“Understand in order to accept/believe”

“Accept and believe in order to understand”

One leads to skepticism and isolation, and the other to acceptance and peace.

In the world of science, it is perfectly right and good to demand proof before we give our assent and agreement. That’s how science works.

• Prove it first, then the proof and understanding leads to acceptance and belief.
• Such proofs should be repeatable.

While this works fine in the world of science, this would never work in relationships.

• If a spouse demanded understanding before acceptance, such marriage is doomed.
• If a parent or a child demanded proof before acceptance, that is a guarantee for a breakdown of trust and further division.
• If a friend demanded understanding prior to acceptance, they would not be a friend much longer.

The reason for this is relationships require love, but skepticism and doubt snuffs out love.

Our culture demands proof when faith is about a relationship.

We will never arrive at faith as long as we demand proof. Faith is about a relationship with a God who loves rebels and sinners so much, that God could not leave sinners and rebels in our sin and rebellion. So God sent his Son to die for sinners, so that whosoever should believe in his Son would have everlasting life and relationship with God.

Faith is relationship, and until we understand that, we will remain in our skepticism and isolation.

God loves you.

I genuinely hope you believe that.

Thank you for your prayers, your calls, and texts.

It’s awesome to know that friends from all over the world have been praying.

The goal was to have two surgeons go into my heart from opposite sides to unclog the blocked artery and then to place a stent or stents into the artery.

The surgeons spent about three and half hours trying to open up the clogged artery but they were unable to do so. Not only were they unable to unclog the artery but they found that the artery in question has two separate blockages – Go big or go home they say…if you’re going to have one blockage, why not two!!!

The plan is now to give my arteries a chance to recover from the 3.5 hour procedure and go back in there in about six weeks. This time, I will be having the procedure done at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle by a doctor who is one of the leading doctors in this type of procedure.

Bottom line, I get to do all this again in six weeks.

How am I doing?

I am a wee bit sore. I don’t remember being this bruised or sore from the other angioplasties I’ve had, but none of my previous procedures lasted three and half hours. Normally they are in and out in about thirty minutes.

The main thing now is not to do anything to cause bleeding from the puncture sites. So my job is to lay low for a week until the puncture sites are completely healed.

Spiritually and emotionally doing great. God’s got this. God can do whatever God pleases. I am completely at peace with whatever future God has in store.

Shoot, going through this in six weeks again is not ideal, but I’m still alive and I get to be with my family…not complaining.

I look forward to being back in the office and at church in a week.

Again, thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Hope you’re all doing well! Blessings!

So…Samurai or Monk?

James <><

Convictions.

Convictions are the values and commitments that are non-negotiable for you.

Here’s the thing about convictions. You need to have them before you find yourself in a position of needing them. By the time you figure out you may need some convictions, it’s too late.

• The weight of the moment, the pang and the urgency of the passion will outweigh and overwhelm any shred of conscience you might have.
• Any semblance of conscience will lose out to the overwhelming pull of the flesh 100% of the time unless you have already predetermined what convictions and commitments are non-negotiable before-hand.

You need to have a plan before you need a plan.

You need to have tested out your convictions prior to finding yourself in a crisis of character.

That’s what convictions are.

So what are your convictions? What are your non-negotiables? You need a plan before you need a plan.