Blessing of the Hands to Mark Nurses Week

Hospitals depend on medicine to heal, but patients, families and staff rely on spiritual help as well. This week OakBend Medical Center celebrated Hospital/Nurse’s week by blessing of the hands to affirm the sacred dimension of healthcare.

The reliance on spiritual help and the recognition that hospital staff needs to be encouraged to be instruments of compassion as they fulfill their daily tasks, “A Blessing of the Hands” service offered in recognition of this important role provided by health care providers was conducted by Chaplain Kei at the Hospital’s Chapel.

The chaplaincy Services at OakBend Medical Center embraces the spiritual dimension of life and is committed to providing spiritual care to patients, families, caregivers and community. For this purpose, the chaplaincy program exists to minister to the entire (Body, Mind, and Soul) patient, as well as hospital staff who face difficult situations on a daily basis.

The Blessing of the Hands at OakBend Medical Center is a very important service considering the demanding careers of health care professionals.  As much as the blessing of the hands serves as a time of reflection on the healthcare vocation, it is also time to reach out and minister to the employees of the hospital and let them know that God cares and that they are appreciated by the hospital for the work they do.

The blessing of hands honors the health care providers by reaching deep into their spiritual beings. It verbalizes a pastoral understanding of the work they perform. It acknowledges sensitivity to the energy and emotion they give to those they serve. It conveys confidence in them and empowers them to continue on with a renewed compassion for others. Their jobs are full of challenges and questions, but to hear something positive and to let them know that they are appreciated for their work really impacts them as they perform their daily tasks.

Though the blessing itself was brief, the message was clearly understood by the spiritual core of the staff. A few of the participants were overheard saying,” It feels good,” Yet another said, this is what I needed,” Later during the day a nurse said to chaplain, “That was great, I wish we could do it more,”

The blessing of the hands rivets the participant’s mind to remember why they choose the careers of healthcare, namely to offer compassion and healing to those in need. It was important to remind the hospital staff that what they do matters and is a service to the Lord. It was the best way to celebrate Nurse’s week.

During  the 20 minutes session  a reading from third chapter of Colossians  verse seventeen, “And whatsoever you  do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him ... And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Individually, staffers stepped forward and extended their hands over a hot towel

And the chaplain said these words as he blessed the hands of each participant, “May the God, who created you, bless the care that you give others. May your hands bring healing to all who you touch. May you be blessed and appreciated for all you do in this hospital.”

This event was a reminder that all of the stories about Jesus’ healing ministry were found in larger narratives about our common humanity, compassion, human dignity, shared responsibility, and God’s intention for our health and wholeness.

Conclusion prayers were said for all healthcare workers, for God to strengthen them to use their hearts, hands, and voices to raise their vision for a health care future that includes everyone and works well for all… Amen

God's Promises Are Real. Sermon Topic Chapel

We read in Scripture that Jesus was crucified along with two robbers on either side of him.  The gospels of Mark and John say little about these men. While Matthew tells us that both robbers insulted Jesus,Luke's account tells us that one of the thieves asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom.  Despite the fact that he was dying, the condemned man finally understood that the one who could save him for all eternity was on the cross right next to him.

So many times our problems cause us to think that God has forgotten us.   It is hard to understand that the Source of our strength and our Provider in all things is already with us.  When a situation seems hopeless, it is difficult to not grow weary and lose strength.  But we are told in Scripture to keep trusting and believing in all of our trials even when we don’t see the answer.  We read in Romans 8:24, “Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?”  Our faith must transcend the boundaries of what we hear, see and feel.  We must trust that the God we serve is working out his plan in our lives through every battle we face.  Faith doesn’t see the future – it trusts the One who holds the future!

Everything that God allows in the life of a believer has been divinely designed.  There are no mistakes in the plan that was made for you long before the foundation of the earth.  Whatever is happening in your life that doesn’t seem right or fair has been allowed for a distinct purpose.  It is never easy to suffer through our painful trials, but it is the working of our faith that gives us endurance to stay in the race and not give up.

Step By Step with God- Words of encouragement to ...

Are you thirsting for a more intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father? Can you sense in your heart that God is calling you to a deeper level of Christian spiritual growth than you have ever experienced before?

God’s desire is for the two of you to share a deeper intimacy than you may have ever dreamed possible. But, like any relationship, developing this kind of oneness with God is not something that happens over night - It takes time and work. 

And it’s that four letter word - WORK - that keeps so many of us bound by the chains of religion instead of being free to experience the deeper relationship with God that He has waiting for us.

But, if the true desire of your heart is to take your Christian spiritual growth to the next level, you can start on that journey today right from where you are. 

How do you begin? One Footstep at a time...

Footstep #1 - Develop an Understanding of Who God Really Is. 

The foundation for any relationship truly knows the other person. If you do not know them - their heart and their true character - then how can you ever really trust them? If you don’t truly trust them, then what kind of relationship do you really have after all?

In order to connect with God, you have to understand the depths of who He is and who He wants to be in your life. You have to begin building a true friendship with your Heavenly Father. 

Footstep #2 - Get Real With God...And With You.

As Christians, it is easy to get in the habit of walking around in what I like to call our "Perfect Christian Mask." We pretend that nothing gets to us. Nothing shakes our faith or breaks our heart. On the outside, we look tough as nails - But on the inside, we are not as strong as we would like others to think.

The danger of the "Perfect Christian Mask" is that you are not perfect. There are times when your faith IS shaky and your heart IS broken. But, having those moments does not make you a bad Christian any more than trying to ignore them makes you a good one.

A true sign of Christian Spiritual Growth is when you can go to God and say - I need help. I fear. I hurt. And, you are the only one I can tell because You are the only one who can help me.

That kind of nakedness before God is what will move you from religion to relationship and truly transform your life.

Do you really want to experience dynamic Christian spiritual growth? 

Step out on faith. Begin your journey by taking these two footsteps. They may seem small, but you will be amazed at what God can do inside your heart when you truly know Him, and let down your guard enough to let Him truly know you too.

The Meaning of Christmas-

Why is there so much controversy and confusion in people's minds over Christmas and its meaning both in our personal lives and in the cooperate world? Some people feel it is a Christian holiday, holding no special meaning for them. Others take the viewpoint that it is a holy day that is cheapened and diminished by all the festivities there of. Yet few, if any, when really pressed, are willing to give up the Christmas holiday, in spite of their ambivalent feelings.

What is the real meaning of Christmas season?  Recently I read an article from a Christian magazine that pointed out that, “Christ is the reason for the Season.”

This being the case, Christmas becomes the season not about human kind but about Christ.  A time when we should focus on redemption (salvation) of the sinful human race. It is during Christmas we should focus away from fear and focus on joy and healing we receive from Christ.

The Christmas Season emphasizes two important redemptive issues all based on the importance of the Season; one is the rebirth of the soul (John 1:29), and the second is the return of the light (John 18:37-38) to earth. It’s therefore biblically correct to point out that Christ’s birth is the Reason for the Season that is provided for us during the darkest season, to bring us light, and provide us with salvation.

Yet even knowing the true meaning of the Christmas season is not enough to convince some people of its importance. That is why the season is full of "Peace! Goodwill! Happy holidays!" The Season becomes like so many others diluting what Christ came for.

There is a way to feel the real meaning of the season. There is a way in which your own heart can experience the love and light pouring into the earth during this time of Christmas, John 17:3. Knowing the only True God means having an intimate, personal relationship with Him – not just knowing about Him. That way you will participate in the rituals of the season and you will understand the true meaning of Christmas.

It is unfortunate that the reason for the Christmas has been overshadowed by beauty of ornamented Christmas trees, lights hanging on gutters, Santa’s visit through the chimney, or the mysterious and mythological characters such as; Rudolf the red noise Reindeer, Frosty the snow man, The  Grinch  among other fantasies and characters. Joy is replaced by sadness when choosing gifts to delight and surprise those you love. Why should we sing “joy to the world?”  Psalms 98.

There is only one way to know the true meaning of Christmas; and that is to know that it is about redemption and salvation brought by Jesus Christ, who is the Reason for the Season, and to try to bring joy to self and to every person, creating joy to every person during the Christmas.

But there is one more thing you can do to amplify this experience a thousand fold. That is to enter the season of Christmas with the intention of being a personal messenger of light and love, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by knowing Jesus in a personal way. Nothing transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary more directly than the intention to serve the Almighty.

When we celebrate Christmas with such an intention and desire to becoming massagers of light and love, we not only experience Christmas . . . we actually become  agent of rebirth of the soul and the bringer of light( light bearers).

Therefore, the best gift you can give to yourself and the world during this Christmas season is the knowledge that Christ is the reason for the Season, and let others know about it.

What God Knows about Me. Psalm 139:23f

Prayer. Why do we pay so little attention to it? Do we think that we've heard it all before? We do it--we come into contact with God--but what do we expect to happen? Could I suggest that sometimes we have become forgetful of prayer, and maybe we've not given enough thought to what there might be about prayer that we who live at the end of the end must know? I confess that I don’t pray as often as I am required to.

There are some things about us that will only be changed through prayer--Some things that need to be changed. Did you hear the prayer of David in Psalm 139:23-24? "Search me, O God?" Why was David concerned? Was there something about him that he thought maybe God had missed? Of course not. But still David pleads with his Maker, "Search me, O God." I think that David knew God's goal for him. Surely he knew that God's goal is to not to save man in sin, but from sin (Matthew 1:21). And we know that he knew about God's purpose for his end time people. Do you, Do I, Do we?

David understood that people who live for God will be changed people, Which probably accounts for his words in Psalm 17:3: "Thou hast proved mine heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tired me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."

What did David say? That verse we just read could be rephrased like this: "God, You are helping me to grow. In the end, you'll have Your finished work in my life, and I'll be a man who has ceased from sin." David didn't preach the "new theology." He preached the "old theology," the theology that God had from the beginning. When the fall of humankind took place, heaven was ready with a plan that would repair the damage; that would produce a repaired people. So I guess I believe in new creation.

God will produce a people, who although born into broken natures that are not prone to sin, don't sin. If it's true, it can only mean one thing: God has alot of work to do! And He has laid some very major claims with His gospel. He claims that it "is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). He claims that His righteousness will be revealed in His people through His gospel (Romans 1:17). That being the case, then I believe, God has quite a lot of work to do in us, and that we are still in the making, and that we are not done yet.  Satan tells Him "You can't change these people." But who is the ruler of the world?

 

Awake Oh Sleeper - Bible study at Friendship Church

The Holy Spirit clearly teaches us that laziness; indolence and idleness in the physical realm will bring one to poverty. He said, "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come . . . " (Prov. 6: 10, 11). But just as we can easily see the truth of this principle in physical things, we should also be fully aware of spiritual poverty that is produced by the same process. Consider at least these three matters:

Christians may often be inclined to fold their hands in slumber while immorality impoverishes the land and perhaps even the brotherhood. Read your Bible and notice that God has always respected and loved good people. Of course they must be obedient to his commands, but some seem to think they can be baptized and then live like Satan and yet be approved of the Lord. And many who would not think of engaging in immoral practices turn their face the other way, refusing to be alarmed and declining to get excited about corruption. Preachers are tempted to preach about everything else and leave divorce, adultery, dishonesty, profanity and other such things alone. Elders may be inclined to rebuke the gainsayers, admonish the indifferent and coax the complacent, at the same time folding their hands regarding wickedness. Parents contribute to spiritual poverty when they are unconcerned about dancing, drinking, and other such evils among the youth.

Some brethren may think the battle is over regarding institutionalization, and without really intending to do so, may cause many to be overcome with that dreadful spiritual affliction. We never can afford to quit teaching against instrumental music in worship, against wrong church activities, against unscriptural church organization, and other innovations. These issues are never "settled." Just a little slumber on the part of the faithful and ruin will come to many. Constant vigilance, wakefulness and watchfulness are necessary to avoid this spiritual poverty that actually means apostasy.

But when we have opposed everything that is wrong, we must stand for the things that are right. Perhaps here we "fold our hands" the most often. We are aware of the obligation, we are conscious of the opportunity and we acknowledge humanity's necessity. But we often seem to say, "Let others do it." Many of us may content ourselves with tearing down false doctrines. We join the wrecking crew and work feverishly but when it comes time to build we engage only in a "little folding of the hands." Preachers may often think of themselves as defenders of the faith instead of sowers of the Seed. The elders may sometimes be more concerned with keeping error out than they are with bringing souls in. 

 

And herein dies another vital error: we often utilize all our opportunities to teach the Word locally but we fail to "lift up our eyes" to other fruitful fields. In fact, we sometimes preach our heart out to people who never will obey and "fold our hands in slumber" concerning strange people, far away who are so eager to hear, believe and surrender to Christ. And while we fold our hands honest souls, precious to the Lord, eager for salvation but ignorant of the Way drift on in the worst kind of spiritual poverty that leads them to eternal ruin. And what of us? If we carelessly sleep now, will we be less poor than those whose slumber we could have stopped? "Awake, thou that sleepest" (Eph. 5.14).

The Cost of being a Disciple of Christ- Matthew 14...

To follow Christ truly, we must consider the cost. Jesus first lays out, the costs of discipleship (14:26-27); then, He gives two parables (14:28-32) that make the same overall point, namely, that a person must give careful consideration to the cost before he rashly jumps into it.  Then He states a third cost of discipleship (14:33).  He then (14:34-35) gives an illustration about salt to illustrate the cost of not truly following Him.  He concludes by warning, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Before we look at the costs that Jesus spells out, think with me for a moment about the phrases, “sit down and calculate the cost,” referring to the man building the tower (14:28); and, “sit down and take counsel,” referring to the king considering going to war (14:31).  Both refer to careful, detailed, rational thinking in which you consider all aspects of what you’re getting into before you make the commitment. Such careful thinking is opposed to quick decision made in a moment of intense emotion, without much thought about the consequences. Our evangelistic methods today are big on emotion and little on reason. “Trust in Jesus Kind of Faith and everything will be okay”

We get people into crusades to hear testimonies from famous evangelist or preachers about how Christ changed their lives. Then they hear a eloquent speaker promise how Christ can meet the person’s every need. Then the invitation is given and counselors are primed to get out of their seats and walk forward so that people on the verge of a decision think that others are going forward. The choir or band is playing a song of invitation. Going forward feels like the right thing to do. In a swell of emotion, the person gets out of his seat and “decides for Christ.”

But did the person get saved? By God’s grace, some do. But even the well-known evangelists admit that the long-term “stick with it” rate for those who make a decision is only about 10-15 percent. All too often, their decision was based more on emotion than on careful thought about what it means to follow Christ.

Here, Jesus says to the crowds who were interested enough to be going along with Him “Consider the cost of following me. We must consider the cost of following Christ. Jesus spells out three costs: (1) we must hate our families and ourselves (14:26). We must carry our own cross 14:27 and, we must give up all our possession 14:33.

Whoa! Doesn’t the Bible say that we are to love our families? Doesn’t it say that no man ever hated his own flesh? Is Jesus contradicting the Bible?  Of course not!  But He puts it in these terms for shock value, to get us to stop and think about the stringent demand that He is making.  He means that our allegiance and love for Him must be so great that by comparison our love for our families and even for our own lives looks like hatred.

Normally, there is no conflict between loving Christ and our family members also.  But sometimes a tug of war develops, where a family member puts pressure on us to back off from or even abandon our love for Christ. In those difficult situations, we do not love either Christ or the family member if we accede to the pressure. We do not love the family member, because if we bow to the pressure, we are saying that Christ is not worthy of being followed above all others, and we keep the family member from seriously considering the claims of Christ.

We do not love Christ because we have put a sinful human being, who did not give himself for our sins, in a higher place than the spotless Lamb of God who freely offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. In his book “The Cost of Discipleship” Dietrich Bonheoffer says that “Grace is not cheap, if it were cheap it would be sold in market.” Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man’ will gladly go and self all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Following Christ is that costly if we are truly his disciples