Bridge Builders

Visits with my patients big and small end with a lollipop.  Most say thank you, others must be cajoled into submission.  Many a parent has admonished their two year old to tell the doctor thank you. There have been some hard nosed toddlers unable or unwilling to bring themselves to utter a word despite the loving care they received, treats offered and promise of a sticker when they depart.  Actually, it is pretty understandable for a two year old not to acknowledge a blessing with praise and thanksgiving.  A child figures, I have what I wanted, why praise? 2 Samuel 22:2-4 22  Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2  And he said: [ a ] “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3  The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My S...

Zip Lines are relatively safe.  At least, that's what I was told at the top of a 350 foot platform in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The fact that the tree we were standing in was swaying to and fro was considered a good sign that the tree would not fall.  Bea, our guide said she should we catch us but if not, the line would hold until we could be pulled back up.  We would not dangle for too long.  Why did I keep swinging from tree to tree following a woman I did not know, wearing gear I had never seen before swinging from cables connected to one hundred year old trees? What's worse, no one mentioned a safety certificate or current inspection sticker.  It's amazing, how we nonchalantly put our trust in man.  The fall is long and hard when trust is misplaced.                                             Psalm 146:3-5 ...

Dire consequences await those who cross the line set by God.  His patience is infinite but He can also choose to set a limit.  When the boundary is breached, not even a prayer from Old Testament intercessors, Moses or Samuel can turn back the wrath of God.  Deliberate, unrepentant sin drives us away from our loving Father.  A time will come when an anguished plea for leniency will be for naught.  Far away from God, one asks the question “Where shall I go?”  It’s a sad state of affairs when God relays a message akin to “drop dead.” Jeremiah 15:1-7 15  Then the  Lord  said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!  2  And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the  Lord  says: “‘Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for star...

When is a service contract ready for signing?  Should all aspects of the job be delineated and every possible scenario put in writing?  Does it make sense to sign a blank contract with a highly respected company on faith alone?  Is it trust or naivety to agree to perform a service without knowing the details?  Who signs a contract without counting the cost? Isaiah 6:8a Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” God extends an opportunity to serve Him.  The contract for service may be blank.  Sometimes He sends us out without a written job description or concrete expectation of what He wants us to do.  Who accepts an unnamed, unexplained assignment? According to Isaiah 6:1-7, three transforming revelations happened before a blank contract was signed.  First, Isaiah saw the holiness of God, high and lifted up.  Only then was he able to see his own sinfulness. Lastly, his heart w...