Praise God Anyway

When we look at the world without spiritual eyes, we see so many happy accidents. We didn’t get into the college we wanted, and we ended up going to another school where we met the love of our life – happy accident. We forgot our keys and had to go back in the house to find them, and because we were five minutes behind schedule, we missed a giant pile-up on the highway – a happy accident. Our lives seem to be full of happy accidents but are they really accidents at all, or are they blessings given to us by God? As a believer in Jesus Christ, I don’t think we can praise God too much or give Him too much credit for the blessings we experience in life. The next time you get frustrated and things don’t seem to be going your way, praise God anyway. Who knows, you may find your next great blessing at the end of this new adventure. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Next Step

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" is a common saying that originated from a Chinese proverb. The quotation is from Chapter 64 of the Dao De Jing ascribed to Laozi. I grew up hearing that proverb. The proverb’s meaning is a lesson I have needed to learn repeatedly. To get to where you want to be, you must start from where you are, one step at a time. When we would go backpacking, we would tell the kids that you can make it to the top of the mountain if you kept putting one foot in front of the other. We were always amazed at how much territory we had covered. You have heard us talk about taking the next step in your growth in this church. If you are visiting with us from time to time, start worshipping with us regularly. If you have been worshipping with us regularly, start attending one of our bible classes. If you are attending our bible classes, start showing the love of God to your world. If you are already involved in acts of service, learn to share your faith with everyone who will listen. Lasting growth often takes place one step at a time. The same thing is true in our private spiritual walk with Christ. If you want to be closer to Christ, start by getting to know Him. We do that by reading His word. You could begin with Matthew or Mark. If you have been reading, it may be time for you to carve out a time of prayer every day. If you have been praying, maybe it is time for you to ask yourself, “What do I need to be doing to be obedient to Christ?”. The process of taking the next step in my spiritual walk is never over. As long as I live, my goal should be to grow closer to God in faith and action every day. What is your NEXT STEP? In Him J. Tom Washburn

Re-mis-sion

Yesterday the Doctor told Julie and me that I was now in remission. What a great word, remission. In my case, the word remission means the diminution of the seriousness of my disease. It is not gone, but it is quiet, and it should not be in control of my schedule or my activities as much anymore. It has been a whole year since my pain or my doctor appointments and medicine schedule have not been the preeminent factors in my day. I do not know how long remission will last, but I will enjoy every day it does. Remission, what a great word. The first time I remember hearing the word remission was in Sunday School. Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” KJV In Acts 2, remission is defined as the cancellation of a debt. I am blessed. I have experienced the medical and spiritual definitions of remission. We live in a sick and broken world that desperately needs remission. If your world is ever going to experience remission, it may only happen if you live on mission. Will you allow God to use you to share His healing power of the soul? Will you allow Him to use you to share Jesus Christ? In Him J. Tom Washburn

Ready for the trip

This weekend Julie and I are making a one-night trip to go and see a couple of our grandkids, and we will also visit with their parents. It is amazing how much preparation goes into a one-night trip. There are the Mimi cookies that must be made for the grandkids, and there are gifts that must be purchased. There is the packing of clothes, personal items, and all the needed medications. The car must be checked and filled with gas, and snacks must be put in the car for the long 3-hour trip. The dog needs to be washed and his cage placed in the car, and then finally, we are ready to go. I don’t know about you, but we spend a lot of time getting ready for a twenty-four-hour trip. As I sit here and write this blog, I wonder how much time we spend getting ready for the greatest trip of all, that final trip. Are we packing our hearts with the Word of God? Are we filling our hearts with the songs of praise that we want to sing? What are we doing to prepare for the most incredible trip? If you haven’t started getting ready for the trip, it is time to start today. For those who are ready, it is going to be the best trip of all. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Boundaries that don’t do their job

Col 2:20-23 Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. NIV As a parent, you sometimes know when something bad is about to happen. Something is about to happen when the kids in the car become quiet for no apparent reason. When you hear your kids start daring each other with words like “You won’t, you won’t,” something bad is about to happen. It is good to have boundaries, but rules don’t always keep us from sin. Rules can, at times, draw us toward sin. A sign that says “Don’t look” can be an invitation to look. A sign that says "Don’t touch” can act as an invitation to touch. How many times have you been guilty of ignoring signs? When it comes to our Christian walk and pursuit of The Holy, we need to spend more time working on the things to be and less time coming up with the rules other people should be following. Christ is seldom seen in our rules, but He is easy to see in the life that has been transformed from the inside out. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Stay in Your Lane.

There is a sign on Texas Highways that says, “Left Lane for Passing Only.” This sign helps with traffic flow and, if followed, can alleviate a lot of frustration. The most frustrating driver is the driver that drives in both lanes. Everyone is annoyed and endangered when one car or truck decides to control both lanes. When it comes to working together and working with others, sometimes the best advice is to just stay in your own lane. How often have you been irritated by somebody sticking their nose into your lane? How often have you discouraged somebody by sticking your nose in their lane? It is always appropriate to encourage or even to give constructive help (that means you are willing to do more than just criticize). We all want to reach our goal without having a huge pileup. We all want the very best. It is worth slowing down on the highway and arriving five minutes later if that means everyone can reach the destination. It is worth slowing down in The Body if it means everyone can make the journey with you. 1 Cor 12:24-27 But God has combined the members of the body … so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. … Now, you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. NIV --- When changes come, don’t drive in the middle of the road. Do what you can to ensure that everyone can make the journey that glorifies God. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Passwords

I don’t know about you, but I have several passwords in my life. I have a password to get into my phone, my computer, my Netflix account, my Amazon account, my bank account, and so on. Those passwords give me access to all the available services in each environment. Inside our families, we also have passwords that must be used often. Passwords like: I love you; I forgive you; I believe in you; I have missed you; I trust you; thank you; and can we pray together. These passwords, and many more, open the door of the heart. We tend to guard our heart with great care because it has been hurt so many times. Why don’t you try opening the hearts of your family and try opening your heart to your family and see if there aren’t great blessings that come from being “real” with those who have your best interest at heart? In Him J. Tom Washburn

The Five Steps Part #5

Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, Baptized Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” NIV John 15:9-10 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.” NIV In the Christian world, baptism has become a lightning rod. Baptism is simply the obedience part of the salvation equation. When we hear, believe, repent and confess, baptism is the “now what?” Baptism is the first of many steps of obedience. Baptism is the seal of a covenant that begins to permeate the believer’s life. I was taught many years ago that baptism is like a believer’s wedding ceremony. When I married Julie (my wife), I loved her with all my heart. I loved her the day before the wedding, I loved her when I walked down to the front of the church, but I was not in a covenant relationship with her until we exchanged vows and rings. I was not married to her until the minister pronounced us husband and wife. Today there are many followers who love Jesus. They love Him with all their heart and soul but have not sealed that relationship with the covenant of obedience. They have not been baptized; therefore, they do not have the blessings that come with the covenant. Because Julie and I have entered the covenant relationship of marriage, she carries my name and has all the blessings that come from being my wife. To carry The Name, you must enter that covenant relationship. If you want all the blessings of the covenant, you must obey (including baptism). Baptism alone is not enough. Baptism is just a part of offering yourself to God for His glory. Study the scriptures for yourself. Your salvation is too important to be let up to the teaching of any group. Listen to God, Trust God, and you will be blessed for all eternity.

The Five Steps - Part #4

Hear, Believe, Repent, CONFESS. When we teach God’s plan of salvation, we often minimize confession. As shown in the previous post, your response to Jesus Christ is deeply profound. Being confronted with the truth of Jesus Christ calls for a decision. Believing that Word drives us to repent. Jesus Christ transforms us from the very center of who we are. We have no choice but to proclaim to the world with our lives and tongue that we owe everything to the one who paid our price of sin. Confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is so important that Paul says in Rom 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and with your mouth, you confess and are saved.” NIV Have you ever noticed that our tongue seems to set the direction of our life? If you want to reach a goal, you tell people your plan, and you tell them repeatedly so that they know what you are after. When we confess Jesus Christ, it is not a one-time thing; we need to confess over and over so that others know the direction of our life. The confession helps refocus how we live, and it holds us accountable. The confession of faith declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ and lets everyone who hears know that I will do everything I can to obey. If you confess and don’t obey, you are just another talker. If you have indeed heard and you believed and repented, obedience is the next step. We will continue this discussion in my next blog. In Him J. Tom Washburn

The Five Steps - Part #3

Hear, believe and repent, as we continue looking at the five steps, we are going to spend some time looking at repentance. Too many people look at repentance as a simple apology. Repentance is not an apology, even though an apology may be needed, repentance is a change of heart and a change of life. Repentance is a change of the very paradigm by which you live your life. When you hear and understand the basic truth of a creator God. When you are confronted with His holiness and your unrighteousness, you understand the need for a redeemer. Jesus Christ is that sinless, righteous redeemer. He is the holy one of God and He died to pay the debt you could not pay. When you come to believe in Him as the Son of God, it demands that you make a choice. To choose Christ will demand a course correction (repentance) in your life. It demands that you strive to live worthy of the price He paid for you. You can never be worthy of His offering, and you can never earn His gift, but You can try to live in such a way that God is glorified, and Christ is proud of you. As I have stated in an earlier blog, repentance is a remaking of our life. It is a remaking of our priorities. Repentance is taking the person we were and offering it up to Christ as an offering of gratitude. Repentance demands that I now live my life for Christ and allow Christ to live through me. Repentance means that there is no turning back now, but when you truly hear and believe, there is no desire to turn back to the old life. The new life has more to offer than you can ever imagine. In Him J. Tom Washburn

The Five Steps - Part #2

When you look at the so-called “five steps of salvation," the first step is to hear. When you understand that to hear means to be confronted with the truth of the Bible, to be confronted with the truth of God, to hear calls for a response. You will either believe, or you wont. We either believe that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, or you don't. You either believe that God has set a standard , or you don't. To hear the message of Jesus Christ, to listen to the truth of God, is to be confronted with the fact that we are sinners and have a broken relationship with God. The only way to get that relationship back is through Christ. Either you believe that truth, or you don't. So those first two steps, to hear is to be confronted with the reality of the word, and to believe is that moment of decision when you choose how you will live. You see, what we believe affects the way that we live. What we believe determines the thing we do. If we believe there is a God, we will act in a way that glorifies The Creator. If we do not believe that there is a God, we will only act according to our best interests. There is a third position however. That decision is not making a decision. Too many people hear and like the idea of a God, but they are not convinced there is a God. Maybe they're not confident that there is a God because to admit there is a God is to admit there is a standard, and to admit there is a standard is to admit they are sinners. You see, to hear and to believe means that you place yourself under the authority of God. To believe is to say I put my life under the authority of God, and I agree that He is the one who has the right to set the standard. Those first two steps in that so-called “five steps of salvation” to hear and to believe are essential. To be confronted with the truth of God, we've got to face our mortality. Do I believe, or do I choose not to believe, do I believe that there is a God, or do I believe that all of this just happened? Do I believe that He has set a standard, or do I believe that I set my standard because I am my own God? You see, that moment of decision is a critical moment. It is that time that sets the direction of our life, the course of our life, and when we believe that there is a God, when we believe that there is order to this universe, when we believe that he sent His son because He desires for us to live with Him for all eternity it changes the way we live. So, hearing and believing are two essential steps. Next time we're going to look at that step of repentance and what repentance looks like, but today I want you to contemplate what you believe. Do you believe in God, or do you believe in yourself? Have you placed yourself on the thorne of God, or have you realized that it is only in God that there's any hope? It is only in Jesus Christ, in God the Father, in Yahweh, and His Spirit that you have any hope. I hope today you'll choose to believe in the God of all creation. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Relooking at the 5 steps

The five steps of salvation are a nice, easy little memory tool to help us learn God's plan for salvation. The problem with reducing the great truth of God’s salvation to just five simple words takes away from that dynamic transformation that needs to occur in every believer’s life. While the idea of hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized are all found in scripture, they fall flat when we exclude Jesus Christ from the process and when we take that most passive definition of each word because when we do that, we minimize the gift that God is giving us. Over my following few blogs, I want us to explore those five words because, in those five words, there is a depth that we need to understand if we're going to allow God to take control of our lives and if we're going to allow God to use our lives for his glory. Our selfishness often gets in the way of our usefulness, and we need to understand that we have a purpose, and our goal is to glorify God, not to seek our comfort and not to seek our glory. Our aim is to figure out a way to hold God up to a world that desperately needs Him because our world is lost. Let's start with the word hear. To hear does not mean to acknowledge a sound. To hear means to be confronted with the truth being presented to you. You can't believe it unless you hear it. We are talking about that absolute truth that there is a God and that there is a maker, and if there is a God and there is a maker, then I am the created, and He is the one who has charge, and He is the one who is in control. Yes, He has given us free will. Yes, He has given us a choice, but I need to be confronted, I need to hear, I need to stand in front of that truth that's right there and acknowledge I am not all there is. There is one so much greater than I that I have difficulty comprehending His greatness and power. I have a purpose, and it is serving Him. When we talk about hearing, we're talking about being confronted with that truth and having to look at it in our uncleanness, being confronted with His Holiness. We must look at our inadequacy against His power. Then we can begin to understand when we hear that something is desperately wrong with the way we live our lives. There's something desperately wrong with how the world is living because when we hear the word of God and the creator of this universe, it throws us to our knees and causes us to begin searching for something greater. Too many times, Christians have lost the ability to hear. They listen to the noise. They can even repeat the words. They seldom take the time to meditate and contemplate God's profound nature and truth. When they talk about salvation, the beginning should always include there is a God, He is the creator, He is God, and I am not, and I need to listen, I need to hear, and I need to contemplate the holiness and truth that He gives to me. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Thinking of Others

I restarted this blog to inform you about my cancer journey and the lessons I was learning along the way. There are so many lessons I have learned and so many more I am still learning. I believe everything that happens in our lives is meant to teach us something about God, or it is intended to point us to God. Some lessons are easy to understand and see during the experience; other lessons take time to process and take time to unfold. One of the easy lessons to see was the lesson of humility and dependence. At one point in the treatment in the hospital, I lost all control over my bodily functions. As a grown man, it was humbling to ask for help, but Julie's help only made me love her more and more. In our walk with Christ, there are times we are helpless, and the service we receive from the believers, while humbling us, only draws us closer to The Body and Christ. I am getting stronger now, and, in many ways, I can take care of myself now, but I must never forget the journey and the lesson of humility. Humility is not one of the celebrated virtues in our society, but it is one of the identifiable characteristics of Christ, and as such, it needs to be present in all His followers. In Philippians 2:8, Paul says Christ humbled Himself. Notice that this was not something that was done to Him. Instead, this is what He did Himself. Pride and arrogance destroy so many relationships and create so many barriers. Christ came to destroy those barriers, and a humble spirit is a part of the unification process. Live your life for the glory of God. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Fifty-one Days

Do you remember the road trips you would take as a child? I remember sleeping on the floorboard in the summer and sleeping in that space next to the back window in the winter. Times have changed, and our kids and grandchildren can’t do that anymore, but there is still one thing about long road trips that is still the same; at some point, somebody is going to ask, how much longer? The answer would often come back, just a little longer, and then there would be some form of encouragement to sit back and enjoy the ride. Today marks forty-nine days of quarantine. Julie and I only have fifty-one days of quarantine left before we get to be in the presence of those we love. We miss the fellowship of the believers. We miss holding our kids and grandkids. We miss having face-to-face conversations. We miss the crowd’s laughter and the sheer joy of being with others. Yes, there is a joy that comes from being with others, and a greater joy will come when we are finally in the presence of Jesus Christ, The Father, and The Spirit. I don’t know how much longer it is until we hear the trumpet call, but I can say it will happen in just a little while, so sit back, enjoy the ride, and glorify God that this life is not all there is. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Worthy

We live in a world where you must earn the good things you receive; at least, that was how I was raised. If you wanted to go to Six Flags with the youth group, you had to earn money by mowing the field or some other chore. I knew some kids who just had everything handed to them, but in my world, if you wanted something of value, you earned it. If you wanted good grades, you worked hard for them. If you wanted recognition in sports, band, or any other activity, you worked hard, hoping you were noticed. When it comes to your work life, work hard, and if you see something that needs to be done, do it. Making yourself indispensable was an unspoken rule, and then you will be successful. In relationships, I tried to follow the same guidelines. If I did enough good things, then I would be loved. The sad part of those guidelines, when it comes to relationships and accomplishments, deep down inside, you know you are not as good as people think you are, and if they ever knew who you really were, they wouldn’t love you, and they may not even like you. I am so happy that this world and God’s world are so different. Did you know God loves you even when you fail? Did you know God knows who you are deep inside of your darkest parts, and He still loves you? That is hard to believe because we don’t even love who we are in our darkest parts. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying; God does not love the evil and hateful things we do, but God loves us. God hurts for us, He longs for us, and He wants what is best for us. One of the most significant passages in the Bible is Romans 5:8, which says “God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” So the next time you start beating yourself up because you are not good enough and believe nobody cares for you or loves you, remember this “God loves you, and He has demonstrated His love by giving you the most valuable gift He could ever give.” You are worth the price that was paid. Get up, shake off the world, and live a life worthy of His love. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Hooey Bag

Matt 7:21-23 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (NIV) Pride is a deceptive sin because pride is often hidden behind good deeds and outstanding accomplishments. We bloat ourselves with titles and degrees to look good to others. We fill our “hooey bag” with all kinds of things the world, and even the church, admires. When I look inside my “hooey bag,” I am carrying and relying on many things that don’t matter. Here are some of the things inside of my bag: A degree from L.C.C. with additional graduate studies, served on the L.T.C. board for over seventeen years; eight of those years, I was the vice chairman, and in four of those years, I was the chairman, I was a faculty instructor for Walk Thru the Bible for several years and conducted nearly one hundred seminars across the world. I served on the board of C.W.J.C and F.C.A. I was named to the Outstanding Young Men of America and Who’s Who in the West. I taught Bible at L.C.H.S. and served in ministry for over forty years. I was in Kiwanis and was the president of the local chapter of Rotary. I am the Chairman of the Red River Family Encampment and the associate director. I have taught at Red River (in one capacity or another) for over 30 years. L.C.U. awarded me the K.C. Moser award, and I have other things in my “hooey bag.” My “hooey bag” is heavy and full of things that made me feel important, but ultimately my “hooey bag” was just an oversized weight that kept people from seeing me and me from seeing people. Recently I have lost forty pounds and a lot of hair. I don’t look like I did when all of this started, and the process has been the most painful thing ever. When Julie and I got home from six weeks in hospital facilities, I discovered that I needed to set aside my “hooey bag”; something greater needed to take its place. You wonder if you make a difference as a minister and even a man. As we turned the corner to the block we live on, there was the most significant thing I could have ever seen: friends taking time out of their day to welcome us home. They knew they couldn’t come close to us, hug us, or even come inside. They just came to give us their presence, the greatest present they could give us. On my garage entrance was a banner full of the names of people who wanted to reach out to us. The next day in the mail, I received another banner from Red River full of the names of people who just wanted to reach out. The essential things in life are not the awards you receive or even the money and stuff you have accumulated. The most critical thing in life is the people you touch for the glory of God. People matter to God, and as His child, people matter to us. One person at a time, that is how Christ reached out most effectively, and if we want to be known by Him, we need to be reaching out, One person at a time, for His glory. In Him, J. Tom Washburn

Repentance

As I went through the process over the last month, the one word that was continually in my mind was repentance. We all know that repentance means to turn around, and we have all equated repentance with the words “I’m sorry.” Repentance is so much more. The process of Stem cell harvesting and transplant reminded me and taught me so much about repentance and I feel the needed to write this blog. When my stem cells were harvested, I had a tough time. I became catatonic, unable to move or talk, and my jaw locked up, and my tongue swelled up, and all this took place because I was calcium deficient. I was missing one essential substance. It took three days to gather all the cells needed for a successful transplant, but each of those cells were required to be cleaned so they would produce a positive result. The stem cells were not the only thing that needed to be cleaned; my immune system also needed to be cleaned (or killed), so I was given a high dose of Chemotherapy to kill my unhealthy immune system. After a day or two, they put back the cleaned stem cells and they began to find their place and do their work. This process isn’t easy, but my body must work the way that God intended for it to work. You may be thinking, what does any of this have to do with repentance? As I started this article, most of us have thought of repentance as removing the unwanted foam from a frou-frou coffee. Repentance is much more and much more profound. Repentance is the desire and the action of removing not the unwanted foam of evil but the root of evil in our lives. It involves the complex process of identifying and eliminating sin’s deep and persistent cause. It is hard and often painful. It can mean replacing our blood with the blood of Jesus Christ flowing through our veins, and for that to happen, we may have to take a high dose of humility and regret before His new cells can begin to do their work. You see, repentance is not a “get past this event”; repentance is the transformation of life for the glory of God. After repentance, what you will find is life and life abundant. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Good on the Outside

We all strive to look good on the outside. We take care of our hair so that others will take notice of us. We wear nice and, at times, uncomfortable clothes so we can fit in with the right crowd. We buy moisturizers, makeup, and concealers so people won’t see our actual flaws. We go to the gym so we can grow big muscles that we will only use at the gym and so that others will be impressed by how strong we are. We spend much time working on our outsides because that is easier than working on our insides. Jesus didn’t care about the way people looked on the outside. Jesus didn’t care how many birthdays you had seen. Jesus didn’t care about the color of your skin or the numbers in your bank account. Jesus saw beyond the surface and wanted to heal the inside. One overriding sin can cause all kinds of trouble. You see, a single sin never stays a single sin. When King David lusted, that sin sent fingers into almost every part of David’s character and his soul. Just one sin controlled David so much that he became an adulterer, liar, and murderer, and he included others in his sin. The same thing can happen to all of us. Sin always leaves a mark, and it can only be overcome by the power of Jesus Christ. Before this cancer journey, I looked good on the outside. I had no idea how much was wrong on the inside. My cancer, Multiple Myeloma, was causing all kinds of issues throughout my entire body. This little cancer made my bones weak, giving me anemia and kidney issues. This little cancer was starving the rest of my body of healthy red blood cells. The Doctors could have chosen only to attack each symptom, not the disease. The symptoms might have gone away for a short time, but they would have returned because the root of the issue remained. With my body, the Doctors are attacking the root issue, and the other problems seem to improve as the root issue is addressed. I will carry some of the residual scars, maybe for the rest of my life, but they are just a reminder of the healing that has taken place. In your spiritual walk, you must figure out the root sin that allows all other sins to access your life. Often time people lie because pride is their ruler. People take from others because they have never dealt with greed. Just as I will be taking pills for some time to come, all of us need to take prayer as a prescription from God to help us grow in our walk with Him. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Last Sermon for awhile

Next Sunday will be the last Sunday that I can worship with the Austin Avenue Church Of Christ in person for a little over three months. I am not looking forward to that absence because this church body has been a great source of strength to Julie and me. While I cannot feel your hugs and see your smiles, I know of your great love. You blessed Julie and me with the freedom to work on my treatments and recovery. You took away so many concerns with your generous gift. We know we are not alone; you surround us with support; even when we cannot see you physically, we know of your love and concern. We are not alone; we know that Christ is with us every step of the way. I am reminded of David’s great passage of comfort, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me.” This next Sunday, I want to share the most important message I know how to give. I want to talk to you about pursuing God. It is not about rules; it is about relationship. I am grateful that God has led me to this point and this place. I want you to know the peace that comes from trusting in Christ and trusting that He is enough. For all of those who are in covenant with Him, trust Him. For those who are not in covenant with Him, don’t wait any longer. The next step in my treatment will not be easy, but it is necessary. God has prepared Julie to be my caregiver. God has prepared me to endure. God has prepared you to be a light of faithful trust to a whole community that is watching. May we all live a life worthy of our calling. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Stem Cells and The Holy Spirit

I operate under the paradigm that truth is always true, and all truth can teach us something about, or from, our Creator. An easy-to-understand example is when you add something to something else; you end up with something that has been changed from its origin. We are changed when we add something to our lives or take something out of our lives. The trick is finding those things that help us grow in a positive and godly direction. The next step in my cancer treatment is to go through stem cell therapy. They will kill my immune system and then reintroduce my stem cells (after they have been purified) back into my body. This process will leave me vulnerable to diseases and infections until I have grown a new immune system. This process will take twenty-eight days in a hospital facility and seventy-two days in isolation at home. I will not be restored for one full year, but I should be able to function with caution after the first one hundred days. In addition to quarantine, I will be put on maintenance medication to help me continue fighting cancer in my body. As I think about and ponder on the things that are ahead for Julie and me, I could not help but think of how the Holy Spirit functions in the life of a believer. As my immune system, the Holy Spirit helps me fight the disease and cancer of sin. When I became a Christian, all my sin was washed away, but that doesn’t mean the attack of sin was eliminated. I need the power of the Holy Spirit to fight the sin that wants to reclaim me, and I need the maintenance that comes from prayer and The Word to help me continue my journey of sanctification. This isn’t going to be easy, but true repentance is seldom easy. I am going through this procedure because it gives me hope. We go through the process of repentance because it gives us hope and leads us to the One who gives us life. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Count it Pure Joy?

In his letter, James teaches a hard truth, listen to what he says in James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV) We can only make it through the hard times is to keep our focus on the end results. High School boys focus on the first football game of the season when they are suffering through two-a-days. Backpackers focus on the comfort of the campfire they will have that night as they push on down the trail. As Christians, we focus on Christ and the splendid reward that is waiting for us when we are under attack from the enemy. As I visited with my new doctor this past Monday, she told me about the difficulty I will go through when I have the stem cell procedure. First, they will harvest my bone marrow. Next, Julie and I will spend four weeks in isolation in Dallas. The first 14 days will be in the hospital, and the next 14 days will be spent in the hospital’s apartment. During that time, they will kill my immune system with a harsh chemo drug, and after that, they will put my stem cells, which have been purified, back into my body. I have been told that I will get very sick, but I will be good to go for a few more years when everything is over. Too often, we miss out on the more significant reward by settling for the lesser comfort of the right now. We don’t want to go through the difficult times that bring us to the greater reward. That is true in our physical life and our spiritual life. Trials given to us by God are not meant to defeat us; they are there to strengthen us. They can help us learn to lean on Him more and, in the process, increase our faith. I may not be looking forward to the four weeks of treatment ahead of me, but I am looking forward to week number five. Set your focus on Christ in your Christian walk and start looking forward to week number five. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Don’t Be Surprised

Have you ever found yourself surprised? We pray, and then we find ourselves surprised by how God chooses to answer. I am in my last round of chemo (at least this type of chemo) before starting the next phase of my treatments. My appointment at U.T. Southwestern in Dallas was initially scheduled for August 2nd. That appointment seemed a long way off, and Julie and I didn’t want to lose any ground that we had made up to this point in my treatment, so Julie began to pray. On Monday, I received a call, and my appointment had been changed to May 2nd. That’s right; my appointment was changed from 3 months away to this Monday at 2:00. Julie and I were amazed and grateful. God’s plan is always better than mine. I don’t know what you are worried about, but I know this, God has an answer, and it is better than the plan you have in mind. Give it to Him and trust that He will do what is best for you and His glory.

It’s not Over until It’s Over

First days can be difficult. After your first yard workday, you are sore in places you had forgotten about all winter long. After your first day of weightlifting, you are sore in places you didn’t know could be sore. After your first day of serious running, you question why you did such a torturous thing to your body. We all want the results, but a journey must be taken to achieve those results. There are no real shortcuts in the process. James puts it this way in James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I have been told about a great outcome in my cancer walk, but I still have a journey ahead of me. This week has been difficult. I was given good news (mild remission), and I must continue taking the drug that makes me hurt and gives me a fever. While this is the last month (for a while) that I need to take this drug, I still need to go through the journey to get to the place where they need me to be. I have been told of a great outcome in my Christian walk (salvation and a home in heaven), but I still have a journey ahead of me. Some days will be difficult, but the promise is still true. I still need to go through the journey to get to the place where God wants me to be. May we all be faithful through the journey until we hear the trumpet. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Good News and Better News to Come

This week the Doctor gave Julie and me some good news. He said I was in mild remission. He took me off all my medications except the one that makes me weak, sore, and nauseous. We are now waiting for the next step. Julie and I are now waiting for a call from U.T. Southwestern so we can get started on preparing for the Stem Cell procedure (they will kill my immune system, remove my stem cells, clean them, and put them back in me). Julie and I will go through this month-long procedure and recovery after my body has rested and no chemo medications at all (Yea). I want to thank all of you for your prayers and concern during this six-month journey; yes, this started in October. For the next two weeks, I will continue to have all the symptoms I am currently experiencing, but I can see a brief respite. It seems like a long time since I have not carried a high level of pain and nausea, but I am looking forward to that day. Over the past six months, I have learned many lessons. I have learned to accept help, let others do what they can do, humility, and be reminded of what is essential. People don’t need to be comfortable with Christ; they need to be confronted with Him. I have been reminded, with a laser focus, that this life is not all there is; in fact, this life is not the best there is. I have also been convicted that Jesus Christ is my salvation's basis, root, and total sum. I am saved because I am in Him, not because of who I am or what I have done. I am saved because He is enough, and His promises are true. I don’t need to fret over my past because it has been forgiven. I can sleep at night because I know. My prayer is not for long life, my prayer is for eternity, and I have the same prayer for you. That prayer is only answered In Christ Alone. I want you to have His peace, and I want you to experience the blessing that comes from being involved in His Body. Life may be short, but His promises are true, lean into His promises and receive His blessings. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Just Over The Next Ridge

2 Chron 15:7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." NIV Many years ago, Julie and I led groups of teens on backpacking trips. The first day was always the hardest because most of the first day was about climbing a tall mountain. The one phrase we heard repeatedly was “how much further?” I would respond, “it is just over the next ridge.” My goal was to keep the teens from sitting down and giving up. I knew that if they kept putting one foot in front of the other, eventually, we would reach the comfort of camp. This past week has been a tough week. I feel cruddy, and I am tired of being sick and weak. It would be easy to give up and sit down, but I know that is not the answer. I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and eventually, something will change. I have asked myself the question, what am I supposed to learn. The answer is encouraging. I have learned that God is still in control. I have learned that I am not the only one who can do some things. I have learned to accept help, and now I am learning to be still and trust God and trust others. I will be glad when the nausea is no more, but I hope I never forget the lessons I am being taught. In Him J. Tom Washburn

A Humble Act

One of the hallmark passages about Christian living is Titus 3:1-2. As I go through this journey of illness, I need to be reminded of the heart of a follower. It is easy to become stubborn. It is easy to become depressed. It is easy to become centered only on my struggles and forget those God has placed on the path that needs to see the heart of God through me. Despite the struggles and pain that sometimes come, I am always called to show the spirit of Christ to everyone who is watching. Listen to what Paul writes to the young evangelist: Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. NIV Parts of that passage come easily, but humility is difficult. This past week Julie and I acknowledged that we need help in some areas of our lives. I am not allowed to lift heavy objects, and it is humbling to watch your friends do what you have always done for yourself. It is humbling, and it is also encouraging. I watched one of my friends use their life in an act that glorified God. I am not accustomed to receiving help. I have always been the one who gave help. After my friend left the house, the only thing I could think of was, “God is always faithful.” Today if you have an opportunity to do good, do good. If you are the recipient of an act of kindness, be grateful and look up, God may have just sent you an act of encouragement to remind you of His great love. On a health note – next week is the week for labs and the end of round 4. Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Humble Victory

This past week has been challenging, full of joy and pain. Julie and I spent Saturday afternoon in the emergency room because I had a hard time keeping anything in. Sunday, I preached a lesson that needed to be presented. Tired from the day before, I was lifted by the kind comments and responses to the challenge of unity shown in the lesson. Monday, when I went for my treatment, the doctor canceled a part of the treatment for a time, saying it was too hard on my body. I would love to say I was glad, but I felt defeated. Why were we stopping (even for a short time) something that seemed to be working? Fighting cancer is like fighting in a boxing match. When you get knocked to the ground, it is illegal to continue hitting somebody when they are on the mat. I need to rest in the corner and come back out fighting when the bell rings again. Taking a rest for my body is not quitting. Taking a rest for my body is not giving up. Taking a rest for my body is essential if I am going to continue the fight. I don’t know when the Doctor will start the discontinued treatment again, but I will stand up and fight until the fight is over. Fighting cancer and fighting for the godly life have many things in common. There are times when we will fall face down on the mat, and we need help. There are times when we need to rest from the constant attack. There are times when we need to be still. God has not put us in a fight that can not be won. God has not walked away from us when we fall. God will not kick us when we are down. God will provide for us, protect us, and comfort us. Most of us have the challenge of humbling ourselves and accepting the gifts that only God can give. We will lose if we insist on doing it ourselves. We can not fail if we follow close to Christ and trust His leading. There will still be a fight, and it will still be difficult, but our victory is already won. Trust in the One who can.

And this too shall pass.

This past week, Julie and I got some good news. We started this journey with my numbers being around 5,738 and after only three rounds of treatment, my numbers are now 640. The Doctor said that because the numbers are looking this good, we should only have three more rounds of this treatment instead of five to seven more rounds of treatment. All my recent biopsies from the upper and lower GI were benign and I am looking forward to not doing that again for a while. After my body rest from the chemo, one of the last treatments they will give me is stem cell therapy. This will be a month-long treatment that requires isolation. I am telling you all of this because I want you to know that everyone is going through something. Julie is going through her set of issues; I am going through my set of issues, and you are going through your set of issues. All of us need to know somebody cares. All of us need to be held up from time to time. All of us need His peace and His care. All of us need to be faithful through the journey. It is true that God is often best seen through the trials of life. Anyone can be faithful through the easy times, even though those seem to be the time’s complacency sets in, but faith is most clearly seen in the trials of life. When the world says, “I would give up if I was you” if you keep walking in faith, your life is a light to all who are watching. So, no matter what your trial is today, keep on walking in faith because the glory of God is shining through. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Ding, Ding, Round Four

We have finished three rounds of treatment with an extra procedure just for fun. Round four starts this Monday. I wish I could tell you I knew what to expect, but each round has had challenges all its’ own. Even though I can not see around the corner, even though I do not know what this round holds for me, there are some things I know for sure. I know that Julie will stay with me and pray for me through whatever is ahead. I know that Christ is the ever-present unseen companion on this journey. I know this is just for a time. I know there is coming a day when the “C” word will not take up so much of my thoughts. I know this low-level constant pain will someday be a distant memory. I know that eventually, I will have my strength back. I know that someday I will be able to walk and even run without growing faint. I am reminded of the passage in Isa 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. N.I.V. I look forward to the day when my cane stands in the corner and is unneeded. Until that day comes, I will lean on the arms of my wife, family, and friends, and I will lean heavily into the power of Christ. In Him J. Tom Washburn Fully Rely On God

Health Update and Old Clothes

Before I share with you some of the things I have learned from my journey, I want to share with you my present health update. I am still in treatment and some days are better than others. The past two or three weeks have been difficult. Every treatment cycle seems to come with its own challenges and new side effects. This cycle seemed to have more nausea than the first two cycles. The new development of this cycle is that my skin feels like it has been scalded. I have a hard time feeling hot or cold and whenever I am touched, it feels like little pins are rubbing on my skin. This past week my legs have felt like they are on fire from the inside, and it seems to have weakened my legs a bit. Next week I will have an upper and lower G.I. procedure and then my body can rest until the twenty-first. All in all, I am doing well, and I am grateful to have a good family and church family. Old Clothes In Colossians chapter 3, Paul talks about getting rid of the old and clothing yourself with the new. This past weekend Julie and I went to a mall, and we found some new clothes that fit my new shape. My old clothes don’t fit the new shape I carry around. My old pants, fall right off if I don’t tighten my belt. My shirts just hang off my shoulders. It was time for the things people see on the outside to match the things that are going on with the inside. As Christians, we need to change clothes. The old clothes of greed, anger, rage, slander, and malice don’t fit the new you. We don’t need to try and make them fit. Words like “that’s just the way I am” aren’t true of the new you. We need to let those old clothes fall away and we need to clothe ourselves with clothes that show the world our new character. Compassion, kindness, humility, and gentleness are the new wardrobe of the Christian. So, check your closet. Get rid of all those old clothes that don’t belong in your life any longer. Let the world know, let the world see, that you are a new creation, and the old things are gone forever. In Him J. Tom Washburn

The Big Shiny Bell

When you enter the Walker Cancer Center, one of the first things you notice is a big shiny bell. This big shiny bell with a braided rope attached to the clapper is not a high-end decoration; it is a symbol of victory and hope. Patients who have completed their treatments are encouraged to ring the bell as a way of announcing to the world, “I have overcome; this illness did not get the best of me.” When I finished my radiation treatments, the nurses asked me if I wanted to ring the bell? I was shocked because I had only started my course of treatments; radiation was just a tiny part of the overall treatment plan I was going to go through. I politely told the ladies that I would prefer to wait until I was finished before ringing the bell. I want the bell to be the last thing I hear in my ear when I leave the cancer center for the last time after the final treatment. I don’t want to grow complacent by celebrating the journey’s beginning like it is the journey’s end. Sometimes, we celebrate the beginning of our walk with Christ as though it was the end. We must stay focused on the end. Entering the covenant relationship with Christ is not the end of the journey; it is the beginning. Repenting is not the final phase; it is the first. When I started my cancer walk, I had, and still have, a very specific prayer “God help me be faithful to the end.” I want the sound of the great shiny bell to be ringing in my ears as I walk into the arms of Christ. My journey looks like it will be longer now than it did when we began this journey, but my prayer is still the same. There will be victories and celebrations along the way, but they are never a stopping point; they are not the end; they are just encouragements that keep me going. I will ring the big bell at the Walker Cancer Center someday, and it will be a good day, but the best day is still ahead of me. And when people ask why all of these things happened, I hope they will be able to give an answer that points people to Christ. John 9:3 "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” NIV In Him J. Tom Washburn

Dark Hallways

I grew up at the Fort Worth and Jax Church Of Christ in Midland, Texas. At the time, I viewed that congregation as the largest congregation I had ever known (I had never been anywhere else). When I think of that facility, it is a small congregational building. There was a hall in that old building that was scary to all of us children. It was dark, and every classroom had a door that entered that hallway. As children, we would dare each other to go down that dark hallway and see if we could make it to the exit door at the end of the hall without turning around. As frightened children, we thought of that hallway as extremely long. The truth of the matter is that the hallway was only about thirty feet long, and I can not think of a single time that anything evil ever jumped out of one of those classrooms and devoured any of us. We were always glad to make it to the end of the hall and open the door. We were always happy to see the light and leave that perilous hallway. As I finish round two and enter round three of my treatments, I am not fearful of the dark hallway. I know I will have to handle things ahead of me, but I don’t have to handle them alone. Julie is with me; my family is behind me, my church is encouraging me, and Christ is inside me. There will come a day when I will make it to the door, and I will be delivered into The Light, but until that day comes, I will keep walking on the journey that God has prepared for me. Just a health note – I am doing well. Fatigue and weight loss are the most noticeable symptoms I have today, along with persistent but diminished back pain. Some of the days seem long, but the weeks seem short. Pray that I will be faithful through the journey. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Dear God, Thank You for the cancer

Today in my prayer time, I found myself saying, “Dear God, thank you for my cancer.” I know that sounds strange, but that is how I feel today. Cancer has helped me focus on my purpose. Cancer has helped me remember what is essential. Cancer has reminded me that this world is not my goal and heaven is real. Before cancer, I was content to stay in my weekly rut. Now I know time is too precious and the mission is too critical. I needed the pain to take me to the doctor. I needed the diagnosis to bring me to my knees. I needed to be still and quit being busy to learn some lessons that God had prepared to teach me. On February first, things took a turn for the better. There was a noticeable reduction in back pain. A few new side effects have shown up, like nausea and an enjoyable rash from time to time with lightheadedness, but I will take those any day over the debilitating back pain. There is still a long way to go, and I have some procedures coming up in March after my third round of Chemo, but I am at peace, and for the moment, I am not in an unbearable amount of pain every time I stand up and walk, and I can live with that. Did you hear what I said? I am at peace. I am at peace because I know God is in control, making the path, doing what is best, for the most, for His glory, and my good. I trust God. James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” That passage has a new meaning to me today. I am not being punished; I am being trained for the glory of God. So, I have chosen to respond to God, “Thank you for cancer.” In Him J. Tom Washburn

A Cup of Hope

Many years ago, I learned to quit asking a question when the answer is yes. There is a similar truth in prayer, when God sends relief, give thanks. This past Monday, Julie and I got the results from the first round of treatments. The news was fantastic. The markers the doctors were watching were reduced by two-thirds or more in just one round. Of course, there will still be eight to ten rounds of treatment remaining, but the only response I can find in my heart is to rejoice. I know there will be difficult days and good days throughout this journey, and no matter what the day holds, I can choose to rejoice because I know He is with me, He sees me, and He knows what He has prepared for me to endure and accomplish. The bottom line is this; I choose to praise God because I trust God in everything. The only real troubles I will ever face are the troubles that come when I act according to my will with no reliance on God. Today I rejoice for the encouraging news. But, tomorrow, if troubling news comes my way, I will rejoice because God is still with me and holding me up. Phil 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! In Him J. Tom Washburn

God Provides

Next week I begin round two. Here are a few things that I learned from round one. As I approached treatment, I must admit that I had a little bit of fear. I had heard all the horror stories of people on chemo and radiation, and I wasn’t sure how I would be able to handle all of that. Finally, however, I was given a definition of fear that seems appropriate for this situation: fear is letting what hasn’t happened yet and what may never happen, govern how you live today. The first round wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t horrible either. The first round reminded me of how the Christian walk often looks. For the first two weeks, I take a pill every day and have injections two times a week. To help me through the first two weeks, I also take a lot of steroids. The steroids give me the extra strength that my body needs to process everything going on. I still take the pills every day in the third week, but no steroids and no injections. Without the help given by the steroids, my body reacts to the pills by giving me a full-body rash. Then comes the fourth week. In the fourth week, I have no treatments at all. I have a week to let my body rest, recover, and get ready for the next round. As Christians, we all face trials of many kinds. There are times when we face those trials, and we have help. Our help is not a steroid; it is more powerful than a steroid. Our help is The Spirit and the brothers and sisters. They walk with us, hold us up, encourage us, and, if needed, correct us. It gives us great encouragement to know we are not alone. Then there are the times when we seem to face some trials alone. We suffer, and we wish the trial would go away. We may even carry scars and wounds that nobody can see, but the test's duration is limited, and we have a time of rest when it has passed. God blesses us with a time of recovery and strengthening because the round is about to start. My encouragement to you today is – Do not give up. He knows your trial, He knows your name, and He cares for you. He will send help at just the right time, and He will hold you in the tough times. In Him J. Tom Washburn Fully Rely On God

One dip down, Six more to go

As I was thinking about writing this week’s blog, my thoughts turned to Naaman, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. At first glance, these men seem to have very little in common; however, each of these men had to go through the entire test to see the ultimate victory go God. First, Naaman had to dip seven times in the Jordan before he was healed. Next, Daniel had to be thrown into the lion’s den before seeing the lions’ mouths closed. Finally, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to be thrown into the fiery furnace before they saw the presence of God was with them and who would deliver them. This past week I finished my radiation treatments. They told me the radiation would help with the debilitating back pain. But, unfortunately, as of today, I still have the pain, and I feel like Naaman after just one dip in the Jordan. Disappointment does not keep me from trusting in God. My trust and faith in God are not based upon my circumstances. They are based upon who I know God to be. He is with me, even amid new and unexpected symptoms. This past week, I have developed a full-body rash and a very tender mouth. I don’t know when delivery will come. Like Naaman, I am thinking only six more dips. I don’t know how long it will be. I don’t have to know how long it will be. I trust God, and one day I will see His glory. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Blessed Man

Yesterday I received blood. Julie and I sat at the cancer center for nearly seven and a half hours while they gave me blood. I thought my devotional today would be about how the blood gives life and color and strength, not just to my body but how His blood gives life to my soul. But, instead, my mind was taken a different direction while I watched my wife sit quietly in a chair next to me all day long. The lesson I learned yesterday is that I am not alone. Since October 10th, Julie has not left my side. She wants me to know that I am not facing this alone. In so many ways, Julie shows me, Christ. When the Doctors give me less than good news, she takes my hands, looks me in the eyes, and says, we can do this. When I need help, she gently helps me up. She is the physical manifestation of what Christ is doing for me in the greater reality. He sits with me in the difficult times, He encourages me in the discouragements, and He lifts me when I have no strength of my own. I am a blessed man, and the presence of God surrounds me. I pray that my eyes will never close to His company. In Him. J. Tom Washburn