Update on the medical procedure

Some of you know that I had a routine medical procedure today and several folks have requested that I provide an update.

Fortunately, all is well. The procedure went perfectly. The medical team was stellar!

The doctor told me this is what the test revealed:

1.  No signs of physical problems;

2.  I, possibly, talk a little too much;

3.  Plastic surgery could help…perhaps just a little tightening here and there; and

4.  Trimming the eyebrows doesn’t take that long but would be very beneficial.

I felt the doctor’s conclusions were needlessly broad; covered non-medical areas; and could have been expressed a little more diplomatically. But I was just glad to be able to wrap it up, go, and get something to eat.

Thank you to all for your prayers! They were, and are, greatly appreciated. God is loving, kind, generous and gracious to me.

We can approach God boldly!

A Story of Grace From Ruth Graham - Billy Graham's Daughter

I was moved as I watched Billy Graham’s daughter, Ruth, speak of some of the failures in her life at her father’s funeral today. In particular, she mentioned relational mistakes that resulted in two divorces.

Some of you may not be old enough to remember that divorce was once considered to be scandalous. And a divorce within the family of a minister was even more scandalous. When that minister happened to be one of the most famous people in the world… that must have quadrupled the level of humiliation and embarrassment Ruth felt.

Ruth described a long painful drive home after her second marriage ended within weeks. She realized that after her family had cautioned her about moving too quickly into a relationship that wound up with a terrible ending they might just say, “We’re tired of fooling with you! …You’ve embarrassed us!”

As she pulled into her parents’ driveway, her father was outside watching for her arrival. She stepped out of her car and her father, Billy Graham, wrapped his arms around her and said, “Welcome home.”

No shame. No condemnation. A father’s love for his daughter.

Ruth correctly stated that Billy Graham is not God. But that day, he showed her what God is like.

The cameras at the funeral panned the crowd as the story concluded and I saw many people wiping tears from their eyes. I was doing that, too, as I watched on a computer screen.

I love stories of grace because I, personally, am so in need of grace. Stories of grace stir gratitude and hope within me.

Ruth shared a wonderful Billy Graham story with the world. But even more important she gave us a powerful reminder of the truth of God’s amazing grace.

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16

People Can Be A Challenge

Sometimes I just don’t want to give people a break because I’m irritated, angry, frustrated and hurt by what I perceive to be their nonsense and even their antagonistic behavior. People can be a challenge, can't they?

But what I’ve learned from God is people who have been shown mercy and grace ought to be willing to extend mercy and grace to others. It is the right thing for mercy and grace recipients to do.

So then the question becomes: “Hey Dan, have you been shown mercy and grace?”

And of course the answer is: God has been more merciful and gracious to me than I could ever possibly be to another person. Therefore, with His help I extend mercy and grace and even as I do so I realize it is the right thing to do.

This does not mean I reject the truth. God will never ask us to abandon the truth. Ever. It means that even as I recognize the truth I lovingly offer mercy and grace, too.