I was reminded this weekend of an article I read last summer about how Temple University is combating violence in North Philadelphia.  I've had the privilege to work alongside the surgeon who spearheaded this program.

"You have the rest of your lives to make decisions that will keep you from losing your lives around this [trauma] bay.  Don't put 15 minutes in the hands of our trauma surgeons and expect them to bring you back the life that you squandered."

Gripping

Relevant

Loving.

What about your soul?

Is it like that body lying on the gurney?  

Are you risking the loss of your own soul?  

What decisions will you make this week to keep you from losing your soul?

Don't think that you have the rest of your life to repent of those decisions.

"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  Matthew 16:26

What are you exchanging for your soul?

Security?

Affluence?

Family?

Entertainment?

Where's your cross?  Pick it up and lets get going...

Good Friday

As much as I dislike the use of modern writings and drama to describe the events of the crucifixion, sometimes they help to add an element of reality.  If guided by the Word of God these alternate stories can help our minds wrap around its infinite meaning.

This one is rather old and contains unrealistic medical science fiction, but it certainly allowed me to implant myself into the story and capture the application.  I believe it was written specifically for Christians to combat our complacency.

Daddy

Children have great attachment for their primary caregivers. Typically they are "mommy" and "daddy." It's an expression of endearment and intimacy. Probably my most vivid memories of children crying "mommy" or "daddy" are when they're hurt or when mommy or daddy can't be found. When it's used as a cry, it displays a great dependence upon "mommy" or "daddy," a longing, a strong desire for their presence and their help.

The word "daddy" is used in the Bible. It's "Abba." It's used in three places. The first is when Jesus cries out in Gethsemane to let the cup of God's wrath pass from him.

“Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)

As the weight of taking upon the wrath of God poured began to sink heavily upon Him, Jesus cried out to His Father.

The other two uses of the word "daddy" are by Paul in his letter to the Romans and the Galatians. Both refer to our adoption into the family of God. Romans 8:14 speaks that as sons and daughters of God we are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit also confirms that we are children of God (v. 16).
Galatians clarifies that a little bit more. The Spirit is sent into our hearts to enable us to cry with the same intimate, dependent voice "Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6) Yes indeed, the God who justified and adopted us now sanctifies us from within, not from the outside, but from the heart...the organ that affects the entire body. He synchronizes our heartbeats with His so ours can thrive from the strength of His. From within us, the Spirit cries for deeper intimacy with our Father. His desires become ours and we are enabled by the Spirit of His Son to draw closer.

So this Easter season, look for ways the Spirit is crying in your heart "daddy." Don't ignore them, respond.

God's Heart

During a complete physical exam of the heart in addition to listening with a stethescope, one must feel for the point of maximal impulse (PMI).  The location of the PMI is typically at the apex or tip of the heart as it extends to the patient's left side.  Depending on the size of the patient and their heart the PMI may be difficult to find, but there's no doubt once you do.  On a healthy patient it's a strong and steady pounding.

It's hard to get to know someone's heart if they're not your patient.  You can't just walk up to any guy or girl on the street and ask to feel for their PMI (please don't try this).  Nor is it easy for someone's emotional heart to open up to you--it takes time, gentleness, and trust.

But here is a heart that is wide open, on exhibit.  You can touch, you can listen, you can experience this heart.  Thomas Goodwin wrote of it,  "The heart of Christ displays the heart of God.  Take your hand and put it on the breast of Christ...and you will find it racing at the sight of you."

The cross is the best display of God's heart; it is where you can feel his heart beat strongest.  

Passionately examine, study, and live God's heart.  

Oh to have that same heart beating in my chest!

Definitions

Definitions in medicine are very exact and complete.  Definitions of a tagged item during an anatomy practical exam are often:  "posterior circumflex humoral nerve," "superficial branch of the radial nerve," or "ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery."  A change or omission in any of these key words would completely change the definition.  I was fortunate to learn these definitions from some of the oldest and well spoken anatomy professors in the history of modern medicine as well as Netter's Atlas of Anatomy which is considered by many to be the bible of anatomy images.

So, where do you get the definition of your words from?  From pop culture?  From your friends, your professors, your church?  How accurate are those definitions?

There is one word that for the past few years has disturbed me: love.

The dictionary's definition:  

(n).  A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness; A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; The emotion of sex and romance; An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object; A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. 

If love is ineffable then the only way to truly define love is to view its actions, not analyze the feelings.

God's definition:  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)  God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) 

"See how I love you.  There is my Son, see Him hanging on that cross, naked, mocked, and tortured--taking your sin.  Look, the sky is dark, I have forsaken My Son, He's crying out to Me but I'm turning My ear away so that you can come into My presence.  Come, I just tore that thick curtain in the temple down.  You can freely come to me.  Sinner, look at Love.  Look at pierced hands.  Look at pierced feet.  Look at a pierced side.  Look, the Creator of life has died. Come close, look at Love."

I want that definition because it's not shallow or esoteric.  It's real.

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.  And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (1 John 3:16)