The early part of this year has not been our best. Elizabeth and I are both are suffering the ravages of old age; our bodies are decaying, but our minds are being renewed (2 Corinthians.4:16).  Elizabeth has back pain that occurs when she moves the wrong way.  I have diabetic amyotrophy, a rare complication of type II diabetes. One percent of people with type II diabetes develop it. It is characterized by muscle inflammation and atrophy. My legs are getting weaker as a result. It does have a fair prognosis and the severe symptoms can be temporarily controlled with prednisone. I cannot, though, take prednisone on a continuing basis.  I have to try to control the pain with drugs until it spontaneously remits. It has remitted on the right, but I still hurt on the left.

Otherwise, I continue to study the Bible and pray for my family, former students, friends and those who request prayer (Colossians 1:9-12). I read three chapters in the Bible before I pray each morning and meditate on the scriptures. God communicates with me through the scriptures, and helps me apply his word to our current situation in our society. Lately, He has been helping me see how much we are practicing so many kinds of idolatry.  This is promoted by the God of this world and has caused so much sin.

I am disturbed that we cannot seem to deal with the moral pollution of our society. The only medicine for it is revival. Revival comes only when the Holy Spirit moves. He will move when the church (that today sits passionless and purposeless while the world perishes), gets off it duff and carries the message of salvation into the world.