E-mails (LB)

LOOKING BACK - Repeating a blog that I first published on October 27, 2008.

          A few days ago I received an e-mail with instructions for my job as an election clerk - in Fairfax County, Virginia.  It told me when to report, what to do, and told me that I would receive $50 for working half a day at the polls in November.  I replied that I could not afford to drive there for just $50 and that I was already serving as Judge of Elections here in Pennsylvania.  I also suggested that they check their e-mail address.  

          Every few weeks I receive messages like this for somebody else - get well wishes, announcements, bills, shipment notices, plans to visit us, etc.  Once I even received someone's password for a porn site.  Then, a few hours later, I received an e-mail from this guy's wife telling the husband that she was looking forward to being with him tonight.  So, I passed the information about the site on to her.  I often wonder what happened after she received it.  

          All of these wrong e-mails come to me because somebody probably forgot to add a required number or a letter to DBLK.  And, what a difference that missing letter or number makes.  And folks are careless with their e-mail addresses.  We invite parents in Awana to join an Awana e-mail mailing list to receive announcements about Awana.  About 20% of those that we receive are either incorrect or can't be read because of their carelessness.

         This all reminds me of one of my favorite stories.  A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida for a long winter weekend to thaw out.  They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years ago.  

          Because both had jobs they found it difficult to coordinate their travel schedules.  It was decided that he would fly to Florida on Thursday and his wife would join him on Friday.  

          Upon arriving, the husband sent his wife an e-mail back to her in Minneapolis.  But he missed a letter in her address and didn't realize his error.  

          In Houston, a widow had just returned from her husband's funeral.  The husband had been a minister for many years and was called home to glory after a heart attack.  The widow checked her e-mail for messages.  Upon reading the first one, she fainted.  Her son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the message on the computer screen.  It read,  To: My Loving Wife   Subject: I've Arrived.  I know you are surprised to hear from me.  They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to loved ones.  I've just arrived and checked in.  Everything is prepared for your arrival tomorrow.  Looking forward to seeing you then!  Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.  

           P.S.  It sure is hot down here!

          So be very careful about using e-mail addresses!

1.     Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold;

I would make sure of Heaven, I would enter the fold.

In the book of Thy kingdom, with its pages so fair,

Tell me, Jesus, my Savior, is my name written there?

Is my name written there,

On the page white and fair?

In the book of Thy kingdom,

Is my name written there?

2.     Lord, my sins they are many, like the sands of the sea,

But Thy blood, O my Savior, is sufficient for me;

For Thy promise is written, in bright letters that glow,

"Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them like snow."

Is my name written there,

On the page white and fair?

In the book of Thy kingdom,

Is my name written there?

3.     Oh! that beautiful city, with its mansions of light,

With its glorified beings, in pure garments of white;

Where no evil thing cometh to despoil what is fair;

Where the angels are watching, yes, my name's written there.

Yes my name's written there,

On the page white and fair?

In the book of Thy kingdom,

Yes my name's written there?

Medical Portals

Portal  - noun
1  a doorway, gate, or other entrance, esp. a large and elaborate one.
2  Computing - an Internet site providing access or links to other sites.

           
           Today the term portal has been applied to medical practices and their internet sites on which one can gather information about future appointments, summaries of previous visits, test results, meds and a variety of important information.  I use ours quite frequently.
          But there are some problems associated with medical portals.  A major one is that in many cases practices have their own portals and aren't linked to those of others.  For example, we have two portals for LGH, two for our family practice, two for our urological group, one for Women's and Babies practice, two for our eye doctor, and one for my foot doctor.   I think that is ten different medical portals, all with their own required passwords and information.  And there is no sharing of results with other portals and that is both inconvenient and sad.
           The best of our portals are those with Lancaster General Hospital.  Of course they have the money and many area practices are now under their umbrella.  We like it because it is fast, up to date, and complete.  For example, we can go to one of their main labs for blood work and sometimes the results will be posted on the portal an hour or two later.  In contrast, our family practice will often take four or five days to show the results.  My wife and I both had the same blood tests done recently but at two different locations.  We had the results on the LGH portal in two hours and on the family practice portal five days later.
            Several of the portals have links to our particular doctors and most times the doctors or their nurses readily answer our questions and give us advice online.  We have used this feature extensively especially in situations where we needed some quick advice when appointments were difficult to get. Of course one of our specialists refuses to do this because he doesn't get paid for it.  Last week we made three contacts with three of our doctors by sending messages on the portal.  We received answers from all three within two days, one on the portal and two others by telephone.
           The portals can also be very helpful in reviewing results and recommendations from previous visits and also for checking on refills of meds.  The same can be true about comparing previous test results.  In some cases you can even graph the results as a comparison.
          While I am bothered about the speed of some of the portals, the poor organization, and the lack of information on some, generally they work well.  However, I have really been disappointed with one feature on my favorite portal, LGH.  Future appointments are listed and you are asked to confirm them by going through four or five screens of information about you, your meds, your conditions, your allergies, your pharmacy, the reasons for your visit and other details.  I get particularly annoyed about a Medicare screen which continues to ask me about the date of my retirement which certainly doesn't change between visits.  And finally, when you approve each screen, you are then asked to submit the report and confirm your visit.  If you have 30 consecutive visits as I do with pulmonary rehab, you must do this for each of the 30 visits.  Now why couldn't some of the data, such as my date of retirement, be stored?   Oh yes, and when I finally actually check in at some of the the practices, I am often again asked the very same questions even though I had confirmed them online as requested.  What a waste of my time.
          I guess with any new use of technology there are pros and cons.  I generally like the portals.  I just wish they could all be combined into one portal and that they could be more efficient in the questions they ask and information they collect.
          I also wonder how folks who don't have computers adjust to these changes. And there are still many people who don't have them.  Of course, we are beginning to face such pressure since we refuse to buy a smart phone and more and more things require one.  But my $29 a month cell phone still meets our needs.  But with all the changes we may soon be forced to "bite the bullet" and change, even though that will be very difficult to afford on our fixed income.  But the wonders and applications of technology march on despite the financial challenges that some of us must face  
          However there are greater wonders than technology that we live with each day of our lives.

(1)    There's the wonder at sunset at evening

The wondrous sunrise I see

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me

The wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Oh the wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

(2)    There's the wonder of spring time and harvest

The sky, the stars, the sun

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that's only begun

The wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Oh the wonder of it all

The wonder of it all

Just to think that God loves me

Then There Was One

          Three in 2004 ... then there were two ... now there will be one ... hospital in Lancaster.  First we said so long to the Osteopathic  Hospital and in June it will be to the former St. Joseph's Hospital which will close and transfer some operations to a hospital in Lititz.  And over the same years the population of Lancaster has increased and the needs have expanded.

          How will this affect us?  Just like the recent merger of our family practice from Oyster Point to Lime Springs, it will likely mean more delays in getting needed services.  Profit seems to be the major focus.

          We have already begun to feel the results of limited availability even though the new crush hasn't yet happened.  Several times over the past few years we have had to wait in the ER or in holding areas until a hospital room opened up.  Then a few times we were discharged sooner than we thought was necessary, most likely to open a room for other paying patients who were waiting for a room.

          This week we had another challenging experience with the one ER which will continue to operate.  Facing some problems with high pulse rates and high blood pressure, I reluctantly headed to the ER midmorning.  Fortunately we found the last available parking place for ER patients.  Then we encountered the waiting area.  The only way to avoid this time wasting step, sitting with many very ill patients, is to come by ambulance.  Then you at least get to wait in a room until you are finally seen.

          After my vitals were taken we waited about 45 minutes until I was finally taken to a bed - in the hall, not in a room.  I was left there to wait and during the next 45 minutes a clerk finally came just to register me - they needed to be sure that I had insurance to pay the bill.  Finally I was hooked up to a monitor.

          Almost an hour later I finally saw a doctor.  She decided that I needed an EKG, blood work and a CT scan.  I also asked to have my magnesium checked since I have a major problem with those levels.  Now in all fairness, these tests were done very quickly and everyone was very kind and helpful.

          Then we waited, again in the hall, for over an hour until we learned the results.  And privacy was not really considered.  We heard doctors, whose desks were right behind us, discussing their cases.  We heard that one patient in a room near us had an abortion and was now bleeding.  Down the hall there was another woman who had taken oxycodone and was sick and in pain.  She began to throw up violently.  Then a trauma patient was rushed to a room across from us.  He had apparently been conscious when he was brought in but his heart stopped and they were doing CPR on him.  Not fun to watch.  Not sure if he made it.

          Finally the doctor returned to tell me that the only problem that they had found was with the mag test I had asked for.  Once again my level had dropped and might have been a cause of my problems with my heart.  I was told that they would give me some mag and then let me go home.  When this has happened previously, I was given an infusion and my mag level increased.  After another wait they surprised me by just giving me two mag pills to take - the same thing I take four times a day at home.  I was very disappointed and then they released me.

          Now all who worked with me were very kind and helpful.  But it was obvious that they were overworked and didn't have enough facilities to handle all of us who were there.  So what will happen to care when the second local hospital closes in March? How will they handle all the additional patients who need care?

          It appears that medical care won't get any better with limited facilities, shortages of doctors, and increases in insurance and prescription costs.  But somebody will continue to pull in larger profits.  I guess that is the name of the game today.

P.S. - An update. First the good.  On Feb. 11 my kidney doctor wrote to suggest an alternative treatment, although it will probably lead to diarrhea.  Then my heart doctor called to tell me that there is a shortage of mag infusion and that is probably why the ER gave me pills instead.  I was impressed that both took time to contact me. Unfortunately that is more than a few other doctors have done.  Then the bad - there is a shortage.  It appears we are becoming a third world country.

(1)    The Great Physician now is near,

  The sympathizing Jesus;

He speaks the drooping heart to cheer,

  Oh, hear the voice of Jesus!

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(2)    Your many sins are all forgiv'n,

  Oh, hear the voice of Jesus;

The veil 'twixt you and God is riven,

  Redemption wrought by Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(3)     All glory to the dying Lamb!

  I now believe in Jesus;

I love the blessed Savior's name,

  I love the name of Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(4)     His name dispels my guilt and fear,

  No other name but Jesus;

Oh, how my soul delights to hear

  The precious name of Jesus!

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

(5)     And when to that bright world above,

We rise to see our Jesus,

We'll sing around the throne of love

His name, the name of Jesus.

Sweetest note in seraph song;

Sweetest name on mortal tongue;

Sweetest carol ever sung:

    Jesus, blessed Jesus!

Do You Remember?

          I have often shared here how things have changed over the years and if you are old enough you can easily appreciate that this has indeed happened - in your lifetime.  Recently somebody shared with me "Lost Words From Our Childhood" and I was amazed at how our language has changed.  So I thought I'd share some of these thoughts with you.  Remember, these words are gone as fast as the buggy whip.
         Mergatroyd!   Do you remember that word? Would you believe the e-mail spell checker did not recognize the word Mergatroyd? Heavens to Mergatroyd! 
         The other day a not so elderly (65) lady said something to her son about driving a jalopy and he looked at her quizzically and said, "What the heck is a jalopy?"   He never heard of the word jalopy!! Well, I hope you are Hunky Dory after you read this and chuckle.
         About a month ago, I illuminated some old expressions that have become obsolete because of the inexorable march of technology. These phrases included "Don't touch that dial," "Carbon copy," "You sound like a broken record" and "Hung out to dry."
          Back in the olden days we had a lot of moxie. We'd put on our best bib and tucker to straighten up and fly right. Heavens to Betsy! Gee whillikers! Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy moley! 
        We were in like Flynn and living the life of Riley, and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill. Not for all the tea in China!
        Back in the olden days, life used to be swell, but when's the last time anything was swell? Swell has gone the way of beehives, pageboys, of spats, knickers, fedoras, poodle skirts, saddle shoes and pedal pushers ... AND DON'T FORGET.... Saddle-stitched pants.
         Oh, my aching back! Kilroy was here, but he isn't anymore.         We wake up from what surely has been just a short nap, and before we can say, Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle! Or, this is a fine kettle of fish! We discover that the words we grew up with, the words that seemed omnipresent, as oxygen, have vanished with scarcely a notice from our tongues and our pens and our keyboards.
         Poof, go the words of our youth, the words we've left behind. We blink, and they're gone. Long gone: Pshaw. The milkman did it. Hey! It's your nickel. Don't forget to pull the chain. Knee high to a grasshopper. Well, fiddlesticks! Going like sixty. I'll see you in the funny papers. Don't take any wooden nickels. Wake up and smell the roses.
          It turns out there are more of these lost words and expressions than Carter has liver pills. This can be disturbing stuff!
          We of a certain age have been blessed to live in changeable times. For a child each new word is like a shiny toy, a toy that has no age. We at the other end of the chronological arc have the advantage of remembering there are words that once did not exist and there were words that once strutted their hour upon the earthly stage and now are heard no more, except in our collective memory. It's one of the greatest advantages of aging.
         Leaves us to wonder where Superman will find a phone booth...
         See ya later, alligator!   
         After while, crocodile!        
         Okidoki!

But not everything changes and at times we need to be reminded of those things which don't change.

1) Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

(2) Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

.

(3) I need Thy presence every passing hour.

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me

.

(4) I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

(5) Hold Thou Thy Word before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Who Is The Victim (LB)

          Sometimes it is interesting to look back and see what was happening to you and what you were thinking about years ago.  I've kept journals since 1996 and I often find it interesting to look back at what I wrote and thought was important years ago.  The same is true with my blogs which I have published weekly since 2008, although I was actually blogging elsewhere years earlier than that.

          I had added a new feature to my hymn blog called "Timeless Hymns" in which each month I edit and repeat a hymn blog that I had published several years ago.  So I thought I might try the same thing with this, my personal blog.  I'm calling the feature "Looking Back" and this is the very first installment.

           "Who Is The Victim?" was published September 16, 2008.

Last winter I looked out our bedroom window and noticed that there were footprints  in the snow coming off the street and across our backyard.  It had snowed that night so the prints were very visible in the inch or so of newly fallen snow.  

          Later I went out back to investigate and found that the tracks went across our small patio to our backdoor, which fortunately was locked.  I then followed the tracks around to the side of the house to our den door which was also locked.  Next they went to the side door to our garage which had been left unlocked just in case we had a major snowfall which knocked out electricity and I would need to get into the garage for the snow blower.  The door there was partially open but the entrance was actually blocked by our riding mower.  I checked inside the garage and nothing appeared to be missing or out of place.  

          The prints then left our house and went to our neighbors.  I thought that maybe I should report this to the police even though nothing was stolen or disturbed.  About 30 minutes later a police officer came, retraced the path, took my name and left.  I felt that I had done my civic duty!  Mistake number one!  

          Weeks later I began to get numerous lengthy forms in the mail.  I was classified as a victim and had to complete these forms.  I could have qualified for all sorts of help - including emotional counseling.  I kept returning these completed forms and continued to report that I didn't feel that I was a victim.  I didn't require any help.  Mistake number two!  

         Then, months later, I received a subpoena from the district attorney that required me to appear at a trial on October 3 in the Lancaster County Courthouse.  Now it would be more of my time and extra gas expense.  I guess I could have refused to go and not show up, but that might have been mistake number three and I might have been in real trouble.   So, I began to wonder, was I really the victim?   Should I have requested emotional counseling?  The system was making me really feel like a victim and I thought that I was just doing my civic duty.  

          I guess the lesson I was learning is to be like others and not get involved.  But that is the wrong attitude - at least I think it is - or is it?   Well, I decided that I'd just go and testify of my "major" knowledge of the case and gain another new experience in life.  I guess here is always more to be learned ... by victims ... and by non victims. 

           Note - I never did have to go to court.  They found the wanderer -  a drunken Millersville University student - and they eventually settled out of court.

(1)   When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

(2)   Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

(3)   When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

(4)   So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

From Small To Big

          Change, change, change.  If you live long enough you will experience many changes.  Many are good, some are very difficult to adjust to.  As the hymn writer wrote, "Change and decay in all around I see. O Thou who changest not, abide with me".  Thankfully He never changes - the same yesterday, today and forever.
          In the past year we have had many experiences with the medical field and I was recently thinking about how so much has changed in this field.
          As a child I actually had my tonsils out - in a doctor's office in Bethlehem.  I don't recall too much about it except that I can still smell the either that was used on me for the surgery.  It's a smell that I wish I could forget.

          Growing up in Lititz we generally went to Dr. Griswald who worked out of a home on Broad Street.  I recall that he didn't make appointments and one could sometimes sit for hours waiting to be seen.  He also did some home visits when necessary. A few times we had to see another local doctor who also worked out of a home. But he at least did have some sort of a machine to take x-rays.

          Things continued the same until we got married.  Then we went to Dr. Heinbach who worked out of an apartment on the main street of Selinsgrove.  He was the one who told my father-in-law that my wife was pregnant even before he confirmed it with us.  Not sure that would even be allowed today with current privacy regulations.

          A few days after we moved to Silver Springs in Lancaster County, our first son began to cry with stomach pain.  When he developed blood in his bowels we had to seek out a new doctor and the Lord led us to Dr. Bryson in Landisville.  At that time I was working in an orchard and when I came home we rushed our son to Dr. Bryson.  When he saw what was going on he immediately contacted a surgeon and sent us to the hospital.  Craig had a rare bowel condition that needed immediate surgery.  A few hours later the surgery was successfully done.  The rare condition seldom happens in children until they are at least two years old.  Craig was just four months.  Most doctors never see a case of  this serious intestine condition, but Dr. Bryson had - in his own daughter.  We believe that God did a miracle to send us to Dr. Bryson.

          And, as you can imagine, Dr. Bryson became our family doctor for many years.  He also worked out of his home.  He had one nurse and his wife often assisted him.  He was very good to us over the years, handling our needs at all hours of the day and even on holidays.  He also dispensed medicine from his home office.

          But things change and as he got older Dr. Bryson developed heart problems.  So he closed his practice to have his problem taken care of.  He actually then turned his practice over to Dr. Howse who continued to work out of Dr. Bryson's home until he later took a job teaching at Hershey.  Before he started there, he recommended specific new doctors to his patients.  Our recommendation was Dr. Stengle, a young doctor also working in a home in Lancaster.

        We enjoyed dealing with Dr. Stengel who had a small practice with one nurse and an office clerk.  After several years, one Monday my wife called to make an appointment and she found the clerk crying.  The Friday before, the doctor had blood tests taken and on Monday morning the results came back and he found that he had cancer.  So he immediately closed his practice knowing that he had many days of difficult treatments ahead.  It was a sad day for all of us.

        After checking with numerous medical offices, we finally found a doctor who would take us and we began seeing Dr. Snyder at a small practice in Oyster Point.  It was a change for us as this practice had about six doctors who worked out of a remodeled and expanded country home.  We soon felt at home there and were cared for by many good doctors over the years. Incidentally, after he went into remission, Dr. Stengle actually joined the staff there and worked part timethere until his death. We eventually chose to see Dr. Fuchs, the founder of the group.  He became a very good friend and took a personal interest in our needs.  He was a very caring doctor.

          But change happens and a year ago Dr. Fuchs retired, as did our back-up doctor, Dr. Weed.  This has been a very difficult adjustment for us and we have not found replacements who measure up to them.  And then they sold the Oyster Point practice to the Penn State group and a multitude of changes have resulted, including the sale of the original building and the moving of the practice to a brand new modern building at Lime Springs.  The modern building has 76,000 square feet and houses five medical practices and many support services including those for lab work, radiology, physical therapy, ENT and eye and heart testing.  It also will offer an After Hours program.

          A few days ago the new building opened and we had our first appointment there. It was a shocking change. First we had to manage our way through the new phone system. Then a huge waiting room greeted us with probably about 20 check-in cubicles.  There are four different wings housing doctor offices.  Unfortunately the facility presently seems sterile and cold, much different than the smaller, tastefully decorated offices that we were used to for many years at Oyster Point.  And it seems that today doctors are focused on their computers and quickly refer their patients to specialists instead of treating the problems themselves.  They's also limited the schedules of the doctors and it is almost impossible to see the same doctor twice unless you make an appointment a month or more in advance.  Both of us had to see three different doctors in our first visits there.  My "family doctor" told me to come back in a month but he had no appointments available for two months.  Hopefully, over the years we will adjust to these changes. But it is a stark contrast to the facilities and care that we have experienced over the years -  from offices in homes to a massive multipurpose facility.

          Will their service be better?  Will we be able to see doctors who know us and care about us?  Will we happily adjust to these changes?  I guess time will tell.  And I probably could make similar comments about changes in churches - but that is a topic for another time.  Change happens - sometimes good ... sometimes not so good.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

Change and decay in all around I see—

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;

What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;

Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;

Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Wonderful Exercise

        For many, the start of a new year is a time to set new resolutions.  Many of these include some sort of exercise plan.  With that in mind, I remembered a blog that I posted on September 3, 2008 and felt that it would be appropriate to post once again.  So enjoy!

Not all gifts turn out the way they were intended.  This is not my story, but one that was sent to me. 

          "For my birthday this year my wife purchased me a week of private lessons at the local health club. Though still in great shape from when I was on the varsity chess team in high school, I decided it was a good idea to go ahead and try it. I called and made reservations with someone named Tanya, who said she is a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and athletic clothing model. My wife seemed very pleased with how enthusiastic I was to get started. They suggested I keep an "exercise diary" to chart my progress ....

          Day 1. Started the morning at 6:00 AM. Tough to get up, but worth it when I arrived at the health club and Tanya was waiting for me. She's something of a goddess, with blond hair and a dazzling white smile. She showed me the machines and took my pulse after five minutes on the treadmill. She seemed a little alarmed that it was so high, but I think just standing next to her in that outfit of hers added about ten points. Enjoyed watching the aerobics class. Tanya was very encouraging as I did my sit ups, though my gut was already aching a little from holding it in the whole time I was talking to her. This is going to be GREAT ....  

          Day 2. Took a whole pot of coffee to get me out the door, but I made it. Tanya had me lie on my back and push this heavy iron bar up into the air. Then she put weights on it, for heaven's sake! Legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made it the full mile. Her smile made it all worth while. Muscles ALL feel GREAT .... 

          Day 3. The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the tooth brush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I am certain that I have developed a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer. I parked on top of a Volkswagen. Tanya was a little impatient with me and said my screaming was bothering the other club members. The treadmill hurt my chest so I did the stair "monster." Why would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by the invention of elevators? Tanya told me regular exercise would make me live longer. I can't imagine anything worse .... 

          Day 4. Tanya was waiting for me with her vampire teeth in a full snarl. I can't help it if I was half an hour late, it took me that long just to tie my shoes. She wanted me to lift dumbbells. Not a chance, Tanya. The word "dumb" must be in there for a reason. I hid in the men's room until she sent Lars looking for me. As punishment she made me try the rowing machine. It sank .... 

          Day 5. I hate Tanya more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. If there was any part of my body not in extreme pain I would hit her with it. She thought it would be a good idea to work on my triceps. Well I have news for you Tanya - I don't have triceps. And if you don't want dents in the floor don't hand me any barbells. I refuse to accept responsibility for the damage, YOU went to sadist school, YOU are to blame. The treadmill flung me back into a science teacher, which hurt like crazy. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like a music teacher, or social studies? ....

         Day 6. Got Tanya's message on my answering machine, wondering where I am. I lacked the strength to use the TV remote so I watched eleven straight hours of the weather channel .... 

          Day 7. Well, that's the week. Thank goodness that's over. Maybe next time my wife will give me something a little more fun, like a gift certificate for a root canal."    Now have a great day and be careful what you give for presents! 

1.     There's a voice calling me 

from an old rugged tree,

And it whispers "Draw closer to Me.

Leave your world far behind

There are new heights to climb,

And a new life in Me you will find.

For whatever it takes to draw closer to You, Lord

That's what I'll be willing to do.

And whatever it takes to be more like You,

That's what I'll be willing to do.

2.     Take the dearest things to me

If that's how it must be

To draw me closer to thee

Let the disappointments come

Lonely days without the sun

If through sorrow more like you I become

For whatever it takes to draw closer to You, Lord

That's what I'll be willing to do

And whatever it takes to be more like You

That's what I'll be willing to do

3.     Take my houses and lands,

Take my dreams and my plans.

I place my whole life in Your hands.

And if You call me someday,

To a land far away,

Lord, I'll go and Your will obey

For whatever it takes to draw closer to You, Lord

That's what I'll be willing to do

And whatever it takes to be more like You

That's what I'll be willing to do

bridge

I'll trade sunshine for rain, comfort for pain

That's what I'll be willing to do

For whatever it takes for my will to break

That's what I'll be willing to do

And whatever it takes to be more like You

That's what I'll be willing to do

But God

          This is a repeat of a blog which I first posted on November 22, 2008.

          Years ago I had a small book entitled "BUT GOD". It was a very inspirational book. But recently when I really wanted and needed to reread it, I found that it is now missing. Hopefully I gave it away to somebody who really needed it. Isn't that just the way things often go? 

         The Bible includes numerous "BUT GOD" experiences. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said to his brothers, "you thought evil against me, BUT GOD meant it for good." In Genesis 48:21, Israel told Joseph, "behold I die. BUT GOD shall be with you". When Pharaoh changed his mind and began to pursue the Israelites, in Exodus 13:18, it is written "BUT GOD led the people about". In I Samuel 23:14 Saul sought David every day, "BUT GOD delivered him not into his hand". In Psalm 73:26 David cries out "my flesh and my heart faileth; BUT GOD is the strength of my heart". In Acts 13:19 - 30, it says that they took Jesus down from the cross and laid him in a sepulchre, "BUT GOD raised Him from the dead". 

          "BUT GOD" incidents are God's interventions in impossible situations. The Bible is filled with them and hopefully our lives are too - His intervention in our lives, in His time. Honestly, with the pressures we are facing right now, I'm praying and looking for another "BUT GOD" experience.  And, I know He will intervene - in His time, not mine. 

         Maybe you, too, are facing difficult, seemingly impossible situations right now. Trust a loving Father who will intervene with strength, wisdom, and peace when He knows that His children need help. Things may seem impossible or overwhelming, BUT GOD ...  May that be our strength as we enter 2019!

1.    Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2.    Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future, as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3.     Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

4.     Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.