Remission

Acts 2:38-39 “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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Remission is an interesting word. Webster defines the word as “pardon; forgiveness, as of sins or offenses,” “a period during which such a decrease or subsidence occurs.” Everyone needs remission; that is forgiveness. We all want a permanent state of remission. A forgiveness that is complete and eternal. A remission where there is no relapse and no return to our sick, sinful way of life. The remission of Christ is complete, but if we relapse, He invites us to repent and return to His remission, a permanent remission. In September, Julie and I will head to Dallas to go through some tests for restaging my cancer. My doctors' goal is to put me in what they call permanent remission. This is not like the remission Christ offers. The remission they hope to achieve is just a prolonged period of health. Unlike the remission Christ offers, I will always have MM, but Christ's remission totally removes the sickness of sin. May we never put our hope in the things of this world because the things of this world will all perish. My hope rests in the promises and assurances of Christ. Those promises are permanent. Those promises are true. His forgiveness is total, and those promises give me hope. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Spiritual Artificial Intelligence

There has been much talk lately about artificial intelligence. There are fears that students will use artificial intelligence to write their papers and suspicions that it will be used to scam even the most cautious consumers. Some have even postulated that artificial intelligence is the beginning of the end for humanity. I don’t know the result of computer-generated artificial intelligence, but I do know the impact of Spiritual Artificial Intelligence. Spiritual Artificial Intelligence is known best by the words “I think” or “I feel” versus “I know” or “it says.” Spiritual Artificial Intelligence is just that, Artificial. There is no real strength, no real life, no real transformation, and no real hope. The only way to have true Spiritual Intelligence is to draw near to God. Discover who He says He is. Spend time with Him in prayer and study. Invite Him to use you and be seen through you. Learn what it means to walk by faith. James says in James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” That is where you find true Spiritual Intelligence. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Chinese Bamboo Tree

There is bamboo that doesn’t grow like other plants. Most plants, when you plant them, begin to grow toward the surface right away. The Chinese Bamboo Tree is different; the first thing that grows on this plant are the roots. When you plant this bamboo, it will take years to see the results of your labor, but when it comes forth from the ground, it grows quickly. The Chinese Bamboo Tree can grow up to thirty feet in one year before it stops, and as unique as that sounds, it has been preparing for this growth from the day it was planted. There is a lesson for us in the Chinese Bamboo Tree. We need to spend time in preparation, time in prayer, study, and worship if we want to grow into a noticeable force for the glory of God. Growth takes deep roots. Growth takes time and careful preparation. When we don’t take the time to prepare, our roots may not hold in the storms of life, but faith with deep roots can hold on in the strongest of storms. Don’t give up! Continue to feed your faith; there will come a day when everyone sees the results of Christ in your life. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Missed Blessings

How many times have you missed out on a treat because you simply did not ask? For example, you receive a shirt that is the wrong color because you didn’t ask for the color you wanted, and you don’t get dessert because you didn’t ask for dessert. We have all been taught that it is rude to ask for special gifts and special treatment, but a verse in James gives us permission to ask God for those special gifts that help us walk with God. James 4:2 “You do not have, because you do not ask God.” Another passage in James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” NIV God wants us to have all the gifts we need to live victorious lives here as we strive to glorify Him. When did your prayers last include a request for those spiritual blessings that lead to God’s glory? Spend some time today and seek God in prayer. In Him J. Tom Washburn

Health report with a lesson

It has been a while since I have reported on my health. I am currently in remission and on maintenance therapy. In the mornings, it takes me a little time to get going and I start my day with a handful of medications. In the evenings, I am worn out, but I am proud to report that I have been able to get off almost all my pain medications. Most of the day I feel normal. I don’t feel like I am sick at all; I don’t have the strength I once had or the stamina. I do have some upcoming treatments and procedures that may knock me down, but all in all, I am doing great. As I considered what to write in this blog post, I was reminded of the parallels between cancer and sin. Cancer eats away at your health and your life. Sin eats away at your soul and life. Cancer affects every part of your life. Sin affects every aspect of your life. Getting rid of cancer (getting it under control), was uncomfortable and at times extremely painful. Likewise, getting rid of sin is often uncomfortable and, at times, extremely painful. For me, maintenance is required to keep the cancer at bay. Likewise, maintenance is necessary to keep sin at bay in my life. I am blessed to have so many people supporting me in this journey. It would be easy for me to become complacent and lax. If I do that, I might find myself in a worse situation than the one I have seen. Maintenance and constant vigilance are essential to my health. In my spiritual walk, complacency is also the enemy. Maintenance (prayer, study) and vigilance are critical to my spiritual health. If I stop leaning into God, I will end up in a worse situation than the ones I have escaped. The healing of God is remarkable. I don’t remember very much of last summer. I remember moments, but much of the pain has been washed from my mind. That washing is a blessing and a danger. The danger is that I won’t think it was so bad. The blessing is that the memory of pain is gone, and God has replaced that pain with hope in the present and goals for the future. When God forgives us, he heals us. Over time, those pains caused by our sins can be healed, and the pain of sin washed from us. That is a blessing. The danger is this; if we forget the pain, we can be tempted to return to our sin. When times are good, it is easy to believe we can handle sin. But the only way to handle sin is to run from it. The only way to have the strength of character to run from sin is to participate in maintenance. Worship, prayer, study, and Christian relationships are your best defense against the cancer of sin. Remind yourself of what God has seen you through; remember what God has already done in your life, and you will be brought to your knees in worship. In Him J. Tom Washburn

The most beautiful flowers often grow in the cracks.

Some of the most beautiful flowers and trees have been those that grew out of a crack in a rock or a crevasse on the side of a cliff. I don’t know if I thought they were beautiful on their own or if I thought they were beautiful because of the place where they were found. But there is no denying that their beauty impacted me because it stood in contrast to the harsh reality of its’ surroundings. God often reveals His presence and beauty when times seem harsh and foreboding. A friend, holding you when it appears that nobody cares. A child, giving a hug just because you came near. A gift at just the right time when you were filled with despair. A pat on the back when you thought nobody was watching. I have seen an even more extraordinary beauty, and this is one of the greatest wonders I have ever beheld, a life that has been broken so often that there are more flaws than you can count, returning to God. The beauty in that picture is a reminder of what God can do. God can take the most broken life you have ever seen and transform it into one that glorifies Him, and if God can do that with the utterly broken, what does He want to do with your life today? In Him J. Tom Washburn

SOMETIMES I FEEL VERY SMALL

Cleaning out the shelves and cabinets in my office, I came across the first bulletin article I wrote. So I wanted to share with you my find. SOMETIMES I FEEL VERY SMALL – Sometimes I feel very small. I feel small in this world where people are so busy that they can’t talk to someone as small as me. Sometimes I feel very small. I feel small in this world where you have to be important to be listened to and you need to important before people can understand your problems. Sometimes I feel very small, And when I feel small I like to sit in a room all alone and just sit there knowing that no one really cares how I feel. Sometimes I feel very small, And when I feel small God comes to me and He says to me “You are important you are very important.” Then I stand up, look at myself, and I know that I am very important. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” In Him J. Tom Washburn

The Big Lesson Learned

Last year, at this time, I was at one of my lowest points. Cancer was kicking my tail, and I was still learning what it meant to walk by faith in this cancer journey. I was losing weight, losing strength, losing the ability to concentrate, and I was losing hope. Fortunately, God placed people around me who reminded me of three great truths: 1. The sun is still shining, 2. The tomb is still empty, 3. The promises of God are still true and worthy of my faith. It is said that in every life, a little rain must fall. There are times in our life when storm clouds hide the rays of the shining sun, but the clouds have never stopped the sun from shining; they hide it for a little while. If you are under the storm clouds of life, take shelter under the protection of faith and trust God. The storm will pass, and the warmth from the rays of hope will revive your spirit again. No storm is so large that God can not calm it with a word. The empty tomb reminds me of the power of God, and the empty tomb reminds me of the provision and heart of God. In Psalm 23, after I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, God has prepared a banquet table for me, and He honors me in the radiance of His presence. God loves you and has already prepared to give you everything you need to stand up in times of pain and resistance. Then there are the promises of God. God has never been unfaithful to me. God has never abandoned me. God has never turned His back on me. Instead, over the past year, I have seen the hand of God clearly through the encouragement and blessings that have shown up over and over again at just the right time. The greatest promises of all are the promises of forgiveness, return, and rest. Since God has been faithful in every other area of my life, why would I question these promises? I serve a great God; help me never forget the past year’s lessons. In Him J. Tom Washburn

The Church Is …

From time to time, I can sit in a bible class, and I hear the teacher say something like this, “The church doesn’t …” and some attribute or action follows that statement that scripture says the church should be involved in. Here is what I know to be true, the church is what Christ says it is, and the church does what Christ says it does. The real question is, am I a part of the church that Christ is describing? Am I a part of The Bride of Christ? Luke 6:43-44 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes or grapes from briers.” NIV What I want to encourage you to do is be a part of the church. Don’t look for opportunities to criticize The Bride of Christ; look for ways to make her shine in a fallen world. Share with those in need. Encourage the fallen and discouraged. Share the mercy and grace of Christ. Please don’t wait for somebody else to do it. Don’t wait for a ministry to be organized. You can start today being the light in your dark world. The church IS making a difference. Are you a part of that church? In Him J. Tom Washburn

This Is Hard

The call to discipleship is total and complete. You can’t try it out by dipping your toes and giving it a whirl. Discipleship requires everything, all or nothing. Jesus said: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt 10:37-39 NIV) The reason behind this kind of commitment is that anything less than total and unwavering commitment leaves little areas of our life under the control of the enemy. It requires constant attention and daily correction. We must be willing to admit our failings and trust in His leadership. The path will be difficult at times, but He is ahead of you, beside you, and in you, clearing the way and giving you strength. Are you ready to take your toes out of the water and take the plunge? The blessings are too numerous to count, and the peace you will find is unimaginable. So, make up your mind today to trust God and take the plunge. He is waiting to welcome you with open arms. In Him J. Tom Washburn