Life

This is not an easy post for me to write, but not for the reason you might think after you read it.

Last Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, I had a biopsy on my prostate.  Yesterday, Monday, the doctor called with the results and they were positive.  I have prostate cancer.  Isn’t it interesting that bad results are called ‘positive?’

There is some good news in the midst of all this.

The first is that even though the cancer is moderately aggressive, my PSA levels are normal.  PSA is a blood test that is done to check the prostate.  The doctor said since my PSA levels were normal and I’m in generally good health for my age then the best option is surgery to remove the prostate.   The other option is radiation, but it has its own complications that I don’t want to deal with.

With surgery there’s at least a 70% or better cure rate (only 50% for radiation).  I did some Internet research and less than 15% of men with prostate cancer die from the disease.  Those are pretty good odds and I’m going with the surgery.

The second good news is I have a lot of family and friends, including you who read this blog, who I know will support Betty and me through this.

Betty and I are meeting with the doctor Wednesday morning to talk more about the surgery.  When it’s scheduled I’ll let everyone know as I value your thoughts and prayers.

The reason I mentioned above about this not being an easy post to write is the same reason I hated making calls and sending emails to family and friends this afternoon.  I know that people will worry for me and I hate putting that burden on people I care about -  especially when they have their own problems.  At the same time, I know I need your support and prayers.

Finally, given what other people have gone through, including Betty, I can’t whine or complain about this.  It’s a part of life and, as I said in Sunday’s post (written with this possibility in mind), I know that God still has a purpose for me, even with cancer, and I hope and pray I can honor him in the midst of all this.

It’s still kind a lousy way to start my week.

Monday Video–Flying French Man

I’ll let the video speak for itself.  I love to watch horses like this.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflection–Power of God

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.   For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Betty and I have prayed for healing for many people over the years – both physical and emotional.  Many times we have seen those prayers answered – even in our own bodies and in our own emotions.

Yet, there were also many times we did not see answers to our prayers.  There may have been other answers that were not apparent to us at the time, but our prayers were not answered – as we prayed them.

There’s an old saying among people who pray for healing – “There are three possible answers to our prayers for healing – yes, no and not yet.”

I have thought long and hard about why God does not seem to answer some prayers for healing.  I have read many articles and books.  The truth is I still don’t know.

The one thing I have learned is that whether God answers my prayers or not, I have to always keep my focus on him and his nature.  God is.  God is good.  God is love.  God is holy.  God’s purpose for my life is always perfect even when there doesn’t seem to be any evidence for that.

I believe that when God heals someone it is for a distinct purpose that may or may not be related to the specific physical or emotional problem being healed.  The healing of one person may actually be for God’s purpose for someone else.

If that’s true, and I believe it is, then the reverse is also true.  When God does not heal as we expect ,there is still a God-purpose being played out for that person or for someone else.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego understood this very well…

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."  (Daniel 3:16-18)

There is no doubt in my mind that God heals.  I have seen it too many times to ever doubt that again.  All I can do when I pray is to trust that God has a purpose for the person that may or may not include the healing for which I pray.

Christmas is Coming!

We know Christmas is coming – Thanksgiving is over and the Galloping Grace Youth Ranch Christmas Corral opened the day after – Friday.

It’s a great place to buy your Christmas tree or wreath and there are some great gift items in the Country Store.

Friday Funny–Morgunn in a Car

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and you’re enjoying the multiple ways you can eat leftover turkey.

Here’s a short video to help your digestion.  The horse in question looks just like Betty’s Icelandic Horse, Morgunn.

Enjoy.

See more funny videos and Cute Animals at Todays Big Thing.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.

What a great verse for this Thanksgiving day and for every day of the year.

This year has been an up and down year for us as I guess most years are.  We’ll see how the year ends before making any final judgments.

But, what I’ve learned is how important it is to always be grateful.  For a long time, I relied on this verse:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I thought, well, at least I can give thanks IN all circumstances, but I don’t have to give thanks FOR all circumstances.  Then God showed me this verse:

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Bummer, now I have to give thanks both IN and FOR all circumstances.  I know we can argue there is a difference between ‘in all circumstances’ and ‘for everything,’ but I can’t do that.  I’m a simple person and I tend to take God’s word at its face value and resist trying to bend it to a meaning I want – at least until God shows me more about his meaning.

In any case, Betty and I are thankful for our relationship with God, for our marriage, for our sons and their families, for our horses, for our friends who read this blog, and for so much more.  No matter what else is happening in our lives or what will happen, it’s important for me to keep everything in a total perspective of God’s blessings.

We pray that God will bless each and every one of you who have been faithful to read these wanderings and wonderings.

Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Just Enjoying a Morning Swing

Yesterday morning, Betty looked outside and laughed.  I went to see what she was amused about.  It was our resident Roadrunner, Simone, on our swing.

Now it’s not unusual for Simone to rest on our courtyard wall or the swing in the morning when it’s cold.  She’ll have her feathers all fluffed up to warm up in the morning sun.

This morning she was fluffed up again, but she was squatting on the swing and the breeze was blowing the swing slightly back and forth.  She seemed to enjoy it.  She stayed there a good long time.