I was in the bookstore yesterday. I was reading through some book I grabbed off the shelf and started reading one of the chapters about how today's church is out of touch. This guy is talking about how Christians of today are misreading the scriptures and not understanding how God changes with the times and how there is nothing wrong with this sin, or that sin, and on and on he went explaining his position based on false suppositions in the first place e! It made me mad! I then put the book back in disgust of how this man has no clue what he is talking about. It's like an electrician trying to explain to us all how plumbing works and why it is the way it is,....or vice versa. It was clear to me that this man does not understand even the basics of what makes a person a Christian. It annoyed me, so I put the book back and saw...........4 more books by the same man!! My goodness! This really ticks me off! I know instantly that this ticks me off because in my heart I have some envy, and jealousy. How can he write that many books when all he has to say is mostly garbage!........IMNSHO. So I'm thinkin to myself. How can he write that many books and I can't write one? So I ask you. Why have I not tried to write a book? I really want to yet seem to be held back from the task! I think I am like many people who think they should or could write a book. I seem to have this inner passion to write but am frustrated by not doing it. A man name D. Biggs whom I don't know, said a quote that I wrote down 6 months ago. " The biggest gap in life is the one between knowing and doing". This is where I find myself. What is stopping me? I guess it will never happen unless I DO it! Thinking about it gets me nowhere. I don't think I am unique. I believe I am one of many frustrated writers. I write this more as an appeal and admission of the truth that in some ways I am not doing something that is screaming inside of myself to do. Am I lacking motivation? Am I afraid of failure or success? Who knows!....do you have any ideas?

I appeal to you. I wonder if everybody has this desire in them to write or if it is only some people. I want to reach my full potential and feel that I do have something to contribute to the world through writing. Maybe my frustration with reading such trash will get me off the couch and away from the TV long enough to write.

Daniel M.

I had a conversation in the car yesterday with my 16 year old daughter. I was beside myself with the level of wisdom she posesses. Where did she get it? She is so independent minded! She is strong in the faith. She knows the divine Creator and is a power of example to me of what a follower of Jesus is! How did this happen? I think it is because when we first had kids we knew we could not parent properly. It was this weakness in us that drove us to our knees. It was there and continues to be there that the battle for their souls has been won.
The thing I am most thankful for truly is that my children know who they are in Gods' eyes. They belong to HIM. This brings my heart peace. All three of my children are "on the ark". When you remember the story, everyone on the ark was saved and everything outside the ark was lost....forever. It is an awesome word picture. Jesus is that ark for us now. The question is...........are you on the ark? Are you trusting in Him and Him alone? I am on the Ark and so are my wife and children. I say this not with a cocky attitude but with an attitude of gratitude. I am grateful and thankful to be called one of HIS children. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving my soul. May all who read these words take refuge in the only one who can save both the body and the soul.

I was done for the day. I had a very difficult 12 hour shift. I am exhausted and want to go home as I am off for 4 days! Before leaving I see the pile of paper given to me by the charge nurse. In it is what is called a "call back" form. This is spread through the floor to the nurses. We have a number and call someone back who was discharged just to see if everything is going ok, do they have any questions, are they taking their medications, etc., etc. WE have a general script of what to say in the case of things going well or not. I've never done this before but figure it will be easy. I call, and what sounds like an older man answers the line.
"Hello, this is Dan a nurse at NCH how are you doing today?"
"Who?!"
"Dan!( a little louder), I'm a nurse at Naples Community Hospital!"
"Oh. Yes. Hi"
"I was calling for a Simone? Is that your wife?"
"Yes...Yes it is." Before I can go into my questions of how everything is going and is there anything else we can do for you, he speaks again.
"She died on the 24th." I was struck dumb. I didn't know what to say! THIS was not on the script!
" I am so sorry to hear that," I managed to say.
"Yes. thank you. We left the hospital about a week ago, and she just kept getting worse. Finally I brought her back to the emergency room on the 24th but she just didn't make it. She died that day."
"I'm so sorry for your loss. Is there anything we can do for you?"
"No.......Life goes on ya know? I'm just hangin in there."
I didn't know what to say!! I felt bad for him and at a loss for words at the same time. I wanted to bring him some comfort.
"How long were you together," I asked feebly?
"Fifty years!" He seemed to answer with a sense of satisfaction.
"My goodness. So you've lost a big part of your life!"
"She was my whole life!" He said. This is where I could sense his voice cracking with emotion.
I wasn't sure what to say or how to say it. I offered him the only thing I truly have to offer. So I asked him a question.
"Are you a praying man?" I asked hesitantly, hoping for a yes in response.
"I try to but haven't been lately." He said.
"Could I offer up a prayer for you right now over the phone?"
Silence..........................
"Sir?.....Could I pray for you right now.......on the phone....with you?"
There was another pause. And then with a voice broken with the emotional strain of losing his life partner for some fifty years,.................he spoke.
"I sure would appreciate it yes."
I'd like to tell you exactly what I prayed but when I close my eyes and speak to God, especially when praying for another, I ask the Holy Spirit to pray through me to speak the words that the recipient needs to hear. One thing I do remember is coming alongside my fellow human being in anguish over the losss of the most important person in his life. That you Lord would somehow fill in the gap left by the loss of Simone. Please give him strength to go on now that she is gone.............There was more said.......but not much more..................amen
"Well, I sure do appreciate the call. Thanks for callin!"
"Well you hang in there sir".
"Oh I will. And thanks again for callin!", He said.
When I hung up the phone, I was struck with awe. I had the feeling I was used by the Creator to offer some form of compassion to a fellow traveller here on earth. It reminded me of the importance of my job. That I may be "just" a nurse, but our position is not simply to meet the physical needs of our patients, but to care for the whole patient. C.S. Lewis said once, "We do not have a soul. We ARE a soul; we have a body. It is my desire to be a nurse that does his best to meet the needs of my patients; physical, mental, and spiritual.
I'm glad I took the time to call him. It was a sobering way to end my shift and remember those things that are of utmost importance in life; the love of family.