Share the good news while there is yet time

 

^{Matthew 24:8 "Jesus immediately went on to explain some of the signs to come, such as wars, rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, false teachers, and the persecution of Christians. We are seeing all of these things today, including nations fighting nations, and He described them as the beginning of birth pangs."}

Lord, I thank you for Your word, for prophecies fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled. May Your faithfulness in my life, as well as signs of Your return for Your church, inspire me to a sense of urgency so I am eager to share the gospel to those in the dark.

Moonshot features creation story: 1968

 
It was the night before Christmas in 1968 when the Apollo 8 astronauts beamed back a message for “the good Earth” while circling the moon. NASA Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first to orbit the moon on Dec. 24, 1968. NASA managers had told the Apollo 8 astronauts to prepare to share some words with the world that would be broadcast around the globe. The crew was given the creative freedom to choose what to say but were told “to do something appropriate,” Borman said in a 2008 interview. With that in mind, they chose to read the first 10 verses of the Book of Genesis from the Bible:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
 

Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” God made the expanse, and separated the waters that were below the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse; and it was so. God called the expanse “heaven.” And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. And God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the waters He called “seas”; and God saw that it was good.”

USAF Maj. Gen. (ret) Anders now calls Anacortes home. He is founder of the Heritage Flight Museum in Burlington.

Photos: Astronauts James (Jim) Lovell, Frank Borman, and William (Bill) Anders pose for a portrait in their space suits on November 22, 1968, just less than a month before they would orbit the Moon. Astronaut Anders, courtesy of Heritage Flight Museum.

God's handiwork

A rare period of snow and ice has me "restricted" in terms of photography opportunities this week. So it is I began looking around the house for options. I didn't have to look far. On a table by a living room window is this beautiful orchid, displaying its tropical beauty even as we prepare for Christmas. Take the photo, match with a scripture and you have it -- my newest eCard.

Wait for the Lord

 

Time together in the Word

 

Is there anything better than reading the Bible out loud with a loved one?

A friend of mine shared with me not long ago that he and his wife have been starting the day with Scripture and prayer.

I recently committed to a 90-day reading of the New Testament, and my wife jumped at the suggestion we share some of those readings together. When we do, we take turns reading, and it is a coveted time.

One of our shared readings recently was Matthew 19 regarding marriage. “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Love and marriage are precious gifts, part of God’s design for those He created in His own image. May we always be eager to share our “oneness” in Bible study, conversation and prayer.

Isaiah 55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Listen to the Lord, live securely

 

Gospel message not complicated

 This "gospel in a nutshell" Scripture is worth memorizing.

'I AM HE'

 A year ago we visited the "Bavarian village" of Leavenworth in eastern Washington. Among the photos I took was this shot of the misty mountains to the west. I designed this scripture card with cellphones in mind. Makes a great screensaver.

Humility in Christ

 

My wife was excited to see this fragile splash of color as one of her orchids bloomed even as cold days become shorter.

I saw the flowers and thought immediately of what a great image it would make for a scripture card. After partnering with this verse from Micah I was pleasantly surprised to hear two people respond by declaring: "That's one of my favorite Bible verses!"

Thank you, Lord, for once again affirming my habit of sharing your word in conjunction with photography, one of my passions.

Never too young

I have been privileged on numerous occasions in the past to feature some of my daughter's writings, inspired by her love for Jesus. Her desire always is to share the gospel with others, to see God honored and glorified. Today I have the honor of featuring a speech presented by her 15-year-old daughter, our precious granddaughter Hallie. How priceless to share a love of the Lord with family!

My fellow classmates:

Teens and young adults ought to participate in ministry, as God commands all believers to serve others. Obedience to God’s call to ministry produces joy within the heart of all believers, including young people.

What I mean by ministry is utilizing the gifts God has given by helping and serving those within the church body as well as those in the community. Even though youthful, we as students, have gifts to offer.

1 Timothy 4:12 states: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

As young men and women of Christ, we as students, must utilize our gifts that Christ has given us to show others the love of the Lord working through us in our actions and speech.

Society often pressures teens toward self-centered ideals. Will we continue to be distracted or will we, as young believers, stand firm in Christ for his glory, thus experiencing true joy that comes through the only Son of God?

We must obey the call even though ministry can be challenging. The Lord commands believers, through His servant Paul, in Colossians 3:17 stating: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

One day life will end and we will give an account of our life here on earth. I pray that we will not let our youthfulness hinder the call we have as believers in Christ. Instead, that we will go and serve willingly.

Remember, living the Christian life is not about doing for Christ, but letting Christ live His life in and through you; Christ alone does the work. Will we let Him work through us? I pray we do!

Hallie Tyhuis

Inspired counsel

 Remember those who shared with you about Jesus. Express your love and gratitude to those who are still with you.

Eternal fate determined before death

Luke 16:19-31

“Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

"Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ 

"But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’

"And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

"But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Note: Jesus did not present this story as a parable, and in no other parable did Jesus actually name an individual (as the poor man is here named). We have every reason to believe that Jesus gave us an actual case history, one He knew from His eternal perspective. (Bible commentator David Guzik)

 

 

I shall not die but live

 In an instant, without warning, I was gone.

At 10:30 on a Saturday night I suffered a cardiac arrest, lifeless in our bed as my wife called 9-1-1.

But God had a different plan, a supernatural plan.

In the next 48 hours He orchestrated a series of events, employing dozens of professionals, family and friends as “instruments” in His plan to restore my life.

First among the miracles on this journey was the fact that my wife LaDonna was with me when my heart stopped. Typically I am the first to retire for the night. This night, however, she was lying beside me when she suddenly heard sounds like I was fighting for breath.

An instant later I was gone, the body’s electrical system turned off, no blood pumping to keep brain and body working.

As I have no memory of the days immediately before and after the cardiac arrest, this story primarily reflects the experiences of others.

“Don’t go,” LaDonna whispered after realizing I was not breathing. She briefly left the room to call 9-1-1.

She prayed the first of many prayers as the dispatcher put out an ambulance call. It was about nine minutes before a team of responders arrived. They immediately shoved furniture out of the way and transferred my body to the floor to begin chest compressions.

Intravenous lines were established at several points in my body and miscellaneous drugs were administered. After seven jolts from electric “paddles,” my heart began to beat again. I was quickly moved to a gurney and placed in the ambulance for a 30-minute drive to Skagit Valley Hospital.

Another of "my miracles," we were told later by one of the responders, was the timing of their availability. If the 9-1-1 call to our house had been made 15 minutes earlier, all of the city’s responders were unavailable, engaged on another call. They were actually on the road from that event when they received the call to my home.

Two police officers who had responded to the 9-1-1 call stayed with LaDonna until a dear friend and his teenage son arrived at our home. Father and son, long-time friends from church, ministered to LaDonna as daughter and son-in-law Kirsten and Brian scrambled to make the trip from North Whidbey Island to Anacortes. Friends and family soon connected before the drive to the ER in Mount Vernon.

Where a sense of despair and helplessness would have been understandable, home and then cars were filled with the sweet sounds of scriptures and prayer.

“We prayed all the way to the hospital,” my daughter recalls. “We told the Lord we trust Him. We read Bible verses, prayed for Mom, and surrendered you.”

When family arrived at the emergency room I was on a ventilator, still unconscious. They were informed that only LaDonna would be allowed to see me. Brian and Kirsten were reading Psalm 34 when my son Mark and daughter-in-law Kimber arrived after an anxious 45-minute drive. Brother Rich had also made the drive.

As all waited, daughter Kirsten read Psalm 33:18-22: “Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have waited for You.”

A doctor delivered a grim prognosis. Meanwhile I tested positive for COVID so I was moved to isolation, where efforts to save my life continued.

Because of the possibility of death, a nurse was dispatched, making the “exception” to allow son and daughter to join their mother to spend time with their father. There, in the only time they would have with their unconscious father for the next two days, they stroked his hair and spoke in his ear.

“I love you so much Dad,” said Mark. “I want you to stay, but if it’s God’s will for you to go home, then it’s okay. We’ll take care of Mama. It’ll be okay.”

“I prayed that God would use you as a miracle,” Kirsten recalled. “Man so often says ‘Where is your God? Things are the same as they always were.’ But I kept thinking, ‘Lord Jesus, we trust You, but we ask for healing to Your glory.’ I whispered in your ear that I loved you, and told you we’d take care of Mom.”

Kirsten then read 1 Corinthians 15:40-44: “There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”

She whispered the 23^rd Psalm in her father’s ear.

Kirsten recalls: “The medical team scurried around the room as we waited for the doctor. They asked us to think what we would like to do in regard to artificial life support. Mom responded, ‘How do I know what to do? How can I make this decision?’ I suggested to her that we don't have to make any decisions. God is the One who decides. He gives and He takes away.”

“I reminded Mom that we can trust Jesus moment by moment and that is the best decision to make,” she continued. “We told them we didn't want to hold onto you, if it's not God's will, then He would take you home. Mom nodded her head.”

Kirsten said: “I remember scanning the room and thinking, ‘Lord! Look at all these souls! Use this for your glory. These people watch patients die every day, but I'm not sure these men and women see many patients come back to life. Lord, show people that You still raise the dead, you are still in the healing business’.”

At about 3 a.m., all were asked to leave the isolation room due to the COVID diagnosis. Everyone was sent home.

“We were not allowed to see you after that,” Kirsten recalls.

There was a stop in Anacortes early Monday for a few hours to sleep, then on to Whidbey Island, where Mark and Kimber rejoined the family in waiting. More sleep and the sharing of a meal.

On Monday evening, with me still unresponsive at the hospital, calls were made inviting friends to gather for prayer. As one young man played hymns on the piano, 21 brothers and sisters in Christ prayed.

“We asked that God’s name would be glorified,” Kirsten recalls. “We prayed that you would be healed so that others might come to know Jesus as Lord and King of their lives. We gave thanks, we praised, we trusted. We clung to God’s promises.”

A phone call to the hospital later that night brought the news that I had regained consciousness even as the group prayed. I had opened my eyes and tracked the nurse as she moved through the room.

“You wiggled your toes, squeezed the nurse’s hand when she asked you to,” family was told.

Now off the ventilator, it was time for more divine intervention.

I had recovered from COVID a few months earlier, and showed no symptoms before the cardiac arrest. Although family requested it, a second COVID test was refused. Kirsten went to the hospital website, reviewed a patient rights section, and called another number to explain the situation.

On the other end of that call was a Christian woman, who called back. She listened to Kirsten’s frustrated appeal and said she would see about administering another COVID test.

“She prayed with me and for me,” Kirsten recalled. “She was a lovely example of Christ's love hidden in the craziness of hospital bureaucracy.”

On Wednesday the second test came back negative. Then a third, paving the way for me to be moved out of isolation to a room in the Intensive Care unit.

The first time my wife and family had seen me after I regained consciousness was in a video call, one of several that would be scheduled while on-site visits were prohibited.

In the days that followed, one person at a time from family was allowed to spend time with me (again, general hospital COVID restrictions).

On March 24 I had a stent placed in a partially blocked artery. That day during her visit Kirsten took the opportunity to talk to a nurse.

“The nurse pointed at you and said, ‘I sometimes see people come back … but not like that’,” said Kirsten. “You were smiling and pushing your walker back to your bed. The nurse said she did not recognize you as the same patient she had seen a few days ago.”

On March 28 I had a defibrillator/pacemaker placed in my chest, and on Wednesday, 10 days after arriving unconscious by ambulance, I was released to go home.

Seven months later, as I reflect on this story of God’s miraculous intervention in my life, I am thankful for this expression of His love and healing power. I hurt for my loved ones who were initially given little hope for my survival. They did not despair, however, and turned my fate over to God. I will forever be grateful for their love, prayers and devotion to God’s will, God’s glory.

I am also grateful for the countless brothers and sisters who lifted my name up in prayer. My faith in the power of prayer was reinforced at a very personal level.

I am grateful that despite the long minutes without heart activity I did not suffer cognitive or physical damage. (Photo below is me (center) and two of the emergency responders who got my heart pumping again and delivered me for hospital treatment.)

As I continue to move forward in these months of recovery, I celebrate. I give Jesus thanks each day and continue to ask, “What is your will for me? Will you lead me, giving me the words, inspiring the actions that will glorify Your name? I thank you, Lord, for the gift of life and the opportunity to continue to serve You.”

By Steve Berentson

 

Notes: Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. SCA leads to death in minutes if the person does not get help right away. According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, survival after emergency medical treatment is 9%, and survival with good functional status is 7%. SCA is the third leading cause of death in the nation, affecting 1,000 people outside hospital settings each day. Approximately 356,000 people of all ages experience EMS-assessed out-of-hospital non-traumatic SCA each year and nine out of 10 victims die.