Been a while since I've posted anything. Unfortunately, I've had Internet problems so haven't been able to use my desktop computer.
Nevertheless, the biggest issue I've struggled with recently is worsening peripheral neuropathy. I have increased my running to 2-3 times per week for a total of 7 1/2 to 11 miles per week. However, the peripheral neuropathy is most bothersome when I have to stand for extended periods, e.g. when I have to stand for several songs singing in my church choir. Hence, when standing, I feel unsteady. As a result, I now use a cane when singing at church.
As I have posted previously, I developed permanent hearing loss as a result of chemotherapy in 2006. Unfortunately, my hearing loss has gotten worse. On my hearing test in 2019, I could comprehend roughly 75% of the spoken word. However, on a repeat hearing test this year, my word comprehension had decreased to about 45%. Perhaps, this loss was due to aging (I wouldn't think so in that I don't consider myself elderly) or some other reason. Consequently, the audiologist increased my hearing aid reception to adjust for this loss. I don't believe I will ever progress to being totally deaf but bilateral hearing aids are an ever present help in my time of trouble.
On the flip side, at the urging of my youngest daughter who is matriculating to being an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter (and she's quite good at it, by the way), I am now learning sign language through an online program. Why you may ask? It's hard to explain but this education appears to be a fire in my bones that I should learn ASL. Maybe I'm being prepared in case I ever go totally deaf. Perhaps I'm being called to some sort of ministry to the deaf in the future. I do know that using ASL at church when I'm singing seems to enhance my worship. I feel more engaged in the songs of praise. So, at least for now, I'm seeing some current benefit.
This reminds me of Philippians 3:7 where Paul says, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ." Afterwards, in Philippians 3:8 he describes how he had given up some of his greatest achievements in order to gain the "surpassing value of knowing Christ." How true! As I've gotten older, I've come to recognize more acutely how life involves many trade-offs. I labor intensively at work so I can get the bi-weekly paycheck to pay my bills and provide for household expenses. I go running on the parkway periodically to keep my body relatively healthy. I visit my healthcare providers regularly who use their skills to poke and prod all aspects of my body to ward off major sickness. All in all, such sacrifices are worth the benefits in the long run.
Similarly, I can relate with my hearing woes, notably one of the greatest losses of my life. Although it pains me to have diminished audible comprehension (even with state of the art hearing aids), incredibly I have discovered the joy of American Sign Language, a sign for my times.
If you know my story, you are aware that I was diagnosed with Stage 3 bladder cancer in 2004, resulting in the removal of my bladder and subsequent creation of a new bladder, a "neobladder" from a portion of my small intestine. This artificial bladder has served me adequately since my surgery but I've struggled with a persistent issue for seventeen years as a result of this life-saving procedure, i.e. incontinence or leakage of urine, especially at night. As a result, I've had to sleep wearing an adult diaper practically every night.
I've tried a couple of medications to alleviate this problem without success. At one point, I was put on imipramine (Tofranil) which is a drug used to treat childhood bedwetting. However, this was stopped after several weeks without providing the desired result. Within the past year, another urologist attempted a more modern pharmacological agent, tolterodine (Detrol), but it also provided no help.
In addition, I've attempted non-phamacologic ways to deal with the nighttime incontinence, e.g. emptying my bladder right before I go to sleep. Nevertheless, the urine leakage has remained an issue.
Furthermore, I've had some issues with some urine leakage during the day, making me wear a small pad underneath my undergarments. Plus, the fear of urine leakage has caused me to wear dark pants only in case I wet my pants even the slightest amount during the day (not quite as noticeable when wearing dark clothes).
However, in March 2020, I attended a urology seminar to obtain continuing education credits as a nurse practitioner. During the course of the day, I spoke with one of the urologists and mentioned how incontinence has plagued me for such a long time in spite of several failed therapies. He mentioned how having an artificial urinary sphincter might be of some assistance to me.
What is an artificial urinary sphincter? It is a surgical device with an inflatable cuff that fits around the urethra close to the point where it joins the bladder. Basically it squeezes the urethra shut so that no urine can leak out. In addition, a balloon device is placed in the pelvic area and a pump secured in the scrotum to control the opening and closing of the inflatable cuff. If the patient needs to urinate, he squeezes the pump in the scrotum, thus releasing the pressure on the urethra for about ninety seconds and allowing the urine to flow.
Therefore, after pondering this decision for some time (mainly waiting for COVID issues to settle down at my hospital), I underwent placement of an artificial urinary sphincter on May 20, 2021. The surgery was done as an outpatient. I was off work for about two weeks to recover. The urology nurse practitioner later activated the device about four weeks after the surgery.
What has been the result? The artificial urinary sphincter has been an absolute game changer! I no longer have to sleep with the embarrassment of a diaper. I only leak a few drops at night (if any). I do still wear a small pad, i.e. a "male guard", during the day because I sometimes have mild leakage when I cough or sit down in a chair. However, the incontinence is about 97.5% controlled. I couldn't be more happy about the results.
I've been away from my blog for a while due to other issues. Today I buried my father, Benjamin Campbell, and felt compelled to share my eulogy from his funeral.
"I’ve thought about this day for many, many
years.Once my father passed away, I
knew I wanted to give a eulogy.However, in giving a eulogy, I’ve discovered how I am so limited in
time.
In writing about the life of Jesus, the
Apostle John wrote in John 21:25, “...There are many other things which Jesus
did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself
would not contain the books which were written.” In other words, John said he didn’t have the
time nor the space to write about every deed or interaction that Jesus had when
he walked on this earth.
In the same way, my sister, brother,
myself, extended family or even you in attendance could certainly speak for hours
about the ways Ben Campbell touched our lives. Therefore, for the sake of time, I will only speak for a few minutes
about my impressions of my father’s earthly life.
But in reviewing his life, I would say
that my father lived a life of love.Not
that he would tell you “he loved you” (he was not a “touchy-feely sort of
guy”—I think this was the residual effect of being raised without a father),
but yet he was a man of many loves.So,
I feel compelled to mention some of the things which he loved and some
examples, not necessarily in order.
First of all, he loved the Lord
and served Him through His church.He
was saved at a young age, later became a deacon/Sunday School teacher and was
an integral part of church committees over the years.He was faithful at church until his health
began to fail.Yet, a couple of examples
come to my mind.I remember one time
when I wanted him to play golf with me but he had to refuse because he was tied
up in projects at his church.One time
he spent several hours spraying Round-Up on the pavement of the parking lot at
South Roebuck Baptist Church because he wanted to kill all of the grass which was
sprouting up on the parking area.On
another occasion, he couldn’t play golf because he had to help unload food from
a truck which his church was using to support a local food bank.Mind you, he was in his eighties but he still
wanted to help unload these most likely heavy boxes of food.
He also dearly loved his family
and wanted to provide every opportunity for my siblings and I to succeed.I remember one time we were picking
blackberries at my uncle’s house in Honoraville, Alabama and my father tried to make
this as easy as possible.If you’ve ever
picked blackberries, you know how these bushes can scratch you with their thorns.However, what Daddy did was try to mash down
the bushes as much as possible so we could get to the blackberries without harm
(and hopefully scaring off all of the snakes).This is a beautiful picture of what he was always doing for us in life,
trying to lessen obstacles so we could reach the blackberries in life.
He loved children.He especially loved his grandchildren and
great grandchildren.He also loved
children in our neighborhood as we were growing up on Seventh Avenue South in
Crestwood.I remember one time he was
working from his office at home and a couple of girls down the street named
Stephanie and Angie would visit him while he was working.Well, Daddy decided he would make a special
treat for these girls so he invented a bubble gum tree.He took some bubble gum and taped it to a
bush so the girls could come by and help themselves to the bubble gum
tree.However, one time he told Angie to
get some green apple gum from the tree (it was round and green) but Angie
refused saying it wasn’t “ripe.”
He loved pets, especially
cats.As a matter of facts, cats always
seemed to find him.As we were growing
up we always had a dog and several cats, perhaps a reason why all of us in our
family are so fond of pets.One of our
neighbors even commented at one time how she wanted to be one of the Campbell’s
pets based on the love they received.
He loved people in general.I remember him saying how Mama Glenn would
give away her last nickel to someone in need.Daddy was the same way.He always
sought to help people in any way possible.
He also loved limited foods.He especially loved peanut butter and
watermelon.At one time, he mentioned he
wanted to be buried with some peanut butter at his head and a watermelon at his
feet (or vice versa).In relation to
this, he was somewhat inflexible in trying out new foods.How many times we were embarrassed when we
went to an Italian restaurant and he would tell the waitress he wanted “United
States food.”
Finally, as you may be aware, Daddy’s
father died when he was three weeks old after being stung by countless number of
bees while trying to retrieve honey from a tree.As a result, Daddy’s mother Dovie sent Daddy along with his brothers and sisters to live in the Masonic Home Orphanage in
Montgomery to provide their care during the Great Depression.
There is a great song written by Joel
Lindsey and Twila LaBar (sung by the Christian group Avalon) which I think sums
up Daddy’s life to an extent, how he loved others and how God took care of him. It’s
called “Orphans of God.”
'Who here among us has not been broken
Who here among us is without guilt or
pain
So oft abandoned by our transgressions
If such a thing as grace exists, then
grace was made for lives like this
There are no strangers, there are no
outcasts, there are no orphans of God
So many fallen but, hallelujah, there are no orphans
of God
Come ye unwanted and find affection
Come all ye weary, come and lay down
your head
Come ye unworthy, you are my brother
If such a thing as grace exists, then
grace was made for lives like this
There are no strangers, there are no
outcasts, there are no orphans of God
So many fallen but, hallelujah, there are no orphans
of God
Oh, blessed Father, look down upon us
We are Your children, we need Your love
We run before Your throne of mercy and
seek Your face to rise above
There are no strangers, there are no
outcasts, there are no orphans of God
So many fallen but, hallelujah, there are no orphans
of God
There are no strangers, there are no
outcasts, there are no orphans of God
So many fallen but, hallelujah, there are no orphans
of God'
So, Daddy, you may have been raised in
an orphanage, but you never were truly an orphan.Throughout your life, you were surrounded by
your siblings and extended family, children and their spouses, grandchildren,
great grandchildren coupled with the countless neighbors, church members, and
golf buddies who loved you dearly."
I'm not really a boxing fan (can't understand why someone would want to make a living by getting repeatedly hit on the head) but I did develop some interest when I was growing up regarding heavyweight fighters, especially Muhammad Ali (formerly Cassius Clay). I'm not exactly sure why I admired him except that he was heavyweight champion for a while, was on television a lot (especially on programs like "ABC's Wide World of Sports") and, of course, he seemed to be a favorite of sports announcer Howard Cosell. He fought with a certain flair and seemed to back up his persistent bragging about his abilities with results. He was subsequently called, "The Greatest" and was king of the boxing world in his heyday.
There is something about "greatness" which is appealing. A restaurant may state it has the "greatest cup of coffee in the world" (I'd like to try that) or Hollywood may promote a film and state it is "the greatest movie in a decade" (Hmmm...I may want to check the reviews first before I venture out to the theater). Speaking of Hollywood, actor Jackie Gleason was dubbed "The Great One" (he obtained this nickname a little before my time). Nevertheless, there appears to be some merit, at least in the secular world, of being the labeled the "greatest", whether it be in sports, entertainment or even politics. Consequently, manufacturers are constantly working to provide the "greatest" product for their customers.
Jesus was also touched by the greatness of a person. Reading in Matthew 8:5-10, 13:
"And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented." Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me, and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it. Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you. I have not found such great (italics mine) faith with anyone in Israel....And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very hour."
So, when Jesus says this is the "greatest faith", it would behoove us to take notice. What was so great about the centurion's faith?
First of all, he understood the power of Jesus. No sickness or situation was beyond His healing ability. Reminds me of Jeremiah 32:27 which states, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"
In relation to this, he was aware of the provision for Jesus to heal. He didn't even have to come to his house, lay hands on the servant or be physically present in any way. Simply saying the word was sufficient.
Furthermore, he was knowledgeable of Jesus's personnel. The centurion personally had soldiers and servants who followed his commands. He knew Jesus also had a spiritual army who was ready to accomplish His purposes.
So, perhaps, one of the "greatest" truths learned from a man who had the "greatest" faith, is to recognize Jesus's power and authority to heal cancer or any other infirmity. Simply saying the word is more than enough for Him to remove this dreaded disease.
Do you ever feel like there is something for which you cannot escape or lingers on? I know sometimes a cold or respiratory infection can go on for weeks and weeks requiring multiple rounds or antibiotics and several doctors' visits. I've heard people say statements like, "I just can't seem to shake this" portraying their frustration with its persistence. However, some ailments in life can be more intense and more destructive. In relation to this, Paul makes an interesting statement as he describes the battle between the spirit and the flesh in Romans 7. In verse 24 he proclaims, "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" So, what exactly is a "body of this death?" which had its grip on Paul. It possibly conveys a most gruesome meaning. The MacArthur Study Bible says that "...an ancient tribe near Tarsus tied the corpse of a murder victim to its murderer, allowing its spreading decay to slowly infect and execute the murderer-perhaps that is the image Paul had in mind." I cannot think of anything more hideous and grotesque. Yet, that is exactly how seasons and circumstances of life can linger in their destruction. It could be a failed marriage, a job loss, financial difficulties or loss of health. Although I have been cancer free since 2006, the effects of this disease and its treatment just never seem to go away. I still have damage from the chemotherapy with hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy and chronic kidney disease. Since my bladder was removed in 2004 and a neobladder created I have to stick a tube in my artificial bladder three times a day and am forever a slave to companies which sell urinary catheters. In addition, I have to sleep with a diaper nightly due to the threat of urinary incontinence. Furthermore, there is the concern of how to care for myself in latter years, wondering if I will have sufficient assistance when I am old and feeble. Hence, similar to Paul, I also feel like I am attached to a "body of death." How will I ever escape this predicament? The cure is listed in Romans 7:25 with the glorious news, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Although life may be difficult in many ways, I know that "weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning." (Psalms 30:5)
I've been extremely busy lately so have been limited in contributing to my blog. Nevertheless, I had an inspiration recently while running and was waiting for an opportune moment to share.
Basically, I've been running along Deerfoot Parkway close to where I live for at least seventeen years. Although my work schedule limits my activity some, I do try to run at least twice a week. As I've probably mentioned previously, running is a great way to clear my mind and pray about matters with little distraction. In addition, hopefully this strenuous exercise trumps my bad habits, e.g. loving hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, etc. and helps me remain physically fit.
Yet, in all of my years running on the parkway, I encountered an unusual site several weeks ago. While I was running, I saw a duck and ducklings crossing the road at a leisurely pace. Mind you, Deerfoot Parkway can be a relatively busy thoroughfare. However, out of the blue, the mother duck and her young proceeded to cross the road while there was still a good amount of traffic flow. Seeing this lovely waterfowl family, I feared for their safety as the passing cars could easily turn the ducks into pate'. Thankfully, the cars on the road stopped for a few moments and let the ducks advance to the other side of the road. Afterwards, the automobiles continued on their journeys.
So, seeing the ducks, I thought surely there is some sort of lesson here. What could these ducks represent? I struggled for an answer and realized that the ducks could represent a concept which is much needed at times, more specifically, the need to temporarily put life on hold to sort out other issues. In other words, let the ducks pass.
Consequently, this is applicable in any area of life. Maybe you want to write a book but are currently struggling with illness or cancer. It's okay to let the illness resolve or improve, then begin writing afterwards. It's like being on a Merry-Go-Round. Just jump back on when circumstances allow or, in keeping with the theme, allow time for the ducks to pass.
Wanting to get a college degree but also wanting to start a family? It's okay to delay getting your degree for a year or two to have a child or vice versa. Nothing wrong with that. Just let the ducks pass.
Furthermore, in any situation, when confronted by a family of ducks, just give them ample time to cross the road and then continue your journey.
As I have mentioned in several blogs, I am a runner and try to run at least twice a week as my schedule permits. I do this for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's a great time to clear my mind and pray over matters. In addition, running keeps me from gaining a lot of weight. Not that I lose weight, mind you. I just feel like I don't gain a lot of weight when I consistently run. Furthermore, by running, I don't feel quite as guilty when I frequent fast food restaurants as is my habit.
One place I visit on occasion is the local hot dog eatery. I like my hot dogs "all the way" with sauerkraut, onions and special sauce. On the other hand, my wife is much more picky about her selection in that she wants the hot dogs without onions. So, when I order, I usually mention I want at least one of the dogs without onions. But, when I get home, this is where the fun begins. Sometimes the eatery marks the wrapper a special way to show that the hot dog is without onions. On other occasions, there is no mention on the wrapper. So, I have to sort through the dogs to find the ones without onions. This takes time and is sometimes difficult to find the onions (or lack of them) on the hot dogs.
Then, one day, it dawned on me, there was a simple way to rectify this problem. So what did I do? I began ordering all the hot dogs without onions. That way, I didn't have to search through the hot dogs plus I didn't run the risk of being fussed at by my wife if there were onions involved. Easy solution.
Sometimes in life it is advantageous to think outside the box, that is, to look for easy solutions for problems. For example, I read about a lady who had extreme nausea with her chemotherapy treatments in the afternoons. So, what did she do? She set her alarm clock to wake her up around 3AM and ate a huge breakfast so nausea wouldn't be a problem later in the day. Great idea! There is absolutely no law that you have to wait until 7 or 8 a.m. to eat breakfast. Hence, she was able to eat well and not worry about nausea during the day. She was thinking outside the box.
I also heard about a man whose doctor told him he needed to drink 8 glasses of water a day, sometimes a difficult request. What did he do? When he got up in the morning, he drank 8 glasses of water back to back. Kind of unusual, but yet, there is no rule that you can't drink the beverages all at one time. He was thinking outside the box.
So, when facing difficulties or unusual problems, don't give up. There may be a way you can accomplish a task by thinking outside the box. Be creative. It may not be as hard as you think.
My oldest daughter recently gave birth to her second son, William. However, due to pregnancy complications, the child was delivered emergently at 31 weeks. He remains in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and is receiving extraordinary care. As a grandparent, I pray earnestly that my newest grandson will grow, thrive and ultimately come home to be with his older sibling. I also pray that the health care team will have uttermost wisdom in dealing with his fragile life. Of course, I also lift up his parents and extended family in the midst of this situation.
Yet, dealing with my premature grandson's situation has opened my eyes to something which countless parents experience. Perhaps the best way for me to deal with my anxiety (as I have in time's past) is by writing. So, please bear with me as I try to gather some thoughts that might be helpful to myself and others.
In general terms, William had to be prematurely removed from his mother's womb. That is the problem. Pure and simple. If he could have stayed there until his delivery date in March, life would be much, much easier.
Hence, what are the advantages of a child being in the womb? What specifically does the womb provide? These thoughts may be even applicable to any situation, whether cancer or whatever difficulty in life.
First of all, there is protection. No matter what external extremes of heat or cold are present, the temperature in the womb remains consistent.
In addition, there is provision. Nourishment is provided to the fetus via the placenta. All nutrients are provided to help the fetus grow and flourish.
Another advantage of the womb is is personal touch. How many parents rub or talk to the kicking baby to give them sweet assurance of their presence!
In like manner, I can see how these same concepts are necessary when going through cancer or cancer treatment. For example, when I was going through chemotherapy, I was given Neulasta injections periodically to increase my white blood cell count and "protect" me from infection.
Also, "provision" was definitely a necessity during chemotherapy. It was a challenge to keep food down due to extreme nausea. On the days I felt relatively well, I tried to "eat like a horse" in order to boost my strength. Nevertheless, I still lost twenty five pounds while undergoing 3 1/2 months of my chemotherapy regimen.
Finally, "personal touch" was such a comfort. I don't know of anyone who received more prayers while I was fighting cancer. There were those who brought food, patted me on the back, etc. My father even painted my porch!
Therefore, protection, provision, and personal touch are necessities. Whether in the womb or out, no matter where we are on our life journey, it's nice to have such things to lighten our load.
My Bible Study group recently studied two of the most familiar parables in the Bible. The first is the story of the Good Samaritan as described in Luke 10:30-37. As you may recall, this parable mentions a man who was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho and was attacked by robbers. They "stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead" (Luke 10:30). A Levite and later a priest walked by him in his helpless condition but opted to do nothing. Thankfully, a Samaritan "..saw him...felt compassion, and came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you.'" (verses 33-35).
Isn't that what sometimes happens in life? The gentleman walking down the road to Jericho didn't do anything wrong. He was simply viciously attacked out of the blue. A routine journey became a fight for his life. Gratefully, the Samaritan came to his aid in a big way. He took care of his wounds, found him a place to stay, even provided further financial assistance to make sure he would fully recover.
We all need "Good Samaritans" in our lives at times. These may be those seasons when we may be caught in situations due to no fault of our own and end up broken and bleeding.
Skip over to Luke 15:11-32 for the account of the prodigal son. In this situation, the son purposefully got himself in trouble. He asked for his father to give him his inheritance prematurely (before the father had passed away) and promptly spent all of the money. Luke 15:13 records how he "..went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living." Starving and penniless, he decided to return to his father, even being willing to be a servant to survive. Yet, the father welcomed him with open arms. Luke 15:20 states, "But while he was a still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him." The father subsequently had a big party rejoicing in the return of his wayward son.
In like manner, there are times in our lives that we may purposefully go against the Heavenly Father's wishes and end up in tons of trouble. We ultimately "come to our senses" (Luke 15:17) and come running back to God. Gratefully, we are met with open arms as we repent.
Hence, the common denominator in both parables appears to be compassion. The Good Samaritan felt compassion for the traveler who had been attacked whereas the father felt compassion for the son who had made extremely poor decisions.
So, whatever situation in life, whether it involves choices which have led to our demise or even times when we are guiltless, the compassionate Heavenly Father is there to bandage our wounds and welcome us back into His family.
This year there was much excitement across the United States due to a total eclipse which occurred on August 21st. Many people travelled great distances just to see this once in a lifetime event. Residents of Franklin, Tennessee, about three hours north of me, experienced a full eclipse. However, the area where I live (just north of Birmingham, Alabama) only had 92% coverage by the moon. Still not too shabby. Although there was no appreciable darkness in my area, I was happy to witness this event. I even took a picture of the eclipse over my shoulder when it reached its maximum impact in my area. As you can see, due to the eclipse, the sun assumed a unique oval type shape (see picture below).
In further reflections upon the eclipse, I became aware of several occurrences. For example, even though the sun was blocked out (at least, temporarily), the grass was still growing, flowers were still blooming, rivers were unabated in their flow and birds were still flying. In other words, in spite of the transient darkness, life in the eclipse regions continued as it was before whether the sun could be seen or not.
What a glorious picture of life. Sometimes the sun (or should I say God's watchful presence) is blocked from our view. These are the situations where the diagnosis from the doctor is dreadful, the balance in the checkbook is pitiful, or the chances of getting a job are limited. As a matter of fact, we are prone to call these times "dark" days. We are not to worry, though, because God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Everything in our lives will work out according to His plan and His timing. He is looking after us whether we are able to see Him or not.
Thus, celestial eclipses are a rare event. Unfortunately, personal eclipses occur more regularly. But, as Jesus reminds us in John 20:29, "blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
It happened the other day, although I really shouldn't be surprised. I was cutting my grass without incident. I cut my front yard, was making my way towards the back lawn when, lo and behold, one of the wheels came off my lawnmower. No warning or anything. Just abruptly fell off, bringing the lawn care to an abrupt halt. I grabbed a few tools and proceeded to attempt to fix the problem. Much to my dismay, I discovered it would be a tricky repair (as most things I try to repair are difficult). My lawn mower is a self-propelled variety and the wheel had to be placed back on in tedious fashion. I struggled with it for a while, trying to get it screwed back on. After several minutes without success, I called my father-in-law to see if he could help but he was tied up at work. So, I basically gave up for the moment. The wheel repair would have to wait in addition to trimming the rest of the lawn. Later that night, after I got home from Bible study, I again tried to secure the loose wheel. After struggling with it for at least thirty minutes and resisting the temptation to throw my tools, I finally got the blasted thing back on. A simple task had turned into a monumental effort with much physical and mental strain.
You know how some people have the "Midas touch", that is, everything they touch turns to gold? Many times I feel I have an "un-Midas" touch, everything I touch turns to disaster. The simple home repair becomes the horrific project. The easy day at work becomes unbearable. The casual sickness fails to respond to the usual treatment. Basically, nothing seems to go right. Prayers are reduced to simple utterances of "Please help me, God!".
The prophet Habakkuk was also familiar with distresses. He ministered in the land of Judah several decades before the Babylonians captured Jerusalem in 586 B.C. He was keenly aware of a time when life as he knew it would not make sense. Consider the richness of his words from Habakkuk 3:17-19:
"Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet. And makes me walk on my high places."
Notice his response to his distress, "Yet I will exult in the Lord." Even though life was turning rotten, nothing was working out like it should have, he placed His confidence in the Lord. Perhaps, one day, it would all make sense. Reminds me of the verse from the old hymn, "Farther Along" which states:
"Farther along we'll know all about it
Farther along we'll understand why
Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine
We'll understand it all by and by."
So, hold on, don't give up. God has everything under control.
I continue to be amazed at the miracles of Elisha as recorded in the Old Testament. I hope I'm "handling accurately the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15) in believing the miracles actually have a couple of meanings. Consider the last miracle of Elisha as recorded in 2 Kings 13:21 which states: "As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet."
Wow! Elisha even performed a miracle long after he had died. So, at face value, a man died and his body was cast into the grave of Elisha. The dead man miraculously revived. Tremendous story.
Yet, I think there is more meaning here, especially in relation to a person's legacy. Specifically, as a writer, I'm impressed how influence can extend beyond the grave. Consider the wonderful saints of old, whether it be Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody or Corrie ten Boom to name a few. Isn't it amazing how you can read something that they said, preached or wrote years ago and it touches your heart? Also, just the memory of a wonderful saint can have a healing effect, even just for a moment as you consider their depth of commitment to Christ. It's almost like you touch their bones and are revived.
So, a person's life, specifically how he or she loved the Lord or even overcame cancer or severe illness, can extend well beyond the grave. Perhaps my books and blogs will be a healing balm to many people long after I've gone home to glory.
I've recently been reading through the Old Testament and have been thoroughly moved. One story which really captivates me is the story of the man losing the head of an axe in the Jordan River while cutting down a tree. It is recorded in II Kings 6:1-7 as follows:
"Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Behold now, the place before you where we are living is too limited for us. Please let us go to the Jordan and each of us take from there a beam, and let us make a place there for ourselves where we may live.” So he said, “Go.” Then one said, “Please be willing to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I shall go.”So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float. He said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it."
It's such a simple story, yet so typical of life. Things happen. Perhaps they are minimal at best in the broad scheme of life's occurrences, yet, when they happen, it feels like the world is caving in. In this case, a man using a borrowed tool has the unthinkable happen as the axe head comes off and is irretrievable in the water. Maybe this unfortunate fellow didn't have the financial means to replace it as he says in distress to Elisha in verse 6, "Alas, my master, for it was borrowed." He was in an unexpected bind, a tight fix which was not his fault.
Similar occurrences happen today. You can't find your car keys. The refrigerator goes out. The lawn mower won't start. The cat disappears. You wake up with a headache or a stomach virus. Your prescription runs out and your pharmacy is closed. The list goes on and on.
What to do? Pray. Pray. Pray. Even if it's just the loss of an axe head or something more trivial, pray. Philippians 4:6-7 says, " Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
What happens next? Sometimes the axe head miraculously floats in the water, the situation is resolved, and you can rest in peace (the peace of God, that is).
I've recently been reading about King Solomon in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of I Kings. I'm especially impressed by Solomon's prayer after he ascends to the throne following the death of his father, King David. God basically gives Solomon a "blank check," asking Solomon to pray for anything he wants. Yet, in humility, Solomon asks the Lord to "give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (I Kings 3:9). This prayer greatly pleased the Lord in that Solomon did not pray for long life, riches or even the death of his enemies (vs. 11). Think about it. Solomon didn't pray to live a long time, although there is nothing wrong with praying for length of days. He didn't pray for riches or financial security, although it is definitely okay to pray for God to meet needs. Finally, he didn't pray for the destruction of his enemies (or removal of his persecutors). Again, it is acceptable to pray for God to remove times of affliction.
Perhaps, these are things we all pray about when going through cancer of major sickness. All are legitimate prayers. For example, we may pray to live a long time, that is, to be healed. In addition, we may pray for riches or for all needs to be met. Furthermore, we may pray for the destruction of our enemy, i.e. cancer.
But, I think Solomon's prayer emphasizes what is truly important in life, that is, to have godly wisdom. After praying for wisdom, as far as I know, I think God did provide all of the other items, including long life, riches and peace from his enemies.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Healing and riches are nice. Having wisdom is much, much better.
I had the privilege of being interviewed by our local paper, The Trussville Tribune, recently regarding my latest book, "Bullet Points: Absolute Essentials For Facing A Fallen World". Check out the interview at:
Believe it or not, I became an author because of cancer. After being diagnosed with Stage III bladder cancer and undergoing major surgery along with chemotherapy, I authored two books, "A Place I Didn't Want To Go: My Victory Over Cancer" (2011) and "Glorified Sickness: Honoring God Through Illness" (2014). I also began writing this blog.
However, I have now ventured out into writing about something which has nothing whatsoever to do with sickness. As I've gotten older, I realize how we live in a dark and dreary world. War. Crime. Persecution. Ephesians 6:12 states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
As a result, I'm excited to announce the publication of my third book, Bullet Points: AbsoluteEssentials For Facing A Fallen World. In this book, I expound on Romans 12:9-21, a New Testament passage which provides practical advice for how Christians should conduct themselves in this world. Among the questions I address in Bullet Points include:
• How are Christians to love those who are in the world?
• Is it ever acceptable for a Christian to hate?
• What should be a believer’s attitude towards personal enemies?
• In spite of these dark times, is there anything in which Christians can rejoice?
• What specifically should believers hold tightly during these days of peril?
• Is it possible to live in harmony with all people?
• Is it okay for Christians to pay back others for wrongs committed against themselves?
• Most importantly, how can believers overcome evil with good?
Yes, overcoming cancer or major illness is nice. But, overcoming life in general is far much better. I would encourage you to get a copy of my latest book, Bullet Points: Absolute Essentials For Facing A Fallen World. Available on Amazon at the link below.
The Bible mentions a tragic story of a woman named Naomi in Ruth chapter 1. She and her family lived in Bethlehem. However, due to a famine, she, her husband Elimelech and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, moved to the land of Moab. While in Moab, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow. But her sons eventually married, perhaps easing some of Naomi's pain. Their Moabite brides were named Ruth and Orpah.
Unfortunately, further unthinkable tragedy struck Naomi's family. Both of her sons died, although the Bible doesn't mention the circumstances of their deaths. Naomi was left alone with her two daughters-in-law. Upon Naomi's bidding, Orpah returned back to her own people. Yet, Ruth demonstrated uncanny allegiance to Naomi and opted to return with her to Bethlehem.
Apparently, there was quite a commotion when Naomi returned with Ruth to Bethlehem. Naomi, whose name means, "pleasant", was quick to point out how life had changed dramatically with the death of her husband and sons since she left Bethlehem during the famine. As a matter of fact, she no longer wanted to be called by her given name, Naomi, since life was definitely now "un-pleasant." She felt that she should more appropriately called "Mara" which means "bitter." She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (Ruth 1:20-21). I feel for Naomi. Isn't that how some things work out in life? You supposedly buy a great car (as least that is what the dealer said), yet it turns out to be a lemon. You think you find a great job, but in time discover how stressful it is and you regret ever taking it. You believe you have a marriage made in heaven but soon realize the prospects of living "happily ever after" are not possible. In other words, at one time you felt ready to take on the world as life was "pleasant." But unthinkable things occur (such as happened with the multiple deaths in Naomi's family). Dreadfully, life has become bitter. Yet, with Naomi, we are blessed to know the rest of the story. Ruth eventually marries a man named Boaz. They have a son named Obed who later has a son named Jesse, the father of King David. So Ruth was the great grandmother of Israel's greatest king. I guess you could say that Naomi was the great-great grandmother of David in a way. But, when Naomi, returned back to Bethlehem, she couldn't see the future. All she knew is that her pleasant life had become bitter. Nothing wrong in recognizing how life is sometimes at its worst and to pray for deliverance.
Last week, I had to meet with my book publisher about an upcoming writing project. Although I was familiar with the company, they had recently moved to downtown Birmingham. Not knowing its new location and being directionally challenge, I was puzzled about finding my way. As a result, I turned on the "Global Positioning System" or "GPS" on my phone. As a simple-minded person, I am amazed at this incredible invention, now at my fingertips. It told me the exact roads to take, which turns to address along the way and even estimated the time I would arrive. Even if I took a wrong turn, I knew it would graciously redirect my path. Following the guidelines of the GPS, I arrived at the publisher about the time it predicted.
The GPS on my phone illustrated to me how I am constantly needing direction in life. What should be my priorities? How do I stay focused? How can I be a good steward of my time and resources?
Thankfully, there are a host of heavenly resources available to show me the way, including the Bible, godly counsel from other believers in Christ, and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. All of these combined provide the encouragement from Isaiah 30:21 which states, "Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Life is so much easier, whether I'm dealing with sickness, financial matters, family situations, etc., when I rely on the divine GPS.
As the days progress, I'm getting more and more pleasure from my cat Maverick. Although he's still less than a year old and somewhat mischievous, i.e. climbing on things, getting into all sorts of trouble, etc., I cherish the time home from work when I can relax with my boy. I especially like the way he sleeps in the bed with me for at least part of the night.
When I go to bed, I typically sleep on my left side or on my stomach. Don't know why, but I've done this for years. In addition, I usually have my legs drawn up slightly in what I would call a modified fetal position with at least one knee bent. One night, much to my joy, I discovered Maverick had crawled on the bed and had fallen asleep right besides one of my legs, tucked in behind my bent knee. Apparently, this was a warm spot for him to sleep, close to his adopted daddy. You could say Maverick was sleeping in the cleft of the rock.
In Exodus 33, Moses was placed in the cleft of the rock while God's presence passed him by. Not only did Moses experience God's presence, the cleft of the rock signified, at least in my thinking, security and protection. While in the cleft of the rock, Moses was completely free of danger. Perhaps for Maverick, sleeping behind my knee or in the "cleft of the rock" was also a peaceful, warm place of security and love brought about by his master.
Furthermore, years later, Fannie Crosby described vividly the joys of the cleft of the rock in her immortal hymn, "He Hideth My Soul". These glorious lyrics proclaim:
"A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.
With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God!
For such a Redeemer as mine.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.
When clothed with His brightness transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand."
Little did I realize when Maverick snuggled up to me, he was demonstrating wonderful biblical truth. In whatever situation in life, whether sickness, depression, despair, etc. we all need to hide out in the cleft of the rock for warmth and security.
