in other ways.  Send me material to read, send me a powerpoint presentation, host a computer or video conference -- but don't make me travel to a meeting!

Personal Fulfillment

Personal fulfillment has become a euphemism for pleasure.  Our culture is obsessed with the material and the pleasurable.  We have such material abundance that we quickly do away with the spiritual.  Or, is it that our material abundance quashes / submerges / overcomes the spiritual in our lives.  We are are comfortable.  We are fed, we are clothed, we are warmly housed so that only when faced with the most serious of crises do we even think about God.

We might say that we believe in God.  Even that we trust him and know that we owe our existence to him.  But, do we really trust him?  We seem to have no need to rely on him any longer because of our material wealth.  Does this just push God into the corner of our lives, retrieved at our convenience and only when we are at our last resort?

Has this not also infected our churches?  What do we go to church for?  Why do we belong to a church?  Do we go to truly worship an awesome and fearful God who holds our lives in the palm of his hand?  Or do we go to be "fed," to be entertained, to be amused, to have a pleasurable experience.  Not that true worship cannot be a pleasurable experience, but our personal pleasure is not the aim or purpose of true worship. Too often we go to worship for what we can receive or get out of the experience, rather than for what we can offer to God, a "sacrifice of praise."

Diplomat: A Definition

The Diplomat: A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

Thoughts on Reading

Recent polls tell us that the average American adult reads very few books, if any at all. In my interviews with job applicants I often ask them what they like to read.  Few mention that they read books.  For many it is a stretch to get them to admit that they even read newspapers or magazines.Certainly this lack of interest in the written word has implications for the future of Western culture. Just make a reference to Caesar to a twenty-something year-old and you might find yourself talking about a video game or a type of salad.

On the other hand, there are some of us who read books, many books. Or, as my wife would say, buy too many books that I don't read soon enough.  Why do we read so many books? What benefit is there in the reading of books? Will just any book do?

I will begin with the last question. No, not just any book will do. Much of what we find on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, Borders, or even the local Christian mega book and gift emporium, is essentially garbage in printed form.Perusing some of the aisles I am afraid to open the likes of a bodice-ripping romance, or the latest heresy from Joel Osteen for fear of the odor that will waft from the pages. Not to mention being contaminated by nonsense in touching The Secret or being slimed by the latest bestseller from the brilliant mind of T.D. Jakes. No, we must carefully select the books we read. We must choose "good" books with which to invest our time, our minds, and our spirits. For good books reward our investment, cultivate our minds, and strengthen our spirits.

    But, what then is a "good" book. Admittedly "good" is a subjective word with which to classify reading materials.  Surely, what I think of good is at least somewhat a matter of preference, taste, and interests.  Nevertheless, I believe we can identify the characteristics possessed by those books we can agree are "good."

Peter Kreeft on Abortion Advocates

Speaking of some abortion advocates who choose to reject the scientific argument that unborn humans are in fact human persons Peter Kreeft says "You do not have to be wicked to be stupid." (Three Approaches to Abortion, P. 36)

"I think most people do not want to think or argue about abortion logically, because they instinctively see that the only way to remain pro-choice is to abort their reason and conscience first." (Three Approaches to Abortion, P. 36)

Think about this: What does this say about our President?

Framing Our Thinking About Biotechnology 3

Continuing reflection on the workshop titled Faith on the Edge: Christian Ethics in Fertility, Birth Control, and Genetic Engineering presented by Dr. Robert W. Weise.

The human body & soul – in Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

When asked why it is permissible to kill embryonic human beings to conduct scientific research or why aborting a human fetus is not wrong, the answer must always be to deny the personhood of the unborn or newly created human. The pro-ESC (embryonic stem cell research) and pro-abortion crowd will usually argue that they are only killing "potential human persons," not actual human persons. Since virtually every embryology text book in use today acknowledges that a human being is created at conception those in favor of killing the unborn have no other choice than to make this argument.

To the contrary, the Bible teaches that at every stage of development, human beings are persons created in the image of God (Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139; Ps. 51 for example). David Adams, Old Testament Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, holds that Scripture shows that the procreation of a human being in the womb is a continuum, a process. To see this, consider the following passages.

1. When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine (Ex 21:22).
   
2. When the water in the skin was gone, she put the child under one of the bushes (Gen 21:15).
   
3. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes and returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?" (Gen. 27:29-30)
   
4. Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah." (2 Ch 18:8).
   
5. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the Lord, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'" (2Ch 18:10)
   

In each of the passages, the word in bold italics is derived from the same root word, yeled, with the base meaning of something born, i.e. a lad, boy, child, fruit, son, young man. In (1) it refers to a child in the womb. In (2) it describes the infant Moses. In (3) the word describes the boy Joseph, probably not yet a teenager. Finally, in (4 & 5)
young men are described by yeled.

As we approach questions about the proper use of technology we have identified three foundational truths with which to frame our thinking.

1. The clear distinction between Creator and creature.
   
2. The human creature is made in the image of God that he or she bears from the moment of conception. This takes on even more importance in the incarnation of Christ.
   
3. From conception, the unborn is a human person with potential and must allowed to develop that potential.
   

Living In a Fallen World -- 2

Strategy #1: Living in the midst of a fallen world, Christians are to remain separate from the world by living a pure life. Paul writes to the Corinthians:

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

"I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18 and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty." (2 Co 6:14-18)

Jesus tells his disciples that while they are to be in the world, they are not to be of the world (John 17). That is, they are to avoid those things that corrupt the world and make it impure. What are these things? To begin with, consider the list Paul offers to the Galatians. It includes sexual immorality, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, drunkenness and more. In the context of the 21^st century we would include pornography, any form of entertainment designed to stimulate sensual desire, homosexuality, illegal drug use or anything used to alter one's state of consciousness, and making anything so important in your life that it drives and dominates your behavior – including your job, money, sex, possessions, etc.

"Wait a minute!" Someone is sure to object. "This sounds like the Law to me. We aren't under the Law any longer." Yes, we are no longer bound to the Law but the Law continues to remind us of those things that displease God, of the nature of sin, the impure. Paul agrees that we are not under the Law, but he also cautions that not all things are good for us. "All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up" (1 Co 10:23).

Certainly, we cannot avoid interaction with people caught up in an ungodly lifestyle. In fact, interacting with non-believers is part of our mission to share the gospel. But, we are to remain distinct from our unbelieving friends and co-workers by shunning those behaviors that compromise our purity in Christ.

Three Interesting Quotes

Here are three interesting and disparate quotes I came across in my reading this week:

D.L. Moody on Funerals
"You can't find directions in the New Testament on how to conduct a funeral because Jesus broke up every funeral he attended."

Thomas Jefferson's Description of God
"cruel, vindicative, capricious and unjust."

Schopenhauer on books & writing
"If you speak of nothing but what you have read, no one will read you."

Living in a Fallen World -- 1

While establishing a framework for his excellent study of bioethics, David VanDrunen makes the observation that Christians today face the same challenges as the Israelites did in ancient Babylon. In fact, Revelation 17 - 18 positions the church in Babylon where: "Its promises of wealth, honor and security are deceptive and fleeting, and God warns believers to be on guard against its allures" [VanDrunen, 32].

To be on our guard VanDrunen identifies four non-negotiables for Christians living in a fallen world [VanDrunen, 32-33]. They are:

1. Live in purity (2 Cor. 6:14-18)
2. Be holy (1 Cor. 5)
3. Take thoughts captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5)
4. Be transformed by the renewing of the mind. (Rom. 12:2)

As the Israelites and early Christians were confronted by attacks on their faith, we are assailed every day by the temptations of the world. As John warns us:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world (1 Jn. 2:15-15).

VanDrunen's suggestions provides believers with a framework for living out our faith in the midst of the enemy. In this series we will take a deeper dive into each of these critical strategies.

Works Cited
VanDrunen, David. Bioethics and the Christian Life. Wheaton, Il: Crossway Books, 2009.

Sunday Bible Study – Philippians 4:2-9

Our small group will be doing this study tonight. Read the passage several times and reflect on the questions below.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Explore

1. What is the significance of vss. 2-4? Why are they included in this letter?
   
2. What does the reference to the "book of life" mean?
   
3. Given the circumstances, how can Paul tell the Philippians to rejoice?
   
4. How does this joy compare with happiness?
   
5. What does Paul mean by saying that "The Lord is at hand?"
   
6. How does the peace of God guard our hearts and minds?
   

Connect

1. Share about a time you were involved in or witnessed a dispute between believers.
   
2. How well do you apply vs. 6 to your life?
   
3. What do we experience every day that is the opposite of the good things listed in vs. 8?
   
4. How could we apply vss. 8 & 9 to our daily lives?
   

Augustine on the Decomposing Soul

Early in Book 2 of The Confessions, Augustine reflects on the sinfulness of his past life and writes, "I was decomposing before your eyes while in men's eyes I was pleasing myself and trying to please them" (Bk. 2:1,1 Garry Wills translation).

Augustine has in mind here the effect of sin on the human soul. We are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and our souls do what every dead thing does, it rots. This is the reward for giving one's life to the pursuit of personal pleasure and currying the favor of other men. On the outside, we may appear to be the life of the party, while on the inside we are bound for the compost heap. And, there is nothing we can do about it until God sovereignly covers our sin in the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Creation as Gift – Revealing the Imago Dei

In his recently published, The End of Christianity: Finding a Good God in an Evil World, William A. Dembski writes: "Creation is the highest act of giving. In creation, a creator – whether divine, human or otherwise – gives oneself unreservedly in self-revelation" (98-99). A bit later he adds, "The impulse to create and give oneself in self-revelation need not be grand; it can be quite humble" (99).

The observation of almost any child reveals the natural creativity of the human being. Creativity is a reflection of the image of God present in every human from conception. Furthermore, creation is both an act of self-revelation and of self-giving. What we create, whether it is a poem, a painting, an essay, or a piece of woodwork, reveals a great deal about its maker. And, while someone trapped in narcissism may create for their own pleasure, healthy people create things to be shared with others.

I have observed this in both of my grandchildren from the first time they were able to put blocks together or scribble on a piece of paper. A recent example will help to illustrate.

One Saturday evening we had the opportunity to share dinner at our home with four college students who were attending a Navigator's conference in town. Six-year-old Haley was visiting us that evening and made it a point to personally greet each student and introduce herself. As we all gathered in our living room talk soon got around to what God was doing in our lives. Haley took it all in, occasionally adding a comment from her perspective. After a bit, Haley left the room. She returned in a few minutes with four hand-drawn pictures, each with a heart and the words "God Loves You … Haley." Proudly she presented these gifts to each of our guests.

In making these simple gifts, Haley shared her love with her new friends. Haley also revealed her own sense of God's love for her and for others in her drawings. A simple, humble gesture but one that confirms the point Dembski was making.

 

Framing Our Thinking About Biotechnology 2

Continuing reflection on the workshop titled Faith on the Edge: Christian Ethics in Fertility, Birth Control, and Genetic Engineering presented by Dr. Robert W. Weise.

Today: The human creature: fearfully and wonderfully made.

In the first post in this series, I made the point that we begin framing our thinking about biotechnology with making a clear distinction between Creator and creature. Today we will continue on the topic of framing our thinking by holding a proper understanding of the nature of the human creature.

First, Genesis records God's creation of the universe and all living plants and creatures, including humans:

So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them. (Ge 1:27)

 

Creating humans in His own image, God sets humankind apart from all other creatures. We are indeed a special creation.

Second, humans bear the image of God (imago dei ) from conception as these passages testify:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jer. 1:5)

 

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works;

my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,

when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there were none of them. (Ps 139:13-16)

 

Third, God becomes man in the incarnation. God identifies with his human creatures by being incarnated as a zygote, an embryo, a fetus, an infant, a child, an adolescent, a teenager, and an adult. That is, just as all human life begins at conception and develops through several stages, so did the incarnated Son of God.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel. (Mt 1:23)

We have begun to frame our thinking about biotechnology. Before we can engage the difficult questions about the use of biotechnology we need to first establish the framework in which we will make our evaluation. So far, we have established:

1. The clear distinction between Creator and creature.
   
2. The human creature is made in the image of God which he or she bears from the moment of conception. This takes on even more importance in the incarnation of Christ.
   

 

Framing Our Thinking About Biotechnology 1

Yesterday I participated in a workshop titled Faith on the Edge: Christian Ethics in Fertility, Birth Control, and Genetic Engineering presented by Dr. Robert W. Weise of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. In this series of posts, I will work through the many insights gained at the workshop.

Before we can make decisions about the proper and improper use of biotechnology, we must first frame our thinking. For Christians we begin by going back to the first chapter of Genesis. The foundation for our thinking is that God is the Creator of all there is and we are His creatures. In other words, we cannot hope to make sense of the ethical dilemmas presented by modern technology until we get the Creator – creature distinction right.

Many if not most of the concerns raised over embryonic stem cell research, cloning, assisted reproductive technologies, genetic manipulation and the like stem from the inversion of this distinction. Simply put, too often these technologies are tools for man to supplant God.

Continuing in Genesis, we find examples of the proper and improper use of technology. In Genesis 6 God commands Noah to "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch" (Gen. 6:14). The purpose of the ark was to preserve life and thus it was built by man for the glory of God. Contrast this to the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. "'Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth'" (Gen. 11:3-4). Here, we have the misuse of technology for the glory of man.

In sum, the first step in rightly framing our thinking about biotechnology and its uses is to remember that God is the Creator and we are His creatures.

Next: The human creature: fearfully and wonderfully made.