SHERLOCK7541’s Profile

About Me

Retired 1990; SSDI 8-1-95; YALE BSEE Magna 1963; NOT married since 1993; live alone in elderly housing for seniors & disabled since 2004. Hospitalized with "inflamation of the spinal cord" 3 months in 1970; told that my symptoms were consistent with a Dx of MS in 1974; officially diagnosed (with MRI) 2/17/93; recently Dx'ed with Periferal Neuropathy. Common vision problems; breathing difficulties last 5 years. My strong belief in Jesus Christ is my salvation in my life......The following is from a talk on CHRISTIAN ACTION I gave on a Tres Dias weekend in November 2003:: PLEASE PRAY WITH ME, MY BROTHERS... “DEAR GOD, MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATIONS OF OUR HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT O LORD, OUR ROCK AND OUR REDEEMER. AMEN. PSALM 19, VERSE 14 THIS PASSAGE WAS RECITED PRIOR TO EVERY SERMON, BY THE MINISTER OF MY HOMETOWN CHURCH IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, DURING MY CHILDHOOD, and ADOLESCENCE. AS A YOUTH, MY MOTHER ALWAYS SAW TO IT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND CHURCH. AND, WE ALL ATTENDED CHURCH UNLESS WE WERE TOO SICK TO GET OUT OF BED. GOOD AFTERNOON, MY BROTHERS !!! MY NAME IS BILL HOLME. I WORSHIP AT THE CHURCH of BETHEL IN BETHEL, CONNECTICUT. THIS ROLLO IS ABOUT CHRISTIAN ACTION YOU WILL RECALL THAT THE FIRST TWO LEGS OF THE STOOL ARE: PIETY AND STUDY. IN THE PIETY ROLLO, BOB HUBBARD DISCUSSED HOW PIETY MANIFESTS THE CHRISTIAN QUALITIES OF LIFE. IN THE STUDY ROLLO, YOU WERE TAUGHT BY BRUCE MCLEOD THAT WE CAN ALL COME TO KNOW AND OBEY GOD IN CHRIST THROUGH THE WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WORD OF THE BIBLE. NOW, YOU WILL LEARN THAT THROUGH CHRISTIAN ACTION, WE CAN COME TO KNOW CHRIST THROUGH THE LOVING ACTS OF HIS PEOPLE. CHRIST IS IN OUR BROTHER AND SISTER. HE MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN IN THE LIFE TRIALS AND JOYS, STRUGGLES AND VICTORIES, TEMPTATIONS AND TRIUMPHS THROUGH WHICH WE PASS. GOD OFTEN AFFIRMS OUR PIETY AND AND STUDY BY THE RESPONSES OF OTHERS TO OUR CHRISTIAN ACTION. WE SEE CHRIST IN IN OURSELVES WHEN HE IS REFLECTED IN OTHERS. CHRISTIAN ACTION IS TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN. THERE IS A SECOND REASON FOR ACTION. WE HAVE BEEN LOVED: WE CANNOT HOLD IT IN. WE LOVE BECAUSE CHRIST FIRST LOVED US. FAITH COMES ALIVE IN ACTION, ACTION COMES ALIVE IN FAITH. CHRISTIAN ACTION SPEAKS OF MINISTRY. AS THE LOVING WORK OF THE WHOLE CHURCH AND OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN. JESUS SAYS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN IS A MINISTER AND HAS A MINISTRY. CHRISTIAN ACTION SPEAKS OF SERVICE. SERVICE IS THE SHARING OF CHRIST IN DEEDS AND LOVE AND MERCY. CHRISTIAN ACTION SPEAKS OF BEING A NEIGHBOR AS ONE WHO DWELLS WITH ANOTHER IN JUSTICE, LOVE AND SENSITIVITY. IT SETS NO LIMITS ON THE CLASSIC QUESTION: “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR ?” EXCEPT TO SAY THAT YOU HAVE NO NEIGHBOR UNTIL YOU ARE ONE YOURSELF. IT SPEAKS OF SEEING A FRIEND.....THAT OTHER PERSON, FRIEND OR ENEMY, NEAR OR FAR, IS POTENTIALLY YOUR FRIEND IN CHRIST. EACH IS ALREADY CHRIST’S FRIEND. HE STANDS THERE WITH THEM. BEING A FRIEND.....CHRIST IS THE ONE FOR OTHERS. BEING A FRIEND MEANS THAT WE ARE FOR OTHERS ALSO. A FRIEND STANDS ALONG SIDE, RESPONDS, IS PRESENT FOR ANOTHER, SEES THE WARMTH AND GRACE IN ANOTHER’S LIFE, CELEBRATES THE GIFTS, AND FEELS THE PAIN. AND SHARING CHRIST WITH YOUR FRIEND.....IN CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP WE QUITE LITERALLY AND TANGIBLY SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE WITH OTHERS. WE ARE IN AN AWESOME SENSE, IN PART AT LEAST, CHRIST TO ONE ANOTHER. AT TIMES WE MAY SHARE HIM OPENLY WITH SPOKEN WORDS IN JESUS’ NAME. AT OTHER TIMES, OUR WORDS AND DEEDS MUST SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US IN WAYS SO THAT WE CAN BEAR WITNESS TO OUR FAITH; THROUGH THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT WE FORM. JESUS DESIRES TO BE OUR FRIEND NO MATTER WHAT OUR FEELINGS ARE. IN John 15:14 CHRIST SAYS You are my friends if you do what I command. AND JESUS’ COMMAND TO US IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER HOW DOES JESUS EXPRESS HIS FRIENDSHIP FOR US ? FIRST, CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR US: HE DIED FOR US WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS. ROMANS 5 VERSES 7 & 8 STATES: Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. SECOND: He takes the initiative in the relationship. IN John 15:16, THE BIBLE STATES: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. THIRD: IN John 15:15 THE BIBLE STATES: I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. WE ARE ALL CALLED AS PART OF OUR CHRISTIAN ACTION...... ........TO PASS IT ON. WHAT ARE WE TO PASS ON ? THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST ! ! JESUS HAS CALLED EACH OF US TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL MEN. WE GET ALL OF THE BAD NEWS WE NEED ON TELEVISION, ON THE RADIO, IN OUR NEWSPAPERS, OR ON THE INTERNET. JESUS HAS CALLED US TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS. AND, IT HAS BEEN CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED THAT THERE IS ENOUGH GOOD NEWS TO ENABLE THE CHURCH TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE NEXT 1, 000 YEARS. AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EFFECT CHANGES FOR GOD’S PURPOSES BY PASSING ON GOD’S LOVE. WHAT ARE GOD’s PURPOSES FOR ME ? WE LEARN GOD’s PURPOSES FOR OUR LIVES ON OUR WALK WITH JESUS. ON THIS WEEKEND WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT PIETY, STUDY and, NOW, ACTION. THESE ARE THE TOOLS WE WILL USE IN OUR WALK WITH JESUS. IN ALL OF THE ROLLOS, YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE POWER OF PRAYING WITH JESUS AS WE WALK OUR WALK WITH HIM. WHAT ARE THE DISCIPLINES FOR CHRISTIAN ACTION ? ALL DISCOVERIES OF CHRIST BEGIN BY SEEING THEM IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S LOVE: HIS LOVE FOR US, AND OUR LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR, AND OURSELVES. WHAT AMAZES ME MOST IS THAT RELYING ALMOST COMPLETELY ON GOD’S SUPPORT, THROUGH PRAYER, ENABLES ME TO SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING AROUND ME MORE CLEARLY THAN EVER BEFORE. NOW, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, SOME OF MY EXPERIENCES IN IN PASSING IT ON. I HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IS A CHRONIC, OFTEN DISABLING DISEASE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. SYMPTOMS MAY BE MILD -- SUCH AS NUMBNESS IN THE LIMBS; OR SEVERE -- SUCH AS PARALYSIS OR LOSS OF VISION. I RECENTLY UNDERWENT ANOTHER URINARY TRACT INFECTION. I HAD TO GET UP MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. ON MY LAST TRIP, I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH WEAKNESS, AND FELL ON THE WAY BACK TO MY BED. I WAS PARALYZED AND COULD NOT STAND BACK UP. I CRAWLED BACK TO MY BEDROOM AND CRAWLED BACK INTO BED. THIS CONDITION MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN.... ......AND OFTEN IS.. ...PERMANENT. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WITH M. S. – THE ONLY THING THAT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY KNOWS FOR SURE ABOUT M. S.. .........IS THAT THEY DON’T KNOW ANYTHING FOR SURE . I WAS FIRST HOSPITALIZED IN HARTFORD HOSPITAL IN 1970 WITH “INFLAMMATION OF THE SPINAL CORD”. DURING MY FIRST WEEK OF COMPLETE BED REST, THE NEUROLOGIST CAME INTO MY ROOM ONCE DAILY, TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THE PREVIOUS DAY’S TESTS WERE NEGATIVE AND POKED ME WITH A PIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT UP TO WHERE I COULD FEEL THE PIN PRICKS. DURING ONE 2 - 3 DAY PERIOD, WHEN I COULD LIFT NEITHER LEG OFF THE MATTRESS, I DIDN’T FEEL THE PIN UNTIL IT GOT UP TO MY RIB CAGE. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I ASKED IF I COULD HAVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. I DIDN’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT M. S. AT THE TIME; EXCEPT THAT I HAD KNOWN A GIRL IN ABOUT 1965 WHO HAD PROGRESSIVELY LOST CONTROL OF HER VARIOUS BODILY FUNCTIONS AND SUBSEQUENTLY DIED..... ......FROM WHAT THEY CONFIRMED AT THE AUTOPSY WAS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS. I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT M. S. WAS INDEED A POSSIBILITY. AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO THE LORD IN PRAYER. ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT LIVED A LIFE MODELED AFTER CHRIST’S EXAMPLE, AND HAD NOT BEEN LOYAL TO MY FAITH NOR TO THE LORD, I DID WALK OUT OF THAT HOSPITAL AFTER THREE WEEKS IN REHAB AND WENT BACK TO WORK FOR 20 YEARS......PRAISE GOD ! ! ! I MENTION THIS BECAUSE I HEARD IN A SERMON NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT CHRISTIANITY IS BASED ON THE PERSON OF CHRIST.....AND NOT SIMPLY ON CHRIST’S TEACHINGS. AND, AS MY LOCAL PASTOR QUOTED RECENTLY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISSI “ALWAYS PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, AND, IF NECESSARY, USE WORDS.” AND, ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT LOYAL TO CHRIST, HE OBVIOUSLY NEVER FORGOT ABOUT ME. MY NEUROLOGIST TELLS ME THAT I HAVE THE PRIMARY PROGRESSIVE FORM OF M. S., WHICH MEANS THAT I AM GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE AND WORSE....... ....OR MORE & MORE DISABLED. IT’S KIND OF LIKE WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO FALL. YOU’RE JUST NEVER SURE HOW YOU WILL WAKE UP IN THE MORNING. RECENTLY, IN A DISCIPLE STUDY AT MY CHURCH, WE LEARNED THAT “DISCIPLES UNDERSTAND THEIR MINISTRY AS A CALL TO SELF-DENIAL AND SUFFERING.” SUFFERING IS A PART OF MOST OF OUR LIVES, SOONER OR LATER. IT COMES IN MANY FORMS – PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL. IT IS PROVOKED BY DIS - EASE OF THE BODY OR THE MIND. WE MAY BRING IT ON OURSELVES; IT MAY BE CAUSED BY OTHERS. BUT IS SUFFERING OF CHRISTIANS DIFFERENT FROM THE SUFFERING OF ANY HUMAN BEING ? IF SO, THEN HOW ? WHAT MAKES SUFFERING A MARK OF DISCIPLESHIP, RATHER THAN JUST A PIECE OF EVERYONE’S HUMAN LIFE EXPERIENCE ? MAYBE IT’S NOT THE SUFFERING THAT’S DIFFERENT, BUT THE SPIRIT WITH WHICH ONE MEETS IT. MAYBE THE CHRISTIAN IS CALLED TO EMBRACE AND ACCEPT HIS OR HER SUFFERING, AND TO SEE IT AS A SHARING IN GOD’S SUFFERING FOR THE BROKEN-NESS OF THE WORLD. THE CAUSE OF MY SUFFERING AS A CHRISTIAN MIGHT BE THE SAME AS THE CAUSE OF MY UNBELIEVING NEIGHBOR’S SUFFERING, BUT IF I CAN ACCEPT IT AS MY PIECE OF THE CROSS, MAYBE I CAN TRANSFORM ITS MEANING – AND INDEED MAKE IT MEANINGFUL RATHER THAN MEANINGLESS. MAYBE IT CAN EVEN BECOME REDEMPTIVE. I TRY NOT TO DWELL ON THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN BUT ATTEMPT TO LIVE EACH DAY AS A LIVING WITNESS TO THE POWER OF JESUS CHRIST AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT. AND, MY NEUROLOGIST ALSO SAYS THAT I HAVE BEEN ON A PLATEAU FOR ABOUT 3 - 4 YEARS NOW. MY PLATEAU MAY ALSO BE SEEN AS A STATE (OR PERIOD) OF GRACE AS WAS SO ADMIRABLY DESCRIBED BY CHRISTOPHER LEIGHTON IN HIS GRACE ROLLO. IT IS DEFINITELY A GIFT FROM GOD. IN MY NIV STUDY BIBLE, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT PAUL’s AFFLICTION, IT STATES THAT “LIVING WITH SUCH AN AFFLICTION WAS A BETTER SOLUTION FOR GOD’S PURPOSES THAN TO REMOVE ‘PAUL’S THORN’”. As Paul’s affliction is referred to in the Bible. UNION WITH THE LIVING, EXALTED CHRIST IS THE SECRET OF BEING CONTENT, AND THE SOURCE OF PAUL’S ABIDING STRENGTH AND HUMAN WEAKNESS PROVIDES THE IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DISPLAY OF DIVINE POWER. THE LORD HAS NEVER GIVEN ME MORE TO HANDLE THAN I COULD DEAL WITH......WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT HAS BEEN WHEN I DIDN’T CALL ON THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT TROUBLE DEVELOPED. MANY TIMES I FEEL LIKE I AM BEING A PEST AND THAT I CALL ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TOO OFTEN; BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH M. S. – IF YOU DON’T USE IT, IT WILL ATROPHY. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AS GOD’S AGENT IN A TEMPORAL AND MATERIAL SOCIETY ? HOW DO YOU RELATE TO YOUR SECULAR ENVIRONMENT ? MAYBE YOU THOUGHT “WHEN I BECOME A CHRISTIAN, GOD WILL REMOVE ME FROM THE WORLD WITH ALL OF ITS LURES AND VICES AND EVIL. BUT CHRIST ACTUALLY PRAYED TO GOD THE FATHER IN John 17:15 - “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” AND IN MATTHEW 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, AND WITH THIS GREAT COMMISSION, JESUS SENT HIS DISCIPLES INTO THE WORLD. AND, ALL OF LIFE, WHERE GOD HAS PLACED YOU, IS THE ARENA OF YOUR MINISTRY....... ........OR, YOUR CALLING. WHAT EVER AND WHERE EVER YOUR ARENA IS, IS THE ARENA GOD CALLS YOU TO SERVE. WE NEED MINISTERS OF JESUS CHRIST IN ALL PLACES. IT PROBABLY SAYS SOMEWHERE IN YOUR CHURCH, OR MAYBE IN YOUR WORSHIP SERVICE BULLETIN........ - WE ENTER TO WORSHIP - WE DEPART TO SERVE. YOUR CHURCH SERVICE MAY BE FROM 11 A.M. SUNDAY MORNING UNTIL 12 NOON, DEPENDING ON HOW INSPIRED YOUR PASTOR IS THAT PARTICULAR SUNDAY. BUT YOUR SERVICE BEGINS AT 12 NOON; - AFTER THE BENEDICTION. EACH DAY WE HAVE COUNTLESS OPPORTUNITIES TO BE FORGIVING AND TO BE LOVING. WE ARE MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF GOD LIVING AMONG PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF EARTH. WHAT HAS GOD CALLED US TO DO ? WHATEVER IT IS, WE WILL NOT MAKE MUCH OF AN IMPACT UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO LIVE IN A SACRIFICIAL WAY. - I MUST BE WILLING TO BE A SERVANT TO MY NEIGHBOR - THIS MEANS THAT I MAY NOT ALWAYS GET MY OWN WAY.... - I MUST BE WILLING TO CLEAN UP SOMEBODY ELSE’S MESS........ - I WILL ACCEPT INSULT FROM THE OTHER PERSON.......AND SPEAK BACK WITH KINDNESS. JESUS SAID.....AS THE FATHER SENDS ME INTO THE WORLD; SO ALSO I SEND THEM INTO THE WORLD. HOW DID THE FATHER SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD ? - WITH ALL OF THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE. HOW DOES JESUS SEND US ? - WITH ALL OF THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE....... ....NOT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH; ......BY NO MEANS ! ! ! BUT IN THE STRENGTH AND POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT A VERY DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WHO PASSED AWAY MAY 8, 2000 AFTER A VALIANT STRUGGLE WITH LUNG CANCER. NEXT TO THE TELEPHONE IN HER KITCHEN SHE HAD POSTED THE FOLLOWING reminder TO HERSELF: “WE ARE ALWAYS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE........ ........HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY ? “ .........AND, NOW MY BROTHERS, I ASK YOU....... .....HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE TODAY ? TOMORROW ? THE NEXT DAY ? THE LORD IS CALLING YOU TO PASS IT ON ! ! ! DES COLORES !!!

Interests

COMPUTERS - I have a routine which I purchased in the 1980's for $19.95 which allows me to create a jigsaw puzzle from anything on my computer screen. it's called "brainsbreaker" from brainsbreaker.com. I have found out recently that doing jigsaw puzzles is as greast way to fight the mental decline which comes with Multiple Sclerosis.