new

Posted on October 10, 2002 by Dana

I got five immunization shots last week. (My arm is still sore!) My immune system is only a year and a half old, so they gave me the same shots they give babies. I received this new immune system through an amazing procedure called a stem cell transplant. Stem cells are the powerful cells God put in our bone marrow to produce other cells in our body. Since other treatments were ineffective in knocking back the cancer, it was proposed we go this route.

I often thought, “Why can’t they just give me a pill?” But such a strategy would not deal with the root of the problem. “Why can’t they just do surgery and cut the cancer out?” But the problem is in the blood and you can’t simply remove a person’s blood. A radical approach was needed, but one that had some hope of success. The only way to kill the cancer cells was to kill all the cells in my blood – red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Of course, this leaves one without an immune system – which is quite dangerous (and not much fun). Here was the doctor’s explanation: “We will take the stem cells out of your bone marrow, then kill all the cells in your blood with high dose chemotherapy, then re-inject your stem cells and wait for them to build a cancer-free immune system.” Being the patient man I am, I asked if there were things I could do to hurry this process along. The answer was a firm “no”. I had to be content to do as I was told and trust such a procedure to work.

God has provided an even greater remedy for a graver problem we all have in common. We know we have sinned, and we thank God for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus. But what about the root? Are we sinners because we sin? Or do we sin because we are sinners? Scripture reveals that our very flesh (or our sinful nature) is the problem (read Romans 7). God knows we need forgiveness, but He is far wiser than one who just pulls the bad fruit off a tree and says everything is alright.

We would be content to attack the root of the problem a different way. “If I can just do some good things to make up for my mistakes, surely God will forgive me.” “If I can just get some good advice, I’ll improve my habits and be a better person.” “If I go to church every time the doors open, surely God will overlook my evil heart.” Such things may ease the conscience a bit, but they do not deal with the root. God does not want to simply improve a sinful heart; He wants to give a new one. He plainly sees every soul as righteous or unrighteous. The righteous have all been given this gift through faith in Jesus. The unrighteous have trusted in something else.

We ask the same question people did when Jesus walked the earth: “What must we do to do the work God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” He is the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. In Him there is forgiveness. In Him there is true life. The Holy Spirit is given to all who fully trust in Him. Such a gift is far greater than a new immune system!

“… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast…” Ephesians 2:1-10

“… Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” II Corinthians 5:14-21

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intercession

Posted on October 3, 2002 by Dana

Seeing what God had done, after returning with Taylor from West Africa, I decided that if I ever got to go on another such trip, I wanted to take my entire family. I wanted all of our faith to increase! Soon we were invited by a dear friend to visit Siberia (of all places). So during spring break, all five of us took a trip to Russia.

If you pray for God to build your faith, how does He answer? He puts you in positions where you have the opportunity to trust Him! Within minutes of leaving Atlanta, I discovered the friend accompanying us, who knew the language and had the money, did not get on the plane. He was flying stand-by, and the plane filled up at the last minute. For the first two hours of the flight I did anything but trust. How could God let such a thing happen? I worried; I fretted; I tried to figure out what to do. All I knew was that I was going to a foreign country with my wife, a 12 year old son, a 10 year old daughter, and a 5 year old daughter. We were to be met in Moscow by a Nigerian man named Israel, and we were to spend the night with an American missionary family named the Jacksons. I told God this was insufficient information.

Now for some this might not be such a test of faith, but I had to answer a fundamental question on that plane: Is God really in control? Peace is only found when we trust that He is. The Father wants His children to be confident in the truth, but sometimes such trust flies in the face of human logic. Israel met us in Moscow, our friend caught a later flight and joined us, and we had a great visit to Siberia.

The end of the trip presented another test, however. (Perhaps God wanted to see if a father on earth had learned anything.) Due to a long delay in Siberia, we were late getting to the Moscow airport to fly home. Israel met us again, and we all ran as fast as we could, pushing our two large carts of luggage. When we arrived at the terminal, a Russian official informed us we were too late. The plane had finished loading and was preparing to take off. I had been praying the whole time, but it looked like the answer was “Nyet”. (The word the Russian official kept repeating when we begged for mercy.) At this moment in life, I came to understand the meaning of “intercession”. Our Nigerian friend, Israel, started pleading in a way I had never seen and can hardly describe. He made fervent pleas while pointing to this forlorn American family. He spoke with passion and authority. He would not relent until finally the official picked up the phone and made a call to stop the plane. I knew one thing was certain: without Israel’s intercession we would have never boarded that flight.

If a Russian-speaking, Nigerian brother, who barely knew me, could get such a result from his pleading, what should I think about the One more powerful than Israel? He knows us perfectly and He knows the One to whom He prays. We not only have a God who is in control, but we have a Savior who lives to intercede for us. What confidence we should have!

“Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:34 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25

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bold living

Posted on September 26, 2002 by Dana

Phone calls made from United Flight 93 made several passengers come to the conclusion that they needed to live boldly in their last minutes of life. Todd Beamer’s words, “Let’s roll!”, inspired a nation.

When the doctor told us I had cancer, Susan researched and found a rather depressing statistic. The average length of life after diagnosis was 3-5 years. Since then, the average has been raised to 5-7 years. I’ve lived two of these years and Susan and I debate about which statistic applies to me.

So should I live boldly these last years of life or should I live in fear? The Lord gives one answer and the devil gives the other. I have had the advantage of thinking about this quite a bit, but Jesus wants us all to know His thinking… no matter what our circumstance.

“Take no thought for your life…” Can we really live in such a way? Jesus did – because He knew everything was in the hands of God. He was on earth for a purpose – to do the will of His Father. Is it any different for us?

By living boldly, I mean living out the life of Christ: If someone asks, I give. If someone strikes, I turn. If someone sues, I surrender. If someone hates, I love. If someone needs to be rescued, I risk my life. When Satan’s lies are all around, I tell the truth. When things look so bad it seems God has failed, I believe He is there.

Lack of trust may be our biggest obstacle to living boldly. The devil makes us think such talk is foolishness, but the Spirit of God says, “Trust the Father and walk by faith. You will not see the end presently, but God holds all things in His hands. He is faithful. Even if the worst seems to happen, God can bring good. As you live boldly in Christ, He will live boldly in you.”

May the words of our greatest Hero inspire God’s holy nation to live boldly.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.” “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” “And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” “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.”

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do not forget

Posted on September 19, 2002 by Dana

For two years now, Susan and I have attended a support group in Atlanta for families dealing with multiple myeloma. In these days of good health, I confess I have been a bit reluctant to go to these monthly meetings, for here I am reminded of my disease. Some of us are in remission, while others are in the midst of treatments of one kind or another. At the end of each meeting, we sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to all who reached such milestones that month. We also hear bad news of those who have regressed or those who have passed away. Though certain things may be depressing, I know I must go.

To stay away from this support group seems a type of denial and a shirking of responsibility. I dare not forget the members of this group who encouraged us when things looked so bleak. Survivors shared their experiences and gave practical advice. Never did we feel judged or condemned. Everyone knew each family had to make tough decisions in their own journey. The group exists to support others, and I know I am to do the same. When a disease-weakened newcomer enters our meeting, I understand where he is. Perhaps I can encourage him. Perhaps I can give a word of hope. I know I can pray. I cannot simply forget.

These thoughts remind me that I have been eternally cleansed of a problem far worse than cancer. I’m not part of darkness any more. Jesus has brought me into His Kingdom of Light. But dare I forget my fellow man? It is more comfortable to hang around Christians all the time, but do I have another purpose?

This comparison suffers when I talk of a cure. There is no medical cure for my cancer. There are several possible avenues to take, and each family must decide what is best for their situation. But there is a cure for our greatest problem. It was established many years ago on a lonely hill of execution where Jesus shed His blood for the sins of the world. He is the only hope today. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can have eternal life without Him.

When I see a sin-weakened man, I dare not condemn, for I understand where he is. Perhaps I can give a word of hope. Perhaps I can share the good news of Christ. I know I can pray. I cannot simply forget.

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time…” Ephesians 2:1

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24

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no greater love

Posted on September 11, 2002 by Dana

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8

“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. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:12-16

As we remember the brave ones who risked all to rescue the perishing, so let us remember the perfect One who gave all to save us.

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