Heroes

One of the most amazing things to me is that there are so many people in this world with so many God given talents and abilities and they either fail to even recognize their own abilities or to use the ones they have. I mean it would be a shame to allow someone to perish as you sit idly by and watch them.
I watched the news the other day and they showed a person in Austalia floating in the water, holding her little dog,on top of her house, as her house was being moved through an incredible and destructive force of nature. A helicopter floated over her and she made a desperate grab for the rope that dangled from beneath the chopper. She hung on, but lost the dog in the unbelievable raging torrent in which she found herself.
I watched helplessly in my living room at this horrific event. What if the pilot, though aware of what was happening beneath him, just watched and waited for the poor woman and her dog to disappear below the surface of the water. It was because he used his ability to maneuver a machine into a place where it could be used to save the life of this woman that she was somehow spared and saved to live another day. Her dog was lost, and that's sad, but her life was saved. (maybe the dog found his way to land as well, I don't know)
How much is this story like those who call themselves Christians yet watch as those who have no idea of eternity wash away into an eternity of destruction? God has given us all the ability to throw a rope to those who may be sinking beneath the waves, yet some would rather watch as the one in danger floats on by. As we explore our own lives we would do well to do what we can to discover and understand the spiritual gifts with which we are bestowed. And I'm certainly not speaking of the people who harrass you on street corners or come to your door and tell you that if you don't believe their way you'll burn forever in eternity. God will put in your path the ones who need saved. You don't really need to go a-hunting. Just a-looking. Be aware and use your talents and abilities with which God has blessed you to be a hero. Someone was a hero for you just as that pilot was a hero for that lady. If you are paying attention, you might be a hero for someone else and one day you will hear the Lord of Lords speak to you as He puts His arm around you, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." It takes courage to be a hero, and a bit of boldness. But if you truly believe, why would you ignore what your Master has told you? Now get on out there and save someone.

Who's in Charge?

Well, I thought I should update the world on news of my wife. I was encouraged by someone who had read my last blog and decided that it was only right since I opened this can. She is doing much better. She went into the office today and actually worked a few hours. (second time this week) She really has a strong desire to get back to normal and I would rather encourage that than discourage it. She tires so easily though. During her initial surgery she had a stroke and that coupled with "chemo-brain" (yes it's an actual term) her mind is not where it was prior to all that has happened. But I remain confident that God will restore her to her previous self and even if He doesn't, I'm sure He has His reasons. I have learned not to second guess Him. He's God, I'm not. With only two more chemo sessions to go, I'm quite excited to see how it all comes to pass. I just know that He is good and that He is in charge.....which brings me to another event that happened this week.
No doubt everyone has heard of the lone gunman who attempted to assasinate Gabrielle Giffords, killed 6 and wounded many others. Since I live in Arizona, it was an event that affected all who live here. Deeply. Arizona is a place where you can get a gun easily. You can carry a concelaed weapon without any prior training or license. Everyone I know (or very close to it) owns at least one weapon. I own some. That being said, I don't know anyone who has thoughts or desires to ever use their weapons on another human being. If I were protecting my family or myself, I might, but I have not sat in a dimly lit room, rocking back and forth, relishing the thought of taking another human's life. Jared Loughner is a sick person, and I pray for him, his family and those he harmed and their families as well. Who's to blame? Well, when you get right down to it, I believe that all evil comes from satan and is a direct result of his plans and desires to destroy the truth and the light of Christ. God is love and anything short of love does not come from Him.
I am asked often why God allows things such as his to happen. God turned the operation of this world over to our enemy a long time ago. That will change, but that's how it is now. Our job is to focus on truth, and on the light of God. Our mission is to show that light, shine that light and to bring that light forth in all we think, say and do. WE cannot judge nor can we bring forth judgment (at least eternal judgment) on the likes of Jared Loghner, Adolph Hitler or me or you. That is God's job. I preach a lot of funerals. Never have I said that the person who had passed is in heaven partying with God, nor have I said that the deceased is in hell suffering eternal torment. It's not my job. What I have said is that they are in the hands of a merciful God. And that is the truth.
When I think of the way my life and Tina's life has changed so drastically in the last few months, I am just not able to decide how I should feel. I wondered at first why God allows such things to happen to such wonderful people. Would I change all bad things if I could. Probably, but would I make it even worse? Probably. I have trouble running a small operation whose intention is to assist as many people as we can with the limited resources available to us. Not sure I could do a good job with a universe... or even a planet. God is in charge and we are His servants. Seems like a good way for things to be.

Things unexpected

Sometimes life will take a very sharp left turn. So it has happened this past month. My wife had been exhibiting some very strange, but not rare symptoms of not so serious conditions, such as indigestion, pains in the chest and in her arms, headaches and so on. The doctor thought it might be gall bladder. She had it removed. The doctor found me immediately after the surgery and said he found something unusual. Those are words you really don't want to hear. He took a biopsy but it will take a couple of weeks to get the results. (other words you don't want to hear) The results? Ovarian Cancer. (most severe words you don't want to hear)
We had him fax the results to our primary care physician, a friend for many years, to discuss the options. The surgeon had been vague even nonchalant about the treatment possibilities. Our doctor....not so much.. She walked into the exam room with tears in her eyes and sat down across from us. She said, "You know me, I don't beat around the bush" (I like that) "You have stage 4 ovarian cancer."
Now at this point, a bigger hammer would have finished us off, but as we cried with her and then prayed with her, the staggering reality that I might lose my wife, my best friend, my lover, my everything, began to crawl into my brain. We discussed treatment options, etc. and then went home and began to work on it. We now have been in the hospital for five weeks as Tina is this morning preparing to receive her second round of chemo treatment.
I'v almost lost her several times in these five weeks. Three trips to the ICU, many scares, drug reactions and on and on. But here she is, sleeping next to me, fighting this insidious disease that is attempting to take her life from this earth. As she sleeps next to me, I think of all that we have experienced together and I have forgotten anything bad that has happened between us. I have felt guilt for when I wasn't all I should have been as a husband and I have forgiven anything she might have done that hurt me. None of that matters now.
I praise God that He has shown me His light, His love, His unfailing care for both of us throughout this ordeal. I'm not angry at Him, for I know that evil does not come from the One who is love. If she is taken from me, I will still praise Him, but now I own the peace that passes all understanding and am willing to walk that path that places me in a place of giving all I possess or for which I care in order to show it. Quite unexpected.