a note from Brad

February 13, 2007

I keep thinking that our lives have prepared us for this place. I know how that sounds, but it is not what I mean at all! It is not that Linda and I have walked so closely with the Lord that we naturally just respond the right way. HA! On several accounts!

First of all, this trial is ridiculously tough. I nearly panicked last night when I thought about the fact that Linda may not be here with me much longer. We repeatedly ask God for a miracle in the face of impossible (human) odds. We know that God will be glorified in life or death, but we ask for life!

Second, neither of us look back on our lives with particular pride – and that is not because we are so humble. So many times God has given us opportunities to trust Him, but we have often chosen to work out our own problems in typical 21^st century American fashion. Now, He has brought us to the place where the best that man has to offer is insufficient. It is a matter of trusting God or embracing despair.

We choose to trust God. Once again, not because we are so spiritual, but because He has enabled us to do so. If you are wondering what I mean by that, I don’t have any idea that I can explain it. I absolutely know that there is nothing inside either of us that would lend itself to trusting God this much in this crisis. He makes it possible – today, that is. Who knows how we will do tomorrow? I used to think I knew how I would respond under pressure, but like Peter, I found that my life did not always measure up to my mouth. (John 13:36-38; 18:15-18)

I guess the point I am trying to make is that it seems to us that there is too much “I” and “we” in these notes. I have this fear that a phrase like “it’s all about God” has become a cliché that is thrown about by “those in the know.” There is not anything wrong with the words, but I wonder how often it is true of us? Funny, I asked that very question to our congregation the Sunday before that fateful Friday when our lives were changed forever. Then we knew. Then it became crystal clear – either we believe it all (God created the heavens and the earth, when Adam and Eve sinned, we all fell with them, God came to earth and died for the sins of man, He will return to rule completely one day), or we don’t believe anything. It was not a difficult choice, because the Lord was with us, weeping with us, putting His arms around us, comforting us with His presence that Friday night.

So, it is about Him. Linda and I have come close to making it about us in so very many ways, and because of the heart’s deceitfulness, it may very well be about us. No question, we want God to be glorified. And we want the last sentence to be so much more than words. Life is so fleeting. We cram a lot in during our very modern lifetimes, but even still, life is gone before we know it.

Our prayers have been a great deal about physical and emotional needs, lately. Our hearts are increasingly being drawn to the prayers of Paul, where his interest lay in the spiritual health of his readers. Colossians 1:9-14 is particularly encouraging to us, but so are Philippians 1:9-11, Ephesians 3:14-21, and Ephesians 1:15-23. As you pray for us, please pray that we (and you!) will know the Lord in the ways these prayers encourage us to know Him. God bless you!