Monday (4/27/2014)

Update:

I had a great time at Arrowhead Bible Camp’s (ABC) Archery Retreat on Saturday.  The weather was near perfect and getting to shoot my bow and spend time in the great outdoors is always wonderful.  The camp let me use my ATV on the 3-D course because of limitations on my walking.  I rode the ATV between the targets.  I’d get off the ATV, walk a few steps to get into the shooting lane, and after shooting then climb back up on the ATV.  My buddy, Ryan, took good care of me by pulling my arrows all day.  If they hadn’t of let me use my ATV, I wouldn’t have been able to shoot the course.  Thanks ABC!

After the evening meal, awards were given out for the 3-D competition.  I pointed out to the Camp Director that I could have taken advantage of a loophole in the competition instructions.  The rules stated that at each station, “the shooter must have one foot touching the numbered stake when shooting.”  I pointed out that I could have removed my prosthetic leg, placed it against the stake and then got as close as I needed to the targets so I could shoot a perfect score.  While my score wasn’t bad, it was obvious that I had not taken advantage of the loophole during the competition.  :-)  

After the awards, I spoke to the men about how my relationship with God was foundational to me maintaining a positive mental perspective throughout my live changing difficulties.  My challenge to them was to establish and build a relationship with God now so that when the day of disaster hits in their lives, they are ready to respond and overcome all obstacles.

Even being careful to not overdo it, I was beat by the time I got home and unloaded everything late Saturday night.  Being outdoors all day after getting up at 4:30 a.m. and then finally getting to bed at 10:15 p.m., I had absolutely no trouble going to sleep that night!

I had a good morning at church and a nice lunch afterwards.  I was really tired afterwards so I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon nap, worked on this Update and then spent time with my wife, Karen, for the rest of the evening.

On Monday, I have three medical appointments—a full day.  At 9:45 a. m., I have an appointment with my physiatrist, Dr. Schmidt.  I am hoping that she will give me approval to ride my motorcycle.  Then at 11 a.m., I met with my prosthetist, Leah.  This is a check up to see how my new leg is fitting.  I am also supposed to bring a pair of my work boots to see if they will work with my prosthetic leg.  Then at 1:45 p.m., I have an appointment with my retina specialist, Dr. Wu to get an injection in my left eye.  That will leave me unable to read until sometime on Tuesday afternoon.  Overall, my vision has been improving with treatment—so I will gladly put up with the minor inconvenience of my vision temporarily disrupted a day or two a month.

With my scheduled eye treatment, I won’t be able to post an Update/Thought on Tuesday (4/29).  My next post will be on Wednesday (4/30).

Thought for the Day:

I was born and raised in Missouri, known as the “Show Me” state. 

“The slogan is not official, but is common throughout the state and is used on Missouri license plates.  The most widely known legend attributes the phrase to Missouri's U.S. Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1897 to 1903. While a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs, Vandiver attended an 1899 naval banquet in Philadelphia. In a speech there, he declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me." Regardless of whether Vandiver coined the phrase, it is certain that his speech helped to popularize the saying.”  [Jason Kander, Missouri Secretary of State website].

During my devotional time, I read John 20:24-29 about the Apostle Thomas refusing to believe the other Apostles’ account of seeing the risen Lord Jesus.   I’ve always thought of Thomas as the “original person from Missouri” because he wouldn’t believe their account of Jesus being alive unless he himself personally saw and touched Jesus.  I mean, could you really blame Thomas for being skeptical?  After all, how many people do you personally know who died and then rose from the dead?  Everybody who I’ve seen dead are still dead.  So for me to believe someone’s claim of seeing the resurrected Jesus Christ—I’d want some up close and personal time with what I would expect would be an impostor posing as Jesus.

I think this account of Thomas’ doubt helps lend credibility to the gospel account.  If everyone just quietly accepted the word of a few witnesses, I might have some doubts too.  Thomas’ doubts act as a foil for us to express our own doubts and wonder.

At the end of the account after Thomas examines Christ’s body and responds in faith, Jesus has these words to say, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 ESV).

Do you realize that Jesus is talking about us as being the “Blessed” ones?  None of us have had an opportunity to physically examine Jesus and to talk with Him and yet we are called to believe that He has risen from the dead and now is alive in heaven, having taken His place as God the Father’s right-hand man.  

How can we do that?  Is there a logical basis for our faith or is this all wishful thinking from a bunch of weak-minded people?  Without going into great detail here, I would submit that we have several solid reasons to believe.

The first reason is the testimony of the Bible.  You might wonder how you can trust a document that was written by those who believed.  The events happened so long ago, how can you trust that this isn’t some fictional account?  Many skeptics have tried to disprove the bible’s claims by studying the evidence and ended up becoming believers themselves.  Josh McDowell’s “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” is a classic book detailing the reasons why it makes logical sense to believe rather than to doubt.

The second reason is the changed lives of the disciples.  As John 20 reveals, the disciples were scared after Jesus’ crucifixion and were hiding behind locked doors.  Then a short time later they are out boldly declaring their faith in public.  Paul details a number of hardships that he endured for his faith including imprisonment and several attempts at being stoned to death.  Church history reveals that eleven of the twelve Apostles died as martyrs—proclaiming their faith until the very end.  If this was a hoax or conspiracy, someone would have cracked and recanted their story; but they didn’t.

The third reason is the existence of the Christian faith.  If you look at its meager beginnings and the odd against it; it is amazing that the Christian faith is going strong and continuing to expand.  With Jesus’ death, the fledgling faith should have died off; but instead it continues to grow and gather more adherents.

The final reason is a personal, experiential one.  I believe.  I know that God is real and He is alive from personal experience.  He is THE difference maker in my life.  I have seen countless evidences of His existence and involvement in my life.  And it is not just me.  There are millions of other people who would say the same thing. 

I know that all of this actually proves nothing; but it strongly suggests that people should personally do a detailed study the claims of Jesus Christ and the first-hand accounts recorded in the bible before they discount its validity.  I have no problem with a “Doubting Thomas” as long as they are intellectually honest and have actually taken the time to discover for themselves whether the evidence warrants faith in God.

So let me boldly declare that I have and I have decided to believe in Jesus and to follow Him.  Even this good old boy from Missouri has seen enough evidence to believe.  I am a “Trusting Thomas” without personally ever having laid eyes on Jesus (yet).