Find Another Gear

 

High Level Process Update

I’m sorry so much time has passed since I last wrote, but here is a short summary: Systemic treatment is ongoing and has been fairly effective, but not enough to prevent slow and steady disease progression. As an indicator of cancerous activity, the CEA blood test has trended from 3 to 13 over the past year. Not extremely bad, but not good enough. Efforts to surgically remove tumors in the liver and lungs went well, but new ones have grown back in their places according to PET scans, which are in agreement with CEA trends.

My oncologist’s interpretation is that this is par for the course for stage IV. We can try going back and forth between pulling “weeds” and using “herbicide” (metaphor for surgery and chemotherapy). But ultimately we don’t have a good enough ways to kill all the “seeds,” and we can only pull "weeds" so many times without impairing function of critical organs (lungs, liver). He told me from the beginning that he wasn't expecting a good outcome, but we would do our best while prioritizing quality of life (my preference). I appreciate the honesty. Several other oncologist’s opinions are basically the same.

So, we continue with the most effective and tolerable systemic treatment we can achieve. But since we can see conventional treatments will not be good enough, I am also trying other things with little or no evidence that they will be effective. Some chance is better than no chance.

For conventional systemic treatment, we have stuck to Vectibix (Panitumumab) because it seems to have been the most effective and the easiest to tolerate. Panitumumab is a monoclonal antibody, so technically neither chemo nor immunotherapy. The only side effects I've experienced are a terrible skin rash and mental/physical fatigue (like the flu but no cold or stomach symptoms). But truth is that the rash isn't always terrible, and much of the time I feel normal, as long as I take a steroid. Every day contains some new kind of battle, but mostly minor ones. I do realize I am walking around in the eye of a hurricane, and am being protected from 99% of problems and struggles I could be having.

In terms of surgeries, the primary colon tumor and some lymph nodes were removed in May 2022, and the large liver tumors were removed in November 2022. Then two left lung tumors were removed in September 2023. This surgery was minimally invasive and recovery was easy.

In the graph below we see that CEA was relatively stable around 5 from Aug 2022 to Aug 2023, with one spike to 9.2 at the time of the liver surgery and another spike after lung surgery up to 11.4. Then we see the dip to 3.0 in Dec 2023 (which is a normal healthy adult level), and overall a steady linear increase since that time. The latest peaks of 11.9 and 12.7 are for unknown reasons, but CEA can vary somewhat based on factors unrelated to cancer, such as infections. 

The story CEA is telling is confirmed by comparing PET scans from Oct 2023, May 2024, and Dec 2024, showing growth of liver and lung tumors especially. For example, the largest lung tumor in the lower left lobe is already larger now than its predecessor was when it was removed about 1.5 years ago. We checked with Dr. Yi on possibly repeating that surgery, but it would not be as simple as before. Most likely it would require cracking a rib and opening the chest, and the entire lobe would need to be removed this time (~20% further lung capacity reduction, not including the other tumor in the upper lobe). So the decision was to wait and have another scan around March to see if this is really required. Localized radiation might also be an option, if this one tumor is the main problem right now.

Why the upward trend of CEA over the past year, when it was relatively stable around 5 before that? We don't know. I started a steroid in March last year to manage the fatigue and rash from Panitumumab, so one suspicion I had was that the immunosuppressive effects were making the primary treatment less effective. With that in mind, I tried to wean myself off of it recently, to no avail. It turns out the steroid is basically a necessity, at least in the dose and 2-week frequency I am taking Panitumumab. But I will still try to minimize steroid usage as much as I can.

So what else am I doing? We know the conventional treatments I have tried will ultimately not do the job, so our only other option is unconventional treatments that will also probably not do the job, but they MIGHT help. I started Ivermectin in May 2024, then Mebendazole later in the summer, and then Niclosamide later in the fall. These are all antiparastic drugs with anecdotal and theoretical benefits for cancer. Mebendazole is the human form of Fenbendazole, which as received a little more attention in anti-medical establishment circles (Joe Tippins protocol, for example). FenBen (as some call it for short) is cheaper than Mebendazole, and now I take it as well. The prescribing physician in NC suggested rotating among FenBen, Mebendazole, and also Albendazole to avoid building up a tolerance to any of the three. Also I have added many more supplements that might help in some small ways, either directly or in managing treatment side effects. Anything that might help me function normally every day and minimize steroid use is a good thing.

Also I started a ketogenic diet. The theory here is that cancer cells have a very hard time using ketones for fuel, but most good cells can. Some organs still need glucose, which creates some demand, and the hope is that there is so little glucose to go around when the body is in ketosis that cancer cells don't get enough to survive. This goes along with the theory of why high-intensity exertion is good for cancer as well: Glucose is needed to replenish glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, which hopefully takes precedence over feeding cancer cells. So if we combine a ketogenic diet with regular high-intensity exercise, the theory would be that there is often (or always?) a glycogen deficit that prioritizes the use of any available glucose, thereby starving cancer cells. This theory goes along with Dr. Thomas Seyfried's belief that cancer cells require glucose and glutamine to survive, which we can find ways to starve them of. Is this really true? Nobody really knows.

One more thing: I am just now starting high-dose vitamin C infusions. It took me a while get to this point, but of course now I am ready to try anything that MIGHT work. The theory here is that high blood concentrations of vitamin C cause pro-oxidative effects that hasten cancer cell death. IV infusions of up to 100 grams are administered at a time, which is results in far higher concentrations than can be achieved by oral consumption. Regular vitamin C can only be absorbed up to about 2 grams per day. Liposomal C (which I took at a daily dose of 20 grams for about a year) I finally realized has an absorption limit of about 5-6 grams per day (so now I only take 6 grams for this reason). This would be enough to help the immune system, but not nearly enough to have the (supposed) benefits of killing cancer cells. Despite prior reading, I did not understand the limitations of liposomal vitamin C until recently (ChatGPT explained it to me very well!). Here is a great video of one doctor explaining all these concepts after having made the decisions already, randomly discovered by a friend: Dr. Christy Kesslering. Again, no idea if this is really true…

It’s worth noting that my oncologist totally disagrees with any of these extra approaches I’m taking, in particular any strategy to attempt to starve cancer cells of glucose. The way he explains it (which is the same way I have always thought), the body will keep blood glucose levels somewhere between 80 and 120 no matter what, which means there is always glucose available for cancer cells. Since glucose uptake is mostly demand-based, and cancer cells are “designed” to have extremely high demand for glucose, the body has no mechanism to route glucose to specific organs, cancer cells will get what they want. If glycogen stores in the liver and muscles are depleted, the body will make glucose out of whatever it can find, even protein. There is no way to prevent cancer cells from then taking advantage of the available glucose supply. Cancer cells have a glucose demand rivaling or exceeding that of the brain, which is the highest in the body. The only mechanism the body has for prioritizing glucose in a small way is during a stress response, where adrenaline and noradrenaline suppress glucose uptake in non-critical tissues and supplies some extra fat for them to consume instead. But cancer cells do not respond to this hormonal change during a stress response. According to this understanding, there is no chance that depleted glycogen stores in the liver and muscles would suck glucose away from cancer cells. But who knows if this understanding is true either? And whatever the case, there is basically no downside to being on a ketogenic diet, and I actually kind of like it most of the time…

Just for entertainment, here is another analysis by ChatGPT of CEA data over the past year - the analysis sees three different periods:

Here is nearly the same data with just the 3 most recent peaks excluded, in case there were special causes:

This may be going too deep into a test that is only a rough indicator of cancerous activity anyway. But we can see, if anything, the slope is steeper in the past couple of months than it was any time before that in the past year. So all the new things we’re trying need to be continued for some indefinite time before we know whether they have an impact or not. How long? Your guess is as good as mine. But my view is, now is the time to try everything with any reasonable chance of helping. Not later.

Perspective Recap

What is all of this about? I am still here so I can do stuff. My Creator has expectations He has clearly communicated, and my life is not over until it's over. So we give 100% until the whistle blows, to borrow a JV basketball expression. We focus on the next play, rather than talk about going to Burger King after we lose the game. Usually in JV basketball my role in the next play was to cheer from the bench - but in real life I'm not on the bench. More on this later.

The goal here is to avoid tempting the Lord by not availing myself of all reasonable means to help. This is an important point: God USUALLY uses means to fix problems and accomplish goals. Jesus declined Satan's invitation to jump off the pinnacle of the temple and show that the angels would miraculously save Him (Matt 4:7, Luke 4:12). On what basis? He said that “it is written” in Scripture - we should not tempt God by expecting Him to save us when we have means available to save ourselves. Jesus had another way down from the pinnacle of the temple other than jumping, and therefore jumping would have been the sin of tempting God. Asa's problem was that he sought to the physicians and not to the Lord (2 Chr 16:12). Application: We're just looking for a staircase down from the pinnacle, but before and after that, we ask the Lord's blessing with or without any means.

But let’s remember some lessons from Job while we’re here: Elihu never once mentioned the natural circumstances of Job or any strategy he could employ to improve any aspect of his situation. 100% of the focus was on his heart-level response to God’s actions in his life, and that only God could fix his circumstances, and only if Job responded properly. 100% of the content was about Job’s response to God. No mention of boil remedies, security against Sabeans, or tornado shelters. Job's internal and external response to God's actions was wrong from the moment he cursed his birthday, and because of it God prolonged his bad situation and considered killing him. This should remain the focus in any trial: Are my attitudes and actions right and good toward God? If so, then work on some remedies. If not, God will be offended and nothing will work (like Asa’s terrible finish at the end of his life, preached recently).

Why No Writing for So Long?

Cancer and health are actually boring, I think. I guess I was ready to flip the page and move on to a new chapter in life. In most ways I did, because daily life has been pretty normal for the most part - not at all like the first six months. Maybe another reason I haven't written is because I don't like all of you carrying this extra burden around that you don't really need to carry. You all have your own situations that consume emotional energy. For a short time would be one thing, but this is becoming a little more drawn out. The content can be a little heavy, which won't necessarily make it easier to carry or heal from the sorrows that actually do belong to you. Maybe you could promise me that you won't carry my health garbage around with you... 

Find Another Gear

One thing I would really like to highlight is that the church body is critical to my daily success. It’s not that I have to talk to everyone, or even anyone, every day, but it makes a tremendous difference to know that everyone is there - believing the same things I believe, running the same race I’m running, striving for the same goals I’m striving for.

Last winter (2023-2024) was the worst time part since the first six months. It turns out Panitumumab eventually builds up to the point of feeling like you constantly have the flu and can’t think or function (minus any cold or stomach symptoms). Around the end of the of the “dark winter” as my friends called it, a couple of them had me over to find out what my problem was. I guess they figured I wasn't doing well because I wasn’t talking. Apparently some people don't like lack of communication, even if I don’t know what to say. But they did have a valid point - If I wasn't doing anything good with my life or with my mouth, why be alive?

That's a good question - why be alive? There was a sermon (or two) a few years ago entitled Health, Sickness, Death, and Dying, which pointed out the idiocy of lives like this: Get up, eat, go to the doctor, pick your meds up at the pharmacy, eat, go to bed, get up, eat, go to the doctor, pick up your meds, eat, go to bed, etc, etc. There is a point to life, and it is not to consume air, food, and medical products and services. Most of the reasons we are on earth involve others. When we do nothing that impacts others in a meaningful way, our lives are not meaningful. This is partly a two-way street, however… some people want to be impacted, and others don’t. I really like people who love God and love to grow.

The message from my friends was this: Find another gear. What does this mean? It's a metaphor for making a mental, strategic, and/or tactical shift to maximize effectiveness in real life goals. Refocus on what is truly important. Minimize garbage that sucks time. Not necessarily living longer but living better. Figure out another way. Try another path. Take another step. Turn over a new leaf. Flip the page. Get a new perspective. Life that doesn't glorify God is stupid and pointless. Time is limited, and we have seven things to do (see below).

Be Exercised Therewith

Much of life is an exercise - an episode carefully designed by God, to see if we handle it well and do the right things, and/or to strengthen us by the experience. Psalm 104 describes this grand system of Creation including animals, geological features, and human industry as a great work of God by His careful design. Our frustration with everyday earthly life should be kept to a minimum, knowing that each problem we deal with is part of the giant system of earthly operations by divine ordination. Solomon says we should even appreciate these things because it means we are still alive:

Ecc 9:10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

I found it interesting how many more passages use the word “exercise,” so here are a few…

Living on earth involves “sore travail,” even if you use wisdom to understand it, or especially if you use wisdom to realize how many things are done wrong:

Ecc 1:13 

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

You will never figure out the secrets behind God’s decisions and operations in the world:

Ecc 3:9-11

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

We should avoid exercising ourselves in matters that belong to God’s secret will only (not like Job!):

Ps 131:1-2

1 LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty:

neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.

2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself,

as a child that is weaned of his mother:

my soul is even as a weaned child.

We should grow up and be mature Christians by exercising ourselves in biblical knowledge and spiritual wisdom, so we do not have to be taught the same basic lessons again, realizing that anything we experience is common to man and we are not that special:

Heb 5:11-14

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We should cheerfully and patiently endure negative events in life, knowing that our Father is correcting our deficiencies. Even in the worst case that He is punishing you for sin, this is only a good thing:

Hebrews 12:7-13

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 

10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 

13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

One of the most important sermon series of the past couple of years was Victorious Christian Living (thereafter referred to as VCL - 23 sermons, the first of which is here). One of the most important parts was the identification of seven reasons why we are all still here on earth, and have not been taken to heaven yet. We have shared this screenshot from the outline among ourselves many times since then, because these reasons for living are so important.

The value of these seven reasons for living in the world cannot be overstated. Many Christians think their goal in life is to maximize personal pleasure and minimize pain. Others bemoan their earthly troubles and wonder why they haven’t been allowed to die and go to heaven yet. Neither one is correct. We are here for a reason - seven reasons, actually. I do not want to meet the Lord without having checked some boxes and put some points on the board in these seven areas. Neither should you.

“Endure Hardness” Was Not Written about Health Problems 

Three years ago when I was diagnosed, I brought up 2 Tim 2:3 as a theme verse of sorts to go on the blue bracelets. I should have said this back then, but we never want to use a verse for something other than its intent in context - or at least we should apply it correctly and identify our use of it as a secondary implication. So let me fix this now: The “hardness” mentioned there is not a physical health problem, but the spiritual battles a minister must fight in the war for the true faith and practice of Christianity in the earth. In the preceding context Paul instructs the minister Timothy to commit the true gospel to other men who will be faithful ministers. In the following context Paul warns him against entangling himself with the affairs of this life, which means the hardness was not about natural life matters. Then in verse 9 Paul said he suffered as an evildoer for the gospel, and in verse 10 he was willing to endure all of this hardness for the elect’s sakes. 

The phrase “endure hardness” is best fulfilled by ministers who fight spiritual battles on the behalf of the Lord, and His children, by preaching the true gospel against the onslaught of truth enemies and even their own congregations. This is perfectly explained again in 2 Cor 10:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

If I endure any hardness by a physical disease that is common to man, it is in a very minor way in comparison what a faithful minister deals with every single day. 

So here’s to faithful ministers everywhere who fight on, day after day, never giving up, so that they can please the one who called them to be a soldier. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Tim 4:2).” It was no different in the Old Testament: Ezekiel was given a forehead of flint, and Jeremiah was told not be afraid of their faces (Ez 3:9, Jer 1:8). Preach it, brothers!

Is it still ok to apply “endure hardness” to earthly obstacles? Sure, in the same way we run our race with patience, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. Who, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down on the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:1-2, which is just before the section about enduring chastening).

I have to ask myself, where would I be without a pastor totally committed to preaching and living what is true, right, and wise in the sight of God? Where would I be if left to my own intuition, which is mostly wrong and biased toward self-righteousness and self-indulgence? Where would I be without a man fearlessly condemning my vain thoughts, and pressing me to repentance and godly behavior? I suppose some saints figure these things out and get convicted enough on their own, but I would not be one of them. 

Surely if I can watch my pastor fight the good fight of faith, through thick and thin, never giving up, doubling down and turning up the heat every year, pressing toward the finish line on his last lap… Surely by example I can pick something up.

There are five spheres of leadership in the world: Parents, Marriage, Government, Employment, and Church. Out of these, the most influential is in the church. Preaching from the Bible is how the other four spheres of leadership understand how they should conduct themselves in their offices, and of course how those under their leadership should conduct themselves as well. If a minister does his job well, and everyone follows his teaching, all systemic problems are basically solved. All humans will sin, but sin can be dealt with and resolved by doing things God’s way as explained in the Bible, and as preached by a faithful minister. Understanding of God’s revealed will is critical.

Thus, the single most important person for our success as Christians in the world is our pastor. He is the one “endure hardness” was written about. What should you do? For starters, don’t cause him any extra hardness to endure! Thank him! Pray for him! Encourage him! Defend him! Forgive him if he ever needs it! Build him up! The laborers are few and special!

My life is totally different than it would be without having heard decades of dedicated preaching... but what could my life be if I truly practiced everything I was taught? I should find out!

Time to Wrap it Up

One of the greatest regular activities we started a couple of years ago is group runs at Conestee Park, usually on Tuesday nights during daylight savings time, or Saturday if not. Most of the time anywhere from 20 to 50 church family members show up and walk or run 1-5 miles at various paces in random groups. The point of it, which I have enjoyed immensely, is to talk about our Christian faith, sermons we just heard, areas we need to grow in, or any other topic of spiritual profit, to build each other up. I’ll share one memorable occasion: We were approaching an uphill part of the trail while somebody was trying to remember lyrics to a hymn, so I commented that Eastland women know every word of every hymn, and they also “kill the hills” when running. The younger Eastland woman within earshot responded, without missing a beat, “If you don’t endure hardness and kill the hills, do you really deserve the flat places?” 

Well I guess that’s true. Hills are temporary opportunities to shine. As Solomon would put it: "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." The Prov 24:10 commentary is worth reading - it’s one of the best, especially in context of everything in this post (here). 

One last thing: The best present somebody thought of for my 40th birthday nearly 3 years ago was a paperback book of the Psalms, with the margins filled with notes from all my friends and church family on passages that are meaningful to them. It took a while to circulate through the church and get all of those notes written, so I just received it back recently. This will surely be one of my prized earthly possessions… In every note I read, I can hear the voice of the writer saying those words of blessing, encouragement, and exhortation for my profit. I appreciate every single one. If you’re ever at my house and see it laying around, you can always feel free to add another note if you want.

On that note, I guess the most important thing I want to say is this: My church body and pastor are of extreme importance to me.

At the end of the “dark winter” I realized this… It doesn’t matter if you could’ve or should’ve done anything differently yesterday. Start again today. Waiting until later to do what you should do today only prolongs the terrible consequences. Just take another step today. Do the next right thing, now!

[This is in my dear friend and brother’s gym, if you don’t recognize it]

Appendix

These are some paragraphs I’ve written over the past few months as contributions to internal church newsletters, in case you just like to read…

Perilous Times:  Peril = Danger, Risk, Hazard. The peril is by practicing the traits listed in 2 Tim 3:2-7 as a form of Christianity, or accepting the same traits in those we fellowship with (“from such turn away,” from 2 Tim 3:5). The key focus from yesterday’s sermon was “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” As it was explained in detail, this means Perilous Times Christians will retain an appearance of godly conduct, but they will not consent to the authority of Scripture, as explained by a minister, to interfere with their personal choices. What is the cure for the Perilous Times? Taking heed to a minister who will fulfill 2 Tim 4:1-5… Preach the Word, be instant (insistent, pressing, urgent) in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

A Day in Thy Courts, No Good Thing Will He Withhold:  Which verse of Ps 84 is your favorite - verse 10 or 11? A dear brother wrote the following notes on the Psalm 84 page of a book that was passed around the church a couple of years ago and eventually given to the guest editor as a gift. 

 

If we trust the Lord’s Word, and

If we believe He will keep His promises, and

If we know He will take care of His people, and

If He said He would not withhold any good thing …

Then we must submit to His definition of good, and

Then we allow Him to redefine grace and glory beyond our limited view …

Then we can see the larger plan and trust Him at His WORD!

 

I will not embarrass him, but you could check out the only presentation of this psalm on our website, if you are so inclined (here). The book mentioned here is a precious gift and is consulted often.

 

One year ago:  Two larger families in the church gathered at the church building one year ago this past Sunday afternoon to beseech the Lord for a daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, wife, and mother shared by marriage. She and we all thank and praise the Lord for delivering her from cancer. The guest editor’s prayer in that meeting was that the experience of having cancer would eventually be a net benefit. The sister is now able to report, having cancer was a blessing. Imagine that! Only a Christian who has walked with the Lord can say such a thing. Another sister diagnosed near the same time last year has finished one treatment phase and started another, is not out of the woods yet, but has a much brighter outlook than we feared a year ago! Please pray and praise accordingly!

 

Women of Good Understanding:  In the spirit of gender fairness after the Male Leadership paragraph in last week’s Tuesday Update, not all women are silly. Jael lied and coaxed an enemy of God into her tent, warmly fed him and provided him a bed, and then brutally dispatched him with a tent stake. The prophetess Deborah performed a song in her honor (how happy was Barak to sing along?), mocking Sisera and even his mother. For a 2018 slide sermon praising these not-silly women: Deborah and Jael. Abigail was a woman of good understanding who dealt with an emergency with two very angry men of very different character, both at the same time, with two different approaches (Abigail). See the paragraph in last week’s Tuesday Update about the wise woman of Tekoah. There was a wise woman in Abel who saved her city by verbally negotiating with Joab and the city rulers (2 Sam 20). We have some women of good understanding in our midst, who are good ground hearers and instantly know the will of God in biblical and spiritual matters. One such soft-spoken woman made a comment to this effect in a recent conversation: “We need to grow up and stop being babies. There is no excuse. We have been taught.” The women of good understanding in our midst are precious to the guest editor and should be to all of us.

 

Men Without Understanding:  Despite God’s emphasis on male Christian leadership, our gender alone does not guarantee superiority in biblical and spiritual understanding. We must apply ourselves. Did you know “Without Understanding” is a sin? It is listed in Rom 1:29-31 along with backbiting, covenant breaking, unrighteousness, fornication, implacable, unmerciful, and of course sodomy. Without Understanding is the last item in the outline of Forgotten Sins. How can you grow in understanding? See the following two paragraphs on being a good ground hearer, to receive the seed planted by the sower the Lord provided us.

 

Good Ground:  What is your level of wisdom in biblical and spiritual matters, considering how many years you have been hearing the word of God taught? More importantly, what is your trend over the past year? Five years? Where do you stand compared to others? What kind of ground have you been? Wayside: The Devil comes and steals the seed so it never grows into a plant. Stony: The plant springs up with joy, but has no roots, so it cannot endure temptation. Thorny: The cares of earthly life distract the hearer from the priority deserved by learning God’s word, so the fruit is not very good (wild grapes from Isaiah 5?). The parable says we will all be exposed. The parable says the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Take heed therefore how ye hear! See Luke 8:4-18.

 

He Ascended Up on High:  Jesus ascended after His resurrection and arrived in Heaven as described in Rev 5 (2003 Sermon; 2016 Slides). What did Jesus do next? He received gifts and imparted them to certain men (Eph 4:8-16). Today we still have the gift of pastors/teachers, which is the New Testament office of a bishop. For what purpose did Jesus give us in 2024 this gift of the bishop? For 10+ goals listed in Ephesians 4:12-16, among which are: the perfecting of the saints, till we all come in the unity of the faith, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. How again are we able to achieve these goals? By the gift of the office of bishop… which is only helpful if you take heed how you hear (see previous paragraph).

Happiness is a Choice:

Though angry with the wicked every day (Ps 7:11), God is eternally and independently happy. We can also choose to be happy, and we should. Why not? Life is too short to waste a day in unhappiness. Check out the attachment in last week’s Tuesday Update for some simple reminders that Life Is Too Short ... to Do This or That. A favorite sermon series of many from 2016: Happiness is a Choice.

 

No Fatalism:

There is no such thing as Perseverance of the Saints, a Calvinistic doctrine (this is the traditional “P” in the acronym TULIP for the five points of Calvinism). The common understanding of this doctrine, in simple terms: Saints will gradually improve in godliness throughout their lives until they die in a state of near-sinless perfection - at least on the inside, if not on the outside. [Guest Editor’s Note: Please forgive any inaccuracy in this description, as there is some variation in what Calvinists hold on this point.] The truth: Jesus most of all taught that perseverance is something He requires of you, not something He provides to you. Though He does provide us with all the resources needed for you to grow, He will not force us to bear more fruit (see the Parable of the Sower again). Life is full of tests designed specifically for you, and Jesus wants to know if you will be an overcomer (see Revelation 2 and 3).

Tongues Shall Cease: 

New Testament offices originally included apostles, prophets, and evangelists (Eph 4:11). Supernatural gifts included speaking in tongues. These offices and gifts conveyed incomplete or partial information, and were only needed until “that which is perfect” came (1 Cor 13:8-12). What is the knowledge source that is perfect, but was not yet complete at the time Paul wrote? The New Testament scriptures. See the website document Tongues Have Ceased.

 

All Scripture:

All Scripture is perfect, according to the previous paragraph. Then why is there one New Testament church office/gift that has not ceased? Apostles, prophets, evangelists, and all sign gifts ceased. Why not Bishop? Because some functions like preaching and ruling are still needed. This is what 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us: All Scripture is inspired and profitable “that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Will You Please Pray? ... What do you bend the ears of your friends with when you experience difficulty in your life? Do you vent your frustrations, that your circumstances are worse than you deserve, or that someone else is to blame? Some insist on complaining of unsolvable problems, or continuously ask unanswerable questions. It was testified this past Sunday that our sister asked prayer during many trials over decades with this intent: “Will you please pray that I will be able to please and glorify God in this situation?” Note, this is very different from many who whine to friends about negative events in their life. First, “please pray” acknowledges our need for the Lord’s help, since all circumstances ultimately come from Him. Second, the request is not to change the circumstances. Third, the request is not to change others. Fourth, the request is for the Lord to change us to glorify Him, given the circumstances and other players involved. Fifth, Diamond Love reminds the complainer of these things, even if the correct question is not being asked. Many thanks, Sherri, for making this key point.

Understanding Affliction ... There are many reasons for affliction, but we should only need this first one: Afflictions are from God (BV,BV,BV). God’s choice in any matter should be enough for us to be fully content (Job 33:12). But there are many other aspects of understanding affliction that are highly profitable from this 2015 sermon series (IL).

 

Wrath ... is what is coming on the world soon from Almighty God (2 Thess 1:7-10). No storm on earth can compare. Our Savior went to His death as a lamb to the slaughter (Is 53:7). But now the Lamb has great wrath, waiting to be unleashed on His enemies (Rev 6:16-17). You think you are not His enemy? If you mind earthly things, you are (Phil 3:18-19). Perilous Times Christians are lovers of earthly pleasures more than lovers of God. See this series from 2023 (IL).

  

Construction Wisdom ... Helene was a joke compared to other storms (2005 Indonesian Tsunami; 2005 Hurricane Katrina; 2010 Haiti Earthquake; 2011 Japan Tsunami; etc.), but especially the upcoming Day of Judgment. The metaphorical winds, rains, and floods will expose whether we have built the houses of our lives on a rock or on the sand (Matt 7:24-27). Remember, believing Jesus died on the cross for you is not what Jesus meant to build your house on a rock. Building your house on a rock is by hearing the sayings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and doing them. Many of the lessons Jesus taught in this sermon involve how you treat others. Recall that the recent passing of a dear sister required no “polishing” at her funeral. Perilous Times Christianity is perilous because it teaches a lie - that you will avoid the storm of God’s judgment simply by believing Jesus died for your sins. Diamond Love is shown by correcting each other’s thinking and behavior to avoid God’s judgment. See Lesson 24 from the 2023 series (IL), or the shorter overview from 2014 (IL).

No Wood, Hay, or Stubble ... Ministers will give an account on the Day of Judgment in a way the rest of us will not. Anything that is not gold, silver, or precious stones will be incinerated when the Lord tries their work (1 Cor 3:10-15). Therefore, those of us who are not the Lord should limit judging (1 Cor 4:1-5). See the two slide sermons from 1 Corinthians 3-4 entitled Priorities of Fearful Pastors (IL, IL).

  

Stir Up, Neglect Not ... Paul to Timothy: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands (2 Tim 1:6).” Again: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy (1 Tim 4:14).” What prophecy? David in Psalm 68:18 - “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” And again, in verse 11: “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Paul quoted Psalm 68:18 in Ephesians 4:8-16 in his exaltation of New Testament ministry gifts… of which we have one remaining: Bishop. Did anyone ever prophesy about your profession? Did Jesus ascend up on high to make you a gifted accountant or mechanic? May every weekend warrior beware! May every ordained minister stir up the gift of God! See this sermon from the 1986 series on the Ministry: Ministry #2 – History and Names.

 

Him Will I Cut Off ... David used discrimination among the men he chose to spend time with. Not only was he committed to his own personal righteousness, he also avoided the sin of listening by avoiding sinners of the tongue. See how many sins of the tongue David listed in Psalm 101 as traits he would not allow in his friends. Hear Psalm 101 commentaries here or a slide sermon here.

 

No, Not for an Hour ... The best way to maintain truth in doctrine is not by free sharing of human ideas. Our depraved natures are vulnerable to false ideas, and men lie in wait everywhere to deceive (Eph 4:14). Paul never allowed heretics a speaking opportunity, so that the truth of the gospel would continue with his hearers (Gal 2:4-5).

Pillar and Ground of the Truth ... Each local church is responsible for retaining and defending Biblical truth (1 Tim 2:15). We must earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). Jesus commended or condemned the seven churches of Asia for holding fast or denying specific doctrines of their time. Could we be in error on some point? Sure. But will the Lord give us more light if we do not hold fast what He has already shown us? No. Remember what happens at the end of the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Talents/Pounds. What is the means of gaining more light? Being faithful to what we know. Praying for the Lord to open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of His law (Ps 199:18). Praying for our pastor to rightly divide every word and save us from deception of any kind (2 Tim 2:15, 2 Thess 3:1, Eph 6:19). We do this in every Thursday night prayer meeting. And, we hold fast what we know until a tsunami of biblical evidence, as evaluated by our ordained minister, clearly shows us a new position while answering all objections from our old position. Some perceive this dogmatism as pride on our part, but it is actually humility before God’s word in spite of our personal opinions. Sermon from 2006 on The Pillar and Ground of the Truth(IL). Sermons from 2024 on Dogmatism (IL, IL).

  

What Gift? ... Paul to Timothy: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands (2 Tim 1:6).” Again: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy (1 Tim 4:14).” What prophecy? Great was the company of the preachers (Handel’s paraphrase of Psalm 68:11)… He ascended up on high (Psalm 68:18)… and also pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). What is the gift? The office and the abilities pertaining to the New Testament ministry, primarily preaching and ruling. Note that Papal Infallibility is a Catholic doctrine we do not hold (see vocabulary lesson above). But even the heresy of Papal Infallibility does not claim that the gift of the ministry includes a super-human ability to avoid faults and sins common to mankind. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are (James 5:17). Old Testament priests had to offer sacrifices first for their own sins before sacrificing for the sins of the people… because unlike Jesus Christ, those priests had infirmity (Heb 7:27-28). “Infirmity” and “passions” are normal for ministers of both testaments. The gift for preaching and ruling is not normal. See this sermon from the 1986 series on the Ministry: Ministry #3 – Authority.

 

Famine ... Not of bread, but of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11-12). How could this happen? It can happen if God’s people get tired of preaching or of God’s preacher. Famine can occur by taking the pastor away or by taking away the pastor’s ability. We heard Sunday that the local church is a Salvation Source, which is practical and only under two conditions: Faithful preaching (1 Tim 4:16), and faithful hearing with retention (1 Cor 15:2). Where no vision is, the people perish… meaning, we will perish practically if we do not hear the Word of God preached (Prov 29:18). See the next sermon from the 1986 series on the Ministry: Ministry #4 – Honor and Preservation.

A Teachable Spirit … is one of the most necessary requirements for learning or growth. If we are not yet capable of teaching, despite the reasons, we should in any case “jump up” and “start over” by having a teachable spirit. Cornelius was a great example of this. Remember that the noble Bereans received the word with all readiness of mind prior to searching the scriptures. If you are a child, when was the last time you asked your parents what your greatest deficiency is? This 2020 sermon on a Teachable Spirit is worth a review (IL). See also Appendix A below for some past Church Update paragraphs related to having a teachable spirit.

David Loved Church … He told us so. See the ten passages in the opening of the preparatory email for this past Sunday for proof that David loved… LOVED… the house of God. Why, primarily? To see his buds? No - because he wanted to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple (Ps 27:4). He chose his “buds” based on who else loved God the same way. Speaking of David, we are told more about him, his life, and his inner workings than anyone else in the Bible. Jesus is the Son of David. It has been said that David was the most New Testament man living in the Old Testament. What traits of David might be applicable to our involvement in a New Testament church? See Appendix A for some ideas… Zeal for God’s House, Zeal for God’s Worship, Zeal for Congregational Worship, Profound Effect on Others, Loved Praising His God, Loved Thanking His God, Loved Music for God, Knew God’s Holy Hatred, Loved All Righteous Men, Separated from Sinners, Friendly With Friends, Always Sought First Love…Are there others? Full David sermon series from 2017 (IL); Review with slides (IL); Table of 80 traits only (IL).

Love in the Truth … What do you like about other people? They’re pretty? They like coffee? They make you feel accepted for who you are? John loved people “in the truth (2 Jn 1:1, 3 Jn 1:1).” What does this mean? It means that he loved men and women who were committed to believing and living according to the truth of God’s word, out of fear and love of God. Two favorite songs related to this point:

 

How Did My Heart Rejoice to Hear (B#479):

There my best friends, my kindred dwell…

 

House of the Lord (B#218):

                 You may value the friendships of youth and of age,

                 And select for my comrades the noble and sage,

                 But the friends that most cheer me on life’s rugged road

                 Are the friends of my Master, the children of God.

 

Do we love people “in the truth,” or in something else? Thank you, Sam and Breagan.

So Run … We have been taught many times over the years that God measures and ranks men and women based on their conduct. We know this is true of Jesus by the Parable of the Sower, Talents/Pounds, His evaluation of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3, and other places. But the Old Testament also reveals God’s ranking of men over and over. For example, kings of Judah after David are constantly being compared (or contrasted!) to him in various ways. Before David even got started as king, Saul was rebuked with these words: “The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou (1 Sam 15:28).” Does that phrase “better than thou” offend you, or does it excite you? So run, that ye may obtain (1 Cor 9:24-27)!

Six “P’s” for the Glory of Our Church, Again … What should you do, given the opportunity (or rather the commitment) to be part of a little outpost of the Kingdom of God in a New Testament church? Pray for it! Prepare for its assemblies! Participate in its assemblies! Protect it! Provide for it! Promote it!

Mighty Man’s Life … We have ten major categories of life priorities, and they are ranked by importance (IL). The first priority should be easy, because God never offends us. Priorities 6-10 take time, and are necessary, but good reprobates can do those things well (Professional, Financial, Social, Personal, Civil/National). So the meat of earthly Christian life for a man must be in priorities 2-5, which are these: Marital, Parental, Church, Family. Let us not content ourselves with good 6-10 performance.

 

Jesus Warns Friends … Jesus preached more about Hell than anyone else in the Bible. Do you see the irony in this, since He is normally presented as an effeminate pacifist? Hell is eternal torture with no hope of deliverance, ever. It is a lake of fire, in which the inhabitants suffer burning and drowning, the two greatest fears of most humans. Why did Jesus warn His friends about Hell when they had zero probability of going there, based on the work of redemption that He would shortly accomplish (Luke 12:4-5)? Because He wanted them to continue or even increase their fear of God, and He wanted to take away their fear of anyone else. See more warnings about Hell (IL).

There is No Power But of God … Human authority comes from God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God (Rom 13:1-2). What is authority? The power or right to enforce obedience; moral or legal supremacy; the right to command, or give an ultimate decision. What is power? Possession of control or command over others; dominion, rule; government, domination, sway, command; control, influence, authority. Authority is not Love. Authority is not Forgiveness. Authority is Law and Order. God ordained five spheres of human authority: Father, Husband, Master, Pastor, King. Each sphere is ordained for the basic purpose of punishing evildoers and praising them that do well (1 Pet 2:14). If we do not do this in our spheres of authority, we do not fulfill God’s ordinance.

Fault-Free Authority … does not exist on earth. We might think authority should have been more limited after the fall of man, but God disagrees. The one sphere of authority in place before the fall was actually strengthened by God immediately afterwards and as a consequence of the fall. God said to Eve, “thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Think about this carefully. Adam deliberately sinned against the Lord in the garden. Eve sinned because she was deceived. Adam was promoted to an even clearer position of authority after his deliberate sin. His sin did not disqualify him. God chose sinful man to rule over deceived woman. He confirmed this preference in his choice of exclusively male leadership in New Testament churches. Women are to keep silence in the churches for two reasons according to Paul: Adam was made first, indicating God’s priority; Adam was not deceived, but Eve was deceived, indicating that God prioritizes good judgment (1 Tim 2:11-14, 1 Cor 14:34-35). Therefore, we ought not to be myopic about any personal faults of leaders, which are common to mankind. To God, right beliefs, right understanding, and a right heart trump experience, or absence of personal faults. Think David, Gideon, Peter, Paul, etc. If you make absence of faults your #1 acceptance criteria for leaders, you might end up with a statue – that is, someone basically incapable of doing either good or evil, like an idol (Is 41:2-3). Men fitting Isaiah 3 are very rare, so when you find one… Love him, support him, cheer him on, and pray for him! To discard such men by myopic analysis could mean throwing out a BIG baby with the bath water… a mighty man, man of war, judge, prophet, prudent, ancient, caption of fifty, honourable man, counsellor, cunning artificer, eloquent orator. We love these men. We don’t turn aside the just for a thing of naught(Is 29:21). As President Trump recently put it, “We have to protect our geniuses because we don’t have that many.”

 

And One … In basketball, this is one of the best kind of plays. You get fouled but you make the shot anyway, plus you get to shoot an extra free throw for your trouble (chance observation from the guest editor passing by a TV with UCLA vs. Baylor women’s basketball on). You could say President Trump was fouled a few times in the past 8 years, but was inaugurated President today anyway. Carrie Underwood’s audio track malfunctioned during the inauguration ceremony… she promptly began to sing America the Beautiful a cappella anyway, and it turned out wonderfully (along with some harmony added by the choir, probably impromptu on their part). Do you see any “And One” opportunities in your life, or do you just fall down and cry about the oppression of the foul?

Love is the Greatest … Duty. How is love our DUTY? God commanded it as our highest priority, and we will be judged by our love now and on Judgment Day (Matt 22:37-40, Jn 13:34, Rom 13:8,Gal 5:14, Jam 2:8).

 

Love is the Greatest … Concept. How is love a CONCEPT? It is the greatest relational trait that produces the highest motivation in the giver and greatest benefit to the recipient (2 Tim 3:1-2, Matt 7:12,Acts 20:35, Rom 12:10, 1 Cor 10:24).

 

Love is the Greatest … Measure. How is love a MEASURE? God compares and examines you each day, and His rule to approve or disapprove is your degree of love of others (1 Cor 13:1-3, Matt 20:25-28, 1 Tim 5:10). Do you have any ambition to excel? This is the measure of your life God looks at, and we look at, for it is the more excellent way of serving God (I Cor 12:31).

 

Love is the Greatest … Means. How is love a MEANS? Your love can accomplish more for God’s glory and Christ’s kingdom than anything else (Jn 13:34-35, Eph 4:15-16).

 

Love is the Greatest … Challenge. How is love a CHALLENGE? Because you are hateful, lazy, proud, and selfish by nature, so you must work harder to love than anything else (Jam 2:15-16, 1 Pet 4:9,Rom 12:16, 1 Jn 3:16). Some are obsessed by challenges. Why not take on a project to love others the way God defined it in the Bible, instead of teenager’s games?

 

Love is the Greatest … Error. How is love an ERROR? Self-Love, Unconditional Love, and Universal Love are all errors and distortions of true brotherly love, which have been identified and refuted in sermons on our website (IL,IL,IL). Relationship Dependence is another love-related error (from VCL point I. under How to Lose It). Relationship Dependence maintains attachmentto a person despite their lack of commitment to truth and righteousness. How can you tell if you have relationship dependence? Try practicing Diamond Love. In distinction from Golden Rule Love (do unto others as you would have them do unto you), or Platinum Love (do unto others as they would have you do unto them), Diamond Love seeks to perfect others up to their best possible standing before God on Judgment Day. Diamond Love does not allow its object to depart from truth or righteousness without confrontation one way or another, depending on whether they are weak, feeble-minded, unruly, in the fire, etc. (1 Thess 5:14, Jude 1:22-23). This is uncomfortable, but love without cost is hardly love. Further, first commandment trumps second commandment… Supreme love of God and His perfect ways trumps love of neighbor. David discriminated among associates based on their conduct (Ps 101)… example from verse 5: “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off.” Eli and Jehoshaphat were chastised for prioritizing relationships over the Lord’s ways and not cutting off family members and connections (1 Sam 2:29-30, 2 Chr 19:2). Relationship Dependence will not cut off those who depart from truth and righteousness, but Diamond Love will, and first-commandment love will.

 

Winners Win by … Love. Out of 10 traits of winners from the closing sermon of the VCL series, this is #8. From the outline (IL):Love is the greatest grace; and if not by love, you lose out totally. If there is one thing to emphasize concluding this study, it is the importance of love, for victorious living begins and ends with what you did to others for God’s glory. Please see the clear superiority of brotherly love over any abilities (I Cor 12:28-31), for the more excellent way of brotherly love exceeds the greatest gifts ever given. Please apply the crucial need for brotherly love to your good works (1 Cor 13:1-3), for anything you learn or do is empty and worthless without self-denying charity. Build the pyramid of good works God’s way (Gal 5:6; 2 Pet 1:5-8; 1 Thess 1:2-4), which emphasizes brotherly love above all other fruit and traits of Christians. If Jesus taught loving service was the greatest, then it is crucial to His view of VCL; He wants all men to recognize us as His disciples by our brotherly love (Jn 13:35).