Strong Coffee

Strong Coffee: ...Nor Shifted Sphere Confuse Thy Brain : "Words failing...fawning about...grasping at syllables. Pointing to his head... his heart. Hoping in some magical way I understood his int..."

During the Wednesday prayer group today we were interrupted by a sweet lady from the business office. I stood to greet her and she quickly told me of a young gentleman in the hall that wished to speak to a chaplain. I left the group to go out and meet the young man. He was a sharp dressed clean shaven veteran who was clearly upset. He asked for a moment of my time. We went back into the chapel and found a quite corner. Immediately he began to pour his heart out that he had found Christ a  few years ago, not long after returning from Iraq. He also had discovered alcohol while serving there. His last several years had been a roller coaster ride of freedom and bondage. He had found the bread of life but the ball and chain of addiction was destroying all his hopes and dreams. To illustrate Gods amazing love for us and compassion for the poor in spirit, listen to what he said next. "I've tried everything on my own to stop this vicious cycle. This morn...

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the  LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Weeks ago I shared this verse with one of our heart transplant candidates. He was waiting patiently in ICU for the moment when a donor heart arrived or God called him home. My visit was brief ending with prayer and I quoted again, "this is the day the Lord has made." It had been several days since I had checked on Mr. N. Later in a staff meeting a brother slipped me a written note. He whispered that a patient had instructed him to give it to me. When I read it it said, "This is the day..." IC Room 4. I was at a loss at what it meant or who it was from. As soon as I could I made my way to ICU. There I found Mrs. N sitting in a chair. She gave me the great news that her husband had received a new heart and was in recovery. I rejoiced with her and shared the note a fellow chaplain gave me. She explained that ever since I visited them weeks ago, and sh...

Luke 16:9. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings This verse has always fascinated me. It's underscored and highlighted in my bible. I'm still trying to grasp it's meaning especially the full context of the parable. The preceding verse says, 8 "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. You must admit that this is an interesting verse and one that I'm still wrestling with. Verse nine is the key to the parable. The shrewed manager thought of himself, money, and future profits. He was selfish and shrewed but good at what he did. The message that Jesus was putting forth is a lifestyle principle for you and me. Children of this world live out their lives thinking of their own future. Children of the light think about theirs but ...

Alright you guys, I've had just about enough of the twilight malarkey. Hey people, I don't want to burst your bubble or anything but Edward doesn't really exist. And on top of that, he's a vampire for crying out loud. If you want to hear a true romance story, here's one from real life. One of the Doctors on my medical team is completing her residency in Nashville while her husband is off working in Allentown , PA. They spend most of their time apart and haven't seen each other for weeks. They miss each other terribly but the logistics of their work and completion of their training is keeping them apart for the time being. Angelia is a wonderful Christian Dr. that shares with me regularly about her faith, family, medical practice, and occasional updates on the hubby. Recently he was sent to Brazil on a business trip. He was scheduled to return last weekend. His last communication to her was that he would fly straight to Pennsylvania and report back to his ...

Attractive ...I don't use the word much, but I'm gonna start !!!  That's a good valentine's resolution. Attractive is most often used in context of the lady folk. I should know. I'm surrounded by 3 beauties myself. Angie and my 2 daughters are quite the lookers. Alora too! A man said to his wife after she had a fender bender, "How can a woman be so beautiful and so dumb...? " The wife responded smartly, "Well, God made me beautiful so you would marry me, and God made me dumb so I would marry you." Ouch, that had to hurt! Tell your valentine you think they're attractive. See if it doesn't improve your standing. Titus 2:10 Say's, "In every way...make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." (NIV) "...good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God" (MSG)   You may not consider yourself as good looking but you are to God. And you can be the "handsome...

There's no greater joy than to witness someone placing their faith in Christ as Lord and Savior of their life. For some its the most frightening thing. I meet Christians that shun and even avoid opportunities to share Gods love. I certainly hope its only fear because shame is unacceptable. I'll admit that my first time talking about God with someone else was awkward, however talking about the wonderful things that God has done for you and can do for whosoever should eventually flow like a river. Let me share a  little information about myself. I was raised a preachers kid. My father was a lover of souls. His ministry centered on seeing others come to faith in Christ. His passion and love for others was his daily manna. My father weeping with the lost and rejoicing with those who found faith in Christ was something I observed  regularly. This was his life and ministry. It had a profound impact on my life and shaped my ministry. By the age of nineteen I ...

Sitting with an old friend, catching up with lost years, I asked if he had heard from past aquaintances. His response was, "Thats in the past. I don't live in the past. I'm looking forward." I knew exactly what he meant, and so did the Apostle Paul. Philippians 3: 13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus Someone said, "Dont look back, unless you plan to go that way." I appreciated my friends comment. Mistakes, failure, and regret had been pestering me all week. Presently God was doing many remarkable things all around me but an unhealthy consciousness of past history was preventing me from enjoying the present. I needed a little reminder about straining toward what was ahead. To err is human. To forgive is divine. Th...