Denied Again

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Robert Franklin

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=no+medical&iid=231593″ src=”0228/4bf1267b-f5cf-4765-a227-ced6ef96ef10.jpg?adImageId=11645047&imageId=231593″ width=”234″ height=”351″ /]I know that the airwaves are full of all sort of opinion about the pending implementation of the heath care legislation (here is the 1,018 page version).  To be perfectly honest I have no idea what it says outside of providing, in some manner, for federally funded abortion.  Oddly enough, both sides seem to agree on that singular point.

I do know that my wife and a dear friend of hers started a small business when other small businesses were closing.  [Michelle previously worked for a bank so we could have affordable health insurance (and spend the extra money!).]

I do know that the health care provider we had used for quite some time saw an opportunity to toss me overboard when we switched from the employer sponsored plan to a private purchase plan using same provider.

My sin: an abnormal blood test result 18 months ago.  Even though I provided a blood test in November ’09 which showed no abnormalities, even though I was never treated for the abnormality (other than a vitamin D pill), I am out.  Yes, a healthy “normal weight,” low blood pressure, normal cholesterol male cannot buy a non-government sponsored health insurance policy.   

I applied to another health care provider: denied, appeal, denied, appeal, denied, appeal, denied with a “you can start completely over again” letter.  I tried to get a policy covering only stroke, cancer, heart attack or abduction by alien species from yet another provider, denied.

Other than being really upset over having to fill out the same paperwork over and over again, my attitude is, “That’s life.”  I am grateful that I live in the United States where access to health care is easy and ubiquitous.  I do not believe it is my God-given right to be able either to afford it, or be able to consume it.  It is a privilege; a privilege I can now only participate in to the extent of my ability to pay.

I guess I best stay healthy!

I hope the new law does not require me to purchase a “no denial” policy.  The one offered by the state of Kentucky cost nearly as much as the plan we purchased to cover the rest of my family.  I simply do not wish to have 13% of my take home pay devoured by health care premiums. 

Michelle and I are blessed with family who live in Uganda.  They are valuable people and they have no health insurance.  In fact Isaac, Penny and Lionel have access to such limited health care that it would be unimaginable to even uninsured Americans.  I care about them, for they have the same God-given rights as I even though they live on the other side of the planet.  What about them?  Is it just tough luck they were born in Uganda?

All in all, I am glad I need not depend on Washington DC to balance or protect my life.  If I become ill and die without health care I will join the countless others for whom there is no other choice.  Since I am guaranteed permenant residency in the place where sickness of any sort is forbidden, it would be no trajedy.

Come, Lord Jesus!

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. 3 John 2, NLT

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Conflict

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Robert Franklin

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=conflict&iid=270127″ src=”0266/106507bc-9af4-427a-9899-0db22b4a29bd.jpg?adImageId=11588863&imageId=270127″ width=”234″ height=”234″ /]Whether we like it or not conflict is part of our daily lives.  There are a few who thrive on disagreements, there are some always looking for “a good fight” but for most of us conflict is something we would rather avoid. 

One of the greatest conflicts ever experienced is often completely overlooked.  The cross of Jesus Christ casts so significant a shadow even observant Christians miss the horrific battles waged prior to the passion narrative.

Consider just a few of the events in John 8.  The religious leaders of the day were somehow able to produce a woman who was “caught” in sexual intercourse with a married man.  The desire was to pit Jesus against the Law given by God to the Jews.  In later conversation, the religious leaders delivered a “below the belt” shot by asking Jesus to produce his father.  Not one of the gospels explains Joseph’s disappearance.  Did Joseph die? Did he abandon his family?  The reader can only wonder.  The fact remains, all four gospel accounts agree, Joseph was a surrogate father and as such would be considered as illegitimate as Jesus. Jesus was then questioned as to whether or not he was suicidal, then all but outright called a bastard, then clearly called a demon possessed, low-life half-breed.

All this and more before he was arrested.  I know beyond doubt that I would not have stood firm.  I would have quit, or being God in the flesh, angrily reduced my adversaries to piles of cinder.  Such was not done, for the Savior, convinced of his purpose and fully submissive to the authority of the Father endured for the sake of the shame of bearing the crushing weight of my sin, and yours.

My friends at Main Street will consider these things as we bring Convinced: A Destination Reached, to a close and focus our attentions on Resurrection Day. 

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I Learned Something Today

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Robert Franklin

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=angry+teacher&iid=155546″ src=”0151/b4891893-d860-46c4-bae7-95afe27c4146.jpg?adImageId=11415448&imageId=155546″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]I was privileged to have some really good teachers in junior high school.  One of my favorites was Glennis Coulter, a 5′ 0″ (or smaller) spitfire of a woman.  I remember her pulling me out of class one day and bawling me out over my score on her eighth grade science exam.  Her eyes were bugging and the veins are her neck were bulging, she was red hot and looked it.

“Mrs. Coulter, I got a 94…that’s an A-” I protested.

“You can do better than that,” she growled, “and that’s what I expect of you.”

I kept my adolescent thoughts to myself and remained silent.  At her urging, I promised to do better the next round of exams.  The line between respect for her and my thinking that she was bonker-nuts existed because I knew she was a fellow learner.  The school I attended practiced advance placement.  I was studying high school level biology, and so was she.  She had never taught the subject at that level before and so every day she showed up with the fire of “guess what I learned” lighting her eyes.  Even as a young man, I committed to emulate being a fellow learner, especially if I ever became a teacher.

Well, I learned something new today.  I learned that the word “liturgy” has a completely secular origin.  For those unfamiliar with the now entirely religious meaning of the word, it commonly refers to the order and content of a service of worship.  It’s the “plan” for what goes on at church services.  The word was originally the term used for a public service project provided the populace by a person of means.  The word was co-opted by the church. 

Consider, if you will, what liturgy means if our understanding is colored by its origin.  When the congregation gathers should it come with the understanding that the ability to engage in worship is a gift from its benefactor, God?  Additionally, when the congregation gathers, how should the outcome of its service effect the public good? Pressing further, when the congregation gathers, should it have a deep awareness that the treasure dispensed by the benefactor is the presence and power of Christ? 

The things most often assigned value in worship gatherings are lessor gifts.  Stained glass, eloquent clergy, engaging programming should all pale before the manifest glory of the One who is really supposed to be the center of attention and devotion.  Perhaps restoring the early use of liturgy would do the modern church some good.  What do you think?

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The shelves are full

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Robert Franklin

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=refrigerator&iid=162051″ src=”0158/e33658a0-feb4-40e5-bc4d-362ab018b445.jpg?adImageId=11392897&imageId=162051″ width=”234″ height=”156″ /]As I sit in the dark graciously endowed by “Daylight Savings” I look to the day ahead.  The tasks already exceed the time available and I know beyond shadow of doubt tomorrow, should it be allowed to come, will have “troubles” left over from today.

I normally like leftovers from the refrigerator, I can barely stomach “yestertasks.”  This season seems to be yielding an inordinately large crop of “yestertasks” and the accompanying queasiness.  It would require no effort at all on my part to throw up and declare,”I quit!” 

Fortunately I am learning that life is not about me.  I have the honor of taking my basket full of yestertasks and tossing it to the Lord and Savior of my life.

In my prayer time today I asked the Lord to help me to live in worship, to honor him in my activities and to somehow serve to increase his kingdom.  I asked him to empower me to do what I can about today and to rest in his power.  So glad this is what I am commanded to do.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5.6-7, ESV)

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Magnificent Failure

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Robert Franklin

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=tiger+woods&iid=8014079″ src=”6/d/0/7/Tiger_Woods_apologizes_a147.JPG?adImageId=11346238&imageId=8014079″ width=”234″ height=”278″ /]Tiger Woods is going to play golf again.  According to news reports, the Professional Golfers Association and CBS are giddy over the prospect of his rejoining the PGA tour. It seems that those who stand to profit handsomely from Tiger’s return to the putting green are willing to forget the “sins” of the past and to welcome him back to the center stage of fame he once occupied so well.  A few, on the other hand, question whether or not he has been truly rehabilitated, whether or not his religion has provided him some sort of redemption.

One of the most encouraging things I have found in all the Bible is the seemingly endless list of failures God uses for the sake of his works of grace.  The pages of Scripture are full of men who “knew better” and yet did not do well. 

Take John Mark, for instance.  Here was a fellow who was among the first to see Peter miraculously delivered from prison. John Mark was a companion of Paul and Barnabas and commissioned along with them to fulfill the God-given mission to the Gentile nations.  John Mark wasn’t able to finish and he left Paul and Barnabas’ service. Paul was so angry with the young man that he refused to work with him for a long while.

God, in his mercy, was far more gracious than Paul.  John Mark eventually was restored in Paul’s eyes and beloved by Peter.  Some even believe (I happen to be one of them) that the Biblical work entitled “Mark” was penned by this man as given to him by the Apostle Peter.

John Mark gives me hope.  Hope that in my own failures God may use me still.  Hope that as others fail around me, God will redeem them as well.

I pray that Tiger finds restoration.  His chosen path to “enlightenment” doesn’t leave much hope.  According to his religion, he has to rebalance his life by his own efforts, righting whatever wrongs he has perpetrated. 

For myself, I know this is not possible and so I must rest on the strength and gracious power of One who could and would use a magnificent failure like me.

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Overwhelmed by Grace

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Robert Franklin

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=sleepy&iid=269463″ src=”0266/a734c4b3-325f-451f-95c9-9af47d64d711.jpg?adImageId=11309591&imageId=269463″ width=”380″ height=”253″ /]I woke up in the middle of the night last Thursday morning.  It was an odd experience.  Most times I awake because I am worried about something, or forgot something, or solving some present problem, or I am ill.  I don’t sleep many hours and, to be honest, I despise being interrupted by anything less than a life threatening emergency or a family member in need.

This time was different.  I awoke to thoughts of thanksgiving.  Item after item scrolled through my brain.  Each thought served as testimony to God’s thoughtfulness, his provision, his miraculous power; the completeness of his authority.  Without reservation I offered up thanks again and again.  Many minutes passed and when the lengthy list was complete, I rolled over and went back to sleep.

I think myself a grateful person.  Sometimes, however, my gratitude remains hidden in my heart and is not properly vocalized.  Although it is now several days past, I am still wondering over the experience.  What was God doing?  Had I forgot to tell him “thank you” for making sure a long overdue rebate came at just the right time to fill a gap in my finances? Did I neglect to give praise for the encouragements to stand firm in the midst of the battle? Have I become so enmeshed in my own efforts that I have neglected to be faithfully aware of the Sovereignty that places my feet on firm ground?

I honestly don’t know why this singular experience happened.  The only thing I can say with surety is that it was not a fabrication of my own doing.  I am not that righteous of a man.  I suppose I am just overwhelmed by grace.

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psalm 127.2, ESV) 

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