Category: Blog

Meet Dr. Oh!

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

A Doctor’s Testimony

by Dr. Joyce Oh

For whatever reason, when Billy asked me to write about myself for this newsletter, I thought, “That’s easy! Who doesn’t like to talk about themselves?” But I fumbled for content, and while I know everyone has an origin story, it was hard to get the right perspective on mine. Today, the Lord reminded me that I can speak of Him, because He is the author of this life, His are the blessings I’ve received, His is the Spirit that lives in me, and His are the plans that my life follows.

The God of this universe, He decided that I be born into a Korean immigrant family. Sometimes I think of the questions I’ll have for God when we meet face to face.“Why, God, do you make women [or maybe just this woman] subject to our own emotions?”Another more relevant question I’ll have is “Why, God, was I born into a Korean family?”I cannot wait to know the answers. Like so many other immigrant families, it meant that there was a culture of hard work and high expectations. Though the essence of hard work is certainly a Godly principle, it is the enemy’s job to twist all things good into bad. From all that hard work, I’d come to believe this lie: “to be loved, be perfect.” The Lord offered me the first and most potent bout of freedom from this lie**

Through the rigors of residency and life outside of it, God continued to reveal the power of lies just like this that take rampant charge over my mind when it is not set on Christ: be smart, be right, be wealthy, be quick-witted, be wise, be beautiful, be perfect, and you will be loved. Isn’t the enemy so good at his job? Are these not great Godly gifts if used for His glory? But how quickly we make them servant to our own ends!

I learned a truth at Mercy Med through Jeanne, one of our amazingly God-centered counselors, that banishes these lies: you are known, and therefore loved.

Our God is so gracious, so beautifully merciful, so heartbreakingly tender, so endlessly wise, so INFINITE in His goodness that in knowing us, he loved us first while we were yet sinners. His is the love that first reached me, and I am changed because of it.

This revelatory and transformative truth the Lord has entrusted to us to make known to all peoples. He’s placed in me a desire to share and plant this truth in all peoples. Hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to have a conversation with a future brother or sister overseas about the Good News they’ve not yet heard!

Psalm 116: I Love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please, Lord, save me!” How kind the Lord is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me.Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.”

Patient Heroes

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

by Jeff Barkhouse, FNP

Often hearing a patient’s story encourages and even inspires me. Our patients are often dealing with significant financial struggles as well as physical and emotional challenges that are, in many cases, far removed from my life experiences and I am amazed at their resilience, perseverance, and faith. There are also those patients whose backgrounds are much more similar to mine: same church background, same educational trajectory, same ministry career path. Such was the case with Ms. Lisa.

She came in for a check-up and renewal of her meds and we chatted briefly when we discovered our common church background and ministry career path. She had worked to put her husband through seminary and then was a pastor’s wife for a number of years as well as a mother of two girls. But as she and her husband’s life and ministry progressed the normal strain of family and ministry began to expose the underlying mental health struggles in her husband that he had managed, until now, to keep in check.

First there was a change in churches to correct the problem but his manic behavior became untenable and he lost that ministry position as well. Ms. Lisa went from being a pastor’s wife and mother to being a wife and mother working to provide for her family while battling a mental illness that threatened to destroy her family’s stability. When the ravages of the mental illness became too great she was forced to separate from her husband in order to provide stability for her daughters. The couple re-united after a few years in an effort to reconcile and try again, only to find that her husband was unable to consistently live with his mental health issues in check. To her great disappointment and after twenty plus years of trying, Ms. Lisa was forced to separate permanently from her husband to try to establish a stable life for her and her daughters.

Once her daughters married and left home Ms. Lisa realized she had to forge a new life for herself. So in her forties Ms. Lisa, who had never been able to develop long-term marketable job skills because she was always working whatever jobs she could find while caring for her family, determined to go back to school to train for a job that would allow her to earn an income as well as visit her daughters regularly. The girls had married soldiers, were following the Lord, and were spread around the country so what more practical profession for a woman in her upper forties to master than that of a long-haul, big-rig, truck driver? She was actually squeezing this visit to MercyMed in between runs before she headed out west to do a job and visit one of her daughters the next day.

I was thrilled to hear the stories of this new Grandmother and truck-driver navigating unfamiliar city streets behind the wheel of a big rig as she obediently and joyfully pursued this next phase of her life. I am amazed at her resilience and at her determination despite significant setbacks. I am encouraged to follow the Lord more closely after having the privilege of hearing her story. This wonderful Christian woman is continuing to fight the good fight in spite of significant disappointments in her life.

Lord allow me to do likewise.

Malachi

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

Dr. Grant Scarborough

Pocahontas died 400 years ago. I do not remember her story very well. Someone asked me recently at a museum, “Who did Pocahontas marry?” I muttered a name – it was wrong.  She was a Native American. I do not know what type. She married a Puritan I think. I cannot remember anything she said. I’m not sure she ever spoke. She never speaks in the paintings I see of her. In fact, without internet and a good school system – I would have never heard of her name. Let me tell you what I remember: my grandparents. At least I remember 3 out of 4 of them. After that, my memory goes dark. But 400 years ago, I remember nothing.

But God remembers. He spoke in the book of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament,  and then it was quiet. Quiet for 400 years. People would have said, “Remember that time when God spoke?” The response would have been “No, not really.” There is a scroll, but it is old. And no one probably had a scroll in their house – maybe the synagogue.

But God spoke. It was in the scroll of Malachi, and then he was quiet for 400 years. If you look at the last words of Malachi and the Old Testament, it reads, “ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Then silence. Silence for generations, decades, and centuries.

But before he went silent he promised something. He promised Elijah and then the Lord. And what were they supposed to do?

You see, this is why I am writing – I was tracking pretty well with Malachi until here. Yes, of course he was sending Elijah and the Lord to, obviously, save me from my sins. AMEN! Thank you Jesus! The problem is that is not what it says in Malachi. I hate when the Bible does not agree with me.

Malachi says that they are coming to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Well let’s be honest – that does not fit in my religiosity theology of why Jesus came.

Thankfully, there is a New Testament. So let’s leapfrog 400 years of silence and go to when Jesus spoke. Zechariah, an old prophet was performing his yearly duties in the temple. He went in to make sacrifice to God for all the people of Israel. He was met by an angel. And once again, God spoke! Oh fear and joy combined! God is alive and not forgotten His people. God returns! God speaks.

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

400 years is a long time – but not for God – for God it is but a moment. He literally picked up right where he left off in Malachi, it is like he took a deep breath and then kept right on speaking. Yet for us it was 400 years. He never lost his train of thought: “to turn the hearts of the father to the children.”

This is not the gospel I learned growing up. Don’t blame my parents – it is not the gospel I have taught my kids. Jesus did come to save us from death, to make us a new creation. But it appears he focused on more than my individual well-being.

Malachi and Luke tell me, he came to restore families. He came to return children to their fathers and fathers to their children. In the community behind MercyMed where few men are around and almost no one is married, this is great news. God is concerned about their individual salvation, but he is concerned with the salvation of their families as well. In fact God has an even bigger plan.

The last verse of Luke says, “to make ready the Lord a prepared people.” It doesn’t say “a prepared person.”

This struck me so powerfully, in this culture where we grow up, it is all about the self. It is about the individual. America is about life, liberty, and pursuit of my own happiness. But God is building a “people.” He is building a community. A community where individual redeemed people are returning to their fathers and fathers are returning to their children. Where a redeemed “prepared people” group is carrying the burdens of others. Where un-redeemed individuals can see the love of Christ worked out among redeemed people.

The body of Christ is not displayed in an individual, but a community of individuals. God is building community – a prepared people.

I am still processing this idea. But I believe God wants to redeem individuals, families, and communities.

John and Jesus both started out preaching the exact the same sermon. “Repent the Kingdom of God is at hand.” The Lord’s prayer: ‘…Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” It is not just Your will – it’s Your kingdom come – here on earth just as God’s kingdom is in heaven. The kingdom of God is not in our heart. It is displayed as a community – just like God’s community in heaven.

Do you see what God is longing for? A kingdom! Just like His in heaven! It is a kingdom where the gospel is seen through the interaction of each other. God is calling us away from a personal relationship with him that is kept to ourselves and to something greater. A community – His kingdom come. Life lived out among other people, where Christ can be seen.

This is my prayer for North Highland and Bibb City. That through the work of MercyMed and other community partners, we usher in the kingdom of God. Couples actually get married. Dads are playing with their kids in the park. Streets are safe to walk down. And the shalom, peace, of God abounds. Visitors to the community will encounter God as one redeemed individual cares for the elderly redeemed individual; and one redeemed individual prepares a meal for their poor redeemed individual; and yet another stands up for the rights of children.

God’s kingdom come – the great plan of God. Redeemed individuals, families, and communities. I think it is time to focus on our community!

 

 

 

Thank You Hal!

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

Thank you Hal!   

By Dr. Grant Scarborough

I like to tell stories, but some things are best said directly – up front. Some things I do not want you to miss.

“MercyMed would not be here without Hal Brady.” Let me repeat this, in case I was not direct enough.

“MercyMed would not be here without Hal Brady.” Now for the story.

I graduated residency program in 2007 and moved to Augusta, Georgia. I partnered with a friend of mine, Robert Campbell, to start a clinic for the poor. We named it Christ Community of Augusta. It went well – really well and is still thriving today. Around this time, Hal Brady dreamed of a clinic for the poor in Columbus. Hal’s dreaming should not surprise anyone; he dreamed of a school, he dreamed of a ministry center. It seemed like God had given him an ability to dream and an ability to make dreams come to life. I think it was Champ Baker who first recommended starting a clinic, but soon a group of men came to Augusta to talk with me about the steps needed to have on in Columbus. I remember giving these men a tour of the clinic and then a presentation of the exact steps needed to take to start an indigent clinic. The number one step: find a physician willing to be the lead missionary.

The men left and soon I received a call. “Grant” in that distinct Hal Brady voice, “I think you need to be that missionary to Columbus.” I thanked him kindly and pointed him towards a few other people who he could speak with. Time went by and I was back at work in Augusta. Then another call from Hal – and another. I truly had no plan nor desire to start a clinic in Columbus, but Hal had other plans. I started to pray and soon I found myself at St Luke, in Hal’s office.

“Hal, I will consider doing this, but I do not want a St Luke clinic, I want a clinic for every person and every church.” Hal did not even blink. He was in complete agreement. He even arranged the first meeting with ministers to share the goal of the clinic: to be for all the people from every church and every corner of Columbus. I agreed to come, but only if Hal would lead with me. Hal became the initial chairman of the board 11 months before the clinic even started to see patients. We met over and over again to determine where the clinic needs to be, who needs to be involved, how it needs to be set up. Hal was involved with every decision as we pushed forward to open the clinic.

We opened and he continued to lead. Looking back over these last 5 years at the clinic and 6 years of working with Hal, there are a few things about Hal that you already know but need to be reminded of. Hal is an amazing leader. He has a keen vision to see the future and know the next few steps he needs to take. Hal is an excellent communicator. I remember many board meetings where people had different opinions and he would summarize them all in one sentence and everyone would be in agreement. Hal could always see the big picture. So often I would get lost in the forest and Hal would remind me of the bigger picture going on behind the scenes. Hal is more concerned about God getting glory than himself. He always wanted everything to be pointed back to Christ. Hal is a good friend. I could call and he would answer. He would care. He listened and gave much needed advice.

There is no doubt in my mind. Without Hal, MercyMed would not be here. Without him as our head, we would not be as successful as we are. Hal I love you and am grateful for all you have done.

As many of you know Hal has been doing all of this from Atlanta these last few years. He has been the heart and soul of MercyMed from a different city. MercyMed is in his debt.

In January of this year, we finished our new building and completely moved in. Soon afterwards, we received a phone call from Hal stating it was the right time from his perspective to step down from being on the board. “Grant, I really wanted to see the completion of the building through. I think now is the time.” Isn’t that just like Hal, Get a ministry to a stable place, complete the building, expand the ministries reach all before moving on, even though he has not lived in the city for years.

Thank you Hal for your kindness and dedication. There is no way we can truly repay you. I think of the verse in Thessalonians when Paul was speaking to the people in Thessalonica. Paul was speaking to all the people he had impacted saying, “For what is our hope and joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” Hal you have impacted Columbus in many ways and you have impacted MercyMed in innumerable ways. I pray we will be part of your joy. That we will be part of your crown. That the work and time you invested here – that we will be something you will boast of before the Lord at his coming. I pray we will live up to being your glory and joy. For Hal, MercyMed would not be here without you.

May “The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” Number 6: 24-26

10 Lifetimes

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

“Father, I wish I could live multiple lifetimes!” There goes Anita again, with her crazy comments. “What do you mean?” I asked her – then I hear her heart– “there is so much I would like to do. I would like to be an astronaut. I would like to be on the first rocket trip to Mars. I would like to explore, Dad. Then I would have another lifetime, where I can be a chef. I would go to chef school – I don’t know Dad – maybe a baker chef. But I love to cook. Then the next life I would be a mom. I would raise kids and teach them how to live, learn, and grow. The next life I would be a marine biologist. I would study all the animals in the deep ocean that have not even been discovered before. I would invent a camera that could withstand pressure and send it down to the depths of the ocean.” Then she keeps on going with one life time after another. “Dad, think of all we could do and accomplish if we had multiple life times.”

I have to be honest this is very intriguing. Live not just one full life, but live ten! Think of all you would do and all you would accomplish. Every time there is something new to learn. Ten lifetimes of adventure and exploring. A 1000 years of fulfillment. I think I agree with Anita. Ten lifetimes would be amazing – life changing – fulfilling.

 

“Better is one day in your courts than a 1000 elsewhere.”

 

Yet one day, in the presence of Christ is better than 10 lifetimes. One day in the Presence of the Lord is better than a lifetime of exploring Mars, exploring the depths of the ocean, mothering many children, and cooking for the kings of this earth. One day – is better. It is better than anything on earth we could imagine. Imagine the best days you have ever had; better than a 1000 wedding days, better than a 1000 births, better than a 1000 awards, better than a 1000 graduations. It is better. One day in the presence of Christ is simply better. No, not simply better. Way better. Way better than a 1000 days of your happiest moments.

Do we believe this? Do we believe God is this good and this satisfying? In America, we seem to have too low a view of God and too high of a view of ourselves. Our accomplishments rival God’s. How far from the truth this is. When Solomon dedicated the temple, he prayed to God, “Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you.” May I submit that our problem with the verse “better is one day in your courts than a 1000 elsewhere,” is that we do not understand how much God is unlike us. He is infinite, we are here for a moment – the wind blows and we are gone. He is outside of time, we are trapped in time. He speaks and everything is made, we make nothing without material we buy – like lumber. He was never created. Never. When angels appeared to people in the Bible, the people fell down as if dead. God is greater than angels. God told mortal people, if you see me you will die. Behold my friends – heaven and the highest heavens cannot contain our God. He is uncontainable, all powerful, perfect and holy, unchangeable, never created, always existing, without equal, timeless, never tiring, infinite God. Heaven cannot contain him.

Speaking of heaven, there will be no sun in heaven, because Jesus himself will be the light. Streets will be paved of gold, meaning the greatest thing on earth, gold, will be asphalt in heaven. Heaven is beyond our imagination. How much more the God that heaven cannot even contain. In Revelations, the elders stand before God praising him for eternity – and never get bored praising Him – Why? Because better is a day in his courts than 10 life times.

This God is better than exploring Mars and the deepest oceans. He is more fulfilling and more satisfying. Just a glance from Him, will satisfy all our deepest longings. Just a thought from him would bring life. And oh how he has glanced and thought of us. He sent his Son, so that we would not have a day in his courts, but an eternity. He sent his Son, so that we would have an eternity of days that were greater than our wedding day and the birth of a child. He sent his Son so that we can have infinite Joy. Do you know Him? You need to know Him!