EXPLORATORY SURGERY

Week Forty-Four, 2021

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corr. 2:9

Seeing inside the body is nothing new, but it has changed. Until the late twentieth century, doctors had to open people up with exploratory surgery to find out what was wrong with them and know how to treat it, but then came modern technology that replaced most exploratory surgery.

Whether it’s using computed tomography (CT) to find torn knee cartilage, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose a brain tumor or 2-D echocardiography to detect an abnormal heart valve, these technologies have made exploratory surgery a rare event. The latest generation of cardiac imaging procedures builds on each of these technologies.

I took my truck into the dealership for service, got a cup of coffee and waited in the showroom. Bad mistake. A salesman walked over to ask if he could help me. I asked him about a new model I saw on the showroom floor and, well, the rest is history. I drove home in a different truck than I arrived with, something that had never crossed my mind for that day.

Life is like that. We have to explore to find things. We don’t know what we don’t know. There are things all around us, but if we don’t explore, then we will not find them.

Let’s take the Bible for example. On the average, 85 percent of U.S. households own a Bible and the average number of Bibles per household is 4.3. 36 percent of Americans read the Bible less than once a year or never while 33 percent read the Bible once a week or more.

The answers to life’s greatest challenges are right at our fingertips, if only we will open the cover and read. The Bible points us to the truth when we are in error. The Word trains by showing us how to obey. God’s Word is fully sufficient to prepare us for everything the Bible commands us to do. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to transform us into Christ-likeness.

What is the main goal of the Bible? The Bible’s purpose is twofold. The first is to show us all have broken God’s Law. James 2:10 declares, “For whoever keeps the whole law, but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” God’s Law reveals how all people have sinned against God and are deserving of the fullness of His judgment.

Have you thought about exploring the Bible?

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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

What is an idol?

Idol means “an object of extreme devotion” or “a representation or symbol of an object of worship.” It can also be used in the sense of “a false conception” or something that is a fallacy. Its synonyms include hero, star, obsession, or symbol.

The Bible has a lot to say about idols. The word is used 223 times in the New International Translation. The most famous use comes in the second commandment God gave to Israel as he formed them into his covenant people: “Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5 CSB).

We likely think we don’t have problems with idols the way people in the Old Testament did. Surely as modern, educated people, we are too sophisticated for that! We don’t carve things out of wood or metal and then entrust our earthly and eternal lives to them!

Or do we?

First, like the ancient Israelites and other peoples of long ago, we continue to make idols out of the things that impress us.

Second, we make idols of the things that scare us.

Third, we sometimes make idols out of the essential things we need.

Be careful what “idols” creep into and attach to your life.

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WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?

I think all of society (ourselves included) would benefit if we started defining success differently:

Rather than defining success by the brand of clothing we can afford, may we find it in the number of people we have helped to clothe.

Rather than defining success by the amount of money in our bank account, may we find it in how much we used to help others.

Rather than defining success by the size of our house, may we find it in the amount of love that was shown there.

Rather than defining success by our level of education, may we find it in the degree of our integrity.

Rather than defining success by the number of ‘likes’ on our Instagram post, may we find it in how edifying and encouraging that post was to others.

Rather than defining success by the type of car that we drive, may we find it in those we have picked up in life and set down on a better road.

Rather than defining success by how loud our voice is, may we find it in how often we spoke up for those without one.

Rather than defining success in the quality and quantity of our personal possessions, may we find it in the level of selflessness we have shown to others.

Rather than defining success in the number of people who love us, may we find it in the number of people we have loved. The Minimalist

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QUOTES YOU CAN USE

None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”

HENRY DAVID THOREAU

Storms serve a purpose—they serve God’s purpose. Dan Shock

Jesus celebrates with us the joy of being close again as we walk together down the path of Life. Sarah Young

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.”

WILLA CATHER

Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet? L. M. MONTGOMERY

Prayer puts the super in the natural. Jim Wilson

God does the impossible with the illogical. Aaron Burke

No sin is unforgivable. No sickness is unhealable. No past is unredeemable. Aaron Burke

Edgar Watson Howe once joked, “No man would listen to you talk if he didn’t know it was his turn next.”

Clint Bruce, a former US Navy SEAL and NFL player who, when asked to identify his favorite football game, chose the Army-Navy contest. Clint explained: “It’s the only game in America where every player on the field is willing to die for every person in the stands.”

We need to find help outside of ourselves and look to Jesus Christ. Dan Shock

“This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes, and we reach for the stars.” (The West Wing)