I have been away from my new blog for a little while, as I have been recovering from some recent outpatient surgery.  Nothing major.  I have had some benign lipomas removed.  Lipomas are little peanut-sized objects that grow in the muscle tissue right up under the skin.  They generally don't cause a lot of problem until you accidentally bump one of them.  Then you know they are there!  They're also inherited.  They run in my family; and several of us have had to have similar procedures.  Not to be gross, but the whole process of removal, including the surgical excision of the individual lipomas as well as the itching stitches which inevitably follow, can be a little painful.  Also, though small, each excision inevitably leaves a small scar.  Because of these things, I put the process of removal off as long as I dared.  Nonetheless, now that it is over, I am glad to have endured this little bit of discomfort in order to know that my body is now rid of them forever. 

As I have reflected on all of this, I have been reminded of the effects of sin in most peoples' lives.  Sin invades us.  It grows on us.  It weighs us down.  It is an unwelcome part of our lives.  Sin is also a family thing.  We inherited it from Adam and Eve.  Try as we may, we can't do a thing about it.  Left to our own devices, we just have to accept it.  God, however, patieintly waits for us to turn to Him for its removal.  Like a skilled surgeon, the Great Physician knows just how to deal with our problem.  Admittedly, the process may not be completely pain free.  In fact, the process may not leave us unscarred.  But it does leave us clean and sin free for the future.  And that is a great feeling in the long run.  If you have not been cleansed by the Great Physician, rest assured that He stands ready and able to help you at any time.  All you must do is grow weary enough of the sin you are carrying around that you choose to seek Him out.  I hope you have done this.  If not, I hope you will soon.  I assure you, you'll be glad you did.

I am approaching fifty and I have suddenly realized I need to be intentional in this matter of staying relevant.  So, I said a quick prayer and then spent an agonizing evening setting up my very own web site.  Now I've always believed that if you are going to do something, you should give it your best.  So, I'm trying my hand at blogging as well.  Pray for me as I try to adjust to life in this brave new online world. 

Admittedly, what I have to say may not be worth reading, but at least my children will be proud of their ol' dad for trying.  Thanks for reading this far, and feel free to check back from time to time.  Who knows, once I get the hang of this, I may actually write something worth reading.  As everyone knows, pastors are rarely at a loss for words.  Down through the years, I have certainly uttered more than my share.  However, with less of my journey ahead of me than is now behind me, I just want my words to be measured more by their quality than by their quantity.