One More For JC

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Unfortunately, far too frequently these days I’m hearing of another person battling cancer.  My heart goes out to each and every one of you (both the patients and the care-givers), especially after all of the trials my family endured a couple years back with my Dad and Grandmother.  At the height of the battle, I remember sitting in a church service during one of my trips to New Jersey and being completely lost in despair.  I had just left my Dad’s hospital room and it was becoming all too clear that the odds of survival were aga...

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) Dee and I recently watched the movie “Amazing Grace” which tells the story of the campaign against the slave trade in Britain in the 18 th century, led by abolitionist William Wilberforce.  Many are familiar with the song, and now the movie, but the one thing I’ll carry with me the most was a quote in the movie made by John Newton:  “Though I have lost my memory, two things I know.  I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great savior.”  In twenty one words, it sums up the incomparable gift of God’s amazing grace.  It demonstrates the humility of a man who has come to acknowledge that he cannot stand before a perfect God on his own merits, and the serenity of a man who has firmly placed his trust in the only one who can – Jesus Christ. Through the trials of each day, it is easy to forget that the battle has already been won by t...

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10) I went to my niece’s 1-year old birthday party over the weekend in which my sister put together a beautiful collection of pictures set to music.  At the end of the presentation, she included a tribute to the members of the family that we had lost over the years – the most prominent of which being my Dad.  Not too many days go by where I don’t think of him, and all the good times we shared.  I also think back to some of the amazing events that transpired at the end of his life; one of which occurred on the morning of his viewing, just as I was sinking into perhaps the saddest moment of my life.  I remember wondering how I would find the strength to make it through the next couple days, as I happened to turn on the radio.  Remarkably within seconds, a song named “Father’s Love” by Bob Carlisle came on that I had never heard be...

I thank my God every time I remember you. (Philippians 1:3) Every once in awhile a song will come out that really hits home; Bon Jovi’s latest single “ (You Want To) Make A Memory ” is one of those songs.  From the first time I heard it, I couldn’t help but think back to last year, when I spent a lot of time trying to do just that.  A day that really sticks with me was my birthday last April, when my Dad played the keyboard and my family sang me Happy Birthday in both English and Polish (an annual tradition).  When I blew out the candles on that birthday cake, I had a feeling it was going to be the last time I did so with my Dad and Grandmother.  I cherished every moment of that song and that night, and tried to “make a memory” that would last a lifetime. Unfortunately, this April 15 th , the seat at the keyboard was empty and there were two less voices in the chorus.  But thankfully the good Lord Jesus was by my side again that day, and I had the rest ...

Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15) Simply put, I love this verse.  It loudly proclaims Joshua’s single-minded focus to love and serve the one true God, with no qualifications or restrictions (i.e. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord…but only if he does X, Y, and Z!”).  No restriction was added, because Joshua was blessed enough to know that no restriction was needed.  How blessed are all those that have come to the same place in their lives?!  Through the grace of God, I count myself greatly blessed to be one of those people....

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 20:28) August 24th has always been one of the most special days in the calendar year for me, solely because that was the day my Mom was born.  Throughout my life, my Mom has been a shining example of what loving, giving, serving, and sacrificing is all about…especially this year when she faced a husband and mom both dying of cancer at the same time.  For months, her days and nights were spent selflessly attempting to do anything in her power to make life just a little bit easier for both of them until their passing. Although the battle was long and incredibly hard, it helped me appreciate my Mom all the more.  This side of heaven, I've come to realize I probably won't encounter another person like her; someone with such relentless determination to serve others - no matter the personal cost.  But thankfully, one day I know I will again, when I come face to...

I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. (John 20:17) This morning, my Dad passed away after a long fight with cancer.  Although the battle was hard, it helped bring me even closer to him and to my family…and for that I’ll forever be grateful. Today, I choose not to remember the hard times at the end of his life, but only the good.  I remember my Dad being at every baseball game I ever played (and there were many), I remember him driving his old car around town (even holding the door shut as he drove) while my sister and I drove around in the new cars he bought us, I remember him driving me to and from my graduate school classes after I broke my ankle and stating " You're my son, where else would I rather be?" , and I remember more; yes so much more. Forever, I will cling to the memory of what a wonderful father he was; how selfless, how loving.  He may not have been a perfect human being, but in my mind he will always be cherished...