God Does Miraculous Things With Average People

Yesterday I met a woman named Jackie, a professor who wrote five textbooks. She offered me some fruit cobbler and we sat down to talk. She asked about my illness so I shared my story,"Touched By The Hand Of God" with her. Then she said, "Don't be offended, but who are you to write an autobiography?" A question I asked myself prior to writing my book. The answer is: I'm just an average Joe. But that is the basis of my story. God does some miraculous things in the lives of average people like you and me.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty 1 Cor. 1:26-27 NKJV. 

I try not to look at myself and my weaknesses, but rather focus on Christ who is working in me to accomplish his will. He is able to accomplish all things because He is God. He works in the lives of those who submit to him thereby confounding the mighty of this world. 

"F... ing" Up All The Statistics

In the words of my gastroenterologist, "You F... up all our statistics." I hate four letter words, but in this case I say, "Praise God!" God has a way of confounding the smartest men. I don't believe I had anything to do with F... ing up my doctors statistics. I actually had more to do with getting myself into the dilemma I was in.

In 2002, I was diagnosed with cancer. Later the diagnosis was changed to Crohn's Ileitis- severe inflammation of the ileum. After everything that my doctors tried failed, I ended up in ICU on life support. But God has a way of intervening in our lives when things look most bleak. That is exactly what He did in my case. Surely by now, after spending time on life support and surviving three major surgeries, including exploratory surgery, something would have gone wrong, but God continues to befuddle wise men everywhere.

Dr. P., my gastroenterologist, recently said to me, "Joe, I'm going to start sending all my patients to Kentucky," thinking that my move to Kentucky back in 2004 had something to do with keeping me out of the hospital. I looked him in the eyes and said, "Doctor P, it's not Kentucky, it's the peace that surpasses all understanding."

I know who rescued me from the depths of darkness and brought me into His marvelous light; while I lay in bed unconscious and the hospital staff asked my wife if she wanted to donate my organs.  It was God who reached out His hand to touch me and heal me. It was God who raised me up from my deathbed after the wisest of men failed to prevent me from becoming deathly ill.

None of us is guaranteed a long healthy life without any difficulties. In fact, life is filled with hardship, sickness and trouble. But the lesson that God has taught me is that no matter how bleak life appears to be, there is a God who is the Creator of life, who sustains all things and who desires to share eternity with human beings everywhere. He is the Savior of mankind. Trust him wherever and whoever you are.  

You Must Be Born Again

The topic of being born again was brought up by none other than Jesus Christ (John 3:1-21) when Nicodemus, a religious leader, came to visit him one evening. Human beings can only bring forth more human beings, but God brings forth sons and daughters of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The process starts when we believe in the Son of God, Jesus who came to take away our sins and live within us.

Although the body will die, the Spirit gives life. It's the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 8:1-17). You are in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwells in you. If you don't have the Spirit of God, you are not a child of God. But if you are led by the Spirit of God than you are a child of God and an heir. The heir receives the inheritance, in this case the inheritance is eternal life. The slave or servant never receives the inheritance.

God never intended for us to remain the way we are. The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world so that God could bring us into his realm, the Spirit realm-being born again is the process that makes us children of God. 

Take Up Your Cross

Religion teaches blessings and cursings, but contrary to what religion teaches, Jesus taught his followers to take up the cross and follow Him. The cross is a symbol of suffering and following Christ is a life of suffering; not suffering for the bad choices we make, but suffering in Christ, because our life is in Christ. Those who live outside the United States, in hostile nations are familiar with this suffering.

In addition, the cross also symbolizes suffering with others who are sick, grieving and traveling through the valley of the shadow of death. Those who believe in the religious teaching of blessings and cursings, are setting themselves up for failed expectations. The moment something doesn't work out the way the one who believes in this teaching thought it should work out, is the moment that this one begins to doubt. They might go back and try to figure out what went wrong. They might then decide to work harder at "getting it right." After all their attempts at getting it right fail, they might then begin to question God and ask, "Why are you letting these bad things happen to me?"

The truth is God is sovereign and becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is committing to a life of suffering. Jesus said, "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27 NKJV). Why would one commit to a life of suffering? In the words of the Apostle Paul, "For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18 NKJV). 

Dedication to my friend Clinton Tuck

Yesterday I presented Clinton with a copy of my book, "Touched By The Hand Of God." I customized it for him and put it in a loose-leaf binder. Clinton Tuck, Rod Kennedy and Ernie Hughes (now deceased) were instrumental in helping me complete my autobiography. I wasn't able to finish the book until I met these three wonderful men. I met each of them in the local nursing homes. All three have inspired me so very much that I dedicated the final chapter of my book titled, "Location, Location, Location," to them. Touched By The Hand Of God, is available in digital format at Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39345 and other online eBook retailers like Apple i Bookstore and Kindle.

From the gospel according to Matthew 26:20-75

Based on our own love, we are just like the Apostle Peter who said (paraphrasing), "Lord I am willing to die with you." Jesus responded, "Peter how about just praying with me for an hour." Jesus went to pray and came back and there he found Peter with the other disciples, sleeping. Jesus responded, "Hello Peter, Peter, wake up Peter. Peter can you pray with me an hour?" Jesus goes away again to pray, overwhelmed with sorrow and when he returns, again He finds Peter fast asleep. Based on our own efforts to love, we all fall short and are just like Peter before He received the gift of God, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Paul said, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" Gal. 2:20.

Happiness Is Fleeting

Can it be that so many people are depressed today because they are trying to obtain happiness? Can happiness even be attained? It seems to me it's a never ending struggle and it's idolatry. If life is based on achieving happiness, than everything evolves around me. I focus all my efforts on being happy.  It's self centered not Christ centered. Yet we as human beings have been duped into thinking that's what life is about. Have you heard the saying,"Whatever makes you happy?" A Christ centered life is centered on Jesus Christ. The mystery of the gospel is: Christ in you the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). The gospel: Christ is in you and in me, gives us joy, a fruit of the Spirit. Joy endures forever. It's not transitory like happiness. Christ in us is long-suffering with others. Our life in Christ is about suffering with others and for others. It's the greatest love that Jesus spoke of, that a man should lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). The love of God, Christ in us, expresses Himself through long-suffering. In life most of us will experience times of happiness, sadness and grieving. Yet throughout life and into eternity we can experience joy in Christ. This is the gospel, it's good news for everyone who has ears to hear.