Picture Post

This is another picture from my home in Montana. This is the Boulder River Falls less than a mile from the ranch where I worked and lived (Allison lived there with me for a summer, too, after we were married). We took this picture this week, during flood stage when the Falls are going over the top as they are here. During lower water the river goes under ground--though a rock hole--and comes out of the large hole in the bottom-left of the picture. There also used to be a rock bridge over the river above the falls, but it has long since fallen down. It is still called Natural Bridge.

Here are a couple of pictures of the ranch:
This is the guest portion where the owners stayed. Allison and I lived in the cabin at the very top.







This is a portion of the main ranch.









For those of you suffering in the heat back home, here is a little joy sent to you from the Montana mountains that were snowed upon last night!

This one is for cbcsparkie: yes, the Road Kill Cafe is still there!


Things are a little more upbeat here. After Dad decided to go through treatment the spirits (human spirits, that is) have been a little higher. We have a few more things to take care of before we head home Tuesday (Lord willing). We're looking forward to seeing all of you when we get home.

Hi, friends—

My mom told me today that she could tell how tired we were by the mistakes in the last post. We know now that today is May 27, and it is Jason’s stepbrother who is planning to care for Jason’s dad and stepmother during his treatment.

Today was a slower day, and that was a blessing for us all. It’s very cool, and it has rained almost constantly for the last twenty-four hours. Tomorrow the three generations of pastors in Jason’s family will attend church together. That’s pretty special, and it will be a treat for all of us.

Allison

An Exhausting Day

Update time again.... Wednesday and Thursday were spent working for (and a little "with") my dad. I did most of the work, but let him do enough to feel productive. It was probably a little to much for him anyway. The lady for whom we did the work told Dad that if he didn't go through with treatment she was going to come after him with her broom. That was a funny picture.

Today was an exhausting day. We left early for Billings, and spent several hours in different rooms in different medical buildings talking to different people. The long and the short of it is that Dad is going to go through treatment, beginning in a week or so. In addition to the difficulties of the radiation and chemotherapy, there will be additional challenges. Among them is no driving for an undetermined amount of time. That is because of the risk of seizures due to brain surgery. Also difficult is that Dad cannot use power tools for the same reason. That basically eliminates the possibility of earning income.

A positive, though, is that my brother-in-law (my step-mother's son) and his wife have said that they will take my parents into their home in Billings for as long as necessary through this process. It is an incredible kindness. My Dad is only related to them by marriage, but they have accepted him as their own. That relieves some of the burden.

Another good thing is that Dad can still fish...as long as he doesn't wade in the river!

By the way.... We are on the edge of a winter storm advisory for tomorrow night (Saturday). Unfortunately we are on the very edge, so we will miss it. For those of you who may be a little slow, it is May 28, in Montana, and there is a winter storm advisory. What a wonderful place! It is God's country. We are disappointed we will miss the fun.

Late night update

This is another late-night post. Too late, actually. We are very tired. Today my grandparents (my Dad's parents) arrived from Minnesota. So, Allison (with some of my help) is now cooking for six instead of four. I am still doing as much as possible to help my dad. Tomorrow morning we are going to finish a small job he began weeks ago. At least that way he can get paid a little bit.

That is one of the biggest problems with this whole situation. My Dad wasn't able to do much work for about a month prior to his surgery, and he likely will not be able to do much for the next few months. They also have no health insurance. Thus, finances will be an issue in the coming weeks and months.

Today was a bit frustrating. Dad was supposed to meet with the oncologist tomorrow, but we found out this afternoon that the appointment has been moved to Friday due to a scheduling mixup. I have been waiting to meet with this doctor to be able to ask questions that Dad didn't ask the first time around. So, we must continue with the waiting game.

Dad is doing well -- too well, actually. He generally does too much. That means that there will be more swelling in his face and head due to drainage from the surgery. That is a bit of a concern. What is more concerning, however, is his right eye. The few days before the surgery (a week ago, now) he had blurry and double vision in that eye -- presumably from the pressure in his brain. Those symptoms have still not disappeared. In fact, some days they are worse. He is supposed to be able to drive in a week, but he is scared to drive with his vision that way. My dad does not use the word "scared" in reference to himself, so it must be pretty bad. Pray about that would you? Also pray for wisdom concerning treatment. That decision must be made in the coming days. Thanks for your concern. We are still praying that our great God would simply remove the tumor.

Reminders of Love

Since I haven't posted in awhile it is probably best if I bring you all up to date. First, my dad has not decided about treatment at this point. We are meeting with the oncologist on Wednesday--perhaps that will help with the decision-making process. My dad is doing well--too well, actually, as it is nearly impossible to get him to take it easy. As a result, he has some swelling in his face and eyes, so much so that one eye is almost swollen shut. He also has blurred vision in that eye.

I have been busy doing a lot of things for my dad, including running him around town since he can't drive. So, I'm tired! There have been many good things, too. Here is how Allison described yesterday:

Today has been a sweet day. The first half of the day saw four different visitors stop by to see Jason’s dad. The first was one who wants to have us all over for supper on Sunday. We’ve only just met her this trip, but she attended my father-in-law’s last church. The next was a lady whom he served as pastor for sixteen years. She’s been through some difficult days in the time he’s known her, and he has been a steady source of wisdom and encouragement. Her appreciation for him is obvious, but she wanted to be sure he knew it again.

About mid-morning, the pastor of the church my in-laws presently attend called. Would there be an extra place at the table at lunchtime? Sure, my mother-in-law said. The pastor said that another pastor friend, Rex, would be coming through town right at noon, and he’d stop in. We so enjoyed this man’s visit. It turned out that I’d met him before years ago—nine years, to be exact. The first summer we were married, we lived twenty-five miles from here on a ranch where Jason worked. During that summer, John MacArthur spoke at a family camp just up the road, and we went to hear a question and answer session. I guess I met Rex that night, although I really don’t remember. He reminisced with my in-laws and Jason, too, about mutual friends.

As we were finishing up our meal, a knock came at the door. It was an old man, slow on his feet and a tremor in his hands. His wife is a resident at the local nursing home where Jason’s dad leads a Bible study. This man, Jim, comes to hear him teach and play his guitar. He sat down at the table with us, and the six of us enjoyed true fellowship in the Lord.

Jim prepared to leave, and Rex, the visiting pastor friend, asked if he would lead us all in prayer. His sweet words brought tears to my eyes as he asked God to give Jason’s dad wisdom as he considers treatment options and, if it is God’s will, he asked for a miracle of healing. He reminded my father-in-law of his love for him as he left. After thirty minutes or so, Rex decided to leave too. Before he did, though, he prayed with us again.

These visits are reminders of how loved my father-in-law is. He’s a man who’s lived out what it is to be a pastor—taking an interest in people’s lives, being available to them, doing whatever he could (including a lot of physical labor) for them. The result? He’s well loved and respected, but I think this attention is a surprise to him. He doesn’t realize, I don’t think, just how important he is to so many people.

From the Foothills of the Mountains

After 19 hours of driving, we are in Montana! It is nice to just see my mountains (and yes, they are my mountains! The view above is from my hometown. These are the Crazy Mountains). My dad is home and doing well. There is not much to post other than what I have already stated: his energy is improving, and his mind is clear once again. It was to the point before his surgery that he couldn’t concentrate on anything.

There are difficulties, however. He cannot drive for two weeks. My mom is unable to drive as well, so that means they will need help with that for a while (good thing we are here!). He also cannot lift more than five or ten pounds for six weeks. That is not good for someone who does carpentry work to pay the bills. It looks like I am going to have to help quite a bit in the next few days so my dad can get some of his jobs done so he can get paid. That is becoming increasingly important as he hasn’t been able to do any significant work for about a month, and it looks like that will continue for some time. Not good. Pray about that, would you?

Probably more important though, is prayer for God’s miraculous power. The tumor my dad has is cancerous, and only occurs in the brain. It is also very aggressive. The prognosis is not one that is encouraging. With an aggressive regimen of radiation and chemotherapy (at the same time, apparently), he is being given a year to a year-and-a-half of “quality life.” I haven’t been able to speak to the doctor myself, but will next week to clarify. It does appear, however, that this type of cancer is not “curable.” Treatment only staves off the inevitable.

So, the only thing we can do is to boldly approach the throne of grace to find help in our time of need. Would you help us with that? With our great God all things are possible. Since He created our bodies, He can remove the tumor completely. Please pray with us, believing that He is able, that He would remove the tumor to the amazement of the doctors.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly
Than we ask or think, according to the power at work
Within us, to Him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
Forever and ever. Amen.
Eph. 3:20-21

Traveling Notes

Well, this is going to be one of the latest (in the evening) posts for me. I am typing this from a motel room on the way to Montana. During the day today I found out that my dad's tumor was indeed cancerous. There are also remnants of the tumor left in the brain--little "slivers," the doctor called them, identified by an MRI. There will have to be treatment, probably both radiation and chemo, and it appears that another surgery may take place. Can you imagine that? Two brain surgeries? Hard to picture.

My dad is doing well. He is already regaining strength that he has lost in the last few months, and his voice and mind are clear again. That is wonderful. This will give you a bit of an insight into my dad (and me as well ): my dad said he hoped there is a video of the surgery that he can watch! I am a little curious too. (Talk about getting into someone's head! Sorry--we have to find humor in this.)

We are doing well, hoping to arrive in Montana tomorrow evening. We enjoyed being together in the car today talking and listening to someone else preach on a CD! We would still appreciate your prayer support. We know the Great Physician is attentive. Thanks again.

Update

For all of you folks who have been praying for the last several hours--many thanks. Our God is good and His mercy endures forever. While everything is not yet in the clear, I have spoken with my father this morning. He was very clear, strong, and even humorous. This is simply amazing as it is a drastic change from the last several months, if not the last year. We are still waiting for pathology reports on the tumor, as well as discussions regarding treatment options, but the outcome looks positive. We continue to covet your prayers, and for wisdom for the coming days as we must make travel decisions.

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless Your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You
and praise Your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and His greatness is unsearchable.
Psalm 145:1-3

An Update

While there are still questions to be answered, we do have a small update. Jason's dad came through surgery well, but the doctor discovered the cause of the pressure was a fast-growing tumor. We're taking some encouragement from the fact that the medical team believes the tumor was completely removed. There will be a meeting this morning in which we'll get further information. Thank you for your continued prayers for all of us; we need them so much right now.

Allison

An Urgent Request for Prayer

Friends,

Could we ask you to seek the Lord on our behalf in the coming hours? As I post this, Jason's dad is having emergency surgery to relieve pressure caused by a mass on his brain. The doctor is uncertain whether the mass is an infection or a tumor; perhaps we'll know more when the surgery is over. Thank you in advance. We appreciate and love you all.

Allison

Sin in the Corner

The hydrant in the bedroom was the elephant in the living room. A 400-pound, green and yellow fire hydrant apparently spent more than 30 years in the upstairs bedroom of a Yakima couple's home before it was returned recently to the West Valley Fire District, after the man's death.

The wife discovered clippings from the Yakima Herald-Republic that detailed how the hydrant had disappeared in June 1975. She called West Valley Fire Chief Dave Leitch late last month and offered to return it, the newspaper said.

Apparently, the wife asked several times where the hydrant came from, but the husband was defensive and wouldn't answer. So, she just accepted the fact that there was a 400-lb fire hydrant in their home. Personally, I don't think my wife would give up that easily!

Anyway... isn't this how we treat sin in our lives? Sometimes it can be an obvious, 400-lb behemoth that has sat in a corner so long that we forget that it is there. Then, when it is pointed out by someone, we get defensive, pass it off, and let it stay. Sadly, the hydrant was not returned until after the man's death, when his spouse could finally deal with it appropriately. I wonder how many "hydrants" the Lord will have to deal with upon our deaths.

God's attributes

Last night in Bible study/prayer meeting we talked a bit about Isaiah 40 and the attributes of God. It wasn't much of a study; it was simply pointing out the characteristics of God mentioned in that particular chapter. The point was that the focus of our prayer time must be on God -- who He is, what He is like, etc.

Richard Baxter, a Puritan preacher from a by-gone era, said this:

"Remember the perfections of that God whom you worship, that he is a Spirit, and therefore to be worshipped in spirit and truth; and that He is most great and terrible, and therefore to be worshipped with seriousness and reverence, and not to be dallied with, or served with toys or lifeless lip-service; and that He is most holy, pure, and jealous, and therefore to be purely worshipped; and that He is still present with you, and all things are naked and open to Him with whom we have to do. The knowledge of God, and the remembrance of His all-seeing presence, are the most powerful means against hypocrisy."

Amen

What is needed

"What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the character of God--His absolute sovereignty, His ineffable holiness, His Inflexible justice, His unchanging veracity. What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the condition of the natural man--his total depravity, his spiritual insensibility, his inveterate hostility to God, the fact that he is "condemned already" and that the wrath of a sin-hating God is even now abiding upon him. What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the alarming danger in which sinners are--the indescribably awful doom which awaits them, the fact that if they follow only a little further their present course they shall most certainly suffer the due reward of their iniquities. What is needed today is a Scriptural setting forth of the nature of that punishment which awaits the lost--the awfulness of it, the hopelessness of it, the unendurableness of it, the endlessness of it. It is because of these convictions that by pen
as well as by voice we are seeking to raise the alarm."

A.W. PINK

Bad Choices

As human beings we often enjoy getting as close to the fire as we can without getting burned. As Christians, we tend to get as close to the world as we can without being part of it. The problem with that thinking is that God calls us to be holy--separate from those things which are not godly. When we take up the attitude that we can get close without getting burned, we place ourselves in spiritual danger.

Here is an illustration from the stupidity of human beings that illustrates my point:

A real estate tycoon who owns a nature preserve tried to show off for visitors by jumping on an alligator's back for a ride, but the reptile bit his hand and dragged him into 15 feet of water.

The 8-foot alligator let go of Ronald Bergeron after witnesses pulled its tail. Bergeron, 62, suffered a shattered pinky, a broken ring finger and puncture wounds in his palm.

The multimillionaire developer tried the stunt Sunday while giving a tour of his 5,000-plus-acre preserve to weekend guests who had made large donations to the Boys & Girls Club.

"I always tell them I'm going to wrestle an alligator," Bergeron said Wednesday. "It's part of my Florida culture. My grandfather was a game warden in the Everglades, and I grew up around alligators."

He said he usually rides the alligator for a minute before letting it go.

This time, Bergeron said, "he was rolling and I couldn't keep control of his mouth. He grabbed my hand in his mouth."

When asked if he would give up wrestling alligators, Mr. Bergeron's answer was that it was "unlikely" because it is "too exciting." Indeed. In the same way, sin is often "exciting," but it is also extremely dangerous to one's spiritual health. Be wise--stay away.

Confused

The LA Times has an article about JuBus -- and no, that is not a racial comment. It is the name for Jewish Buddhists. If you are confused, as I was, it gets even worse. Here are some snippits from the article:

'JuBus' blend the communal rituals of Judaism with the quiet solitude of Buddhism. Most adherents are at peace with the paradox.

The altar in Becca Topol's living room carries a statue of Buddha and a garden stone painted with the Hebrew word for peace, shalom. In April she celebrated Passover with a "Zen Seder" feast that opened with a modified Haggada narrative comparing Israel's exodus from Egypt to Buddha's liberation from suffering.


"Most people don't go very far into Buddhism; they just want to feel a little better," said Michael Shiffman, founder of L.A. Dharma, a nonsectarian Buddhist organization in Los Angeles. "But can you be Jewish and not believe in God? Good question."


Rising from a meditation pillow after a Sunday morning Buddhist service, [one Jewish Buddhist] said, "I even look at the writings of the Old Testament, such as Moses' conversations with God, as Zen koans; that is, as questions and statements to be used as meditation disciplines along the lines of 'What is the sound of one hand clapping?' "

Huh?!? I'll stick to my Bible, thank you very much.

God's Goodness

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
Psalm 34:8

Friends, take a moment and reflect on this verse. Consider the first sentence: "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!" There is no question here, no "perhaps God is good." And it doesn't say to gorge yourself in order to see that God is good; no, it says taste...savor a little bit and you will see that God is indeed so very, very good.

If even a slight savoring of the Lord reveals that He is good, then it must be that those who run to Him for their refuge, their safety, their care will be blessed...happy...fulfilled...satisfied with His goodness.

Does that mean life will be easy or a bed of roses? Well, maybe it will be a bed of roses! There will be life amidst the thorns, but a focus on the beauty and the fragrance of the flower. It is in this mindset that the Apostle Paul can write,

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay,
to show that thesurpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Christians Fighting

Why do Christians do this? How does this is this justified as being right?

Violence erupted between two church groups at Queenstown this afternoon leading to the arrest of 37 church-goers, according to Eastern Cape police.

One person was stabbed in the incident and stones were hurled at police officers who tried to intervene. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the group. However, there were no injuries. The fight, between two groups of the Apostolic Church, began after members of one of the groups forced themselves on to the private property of the other group, said Namhla Mdleleni, an inspector and police spokesperson.

The groups are believed to be long-standing rivals. Police were still investigating the exact cause of today's violence. The 37 are scheduled to appear in the Queenstown magistrate's court on Tuesday.

No wonder the church has such a bad reputation.

Busy, Busy

For those of you who have been faithfully visiting for the last week, I apologize for not posting. It was a hectic week in which I didn't peruse news sights for blog material, and nothing came to my mind about which to post. Rather, it was a week in which Psalm 36:7 applied:

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge
in the shadow of Your wings.