A few weeks ago I gave a reminder about how this how new year is an opportunity to start anew. It’s a chance to have a fresh beginning & a clean slate. It’s a chance to start or complete goals & live life to its fullest. That’s exactly what the New Year brought for Hilberto Rodriguez. He graduated from Garfield High School in Los Angeles last week -- a mere 67 years late. According to AOL news, Rodriguez, 86, was meant to graduate in the class of 1944, but history intervened in the shape of World War II. Instead of worrying about exams and chasing girls like the other high school guys, Rodriguez enlisted and went to fight in the South Pacific. "My brothers joined, so that's why I joined," he said. Now, Rodriguez can finally say he is both a veteran and a high school grad.
Hopefully, our goals & plans won’t take that long to come to fruition, but even if we get put off a bit, with God’s help we have an opportunity to move ahead & make a difference in the world around us. New starts, new relationships, new dreams, goals & vision; all are in the hands of our Creator. We simply need to dive into His word & find the direction.
On my part, after a 6 month struggle with ear problems, (again, not the best thing for a music guy to deal with!) I’m about to get a new eardrum! As you read this, I’ll be preparing to get a repair/replacement of my left eardrum. Both of my eardrums blew out this past summer and, after many procedures & prescriptions, the eardrum has not healed. Answer, a new eardrum! I’ll be the first guy in Newport with a ‘bionic’ ear. (You gotta be really old school to catch that one!) Obviously, I hope to regain full hearing in the ear after the procedure.
While my hearing is vitally important to me, of infinite more importance is my heart! I hate to admit it, but I often find myself like Israel in the bible. I play ‘hide & seek’ with God. One minute charging off to right the wrongs & the next day struggling to remember to pray. God loved them, as He loves us, with an unfailing love we can’t begin to comprehend. So much so that He offered to give them a new heart at His Son’s expense.
The world’s first heart transplant was performed in Dec of 1967 by
Dr. Christiaan Barnard. Since that time, about 3,500 people world-wide receive heart transplants. While that may have been the first physical heart transplant, God has been in the business of performing spiritual transplants since the beginning of time. The prophet Ezekiel shared God’s heart with His people:
“… I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT
You may not be in need of a new eardrum like me, but maybe like me, you need a new heart for God! Today is a perfect opportunity to get a new spirit & a new heart. You don’t even need to be put on a donor list! Simply call out to Him & He’ll give you a new transplant. If I can be of any help just call on me…promise I’ll hear you.
www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.
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ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Dave’s Desk - http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com
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