IQ #265 An Open Heart part 2: Disease of the Heart

“Hi, my name is D.J and I am an alcoholic. I have not had a drink in 3 years, 2 months. I feel like my life has finally turned around for the better. I also realize that this disease will be with me for the rest of my life and that, if I do not take precautions, and if I do not surround myself with the love, support and guidance I will always need, I could easily fall back into this dreaded disease’s clutches.”

D.J. is a fictional person I made up as is the dialog, but Alcoholism is a disease that is a real and as deadly as any disease that starts within or outside someone’s body.

“Hi, my name is John and I have Atherosclerotic heart disease. Thanks to 3 by-passes performed on me last Friday (April 7^th) I have been given a new lease on life. I realize that this disease will be with me for the rest of my life and that, if I do not take precautions, and if I do not surround myself with the love, support and guidance I will always need, this disease could rear its ugly head up and shorten a life that has just been give an awesome extension.”

John is real. John is me and I thank God for the talents he gave my surgeon, the entire medical staff, the love and support from my family and friends. The surgeon said I have a superstar heart (no damages) and because of how will I was doing after surgery, let me go home on Tuesday. 

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.  – Proverbs 15:30

Even though I came home early I still have a lot of physical rehab to do to get back to full potential of my abilities, I will always have heart disease. I can deal with that.

There is another heart disease that is the deadliest of all diseases, and the most skilled surgeon cannot by-pass it or remove it.

Proverbs 15:28-32

²⁸ The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
    but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked,
    but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

³⁰ Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
    and good news gives health to the bones.

³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.

³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

Ever since the first sin was cast humanity has been filled with a Disease of the Heart. No one is immune to its deathly grip. This disease has an earthly 100% mortality rate. Even in our simplest form of communication our mouths spew out evil and destructive waves of thoughts, if we don’t weigh those thoughts first. It is important to have something to say, but it is equally import to weigh those thoughts first. Do you plan your words first or do you spew out those words without concern for their impact? What about your actions?

This is Holy week, a precious time of observance in my life for the only one that can and did save us from this disease of the heart. Jesus Christ, Son of God.

Today is Good Friday, one of the two most powerful days in the history of man. Jesus’s heart was pure and unblemished and what he did on this day was the most painful, merciful and beautiful action ever recorded. And he did it all out of love for you and me, and for the total devotion he had for his Father in heaven.

Jesus took every ounce of our diseased hearts and put it all on his own and sacrificed to God on the cross. He did this to free everyone who would call on his name so that we would be freed of this wretched curse and be able to live a new live through him.

To complete the sacrifice of this disease Jesus also needed to overcome it by defeating its grip on death. And he did! God rose him from the grave. Mary Magdalene, his disciples and 500 more saw Jesus after he had arisen.

“Follow me.”  a simple command from Jesus to anyone who hears his name. To follow, we also must be willing to let our old lives die and inherit the new life he has for us and gain access to the exclusive, all expenses paid for, eternal kingdom.

This world we live in will always be plagued with the Disease of the Heart and it will take your life away if you let it. Jesus gives you a choice, let our world’s nature take its course on you, or accept a new, joyful and eternal life with Christ Jesus and let it begin today, even in the midst of all this mayhem.

“Hi, my name is John and I have the dreaded Disease of the Heart, but thanks to giving my live over to the master of all surgeons, Jesus Christ, I have been given a new lease on life. I realize that this disease will be around me for the rest of my life and that I need to take precautions, and surround myself with the love, support and guidance of other Christ followers, and in constant training through God’s Word.

Romans 8:11

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

John 4:14:17

InnerQuest #264 An Open Heart (a 3 part series)

Part 1:  “There are times our personal suffering is for a greater purpose”

By-pass: n.  A pathway that passes around an obstructed or congested area.

By-passing: tr. v.  To avoid (an obstacle) by using an alternative channel, passage, or route.

Over the next several weeks I am going to present my thoughts on the relationship between my upcoming open heart surgery and our society’s need for its own by-pass. What fuels my thoughts, actions and heart on this topic, is my personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and my trust and faith in God.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

On a warm Monday night a friend’s buddy from heaven came to see him. They had a wonderful visit and then the question was asked, “Well,” said the friend, “Is there volleyball in heaven?” “I have good news and bad news about that.” said his buddy. “The good news is, YES, there is volleyball in heaven.” “Then what’s the bad news?” asked the friend. His buddy looked at him right in the eye and said, “You’re serving on Friday.”

I love playing volleyball, and even though most of the people I play with are quite younger, I can hold my own and I have not been afraid to dive after the ball if needed. A little over a year ago I felt a crunch behind my left big toe and wasn’t sure what it was. Did I jam it? Sometime later I had it checked out because the base of the toe was bigger than it should be, there was some pain, and it was keeping me from running at full speed.

X-rays were taken of my toe and it was discovered that there was very little cartilage in the base of the joint, plus the deformation was most likely a bunion.  Years of wear and tear and another genetic gift (bunion). Running full speed was out, but I still play volleyball.

This year another change had come upon me that I wasn’t totally surprised at. After teammates and other people saying I looked tired, and my upper back was causing some issues, I decided to call my cardiologists and get checked out. A heart catheterization was done. Enough blockage was found and the decision to have by-pass surgery was planned. Volleyball and other vigorous activities were over, for now.

I had stents put in in 2005 and 2011 and was already prepared for the news that another surgery would mean getting the big ‘zipper’. But, instead of feeling bummed about the news, I am looking forward to getting it done. I know how much better I will feel after the surgery and the few weeks of post-op pain are over. 

As our society has grown by leaps and bounds over the centuries and most notably, recent decades, major by-pass surgery (reconstruction) around major cities, was needed to eliminate the constant congestion of traffic going into and out of them. It would take time and there would be a certain level of pain felt by many until all was completed. A successful by-pass meant better, healthier flow.

When I had my meeting with the surgeon to go over what is going to be done, he said something to me, that within a few moments gave me a vision of clarity on how totally awesome God is!

The surgeon told me that I looked to be in good shape from the activities I do and that my heart was in very good shape as well. It was the arteries that were bad. If left alone they could severely damage the heart or stop it from working. He ordered me to stop doing anything that would get my pulse too high, because that would increase the need for oxygen in the blood and put too much pressure on the heart.

After hearing those words I immediately thought of my left toe. The pain and suffering I‘ve had to endure turned out to be a life saver.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God does work ‘in all things’ not just isolated incidents, for our good. Not all suffering is good, evil is all around us in this world, but God is able to turn every situation around for our good in the long run. It is to fulfill His purpose, not in making us happy. Trust God. He knows what he is doing.

Our society’s mentality has been enduring a lot of pain and suffering, on each other and self-inflicted, and the congestion may be getting to a point where the heart of our nation could suffer a major blow-out. There have been many stents inserted over the years to ease the flow of things, but it may be time for major by-pass surgery.

I believe the heart of this nation is still strong, but there are blockages suffocating the flow to and from it.

I will be having 3-4 by-passes done on Wednesday, April 5^th. There will be several days where pain will overshadow my happiness. That’s ok. I am willing to endure the pain, because I trust what God has promised me and my hope lives through him. I look forward to continuing the purpose he has set for me and the people he has presented to me to help guide.

When we are able to discover what the true nature of the congestion that stifles ourselves and our nation, then we will know what really needs to be done. There will be personal pain and pain as a whole.

Even if your belief in God is weak or non-existent, there is much to be learned from his Word. There are times our personal suffering is for a greater purpose.

John 4:2:17