I am on week four of my decompression table sessions.

The purpose of the decompression table is, of course, to remedy a compressed nerve, which has been pressed down by its surrounding bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons and can be caused by a host of issues—from repetitive movements to injury or trauma to body changes.

So how does it work? 

Well, for starters, before you even get on the table, you have to stop doing anything that will continue or exacerbate the compression. Then they strap you in. 

The first five sessions are warm-ups, to gradually get your muscles used to the movement so that they don’t fight it. After that the fun begins. Sort of like a roller coaster, the table begins to stretch you in increments, then release you a bit, then stretch you again. Thirty minutes. (I think I’m taller now.)

The idea is not necessarily to recreate all that space between your vertebrae. Though that would be nice, that won’t happen though you will gain some. The idea is to get the disc, that rubbery cushion pad, to start working again. It is your shock absorber. When the disc is compressed it won’t re-inflate. It stays flat. So now it needs to be taught to compress and then decompress. Back and forth. Back and forth.

We are both physical and spiritual beings and because of God's infinite wisdom, the lessons of the body translate to lessons of the spirit. 

How often do we feel compressed by the worries and demands of this life until the weight or pain of it is difficult to bear and we find ourselves immobilized, unable to move. In this case, our faith has been paralyzed. And just like a compressed nerve, we must take the same action. First, stop what we are doing and rest. Then we begin decompression sessions to rehydrate and reteach our “disc of faith” how to move. And the only way to do that is to get back in touch with God. He tells us as much. 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7 

God was not in the powerful wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a "low whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12 

Deuteronomy provides a wonderful verse to help us decompress and revitalize our faith. (emphasis mine)

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God. He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

So if you feel your faith has been compressed. If you are burdened by the weight of the world, then lay on your spiritual decompression table. Breathe in his faithfulness, breath our your love and obedience. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And your disc of faith will be restored.

The flags are at half mast for a week, but her legacy and spirit will go on forever.

Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean — January 19, 1946 – August 25, 2026 — age 80

Everywhere you look there are remembrances of Dolly: tributes, Facebook posts. She was so many things to so many people. But you know the first thing that came to mind when I heard of her passing?

It was when someone thinks of America, I want them to think of Dolly Parton. 

Yes, we have had extraordinary military and political leaders. We have had trailblazers on so many fronts: civil rights, space, science. 

But Dolly embodied ALL of what is good in a person. 

She was kind.

She was a true rags to riches story — the embodiment of the American dream — she showed that with hard work and optimism you can achieve your dreams.

She never bemoaned her poor upbringing but used it to spur her on, and she celebrated her large, loving family.

Despite her wealth and success, she was humble and self-effacing.

She was never envious of others’ success. Rather she would help others be successful.

She used her fame and fortune for the good it might do for others, not for what it could do for herself.

She valued and loved her family and her marriage and nurtured and respected their privacy. 

And she embraced her faith. Though she never advertised it, neither did she shy away from talking or singing about it. It defined her very being.

Dollywood will continue to entertain millions; Imagination Library will continue to put books into little ones’ hands, encouraging them to become readers; and her songs and movies and quotes will continue to keep Dolly alive in our hearts.

Below is one of my favorite songs that Dolly sang with Zach Williams—“There was Jesus.”

​Now Dolly is singing “There is Jesus.”

I enjoy playing online Mahjong. The site I use provides a quote each time you open the app. Some promote the app, most are inspiring, but NOT the following one.

“The purpose of our lives is to be happy.” Anonymous

How many people’s lives has been destroyed because of that statement? How many people have encountered unhappiness on their quest to be happy, believing happiness is the ultimate condition? And if they achieve one of the following, then they will have a happy and purposeful life.

Money will make me happy.
This relationship will make me happy.
This promotion or that job will make me happy.
A new house. A victory.
Whatever is on the list that we believe will make us happy.

But the Bible teaches us two things. First, that God does want us to be happy; and second, happiness is not a goal we can achieve but rather it is a byproduct of our relationship with God.

God knows that the things of this world will only satisfy so much — not fully.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

The pursuits of this world can be destroyed or stolen. They are at risk.

Conversely, the Bible teaches that our happiness is completely wrapped up in our reliance, our obedience, our relationship with God.

"Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:15

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed [happy] is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

Most of us don’t realize the trap of those earthly pursuits until we have actually achieved one, and then realize the emptiness that accompanies it. Take for instance the following statements:

Tom Brady after winning his third Super Bowl and realizing the trophy did not provide a sense of fulfillment asked —“Is this what it’s all about?”

Michael Phelps would fall into severe depression after almost every Olympic Competition.

Even Christian Scottie Scheffler said that after winning an important tournament that it was “awesome . . . for about two minutes,” and then it was on to the next tournament.

Yes, we can aspire to achieve our goals, but let’s not make the mistake of believing those achievements will provide lasting happiness. Only God can do that.

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” Psalm 107:9

I am not a patient person. I would like to think I am, but I have discovered my patience extends just as far as my schedule will allow. Once the “testing” period butts up against my plans, my impatience surfaces.

Which is why these past couple of weeks have been a real trial for me. 

I have been dealing with a pinched nerve in my lower back which is causing incredible pain down my right leg. X-rays have revealed where the problem is but only time and manipulation will solve it. 

I have had back problems ever since I stopped playing tennis. It seems once I quit, the stronger muscles on one side started pulling the now “less used” muscles from the other thereby slowly moving my spine out of place. A back seizure revealed this, and the chiropractor prescribed a series of exercises to correct the issue. The problem was the longer I felt good, the less I did the exercises. Which brings me to the present. The back misalignment is now worse than it was. 

And so is the recovery time.

And so here I am. Having to be patient. Already having had to cancel events that I wanted to participate in and wondering if I am going to have to cancel more in the future. I don’t want to BUT--

I thank God for his loving hand, for if this episode hadn’t occurred, I would have continued forgoing my exercises until perhaps the misalignment was too much to overcome.

The devotional I read the morning I was writing this blog confirmed this. It talked about Jesus receiving Mary and Martha’s plea for him to come and save their brother but choosing to wait two days before going. And in that time Lazarus died. Two passages stood out to me.

First, “At the very heart and foundation of all God’s dealings with us, however dark and mysterious they may be, we must dare to believe in and assert the infinite, unmerited, and unchanging love of God. Love permits pain.”

And second, “Who can estimate how much we owe to suffering and pain? But for them we should have little scope for many of the chief virtues of the Christian life. Where were faith, without trial to test it; or patience, with nothing to bear; or experience, without tribulation to develop it.”

But for both, Jesus would never have died on the cross.

​Streams in the Desert: Volume 1. August 10. pp.. 234-235. 

It just seemed like yesterday that I was trudging through Numbers, and now here I am again. But just like last time, just when I thought the book had nothing really to offer me, I come across chapter 21, and the bronze snake.

For those not familiar with the story, the Israelites had just defeated the Canaanites and were working their way around the country of Edom when—surprise, surprise—they started grumbling against Moses and God, accusing them of bringing them into the desert to die. Then they complained about not having enough water and having terrible food.

In response to their ungratefulness (and lack of memory over what God had done for them) God sent poisonous snakes, which killed a lot of people. The people then came back to Moses and repented and asked God to take away the snakes.

Well, he didn’t. The snakes remained, but he did tell Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then if someone was bitten, if that person looked at the bronze snake he would live.

A number of things stood out to me. First, that God did not answer their request to remove the snakes. The consequences of their disbelief would remain. BUT the salvation from those consequences was there if they would 1) have faith in the remedy, and 2) obey by looking up at it.

All scholars agree that the bronze snake is a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We have all sinned and, as a result of that sin, we are going to die. (Romans 3:23; 6:23a) And, as much as we would like to avoid the consequences of our sins, we will not. However, if we will believe in the remedy, the sacrifice of Jesus, on the cross, and accept his sacrifice, and allow him to rule our life, then eternal life is ours (Romans 6:23b; John 3:16).

We will live.

​Forever.