March 8

Wouldn't it be fun if everyone were alike? We would all be one color. We would all have  the political opinions. We would all like our steak cook one certain way. And of course, the most important  point, we would all pull for the Carolina TarHeels.
But alas, that is not the way that God has made us. He has given to us a blessing and a curse, it is called  "free will."
Within that spectrum comes the freedom of choosing to accept Jesus or not. We can choose right from wrong, or love or hate. There are many choices.
Since this is a private blog, I don't mind telling you that you should choose UNC over Duke in the basketball game,

Once you think about it, the answer to my first question is no. It would not be fun if everyone were alike? It would be downright boring. Being a good fan being never wavering from your team. I'm a TarHeel fan, and now and then I pull for NCSU or ECU or NCWeslyan. But I am NEVER a Duke fan. Now that is fun. :-)

We spent a night in the hospital last night. They ran an MRI.
Looks like healing will just take time. Looks like  no cancer related issues,
I am a fan of Dr, Chang, but even a bigger fan of Jesus.

Saturday, March 1

Where did February go?
I figured that I might find the answer in my blog posts so I went to the blog. It was then that I realized that I have lost the last two posts that I had so painstakingly written.
Before the days of instant electronics I always wrote my notes on little pieces of paper; phone numbers, appointments, ect. That was all well and good as long I could find the notes when I needed them. However, I spent more than a few hours asking Diane to help me find one little piece of paper.

Now I know that my information is not safe, even in the cyber world, as if I ever thought differently. This reminds me of the Scripture that advises us to know what we believe. It is an amazing thing to have written words at our disposal. But it is even more amazing to have those words written
in your heart and mind. So, I will try to check my post more often.

Update: I am still taking chemo every other Monday. I will be glad when we take a break, maybe in a couple of more treatments. The side affects are a bit more taxing. I am a bit more fatigued. Diane is getting a bit run down. But we will get through this, one bit at a time.

After multiple tests, we believe that my severe back pain is coming from a muscle strain. It hurts pretty bad, but the cool thing about it is that I have any muscle at all to strain. I thought I was all skin and bones. lol

If you figure out where February went, send me a text, will you? Or write it down, or put it on fb or google+, or . . .

February 22

Okay, so we all know that I love being "busy." Sometimes I love it a bit too much, I hate to admit that, but Diane might be right on this one. So on Thursday morning we left home to go to Emerald Isle, or Cedar Point, or wherever it was - we went to the beach. My brother Ronnie was kind enough to loan us his condo. Our plans were to stay until today (Saturday). Well, my body had other plans. I began the old familiar puke routine almost as soon as we arrived. I continued to throw up, (tmi again?),so Diane suggested that we go home, and she talked me into it.
We are getting some fluids so that I can "stay busy" this weekend.

See you in church!

Wendesday, February 19

I have heard you say that the absence of a blog implies that I am not doing well. Not so. Sometimes, like this time, the absence of a blog post means that I have been a bit overwhelmed at work. I am okay with that, mind you. I love church.
There are some parts of church that are more costly than others. For instance, pastors love people. They must be that way or they are not called to be a pastor. Anyway, I love me job. I just wish that I could do even more.

Of course you remember that our North Carolina weather threw us for a loop. We had record cold temps and frozen precipitation. Then my blood counts got off whack and I could not take chemo that week. Then I spent a couple of days in the hospital due to a fever of an unknown source, which was never found, by the way.

Then, my fellow cancer journey survivor, Connie Daniels went on to be with the Lord. That gave me the opportunity to speak at her funeral service on Sunday evening - after preaching two services on Sunday morning.

On Monday we did go get chemo and I have been able to get some work done. Today (Wednesday) I went to get my stitch removed from my back surgery and get my chemo pump taken off at SMOC.

I like being busy, don't you? It means that God still has something to leave you on this earth to do.

Lord, let it begin with Jerry

February 12

Update:
I am out of the hospital and am at home.
They found no fever while I was there.
They found not blood work or scans or x-rays that imply any complications.
Essentially, I stayed a couple of days in a very expensive hotel. Still, and I have said this before. I prefer Wayne Memorial over any other hospital that I have ever had the opportunity to deal with. The staff there are unsurpassed in courtesy and efficiency. Now remember, that's just my 2 cents.

Anyway, I am home enjoying the view of the driven snow. I am not going to let the thoughts of an ice storm coming our way ruin the beauty of the white snow. Most events and churches (including GC) have been postponed for tonight. If you decide to get out, please be careful.

Look again at wherever you are right now. I am guessing that it is better than the nicest hospital in the country. Woohoo!