LIGHT

Light is a word used when used in different ways may introduce a heavy subject.  The first  heavy dose of light obliterated darkness as God spoke His light into darkness when He created the world.  His light shone brightly until man desired darkness of soul and mind by responding to the call of Satan in disobeying the command of God eating the forbidden fruit.  Now as night turns to day and day into night we experience a cyclical reminder of our status before God.  We wish for daylight, but often long for darkness in which feel the comfort of hiding the deep desires of our heart hoping that light will not reveal the darkness of our soul.  Scripture indicates to us that God is light and as we live in that light we will delight in God and in one another.  However, if we shun the light and go our own way we disrupt the fellowship with God and others.  His desire is that we owe up to our sinful ways and let him know that we need his forgiveness as we confess our sinful ways to Him.  

As we fellowship with God we can be light hearted enjoying the laughter of one another as we express the joy God Christ’s forgiveness as a result of God’s grace and mercy.  We now begin a new year in which we can lay the heaviness of burdens in Christ who will lighten and enlighten our hearts and minds.

ADOLESCENTS

What will the adolescent years of our new millennium and decade bring?  Early adolescents focus sharply when their desire is strong, but adolescents are equally distracted when they lack interest.  In early adolescence primordial abstract thinking equates with a sort of abstract toddlerhood.  The freshness of abstract thought brings a new perspective to the growing mind.  I wonder if we as humans before God appear to be adolescents experimenting with abstract thinking in the spiritual realm.  We who think we are mature often because of human state appear as adolescents in God’s eyes.  Professing in our hearts to be wise we appear as fools when we function as if there is no God.  So with the minimal amount of wisdom as abstract toddlers we reflect on the year that has past and look towards the next new year.  Let us look to God so that our past concerns may fade as we reflect on His glory.  Let pray that adolescent  questioning -What if,  Will I,  Won’t they and Why did they do it that way-, will fade as we seek the one who 2000 years ago replaced the former way of approaching God with the new life of a resurrected Jesus.  We now bask in God’s grace and mercy.  We find things with which to worry our minds and hearts, but in the big scope of life most of our concerns will fade in the future as we look towards our unending life in Christ.

CHRISTMAS

Cheerfully

Happily

Rejoicing

In

Salvation

Transforming

Man’s

Alienated

State

Christ came to earth in a lowly state born in a place no one noticed until the announcement of His birth by the angel’s to the lowly shepherds near Bethlehem.  

Last Sunday we attended a Christmas celebration in a thatched roof structure with bamboo  woven walls.  Most in attendance were children who three years ago had not heard the name of Jesus.  Now over 100 people sang praise to the true and living God.  Only the local families knew of this place of worship.  No big announcement in a local or national new outlet.  As God moves in the hearts and minds of these children time will reveal the full meaning of this time of worship.  As they mature in every way they will become leaders in their small community and possibly beyond.  

Eager to learn. Experience reigns

Rain, bicycle, 20 kilometers, heavy traffic...  Leon a twenty something Cambodian student rode his bicycle 20 kilometers through the rain and partial flooded streets through the heavy traffic of Phnom Penh to volunteer at Mercy Medical Center (MMC).  What would motivate a young man to travel through such adverse elements.  We first met Leon at Khmer Christian Church as a medical technology student.  Many, in fact most students, lack practical training in their field of study. The medical technologist hired initially by MMC lacked hands on training.  With the patience and  encouragement of the staff he persevered and cautiously gained in experience to become a very good technician.  At first Leon hesitated to take advantage of the experience at MMC, because he lacked confidence and knowledge.  I encourage him to begin with observation and then move onto participation.   On his first visit one of the staff gave him a ride on his motorcycle.  As they rode the 35 minute ride they talked about the opportunity to learn and gain practical experience. After one visit Leon was hooked.  He now volunteers regularly.  With the experience and confidence Leon gained at MMC he now accompanies medical clinic to the villages to spread the good news of salvation using the skills he has developed by volunteering at MMC.   Pushing, encouraging, one step at time to develop committed leaders for a generation.

https://www.facebook.com/n8knutson/posts/10151782520383058

MEDICAL MINSTRELS

A couple of chairs, paper, an otoscope and a stethoscope with a few medications have become the tools of a medical minstrel.  If making noises with body parts counts as music we may be musical minstrels as well.  

Navigating the roads with potholes maturing to sink holes makes one break out in song“Do you want to Da--an--ce”?  If you like an asynchronous rhythm you will love the roads of Cambodia.  On the roads our minstrel medical van has the capacity to use 1 liter of oil every 3 kilometers while painting the back side of the van in black grease paint.  The rattle of the back door acts as the vans motion detector.  No rattle no movement.  Occasionally the driver plays dodgem with bicycles, push carts, animals and pedestrians.  Generally one attempts to steer clear of the rice kernels along the way. Poles of bamboo laid down to bridge the waterways reduce the boredom of the ride. You too may become a medical minstrel as you join us on a medical minstrel outreach to the provincial churches of Southeast Asia.  You then will be the composer of your own tunes.  Itunes in the making and fodder for youtube.  May the Lord direct our path not matter the tune.MEDICAL MINSTRELS

IMAGE BEARER

“Which way do I put the stethoscope in my ear.”  This is the question asked by a medical student who participated in examining children at a daycare.  Most medical students study textbooks making them very knowledgable. Cambodian medical students have minimal opportunity for hands on medical experience.    Their lack of hands on experience creates difficulty when taking the textbook information and integrating it into a real live patient.  Hearing the heart beat with the first and second sounds of then entering the ear at a more rapid rate than the textbook describes bring joy and fear simultaneously.  Joy for actually

hearing the sounds.  Fear because the uncertainty of differentiating between normal and abnormal.  

Watching the students interact with one another to come to a reasonable clinical judgement bring joy to my heart.  Even now I see in my mind the ecstatic expressions on their faces. 

In effect we all are students who continue to learn about many issues in life.  Let us know first of all that we were created in God’s image and through His grace and mercy we will live a new life in Christ.  The knowledge of being created in God’s image is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom

Wandering in Chaos

Wandering in the middle of the chaos of life draws out many attitudes.  As a physician I have a tendency to look at life from cause and effect perspective.  Taking a history, performing a physical exam and the prescribing medicine to assist a patient to good health gives a physician satisfaction.  Seeing a patient improve brings encouragement to the physician as well as the patient.  Often I feel that because of my training as a pediatrician, I have conquered the disease for my patient.  My self sufficient attitude places the result in my lap.  When my health is good because of the good food, sleep and exercise and I take credit for the cause and effect.  

In the world of life in Christ what is cause and what is effect.  As I read the scripture cause and effect in the unseen world of Christ's work opens the perspective of what is not seen, but yet I act as if people's lives have changed because of what I have done.  My self centered thoughts neglect the work of Christ in changing the hearts and minds of people.  Scripture reminds me of people around the world praying that my life will be centered in God's will.  I must fall on my knees and thank God for the prayer of His people.  I must rejoice in knowing that God has given me everything I have. The prayer of God’s people encourages those who serve the true and living God.  I tend to forget that dynamic and believe that I am the one who does the work.  In the unseen world of God working and molding His people into His image we do not see until God opens our eyes to our selfness and we allow ourselves to see Christ in our fellow believers.  God’s spirit works to transform attitudes.  God’s spirit convicts us of self centered attitudes.  Often we do not see the effect in ourselves, but others see the effect of the work of Christ.  Keep praying for us that God will open my eyes to begin to see more and more transforming power of God. 

MISSIONARY MOTIVATION

From where do those who minister cross cultural come?  Which leads to another question.  Does a stereotypically missionary exist?  The motivation to missions often comes from duty or desire.  That is either I want to become involved in missions or I feel I must become a missionary to pay God a debt I owe to him.  

HOW WOULD RESPOND TO THESE STATEMENTS