A warm faith story about how my son got his wallet back

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:46

Every one of us has lost their billfold, their keys, or for the woman their make up bag from time to time. On Sunday we met my son and his wife at the local Perkin's where we had a wonderful time catching up on their jobs while enjoying a meal.

It was also our son's 'gotcha day. The day we completed our adoption by receiving him to our care in Cuenca, Ecuador. Each year we celebrate is an occasion of giving him a card with words of affirmation, along with a few gifts while wishing him 'happy gotcha day'.

Our son mentioned that he had misplaced his wallet, but he had some ideas where it might be. I silently prayed to our father in heaven that He find a way of returning his wallet to him.

Shortly after nine that night I noticed that my son had tried to reach me. The next morning I learned that at 9:00 pm Sunday evening, he and his wife were watching a movie when there was a knock at the door. When he opened the door there was a Roseville police officer standing on the other side of the storm door. When he opened the door to the officer the officer told him that a homeless man found his wallet in the restaurant they ate at on Friday night. After verifying his identity he returned the wallet over to our son.

The Roseville police officer said the homeless man had walked 5 miles to the local Roseville police station to turn in the missing wallet- a sizeable distance for him to do on foot. While one officer drove to their apartment, the other one drove the homeless man to where he could stay for the night.

So often the homeless, or refugees, for that matter become open season for criticizing and insult slinging. We tell the homeless to get a job without taking the time to listen to their story of what happened to them that lead to their homelessness. We cast insults to our immigrants by telling them to go home without listening to their stories of what lead them to our shores.

If all of us would love those we find unloveable or take the time to sit down and listen to their stories just maybe we can make the world a better place.

In only a few weeks, the church I attend will be having an evening of listening to our immigrants to share their stories of what happened to them as they came to America.

Incidentally, my son said nothing was taken from his billfold. My prayers for the homeless gentleman who trudged 5 miles to do the right thing that blessings will finally come pouring out to him from heaven.

I discovered this morning the connection between stress hormones and glucose.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

As many of you may know I'm watching and lowering my glucose sugar.  I discovered this morning the delicate relationship between our stress hormones and it's effects on glucose.  This morning when I took our black Labrador retriever outside to do its business he jerked hard on his collar and ran away without it.  I had nothing but a loose collar connected to the leash which now rested on the ground with Sargon making a mad dash across the street.  The chase was on.  I could feel my stress hormones kicking in as I tried to figure out a plan to 'capture' him.  I walked over to our neighbors who also had a black labrador named molly who was also a runner. Coincidentally, Molly and Sargon come from the same litter.  The City of Coon Rapids police department was notified to be on the lookout of this renegade dog. 

One hour later, our next neighbor, Shane, who has a way with retrieving renegade dogs saw Sargon whistling at the same time and asking him if he wanted to go for a ride.  Sargon wagged his tail and ran cheerfully over to Shane who was able to get a collar on him before he knew what was happening. 

 When things settled down I typed in the words will stress increase blood glucose levels. The response I received was 'yes' as the stress hormone rises it will trigger an enormous increase in the glucose levels.   As I read those words I thought about all the comfort food we eat when we are feeling down that comes with grieving a loss. At the same time, our energy level declines while sleep becomes our greatest comfort. Too many sweets and not enough exercise will ultimately lead to illness and disease.  

This is why I recommend that everyone experiencing the loss of someone special to see their primary doctor so they can follow you on your journey.  Once this is done I encourage everyone to really work on the emotional ramifications of their loss through a individual therapy and or grief support groups like Grief share.org. Grief share is a group that teaches you to go through the pain, not around it.  Lastly, I encourage those suffering from this pain to develop an exercise plan to keep your stress hormones to a minimum.

I also urge you to get involved in a bible believing church where you can benefit from the pastoral teaching and fellowship with other believers.

As you do those things, in time, you will see the successful completion of your journey.

For better or for worse, in sickness and in health until death do we part

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up. Ecclesiastes 4

When we were much younger it was hard to see the sickness or the worse of times in our lives. We were two people in love who made a commitment before God that we would always be there for each other.  We were planning trips together to see close friends and distant family members. Life was going to one celebratory event to another celebratory event. We celebrated each others lives from the birth of children to baptisms, to music recitals.   Our commitment to each other went beyond the better and it certainly went beyond good health.

I heard that some couples were dropping the 'in sickness and in health from their marriage vows. Those with money were drawing up pre-nuptial agreements as though they left the door ajar in case something didn't work out in their relationship.  I admire people who stay committed to their spouses through the most difficult times of their lives. I admire this quality in people because it reveals their strength of character.

There is a joy when we see the continuation of our marriage relationship through trying times.  Regardless of whether it is cancer, heart disease, or any number of other debilitating health problems, when we stay committed to our spouse we will see God blessing us in so many ways from a stronger bond to watching little miracles take place. 

God wants to have a loving relationship with each of you. His indwelling holy spirit is available to reside in you if you would only ask Christ to come into your heart.  When two people who love Jesus with all their heart they each have the indwelling Spirit that is ready to guide them through those unforeseen turbulent times that lie ahead.

The best thing any couple can do is stay committed to Christ while attending a bible believing Christian church nearby.  You will see our living and breathing Savior guiding your paths and being a comfort for your souls.

The lyrics from Jim Croce's song, Time in a Bottle, resonates with me as we watch the New Year ushered in.

This was a post I wrote several years ago, but, I think, helps us to cherish the present moments of our lives.

Jim Croce was one of my favorite artists when I was in high school. The song that I especially liked was 'If I could save time in a bottle'. At the time I heard that song I was facing many life decisions as a young person. What do I do after high school? Where should I go to college? What kind of career will I have? Who should I marry? These decisions were hard to think about and in some ways, I just wanted to freeze time and stay just the way I was at the time. Alas, that isn't the way it works.

It is as though from the time we are born we are placed on a moving sidewalk where he passes through phases of life. There are moments we wished the sidewalk would move slower so we could savor the moment and there are moments where we wish it would go faster to escape those unbearable moments.

Time has a way of healing our brokenness. It has a way of lessening the pain we feel toward our losses. As each new phase comes upon us we are drawn to those moments. The birth of a child. The marriage of a daughter. Rediscovering the love of your life. Going on a short term missions trip. All of these bring renewed excitement into our lives.

Living in the present helps us to discover the joys of living. Thanking God for the memories of our loved ones who have left us and then focusing on those who are with us gives us a reason to keep on living. Tonight, I decided to stay home and have a movie night with my son. We ordered Jet's pizza and watched the Planet of the Apes. I also called my wife who stayed several days later with her family than I could to wish her a happy new year. It is our loved ones who are here that give us a reason to enjoy life and to live.

No longer in high school, I have come to appreciate the lyrics to Jim Croce's song. As I continue on this moving sidewalk I will continue to be drawn to the present moments that give me the joy of living.

Happy new year everyone!