"Palliative Care"

“Palliative Care”

In my chaplaincy role with hospice and now in a hospital setting I’ve become familiar with palliative care. It refers to a specialized branch of medicine ministering to people afflicted with life-limiting conditions. Its roots can be traced back to 1948 in England when Dr. Cicely Saunders began to focus her practice on the terminally ill. It emphasizes bringing physical and emotional care to patients in order to provide a better quality of life to them and their families during life-threatening illnesses. The service is rendered in homes, care facilities and hospitals and utilizes care teams (physicians, nurses, aides, therapists, social workers, chaplains and volunteers) to bring support and comfort. (The hospital in which I now work has a dedicated Palliative Care Unit as do several nursing homes with which I’m familiar.) Many patients (including Karen’s mother and my father) have been served well by this approach which has brought relief to them as well as their families in their final days.

God often furnishes His version of palliative care to His people. The Apostle Paul is a case in point. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 he states that he was given “…a thorn in the flesh….” from which he asked the Lord’s deliverance three times. But God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). While the Lord healed some (e.g. Peter’s mother-in-law, a man with a useless arm and a lame man on the temple’s steps) He didn’t do so with Paul. Rather He provided His palliative care by giving the strength to bear this burden so that His servant could say, “…When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Our church’s choir sang an anthem in April which contains the line, “Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.” In other words, God may bring curative care (i.e. deliverance from a struggle) but in other situations His provision is palliative care (help through a struggle). In either case He brings peace “…which surpasses all understanding….” (Philippians 4:7, NKJV) by His power and love.

One of the titles given to the Holy Spirit is “Comforter”. So you and I as God’s people have a divine Palliative Caregiver living in us “…to be with (us) forever….” (John 14:16). Let’s thank God for His provision of help in all circumstances of life.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Filters"

“Filters”

Not long ago I replaced our HVAC filter which I do periodically (Karen usually has to remind me of its need to be done) to help the system run more efficiently. I then began to think about how widely these porous objects are used to keep unwanted matter from passing through and causing damage. We have gas, air and oil filters in our cars to prevent engine trouble. There’s one in our refrigerator to purify water and ice. Ichthyologists place them in their aquariums to keep fish healthy. They’re also used in electronics to block unwanted frequencies. Properly utilized, they have the potential to save time, money and even lives.

My favorite Bible book is Colossians because it makes clear who Jesus is, warns against departure from that truth and gives us guidance for godly living. I was recently reading through this brief epistle from the pen of the Apostle Paul given by the Holy Spirit (see the previous article “The Ghostwriter”) and came to 4:5-6: “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” I then connected the dots that I’m to let God filter my words and actions to make Him look good before those around me. A short time later Paul wrote these words to his young co-worker: “In everything set…an example by doing what is good…showing integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:7-8). I’m no longer a young pastor, but even at my advanced age I need to heed this counsel and use the filter of Scripture to shape my walk and talk.

Will you join with me in King David’s filtering prayer: “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14, NLT)?

(Oops, gotta go now. Karen just pointed out that the a/c filter needs to be changed.)

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"God's Place"

“God’s Place”

One of the men in our first church used to drive a delivery truck for an area department store which took him along just about every back road on the map (and probably some that weren’t!). One day he told me about going by a house which was an eyesore and appeared ready to collapse (windows broken, paint peeling, grass growing almost waist high) but it was the weather-beaten mail box by the road which especially caught his attention. It said, “God’s Place”. He then commented on how this so often pictures us as God’s people when we fail to outwardly reflect His presence in our lives.

We sometimes have the idea that God’s dwelling place is a church building. While it’s true that this was the case with the tabernacle and later the temple in the Old Testament (“I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them.”—Exodus 25:8, NLT) with the ascension of Christ, descent of the Holy Spirit and birth of the church God changed this (“…God…does not live in temples built by hands.”—Acts 17:24). Now His dwelling place is in people—those He has redeemed through faith in the finished work of Christ. Note what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” As someone has put it, our outward appearance must reflect the inner presence of our Owner.

Years ago Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle brought a message at the Gaither Praise Gathering entitled “The House of Prayer”. We played the video several times during our church services and at other functions. In his message Cymbala made the point that since God now lives in us we are His house of prayer. (Karen later wrote a song based on this biblical truth.) So in effect I am “God’s Place”. How am I making Him look before a watching world?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Earning a Title"

“Earning a Title”

On his first Fathers’ Day my newborn niece (probably with her mother’s help) gave my brother Dave a plaque which said, “Any man can be a father but it takes a special one to be a daddy”. (This hung on the wall above his side of the bed for many years.) When we see our physician for any reason we almost always address him or her as “Doctor”. While titles sometimes come by birth (e.g. England’s Princes William and Harry) most of the time they grow out of endearment or respect and are earned by one’s actions.

One designation we can never earn, however, is “Child of God”. The Apostle Paul wrote,”…It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, emphasis added in all Scriptures). In the introduction to his Gospel John tells us, “…To all who received (Christ), to those who believed in his name (i.e. put their faith in him), he gave the right to become children of God….” (John 1:12). And to quote Paul again, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

But while I can’t work for my title as a “Child of God” there’s another one that I earn by my life-style: “Christian”. (See the earlier article “Our Place in the Dictionary”.) The term is often misapplied and misunderstood—witness the crossword clue “Gentile” for which the answer sought was “Christian” in another previous posting (“Crossword Puzzles”) –but in Greek it means “follower of Christ” or “Christ-like”. It’s used three times in the New Testament. In Acts 11:26 we read, “The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (This was about 38 AD.) Then after Paul’s address at his hearing in Caesarea some 20 years later King Agrippa said to (possibly sneered at) him, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” (Acts 26:28). In both these cases the term was likely used in a derogatory way. However, just a few years later Peter, writing to give comfort to persecuted believers, told them not to suffer for doing wrong and added, “…If you suffer as a Christian (i.e. for standing with Christ), do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (1 Peter 4:16). So he saw it as a title of honor his readers had earned. And church history tells of many who lived up to it.

Have I earned the title “Christian” by “…(living) a life worthy of the calling (I) have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan