Date: 1 February 2009, D - 11 days
Events:
Another 2 for 1 day as yesterday was a busy day.
29 January: I was at home and slept in because I am not feeling too good. I feel achy and beat up; I don’t know if it’s because of the PT test or the vaccinations. As live viruses, 2 of the 4 immunizations that I got have the potential to cause a viral syndrome. After reading and writing, I worked out at Lifetime then met Marla, her manager, Austin, and Meredith for lunch at Kona Grill. Lunch went great, Austin’s a great manager but Marla is always a bit stressed when he’s with her because she gets evaluated for each call and her evaluations figure into her annual raise. I went shopping at one of my favorite stores ‘The Buckle’ after lunch and found a cool new shirt and jeans. Marla and I stuck around the house the rest of the day and my friend Matt came in from west Texas Friday night. Matt is one of my closest friends in the world, he was my first friend in medical school. As my brother puts it, he was my “starter friend” because he introduced me to his group of friends that subsequently became my best friends in the world (John, Samuel, Josh, Clayton, etc…). Matt just returned from a 6 week trip to Africa where he served as a medical missionary over the holidays (he is single and holidays are always hard on him so he took initiative and served in Africa). During his time in Africa, Matt (family practice physician) was able to further his knowledge by practicing as an Obstruction, General Surgeon, Orthopedic Surgeon, Infectious Disease Doctor and good old FP. As he puts it, he was the “big medical center” and took referrals from all over Kenya. Thankfully, my friend (now more of a brother since I’ve stayed at his house with his parents for 6months now) made it back safely in time to spend a weekend with Marla and I before I leave.
30 January: Slept in again, woke up round 0800 and made breakfast for Marla and Matt. Marla laughed at me for putting hot dog’s in the eggs but I maintain that these were special hot dogs that taste more like breakfast sausage. After breakfast, Matt and I cut down branches that were touching the house so that the would not scare Marla on windy nights. In the process of my good deed, I was on the top rung (the one that says “not a step”) of our 8 foot ladder sawing with a hand saw when a large branch kicked back and hit me in the head. It is a huge blessing that I was not knocked out and did not fall from the ladder because it hit me hard and removed a large chunk of skin from my forehead. Not 30 seconds prior had Matt said, “I think you better come down and we’ll pull it down from hear.” I should have listened. I always laugh at peoples dumb stunts when I see them in the ED; well put one down for me! After taking care of my wounds, Matt and I went for a long off-road run through McCalster Park with Sadie. Apparently it was too long because Sadie has been too sore to stand up since. I was up most of the night helping her around as she cried all night and was unable to get up from sitting. She brought me to tears on more than one occasion and when I wasn’t helping her around, I was praying that God would at least take away the pain. I’m worried that she is suffering from Hip Dysplasia and I will take her to the Vet this week for films. This has happened before, always after long runs, but it has never been this bad. She’s on bed rest today and we are praying she’s just sore.
Bible (NT/OT):
Matt 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The Parable of the Talents
14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Final Judgment
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
30 January: Slept in again, woke up round 0800 and made breakfast for Marla and Matt. Marla laughed at me for putting hot dog’s in the eggs but I maintain that these were special hot dogs that taste more like breakfast sausage. After breakfast, Matt and I cut down branches that were touching the house so that the would not scare Marla on windy nights. In the process of my good deed, I was on the top rung (the one that says “not a step”) of our 8 foot ladder sawing with a hand saw when a large branch kicked back and hit me in the head. It is a huge blessing that I was not knocked out and did not fall from the ladder because it hit me hard and removed a large chunk of skin from my forehead. Not 30 seconds prior had Matt said, “I think you better come down and we’ll pull it down from hear.” I should have listened. I always laugh at peoples dumb stunts when I see them in the ED; well put one down for me! After taking care of my wounds, Matt and I went for a long off-road run through McCalster Park with Sadie. Apparently it was too long because Sadie has been too sore to stand up since. I was up most of the night helping her around as she cried all night and was unable to get up from sitting. She brought me to tears on more than one occasion and when I wasn’t helping her around, I was praying that God would at least take away the pain. I’m worried that she is suffering from Hip Dysplasia and I will take her to the Vet this week for films. This has happened before, always after long runs, but it has never been this bad. She’s on bed rest today and we are praying she’s just sore.
Bible (NT/OT):
Matt 25
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' 12 But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The Parable of the Talents
14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The Final Judgment
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
Bible Thoughts:
1. “Bridegroom” Christ is symbolized as a ‘Bridegroom’ in many instances by authors throughout the New Testament. The use of ‘Groom’ in reference to Christ depicts his irrevocable vow (covenant) to be our provider, sustainer and protector. This is not a marriage covenant as we may understand it in the 21st Century (with a 50% divorce rate) but in the biblical sense, a covenant that is not reliant on the whims of man but on the unchanging character of Christ as True and Just. Today, many argue for a changing God (one more loving, forgiving, and tolerant than the Old Testament deity) I maintain, that a changing god is no god at all and in fact not good news at all. How are we to rely on the promises of this changing god? How are we to know this changing god? No, Christ declares himself to be unchanging, 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb 13:7-9.
1. “Bridegroom” Christ is symbolized as a ‘Bridegroom’ in many instances by authors throughout the New Testament. The use of ‘Groom’ in reference to Christ depicts his irrevocable vow (covenant) to be our provider, sustainer and protector. This is not a marriage covenant as we may understand it in the 21st Century (with a 50% divorce rate) but in the biblical sense, a covenant that is not reliant on the whims of man but on the unchanging character of Christ as True and Just. Today, many argue for a changing God (one more loving, forgiving, and tolerant than the Old Testament deity) I maintain, that a changing god is no god at all and in fact not good news at all. How are we to rely on the promises of this changing god? How are we to know this changing god? No, Christ declares himself to be unchanging, 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Heb 13:7-9.
2. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' 9 But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. This parable follows Jesus’ discourse on the timing of His return. Perhaps because of my looming deployment or perhaps because of my job in the ER, the fact that tomorrow is not a given is very clear to me. Whether it is Satan or our own flesh that falsely reassures us of the certainty of tomorrow, have no doubt, it is not God. On the contrary, the bible speaks of the uncertainty of tomorrow and, as in this parable, the necessity of our constant readiness to face our Lord either in his return or in our death. It is the folly of the young to put off Christ today for the lie of tomorrow. To live for the flesh today with the false certainty of a lifetime to repent and believe. No, tomorrow is never a guarantee; bodily death is life’s one and only certainty. What’s more depressing than a world that focuses on death is a world that denies its inevitable, inescapable approach. A world that is more concerned with Lindsay Lohan’s sexual orientation, or Brad and Angelina’s 6th, no 7th, no 8th child, than the eternal salvation of the soul. A people that will devote decades of their life to slow down the hypothetical global warming but not a day to the study or consideration of their eternal dwelling. That is until their last day on earth, the day of their death, at which point (as I have seen often in the ER), when, in a frantic, pitiful plea they will demand any chaplain, priest, yeoman, witch doctor (no, not a DO), or other “holy man” no matter his/her religious affiliation to somehow do something to ensure their eternal soul goes to “heaven;” someone to explain the now emergent mysteries of the afterlife; someone to give them a trinket…password…anything to ensure their last breath on this earth will not be their utter annihilation. People become mighty religious and aware just before their death. But, this is not how it is to be for a Christian. No, we are to know in what and in whom we believe. We are to live ever-ready to face our death in the confidence that our last breath on earth leads to our first breath before our King.
3. 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' A talent has come to mean more than a coin, but a special skill gifted to man from his creator that his fellow men may not have. Whether believer or unbeliever, we were each supernaturally gifted with “talents”. At the final judgment, God will separate the sheep (his chosen) from the goats (unbelievers) based on their saving faith in Christ. As believers when we, in faith, use our talents for the kingdom they serve to confirm our belief and confer to us individual reward in heaven. The unfaithful, unbeliever who does not use his talents for the Kingdom instead stands rightly condemned as denying his creator and giver of his talents. Indeed, every person in the world, as created in the image of God, has His handy work written on our hearts and exhibited in our talents. When we deny such a gift and insult the giver we stand rightly condemned as an unfaithful servant. I long to hear God say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant” and, though at judgment I will surly lament many unused talents and missed opportunities, I know that my faith (be it smaller than a mustard seed and solely a gift of God), will apply Christ’s goodness and faithfulness as a loving wing over my depravity and enable my joyous welcome into the kingdom as an adopted son of the King.
4. 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' The bible affirms a final judgment in which an internal love and service for Christ will be judged by the external expression of love for our neighbor. While many “Christian’s” may claim a love for Christ in words, a true love is not in words alone but in action as Jesus later says, “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35. And later, “15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15. Thus, our Love for Christ saves us (independent of our love for our neighbor) but, our love for our neighbor exemplifies this love of Christ.
Sun Tzu:
Sun Tzu:
“Therefore I have heard of military operations that were clumsy but swift, but I have never seen one that was skillful and lasted a long time. It is never beneficial to a nation to have a military operation continue for a long time”
“Some win through speed even if they are clumsy.”
Sun Tzu Thoughts:
One of my favorite military quotes is, “a good plan now is better than the perfect plan too late.”
The Intellectual Devotion (Kidder, D. & Oppenheim N. The Intellectual Devotion, Rodale. NY, NY 2006):
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was a Roman general who rose to prominence in the first century BC conquering what is now France, Belgium and western Germany. After his successful campaign, Caesar famously declared, “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered). The Roman Senate, led by Pompey, was threatened by Caesar’s growing popularity and ordered him to disband his army. Caesar refused. He Marched his legions on the Capitol and started a Civil War. He chased his enemies across Europe and ultimately to Egypt where Pompey was killed. Before leaving Egypt, Caesar fell in love with Cleopatra and installed her as queen. When Caesar returned to Rome, he ruled. Despite a senate, Caesar declared a state of Emergency and ruled as a Dictator until his death. In the final years of his life Caesar allowed his Asian subjects to worship him as a god and printed coins with his image and the inscription, “Perpetual Dictator.” These actions fueled the resentment that culminated in his overthrow and murder by his best friend, Brutus.
