Fully Surrendered

 

Mark 10:13

How did the disciples get this so wrong? How could they have not known that Jesus welcomed the opportunity to bless these children? Assuming the book of Mark is somewhat in chronological order, this would have happened after the event described in Mark 9:36 where Jesus demonstrated his love for a child. How then did they not think He would make time for these children? And why didn’t they ask Him before dealing with the children according to their own understanding? This is what they thought was right and what they wanted but it was not what Jesus wanted. In fact, “He was greatly displeased…” (Mark 10:14)

I’ve read this verse many times before but reading it this time brought conviction. How many times have I done something that I thought was right and that I even thought was God’s will, only to find out it wasn’t? Those were times when I should have checked with God first before moving forward and doing what I thought was right. Those are also the times when I have found that even the “right thing” can be wrong, if I don’t get His opinion before lifting a finger.

As followers of Jesus, we must be careful not to make this mistake. We do not want to do something that we think is right only to find out it displeases God. To avoid this, we must get to know Him and be willing to ask Him what He wants done. We must ask how He wants to handle each situation in my life. We must then be fully surrendered.

Super Bowl LX

 

I was right about both games during the Conference Championships and now we turn our eyes towards Super Bowl LX. One last game in what has been a wild and entertaining season. Here’s how I think the season will end:

Seatle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots

Sunday 6:30PM on NBC

This Sunday we will get a matchup of two 14-3 teams. Both teams have been tested and have earned their way into the championship game. Both teams have proven that they can score and both can play defense. The Seahawks defense was tops when it came to keeping their opponents out of the endzone, but they will face a Patriots offense which is in the top five when it comes to explosive plays. Going the other way, the Patriots’ defensive line is one of the best, especially against the run but they will come up against an offense that at times can impose its will on any defense. I think this game comes down to two questions. Which Sam Darnold shows up on Sunday? And which defense will prove to be the stingiest, especially during what will likely be a tight fourth quarter? Defense wins championships and I think the Seahawks D outplays their counterpart from across the field:

Seahawks 24 Patriots 17

2025 NFL Conference Championships

 

Last weekend I went 4 for 4, making up for my dismal performance in the Wildcard Round. I do wish the Bears’ game had a different outcome but this season leaves me looking forward to the 2026 draft and to the upcoming season. In the meantime, we have the conference championships and I think our next to last Sunday of NFL football will be another good one. Here’s how I think things will play out:

New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos

Sunday 3:00PM on CBS

At the end of the Broncos game, I felt like they were well on their way to Super Bowl LX. And then I heard the news that Bo Nix will be out for the rest of the playoffs. So, the Broncos now look to their backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, and I’m not sure what to expect from their offense this Sunday. But then, of late the Patriots’ offense has been playing like they have a backup behind center. I think this one will come down to the defenses. For the Broncos to win, they will need to force multiple turnovers. I just don’t think they will be able to do enough, and I give a slight edge to the Patriots’ defense. The Patriots win the AFC:

Patriots 20 Broncos 13

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seatle Seahawks

Sunday 6:30PM on Fox

Division rivals face off in the NFC championship game. These teams split their regular season match ups. This one is simple as it comes down to Sam Darnold. Darnold does not have to have a spectacular game, but he does have to protect the football. Points will be at a premium for both teams and turnovers will be tough to overcome. I think Darnold is up to the challenge. I also think the Seahawks D-line will put pressure on Stafford, making up for what they didn’t do in their two regular season games. I think the Seahawks win once again at home and become NFC champs:

Seahawks 17 Rams 14

2025 NFL Divisional Round

 

Last weekend my picks were way off, nothing short of embarrassing, but I did say that I expected a lot of surprises during this year’s playoffs. I’m glad that I was wrong about one of my picks as the team I grew up watching, the Bears, was able to beat their longtime rivals and will host another playoff game this weekend. What will the divisional round look like? Here’s what I think:

Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos

Saturday 4:30PM on CBS

Coming off the bye, the Broncos are at home against the Bills, whom I picked against in the first round. I underestimated the Bills receivers which came up big last week but this week they face an even tougher secondary which will be helped by a good pass rush. The Bills will also bring a good defense with a secondary that is more than able to trouble a Broncos offense which at times seems to misfire and I think that will be the key. Will the Broncos offense be able to play up to par? I think the Broncos will be able to run the ball against the Bills defense and the Broncos defense will be able to hold up against a determined Bills team. The Broncos move on:

Broncos 21 Bills 20

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seatle Seahawks

Saturday 8:00PM on Fox

I saw a lot of unhappy passengers on my train ride to work this past Monday and I have been avoiding sports talk radio here in Philadelphia as I can just imagine what the conversations have sounded like. The 49ers came here and proved that they were the better team. Now they head up to Seattle where they will try to get a win against the #1 seed. I think the play calling for the Seahawks will be better than what the Niners saw last week and this will be a case where the differences in the defenses will be on display. The Seahawks will need to protect the ball as the Niners will need to force turnovers if they hope to win. I think the Seahawks win at home.

Seahawks 17 49ers 14

Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots

Sunday 3:00PM on ESPN

I picked against the Texans last week, which was a mistake and I suspect this is a 5^th seed that nobody wants to face. Their defense is for real and will pose yet another tough challenge for Drake Maye and the Patriots offense. I think this will be a low scoring affair and like so many of last week’s games, it will come down to the final drive. I also think the Patriots will move on with a chance to prove themselves against the #1 seed.

Patriots 13 Texans 10

Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears

Sunday 6:30PM on NBC

I feel like I should wait until the 2:00 warning to pick this one. I will not be shocked if the Bears are playing from behind once again and I’ll be pleasantly surprised if the Bears once again come back. I hope I’m wrong again this week, but I think this is the end of the line. This Rams team will put points on the board as will the Bears offense. This time though, I think the Rams will put the Bear in a hole that is just too deep to climb out of. The Rams will get another shot at one of their division rivals.

Rams 35 Bears 21

I’m not sure if this weekend will be able to top last weekend when it comes to exciting games, but it will come close. Hopefully, my Bears surprise me once again. What are your thoughts?

 

2025 NFL Wildcard Weekend

 

The 2025 NFL season was full of surprises and I suspect the playoffs will be more of the same. This is a situation where the saying, “anything can happen in the playoffs,” applies and I think 10 of the 14 teams have a legitimate shot at winning it all. The first step in doing so for twelve of those teams comes this weekend in the Wildcard round. Which teams will survive and play in the next round? Here’s what I think:

Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers

Saturday 4:30PM on Fox

By virtue of winning their division the Panthers get a home playoff game, coming in as the 4 seed in the AFC. In most years the 4-5 matchup is unpredictable, but I don’t think that will be the case in this game. Yes, I know that the Panthers beat the Rams back in November, but this is one time when I don’t think you can apply much from that previous game. The Rams come in ranked #1 in points per game and yards per game. On defense the Rams are 7^th in total number of sacks by the defense and 5^th in turnover differential. Unlike their previous game, I think there is just too much for the Panther to overcome. The Rams move on:

Rams 35 Panthers 14

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

Saturday 8:00PM on Prime

I grew up watching the Bears, suffering through several bad years. So, I thoroughly enjoyed watching them win the NFC North this season. I especially enjoyed the come from behind overtime win against the Packers. Unfortunately, (and it pains me to say it) I think the fun ends this weekend. I think that both offenses put on a show this weekend. Can the Bears force any turnovers? They will need to do so if they are going to win. While statistically the Bears are better on paper, I fear the Packers will be better this weekend.

Packers 31 Bears 28

Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday 1:00PM on CBS

The Jaguars might be the best team in the league right now even though it seems as if nobody is talking about them. The fact that they went into the last week of the season with a chance of earning the #1 seed was just plain shocking. But this week they face Josh Allen and the Bills, who go into this year’s playoffs without having to face their number one stumbling block. While the Bills seem to have a slight statistical edge going into this game, I think they are a very good two-man team with both of those men being on offense. They will face a Jaguars team which has just enough firepower to stand toe to toe with the Bills, perhaps even pulling off the win.

Jaguars 35 Bills 28

San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday 4:30PM on Fox

The defending champions take the field at home against one of the best offenses in the league. The Eagles bring an offense that is best described as inconsistent, often playing one good half of a game and then sleepwalking during the other. Here in Philly this has caused quite a bit of concern, leaving everyone scratching their heads and wondering what is wrong. On the other side of the ball, the Niners bring a defense which has also been inconsistent. I think the Eagles’ offense will do enough to give them a chance, but it will be their defense that wins this game.

Eagles 21 49ers 13

Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots

Sunday 8:00PM on NBC

If you had told me at the start of the season that the Patriots would win the AFC East, I would have asked how many games is Josh Allen going to miss. The Patriots have proven to be a legitimate contender and they come into this one equally matched with a good Chargers team. This might be the best match up of the weekend, worthy of its primetime slot. I think the key to this game will be the Chargers defensive line. Can they put pressure on Drake Maye and how will he respond? I think Maye will be just fine, leading his team to a home win.

Patriots 13 Chargers 9

Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Monday 8:15PM on ESPN

The Steelers get D. K. Metcalf back this weekend and I think we will see a different team than the one that played in the last two games of the season and against the Texans’ defense, the Steelers will need Metcalf, Warren and Rodgers to have a big game. This is a tough one to pick: another 4-5 match up where the teams seem evenly matched. When I first looked at this game, I picked the Steelers but as we are getting closer to game time, I find myself starting to have doubts. For now, I am sticking with my original thoughts.

Steelers 10 Texans 7

This should really be a fun weekend. Hopefully, my Bears surprise me and move forward along with the Eagles. What are your thoughts?

The Tree vs. The Manger

 

A few years ago, I got into an argument with a Jewish coworker over Christmas Trees. For the record, I have nothing against Christmas Trees, as long as you don’t worship them. This argument was over what the tree represents. I see the tree as a festive decoration, rising in some cases to the level of art, and I love seeing the creativity that some people put into getting their Christmas Tree just right. But what I didn’t see back then was something symbolic of Christianity and it was this viewpoint that was the basis of the argument.

The argument started after I commented on a news article which described how a local high school rejected a request by students to set up a manger scene. The school allowed all religions (and non-religions) to set up holiday decorations representing their various points of view. A group of Christians wanted a manger scene but were told they could not have it because Christianity was already represented by the school’s Christmas Tree. In response the students asked if they could replace the tree and were told that this was not possible. I made a comment about the article, stating my belief that the tree was not a Christian symbol, to which my coworker informed me that I was wrong.

Well, I’ve done some research since that argument, and I see why my coworker disagreed with me. While the tree was originally used in pagan rituals, history shows that the church has embraced it with descriptions of how the tree and its decorations represent Jesus and the life He brings as well as the fact that He is light in the darkness. So, I will concede that there is a strong argument for the tree being a Christian symbol. However, I think that in arguing against this I missed the opportunity to point out to my coworker the most important issue at hand.

While one might argue that the Christmas Tree represents Christ, the manger scene, representing Jesus’ birth in very humble surroundings, does a better job of telling the real story. By choosing the tree over the manger, that high school chose a symbol with both Christian and secular meanings over what Christians truly believe, rejecting a true representation of what Christians celebrate on December 25^th (or January 6^th or 7^th for many Orthodox Christians). So even while understanding how the Christmas Tree might be a Christian symbol, the manger is the more important symbol, and I hope that one day it becomes what people think of first when they think of Christmas.

God, Please Tell Me What to Do

 

Do you ask God for instructions, or do you tell Him what you want to do?

Of all the questions Moses asked during His encounter with God at the burning bush, the one he asked in verse 13 may be the most important:

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

Genesis 5:13 (NKJV)

God had revealed what He was calling Moses to do and then the Lord reassured Moses that He would be with him. In response, Moses is basically asking what he should do when he gets there. He knew that there would be questions if he just showed up, claiming to speak for God. The people of Israel were used to the polytheistic religion of the Egyptians, and I suspect there were a lot of people claiming to speak for various deities, including Pharaoh. Moses would have to identify the God whom he claimed to represent and so it made sense to ask God to give him the words he should say.

As followers of Christ, we are called to serve and sometimes that means saying the right thing. In those moments it is important that we recognize that we speak on behalf of our King and our words must be His. Like Moses, we need to ask God to give us the words He wants us to say. This should be a regular part of our prayer life and as we ask, we must trust that He, through His Holy Spirit, will speak through us if we surrender.

There are certain things that we should often ask of our God. Near the top of the list should be, “What should I say?” or “What should I do?” We have plenty of opportunities to serve our Heavenly Father and if we are to do it right, we must be willing to humble ourselves and ask Him to tell us what to do.

The Dexcom Stelo: A CGM on Your Terms

 

2025 started with a new health insurance company and with a denial of coverage for my use of a constant glucose monitor (CGM). This was unfortunate as I still believe that CGMs should be made available to everyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes and even those who fall into the pre-diabetes category. Well, Dexcom has come through with an over-the-counter CGM called the Stelo, which is approved by the FDA for people who are not on insulin. And just like the G7 and other prescription CGMs, the Stelo is another game changer.

I am using the Stelo for the first time and recently completed the 15-day period before needing to change to a second unit. That is one difference between the Stelo and the standard G7 as the latter last 10 days before needing to be changed. Dexcom does have a 15-day version of the G7 which just rolled out this month, and it should soon be readily available for people over the age of 18.

Both the Stelo and the G7 have a 12-hour grace period, giving a time cushion before they absolutely need to be changed but my first Stelo seemed to develop an intermittent problem during the grace period where it would stop taking readings. I’ll know in about two weeks if this is a common issue or if it was just an issue with that first unit.

Out of the box the Stelo looks just like the G7, using the same applicator and application method. The sensor even looks like a G7 sensor and the Stelo can send information to a smartphone just like its prescription cousin. While I did have to download a new app, I appreciate the fact that I can use my existing Dexcom account with the Stelo. As a result, it took less than five minutes to get things rolling and to start the warmup time that is common with Dexcom CGMs.

The graph generated by the Stelo looks just like the one in the G7 app but that is where the similarities end. Unlike the G7, the Stelo will not sound an alarm when your glucose levels go too high or too low. The Stelo is not compatible with insulin pumps, which I suspect is why it is not recommended for people who are on insulin. But the Stelo will give the information needed to help manage glucose levels, including summaries of trends that the software learns while you are wearing, letting you know if, for example, you have a spike at the same time each day. This allowed the Stelo to recognize that I tend to see a dawn phenomenon each morning which sometimes puts me near or even out of range.

I am a fan of wearables, and I believe that the health information made available by them is very valuable. They are not a substitute for the tests and advice received by a trained medical expert, but they are good tools for use in achieving the goals that come with living a healthy lifestyle. I’m glad to have returned to the ranks of those who wear CGMs and am thankful to Dexcom for moving the insurance company away from making health decisions for me, at least in this one area.

Dick Cheney Proved that Failure is not the End

 

Former vice president of the United States, Dick Cheney passed away on November 3^rd of this year, and whether you agreed with him or not, you must admit that he had a direct impact on the path of this nation. During his career, Mr. Cheney served in the U. S. House of Representatives and held various offices under three different presidents. By most measures he was successful even though there will always be questions about his role in the War in Iraq.

Following Cheney’s death, the YaleNews posted a very good article about his life, pointing out that he started his college career at the Ivy League university. However, the article leaves out the year that Cheney graduated because…well…he didn’t. In fact, he flunked out of the school: twice. Eventually he would earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees while attending the University of Wyoming, but Yale would stand as a blotch on Cheney’s academic record. Fortunately, that failure did not stop Cheney from becoming what the article describes as, “Widely considered one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history.” So even the school where Cheney met failure admits that in the long run the man was quite successful.

All too often we paint failure as the end, especially for someone who fails school. But failure is one of the consequences that sometimes comes with not standing still on the path of life. Yes, it may be a sign that a course change is needed but it does not have to be the end. In the long run, whether a person fails is much less important than how that person handles it when they fail. Dick Cheney changed course after his failure and went on to live what the YaleNews calls “a consequential public life.” Of his many great successes, proving that failure is not the end might be his most meaningful message to the world.

From the YaleNews - For Cheney, a Yale start and a consequential public life

Food App Mis-H-App

 

If you will indulge me, I would like to complain for a minute or two about Food Apps. Yes, those apps on the phone that most of us use here in the United States to order food. Sometimes I use them for delivery and sometimes I use them to save time when I go to pick up our food for my family. Sometimes the app is one that orders directly from the restaurant and sometimes it’s from a delivery service of one kind or another. Most of the time these apps are a wonderful convenience. Unfortunately, there have been numerous times when various restaurants got the order wrong and using these apps was anything but convenient.

I once had a restaurant cancel my order without explanation and without so much as a text. They did send an email, but I didn’t see it until after we had waited way too long for our food. Then there was the time when the app confirmed the order, and even charged my credit card, but when I arrived to pick up the food, the restaurant had no record of the order. The cashier explained that they had been having trouble with the app all evening and said I had to call customer service at their national headquarters. Customer service directed me back to the local franchise. Eventually someone, or something, must have caught the mistake because they refunded my money. Still, the ordeal left me wondering if I would ever go back to that chain.

More often than not, my app mishaps do not involve entire orders that evaporate into the cloud, but I have had several deliveries where one or two items were missing. That happened the last two times I ordered delivery, from two different restaurants. Once again these were national chains, and their customer service departments were good about it. One gave me a credit towards a future purchase (better than nothing). The other (Chick-fil-A) gave me a refund for the missing item.

While I enjoy the convenience of using these food apps, I think I’ll go back to driving to restaurants myself. That will allow me to check the order before I walk away. Plus, I figure if I have to make any more claims to customer service, someone is going to investigate whether or not I’m pulling a scam. It definitely beats having to figure out which family member goes hungry because the order was missing their item. (Just kidding.) It’s time to avoid food app mishaps and that means doing things the old-fashioned way. Now, where are my car keys?

The Greatest Bible Teacher

Admit it. Sometimes the Bible is hard to understand and it’s sometimes difficult to trust in God’s viewpoint. The same was true about the parables that Jesus taught. Back then, those who were around Him had to ask about the parables and those whom He described as outside the Kingdom were lost, both literally and figuratively. But while Jesus knew that the lost would struggle with the mysteries of His teaching, He wanted His disciples, and I suspect anyone who sought His wisdom, to know the meaning of His parables. As such He sat and taught them, opening their understanding so that they might be encouraged to live out their lives as God’s children.

Mark 4:33-34 paints a beautiful picture of Jesus taking the time to teach His followers. Today His followers can have a similar experience with the Spirit of God taking the time to teach us. But are we willing to ask and to seek and to admit that we don’t always understand just as His followers asked back then? If we are, then we have the Comforter and He is tasked with teaching us all things.

When you find yourself struggling to understand, and even when you think that you fully understand, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. We are blessed to have the world’s greatest Bible Teacher, the One who inspired all scripture, always with us and ready to help us understand. Are you ready to learn?

God, You Got the Wrong Person!!

 

Have you ever said, “Not me!” to God? Or have you ever heard what you thought was God’s instructions, but dismissed it because it didn’t make sense to you? Guess what? You’re not the only one to say this to God. He has heard it millions, perhaps billions of times including when Moses said:

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh,…?”

Exodus 3:11 (NKJV)

To be honest, on his own Moses was right. By himself he would be no match for Pharaoh and likely would have wound up in prison, if not worse. But he did not have to go it alone on this one, as God had already planned to go with him:

So He (God) said, “I will certainly be with you.”

Exodus 3:12 (NKJV)

That sounds like another conversation, where Jesus promised to be with His followers as we carry out the Great Commission:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV)

As I wrote in the previous post, prayer is a two-way conversation: one where God does not mind when we acknowledge our own shortcomings. It’s there, in prayer, that God reminds us that He is with us and will work to bring about His will. And that might be the greatest aspect of prayer as it is an opportunity for God to make us more aware of His presence in our lives.

No God does not have the wrong person. He has called the very person that He wants to work with and through. How will you respond?

Christian Love

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”

Matthew 5:44

This is not a political statement. In fact, as I look back on the previous presidential election, I believe the right person won. I also believe that God puts the people in office that He wants and does so for a reason. But I look at comments made recently by our president and I cringe as they fly in the face of what the Bible says a Christian should do.

I cringe because I know President Trump professes to be a Christian and his statement makes me wonder if he is being mentored by mature Christians whose goal is to make a disciple of Christ. I hope that he was joking and that deep down he knows what Christ Himself taught us. I cringe because more than once have I heard pastors commenting on how people in their churches did not believe that “love your enemies,” is in the Bible and they weren’t joking. My heart is troubled as I wonder if we are missing the opportunity to, “…be perfect, just as (our) Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Those who follow Jesus are called to love our neighbor AND our enemies. This is what Jesus taught and doing so allows us to follow in His footprints. Anything less than that completely misses the mark.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Mark5:43-48, NKJV copied from Biblegateway.com

The Servant-God

{The following is an entry from my personal journal dated January 9, 2020, and is sort of a free flow of thought that came to me after reading Matthew 20:28.}

Matthew 20:28

Jesus was all powerful before the incarnation. Even in the flesh He was powerful. He could have used His power for His own gain. He could have demonstrated His power in order to make people bow before Him. Instead, He used His power to serve, coming as a servant by His own declaration. This has implications for how I understand fear as it is used in verses like Psalm 145:19. It has implications for how I should see my relationship with Him. It also has implications for how I see my own relationship with others.

Is the fear spoken of in Psalm 145:19 really the trembling kind? I think of the pillar that led Israel through the wilderness. To the Egyptians it was something to be feared to the point where they stopped in God’s presence and did not advance upon the people. To Israel it was something that brought comfort and leadership, though they feared it when they rebelled. Salvation makes a big difference in how I stand before God. I can stand in reverence and need not shake from fear. This seems like what the servant Jesus wanted.

I revere God but do I see that He wants to use His power for my good? This is where things get tough. A servant-God sounds like an oxymoron. Yet, that is the picture painted of Christ by His words and deeds. He could call down a legion of angels to destroy all mankind, yet He came to serve mankind. I only exist at His pleasure, yet He wants to work all things for my good. I understand Peter’s hesitation when Jesus wanted to wash his feet. God is awesome and wonderful and powerful, and it would freak me out to no end if He suddenly wanted to wash my feet. This is the best description of my daily faith struggle. God could crush me in a blink of an eye. He deserves my praise and worship. He wants that but He also wants to serve me.

Because God wants to serve, I likewise should want to serve others. Any power God gives me is intended for this very cause. Any gift He gives me is so that I can serve those around me. Even His love is intended for service in the lives of others. I need to follow my Lord and serve those whom He brings into my life.

I pray the Holy Spirit helps me come to terms with the oxymoron: the servant-God. I pray the Holy Spirit helps me follow in His shoes.

It Can’t Be All Negative? Can It?

I read that the president wants a total review of the Smithsonian Institute, with a focus on how decisions are made as to what is shown in its exhibits. According to several reports, the president has instructed attorneys to examine the museums that make up the institute, using the same process they used in examining colleges and universities. I for one hope that the Smithsonian Institute and any other museums that are investigated take this opportunity to instruct us all on what they do. But to be honest, I fear that they already are off to a bad start in their own defense.

In response I’ve heard a lot of talk about the need to remember our history along with the need to tell the whole story, both of which are true. I’ve also heard a lot about the need for museums to remain independent, a point on which I also agree. What I have not heard is talk about anything positive that our museums say about our country. Now, I admit that I have never been to any of the Smithsonian Museums and that I know little about what they have in their exhibits, but I just can’t believe that it is all negative. If in fact the presentation of our history is fair and balanced, then now is the time to state their case.

When they were examined by the administration, our colleges and universities did a terrible job at responding, providing soundbites that gave the impression that they were out of touch and perhaps even antisemitic. The Smithsonian Institute, along with the rest of our nation’s museums, should be able to avoid this kind of response. If, as they claim to do, our museums tell a fair and balanced story, they should endeavor to do so even under an examination that is pushing an agenda. Hopefully, they will take this opportunity to teach the administration, and the rest of our nation, the importance of knowing our history: both the good and the bad. This is a great PR opportunity, but I am afraid that, like a certain political party that shall go unnamed, our most treasured museum system is on the verge of blowing it.

When God Uses Prayer to Reveal Your Calling

Exodus 3:9-10

In earlier posts I described how prayer is so much more than us just telling God what we want. Prayer should be a conversation with God, and as such we should give Him time to speak. But when you let God speak, you should be prepared as He might ask you to do something. That’s when prayer becomes a chance for God to reveal a very important aspect of your relationship with Him. That’s when prayer becomes a chance for God to reveal your calling.

In Moses’ case the calling is described in verse 10 where God tells him that he is being sent to Pharoah. Once back in Egypt, Moses’ job was to bring the people of Israel out. In other words, Moses was being sent to serve as God’s answer to the people crying out to God (praying) as He described in verse 9. This was God’s calling upon Moses’ life and it became the legacy by which we know Moses today. All of it started first with the prayer of the people of Israel crying out to God and then with the conversation (the prayer) between Moses and God.

Up to this point Moses has only said one thing, “Here I am.” The rest of the conversation is God revealing His plans. The dictionary definition of prayer does not seem to leave room for this sort of interaction. Does your prayer life leave room? Do you hold two-way conversations with God that allow for your prayers to become a chance for God to reveal your calling?

Which One Do You Follow?

The Bible says one thing. Your heart says something completely different. The people around you give yet another suggestion. Which one do you believe? Two of the suggestions are misguided and one involves believing the truth but at times making the right choice is difficult. That’s when our real beliefs are exposed and we either pass or fail the test of our faith. This is a test that comes with one major question: A question that is both simple and at the same time very difficult. What is this pass or fail question? When confronted with a choice between the words of the Bible, the voice in your own head and the voices of those around us, which one do you follow?

In chapter 27 Matthew describes Jesus’ crucifixion. While He was on the cross, the people around him taunted Him and challenged Him to come down from the cross. In their eyes Jesus was a fraud, someone to be ridiculed for finding Himself in the position He was in. I suspect that in their taunts we see their belief of what should have happened if Jesus were really the Son of God. In their minds, the Son would be able to come down or would be saved from the cross by His Father. This was their view of God and anything other than what they chose to believe had to be fake.

Human wisdom says that God would never let His Son die on a cross and that anyone with the power of Christ would come off the cross. The world around Jesus believed that anyone with the power of the Savior would fight before suffering, hence why one of His disciples initially chose the sword over standing by while Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26:51). In the eyes of those around Jesus, the cross could never be the will of the Father and using Christ’s power to work a miracle escape sounded like a good idea.

Christ heard their taunts, and I wonder if they sounded like a good idea. In a way the suggestions/taunts must have sounded a lot like Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39). While praying, Jesus revealed a desire that He knew conflicted with the will of His Father. He asked if there was a way that this cup, this plan for His death, could pass from Him. Like us, Jesus would have chosen an easier path, even mentioning this to His Father. But He was more interested in doing His Father’s will than He was in giving into temptation.

As I read Matthew 26 and 27, I find myself wondering what it was like to be bombarded with so many ideas that, for a normal human, would have seemed more palatable than the path ahead. How many times have I called out to God asking Him to do something different: asking Him to help me avoid the trial that He wants me to go through. How many times have I (though I hate to admit it) entertained suggestions that if God were loving He would help me avoid the trials or He would keep those around me from suffering. It’s easy to believe that the easy road is the best choice and that I know better than God. It’s also foolish to believe that and Jesus understood this as He obeyed His Father’s will over the other choices (be they serious or choices delivered as a part of taunting).

When confronted with multiple choices on what we should do, there is a right answer: Follow God’s will. Doing so comes because of our faith in God. Any other choice is us saying we know better than God and that is a form of idolatry. So, in difficult times, where do you put your trust? Which path do you follow?

Book Review: The Fixer

Full disclosure: The author of The Fixer (Gary R. Hamilton) is my brother-in-law.

The Fixer is the second published book by Gary R. Hamilton but he wrote it before he wrote Daydreamers which I reviewed last year. Like Daydreamers, The Fixer is an action-packed crime thriller with a nice flow that leaves just enough time to introduce you to the characters. And that’s a good thing as Mr. Hamilton has a gift for delivering characters that the reader really cares about, while putting them in just enough trouble to keep things interesting. After reading The Fixer, I hope there are plans for a sequel as what is overall a good book leaves many (perhaps too many) questions about why certain characters do the things they do but those questions do not detract from what is a very good book.

After their daughter goes missing, and after concluding that the authorities might be involved, Donald and Catherine Martin turn to Kenneth Johnson for help. Kenneth agrees to help only to discover that there is more to this case than meets the eye and the reader gets to tag along as he, along with his family and friends, stumbles into a hornet’s nest of corruption that puts them all in danger.

I enjoyed reading The Fixer but, as I said before, I feel left with several questions which lead to feeling a little less fulfilled than I did with Daydreamers. The plot is easy enough to follow but, in a way, it is hard to tell who the true hero of the story is. It also seems as if the real villain has little to do with the story, although not unusual for a crime story, especially if there is going to be a sequel and this book begs for a sequel.

I recommend The Fixer for anyone who enjoys reading crime dramas and for those who are not real strict on the rules for story development. My recommendation does come with a language warning as Mr. Hamilton gives us real world characters with real world and colorful language. My recommendation also comes with the warning that I suspect (and hope) that Mr. Hamilton is setting us up for an investment of time that will go beyond this first book.

The Fixer by Gary R. Hamilton, Published by CITIOFBOOKS Inc., Copyright 2025

The Worst Restaurant Service Ever

What’s the worst experience that you have had at a restaurant?

I still remember a particularly bad situation which for a long time caused me to avoid an entire restaurant chain. Our local franchise has since closed but even when I travel, that restaurant chain is never going to be my first choice. In fact, I’ve only eaten at that chain one time since this incident happened.

I thought about the incident over the weekend when my wife and I wanted to find a decent slice of cake to finish off a very pleasant evening spent together. We stopped at a local Cheesecake Factory where we had previously received bad service, giving the franchise a second chance. They redeemed themselves with good service and we likely will go back. But while our previous Cheesecake Factory experience was bad, it was nowhere near the worst service we have ever received. That incident happened at a restaurant which shall not be named in this post: a restaurant where the staff and management completely dropped the ball, almost like they did not want my business.

I should name the restaurant, but I’ll be nice. It was a place where we had gone several times before because we knew that the quality would be the same across the country, even if it wasn’t the best food in the area. My wife and I, along with our son (we only had one at the time) walked into the lobby of the restaurant and asked how long we would have to wait. The woman who was greeting customers told us it would be 20-30 minutes, so we gave her my name.

Because it was a bit crowded, we stepped into the hallway of the mall where the restaurant was located, where we stood just outside the door for about 15 minutes. The people who were there before us were just being seated, so we figured that we had to be coming up on the list. After another 15 minutes we asked the greeter if she had an estimate of how much longer we would have to wait. The woman responded by having some sort of breakdown and ran back into the restaurant. We all have bad days and at that point I was more concerned about her well-being than I was about our table.

It took another five minutes for her replacement to come to the door, at which time we again asked if our name was going to be called soon. This new greeter, without any real knowledge of the situation, told us that we missed our name being called and that we should have stayed in the lobby. I’m not sure what she based her answer on since she was not around to see what had happened prior to her coworker running away. And even if we had missed our names while in the mall, her response was not very customer friendly.

At this point I asked to speak with a manager but instead of a manager I found myself talking to yet another greeter who told me that they did not have a table large enough to seat my family. This answer came after they had already called in two groups that were much larger than my own, so I asked how they had tables that could hold six people but not a table that could hold three. Her response was enough to trigger protests from other customers who stepped in to defend me and my family after witnessing how we were being treated. I knew things were bad when bystanders were getting upset about the service that I was receiving and yet this new greeter stood her ground as if defending some cherished land.

I asked for the second time to speak to a manager and an assistant manager came to the lobby. Once again, I explained what happened and asked if there was a number I could call to contact their corporate parent. In response the assistant manager gave yet another excuse, telling me that the restaurant was having trouble because they had no hot water. At this point I was thinking it was time to call the health department as I’m fairly certain they were not supposed to be open without hot water.

Eventually we were given a table and the manager gave us a complimentary meal, which we reluctantly accepted. Something about not knowing how they were washing their hands without hot water made us hesitant to try the food. We ate and didn’t get sick (thank God) and I still tipped the waitress. After all, it wasn’t her fault that we received such bad service, but we never again set foot in that particular franchise.

I understand that people make mistakes and that in all likelihood the first greeter overlooked our names. I’m even willing to accept that the mistake may have been on our end and that we may have missed hearing our name called. However, there were several better ways to handle this situation without the breakdown and without all of the questionable explanations. Because of this, the situation ranks as the worst service I’ve ever received, not just at a restaurant but in any business.

What’s the worst service that you have ever received? Has anyone ever done something that cost them your business?

Moses’ Prayer Life: God Comes Down to Us

In the first ten verses of Exodus 3, God does most of the talking. Yes, Moses responds when God calls his name but beyond that it’s God speaking with Moses and in verse 8 God says something I find both amazing and reassuring. After telling Moses that He has seen the suffering of His people, God says, “So I have come down to deliver them…” God saw that His people were in a bad situation, and He came down to do something about it. I’m encouraged because I believe He still responds the same way today when His children are in a bad situation.

Going back to the definition that I found for the first part of this series, prayer is described as something that sounds one sided. It is defined in a way that makes it sound as if we do all the talking while God listens. Yes, there is the hope that God will do something in response to whatever we are asking but, in this case, God starts the prayer by describing what He was already in the process of doing.

Here we see an active God who has come down to deliver. The same could be said about what we see in the Gospels. God saw that mankind was lost in sin and so He came down and took on flesh with the goal of delivering us from a bad situation. Because God loves us, He came down and did something about our situation. This is a fundamental part of the Christian doctrine. Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, came down to earth and died to pay our sin debt. God is not passively watching us from a distance, He was and is active in the lives of His children, just as He revealed Himself to be during Moses’ prayer time at the burning bush.

In my previous post about Moses’ prayer life, I wrote that we must be willing to listen from time to time when we pray. I believe that if we do so, we will find that God is active in our lives even before we ask. Prayer can serve as an opportunity for God to reveal what He is doing in our lives, if we give Him the chance to do so. So, continue to make your supplications known to God. Continue to ask with the expectation that He will respond in some way. Just make sure that you are willing to stop from time to time to give Him a chance to reveal what He is doing in response to what you are asking.