Wednesday, June 12

Although the scans may show that there is possibly some cancer is in my body, I refuse to lay down and act like someone with cancer. On Saturday we went to a high school graduation, followed by two graduation parties. On Sunday we preached two services, went to another graduation party, had two meetings and said the opening prayer at Vacation Bible School. Today I am leaving for the UMC Annual Conference in Greenville. I will be driving there each day, Wednesday through Saturday. Now, all of the above has been fun, God stuff. From my experience, Annual Conference is not fun. Pray with me that it will be God stuff.

How do you feel today? Are you going to lay down, or are you going to do God stuff?

Friday, June 7

I am sure that you remember watching television and your program was interrupted by that irritating noise and the message that said, "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system." Well, that is how we feel every time was have a scan. It has been three months since we have had one of those "tests."

Today you may have received another type of message on your television, radio, or device. It was that same irritating noise, but this time the message was, "This is a flood warning concerning your area from the emergency broadcast system." That means that even though nothing is happening in your back yard right now, there is a possibility that you will be affected by the floods.

When we have scans, whether it has been three months or one month, we understand that it is part of traveling the cancer journey. Each test is just that. "This is a test."
Today we received the second type of warning. Some spots were found that could be cancer, but they were extremely small and we are not even sure that they are disease (as Dr. Chang calls it). So, that is the update. The tests were inconclusive. In thirty days we will have another scan to compare and see if these spots are due to infection, or if we need to consider these another step in the cancer journey.

When I think about my journey, I know that I am simply walking down a path that my Lord has prepared for me. I pray that no matter what happens to you, that you will fill the same way.

Thank you for being concerned enough to read the blog. I feel as though I have a blog family. I love you all.

Thursday, June 6

We will not know the results of the scans until tomorrow afternoon.Thank you for your continued prayers

Monday, June 3

I want to thank those of you who see me in person or email me to say how much you enjoy reading this blog. It makes me feel as though God has allowed me to accomplish something by writing it.

I cannot believe that I have a son that will be 38 years old tomorrow. Brad is a special person. We are so thankful that God has used him. He works a full time job, he is a bi-vocational pastor, he gives back his time to the community, and he is a faithful husband and a loving and caring father. And besides that, he does weird things like run ultra marathons and is training to participate in triathlons. (see the crazybrad link to his blog below) It is a God-thing that he turned out so well. His mama did a great job in raising him. And I tried to be a good dad. But the truth is, he has always been his own person. No one could ever tell him anything. But I guess that God did get through to him. I am glad that he listened. He is another reason why I am one blessed dad.

This week has turned out to be just a bit more than I should have scheduled. In addition to other duties, I have scheduled two appointments with Dr. Hamm, an appointment with my nutritionist doctor in Greenville, and a very special appointment on Wednesday to take our quarterly scans. Thank you for your prayers for me - especially on Wednesday.

Do you have a reason to say that you are blessed? Well then, have you actually told anyone?

Saturday, June 1

Wow! June 1st. Where has the year gone? Actually, I don't even remember much of February and March. As I look back over these past months that I can remember, I can see God's hand in everything that has happened to me. Some of these events I can see why things happened the way that they did, and some of the events have yet to be clear as to their purpose. But I do know that everything has a purpose. As my life verse says, wherever I am, He is with me.

Here is the latest. On Tuesday morning, as my last post stated, I went to Dr. Hamm for my back adjustment. As I was waiting for him to see me I noticed some literature about acupuncture in his office. I discovered that he was certified in that field. As we talked about how it might be effective with controlling my pain, I was a little hesitant about someone sticking 14 needles in my body. Dr. Hamm told me to check with my other doctors and he would just wait for my decision. I asked Dr. West and Dr. Chang about it. Both of them recommended that I try it. So on Wednesday and again on Friday I had the treatments. They were painless and actually very relaxing. Whether or not they help with my pain is yet to be determined. I will let you know.

Was the fact that my back went out and I saw Dr. Hamm have anything to do with whether or not I would have ever taken acupuncture treatments? Absolutely. Is it a God-thing. I don't know.
But I do know this: It's all about Him!