The Fastest Man with no Legs.

Oscar Pistorious has worn prosthetic legs since he was 11 months old. Born without a fibula in either leg, his legs were amputated just below his knees. But not having natural legs did not stop Pistorious from using his body to compete. Last May, he won three gold medals in the Paralympics for 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m events. Those are only a few of his accomplishment as a competitive runner. You can’t stop a born athlete. Not even a ban on his participation in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing can break Pistorious’ determination.

In January 2008, the International Associations of Athletic Federations, which governs athletics internationally, said that Pistorious had an unfair advantage over athletes without prosthetic limbs. After a series of tests examining the difference between a leg and the carbon-fibre prosthetic legs used by Pistorious, the IAAF stated that the limbs prevented Pistorious from expending the same amount of energy other athletes expend competing in the same events.

Pistorious has appealed the ruling and still hopes to compete in the Olympics. But even if the final answer is no, he will continue to race in other events. He refuses to let the ruling break his spirits or his commitment to running.
In the words of Pistorious, “You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have.”

Watch a news clip covering the IAAF desicion.

Upper Loft Meditation - Ephesians 5

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving… always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:4,20

As dearly loved children of God (v.1), how are we to live?

This chapter sets forth four areas that will negatively impact our fellowship with God: (1) “even a hint of sexual immorality”, (2) “any kind of impurity”, (3) “any out of place talk”, and (4) greed. As you prepare your hearts during Lent to worship and celebrate the Lord at Easter, all four of these areas must be addressed in your life. This is serious!

Jesus tells the story of cleaning out a house and the great danger of leaving the house empty;

“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left’. When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.” - Matthew 12:43-45

If you clean up your life and remove the evil from the four areas, what will you put in its place? If you do nothing, you risk replacing the evil with even greater evil - sevenfold!

Paul points out clearly that what should replace the evil is a spirit of thanksgiving, activities of thanksgiving, and prayers of thanksgiving.

It is said that one failure, accident, mistake is remembered with the equivalency of fifty blessings, victories, or joyous events. Do you dwell on the dark clouds?

Upper Loft Meditation - 2 Corinthians 2

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” - 2 Corinthians 2:14

He leads, and you follow. It sounds so simple. So, why do you run into problems?

1. You can be captivated by the momentum. You know you are making progress, but you have taken your eyes off Jesus. In practical terms you have become so busy, even doing religious activities that you fail to feed upon God’s Word. It won’t be long before the momentum wanes.
2. You wander off. You get caught up in other things, that though they may be very important, they are not what God has called you to do or where He is leading you.
3. You don’t trust God. Life’s challenges are waring you down. There is no response to your cries for help.
4. You don’t understand God’s purposes or His methodology. You let the ways of the world define what you should do in your situation.
5. In your exuberance, you have run ahead of Jesus. You are no longer following.

What can be done to stay the course?

Giving thanks is an antidote for the many distractions that would cause you to wander. As you follow Jesus with a grateful heart and a thankful spirit, you will discover that the Lord uses those who follow him and are straggling behind, to display His grace and mercy.

The fragrance of the Lord in your life will be used to bring blessings to others. Thanks be to God.

Upper Loft Meditation - Matthew 9

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a sheperd.” - Matthew 9:35-36

As one of his followers, what does it mean to be more like Jesus? Here Jesus is going everywhere teaching, preaching, and healing. He is doing what he was called to do. Matthew highlights here, not a great sermon or a miracle, but Jesus reaction to the people around him.

In the midst of his calling, Jesus becomes keenly aware of the needs and suffering of those around him. This is not just a mental exercise; Jesus is physically and emotionally moved with compassion. He is gripped by the condition of the masses.

There are three descriptives of what Jesus saw:

1. “harassed” - Literally exhausted, weak, and tired. As one may say, “I have tried everything, and I have nothing.” Jesus sees through the facade.
2. “helpless” - Literally to fall to the groud in fatigue and hungar.
3. “sheperdless sheep” - This is both a reference to their vulnerability as sheep and to the Old Testament use of the term (i.e. Jeremiah 23) referring to the need for leadership and care of God’s people.

In the midst of your calling, what do you see as you observe the people around you? Are you moved with compassion or are you just moving on through?

Read the Spanish version of this meditation.

Creating a Masterpiece.

The more I am reading about disabilities, the more I am discovering that there are so many ways that those with disabilities contribute to life’s splendor.

I often find myself wondering about my gifts and searching for places that I will be used fully. But I think that many times I am blind to who I am. As I was reading today about people with disabilities, I stumbled across an article about students with Down syndrome, who have created paintings that are being showcased around the world. These students are not unlike me, in that they too search for things that they are good at. They found their answer in art.

The word masterpiece keeps rolling around in my head. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (NLT) We are God’s masterpieces. He knitted us together and fashioned each one of us with unique gifts. He crafted us with care, like these students create their paintings. He placed an ability to create beautiful art in these students. He gives each one of us different abilities; for these students it is the ability to create beautiful art. For me it is something else. But we are all the same in that we are all masterpieces. And not just anyone’s masterpiece. But the Creator of the Universe’s masterpiece. We must be quite breathtaking.

Look at these photos and see the beauty that flows forth. Think about the magnificence that God created in these people’s lives. He has done that in your life too. Just open your eyes to it.

 

Read the article at: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=893473

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2008 Essay Contest

“Compassion and the Child with Disabilities”

Students around the world are invited to participate in the fourth annual Oakseed Ministries essay contest. In 2008, the essay contest will bring attention to children with disabilities worldwide, through the topic of compassion and children with disabilities.

Fact.About 650 million people live with a disability in the world, 80 percent of those live in developing countries.

Fact.Ninety percent of children with disabilities living in developing countries do not attend school.

Fact.The issues facing children with disabilities in the world are often overlooked.

Fact.Your voice matters.

This year, you will have the opportunity to engage in learning more about conditions facing children with disabilities and to reflect on those issues by addressing one of seven different essay subtopics. The essay subtopics are available under Essay Contest Guidelines.

The deadline for the essay contest is April 15, 2008. A first place of $1,000 will be awarded.

The essay contest is a part of a yearlong effort to raise awareness of this issue and will culminate in the Annual Day of Prayer for Children at Risk on June 1, 2008.

- ≠ < (different doesn’t equal less than)

Abortion has long been a hot button in politics. Questions surround the topic. Is abortion is right? Should women have the right to choose what they will do with their bodies? Should unborn children have the right to life? When does a child have a soul? It almost seems as if people neglect to consider the repercussions for even having the conversation to begin with.

I just read an article called British Politicians told: Disabled Children Better Off Aborted. The title says it all. The issue here isn’t whether abortion is fundamentally wrong or right. It is about the stigma that surrounds people born with disabilities. Why are they better off aborted? Because they will have challenges that other people will never have to face? Because they will be different than the rest of the world? Because they have nothing to offer society? Because they are too weak to overcome obstacles? These are the messages that are being sent when people say that children who are born with disabilities are better off not born at all. It sends a message of hopelessness and unworthiness. No wonder people fear being different. We live in a world that says that if you are different, you are no good. Imagine the effect that has on children that are born with disabilities. Imagine if someone said to you,even though you were given life, others like you are really more trouble than they are worth.

We need to hold onto truth more firmly than that. God has uniquely fashioned everyone on this earth, with their own set of difficulties and strengths, and has a plan to use those things for His glory and for the good of those who love Him. Be bold and claim truth over peoples’ lives and the world will be changed by it. And maybe one day, children won’t be aborted simply because they are different.

Upper Loft Meditation - Psalm 107

Lent is a period of forty days of spiritual reflection as one prepares the heart for the celebration of Easter. This Psalm provides guidance for such personal reflection.

The refrain is repeated four times (8,15,21,31), “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.”

How has God loved you? Count the ways. What is amazing is that God loves us in spite of our rebellion and selfishness. We think more highly of ourselves than of others. Thoughts of Almighty God are often out of our minds. Even when we remember God’s unfailing love and the deeds that flow from his loving compassion, we remain mute.

Hear the exhortation (v.22), “Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.” Who will you tell today about God’s unfailing love for you? What examples will you give?

Four times (6,13,19,28) the Psalm highlights a turning point and tells of God’s response.

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he brought them out of their distress.” God hears your cries of desperation, because you are loved. God does and will lead you out of your crisis.

Hear the exhortation (v.32) “Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and prise him the council of the elders.” What Christian leaders will you tell (phone call, email, letter, face to face) today about God’s unfailing love for you?

“Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.” (v.43)