Saturday evening Vicki and I had dinner with some friends that we have known for a number of years.  In 1988 I was headed home from an off duty assignment when I came upon a horrible accident involving a car versus motorcycle in Phoenix.  I did not realize the motorcycle was a police motorcycle and the Sergeant involved was Gary.

The paramedics had not arrived and the Sergeant was severely injured in fact, I thought he was dead.  As the paramedics arrived they worked very hard to save Gary and rushed him to the local hospital where he was treated and hospitalized.  Gary was told he would never walk or talk or even be able to see again because the accident caused him to receive a severe head injury.  

In 1989 while dating Vicki, I began to visit the church where Vicki was attending and to my surprise I saw Gary and his wife Jan. I was so excited to see that God had allowed this man to walk again and restore his vision and realized what a positive attitude he had toward life.  Through the years we became good friends. Gary retired and moved to Colorado and we continued to maintain the friendship through the years. 

When ever we would talk with Gary and ask him how he was doing he always answered with a long positive saying. Gary would always see the positive in all the things he did or even situations we shared with each other. I learned that Gary had not only been involved in the accident I saw but that was his third accident and God had been working in strong ways through Gary.  After many years and visits, we eventually lost track of each other however we never stopped thinking about our families. 

Fast forward to this Christmas.  We received a card in the mail from Gary and Jan and the card had their contact information.  We were able to reconnect and catch up on the lost time.  Sadly we found out that Gary has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the disease is very aggressive.  Jan told us that Gary would still recognize us however he might not put the name to the face.

Gary and Jan were passing through visiting family and we were able to see each other Saturday evening.  It really hurts seeing someone you have known to know through a tragic accident and consider one you love and care very much for to suffer from such a disease. Gary was very animated as he was in the past however he reminded me of the movie character Rainman. Gary kept saying over and over to me, Vicki and Jan, "So what do you think Jan" and various other little phrases.  Gary was still positive despite the illness and really made me think about the quality of life that he is living and will this be the last time we see Gary?

Why is it we take life for granted and think our friends are disposal or throw our loved ones to the curb while we pursue other avenues at the cost of friendships or saying or doing hurtful things to each other?

Gary taught me a long time ago about being positive and living life as if today is the last breath you might take.  We can not continue to say or do hurtful things to each other and claim to love Jesus or claim that all is well within our soul if we are not loving our neighbor like He commanded. 

I know that Gary recognized us last evening and even though he was struggling, he kept smiling and kept us thinking as we sat with each other.  As we left we shook hands and hugged each other like we always did.  Gary even said "some day I will be better than I ever was".  WOW....what an attitude. 

Thanks Gary and may God be with you and Jan. 
 

Questions

I (Vicki) have been thinking about how short life is. Perhaps because Brian's birthday is this week.  Perhaps because we had dinner with some friends, one who has Altzheimers (Brian will blog more on this later).  Perhaps because I have been deeply wounded by someone I love more than life itself. 

Why do we who profess to love Jesus then hurt each other?  Why do we not realize each breath we take is a gift from God?  Life is short, it could end at any moment.  Do I want to go to Heaven with unresolved issues?

Why do we not cherish each and every moment with those we love?  Why do we use words to hurt the people we love the most?  Why don't we laugh more?  Why don't we love unconditionally?

What can I do to make those around me better people?  How can I show my Jesus' unconditional love?  What can I do to show Jesus to a world in desperate need?

Pretty deep thoughts.  Not sure where God is leading me, but I am quite excited to see how this thought process will bring glory to Him.

God is so amazing!!

New Years Resolutions

Being a mirror to the world


At church this past week we continued to read the story (BIBLE) going into the New Testament.

Dr. Mark Moore spoke about Jesus’s ministry beginning. Dr. Moore also challenged us to be the mirror to the world and not to simply just look in the mirror.

Have you ever looked into the mirror and said wow I really look good today? Or wow how blessed I am to have______________? If so what have you done to further promote the great things he is doing?

In John 3:30 the Bible states “He must increase and I must Decrease” How true this is if we are to be mirrors in the world and fully give God the credit for what is being done, not giving ourselves the credit for what we are or what we have.

As we ring in a new year and say good bye to the old, some of us will make resolutions such as weight loss, working out, financial or whatever it is you choose, remember you can’t do it on your own. You can only accomplish your goals if Christ is at the top.

So rather than continue life with darkness or secretes, how many of us will actually make it a resolution to be the mirror in the world and allow God’s bring light to shine from us?

Last week during the Christmas Eve service, we sang the song This Little Light of Mine. As the words of the song go like this:

This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine. This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine let it shine let it shine let it shine. Hide it under a bushel, No I’m going to let it shine.

In order to let our light shine we can’t allow the bushel (darkness) of whatever it might be from allowing our beacons to shine for Him. So as you make resolutions this year, what is your going to do to keep the darkness off your light to those around you?

Happy New Year Brian

Life is short

Life is way too short to hold grudges.  Perhaps it is the holiday season, perhaps it is the recent suicide, perhaps it is having a grandson. 

I watch people get offended over things that have absolutely no meaning.  People hold on to emotions that may or may not be valid.  Feelings are neither right nor wrong - what we do with our feelings is what matters.  Holding on to anger and bitterness only hurt us.

At work two major projects are wrapping up.  I have watched folks get irate over things that won't matter in two weeks.  Folks have yelled at each other for no reason. 

One never knows when we will take out last breath - I want every word I speak to bring glory to my Jesus.  So I may be a tad quieter!!!

God is amazing!!

Compromise

A few weeks ago at church, a homosexual couple visited. While I did not meet nor chat with them, part of the conversation was relayed to me.

They wanted to know if they would be "accepted".  They were reassured of course they would be accepted BUT their homosexuality remains sin. 

It is fascinating to me how the world has become more accepting of things the Bible clearly defines as sin.  Tonight while reading in Romans 1 it clearly states that homosexuality is wrong.  Yet, much of society, and even many churches are now saying it is "born" in them.

When did the "little white lies" become okay?  When the children were little, the phone rang, I would run jump in the shower so they would not be lying when they said "Mom is in the shower."  Do I carry things to an extreme - maybe.....  but there are reasons God set the boundaries He did. 

Someday when I am sitting at the feet of Jesus and get to ask Him all the questions I have - I will feel comfortable that I have not stretched the truth or compromised His Word.  If I am going to err - it will be on the side of following too closely.

I pray for these women who hear the calling of God and came to our church.  I pray they have the strength to walk away from their sin straight into the arms of Jesus.  He is waiting for them.

God is amazing.

Suicide

A 17 year old young man apparently took his own life.  By all accounts he had it all - good grades, athletics, girlfriend.  With the world at his fingertips - he must have felt hopeless to take such a drastic step.

Talking with one of his friends tonight at church - his parents are in shock (and denial), his friends fluctuate between being angry or sad, everyone is at a loss. 

Kind of makes sharing Jesus a little more important.  I don't know if he had a relationship with Jesus.  I don't think suicide will keep anyone out of Heaven.  But why does it take a tragedy like this to motivate us to share the greatest love ever offered?

I think of the grieving parents....  Were their last words spoken in anger?  Will they live the rest of their lives with regrets?  There are times our children get tired of hearing me say "I love you"... but should something every happen - that is what I want them to remember - that I love them unconditionally, whether they chose to believe it or not!!

The world today is not a nice place.  I am so thankful for the hope we have because we get to spend eternity with Jesus.  God wants a relationship with each of us - all we have to do is reach out for His hand.

God is amazing.

Last weekend we had another opportunity to go to Puerto Penasco to help build a home.  This time our team was all from our CCV Surprise campus - how much fun!!

The first day there are two crews - the concrete crew and the framing crew.  Somehow Brian was given the task of being in charge of pouring concrete.  It is a lot of hard work to get it all formed, then footers poured, then leveled out. 

The second day we raise the walls, put on the roof, put the rolled roofing on, wrap the house in tar paper and chicken wire then put on the first coat of stucco.  Somehow we got behind.... 1Mission sent out four angels to help get us back on track.  We got back to camp just in time for a quick shower and the fiesta!!

The third day we put on the second coat of stucco.  Our team had gathered money to purchase a stove, heaters and beds for the family.  Brian and I were part of the team that went into town.  What an experience. We both want to learn to speak the language.

While the building of the home for "our" family is amazing.  The building of relationships on the team is hard to describe.  You work side by side serving Jesus. 

After finishing up we ran into town to get some shrimp and sea bass.  Our ride home was uneventful - though it was easier to cross the border than to get through the last check station south of Gila Bend.

We are so privileged to be able to go on these trips and give a hand to our brothers and sisters who are materially less blessed than we are.  We always come home with a greater appreciation for all God has given us.  Though timing doesn't work out to go in February - there is no doubt we will be going again.

God is so good to us!