Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • brother’s keeper

    —

    Dana

    One of the joys of our trip to visit Taylor was meeting some of the friends he has made over the past three months. One of the greatest blessings of a child of God is fellowship in the Body of Christ. From the end of September to the week before Christmas in Kona, two hundred fifty people prepared to go into all the world to share Christ through word and deed. Brothers and sisters from Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and South Korea are now Taylor’s dear friends. Living and working together can be a challenge for members of the same community, but when people come together from different states and different nations new struggles emerge. If we resist our natural tendencies to judge and criticize we’ll find God can bring unity. A couple of days ago in Cambodia, Taylor was very sick from food poisoning. I’ll spare the details he shared in an e-mail, but our son credits a teenager from New Zealand with helping him through a difficult time. When he first met Andy in September, Taylor thought he was the strangest kid. Now they are great friends.

    Besides missionaries, Taylor also met many who lived on the big island of Hawaii. In the evenings he often walked half a mile to the sand volleyball court to play with the locals. He found some outstanding beach volleyball players and several of them became good friends. During our visit, it seemed everywhere we went someone would yell out Taylor’s name or come over to shake hands. Several had him into their homes and demonstrated great hospitality. Most of these guys are not Christians and some even shared that they often witnessed people claiming to be Christians who lived no differently than they did. I told Taylor he couldn’t control the example others had been, but such comments prove that people do watch the lives of those who claim to follow Jesus. Perhaps the way we live speaks much louder than the things we say.

    This year I just want to be like Jesus. He lived without pretense. He treated people with kindness. He told the truth with the right motives. And He taught us how to live. I think Rich Mullins lived a lot like Jesus. He died in a car wreck a few years ago at the young age of forty-one, but his songs still encourage thousands today. Here’s the chorus to “Brother’s Keeper”: “I will be my brother’s keeper… not the one who judges him. I won’t despise him for his weakness… I won’t regard him for his strength. I won’t take away his freedom… I will help him learn to stand. I will be my brother’s keeper.”

    “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2

  • son’s story

    —

    Dana

    We had a great trip to see Taylor. We thank God and so many friends for making such a visit possible. We owe special thanks to Anna, our dear friend from Brazil, who let us live with her while we were on the big island.

    I felt blessed to have a few days to encourage my son before he left for a foreign land. Almost every morning we ate breakfast by the ocean and I shared what seems most important… our love for him and God’s love for us. One of the greatest weaknesses in my life has been my competitiveness. Perhaps there’s a part of competition that’s not so bad, but I know certain aspects just don’t line up with Jesus. His only battles were with the devil. Jesus seemed to never compete with man. I don’t think he needed to; all His needs were met by His Father. If you don’t really care what man thinks, there is not much of a reason to strive to be number one. The disciples were more like us… always trying to be the greatest. Jesus constantly taught them that in His Kingdom such strivings did more harm than good.

    I know I’ve passed some of these harmful pursuits to my children and I wanted to tell Taylor that God works from a totally different viewpoint. “He loves us and this love is not dependant on our accomplishments. If we know this and let Him be the source of our satisfaction, we’ll be happy. He will work through our lives even when we don’t know it. We just need to live trusting Him.”

    Though I know these things are true, my actions have not always modeled such contentment. I called my parents on Christmas Eve and my dad jokingly shared that he expected our family’s annual game of charades to be the most peaceful ever because his two most competitive sons were on the opposite ends of the earth… one in Hawaii and one in Zambia. These aren’t the footsteps I want my children to follow! “Just remember, son, our ways are not God’s ways.” It was at this moment that Taylor told me a story.

    “I think you’re right, Dad. Just last week our teacher told us a true story. There was a large church on the mainland that sent a missionary to an island that had never heard of Jesus. Well, this young man was not very good at learning the language. Each year he would report that he was doing his best, but he was having a hard time communicating. The home church was patient at first, but after several years the pressure for results started to build. ‘Where are your converts? Why don’t you have a church in place? What are you doing there?’ Finally, after ten years, the church concluded their mission had failed. They withdrew support and the missionary came home, quite ashamed he had done no good. It was over a year later that the church decided to try again. They sent another young man to the same island hoping this time there would be some fruit. The new missionary proved to be gifted at learning the language of the island. After one year he felt fluent enough to try to preach. On a designated Sunday, the entire village gathered to hear the missionary speak. He stood and spoke almost a full hour, explaining the Good News of Jesus and His sacrifice for us. At the end of his sermon, the young man said, ‘If anyone would like to give your life to this One who gave His life for us, would you please stand?’ To his amazement, every person present, including the chief, stood up. The missionary knew they had misunderstood, so he asked everyone to sit back down and he went through his message again. Everyone listened intently and when he concluded, the invitation was repeated, ‘If you would like to give your life to this One who gave His life for you, please stand.’ Once again, everyone stood. This time the missionary was frustrated. He knew they could not have understood because such a response after just one sermon was unheard of. When he motioned for everyone to sit down again, the chief remained standing. ‘Sir, do you think everyone understands what I have been saying?’ The chief replied, ‘Yes, we understand. You see, the person you described who gave His life for us… someone just like Him lived in our village for ten years. Because of him, we believe what you say is true.’”

    “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener… Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing… As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends…” John 15:1-17

  • father’s longing

    —

    Dana

    In Mark 9 there is a story about a father who brought his son to be healed. He ended up in the middle of a huge argument because the disciples could not drive out the evil spirit that tormented the boy. Jesus came and put things in order, but I have been thinking about this father. I am sure he did not want to be the center of controversy. Who wants everyone arguing because your case is so difficult? I also doubt he wanted his lack of faith announced to all those present. When he pled with Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us,” Jesus said, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.” In his weakness, the father immediately exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Exposed, humbled, embarrassed… why would a father put himself in such a vulnerable spot? He did it for his son. He wanted his child whole and free. A good father loves his child so much he will risk everything on his behalf.

    At this time of the year, we celebrate the ultimate example of a Father’s love. The longing of the Father was to bring His children to Him… whole and free. No matter what any critic would think; no matter how painful it would be; no matter how great the sacrifice; God sent Jesus for us. The Father risked everything on our behalf. The most familiar verse in the Bible brings true joy to all who believe. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

    Lord willing, we’re going to visit Taylor in Hawaii over the holidays. We had enough Delta SkyMiles for three tickets and Susan found a good price on a flight that left Tuesday. She arrived safely and is as happy as a mother can be. Taylor leaves for Cambodia on the 23rd, so we hope to spend a few days with him before he departs. (As you can tell, we’ve not been dreaming of a white Christmas 🙂 )

    Regarding my health, this chemo makes my blood counts crash and I’ve not been able to finish the last two rounds. Every time my counts go low, I seem to pick up some type of cold or infection. I’ve learned this is pretty much par for the course, so I just try to get through it. We are to arrive home the day after Christmas and I’ll start another round. The great news is that my protein count is dropping. The nurse called yesterday to report that just a trace of protein was detected in the last blood sample taken. This is an answer to many prayers and we thank you for interceding on our behalf. Most of all, we give thanks to the Father who loves us so. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” Romans 11:36

    Merry Christmas! (and aloha… 🙂 )

  • mother’s request

    —

    Dana

    Growing up, I remember being in settings at school and church where my dad was in charge. I never expected special treatment. As a kid I knew that was the way it should be, so I’ve tried to treat my own children in a similar manner. My mom, on the other hand, saw no conflict in declaring her children the best. There is no greater advocate than a bold mother!

    A long time ago, two sons and their mother talked about the One they believed to be the Messiah. James and John, like the other apostles, often dreamed about greatness. One day one of them must have verbalized the goal of holding a great place of honor when Jesus received His Kingdom.

    “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘What is it you want?’ he asked. She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink from the cup I am going to drink?’ ‘We can,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.’”

    How close to Jesus do we want to be? There was always jockeying for position among the apostles, but, early on, they did not understand what it would take to be close to the Master. Constantly, Jesus taught about true greatness. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

    I think I love Jesus more now than ever, but there is still a lot of self to give up. Am I willing to be last? Am I willing to be a slave? I wonder if I am willing to drink from His cup. Why is His cup a part of the plan? Those apostles who used to argue about greatness learned to walk in His steps. The Spirit led them to humility… and they all drank from His cup. These words of Paul expressed his great desire:

    “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

  • hopeless

    —

    Dana

    Once I was so overcome with sin I had no hope. Worldly-wise counselors gave many suggestions for help, but nothing they knew could solve my problem. But just at the right time, while I was powerless, Jesus rescued me. Now, no matter how strong the enemy seems, I remember the One who is more powerful and take hope to overcome.

    Once I was so sick I did not think I would survive. Some around me were even less hopeful than I was. But through a way I would not have chosen, God healed my body and gave me four incredible years. Now, no matter how bad I feel, I remember God’s power and promises and gain hope for tomorrow.

    Once there was a little baby born to a mom who was serving time for wrongdoing. He didn’t really have a place to go, but a chaplain in the prison system who often helped mothers in such situations called a family who had volunteered to serve. Now this little boy is being raised by his mom who is free and following her Master. And though John fell a couple of weeks ago and broke his leg, he is a happy toddler whose future is anything but hopeless. (You should see him walk with his cast 🙂 )

    Last Sunday, in the Atlanta newspaper, there was a front page article about a man in his thirties who had gotten out of prison, gone to college, and completed a degree with great success. Though his crime was committed at age seventeen, his past still haunts him. Even though this bright fellow has done so much to overcome, no one will hire him. There was little hope in the article and a reader could understand how such a man could easily give up and go back to his old life. In the spiritual world, we know this is the devil’s desire for anyone who tries to walk a better path.

    Susan and I understand a little about this guy’s dilemma. Terri has worked odd jobs for the year she has lived with us. She is very sharp and a hard worker. Her goal is to live by herself and raise her children. Two times she had well-paying jobs fall through because of the results of her background check. One employer did all she could to bypass the rules because Terri was such a good worker. But John’s mother has persevered. A couple of Wednesday nights ago, after humbly asking a group to pray for her, Terri received a phone call within the hour that gave her a job for the holiday season. Without faith, though, it is easy to think her situation is hopeless. But we believe one day someone will give Terri a chance that will lead to the type of job she needs to take care of her family. Until then, we remember that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

    “Remember that one time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations… Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:12-22

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