Diabetes testing

As one who suffers from diabetes and has had to make some changes to his life, just want you as a reader to make sure that you are safe, so if it possible go to this link and take the test to see if you are at risk for this disease.....

http://stopdiabetes.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SD_homepage

It is better to take time out now and check yourself out and prevent disease than have to fix yourself after the disease has broken out....

A thought on the third anniversary

Today is the 3rd anniversary of when my appendix burst, the day that I almost died (because I see on the Aetna insurance papers that I downloaded the words "Heart Failure" which is usually one step before they do the "pronounce the time of death" and put the toe tag on you). But the question one may ask is why....why were you kept alive?

And the answer came to me from above when I was sharing my testimony yesterday....and it was so simple.....

TO MAKE CHRIST KNOWN!!!!

By being kept alive, it is an opportunity to share the Gospel with those who don't know Christ (making Christ known), to be a testimony to others (making Christ known), to let others know that there is healing (making Christ known)....others may argue "What about the doctors, etc...?" Let me give you a word from Dr. John Metersky...the surgeon who performed the operations on me. He told me once that he had never seen anyone as messed up as I was...When the doctors admit that and yet I am still here, it is not medicine, but God....

So to my brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask the following question....How are you making Christ known? It may not have to deal with a big testimony or a major miracle...it can be in the ordinary everyday way you live your life, raise your children, do your job, etc....Are you making Christ known to neighbors, co-workers, friends, etc....If not, start doing so today!

seatbelt warnings and the Holy Spirit

Just this Saturday, I had the opportunity to spend some time with our congregational leader Randy Shapiro. It was a wonderful time of food and fellowship, something that I don't get to do as much as I should. There was one thing, though that struck me as funny/thoughtful and that was the warning sound that was made when the seat belt was not put on.

Now the seat belt sound was a warning to put something on that could save your life and make sure that nothing happened to you. That is what seat belts were designed to do. Who knows how many lives would have been saved if people would just take a few seconds out of their time to put on a seat belt?

Well spiritually we have the same kind of thing that gives us a warning. It is called the Holy Spirit...the third person of the Trinity. What the Spirit does is gives us warnings that could save our lives spiritually and make sure that nothing happens to us. He reminds us that we are in a war and we need to put our armor given to us by God (Ephesians 6:10-18), reminds us when we going the wrong direction (John 16:7-11), gives us direction from God (John 14:26). The key, however is for us to take time and take heed to what the Spirit is trying to tell us.

Who knows how many lives spiritually speaking would be saved if people to listen to the Holy Spirit and would just take time to make the adjustments that He directs? So when you hear the "warning sound" of the Holy Spirit, pay attention! It could just save your life!

giving notes of thanks

Sometimes you have a problem about not having enough things to write about....in my case today, I had too many---there were about three or four ideas for blog posts to write about. But at about 8:30 this evening, I had my mind made up for me. On Sunday is the third anniversary of my appendix blowing out, and I wanted to write a note of appreciation to the surgeon who God used...Dr. John Metersky.

But while I was writing my card expressing my gratitude toward him, God also prompted me to write a note of appreciation to the folks over at Lifecare Hospital, who were the ones who handled my long-term care. Dr. Flores who was on staff at the time; showed graciousness and compassion and was a ray of sunshine every time she came in. The nursing staff also was gracious not only to me, but also to my parents as well. And the most important group there was the PT group (led by Charles Robinson) who got me back on my feet and out the door....

But the question remains...how often do we write, phone, e-mail (whatever form of communication you use) the people that God has used in your life? In October, I wrote a blog entry (http://1ncisfan.blogspot.com/2010/10/not-forgotten-man.html) about the pastor that God used to bring me to where I could hear the Gospel and believe in Jesus as my Savior. But there are so many more:
-my uncle Jesse Gonzalez, who said "Yes" to God's vision in seeing his in-laws coming to know Jesus as Savior
-Dale Daffin, who was the one who shared the Gospel with me....
-Jim Eng, who was my first youth pastor
-Jonathan Godsey, who as minister to the children at SABC, allowed me to bring object lessons, which was my first experience at teaching...
-to those at Theo Avenue Baptist Church who allowed me to chance to sharpen my skills by teaching in their classes....
-and to Randy Shapiro and all those at Beth Simcha who have been gracious in allowing me to minister there as greeter, PowerPoint person, in bringing messages there, and in becoming a shammash....

So if you have had the opportunity to thank the people in your life who either led you to the Lord or allowed you to become a better believer, do so while you have the opportunity and let them know that " knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV)