Last Day of McBride Physical Therapy - Praise God!

Today (October 29, 2014) was my last day of clinical physical therapy at the McBride Clinic on Bryant street in Edmond (backs up to the fifth fairway at Kickingbird Golf Course).  According to Dr Yates (my surgeon), my progress is sufficient for stopping the clinical sessions at 19.  Medicare only pays for 20 so probably a good move.  I think my physical therapists probably wanted to do the whole 20 but I convinced Tyler that 19 was enough.  Here are pictures of Tyler and Erin.  Erin was also part of the PT team for my December 2012 right knee therapy.

Erin, charting my numbers.
My left knee is getting iced.

Tyler working with my "table-mate" who
was only a week out from knee replacement surgery.

Erin and Tyler, Thanks.

I would be remiss if I didn't give you a little insight into our (Joyce and me) morning ritual for the past 45 days or so.  I think Joyce is about as happy that this task is history as I am about PT being over.  The dreaded "white-hose" ritual was Joyce's morning task.  I tried real hard to quickly relieve her of any other duties as soon as I could.  That included applying the ice to my knee for me, fixing all of my meals, and basically waiting on me hand and foot (or should I say knee).

The most important thing needed for a successful mounting of the "white-hose" is dryness.  This picture shows me in bed with my knee resting on the foot of the bed and the fan blowing on my leg at high speed.  Usually, a minimum of five minutes is needed but I often went ten or more to ensure dryness.

Oh, It's Drying Time Again

 A trick we learned with the first knee and taught by the McBride staff was to use a clear plastic bag to cover the leg from foot to knee to assist in sliding the hose on.  Joyce discovered that a light covering of powder (talcum or baby, etc) sprinkled on under the plastic assisted in removing the plastic after the hose was on.

Here come de sock!

Powder and Plastic completed

After the hose was completely on, the plastic was removed through the hole in the bottom of the sock. You don't need to see the finished product cause I'm not real good at selfies!  I'm probably 5-6 weeks away from thinking about golf and will have to continue therapy on my own, both at home and at Gold's Gym.  Yesterday was my first full set of exercises at Gold's and I finished at home with required wall slides and heel slides, the two most painful exercises but also the most effective ones for improving ROM (range of motion).  The first priority of therapy is ROM and strength comes next.  I am to focus on both of those between now and my next appointment with Dr Yates which is Dec 9.  If you think of it, pray that I will continue to be disciplined in my therapy so that I don't lose any ROM and my strength returns quickly.  Probably will be a little chilly for golf in December but I want to be ready just in case.  God has blessed me greatly for the past 7-8 weeks and he is to receive all of the praise.  I pray that you belong to the family of God and can celebrate his goodness with me.  Acts 4:12

Stooping to a new low at OU - Part Deaux

Weren't all of us OU fans excited about the 2014 season?  We ran roughshod over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and most of the starters were returning for this season.  Surely this wouldn't be another season of starting out unbeaten for five or six games and then stumbling by being out-coached and out-played by a team of equal or lesser talent.

Surely, you remember 2011 and the loss by 3 to Texas Tech in Norman, the loss by 7 to Baylor in Waco, and (horror of horrors) the 44-10 loss to OSU in Stillwater.  Of course, we rebounded in the Insight Bowl (name the location) by beating the powerhouse Iowa Hawkeyes.  10-3 finish is enough for most of the power players behind the dollars at OU.  It's called SETTLE, SETTLE, SETTLE!

On to 2012 with those same high (must be taking drugs) hopes for a national championship.  Oops, lost to K-State in Norman, 24-19, got our butts kicked by Notre Dame, 30-13, in Norman, and capped off a ho-hum season with a 41-13 thrashing by Texas A & M in the Cotton Bowl.

Undoubtedly, 2013 would be better.  Started off undefeated and then came the shootout in Big D. Texas prevailed easily 36-20 and there went the season and our hopes.  Got stomped by Baylor 41-12 in Waco but then pulled out a great effort and game plan in surprising Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 45-31.  Probably the best game OU has played in the Stoops era with only Stoops players. Remember the 2000 championship game was played mostly with players recruited by John Blake.

Now back to the 2014 season.  Undefeated heading to Ft Worth for TCU.  Started out flat (a habit under Bob Stoops) but turned it around by half-time.  After the turnover circus, OU is driving with about five minutes left and trailing by four.  Stoops can't use his "Let's Kick the Field Goal" strategy so they turn to their bag of tricks after having a third and one around the thirty yard line. Option with the QB - no gain.  Fourth and one.  Let's fool them.  Fullback up the middle.  Oops - they weren't fooled - turned the ball over on downs and turned a possible win into a loss.  My politics are conservative but my football ideology is play for the win, don't play to not lose.

We'll skip the confidence-building win in Big D.  It was as if Texas adopted OU's strategy in the second half and gave the game to the Sooners.  Maybe still in the running for post-season playoff possibilities if they can win out.  Recall the one-loss teams in the national championship games?

K-State back in town last week.  Surely, the previous doormats of the Big 7, 8, 12, whatever the league was called, couldn't beat us at home again.  Think again.  Forget the missed field goals. Stuff happens when you play for a non-motivating coach like Bob Stoops.  He doesn't want his team too pumped up so he pumps them down in my opinion.  But, you gotta love that OU defense lead by the other Stoops brother.  I don't remember a season where so many touchdown passes were caught by the other team with  no defender within 15-20 yards.  What defensive schemes are designed to have the defenders run into each other on crossing patterns?  OU does it over and over and over.  Now back to the reasons for the loss.  You don't have an extra point blocked right up the middle if you are a well-coached team, especially when it is to tie the game and you haven't really stopped the other team that well all day.

However, OU did get the ball back and drove to a first down on the four yard line.  What did the Sooners do?  Threw away the playbook that called for anything other than fullback up the middle. If we don't make it, we kick the field goal and go it front and probably win the game, right?  Just a little imagination on that last drive (a forward pass, gasp!) probably would have led to a touchdown. Wouldn't necessarily win the game but would at least have given the Sooners the lead with 3-4 minutes left. Lost yards on third and one so here comes Hunnicutt to be the hero.  Nineteen yard field goal, that is shorter than an extra point - piece of cake - WRONG!  In golf, we call that a "duck hook".  Never have seen an uglier field goal try from inside the twenty yard line.

Well, we can stop them on their next possession because we have our timeouts and strong defense. Oh, we've already used up those timeouts.  How many times in the past several years do the Sooners find themselves out of timeouts late in the game?  A lot, I assure you.  So, K-State makes a first down (on the ground) and runs out the clock.  Game over, season over.  Who cares about the rest of the season?  Not me.  I've watched my last OU game of the year.  Stoops will probably retire at OU in 20-30 years with this great won-loss record but will never win another national championship.  He doesn't have what it takes and should move on, but that is only my opinion.

The below was posted on 10-25-11.  None of those thoughts have changed and I have watched my last OU football game for this season (2014).

I think Skip Bayless got it right on his ESPN commentary yesterday when he stated that the loss to Texas Tech on Saturday was the worst loss in the history of the OU football program.  How do you lose to a team that you are favored to beat by thirty or so points and on your home field where you have a record of 75-2 during the tenure of your current head coach.  I remember the old saying coined by the fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1940s and 1950s.  Wait 'til next year!   I, for one, am tired of waiting.

Haven't we been through this scenario time and again under Bob Stoops' reign at the helm of the, arguably, best football program in NCAA, Division I.  True, he has a 135-32 (.808) record since he took over in 1999 but how many times have we had our hopes raised before the season starts that maybe this is the year of our eighth national championship?  Rated number one in preseason, all of those returning starters, no Big 12 championship game, relatively favorable schedule in a conference without Nebraska and Colorado, surely this would be the year.  By the way, Switzer and Wilkinson both had higher winning percentages during their tenure at OU.

No, reality has set it again.  During Stoops' regime, our disappointments have come at different times during the year, sometimes at the beginning, sometimes during the middle, sometimes at the end, and, oh yes, three times in the BCS Championship game for all the marbles.  But you say, we won the 2000 National Championship 13-2 over FSU.  But do you forget, those weren't players recruited by Stoops who is undoubtedly one of the best recruiters in the nation.

Let's look at the facts:  6-6 record in bowl games, 3-5 in BCS bowl games, and 1-3 in National Championship games.  It is evident that the powers that be at OU are content with 80% winning percentage but not this longtime fan.  My first OU game was in 1955 as a Boy Scout usher.  I cried the day, November 16, 1957, when Notre Dame defeated OU 7-0 to end the 47-game winning streak.  I have endured the lean years under Gary Gibbs, John Blake, etc and then came this unknown, Bob Stoops.  Great pedigree, football history better than most, brother included - we were set for greatness.  The malaise was past.  7-5 first year - OK, then 13-0 and National Champs.  We were back!

Then over the years, the "Can't Win the Big One' label began to rear its ugly head.  Let's review the last 12 years and then make up your mind.

• 1999 - 7-5, first year, not too bad.
• 2000 - 13-0, National Champs, could it get any better.
• 2001 - 11-2, lost to OSU in Norman, give me a break.  Who is Les Miles?
• 2002 - 12-2, lost to Texas Aggies and OSU - again?
• 2003 - 12-2, lost to KSU in Big 12 Championship but still in BCS Championship game. LSU who?
• 2004 - 12-1, 5 turnovers in 55-19 romp by USC in BCS Championship game.
• 2005 - 8-4, Rhett Bomar ring a bell?
• 2006 - 11-2, Can you say BOISE STATE?
• 2007 - 11-3, Lost to Colorado, Texas Tech (sounds familiar) and WVa in Fiesta Bowl
• 2008 - 12-2, Lost to Texas but still in BCS Championship game.  Tim Tebow, anyone?
• 2009 - 8-5, Sam Bradford hurt twice, 'nuf said.
• 2010 - 12-2, lost to Missouri and Texas Aggies but beat that powerhouse of football - UConn.
• 2011 - 6-1 so far, bet the farm that they will lose again before the season ends.

As Skip Bayless said yesterday, Bob Stoops is the worst coach in the NCAA when it comes to motivating his team to play.  I would add that he does not understand adjustments to the game plan and predictability, especially on offense.  The second quarter of the Tech game on Saturday was the worst offensive play-calling that I can ever remember and that is when the game was lost.  You could almost see it coming in the lackluster performances against Missouri and Kansas.

Well, there you have it.  Skip Bayless said that Stoops should be fired.  I don't necessarily agree with that but some changes need to be made.  Perhaps get rid of Venables and bring back Mike Stoops.  I hear he is looking for a job.  As Bob Stoops said after the game, "We were out-coached and out-played".  Who shares the burden of the blame for the loss?  The buck stops with the head coach.  Are we getting the best bang for our buck ($4M per year at least), I think not.

The crimson-and-cream bleeders will always say that we are so much better than most programs and defend the poor coaching decisions to the end but I say we should expect more and when our championship dreams are spoiled year after year after year, changes should be made.  I'm not smart enough to know exactly what but we have to figure out why the second quarter performance was the worst that I have ever seen.  Perhaps our motto should be "Three and Out, OU no doubt!

In baseball, good pitching usually stops good hitting.  In football, good defense usually stops good offense.  LSU is a great example of this.  Skip said he would trade Bob Stoops to LSU for Les Miles.  I would not but Miles' teams are usually not out coached as badly as OU. OU could end up 7-5 or 8-4.  Who would be satisfied with that?  I have no problems when OU loses to an opponent that is better than they are but this was not the case in Norman last Saturday.

Knee Replacement, Part II

Most of you know that I had my right knee replaced on December 7, 2012 (Pearl Harbor day and the 52nd anniversary of my dad's burial at Maple Grove cemetery in Seminole, OK).  Here is the before picture.

Just a little bow-legged

Never having had major surgery, I didn't really know what to expect.  No amount of doctor's instructions, internet blogs, or advice from those who have been through the surgery can prepare you for what is to come.
I remember that the peace of God was present leading up to the surgery and, since I slept through it, the surgery was the easiest part of the whole ordeal.    I kept a journal from day one and recorded my progress or lack thereof.  Adjustment to pain medication would be close to the top of my list of discomforts because your entire body from head to toe responds to the narcotics.  To kill the pain, it appears that the medication also kills all other bodily functions.  Those who have experienced it know what I mean so I will spare you the details.  A hint - regularity heads for the hills!

I had several visits to physical therapy in March 2007 following arthroscopic surgery to my left knee but I still was not prepared for the (to me) abuse I was about to experience under the watchful eyes and hands of Breah and Erin, the two physical terrorists (therapists) assigned to me.  Only once during the 19 visits did I get really cross with them (in a Christian sort of way, I hope) but on more than one occasion, I could easily have slugged them (not really).  It is hard for me to imagine a job where you are forced to cause pain to some really nice people but different strokes, you know.  Anyway, twenty-one months after the surgery for the right knee, it became apparent that the other knee was not going to get any better.

After right-knee replacement

So I scheduled the surgery for September 12, 2014.  At the time that the doctor's office called and wanted to move the surgery up a day to September 11, I said sure not realizing it was the 9/11 anniversary.  Oh well, should be as easy to remember as Pearl Harbor day.  Leading up to the surgery, I replayed as many of the events as I could from the first surgery.  Again, the peace of God reigned supreme and I never once doubted that HE would be with me, regardless of the outcome.  Events surrounding the trip on the gurney from the prep room to the operating room are very vivid from both surgeries and also very different.  There are nine operating rooms at McBride Hospital on Broadway Extension and we went north this time instead of south and all the way to the end of the hall before making a left into the OR.  The anesthesiologist put the oxygen mask over my face and said to breath normally and then I awakened in room 118.  Don't really recall much about the first few hours and the pain was tolerable.

After second knee replacement

As you can see above my legs appear to be much straighter now.  Both episodes have parallels and similarities but also major differences.  I have experienced much less pain this time but much more stiffness.  I took my last narcotic pain pill ten days after this surgery.  I was still taking them every now and then six weeks after the first surgery.  One added benefit to weaning off of the pain meds was that I could begin driving after getting the staples out on 9-22.  Joyce was very appreciative of this and I felt a little freedom also.

I have entered the notes and readings from my journal into a spread sheet and it is easy to compare my progress for both surgeries.  My flexion (bending angle goal is about 120) and extension (straightening angle goal is zero) numbers are beginning to align with my flexion not quite as good but my extension being much better.  Yesterday (10-8) was the first day that I began to feel that there was a light at the end of the rehab tunnel.  I couldn't see the light yet but I caught a glimpse of the tunnel.  One good sign is that I keep misplacing my walking cane around the house.  In fact, I went all night without it last night which included three trips to the necessary room.

I have completed 10 rehab sessions out of 20 that are scheduled and I don't see my surgeon until Oct 28th. With rehab being M-W-F, I am still required to do at least two sets of exercises daily.  Haven't missed many but sometimes I take a little break on Sundays since I have went to church the last two weeks.  I am pretty self-sufficient except for the white ted hose that I have to wear when I am up and Joyce puts that on for me.  The therapist said I had to wear it a least 4-6 weeks so maybe just two weeks or so to go since today is my four-week surgery anniversary.  

My numbers yesterday were flexion-108 and extension-1.  My numbers for the right knee ended up at 110 and 10 when the surgeon dismissed me.  The right knee numbers are now 110 and 0 so my numbers on the left knee are almost the same or better than the right knee was at the end of therapy.  I am hoping the therapy can end early with the recommendation of the therapist based on my current left-knee numbers.  I will still need to exercise for several months to regain strength but the therapists' main concern is ROM (range of motion).  If those numbers don't come around, additional surgery is used to force the ROM to where it needs to be.  What a horrible thought even though it is out-patient under a general anesthetic.

I know this is not as interesting to you as it is to me but your whole life is almost consumed with it for a month or two.  I have a high pain-tolerance and I have not yelled once in therapy.  The last two nights of sleep have been relatively pain-free and this didn't happen with the right knee until six weeks or so.  Through both surgeries, the will to keep going gets very weak at times but by focusing on the fact that the Creator God of the universe is my Savior and Lord and is walking beside me gives me the strength to go on.  With his presence, I will complete my recovery and will continue to praise HIM for has abundant blessings.  I pray that he is your Savior and Lord.  He is THE way, THE truth, and THE life.  There is no other hope for a lost and dying world.  Do not delay.  Turn to Christ NOW!

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, and total knee arthroplasty

Just when you thought it was safe to get out of the water, your personal physicians (orthopedicist, gastroenterologist, internist) (and any other ists) (I love making up words) need a new convertible or trip to Tahiti or whatever, so they want to continue their practice on members of your family.  Do they practice all their lives or do they ever get it right?

Anyway, humor is a good antidote for dread, right?  But, here is the real skinny or what Joyce and I are facing this week.  She is on clear liquids today prior to prepping for the colonoscopy and EGD tomorrow afternoon (9-9-14) beginning at 1:00 PM.  Her blood tests lately have shown some sort of iron deficiency anemia and she has had some lower abdominal pain, so the plan is to go in fore and aft and see what's playing on the medical channel............

Since the prep is worse than the actual test (she's asleep), please be praying for minimal discomfort and for godly test results.  We are resting in the arms of our Sovereign God and we are confident that whatever occurs will be for his glory and our greatest good.

As you may have heard, minor surgery is surgery that someone else is having.  My TKA is currently scheduled for 11:30 AM on 9-11-14.  Since my first knee replacement was on 12-7-12 (Pearl Harbor Day), I wanted to keep in step and let the MD blow up my other knee on an appropriate day!  Seriously, I scheduled it for 9-12 and they called and wanted to move it up.  I think the Dr may have gotten a different tee time or something.  Since I have been through this once before, I pretty much know what to expect.  At times, I think that helps and at times, it makes it worse.  I am determined to work harder during the rehab and cry less.

I am of the opinion that the worst part of any surgery similar to this is the aftermath when you deal with the pain meds and how they affect other bodily functions.  The pain may stop but so do the other bodily functions.  Praise God for Milk of Magnesia!!  So, my prayer request from you is for adjustment to pain medications, added vigor to my rehab regimen, and less than 90 days before I tee off again.  Last time, it was 89 days from surgery to the driving range.  I am determined to beat that since it will more than likely be pretty cold in December although when you play golf as badly as I do, weather isn't much of a factor.  Evidence for that are my last two 18-hole scores, 80 and 96.

Most of you know that Joyce's mother passed away on 8-27 and my niece, Carolyn Harris, passed away on 9-2.  Mike, Sheri, Kaylee, Joyce and I attended her memorial service in Borger, TX on 9-6. Also on 8-27, a lady destroyed our mailbox.  See pictures below.  I am due to come home from the hospital on Sunday, 9-14 which is my mother's birthday.  Stressed, you ask?  We are continuing to trust in our Heavenly Father as we are empowered by his Holy Spirit.

We are fervently trying to rejoice in our tribulations which is spoken of so often in the scriptures.  After nearly being stoned to death, Paul related the following:  Acts 14:22 encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."   In the book of Romans, we are told this:  Rom 5:3-5 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  James gets in on the act as God directs him to pen these verses:  James 1:2-4 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Must get this posted on the web so the prayers can commence.  Remember, to God be the glory, great things he has done!

$500 later

The lady that hit it promised to pay for
 the rebuilding.  No check yet!

1

Bonnie Ratliff

Bonnie Ratliff            January 28, 1921 - August 27, 2014

Bonnie Hensley was born Jan. 28, 1921 along with her twin brother, Donald C. Hensley in Brutus County, Kentucky.  It wasn't known that there was going to be two of them, so it was a real struggle for the family.  It is told that they didn’t even put in a garden that year.  Bonnie had one older brother, Gaston. Three other siblings had previously died in early childhood.  Their mother, Ida, and father, Irvin, were both schoolteachers.  Two other children, Beatrice, and Cleo, followed.  When Bonnie was 11, Ida died of cancer.  Being the oldest daughter, the cooking became Bonnie's responsibility.  It was said that the potatoes were burned on one side and raw on the other.  At about age 15 Bonnie went to live with her aunt, Nola, but was only there to work and she was unhappy.  Having assumed the mother role, she worried constantly about how the other children were getting along.

When she was about 18 she went to Cincinnati to live with an older step-sister, Edith, got a job working for a laundry and settled in. She made a decision to believe in Jesus Christ during this time.  There she met the love of her life, Cecil Ratliff.  They were married on Sept. 30, 1942. 

 Cecil was an officer in the Army and assigned to troop ships transporting soldiers to and from war areas in both the European and Pacific theaters.  Their daughter, Joyce, was born in 1944 in Ironton, OH while her dad was abroad.  He came home on leave three weeks after she was born.  A son, Wayne, was born in 1946, also in Ironton.   After the war ended, Cecil was discharged from active duty.  Cecil also believed in Christ during this time.

In 1950, Cecil was recalled to the Army during the Korean war, sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky and then in 1951, to Germany.  Bonnie and the children followed in early 1952, living on Warner Caserne near Munich.  The family traveled at every opportunity and ended up visiting 7 other countries. They returned to the states in early 1954 and settled on a farm at Sinking Spring, Ohio.  Cecil remained in the Army reserves and retired many years later as a major.

In 1962 he was laid off from his job near Waverly, so he and a friend drove across the country until he was hired at a company near Denver.  Bonnie and Cecil lived at Arvada, CO for  18 years then retired to New Mexico, first to Belen and then to La Luz.  Over the years, they traveled to Hawaii, Ireland, Scandinavia, China, and the New England states.  

In 1992, after Cecil died (just four months short of their fiftieth anniversary), Bonnie moved to Las Cruces to be near her sister, Bea.

With her memory beginning to fail, she moved to Edmond, OK in November, 2006 to be near Joyce and her family.  She lived in an independent living facility for 4 ½ years then transferred to an assisted living facility.  After 1 ½ years she fell and broke her hip which caused a loss of mobility and she was then forced to enter a nursing home, Tuscany Village in Oklahoma City.  Her dementia was becoming severe so she never really realized where she was but never acted unhappy.  She reported seeing Cecil often.  Her dementia advanced until she died on August 27, 2014.  She will be missed by her daughter, who was her caretaker, and her son, Wayne and their spouses.

Don, Cleo (Janie), Bea, and Bonnie (May 2012)

 Also surviving are two sisters, Bea and Cleo, her twin brother Don, two grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bonnie's ashes will be interred next to Cecil’s in Denver, CO.

The Sting of Death

Currently, I have two family members that are critically ill and probably neither will see 2015.  One has only days or hours to live; the other has less than six months.  Whenever death passes close by, our emotions usually are all over the place.  There are obviously these:  grief and sorrow, sadness, despair, loneliness, sometimes fear, introspection, hopelessness (not for the Christian), sometimes relief, and, perhaps, guilt.  This guilt is usually caused more by what we didn't do than by what we did.


I would like to look at two scriptures today that have been floating in and out of my thoughts for the last few days.  As they relate to death may not be apparent because we always want to paint a rosy picture of death and not talk about anything negative.  Our pastor said a while back that "even the death of a Christian can be quite ugly."  Matt 7:1 says: Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  Matt 7:20 says:  "So then, you will know them by their fruits.  These verses are from the Sermon on the Mount.  At first glance, it appears we can't judge what other people do; on the other hand we observe the results of their actions to determine their (new word) Christianness or fitness to be in heaven with us.  When applying these verses to ourselves, we don't want to be judged when our actions are questionable but we are more than ready to be fruit inspectors for others.


Bottom line is that only God knows the heart.  We can outwardly judge that someone is not a Christian based on their fruit but God will have the final word on this.  However, the 'not knowing' should not stop us from sharing the gospel of Christ with everyone.


 The deaths of celebrities usually brings out the platitudes and praises for the deceased person's  lifestyle, (no matter what it appeared to be publicly)  how good a person they were, how much we were entertained by them, how many lives they touched positively, etc. often with no mention of their spiritual life or relationship to Jesus Christ.  In the end, this is the only thing that really matters for time and eternity.  I will never forget the words of Brooke Shields at the death of Michael Jackson.  Her image of him after he died was that he was in heaven sitting on a crescent moon singing a song.  Again, I don't know if Robin Williams, Lauren Bacall, or Maya Angelou (three luminaries who have died this year) were Christians or not.  I heard nothing in the reporting of their deaths that mentioned their relationship to Jesus Christ but, then, that is not politically-correct news. 


The main thing to be taken from these ramblings is this.  It matters what you do in this life but the most important thing is whose you are and what are you trusting in to assure that heaven is your home for eternity.  I have encountered many people that are basing their future hope on a single event that occurred maybe twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty years ago but whose lives have seldom reflected that they do, indeed, belong to God.  This event may have been walking an aisle, praying a prayer, filling out a card, yes, being baptized, etc. 2 Cor 5:17 states: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. The true mark of a Christian is not a one-time event but a lifetime of Christlikeness.  We will not become 'Christlike' instantaneously but there will be a movement that will occur gradually in 'fits and starts' as Mike Ross would say.  Our sanctification will be a gradual upward trend as we perform the good works that Christ has ordained for us that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)


One of the most frightening passages in scripture to me is Matt 7:21-23.  It reads: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'  To me, these verses confirm that we are not saved by what we do but whose we are.  The book of James is clear on this:  James 2:17-18  Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  James is simply saying that a person who is genuinely saved will do good works.  It is not an option.  The absence of good works is confirmation that the faith is not a saving faith.


The judging and fruit inspection are often connected to the good works and, obviously, my list of good works will be different from yours.  However, the Bible is very clear on some of these.  We are to live holy (not perfect) lives and activities that will be included in this holy life are: Regular Bible Study, Regular Prayer Time, Regular Corporate Worship, Regular Fellowship with the Saints, Regular Stewardship of Time and Money, Regular Sharing of Christ with Others, Regular Confession of Sin, Regular Ministry to the Needy, Sick, Prisoners, Widows, Orphans, etc.  I could go on and I have probably left out your favorite but the point is:  Our lifestyle must point others to Christ and we should long for the day that we will see him face to face.


How should we view the sting of death?  For the Christian, the sting has been removed by Christ.  For the non-Christian, the sting is eternal separation from God.  How should we act until the time of our death?  It sounds very trite but we have been saved by God to serve him.  The great Judge has stated in his word the following:  1 Cor 6:9-11  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.  Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.


Want to avoid the sting of death?  Have you been washed? Have you been sanctified?  If not, turn from your wicked lifestyle, seek Christ, repent of your sins, ask him to make you one of his own.  He will not cast you away.  Act before it is too late.  Let me know if I can help in any way.  Have a blessed day!