Tag: Jesus

Joyce’s Laptop: The Stolen Computer Caper of 2018

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

by Dr. Grant Scarborough

Black Friday comes first, then Cyber Monday, and finally Giving Tuesday.

Giving Tuesday is the day people give online to local non-profits. Here at MercyMed, we want money to be given, but sometimes we want other gifts too – like a laptop.

Allow me to explain. Our story begins on Cyber Monday, 11/26 (2018).

It was late in the morning when a couple of the staff yelled at me as I was walking out of an exam room. Someone was having a seizure in the waiting room. I peeked through the window and saw Dr. Joyce Kim and two other staff members attending to the patient. They had it under control, so I went to the next patient. When I walked out of the room I noticed Joyce was still in the waiting room. The patient was slowly coming out of a seizure and not minimally responsive. Four of our staff were trying to get him into a wheelchair – so I went out to help. After a few minutes we transitioned him to a wheelchair. He was pushed back into an exam room after 20 minutes of chaos out front. We settled back into work, and that is when Joyce realized her laptop computer was gone. This was bad. She takes this with her to every patient appointment to access notes, charts, and more. This was bad.

At once we realized what happened, and even who took the computer: I will refer to him as “Buddy.” In our neighborhood, things that are stolen get moved quickly – mostly for money that would be used for drugs. We also knew most of that occurred next to the local gas station. Our front desk lady took off her high heels and ran to the gas station only to find Buddy leaving in a car. We replayed the video security camera, called his phone, went to his home and called the police. Buddy was gone and so was the computer.

Giving Tuesday, 11/27.

Emails and Facebook posts went out encouraging others to give, but deep down inside all I wanted was for Joyce’s computer to be returned. As Tony (the Office Manager) and I discussed a replacement computer for Joyce, our nurse came in. She told us she had spotted Buddy a half block away. Tony and I jumped in the car and saw him waiting at the bus stop. We tried to do a quick U turn, but the traffic was too heavy and then the local bus passed us. It stopped and he got on and left. “Tony! Follow that bus!”

*Editor’s Note: Do not follow known thieves. This is dangerous.*

We finally caught up and went in to private investigator mode. We did not stay back a safe distance, we were right on the tail of the bus. When the bus stopped we stopped. When the bus started, we started. We did not know when he would get off, but we were ready for a long stakeout. Eventually the bus pulled forward and Buddy was left behind with a backpack in hand.

With Tony’s experience in the military, he was even keeled. My heart was pounding and I was ready for a chase. Tony has this uncanny ability to make people confess of anything they have done or even think about doing. He gets out, and approaches him.

“Sir, were you at MercyMed yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Did you take a computer?”

“No.”

“Sir, I have cameras all over the waiting room. I have you on video taking the computer and walking out with it. I can give it to the police but I want to ask you again. Did you take the computer?”

Long pause, “Yes.”

“What did you do with the computer?”

“I sold it to a man in a white van outside the gas station.”

“Well” Tony said, “That was Dr Kim’s computer and she needs it back.”

“That’s my doctor!” he responded with strange excitement.

“She needs it back and she needs it back today.”

“OK OK OK “ he responded “I’ll get it back today.”

And he walked off.

This Giving Tuesday we were hoping for donations, and Buddy to do the right thing. The odds were low. He told us he sold it to a man in a white van. He probably already spent the money on drugs, and the man in the van was probably sitting outside a pawn shop right now.

We told the news to the staff back at the office and came up with plan B. We can check with the police and call the pawn shops. Joyce had activated her find computer app so that it would go off once connected to the internet. They cancelled all information someone could find on the computer. We found a spare computer and all went back to work.

Billy informed me that donations were coming in. We celebrated, but Giving Tuesday had a sadness to it. The Lord gives and takes away – could we be content with where the Lord had us today? We had donations, but a lost computer.

Later that afternoon, just before we closed, the waiting room door opened and closed and then opened and closed again. Something was left at the front desk for Joyce.  It was her computer – in perfect condition! Our front desk lady went out after him again and this time caught up to him – Joyce came running as well. Buddy apologized to Joyce, and she thanked him for doing the right thing to return it. Tony went outside and shook his hand  – thanking him for returning the computer.

“We will see you at your next appointment, Buddy” they said.

All of our emotions were mixed this Giving Tuesday. We were sad he would steal her computer while another patient was seizing. But we were proud that he would make the tough decision to find that computer and I assume buy it back to give it to Joyce. I assume addiction would drive this behavior. Yet in the mess of addiction, we saw hope of a man who desired to do right. I cannot help but hope this decision to do right  might be the one thing he needs to bring change in his life. He made the right decision and he realized the joy of doing good.

He gave us the computer back and maybe we gave him a glimpse of what his life can become.

Giving Tuesday worked out okay.

 

 

I Got a Ticket

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

Dr. Grant Scarborough

I got a ticket two days ago – and yes I am bitter. It is all I can talk about. Maybe if I write it down, I can let it go. But before I let it go, I need to set the record straight. I need to make things right. I need to clear the air and my name.

I received a ticket for not wearing my seat belt. . . . . while wearing my seat belt. That’s right people. The officer asked, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” A very leading question, but I had no idea why he pulled me over. “No sir.” His next line was my favorite, “I see you have conveniently put on your seat belt since driving past me.” That little accusatory, spiteful sentence got my blood going. “Excuse me – I had my seat belt on the entire time.”

I got a ticket.

I have thought about my situation for 2 days now. Do I drive back down 5 hours away to fight this or do I just pay the fine? It would cost more to drive down there – but boy do I want to say in court – “I was wearing my seat belt!!!!” I want to be vindicated. I did nothing wrong and I would like my name cleared.

Whew – Feeling better already. Maybe if you read this and know I am not an evil law breaker, that would give me the peace I need. I have been wronged and I desire justice! OK forget the sentence you just read about peace. My blood is still boiling!

–

“Why not rather suffer wrong?”

“Why not rather be defrauded?”

–

What, are you kidding me? I will not stand for being defrauded. Forget it.

But Paul writes in Corinthians those two lines – Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

He is talking about two Christians having arguments that they are unable to settle. They cannot agree and the argument is so intense, they take it to court to have the matter settled. In the process, the church looks divided and Christ’s name is tarnished. The Christians were unable to love each other enough to settle their disputes so they go to open court, which hurts the cause of Christ. Then he writes those two questions.

Wouldn’t you rather suffer wrong or be defrauded so that you can love your brother and promote the cause of the church – to usher in the kingdom of Christ?

Ummmm, NO – I desire to be right!

Listen – just lose the argument even though you were right. Just take one for team Jesus. Suffer wrongly so that Christ’s kingdom goes forward. Do not even try to justify yourself. Let your brother win. Stop trying to be right. Just take the shame, the loss of money, the loss of property, the feeling of being right. Take it for something bigger then yourself. Let your name be smeared so Christ’s kingdom will be glorified. Suffer wrongly! Be defrauded for the name of Christ.

ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH – to heck with that! I am going to fight this ticket.

There is something in me that will not let things go until we are made right. The thought of being wronged is too much for me – do not even think about defrauding me! I have rights.

But Paul says to lay your rights down for King Jesus. This is a hard pill for me to swallow. Christ is more important than me being right. Others are more important than me as well. I can lose and I can lose big, but I never lose with Christ. If I lose the entire world, I have lost nothing with Christ. Christ plus nothing is everything. My good name, being right, having everything except Christ is nothing.

God executed Jesus instead of me. Ponder that phrase for a moment. God sacrificed his own Son so that He can spare us. Jesus was wronged, and He was defrauded so that we could be in relationship with God. Maybe it is time we believed the gospel. Christ’s name is better than ours. We now live for His name and His kingdom and His people.  We live so that His name will never be defrauded again, even if ours is.

Oh dear friend – Be wronged! Be Defrauded! Be both if need be for the purification of the church, the love of the brotherhood, the name of Christ, and the advancement of the kingdom.

And please share this with that policeman in Florida!

We all Want to be Great Commandment Christians

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

Dr. Grant Scarborough

“Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Well – absolutely. I believe God left heaven for us. He was born to a young girl in poverty in a barn for us. He lived for 33 years on earth for us. He was loved, hated, embraced, persecuted and then sentenced to death for us. He then was crucified – blood flowed down, body broken, thorns on his head, separated from God – for us. He died and three days later was raised from the dead – for – you know who – you and me.

The God who made heaven and earth, sent his Son into this world, because He loved us greatly. Scripture says that while we were enemies, he did this – He loved us. He set his affection upon us and said: “You are mine. You are a son and daughter of the King.” Hallelujah! Bless His name. He loved you not because you had something to offer, like you could add something to God. We had nothing to offer. It was His kindness and goodness that made Him love you. All you can do is praise and thank Him. Who does not desire to be Great Commandment Christians? I will love a God like that. I would love a God that would set his kindness upon me when I did not deserve it at all. Lord help me to love you with all my heart, soul, and mind. Amen.

Scripture says this is the great and first commandment. Close Bible and move on. Do not, I warn you – do not keep reading. Because I did, therefore I am writing. Please do not keep reading this paper either.

I warned you.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Awe man, here we go. Listen – we all love a good story of a great God loving us when we deserved nothing. It is like a great fairy tale. We now get to live in the castle with the great wait staff serving us forever. This is what I signed up for. I signed up for the greatest commandment Christianity, not the second. I desire to be loved by God – just as I am. But don’t expect me to change one bit. I just want to be loved and I can love all day back – in my house, away from other people that bother me.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

But if I have to love someone else as myself, everything changes. I like to be loved the way God loved me. He pursued me. He chased after me. He sacrificed for me. He died for me. He loved me. He desires to be in a relationship with me. He means good for me. He intercedes for me. Please love me this way. Just do not ask me to love this way in return.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Love this way in return. You have been greatly loved – Love greatly.

Corinthians has been my book this year so far. Paul displays this great love over and over again – this sacrificial, pursuing, inconvenient love. Paul talked about eating meat sacrificed to idols. No problem for Paul. For Paul – it was not a sin. But other people felt it might be. Does Paul try sit back and lecture them about meat while eating a ribeye? “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat again, lest I make my brother stumble.” Paul completely cuts something out of his life that he enjoys – for his brother.

Paul becomes all things to all people. He affiliates with others. “For though I am free, I make myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” He becomes a Jew to the Jew; he lives as if under the law to win those under the law; he lives as one outside of the law to win those; to the weak – he becomes weak. “He does it all for the sake of the gospel.” Can you imagine a self help book which states to stop being yourself and take on life as someone else with their problems and their issues. Paul does more than imagines this book – he wrote it.

There are many more passages, but let me give you one more – the most convicting to me. Paul talks about Christians suing one another. He is disgusted that these Christians would take their case to court instead of settling them in the church. How does that look to the outside world. Does this make Christianity attractive to the outside world. He then states:

Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

Paul, you cannot be serious. This is not about me suffering wrong – this is about me being right. This is about me getting what I deserve. I cannot let someone else win. I cannot lose. I cannot have my pride suffered for a brother. Paul says “suffer wrongly” for you brother. Be defrauded for your brother. Let him win. Let him be victorious.

Loving people is difficult and even more so to love them the way Jesus loved you. To love them enough to give up something you love so that their conscience will be clean. To love them enough to become weak with them. And to love them enough to suffer wrong from them.

This year, make it your goal to love people inconveniently – the way Jesus loved you. Go out of the way for others. Give of your time, energy, and strength to be Christ to them, because this is the second commandment. I am convinced that if we do not know and live this second commandment, we truly do not understand and live out the first.

Dear friend, Christ has graciously loved you – Now go and love!

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.”

From Kosovo to Columbus

Posted on by Billy Holbrook

by Jeff Barkhouse, FNP

Serving in a ministry context in a predominately Muslim culture is not the logical preparation path for doing health care at MercyMed, but that is exactly the career trajectory that God had in store for me and my family as we transitioned back to the United States after living and working with Albanians in the Balkans for the last twenty years. I haven’t met many Albanian speakers here in Columbus, but I have met a number of people with whom I can share the hope I have in Christ. It turns out that there are hurting people everywhere, even back where you came from.

I worked as a Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner for 10 years in the U.S.A. before moving overseas to join a team of people seeking to plant a church among Albanian Muslims. While I thought I would be doing health care overseas, I found that what was needed was the more traditional ministry tasks of teaching, discipleship, and preaching.  In a society and culture with vastly more health clinics and pharmacies than churches the traditional ministry roles were a much more vital commodity than my health care background. So for twenty years I taught English, taught the Bible, preached, discipled, encouraged the fledgling church where we served, and, eventually was ordained for that work through the PCA.

As our ministry and family matured we felt the Lord’s leading to return to the States for the next phase in our lives. I was open to serving in a traditional ministry capacity, but those opportunities did not open up in Columbus where we wanted to settle, so I happily began looking at opportunities to work again as a nurse practitioner. After having served as a volunteer nurse at MercyMed when we were home on furlough in 2012, I naturally wondered whether there might be an opening for a rather out of practice nurse practitioner with lots of ministry experience. Dr. Scarborough was very gracious and generous to say he would help me in any way to get re-established as a nurse practitioner regardless of where I might end up working in the long run. That was all the indication I needed to know that MercyMed was, in fact, where I wanted to land.

So having been here now for the last two months I am excited about being re-trained as a nurse practitioner in a context where my ministry experience is not simply a historical career oddity but a valued asset in the patient care setting.  It turns out the team culture of ministry is consistent across geographical and cultural borders. So being a missionary in Kosovo is not too different than being a nurse practitioner in Columbus if you have the opportunity and freedom to do it in the name of Christ. I’m privileged to do so here at MercyMed.