Cancer Update Again

Just to give all a heads up on my current situation going through chemotherapy a result of being diagnosed with Colon Cancer in December 08.

I have completed 5 months of a 6 month of the chemotherapy regime which began the first part of February 09.  The therapy involved three regular chemo drugs (Oxaliplatin, Flurorouracil, and Leucovorin) and a study drug (Cetuximab).  

About a month back I was experiencing extreme side of effects from the study drug cetuximab such as skin rashes, cuts and lesions, plus my big left toe acquired an infection.  Because of this my Oncologist  took me off the study drug completely for the duration of my treatment and instructed me to see a Podiatrist for the infected toe. At the same time  I was taken off the regular chemo for about three weeks.  

The Podiatrist removed some toe nail on the left and right side of my big left toe to clean and release the infection.  The toe is now almost completely healed and I resumed regular chemo treatment yesterday.  I have only one more cycle to complete and that is scheduled for August 12th.  Following that I will have CATSCAN on August 19th and see my Oncologist on August 26th who will than give me the results and prognosis for the future.  

At this point everything is going well and looking good.  There will probably be more tests ahead in the next couple of months but at this time not quite sure what is involved.  I just know Linda and I are ready to be done with it all – the good Lord willing.

To everyone out there who has been praying for us we say a big THANK YOU!!!!!  We have literally been carried along on the prayers of God’s people this entire journey and what an encouragement it has been.  God Bless you all!!!!!

By God’s Grace!

Meaning of Post-Evangelical

I’ve been wrestling with this term Post-Evangelical for some time.  I continue to find resonance with this term within my own spiritual pilgrimage.  The Internet Monk in a post from 2006 clarified the meaning of the term, which more and more describes what I’m becoming: a Post-Evangelical.  Here are some of the Monk’s thoughts on the subject. He begins by defining the term ‘Evangelical.”

My son Clay asked me the other day, “What do you mean by post-evangelical?” That deserves a good answer.

Let’s start with this: By evangelical, I do not mean, as some on the Internet have labored to prove, a line of Christianity extending from the Reformation through Calvinism to a handful of modern day independent Baptist fundamentalists. Nor do I mean, as Lutherans have the perfect right to historically assert, that Lutheranism has the right to the term evangelicalism.

Instead, I mean evangelicalism as a twentieth century movement meeting the following qualifications:

1. Protestant, even strongly anti-Catholic
2. Baptistic, even in its non-Baptist form
3. Shaped by the influence of Billy Graham and his dominance as an symbol and leader
4. Shaped by the influence of Southern Baptist dominance in the conception of evangelism
5. Influenced by revivalism and the ethos of the Second Great Awakening
6. Open to the use of technology
7. Oriented around individualistic pietism and a vision of individualistic Christianity
8. Committed to church growth as the primary evidence of evangelism
9. Committed to missions as a concept and a calling, but less as a methodology
10. Asserting Sola scriptura, but largely unaware of the influence of its own traditions
11. Largely anti-intellectual and populist in its view of education
12. Traditionally conservative on social, political and cultural issues
13. Anti- Creedal, reluctantly confessional
14. Revisionist toward Christian history in order to establish its own historical legitimacy
15. Attempting, and largely failing, to establish a non-fundamentalist identity
16. A low view of the sacraments and sacramental theology
17. A dispensational eschatology, revolving around the rapture and apocalyptic views of immanent last days

For more on the subject go here

Admitting Your Fear as Your Biggest Problem

I’m making my way through Missing in America: Making an Eternal Difference in the World Next Door by Tom Clegg and Warren Bird.  The second chapter is titled Admitting Your Fear as Your Biggest Problem, relating to the fears we Christ followers have in our attempts to engage people in our culture.  On page 38 they list Five Fears Frequently Faced with Relational Solutions to each fear.

When we experience the fears below, here are some relationally rich ways we might reply to our friends that will minimize our own fears in the process:

FEAR OF REJECTION: I don’t want my friends to turn against me when I talk about the need for a relationship with God.

 RELATIONAL SOLUTION: Are my words about God so personal that they put a strain on our relationship?

FEAR OF IGNORANCE: I don’t want to look dumb, not having answers to their questions.

RELATIONAL SOLUTION: “That’s a great question and I haven’t got a clue! God brought you into my life to help sharpen my understanding, and I can’t wait to find the answer!”

FEAR OF OFFENDING:  I don’t want to hurt a friend.

RELATIONAL SOLUTION: “Am I being too pushy? Going too fast? Tell me if I do that!”

FEAR OF TRANSPARENCY: “I don’t want people to turn away from God because they see my flaws.

RELATIONAL SOLUTION:  ”I’m really not perfect or even close, but I know the one  who is.”

FEAR OF STARTING WHAT I CAN’T FINISH:  I don’t want to blow it because I don’t know what to do next.

RELATIONAL SOLUTION:  :”Together you and I are going to learn to be more like Jesus!”

Great Words – Great God

One of the good (nice) things about having cancer and enduring chemotherapy is all the kind words that come your way.  Usually words like; “how are you doing today,” “we are praying for you and Linda,” How can we help you?” and many more that are expressions of people’s love and concern.  After six months I still not used to all the attention, but is kind-of-nice.  

It is not just limited to words, but also actions.  Today one of Sue and her son Jake from Short Bus community came over. Jake mowed the lawn and she made sure dinner was taken care of tonight.  Some good friends from our Epic community are making sure our alkaline levels in our drinking water are where they need to be, so their providing us with drinking water.  Linda and I  really appreciate of these special gifts.  We are learning in a fresh and new way how blessed we are even on this difficult path of cancer.

The reason I started this post was share a card I received from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law in Denver.  I’ve seen these words before describing God’s work in our life., but today they have a more significant meaning and place in my heart.  Here they are:

When you are the neediest, He is the most sufficient

When you are completely helpless, He is the most helpful.

When your feel totally dependent, He is absolutely dependable.

When you are the weakest, He is the most able.

When you are most alone, He is intimately present.

When you feel you are the least, He is the greatest.

When you feel the most useless, He is preparing you.

When it is the darkest, He is the only light you need.

When you feel the least secure, He is your Rock and Fortress.

I find these words to more true each day.  I know its hyperbole, but its the truth in this case –  at least for me.

History of Christian Pilgrimages

Leonard Sweet writes in this latest book So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church.

Any brief incursion into the history of Christian pilgrimages, especially in their heyday from around 1050 to 1550 and a recounting of what happened on the most popular pilgrimage routes (Holy Land, Rome, Santiago de Compostela, Canterbury) reveal five common characteristics:

1. A deep desire for forgiveness of sins, absolution, or “papal indulgence.” There even arose “pilgrim passports” to be stamped at posts en route to prove one had made the “pilgrimage.”
2. The expectation of healing was not uncommon.  Pilgrims lived under the sign of “Say the Word!”: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” (Matt 8:8)
3. Pilgrims collected sacred relics and souvenirs, which could be anything from mummified fingers, shells, rocks, “virgin’s milk,” anything.
4. Pilgrims formed a community of fellow travelers, as was memorialized in Chancer’s Canterbury pilgrims.  Social contacts and stories were prominent features of pilgrimages.
5. A pilgrimage meant a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, a chance to get away, open one’s life to the unexpected. and see “the other side of the hill.”  Danger was everywhere: Moorish pirates lay in wait; some pilgrims were sold into slavery; there was the ever present threat of robbery, murder, vagabonds. pickpockets, false guides., the danger of daggers, etc.

The essence of a theology of journey that incorporates all these features of a pilgrimage can be found in the thee Hs of the Emmaus Road story: hospitality, honesty, and home.  (pages 75-76)

Quote from Augustine

I’ve been praying and thinking about “living in the love the Creator, my Father.”  I came across this quote in one of the books I’m currently reading.  Really touched a nerve.  Maybe it will for you.

“Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you.  And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created  things which you made.”    – Augustine, Confessions

A Scripture for Postmodern Pilgrims

God, teach me lessons for living

so I can stay the course.

Give me insight so I do what you tell me –

my whole life one long, obedient response.

Guide me down the road of your commandments;

I love traveling this freeway!

Give me a bent for your words of wisdom,

and not for piling up loot.

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets.

invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

Affirm your promises to me –

promises made to all who fear you.

Deflect the harsh words of my critics –

but what you say is always so good.

See how hungry I am for your counsel;

preserve my life through your righteous ways!

(Psalms 119:33-49 The Message)

 

At Home Relationship with Christ

This summer our Vancouver Epic Wineskins community has been looking at what Scripture has to say in regard to prayer and what we might learn in the process that would enable us to pray more effectively.   The impetus behind this prayer focus was a discussion we had some months back on why it seems that our prayers are somewhat ineffective as compared to believers in other parts of the world – most specifically the Third World.  

Two weeks ago we began looking at John 15:1-17; Jesus” familar Vine and Branches passage just prior to His crucifixion.  In this text, Jesus says a two things in regard to prayer:

1. “…..ask what you wish, and it will be done for you.” [v.7]

2. “… so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” [v.16]

These two examples seem to be conditional, but conditional on what?  I don’t believe its some type of performance or something we do. This has generally been the way I’ve understood the passage – very North American.  But this passage is about “abiding” or “remaining” in Christ depending on the translation one uses.  In The Message a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson (which I highly recommend) inserts a the phrase “make  your home in me” or “make yourselves at home in me,” instead of using the words “remain” or “abide.”

For one who has struggled acquiring a handle on these words “remain” and “abide” the phrase “make your home in me” is much less murky and more clear.  To abide or remain in Christ is to make ourselves at home in Him.  It’s a relational term that requires one to be transparent, open, honesty, and relaxed.  

At home I do many things that I would not do in someone else’s home.  I take my shoes off, let down my hair a bit, find myself more relaxed and comfortable.  In a way I kick back and take it easy.  There is a familiarity I experience at home that is mine no where else.  Also, there are levels of intimacy that happen no where else but when I’m at home.  Even the language I use is different – at least less formal.

Isn’t this what Jesus is asking of His disciples and from us?  To be relationally at home with Him?  Not so much worried about the words we use, have a good face on, wear our best cloths, but just sit down and relax in the enjoyment of our relationship.  To be intimate and transparent.  To let go of all the pretense and showiness and just be at home with Him.  This can be a place where we are authentically joined with Him and come to know Him, not just know about Him, but KNOW Him – experientially.

Its this being at home with Him that releases the power of prayer.  We get to know Christ, like we know our spouse, our children and other family members.  I know my wife very well because of living with her under the same roof for more than 41 years.  There are things I just don’t ask of her because I know her.  I know what pleases her and I know what doesn’t.  The same goes for our relationship with Christ – if we are at home with Him. 

The condition to Christ’s above statements regarding prayer is not performance, its relationship; a being at home relationship.  So intricately connected that I can ask for what I wish, because my heart is aligned with His, like my heart is aligned with my spouse.  This is not saying, I’ve arrived – far from it.  But I’m convinced that my prayers would be more readily answered if I quit spending time trying to perform to some religious standard and focused on an at home relationship of authentically coming to know Him. The good thing is that this passage describes ways that can occur.  Join me in an at home relationship with Christ.

Updates on Rick Meigs

Updates on Rick Meigs and his situation can be found at Brother Maynard’s site. Currently there are about three that he has posted.  Lets keep praying for Rick’s healing and recovery.

Pray for Rick Meigs

Just received an email regarding Rick Meigs who was at a Motorcycle rally at Hell’s Canyon in Oregon.  He was clipped by a vehicle who crossed the center line and hit him head on.  It was a hit and run.  He is in critical condition with two collapsed lungs and a ruptured spleen.  His wife Fran is in Texas and trying to get to Baker City, OR before they fly him to Boise, ID.

Please be praying for him and his family.