Good Blood

I had blood drawn last week for routine testing, got the results back yesterday – and surprising everyone but me, I did great!  Everything checked out fine – sugar, sodium levels, kidney function, triglycerides, all good…  My LDL was a little above where “they” like to see it – but all the nurse practitioner said was, “Wow – I really can’t fuss at you or scold you – just try to cut back on fried foods.”

(In my defense, the test was done right after our county fair ended – so the fish fry and fried bread sticks might have skewed things a little… I’m just sayin’.)

Vic and I had an interesting conversation, one that I have been thinking about.  She asked me if I had been expecting a bad report,  for the doctor to orders some drastic diet and lifestyle changes.  At the time, I said “no,” but as I’ve thought about it, I think maybe I was – somewhere deep and sub-consciously – hoping the doctor would say, “Here’s what you have to do…”

See, I know I’m overweight and out of shape.  I have high blood pressure.  I have family history working against me.  I’m definitely not getting any younger.  So, even though the blood work came in good this time – if I don’t make some changes, I can expect health issues to dog me in the future.

And honestly, some third party forcing me to do what I need to do is what I probably need to see it through.

I see some parallels in the spiritual life – as long as we’re not experiencing a crisis, most of us just coast along, letting issues slide, not dealing with stuff that needs to be resolved… And maybe, secretly, hoping for something to force us to take action.

At church, we’ve been learning to walk in the Spirit – living every moment of every day totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to lead us to do what He wants us to do AND to empower us to do what we cannot do in our own strength…  We’ve learned to say, “Lord, I can’t – but You can!” and to make it our standard operating procedure to continually surrender to the Life of Christ in us to be lived through us.

What if, instead of waiting for something to force us to take action ourselves, the key turns out to be relying on God, through His Holy Spirit manifesting the Life of Christ in us, to do what He wants to do to us and through us?  And what if the best time to sharpen that skill is when the test comes back good – everything is “OK”?

Dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.  Romans 8:12-13 (NLT)

Faith: America vs. The World

Tony is a former college classmate of ours, serving today as a missionary in Matamoros, Mexico.  He recently wrote this thought provoking piece:

I had an interesting conversation with a young guy last night about the difference between faith in the USA and faith in other countries – primarily third world, communist, or poor countries.  My wise young friend commented that in our country faith does not mean so much, specifically because we don’t have to exercise our faith very often.  I agree.  Why pray for daily bread when the fridge is full and the pantry too?  Why ask the Lord to bless you when you have so many blessings you are not sure which car to drive today?

Some time ago in Mexico, we were delivering food boxes to families in an area near the city dump.  At one particular house a young teenage girl named Lupita came out as we drove up.  She was smiling big time.  She kept saying, “This is a blessing from God. This is a blessing from God!”  Why?  It was just a box of food, a carton of eggs, some oranges, coffee, flour and corn meal to make tortillas, some toilet paper, etc.  What was the big deal?

Lupita told us the deal, “Last night we sat at the table and mother had us pray.  You see, we had no food at all, nothing.  She said we should pray for food to eat.  And then God sent you.  This is a blessing from God.”

Wow! I was almost in tears that day. I will never forget Lupita’s words that morning.   When you have to beg or plead for daily bread, then, yes, then faith means something more.

I have said for a long time that what passes for “faith teaching” in the U.S. is nothing more that sanctified and slightly sanitized materialistic humanism.  How hollow “Believing God for Your Prosperity Miracle” must sound to the Christ follower in sub-Saharan Africa who lives in a slum with no clean water, no sanitation, and no food.   In that case, the “prayer of faith” is not for a bigger house, nicer clothes, or a private jet – it is prayed for survival.

So I agree with you, Tony, there’s a difference between faith in this country and in other countries – ours looks crass and cheap and self-centered. And the rest of the world’s faith looks like their very lives depend on it.

(If you would be interested in learning more about or supporting Ninos de Christo, Tony’s mission in Mexico, leave your email address in a comment, and I’ll connect you.)