WRITE IT DOWN

Several years ago, it occurred to me that I was not immortal! Yes! So I started writing down some things I wanted my grandchildren to hear from me! This is the way I started a notebook of my stuff for them:
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If I should croak, what would I like to leave for you Clark, In Hebrews ll.4 the Bible says in part, "he still speaks, even though he is dead." So I want to "speak" to you, even if I am dead. Nice thought. So what shall I leave for you? My tennis racket? My camera? Camping equipment? Windsurfer? BAH! You already have plenty of toys. I would like to leave you something far more valuable than that. Like WHAT!? Like a written treasure, a "map" if you will, to things that really count. A "mind map". The Bible says that a man is what he thinks.

Therefore, the greatest thing I could ever leave you is to help, challenge, direct, cajole, influence and guide you toTHINK RIGHT. That is what I shall attempt to do forthwith...ah, that means, like right now! Much will be simply a reminder of what you already know.

"REMEMBER"..is listed 220 times in the concordance, plus some 25 occurrences of "call to mind, put in mind, renew your mind" etc. For example: 2 Pet 1.12-15.."--put you in remembrance...stir you up...moreover, I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure (death) you may be able to call these things to mind." 2 Pet 3.1 "...I am writing to you - to stir up your sincere mind, by way of reminder." Jude 5 "Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things..." Romans 12.1 "...by the renewing of your mind..." Titus 3.1 "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates.....to be ready for every good work...to speak evil of no man."

These verses motivate me to proceed with a long-time desire to put in writing some "things" which I feel should be in your vat. So I offer you Clark, these writings with this purpose: "That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of Him." Col 1.10. That is my prayer for you, pal.

So here are some "vital" things, which over many years, have become strong convictions to me. Things that are not just important, but actually "VITAL". Things that I really would love to share with you personally, but in case I don't get that privilege I want you to have it in writing. They are not necessarily in order of importance. So, lets start with---

T H E  V A T -------

"AS A MAN THINKS IN HIMSELF, SO HE IS." Proverbs 23.7

ITS ALL IN THERE, in your "vat.!" Science tells us that every input to our minds, sticks. There is then an enormous growing pool of facts and information in our minds, ("The Vat") most of which is subconscious, with only a thin portion at the top available to us as "conscious recall".

There are incredibly important and far-reaching ramifications of this fact, since "we are what we think." Picture your mind as a huge "vat" with a large pipe of "inputs" representing everything we hear, see, smell, read, and experience flowing every waking moment into "the vat". The thin line on the top of the vat represents voluntary recall, and the little pipe on the right representing "output". Inside is a "processor" or mixer' if you will, representing the manipulation of what is there, as in making decisions, coming to conclusions, response to trials, the way we treat our wives, attitudes, behavior, and more.

How are you going to "load" your vat with accurate information? How do I do it as an Anesthesiologist? Several ways, but mostly by reading. Reading what? Authors that I believe to be authorities in my field, ones with training plus wisdom plus experience. I also listen to other competent anesthesiologists, plus my own 35 years ofexperience. The practice of anesthesiology is largely a matter of making correct decisions, some of which are clearly "life and death" matters. These decisions must be made on the basis of what is in the vat.

Let's suppose that in my training and experience, I had no input on diabetes! What would the consequences be? Well, if I never had a seriously ill diabetic patient, NONE. But if I did, when my patient goes into diabetic coma, I would be totally unable to make life saving decisions. Perhaps a lucky guess would be enough?! (Would you want to take that gamble?)

That is the concept I want to develop in your thinking. I believe it is more than important -- it is utterly VITAL.

Sometimes what you need is not up at the conscious recall level when you need it, that is, you have "forgotten." So you turn on the ole "mixer" to stir up your memory until you think you know how to proceed. However, what comes up first may not be the best solution, or even the right one. So you need wisdom, a "discerner", something to help you evaluate the facts you have available. Note that you can only call up the facts that are already in the vat! But assuming you have true facts in there, then you still need wisdom to use them effectively. For that you need a "WISDOM CHIP."

After the data is put in the vat, it is mixed with everything else and "evaluated". One cannot get out anything that is not first `input'. And if you have put "garbage in", you will get "garbage out." At this point you need a "wisdom chip" in order to come up with the right decisions. And where do you get that "chip"? ---a "chip" is a computer term for a part of the computer that actually does the work, routes and analyzes the information. James 1.5 tells where to get this--there is just one place that has them. The designer Himself will install it for you. But once installed, it can be taken out of your circuit with a single key stroke..by simply defaulting to using your own judgment. (Not smart, but very common.) This "wisdom chip" is the necessary part of your mind's computer. Anyone can accumulate knowledge, but it takes wisdom from God to make your choices pleasing to God.

Love you!