A famous person (I can’t remember who) once said, “The news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.” Several have asked about my health lately. The bad numbers have been steadily increasing for about 8 months and seemed to take a bigger-than-usual jump lately. So, my world has involved testing, waiting, meeting with doctors, waiting, more testing, waiting… Perhaps patience is being produced!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (II Cor 1:3-7)
We have received much comfort and love through your prayer, kindness, and encouragement. Somehow the difficulties we endure can carry the benefit of helping one another. And if God can use all these things to mold us into the image of his Son, we can truly praise him.
It looks like we are going to add one more drug to the two I have been taking. Your prayers have more effect than any drugs, so Susan and I appreciate your intercession on our behalf. The doctor at Emory is investigating the possibility of another stem cell transplant, but none of us are sure that is the best route. We trust God will give his peace in decision-making. Meanwhile, we are not to worry but live the life God had given us. We decided before Thanksgiving to use all our Sky Miles to purchase airline tickets to some places we’ve never been, so April 3rd, Lord willing, Susan and I will travel to Europe for a week. We will hang out with our school soccer team in London, visit Paris one day, then fly to Geneva for a couple of days before returning home. Karlyn is going with a school mission team to Haiti the same week. She will be serving a needy community and sharing the love of God with children. We appreciate your prayers.
On a lighter note, I got kicked out of a state tournament basketball game last Thursday night. Our #2 ranked boys were playing the #1 ranked Dublin team in Macon and a controversy arose over a silly rule stating that fans had to stay seated most of the game. Our students have been very enthusiastic all basketball season and this ‘new rule’ was unsettling. I really think our kids tried their best to keep seated, but how do you sit while you’re excited? As the rule was being enforced in a close contest, I tried to reason with several policemen… and most agreed with my logic. One officer, however, declared there would be ‘no negotiations’ and I knew he was intent on kicking several of our kids out of the gym. So Gary Schofield, our strength and conditioning coach (a strong dude), and I (not a very strong dude) stood behind our student section hoping the game would end before trouble arrived. With about four minutes to go and our team down ten points, several policemen emerged at our cheering section. Gary and I tried to talk with them but then I saw the ‘non-negotiator’ calling several of our boys out of their seats. I hustled down to ask that he allow the game to conclude without dismissing our fans. He did not like my appeal and grabbed my arm and escorted me up the steps and out of the gym. Gary came to my defense and two officers grabbed his arms and led him out. Soon the hard-fought game was over and things settled down… except for the rumors. I’ve heard all these things (that didn’t take place): I punched an officer; an officer punched me; we were handcuffed; I was tazed; a gun was pulled on me; I was beaten to a ‘bloody pulp.’ I was not mistreated at all… I simply found myself in the midst of another story. I hope you’re not too disappointed…
“If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.” I Peter 4:15