Seven Billion... And Counting

This morning, October 31, 2011, I heard the news that the United Nations believes that today is the day that our world crossed over the 7 Billion mark in population. In fact, a newborn in the Philippines was celebrated with gifts as that little one that pushed us over. How many is a billion? If you started counting, “1, 2. 3, 4…” and counted one per second, it would take you 37 years to count to a billion. That is a lot of folks.

This reminds me again that about half of the world’s people have little to no access to the good news of Jesus Christ. About one-forth are on course to never hear the name of Jesus through the course of their life.

Christ-followers everywhere need to ponder these facts. Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all peoples. (Matthew 28:19-20) Paul reminds us that faith comes by hearing  the word of God, and no one hears unless proclaimers are sent. (Romans 10:13-17)

What does that mean for Christ followers? I could suggest some things for you, but the best thing for any believer to do is to ask God what He wants you to do, then do it.

Special Days

A brief time off from Mission Project planning at Cumberland Falls State Park, KY,  It is the only place in the world, I am told, where, when the full moon is just right, you can see a "Moonbow." We have a team going from our fellowship in July to serve with Cornerstone Community Church.

It has been quite a while since my last post. Yes, I know, once every three months is really not very “I-have-a-blog” like. I will try to do better. Since my last post, there have been several special days.

In the days just before my first “Stem Cell Birthday,” March 19, I celebrated with numerous tests including the ever popular bone marrow aspiration. I’ll spare you the details, but I will say that an adequate amount of anesthesia makes it far more tolerable. A couple of weeks later I somewhat anxiously returned for the report and got a great one. Anxiety relieved. Things were good. I was able to reduce some of my medication. I could travel beyond our borders again! According to the doctors, I am neither cured nor in remission, but I do feel good. I greatly appreciate my team of physicians, PAs, NPs, RNs, and Technicians, but I credit your prayers more than anything.

A couple of other days of note, at least for me, are birthday number sixty-one in May, and the completion of my thirty-third year at the fellowship I serve. Birthdays are more significant now. Serving in one place for this long is amazing; and possible I think only because of God’s grace the grace of those whom I serve.

Most days I am positive, planning into the future and staying busy. Some days, though,  I have a deep sense of foreboding. I know there is  something—nearly imperceptible—lurking in my body that would kill me. These are reality-check days. I hope these times help me to “number my days that I may have a heart of wisdom.” (See Psalm 90:12) There are days when I echo Paul’s question in Romans 7, “Who will separate me from this body of death?” Now, Paul’s context was spiritual, whereas mine is physical.  But the Answer is the same, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He is my hope.

Keep praying. Thanks. 

Leader's Responsibilities

In Exodus 33:12-18 there is a very interesting exchange between Moses and God. The main point I got is that it is the responsibility of a spiritual leader to know God and His ways. Why? So that leader can continue to please God.

I was thinking. Here is Moses. He had “arrived.” He was the leader of over a million people. Granted, they were really spiritually dull sometimes. Just before this they had made that golden calf and had a “worship party” before it. Right before that they had promised Moses and God, “Everything the Lord says we will do.” But, to outsiders, Moses looked pretty successful.

Yet Moses sought God. Perhaps because of the two experiences mentioned in the last paragraph, Moses knew that his strength would come from God, and not his (Moses‘)people. Moses was an old man. 80-plus. He could have rested on what he knew of God and enjoyed the power of his position, but He did not. He wanted more.

Moses knew that without God’s presence, he, and the people who followed him, were in a mess. He wanted his own life and the life of his “nation” to evidence the presence of God. When God’s presence is present, it is obvious even to the godless.

Home
Doctors released me from the hospital today. I am home, and though a bit weak, feeling much better. Thank you for the prayers.

Willing

When God told Moses to collect the materials for the tabernacle, Moses took it to the people (Exodus 35). I find it interesting that it was the people who were willing—willing, who brought their offerings to the Lord. Some of those gifts were of jewelry, and items they could give. Other gifts of skill were given. But the thing that got my attention was that over and over in verses 21-29, was that these gifts came not from everyone, but from people who were willing. 

So, people who come to God expecting much and giving little are not a new phenomenon. It started a long time ago. But just because there is historical precedent, being cheap before God is not a good idea. 

God loves a cheerful (willing) giver.

Proverbs 3: 9-10 “Honer the Lord with your wealth and with the first-fruits of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Pit Stop
This being the day after the Daytona 500, I am still thinking in race terminology. Most of you reading this will already know the last week hasn’t been much fun for me. High fever from Monday AM on, and ending up in the hospital on Thursday of last week for Pneumonia.

So, from racing around from one responsibility and opportunity to another to a dead stop has been the case for the last seven days. Not sure when I will get out of the hospital. Feel really good enough to be out. No fever now for three days. But my white count is low, so not sure what that will mean as far as time served. I have had lots of IV-Antibiotics, respiratory treatments, and a few sticks. So pray I keep doing better, those little white cells multiply righteously, and God be glorified in it all.

Ground Hog Day Reflection

Happy Ground Hog Day, 2011! (February 2) In most parts of the country, with the weather the way it is, most probably want to cover the little critter’s doorway so there is no chance he’ll get out to see his shadow.

I looked back at the calendar, and Ground Hog Day, 2010, was my first appointment at Emory. That would be the beginning of the process that culminated with my stem cell transplant on March 19. I had already had fifteen weeks (five cycles) of chemotherapy in Augusta, and now I was ready, more or less, to get on with the critical next phase of treatment. Those transplant days weren’t much to brag about. Lots of days I felt pretty rough, but that passed. I was home from Emory by the end of Master’s week, and began to slowly get back into my routine. For several months now, I have felt good, other than the battles with allergies and sinus stuff, but that is nothing new. I continue with a maintenance chemo med, and a few other things, but it isn’t bad.

My medical reports are very good; I feel well enough now to get over-committed; And I have started getting my childhood immunizations again. Most of me is sixty, but my immune system is just a tad over ten months old. I cannot travel outside the USA until I get those done, and those of you that know me know that is a definite goal of mine.

As I look back over the past sixteen months or so, there are so many people, events and things to be thankful for:

• Thousands of people, some way around the world (and many I will not meet until Heaven)  prayed for me and still pray for me. The main ingredient in all my cancer treatment has been and is your prayers.
• The volunteers at church who kept things going while I was out for treatment.
• The men who came to my house to do some needed projects that I was unable to do.
• The many folks who provided meals for us during those treatment days.
• Those who transported R and P when needed while we were away at Emory.
• The doctors, nurses, technicians, and many other medical pros who have served me, treated me, stuck me, and cared for me during all this treatment stuff!

I have much to be thankful for.

In a month I will return to Emory for my one year post-transplant check up. It is a day of tests, including the ever popular bone marrow aspiration, along with many vials of blood given, and wouldn’t be surprised if they took some X-rays. Two weeks later I’ll go back to hear the report. Pray with me that the treatments are still doing their job, and keeping the cancer at bay.

Thanks for your prayers and support. My family and I are so blessed by what you have done and continue to do.

On a spiritual note, I have been enjoying reading a chronological one-year Bible. Reading large passages at a time is not my usual devotional strategy, but this is good. It helps remind me of the big picture of God’s redemptive work. In a few days, perhaps I’ll share an insight or two from that reading, but for now, I just wanted to get back to the blog and let you know what was happening.