February 12th, 2020

Reading: 2 Samuel chapters 19 – 20; David restored as king in Jerusalem.

Recitation: John chapter 20; the resurrection of the Son of God Jesus Christ as Lord and God.

I worked in from 9:30am until 3:30pm. Before lunch I received one patient for assessment and cardiac rehab orientation interview. After lunch I spent the afternoon working on my ACLS re-certification. ACLS stands for Advanced•Cardiac•Life•Support. I first became certified over 20 years ago and I am required to become re-certified every 2 years. This has changed from the past. When I first did these things we did re-certification in a lab and took a written test. Now the entire thing is on a computer except for a check off on a dummy to show that you can do chest compressions. There are several videos to watch and scenarios to do regarding someone having a heart attack, stroke, or going into cardiac/pulmonary arrest. As I watched these, much of the heartache regarding more than 20 years of ICU nursing came back to me and I wept regarding the real death that happened in my sight. After work I spent 30 minutes running on a treadmill. I would have preferred to run outside but it was cold and raining. I felt somewhat depressed and thinking that I am ready for the new heaven and new earth. There is so much conflict in this world even on a day to day basis. Yesterday evening I picked a book off of my shelf and began to read. The book is Through the Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. Early in the book she said of Jim Elliot in his youth, that he had come to see the Bible as the book above all books and understood that to follow its teaching is not to live a sheltered life but an abundant life. (Elliot, 1996) I have been thinking about my place. What would the Lord have me doing. No man knows the day or our of his own death or the return of the Lord. However, I know based on averages that I have lived two thirds of my life. What would the Lord have me doing for this the last one third as his slave? I am a slave of Jesus Christ for he purchased me with his own blood. (cf.Rv.5:9)

February 11th, 2020

This morning I arose at 4:30am and read 2 Samuel, chapters 16 – 18; David’s fleeing across the Jordan into Galilee and the death of David’s rebellious son Absalom in the forest. I consider the actions of Absalom horrendous and most would agree. He rebelled against his father’s rule and he had sex with his father’s wives on a rooftop in broad day light; however, are not my thoughts, words and deeds rebellious towards my heavenly Father God. My mind is a cesspool of wickedness, my words have been like slashing swords and my actions selfish, yet like David did not want his son to die, and God does not desire that any should perish. I recited John, chapter 19; the torcher, death and burial of the Son of God. When you realize that Jesus death on the cross was for your sins, that changes your entire perspective. Conversion is not a simple belief and repentance is not a simple turning from sin. When you see the light that you have sinned against God and know that Jesus Christ died for your sins it changes everything. Then you are willing to do anything at all for your Lord. I use to call my blog a slave of Jesus Christ because I believe that Jesus purchased me from slavery to sin with his own blood. I changed the name because people did not understand the title to one that combined my work and studies; I work as a Registered Nurse and have completed a Masters degree in Theological Studies. Yesterday was a good day at work because I was needed. It is good to be needed. There were several who needed my knowledge and advice. The days that I do not like my job are the days that I am clerical. I often feel un-needed regarding my Theological Studies. I worked very hard for 3 years completing a masters degree. For this reason I truly enjoyed going to Cuba this past fall because the Cuban pastors desired to hear what I have learned. It is good to be needed. Is it glory that I seek? No, I do not want glory because glory is the Lord’s but I do want to be needed for what I have labored to learn. 

February 10th, 2020

Today I read 2 Samuel, chapter 14 – 15, and recited John, chapter 18. I get the picture from these text that we live in a sinful-fallen world, yet I have hope because Jesus Christ is risen and has promised to return and raise all who believe in him (trust) to eternal life in the new heaven and new earth which is yet to come. Jesus Christ has already been inaugurated King but is yet to sit down on his glorious thrown to judge the earth. I am not going to pretended that I fully understand this. I do not understand the lengthy waiting period. I am inpatient. I want to live in the new heaven and new earth now. However, I must live for the kingdom now. Jesus said, to go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. That is all people on the earth. Such an overwhelming task for an individual but can I show one person the way and the truth and the life? Being that yesterday was a Sunday I had the day off from work and spent the morning at Sylvania Church. Phillip preached on Luke, chapter 16, vs. 1 – 13, the unrighteous steward. Phillip seems to interpret the parables contrasting persons in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man but I take a more narrow approach. I think that the parables are not about those outside of the church but about those who are considered within the church. In another parable (Mt. 13:23-30) Jesus called the true converts wheat and the false converts tares. These will live side-by-side until the end. The unrighteous steward, he is a tare within the church. Could this have been a parable about Judas? I do not know but it seems possible. Yesterday morning I started Spanish – Beginner I – Course 3. This is actually the 4th course since starting spanish lessons. I really do want to learn this language. Also, I wrote down on an index card the final 2 verses or final sentence of John’s prolog in Spanish. I have almost completed memorizing the prolog to the gospel of John in Spanish. The weather was nice; therefore, I spent time cleaning up the front lawn and taking leaves out of the gutters. I also ordered two books: What did Jesus do? And God has a wonderful plan for your life. The second title is in mockery of the modern felt needs gospel because the truth is, if you repent and follow Jesus Christ things in this life might go badly but we are promised heaven.

February 9th, 2020

Reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 12 and 13.

Recitation: John, chapter 17.

David broke three of the ten commandments: He broke the tenth commandment by coveting another man’s wife, then the seventh commandment by committing adultery. He broke the sixth commandment by arranging the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. Jesus said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Mt. 22:37-40) The Ten Commandments can be divided into those commandments which show that a person has love for God and those which show love towards ones neighbor. David violated the commandments on the side of loving ones neighbor; however, he recognized that in violating the Law of God, his sin was primarily against God. Nathan used the Law to bring convection before telling him that God has taken away his sin; therefore, he would not die but his son would die. Can you say picture of the gospel? The son did nothing wrong, yet it is the son who dies for the sins of David. There is much sin in David’s family with Amnon, Tamar and Absalom. I have sinned against the Lord. I have violated his commandments. I have not loved God with all of my heart, soul and mind. I have not loved my neighbor as myself. I have broken everyone of the Ten Commandments; however, God has taken away my sin and God’s son (Jesus Christ) died in my place. Like David’s children, my children are angry Law breakers. I have no one to blame but myself. Yes, my children are at fault for their sin against God and neighbor but I did not raise them to fear God. The advantage that the Jew in Paul’s day had over the gentile was the Scriptures. (cf.  Romans 3:2) I did not read the Scriptures to my children, nor talk about them, nor teach them the ways of the Lord. I was a father who just wanted them to be quite. I have redemption for my sins in Jesus Christ but there are consequences in this life being played out just as there were for David and his sin. 

February 8th, 2020

Today, though it be Saturday, I arose at 4:30am that I may read Scripture before going to work, for it is my turn to work on the unit ambulating postoperative patients. I will be at work today from 7:00am to 12:30pm ambulating people who just this week had heart surgery or lung surgery. Reading: 2 Samuel chapters 8 – 11, the Israelites defeat of the Philistines, the subduing of Moab and the battle with Ammon; also, Davids sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Recitation: John chapter 16, the Lord encourages the disciples before his arrest. In these two text we have David thinking only of himself and Christ thinking of his disciples. Who should be emulated? The answer is Christ but to do so a man must die to self. To be a servant of others is to deny self. Denying self is probably the most difficult thing that a person can do. Christ died for our sins. He gave up his life that we who have sinned against God might live. The wages for sin is death and he promised to save us from death and grant to us eternal life in his Father’s kingdom. Not only that, through faith in him we become children of God. Yesterday, I worked in Pulmonary rehab from 9:00am – 3:30 pm. Pulmonary rehab is slow paced because the exercise tolerance of people with lung diseases is low. They must have rest breaks in-between exercise modalities and the later half of the class involves chairs with instruction and very light weights. After work I cross trained: 20 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 minutes on an elliptical trainer, each at a moderate effort. It is my norm to do a long run on Saturday morning but I cannot today; therefore, my plan is to do that tomorrow morning. Yesterday, I received coins in the mail that have the Ten Commandments printed on one side of the coin and the gospel on the other. The font is very small but I hope to use them as a conversation starter and not a tract in place of conversation.

February 7th, 2020

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. I have had some trouble sleeping lately. I have trouble in falling asleep; also, I awaken midnight and have trouble falling back asleep. Regardless I do sleep; therefore, I am able to work and live. This morning I read 2 Samuel chapters 4 -7 and recited John chapter 15. There are many interesting things to say about these. The brining of the Ark of God into Jerusalem. On the first attempt Uzzah was struck dead when he reached out to steady the Ark of God. The Ark of God contained the 2 tablets, the ten commandments of God. Then when David desired to build a house for God he covenanted to build a house for David, that through his seed his kingdom would be establish forever. Then from John chapter 15 vs 1 Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” Jesus is the seed of the woman that God first spoke of in Genesis 3:15, and he is the seed of Abraham through Sarah, and he is the seed of the household of David. Jesus Christ is the true vine of God. It is in Jesus Christ alone that the serpents head would be crushed, that all the nations would be blessed and the kingdom of David would eternally reign. Jesus Christ has been given all authority in heaven and on earth but is yet to return and sit down on his thrown. I do not arise early each morning to read Scripture because I have too but because I desire to hear a word from God. Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled the Law. Jesus did not teach against the Law but magnified the Law in the heart. Who can say honestly in there heart that it is write to worship other gods; to makeup your own god, to speak the name without reverence, at the name of Jesus Christ every knee shall bend and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; or dishonor the Lord’s rest; or dishonor your parents; or murder someone (hate) in your heart; or commit adultery (lust) in your heart; steal what belongs to your neighbor; or even covet what God has given to them which is theft in the heart? If we are honest, we cannot, yet we all have and I have broken everyone of these commandment either by thought or in deed. Like a power house generates electricity, my mind is a generator for sin; therefore, I trust in the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ and do not trust in my own goodness to save on the day of judgment.

February 6th, 2020

I arose at 4:30am and read 2 Samuel chapters 1 – 3 and recited John chapter 14. How can one hear the Word of God in Jesus Christ written in John chapter 14 on not believe that God the Almighty is one Devine being who subsist eternally in three persons. I admit that I have had confusion in my past days of following the Lord regarding the Trinity. Sometimes, even now I am confused as to who I should be praying too. Should I pray to the Father or should I pray to Jesus Christ and I almost never consider that I should pray to the Holy Spirit, yet the Spirit is equally God in essence with the Father and the Son. Most often I pray to the Father in the name of the Son but I will also pray to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit as one Devine being. During such a prayer I may even address members of the Trinity individually. However, I always conclude in Jesus Christ because it is in Jesus Christ alone that I am justified before Almighty God. Yesterday, I worked in Cardiac Rehab from 7:30am until 4:00pm; Darlene and I enjoyed a fellowship dinner at Sylvania Church sitting with our friends the Kriechbaum’s. I desire to be with our brothers and sisters in Christ and just being able to talk with the brethren during the middle of the week is a wonderful blessing. I have a long day ahead. I will be at work from 7:30am until 6:30pm then my plan is to run on a treadmill for 40 minutes after work. Yesterday, I took the day off from exercise because my plan is to exercise 5 days a week.