April Update

So I have lots of swirling stuff in my head but time is short - got to address those piles of papers before heading out the door.  But because some of asked or seem interested let me give you a quick update.

1) What's up with my taste buds?  I saw a general practitioner about 2 weeks ago and she suggested a mix of allergy drainage and acid reflux.  Currently trying to use Claritin for the allergies and diet for the reflux.  I am either used to the salty taste or that is getting better.  Still can't taste sweet.  I plan to give it a couple more weeks before heading back to the doctor as she recommended.

2) Second annual Sea View trip.  Last weekend I made my journey to Sea View Inn at Pawley's Island  for my unplug weekend and it did not disappoint.  I can't wait for next year.  My hope is to share more of my story and a few pics at another time.

3) Peter has a Psych appointment today.

4) Peter, who is very conflicted about God and occasionally mocks my Christianity, really likes Christian music.  Go figure.  God and his mysterious ways.  Peter wanted to go to a "For King and Country" concert this weekend in charlotte.  So he and I are headed that way Saturday for the concert that night and to attend Elevation Worship in Matthews  Easter morning.  Peter likes their music.  He hasn't been in a church in years.  Praying the Holy Spirit will use this in Peter's life.

5) Mom is having a yard sale next weekend.  Her sub division is hosting it. She is busy purging and preparing.  Come check out her treasures if you are in the area.

6) Mom has also started a cookie ministry for the counseling office where I meet with my child life coaching clients.  About once a week she makes beautiful, yummy cookies (ex: sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, her unusual creations,) individually wraps them and I put them in the waiting room for clients.  It is such a blessing to those who come.  And Mom gets to do what she loves - baking cookies.  Such a win win.

7) Happy Easter.  He is Alive, He is not dead.  And in that is all the hope we need!

Homiletics - Acts Finale

 Acts 28:1-31

Content:

1. Malta inhabitants showed unusual kindness to Paul and shipwrecked mates. 1-2
2. Paul's encounter with snake caused islanders to judge Paul a murderer, then a god. 3-6
3. Chief official Publius welcomed them in home. 7
4. Paul heals Publius sick father and many others. 8-9
5. They supplied Paul and company with supplies to sail to Rome. 10
6. After 3 months on island they head for Rome with a few stops on the way. 11-14
7. Paul encouraged by Brutus who traveled to meet him in Rome. 15
8. Paul lives alone with soldiers guard in Rome. 16
9. Paul gathers Jewish leaders of Rome to explain why he is there. 17-19
10. Paul appeals to them based on the hope of Israel. 20
11. The reply is that they have heard nothing about him, but are interested. 21-22.
12. Many come to hear Paul explain Jesus based on the law and prophets. 23
13. Listeners were divided in response. 24-25
14. Some leave after Paul quotes Old Testament speaking of Israel's unbelief. 26-27
15. Paul proclaims God's salvation is now being sent to the Gentiles. 28
16. There is no verse 29??????
17. Paul remains in his house for 2 years proclaiming Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God to anyone who would listen. 30-31

Divisions:

1. The islanders of Malta show kindness to Paul following shipwreck. 1-9
2. With generous Island send off and encouragers along the way, Paul is settled in home under guard in Rome. 10-16
3. Paul invites Jew's and gentiles into his home preaching Jesus and the kingdoms of God. 17-31

Subject Sentence:

• God rescues and encourages Paul who proclaims Jesus in Rome.

Aim:

• To cause me to be a part of spreading the gospel of Jesus through hospitality that includes generosity, encouragement and scripture proclamation.

Application:

1. Who has God put in my path to show kindness and generosity towards?
2. Do I see how God has used others to help me in transitions? Whom can I be of support to who are going through transition?  How can I help missionaries who have left home and comforts to share the gospel?
3. Am I imputing knowledge of scripture so that I may proclaim the gospel? Am I sharing it with those whom I encounter?

Taste and See that the Lord is Good Psalm 32:8

For me, this verse brings up visions of flourless chocolate cake, a crisp juicy apple, yummy cold ice cream and other delicacies.  I smile and get a warm gooey feeling in my tummy.

BUT what happens when your taste buds stop working?  What if you can no longer taste sweet things? 

This is my current experience.  Last Monday I developed a strong metallic, salty taste in my mouth and things weren't tasting right.  As the days have gone by I have realized that I can still taste bitter things, spicy things, sour things and umami BUT I can not taste anything sweet.  In fact when I do continue to eat something sweet I get an increasingly salty taste in my mouth.  It has been quite the experience and has my mind spinning.

Of course my primary thoughts have been "what caused it and how can I fix it".  I have googled, and there are a variety of possibilities of which hormones and sinus problems/allergies are likely.  There are also diseases but choosing not to explore those yet.  Along with the lack of a sweet taste I do have a very dry mouth.  Based on the products at the pharmacy in the mouth wash aisle, evidently this is not that uncommon. And no I haven't found one that works that well.  Chewing gum does help some.

At this point you may have several thoughts or questions. Let me see if I can address them.

• No, I have not seen a doctor.  I was giving it some time. Since it has been a week and is very distracting (the constant salty dry taste) my plan is to reach out to a doctor today.
• NO, it is not an active case of Covid.  I am not sick and the home Covid test was negative.  I had Covid 2 months ago and could it be linked? Of course there is that possibility.
• Yes I can still smell with what seems like normalcy.
• Yes I am taking Flonase for allergies.  Actually started after I lost me sweet taste,
• Yes I am drinking a good bit of water.
• It is not just a loss of the ability to taste sweet that is the problem, it is the constant salty sometimes metallic taste in my mouth.

So here are thoughts that I have had.

• I didn't realize how dependent I was on food, especially things that taste sweet for pleasure. I truly had been eating for fun and enjoyment and now am eat for sustainment .
• I keep thinking about how this is kind of like grief.  I have experience grief but not ones that I would consider profound grief.  Perhaps the one I consider the most difficult was my loss of security when I moved to Uganda.  Every sense of security, identity, expectation and comfort seemed to be removed from me and I was grieving.  In that grief it was very hard to find pleasure in even things that were intentionally sweet.  I could engage in it but could not taste it.  Even some of those sweet experiences left a bitter taste because of my "losses."  I think of this in particular for friends who have experienced profound losses through divorce, death of spouse or child, as well as betrayal or other major life transition.  As you grieve, sometimes it is really hard to find pleasure in things that are meant to be pleasurable.  And often others don't understand.  I can explain this experience of not being able to enjoy even an apple for its sweetness to you but until you have experienced it, it is hard to know what that it is really like.  
• Taste and see that the Lord is good.  Honest it is challenging when everything tasted overly salty and at times bitter. But the truth is that he is Good.  In this experience I can see how God is talking to me about my dependence on pleasure, giving me empathy for the grieving and others with chronic ailments as well and helping me to get off of sugar as I have been trying to do.  The Lord's goodness doesn't always taste like sugar.  His goodness is there even in the salty, sour and bitter.  Psalm 34 starts off with "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Whatever life taste like, I can choose to praise his name and trust in his goodness."

Homiletics

 Acts 27,

Content:

1. Centurion Julius, in charge of Paul and other prisoners, board ship going to Italy. 1-2
2. Julius allows Paul's friends to tend to him as they journey. 3
3. Winds against them, they make slow headway along the coast. 4-8
4. Paul warned Julius it was too late to continue but he went along with the captains plans to head to Phoenix. 9-12
5. There was deceptive wind that soon became hurricane catching up the ship. 13-15
6. The storm battered many days as crew made multiple attempts at survival eventually giving up. 16-20
7. Paul encourages them with promise God made him that all would survive. 21-26
8. Two weeks later sailors sensed land was near and began making preparations. 27-29
9. Paul warns Julius, sailors are abandoning ship thus those one ship would not survive. 30- 32
10. Paul encourages them to eat, reinstating God's promises. 33-38
11. Heading for a beach, they encounter sandbar that breaks the ship. 39-41
12. Julius preserves prisoners lives from soldiers attempt at order by killing them. 42-43
13. Swimming and floating on debris, they all reach shore safely just as Paul had said. 44.

Divisions:

1. Sailing - verses 1-12  Paul warns his guard, Julius that their slow starting journey will not progress well if they do not delay.
2. Storm -verses 13-26 Paul encourages shipmates in storm with promise that God will preserve them all. 
3. Shipwreck -verses 27-44 Paul warns of sailors plan to abandon ship and provides practical encouragement of food. 

Subject Sentence:

• Paul's journey to Rome involves slow start, storm and shipwreck. 

Aim

• To cause me to be a voice of warning, encouragement and discernment to fellow sojourners.

Application:

1. Who do I need to warn based on biblical principles and the Holy Spirits prompting.
2. Who is in a storm that I can encourage with God's words of hope?
3. Who do I need to encourage with food or other practical means?