On December 13th I Had A Heart Attack

Since the word of my heart attack began to spread, so many of you have written or called to let me know of your thoughts and prayers. This experience has reminded me again that those who love me check their facts before passing along a story. I'd like to take a few moments and give you some more information.

On Sunday evening, December 13th I was taken by ambulance from our home to Via Christi Medical Center. I had a severe heart attack. Kathy remembers much more of the details, but I remember telling her I loved her, asking her to tell several friends of my love for them and then saying "I don't think I'm going to make it." The next three hours are lost to me.

Once at the hospital, the tests began. They did a heart catheter and determined that I had significant blockage and told me that I needed at least four bypasses. Dr. Khicha didn't pull any punches, the heart surgery would be "high risk" and there was a one in three chance that I would not make it through.

As many of you know, the past year has been one hell of an adventure. Moving from serving within the church to living in the world has been the greatest of thrills. Scrapping Christianity and instead following Jesus has rescued and fortified my faith. Jesus has engaged in a vigorous renovation of my life from top to bottom - not a new coat of paint, but a deep movement of grace, truth, healing, forgiveness and the ability to forgive. Now he wanted to work on my other heart, too.

The idea of dying didn't frighten me, but it didn't thrill me either. I will be ready for the time, but I don't want to use the express lane, either.

Obviously, since I am writing this, the surgery went well. My heart is better than it was and the problems have been corrected. So far I have lost 27 pounds and I am healing well.

I have been reminded, as I have been reminded almost daily for the past year, that one of the ways the Father loves me is through the friends he has called around me. Some called, some texted, some wrote and some just came by and watched me age. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for believing the best about me.

Efficiency

Henry Ford once enlisted an efficiency expert to examine the operation of his company. While his report was generally favorable, the man did express reservations about a particular employee.

"It's that man down the corridor," he explained. "Every time I go by his office he's just sitting there with his feet on his desk. He's wasting your money." "That man," Ford replied, "once had an idea that saved us millions of dollars. At the time, I believe his feet were planted right where they are now."

Lost in Something

"It’s a lot easier for you to get out of the system than it is to get the system out of you. You can play it from inside and out. The approval you felt then came from the same source as the shame you feel now. That’s why it hurts so much when you hear the rumors or watch old friends turn away embarrassed. Truth be told, some of those people still really care about you. They just don’t know how to show it now that you no longer play on their team. They’re not bad people…just brothers and sisters lost in something that is not as godly as they think it is."

- From the book So You Don’t Want To Go To Church Anymore

by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman

Eight Ideas

1. The church is not a building nor is it an institution. The local churches are comprised of bands of followers of Jesus who meet together to strengthen and encourage one another.
2. There are more than one or two people who have the gifts of teaching and pastoring. Pastoring is a gift, not necessarily a career.
3. There is much more to following Jesus than adherence to a set of doctrines.
4. Following Jesus is not praying a prayer, which incidentally is not found in the Bible. The call of Jesus is always: “Follow me”?
5. Genuine, authentic relationships happen within the context of smaller groups.
6. Effective evangelism is not creating sanctified “safe houses” where nonbelievers can meet us. Jesus went into the world.
7. Spending millions of dollars on facilities and equipment is not wise stewardship.
8. More information is not going to cure the spiritual anemia in the Body of Christ.

The Problem With Religion

The Father revealed in Jesus Christ calls us to friendship with himself and with others. Religion often becomes the tired performance of rules and rituals. This old email was said to be sent to Dr. Laura in 2000. Though written with tongue firmly in cheek, it does highlight the difference between following Jesus as a friend and seeing Christianity as a religion.

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan

Ministry

Christians have certain phrases that are understood by other Christians. One word that is familiar to many is "ministry." We speak of the ministry in which we participate or the ministries of our church. The idea is that when we are ministering we are intentionally doing something spiritual. The problem with this is that following Jesus is something we should intentionally do all the time - not just now and then. It isn't a tool that we pick up and use in some circumstances. The ministry of Jesus is the life of Jesus. Your ministry is your life. Being spiritual is nothing more than living consistently in the Father's love and sharing that love with others. Today, as you live a life of love, you will minister in your home, in traffic, at the office, at QuikTrip and wherever else you happen to roam. Each time you treat others with respect, each time you genuinely listen and each time you offer hope and forgiveness, you are walking with Jesus. (Photo by Christopher Azzopardi)

Vital

The things that are important in the world are things that we often take for granted within churches. The core issues of forgiveness, acceptance, hope, salvation, reconciliation, mercy, etc. are not just “givens” in the real world. In the church, we often see these as so obvious – obvious to the point of being neglected. We talk about them a lot, but rarely take them seriously. But, if you want to follow Jesus into the real world, these are truths that matter. In the world outside your door, your doctrinal statement doesn't matter whatsoever. But, living a life of love, forgiveness, acceptance, mercy and hope will set you apart.