Author: Wade McRoberts

I'm a follower of Jesus Christ. I graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1976 and served in the Air Force for 29 years. I flew the A-7D, the A-10A, the F-117A, and the F-16C. After retirement in 2005, I worked as a defense contractor. I was diagnosed with ALS in April, 2018. I received my tracheostomy in December, 2019, and have been breathing with the aid of a ventilator since. I have lost total use of my limbs, and write using a tablet with eye-gaze technology. I want to share my journey with you and share the hope that I have in the Lord Jesus!
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The Prodigal Son

So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’  And they began to celebrate.  (Luke 15:20-24, NASB)

Are you feeling like there’s no hope?  Jesus told a story about someone who felt hopeless.
This is the parable of The Prodigal Son.  Dr. Luke tells the story:  Jesus is hanging out with some sinners (I’m one!), and some Pharisees are grumbling.  So Jesus tells some parables.  There’s a man with two sons.  The younger son asks his father to give him his share of the father’s estate.  The son takes the money and runs away, then squanders the money on loose living.  He figures his best option is to return to his father, beg forgiveness, and ask to work as a hired hand.

As we see in the passage above, it’s the father who sees the son, then runs to the son with open arms.  The son asks for forgiveness, then the father welcomes him back with a celebration!  After the text above, the older son finds out what’s going on, and throws a tantrum.  The father explains that the younger son has returned and repented, hence the celebration.

Jesus’ story is full of symbolism, and is meant to tweak the Pharisees.  The father represents our Father God; the younger son a repentant sinner; and the older son a self-righteous, unrepentant person.  Among the takeaways from the story is that no matter what we’ve done in the world, no matter how bad, the Father is willing to forgive us, and/or take us back in His kingdom.  But there’s more to the story.

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The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Rembrandt van Rign, c. 1661-1669

In the parable, it’s the father who comes running to his son.  With arms open wide.  He hasn’t given up on his prodigal.  It’s the same relationship between us and God:  He never gives up on you and me!  Whether we’ve strayed in sin, or just haven’t met Him yet, God the Father is running to us, willing to forgive and take us in to His family.

This concept of God reaching out to us is seen in literature and art.  In a poem called “The Hound of Heaven,” the author tells of a hound in dogged (pun intended!), never-quit pursuit of a hare.  God chases after us in the same way.  On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican is Michelangelo’s famous painting.  The center portion, “The Creation of Adam, (shown below)” portrays God and Adam reaching toward each other.  At least one commentator has pointed out that it’s God exerting more of the effort.  God’s arm is outstretched, while Adam appears to be lazily reaching out.

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The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo, c. 1511 
I’m grateful that God hasn’t given up on me!  I praise Him for His relentless pursuit of me!  Thank you, Father!

Worship:  O Come to the Alter, by Elevation Worship 

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Who do You Say He Is?

Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”  Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  (John 20:27-29, NASB)

This passage of scripture, along with Simon Peter’s declaration that Jesus is “the Christ of God,” is among my favorites.  Once awhile back it provided me with an “AHA!” moment; a forehead-slapping “I coulda had a V8” moment.  Or you could just say the light came on.

The story takes place after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.  He had previously appeared before His disciples, but Thomas had been absent.  When told that the risen Lord had been with them, Thomas was skeptical, and said he would only believe if he could examine Jesus’ wounds.  When he finally saw the Lord, Thomas the Doubter became a believer!

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Caption:  The Incredulity of St Thomas, by Caravaggio, c. 1602


While growing up, my Mom and Dad did a good job of teaching me that Jesus was the Son of God.  But I needed that one extra push off the cliff to understand that Jesus is God!  For me, that changed everything.  Once a person is confronted with the statement that “Jesus is God,” he or she must make a decision:  He either IS God, or He isn’t.  I am convinced!  And since He IS God and Lord, I needed to start acting like it!

Some religions teach, and many other people believe, that Jesus was a good man, a great philosopher, or a mere prophet.  Those are all impossible.  Jesus claimed to be God.  He accepted worship as God.  The Temple authorities had Him executed for blasphemy because they understood He claimed to be God.  A good man, a great teacher or a prophet could never claim to be God.  Only God could!  One author said that the only choices about Jesus were that He was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord!

Jesus is my Lord and my God!  Who do you say He is?  Knowing this, I must study His commandments, and try my best to follow them.  Knowing Him and His promises of everlasting life gives me hope for today and tomorrow and all the days to follow!

Worship:   My Jesus, My Savior, by Hillsong Worship 

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Yom Kippur

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.  You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God . . . It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.”  (Leviticus 23:26-28, 32, NASB)

Yom Kippur begins tonight at sunset.  This is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.  Known as the Day of Atonement, it is meant to be a day of serious introspection and repentance.

Leviticus 23 details God’s commands for the annual religious festivals to be celebrated by His chosen people, which He spoke to Moses.  The text refers to them as “My appointed times,” to be “proclaimed as holy convocations.” (v. 2)  These include the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread; First Fruits; Pentecost; the Feast of Trumpets; the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur); and the Feast of  Booths.  All these holy days were celebrated by Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah) during His time on the earth.

It’s awesome to consider God’s appointed times.  The Creator hung the billions and billions of stars in the sky (He knows them all by name!), as well as the sun and the moon.  He Who invented time put the celestial bodies where they are to help us earth beings navigate, and discern days, months and years.  Here in Leviticus 23, he used this calendar to appoint days to remember.

On this Day of Atonement for 2021, let’s remember this day as one which our Savior observed during His earthly ministry.  Let’s also wish our Jewish friends g’mar chatima tovah, which means “a good final sealing.”  A traditional Jewish belief is that a person’s fate is for the next year is sealed, or finalized on Yom Kippur. (see My Jewish Learning, “How to Greet Someone on Yom Kippur,” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-greet-someone-on-yom-kippur/

To learn more about Yom Kippur and how the appointed days point to Messiah, see the attached YouTube video (47:22 in length) by Pastor Paul Wilbur, below the music video.  
My hope is in the name of the Lord and in His promises!

Worship:  Kadosh (Holy), by Paul Wilbur 

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Alive Because of Grace!

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  (Ephesians 2:4-7, NASB)

God is certainly rich in mercy toward us.  The Bible is consistent in that we’re all sinners, and there’s nothing good in any of us humans.  This passage from Ephesians says that God is rich in His mercy toward us anyway.  Why?  Because He loves us!  You and me!

I’m constantly in awe that the Creator of the universe should have regard for me, a lowly sinner.  But His divine plan includes a way for us all to be forgiven of our sins, for reconciliation with Him, and to spend eternity with Him!  The Apostle Paul says here that even before we asked God for forgiveness, we were “dead in our transgressions.”  If you have become a follower of Jesus, then you’re now alive.  Forgiven.  Made new!

God is so holy that He could never stand for sin in His presence.  When He sees someone who’s accepted His gift of salvation, He sees His Son.  When we ask for salvation in the blood of Jesus, then we can approach God’s throne of grace, eligible to spend eternity with Him.

The passage also says that we are saved by grace. We’re not saved by anything we’ve done.  God’s grace, through His Son, is the only way to secure fellowship with Him.  As my friend and mentor, Brigadier General Dick Abel (USAF, Ret.) has always said, “It’s all about Jesus, and it’s all about grace.”  Period.

God loves us so much, that even when we were dead in our sin, He made a way for us to become alive:  Jesus.  Have you asked Him to be your Savior?  Being alive in Christ brings hope for the future!

Worship:  Alive, by Big Daddy Weave

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9/11

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  (Ephesians 6:10-13, NASB)

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary anniversary of the horrific attack on our homeland which killed almost 3,000 Americans, and launched the “War on Terror.”  The Apostle Paul reminds us that the conflicts we face are “not against flesh and blood,” but rather are against evil.  We commonly hear the term “Spiritual Warfare” when we talk about good versus evil.  The Bible talks about God’s angels striving against the forces of darkness.  I believe this is still going on today, and we are witnesses to such epic battles.

On this 9/11 I hope you’ll join me in praying for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and our Space Guardians; our first responders, our police and firefighters; and our health care professionals.  Please pray for the families of the above as well.  Pray for our Nation, that God would deliver us from our present troubles, and protect us from the forces of evil.

Many Americans today denigrate our Nation and wish to transform the very nature of our society.  But I believe we are the last, best hope of the world.  Why else would people risk life and limb to come here and join us?  Please pray for our Land.

If My people pray . . .

The Star Spangled Banner, sung by Sandi Patty

AL
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Wonders

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, And Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count.  (Psalm 40:5, NASB)

I was reading Psalm 40 one day, and Verse 5 caught my attention.  I read through the verse once, then read it again and again.  It hit me that there was a lot jam-packed in this one verse.  I wondered why I had never noticed it before.  There’s a lot to unpack.

Wonders:  The psalmist, King David, states that there are many wonders that the Lord (his God!) has done.  What are they?  I remember when I used to go out in the wee hours of the morning to get the newspaper.  I would take a moment to look up at the stars (He knows them all by name!) and marvel at God’s glory.  For half the year I could look north and see the Big Dipper, but the other half of the year it was obscured by our neighbor’s tree.  My view of the world is somewhat limited these days.  From my bed, where I spend most of my time, I can see one neighbor’s car, and that same tree.  The tree reminds me of those stars, but I try to look for God’s glory in everything.  The people I see (made in the image of God), the other windows I look through when I’m able to get out of bed.

God’s thoughts toward us:  The Bible says that God loves us so much that He gave His only Son as an acceptable sacrifice.  If we accept this gift from God, then we shall spend eternity with Him!  He has blessed me with wonderful earthly gifts as well:  A wonderful, loving wife; three terrific children, who all have great spouses; 12 wonderful grandchildren who don’t mind spending time with their Pops; a loving family; and wonderful friends who pray for me and encourage me.  I am a blessed man.  God has truly shown me favor.  “Thoughts toward us” indeed!  (As I write, it’s started to rain.  I can see the rain out my window, and hear the thunder.  More wonders!)

None to compare:  Who is like our God?  I don’t know what else to say.

Wonders and thoughts too numerous to count:  I think King David hit the nail on the head here.  If I try to count my blessings, I’ll run out of time.  I’m sure my list above doesn’t even scratch the surface.  I know that God has blessed me far beyond measure, and certainly well beyond what I deserve!
What a verse!  As I said, there’s a lot there.  When I become coherent in the morning, this verse is one of the first things I pray.  It sets my mind right to bless the Lord, and to express gratitude for all He’s done for me.  It also gives me hope for all that lies ahead.

Worship:  God of Wonders, by Third Day

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The Temple

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.  (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, NASB)

I’m fascinated with the ancient temples of Israel. First, there was the Tabernacle, built by Moses. Then came King Solomon’s Temple.  Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians when they conquered the nation of Judah.   The Temple was rebuilt (Zerubbabel’s Temple, or the Second Temple), was later expanded by Herod the Great, and was then known as Herod’s Temple, the Temple of Jesus’ day.  This Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.  The Tabernacle and the Temple were essentially scaled-down replicas of God’s dwelling place in heaven.  The verses above state that we are temples of God and that the Spirit of God, aka the Holy Spirit, dwells within us!

God directed Moses to build the Tabernacle, sort of a portable temple, for the Israelites to transport through the Sinai Peninsula during their 40 years of wandering.  God was very meticulous in His planning for the Tabernacle, giving Moses specific dimensions, and detailing the materials to be used.  God is not only a great Planner, He is a wonderful Logistician–He arranged for the Egyptians to provide all the materials to the Israelites before they left Egypt!

God was also very specific in His planning for the Temple.  While God didn’t allow King David to build the house for His name in Jerusalem, David collected all the materials that his son, King Solomon would use to construct the Temple.  As with the instructions for the Tabernacle, God also gave regulations as to sacrifices, who was allowed to enter and when, and prohibitions on defiling God’s dwelling place.

Did you know that God used the same careful planning when designing and constructing you?  The Bible says that God formed the first man, Adam, of dust from the ground.  The word “formed” here implies very meticulous, loving care.  That same detail is used to create all of us. Psalm 139 says that we were “fearfully and wonderfully made” in our mother’s wombs.  We are made in the image of God!  Does the knowledge that everyone you meet is God’s image-bearer change the way you see him or treat her?

So there are purposeful similarities between the Tabernacle, the Temple, and the human body:  Detailed, careful planning and construction; rules and regulations for care and maintenance; and they are all dwelling places of God!  I don’t know about you, but knowing that the Holy Spirit of God lives inside of this earth suit gives me pause to consider how I live.  The things I look at, what I listen to, etc.  God set up guard stations at the entrances to the Temple; so should I guard my entrances (eyes, ears, nose, and mouth)?  I don’t want to defile my Temple. I want the Holy Spirit to be comfortable in my Tabernacle!
Here’s food for thought:  Heaven may be defined as “the dwelling place of God.”  God dwells in me . . .

If you’re a follower of Jesus, if you’ve accepted God’s offer of salvation through His Son’s sacrifice, then the Holy Spirit lives in you.  There is hope in knowing that God loves me so much that He sent His Son for me and that He lives in me!  How about you?

Worship:   Take Me In (to the Holy of Holies), sung by Catherine Mullins

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Pray for Our Nation

If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:13-14, NASB)
Do the verses above remind you of something?  In the context of ancient Israel, God is sending a warning to His people.  If they lose their way, and forget about Him, then He will send drought, locusts to devour crops, or pestilence.  Only when His people repented would He heal their land. Indeed, this was the pattern during the era of the judges and kings of Israel:  Prosperity, complacency, devastation, repentance.  Rinse and repeat. Over and over again.

The same is happening in our nation today.  Hurricanes. Wildfires in the west.  A plague we call COVID-19 (and all its aftereffects). General lawlessness.  Rampant inflation.  A humiliating national defeat in Afghanistan.  A southern border which no longer exists.

We’ve seen what happens when God’s people pray.  After 9/11, houses of worship were packed. People prayed.  Soon after, our nation invaded Afghanistan to defeat the forces responsible for the attack on our homeland.  It was a swift victory. As life got back to normal, people stopped going to church. Our country then got bogged down in a war of attrition in Afghanistan.  Are the decrease in worship and difficulties in our nation connected? Does one cause the other?  We’re now in the 17th month of “15 days to flatten the curve” of this pandemic.  Houses of worship were closed for months during the “lock down.”  Now that they’re open again, attendance is significantly down. Have God’s people stopped praying?

What, then, can we do?  “If . . .  My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray . . . ”  God says He would heal the land and forgive His people if they would pray to Him and confess their sins.  How, then, should we pray?

The Old Testament has some examples of prayers for national repentance in ancient Israel. Prophets and kings would confess the areas in which the nation had fallen short (they self identified with the sins even though they were not guilty themselves); confessed their own sins; and asked God to forgive them, and restore the nation to its fellowship with Him. We can do the same!

I can confess my own sins.  I haven’t done enough in my life to fight for those to whom injustice is committed.  I haven’t written to my elected representatives enough to express what I feel they should do.  I’ve been entirely too complacent.  The Bible calls us to pray for those in authority, that is, those who are elected.  Why?  So that we will have a tranquil and peaceful life.  We can pray for those in the military and our first responders.  We should pray for peace and harmony in our land.  We should especially pray for revival, for a Great Awakening, that people would turn or return to God.

Many people blame some of our calamities on “global warming,” or “climate change.”  One pastor said, “Our problem isn’t global warming.  It’s God’s warning.  I find that when I pray for the nation, I’m left with a lot more hope.  Praying is certainly something I can do, even as I sit or lie here, not able to move!

Blessed is the nation whose God isthe Lord, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.  (Psalm 33:12, NASB)

Worship:  If My People Pray, sung by Avalon

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Bible Study

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.  (Psalm 119:11-16, NASB)

The title of Psalm 119 is “Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.”  The psalmist speaks of his delight in learning and obeying God’s commandments.  It’s a glorious poem, and it leaves no doubt as to the author’s desire to walk in total harmony with the Lord.

In my own experience, I’ve found that the best way to find out God’s precepts and testimonies is to read His Word. And I also find that the more I read, the more I want to know.

I spend about three to four hours on my eye-gaze tablet nearly every afternoon. I look through email and check a couple of websites, but I spend most of my time doing Bible study.  It’s been a real progression (or should I say REgression) from days past.

I used to do Bible study early in the morning before work.  As my ALS progressed, it became difficult, then impossible to hold a book and turn its pages.  At that point I began to read from my phone, using the YouVersion Bible app.  There are many good apps available, but I found many great Bible studies there. When I could no longer manipulate my phone, I began to use the internet on my TV, and bible.com, the website tied to YouVersion.  Later, I couldn’t work the TV remote control (oh no, a man without a remote!) so the next step was to have someone go to the website for me and play the audio for me. This was dissatisfying to me because I prefer to read at my own pace, and when I finished a chapter someone would have to come start the next one for me. When I received my tablet, I figured out how to log in to bible.com, and now I’m back to reading on my own.  I’ll be able to keep this arrangement going as long as my eyeballs can move, and my eyelids can stay open!

I miss turning the pages in my Bible, highlighting and making notes. It’s a study Bible, and I miss reading all the footnotes. But, as the cactus says on the realtor.com commercial, when noting that he has no legs, “Ya work with what ya have.”

There’s a way to do Bible study.  Sometimes it’s not the way you want to do it, but God’s Word is a blessing.  In the armor of God, it’s the sword.  I also find that the more I read, the more hope I find from God’s promises.  And that’s something to stand on!

Worship:  Thy Word, sung by Amy Grant

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Character Building

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (Romans 5:3-5, NASB)
It seems the Bible is full of contradictory ideas. For example:  In my weakness, I am strong; I’m not free until I’m a slave to Christ; and the eternal King, Who rules His subjects with love.  Now comes another strange idea:  That I should rejoice in my trials and tribulations!

One author suggests that ALS is a process of saying “goodbye.”  I’ve found this to be true. So far, I’ve said “goodbye,” to running; to golf (the overall golfing community has not looked back!); to driving; to making coffee in the morning and taking it to Sue; to going up and down stairs; to walking; to feeding myself; to eating and drinking altogether;  and to scratching (!).  Through all this, the apostle Paul says I’m to exult!

But Paul says our trials lead to perseverance; which begets proven character; which results in hope.  And, says Paul, hope doesn’t disappoint because of God’s love for us!  This sounds like character building to me, and my thinking is there must be an easier way to go about it!  But God is in control (praise His holy Name!), this is His plan for me, and I trust that it’s better than mine!  What I like most about this passage is that the end product is hope!

Someone once said that adversity doesn’t build character, but rather  reveals it. This is something I think about as I try to finish the race, and finish well.

Worship:   Reason, by Unspoken