CHALLENGES

#1 My Daughter’s Surgery this Week

This week my youngest is going in for her second brain surgery to address her Chiari Malformation. She had this done back in June of 2012. She’s really strong and did really well the last time and so I’m praying that it goes really well this time also.

I know we're very anxious about it but I told my wife last night that God loves Aria more than we do. I know that He has her in His hands and He will take care of her. I have faith in my heavenly Father.

#2 Our Children’s Behavior

It’s not easy to go through and I know it really wears on our family. My wife says that she can tell that it’s bothering the kids. When she drops off the kids for school, Aria does not want to go unless mommy promises to come to school early in the afternoon to be with her in the classroom. I’m very thankful that Tina is able to do that, although I know that puts a strain on Tina to get the things done she wants to do for the day.

Suzanna and Haydn have been acting up a little more than normal. Tina thinks it’s because they’re bothered by all that’s going on with Aria. She’s probably correct but it could also be their way of attracting attention since Aria gets the most due to all her medical treatments and we cater to Aria because of how much she goes through on a daily basis.

Have you ever been at a loss on how to correct your children’s behavior?

Have you ever felt like a failure because your child just can’t seem to control him/herself?

Do you ever worry that you, as a parent, must be doing something wrong when your kids just can’t seem to listen?

Probably not and it’s just me but that is some of the challenges that I face when it comes to our kids’ behavior.

#3 Finances

Bills are always a stress and if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Medical bills come in the mail on a regular basis. Our car was hit a couple weeks ago and we had to come up with the $500 deductible plus 20% of the cost of a week’s rental on a car. I had to replace all four tires on my car about two months ago.

BUT, God is good!!

1. I have a job that pays most of the bills.
2. Tina works some and does what she can to bring in some money.
3. Tina is awesome at saving money and finding that bargain. For example, this week on three different occasions she’s saved between 65 and 85% at the grocery store.
4. Our kids have more than enough to eat and clothes to wear.
5. We live in a nice house that God allowed us to refinance last year that lowered our mortgage.

I’m sure I could go on but I’ll stop at that for now.

#4 Faith

Do you ever wonder why God allows bad things to happen to people, especially people who believe and put their trust in Him?

I know people who are struggling with or deny that there is a God because it can be hard to believe in a good, loving God when all you see is bad things happening all around.

It's especially hard when bad things happen to yourself and/or your family. We've all wondered how God could allow such a thing to happen. Doesn't God love us? Couldn't have God stopped it?

Faith can be a challenge but I believe Roman 8:28 when it says, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."


Challenges are a part of life. The challenges that come into our lives should help remind us to focus on Him. That's not always easy because we like to focus on ourselves.

Let's remember what James 1:2-5 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Aria - Denver outcome & future surgeries

It’s been quite a couple months. In August, Tina took Aria to Jewish National Hospital in Denver. After lots of tests and meeting with doctors and several procedures, Aria was diagnosed with asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, equivocal laryngeal cleft type 1, and chronic rhinitis.

Rhinitis is a medical term for irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), gastric reflux disease, or acid reflux disease is a chronic symptom of mucosal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus.

A laryngeal cleft or laryngotracheoesophageal cleft is a rare congenital abnormality in the posterior laryngo-tracheal wall. It occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 to 20,000 births. It means there is a gap between the oesophagus and trachea, which allows food or fluid to pass into the airway.

The first two we knew about but the cleft was a surprise and might be causing some of the fat in her lungs but we’re doing the stomach surgery first and monitor her condition afterwards and if necessary they’ll fix the cleft but it’s high enough that it might not be an issue. We’ll see.

On Oct 8th, Aria will be having a fundoplication, where the gastric fundus (upper part) of the stomach is wrapped, or plicated, around the lower end of the esophagus and stitched in place, reinforcing the closing function of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Whenever the stomach contracts, it also closes off the esophagus instead of squeezing stomach acids into it. This prevents the reflux of gastric acid (in GERD).

We also had another CT scan recently and it’s showing that Aria’s Chiari is affecting her again with little fluid flow between her spine and her brain which is causing more and more headaches and could lead to other problems also.

We are planning on her having another brain surgery before the end of the year to help release the pressure again. We thought it was a “one and done” thing but the new doctor says that he’s been known to do four or five on children as they continue to grow through childhood. I hope it’s not that many and we’ll let you know when her brain surgery is going to happen but my guess would be around Thanksgiving or Christmas break to try and minimize how much school she misses. She’s already missed a lot so far.

Tough Times

Below is an excerpt from a book I'm reading. It really spoke to my heart.


Our appetites in life determine how we respond in a trial. I have since been in the same circumstances and have not handled the pressure of empty cupboards quite as graciously. But never has lack upset my spiritual apple cart when Jesus was really my First Love.

Pressure brings everything to the surface— the good, the bad, and the ugly. While I don’t like it, pressure comes because of the mercy of God. Can you imagine what it would be like to live an entire life without seeing what was in our hearts through trial?

Many people turn their attention to how others have wronged them during their season of testing. That is one of the devil’s better tricks. If I can be preoccupied with what’s wrong with you, I’ll never be in a place to see my own heart. If I can’t see my heart, I can’t repent and be changed. Let’s face it, holiness— becoming like Jesus— is the purpose behind every trial.

The Kingdom of God is so different from everything else we know. Brokenness comes before healing. Weakness is the first step to strength. Seeing our hopeless condition is the prerequisite to experiencing His transforming power.

Johnson, Bill (2010-12-01). Center of the Universe: A Look at Life From the Lighter Side (p. 20). Destiny Image. Kindle Edition.

The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister

I just read this book and it was very moving and I'd encourage everyone to read it. Below is a poem that I thought summed up the entire book and I know there are a lot of people that would be able relate to it.


WHY?

While my body was imprisoned,
My soul was free.
Now that my body is free,
My soul is restless.

How could this happen (or be)?
Have I not dreamed of total freedom?
The dream that stayed with me for years
I dream no longer—shed no tears.

Embraced with memories so vivid,
I suffer quietly alone.
There’s no one left who shared my sorrows,
Who walked with me the road of horrors.

How many thoughts remain unspoken,
But memories can’t fade away.
The horrors of the past still haunt me,
The ghostly shadows won’t dissipate.

I tried to free myself, pretending it never happened.
Oh, what a fool I was in thinking I could easily forget.
My nights are long, my thoughts are lingering.
The past will always be with me.

No matter how I try, there’s no escape from what was real.
Should I continue to reveal?
Should others learn the true life story
Of more than one who can no longer tell?



Bannister, Nonna (2009-03-20). The Secret Holocaust Diaries: The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister (pp. 239-240). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

My Life in Fundyville by Fundy Rebel

I want to encourage you to read this woman's blog at My Life in Fundyville. This is a brand new blog. I'm sure you'll want to read all her entries and definitely read the comments where others have told their stories. I know this is going to be interesting and I'm looking forward to future posts.


Everyone's journey in/through/& out of "fundyville" will be different. I have considered what I grew up in as an average fundy church. I've been to "fundy lite," average, and even a couple of extreme fundy churches and there is a difference.

In some ways, I think that "fundy lite" can be more dangerous because it's subtle. It's easier to overlook because you don't realize the hold it has on you. As I went through life, what I thought was the Holy Spirit was just the "principles" and "guidelines" that I was taught to be a good Christian. It's not that the principles and guidelines were wrong but the things that we did and didn't do based on them caused us to think we were sinning, that others were sinning, or if they were better Christians, they wouldn't do certain things.

When you only show up for church services and not involved in any part of the ministries of a "Fundy lite" church, it is very easy to think that you're church is different and not involved in the power, manipulation, and control that you hear about it "other" churches. It's easy to miss that only certain people get "loved on" when sick or having a baby. Or, that only certain people, no matter talent or experience, get to teach a class, sing in front of the church, or be visible beyond working in the nursery.

You also come to believe that all other churches outside the baptist "umbrella" are wrong and teach a false gospel. When you finally venture out from under that "umbrella", you realize that this is not true.

One of the problems of growing up "fundy lite" is that it preps people for "hardcore fundy." I've seen multiple people make that step and it seems to be a natural transition. Unfortunately, these people see this step as a growth of spirituality instead of another level of control.


Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading Fundy Rebel's blog. I know there are too many people out there who will be able to relate to her story.

Ezekial 18 – Sins of the Father

I have been listening through Ezekial this month and chapter 18 stuck out to me. Sometimes I wonder if I have to pay for the sins of my father or if I raise a son who defies God, will I have to pay for his sins. I’ve always felt we’re responsible for ourselves but God’s Word and His clarification on the subject really meant a lot to me this week.

Ezekial gives this list of sins several times in this chapter but to save time I’ll list them here.

1.       Violent

2.       Shedder of blood

3.       Eats upon the mountain

4.       Defiles his neighbor’s wife

5.       Oppresses the poor and needy

6.       Commits robbery

7.       Does not restore a pledge

8.       Lift up his eyes to the idols

9.       Commits abomination

10.    Lends at an interest and takes a profit

Ezekial also lists the behaviors of a righteous man, which parallels the list of sins.

1.       Does not eat upon the mountain

2.       Lift his eyes to the idols of Israel

3.       Does not defile neighbor’s wife

4.       Does not oppress anyone

5.       Restores to the debtor his pledge

6.       Exacts no pledge

7.       Commits no robbery

8.       Gives bread to the hungry

9.       Covers the naked with a garment

10.    Withholds his hand from iniquity

11.    Withholds his hand from injustice

12.    Executes true justice between man and man

13.    Takes no interest or take a profit

14.    Obeys my rules

15.    Walks in my statutes

16.    Keeps my rules by acting faithfully

Here’s the good news, the lesson for today.

1.       The soul who sins shall die. (vs. 4, 19)

2.       The righteous man shall live. (vs. 9)

3.       The righteous man shall not die because of his sinful son. (vs. 13)

a.        He shall not pay for the iniquity of his son. (vs. 20)

4.       The righteous man shall not die because of his sinful father. (vs. 17)

a.       He shall not pay for the iniquity of his father. (vs. 20)

5.       If the sinful (wicked) turn from their sin, they shall not die and his transgressions shall not be remembered against him. (vs. 21, 27-28)

6.       If the righteous man turns to wickedness, he shall die and his righteous deeds will not be remembered. (vs. 24, 26)

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (vs. 23)

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live. (vs. 32)

J. Frank Norris: The Shooting Salvationist by David R. Stokes

I encourage you to read this book.

This was a fascinating book and story of a man that I've heard about but didn't know much about.

The best synopsis of this book is from the book itself on the last page.

The Reverend Doctor J. Frank Norris was many things: a pastor who led the nation's first megachurch, a provocative publisher and a pioneer broadcaster. At his apex during the Roaring Twenties, Norris preached to a congregation of 10,000 at First Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. With the flair of a great showman, he railed against vice and injustice.

Rev. Norris was also a killer.                                         

To those who dared to challenge him, J. Frank Norris was a formidable foe, as demonstrated with swift brutality in 1926, when he shot an unarmed critic to death. The killing and subsequent trial became a national media sensation. 

      Using more than 6,000 pages of newspaper articles, court records, and a variety of other published works, author and minister David Stokes vividly recreates the story of the fundamentalist movement's most controversial figure. Mesmerizing in its vivid details, APPARENT DANGER: The Pastor of Americas First Megachurch and the Texas Murder Trial of the Decade in the 1920s skillfully explores the events leading up to one of the most intriguing—yet least known—true crime dramas in America's legal history.

You also might be interested in the website from the author regarding this book. The Shooting Salvationist