What a Bee Sting Can Do

   It’s amazing how small events can sometime cause extraordinary results.   It was a very hot, quiet Sunday       afternoon in Guayaramerin in the  remote Amazon Basin of northeastern Bolivia.  We had time for a siesta before going  out for dinner and then to an evening church service.

But Gary, a Friends in Action missionary and the leader of our work team, and I were restless.  We decided to walk a couple of blocks to the town plaza.    We sat on a bench in the shade.   The plaza was nearly deserted.   The shimmering afternoon heat discouraged any physical activity.

Suddenly, Gary jumped up and yelled “Ouch!” in a voice that indicated he was really hurting.    He had been stung by a bee!   I suggested it would be prudent to  move to another bench.  There was no argument!

Then I noticed a  boy, about five years old, all by himself, poking in the dirt with a discarded popsicle stick.   The little guy looked hot, dirty and lonely.   Feeling sorry for him, I went over and gave him a two Boliviano coin (worth about 25 cents).

To my surprise, the boy jumped up and ran over to a nearby plaza bench.   We had not noticed that an elderly man was stretched out on the bench, taking a nap.    He woke up suddenly as  the little boy handed him the coin and pointed at us.

This opened the door to go over and start a conversation.   The old man was friendly. He said his name was Francisco and he thanked us for giving the coin to his little grandson. 

I had a Gideon New Testament in Spanish with me and offered it to him.   He was profuse in his appreciation.  We were able to talk to him about the Testament and show him the Bible verses inside the back cover which present God’s plan of salvation.  The few simple verses clearly explain how God “so loved the world” that He sent His Son, Jesus, to live on earth; live a perfect life and die on the cross to take the punishment for our sins.  And also how He was raised from the dead and went to heaven to “prepare a place for us.”

We asked Francisco if he would like to pray and receive Jesus as his personal Savior  He readily agreed to do this and afterwards seemed genuinely joyful about his decision.   We were also able to pray with him about some problems that his aging knees were giving him.

It is not very often that something like a bee sting can cause rejoicing.   But Gary and I went back to the hotel glad that the angry bee  moved us to the place  where we could meet Francisco.   I still pray for him (Francisco, not the bee!), as the Lord brings this incident to mind.  

Perhaps something that really upset you,  created a situation which you could (or did)  use for God’s glory.   It’s something to think about.   God can move us to where He wants us in strange and unusual ways. 

Medical Miracles Run Rampant

     It started about a year ago when I fell for all the wonderful promises in the colorful advertising tabloid and ordered a book.    It was one of those “four easy payments of $7.99 each, plus shipping” offers.

Well, the book arrived in due time (and was promptly paid for).   Though of impressive bulk, its contents were somewhat disappointing.

What is amazing is the fallout from this purchase.   I’ve thrown a few away, but I’m looking at a stack of “health news,” “exclusive reports,” healing the incurable “in as little as two minutes” tabloids and booklets that seem to arrive  on about a twice weekly basis.

I’ve thrown a few away, but have a pile of 31 four-color mailings next to me which glowingly promise incredible health benefits.   All I have to do is order the advertised publication (or in some cases health remedy).   For publications, the pitch almost always includes the requirement of four “easy” payments of $7.99, plus shipping. 

I have figured that all of them together would have cost me over $1,000.  Of course, the upside is that, if I followed all of the miracle advice, I would be so healthy that I’d be challenging Superman for his job. However, the downside is that I might be so confused that I’d be banging my head against the wall.

Wow, all I need to be sure I’ll never have a heart attack is eat a handful of walnuts (probably not a bad idea) every day, take my oral chelation, avoid diet soda, drink the right kind of juices, etc.  Put all this together and I’d have about 150%  less chance of having such an attack.   This, of course, would mean I would never suffer such an event.  Why,  if I was careful in traffic,  I might live to be around 200 or more! 

Well, I’m sure these various marvelous health advisories and miracle cures include much sound and excellent counsel.  However, the fact is that the human body wears out, runs down and tends in the direction of more and more disorganization.    Actually, these mailings have a humor factor about them that helps keep me healthy.   The Book of Proverbs says, “A merry heart does good like a medicine,” so I don’t mind the mailings and will probably, in some future feverish moment, get persuaded to respond to another “amazing offer.”   I especially liked the one from the guy who said he had not had a drink of water for 5 or 6 years. 

However, talking about long life, I can give you the key not only to long life, but to eternal life.   Can you handle a couple of Bible verses at this point?  Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).   He also said, “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)

These bodies we walk around in will grow old and die.  But, if we have trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord, the One who paid the penalty for our sins, we will enter a new and better place.  The Apostle Paul said he had a desire to depart (from this life) and “be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).

You don’t have to believe Jesus.  And you can take health foods and remedies which may help you live to be 120.  However,  one day you’ll discover whether Jesus was the biggest fraud and liar the world has ever known, or whether He was speaking the absolute, irrevocable truth!   My suggestion and hope is that you would decide for Jesus right away.  Tomorrow is uncertain; “now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

Disturbing, but not surprising

      One of the headlines in today’s newspaper was disturbing, but not surprising.   It reminded me of a time about 20 years ago when I was editor of a magazine in Minnesota. 

At that time, some flagrant ethical failures among prominent business executives were much in the news.  (What else is new?)  Anyhow, I read a news article about how Harvard University was having a problem finding a professor to teach a course in business ethics.   The distinguished Harvard Business School had suddenly decided it might be a good idea to offer such a course.

In an fit of fantasy, I thought I would apply for the job.  Of course, I was totally lacking in the string of degrees, books authored, and other credentials that Harvard would require.  However, in my wild imaginings, I felt fully qualified to teach the course.

 This was because of textbook that I would propose to use–it would be the one and only source for the class curriculum.  However, when considering the wild fits of laughter that my proposal would probably create among the elite minds of the Harvard faculty, I rather quickly decided to abandon my crazy idea.

It was not crazy because of the source material I would propose to use; it was crazy because of  how instantly I imagined my idea would land in some  Harvard waste basket.

The idea was, simply, to use the Book of Proverbs from the Old Testament as the textbook for the course.   The purpose of the book is presented in the first few verses of Chapter 1: “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the instruction of justice, judgment and equity; to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion–a wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man (or woman) of understanding will attain wise counsel” (Chapter 1, verses 2-5, New King James Version–”of woman” added)

You won’t find a better purpose statement anywhere.   But, back to today’s headline, which stated in a five-column banner, “Dishonesty theme runs rampant in colleges.”  The text included examples of some egregious cheating uncovered at some major universities.   One was about the Dean of Admissions at MIT who admitted she had fabricated her resume when she first applied to work at MIT in the 1970s.

I assume that the vast majority of the 17 million college students at the nation’s 4,000 schools are studying and working hard and honestly to acquire a good education.  But there are many serious ethical failings among students, faculty and administrators. 

The adoption of a good, chapter by chapter, study of the Book of Proverbs (thousands of years old, but as current and far more relevant than today’s newspaper) could do much to correct these failures.

It would be wonderful if we could place over the portico of every university administrative building a quote from the New Testament Book of Galatians:  “Be not decieved, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Chapter 6, verse 7 NKJV)

It is as inescapable as the law of gravity.   There is a tremendous amount of “reaping” taking place these days in our nation’s prisons.   Sometimes the reaping comes quickly; sometimes much later, but it will come.

Some wise teaching of Proverbs, this age-old yet very current book of wisdom, could help avoid a huge amount of regretful reaping.  It could even produce a drastic cut in our prison population.   “Be SURE your sin will find you out.”   You may hide it,  but you will not escape its consequences! 

Does anyone read it?

I have to wonder if anyone reads it anymore; except perhaps the ACLU in misapplying the contents of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.  However, I am referring to a seemingly little noticed, and never put into action portion known as Article 3, Section 3, which states: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, OR IN ADHERING TO THEIR ENEMIES, GIVING THEM AID AND COMFORT” (emphasis added.)

The question is: When Senator Harry Reid states in a press conference on April 19, 2007, “Now I believe myself…that this war is lost…” is he, or is he not, giving aid and comfort to our enemies?   If you have read of the absolutely joyful responses of our Islamofascist enemies, you can only conclude that they received much aid and comfort from his words.

And, what about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi making herself some kind of self-appointed Secretary of State and flying off to the Middle East to meet with Syria’s President Bashar Assad, and stating “I believe the road to Damascus is the road to peace”?   Who does she think she’s kidding?

Back again to our late lamented Constitution, which states (Article 2, Section 2) that the President, besides being the Commander in Chief of our armed forces, is the only one with the power to make treaties, appoint ambassadors, etc.  (By the way, I suppose the taxpayers footed the bill for Mrs. Pelosi’s unauthorized and expensive journey, which doubtless gave much aid and comfort to our enemies.) 

The list is long of those in Congress, who by opposing and frustrating legislation funding our military efforts in Iraq, have been giving aid and comfort to our enemies.    Is there anyone among the Republican leadership, without jello for a backbone, who has the guts to call these people to account?

Only the Lord knows the count, but I believe those who seem to have only one agenda (Hate and Destroy President Bush) will one day have to give account for many more deaths among the U.S. military than would otherwise occur.   If they are patriots, then Aaron Burr was George Washington’s best friend!

We need to read and apply the Supreme Law of the land, which is our Constitution.   The clause on “aiding and abetting our enemies” is clear and explicit English.  Treason is treason, so let’s call treasonous conduct by its right name!

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