CORRECTIVE PROCEDURES!
Plastic surgery is big business! Those who have lots of money can do many things to change their appearance to correct features that are not pleasant. Granted, many corrective surgeries are necessary. A young man attended our church who was very difficult to look at. He had two eyes but one was more toward the center of his forehead and the other very close to his right ear. He had many surgeries to bring his eyes more in line with his face. Of course this sounds extreme but I know that other surgeries have been performed that were even more extreme than this one. There are many talented and courageous Doctors in our world today, who help these people who have great deformities and physical needs.

I watched a segment on "The Doctor's TV show with Joan River's as their guest. Of course the topic was plastic surgery! She has had so many surgeries done to her face that now it is difficult for her to even smile normally. Her face is beautiful for a woman her age, but the skin is so taut that to smile she opens her mouth as though to take a bite of something. However, she is happy with the results and would do it all over again.

Botox and other smiliar injections will enhance your looks by puffing up the wrinkles, smoothing out the tissues and creating a younger look. We are so obsessed with the reflection in the mirror that we forget that what is inside, actually reflects our true beauty.

I am not saying that to change your nose, or replace your teeth and even correct the results of conditions that have caused the sagging of your face or the puffiness around your eyes is a bad thing. I am not saying that a child born with a clef palate shouldn't have this corrected. I am talking about things that are to keep us looking younger, more beautiful and attractive even when our bodies tell us that it is time to grow old. Growing old is not a bad thing; Growing old is a good thing! I know what it is like to grow old without using all the enhancements available on the market. I know what it is like to look in the mirror and face all the wrinkles, sageness, puffiness and knowing my age.

At one time God gave life with the possibility of living forever but that changed in the garden of Eden. After the flood, man's life span became shorter and shorter. Today the aveage life span is 70-80 years. By that time, I think it is close to being over and what God has promised is growing nearer and dearer.

Jim's Mom lived to be 90! Jim's oldest sister, lived to be 97! Jim could live to be 100! However, he too is looking forward to what God has promised. God is still performing surgery on Jim and me. Meanwhile, we are still smiling with all the muscles in our faces, even though the tone is pretty much gone. Our anticipation causes us to say; "Are we there yet?"

Jesus was faced with many situations where He did corrective surgery by just His touch, His spoken word and His presence. Remember the story at the pool of Bethesda? Many came who were blind, crippled and with other infirmities. They would sit around the pool waiting for an angel who would stir the waters. The first one into the water, when it began to move, would be healed! Jesus came along and saw a man who had been crippled for 38 years. jesus asked him; "Do you want to be made whole?" John 5:6b The man replied that as he tries to reach the pool, someone else gets there before him. Jesus said; "Rise, take up your bed and walk! And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked!" John 5:8-9 In verse 14 Jesus see's this man again and says to him; "Behold, you are made whole! Sin no more, or something worse could come upon you." What did Jesus mean? Sin no More! I believe it means that when Jesus healed this man's body He also forgave his sins. Today when God forgives us, it means He has saved our souls. His grace is sufficient! Jane Ann