Saturday, September 28

For my many friends who look forward to the weekend, it is here!
You've heard me say before that I might look forward to Sunday for a different reason than others, but  hey Jack, we do have this in common. We all are "looking forward." (Or at least I hope that we all are looking forward)
FYI, we are still looking forward to some concrete plans about how we will treat or handle my physical future. Honestly, you and I both know that the biopsy results are in the hands of some medical expert or experts. I do not have them, however. But I can share with you that we have an appointment with my favorite oncologist, Dr. Chang on Wednesday.

Until then, we continue to enjoy some good days, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And so we will simply praise Him as we look forward to another good day!
God is good. God loves me. And after all, it's all about HIM!

Wednesday, September 25

WoHoo, guess what day it is? That's right! It's Hump Day. Sorry, I still love that commercial and I still want it to end with "That's right! This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us REJOICE and be glad in it!"
Anyway, looking at the stats, many of you have been tuning into the blog to see the latest update. Well, here we go again. We have no updates from Houston yet. Diane and I are taking this to mean that no news is good news. Well, well at least that no news means no really bad news. But hey Jack (sorry, I also still love Duck Dynasty), what this simply means is this. Every day is the day that the Lord has made! What tests show or do not show will have no impact upon that profound fact. The only thing that the biopsy result will tell us is what action we need to take next. I am thinking that the Lord has not given that information to the 'experts' at MD Anderson Cancer Center yet. Whatever it is, it will be good because God is good. That may seem like a very simplistic view to you. But that is the view that we have of an awesome God who loves us more than we know.

Still promising that I will pass on any updates. Until then, "Peace." If you were not able to be at GC worship this past Sunday, get the CD from the church office or go to iTunes to listen to "It's All About Him." The questions are: "What is your definition of peace. Where does it come from? Do you have it?

Hmm

Friday, September 20

Believe it or not - anyway, just believe it please.
We will not hear from my biopsy until next week. Really; we got word from Texas that they will contact me next week. Talk about patience, Diane and mine are wearing pretty thin, not with God. He's got our backs, but with the medical field in Houston.

That is when I am reminded again and again - it's not about any doctor. It's all about Him!

Wednesday, September 18

WoHooooo! What day is this folks? I know you can hear me Julie. Mike, Mike, Mike, what day is this? Lisa, what day is it? "It's Hump Day" WoHoooo! Yes, but that is not all. Today is the day that the Lord has made. Whatever this day brings, it will be given me as compliments of God, as my son Brad used to say.
Sunday was a great day, physically. Monday morning was good. Monday afternoon not so good. Tuesday morning I went into the church office for a few hours. Tuesday afternoon I hit a brick wall. Diane did everything that she knew to do to keep me alive (literally above ground and less pain). About 3 0'clock this morning we considered Wayne Memorial. But we decided to tuff it out through the night. It has worked, somewhat. I am a bit better this morning.

No. we have not heard from Houston yet. We do not know anything from the biopsy last week. This may be the day - or maybe not. Either way - today is more than just hump day to my Christian family and to me. This IS the day that the Lord has made!

Can I get a big shout out - AMEN!?! Awe c'mon. Here is a challenge for you. On your break, or wherever you are, walk around shouting WoHooooo! Do you know what day it is? This is the day that the Lord has made!

Friday, September 13

Today is Friday the 13th. Are you superstitious? Really? You don't cross your fingers or knock on wood? We all probably do those sorts of things now and then. We talk about things that pertain to luck, even though we know that there is no such thing. In fact, a few weeks ago we stayed in Houston in a very nice hotel on the 13th floor. I can testify to you today that I believe in something real. Unlike luck, I have something - that is, Someone upon whom I can fully trust.

And that is what we will continue to do. According to the experts at MD Anderson, the biopsy that was taken was a good sample. Now we wait. If it is another malignant tumour, we will decide how to treat it. If it is not cancer, then we will treat my pain accordingly. Whatever the answer, it will not be due to luck. Whatever the future, I am sure that it will be filtered through God's love. ( I think that is a Dr. Jeremiah concept that I have adopted ).

By the way, we will not hear from the results until the middle of next week. Wish me luck? I don't think so. Send up an extra prayer? I'll take that.

Wednesday, September 11

Good morning friends. Today is September 11th. To every American, as well as to many others, today is called nine eleven. All of us who can remember that day will forever remember the terror caused by the attacks in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania that day. But what I distinctly remember is that evening when many Christian churches, including Garris Chapel, were filled with people who were praying.

Today I would like to ask you to pray a prayer for me. I am going to have a biopsy done on a very meticulous spot in my abdominal area. The procedure will be done early this afternoon. Pray for good results.

Prayers were answered on 9/11. They are still being answered today.

Monday, September 2

Well, it is a new day in a new week in a new month. Maybe things will get back to normal. Wait a minute. I just had a question pop into my head. What is "normal?"
Does normal mean explainable? That's not us. Or does normal mean predictable? That's not us either. How about boring? Does normal mean boring? There is nothing boring about a cancer journey.

I think that normal, for me at least, has much less to do with "what" or "when". Normal for me has much more to do with "who." It is looking into the faces and listening to the hearts of those who love me. When that happens, I realize that all of that love comes from Christ. He has more than enough love to give. When Christ allows others to channel His love to me, that's normal.

Anyway, with all of the scans in Houston completed, we will be in conversation with our doctor there via phone or some other e-conversation by late Wednesday or Thursday. I will let you know what he says.

Meanwhile, thanks for making me feel normal.