Finally!

An update! It appears that many of you have been far more faithful praying and checking for updates than I have been in providing updates. My apologies. Thank you for continuing to lift my dear wife, Linda, to the Lord.

Since I last wrote (in mid-August), Linda has enjoyed relatively good days - until this past week. A small cough visited her on Monday. It came more often as the week progressed, and by Thursday night, it was a full-blown resident in her chest. It is a dry cough, exactly like the one that preceded pneumonia the last time. We were blessed (by good friends) with four days at the beach. We did not have caregivers this past week, and my time away from home is limited anyway, so we enjoyed the beautiful September days by the sea.

When we left Myrtle Beach Friday morning, we headed straight to the hospital in Raleigh. Blood work showed Linda's white cell and hemoglobin counts to be good. A chest x-ray did not reveal any concern. The doctors want to keep a close watch, though, so she will have two to three appointments this week. Linda's cough has worsened over the weekend, so we would appreciate your immediate prayers in this area.

The chemo treatments compromise the immune system, of course, and though it recovers, it can create significant problems while down. Linda's numbers are good, but she clearly has upper respiratory problems. She was scheduled to begin her next round of Temodar (chemo) next Sunday, but Duke wants to wait until after a September 19 appointment. She will have an MRI in the interim, so we will get an idea of what the tumor is doing.

We rejoice in every day that God gives us and anticipate many more. According to the earliest medical reports, Linda was not supposed to be here now. Job spoke words of truth (14:5) when he said, "Man's days are determined; You (Lord) have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed." Doctors do not know the number of days - but they do have quite a bit of experience with patients who have particular kinds of illnesses. Linda's tumor is bad any way you cut it, which is why we want you to continue to pray for a miracle, for God to heal her completely! Her days are already determined as are yours and mine, and our time may be up long before hers. Living with a terminal disease does tend to focus one's priorities. But, as believers, we should already be focused on the right things, shouldn't we?

Yesterday morning, I was blessed when I read the first chapter of 1 Peter. It speaks of eternal life, which is our ultimate hope, and it speaks of difficulties in this life as well as the glory of the knowledge of our relationship with Jesus. I would like to share 1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV) with you. Would you please stop right now and ask God to speak directly and clearly to you as you read His eternal Word? Aren't you glad we have access to His eternal Word? God bless you!

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it be tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." AMEN!