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Spiritual Tenacity: Examples from Scriptures

I introduced the topic of spiritual tenacity by referencing a recent sermon by our Associate Pastor, Rev. Richard Hall, at Calvary Baptist Church of York, PA. This post digs a little deeper into the topic by looking at several examples of tenacity from the Bible.

As I noted in the first post in this thread, my visual image of tenacity was the image of holding onto someone or something for dear life. It is a picture of hanging on with all of one’s strength, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

The first image that Pastor Hall painted for us was the image of the martyrs, the righteous saints of God dying for their faith. This image came right out of the letter to the church at Ephesus in Revelations, chapter 2:

 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Rev 2:10, KJV)

If a follower of Christ is faithful unto the death, besides the crown of life what awaits them? In Revelations chapter 6 we are told that they will be given white robes.  They will also remain at the altar and rest in the Lord until all the company of martyrs is complete.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held…And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Rev 6:9 & 11, KJV)

Therefore, what awaits  martyrs? Besides eternal life in heaven, there are three specific things. The first is a crown of life, which they gladly give back to the Savior. The second is a white robe which signifies being clean and free from the dirt of sin, and which stands in stark contrast to the deep crimson of the Savior’s blood which is the cleansing agent. The third thing is rest under the altar of God, which is in complete contrast with the state of their lives on earth leading up to their martyrdom. They are free of concern and pain.

If tenacity is the act of hanging on in the face of opposition, then there are two examples of tenacity that just jump off the pages of scripture at me. The first is the picture of Jacob wrestling with God, in Genesis 32:

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Genesis 32:24 – 30 KJV)

In the middle of the night Jacob is alone waiting for Esau who is coming to meet him. Since Jacob is worried that Esau is coming to destroy him and his family because of all that he had done to Esau, Jacob sends his family to the safety of the other side of the river. While waiting alone a man approaches and starts wrestling with Jacob. Is it real or a dream? For Jacob the exertion and the results are real.  Jacob showed the tenacity to hang onto God for a blessing, and God rewarded him for it.

The second picture is the picture of the eternal security of those in the hands of God. In the gospel of John, Jesus replying to a direct question from unbelieving Jews as to whether He was the Christ, says,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one. (John 10: 27-30, KJV)

Paul reinforces this teaching in his letter to the church in Rome.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 35 – 39, KJV)

This idea of the tenacity of God, holding onto His sheep or children is not just a New Testament idea. We also find it in the Psalms. Psalm 73 is labeled as a Psalm or song of Asaph, the first music director of the temple singers. Asaph’s name means the gatherer. Asaph could have been the author, transcriber or just the collector. In this Psalm we read

Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. (Psalms 73:23-28, KJV)

Again we see the picture of God tenaciously holding the hand of His children and followers. David echos this picture in Psalm 139:

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (Psalms 139:5-10, KJV)

The picture of God tenaciously holding onto His children and His children tenaciously holding onto Him is all throughout the Bible. Returning to Pastor Hall’s sermon, he used a second word to describe the reciprocal relationship that God desires with his children.

That word was resolute. Pastor Hall used the example of Abraham Lincoln in his resolute desire to end slavery and to preserve the union. I had my own pictures of resolute. As I mentioned in the first post in this thread,  I have spoken about resolve in earlier posts, “Aphasia is not the end of the world”  and “Epilepsy is not the end of the world.”  

In these posts I told the story of the H.M.S. Resolute that was caught in the ice in Northern Canada in the bay that was later to be known as Resolute Bay. It was a story of determined survival. For me, the word resolute carries with it the picture of determination, persistence, and especially determined persistence. In my next post in this thread, I will further address this concept that is closely related to tenacity.

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Spiritual Tenacity

In late July, the Assistant Pastor at our church, Calvary Baptist Church of York, PA, preached a sermon entitled Spiritual Tenacity, based on Acts 14 and Paul’s experiences at Lystra, and Paul’s instructions to his mentee Timothy in II Timothy 3:14,

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (KJV)

Before the Pastor began his sermon, just its title sent my mind racing. What does tenacity mean? What does it look like? Earlier in July, Gettysburg celebrated the 150th anniversary of that great battle. There had been numerous mentions of the tenacity of both sides of the battle as they faced off against each other on Cemetery Ridge during the climatic conclusion of the battle known as Pickett’s Charge. I will speak more of this view of tenacity in a later post.

What dominated my thinking about tenacity during the prelude to the service was the idea of tenacity referring to the ability to persevere, to “hang in there,” or to hold on in the face of tremendous odds or overwhelming opposition. I kept visualizing two pictures that I had taken during a trip to the far U.S. Northwest in the year 2000.

The first was a picture of my wife. It was taken along the Road to Paradise in Mt. Rainier National Park, at the Martha Falls Viewpoint, next to the 100 feet deep Steven’s Canyon cut out by Unicorn Creek, which is fed by melting glaciers on Mt. Rainier. The picture makes it appear as if she is tenaciously hanging on for dear life to keep from falling into the gorge behind her. However, this picture is deceiving because she is actually standing on a 20 foot wide ledge between the rock in the picture and the edge of the cliff.

My wife hanging on for dear life

The second photograph that came to mind was the picture of a hemlock tree which is at least 50-years old judging by its size and shape. The tree is growing out of what appears to be a solid rock near Inspiration Point, at the edge of the “Grand Canyon of Yellowstone” a ruggedly beautiful gorge cut out of rocks by the Yellowstone River.

The hemlock tree probably started out as a little seedling in a small pile of dirt on top of a rock ledge. As it grew bigger and bigger its roots wormed their way into fissures in the weathered rock. As the tree grew older and stronger, the roots tenaciously dug into the rock to grab onto a solid foothold.  The tree now stands firm near the edge of a 1000 foot gorge that sees heavy winter storms, lots of snow and winds. It has tenaciously dug its roots into the rock in order to maintain its stability.

Tenacious tree on the edge of a huge abyss

These are my pictures of tenacity. The perseverance to hold on in the face of insurmountable odds and opposition.

The service began with the singing of the hymn “I am Resolved,“  a classic late 19th century hymn written by Palmer Harsough (words) and James H. FIllmore, Sr. (music) which speaks to the resolve and tenacity required of a follower of Christ.

Verse 4

I am resolved to enter the kingdom
Leaving the paths of sin;
Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me,
Still will I enter in.

Refrain:

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.
I will hasten, hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free;
Jesus, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

 Resolve is another great word which has its own visual images for me. I have spoken about resolve in earlier posts, “Aphasia is not the end of the world”  and “Epilepsy is not the end of the world.” However, the sermon and songs brought new visuals to my mind. The first picture of resolute that came to my mind was the picture of a dying Jim Valvano accepting the Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award at the 1993 ESPY Awards Ceremony. I invite you to watch this 11 minute video provided by the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Click on the link below and open it in a new window. It defines resolute better than I could ever find the words to do so.

   Jim Valvano: Never give up; Don’t ever give up

Returning to the church service, Pastor Hall used several incidents from the life of Christ and Paul to introduce us to spiritual tenacity. Why do we need spiritual tenacity? From where does it come? Since this is such an important message, I will speak to those in another post.

To my friends and all others who might happen by this blog, in the words of Jimmy V, “Never give up; don’t ever give up.”

 

 

 

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The Bart Simpson Defense

This post is drawn from an Op-Ed piece that I wrote in 2008 for The Herald, the student newspaper at Cornerstone University. At the time I was provost of Cornerstone and regularly wrote opinion pieces for the paper. The only real change that I have made from my 2008 piece is some updating of the Hall of Shame.

I begin with an admission that although The Simpson is the longest running scripted show in television history, it is definitely not one of my favorites. I can count on one hand the number of times that I have actually watched an episode all the way through. However, if one watches any Fox network programming such as NFL games or NASCAR races, which I do, one will be exposed to Simpson commercials. In one unforgettable commercial, Bart is accused of doing something wrong. His response has become known as the infamous Bart Simpson Defense: “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.”

Within the context of a cartoon family such a statement may appear funny. I must admit that on occasion when asked by my wife the whereabouts of the iced tea that she had made, I will reply, “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.” Both my wife and I understood completely what I was saying. It was obvious that my statement was an attempt at a humorous confession of guilt.

Unfortunately, almost every day, we hear entertainers, athletes, politicians, and even ministers say in effect in all seriousness, “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.”  Are they really trying to convince us that they didn’t do it? The hall of shame list seems unending — Brittany Spears, Floyd Landis, Mel GIbson, Marion Jones, Spiro Agnew, Jim Bakker, Mark Mcquire, Lindsay Lohan, Pete Rose and Martha Stewart are names almost everyone recognizes. There are other names that are somewhat less familiar. However, if we were to attach particular descriptors to these names most people would recognize the situation — Ken Lay and Jeff Skiling with Enron; Charles Graner and Lynndie England wtih Abu Ghraib; Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken with insider trading; William Jefferson with “$90,000 of frozen assets” found in his freezer; Jayson Blair and the New York Times with a revoked Pultizer Prize; Ted Haggard and his removal from the leadership of the National Association of Evangelicals. Over the years related to this phenomenon, we have been introduced to expressions that will always be associated with the speaker. Richard Nixon will always be remembered for his statement, “I am not a crook.” BIll Clinton will go down in history for his assertion, “I did not have sex with that woman.”

“I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.”  This trio of expressions begins with a personal denial. The speaker is asking the recipient to trust him or her. The ability to trust the speaker depends upon his or her reputation and relationship with the recipient. The second expression throws the burden of proof onto the recipient. Did the recipient actually see any transgressions? If not, the speaker is claiming his or her innocence. The third expression raises the level of proof even higher. It throws the case into a legal sense, where the burden of proof is even higher. It must be “beyond a shadow of doubt” as judged by a jury of one’s peers.

Since I wrote the first version of this essay in 2008, unfortunately the Hall of Shame has added a number of new celebrities from all areas of public life. The most tested cyclist of all time, Lance Armstrong finally gave up defending himself, essentially admitting blood doping. He was stripped of his Tour de France wins and banned from all competitive sports. In baseball, all-star and MVP, Ryan Braun accepted a suspension, and in effect admitted use of a banned substance. In line right behind Braun is Alex Rodriquez. The evidence is piling up against A-Rod, who is now facing a stiffer suspension than Braun. In football, college star and potential NFL star, Manti Te’o had to admit lying about a fake girlfriend. Another football star, Aaron Hernandez is facing direct murder charges and possible charges in two other murders. Tyson Gay, Olympic track and field star, has failed a number of recent drug tests and been suspended from upcoming track participation.NY politician Anthony Weiner, who had already admitted inappropriate texting of explicit photos, has been caught again in the same behavior. San Diego major Bob Filner is under fire for inappropriate behavior toward women. He has admitted “having a problem” and checked himself into a rehab program. He has indicated that he hopes this will satisfy his critics and that he will be able to maintain his political career. Celebrity cook Paula Dean had admitted using racial insensitive language. As a result she has lost her television show and many endorsement deals. Actress Amanda Bynes is facing hospitalization for her wild behavior.

For those who use the Bart Simpson defense something very important is missing. That something is the realization of personal responsibility. Some individuals eventually reach the point of saying, “I did it and I’m sorry.” Many do not. Track star Marion Jones finally admitted the use of performance-enhancing drugs and plead guilty to lying to federal investigators. In a tearful apology, Jones said, “It’s with a great shame that I stand before you and tell you that I have betrayed your trust….”  On the other hand in a letter asking for leniency just prior to a sentencing hearing, football star Michael Vick wrote “I am not the bad person or the beast I’ve been made out to be.”

In chapter 12 of II Samuel, the prophet Nathan tells King David a story of a rich man taking advantage of a poor man. David is incensed and demands to know the identity of this rich man. Nathan tells him that he is the culprit himself. Nathan then confronts David with what he did with Uriah and Bathsheba. David immediately recognizes what he had done and says, “I have sinned against the Lord.” David does not try to claim his innocence, indict his accuser, or challenge the evidence against him. David did not use the Bart Simpson defense. David accepted full responsibility and asked God for forgiveness.

We see what happens to public figures when they are caught doing something they shouldn’t. We see what happens when they claim, “I didn’t do it….You didn’t see me….You can’t prove it.” What will happen the next time that you or I do something wrong and we are confronted with it? What should we expect of ourselves? What does God expect of us?

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Judgment Day is Coming

Recently, our pastor, Rev. Greg Wahlberg, at Calvary Baptist Church in York PA,  used the idea of a family reunion as the introduction to his Sunday morning message. Pastor Wahlberg began his message on June 30, 2013,  by recounting the joys and sorrows of family reunions. The biggest joy has to be seeing again our family and those that we love. The biggest sorrow, aside from missing those who couldn’t attend,  has to be feeling and seeing the disappointment in the faces of family members that we have failed to please.

Pastor Wahlberg used the parable of the Parable of the Talents from chapter 25 of Matthew’s gospel, as the scriptural text for his message. In particular, he focused his message on one verse, Matthew 25:21

His lord said unto him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (KJV)

Pastor Wahlberg made the point that a reunion day is coming for the family of God, that is all individuals who have accepted the gift of salvation offered through the sacrifice of Christ. This reunion will occur at the judgment day of Christ where our works will be judged to determine if they are gold, silver, wood, hay or stubble. If they are gold and silver, we will be rewarded with a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” If they are wood, hay or stubble, they will be burnt up. We will be saved, but so as by fire as Paul noted in I Corinthians 3:11 – 15:

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (KJV)

Returning to the verse Matthew 25:21, Pastor Wahlberg noted that there are three things the words “well” and “good” modify.He continued by focusing our attention on those three ideas.

The first idea to which “well” referred was the quality of our work. The servants that had been given the two and five talents doubled their master’s money. The quality of their work was excellent. It met or exceeded the normal human expectations for return on investment.

This point got me to thinking about the motivational basis of our work. There has been an ongoing discussion on an academic discussion board in which I participate about whether faculty members should be motivated by rewards or duty. In this summer season, as we have celebrated Memorial Day, Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, it is a question that many are asking about service to our country, the United States of America. No matter what season, this is a question we need to ask ourselves about our service to God. Should we be motivated by a sense of obligation, a sense of duty, an expectation of reward, or a sense of love? I believe we can find the answer in I John 4:10 – 19.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. (KJV)

The second idea to which “well” referred was the completion or completeness of one’s work. The word “done” says it all. Pastor Wahlberg reminded us of Christ’s prayer, in John 17:4, just before his crucifixion,

I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (KJV)

Completion of work in a timely fashion and the completeness of one’s work in academic circles usually raises many debates and arguments. At Judgment Day, there will be no extra time allowed. There will be no opportunity to make up work. There will be no extra credit allowed. The assignment will be judged on its quality and whether it is completed, at the given due date.

If those two aspects weren’t enough, Matthew 25:21 suggests at least one more factor on which we will be judged. That factor is the quality is our character. Note the verse praises the servant as a “good and faithful” servant. Good and faithful are attributes of one’s character.

Can people count on you “to be good”?  “To be good” is usually understood  to do what is right, even if that is not convenient or advantageous for you to do so. Do you have a reputation for being good? Proverbs 22:1 suggests one very good reason for seeking a good reputation

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. (KJV)

 I Peter 2:11 – 16 is more specific:

11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. (KJV)

There in verse 16 is that word “servant” again. We must be “good servants.”

Now the second desirable attribute of our character suggested in Matthew 25 was the trait of being “faithful.” What does it mean to be faithful? Two ideas came to my mind. The first is the idea of loyalty. Are we loyal to our God and Saviour?

One scriptural passage that speaks to loyalty is Luke 16:12 & 13:

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The second idea associated with loyalty was the idea of being committed to another. It is as in the marriage ceremony where the bride and groom pledge their troth (or trust) to each other. Troth is a Norse word that means true or truth.

The questions then remain: Are  we good and faithful? Is our work good and done well? Judgment day is coming!

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An Unexpected Joy

One of my favorite bloggers, Tara Fall, in a recent series of posts on her blog “Finding Strength To Stand Again” raised the topic of resiliency. She did it with the seemingly benign question of whether there is something in some people that makes them more resilient than others.

One of the unexpected joys that I have experienced with my aphasia is the excitement of discovering new words or rediscovering lost words. When I read Tara’s post “Question and Answer Week 2-b,”  the word resilient just jumped off the screen at me. My immediate reaction was I know that word from my recent battles with epilepsy, hallucinations, dysenesthesia, and aphasia. However, I also had a feeling that I was missing something. My academic background kicked in and I started researching the concept of resiliency.

Very quickly, I realized what had bothered me with the word “resilient.” A number of different definitions are in common use. I found this somewhat ironic in that the same day I read Tara’s post, I became part of a discussion thread that involved academics and professional people from all over the world. The thread began with the question, “What is a professor?”

Immediately people jumped into the discussion arguing about whether the word represented a title or a job position. In the course of the thread, as happens so often in academic discussions, some one raised the question about the difference between colleges and universities. At this point a contributor suggested that what we needed were certain words with “reserved definitions” so that confusions like this would be avoided. My reaction was, “That would be nice, but it isn’t going to happen.”

Returning to the word resilient, the first use that came to my mind was the ability to take a blow or weather the storm and bounce right back up. The victim comes back stronger than before. We see it in television commercials and news reports all the time. We are reminded of the 9/11 tragedy and the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. Immediately after the Boston Marathon Bombing, news reports, especially sports reports, highlighted the idea of being Boston-strong. Every evening, we are reminded that the New Jersey shore is open again for tourists, because “we’re stronger than the storm.” We’ve seen the same sentiment in New Orleans and Oklahoma.

What were the other definitions and questions that were running around in my head? The first involved the research that I had done about the idea of neuro-plasticity in relation to my situation. In my readings I found a number of scientists who said that my condition “was what it was, and I should learn to live with it.” Other scientists said that it was possible for people to change their brains to relearn skills or learn new skills to replace the ones that were lost. In a sense, this was a type of recovery. However, the scientist took great pains to emphasize that it wasn’t the former individual. In a real sense, it was a new individual. This is a slightly different view of resiliency. It still holds some hope for victims that they can become new individuals with new skills that in some sense may replace the ones that they lost. However, they will not be their “old selves.”  They will be someone different with different strengths and skills.

Many of the neuroscientists  I read concerning brain plasticity, referenced a new growing science of resiliency. As I researched this, I found it has quite a following among environmentalists, entomologists, and medical researchers studying bacteria and viruses. For these scientists, the primary idea is that one species or environmental state changes or evolves in ways that ensure the survival of the species or environmental state. Resiliency refers to the survival of the whole, not the survival or well-being of the individual. I am still trying to figure out what this has to do with neuro-plasticity.

More research on resiliency lead me to a fourth definition. This definition came from the popular psychologists associated with Psychology Today. In a series of posts they suggested that pyschology has identified factors that make some people resilient, while others wilt under pressure. The resilience factors were an optimistic outlook on life. These individuals are almost always positive. They have the power to regulate their emotions. This struck me hard. Prior to my TBI, I was always known as being even keeled, with my emotion under control. After the TBI with damage to my right temporal lobe, I have much more trouble controlling my emotions. I erupt much more easily. The third attribute of resilient people was that they could accept criticism  well, and could see failure as a form of helpful feedback. When Edison was asked if he was discouraged when experiment after experiment failed when he was trying to invent the light bulb, his answer could have been the battle cry of the resilient ones: “Of course not. I now know a thousand things that won’t work. I will soon find the one that works.”

But I wasn’t done with resiliency. Some lines from a hymn kept playing in my head. As usual, I had only part of the words, so I had to do a search to find the hymn. The words that were echoing in my head were, “When sea billows roll.,” I was more than slightly embarrassed when I discovered it was one of the most popular hymns of all of Christianity, “It Is Well with My Soul.”  

The words of the first stanza are

When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to know [say], It is well; it is well with my soul.

The story behind this hymn involves a tragic sea accident. The words were written by Horatio Spafford just after he got a telegram from his wife informing him that only she was safe. She had to tell him that all four of his children were killed when the ship on which they were traveling to Europe sank. Spafford was a modern day Job. Almost everything he loved was taken from him. His response was “Praise be to God.”

I don’t believe that it is inherent to us. It is a gift of a loving father to his children. If we accept God’s grace, we like Job can say,

…, ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:21 KJV)

This final type of resiliency is a resiliency built upon faith in a power outside of ourselves. I have seen it my life. I can truly say, “We serve a God of miracles, not a God dedicated to our convenience.” We should reply with our tears, like the father asking Jesus to heal his sick child. When asked if he believed,  the father replied,

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24b KJV)

“Lord, give me your resiliency. Help me in my unbelief.”

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Beware the Ides of March

“Beware the Ides of March” is the warning that a soothsayer whispered to Caesar in Act 1 Scene 2 of the Shakespearean play “Julius Caesar.” Because of the noise of the crowd through which Caesar and his entourage were walking, Caesar didn’t understand the words. Ironically, it is Brutus who tells Caesar that the man is warning him about the Ides of March.

The word “Ides” is one of the three named days of the month of the Roman calendar. “Kalends” was the first day of the month. “Nones” was the seventh day of the month; and “Ides” was approximately the 15th or the middle of the month.

With the help of Shakespeare, the phrase “Ideas of March” gained a sense of foreboding in the European world. It carried the same connotation that “Friday the 13th” invokes in today’s world. They are superstitions, irrational and unfounded beliefs in objects or signs having magical power to control peoples’ lives.

For Christians, superstitions are akin to idolatry. It is attributing the providence of God to something else. Nothing is done outside of God’s control or permission. To believe otherwise is really a transgression against the first commandment:

“You shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 KJV).

This concept is explicated in Isaiah 46:

“9Remember the former things of old: For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.

10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times the things that are not yet done, Saying, My counsel shall stand, And I will do all my pleasure:

11Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (KJV)

Living by superstitions leaves the door open for Satan to take control of the situation and us, as is described in I Peter 5:8,

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (KJV)

In Act 17:22, Paul on a missionary visit to Athens proclaimed:

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars of Mars Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.” (KJV)

For several years, March has been a rough month for me. However, I do not believe that March is a bad month. In March 2007, I had a sinus infection that developed into bronchitis. In March 2009, I had the stroke-like episode with an imploding brain tumor. In March 2010, I had a bout with pneumonia. In March 2011, I had a pacemaker implant.

Several weeks ago, in March 2013, I had what appeared to be a heart-attack, but it turned out to be a gallbladder attack. I had to have my gallbladder removed. Fortunately they were able to take it out via a laperoscope. However, before they were able to get it out, my gallbladder pumped infection throughout my body. I spent more than a week in the hospital. At first they thought the infection might have affected my heart. However, a stress test showed that my heart is as strong and overall as healthy as it has been all along. The stress test technician said that my stress test result was the best that he had seen for many months. My heart is strong. The only problem is that the beat is irregular. I just don’t have rhythm. The infection did cause me some urinary bladder problems. I had to carry a bag for almost two weeks. The catheter is out but my bladder may not be emptying properly. Please pray for God’s continual healing in this matter. Catheters are a pain and bags are extremely inconvenient.

All the health problems of this March have set back my writing agenda. I have ideas piling up. I hope to be able to return to writing soon. However, the hallucinations, cross-sensory perceptions and inability to concentrate continue to plague me at times. My neurology team has tried several new medications. The only change I noticed is that I am having more vivid dreams. I almost have a sense of what Samuel Taylor Coleridge experienced. I can see Xanadu more clearly now.

I had two excellent doctors’ appointments in early April. I am free of the catheter and bag for at least three weeks as long as I’m a good boy and drink lots and LOTS of water. The urologist was amazed that my retention in a follow-up appointment was only half of what it was in the first appointment. She said that was great and very, very unusual. I told her prayer still works.

At the second appointment, the surgeon also said that I am an unusually good healer. My surgery scars are healing as well as he has ever seen. He said that I am truly a “young man” in terms of parts of my body. He said that it shows that I have taken good care of myself over the years. I told him I had some help from above. Both my cardiologist and my surgeon have given me clearance to get back on the stationary bike, so hopefully I will be back in the swing of things by this coming week. My legs are getting restless for work. Please pray with me that my brain will return to clarity so that I can return to writing.

I do not have to worry or be afraid of the Ides of March. I may not understand God’s reasoning, but I can’t question his power or mercy. He has shown his power and mercy over and over again. I have had many opportunities to meet and talk with people that I otherwise would not have contacted. I can do nothing else but praise His name and thank Him for His goodness to me.