Walking The Beat

REMOVING THE SNAKE

CHERYL'S SURGERY is sceduled for Thursday morning, August 11. We are very confident in the Lord that the reports and treatment path her medical team has recommended is the best. We are believing the carcus of the 'snake' will be removed and she will cancer free. We are trusting that post-surgery treatment will prevent any further occurence.

THIS HAS BEEN A JOURNEY that we would not have chosen, but one in which God has been and is very present. Many of you have walked the same journey, so you know. For those who have not our prayer is that you never do. All of you have been faithful to pray and we are grateful to all. You do not have to have had the disease to care for one who does. Your caring, praying, and other acts of kindness are helpful and we pray God multiplies blessings to you.

WE WERE AT THE RESPONSE this past Saturday. I had the privilege to be one leading in prayer during the segment regarding the Church. It was an incredible experience to be among 35,000 plus who were calling on the name of Jesus on behalf of this nation.

AS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS we were either sitting next to the stage or had access to backstage and the Green Room. This was helpful and allowed Cheryl the opportunity of refreshment when necessary.  A great PLUS was the intercession for her. Many wonderful people - some we knew, others we knew of, and some we did not know - would come to her and ask to pray for her. Cheryl got to visit extensively with Carol Garlow, wife of Jim Garlow, who is also being treated at M.D. Anderson for a different type of cancer. Pray for Carol and Jim.

I met a gentlemen with whom I had had a disagreement back in the '80's. We had both moved on and I am sure neither of us thought very much about it. But we came face to face quite 'by chance'. We were able to put anything right that might have been between us and during the time Jim Garlow led in prayer for pastors, this wonderful friend came to Cheryl and me and prayed for us. Coincidence? Hardly. This was the hand of God.

GOVERNOR RICK PERRY MADE GOOD on his pledge that this would be a prayer meeting and not a political rally. He himself, along with Gov. Brownback of Kansas and Gov. Stone (by video) of Florida shared their commitment to Jesus Christ and dependence upon God for wisdom. This was not a preaching marathon nor a meeting that accentuated personalities and ministries. Many great men and women of God who were there had no public role. It was a prayer meeting and Jesus was honored. I am grateful that a sitting governor had the courage to call the Church to prayer and in so doing, to stand with them in prayer.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

First priority is Cheryl's health. I continue to do two part-time roles with the SBTC - field ministry strategist and prayer strategist. I am grateful beyond measure for those and look forward to what God will do with our Baptist family.

Since I am part-time, I am asking God to open opportunities for me to teach prayer in churches. I am driven from within (and above) to call our Baptist family to pray with understanding.

In addition to prayer, I am converting my D.Min. dissertation to seminar format. That is a seminar on parenting which uses the "I AM" passages of John's gospel to aid parents in teaching their 6-12 year olds about Jesus. Part of this seminar is about the stages of development and what can and should be taught in each stage.

The other concerns church revitalization. We all talk about revival. But how do we place oursevles in position for God to move unhindered? There are structural and spiritual realities that are faced in this study.

PLEASE CONTACT ME if I can assist you or your church. Thank you for praying for us and especially for Cheryl as she faces surgery Thursday. I'll give a report when we know more.

STRENGTHENED IN FAITH, GIVING GLORY TO GOD

Have you ever wanted something so bad, prayed so hard, believed, and when it seemed all was going well, it was so good you were stunned with momentary fear and doubt? I have experienced that.

Cheryl finished her chemo and had an MRI to compare with the MRI prior to beginning treatment. The news was exceptional! The tumor has decreased by approximately 80%. The Oncologist cannot feel the tumor and this has been true for several visits. Her words were "You should have a real big smile on your face. This is excellent!" By every measurement, Cheryl has responded to treatment beyond medical expectation.

Our next appointment was a week later with Cheryl's surgeon.  We had not seen him since the beginning of the journey. He came in, did a physical exam, and could not find the tumor! He had reviewed all the results of the previous tests and treatment. 

We were fully expecting a mastectomy with reconstructive follow-up surgery. He looked at Cheryl, smiled and said, "Why don't we go in there as soon as we can, do a lumpectomy, radiate, and you'll be finished by Halloween." Say what??? What about the mastectomy, reconstruction, etc.? Oh yeah - answered prayer!

Both doctors have consulted together and are on the same page. They believe for several positive reasons this is the best path of treatment and nothing is compromised by this path. One said what is left showing on the MRI may be scar tissue. So, August 11, Cheryl will have a lumpectomy removing enough tissue to leave a safe margin and be followed by radiation and medication.

We were encouraged at our church last Wednesday. One of our very good friends had similar treatment 10 years ago and she is cancer free.

We were surprised and thrilled. But is it real? We have prayed for this. You have prayed for this. Is it happening? Is that doubt? If we doubt, will it compromise faith and her healing?

All of us in our family are trusting God and very grateful for all He is doing and for your prayers. Here is my own journey.

I had initial doubts. It can't be this smooth, can it? Then a bit of anger. Anger at my own doubt and even wondering if any questions were doubt. Of course that is ridiculous. I believe God expects us to be prudent and any work He does will not be hindered by our being wise and prudent. Honestly, I look back and think I was afraid one of us would do something to tick God off and Cheryl wouldn't be healed.

THANK GOD FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE PROMISE OF JESUS in John 16:13, "He will guide you into all truth." One aspect of that truth is the true character of God. His ways are not childish.

I reflected on that first Midnight hour when the Spirit woke me, and over and over I was hearing in my spirit, 'if you ask for a fish, will he give you a serpent?'. That is when we first began to call this cancer "the snake", and said we were on a snake-killing path.

The answer to most prayer, or at least the foundation on which to stand, is in the Scriptures. I am amazed at the bizarre logic of moderates and liberals who say the doctrine of the Inerrancy of Scripture is not a major doctrine. How would one ever know any truth without the authority of God's written Word?

As I worked through my own feeling, I believe the Holy Spirit brought to mind several Scriptures that helped and again assured me of the love and faithfulness of God and that indeed, this is a snake and God is going to kill it.

Jesus looked at Simon Peter and said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked ('demanded', ESV) for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail:..." (Luke 22:31,32 NKJV).

Isn't that great? At the very moment Simon was going to go through his greatest test, and fail, Jesus was praying for him. At the moment Simon's faith would be at it's weakest, the intercession of the Great Intercessor would be at it's strongest on Simon's behalf. And so it was with me. The value of the promise of God given early in the journey would not be negated by a momentary lapse on my part.

Then I thought of Rhoda. In Acts 12 Peter was in jail. The church was in prayer for his release. He was released and went to the house where the church was praying. Rhoda, a servant girl, answered the door, recognized his voice, and was so excited she forgot to open the door! She ran back inside and told the praying church that Peter was at the door. What did this faith community say? "It is his angel." 

They were praying and when the answer came, were so astonished they thought it could not be true! So God got really angry and put Peter back in prison. Not true. The church grew and the persecutors were confused.

I remembered a text of a sermon by one of my father's old friends. "He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God." (Romans 4:20, NKJV)

I and we are praising God for these excellent reports and for his strengthening in a momentary question, "Is this really happening"?

It has been so long and we are very tired. Very. Cheryl is beginning to regain strength from the devastation of chemo. I'm sort of numb. We are at half-time and we are leading. But there is a lot of game to play. We are very grateful for your continued prayers. I am confidently praying the lab results from the surgery will reveal the snake is dead!

My next blog post in a few days will begin to focus on areas of ministry. Thank you for your love and prayers.

THE SHAVE

Sarah posted this on her blog: 

http://burnscircleoftrust.blogspot.com/2011/03/hair-or-lack-there-of.html

She summarized a lot of what we are thinking. God has given us a great family and we are all together. And he has given us "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4, context of 1:1-8). We have not lifted them out of context, but believe strongly in the "rhema" Word that God has given in Luke 11:11. 

Great post, Sarah! Cheryl (Mom) is indeed our family "hero"; or "heroin". As one said, "She's the best person I know." Here is Sarah's post:

Hair or lack there of.

Close your eyes and think of someone close to you.  Your spouse, your best friend, your mom. Do you see them as you last saw them in person?

For me, I always picture people in my head as they were during my fondest memories of them. Sometimes it changes, but for a few, this image stays constant.  For instance, although my paternal grandmother is in her 80s, living in an assisted home and her mind is wavering, I will always picture her in her room at her home in Ft. Worth.  She would watch TV in bed late into the night, read and study her bible and often times have the classic music radio station on.  I can still picture the giant green plastic cup she drank water out of which was always next to her bed and the scattering of flat toothpicks on her night stand (she was also a big popcorn fan).

This is how I usually picture my family:

This is from the 1988 First Baptist Euless Church Directory.  Do churches still have directories or do people just get on Facebook?  I'm not sure.  I am pretty sure this directory is still by the home phone at my parent's house, too.  Growing up, my parents would reference it to remember who our friend's parents were, find a phone number or address and check what the Fellowship Hall was serving on Wednesdays for dinner.  Although I don't remember the exact details, I imagine that my dad is home from traveling & that is why my brother looks well behaved.

My mom has breast cancer and today, after 3 days of hair falling in clumps, we shaved her head. My sisters & I had wanted to make a 'party' of it for tomorrow afternoon but it was coming out so fast we didn't think there'd be time. Although her official diagnosis was over a month ago and she just completed her second round of chemo, her appearance hasn't changed.

Until today.  

After giving Jon is bi-weekly buzz, my mom sat on her patio holding a trash bag and I shaved her head with the clippers.  First her right side.  Then the left.  A few pictures with the mohawk & then I shaved it all off.  She does look different.  Like maybe she has cancer.

To me, though, I will always see my mom with this hair - a look only achieved with hot rollers.

In that dress my dad brought back from a trip to Korea (which I later accidentally vacuumed over), the necklace, also from Korea.  The blush from Clinique.  And I know she was probably wearing Sung by Alfred Sung perfume.

The great thing about hair loss from chemo is that it grows back and hopefully the cancer doesn't. So, Mom's Hair, we'll see you in a few months - she would prefer that you grow back in Auburn & not gray. Straight & not curly.  Fast & not slow.

Peace out, cancer.  Don't let the door hit you on your way out!

 

DETOUR

"I suppose this will change our lives", I said to the radiologist. "No, it is a detour". She began to explain how.

A simple routine and annual mammogram ("mammogrammies", as our Ethiopian friend called it) had shown something not good in Cheryl's breast. Something had grown. The letter advised to return for another mammogram and a sonogram. Then a recommendation to see a surgeon for a biopsy.

I can't count the times we have prayed for people who have made this same announcement. Little did I know what was welling inside them physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We asked God to let us get the surgeon of choice whom we had recommended to others (because of his success with an in-law's surgery). We had seen the positive results of his skills and compassion.

We decided to tell our church. I guess the only church family we have is temporary, where I am interim pastor. Our membership is elsewhere, but because of the ministry God has given me, we are not there. So, our "interim" family is the one we have with skin on. And they are awesome indeed. 

Each step moved us along. See surgeon...walk down hall for biopsy...talk to radiologist...wait...get phone call, "I'm sorry to tell you it is cancer"...come in the afternoon and early evening for other tests...another test Monday..."This is a big cancer"..."We can win this". Say that last thing again, because we are very frightened..."we can win this." 

So, we see the Oncologist Thursday morning and at present a port will be implanted on Monday morning. We will gain more clarity in our visit with the Oncologist.

Cheryl and I have prayed, cried, read Scriptures and begun the detour together with our children, grandchildren, and in-laws. The pain, questions, concerns, fears, etc. we have seen in the eyes of others are now in our eyes. We are not alone nor are we in the worst shape. 

When we received news she needed to have another mammogram, I began to search the New Testament for every text and context on healing. Did you know that there is no record of Jesus refusing anyone who came to him? So, we prayed for healing. It was not - at least at this time.

I began to cry out to God. Tests were Friday with one more to come Monday. I went to bed Saturday night and was awakened after midnight thinking, 'if you ask for a fish, will he give you a serpent?' I got up and found the verse in Luke 11:11 and the context in Luke 11:1-13. We came back home Sunday afternoon from worship. I shared with Cheryl the verse I had awakened with. That verse in the narrative says "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish will give him a snake instead?"

So, at least for me, I am calling this "the snake". It is poison and it needs to be killed. I won't argue the theology at this point but just know that our desire is to "glorify God".  I am reminded of the John 9 passage. The man's ailment was not due to either his sin or that of his parents. But the glory of God was the display of the work of God in his life. God's work was to make this man whole. 

We are believing that God will display his work in Cheryl's life and the lives of the family as he makes her whole. We began the year by asking God to help us get healthy this year. We joined a fitness center and started working out. We both had our "Wellness" exams. Little did we know what detour that desire to 'get healthy' might take. But here we are.

And so we begin our detour. I may get Cheryl to blog her own journey. From time to time, I will be posting some updates here.

We deeply desire your prayers. And we thank you in advance for praying and for caring.