Friday, September 14

Since my goal here is to be completely honest and tell the entire story, maybe I should clarify a sentence in Wednesday's blog. I wrote that I found time to rest during each busy day. That sentence should have read "I try to find time to rest during each busy day." I do think that it is important for all of us to take some 'Sabbath' time each day. But I also realize that sometimes life gets in the way of what we need to do.
Also, the way that I look at my day may differ a bit from most. I love what I get to do every day! I really do! I look at each day as a way of serving God and serving others. You may look at your day that way as well. After all, there is no difference between our time and God's time. (you have to hear last Sunday's sermon to understand what I mean) Anyway, serving is what God has called ALL of His followers to do. Some get to do this every day. Some reserve the weekend for serving. This weekend about 200 of my GC church family will get the opportunity to serve during out annual Harvest Sale. This is just one of the ways in which we show our love for Jesus and those whom He loves.

Jesus says that ALL those who call themselves followers (Christians) are called to serve. How do you plan to serve him today? After all, it's all about Him.

Wednesday, September 12

One week from today we go back to Duke for more scans and blood tests. Here is how Diane and I handle it. When I am feeling good about my health, Diane feels good. When Diane is emotionally down about my health, I feel down about my health. We feed off of one another. So the only time that we really get down about our situation is when we both are feeling down. Pray that one of us continues to remember that it is all about Him.
One of the ways in which I gauge my condition is by my schedule and how well I am able keep it. According to these past days, I am as healthy as I have ever been. I preached three sermons on Sunday (two at GC and one at St. Paul UMC in Durham). I had two meetings and two sessions with folks on Monday. Yesterday I spent the day in Raleigh at a Clergy Day Apart sponsored by the Capital District of the UMC. The remainder of the week looks extremely busy, with the Harvest Sale coming up this weekend. I love it!

During this busy time, I have found (and will continue to find) time to take just a few minutes each day to stop and rest. No matter what condition our physical health is in, that is important for me and for you.

Friday, September 7

I had lunch yesterday with a very special friend of mine. I had the honor of preaching the funeral of his wife one year ago. This man has some rock solid faith. You can see it in his life and hear it in his voice. But you can also hear pain in his voice. Grief is painful. But that is not the only thing that is causing this man pain. This man wonders why, if he has so much faith, he continues to feel like everyone else who has lost someone they love to the grave.
It really did not come to me until after we had talked. But it seems that sometimes the more faith that we have, the more frustrated we get. I know. I have been there and done that. People with faith let God take care of everything. People with faith know that God is good and that His plans for us are good. People with faith realize God's blessings upon them.
But when people with faith find themselves in a situation where they know all of these things and still have those human thoughts and emotions, people with faith wonder if they have enough faith. And then it gets frustrating - even painful.

When I think about my faith, I remember this promise from Jesus to me. I only need faith the size of a mustard seed (which is very, very small).
When I think about my weakness, I remember this promise from Jesus to me. When I am at my weakest, He is at His strongest.

Today I pray for your day to be filled with small faith and weakness. It's all about Him!

Ask anyone living with cancer. If they are honest with you, they will tell you that the word "time" means something different than it did before their diagnosis. As I prepared for last Sunday's sermon, this concept became all the more clear to me.
I have always loved life. Diane will tell you that I have always been willing to try anything from skydiving to long road trips on a motorcycle. In my corporate life, for 29 years I was fortunate enough to work with a company that allowed me to move from the office to sales on the road to marketing and to most every other area within the organization. I have never been afraid to start a business on my own (and yes, build it myself without government entitlements). I have been blessed with an exceptional family, both before adulthood and during. I have been a believer for as long as I can remember. I accepted God's call to ministry at 40 years of age, and full time ministry at 50.
I suppose that what I am trying to say is this. As I look back, it seems as though I have always thought of time as "God's time" and "my time." The truth is, He has always been with me, even when I was not aware of His presence. It is all His time.

Time now has a different meaning. It seems to be more precious. Someone traveling the cancer journey tends to think that way. But shouldn't all of us think that way?

How will you spend God's time today?

Friday, Saturday September 1

Happy Labor Day weekend!
Have you ever noticed that holidays are seldom celebrated for the cause upon which they were originated? Things like Santa at Christmas and bunnies at Easter tend to take away the meaning. It is not just religious holidays that come to mind. Memorial day is much more known for cookouts than it is for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in our military.

Labor Day has lost its original meaning also, and I am really happy about that. At the turn of the 20th century, Labor Day was a way to kiss up to organized Labor. It was a celebration of the workers' unions. But here is what Wikipedia says about today's holiday.

"Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white or seersucker. In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. NCAA teams usually play their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day. The holiday is now regarded as a day of rest and parties."

 

So remember that this weekend is the last weekend to wear your white or seersucker fashion.

And yes, get ready for some football!