Thursday, June 18, 2009

Conversations with Emma

(on our way home from VBS)
Emma: "Did you know that in Australia they call suckers 'lollies'?"
Me: "Like short for lollipop."
Emma: "Yeah."
Me: (singing) "Lollipop, lollipop, lifesaver, lollipop"
Emma: (obviously impressed) "You know a song for EVERYTHING!"

Thursday, June 11, 2009

June 10, 2009, 4 months post surgery

In spite of concerns that testing was beyond his limitations, Donard was able to complete follow-up tests on May 28th, and the surgeon reported that everything looked good from the surgery perspective. This gave him a green light with the insurance company to go back to work – if there is any available. He has not been strong enough to work before now but will give it a try beginning June 15. On June 3rd we learned that long-term disability was denied due to a glitch in timing of the surgery. It was a big disappointment but obviously not God’s plan. He has already been warned that he will likely be laid of after working two weeks.

In the medical arena, the doctors are now ready for him to resume chemo, but Donard is currently processing information and deciding if he is going to break away from mainstream treatments at MD Anderson and opt for an alternative. The last two chemo regimens left him very weak and with ongoing side effects that raise questions as to whether benefits of continuing such treatments outweigh the consequences. Surgery removed the immediate threat to his spinal cord, but there is still cancer in what remains of the rib that was partially removed, and there are also tumors in both lungs. Unless God chooses to heal miraculously, the battle is not over.

Getting the needed exercise to rebuild strength and stamina has been complicated by foot problems, back discomfort, and general, severe weakness. While Donard was specially blessed to be cough and sneeze-free for 3 months after surgery, that reprieve ended about a month ago with a relentless cough like Mendi and Misti and many others have had. After several nights with little or no sleep and a visit to the doctor, we discovered a combination of meds that helped him finally get some rest. A more recent complication is periodic extreme coughing spells laced with hard sneezes that give him no time to catch his breath and leave him exhausted. At four months post surgery, he has come a long way but is anxious to have more than one or two “good” days each week. Thankfully, today was one of those rare good days.

We are grateful for every expression of love and concern and for your continued prayers for wisdom, clear direction, and for the ability to see everything from God’s perspective. Needless to say, a miraculous healing would also be gladly welcomed.

"This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:21-23

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

pharisees


You don't want my perfection
all you ask of me is that I show up broken at your feet
you don't want my religion
you are looking for devotion that is more than just routine
so show me what it means

to take up my cross
and count it all as loss
all for the sake of knowing you
to bow my head and knees
and care for those in need
show me what it means
to follow you

if I become like a pharisee
passing by the needy while I'm speaking Jesus on my lips
will I walk with you on raging seas
will I turn away when you want more than what I want to give
so show me what it means, what it means


to take up my cross
and count it all as loss
all for the sake of knowing you
to bow my head and knees
and care for those in need
show me what it means
to follow you

to love as you love
and live as you lived
to never give up on giving you my life
to love as you love
and live as you lived
to find out what it means to be a light, to be a light

to take up my cross
and count it all as loss
all for the sake of knowing you
to bow my head and knees
and care for those in need
show me what it means
to follow you

I will follow you
I will follow you
show me what it means
I will follow you
Meredith Andrews "Show Me What it Means"


I've had this draft saved for awhile, I'm not sure why I hadn't published it yet but I remembered it during our church's afternoon service on Sunday. A group of our young people went to SMITE last week and a song was used in the service that reminded me of my post.

How many times have we in seeking favor with God refused to "associate" with people who appeared less "spiritual" than we? Just because a a brother or sister in Christ doesn't share the same views we do doesn't mean we should not allow ourselves to associate with them. I know that I myself have told my brothers to be careful who they hang out with because I don't want the wrong kinds of people influencing them. However we must be careful to not hold other members of the body of Christ at arm's length just because we don't agree with them over some trivial matter.

Sometimes we even hide away from the lost world in our attempt to be different and "set apart". Jesus ate with the sinners did he not? He didn't only choose to visit with the good church people but He spent time with those who the pharisees despised. In Matthew 15:24 He said "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Sometimes God calls us to befriend the friendless. You may never know what your friendship could mean to someone who is hurting and how you can touch them for Christ by reaching out to them. The lost world doesn't want snotty religious Christians who pride themselves in looking "different" from the world...they want people who care and have answers to the questions that all of us face. Some would think that if your family doesn't follow the perfect little Christian mold that you are a failure as an example to others. I don't think so. I think that it gives you more of an advantage because they know you've BEEN there. You've felt those same emotions they have, you've had those same problems and yet you have an answer for the hope that lies within you.

This is the song that was used in the background of the photo slideshow from their week. Click this link to listen to the song (it's not a professional recording).

He walked along the shores of Galilee
From clay He formed the healing bond
That caused the blind to see
When stones of wrath weighed heavy in their hands
He knelt to write His mercy in the sand
Jesus came to set the captives free
Showed us by the way He lived
The way we need to be
All love is more than words can ever say
We must touch them with compassion
To help them find their way

Chorus:
How can we reach a world we never touch
How can we show them Christ if we never show them love
Just to say we care will never be enough
How can we reach a world we never touch

Verse 2:
Could we so busy being saved
Trying to impress a world
That's long since lost it's way
We pride ourselves in being set apart
Yet we don't take time to touch a broken heart
Even if we found the time to care
Would we take the risk involved in always being there
Oh we hold the very thing they need so much
Sometimes the Word of God can pass through just a simple touch


Chorus

Verse 3:
We hide behind these walls
And the security of friends
While beyond the stain glass windows
The world is lost in sin


Chorus