Coming to the Still Waters

      Well, after church I was back at the hospital.  The incision on my bottom has become infected and I needed to be put on antibiotics.  I know, it is never ending.  I have more pills to put on my chart to keep track of.  I would like to get just one system going in the right direction so I could work on another but I need to work on all of them at once.  The term "major" surgery is a much bigger term to me now.  These steps back are discouraging but God is with us.  I have to look around and not at myself.  A beautiful lady in our church needs our prayers for deliverance of the pain she is going through.  A congregation that is going through something that it has never gone through before and all of us trusting God to walk us through.  A book I got for my birthday that drives me back to the mission of us all to reach others with the gospel of Christ.  I can't stop long in my pity.  I must look beyond the phys...

    The picture is of me and a good friend who last time this year were riding our bikes every chance we could.  He broke his ankle earlier this year and I came down with cancer.  A couple sorry looking guys hobbling down the hospital hall.  We still talk of next year and getting back on the bikes.      I have been recovering at home and have let my bowels rest since arriving here.  I have received more sleep than I had been getting and am feeling more restful.  This morning I will test to see if my insides are ready for some outside food.  Just jello and applesauce and the like for the next couple of days and we will see.  On my medical calendar for the week is another visit from the home-care nurse and also an appointment with the oncologist doctor who will give me the verdict on when chemo will start again.        Unbelievably I have continued to work on that next sermon to start the book of 1 John....

     After a great Sunday and very productive Monday (paperwork), Monday evening everything stopped.  I went to the ER and had an xray that told me I was backed up.  This was after I threw up twice.  I was sent home to see if I could pass the rest with medicine.  They did not want to irrigate the stoma so close to surgery.  After a couple hours home, we were back at the ER for a CAT scan that showed that I have a partial small intestine obstruction.  I proceeded to throw up again.  I found out another medicine that I am allergic to, only 5% are and I'm in there.  That put me in the hospital from Tuesday morning to Thursday evening for observation.      My stay in the hospital was a lot of walking and not a lot of sleeping.  I crave just to fall off into a deep sleep.  I still feel like my guts are in a knot but gas and contents are moving through.  I am only on clear liquids to let my bowels rest. ...

     Hi all,      The trip home was long but not unbearable.  We made it to the pharmacy to get my pain medications.  The first night was tough, it seems that way at night.  I think we both are a little overwhelmed by what has been done to get the tumor and cancer out of me.  After a shower and a more restful day let us entertain you...      The video is 20 minutes long but it lets you know how life has changed for the Wolfgangs.  We are so thankful that we have not walked this alone.  God has always been there but He has also put some special people in our path to walk with us. God Bless,  Adam & Stephanie

     Hi all,       Here is a short video from the hospital.  We just want you to know that we love you all and are on the road to recovery. Adam and Stephanie

Hello all, this is Steph.  After 6 hours of delay, Adam went into surgery at 6:10 pm.  He was surrounded by many family members prior to surgery and the company effectively kept him from leaving the hospital.  I was thankful for the support of prayer inside and outside of our pre-op room. Adam's doctor said that he had to do an incision and perform the surgery open rather than laproscopic.  He felt good about this decision after removing the tumor and observing that his narrow pelvis would have made the laproscopy difficult. It is 1am and he is in his room.  He is having pain, which is to be expected after this kind of surgery. Please pray that he can rest comfortably, that his pain can be controlled and that he would not develop infection in the perineal incision where the doctor has the most concern for risk of infection. Thanks for your prayers.  God is for us and not against us!  May He be forever praised!

     Sorry about that.  I have been through this process so many times that it is getting to be no big deal.  This one is a little different from the other, probably adding the day of liquids and the addition of laxatives to really get me prepped for surgery.  I am thankful that I am at home and the house is pleasant, not too hot.  I just need to pack my bag and I am ready to go.      This Sunday morning was another great time to be with God's people.  We finished up 2 Peter and it was good to go back and recap the book to get the impact of it all.  I think the shorter books make this a lot easier.  I will not forget that this is a book about false teaching and our number 1 defense is the Word of God.  It is more sure than our eyes and our ears.  We need to use it in the world that we live.      Stephanie and I will do our best to keep you informed on how things are going.  We will post ...

     Monday is the day, so we are 2 days away.  The surgery is at 12:45 p.m. and we have to arrive by 10:45 a.m. for prep work.  The surgery will be about 3 hours in length.  I will be in the hospital from 3 to 5 days.  Here is the address of the hospital. Spectrum Health Blodgett Campus 1840 Wealthy SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506      A very familiar part of Grand Rapids for us.  This is just up the road from the Amtrak train station that we have used over the years to get the kids back and forth to Texas.      This week has gone well for preparation.  My sermon went together quick.  I have taken care of a few car issues to feel better about making the trips we will next week.  The lawn is mowed and I have been able to get in a few more cords of wood into the pole barn.  Paper work for the church is done 2 weeks ahead so I feel like I am prepared as much as I would if I were going on vacati...

     This is a busy week.  I am thankful that paperwork and study are coming easy.  Some of the symptoms that I started with seem to be coming back in a milder form after being off of the chemo for a month.  That lets me know that something definitely needs to be done.  I have yet to hear from the surgical nurse for a time but all that I have read says that I will be probably in the hospital from 3 to 5 days.  I got a call in to a friend I made in the radiation department in Petoskey who has the same type of cancer I have and a couple weeks ahead of me in the process.  He had a different type of surgery but at the same hospital in Grand Rapids.  He confirmed that symptoms started to return before going in for surgery.  His care was good and they were able to complete his with a resection.  Mine won't be able to do that but it was reassuring to hear of his report.        This will be my last sermon in 2 Pe...

     Here is a video update on us and the upcoming surgery.  It also contains a big thank you to our congregation that is taking care of us in the name of Christ.  We are walking together through this. Adam

     What a big week!!!  It was sad to see Anna and Phil head back to Texas but the week we had with family was so great.  Having my kids in church over the 2 weekends was a huge bonus.  We survived 6 people and 4 dogs and now the house is very quiet.  A week ahead of me is one of tying up loose ends, running errands, and preparing my final sermon for the book of 2 Peter.      Stephanie and I are humbled by the generosity of the church.  A benefit potluck was given for us today that will allow us to pay all of our hospital bills so far, put some needed tires on the vehicle for the trip to Grand Rapids, and some left for the incidentals that come with surgery.  We are so blessed with our congregation.  On top of a tremendous gift to us, a general budget offering came in to cover the bases of the church bills, and on top of that, much was given to a orphanage project in Bogata, Columbia.      Worship thi...

     The surgery is on July 18th so we are 12 days away.  I have started drinking my advanced recovery drink that is suppose to help before and after surgery.  I hope to get results of the CT scan from Friday today.  It has been a good week to have our oldest and her husband home.  A day on the lake yesterday yielded some pan fish, walleye and a smallmouth bass.  This Sunday the church is throwing a benefit potluck for us to help with the medical bills.  They have been a source of encouragement and strength to  us through all of this.      Further study of 2 Peter 3 yielded some more thoughts.  How do we deal with the mockers?  How do we handle those who laugh at the things of God?  The scoffers usually have 3 tactics.   The first is the tactic of ridicule.  Instead of speaking about the issue they turn their sights on the one who holds the position.  They mock with their mocking.  ...

     After a trip down to the in-laws for a 4th   celebration, now it is time to put some thoughts together about the upcoming sermon for Sunday.  It was great to see Stephanie's family and to hear of much support for us and especially Stephanie for the upcoming surgery date.  We have a wonderful family.      Our study of 2 Peter is really coming together.   These are Peter's last words. Peter wants to remind us of some things. 1st reminder is what godly character looks like. 2nd reminder is that the Word of God is our "more sure" testimony beyond our eyes and ears. Peter's issue to deal with is false teaching and teachers. We get "sucked in" by anything "new" or just "experience" based, or focused on the "greed" factor. Peter lets us see how this false teaching leads to sin within the church. He gives us 2 examples not to follow, Lot and Balaam. Lot represents someone who knows God but has not "distanced...