Coming to the Still Waters

     Wow, this is surely different than the last round.  I am struggling to keep focused on what I need to do.  I am thankful for a friend switching with me tonight of  my teaching responsibility of the teens.  I get rid of the fanny pack and pump today for quite a while.  This type of chemo I will not be on again until after the surgery.  I have received my chemo pills that I will take with my radiation treatments.  Many of the same side effects except for the cold sensitivity.  Something I am thankful for, I found a position to sleep that doesn't get in the way of the tubes and the port.   So lets talk about something else.      Somehow, between the waves of nausea, I got a lot of my sermon done yesterday.  1 Peter 2:9-12 is the text and the question is "Who are you?"  I know you older ones probably have "The Who" song going through your head now.  Sorry about that.  The better question would be, "Who does God say we are?"  I was able to find a vi

     Let's start with Sunday morning.  A simple message that we slowed down enough to look at that made us take seriously what the verses said.  I am finding myself talking again and again about this transformation that we need to allow to happen by getting closer and closer to God.  When we take time to pray and take time to read His word and take time to participate in corporate worship, we are setting ourselves up for God to keep doing that transforming work in us.  It struck me yesterday as we were talking about Jesus the Cornerstone that He is chosen and precious, words of affirmation and affection from God about His Son.  One last observation from yesterday was watching one of our worship singers in a dilemma about how can I raise both hands to God and still hold onto the microphone?  You could see on her face the question, "What is more important right now, this microphone or my God?  That was a great thing to see.      I feel like I bounced back quicker and had more

     The blog continues to grow and its been something more to me than I thought it would be.  I have used up 2 long rows of wood out of the pole barn this year with 2 more left.  The thankful part is that I have been able to keep up with this because I enjoy it.  Also I can say that I feel better this time around than the first two at this time in the cycle.  I think if you looked at me know, you would never know that anything is going on and I can almost forget that I have cancer but then Mondays come and I get that reminder call to come in for another lab draw and chemo treatment.      Onto the sermon for this Sunday, all is done except for the printing of the bulletins and outlines.  I was so struck today by the Scripture being so black and white more times than not.  The word "all" in this passage of 1 Peter means "each, every, any, the whole, everyone, everything."  And yet we try to find the loophole to the command that God puts with it.  "So put away

     We have received at least 12 inches of snow and it is still falling at a pretty good pace.  I have been on the tractor once today and I might be out there again before it is all said and done.  One of our big concerns was with the snow and removal of it but I am thankful that most of the snow has come on my "good" weeks.  The snow day has given us an opportunity to catch up on things at home and another opportunity to have a family over for dinner.      I have been working on my sermon for Sunday.  1 Peter 2 gives us a list to look at.  Lists in the Bible are important and I look at them as a gift to copy and implement.  Also with lists comes contrast.  The writer will give a "bad" list and then give a "good" list with the command to do the good one.  This chapter gives us a list that we need to put out of our lives and replace it with another and the question is "Will we obey what the Word of God says?"  If we allow the "bad" l

     It may sound like one but I am thankful to keep reporting about a Sunday that was a great day to be in God's house with God's people talking about God.  I went through some material this morning for Sunday's sermon on 1 Peter 2 and this chapter will probably be a 2 or 3 Sunday event.  It is impressed over and over that there needs to be a desire for the Word if there is going to be spiritual growth in your life.  It is an element that can not be left out.  If we leave it out or neglect it, then we start to drift from the truth that will place other things or other feelings above the written word of God.  The same gospel that was for Peter and Paul and the disciples is the same gospel for you and me.        Health-wise I am in the "good" week of chemo.  Yesterday I felt better than I did two weeks ago.  I have not had to take any Tylenol except for the day of chemo and the day after.  I have kept up with my restrictive diet but am thankful to eat more whole

     Our kids have brought such joy to Stephanie and I this week.  Their presence here has given me a boost that I so needed.  I have found myself very weepy.  If you put something touching in front of me, I am going to cry and I can't hold it back.  Watching Anna and Ben leave on the train this morning, I was so thankful for the sanctuary of the car to shed some tears.  Make me a better man Lord through this.      I am ready for the morning service with an overview of chapter 1 of 1 Peter.  It will be a simple message with straightforward points all supported by scripture.  I don't want to miss tomorrow with what has been happening in the church.  I have a feeling that tomorrow will be one of those services that will melt us at the feet of Jesus.  I am just glad and humbled to be a part of it.  God bless all those churches gathering tomorrow who come before you with grateful hearts.      My "good" week lies ahead and you can tell it by my calendar.  Sermons, me

     God sent us a different kind of medicine this week.  We are so blessed with our children.  The chemo hits me in waves on Thursdays.  I have a spurt of energy and then it is gone and even typing is a big chore.  I pray that God will do what He has done the last 2 times and get me ready for Sunday.  I have been also thankful for the warmer weather.  The other day I was able to do some things outside without covering up my hands.  Here is a picture of the family home to see Mom and Dad.  Phil is missing, back home working so  Anna could be here, and we really do miss him.      My study time hasn't been what it usually is but God has given me some words from 1 Peter 1 for Sunday.  God also gives me illustrations and examples that help me see the scripture fleshed out.  One of the points for Sunday is not going back.  I have talked many times about the half-way point in anything you do.  I think many Christians get to that half-way point and stall out or go back because the nex

     Well I am back with my fanny pack for a couple of days, the cold sensitivity was almost instant this time but I am thankful for the warmer weather this week.  I am opening up more in the infusion center.  Yesterday I looked around and everyone was at least 20 to 30 years older than me.  The man beside me asked why I was there.  I told him the story and he told me his.  When he was leaving he said, "At 75 I really am not that concerned about this but I guess my view would be a lot different if I was your age."  My numbers were perfect again going in.  I lost another 5 pounds but I still have plenty of reserve.  Thank you God for good recovery time to go through this cycle again.        1 Peter 1 has some great lessons that we will be looking at on Sunday.  I think the one that struck me the most was to recognize that all sin is a violation of a relationship.  v. 17 says,  " And if you   call on him as Father who   judges   impartially according to each one’s deeds

     I go to pick up my son from the train station (spring break) and my oldest, our daughter walks around the corner and surprises us with a visit home for the week.  Not only that, our second child calls the next day to tell us he is coming home with his wife on Wednesday.  Man do I wish this was not chemo week but I will not complain.  God has given me a gift this week that I will cherish no matter what physical state I am in.        I always amazing at God's transforming power.  I witnessed a man take a step today that was nothing short of a miracle from where he was.  What made the difference?  A godly friend who would not let him go, a church that welcomes and embraces those who enter the front door, and the work of God through worship and the word.  God is continuing to make things new.      It was good to take a long look at Peter's life today to get us ready to look at 1 Peter.  I think I take away from the sermon the points of suffering and standing strong for C

     What can happen overnight while we sleep.  My normal morning routine is to get up and start the wood stoves so I click on the television in the living room to get the morning news.  Sometimes it is nothing new but today the pictures and videos are amazing.  "God please be with those in the midst of this.  God please give that comfort and direction that only You can give.  God pull together Your people to react to this event."      Unto the sermon, 1 Peter is coming together.  It is amazing how much we know about Peter.  He is mentioned 2nd to Jesus in the gospels, so the picture of the man comes into view very clearly.  We also have some lessons that Peter learned directly from Jesus.  These are lessons for us today.  We also get to see the transition of Peter in his walk of faith to the point now that he is an old man writing to those suffering for Christ as he has.  I hope this sermon sets up for the ones to follow.      Today is going to be a great day for the f

     Apparently the Wednesday of the second week is the day my body starts to kick into gear.  I can sense a change in my energy level so I will take advantage of the good days until Monday.  I filled up the wood pile, changed oil in both cars, and am looking forward to the day ahead.  I thank the Lord that my body is recovering what has been lost.      What has Adam been eating lately?  I am thankful that I am okay with my new choices.  Here is my routine day. * 1 gallon of water throughout the day * a glass of prune juice, so thankful when I can drink this cold * for breakfast either a soy protein shake in soy milk, scrambled eggs with ketchup, or corn meal with flax seed * for lunch a mixture of beans and onions * for dinner a shake if I didn't have one in the morning or a piece of chicken breast (boneless and skinless) or some of Stephanie's homemade tomato, roasted pepper, basil soup along with broccoli or cauliflower * fruit along the way, a piece of toast with

     Up and going on the good week of chemo (if that is such a term or phrase) and God continues to give me more strength and energy than the day before.  Sunday's service was such a blessing to me as I witness first hand God transforming the lives of His people.  Though I was tired in body, I am thankful that God can give strength to both the body and mind to accomplish His good pleasure.  I have been able to introduce a few more foods to my diet without complications so I believe that the chemo is doing something to the tumor.  I am thankful for a quiet week of no appointments, the first since the start of this journey.      We have left James and now head to 1 Peter, just the next page over in the Bible.  A first glance and look at the whole book will probably start with a good look at the author himself.  The life of Peter is a very interesting and colorful one.  One point I came across today is the context when he is called "Simon" (his original name) and when he

     I hesitate to want to call this a typical chemo week.  I know that each one will be different as I go through the process.  I am thankful that even though I am tired, I am rebounding from the treatment.  I have been able to get more sleep through the night and also keep food down.        The snow was unexpected but gave me a chance to bundle up and do something different.  You think about how you do things when you have restrictions on you.  Covering every known part of the body to ward off the cold sensitivity, it is possible to blow snow and feel good about a job accomplished.      Saturday means Sunday is coming and I am excited about how the sermon has come together this week.  What is the gospel?  What are the bare bones that we need to hold onto and also proclaim?  Going through, especially 1 Corinthians 15:1-5, I am amazed at how moved I get by describing what would be ground zero of the Christian faith.  So I will look at the gospel as something planned, an actual ev

     So last night was one to remember or forget.  I tossed all night with joints aching and also an upset stomach.  I was so looking to having a good night's sleep without the pump and then I experienced probably what will be the norm on chemo week.  So after I get up to head to the recliner and find some relief, Stephanie brings me the devotional which read, "Make friends with the problems in your life...The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall, if you react with distrust and defiance...You can even give persistent problems nicknames, helping you to approach them with familiarity rather than with dread...I will not necessarily remove your problems, but My wisdom is sufficient to bring good out of every one of them."      So I thought I would try to "nickname" my days of chemo week. Sunday - "get ur done" day - the day I feel most like me Monday - "tether" day - taking my rolling friend to the bathro

     Well I am free of the pump and fanny pack for another 11 days.  I am fairing better on the digestive end so far but the cold sensitivity has heightened.  I had my right hand cramp up yesterday for a time.  It is hard to sleep with the pump so I have been sleeping during the day for about 2 to 3 hours.  I expect this will continue to be the pattern throughout this week.  I am back on the Tylenol for the aches in the joints.  Otherwise, I am okay.      Back to James.  Looking at these two verses has brought out not only getting off on our thinking and believing but also on our living.  The logical thing to do is to look at what is right very closely so we can see where we may have gone wrong.  I think I will be heavily leaning on 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 for the clear definition of the gospel that we hold to. "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word