Listen

Posted on 2022/05/31 by JimR, Chaplain

First things first. I’m a conversationalist. It’s a polite way of saying I like to talk. I can run down the path of a subject but expect rabbit trails. I am the poster guy for “Oh, look, there’s a squirrel” so to speak. I have taken issue with myself over interrupting conversations because I hear things in my spirit and I have to get it out immediately or it will be gone. All that coupled with a hearing problem and I can tell you the conversation can get interesting.

Then in stepped the Holy Spirit. I know my calling is that of an evangelist. To put it in other words my

calling is to be a Chaplain. When I was a young teen I knew this calling and I thought I was to preach loud and long snatching lost souls from the licking flames of hell. Then years passed and this whole scenario dissolved. Serving another ministry for some thirty years in many capacities, yet never being that calling stymied me. While studying under that ministry to become a minister I found that being an evangelist was a totally different calling than my perception taught me when I was young.

My granddad started out in ministry as a Baptist evangelist and over time became a pastor. He was my pattern. His method was all he knew, so he’s not at fault for anything. He was truly a great man of God in many people’s eyes.

Then came the ultimate clincher. I had been an ordained minister for about two years when God spoke about being a certified Chaplain. I was eager to take the class. So eager I spent money I didn’t have to find out the finer points of accreditation. And you know what I found out? The byline for a Chaplain is “the ministry of presence”. Don’t speak. Say nothing. Just be there. That’s not to say you don’t speak at all, but what God wanted me to hear was the fact that there is a time to listen, and then there’s a time to talk.

Notice the line of thought in the sentence above. Listen comes first. Then we talk. Many people pray and pray and then pray some more, but never stop to listen. Then they get up and say “Nice talking to you Lord” and walk away, but God never got a chance to get a word in.

The same thing goes for conversations with people. We are quick to get a snapshot of a person’s situation and we jump right in with an answer, right or wrong. Becoming a Chaplain I found the first thing out of my mouth to a person I encounter is to tell them who I am and that I’m here to help. Then I shut up. The first time I did this I told the person my name and title and they immediately sat down in what was left of their tornado-ravaged home and started balling and the flood gates of emotion burst out. God worked on her behalf during the conversation and when I prayed for her I prayed that He answer her immediate need. That need was someone to cut some huge trees in her yard of which one has fallen on her house. I left and found my place in our truck across from her house in a church parking lot waiting for the others to get back. Before we left a truck came up with a brand new backhoe on it and two guys had gone to her yard with chainsaws and were cutting on those trees. See how listening first makes a difference.

Then this morning I stopped in at my local Walmart across the street from my home to get something for my lunch and I walked up to get some fried chicken in the deli. There was standing by the way with his wife getting groceries in the produce area. The man was in camo shorts, a gray t-shirt, and a full-blown beard and shaved head. He turned and looked at me in my Patriot Guard Riders vest and do-rag and he started talking to me. I had ridden my Harley out to work so you get the picture.

When he started talking, my Chaplain’s training kicked in and I asked God what was this. God spoke right back and said, “It’s time to listen”. So, for twenty minutes or more I watched and listened to him testify of God’s power to save. He broke down in tears a few times and then talked some more. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to his words. They were encouraging to know the power of God was working in him. I also learned he is a Chaplain also in several prisons in the area. I found a brother and never spoke more than a few sentences. Just listening blessed him. Heck, it even blessed me.

The end-game to this post is for you to take the time to listen. What we have to say doesn’t mean spit to someone if we are not able to bless them in some way. Sometimes it is just a matter of listening. And if necessary we talk.

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Full Picture of God

Posted on 2022/05/30 by JimR, Chaplain

I haven’t thought much about writing the past several days. I get this way sometimes. It doesn’t squelch my spirit in any way, though. I just have to give myself time to reset.

I’m already into writing another book. I’m not completely sure of the title, but it does have the

foundational need to explain my view of salvation. God has given all of his creation something I call facets. It’s not a new word, nor is it unknown to anyone.

I think we all have a view of God and I would say that if all the facets of God were seen we would be totally astounded at the vastness of who He is. God created each man to understand the base view of God in all His glory. We truly understand that God is a big God. He’s everywhere, in everything, and can comprehend all of men’s thoughts.

In understanding our thoughts He knows how to impress us with the unique view we need for each of us to understand Him. It’s this uniqueness that in the collective of mankind that we understand more completely who He is.

A simple study of the names of God gives us an idea of the various attributes of God.

When asked who He was, he said “I AM” From that is the ultimate name of God. That is who He says He is.

But man has many names to show their facet of Him.

Yahweh
The self-existent One. He has always existed and will always exist. You can always rely on Him because He is your eternal source of strength.
(Genesis 2:4, Isaiah 40:3; 10; 1 Samuel 1:20; Exodus 6:1-4, 3:1-22)

Adonai
God is the Lord over all. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, He reigns forever. Therefor you find safety in Him and Him alone.
(Genesis 15:2, Judges 6:15, Malachi 1:6, Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 2:4, 8:1, 97:5, 136:3; Isaiah 1:24, 6:1; Romans 10:9)

Yahweh-Maccaddeshem
The Lord your sanctifier. He forgiveness your sins and His Holy Spirit works in your life to become like He is: pure, loving and true.
(Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28)

Yahweh-Rohi
The Lord my shepherd. He cares for you, the way a shepherd tends his sheep. He cares for you and leads you to still waters and green pastures.
(Psalm 23, 80:1, 95:7, Isaiah 40:11, Jeremiah 31:10, Ezekiel 34:12, 23)

Yahweh-Shammah
The Lord who is present. He never leaves you, nor forsakes you. He is with you forever. Your best friend, who never betrays you.
(Ezekiel 48:35, Genesis 28:15, Ezekiel 48:35, Psalm 23:4, 46:1, 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Amos 5:14)

Yahweh-Rapha
The Lord our healer. “By His stripes were are healed” declares the Bible. Jesus Christ died to give you life. Not only was God the healer in the Old Testament, but Jesus Christ revealed the healing heart of God for all of us, more than ever.
(Exodus 15:26, Exodus 15:26, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 6:2, 41:4, 103:3, 147:3, Isaiah 19:22, 30:36, 57:18-19, Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14, 30:17)

Yahweh-Tsidkenu
The Lord our righteousness. When we believe in Jesus Christ, He becomes our righteousness. He forgives our sins and washes us with His blood.
(Jeremiah 23:6, Genesis 15:6, Jeremiah 23:6, Psalm 4:1, 5:8, 24:5, 31:1, 36:10, 71:15, 89:16)

Yahweh-Jireh
The Lord will provide. Jesus Christ said that Father cares for us and we never need to worry about provision. He is our source of life, in every way.
(Genesis 22:13-14)

Yahweh-Nissi
The Lord our banner. The Lord gives us the victory in spiritual warfare. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord raises a banner of His love over us and covers us. He wages war on our behalf and makes us more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.
(Exodus 17:15)

Yahweh-Shalom
The Lord is peace. Whenever there are storms in your life, hide in Him. He is your shelter in the storm. He gives peace beyond understanding, even when circumstances are chaotic. He is our shelter and our shield. 
(Judges 6:24)

Yahweh-Sabbaoth
The Lord of Hosts. The Bible mentions myriads of angels, who wage war against the armies of hell, who try to destroy mankind. Jesus Christ is the Lord of hosts, the Captain of the armies of heaven. 
(Isaiah 6:1-3, 1 Samuel 1:3, 17:45; 2 Samuel 6:2, 7:26-27; 1 Chronicles 11:9; Haggai 1:5)

Yahweh-Ghmolah
The God of Recompense. The Lord says in Romans 12 “vengeance is mine, I will repay.” We should never avenge others for what they do to us, but leave it in God’s hands.
(Jeremiah 51:6)

Elohim
God is creator, powerful and mighty, Lord of lords. He is the Lord Most High, stronger and mightier than anyone or anything. When you face impossible circumstances or adversaries, now that your God is stronger.
(Gen. 1:1, 17:7, Ps 19:1 Jer. 31:33)

El-Elyon
The most high God. Do not fear the enemy who tries to intimidate you. Know that your God is the Most High God. There is none above Him. Jesus Christ is exalted high above every name.
(Genesis 14:17-20, Deuteronomy 26:19, Isaiah 14:13-14)

El-Gibhor
Mighty God. The Lord is mighty to save. His arm is not too short. Whatever problem you are facing, know that your God is El-Gibhor, MIGHTY!
(Isaiah 9:6)

El-Olam
The everlasting God. God is eternal, while your problems are temporary. His love will never change. His promises are true. Build on Him, who is eternal and do not focus on your temporary situations. He will show you His great and eternal goodness.
(Isaiah 40:28-31)

El-Roi
The strong one who sees. When you feel lonely and abandoned by people, know that God is with you. He sees you and He knows you. He hears the cry of your heart and He loves you more than you can imagine. he will lead you through and fill your hear with His praise.
(Genesis 16:13)

El-Shaddai-Rohi
God Almighty, the mighty One of Jacob. God is not just another ‘god’ like the countless idols. He truly is the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth.
(Gen. 17:1, 49:24, Ps. 91:1, 132:2, 5)

El-Chuwl
The God who gave birth. God is our Creator and our Father. He saw us and He loved us, even before we were born. He has a plan for your life and if you walk with Him, He will fulfill His dreams over your life and amaze you.
(Psalm 139:13-18)

El-Deah
God of knowledge. Wisdom comes from the Lord. Man tries to become wise apart from God, ut ends up in foolishness. When we fear God and keep His commandments, to love one another, we will know Him as He is and His wisdom will guide us.
(1 Samuel 2:3; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 1:18-31)

Attiyq Youm
The Ancient of Days. God is eternal. He was before the beginning of time. Therefor He has all authority. Every knee bows before Him.
(Daniel 7:9, 13, 14)

These names I drew from a site that I would think gave all they knew, but I feel there is perhaps many more that could be drawn up.

Your view nor my view would not necessarily be wrong. It would be more likely incomplete. I don’t think anyone person can ever have the full picture of God. In saying this I think it is most important that the assembling of ourselves together to be very important to get the fuller view of who He is. Hebrews 10:25 tells us this.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We are building a house. We must know that each part of that house is different looking, but still an intergral part of the whole. A block in the foundation looks nothing like a rafter, but both serve a purpose. So to leave you with a need to know more we need to look at this more deeply to understand that this day is calling us to draw nearer to God, but we must learn to gather and share our part of what He has shown us of Him.

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The Book is Coming Soon

Posted on 2022/05/17 by JimR, Chaplain

I have approved the cover and completed the third edit of the book God gave me for this day. People are succumbing to this terrible tragedy daily. This permanent solution to a temporary issue can be averted if only we can get the word out. My publisher has said this is a needed writing for this area of ministry. Last October I spent hours, days, and weeks writing and when it was done it wasn’t nearly as extensive as I felt it could be, but God said to stop. I agreed to stop since I believe He knows best for what the world out there needs.

I didn’t want to make it a mixed writing of what God has to say and what I think. What I think doesn’t matter. God knows what is needed for this book. I’m simply the writing instrument that made this publishing possible. For that I am grateful to Him.

When it becomes available I will announce it and how to obtain it. I already know it will be available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and TBN and Trilogy Publishing Co.

I cannot stress enough the need to avert the evil one over the lives of men and women of all ages. We see it happening from the local level where we live to the well-known people. Robin Williams, Naomi Judd and others we all know that carried burdens they considered unbearable, yet even with help met their untimely end.

This area of ministry I function in is the part God gave me to complete my calling to “go ye into all the world” with. Come join me and let’s go find them and bring them in.

Posted in Abundant life, Christian, Christian Mission, God's Calling, God's direction, God's Guidance, Human Touch, Mental Health, Mission Work, Priorities, Respect for Life, Salvation, Spiritual Investment, Suicide | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Well Water

Posted on 2022/05/11 by JimR, Chaplain

I was washing up the dishes this evening when it occured to me this thought. I use only the surface of my being in daily tasks. There really is a very deep well inside of not only me, but every person alive. We drop the bucket down that we all daily draw from the top percentage of the water in that well. How often do we let the bucket sink deeply into that water to plumb its depths to waters unknown to us?

Only on rare occasions have I found those depths. It is hard to grasp what I want out of this writing because I know there’s something in what I am thinking, but I find myself held at bay by some unknown force to what is in there. Is there something there I must not know about as yet? Is there a need to know basis placed upon what is in there?

I remember as a young man going to one of my relative’s home that still had a well in his yard from which he drew water. All the grown up men standing by it talking of the goodness of the water in that well. We would drop a bucket down and hear it splash in the water some several feet below the top and then the well’s owner, Mr. Tom, would push the rope to away from himself and then jerk it back toward himself. This made the bucket tip so the water would fill the bucket. He would then pull the bucket up and it would be brimming with water. It wasn’t the clear kind of water you get from a kitchen faucet. I remember it was kind of silt colored. But the water was drinkable and cool from the depths. It was good water.

So, just what is down inside us that can be drawn up? I believe there is a side to our being that is still veiled to us. There have been times when I sense it in my spirit. I believe the maturing of the regenerated soul of man gives us glimpses of what we are capable of.

There’s this myth about the brain as well. It is said we use only 10% of our brain’s capabilities. Science has theorized differently over time that the brain is a multi-functioning organ that has the ability to use itself at varying percentages by way of use. Some tasks use more of the brain than others.

I want so badly to break through the surface of my being to dive into the place beyond my normal everyday self. I believe God has given me that on occasion. In it I find real purpose and meaning to life. It’s where I got my book from which is in the publication stage presently. I found myself so fluent in thought and words on my screen that it left me amazed at what I wrote. My publisher has said it is a small, yet needed work to be placed in the public’s hands to read for this day. I take no glory in it for myself. God opened that door inside me and it flowed out. I am but a vessel He poured into. That is our purpose in life.

We need to realize that the clutter we carry about inside us leaves no room for God to pour into us. This is why it is imperitive to study His Word and allow it to declutter our lives so that a clean vessel can be filled with His purpose. Inside of us is a great cavern awaiting His answers to another’s questions about life. We spread the Gospel of a surety by way of introducing God to others through Jesus’ death burial and ressurection, but in order to make things practical to another we must be able to allow ourselves to be filled with the answers to hard questions for the world. Our mouths are the spout from which pours those answers. That means we need to empty ourselves as the need arises. We don’t just throw water on the ground. We plant seeds that grow. We water plants that are in need for growth. That is purpose.

I see people crying out for answers every day and I find myself overwhelmed at the number of them as if it were nest after nest of baby birds, beaks upturned crying out for another morsel of food from their parents. No one of us can do this. It is dependent on a corporate body of many to feed the multitudes. Are you ready to do your part?

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Principle vs Emotion

Posted on 2022/05/09 by JimR, Chaplain

Principle: The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments.

Emotion: A mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a feeling.

These two words describe how people react to situations or circumstances that confront them at every moment of their waking time. I’m my own study in this subject. Up until I collapsed from letting emotional response be the way I answered to situations in my life I could not control what would transpire in my life.

My blood pressure would skyrocket. My head would spin from the possibilities of what could happen. Anxiety ruled my every move. I started having anxiety attacks. Then at the age of 56 I crashed. Finally at the age of 58 I got help from a psychologist and went on medication and stayed on it for years until I found I was totally emotionless.

From that view of the world where nothing touched me emotionally I learned principles that were played out gave results that were reasonable and with wisdom I learned to depend on making logical decisions based on those principles. I could depend on doing so without an emotional response.

Then came a day about a year ago I decided to discontinue the medication because I longed to be able to feel emotions. I especially wanted to cry. Sounds crazy I suppose, but I did. I wanted the things of the world to touch me again.

From all this I could expand to a larger picture of this journey, but suffice to say I’ve found the balance of emotions and principles. I largely depend on principles to make my decisions in most all circumstances I encounter. In the past some of the circumstances I encounter now would have devastated me back then. Emotional responses have to take a back seat. I reserve emotions to help me respond to people’s needs or losses.

Emotional response enhances my responses through principles that gives me strong reason to ensure they have their situation alevieviated. This is demonstrated to me when I go to disasters as a Chaplain. The tornados that ravaged Kentucky and the surrounding states in December proved to me I’m on the right track. I cried over these people and their losses. But my response in principle was girded thusly to see that they had supplies and the tools needed to cling to normalcy.

My heart cannot express the depth of what I write in this post. It’s not really principle vs emotion so much as the balance of the two to make the soul and spirit of man mature more as the days go forward.

Don’t let your emotions rule you. Likewise, don’t let stone-cold principles give you the final answer. Learn to balance the two together.

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The Aging Process

Posted on 2022/04/30 by JimR, Chaplain

Being 71 is a blessing, yet resigns me to my mortality. As I have written about in the past I was told I would not live past 60. No. Nothing about an incurable disease. My dad called it a genetic trait. I called it a family curse. That is spoken of in the Biblical sense.

I was not one to leave that alone. It is a curse that God broke by my submission to His will. God has all things in His control and can reverse generational curses when you submit to His will in your life. Don’t ever think for a minute you have to submit to anything less than what God has appointed to you in this life.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. – James 4:7

The enemy of your soul comes to steal and destroy and generational curses fall into the category of something stolen from you. Once stolen you are destroyed.

Don’t let the enemy of your soul talk you into believing a lie. My testimony is about a broken generational curse. Just one of many testimonials. This one however is probably the most important one in my life.

I would never seen ordination or acreditation. I would never have seen my book going through publication. I am just now in my ’70s seeing the fruition of ministry in my life. Had I not allowed God to break that curse I may have never seen these things. I would never have met and developed a relationship with the woman I was ordained to marry either. I would have never seen her ordination as a minister of the Gospel as well.

I just this week finished my second edit. I really don’t have any idea when the publication process will become a finished product. I just know I’ll still be here to see it.

The vested interest in this book is from the loss of a brother to suicide. If you’ve been in my position or considered suicide for yourself, this book may help you understand what’s going on and help you in some form or fashion.

So. The aging process has continued its march forward to when I do meet my end, but it has made me aware that as long as you submit your life to God, He will guide your steps and lengthen your years so that you may see fruit from your own labors.

I tell you from experience. Never give up. Fight, if you must, to move forward and don’t let go of what you may or may not know that God has for you. Surely as I type these words, I can safely say that all who reads my words has unfinished business here in this realm of being. Don’t let your time here go to waste. Become a servant and God will bless you with a sound mind and years of experience that will indeed help someone else.

You have value. Don’t let go of that statement. God didn’t send His Son to die on a cross to leave any less of an impression on mankind. If God did that, and He did, He saw that value in you. Please acknowledge that value in yourself and act on it. I feel that deep down in my spirit. God wants someone reading this to realize that today and every day this is read.

Relationship with God is all it takes. Aging brings wisdom. For that I am grateful.

Posted in Abundant life, Biblical teaching, Christian, Christian Mission, Common Sense, Family, God's Calling, God's direction, God's Guidance, Hope, Love, Maturity, Mental Health, More of God, Old Age, Patience, Ponderings, Possibilities, Priorities | Leave a comment

Compulsion

Posted on 2022/04/21 by JimR, Chaplain

Anyone that follows the Lord knows that He leads us every day to meet people after we have had time with Him each day.

I don’t know how everyone reading my posts feels, but when I’m not doing something, I’m like there is something inside me that is caged up wanting to get out. God motivates me.

The one most important thing I’ve found in life is that I am not the source of anything to anyone. But I am the conduit through which God flows and the whole reason for living for Him is to make sure I am open for Him to flow through me into other lives I come in contact with.

If all Christians could grab this one principle there would not be the struggles in ministry to build buildings, gather people, make programs to do this or that. The Bible teaches us to be disciples and to follow Him. I don’t feel to do anything else. If I am doing that, I am becoming the possessor of the mind of Christ where I think like Him and do like Him. My gaze is ever upon Him. The ability to maintain the open channel of communication with the Father gives me the knowledge I have not rights to claim anything for myself except that I’m His to do with as He pleases.

I suppose I’m trying to convey that in doing so, I cannot claim glory that isn’t mine, nor claim rights to any sort of acts or words spoken from my being to another. It is simply God having a clear channel through me to another to affect their lives, thereby changing them.

To me, this is important for all Christians to know. It’s the divine touch in someone else through human touch. Without the preacher, who will preach. Send me Lord. Send me.

Posted in Biblical teaching, Christian, Christian Mission, Common Sense, Follow God, God's Calling, God's direction, Hope, Human Touch, Love, Maturity, Mission Work, More of God, Patience, Possibilities, Prayer, Priorities, Respect for Life, Salvation, Sobering Thoughts, Spiritual, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Investments | Leave a comment

Easter Weekend

Posted on 2022/04/16 by JimR, Chaplain

This Easter Weekend came suddenly upon me quite unexpectedly. It seems ministry is being offering me opportunities I have not ever had.

Since leaving the work-a-day world I’ve found God is increasingly given me people to minister to. One day it was a woman in a parking lot whose mother-in-law was found uncounsious on the kitchen floor and she was having a mental breakdown right in front of me. I spoke to her and prayed with her and I left her feeling strength to carry on the day.

A few days later I encountered a young man in church in the beginning of a panic attack. Having been in the same situation a dozen years ago, I took him to a quiet place and spoke softly to him to take deep breaths and slow his mind. In a few minutes he was able to tell me he felt better and he would go home and watch our live church service from there. You see, he was in our church service, but the attack came on him during the service. So I watched him as he walked home, which was close by, to see that he made it safely.

Another day recently I got a call that my CCW permit was ready and although I thought it was a bit early to get it, I went ahead and hopped on my bike and rode 20 miles to the Sheriff’s office to get it. As I was getting off my bike there was a friend of mine standing in the doorway. I asked why she was there she said she was bailing her husband out. He is also a friend of mine. While she was waiting for him to come out I inquired about my permit and was told it was not ready. I responded then that I was apparently not there for the permit, but that God got me into town to minister to my friends. The three of us ended up on the street corner outside the Sheriff’s office praying. I trust they will get their situation fixed.

Tuesday past I got a call from my neice that she wanted to talk. Seems after a long battle with severe allergic reactions to dialysis she’s found it necessary to stop. With less than 10% kidney function they put her into Hospice Care because if and when she goes downhill it will go quickly. I went to see her Friday and after some time listening to her I have to agree that she feels she’s doing what she only has on her mind to do. Transplantation of a donated kidney is out since all the meds she’s on her docs have told her it was unlikely her situation would improve. I left her with the thought that God is in control and this situation doesn’t have to go downhill, but by His hand can improve. I left her smiling and feeling able to face whichever direction she goes.

But to add to all these things, while I was talking to her I got a call from the daughter of a friend of mine telling me my friend, her mom had passed away Wednesday. I had heard about it through a mutual friend Thursday evening, but the daughter’s question was what gave me a start. She wanted me to perform the memorial service for her mom today. Of course I agreed. So I met with the family this morning and we talked out what we all wanted to do. Now, this evening the service is over and I sit her contemplating what God has for me next. Oh, I know He’ll give me something else to do and I will readily make myself available to do it whether I feel like it or not.

I’m finding my availablitity is being taken seriously by God. It is true that all you have to do is leave God an open door into your life through which He can flow through you to another to make someone else’s life better.

Your gift will make room for you.

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Depression

Posted on 2022/04/04 by JimR, Chaplain

Some of you may have never dealt with depression. If you have you will know what the symptoms are

and when they are coming.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. – Mayo Clinic

I experienced depression in my mid to late 20’s. I didn’t know what it was. I just knew God delivered me from it by proding me to recommit my life to Him. Once that battle was won, I felt as though I had entered a new world.

However, by the time I reach fifty-six years old I found myself suffering from anxiety so badly I was having panic (anxiety) attacks. They were so bad my cardiologist concluded that I’d had a heart attack. After a cardiac cath at Wake Med, the doctor came to give me the results by telling me I had not had a heart attack, but that I needed to learn to relax and lower my anxiety levels. That worked for a while.

Then at the age of fifty-eight, I had a major meltdown. I’d grown to find myself losing my sense of direction in life and was making very bad decisions that cost me my marriage, church life and so much of my sanity. I ended up being diagnosed with severe depression with anxiety attacks. I was seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist and was on meds. Then came along the woman who is now my wife. She was the gift God gave me for my recovery.

The strange thing is that working out of my depression found me realizing that the woman that was my first wife was a mistake on my part. I should never have married her. To be brief, way back when I was going with a girl that I loved, but I found to be insatiable and when I was drafted during Vietnam, I was taken away from that bad relationship. Then my first wife was introduced to me as a blind date. I found her to be a haven since her sisters ran wild and lose and she had vowed not to be like them. I concluded that her vow was good for me so I proposed and we married after I got out of service. I never really got to know her well though. I worked jobs that kept us apart most of the time and it wasn’t until my fifties that I began to doubt my young decision. When we separated and I started talking with my psychologist I came to understand my hasty decision as a young man was not good. I know my sons probably don’t like this if they read it, but I can say both of them are upstanding citizens that contribute to society. I can appreciate them far above most of their generation. But that marriage should not have been.

During that depression in my fifties my psychologist called my new woman that became my wife was more like a “shiny new toy” and I would lose interest. I’m not sad to say that she has been with me for going on thirteen years now and I could not do without her. She was not the shiny new toy my psychologist indicated by his opinion. We have a solid relationship. It’s not perfect, but we talk to each other about everything and resolve it one way or the other.

So. When I started writing this post a few days ago, I was feeling depression creeping up on me. Do you know what I did? I got my wife and myself into the car and went to town and did some shopping and did stuff together. Oh. And we talked. It got me out and away from the creeping little foxes that came to steal my joy that morning. The rest of my day was wonderful and I got some things done I had been laying aside for weeks or more.

Never let yourself sit and stew in that pot of depression. Get up and get out there. Do something. Keep yourself busy. You cannot afford to allow your mental state to be eaten alive by evil, negative thoughts. Fight for your life. You can control it. It’s up to you. You create your own destiny and it starts by telling the creepy things to step aside. Talk to God. He’ll tell you the same thing I just told you. Do you know why? Because that’s what He told me.

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Simply Salvation

Posted on 2022/03/29 by JimR, Chaplain

I’ve started writing another book. It’s titled the same as this post. What I’m feeling in this writing is to explain the simplicity of salvation.

As I started the book I found myself wanting to focus on the Good Shepherd by introducing Him to the reader from the 23rd Psalm. I opened up with the nature of the shepherd by explaining it to people with an inviting picture of the Savior. We tend to throw around a lot of Christian terms. I find them already passe’, if not outmoded. I consider them thrown around so often without explanation that we just let the terms “salvation”, “savior” “baptism” and such flow right past our thinking without stopping to seriously consider the import of these very important life-giving terms.

I cite a concern of mine in the term baptism. It seems in my circle of church folk that several people seem to think being baptized several times to be okay. I guess that would be okay if it were truly meaningful, but I think it’s becoming a bit abused. There is this thing Baptists quip about in there churches that so and so got saved “again” this past Sunday. How does one get saved every other Sunday? The idea of being born again is a once in a lifetime event. Rededication would be a better term I suppose if it is truly expressed, but it has become something of an inside joke with Baptist to be saved in every service practically.

I was baptized three times, yet each time I felt a sincere need, not so much for myself as it was that my wife and I be baptized together into one flesh. My dad questioned me when I was baptized the second time as to the first baptism’s effectiveness. It was a cutting remark I’d say as he thought the need for only being baptized once was only right. I tended to agree with his assumption, yet for some reason felt the need at that time. Since that second time I met with divorce and found my life in shambles. I won’t detail that out except to say I fell into darkness and walked away from my Christian values.

With the help of God’s unrelenting love for me and His gift of a woman that became my second wife, I have recovered. Our walk (and I say all three of us, God, my wife, and me) has become a solid foundation. Upon that foundation was a pressing need for a new commitment, so my wife and I were baptized together. I have no doubt there will never be a need to do this again.

The first baptism was entirely for me. My soul needed to show that outward evidence of the inward work of God in my life through Jesus Christ. This last one was intended for joining into a covenant with God with my wife and me as one. It didn’t seem so much as the original reason as it was for a display of covenant with God.

This book will likely be a good bit bigger since I am feeling there’s a lot to explain to get the simplicity across. This sounds kind of complicated, but it’s not. I hope to show people that don’t think they have a need to be saved just what the need is. Man has a hollow spot in their being from the first Adam that only the second Adam can fill. This will be explained in the book.

I’ll stop here, but I must tell you one thing. If you are a Christian, God wants you. You are valuable enough to send His Son to die for you that you may be saved. The value you hold is found in the sacrifice God gave for us to regain fellowship with Him. Don’t ever think you are worthless. Never.

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