He is

Welcome to the book of Romans.

I've decided that I'm a "bad blogger." (You should read that like out loud in the same tone that some people say, "Bad, dog.")

It's hard to keep up in the midst of life, isn't it? Right now, I'm in the waiting room at Good Sam hospital in Portland, OR, waiting for my friend Kerrie, who is getting a new port installed. It will be the system her oncologist uses to infuse her with chemotherapy drugs.

And something I observed this morning brings me directly into our blog subject. There is a nurse in the day surgery area who desperately needs Jesus. She is stomping around the hospital with frozen lips -- completely unable to smile or respond to the humanity of the people around her. I know. I made it my personal charge to try to get a smile out of her. Nothing. No response. When someone asked how she was, she said, "I've been better."

Okay, so we all have bad days, yes?

But this lady is definately having a bad life!

And i think perhaps she has no idea that there is more to life than IVs, vials of blood, patients and surgery schedules. In fact, Paul, in the opening chapter of the book of Romans says that there IS GOD! Paul says it this way.

"For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. Fromt he time the world was created people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible quqalities -- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like."

How does that relate to Grumpy in Day Surgery?

Her problem is that she has made herself the center of the known universe. The patients, the doctors, the orders, the orderly and even the housekeeping lady all revolve around her! No wonder she is so dissapointed when things don't go the way she expects. Every little bump throws her off her own throne!


We were never meant to be the center of the universe.

When we realize that, we are able to smile at our difficulties, to comfort others in their trials, to laugh when appropriate, and to work with a servant's heart.

When we realize that He is LORD, that He is in absolute control over every difficulty of our lives, we have peace. Even as we wait for surgery to end. Even as we anticipate chemotherapy. Even when we realize that our bad hair days will soon be "bald hair days."

He is God. And that is enough to bring peace even to the most chaotic of days.